T1 advanced to the playoffs at VALORANT Masters Bangkok after knocking out longtime rival DRX, a team they had never beaten in international play. The breakthrough came during the Swiss Stage at UOB Live from the 20th to the 24th, when T1, the VCT Pacific Kickoff runner-up, swept DRX 2–0 in a decisive head-to-head clash.

DRX, reigning as the VCT Pacific champions, had opened their campaign with a 2–0 win over Sentinels and carried a streak of 10 straight international wins. A loss to Team Vitality in the winners’ bracket, however, forced DRX into the lower bracket, setting the stage for their matchup with T1. After an initial setback against Team Vitality that sent them to the losers’ bracket, T1 rebounded by defeating Trace Esports of China with dominant set wins of 13–3 and 13–8. That performance earned them a do-or-die opportunity against DRX on the 24th.

DRX held a 7–5 lead at halftime in the first set. T1, however, surged in the early stages of the second half, winning five of six rounds. Kim "Meteor" Tae-o's performance on Viper proved pivotal as T1 clinched the set. The second set saw T1 take an 8–4 lead at halftime before extending their advantage with five straight rounds to finish 13–4, resulting in a clean 2–0 sweep.

The victory marks T1’s first playoff berth in a Riot Games–sanctioned international VALORANT tournament, overcoming a hurdle that had seen them lose 1–2 and 2–3 to DRX in previous finals. The playoffs, set to begin on the 27th in a double-elimination format, will have T1 facing Edward Gaming (EDG). EDG, who secured their playoff spot with wins over Team Liquid (2–0) and G2 Esports (2–1), comes into the matchup with a strong record. T1 holds a slight advantage in their head-to-head encounters, having split a meeting at the 2023 Masters in Tokyo and winning two unofficial tournaments against EDG. T1’s win not only shatters a longstanding rivalry but also signals a turning point for the team as they seek to capitalize on this momentum in the coming playoff rounds.