DRX and T1, representing the VCT Pacific, are set to open the VALORANT Masters Bangkok with challenging matchups, Riot Games announced Thursday. The tournament, scheduled from Feb. 20 through March 2, brings together top finishers from four international Valorant leagues.

DRX, the Pacific champions after a 3‑2 win over T1 in the kickoff tournament, will kick off their campaign against Americas runner‑up Sentinels. The South Korean squad, returning to the Masters stage after a lengthy absence, suffered two straight losses to Sentinels in previous encounters – including the 2023 AfreecaTV Valorant League Winners’ Finals and the opening match of the Champions Seoul playoffs.

A key storyline in DRX’s opener is the strategic deployment of the new agent Tejo. The team’s championship run saw specialist Pring, known as Noh Hajun, exclusively use Tejo, a move credited with securing critical wins. Sentinels, on the other hand, highlighted the agent’s potential when johnqt, or Amine Ouarid, featured prominently in their run to the Americas runner‑up finish.

Meanwhile, T1 – a team overhauled with experienced international talent – will face off against EMEA champions Team Vitality. After underwhelming showings at previous Masters and Champions tournaments in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Shanghai, T1 has bolstered its roster with veterans like stax (Kim Gu-taek), BuZz (Yoo Byung-chul), and Meteor (Kim Tae-oh). The revamped lineup now aims to leverage its seasoned core to overcome Team Vitality’s established prowess.

The Masters Bangkok tournament features a Swiss Stage format, with the first team to secure two wins advancing to the playoffs while two losses result in elimination. The event opens with a match between Chinese champions EDward Gaming and EMEA runners‑up Team Liquid at 7 p.m. Korean time on Feb. 20, followed by DRX taking on Sentinels. T1’s clash with Team Vitality is slated for Feb. 21, with additional games set to follow as the competition unfolds.