Welcome to all Valorant fans and viewers! From September 12 to October 5, 2025, the biggest tournament of the year — VALORANT Champions 2025 — is taking place. Sixteen teams will battle for the title of “Global Valorant Champions” and a massive prize pool.
On the sixth day of the competition, we’ll focus on the upcoming Group C match between the Korean team DRX and the American team NRG. Both squads have already played one group match and secured a victory each: DRX defeated Team Liquid 2-0, while NRG beat EDG 2-0.
With both teams coming into this clash off strong opening wins, the matchup promises to be an exciting one. As the teams prepare for battle, let’s take a closer look at the current form of the players and their squads, and share some betting insights.
How bookmakers see it: DRX — NRG
According to most bookmakers, NRG are considered slight favorites over their opponents DRX at VALORANT Champions 2025. The odds for the American team stand at 1.7, while the Korean squad are given 2.08. Both teams have already secured one map win, and the match promises to be intense, as these are two potential favorites of the group. While NRG look stronger on paper, DRX are more than capable of putting up a fight, and this will be far from an easy game for NRG.
DRX form: What result can be expected from DRX?
The team DRX has remained one of the leading forces on the Asian Valorant scene for several years and consistently ranks among the strongest squads in the region. Despite undergoing roster changes in 2025, the Korean club has managed to stay competitive and continues to be a dangerous opponent for any team on the international stage. The new season began solidly for DRX, once again proving that they are capable of fighting for top positions.
The current DRX roster brings together young and ambitious players around whom the team is building its future. Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan remains the squad’s main leader, setting the pace and shaping strategy in the server; No “Freeing” Ha-jun plays the role of a tactical support and flexible all-rounder, capable of adapting to different needs; Song “HYUNMIN” Hyun-min adds aggression and fresh energy, often taking initiative in attacking rounds; Kang “BeYN” Ha-bin is a key initiator and support, opening space for teammates and creating opportunities to hit sites; Park “Estrella” Geon provides disciplined control, maintaining balance and anchoring the map; Cho “Flashback” Min-hyuk serves as the aggressive duelist and main source of early picks; while Yoon “Flicker” Tae-hee remains a versatile player, able to fill various roles depending on the draft.
The squad is led by experienced coach Pyeon “termi” Seon-ho, with support from veteran Kim “glow” Min-soo. Their joint work ensures discipline and strategic flexibility, while giving younger players the confidence to unlock their full potential. DRX roster: MaKo, Freeing, HYUNMIN, BeYN, Estrella, Flashback, Flicker
In the first half of the 2025 season, DRX competed at the VCT Pacific Kickoff, advancing to the main stage of the tournament. Later, they took part in Masters Bangkok 2025, gaining valuable international experience, and also reached the Esports World Cup 2025, securing their spot among the strongest teams in the world. In their regional league — VCT Pacific Stage 1 and Stage 2 — DRX delivered solid performances, going toe-to-toe with heavyweights such as Paper Rex and Gen.G.
Statistically, DRX perform strongly on maps where early aggression and fast site control are key. They look especially confident on Haven and Lotus, where they maintain a high win rate and show discipline in micro-moments. At the same time, on new maps like Abyss and Corrode, the Koreans have yet to demonstrate consistency — a clear area for improvement, especially against international opponents.
Overall, DRX can be described as a team that combines youthful firepower with strategic discipline. They have flexible players with deep agent pools, strong support from their coaching staff, and valuable experience on the international stage. Their Champions campaign began with a win over Team Liquid, and if they manage to maintain composure in clutch situations, DRX have every chance to fight their way out of the group and establish themselves as playoff contenders.
NRG form: What result can be expected from NRG?
The team NRG has long been one of the flagships of the North American Valorant scene. Despite frequent roster changes, the club has consistently competed in VCT tournaments and remains among the contenders for top positions in the region. The 2025 season began with a refreshed lineup, built on a balance of experience and youthful talent.
The current NRG roster looks as follows: Ethan “Ethan” Arnold — a reliable and experienced player whose composure in clutch moments has saved the team countless times; Sam “s0m” Oh — one of the region’s standout duelists, known for his aggressive style and ability to apply pressure from the very first rounds; Rossy “mada” Nielsen — an explosive and creative playmaker capable of turning the tide of a match with unexpected plays; Alan “brawk” Widmann — a dependable support who builds the team’s structure and creates opportunities for his teammates to shine; and Brendan “skuba” McGrath — a versatile controller who brings stability to rounds and provides balance to the squad. The roster is overseen by a coaching staff that emphasizes discipline and strategic flexibility, keeping NRG competitive on the world stage. NRG roster: Ethan, s0m, mada, brawk, skuba
In the first half of the 2025 season, NRG competed in VCT Americas Stage 1 and Stage 2, proving they could go toe-to-toe with the region’s top teams and earning their slot at Champions. At the start of VALORANT Champions 2025, they already made a statement with a 2-0 victory over EDward Gaming, underlining their readiness for the international stage. While the team has yet to claim major international titles, NRG remain a consistent presence at the top level and continue to show steady growth.
Overall, NRG can be described as a squad with a strong core that combines aggression and discipline. They have players capable of winning games through individual brilliance, as well as experienced performers who provide stability. If they can maintain composure in the playoffs and improve their consistency on new maps, NRG have every chance to contend for high placements and fight for a spot among the world’s elite teams.
Head-to-Head History
On the official Valorant stage, DRX and NRG have faced each other only once. This happened at an international tournament, where the American squad came out on top with a confident 2-0 victory. For DRX, that defeat was telling, as they failed to put up much resistance and lost in key moments. Since then, the teams have not crossed paths again, which adds intrigue to their upcoming clash at Champions — DRX will be looking for revenge, while NRG will aim to cement their head-to-head advantage.
Players to Watch
DRX: MaKo — the key figure of DRX and one of the most consistent players on the Korean Valorant scene. His role as a controller goes far beyond standard utility support: MaKo sets the overall structure of the team’s play, keeps balance in difficult situations, and often becomes the player who holds DRX together in decisive moments. His smart use of smokes, precise timing, and composure in clutch situations allow DRX to remain competitive even against the strongest opponents. For fans and analysts, MaKo is the clearest indicator of DRX’s form: if he is sharp, the team can fight with anyone.
NRG: Ethan — the most experienced and reliable player on NRG, whose career in both Valorant and previously CS:GO has made him a true veteran of the scene. Within NRG, he acts as the team’s glue: helping build strategy, taking on key initiator and support roles, and staying ice-cold in clutch situations. His game sense, ability to read opponents, and consistency in aim make him the primary factor behind the North American squad’s success. If Ethan is in good form, NRG can confidently battle even the top tournament favorites.
Probable Map Picks
In the BO3 between NRG and DRX, the map pool will play a decisive role. NRG’s strongest picks are Icebox (82%) and Lotus (78%), while DRX feel confident on Ascent, Bind, and Split (75%). Most likely, NRG will ban Ascent and DRX will remove Pearl. As a result, we can expect Icebox to be picked by NRG, Ascent or Bind by DRX, and the decider will likely be Split or Haven.
Anything else catch the eye?
Interestingly, both teams have clearly defined strengths and weaknesses in their map pool, but there is almost no overlap in their best picks. This guarantees a tense showdown: each side will get to play on its comfort map, while the outcome on the decider will be a true test of flexibility and preparation.
Match Prediction
The match between DRX and NRG promises to be highly intense and evenly balanced, as both teams approach the clash with serious ambitions and strong form. The Korean side has an edge in discipline and team play, while the Americans rely on experience and the individual skill of their players. On paper, the matchup looks close, and predicting the outcome is difficult. However, in my opinion, NRG currently appear more confident and consistent, which makes their victory the more likely scenario.
Main prediction — NRG to win.
AlQadsiah Esports30.10.2509:20Bo3
Al Dahab ClubWatch match
