FlyQuest has advanced to the lower bracket final of the Perfect World Shanghai Major Asia RMR after defeating DRILLAS in a thrilling three-map showdown that concluded with triple overtime. The result marked a significant moment, as it symbolized the end of what fans referred to as the European takeover of the Asia RMR.
The contest between FlyQuest and DRILLAS was highly anticipated, with FlyQuest representing one of the APAC region’s strong contenders and DRILLAS fielding a roster that raised eyebrows. DRILLAS had qualified with a team core from Asia but used a technical loophole to replace an Asian player with a European one, resulting in a predominantly European lineup in the lower bracket of the Asia RMR.
Supporters and analysts within the APAC region termed this move as an attempt at “colonization” of the Asia RMR and rallied behind local teams. DRILLAS, whose logo humorously featured streamer and sponsor Mark “ohnePixel” Zimmermann, faced backlash for undermining the spirit of regional competition.
DRILLAS suffered their first tournament defeat at the hands of The MongolZ, who made a statement following their win. Their message to the teams in the Asia RMR was clear: this is our region, and it should be defended with pride. They emphasized the importance of safeguarding the platform for Asian teams to thrive and elevate the region’s overall competitiveness.
FlyQuest’s victory was hard-fought and celebrated across the APAC community. After taking Anubis, their map pick, with a 13-9 score, FlyQuest faced a major setback when DRILLAS overwhelmed them on Dust2 with a dominating 13-2 win. The series then shifted to Ancient, where DRILLAS appeared on course for victory, rallying from an 8-11 deficit to a 12-11 lead. However, Declan “Vexite” Portelli turned the tide with an impressive four-kill round that kept FlyQuest in contention.
The battle on Ancient extended into triple overtime, showcasing intense back-and-forth play. Ultimately, FlyQuest demonstrated resilience and capitalized on DRILLAS’ struggles when trailing, a vulnerability they had shown in their match against The MongolZ. FlyQuest secured the match with a final 22-19 score after delivering a flawless CT side that brought them to match point and sealed their progression to the next stage.
