The newly promoted side from VCT APAC Ascension start their VCT career with a win over Japanese side ZETA Division.

Their reckless play have fans comparing them to Paper Rex’s play style with their Duelist player Dambi over extending many rounds however, it didn’t mean much in the end as they comfortably took the win home with a 2-0 scoreline.

Both maps went 13-9 the way of Nongshim and the huge organization of ZETA have let Japanese VALORANT down again. They haven’t been the same since their incredible run years ago with a very different roster.

The retirement of Laz from professional VALORANT hit fans hard and it seems to have left a lasting impression on ZETA Divisions side in VCT Pacific.

Ivy topped the KD scoreboard with a 40/27 KD at the end of the series after comfortably beating ZETA not even allowing them into double digit rounds in either map.

#VCT #VCTPacific Kickoff DAY 1

⚔️MAP1 WINNER 13-9
>> @nsr_valorant

続いて、MAP2はHAVEN🔥

大会の視聴はこちら📺
🟣https://t.co/ibLWFk2hVX
🔴https://t.co/cTKcscPMyd pic.twitter.com/AybFZ2PuqX

— VALORANT Champions Tour JAPAN (@valesports_jp) January 18, 2025

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Despite the changes made forced upon ZETA by the Laz retirement, they weren’t strong enough to stop the newly promoted side.

Originally Sin Prisa Gaming, Nongshim RedForce will now go to face off against DRX in the upper bracket quarter final in a few days time.

Whilst ZETA are sent down to the lower bracket and will face off against the loser of T1 vs Paper Rex, which many fans are saying is a sad but confident loss for ZETA putting them out of VCT Kick-off and out of VCT for 2 months whilst they wait for stage 1, unless they can cause a huge upset and send one of the favourites out this early.