Sunday's Valorant Champions Tour 2022 Masters 1 tournament match ended with a match between North America's OpTic Gaming and Thailand's Xerxia Esports (formerly known as X10 CRIT), which Xerxiaa won 2-0.
Arebranded rematch
These teams last met in 2021 at the 2021 VCT Champions Stage, where Xerxia defeated Optic (then Envy) in the lower bracket to advance to the playoffs after Optic originally sent them there in their first group match.
The Xerxia roster is largely identical to the X10 CRIT, which competed in Champions, with the exception of Thanachart "Surf" Rungpajaratkul, who left to return to esports after Patifan "Patifan" Chaiwong joined the roster. In which he originally began competing, Overwatch. It was Surf's international Valorant debut.
Meanwhile, OpTic maintained the full Envy Champions roster, simply changing the name/organization the team was attached to.
Xerxes crushes OpTic's hopes of revenge in The Masters
Xerxes started the first map - his pick of the icebox - strong on the attack, a five-round lead over OpTic. But as the end of the first half neared, OpTic began to wake up and close the gap, ending the half at 5-7 with only two rounds short. Despite this, Xerxes managed to retreat in the end, taking the map 13–10.
The climb was ahead, a map that both teams consider to be their playground. Xerxes once again took the lead and Optic again followed suit. But like last time they clashed, the green wall began to break down and Xerxes went on to win the map and match, 13–11 and 2–0.
5 rounds away! @XERXIAESPORTS are close to a series win.
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) April 10, 2022
Tune in: https://t.co/io2c23bRnD | #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/oYQHwga2Ok
By beating OpTic again, the Core Xerxia squad had to prove they still had what it took to compete on the international stage, and Surf got off to an excellent start.
"It's great to be able to play them again and really know we weren't as lucky last time and it's really our gameplay and our setplay that propelled us to win the game," Thanamathak "Crew" said. Interview after the game. "I think we're really happy as a team."
They go on to play Team Liquid in the next match of the main group stage bracket. OpTic, on the other hand, are now in the lower bracket and will have to beat KR Esports to retain their place in the tournament.