NAVI vs DRX VALORANT Champions 2023: Overtime in Map 3 goes to DRX as they advance to the playoffs

Group D is labeled the Group of Death at VALORANT Champions 2023. Four incredibly talented teams were placed there, but only two can make it out. The first one to reach playoffs is determined by a NAVI vs DRX contest to that ends the tournament's second day of action.

Natus Vincere had an up and down year in EMEA. The names on the roster make it a top tier team by itself. Due to FNATIC winning Masters Tokyo, they squeezed their way into Champions with the second Last Chance Qualifier spot. And they are already making the most of it by besting Team Liquid.

On the other side is DRX. The Pacific League titans should never be underestimated. They haven't lost an opening group stage match in any international VALORANT tournament. The squad may not yet have a championship under their belt, but they are still a team no one wants to face.

NAVI vs DRX at VALORANT Champions 2023 will send one to playoffs and the other to a decider match. Either Team Liquid or LOUD awaits the loser, so we could see potential rematches. Both teams look to be bringing their A game to Champs, so it should absolutely be on your radar.

VALORANT Champions 2023 is live on Twitch and YouTube. You can watch either of those for in-game rewards via drops, or you can hang out with us at esports.gg by watching NAVI vs DRX as it unfolds right on this page.

We got a Yoru pick by Rb to start the series on Bind. But it wasn't quite a difference maker in the opening rounds. Both teams netted rounds until NAVI went ahead in the fifth. They kept rolling and a couple of nasty shots by cNed guaranteed them the lead at halftime no matter how the rest of the half went. They stayed up on DRX 8:4.

The reset after switching sides did not kick DRX into gear. NAVI quickly reached double digits, poised to end map one in a flash. DRX finally gained another round by sticking the defuse in a situation where NAVI didn't check them once. That gave them the opportunity to put up a few more rounds, which in turned gave the momentum to tie the game at 10 a piece. And shortly after, we had yet another OT of Champions 2023.

Overtime started with a chaotic round. It should not have gone in NAVI's favor with how Zest was popping off, but Shao proved pros don't fake. DRX immediately retaliated to extend OT. This was followed by a Flawless round to give them their first lead of the game. A 3K from stax pushed DRX to the finish line and the miraculous comeback was complete with a 15:13 victory.

Split began in a similar fashion to the previous map. The difference was, after trading rounds, DRX took the opening lead. They pushed ahead a bit, but NAVI was soon on their tails. The Operator in the hands of cNed allowed NAVI to catch up. He landed shot after shot, sending DRX reeling in enough rounds to tie it up 6:6 at halftime.

A 3K by suygetsu sent NAVI ahead in the second half pistol round. The EMEA representatives got to double digits in no time after sides switched. They still had to fend off another potential comeback by DRX, however. The attacking plan was just too much to overcome for DRX. NAVI tied the series after a 13:9 win. This came on the back of a cNed KDA of 27/9/4.

It all came down to Lotus. And what do you know? After four rounds, the map was tied at 2:2 just like the others. A scrappy battle ensued as neither team was willing to give up ground to the other. From gun play to Ultimate usage, both teams were on equal footing. The two of them kept it close as NAVI vs DRX entered the second half of its final map with a 6:6 score.

DRX came out swinging after halftime. They shut down NAVI's attempt to plant the Spike and wiped them off the map to take the lead. NAVI proved to still be in it, with close round victories to prevent DRX from getting too far ahead. These came from heroics by the likes of Shao and suygetsu. On an eco round, DRX stood tall to take away some of NAVI's weapons and MaKo lined two of them up to try and stop NAVI's momentum. The EMEA team was locked in, though, as they forced yet another overtime in this series.

OT started with DRX decimating NAVI as the attackers. It was quickly followed by the final nail in the coffin. Zest and BuZz both netted a 3K in back-to-back rounds to shut down NAVI. This sends DRX to the playoff bracket and forces NAVI into the Decider match against the winner of Team Liquid and LOUD.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for more esports news and VALORANT coverage.