Talon Esports made a resounding statement on the opening day of the VCT Pacific Kickoff 2024, clinching a commanding victory over Team Secret in Group B. Spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Peter “Governor” No and Lionel “Ienne” Xiang, Talon secured a prominent position atop the group standings.
The triumph held particular significance for the latter, who departed Team Secret in September 2023 to join Talon. Many viewed the Singaporean’s departure from Secret as a significant blow, and its impact was evident in their performance, as they failed to showcase the same level of firepower seen in previous seasons.
In a gripping showdown on the map Breeze, Talon’s Joseph “ban” Seungmin Oh led the charge, relentlessly dismantling Secret’s defenses round after round. Despite Secret’s attempts at a comeback, Governor’s sudden surge of aggression sealed Talon’s 13-8 victory in the first game.
Fuelled by their triumph, Talon unleashed an even fiercer onslaught in the subsequent game on Ascent. Team Secret could only watch in dismay as Governor and Ienne dominated the map, leading to a decisive 13-3 defeat in a mere 30 minutes – marking the most significant margin of victory in VCT Pacific 2024 thus far.
Governor and Ienne’s stellar performances catapulted them to the top of the tournament’s leaderboard at the moment, with Governor claiming the top spot and Ienne closely trailing in second. Notably, Ienne shines as a standout from Southeast Asia in the top 10, with teammate Jittana “Jitboys” Nokngam securing the seventh spot.
While Talon’s stellar start is commendable, they must maintain their momentum as they brace for a formidable challenge against DRX tomorrow. A victory against the APAC powerhouse could solidify Talon’s status as dark horses in this season’s competition.
