Team Liquid Makes History as First North American Team to Progress in Major
A remarkable feat was achieved today in the world of esports as Team Liquid became the first North American team to advance to the quarterfinals of a Major tournament. Breaking expectations, they defeated the formidable Fnatic, who were considered the overwhelming favorites. Although it was only a best-of-one match that went into overtime, this victory holds great significance as many anticipated Liquid to be eliminated from the group stage.
Liquid’s Impressive Performance Against Fnatic
In their match against Fnatic, Liquid initially struggled but were rescued by their star players, Hiko and s1mple. While s1mple had previously criticized the Hellraisers team, he displayed exceptional skill and played a crucial role in securing the win. adreN exceeded expectations, while nitr0 had a relatively quiet performance. It appeared that roles were swapped within the team, as nitr0, usually an entry-fragger, struggled with accuracy.
An Unexpected Off Day for Fnatic
Fnatic, known for their dominance, surprisingly faltered against a team that is often perceived as weaker. Dust II, the map on which the match took place, does not heavily rely on strategy. It is unlikely that Fnatic was saving their strategies, as avoiding a best-of-three match is preferable to saving strats. Liquid’s unexpected success caught Fnatic off guard and prevented their usual cohesive gameplay.
A Temporary Setback for Fnatic
Although Liquid’s victory may have been due to Fnatic’s off day rather than exceptional performance, it is still a significant accomplishment for the North American team. Liquid’s ability to push Fnatic to double overtime illustrates the team’s potential. However, it is anticipated that Fnatic will bounce back in the subsequent days of the tournament and continue their dominant performance.