KIWOOM DRX release seven Valorant players and three coaches after missing VCT Pacific partnership
KIWOOM DRX have released seven players and three coaches after Riot left them out of its 2027 VCT Pacific partner list. The organisation says it will stay in Valorant.
Korean organisation KIWOOM DRX (KRX) has made the biggest roster change of the Valorant offseason so far. It released seven players and three coaches across its main team and DRX Academy, VLR.gg reported on 22 October. The decision came days after Riot left KRX out of its list of partner teams for the 2027 VCT season.
Who has left
The main team has lost head coach Pyeon "termi" Seon-ho and coach Kwon "Argency" Soon-woo. VLR.gg lists MaKo, BeYN, free1ng and HYUNMIN among the main-team players released. DRX Academy has lost coach Jung "OD" Jin-myung and players Kyra, apeX and Krexx.
After the changes, the main roster has only Flicker and yong, with coach glow. The academy has NGen, XoNs and Athan with coach rolex. Its future is uncertain, because academy teams are widely expected to be dropped from the 2027 system.
KRX said the players and management had discussed the next steps together. All parties agreed that parting ways was the most responsible decision for everyone's immediate interests.
Staying in Valorant
KRX made clear that it is not leaving the game. The organisation said it will "remain fully committed to preparing for our next chapter" of Valorant esports. Without a partnership, KRX would have to go through the open competitive path to return to the top level, if it keeps a team.
DRX were among the best-known teams in VCT Pacific, so missing out was one of the biggest surprises of the partnership announcement.
The 2027 VCT Pacific partners
Riot named eight partner teams for each of its four international leagues. The Pacific teams are Paper Rex, Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ), Gen.G, T1, FULL SENSE, GAM Esports, ZETA DIVISION and Crazy Raccoon. Southeast Asia has three of those places through Paper Rex, RRQ and FULL SENSE.
Riot said competitive results mattered, but it put particular emphasis on fan engagement and community building. Its five criteria were community commitment, community resonance, business sustainability, operational excellence and competitive success. Partnerships now run on a renewable two-year cycle. Partner teams get annual financial support from Riot, a share of in-game digital goods revenue and direct entry to Kickoff. After Kickoff, they have to earn international places through results.
What it means for the market
Many of the released players will be among the best Korean free agents available, just before VCT free agency opens on 2 November. That could help Pacific partners rebuilding their rosters, including T1, whose Sentinel Meteor has also announced he is leaving. With Cloud9 also missing out in the Americas, there will be more strong players than places in the 32 partner teams.
Key takeaways
- KIWOOM DRX released seven players and three coaches after missing out on a VCT 2027 partnership.
- Only Flicker and yong, with coach glow, remain on the main roster.
- KRX says it is staying in Valorant despite losing its partner place.
- The Pacific partners include Southeast Asia's Paper Rex, RRQ and FULL SENSE.
- Riot's criteria put particular emphasis on fan and community engagement as well as results.
FAQ
Why did KIWOOM DRX release its players? KRX was not chosen as one of Riot's 32 partner teams for VCT 2027. Days later, the players and management agreed to part ways.
Is DRX leaving Valorant? No. KRX says it is still fully committed to Valorant and is preparing for its next chapter in the game.
Which Southeast Asian teams are VCT Pacific partners for 2027? Paper Rex, RRQ and FULL SENSE. They are joined in the league by Gen.G, T1, GAM Esports, ZETA DIVISION and Crazy Raccoon.
Sources: VLR.gg, Riot Games