Team Liquid Claims Close Victory Over G2 Esports in EMEA Last Chance Qualifier
Team Liquid bounced back from their close loss to M3C earlier today with a hard-fought win against G2 Esports in the lower bracket of the EMEA Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
G2 chose to start on Bind, a map they had just won against OGLU while Liquid had lost to M3C. Despite G2 taking an early 4-1 lead, Liquid used unique strategies to secure buy rounds and turned the game around. Liquid ended the first half with a 7-5 lead, heading into their attack side.
In the second half, G2 narrowed the gap by winning the pistol round and the first buy round. However, Liquid used their ultimates effectively and managed to get to double digits by investing heavily in ultimates to secure the A site. Without ultimates for their attack plans, Liquid struggled to plant the spike with little time remaining, making it easy for G2 to deny. G2 consistently defused the spike to take Bind with a score of 13-10.
The series moved to Icebox, where Liquid had suffered a heartbreaking loss to M3C earlier in the day. However, Liquid showcased why Icebox was still a good map for them. They used Fade, Viper, and Astra to force G2 defenders out of hiding spots. Despite G2’s triple sentinel composition and map control, they struggled to defend the B site due to poor utility placement. Liquid took the lead with an 8-4 score at halftime.
In the second half, Jamppi played a crucial role for Liquid, securing unlikely round wins and shutting down G2’s attack. Whether it was aggressive duels or retakes, Jamppi led the way for Liquid and extended their lead to 12-7. Just as G2 started to make a comeback, Jamppi made a bold play at A, securing three kills in the final round of Icebox, leading Liquid to a 13-10 victory.
On Haven, G2 had a strong start with a flawless anti-eco round after losing the pistol round. Mixwell’s gutsy defuse helped G2 build a solid defense. However, Liquid fought back on the attack, baiting out G2’s utility and executing well on the sites. Despite trailing 5-1 at one point, Liquid reduced the lead to 7-5 before halftime.
After switching sides, Liquid quickly tied the map at 7-7 and dominated on the defense. They consistently shut down G2’s attacks and built a comfortable lead of 12-7. Although G2 managed to win one attack round, Liquid’s strong defensive performance sealed a 13-8 victory on Haven, resulting in a 2-1 series win.
It was a long day for Liquid, playing a total of six maps. But in the end, they achieved what they wanted: a second chance against the formidable M3C team in the grand finals. The two teams will now face each other in a best-of-five match, with the final EMEA ticket to VCT Champions at stake.
Liquid, G2 Esports, EMEA Last Chance Qualifier, esports, Team Liquid, G2 Esports, VCT Champions, Valorant