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you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
I mean, I'm just no tired of saying
Cause we're all living, yeah, we're in a rush
Too late to change, me give me stings
Just give me a touch
I'm meaning it from the heart
I want it to be right when it gets dark
Resting in the moonlight until the sunrise
I'm thinking about you thinking about me
Let's do something crazy
Get it without today
Cause we don't do this every day
And we deserve it
Life is so amazing
Nothing's in our way
Baby let's fly away
Do you feel it
It's your heart rushing
The way my heart's rushing
And you take it all in
Baby, baby
This is what we call the night
Give me a beat, let's take the world by storm
Cause you and I can't believe it takes so long
To be alive
So make sense, make sense, make sense
Come on, let's break some rules
Now we don't always have to be good
Don't always have to do things that we should
Let's see it through and let go of what's holding us back
Just light it up and we'll work through the past
And take it higher
It's your heart rushing the way my heart's rushing
And you take it all in
Baby, this is what we call my life
Do you feel it? Take the world by storm
Just you and I
You and I can't believe it
It took so long to realize
This is where we are allowed to be
Remember, take the world by storm
Cause you and I can only
It took so long to realize
What makes us, makes us, makes us
This is where we call the love
I'm a monster, we are here on all the Jidang, yeah, get cruise
Oh, I'm on my way down, now I'm back, and now I'm back, and now I'm back with us
Pulled up my set, I'm so close, I'm so bad, yeah
you
you
you
you
you
You
I
One.
Two.
Give me a piece of your heart, you two.
Easy one way to start with two roads.
I could be laughing like a bitch on land.
Keep your eyes on me.
Keep your eyes on me.
Keep your eyes on me.
Be me.
Keep your eyes on me.
Keep your eyes on me.
Be me.
Keep your eyes on me.
Keep your eyes on me.
Keep your eyes on me.
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
You
I
Your body knows a sense of victory sees when mind movement and gear ignite is one
Now, step into your zone.
Designed to win.
Wingman World, well, Wingman World, well, what?
Have a break.
Have a KitKat.
Wingman World, well, wanting a well-won break.
Let's go!
Let Go
Let go gives you wings
I
I don't know why you leave me to drown
I don't know where to go unless you say
I don't know what to do unless you stay
Thinking that today will be our day, be our day again
Why am I waiting?
Why am I just sticking away?
Just sticking away
I don't know why I'm asking why
I'm not gonna let it go, I'm not gonna let it go
Let's try to take it away
Let's take it away, away, away
Let's get it
When you lose it, even when I'm bad
Got an attitude, I'm off the roof up in the end
This run I make it count, yeah I'm talking right now
I feel like a comeback, care got my time to spare
You ever look score, 2-2-4
You know I'm winning, I'm gonna be one more
On the high street, never gets old
Oh, the photo with the ace of my team went gold
Why am I playing with time?
I'm about to stick it away
Stick it away
You're an ass going blind
Fly and stick it away
Stick it away
away
I'll give it one more try
I don't know why, but I keep coming back every time
I want it more than my life, I don't know why
It feels so right to me
I don't wanna play you, I don't wanna just get away
It's taking away away
That's no way
It's not a second away
It's taking away away away
It's taking away away
It is ice cold here in Berlin with heat into server is hopefully gonna be keeping
to be keeping us warm. Today we got heretics going up against KC as both of them are fighting
to survive the freeze. Stuck in this lower bracket, Oof is also looking to feast on team
Liquid. Is that going to happen? We're gonna have to wait and see. But today is do or die.
It's time for these teams to win and to show us what they are made of or go home. I'm
your host Ginny and I'm doing with Ninny and Billy. Welcome to both of you. Yesterday
was banger today should be some good yep I'm the worst person to come to the
start of the day honestly that's what we're training we're getting we're
getting the exposure there can we talk about yesterday like I think we need to
speak about the things that went on throughout the day yesterday do we want
to start with finati now do we want to start with the 13 or what compels you
13 zero was more compelling yeah okay okay yeah I think it was a interesting
Like obviously middle bracket some of those teams are teams that I still think are favorite to go to Santiago
I think by totally looking like that BBL loss was just BBL maybe looking just really good and then
The fanatic side, I don't know what to make of it. It's very close game very strange affairs coming there
Still teams I think it's the same for this lower bracket teams trying to figure out what's working for them
It's early in the season. Not everything's figured out. We've got a very new meta
So a little bit of figuring things out. I think it's still on the cards
you're in the middle bracket.
I get it if you're in the upper
bracket, but for today, Billy,
this is like this is it. This
is their chance to prove what
they've been working on off
season. Exactly. It's
elimination day. And we look at
some of the teams that are in
this lower bracket. You're
thinking team heretics were
potentially a favorite to make
it's that master Santiago
spot. But obviously our team
that have been struggling a
little bit, and then, of course,
team liquid as well. They
obviously make the very first
Masters event last year,
albeit a different roster, but
yeah, it's a little bit of a
little bit of a challenge, but
it's a little bit of a challenge
for the team. And I think
I'll be at a different roster, but yeah, it's kind of the big names that you expect and to not find themselves in this position
Yeah, if anything and we cast our minds back to last year's kickoff in 2024 actually the last year before wow
Okay, we had heretics going up against KC and this is the rematch that potentially heretics could maybe make it a grudge match
Yeah, maybe I mean yeah
I think the main thing for me is how much has changed since this kickoff, right Casey?
Haven't really been able to find success since then despite having three roster rebuilds at this point
I think when we're looking at team heretics on the contrast inside though
They've only made one roster change since then by bringing come back. Yeah
I think the point is here is that like Casey usually find a bit more form during kickoff especially and heretics obviously in
2024 that was a big year and the fact that they were both finalists that year and now find them so so quickly in a lower bracket
I mean, I think it's a lot of
questions as to why that is the
case, I guess. Yeah, and
questions that hopefully the
both of you will be able to
answer today. Casey is something
that we highlighted a little bit
was the fact that they have
these. Mistakes that they are
continuously making. They
shouldn't be making when they
are at this level, although
they're able to come back
against yet. It just still
wasn't convincing. Yeah, I
think when I'm thinking about
Casey's roster, we kind of set
their expectations pretty
highly of this team, especially
However, when I think about team heretics, the struggles that they've been having in kick-off so far
I think definitely leans into them still trying to find out what their identity is.
Yeah, I think I'd echo that completely. Like Casey making some weird mistakes, but winning big clutches with Saigetsu on paper
I think they do have a lot of skill and talent that's just about coming together. And I think yeah, really on the heretics side
I think it's such an interesting almost like case study of like
like, how do you build a team and then find the right identity?
We talked about it last week that, you know, was Double Druid is something that they wanted
to do?
Could they do it?
We've come back on the team, it made a lot of sense, but then it just wasn't working.
It felt like maybe even someone like Buu maybe isn't as comfortable with that approach as
a team.
Buu was saying that like they like to work with information and that Double Druid is
comfortable doesn't have information.
So then we saw this switch towards Double Initiator and to Comfort, but then they lost
to a team that, yes, they lost 13-0 on that same map. So it's like, it feels like things
are still being worked out. Obviously, they don't have much time in kickoff for that to
happen, but I would do expect Heretic to, I mean, they have to, they have to solve these
issues in the long term.
Yeah, absolutely. And if anything, we'll get to that later when it comes to the conversation
with Benji. But I feel like the question for me then becomes like, is, what is the identity
of heredities moving forward and has come back like the correct choice when it comes
to that they've made and how they're using him as a player.
I think comeback is an easy scapegoat here and I think that a lot of times people have
looked at the duelist on team heretics to kind of use that as a reason or an excuse,
but I think what we're kind of alluding to here is who's approached the game, very slow,
very methodical. And when you are trying to run compositions which is double duelist,
for the most part, is what they've been leaning into, they can't just keep playing the slow
methodical approach.
Yeah, I mean last week we saw come back when they were billed putting him on agent's jeweless
He was more comfortable with and
Heretics themselves were playing a little bit more comfort style combat himself was actually popping off like this is the first time
I've seen come back play to the standard in which I've kind of thought he could if that makes sense
Like he is extremely high skill seeding player in VCT. We haven't seen that consistently
But last week was the first signs of that and so that is
at least a green tick in my head, but everything else now needs to kind of level up with that.
Yeah, I think on one of those notes as well as we were kind of like figuring out how do they figure out that kind of identity
and something that we know that comeback is great on from his time in Challengers, from his time in VCG is buying those scoped weapons.
So I'd love to see them lead into that, whether that means he picks up a chamber for example and they have what is primary jewelist
or just have comeback set on that scoped weapon and have going in and being the more flashy kind of jewelist if they want to play double jewelist.
Yeah, it comes to heretics finding their identity and what they're comfortable with and we can sit here and like on their body for a little bit
But I think hearing from the players themselves is also a great way to figure out what exactly is going on in the heretics camp
So we did have an interview with Benji to have potentially a little peek behind the curtain
Jenny here joined with Benji ahead of their matchup today
And I would love to hear a bit of an overarching theme that we're seeing from heretics
It's you guys are now in this low bracket things are looking a little bit dicey. What's going on?
Um, you know, I think we've, you know, we've been struggling, obviously, um, I think right now we're just trying to make sure that we, um, are not giving up, find our play style. Um, in the day, we've, we've been in worse positions, to be honest, like, I think all of us have experienced pretty bad times, but for me, in the end, we always come out on top, so I, I, I self will trust.
the team. We're going to be
the best players in the team
mechanically. That's good to
hear the positives. He's
exactly what you guys need.
Speaking about your play
style, something we saw last
week is you guys going back
towards that heretics
identity that we were seeing
last year. A little bit more
aggressive. Do you think
that's what you guys are
sticking to? Can we expect
anything different? I mean,
now that we've got come back,
I think he's probably like
the best player in the team
mechanically. I think we're
trying to just find our game
and I think slowly over time you'll see a new version of heretics.
Okay, I'm looking forward to that.
But today against KC, this is a match we saw last kickoff as well,
which, you know, they won.
You guys play second.
So now is the lower bracket pressure is on?
Uh, no, honestly, I, you know, we're just taking things game by game.
I think none of us are super stressed.
We, I think the main thing for us is that we play to win,
not be scared to lose.
So that's what we're going to be doing.
All right.
Well, thank you so much for your time.
Thank you.
Good luck with the game there, and we're going to be heading back over to you guys on the desk.
Thank you guys, note to self, it is 2026, not 2025, but also want to touch upon him specifically mentioning comeback and mentioning the fact that they need the time to find the identity and just the playstyle that they want to go with.
Yeah, I think when you consider they had a little bit of a shorter offseason period to other teams because of things that they had going on with their own players, but in saying that comeback was one of the first pickups when we think about these two characters roster.
So it's very clear that they knew what they wanted going into next year, because they made that decision so early.
Yeah, I still think there was an issue that it felt like Double Jonas was the obvious effort they'd go for,
and they were coming in to kick off with that approach.
But I do think that there's still this, like, for me, I think the boot composition is very interesting.
I think that it's down to the coaches to make boot developments with IGL that can handle different styles,
especially in this meta now, which doesn't favor that classic heretics, KO double in a shared style.
And going forward, it'll be interesting in the short term if that kind of approach is a band-aid
for the short term during kickoff, and what the plan is the long term, I guess.
And I think that just seems like questions that they're asking themselves too.
Do we then kind of go into the territory of kickoff being experimental ground for heretics?
I mean, if you're changing comps midway through kickoff, then that is the case, unfortunately.
I think that's been the case for a few teams, even like Fnatic talking about it too.
And so there are some questions about the usage of the off-season for some of these teams,
but I know that Reans was away with some something, so like, maybe there is an excuse there,
but honestly, I think teams need to come into kickoff more consistently with that identity ready
and not using kickoff as a proff sometimes.
Is that something that Billy you also would agree with?
Do you think it's not too terrible that they're trying different things throughout kick-off?
Yeah, I mean, I think they don't really have a choice at this point.
I think that, like we've said, they're questioning their own identity, they need to be able to try things.
I think Boo is the big topic here, right?
How is he able to adapt as an IGL?
How is he able to get the most out of the players he has within the team?
Which is why we were kind of critiquing the coaching staff as well last week, I find.
Because we were looking at that system and trying to figure out, you know, what is going on here?
They don't really know what's going on here.
and it comes to a point now where we're running out of time.
This is an elimination match.
And another team that's kind of struggling a little bit with their identities,
Casey as well.
It also struggling with just not making the small little mistakes
and fundamentals that we, a team from back Halibur,
we're not hoping or wanting to see make these mistakes.
Yes, they won against foot, but it then becomes a question of,
was it a convincing win?
Is it really down to these players stepping up in moments of need,
Which yes, of course, it's great to have heroics every now and then but is that really going to be what you can rely on?
Yeah, it was like it's like this weird thing with KC where on paper. I think again, they have a lot of good players
I think that it's a strange balance between the fact that they throw some rounds absolutely
By the same time
They do for content for content. Yeah, but then also for the content are winning some of these big brands too
so it's almost like
it's strange because
You shouldn't be able to rely on those clutches, but at the same time they need to fix those little rounds too and
After that those things should balance themselves out a little bit and then you're left with a team that's still in the same place
If that makes sense you can't keep watching this much, but if you fix those mistakes. Yeah, does that make sense?
Yeah, I actually something they spoke about in the interview last week was being able to fix fundamentals
And I think that it'll take a bit of time for the team to get surgery given the roster changes that they've had
But watching that game against foot just tilted me beyond belief like I was sitting there thinking how many rounds are out of desperation at
This point because it was just all over the place
We've seen team flashes come through from a couple of members on this roster as well
Which is why I'm like leading back into the fundamentals
Conversation because it really is just a little like my new errors like that that they need to clean up
I do think that the shining light last week was that those you did stuff up though
I think that he was a player on my radar
Last year and I thought that this pickup was one of the best pickups in EMEA this year
It was like one of the players that really made me think higher about Casey coming into this year and making me a little bit surprised by
Not forming quite as well a kickoff so far and last week he basically
Had carried and I won't be surprised going through the rest of this year if he continues to put up performances like he did
I think the main thing for him as well is that he's been pretty consistent, I think, since coming into BCT,
at least across the last two matches that they've played.
It's almost as if he's been able to warm up to the stage and actually, you know, show the work that he has here in BCT.
I think another thing as well is by him being that primary smoker, it does allow KC a bit more flexibility in terms of
we're seeing Sugetsu jump over to that Sentinel rule a bit more, as much as he has been playing the Viper and kind of supporting that double controller.
and identity that Casey had been going for but yeah I mean he's been a great player and a great addition to this roster.
It's like when you say it out loud that the firepower are as I get to those here and 11 when he's on.
Those four players that it can actually take over.
Like 11, another point of conversation, another player that we have to talk about when it comes to the five and he was able to perform under Yoru.
Was that, was it enough to convince you?
I mean last week I was very critical in saying that maybe Jet will be the right approach for him.
for him, but honestly last week I was...
You said last week it was Tuesday.
Oh yeah, last time it was Tuesday.
It feels like last week after yesterday, okay?
So when he played the other day, he did have a very strong
performance on Yoru and Wele, particularly on defense sides,
but I think going forward, and so there is a little bit of hope there for me,
that it's not just going to be him having to just go back and play Jail with the side.
There was some hope, but obviously one series to meet isn't enough.
I think I have some questions over the attack sides from KC and agents like Wele and Euro are a little bit harder to execute on the attack compared to an agent like Jack, but the defences with the operator were extremely good for him.
Yeah, something impressed me in their game against FOOT was the amount of passive information he was able to get on the defense specifically through taking deep angles while using on the operator.
More of that, please more of that, please
But maybe we'll answer your question because we're ready to head into our first game of today case C going up against heretic
You're here, but it just keeps burning
All through this world
But it will be hard for you
But it just keeps burning
And it's still on my head
But it just keeps burning
All through this world
But it will be hard for you
We want to go back to fundamentals, we want to see these teams shine through with the
identities that they potentially formed throughout the off-season.
So, Mavito, or at least expectations for what we hope to see from both of these teams?
So to me, the big thing in this map Vito is pro and haters.
Both teams want a ban pro usually, and both teams like picking haters.
So to me, it's who's won this game of chicken.
And it looks like KC have won this game of chicken a little bit.
Team Heretics have had to go into ban a pro, and then they also picked haters.
So KC basically got those for free.
So usually when that happens, it means that they gain advantages elsewhere by being able
to go to here saying abyss and pro.
I don't know whether they're
going to be able to do that.
I just want to say that, but
what about that? Peter wise
Abyss Haven that Haven should
be a banger both teams liking
it. Any thoughts about this? Yeah,
I think a base for me is
interesting because team
Heretics obviously lost that
against a giant next. They got
13. Oh, don't know the other
days. So now that's not
looking so great. Um we only
got to see three rounds from
Casey's attack on a bus,
though, so I'm really intrigued
to see how their composition
works out there, given that
we've spoken about how great
to the last two maps there.
Team Heretic's opting to ban Bind and take us to Corode,
I think is interesting here.
Yeah, that's interesting, because Casey don't usually
play Corode, they usually ban that quite a lot.
And Heretic's also hasn't played Corode yet in this one.
And Heretic's...
So it's like, what are we gonna see?
And obviously they changed composition on Bind as well
from week to week, so it's almost like you didn't trust
in your own composition change, and so have decided
to get rid of that Bind and take us to Corode,
which obviously we've not seen from Everteam.
Yeah, what we do see from both these seasons,
them getting cozy and comfortable on their Razor Chairs,
We are getting closer to jumping into the server, but the discussion really does happen to start with a bit
When we're looking at the best from Casey that looks really strong against team liquid granted liquid is now also in this lower bracket
So it's like what went right or wrong. That's a different discussion for a different day
But from the side heretics, would you be worried?
Not worried, but like it should be obviously a pretty close one
I think that what Casey were doing really well on the best last time was on the defense the gravity
well as coming in from the Astra. We're completely disrupting the execute. And I think heretics
will be looking at and understanding that they can't just pull in. They have to really
consider how they're going to do that exit against the gravity line.
I think the plus side for team heretics is we were speaking about them going back to
the identity that works for them in terms of double initiator, and they do decide to
play that on this map, at least the last time that we got to see them play. So it should
be comfortable for them in that sense. KC don't really know what to expect from them
because obviously the last time they played it, it was so dominant, so there's only so much that we could read into that
because we've not seen their attack side, like I mentioned.
Yeah, I think for Heretic, I think it's continuing that discussion about that comfort.
Like, on the base last week, they played Jett, Sova, Kayle, Scyther, Astra.
It's like, if you could hand pick the agent comfort for each of these players, they'd get it on this map.
And neither one of these teams has changed your composition.
They're sticking with their guns, and in that sense, sticking with what they're comfortable with.
Yeah, so I guess, yeah, coming away from this, if Heretic continues to put shaky on a composition in which comfort is key,
both fit like in terms of strategy, comfortable with the initiator, and in terms of individual comfort,
then that's going to raise some question marks for me for their future in kickoff and also this year.
And on the opposing side, we had a brief conversation about Levin, right, being able to perform on the jet.
Obviously, we know he's great defensively, but like I said, we didn't get to see their attack,
attack but if anything this should be good for us. I think that was a nearly 300 ACS performance the
last time you were on the jet so I'm expecting big things in this jethead for that. Do you ever wonder
like maybe you're sending expectations too high? I mean I don't think he should be expected to get
300 ACS like with the end player. I just made it clear. You know like you know. 299? 299. Okay that's
more realistic absolutely. Well my question then for you both is how are we expecting East
these comps to go up against each other on that. Actually, I'm going to throw that question to the
casters instead because they're ready, so fancy and high-fod. Let me know about the composition.
I mean, we could do that. We could do that. Oh man, like, we're not analysts, so I'm just here
to be entertaining. That's all I got. But anything about the comp standing out to you,
because it sounds a bit very comfortable, I guess, because that's all you need to talk about.
That's crazy to say. Casey is unfamiliar territory, which is being comfortable and
I don't think it's like Levin here where he's probably struggled elsewhere in terms of maybe timings maybe
Just some other things for Casey on the attack here back on the jet
I think he's he's allowed to stand on his own two feet and kind of do his own thing
There's been certain instances of like Levin being so far ahead of the rest of the team and whether that's an IGL
A calling issue or mid-rounding or anything like that here. I think it's probably good to be safe to say
He's able to do his thing. Yeah, and I'm with you in that because we've had a couple of question marks about KC kind of
Let's say with the in-game leadership getting that right and kind of similar to what page he was almost alluded to trying to get
Come back assimilated to the roster, but a very quick approach through middle
Bloody hell Rienz could have been on for that, but those you're gonna do well take down Rienz, but there's still more
Right there's a lot of points behind this.
He's gonna find three extra.
Down to a 3v2.
Two left for Heretics to try and figure this one out.
He has a comfortable plan here.
Boo and Comeback still quite a ways away from this.
Boo's gonna find himself an upgrade here.
Okay, so you haven't taken much space away,
but they are tucked in quite close to spawn here in a high low.
Shade is just resetting a little bit to watch the flank.
He's been over delivery from one of these two aren't we? Come back, been good. He's been
really good. Ah, the eyes turn for a second for Casey's numbers. Standing very favourably
in DOSHA, man. I mean, huge. What an insane mirror though on the pistol to have so many
players from Aragic set up. Maybe just kind of matching plans a little bit. Yeah, I mean
I'm fantastic to get to in that situation, but a third on the round, but two there towards top mid
KC with a little pep in their step
This is where you'd expect to see it as one of the bits with I mean yes
It's liquid on the other side of that result, but a 13-2 result nonetheless
Yeah, and again for me. I just want to see the evolution of KC here
You know as if they've always been very creative and that feels like it
So going back to basics, they have firepower.
You see it in the players.
You see in how they approach it in comfortable roles.
We could see it really fine some for him.
Stanley for Heretics.
That's going to be a hard situation to handle.
Certainly is where they're obviously a team that needs to do.
But I mean, they've said themselves a lot of work
on certain aspects of the game this year already.
But he's not seen anything just yet.
So KC is still anticipating further aggression, but now we'll regroup outside B.
And all three members of the Heretics have made their way over the side,
but can have their hands full in terms of their sight here.
Well, Investor, that's his only shade of sort of pistol.
Yeah, so I guess for KC, they can't really afford to lose too much.
You don't see them lose their place, right?
That's kind of the marker of clean success.
So let's see how they handle this one.
There is obviously three.
It's just classics, and there's one to four, right?
anymore it gets dangerous luckily they found down the hatches they keep things
clean and re-ends trying to do the dance but I think is a little bit numb but
at least he's working out a nice drive. 11 down to just six HP chance to take away
another rifle to soften this bonus but... Does this feel like we are seeing
Casey just going back to basics? I don't want to sound like a negative, but other kickoff
other, you know, approaches to the game or...
Yeah, I guess so.
For me as well, the focal point with that statement being clever on the jet, right?
It's back to where there's a little less input required from Shadoff.
I'm not saying he's had massive issues, but...
No.
Especially with the way Dosh has been playing, man.
I think there's an example now, especially with, well, actually, everybody else on this.
Rosta, once you put them in comfort roles,
and allow them to kind of do things on their own within some of these rounds,
Oh, what's that?
God, come back!
Again!
I've had a huge opportunity here, but it's shut down.
Re-instified a response.
Ooh, Benji's gone into the mix here.
This could be good, but Flash is eaten, forced away.
Stays alive, fortunately, but they've got the cross.
Nice refight, and so gets you, gets caught kind of in between no man's land.
Plant cancelled.
Oh, Arvents, is it trouble here now?
Can I find any stability?
I don't know if you can get this plant down.
Maybe another attempt here.
Heretic's probably just waiting for a sound cue.
Be able to make moves in here.
She's running from blue, but nobody's overstepping.
Just yet, Benji.
Gonna find Shados.
Just now there's left.
Yes, and again, just simply numbers game at that point.
Well done!
Four players there staying alive.
Heretic, that was a necessary round,
it felt as if we're keeping numbers up.
But definitely seeing the pistol round here,
this is something Heretic's very, very happy to do,
is explore top mid very quickly.
We're obviously in a position to shut this down before any pressure into the back lines.
And we can really wrap A site as easily.
Obviously there's a big gap to kind of close towards spawn there, so.
And Heretic's already showing that they don't have to come up with these issues or the answers on the fly,
because seeing the pistol, it looks as if that address is already there.
Yeah, we'll see how this develops on.
I still don't think we know exactly where these two teams sit, if I'm honest.
I don't know the highs yet. I think we've seen some of the lows, if I'm honest, but
at high level potential, as said, Green come back into a role that works really with him,
bring the rest of the roster with Heretics onto the same page, yet to see that fully
find its place. Obviously, same scenes almost on the other side in a mirror way, but with
the in-game leadership of Shados there, and a couple new additions, obviously, to round
it out. So plenty of moving parts. But now you can see it there, conversation with Shados.
I'm trying to get the ducks in order.
A slower approach here, but four members of Heretics
went over towards the B side.
I don't see anyone with an Oxford just yet.
This could be an absolute brawl for the B site.
It could be that the amount of bodies sat on this side of the map.
It feels like already a win for Heretics.
Yeah, I mean, Levin has to go huge if he's to dash in here.
He's here.
but they're kind of sitting back on contact.
I don't know if he's...
It looks like we've had a point there.
Yeah, Senpai and Muu trying to help out a bit,
but by this point they're already on site.
It feels like a survival game here.
30 seconds left.
It managed to carve a path,
but this fool plays on the same side of the map.
They're sat here like this,
and still standing...
I don't know how there's no fight breaking out yet,
they're finally turned on the flash,
but it's Leven!
You said he had to go big and he does!
Three huge kills,
and the site's still not safe,
still got issues everywhere,
and that's going to make it easier,
at least for KC as Rienz. I think you spotted Rienz there but so you get to
with a decent idea and obviously Arvid's holding this angle now. That could be a
huge shock to Arvid. I mean Rienz have all the players you give them a bit more
room to work right you give them a second. Oh there's 16 Shade of Sevens. You get to
position though, checkmate. Two kills in a round in PC. Carry on as they've been to
him. Again got a highlighter there. How many players they have on that side of the map?
Yeah, it gets a little bit awkward because the timing comes perfectly, I think,
just as that was about to happen, Boo places a star,
and that's what kind of spurs on this flash out from Arbez and sets Leven in motion.
But again, if they just pause for another second or two, there's a chance
for Heretics to be the one to crunch back on.
Let's go!
Ask for it, Leven. Huge delivery there in round four.
Now I've got the Bladestorm online.
Now we can draw here.
Heretics, this is a round yourself if you're trying to get the read on this and hunters fury very
Yeah, let's try and send them down with some aggression. We've got the reward of one
But there's so many bodies still around Casey not really dismantling the stack keeping numbers on that B side and Levin
Looking to try and even things out, but at this point they have managed to fall back towards deep site
I think Casey probably
Anticipating a couple of extra bodies behind that but can't use that yet with the trade coming so early
Can't really take the space and now
Everyone except Arva is looking to capitalise on that.
Yeah, we're dealing with the Kepler just here now.
Maybe try to get active, get Benji able to drop another weapon and give that over to someone else, but...
Arva's got a great read on the map though, anticipating the mid-push here.
They might get a little bit of timing.
No, I think that just passed.
As you get to fully...
I think Arva's relaying that information perfectly.
I mean, looking where he's looking, yeah, I think I'm with you on that.
And it's all about timing, they've kind of got the beat on two of the three players alive.
And for Heretic, it's not really getting into the swing of things it feels like here, not too threatening yet.
Then she's the one with the hero, why would she do that?
Who comes out on top of that fight?
Well done.
Still having a bit of this, but we do need to get her to get to who looks solid as hell.
Holding this backline like it's nothing.
So, Boo, unable to get an upgrade, but finally getting a little more interested.
He's doing well, taking down Shadoff, suddenly we might have a round on our hands, Benji.
He got something for us here bud.
That's two players to lock down, he ain't got it in him.
Sugetsu having a moment there and it was a dangerous threat of a round in the end.
Definitely, it's four big kills from Sugetsu to find the fourth for KC.
Again, Arvis doesn't get confirmation here but just in terms of, like I said, relaying the information, the timings and what he's seen elsewhere.
KC don't necessarily overheat towards site, which is the important aspect and probably one of the key
Indicators of maybe an aspect of KC's game
They struggle with Shados really tempering that pace and understanding what to do and when in the round
It's quite interesting watching kind of an experienced player walk into the IGL role, right?
You don't know quite their identity as any game leader yet
There was a quite I was waiting to drop
I think Mini said the other day it's like Eng said previously Shados was the smartest plays ever played or something along this
I'm sure I'm probably correct me but something alongside those lines and it's like if a coach has
Faith in a player like this to really stress their legs within a role and then give them
Kind of rule of the roost basically
Well, I was just about say a couple rounds ago in a roster that on paper you look at this
This is kind of four players outside of shados. Well shados included in this
But four players that can stand alone two feet. I mean you've got sugetzu
Who arguably is just one of the best last man standings. Absolutely many of the
the roster is easier. And those two as well, who's already shown us these very self-submission.
Levin, if it is an agent issue and a composition issue, maybe that can be cleaned up a little
bit with just some good results under his belt within this roster. And Arvez, who again,
has just shown his hand of being very versatile and being able to do his own thing. This previous
round being a perfect example.
Yeah, and I don't think his work is necessarily numerically shown yet, if I'm honest. He's
yet to get off the starting box, but again, that position and that great timing of presence.
put them on a Phoenix. So yeah, it's quite fun to watch this develop as it goes. There's
been some messy games with these boys, so there has to be that which I think you'll naturally
get with the new in-game leader coming in trying to get everything sorted. You could
also say you naturally get the thing, they're holding on in seasons. Yes, also fair. Very
standard defy, they're super deep as well. But maybe twine with some expectation, they
put a heavy emphasis towards being maybe starting to read in that investment of utility, additional
bodies there has been that trend of three over towards the B site so maybe looking to explore
the weaker side of things but it doesn't look so weak no one wants in come back's hands
yet to fully get the ball rolling though only one kill so far so quiet start but pulling
off that first corner.
Right here.
Still consideration from heretics towards mid it's certainly going to be a pressure point
for them 11 actually shut down here Reans with the spam in.
a freebie, come back. Still looking for an angle here, again. Peretics should really
post up now and try and hold some of these choke points.
Fellow, they don't quite know where this is ending up. Who's still drifting, but we
end this in left. Finding contact towards Heaven is a problem and now it's pretty much, I
don't know if it's Panic Stations, but that's getting this a little bit tougher.
Well, I mean look what they got in the post here, the Hunters Fury, still got a Shock
Darts, still got a Recon and the Knife from Arves. Paranoia on top of that as well actually.
But look at Dosh's position, he's staying shoulder up on this.
The other two are very disconnected, SuperD.
Playing outside of expectation and landing it.
Followed up, because he's the only guy that does disrespecting.
Heretic's on the playback through and bringing it to this 3v3.
And now that utility comes into line.
Shadows can really disconnect from this now.
Let's get this fine.
This is beautiful.
There it is.
There's a layering on this.
Who knows, this day's a numbers.
That was stunning.
Play to perfection.
Again, an example here of KC really managing the resources very well.
And again, an example where Doshia put him forwards.
He can frag, man. Put him in the corner.
He still delivers two.
Talk about it in the pistol round.
No way he should get away with a second.
If I could get this to the follow-up here.
Oh, I thought Booth...
I imagine Booth thought he had indenture rights, but now we...
Coming out of the TB animation as well.
We've been quite complimentary of KC here,
but I also now need to put my attention to a teratix.
They haven't really been keeping up with this.
They haven't been able to handle the level we're seeing going on.
OK, see.
Arvez is going to reveal at least one member.
Hot heretics.
I'm back.
We'll take some space away here.
She tagged down 10 HP.
I don't think you found it.
Actually, Arvez did take one shot, but certainly nothing to act upon.
Oh lucky to get away with his last day on that Simon.
Some of the utility being stripped away here.
It's got Benji in trust.
Sure!
Oh that's nice.
Come on Benji, you got 5 HP though.
Mya run its course here, just so low as KC.
Flood the site, we've seen them do great work.
Ah, could quite get the follow-up so our mess again.
Create security on the site, smokes go up, three players remaining.
the sheriffs of course but you'd love to do a bit more here and Arves, what have you got
on? Happy with this one, farms it up, then for Rehens, masterful yes but all players
as well. And especially on this side of the map, I don't think he's got much here sadly.
He's early doesn't let them get to make sure of it. Do we see a double timeout first half
here for Heretics? I would imagine so yeah, the positive being we've seen Heretics with
a couple of very proactive setups for some of these rounds, but now unfortunately the
score line is going to make things a little harder to justify in terms of taking risks
towards mid or even challenging some of this pressure that KC are leaning into.
I'm going to see it here, obviously going to have the buyback in comfortable position
in terms of the ultimate, see it.
Four heretics on the other side, no command on the TP, four KC.
in hand now for comeback. Does he go hunting?
Yeah, he's dropped.
But the problem is that it looks like a tempo change and is Benji a Rien to it.
Benji's going to snuff the line as well.
Yeah, he can't do anything. Sight's open. Sight is available and Leven's going looking.
He's got his target. Drops the body.
Caesar follow up. Can't quite get that one down.
Rien's holds the line well enough to at least trade in and keep it within maybe the realms of reality.
But oh, look at this. Look how far away he's to get to already was.
Comeback's getting curious, 1-7 though Mike, it's not been a hot start.
Let's have the knives here.
A couple of flashes available for loot as well.
Now, I'm going to go and do some solo on the site.
As you can see, if comeback goes to the championship.
Yeah, he's going looking, but there's a bit of time between this.
Well, they can't stall so much here.
Yeah, he's not found him on the site.
Back.
He's just been going, but what a shot!
Beheading!
That's not by A main.
Flash on the check, he's got a nose to get to, he's around here.
Got the utility.
can play this to time. But how'd you get past comeback? Locked in. Yeah, he's gonna land that one.
Heretic's finally stemming the bleed. It was a drought of rounds.
We'll stick the landing here just maybe a couple of seconds either way.
So he's gonna pull the forward position, but I mean, Rienz finds two kills in the brink of a
I hear 11 and shade offs
It's tough really for Doshi as well to give up that much space on site just kind of has to get into a passive angle unfortunately
Come back able to isolate both players
And the boys still it's something protected I mean she gets to the only one struggling behind this for KC
No shit 12 and six as well
and he's yeah he's doing work
might have come back to try and get a bit more active, a little more fast
try to switch up of setup as well for Benji
and through your first contact on Shados
I'm trying to probably figure out where Benji's setup is right now
it's gonna be a much uh...
I haven't found him yet
I don't know if it was just a little
He must have been on top, but I mean, yeah, the kill markers down to the side, but
What the challenge over the top of the smoke there?
Yeah, maybe hopefully we'll catch it on a replay there because I'm quite curious because it looked like actually
Casey we're changing the minds maybe not fully focused on hitting the speed side. It was on the moment KC
We're looking to pivot. Yeah, so I don't know how they'd call that because that might open up a new chance, right?
Come back still trying to be attentive towards middle. He's not really got a challenge down here
We can see the rotations to get to who feels like the marker of commitment almost
and Boo would be waiting. Comeback is here now. I'm dividing this to a piece on both sides of the map
and just on the other side being Shadows here, Hunter's Fury, blind Hunter's Fury and a tag.
That's very impressive. Rhiann's gonna catch but that's the gun signal. Oh that's a shot! Boo! Bangs out
two of them! Now a 2v2 though they've got to know there was presence still on that A site.
How far could Levin go though?
I mean he's...
I think he's back at the right, yeah?
Yeah, I almost wanted him to go further but the timing's gonna be everything.
He's got a smoke to play to get to the site. The timing...
He's gone away with Daylight Robbery already.
Big info for Levin.
Levin, when do you swing? When do you play? Do they even think about it?
Reans and Benjy, do you dare? You don't even see a coming Levin!
Brilliant positioning! How? I thought Boom might have had that one done enough to find two.
was in the case tanking the fragment but still delivering two kills here even
that first blood not really oh it's just yeah as yeah as the smoke drops as a
cloud burst to the side I thought that was more central there
for them to pivot away yeah beautiful stuff
they've been able to capitalize on some of the freedom behind this B site hold
It was just boo anchoring
Purchase not going to be there for round 10. I've seen obviously reading into that very well
I mean they look so comfortable in that beast I
Just got a whole team in support apparently
It's quite impressive to see this is what Casey can start looking like way more exciting.
If you see this coordination carried across to other maps as well, it's this is sort of
hinting at what the ceiling of this roster could be.
I'm just looking at level here still.
Man, everyone's here today.
They are hitting shots on Casey's side.
They've done their work.
their work and it's showing an in zone flawless I'm a little stoned here we're
seeing pretty a really big up thing from dojo who's been great to be fair a
really like standout player can't really deny that we're seeing leaven at the
same time just have one two punch in an apron else for filling their role
diligently I mean what are you meant to do that's you just but yeah double time
out now I mean it's tough to really characterize what's going wrong for
heretics here because I just think we're seeing such an upswing once more same
map that we saw versus liquid KC looking back in the comfort zone which is
where you know some of the criticism we saw elsewhere when we were casting the
game on split it's like they just they don't have a direction it doesn't look
like they have like solid ideas and nobody's really even committing to
some of these ideas that don't look great so certainly here a way more
cohesive approach from KC. Obviously Heretics now back in a position where we're asking for a response.
It's going to be frustrating as well coaching staff wise because we haven't seen the good side of
Heretics in in a while. They've made changes. That's taking time then to come together. Obviously
Heretics come into this with with preparation right and that's why it can be a little disheartening
to then say okay we've I don't know if they've worked hard or specifically on this or this is
expectation in terms of the veto obviously you come into this now whatever
you've worked on's kind of just been shut down and you're back in that position
where heretics don't historically look great at coming up with problems kind of
in rounds throughout halves throughout the entire map in terms of weird comps
coming out and that's why it's tough to watch yeah it is I mean and in the
nicest way heretics have been on the right side of the map a lot of times
I've had the right stacks, but couldn't really do much about it Leven
We're gonna get invested and involved but it's a one-point trade on both sides
We're still trying to control in middle as well
And how it is trying to play crunch on this look over towards the connector Benji's there
Come back sir
Our drone still only gonna see one Leven strikes though. It's nice Benji. I'm looking for a follow-up
Evans there it is
systematic in middle
And boo
I mean Sugetsu is just running away with the map now. This is the issue if Heretic's commit more bodies to these mid crunches Sugetsu
Perfect read on the situation to be able to slip the net
Relay some really valuable information
Boo seems to have an idea. Oh find it still a 1v3 behind this
well
1v2.2 maybe. Shados clinging to life but has Hunter's Fury. Don't expect him to be coming forward. There's always that absolute last bastion.
And look at my best position too.
I mean, do you think I guess? Try it out.
It's not going to happen but try it out. Levin did very well there but oh it feels... I miss heretics man.
I mean, regardless of the investment there, they're going to come into a round 12, basically
playing for, oh well, not going to be able to master up a full purchase, I guess maybe
a vain attempt to get the Hunter's Flurry to, I don't know.
We're clutching it.
Yeah, desperation mode.
It's just, it does feel a shame because out of the highest heretics, it's such a good
team to watch.
And I think Webber's reaction shows a lot of it.
Yeah, that's probably more indicative of what we're talking about, right?
If we plan for this, this is not where we practice, this is where we're playing our own game.
We hear that a lot, it's like for impractic we got it all right, everything we take here from other teams.
The only thing is just heretics in, but that whole like impracticism was fine, they knew what the plan was.
you
you
you
you
you
have worked on and it's paying dividends.
Absolutely clueless, so Benji has to save the day.
He's got two players to locate, 11.
So I have to leave the spike.
What's that?
I think Sho, oh, Levin might get an angle of this, he does.
Yeah, just a little look, drags him off the plant.
Benji's trying to put in a shift here.
The eye's up where Sue gets to,
is quite noted, yeah.
HP, he's already tagged up.
11. Yeah, we'd have had an angle onto that, but Casey just waiting. Patience. Very disciplined.
Planted the spike. Timing now. Get some nose. He hugs that wall. He's safe for a second.
Nothing to be done there. Body shots for days. Casey. Come on. Just again, another situation.
A third situation in the same map where those two has got away with two. He's revealed on
He's revealed on the site and again they see where the paranoia comes from was there a paranoia flash that came in was a flash maybe from obvious
I'm trying to think so. Yeah, there's a flash outside. Yeah, regardless even just seeing that
I don't know if they think that during the paranoia he's just tp'd away or gone out here
There's nobody looking top it. There's nobody to the back side of
Just really bizarre and like I said, the silo's are cut on the way, but they get the confirmation
That's rough. That is really rough.
That's it, isn't that dumb?
Yeah, yeah, it's over.
Another round, don't she gets two.
This guy's damn good.
Oh, Michael doobly.
He can be Michael doobly of the day.
Um, eleven, four stop, and it just looks like Rage of Peridict's just going to buy up,
Stinger's out.
Let's just either get in, get it done, or try and do something.
Here we go, we end to the live, and you can't even shade us.
What is time of the sun?
This is just a massacre!
Get him out of this game, he is 12-2 in zone flawless!
He lost a good fight up there actually!
He's just standing there in the open, having a bit of a look at him!
Yeah, feels a little like just a good mandate off, let's get to map 2.
Obviously get to...
Can you ever see that comfort zone historically being haven and looking way
more chilled out today. Oh yeah.
Rightfully so, 12-2 scoreline here.
Hurtig's trying to try and make something happen here but, yeah, tagged up.
Good information. 4K CT react. Well, Spine not committed just yet so Hurtig's not
I've got to follow through on that opening damage.
It's only really re-insing comeback, the ones with a feasible chance to do damage here.
That's certainly Sheriff's elsewhere.
There's just going to be an absolute biff in middle areas.
Comebacks already got down. I think it was just blind.
Arves gonna get that pretty much for free it feels like that's the good. Make it more!
Sheenles again! I mean KC!
Making better choices than Tens is a war show right now. It's done. This one is wrapped up.
Heretics down a just boob. Michael this has been an absolute one-sided affair and a half.
Yep. We'll repeat to self Arves to seal the deal here. And then zone flawless to close out 13-2.
and what feels like nothing but a GG go next.
Pretty much that we're going to leave it at that
and just keep in mind Haven coming up next
as we do have an interview standing by.
Shadas, I'm going to take you away from your team
because I have to ask you another 13-2 on a BIS.
What is your secret on this map?
No, to be honest, it's just our best map this fight.
We're feeling the map, we are feeling the gaps,
we understand how to play off each other, that's it.
Well, thanks so much. I'm going to let you go.
We're going to be heading over to break
and we'll be back with the second map of the series,
Hey, but coming up next.
Your body knows a sense of victory.
Seize when mind moves with the gear ignite is one.
Now step into your zone designed to win.
Red Bull gives you wings
I've got the feeling that I've come back to me
It's because of him. He's the best.
To be honest, I think we just have super great synergy on it.
So I'm pretty happy about it. Right now we just need to translate it to the other maps
and keep scaling because I think we have super great potential.
As you can see, when we are playing good together and stuff like this, we can be a super good team.
He just physically thinks when we have normal comp without Phoenix, we win him.
Exactly, so please change Phoenix, stop playing Phoenix.
But I'm super happy about what you're showing on Abyss and mostly also the other maps and
I hope we're going to have the same level on the other maps as Abyss.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, we don't have a normal comp without the Phoenix.
We are winning.
I mean look, Shada is saying the same thing, this is just their strongest map, this is
the map they're most comfortable on.
I'm glad that they are the ones putting out the competition.
I don't have to do it.
You're still going to do it.
I came up to me earlier and I was like, what did I say?
Did I say something wrong about Phoenix and stuff?
And then you're still having a nice chat.
So I'm glad that, you know, they're taking it in stride.
And like we said before, like this team has firepower.
Yeah.
Like we haven't seen it necessarily from everyone over kickoff,
but it is there.
And I think that's what we saw today on the spot.
I don't want to jump too ahead.
I don't want to jump too ahead, but the fact that they said that about the Phoenix and we have haven eggs and they play Phoenix there
I don't know maybe we see a change
But yeah, I think to echo what Mini has just said it was all of the individuals that we're turning up today
And especially on that abyss there. I think that we've mentioned the firepower
We mentioned the fact that when you look at this roster on paper
There are so many heavy hitters that should be able to have this prowess especially mechanically, right?
And so yeah, I think in terms of that everyone was able to show off
Yeah, I think that like when we were like in the green room watching we were like, oh should we should we talk about level?
Should we talk about this year? Should we get to it?
It was like one of those moments where like which one do we highlight?
Obviously at the end, I think it ended up being a level in Jeph's show once again with the I think he was like 21 and 6 or something
But it's just like there is just so much potential in this team
Like obviously they find themselves in the back of the wall in the lower bracket, but I think there's a lot here
there's a lot of hope. I
think another thing to add on to
that was we questioned how good
is the attack going to be? What
is it going to look like? Levin
being on that jet is obviously a
lot more comfortable, which we've
already highlighted, but I think
if you were to ask me, oh, a ten,
two, half, it's pretty good on
their attack and obviously being
able to close out after that
point as well, they're going to
be very happy moving on to the
next one. KC is happy, analysts
are happy, but I want to ask,
because of course, every single
one of their individual players
did really well, was the cohesion
cohesion that you wanted to see from them there as well. Of course they were able to overpower
heretics when it comes to the firepower, but those small little mistakes were they still there.
I think it was more about, more about this being a fairly simple map to play, and Casey didn't
overcook any of the strats, it just felt like they were going in the sights together, trading well,
everyone's on their comfort, and when they were dashing in and he's got support and they're
shooting a gun this team can do very well obviously against some of the other teams maybe that will
come back and see in but yeah heretics didn't really look like they were in this one so we say
that they kept it simple but what did you say to me in the green room when we saw those first kind
of three rounds they had a funky pistol round and then they had a funky bonus round which is good
because that's the casey that we wanted to see in the sense that they're being creative and innovative
But I mean it's so simple to do a splits. I don't agree that a split serve back in a strategy
But on a pistol round on a bonus round
I think that those are those gimmick put lines and so by pulling a set strap
That's pretty simple and then later on they're keeping it simple just like these exits
Yeah, that's what we've also praised the teams on that have been performing really well here in kickoff
So good to see that from the Casey side of things heretics. However, they were able to get two rounds in total
So to see exactly what wrong we have a coach confession as well from Nils in you
Big Haven, despite losing it last week to Giant X, what did you learn from that match?
Honestly, a lot of what we're learning right now has nothing to do with the maps.
It's more about our team. We're not in a great position right now.
Just showed it yet again. We are playing so scared. It's crazy.
We're giving them so much space. We're giving people so much respect.
We're not playing how I know we can play.
Yes, we learned a lot of things macro-wise on Haven, but it's mostly what we've learned
about ourselves and we need to step the can't-insert award, but we need to step up a lot for the
next game and focus on ourselves and our mentality because right now it's not good enough.
It's more about what we learned of ourselves and also just giving too much space. Would
you agree that that's a downfall that we see even in a BIS?
Yeah, BIS was a map where I was noticing a lot of the time. Like, comeback was sometimes
taking A main control and post it up but in terms of information they have two agents,
server and care who can provide information for the defense rotations and time and time
again it felt like they were not able to find out what the opponent was doing and so either
you use the information tools better or you go for a proactive push and right now on heretics
aside it felt like they were too scared to go for some of those proactive pushes and
not I don't think using the information tools well enough.
So on the Haven, this is a map where those proactive pushes especially are so key.
And so if we're seeing them scared on a base, this is not a good sign for Haven in which
I think the best teams in the world are the ones who are pushing out in that mid-round,
getting information, rotating earlier, putting in some flanks.
Yeah, I agree.
I think being scared to do that on your defense, you're about to move on to Haven.
You were playing double duelist the last time that we saw you play this map as well.
more so important I think by having that double duelist set up on Haven. Being able to get that
deep space and you know take those angles and find out that information if you're not running the
double initiator which we saw from them which we just said they were lacking in being able to find
out information despite running the double initiator and I think for me it's interesting that some
heretics decided to go to the Haven in the first place considering KC have been picking Haven's
forced to any given opportunity and they have the Phoenix! They're gonna go Phoenix!
Did they laugh? Are they lying to us?
No. What do you mean? What did you think?
He said we win games when we don't have wacky comps like Phoenix, so we were like,
wow, we're really good at this.
Yeah, I mean, it's very self-reflective that doing our analysis for us, we'll just play
that clip back if they do reach this map, for sure.
Oh, perfect, let's do that.
But yeah, I think on the coaching side from Heretics, I think it's like one of those
things where it's like, why are these players scared to make those choices? I think it is
dance, the coaching staff itself, sometimes to, you know, create protocols during the
scrims and kind of build up that confidence in the players to make those
approaches. I wouldn't put it all down on, you know, the tools at a certain point.
I think Webber and they'll have to reflect on why this is important.
Do you think Neil and Webber are like the ones that are under fire here then?
Yeah, I think if your team's not playing, not playing the way you want them to,
why is that? And that's your own, you know, that's your input, you know?
Yeah, I think I agree with that as well. I think for me keep an eye on the sentinel head to head because that's something
We've kind of discussed earlier so you get to being back onto that side for a while
All right
Well, we're gonna send it over to our casters for Haven with pansy and high fuck and they can also give us some insight on the cyber, right?
We could do that. We could we could all we could just hindsight out that we see a few rounds and then pick apart
Yeah, predictions expectations. I love that. That's what we'll start with
So let's go for wishy-washy instead. Confidence. How do we get heretics confident again?
Wishy, that's your wishy-washy question?
Yes! Yeah!
Okay.
Comeback needs to basically, I mean, I wouldn't say run it down, but do some of the things that Desco alluded to, right?
Take some of these risks. The issue being, when you come out of a map where you've had very few successes
and positives to really reinforce taking those risks.
Is it doable?
I mean, you couldn't ask for a better player to set you up, right?
You've got to re-ends.
So let's, you know...
But I know we're alongside you on the front lines, potentially.
Very good point.
So let's see that.
Let's see that synergy.
Let's see them working together.
Let's hold them to that standard of taking confident fights
when they have the opportunity.
That's what I'm going to look at in this map,
and then the site though, potentially.
Beyond that, we've got KC with another opportunity to maybe show us
what they're working on as well.
So the best of them in the last map, let's see if it carries over here in a sort of similar form
Confidence will be sky-high for them and they've already got a plant
I was gonna say those here that want to maybe take some space elsewhere
Eritics will have to head on a swivel here
Do woods gonna be rewarded by keeping presence towards garage now
All the bodies coming their way on this bottom side of middle crunch gonna be happening now
So you get to plenty of targets and comes out on top, but he's got a feeling there's more here
down as well. Certainly going to hear that switch up a position. Blue and Rien's going
to have to work in perfect unison to pull his players out of the corners. Plenty of smokes,
but now plenty of bodies to put to this. He's going to get half an hour. There we go. Oh,
he's got a bounce in. Don't just go over the spike. I don't know who's going to get that kill.
Me, Boone, and the little high level. It's like, hmm, could have been mine. Good start,
Perkacy. Got a bit sketchy at the end, but all fine in the end.
In case he's just very proactive with immediately taking space elsewhere, DOSIA, see the initial
person in probe elsewhere, I didn't even catch actually, yeah, Shadoff's just killed
so early on on comeback, at that point unfortunately, heretics just don't have too many different
yeah, yeah, basically, I mean the one way almost being there, down from there, inside
the smoke.
They're going with a bit of pace here, or at least to start with right it's all in, it's very direct, it might be dead, I think Roop's dead.
Time to get out of there, fair enough, evacuate.
And they won't leave them backside, maybe still keep that shorty in range as classics.
I have a shout, ooh, it was all the money, it sets up, we have to at least drop a body, but still they're just happy to pull those right, they can stay as a pack,
The fight is fine.
Blanc's going to come down.
And you look at what's remaining.
Come back.
Does get a chance to maybe do something for them.
Man.
It just feels like it's not landing for heretics.
Even though they're Silly 1v1, it's just like things like that.
Just make you feel like you can't get into a game.
Bucky here in 1v4.
It would take an awful lot.
Could you imagine though?
The odd-
I actually can't imagine that.
You can't see it.
Can't visualize.
Maybe an exit
Even think
Casey are gonna give him the opportunity here
See leavens
Just so get to get to do in that kind of engagement to what happened he was literally just laughing
That's awful. Get confident guys. They're laughing at me. They're laughing at me. I'm trying please
Come back and give it off to the spike. That's for standing on the second round for Casey
And again, even just coming back into what we heard there from the coaches of heretics,
opening two rounds, not necessarily ones that you know you're going to come out and now
feel confident in your buy round to put something in motion or instead take some risks.
I mean, there is an opportunity here, it's obviously a pretty light inventory in terms
of a bonus round here for KC due to the approach in the previous.
Once we get to now, I'll offset that a little bit with a rifle and a very passive hold towards
C here on the side of heretics, maybe actually almost anticipating further pace to capitalise
on these SMGs, but then G.
That's a glitz.
Cross the way here and...
Speaking of confidence, he gets you the one with the upgrade.
Just on that Vandal, and he's got timing.
Oh, it does.
No, okay. Who's actually gonna get the drop on that?
I thought he might have threaded the needle, not the case.
And you can see Casey's starting to suffer on the side,
But it's our best takeaway comeback and that's going to certainly keep you feeling a little down and out
But it's taking the boost to the draw!
Boo is the only one to be drawing blood so far really, three kills in this round!
The flank coming through from long though, look at Woot in the background.
Surely that's where it stops, that's where everything should be wrapped up.
You'll hesitate to feed a weapon in that sphere, I don't blame you to pause and hit the brakes here.
Well those she's got upgrades, they're waiting for somebody to wear the step here on the side of heretics.
Still, consideration made towards Black Sardis C Long.
Shados committing to hold the CT side, right, like they've almost had to leave some space
open. Can't really challenge them either. Oh my god, might have been seen there, not
sure. The net gets closer and he ends. The ones capture them both. If you should be,
no problem. So Heretics will be okay, but gotta say that was off the back of Boo there.
Catching that time of your middle play.
I believe both of them blind through the smoke.
Didn't actually catch them on camera, but
again, two kills there.
You're sort of gifted to shut things down here.
Yeah, that's what wins you the round.
So, ultimately, there's a couple of upgrades to be had,
and unfortunately at that point, I mean, Casey called,
well, make the right decision to kind of call a freeze,
but also nobody comes bowing an arrow from heretics
heretics to feed into that situation. This will prevent the bonus, but KC back on rifles.
Others just want to wait already for the ultimate.
The way out the shooter on A long would probably take the space away.
I don't know how I feel, oh god, I guess you've got to take some chances, right, try and maybe
get involved a little, but that's A-long gone and Rien's quite alone. There's nothing in sewer
either, so information not forthcoming, but they are up long, they are close on this. Maybe playing
contact off this flash pretty much, yeah, spins in nice from Rien's. They're paranoid, not quite
They're in time to be supporting of re-ends, but the rest can at least put bodies behind it
Still fight behind the rest of the map and woo on the re-fight takes away the pressure from long
Leave shade us with limited options. Yeah, that's 10 HP taking a ton of damage there
See question marks elsewhere on the map now with
So you get to fall in but probably just gonna want to hold on to this rifle. I think it's really doable here with
Without some solid information elsewhere on the map. What's the week see how it takes obviously really like rotating towards?
the reference no one would get.
Literally internal discolour plans.
Yeah, this one's a little bit of a pause on this, but what do you actually make of the Phoenix?
I haven't actually asked you about this, how do you feel about seeing it here?
I mean, I particularly love Overs on it as well.
I think he's shown that he's very proficient.
I think as well, talking about the ability to take risks and whatnot on the defensive side,
sign if you can farm up that ultimate it's just another tool that you can throw out as a probe you
can make you can set things in motion in terms of just taking engagements on the defense it's I
think it fits quite nicely into certain teams play styles and particularly they see how they
obviously want to play yeah see if it actually works out in this I mean oh let's just continue to
impress me yeah a number of situations I think he's showing these very versatile I mean
I couldn't have made things a little bit different, but as it stands, a good chance for heretics
to kind of build a bit of motion, a bit of money behind them.
Otherwise, not a million miles away, Rien's already has his, and financially obviously
said a far better position than KC right now, so a little bit of a shaky purchase, still
functional.
You'll be lacking in certain areas
The position towards a long use we actually the scope this time around but KC
As if they want to make way for the seat the others to pave the way here Benches got to be careful
Now they'll come back in support
How much space can others get here?
Yeah, it's really just sending the body in, but re-entry gonna catch 11, so that's gonna make things harder.
Keep in mind that those who does have Spike there, so could have been out on a limb, wasn't in the end.
They've handled it well, heretics.
We're keeping this in hand, only losing BOO thus far, and still keeping vast majority of control on this map.
Difference being now, heretics winning some key engagements.
Not necessarily confident plays, but shutting down some of the ulterior motives for Casey on this attacking side.
You can see there's a lot of space towards A but pretty comfortable in terms of the coverage here.
The fact that Sugetsu and Dosia have taken a ton of damage.
30 seconds left.
It's hard to swing this 3v4.
Yeah, just, again, the fact that Heretic's a fuller where the A is very, very vulnerable.
We've seen nothing elsewhere.
Gonna hear the smoke investment.
It was a reaction.
very safely for a retake. The shot is a little too short to re-design Dungeon here.
So Ana is in, 3v4 and as you noted the HP is very low for the KC side.
Ana ready? Now they've got to work together. Let's see that timing and synergy and spacing.
This is what it's about because the first goes for the second.
Come back scorned and the spacing is good here. So get to it. Have to go absolutely wide on.
Who comes in, re-ends in, Unison.
It is Heretics. Staying alive for two.
And another round posted.
In the recon, getting maximum value here,
even if it doesn't clear Graffiti,
but the flash perfect from Woot
makes it really, really hard to dig themselves out of that situation.
On the side of KC.
The three unanswered for Heretics.
One and the Hunters!
KC back in a bit of an awkward spot in terms of the bite.
in terms of the bite our best is that again he's just half a second away from probably
getting a kill here and even catching a flash at maybe an inside as well but meanwhile it's
Levin to forward the Hunters Fury on the back of that which again is that support system
that potentially could have found value alongside our business ultimate.
One thing I am going to keep a bit of an eye towards even in the successes is the fact
the comeback is quiet here. Now he's on the Neon and I think...
Pick up a couple times in rotation as well, yeah.
Honestly, also very selfless going in there first, just trade me in, that's fine, like
he's playing his role, I'm not going to be upset about that. But we know his potential
on the Neon and we've seen it on this map in the past, we know how good he can be, so
I'm looking to see that find some form here. Hey, down the line, doesn't have to be early,
but we'd like to see him activate just while the piece is not quite there yet, but...
Decal.
Heavy emphasis on his V-Side, a very quick plant potential, 11.
Go and mess the hole on this, go and woo skate right in there.
Dangerous going burning alive, and then you go down, KC, still in with a fire on this.
3v2, hold up.
And speaking of comeback, he's one of the two alive, yet to get off the starting blocks.
And now, try and do the dance, 11!
Out does him, breaking the ankles on that.
Now, Boo's done some great work, but once again, hard question, but the HP mic, it's not impossible.
No, certainly not. He needs to find Shadoffs comfortably, the issue being he's disconnected
all the way outside Double Doors here.
We'll find the first. Snappy from Booth.
Let's pick up Levin.
We'll warm it up, man.
Still some time to play with.
Yeah, still got smoke back.
Quite a little bit to play with.
Ain't Pulitzer on that time sign to take you to kind of hear it.
If he's lazy on the clear or just takes a gamble.
Yeah, there it is.
It kind of falls apart on that one.
You feel it, you know, it's kind of dipping away.
time is the factor Shadoff should not lose this and I don't think he does yet
time is very much gone here nice 10 from Boopa too little too late they see just
barreling towards B in the back of the ultimate from Levan yeah this thing here
looks like they might just win out I mean we get two kills but at the same time
then Arves, Levan and Su gets to all find responses to prevent heretics from capitalising
on that pressure towards the plant. That's a tough loss as well. And not a full investment,
I believe it was too rifle, I didn't fully actually get a glimpse of the purchase there.
Here we go. This is what I can't wait to see a little bit more of an attempt to pressure.
to do it when you're sat on 0 to 5. More position this side, by the way. Oh god, I didn't even see
those behind this. Okay, maybe trying to make something happen. So what, you two are in the
way to get past. So it should bring me along, but that's a lot hurt here. Come back in again. I mean,
it's not looking good and they can't really do much off the back of it. Yeah, they're behind
any lines for it. Oh, man, it's good flash. Good follow up. Finding while Casey fighting back.
It's only Boo! It's gone into the Boo show, it's not what I wanted to see!
There's gotta be more than this!
Maybe last a life again in a 1v3.
Doesn't get the upgrade, so makes this one even more unlikely than the previous.
KC don't scramble to make a decision here to take another side. They actually
stand their ground in spawn. Huge investment in terms of bodies from Heretics.
Again, it is a role of the dice. We're talking about them potentially. We want to see them
in terms of confidence taking risks here on Haven. It's obviously the ethos that suits
this map best. We guess it does find it.
Watching this spot.
Again, unfortunately, going to be a blow to the overall confidence. Wouldn't surprise
me to see a timeout maybe in the next couple of rounds for Heretics. Now, the KC have taken
the lead.
they're footing and so again nice to read on the map and couple of these more aggressive
plays aren't working out really.
Yeah, Boots in at 10 and 4, like you said, no discredit to him but not what you want
to see with this composition and certainly here on Haven.
Yeah, it's like if I'm looking at Woot, I'm looking at comeback, these sort of plays
even re-end throw him into the mix, let me see what you can kind of bring here.
But Emily's seeing what we're going to posture up towards Sewer, we're going to maybe try
and stake a claim on one part of the map, alleviate the pressures they can rotate extra
bodies elsewhere.
It's not necessarily a wrong read, we know that PCC have quite the affinity for pressuring
that B site.
Going to be spotted on this, it sees nothing else.
Right player here, if you want your fragger, it's going to be Boo on the B site, does have
come back nearby as well, he ends there but overwhelmed, come back finally going to get
things going, all this goes down, Rien's looking to get invested, run down, literally, they
are just taking every mad fight possible, but Booth's still standing guard, he's kept
the space this time.
Those just got ult as well, so Ken, switch things up a bit here, so get soup, does make
his way onto C site now, taking some of this space away, obviously Neural Theft went in,
information will be relayed, Shadex does have Hunter's Fury here, they need to make something
happen on the back of Wootz. Okay he's seen pretty much all of this. Commits on towards
Plat. Luckily he's good for it because no one was quite ready to trade on it, but Heretic's
flooding back in, looking like they're a little bit more confident in those individual fights.
Shade us. Well, positions note, it does his hunt as Fury, but what are you meant to do
in a 1v3? And there's the smoke. That is it done. Quick as anything, Benji, good shot.
Much better from Heretic's, I was a little scared when Woot came out of that, oh and
No, is that quite ready to polish commitments of the timing as well? Obviously the awareness being the Hunters furious available
So immediately
Taking control of sight back in their favor all tied up for a piece now
See how the ultimate's land here
It's just what a quick to deal with obviously the audible the KC call
Even though you're there seeing the timing actually, Renji's still tucked into that smoke.
A chance really for Sugetsu to come and find that kill for free.
But, we'll try that for heretics.
things neck and neck here. Take a bit of that. That's an old orb. Arves has his. Go and walk
about. This is better. This is better. And Benji, yeah, set up. This is fine. This is
actually way better. Arves took a beating in this and the
down to two players. This is what we wanted. Take a bit of that confidence fight. Take the
map back. Let's actually do something with it. We're playing deep here, playing smart,
playing safe. Our drone's clear in mid as we speak. Overs is going hunting. He wants
to get closer. Let's get a squirm on the corner. Now what a carriage. Let's see if they can
tighten up their spacing a bit. There's limited threats on the other side though. Overs does
have the Vandal, no armor, no shield. Shadows just down to the share.
Good flash though. Great timing on this. Hold on, Rienz, we're going to need some magic
from you, mate. 1v2, he's got it! Pult it out of the hat! And Heretic's staying alive.
Now with the boost to the confidence. Proactive play from Heretic's pays off here. Obviously
a great read on what's going to happen with Arves' ultimate, the Crunch through mid.
absolutely dissecting KC's initial setup here. Again, they just can't get in Gareth quick enough.
I'm just happy to see calls like this.
Yeah, and this is the sort of thing to commit to this as well.
Not necessarily feeling like a comfortable half, but at least you've got the benefit of not being up against the ropes in terms of money.
And there's probably an extra body in mid-air that's once you get to his core off guard when he swings window.
Yeah, credit to heretics here. So they're not shying away from fights
This is what the doctor ordered now the money gonna be broken
So heretics are starting to win out in the battle of attrition really
He's on the A side this time
Positions to consider these approaches towards B
Don't fall, but can't be converted!
How are we going this close man?
Look, Eric is in the lead, Michael, everything's fine.
It's also fairly telling that that's swinging to A-link, and there's three members of Heretics on the other side.
It's another kind of defensive formation that's revealed here. Casey can
continue to find this space on B. I think they're going to feel pretty confident about taking some more space behind it.
Plenty of holes to work with now.
maybe a little overzealous towards garage but again let's purchase so take some risks
I don't see it again I don't know just two from there always gets to he's good for two
always good for two um did he come back all in that round yes he did
still not certain on this one but woots once again taking the space in now have case he
learned their lesson yet. No, apparently not, but this time they're in the trade.
Very quick trade, yeah. That was much, much faster, maybe expecting a bit more of it.
Learning on the fly, but again, you're looking at the Alts here, Casey, do you have plenty to play with?
The light aside, B and C here for Heretics. Come back trying to make something work with the operator.
Since you get to chance here to reveal some info,
but he's being guarded come back reading that I have a chance to take
a waste you get through here if he goes for the the new old theft or just gonna
sift on it wait for a rotation and then best day at the right time I mean a
wide open sea site no trip here only one towards garage so I'm gonna have to go
above the angle on window
I don't know, they've got freedom.
Garage, and look how deep Leven got.
Luckily enough, Benji didn't over-commit the angle,
because he could have been dead then, untradable.
Leven's got all the shadows to go with it.
Does Leven just want to stay posted on this one?
Got Doja with him.
Meriting's going to be held up for a second here.
Here we go, information and all on top.
That's going to be one spot, potentially two.
Yeah, big tags going out here.
Good damage.
Good blocking, but I'm just feeling the other side.
11. Oh no! Reans!
He gets absolutely backhanded and does your hold in the line, leaving Boo completely undone.
He ain't got this one in MKC. Layers to that then.
11 seems to sit in his hole for so long.
I think obviously the plan there to make use of Reans is Hunter's Fury as well on the other side.
He was to pop out and just find a freebie and then be in the back lines of Heretics.
11 the one to lead the charge here in this half 11 and seven 4k see
Yes, it's the perfect timing as well because it's with the other players from heretics
So then push it forward and try and take that space capitalise on the fresh shipper
We can buy here from heretics
Yeah, I thought he might have been forced off that angle, but no he tried to go back for a little bit more
Early man advantage
They keep that pace yeah another setup that just had leaves Benji in a bit
I mean a sheriff here, but he has so much of the map to cover
When you play against a comfort like a Phoenix you're
Engines to one of the masters are holding down like so it's like speed holding most of the map
The rest of the gamble really I guess for heretics
see if we can even drop body now over on KC, the site's there, there's almost no fight
back.
Clean climb, uncontested, not much in the form of utility here in the post, but I mean
though she's got a TP, there's still some tools at his disposal.
E-Powder and two.
Looking for that info. Very late to this, they were over on that A side. They've got a couple of upgrades, sure, but they're very late to the party and completely asleep at the wheel.
Even KC just want to get involved in this and re-ends. Nothing to be done here, KC. They found the solution towards the end.
But Heretics have kept this at least at 6-6.
Yeah, I mean a great swing back in from KC as well whilst initially it looks like heretics were getting a lot of value in terms of retakes
Able to topple that over in these five two rounds. Yeah bang on so six a piece as close as you can get between the two
We saw a good start from heretics, but it's not quite there yet
Still a couple of pieces missing we'll find out after the break if they could take us to a third
Wingman World while... Wingman World while wha...
Have a break. Have a KitKat.
Wingman World while wanting a well-won break.
Let's go!
of the game.
Okay, So six to six. Where does
this leave you might because I'm
a bit of a drought, fought back a little bit here, there and everywhere, but generally
heretics did answer back in the, I guess, the more important rounds to a degree. There's
buy rounds coming in that kept that money in the right place for a good while, but I'm
still not.
I'm still not sold. I don't think we've seen enough assertiveness on the side of heretics,
particularly on the defensive side when you're playing this composition. Obviously now we
go on to the attack that's been charged for comeback and maybe to be a little more aggressive
in terms of approach to science but yeah I don't feel like Casey should have been able to tie up
that first half. I quite like that we saw Wootz trying to explore mid a little bit here and there
but it was as you say quite lay on in the day. Exactly. Again the right read on potentially
the Arbez old round but in terms of again I don't want to come back to just come back's
performance but well this is the side. Yes this is the side where you can turn it around but you
but you should be in a position to turn around about half.
Yeah, I'm on your side
and Arvess is already setting the tone
that he wants to be quite aggressive here.
Willings take a fight down middle,
will lose his life on the trade out,
but took away Buu on the other.
So a little bit trickier maybe.
We'll be more direct, you know, turn.
Hey, he can't get away,
he stayed around all too long.
There was a chance for him to get out of that,
but he wanted, I guess, to try and take down.
He looked like Benji on the other side.
So at this point, 4v3.
I'm trying to actually paranoia. We'll land here and Jane is going to find one with Benji.
Maybe they can't have balanced that.
I think they needed something to go right for them. There's no way this falls apart.
Rienz luckily stabilizes as it did come down to that 1v1.
But Eretik's going to pick up the pistol and that's huge for them.
Get them a step in the right direction.
Again just a slight overstay on the site.
Maybe it makes things a little more difficult than they need to be here in the pistol for KC.
see a two ball dog go earth three
just gonna bring a ghost into the next
trade come back here again these early rounds absolutely crucial in terms of
how he's gonna feel approaching the second half overall
I'm looking at this man because again he made the outlaw one of those things to
watch in tier two
and a really early adopters towards it was the best with it we saw very early on
Alves
All gas, no brakes, then come back and handle it.
This was going to be the wall, maybe it's just going to be classic, so don't worry too much.
The heretics are good, Charles Defarman here.
Come back to build towards that, oh, he's halfway towards it already.
This is good stuff, Levin.
A touch behind the curve.
Just a little.
Just a little bit.
I think he's even going to have an opportunity to come back here.
I was going to say come back, should drift away from A along here, probably pick up this angle.
Lord Sewers
In 29 HP, he's the focal point for sure, but now on this long sight line
Absolutely find a 3k in round two. Good stuff. And in zone flawless for heretics
Get themselves ahead by two
Do you think he's like a leaves the eco round?
Sure, I especially think that's probably a bigger picture question in terms of stepping into this roster this year
You're looking for kind of confidence
Obviously last week being the outlier to that but overall I don't think we're seeing come back to his potential
I already see if we have an adjustment in there. So come back towards the rightful. We're gonna have that our law player to re-ends his hands.
So, interesting to see them kind of approach here. This way there's a fairy all the way straight towards feet.
And the paranoia is good. You can see the hesitation. Tosh is already gonna take away Boon.
They've gone to the right back of the side. Ah, they're straight away into the blind as well.
Benji try and put up the numbers. Back of sight. Goes you again. Still doing damage, KC.
We're getting out in the brawl, but there's still only three of them standing. So they've lost a couple here, but still.
the ends this takes a lot they got smoke in the way he's only got an outlaw and
they got big boy shields yeah any more damage would be great would be nice
does he get one no tag yes let's see that's it
I was gonna go for doja please go hit some what do you know now I see it's good
to his guys I know he's always got his teeth yeah he just stops it to every
time like that what I don't like he was done see you next round boys
30 seconds left I'm waiting for you guys does that count no tag him
headshot headshot you're up in the end
They're old.
Oh, no tag.
No tag.
That's the heartbreaker.
Yeah.
Devastating 8-7.
Three left standing for KC there, so they should be able to get a decent punch behind them.
Obviously not. Too many issues with heretics either.
I can imagine they'll be perfectly sorted, so we actually can see a good round here.
I'm still not sold on heretics yet, but they are still at 8-7, so...
I'm waiting for a baited breath, you know, because the problem is I think the issue is if I didn't know who heretics were in the past,
this would be fine. The issue is we have personally seen their highs, we've seen the best of this team.
We want to see it again.
And right off to the beginning, let them try and take that space ensuer.
He does have help here. Set it both towards Long.
He's at an extremely deep angle.
He's had a couple of these, taking some big risks again.
to get away here I mean just tack down to 89 HP with a space potentially for
heretics to play into here we'll see what decision they do make only Shados
and Sugetsu here to hold down the four on eight
we're ready though I mean 11 making good moves on the other side of the map just
to confirm there's no lurk what active lurk I should say up C long if anybody
It gives away a sound cue here.
It's been silent for too long, right? That's the thing that worries me.
The door, you can look through it, and now Heretics, the position, the approach is seen.
Now they have no idea about Long. They don't know about Leven. They know about Arvis, but that's about it.
So the paranoia goes in, supports there. Leven can try and decide when he gets involved.
is not there for him. Heretics diligent on the clear play a little late but it's
worked out the C take is in the plants there for them well navigated they
managed to find the threat yeah 11 just I mean too anxious of bailing Arves out
on site again no confirmation on Benji have to almost expect him in this sort
of situation
Fortunately, Heretic's able to cleanly sweep seat.
11's out, 1600m is Arvis and Dosey, they're going to struggle coming out of this in terms
of the purchase, but 5 alive for Heretic's, it's a huge opportunity now to stabilise.
Yep, this is, you haven't seen too many timeouts yet here either, I feel as though both coaches
not or coaching staff really haven't had the willingness to get involved yet so I'm wondering
if we do see maybe a KC timeout, you can imagine right there this this would make sense uh for
heretics they've got what they needed it's kind of working well they've got that rhythm to them
they should be happy enough and let's see KC just touch base really make sure they're on the same
page of how they want to be dealing with this. I mean maybe before the next yeah but this uh
obviously mustering together a purchase here.
Obviously not feeling too bad about the game plan in general, it's maybe just an execution
issue.
So no issues in their mind so far.
Oh, why's your got re-ends already there, Benji one of the peers, one away from comeback
two.
So a couple of key pieces could come through for heretics here, already going to try and
fight for that space on the long, re-investment of the smoke, and it's messy down there.
Smoke on bricks, comes in a bit of an issue for Casey, because it looked like they were
willing to go forwards with that recon.
Okay, they're also going to clear this space behind the thing, yeah, come back already
spotted.
They're probably very telling about what's about to happen if heretics proceed here.
Those are on off angle on the top of the box.
Plenty of targets, timings, everything, those you when do you reach after?
Look now, actually doesn't land it. The parallel is good and he can't fall away from this.
Invest the one way, but they are fast approaching.
I don't know if they'll start up here, but it's actually Rienz to go out towards Long and Levin again goes down.
This has become an issue. Hunter's Fury going to connect as well.
Shadoff's dead and Rienz just worth his weight in goldenness already.
More on the roadside though.
They cancelled all this.
It's still a question mark about Sugeitsu. I mean, plenty of time left to play with, still fire the live, but they have to make moves quickly.
Don't want to see this under 10 seconds while the time they get to side.
Yeah, seems Sugeitsu can watch across. He's gotta be aware of this.
No, no, 100% not. I didn't know if he could maybe just see the cross with Garage if he wanted to get involved, but he's trying to get ahead.
He can't. Force to respect your heretics for 10 seconds remaining.
10 seconds left.
Gonna be getting the plant down with 5 standing and pretty much maintaining 5 standing.
Just losing Albenji in the end. The patience pays. A very late call on the pivot there.
Baho to Audible to call after winning out what felt like the crucial engagement on site.
Obviously the Hunters Fury connecting.
We'll see KC now. The pump of the brakes.
I have a quick check in with Ringen Zeisch.
We got the unfortunate kill here as well as the level, obviously Shados.
Not much you can do in that situation.
He was tagged on the first comeback.
Beautiful kills from him.
We're putting some numbers up now, turning around that first half performance.
I'm curious about 11 as well, because it feels like he's digging a bit too deep at times,
taking a bit too much of a risk, I think, on the pistol.
We've seen it over towards Sewer's a couple of occasions
where he's trying to go a little bit further,
which I get the want to, but it's trying to temper it a bit.
Yeah, I mean, come off a heater and then stepping onto an agent
where there has been questions.
Maybe just a few more.
You're at an adjustment, basically,
in the decision-making, right?
Especially that situation we saw.
They concede first blood.
The most important thing is still having four alive.
obviously can test in terms of the post plant but down on sheriffs again I guess
I asked the questions how much of it is composition is it two one-dimensional if
we're not seeing like are they's on an absolute heater a much much slower map
than you'd expect as well you come on to the Phoenix you basically want to be
maximizing the ultimate you can even just going one for one in rounds it's
going to get you a better opportunity from what we've seen here, but.
Border closed, they're coming up on a big round in terms of alts for KC to follow this, but.
Certainly with the advantage here.
I saw a high low serve there, rewarded for Dozier, but first you get to him.
Oh, got back on the pit sketchy there. All good in the end.
Come back, just trying to take space down a 40 HP.
You gotta be a bit careful on this.
Could be isolating Wu with great spacing to bail out from back.
And then there's the re-sling.
But now, completely cut out of sight.
And that's way better from heretics.
See, that's what a decisiveness.
That's what I'm looking at.
Maximize here again.
Resultimate for the next.
Obviously no real play back in here.
So question mark, anyone's policing that.
Reflicking in towards window.
Certainly an opportunity to do damage, not going to matter too much in terms of the numbers behind this purchase for heretics.
I mean, a kill and death, he's got his ult.
Would be nice.
I was going to say, can you get past comeback though on this angle?
Yeah, easier said than done.
He's only 40 HP.
Especially the back pedaling out of sight now.
He's looking for a chance.
Oh, come on, Blue.
That's not bad.
OK, Heretic's closing in towards 12.
Now we're at 11 to 7.
We're going to see another timeout.
Potentially we've got ults coming through here.
But again, this is where I feel like the composition just
runs short.
They don't have that depth to go to.
They just don't seem to have that stopping tower, really.
What the Heretic's doing?
Don't too much pressure on the way in.
It's always been just kind of barrel into sight
and then trade effectively.
Yeah, there's no real flair to what we're seeing right now. This is kind of just clean.
Oh, we didn't even get to see the shot. They're reacting. We didn't even see it.
Yeah, this is sort of a return back to what looks like well-drilled Valorant.
Ending ahead.
Heretics.
Let's see, come back now.
Find it is footing a little bit in the second half.
First time's gonna be there, so he gets it down to 5 HP, but...
and just to send his hat in to reveal the rest of heretics and probably the
first clean advantage created by KC here we say clean with a small caveat of
5 hp but clean clean take those
oh yeah just smidge off in terms of the spam into the cage again just this kind
I don't say passive hold because chaos is trying to get a little bit of info
But it feels like they're just behind the wheel the whole time, right? They're not getting overly aggressive
They don't get later on in place particularly it just feels a bit stunted when it comes to you know what they can do with this
They're playing in a more traditional sense
No rotations yet either right here
A decent idea
They can just disrespect that smoke though. There's nothing behind it, right? There's nothing to really do about it.
It does you a slippery shot, but come back looking comfortable, holding towards that house face. Double flash goes in.
And finally, Armin's does take him down, but it's going to be traded out here. 10 seconds remaining, it's getting dangerously close.
Benji has to get this plant. It's in. 2v1 Benji. The chance for the design!
This move up in which 4 million EMEA is all too easy for Benji.
You can't just maybe expect the fake to get someone to wide jump.
I mean he's going to be rolling him back from scene backstage seeing that.
But yeah, just like feeding into that Benji, sticks the plant.
That's just a fully reset here for the 1v2.
I don't know if it's clean.
I think it's a vintage sort of Benji moment as well, right?
Good to see you. Now that's a confidence build.
It'll actually get you right back into place.
Boots gonna have...
Oh!
And they can be directed this approach.
It is a gamble stack.
Four players.
You can just match with one of those from the back over to the corner.
It looks like actually Levin's gonna go look it.
Shadows will try to follow off on this information, but no connection just yet.
Finally now finding one.
Come to Benji.
He's mostly stuck towards the site. It's only Rienz who's disconnected and he's been cleared.
Another boxed in, 11 comes out swinging.
Gonna catch two.
Leaving just who alive.
One by one they've come in and one by one they've fallen, but still.
What can we do about this?
It's so hard to play from each side, man.
KC not out of it yet.
Two crucial kills from Leaven.
Kats is a freebie onto boo as well. Maybe just not realizing where those shots have came from.
Your chance for KC to...
Beautiful from Leaven.
Your chance maybe to see a few more rounds here.
Here, Erotix, he's got a bit of a buffer in terms of the economy and the score line.
Let us hunt.
A Wootolk here, Boos, and Benji's both just missing two points, aside just the TB for
Dosia.
All play stop.
you
you
you
you
you
You know I've got to get up and dance
When I'm in the dark and I dance, dance
When I'm in the grave and I dance
When I go to sleep, I dance
In the realm of dreams I dance
When I'm in the bone and I dance, dance
When I'm cut off, I dance
Feelin' the ceiling, feelin' great
Don't tell your mama we shake and play
Break the rules and do your thing
Bring your shoes, yeah, bring your thing
Not gonna tell you twice
Lookin' at this all night
Not gonna rush a bit
to be the map theory that was different here. But honestly I think that that was the difference.
I think that it's a map that they are extremely good at historically and understand how to
play. We saw, especially Woot getting a bit more aggressive in these rounds. It wasn't
just middle, it was also like deep into AMN. And on the flip side from KC, I feel like
when you're playing the Phoenix, there are some limitations to that. But yeah, heretics
they managed to get six on the defense and I think that a lot of that was honestly boot
topsideing for most of it, which is a little bit of a ring sign, but when they
flipped to attack side it just looked extremely easy for them, and I'm not sure
how much of that was the good attack, like winning as much as KC were under
rotating consistently. Phoenix was not able to get into positions where sites
are being hit. Yeah, funnily enough, BOO did end up being the MVP of the
defense when he looked at the stats and then only been able to get one kill on
the attack, you know, he kind of slowed down towards the end, but again I think
that comes down to the calling, right? I think the team managed to have a lot of
good reads on KC's defense a lot of the time, which was allowing their attack to look so
solid in that sense. And I think as well, to come back to the coach confession, discussion
that you were kind of alluding too many, I actually do feel like even if you were to
look at that last round specifically from Team Heretics, I feel like they played with
more confidence in that map. So yes, it might not necessarily be like a map thing because
they've always historically been great at Haven, but I definitely felt like the confidence
was there.
Part of that confidence is because they're good at that map and understand when to be aggressive on that map
was why they were able to get some of those friends on defense especially
and the attacks that they feel like, who is the kind of coda who knows how to play against their feelings
I don't think there's enough there personally for me to be worried
The issue KC and my opinion had was there was no control over a main tool
and if there's no control there at all, they just got gifted to map control heretics
And when Boo gets gifted math control, he's gonna cool a good one and sing on the car on the top of the conversation of coach confessions and
Loki predicts and what was going on then anyway. Yeah, I mean picking Phoenix and then
Yeah, let's let's listen to the man himself say it actually
He just basically think when we have normal comp without Phoenix we win exactly so please
They included it.
So, I know I told jokes, but like they're aware of the Phoenix and again it didn't feel like they got the value out of it that they were potentially hoping to get.
I mean, I'll just be honest, I just don't think. I think Phoenix is okay in this matter, but I think there's so many better picks.
I even think ISO is extremely underrated right now, especially in an off-heavy matter. The shield just like counters the butt completely.
Yeah, 138 ACS. But like, it's like one of those things where I just don't...
He just wasn't in positions to do much, in my opinion.
Like, when he was defending the sites, he was often very weak-sided, and they would have to go crazy,
and it just wasn't happening. So, I think, going forward, I do want to question that Phoenix in general, from KC.
Something they were obsessed with last year, and this year, when they're not playing it, they seem quite good.
Is it the more down to the Phoenix specifically or rather the setup around it?
Like to say setup around it Phoenix is a bit crazy, like it's not...
I'm trying to get in there.
It can't do things on that map especially that you want to do.
Like I said before, you want to take any main space, deny some space there.
Something like ISO has an undercut to take it.
Phoenix, you're throwing a molly from across the map
and it's not landing in time, there's just not a lot there.
And when you have a Yoru with flashes already, I just don't think that this is.
I think on that conversation, like I would like to see more SO in general in VST EMEA because of the conversation
We've had about operator being in meta. I think it's really great comes to that
But I think when we're looking at the KC roster, who do we actually like visualize picking up that agent because
Aves, you really want to put Aves on it? You don't?
I just don't think like when I think of Aves, I think of him yes being a flexible player
But he's usually jumping onto those flash roles like I don't see him being an Iphone.
I think it's exactly the same as Phoenix in a way.
You play almost the same.
It's just you have better tools in that.
Let's move forward to the next map, though, being Corode.
And I mean, we can keep having this conversation
in a different context of, do we want to see the Phoenix on Corode?
Obviously, the answer is no.
But the next question that is, does KC
want to see the Phoenix on Corode?
I think it's a map in which we do see Phoenix picked.
Like Vitality has played it.
It's viable, yeah.
Yeah, it's viable.
but I don't think it's good.
So you're basically, in my opinion, going into the game,
at a disadvantage, in my opinion, if you pick it.
Yeah, I think it's one of those ones where I'm hoping
that KC coaches weren't foreshadowing by saying,
like, oh, we lose when we have Phoenix.
Hoping that meant that, like, we're not gonna have
Phoenix on Corrodes, but as we have a look at ages,
it's like, okay, so they're playing pretty much
what they were playing in the off-season.
So there are tapes on this from when they played it
in Project Blender previously.
They only played it the once,
I believe it was this composition. Very similar to this bit. Composition here from KC. The idea being that the tail and fade is going to be able to set up
what tail fade. You've got Astro, Uto, Omen, Uto. You've got a lot of Uto here for the
for Leaven to go in on that waylay. And so the
basically Leaven is
the focus here completely.
Heretic side, very interesting. A brimstone on Corode.
So the one thing I'm looking at here is not no Astro. I think this is a Grievous Not-Spa-Astra.
like then there's no gravity well to disrupt this way they ask so so I think
the case you're gonna have a very good time with these exits on the fact side
yeah I think so I didn't even get to see who was playing the tail on two
characters there was it Brienne's that's a good question I didn't get to see that
but yeah I think looking at that composition they both have quite
interesting and different approaches coming up yeah we're ready to also head
into the final map of this series it is do or die for both of these rosters as
Both Casey and Horatix are now on this final map in the lower bracket.
Who's going to continue their kickoff run?
We're going to find out as we're heading into it with our caster, Spenzie and Hypox.
Yeah, this is elimination game.
We have to remind ourselves it's gone to the third map here.
Now, I kind of like what they ended on there in the fact that there's not much to really stop this way there.
We don't see that astro.
It's been really hard to break past.
So where do you see the difference being made?
I mean this again, this is just a question mark though with I guess the overall ethos when we saw attacking on split previously
We were talking about leavens
Falling a little flat to be honest. Yeah, I think the comp here obviously enables him to really succeed
It's kind of fun to heavy being that you've obviously got the astra and the the omen here
So yeah, this kind of lives and dies by 11 to be honest with you
on the side of KC. Yeah, I'm with you in that and I see it. Do you have a similar
thought for heretics? Is there something that you see as such like a clear
wincon for them or just come back being on the chair? Fair play. To be honest, I'm
being able to withstand it potentially here in terms of the defensive half. That
is a lot of presence in middle 11. He's got a lot of freedom to walk up. I don't
think he's going to expect this many people in connect to however even I
don't but he's been able to get so deep on this. Surely that's already a bit of a
Red flag be able to get this free this far and I mean who's found to it's a
topsy-tally round I don't know quite what's happening but heretics going out
on top in almost every engagement yeah heretics been drilling their pistols
obviously another heavy stack on a pistol round here come back chance there to
find out I was actually get away without taking a tag but next is should be in the
Spike.
Yeah, there's a lot of people.
But you just reminded us.
Spike.
Now, what are the odds for this one for others?
Not good.
Not great.
Not great.
Not great.
I'll be on this.
40 seconds.
See what you can do here, others?
Nothing better that corner.
Yes, very wary ends waiting for that one.
And here it is, as you said, though.
Drilling kind of down in some of these.
They've got like plans made.
They look quite decisive.
looks maybe a little unanswered aspect here knowing that they can conceive the
site maybe almost expected it just to be to get through that sort of situation
of being a little more top-heavy from the side of KC but well navigated so I was
off to a one-zero lead here on the decider
nothing invested here from KC. Back on the hunt mode. That's not bad, gonna see some
more information as well. So for KC you're looking at kind of silver lining
more than anything. And Benji. I don't know if they do push up.
I'm going to catch a timing on this. Again they slipped through this angle a couple of times here but again the weaponry is not in the position to complement it.
Force off initially, unfortunately. We're still here. Is there a prowler in so confirmation that nobody's made it any deeper?
I'm going to read this re-clear honestly because of that prowler that went in.
I bet you're going to try and shoulder off first, don't take the angle, and make that
a... yeah, he's done really well on this... not too fast.
Ooh, I was complimentary a little too early, but that's fine, he's all good, he's still
alive.
And just leavened.
I might be able to make it in, possibly, they're probably quite light to keep that
hold on, but they don't lose anyone else.
Yeah, I mean it was well invested in being just the one pistol from re-ends.
Again with 11 out of 30 HP.
There's nothing really for him to do about this, we'll just cycle the Bulldog away.
Go and give his life.
And trade over point towards the ultimate.
2-0, four standing.
Clean start here for Heretics.
Yeah, I'll be happy with that.
Get the ground underneath him, get a good build started.
start to look at the ults as well. You're gonna have Wu pretty close by early on. Benjy's doing well,
obviously in this round, getting two kills too. I feel like my ambient on for the third thing he
did as well, if it's what has happened. It's a lucky against near enough bite. So all in all,
heretics good start. It's not the pistols that worry me, it's everything else.
Now we get to see it. I was gonna say, yeah, come back here, we got a weird overlap in terms of this
bonus conversion for heretics.
I guess we're really in a danger band if you want to look at it westernary wise.
She has at least a bulldog. Everyone else still a little bit here there and everywhere.
So heretics might take a chance, take a gamble, go for something a little bit weird.
Bring them down.
Be the...
Big investment towards mid here.
With nothing on the other side of FKC.
Let's see, we'll get some sound cues there on the drone from Arves, but...
Nothing concrete.
Basically, contact on both sides of the map. Hard to fully read into.
The heretics are sticking to their guns here.
Still three, semi-committed towards mid and Benji.
Now repositioned towards A.
Carefully getting cornered, that smoke drop.
This is going to be the fight for middle.
Rien's already going to do insane damage, taking down half.
There's Levin then, still trying to get involved.
Spots out two, good information relayed here.
hands almost on for it lucky to get away there but it's a one-for-one trade
30 seconds left really one case he's star making some moves here yeah this is
starting to get worrying me hands actually just keep it through I don't
know how he's alive this round is bizarre 20 seconds and it's all gone
weird like getting me looking a little lost in the source but those you're
try and do what he does but gonna get one this time. Oh Benji. Benji. Dirty work from
him. 10 seconds left. The ones who get to as well and KC unfortunately just let this
one pass them by Lauren. I don't like it. I don't like it. I don't like this really
late habit of playing these rounds so so late. It is what it is but for Heretics they'll
be loving it. Three right falls they've done really well in middle to kind of stake that
I claim not give up around it.
It looks like heretics are going to play themselves
in some really awkward space.
The cancer's getting caught on this chunk.
This is who gets in one of the most ill in situations.
Just painting a silhouette around him.
Come on, Steve.
Yeah, bonus conversion here.
Come back out.
An opportunity to apply even further pressure here.
But, wrong place this time around, Levin trying to posture up here with the hero rifle,
Sheriff's across the board elsewhere, so they can try and work the pick.
We're in, does catch a glimpse there in mid.
Okay, facing, trying to maybe speed this up, woo, with a stunning double quick catch for boo.
Casey, look.
I don't know, I can't get it.
Yeah, back to the point where, at least early on here,
an ability to get something going on the attack.
Clean, four-round start here for Heretics.
And is this where we bring up that conversation back
about Shader Scree?
You're seeing how good it can be on a base, which clearly feels
high up in there, in that point, right?
This is something they're really, really happy with.
Very comfortable. Obviously Haven wasn't great.
It didn't feel nice, you know.
Again, maybe compositionally, it did my land.
But here, technically, the comp should be quite good.
I don't think I can put it on that.
So I look back to that leadership, how they want to approach this, how they want to solve this.
They haven't quite had that solution yet.
Yeah, I guess it will be answered if we see much of the second half in terms of that massive imbalance again,
in terms of the overall approach 4Kc.
11 at least, not looking to slow down here in round five.
way more active here in the early rounds.
Now we'll post up.
And again, when you talk about being one dimension, there's nothing else happening.
Whilst Levin is positioned here.
And this is the sort of downtime we want to see KC make moves.
Yeah, the prowler's just gone over towards B, but that's it.
I think they're just trying to be slippery, but it's not really causing heretics to overreact.
They're not biting on anything.
This has been the re-clear, there it is, and once again, they've got the right read.
Come back, we'll be slowly forced off this, but he can still just reposition on the second layer angle.
And you've invested your prowler already.
The horn's gone, there's still one more prowler I guess, but you've gained nothing, it's 45 seconds and you're at the starting blocks.
Well, I mean, 45 seconds, you're back to your opening G4, effectively a man down.
as info there as well that's alvez I don't think he quite saw doji but still
you can see the cheetah player coming over right you've been able to get
reins on the right side of the map here he has the old KC the slow approach is
doing very little for me at least and there's the info there it is reins
down nose still has a C 17 seconds crossfire actually might be dismantled
That's a problem if you're gonna make a meal out of that one then yeah you can get a pawn down
Not find themselves too to the good here come back on an operator. They'll feel pretty awkward but
Heretics to find an approach here
Just gonna settle for
Holding their position won't be given an exit, but yeah again
It's not necessarily as if heretics are on the back foot here
I'm not sure of exactly where the U-tail landed, but this B-Site hold crumbles on the back of this late hit from KC.
I'm just surprised they lost that fight through connector. It feels like the new is coming and it just...
I mean, it credits to just
maybe hitting the shot, right?
Coin flip sort of moment there.
I'm. I'm a little bit concerned
about what I want to put you back
here. Yeah, I mean, those are
just hitting by shot, I guess,
and then they can just unravel
the crossfire fair play. It just
feels risky, right? It's at 13
seconds. Yes, it's not as if
Boosunburn, he pressure from
elsewhere here. He kind of takes
a massive gamble actually
swinging onto this.
I think that's probably why they're a little frustrated, because they did everything right
at that point, right?
It's like you've done the hard part, you've held the map.
I mean, look at the minimap, KCR, where you want them to be if you're heretics.
Yeah.
Okay, and speaking of a change combat, how'd you get that one?
Ridiculous shot, Shados down off Rip here, KC immediately put back into recovery, but
No pressure coming towards Benji just yet.
Dome will spot here, for who?
They might try to crunch onto that, are they?
Let's try to slip through though, Benji.
As you can see, there's a lot of space towards main.
We have seen that elbow position.
I have.
It's quite a trodder that even in the early round Stoja was finding a little bit of timing
to pressure this.
But they've got to be aware they have left the A site completely open.
I think you've even maybe can see a little bit cautious to fully explore it yet, but they are going to go for this smoke up
It's a bit weird. It's all game feels a bit weird
Still some utilt to work with here between Arves and Dose here in the post by heretics one to the good
Here we go
Out we get some kind of harvest of its house he gone the third in that
The Rien's got an uphill climb at a half, you've got Arvez on a hit on the other side, a little bit of a stack-up set at the Rien's.
And it's just about to one part of it, couldn't quite contain Dozier, leaving Boo in the 1v2.
Oh!
Vines 11, but Lucia.
Yeah, a little sketchy.
On the cleaner. Second on the board here for KC.
Again, if we can see...
Sit onto one, cut the first half.
That is our way to spot him.
And...
Another cycle.
Yeah, you and me both, man. You and me. Damn, all both.
There's Arves to really bail KC out here.
Oh!
No!
And again, just talking about Benji, there's a chance to isolate that first player from KC.
That's why, again, they looked to crunch in mid.
But the spacing wasn't ideal for KC.
I see a set PC on the back of Arves.
They're on the Dastic Benchy!
Nah, this man operates at angles that is just not used to be seen in this game.
And Woots trying to keep himself present, forced to fight forward.
KC come out, swinging, finally slowed down, but only for a second.
KC's pace, they couldn't handle it on the heretic side.
And they found somewhere to exit point.
They found a pressure point to push towards.
Woots could be noted on the prowler.
Paranoia didn't know on the swing.
They've bought time.
Another situation come back has to find something on the operator here.
KC
rightfully relinquish control of the site.
Let's wait for an overstep.
Yeah, super hard to dig these players out as well with that operator, right?
Incredibly tough trying to work around this utility invested. Nothing to be done KC!
Yeah, another turn of pace that looks really good for KC in terms of catching a couple
of people off guard.
See an example here of the back of the hook, the ultimates being invested, Evan just shut
down immediately by Benji here.
It's Dose here to punish the crucial player in terms of the side hold.
Let's go!
We'll force the time out here from heretics.
We've already seen some frustration coming out from the heretics' close booth,
but can initially hear some positives certainly to build upon.
Yeah, absolutely. And actually, I can't wait for you guys to see that start.
I actually want to talk about it now a little bit, so it kind of alludes to heretics in general.
but this is the first jet pick on Corode in VCT globally this year.
Now, does that indicate to you that they're trying to assimilate combat in a comfort role,
maybe in a map that could do with something a little bit different?
Like, where do you stand on this?
I mean, yeah, face value, which you want to put.
Somebody who hasn't necessarily landed on the roster.
Okay, cool. Let's remove all the noise.
Let's put him on the roll that he's going to be almost confident on.
Again, whether or not we see many examples here in the first half, it's not really as if you need to do anything here.
Obviously, we see him go forwards, but with the way Heretics are playing in terms of these mid crunches,
certainly if he's buying the op, he's not really going to be the person in the front of the pack there.
Maybe get a better answer to that in the second half, but I think you remove some of the noise in terms of composition discussions for Heretics
and come back is the lowest hanging fruit, right? Put him on the jet. Let's clean up some of the other stuff.
20 seconds. I don't want to see them slowly working the map where they can be caught up
by stacks. We've seen the heretics quite proactive in their positioning here. They're happy to kind of
almost patrol the map and try and get the timing right. Boop.
This one, it will be the early alert, the second any U-Tail comes over.
They see anticipating some of this activity on the side of heretics. Still positioned.
Well in terms of ults here, I mean 11 to get to andosia
Down to 32nd mark and it's awkward timing if they don't find this entry
Yeah, go with that season maybe hope that season 4 or
As president they wait for the site for that one potentially could have fallen back a little bit safer but boost fallen
And the odds of this round started to end all the way even at 13 seconds
Yeah, this one should be planted
Yeah, no.
Oh.
Fight plan.
We missed calculation, but just maybe try to pressure onto the plan.
Yeah, again, Benji.
Gonna find Levin here.
This is the second string to the bow.
All that attention is towards that CT side with the dividers.
But here comes the rest of the pack.
Arvez gonna handle it well.
Where's the others?
Where's that counter swing?
Where's that pinch?
Arvez again, still firing off here, Casey.
For a piece now.
It was late.
It got a bit sketchy, but they make it out.
Again even just an adjustment here for booze investment. I think maybe just misreading how deep KC have got through the choke point already
11
Delivance here in terms of the entry can something I've still got my eye on on this way late
Others getting fired up now top of the board for KC yeah four
rounds each year on the decider.
I'm back this time. Gonna have a challenger.
So the place once more. Yeah, he's kind of committed to this. He might be screwed here. Come back.
Decision-making was questionable there and that's opened up the flood potentially. Yes, it has.
Flood gates fully open. A site is there for the taking. Casey have found some of the worst of them
And that stopping power from coming, but it's playing tough.
And certainly an opportunity here, but I guess the question mark on the paranoia that this
splits coming through, and maybe his retreat isn't very safe, commits to maybe going one for one.
Yeah, hoping for the best.
So caution zone on the side of KC.
I'm sure how many different looks, heretics have got in terms of
of capitalising off being very active in terms of these heavy stacks and recluences towards
mid and funds wise start to struggle now with this being a fifth on the board for KC.
Ultimate here for Benji, comeback's got the played storm as well.
It's just crazy to have good KC can look on some of these XX.
You know what I mean? Like that early clear, to be fair, comeback had no chance really.
I think that's why he commits to the angle.
He's just like, well...
Here I am.
Yeah, now look at this.
That's a really bad situation.
Like I said, there's a huge question mark behind him in terms of the split as well.
Yeah, just like the timing, scaling up.
Really good.
Like, this is the thing that's so weird with KC when you watch some regulics.
You're like, this is what you can do, but then we don't always see it.
It's such a weird look sometimes.
You can see how good it can line up.
That's the sort of disciplined round you'd expect from a team with N behind it.
Now Shagos leading it in the server.
Now, what's left though with heretics?
We have two rifles, two sheriffs, and we've got knives here.
Oh, he's taking a glance down middle.
In case your habits play slow though,
we've seen that tempo happy pretoyed
with the don't have to go fast.
See if they can navigate or maybe isolate
while his play is in middle.
There is support to this.
I'm not necessarily committed just yet and maybe a byproduct being boo and we both have
rifles here.
Benji try and anchor A side once more does have a little bit of support from Rehens.
But some of this utility now start to dry up for heretics.
I'm leaning into a very heavy stack on A.
The Boo's been good for a few three days but...
It's the fake game I imagine, don't you see that?
Yeah.
The regroup here.
This is solid.
Boo is one of the two players who have a rifle at least but he can't really fight this alone.
It's the late rotations.
Play forever to come on.
We can try and hold that CT space.
We're a little worried about the TP still but it should be fine here.
should be fine here. Yeah they are, 11, going to try and slow it down. Utility in, 11 still fine.
Not much of a crossfire to play off. Oh gosh it's... I mean the trade's good. Yeah I guess you've set up
the first stepping stone, the Goode doing really well there as well. The trade's perfect and our
Shados can't do it all. Heretics! Make it work. Yeah Casey tried to stand on that ground again,
a backstab from Boote. Didn't even really track that fight all the way through elbow and where he
reposition but come back struggling on the entry but like I said the trade
for Benji absolutely crucial so again you can see there's a little bit of body
blocking here where nobody can get onto the angle to help him out
the other rifle in this one is nice big size big size
And a big response to find here in round 10, especially on the half-buy.
Yeah, Rocky birches, the Bladestorm's there.
Casey are going to come back in with no ultimates off Rip here, but Shados, Aves and Sugetsu on the horizon.
Here we go, last time he got smothered with utility this time.
Can't play similar.
Yeah, it's looking pretty much the same, but he's able to fall back to a new position.
has been revealed though, it doesn't feel like he's getting much freedom here.
Still on an island with the squads on the way, but he's still on his own.
Tessier did so well to pressure comeback in some of these rounds, but they don't have a confirmation.
I think it's that cautious approach, and you too is landing.
I think seeing it from that perspective makes a big difference, 11!
Doubling down on that once-declaim re-enter, they try to filter back through middle.
It's only others who's made it...
Oh, no, sorry, it's Woot, excuse me, there's others to gain.
down in the end, come back, finally gets a look into the round, up and forced off what felt like endless utility, he gets to have a say in the matter.
Operator gonna land in a 2v2.
Oh, there's a good hold.
Those are cheeky, they bang, go here, I'll have a spidey!
Then we can hear.
He's got back away a bit here, can't give to Spidey over, come back again, can he hold in position while he goes for that plant?
30 seconds left.
He can a lot for it though.
But who's Raphman?
Who's Raphman?
I like that.
Who's been pretty good at this, which is great.
No way they read this, yeah.
So they try and trade the hop
We drift through we drift through we forget the combat could be oh he's been finally allowed some freedom
Well, please
Able to have a couple of shots without a whole barrage of utile in his face
He has a great time with it, but man
I felt they looked uncomfortable in that post-plot then yeah
I mean again, it's a great freeze from KC leave 11 kind of inserted then almost kind of hint at a bit of a fake
elsewhere as Levent obviously then cast the timing here on Benji and Rienz but after that then it's
maybe a little bit of split focus
before this we'll come back some two kills, but rightfully so and you see some of the rounds where they have
opposition
maybe reflecting some of those very
you
you
you
you
you
Well, this feels like a lifetime ago.
Haven feels like a totally different set of teams.
And now I come into Corode at six apiece.
I don't know where these two settled down,
because I don't think they settled into comfort at all.
No.
I don't think so either.
Obviously, the issue being now,
onto the half where, come back,
I mean, he did really get himself online
in the second half of Haven,
was certainly a deciding factor for them.
See a bigger opportunity in terms of this second half now
on the attack on the jet.
So I don't really think we saw Levin fully getting away with as much
freedom as maybe we expected not seeing Aster on the other side.
In my mind, at least, it was a very different game.
But I guess you see how it looks flipped around for comeback.
But as it stands, it was a very good pistol round from Heretics.
Clearly feeling like they've done some work on that.
They come up with a couple of ideas.
So, I wonder if that translates here to this start on the attacking side?
An absolute norm, fancy-tolling A today.
No.
I guess you're going to give up all this space to rely on.
Maybe catching somebody in transition or just fully stacking into the retake.
I'm just looking to regroup here.
Crucial information potentially revealed.
The fact that there's comeback spotted there.
That maybe just a little miscom of who was to shoot that.
Oh, Rienz. Sweet summer time.
What an isolation, by the way.
That was targeted.
That was personal.
They gave us, that's five players for just Rienz.
Badness. I guess you'll exchange Rienz for a site.
I mean, Son of Yuta, now they're basically playing off trades.
But a man to the good, so...
Yeah, kind of hard to call which way you put this one down, but let's find out so you get to taking the long road now
How are we gonna look the woods? Yeah, look at the spot
No, we look to come back because this form outside this smoke if he walks it is I imagine dead
Yeah, KC
Bring down the half and just front the side wound the position would have been great for the checkmate
But it doesn't matter so get to was there and KC prepared this time
of you missed it just for a second to get to post it up who even looks back
behind him that's right he should decide that's who gets to steal threads of the
needle in terms of the timing yeah again a huge investment but again it puts
Casey in a position where they can just stack up like this on the retake and
and rely on the numbers and it suits them perfectly.
Okay, see, we'll post the first and the second half just to remind the winner of this game does move on to play Narvi.
I don't know who makes it through this, if I'm honest. I really don't...
I've stopped making predictions if it's really true.
It's probably the fairest thing we've said all day.
Huh?
Why are they winning? Why are they winning? Why are they winning with pistols? Michael, I don't understand anymore.
Okay, well, retake time, I guess.
Maybe save the weapons time, I don't know.
Maybe.
Maybe.
It's weird. It's weird.
Because now they have a judge posted up on the choke point.
Brilliant.
It's going to be a really awkward trade to find.
We've got a Hort, a Paranoia, and a couple of smokes.
I mean, if Parallel does nothing to Wootie, he's still gonna sit on this.
He's still a problem, yeah, he's still a problem.
Still got one, still got real bodies.
And Heretic's given just a new lease of life to it.
I don't know how they managed to pull this one off.
Good Shados going down swinging, but I think he knows he's going down nevertheless.
That's Boos sends him to his grave in a thrifty conversion against all odds.
I mean, show me that pistol kill again.
It looked like he wasn't even fully in the smoke, but now he was, now yeah he was yeah.
It looked like the shot had come through, like when he's still on the outside of the smoke.
I mean that's just absolutely ridiculous.
Oh my goodness.
Well, the hole we lost is equal again.
Yeah, left, asking the same question.
Right there with you.
Oh, where are we now?
Uh, okay, Sheriff with Shados, that's the sentence I don't want to say again.
Oh, there he is!
A little bit more of that!
Again, he's so good at this, like, any scoped weapon.
He's so good with it.
If he gets that confidence beside him, he's a treat to watch.
Now, obviously, this is classics, and a Sheriff, but I do remember the last round.
last round so this one probably not gonna end it so much I'm just gonna say I'm gonna
have to start you're not stuck in here right I'm gonna start I planted I still want to give credit to come on
back
Ian's the one to go forward and hunt here just two points away
he's on his own
we're gonna kill and falling here we'll give it to him unless he finds both but
So get some shade us necessarily traveling into his path
Even so here I mean it's so weird around to get split like that as well. Yep in terms of the money
Wrangles who gets to shut down now
It's fun. Yeah, you find a couple of extra points here
in his own flawless for heretics to find eight
yeah I was gonna say yeah okay it was real it looked like it was like the worst ever
die. Um, okay. This feels
preserved. The nightfall
finds nothing. Shadows then
managed to catch. Bouchard
finds another. They have
slip sights. It was a bit
cautious trying to spin on the
dime, but it is a 3v2. Benji
and Wu have sights and they
don't have spike and they don't
have it planted. Also don't
know how close all these
players still are. Trying to
find something here. In terms
of Casey making their way back
towards site, but again, Wu
And Benji, they're scratching their heads.
And they're from KC, I mean, rightfully so.
Dosey is holding the retreat as well.
They can set up a pinch here.
A ton of time has passed now,
but still plenty left to play with on the clock.
Poison's off.
Benji, a quick check onto the flank.
30 seconds left.
Big question mark created now by this smoke on top.
Maybe anticipate the fly back from heaven.
We try and ply it as well as you can see where they're walking through, but
you can see why Benji's looking this way as well.
He's not finding bodies yet.
Trying to post up towards connector, leaving Woot very alone.
Catch a pixel on the cross out, maybe.
I did see one. Nice shot towards Leven, but
You'll need more than that, at least know where Dozier is, and then the last, maybe they can figure it out.
But Dozier on the hunt for this, trying to corner them around.
Sugetsu's found one, leaving just with a life.
Two kills already, gonna get the job done.
That's how you do it. Sugetsu takes that step and takes the kill.
KC tying up the scoreline again.
Great freeze once more from KC showing composure in some of these high pressure situations.
Hey, there's a win now. Initially, I'm gonna push into site.
I thought that was going to link actually. I thought it was somebody following up. Yeah.
On the left, actually.
Shadoff's looking lethal here in this round for a 3k.
The gods are coming back in positively.
Come on, there's nothing to smile about in my life.
Same.
Same.
So good work from right out of my mouth.
That is a man so far gone.
Welcome back to UK Esports.
Glover has been the talisman about for most of his career and that I think is his perfect phrase
Love it. Now
Onto the game we go. Eight a piece tied up. It is elimination. I can't stress it enough
I know this game has been a bit weird and wonderful
He's currently handled but Levin now has to peel away
There's no ping there, but I don't think he actually spotted anything on the retreat. It felt like he should have
sure it looked like it to us but easy to say when we have x-ray
no tics no harm no foul initially now stacked up outside a no pressure towards
midges yet with the pings I think whoop maybe your vest is old towards link here
Maybe on the confirmation but...
And it's got a hand stop!
DIGGLE TOO!
Come on, that's second!
How outrageous to get that!
Does Dozier get cleared with diligence here or does he get to hold this?
Mr. 2K with the judge in hand.
And their attention is being split to another side.
If they don't clear this correctly, Dozier is on for this.
But Boo seems aware that it could be someone rather nearby.
So he wants to sort of push the set.
Smoke's going in on top.
Be careful now, there's two on this corner.
What?!
You couldn't get away with it!
How?!
Is he getting to you there?!
It's just a mad game, apparently.
Shadosu to get to you once again in a scenario like this.
How's he get to you?
It won't be the first time we've seen him in this sort of position, either.
So, let's see if that awareness is in effect.
First challenger, Unawarez Boo, punished.
Now it's Benji on the case.
Alone, though.
Gonna be spotted and actually behind the curve on this engagement.
And the site gets taken.
That's gonna be Shadosu taking the space.
As it goes Fred, drops Benji, and now Woot needs this.
Heretics needs this.
He's got a little bit of stall here, as he gets, he's got to get a move on.
He knows it as well. That's lovely from Woot, call and karma collected.
That should be all she wrote on this one. Heretics.
Maybe give him a little bit of hustle ever.
What is that double from Levin?
And then what is the double from Boo?
You tell me. You tell me.
That was ridiculous. This is disgusting.
It's a cast a second kill here. But who lining this up?
I mean that's what I was just saying.
Do you look at a kill for your life?
I mean also how many just key kills came down. Like Shadoff's even finding that one was massive.
Restoration mounted on the other side.
You're amazing, guys. Good job.
Awesome moment.
So I'm out of the KC and it's a stressful one.
Because by hook or by crook, I mean, look,
Eritix doesn't feel good to be watching that going,
yeah, that'll be good next round.
It is fine margins.
It's weird picking up two kills here and there.
It's not comfy, it's not confident yet.
It's not settled down, but they're in a far better position now.
Financially, they're sitting better, Alts the side sit better. On the other side, looking a bit
rough with the finances. Not quite got so many Alts to bank on here, so you're going to have to
see them try and figure this out on the fly. And it kind of comes at a crucial time as well for
Casey because Heretic's about to be on a fairly stacked Alts cycle.
So whoop being the only outlier to that. Who else is invested is just going to be a couple of pistols
around Sugetsu's rifle, but Arves will throw a Guardian in the mix. Again, on the brink
of some ultimates, but not quite there.
We've been nice to have in hand for this round.
Yeah, and the problem being it might not even come. I mean, Shados, the one outside of that,
will buy round to follow this.
We have to wait and see. On the other side, Bladestorm.
Strike and re-ends with the nightfall. There's plenty of tools for heretics to
capitalize on this advantage. Anticipating some aggression here.
Again Levin explores down mid does have his ultimate as well so he can actually
get behind this B site execute from this position.
Have you to let this simmer for a second too, right? They're happy to let this sweat a little bit, but...
I think that's definitely the plan here. Contact comes from the outside of B, and they're set up to capitalize.
Silent starting to break a little here, that prowler the first bit of contact, 40 seconds now.
What is the goal? Okay clear towards connector. Now he dispatched a little stack on towards ice to get to copping a boatload of damage
Unconfirmed, but now he's come close to the corner, and it's incredibly hard to even to stand, but comeback's dead
But it's fine apparently because they've got the site as
Levin, Shados and Dosia are pretty far off the mark here back in the maybe a chance to get a couple bodies dropped not to be Shados
It's a headshot, but that's not enough Dosia in a 1v3
NG, lower HP, but it's going to be react-watching.
Maybe watching this from the front.
Let's see what you've got, Mosier.
Can they find any more?
Oh, it was a nice try.
Yeah, you saw there being a little window of chance there,
but the Heretics, it took quite a bit,
but I guess they're happy with that.
Yeah, really solid set-up.
Like I said, I think the fact that Heretics
were allowed to get so close to the choke point,
Now again, I don't necessarily want to gamble Levin's over, but the investment here, it makes it so difficult for them to try and act upon that, I guess, unfortunately, the hinder doesn't really...
Thank God for that. Damn.
Not going to get E-code. Not going to get E-code. Roll it back. All good.
If that's the confidence coming from your coaches, like...
It comes as a going through at both sides!
No one's happy yet!
That's so good. Let's go.
Let's get 10.
Okay, here we go. Buy back in place.
Give us something to have some faith in.
Either side, I don't care who!
Devon and Boot.
divided
Near enough by I'm actually seeing a bit of a group down middle from others so
Yeah, they're shifting to the connector side now anticipating. They probably figured out the case. They have had some freedom towards mid
Is there anything beyond consideration here?
This could be really awkward 11
How is he still staying alive?
He does get found in the inheritance.
Do you manage to play his plays out position?
But it's a double from Benji.
That catches me off guard, maybe assuming it was all through middle.
There was more bodies behind it. No.
There was still that split towards A.
Now Shados and Dosia.
Once again behind the curve.
Having to put this puzzle together.
30 seconds left.
He kept basically standing and breathing by a smoke.
Benji waits.
No one walking that right now.
But they've already repositioned.
They're so prepared, there's still an element of danger to this mic.
Now Paranoia is not bad, it has to fight it, but now they can press for a second.
13 seconds, there ain't much time to rest!
But Benji to get him across the line that round, the two kills were key then.
Slowly creeping closer and closer towards the twelfth and this one feels teed up.
Like I said, the old's going to come in more awkward of the purchase Benji, super clean there, but...
Ken's never maybe leaning a little too heavily into this freedom that he's had in mid.
He didn't even catch the ability situation there, well he could have just completely
gone out.
So you see him pop the recall then it's like, well...
Where to boss?
Okay, by still not pretty, Casey trying to put it together.
I think they know they're on the ropes here.
I'll do what they can. Bulldogs are plenty. Bucky's out to play. Sheriff.
This time a little bit more attention early on towards his A side.
Piratex got bodies behind this. Five on the side of the map.
Looking for Sugetsu. Shados. Maybe a little help coming in from Leven.
I think Shados has noted this, but they are close. They are very close here.
I think that's easier than I expected to get to might be a horrible surprise here and come back does land the knives
And now we go but what a swing from Levin to try and keep this in touching distance for the 3v2
dosia
He's not
Away with that TV even challenging it but called by the prowler so good work from re-ins there to make sure
Time catch it both should know both plays positions now
Who's it trying to get a little fast and loose with this one, but
That looked on the money. That looked very close
Who's your six bullets to play with and the first can't quite get the second and he's all alone here
No help coming in here. He needs some assistance. I was trying to gap close here to other way
So they're not gonna have any clue about our position
reposition. No, it can maybe make a guess. Oh, but it comes from the life. Now just
wound in the 1v2. Dosia's down low though. It's a close one shot. Massive impact from
him. He really ought to come down. Wow. That is huge work.
Well, a different T-beaver able to get the hell out of Dodge. He's an impressive player
as Dosia. Trying to see that really individually shine. That's the impressive factor. The
sort of thing I'm saying, a player that can stand with only two feet, right? Certain situations
here just running rings around heretics. They're beautiful disengaged here. So well done.
Shade also looking very happy with that one. Not out of danger yet if you're heretics as
Well, the diffuser actually gave Arves his ultimate as well here, so
They see back in a decent position in terms of the alts. I mean other side, Wooten, Benji both have theirs
This could be nice or it could be on contact
Wait, it's against you getting the three, okay
The sights now is, how have they come out of the coin flip on top?
I
But how did Benji get three there? I couldn't tell you I don't even know
Did he hide behind the box or something maybe I'd love to see that back
But now it's two fights on two fronts and heretics are not sitting healthy boost
That's a HP who's gonna win this fight, but it's dozier on the other side does even buddy
Oh, yeah, it's so good and now Benji needs an ace here. Nothing short will do
man he's trying everything you can every tool in the kit that's a great idea but it's not good enough
dosia how does that again a brilliant plan at the start i can't believe benji you're safe
oh my god show me benji pov it's what a beautiful setup as well and this time you saw it you saw
it a much quicker commitment we're talking about leaven's ultimate previously in mid this sort of
crunch. I guess you've got to go forward. It's absolutely farms. It's just not
effective. It's just not effective for the back.
He plays it and credit to Benji, man. You just go into that, right? You talk about
confidence and being involved in this. Goddamn he tried.
It's just an insane round. Oh, you can feel it. You can feel the tension.
Sanna feel a bit real here. And Casey pulling out all the stops. This has been
a master class though in the last couple of rounds from Dozier. His clutching capability,
his ability to stab is on two feet again. Not even to say as well, I think he was
out like five kills, maybe three rounds ago. I can't even remember, but certainly coming alive
now in KC, need him most. A few explosive rounds, maybe something to spur the entirety of KC on,
because I don't want to say they're in control now, but certainly reduce the advantage their
their heretics had established.
A couple of key ultimates invested now do still have roots,
but missing potentially Rien's and Boo's
to feel a little more comfortable about this old cycle.
Yeah, it's just scary when you know that 11's likely, right?
Just knowing that Biden's coming in,
11 feels likely for KC.
Momentum is shifting.
They're not out of the woods either, no one is.
They are depending on some mad outplayed
from Sugetsu and then Doji to clutch up
and then this and that to line up for them.
What is happening?
Yeah, they're gonna hit the site again.
Now Sugetsu gonna have his hands forward a solo endeavor.
Battle sent in.
Sugetsu tries to stall a little bit.
Stun actually catches it.
Okay, do one step closer to ult.
Ready to go through the motions.
Gotta be calm.
Let's see what the site execution looks like.
What is there left to play with here?
Sugetsu.
From the standards ground, it's Arves to bail him out here, taking down, come back, now the layering, and it's Wasting!
Not good enough to not get punished by Arves! Holding the line!
Casey with a critical upswing, bringing it back to 11 apiece!
A crucial thing being, Boo obviously gets his ultimate out of that, so now two massive tools to clear space, or potentially even isolate a kill here.
forces you guess who just falls to the utile on the way in but now are there's
happy to pick up the slack there
but this is gonna be what the timeout was for from heretic well all I'm saying is look at the
buy behind this if heretics lose be right back now another curve
right yeah new look on that and he wants to stick around he's holding that line there's a
bit of utile thrown his way but he's not rescinded back he's still trying to check behind that
smoke. Maybe a second chance here. Casey will even post it for the time being.
Heretics creep back onto the angle. Power up. Reveal this. And reveal that it's not
on the other side. It's a big info for Heretics to act upon here. And you can't really cheat
a player over here. You can't bring players over here because you've just got contact
on A as well. So you try and put together that puzzle. Yeah, but the issue here is you
come back and Benji don't actually take this space away. So they basically revert back
to a blank slate here. Again, not necessarily a clear decision to make, but, hey, see, actually
now winning out in terms of the information game. I love the leaven check behind that.
It's a really risky play, but the fact it worked out, marvelous. But, where's Jew? Heretics
have been doing this a different scale-up. This is where it gets difficult. Where do you
stand? You can't! Arbus! Goes down, don't you? Goes down. Come back. We don't need to die
to that. But it's Shadows in between. Maybe he can hold on to something here. He can't.
Yo, if I Benji again, bring up big numbers when it matters, leaving Levenin to get to...
...the biggest advantage.
She gets her, she's got nuclear here if you try us to make a play.
That's it.
I don't see a world where this happens, where you look at Rhianza's position, we come back, let alone that.
Crossfire shouldn't be able to be dismantled.
Don't think they have what it takes here.
I think they're gonna try.
This crossfire should be good, man.
It's getting a bit messy, but still Reans can tuck in leave that space for comeback just in case they commit on the corner
The layers should be here. The time is time to go. Okay, that's fine. That's fine come back
Get out the full stop to the second for heretics to 12, but that was risky casey had the read
Yeah, you can see the issue created by booze ultimate here
Even with just utility to compliment that others has nowhere to go
Oh, of course, you go soon to try to get into the thick of it to try and find something.
Very, very close affair here on the decider.
Yeah, and I must point out Benji is having a real resurgence of form.
In these last couple of rounds, especially in my mind, he's sitting towards Tom Sportford.
Right now, at 12 to 11, tournament life online.
Heretics can close now or it goes OT.
Levers. Oh my god.
Just a big sweep aside.
Again, big info for Heretics.
Identify the operator very early on and they're well equipped now
to make a decision on the other side of the map.
And again, it's space to be taken.
They need to try and find a way out of this.
You get to try and stay alive.
He's being smothered.
He still comes out winning.
Takes away the first but falls to the second.
Arthur's gonna answer back on Boo because the damage was done.
4v3 and it's not safe yet.
They want to get that spike ferried over.
Who has to at least get back to site?
Chance is not invested just yet.
No paranoia, but Shadoff stands a little youth still left as well.
But they need him alive, but they're taking the time through CT.
I...
They're trying to get in a position to capture him potentially.
He has to invest now, the chance of him getting another opportunity might dwindle,
but they got close enough.
They can't get there quick enough.
He was maybe worried they were going to just throw it towards him, but now Heretic's playing the game right back to him.
Levin and Chaynall's just making Levin last man alive.
The Panic Army and the investment of the old feeling, he had no other option.
May have just taken away theirs as Heretic standing on the verge of making it out of this absolute death run.
Levin trying, but the time is going.
This one might be all I've been in. Absolutely is!
13-11! It went as far as this could have gone.
Both teams stretch very thin.
Benji a huge, huge deciding map for him.
Getting crucial in terms of some of these rounds in the second half as well.
And Wu as well worth his weight in gold.
Yeah, a couple of those players that we were looking at to have that impact.
They did. Man, they did. Benji, what a time to find that form.
I mean, even Casey making this so close.
I feel like the opening game was the first box heavily favor heretics, so KC cleaning to life here, a number of clutch situations are able to turn in their favor, but I'll come back to the same thing in terms of expectations here, still positives to take away from KC from what's felt like a little turbulent here, because we've seen real positives.
What a what a prospect. Yeah can't wait to see the evolution of that man. He looks incredible
and again that clutch capability is there. Shados is Nigel. You saw the strength of it
at the start of the series. Again that development process is what we will be waiting for. However
today it's heretics to stay alive. That being the key phrase is staying alive here. Still
Obviously some question marks, but overall,
way more grounded in terms of the performances we've seen.
See, come back again, the second halves are what are crucial in terms of
getting him into a position, not just comfortable in terms of compositions,
but in terms of this roster overall.
Yeah, I think it's just kind of seeing how they end up.
The big rounds for them, though.
Yes, yes, absolutely. We are seeing that strength there again.
Just I think job's not done.
I think it's the best way to put it with heretics.
And I think they know it too.
That was the first really good sign and a couple of these players
having that resurgence of form.
So, again, one of those situations we're waiting to see what they look like
with a couple more games behind them,
a couple more of these fixes throughout on the map pool.
However, we will have a treat for you as, I do believe,
Rienz will be standing by with an interview.
We do, Rienz. Congratulations.
It was down to the wire all the way in this third map.
I want to start off with map 2, map 3.
How, what allowed you guys to play so confidently on these two maps after what we had just seen on a bus?
I think, I mean, except comeback, we are really like experienced players. I think in EWC we had like similar starting, you know.
So we knew that we have the strength of like coming back, you know, we are really strong mentally.
So like we didn't care about the first map and then we said, okay guys, full confidence, like nothing is done yet, you know.
So, yeah.
Full confidence, full standing on map 2 and 3.
Worked out in your favor.
So let's talk about Ibis then.
What do you think went wrong there?
Because 13 and 2 was a pretty good showing from KC.
Was it maybe just warming up into the series?
I think we were not in game mentally.
Like, we didn't want to fight back.
I think they just smashed us to be honest.
And we couldn't fight back.
So well played to them.
But, you know, we did really bad.
I think it was just mentally to be honest.
As a team, we were not in the game.
So that's it.
So what are you going to do in the future
to make sure that on that first map, you're already in the game.
I don't know. I think we'll just work on our mental game.
You know, we got to start from the beginning,
not losing the first map and then trying to come back.
You know, so, yeah.
Yeah, baby steps, but your next match was going to be na'vi.
They also have had a, you know, a mixed bag of results as well.
How are you feeling about that one?
I mean, they're strong team, to be honest, but I believe that was
the starting point of our team.
You know like we're gonna do a lower run and we already started the train
I would say you know, so I don't think they can stay front of us, you know, I feel like we're gonna smash them
Okay, I like it. Thank you so much the confidence and once again congratulations on winning. Good luck with the lower bracket run
We're gonna hang over to a quick little break and we'll be back with our second matchup of today. We got TL against off
Yeah
have just made the first step
Congratulations on that series on map one two and three. Do you want to kind of run us through?
What you're feeling right now how that series was for you?
I am happy at the same time and think about tomorrow already because we have another game against novi which is we lost to them and
Yeah, I'm just excited again to play tomorrow. I
Want to ask you so last year you said about you didn't want to play the Judas last year and this year obviously with combat
Some purple jewelers, some initiator, Teo, Kero, etc.
If I had to make you choose, what would you pick to play?
To be honest, it's like...
When we were trialing after Miniboo was gone, we tried so many people.
And the thing is, I tried myself in Duelist as well.
And I think I'm better for my team in a flex draw, that's what I say, but I want to go to Elise's time for the winners.
But it's just like my comps are not good enough to play the Elise right now, because I wasn't like, you know, I wasn't playing for a long time.
So I didn't have that much training. That's why.
I want to give you an opportunity to give a message to the fans because obviously it's
been a bit of a rough kick off for you guys for Team Hurtix and this kind of start of
the year.
So give us a reason to believe in the lower bracket run for Team Hurtix.
What can they expect?
I mean, we did in so many tournaments that we just, we were in the deep and then we came
back.
That's the first reason because I think we just, even if we lose every game we are just
blaming each other.
It's just that, you know, like all we need to do is just take it.
And also, I think Kamek is really insane player that he's just getting used to us so fast.
So it's kind of better for future, for sure.
One final question, because we know you have the game tomorrow, we want to let you go,
is your coach mentioned during the confession that you guys rather than focusing specifically
on some of the mistakes that you've seen on the maps, it's been more on individual play,
on fundamentals, on comms and things like that.
How have you approached that this week and how are you looking to take it a step further
than tomorrow?
I mean, I think after we lost against Giants, we had a good talk and then after like, we
had like four practice, and then there was like some documents that thinking are like,
did you do this?
Yes, did you do this?
Yes, like they were like basically like tracking everything that we do in game as a fundamentals
And that helped a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot,
because they were just keep calling us out, you know,
when we don't do it.
So yeah, it's better for now.
OK, so a checklist rather than a mental one,
an actual physical one, that's good for now.
Well, thank you so much for your time.
And we're going to let you go.
You're free to go.
You can just walk off.
Thank you so much for joining us.
Good luck for your game tomorrow.
And we are going to have to head over to our next matchup.
We have both against Team Liquid.
Oluf looked really strong against Pacific last time, Billy.
No, you weren't here to defend your
Roster, so I'm gonna let you defend all I have to defend all yeah
I mean you don't want these guys were predicting against off in their matchup again
They were so maybe we should we call on Cairo? Should we?
No, he's gonna make fun of our hide again. No, I think to start with off then
I think that they put up a really good show
I think that we started to see that energy come back a little bit more confidence
I think that now they've been able to kind of warm up to the stage given that this was a team that obviously came up through Ascension
Has a couple of substitutes in the roster. So yeah, I think that they look good
All right liquid is a team that's also now in this lower bracket and would you have
Expected that this early on
No, I expected a little bit more from team. We're quick to be honest
But honestly, I keep saying it like my expectations around this roster are a little bit lower than last year's
losing players like Kiko and Trex I my opinion is like a big deal and I guess
like the other thing that I was also thinking about was the way that this
roster is constructed in terms of last year we had players like Trex and
Patek who I believe are the kind of very vocal in-game players they're gonna
be supporting that with the pools and giving a lot of information they're
like tenured players very experienced players and I feel like now with the
roster, when I look at the team, I see that that's missing a little bit. So one thing
that I'm looking at here is that Nats hasn't had those vintage Nats performances yet, and
maybe part of that is potentially because he's having to do more of that microing, more
of that IGLing, focusing on the radar, focusing on managing his team, and that's kind of
dips his performance a little bit.
Yeah, I think coming into this year, something that we kind of set the expectations for Team
Liquid was that we did have lower expectations for the roster this year, and I have to agree
with many that, you know, we've been speculating a bit more about like what's going on with
Team Liquid, looking at the performances. I have to agree, like Nats has taken a dip
in performance, especially when we compare it to last year. We are waiting on seeing
that vintage Nats performance. And again, it is the question of, well, who is doing
that mid-rounding when you have your IGL that's over on the other side of the map that's
lurking, that's sentinel maybe, and then, yeah, how is he putting the puzzle pieces
together? Because I imagine he's spending a lot of the time actually looking at the
up to micromanage the rest of the pack. Yeah, Ed then raises question of with the increased pressure
in the performance of it as being the IGL how does that then lead him as the Sentinel performance
that we know he is very very great at? I mean like we said it's just one of those things where it's
you know just more difficult I guess like to be like that's the reason why we see IGLs often
some containing about how hard it is to keep up the fragging.
When you're an IGL that's a proper IGL and you have to focus on these details,
your attention is always away from you across there.
So, I don't know if this is a true narrative,
but it feels like something that I noticed is like,
obviously in the Path Path of Tetrex, once again, like, we're very vocal players,
and it would be interesting to see if that is something that continues here.
Because I think this team does need a bit of brilliance now and again.
Like, Natty's gonna need to do that Nat stuff sometimes.
It needs some sort of mid-rounder, especially when we think about like the pack and who's calling in the pack
Who's providing that information back to that so that he can make those calls in the mid-round, right?
And I think as well to give them their due diligence like they do just need a bit of time to gel together
This is obviously a very new roster
And as well when we're considering the experience of the previous players that were on the roster when you're mentioning like
Patek Trex had both been on really great teams in the past
They've now kind of lost that core piece of the team liquid identity
I think coming into this year with the pickups that they've been able to to have coming in. Yeah
Also when we're talking about new additions to this roster way kind of comes at the forefront of that not able to join
The team since day one of kickoff, but eventually you know, he's he's here
He's joined the Berlin like the coldest winter we have in 16 years
Which is one way to welcome a player, but we also had a bit of a sit-down with him to see how he's feeling ahead of this matchup
I think I'm having a great time actually, like even though I came to Berlin late because
of like visa issues, like everyone's been really welcoming and I think yeah we're in
pretty good like state right now. Good to hear and happy to hear that you're enjoying your time
here as well. When it comes to your integration with Team Liquid, of course you didn't join like
at the very start of kickoff so you came in a little bit late. How has the integration been for
you? What's been the main focus in terms of making sure you click with everyone else? I think it's
for me it's like just getting used to like the new like system we have because like we had a boot
camp before like kickoff and like yeah like there was a period in between kickoff and the boot camp
where I couldn't really play so like now just really focusing on like just me getting used to
like the system and like just overall just being with the team you know. And when you're here in
EMEA unfortunately you're already in that lower bracket so that puts a lot of pressure on you
but also on the rest of the team how are you looking forward to this match what are your
expectations going up against OV because you know they looked really good on
their match earlier this week against Pacific they were very aggressive is
that something you're worried about? Not really I think I don't really like focus
on like how well the enemy is doing like I think we just have to like play our
game and because like right now we're all pretty confident like my team and I so
yeah I think we'll put on a good show today. And what should we be looking out
for from you specifically.
Hopefully, from me, you'll see some Hero Place, hopefully.
I hope so too. Well, thank you so much for the time.
Good luck with your matchup later today.
And Desk, back to you.
Hopefully, seeing some Hero Place from Wayne,
I'm personally looking forward to it,
but also hearing just that the gelling with the team in general
has been going pretty well for their side of things,
which to me speaks greatly,
because from the teams that we've speaking to,
that have been able to ramp up over the last couple of days here in kickoff. It always kind of comes
down to, oh yeah, we're doing better together as a team outside of the server, not just on the server
Mini. Yeah, and I think that that's something that all has been doing very well apparently.
All of I think when they came in to kickoff, it was like, they didn't have that same energy,
they did it at Ascension when they were like popping off in and out of the server. And I felt
like last week when I just sat here listening to them, they were just like screaming. It was almost
like they had like agreement that they're just going to scream no matter what. And it was like,
like they're having a lot of fun. So I do think that is a very important thing. If you're
going to try to go for a massive lower bracket run here, you have to keep that energy up.
I think that's one of the things that could put off ahead of Team Liquid in this kind
of conversation here, is that they do have those team vibes, and they've been openly
speaking about it last week as well, not last week, but earlier this week.
Yeah, it was like, speaking about those team vibes, if they can keep that up and keep that
energy moving forward, like Vinny says, they should be able to have a lower bracket run.
Yeah, for those of you at home that are wondering what exactly we're talking about, we had an interview with Wolf at the post plant after their win and they gave us a bit more of an insight in regards to how the dynamic is happening there.
I mean, for myself, last two weeks I was just burnt out, I was just playing ranked, like I was just spamming it, my coach told me to just stop playing ranked, stop playing the game after the game, I just went out, like I just went for walks even though it's like minus 10 degrees.
Yeah, like that's really cool.
And we were just chilling, I was more focused this time.
that was the theme for the
first two matches and then you
know that the difference
between that and the off that
we saw earlier this week was
just night and day. They feel
more confident as you mentioned.
They just look more happy. They
were a lot more vocal. So all
in all, whatever it is they're
doing is working really. Yeah,
I think as well, like it's
warming up to the stage like we
mentioned and something else
that we need to consider is how
many of these players
realistically have left home to
move to to another country to
come and live here. You know,
that's a big part of it. I think
something that we need to
that's a big part of it.
I think something else that they kind of spoke about
in that post plan was going out,
doing things together outside of the game
rather than just being so focused on in-game.
And I think to me that really is a testament
to the coaching staff being able to build
that culture amongst the team.
Yeah, I think it's also just accepting the position
they're in.
They're a team that's come up from Ascension
with two substitutes.
Even if they didn't have their substitutes here,
they shouldn't be putting all that pressure on themselves.
It's almost accepting that you're the underdog.
And then with the way they're playing right now,
could easily upset teams like team liquid today should be the favorite but after watching
off last week and it will clicking together with their hyper aggressive gameplay like
this is a scary matchup for team liquid. Yeah, absolutely. And for me from my question
then also Billy is we've seen off being able to show up so aggressively and so confidently
on one of their match days. Do you think that's replicable today against liquid because it
is a different team liquid you know banner does carry some weight. Yeah, I think for
we were looking at off, it was
the question of can they just
keep pushing on and pushing
forward? And I think when you
look at Team Liquid, they are a
team that had notoriously had
lower bracket runs. We think
back to kickoff last year, where
they ended up going into that
lower round one and making it
all the way to Masters Bangkok.
So with it being a different
roster, it's not to say that
they'll do the same thing again.
But like we keep saying, I think
if off can keep up this energy,
can keep up the kind of energy
that they had on the stage,
being more loud and not so timid,
not so timid and just yeah being very aggressive because that was quite a dominant one against
specifically. It like shows both in and out of the server like the louder they are out of the server
like the kind of more aggressive and fiery they are in the game it was like and last week was a
complete turnaround and like the question is is like was that just one series or is that a genuine
attitude change and it seems like from what they're saying it is an attitude change especially when I
look at Demo like as a jurist he was not doing very well this kickoff at all but last week
he was really good. He's got huge boots to fill in terms of Sot as a Judas who is,
I would say, the spearhead of this team. But last week he was doing an incredible job, I think.
Yeah, I have to agree. I think Demirah Frost was a highlight in the sense that those first couple
of series, it was a little bit shaky. He even openly admitted in that post-bun as well to feeling
shaky on the stage. So yeah, I think for me, he needs to be able to keep this performance up,
because it's great as it was, it's like you're going up against a different beast when we think of Team Liquid.
Yeah, and like this playstyle from this off-team is they play a lot of breach which I'm not, you know, the biggest fan of ever,
but I think for a team like this where there are a bit more of the underdogs, just playing the breach keeps it extremely simple.
They can just go to sites and just stun and exec and just go in together, and like that is just what their win condition is.
It's essentially just being aggressive together.
Yeah, I think as well whilst we're on the topic of Demure,
I think if you were to actually look at his career history and challenges, he's never really actually been part of like a long term project.
So I feel like playing on this PCC stage being a substitute as part of this all roster is a really good opportunity for him to put himself out there as a potential pickup for other teams in the future.
And we're talking about the attitude. We're talking about how all these players have really had that opportunity to shine and be loud and gel well together last week.
I think that's the one thing
I really like to buy both
and off. It's just like the
amount of confidence and the
bravado they provide. Like some
of the things they say are like
the kind of things that scare
me as a coach when I'm coaching
like we're here player being a
bit cocky. I'm like, you need to
humble really quickly like but
with these like new Turkish like
new school Turkish, you know,
I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I
'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like,
like new school Turkish players and teams like it just feels right for them that they put that
different perspective. This is what we were asking for though like we were like they need to get back
to the confidence that they showed at Ascension and I think if the three core players that were
at Ascension can show up today it makes the world of difference and I think having that confidence
is so good and is exactly what we asked for the only thing is like I mentioned before
Team Liquid in the lower bracket that's a completely different beast to go up against so
I think now that Alph have their first win out of the way, that should hopefully spur them on to
you know, keep continuing to have that confidence. So do we believe them? Because they are going up
against Liquid and we touched upon them having their lower bracket run themselves, being able to
go to Master of Spancock, but it's a different roster now. So where are we lying in the predictions
camp or at least expectations camp? I feel like Team Liquid should still be their favorite and they
should be winning. There are some you know big red flags if they're unable to win today but it's
not like Alph are the team that we saw in the first two games. Like the first two games I think
Alph basically just rolled over and died like they weren't in the game at all but in that last game
they were actually a real contender I think like again like once they get to stage one I'm super
super excited right now it's just about accepting the position they're in and just having some fun.
I think if there's one thing that Alph can take advantage of going up against Team Liquid to
today, it would be in the clutch situations. We actually have a statistic for Team Liquid.
They're last in terms of clutches in kickoff so far right now, which is absolutely diabolical.
9% clutch win rate this year in comparison to, I believe it was 15.8% last year. So really
no...
you
you
you
you
you
It was a great map for them against Pacific last week, but I know that you're probably
Are they not a fan of their composition, Mini?
No, no, I think there's a split pick mix.
It's a difficult one.
They've seen looking like split,
and so they've done this thing again,
also done this thing where they basically picked
their opponent's best map into them,
or one of their best maps into them,
which is exactly what happened in the Herific series.
I'll find some comp that's on a map,
maybe from scrims or officials,
and then it's almost like they need to only pick that map.
So it's a little bit worrying to me
that they're picking this map into Team Liquid,
albeit they were very strong in it.
Yeah, it was a 13 and a five against Pacific,
I think it's pretty impressive.
Breeze is the map coming through from Liquid.
This hotline park did not really go in Alph's favor
when they played it against Vitality.
I mean, it didn't go in Team Liquid's favor
when they played it against Vitality either.
So I think that's more about, you know,
it's clearly been a great map for Vitality in that sense.
Team Liquid have been able to find a win on it
other than that loss.
So I think for me, it's just a question of
will Alph change the composition
since they last played the Breeze?
And how have they kind of learned from that series
Did they even really take anything away from it because it was such a domination?
I think Breeze to me, like the double Jonas angle for off is a lot harder with that roster right now.
And so going to a map like Breeze for Team Liquid where they have three players they can choose from on the Jonas
and Breeze being an extremely strong Jonas map in general, I think it just makes a lot of sense.
And then we end things if we go all the way over there with Curl, which for Liquid against Vitality looks pretty strong.
But then from the side of it, I don't really know what to expect there.
Yeah, we've not seen Pearl from off just yet, so it'll be intriguing to see what they do with that.
I think for Team Liquid though, they did play that series with a sub. Obviously Kix was here when
they played the Pearl, so I'd like to think that they changed the composition since then,
because I wasn't a huge fan of their Pearl composition.
I wasn't a huge fan of Team Liquid on Pearl in general, despite the map win against Vitality.
I think there's a reason why in EMEA we have a bit of a meme that we're not very good at Pearl,
because I saw in, but when I was watching that map closely, I wasn't very impressed with some
strategy. That's absolutely fair so instead of focusing on Pearl then let's
focus on our first map and that is going to be split. In regards to
compositions or changes that we're expecting I mean like what has been
running the same composition, Entireity of Pick-Off. This is a comp that they love
and they're usually pretty good with it. They had a close game with
Tannasic but losing air I think they'll continue to do the same kind of stuff
and on off-site I don't see them changing anything here either. I think
they're both going to be happy playing the composition thing.
I think in terms of Alps composition, I actually don't mind it for them.
I think that because it's Fabian that's playing the breach, I'm okay with that.
He was a good breach in Challengers and proved to be at Ascension as well.
I think having this double initiator on Alps side is hopefully going to be able
to help set to viewer up because of Morsby kind of mentioned him being able
to have a good performance earlier this week.
And I'm hoping that that can continue through.
No astral from Liquid, how are we doing about that, Manny?
Ah, yeah, no Astra. I do prefer the Astra a lot more on this map, and I think there is
a really important agent on this map to disrupt Off's composition. When you have an all-in
composition with the Breach Star and Omen Paranoia, the Walei diving in, I much prefer
having the option to have that gravity work, much like I was saying in the last series.
Yeah, I think the Omen is interesting. I wonder if this has come from a coaching decision,
This is Wayne individually saying that he'd prefer to play the old man or again if it's not
Yeah, this is my seat comfort at this point if team look at a played it historically
I think this is just Wayne's comfort to be honest with you
Yeah, so I think for team liquid is gonna be on this attack side is gonna be looking out for this breach in whaler
Like the off all composition of defense is looking to trap you in with the stuns and the saturate
And all team liquid need to do is make sure you don't get stunned and such right very much
They should be fine on the attack side
Yeah, I think all we're going to be looking to take a lot of control of the extremis here with this way
Lay with this breach with this fade set up trap plays and mid potentially like you said many
And yeah, I think it's a really aggressive composition and starting on the defense will be key for yeah
And aggression goes hand-in-hand with off some excited to see how that one plays out
They are going up against liquid on split and we're ready to dive into the action with our casters for this series
We have Hazel and Cairo
Thank you guys, yes, thoroughly looking forward to this one, a chance for Liquid to put things
right after a bad day in the office against Fnatic, and for Ulf, a chance now for them
to build some of their own momentum after avoiding elimination against Pacific.
Yeah, if it was against Pacific, Ulf really hit a eureka moment in terms of the realized
exactly how they want to play, realized that you know what, we should be sending that out,
we have the mechanical ability to do that and I think Team Liquid are going to feel a lot
a lot of disrespect to the. Both
of these teams still figuring
out their identity in a sense.
Kickoff is here for exactly that
purpose. The one change in
composition coming on the liquid
side, moving away from Astra for
the first time since both lohan
and Yautson took charge as
coaches here. We'll just have to
see if that little bit of extra
added comfort can add to an
attack side, which has looked
decent for them so far in their
register the one here although has only played at once team liquid plate at
place and have registered a loss as well that was against fanatic the other week
but again an asterix on that performance just in terms of the
things that they got right still those fine margins the training at times a
very slow start here what he's queued up to challenge me but no one facing just
yet until the orb drops.
This is when the brawl is going to ensue, and it's off again, playing on the regression,
trying to play through, and it's just not what two orders caught out, and possible with
the kill.
Yeah, little lapse in communication there, perhaps orders thinking mid had cleared up,
but two players get into the cutout, and still crossing the minute mark, Liquid yet to really
take expansive control, and with the spake all the way towards B's, and that's really
going to faint impact on the east side of the map? I mean, it's time to rotate, sure.
Now, looks like that's what Team Liquid want to go.
Yeah, I should have heard that TP away from Camo. The question is, how much do they read
into this at this point in time? They have no sort of pro activity of their own, Fabian
holding a long, long line against a group of liquid players, which should be able to
take this A site, no problem.
Oh, 20 seconds left here, really leaving it really, really low at a time bank, and Fabian could do enough here.
That stun is coming up in 3 seconds. This is not... I'm not convinced by this!
Yeah, huge opportunity here for Ophin Retake, a couple key pieces available, Fabian still the standard reveal.
Oh, and straight out, Demmer, I don't know about that, at least there's a trade through the horn, as Nekki comes in to help out, so it's only a one player deficit.
the way down. The challenge
on for a nice, though. Up
against nice. The team
captain and neck in was
exact to where he is going for
the full stack. Good all the
way. That hasn't swung and
off. Get the first round. Yeah,
I mean, I feel like the writing
the game. You know, it's a
possibility in that execution,
right? There wasn't enough time
to contact into the site. Wayne
just had the paranoia. That was
it. And now a step up from
Neckie, which we'd sort of been
waiting to see throughout kick
off so far. He was the second
highest fragger in that
Ascension final. It feels like
when the team is playing well,
he's playing well. If all now
have a foundation, they can
Which is crazy to see.
It is.
Right, for your IGL, but you'll take it.
Playing round the smoke, you can see the judge in hand.
Sorry, I'm not the judge, it's a bulldog, apologies.
My bite-like one's still there, though.
We'll have to see Fabian.
Backped, Lick just getting caught by Wayne and stunned,
just good for the one.
So Lick would now make it a three on three,
and there are weapons to be collected here.
Yeah, spit it on a bulldog.
This will make things very interesting against Ulf, and there's just going to be an experienced
stuff in the server in terms of the second round as you can see, Wayne.
We're looking to try and challenge Niki, but give away one of those upgrades.
Big one versus one there, and look at this pro activity from Demer in the meantime.
He's actually going to catch a really nice timing here, wrapping behind Liquid, or so
you would think, at the very least, Ulf, no, it's not A.
Yeah, exactly.
Niki and Audaz were posted towards B, but Niki interested about the timing, maybe through heaven.
Playing a very deep line here, knowing that they can spin the numbers to their advantage.
Chance for Liquid to get on site. Uncontested. Does Audaz want to challenge this? No, I don't
think so. The audible has been hailed. Sorry. So if you're looking to just hold on a pass and
damage dealt from the liquid perspective. I think not be happy all things considered with
how this went and did, especially considering the fact that Nats was somewhat phased out of
position at the end and not able to get the plant.
An familiar opponent for purple, obviously playing against Alph in the tier 2 system
and the EMEA Challenger 3. Still missing two of those key players that we spoke about
before. Demo being aggressive to take the beaming space. This is something I'll love to do but
Demo already pushed back that space lost. Yeah I'm not able to hold on to it.
Audaz has been involved in the last two first engagements. He was on the winning end
on the previous round and here again just looking to maybe get involved but
Orph have conceded the mid space for the second round in a row, and you can see that.
So Orph was starting to scale towards the east side using his own vapor wall, so with him feigning, perhaps, timings to use.
Toys is on.
This is going to be a big part of this map, especially when you can see that split already starting to be explored, fighting like wits.
Just have to see. Yeah, it is looking like the A-execution here. Orph gambling that it might be a B-finish.
And as it stands, only mini-boot there, just watching over this one, finally rotation starting
to come through, or as again, first in the feed and for a good reason.
Ah, Stum trying to play a little bit too cheeky in the corner in Cotto as well as Team Liquid
completely wrote out that E-shape.
Chance to get the spike in, terms of the utility, Wayne still holding onto that paranoia again.
A big tool to dissuade this retake attempt, and that's outhanging in heaven.
Cover going out.
Yeah, looking to play upset, and unfortunately, he's been upset himself that night for a long lane.
Okay, all systems go for it all, but you start to head towards the same.
Wayne and Main being an issue, and Demo now onto the spike.
Wayne low after that last engagement, so you can't help but feel...
They're gonna get these, gonna stick it!
What's going on in the Team Liquid camp?
At a Red Bull clutch, no less.
I mean, I was thinking surely we're not going to fall for the same act twice.
Wayne calls his bluff, but Demo with this renewed sense of confidence does all he has
to and connect with that spike refusal.
I mean, these rounds have been close, if anything, but Liquid ruin their mistakes again.
The thing I love as well, the young guns showin' in the faces of Liquid as they continue to
punish mistake after mistake.
TP probably heard from the players just now, said main, so they're paying the due diligence
to try and clear it out.
Only a couple players that could have survived an outlaw shot, one of them is Nat.
Now he's gonna try and fight the way back across this toxic screen.
Demons there to punish. Opening kill for Rolf again.
And as the Crasher is put on mid, they try to fight back, but Liquid get another in their conversation.
Yeah, Camel needs to be careful.
He is the one with the spake and wall, but many Boos being able to feign dordars opens up that B-Sate.
Absolute brawl right now.
Or just trying to figure out where they need to set priority and what they want to fight for,
because Liquid have moved into post again and the numbers advantageous to sink this time.
Or so it was. Minibu looks the wrong way. It's another three on three.
Yeah, and Demo already on the hunt for the flank. That's going to be a potential win
condition for Old. If he can get into please, end game. Looking at the utility here on the
offside though, there's not all too much to work with. Wayne still banking that paranoia again to
try and counter repeat coming through. It's from the heavens first and then the follow-up from Stern
That is clean, Camo ending it off with a 4k.
And finally getting Liquid on the board.
Yeah, at least able to deny 4 runs in a row.
But I think the big thing for Alphian is like, how good
do we are at trying to challenge Nets' position on K?
As we've seen a few times him scale up and allow Liquid into a post-plan.
I think that's the first post-plan we've seen of actually, like,
failed to get in and properly retake and pose an issue to Team Liquid.
Yeah, I think like as you said the improvement was being able to hunt down nats there in a main as he will
Reprise that roll again here around five
And there's only a couple of rifles on the offside and very immediately
They make their presence known in middle a lake less explosiveness from old but the saw
hesitant to hold on to the space but I go back again
3, clear in, midi boot on the line, holds it down, Wayne camo, the rest, lock it in, liquid looking comfortable now, at this stage in the round.
Plenty of time to play with, Nat's still lurking outside of A, and oh, doubling down on this mid control again.
Yeah, I think Team Liquid are anticipating some sort of peak
Not coming the way at all so they'll rescue all the rapals away from the remaining two
Even trucking one on top of the double stack box there as well to make sure it can't be recovered
That's just correcting the aim quickly enough
Stan
Come on, maybe
Back on the range, that's just about gonna sneak it.
So there you go, and in zone flawless from Liquid,
they make it back to background now on the attack side.
Yeah, and in terms of team personalities,
how we look at these teams,
I've always viewed Team Liquid as a team
that is very heavy on the prep stage.
We should know exactly how old they want to play this map,
and you can start to see that filtering end
to the calling from that,
to be a little bit more passive.
Wait for old to try and take that space,
I didn't have to re-engage, go further, here we wait and hold,
or then we have them with their own utility if your team like would do it.
Four ultimates here, maybe even five.
We should expect some more success from the attack.
Dema bringing the up-out for Orph here.
The solo waylay in this composition, a trend which we have seen across VCT globally.
You saw it on the stat there.
Some of the lowest win percentages.
For the teams that play it well, your 100 Thieves, your G2s of the world here.
Look, I've set that trend and really is going to go without support here on the other side of the map.
It's Liquid pushing into the B site with the ult out.
It's Mini Boost that claims the first kill.
You know, very nicely done, but you can no see the wheelie to get into possession.
Nicely done by Stun.
It's one back and the reveal just confirms that camo's dropped into backside
But it could really be anywhere now as that pit
Continues to make life a nuisance for all for this position investing in all of their own from the way late orders up top
Nat's searching for this one and still neither of them the better in this situation liquid doing it all
a lap from Wayne
Into heaven
And as Stern finds three, it's Nats to close it up in the end.
Liquid still looking in control there in post.
Yeah, and this is the adjustments that we want to see the post pan looking better, not taking any chances.
And the Ultimates really pushing them along.
Still though, I think Seixel in terms of winning that round, maybe they felt it was an impulsive one to lose,
because it will break the vibe of the defence.
I mean, it's a very good game.
Without being sick. We won't get
a fast Teimo. Of the series.
Yeah, it's a frustrating start
for all of I think right. You
win the pistol anti co conversion
and then the bonus as well in
very dramatic fashion, albeit
and liquid have now found
themselves a foothold back into
this game. So in terms of what
that they've sort of been few and far between. I think liquid for the most part have been allowed back control, but then it's a case of
Setting those priorities where exactly they're choosing to fight on the sites right now, especially towards B. That's been a bit of an issue
and it has a
The retakes, I mean you're starting to see team liquid fall away from that
And I wonder right now is low hand and that's thinking about heal us and let's try and go elsewhere
We'll go away from the success try and catch our opponent's off guard. What adjustments are we gonna see from off now?
Because we've seen them try to go fast be aggressive. We've seen them go for the retake
Where do we go from here? Well, this is the change up from liquid now. It just looks like a full pal ace and
And off in terms of what they want to do. It's gonna be garage control which will net information
But it's gonna come in a little too late
I mean, Audaz does have the ultimate to try and get out of the state.
As it stands, liquid.
Slow in their scaling here, perhaps anticipating a change of setup from Ulf.
Maybe worried about aggression.
Exactly.
Just waiting for the smoke to clear, and when it does, Audaz dropping deeper and deeper.
Got a bit of a conservative in his position, and again, caught in the smoke.
Waiting the one to find him.
And Liquid giving plenty of breathing room here to set things up.
Yeah, I mean, able to get one, the numbers are even.
Obviously, the final pull on the side of Liquid in terms of the bite.
So what do we see from Ophir to prove an issue and this retake?
They've been successful many times on A before.
Liquid have the tools this time as well.
It was just a contact into the site.
So little utility used plenty in reserve.
to see how much damage they can possibly do at this point. The money's been wrecked with the conclusion of the last couple of rounds, Cairo. Yeah, they're setting up for the next. Yeah, and they're not one to give any more ultimate or straight. We've seen team like we just use up the ultimate sequel to try and break the body of the defense.
I think. As you say, it's now
four in a row liquid have the
lead for themselves at this
stage in the game. We'll have
ultimate and this is their
chance to bite back as an
also the bringing out demos up
as well. For the first time on
the defense, which will allow
them to obviously have a way to
take in a little bit too eager
to take that fight, but with
I have a way to gain information.
Second apparently.
Okay, done.
But here come liquids.
It's going to be another A-pop.
I mean, it works for them on the previous.
This time, Favien is there with a little bit more stopping power.
They're waiting for the players to try and head off.
There is the goal.
And Favien passes the test with flying colours.
Although he has war on health, but supporting the utility, that smoke, stopping any lanes of Sait to his possession, is going to be huge, as he continues to be an asshoor, but we're in the clear, and that's Sait, no, and Team Liquid turns.
Yeah, it's unfortunate for Fabian. Smoke bought him time, had the ult marked, now he's gone. We're all for the 3v2.
And no Liquid have to plant, see if which will not be good for the post-plant.
That's his stuck in this corner as well.
And Demo has all his movement to clear this out.
Yep, and that's why he's going to swap out the operator and wait for the players to be
in position to trade out.
That's probably most important from this corner, and exactly that will shoot Demo out of the
sky so now he's up to the captain once again, and a 1 vs 2 clutch, he's stuck in the corner
with absolutely no way out, and like that, Alph will come through, clear him out, and
equal out the roam count.
Yeah, it's a brilliant individual round from Fabian and the rest of Ulf to clean things up
Little bit surprised that Demo didn't hit the reflect honestly after he set himself out of the cannon there
but this is the
Mechanical ability you know these players have oh, yeah
It just needs to find a little bit of consistency now
Fabian
Absolutely excellent as the players try to come in. I think if he gets even one there it caused him liquid sweet
I'm out. We go back again and operate on the attack from money boo. Yeah, and he's anticipating
this peak from demo as well. So opportunity to punish but the stun there as a safety net.
The attacker unscoped and liquid. Just playing passively here at the start waiting to react
does any aggression from all. That's what you're expecting.
Perhaps that pieces.
We ain't a case of in his position and you can see already
off are laying in all for the shoulder. Oh, give us a waste
on low and getting a couple of kills of their own. So off
now they have the advantage in the round. Yeah, it looked like
liquid work sitting tight for a reaction as soon as they poke
for one. It's getting the better of it and then stun giving
way haphazardly what was a five versus three advantage. Just the one now. Yeah, and Audaz
now under extreme fire there. Going to use his ulti to try and support Demo holding on
from CT, but Team Liquid now look to point themselves towards E. This is nice from off
as well. They've pivoted into a two and two setup. Favian to hold the line again, but
Necky is here in support. That means that Team Liquid do have the advantage when they
hit any of the sites, but I'll have the advantage in positioning. Off-angles that Team Liquid
will have to try and clear out, but you can see a hesitancy there, as that is going to
be Camo to try and leave the lane. He was low in health but did not anticipate Fabian's
position. Now the player's coming from Main is known about buying Necky, and he's calling
for support, and he's got the ultimate to finish out the Ransom! Up, we're still alive
somehow! And Fabian at least there to finish things off.
a little frustrated and he can
see a replay of purple. There
he was getting tossed around
like a sack of potatoes. This
was nice from off, though,
initially, but Wayne was the
only one Jooling and soon as
they got that reaction moving
into the two and two comfortable
to close this. That's insane.
Yeah, I mean, maybe a little
trying to improve that micro as it seems to be liquid eye-head of the utility and somehow
money were able to get through with a split down. Yeah, quick double and stern. Oh, forced
to vacate his pit in middle, that goes down and so does he. The quickest round that you
might see, I think, in this series between the two. Yeah, quick and ashtrix because it
Looks like these two are saving.
That's what I mean, right?
Like the round is done.
Almost at the barrier drop,
but we'll make us wait for the next 40 seconds or so
saving these guns.
It gives us a chance to talk about these two teams
and obviously the expectations that we have for both.
Team Liquid, obviously we compare them
from the roster that we had last year, right?
25 roster that exceeded expectations. A lot will say, obviously, we saw Kiko really grow
into his own role, which they lost this year and then Team Liquid, I mean, I can't help
but feel this was a downgrade from last year because of that. Even if you think of the
initial roster that they brought out at the beginning of 25, sure, I think in many ways
It almost always was going to be right. It's difficult when you have
Such a high bar. There was no way they were going to meet immediately at least
All of the international events which they attended last year
Three of them first time in the organization's history that they've been able to qualify for all in one year
This round was off trying to set things in motion early and it actually looks like they're going to
try their hand and a little bit more of the same here.
Who's next?
A bit of a steeper contact taken from them at this time.
Now it looks to be a fake towards the E through the dimensional drift
and off of completely butter. They're rotating all the way over.
A spike still in garage. Only two players there for the time being,
but a rotation made and they get to a point where Oph realized that this is just a fake.
Yeah, the skill is so slow from liquid and all guys left here was the way out of the pattern
All your goods still can't quit green and still somehow loses out that jewel
Yeah, I don't know the rocket from mini boom missing as well. That's actually liquid
We're gonna quickly double back to normal day and go for the plot
Yeah, I don't know about this far being still has control of met and those players close to that a say
Camo does get one back in the meantime fighting into screen. It is a three on three again in post one
Yeah, topsy-turvy and popo potentially with a chance to fly faving with no idea
Oh nearly gets a chance to break the apple bun
Unfortunately doesn't work out so team liquid full control of this post plan is self try to go CT
The plant is open here, but the paranoia is gonna be enough from Wayne in the end. Stern left 1 versus 3
And with no real way back into this situation
He will cut his losses and look to save. Yeah, I think this is a respectable decision
But the team would even allow him to get out
What?
I thought they're shaking some of his bullets. You've got a kill there, but no, it's them all in stage
So team liquid to find themselves up to six. Yeah, and
By their standards, they've managed to find six on the attack. Yes
That is true, but the big thing for me is that when you see Old Comfort...
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
as they've stayed in the game. Yeah. Just have to see if they can do any better. Just
two of the rifle rounds picked up from them so far.
That is true, but the big thing for me is that when you see all come forward, it's a
better lie. It's a better mess. He at least stuns there, but he's got his name found
here. Come on, there's an execute going on. Yeah, this is a head scratch up to see the
But we do still on 3 on 3.
Yeah, Nekki's Guardians come back out to play as well.
That's isolated from this in-mail.
Still fights going on towards spawn.
Wait, that's the perfect gun for being hindered.
But still can't find anything, and so Papo goes 1v3.
First target taken.
Two left to find.
With also renewed confidence, they play this as a pair.
The question is, where to look?
Puppo trying to dance around them.
But Ulf, holding a line and just giving him the time of day here.
I like this. Letting Puppo take the fight to them.
Obviously a spake tap will try and bring them out of the position.
Oh Puppo giving half a chance there and finding the first engagement.
Still searching for that second player. Now they're slightly split up.
Demo solo by the pillar.
April is left in the mag and Papa will delete the next, tries to flick up and find Necky, can't do it, deadlock of the half.
Yeah, that we do end up with a deadlock, but the thing about Alphys Hazard, we have much better ones to move onto the attack.
Team Liquid need to be careful, as a defender save the map after all, historically, we'll find out exactly what our scoreline looks like after the half.
player. Your body knows a sense of victory. Seize when mind, movement and gear ignite
as one. Now, step into your zone. Designed to win.
I think it's fair to say
the team. And the team
Liquid. They're going to be
playing with six rounds to
their name. More or less than
each of them deserve. I think
it's fair to say, but now
all with a chance to step on
the front foot, moving over to
the attack side. Yeah, thank
you as well. Once they move
on to this attack, saying we're
going to see that explosiveness
trying to take Team Liquid
off guards, and I think the
big thing for Team Liquid is
how does that preparation
look like? They've not had a
lot of time to do it, but they
Well, with all playing this solo waylay, as you can see, Demma has been a little few and far between so far, but he is relying on that setup to get him in position.
You still drop towards B and middle from the attack side before they end up moving towards A.
Yeah, and Nicky, on an exploration mission, all the way through into World's spawn, so
he's going to take his time to try and join up with his teammates by the timing is unbelievable.
Oh, but he can get the kill!
Finally!
Does get at least one, but it's nobody he's looking for, and Team Liquid head towards the
site, but lose to Fabian.
So 2 vs 2 with Wayne, low, that is going to be massive in the pistol engagements, especially
when Fabian is all alive!
Another four key for him!
As he wins out the pistol for all!
Fabian really stepping up so much,
so I feel like he might have, I don't know,
had something roll under his chair there.
But Necky, a little frustrated,
I think, with the fact he wasn't able to find both.
Fabian doing so much,
I think it's interesting to see all of...
I
Just like his hand warmers or something
I've really committed to this breach where other Turkish teams like BBL and Lara could move the way from it
Right, we know him to be such a flexible player five different agents already shown in kickoff
But he's right at the crux of the game plan with what it is that they are
Showing us here
Not really the utility just the gunplay
I seem like they'd want to head towards it, they've seen something that they think is
worth rotating over.
Spike's still sitting back in shop so all playing a slow round here, I mean look they're
up against five classics, there's a little other way to posture it.
ammo here can maybe TP out and they can play for a regroup, but this only looks to be going
in one direction.
Yeah, and towards MiniBoo. I mean, stuns all the way up towards Eid. He's actually pulling
the spike back across to the save the map, which I'm worried about. I've just seen Pop
Strength and numbers perhaps for Team Liquid. You just need to wait for the engage, wait to come through,
start looking to try and fight, but does it run out, necking out, on towards where the spec-plantable area is,
but as the players start to make their way through, to what Team Liquid are starting to pick up the upgrades,
but it does leave just many boots all alone on his classic as the players have all await his swing.
Well good, though, we have the attack state. Yeah, camo the last player to go down there the rotate from beat
Off get through the second round. No questions asked
It's got to be all about just gaining as much experience as possible against these VCT opponents
Building up confidence within the core. Yeah for when both sop and echo come back into the lineup
Yeah, yeah players like Demo and stern as well to put themselves in the shop window where you'd not seen them play
And he went near this level before yeah, 100%
Med is where the attack will start
Oh
Demo wanted to go deep, but neck is spam does connect on to what's not so mid has been one
But I mean this is gonna be a B split the players are waiting for the aggression of Wayne
Has to be cautious in this
Boo comes through like a freight train and just runs him down.
Double satchel out of the hole.
Had half a chance there to find Necky as well, but it does settle two on two.
Yeah, and he's got controller heaven against his opposite number, Popple tucks into the corner.
Papa, not in the wiser.
Necky turns up at just the right time, and with Fabian by his side, it's Camo to drop the breach player instead.
Spike in no man's land.
It's a teepee stuff from Camel, what?
No way he follows through on that.
A Red Bull clutch.
Calamity in the end.
But such a bold play to make in that situation.
Yeah, you can see the smell on Nekki's face as well.
Just as Camel does to get the audacity to do it.
I mean, I mean, help me, could he attempt to this?
That's insane.
Necky was just switching between the utility, didn't have the gun out in time, that's half the reason why it was so hard for him to readjust.
I know we head into a first ultimate seiko between the two.
We've got many boos, three's ultimate and obviously the nade fall from Necky, which can be a big execute ultimate.
the showstopper obviously good for the retake as well honestly it's one of those ones where
whoever makes the least mistakes is the one coming out on top it feels like in some of
these situations it's been really messy you know Stun identified through E-Mean, is he
a locker or is he the player that's going to scale up and a low O of N towards a split
right now doesn't seem to be the case as I'll still play away at meds and here's the shortstopper as
they look for a kill but miniboo doesn't identify the right target so Niki gets the advantage
the entry kill. It's another mischievous stuff from miniboo and this time it's in the corner where
the molly dropped so I don't know if he just assumed that someone was trying to tank it or
not but now off scaling towards B four members strong all against one. You can see already
Demo going back and it's actually good delay coming through from Wayne and ATPs up and gives himself away
Picamic, Cavill's standing strong with them. No hero TP away. He needs to try and fight this, but can't do it
So I'll throw to the good now. Purple can't get one either.
Necky unbelievable so far on Split
Milit towards Nats with just a spectre
I'm not going to be much to look at, though, because he is walking away from this one.
Oof, doing such a brilliant job at finding that opening pick and then grouping up together,
taking the B site in full force, leaning into the strengths of their composition and being
able to overwhelm Liquid there.
That's the thing, right, but Ulf, I was speaking about it and we touched on it in that last
round there, right about Ulf and that's your Rika moment and how they're developing as
a roster, getting as much reps as possible, but it was something that like Demo was saying
in that post plan, it felt as if the full time that we'd been playing in Kikov, we were
trying not to lose, whereas now we feel as if we're planning to destroy them, right,
you can see that in the way that they want to play in terms of being aggressive, in terms
of taking these fights. The fact that they have no respect for the opponents, you know,
hey listen, they feel as if they're the best in this effort. I mean, you see from BBL,
I cannot almost all that same crop of talent that's been coming up from Turkey in the past
year or so. Yeah, I mean, in many people's heads, mine included. I had all firsts that
next bracket, I think. We weren't expecting them to come up in the fashion that they did,
it was that rapid development throughout the year as they joined the Turkish League only in stage two
in 2025 against a liquid side which is lined with experience on the international stage from
that's to minibu and now into the first time out for them the first of the second half as well
chasing a two round gap camo has the alt they've not quite got the money to make this look too scary
That's making his thoughts known and no better time than 3's time to do that.
That's it. I mean, he has been such a leader in the server, his speeches have all heard
them. It really needs to start leading now, showing us what he's good for, grabbing those
kills, holding those sights down. You can see right now, it's really necking Fabian,
who's carrying Ove to the victory.
Yeah, they've stepped up to the plate.
Risen to the occasion here with their lives on the line,
of course, one of these teams will be going home
at the end of the day.
And as it stands, Ove putting themselves
in a prime position on the map of their own choosing.
They could very quickly have three bodies here.
There's a TP available if Cammer wants to take it.
Two, three other players hanging around.
Ween is going to be sorely to get here as well.
Still, when I look at it, Hazard is still the advantage of all Parven those weapons.
Let's see what they can try and set up there.
It's a nice nade in the corner from MiniBooter, flush out them, but just no gun power.
Fire power to clear them out after the fact.
So, all set up pretty comfortably here in post-plant, and Liquid maybe just looking
to drop to the spike when all is said and done. Yeah, seems to be the case, or even try and grab a
couple of exits here towards ramp, all for looking to try and explore, and they have given away a
couple of kills back to Team Liquid. I mean, Spade well explored, it is round to get double digits,
but yeah, I don't know about that one. Yeah, I mean, look, plenty of damage dealt on the offside
of things. Purple walking away with the rifle as well, he'll be happy with that. But 10 for all
and just a one round loss so far on this attack side.
Now we get to see what improvements Liquid have made
coming from that timeout here.
I'm really looking at the retake as well
just because of that dimensional draft,
because of that nightfall.
But in terms of having to stick a landing after a Teemo,
there is no round more important than last for Team Liquid
because then, Oath will be on 11 against an equal.
Chance to speak with the coaches as well,
point which they really hammered home in the offseason was they felt a lot of
success came from their own strategic abilities but a lack of autonomy at times
when things got rough for the liquid side and so scouting around that who's
the one that steps up to the task here and makes the difference and keeps them
in this map could it be mini boot perhaps will it be someone else towards a
main because that's where the spike is headed
Big brawl. You can already see Camel setting up to escape and well, Purple would be left all alone if that is the case
But they stand strong and up down set up, but it does trade out evenly
Bobo's still here hanging from top ramp on the off angle and that's
Just sliding into site as well
But the spike is backpedaling because Nicky is still hanging in male
I thought for a minute that's where they would want to go towards B, but instead it's not.
It's to fire a little gap, a little tame, and for the captain to move as we end towards Heaven.
Hop-o. Fishing out damage, but still no kill picked up, both getting ever closer to the site,
which is stocked with liquid players. That's the only one left now, though.
21 points of health, but still good for the tap.
Orders was one bullet away, but can't find it by a whisker.
So it all head to a two on two where they could have a health advantage and all they have a player advantage now as well
Yeah, but Nicky has been so good
21 and 12 can he get the clutch
Smoke up in his face
Nicky
Phantom in hand looking for a spray down Wayne and miniboo crossing back in
Finding the opportunity at a first
But Wayne will stamp it out
Liquid back in this one, not the cleanest, but the round nonetheless.
Hey, honestly, it doesn't matter how you win the round, it's if you win the round right for Team Liquid.
Had to make sure that their economy didn't go into disarray.
You can see right now, ultimate friend themselves in the same position Team Liquid did in the last.
A big swing round to come up now.
I just want to say, absolutely monumental in terms of who walks away with the result on
this first map.
Gemma's got to judge out.
You're expecting him to just go slinging in.
It's actually Audaz who TP's forward initially and is looking for that first engagement.
Wins it.
Hinder landing onto Wayne, but no follow-up, no recourse now.
Just the omen on the B site as it stands demo.
What are you doing? Out in the open trying to recover a weapon but Wain gets the better of him.
Yeah, can get away with things like that until we're not in VCT EME.
It's not Epic Land anymore.
Yeah, definitely is not. A long wait from home for them.
As you can see already, Alph no trying to keep Team Liquid posted on the BC. Is the spake here? It's elsewhere.
Yeah, Camo can TP out of this if he needs to. He has the Alph to retake, Parko, the knife fall as well.
And that's exactly what he will do. Stops Oras from regrouping with the rest of the team,
but Alph will make their way through in passages here.
Yeah, and then Niki is gonna be solely to support this, so probably looking to hold Joked down just that main position.
They could have these ults for the set retake, should be favoured to win from this position.
Becky playing spoiler, late from main, still checking sewer for a potential flank, but now
is when the penny drops, all should know that Liquid are trying to make their way back through.
Camo the furthest player up, looking for a little bit of support, trying to find the
first of those engagements, drops the flash, but Stern drops Papo instead, numbers now for
for all going through the motions, waiting with three,
but all that goes one better.
He takes his third and he stands his ground,
all five to 11, and with that team Liquid,
also don't get the value from the long-
you
you
you
you
you
I'm a diving in for info, baits out a lot of utility on the liquid side, and then here
come off rolling thunder through first two kills
kind of but not with three of his own level floating as it stands spike you go
in the pit is not gonna reach the site but it's brought big distraction and
in cloud which Nats is looking to use through main ago but the counter pit
has almost negated its effects fully yeah 100% this is given a real
foundation for this post plan for off to double up in backside actually I don't
If Stern wants to stay in the pit or is just waiting for it to drop here the toxins should be running out
Yeah, but what does this wall any moment now?
There you go in the end stern catches Matt's out in the open air of one versus two for the rocky
Wayne to keep liquid moving forward
But it's been a real change of the tides and all up to 12
What a way from taking the first map, their map pick in this series.
And a massive map it is because it's one that Team Liquid have always been good at.
I mean, you think towards last year and how Nates was able to use the Maple 2 as an advantage in many occasions,
but so far, I feel as if Nates this year has looked so uncharacteristically on Lake himself.
I mean, all four have just been so prepared for everything Liquid have thrown at.
I'm sure there's the one change in smokes, but this is the same composition they were running during the off-season
Here comes Demer again just trying to clear around the corner
But as he recalls back to the support of his team the job is done
Matt's still trying to keep things alive here, the beating heart for Liquid
But it's now starting to flatline to Falter
Nice look at this, Popo's only going to share him and the players are so ready for it
Wayne gets one back, a chance to right his wrongs in a 1v1.
What a save!
That was Danny today!
19-8!
Off continue the streak and takes play from Liquid.
Yeah, I mean, Alfa really going into this kickoff, and you can see the team's better coming through in the R1.
It looks excellent, but it is only Mat 1.
It is Liquid not looking much better there, but we head over to Ginny on the sidelines to catch up with Necky after that result.
Okay, before you run off, really quick question, that was a 23-15 game from you, absolutely
incredible.
How are you going to stay calm, collected to make sure that this is only one map away
from your little bracket run?
Yeah, we're going to do lower bracket run.
We are so happy to win this first game.
We are excited to next games after this.
We're going to do that lower run.
you
you
you
you
you
I've been running Astra on speed for a very long time now, which is the reason behind
swapping it from I think it is the comfort big for Wayne honestly it feels more comfortable
engaged and we're trying to play more towards our play strengths than to play
replicator tournament last year. Yeah that's it. Thank you so much for that insight something we
touched upon going into this one when we saw the OMIN instead of the Astra was the comfort
picked for Wayne. However even with that comfort picked unfortunately for Team Liquid they were
not able to close out this map and OLF came out swinging. Yeah I think the highlight from OLF here
was simply the firepower difference in my opinion. I think that Team Liquid actually had a very good
read on avoiding some of these breach stuns, and historically a very good split team. And so
I'm a bit worried about Team Liquid if you can't look good in a map where you're supposed to be
pretty good on historically. Yeah, I have to agree, Manny. I think one of the things I'd said
to keep an eye on going into this matchup is that one of the things that Alph can take advantage of
is the fact that Team Liquid are so poor in clutches right now, and that seemed to be the case.
I think the only clutch that they ended up getting was that stupid one where Camel ended up TPing behind one of the off players on B site.
So yeah, I think Alph really being able to come out strong
and just being able to win those moments, which is crazy because when we think of Team Liquid's roster and the experience that they have in comparison to
Alph's roster, you'd think that those would be the players to thrive in those moments rather than Alph.
And due to the experience, so yeah, I think shout out for them for being able to pop off in those moments.
It also answers our question specifically before we headed into this series where we thought, okay, we've seen OV come and just swing last time around against specific, they were really confident, they were really pretty much like, just go all in, were they going to be able to replicate that?
Was it a flash and a pan? This map to me was the answer to that question. Obviously, we still have at least one more map to go, but it's a good solid start on what they are capable of.
Yeah, but I don't even think that it was of aggression that was necessary to win
when you condition really like they they were consistently just winning these
brands they shouldn't like they were obviously playing well but like the fact
that they won that you have the style was like they won a Luda for some of
their clutches. Yeah they ended up winning like five clutches in comparison to like two wins
winning one clutch it was just ridiculous. And we did highlight Liquid's inability to
win some of these most of the clutches with their stats being towards the
bottom of the leaderboard and you go up against a team like this and it's a whole
different beasts to deal with that may have been more difficult. Yeah, maybe. I
don't know. I think that something that you had highlighted many before we went
into that was the aggression. And I do think Team Liquid were doing a good job
of being able to avoid those kind of breach setups that you were kind of
highlighting and going into that. But yeah, I think it just mainly came down to a
lot of the clutch situations that they found themselves in, which as Team Liquid
you're looking at thinking why are you even in these situations in the first
place. That's a great question. Unfortunately we're not going to have the answer to that right now,
I'm not sure if you can see
that. I'm not sure if you can
see that now, but think for
all side of things. It's just
the confidence that they had in
this map. I want to see them
replicated and even with the
sideline afterwards with
Nikki coming hot off that
when he's like, Yeah, we're
gonna make this lower bracket
run. So they are so confident
not just in their ability for
this game, but forever. He's
like, Oh, yeah. We're just
looking forward to next game.
Like for them. This is already
done, which is he's Christmas.
Yeah, Nikki won three out of the
five clutches that they were in
as well. And I think as well
that is so well seasoned now when we think of decorated players. You think of Nats, right?
Such an experienced player on this stage. And look at the ACS coming up from Necky.
300 is quite a stark number to be putting up for someone that just arrived in tier one this year.
Wasn't that you said the expectation that you had for one of the players was to be 300 ACS?
Yeah, of course. Yeah, I expect that from my boy Necky, who I picked as my rookie over VCTMEA.
There's nothing to do with the fact that Sot isn't here, because, you know.
I mean, I just so excited for soft man. I'm so excited for this guy.
But now we're excited for Necky because that was incredible.
No, it was very good. And I think it just goes back to that kind of thing where it's like, if he's able to drop bombs, like, why is Nats, you know, is he going to do one eventually?
Like, this is the time where lower bracket robots go out. It's like, back to the wall. This is where we expect a big performance from Nats.
And this is what we have seen big performances from liquid historically as well when it comes to that lower bracket
There no strangers to have their backs against the wall
So if anything this is familiar territory for them, so they should be thriving
I would say so, but I don't think so in like this is triple and then this isn't the same as before this is
This is a lower. This is a lower lower bracket. This isn't the same. It's like
They have lost to some teams that they
in place against some teams that maybe they would usually not be in his position.
So I think there's a very different kind of fish right now. I'm very worried for Team Liquid.
Alright, Breeze coming up next though and that is where Liquid is going to be starting off on the defense.
When it comes to recollecting, getting back into the swing of things for getting map 1,
what are we expecting from Liquid here?
I'm expecting a little bit of a map speech between those two maps. We know what he's like with those
speeches so I'm sure he's going to be on the stage or behind the scenes giving one of those out.
Literally right now.
Right now. That's a spot on camera.
Yeah, Team Liquid here, I don't expect them to change composition. They're going to be running
probably the Double Jewelers approach which suits their team, albeit it works on the last map.
But on Breeze especially I think that if I could results against decent teams here so
they should be looking okay here.
Yeah, I think when it comes to Breeze like obviously they've managed to get that win
against KC. Vitality game, I'm not looking into it too deeply because both teams ended
up losing to Vitality. I think we're expecting potentially a double Jullist on both sides,
which I think is going to be intriguing, but in saying that, because it had been so long
since Alph has actually played Prey's, I think they've had time to switch things around
should they want to, but it looks as though they're still leaning into the double Jullist.
Double Jullist, but I believe it's at the front.
Yeah, Waleigh.
Waleigh.
Waleigh.
Waleigh and the neon.
Yeah, so they've completely changed what Jules is playing on this map, because previously it was the Yoru and the Jack.
It's a little bit more direct, so we're going to get that Neon able to just wall up and just go in aggressively.
I think that the Neon is, in a weird way, like a substitution for the breach.
Breach isn't very good on breeze at all, but Neon is able to do similar things.
You just wall up and go, and that's the same style that they've been running with the breach,
and must have been working so well for them at the end of the Skateboard run.
Yeah, it's actually kind of funny because Tim would have also moved away from
They were running previously as well. They've decided to opt for a neon and yoru. So that's kind of exciting
Yeah, for sure many of you I think
Especially if you had back to the 2024
I think isn't his neon was phenomenal back then so
Priests is a map where people are still working out the theory on it
And I think neon is becoming more and more popular
I think as well one of the main things here is that they've switched purple over to that initiative because he was
playing the Jett previously when they had played Breeze.
So I think Camo will be on the Yorahs.
That was actually something that Green Moon were talking about.
I was like, Camo's flaming on the Yorah here.
And maybe we just see him on the Breeze.
Yeah, once again, we're seeing Omen for Wayne instead of the Astra
as well, so sticking with what they're comfortable with
didn't necessarily work out on that first map.
But if anything, this is their chance to equalize.
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, they have to.
Like, it's just, I'll be honest, like, I think losing Split Bear
is not in that fashion, isn't it?
Except, ooh, and I'm just eyes on.
I don't care about map theory, I don't care about any of that stuff.
I just want them to shoot that gun, essentially.
I think as well, this is where you really test the resilience of this team,
like Podroster, because of the lower preference for they've been able to go in the past,
and you've got all coming out swinging like that, and that confidence.
Mm-hmm. You need to be able to bounce back.
Yeah, because Valorant is a tactical shooter,
so being able to shoot a gun, absolutely is necessary.
But whether or not Liquid is going to be able to do that as we're heading on to Breathe
is a question that needs to be answered,
but we're ready to head into our second map.
Do or die for Liquid here.
Can they push it to that decider and to hold on?
Or is this it?
We'll find out what our cast stars has on Cairo.
That is exactly what we're here to find out.
A stoic expression on the face of Necky,
as Nats has spent the last two minutes
trying to rally the troops as much as possible.
Liquid need their own map pick
if they're to stay in this competition.
Otherwise, they will crash out in the lowers
with just one win to their name.
Are those the real deal?
Or did Liquid have to fight back in this one yet?
It's time to find out.
Young guns who are looking to show no respect,
push what has been a champion's team last year, right?
That's the big thing, the big talking point here.
Is where Team Liquid have been and where they are now?
Not just a champion's team,
one which felt unlucky with their results in the end. Losing to DRX, Paper X teams which made
top three even top one. To fight through middle to start, and on the defender side Camo gets
things going the way that Liquid would have hoped. Two, three kills from his bandit and with
orders left on the other side of the smoke it might just be the bandit clip of the week and
exactly how Liquid would have liked their first pistol to start. Yeah, fantastic win,
Team Liquid already, fixing the problem from Split, winning the pistol round. They didn't
win a single one, they now get things stuffed up perfectly on Mr. Ben's, taking off guard,
and that's what the young guns need to be aware of.
Yeah, quite catch the last one there, but that's what the bandit is good for, close range.
damage, deals a lot of damage,
and you can see three rifles
brought up on the liquid side.
A lot of the conversations around this team
was just about raising the bar
professionally as well.
For what it's worth, the players look fairly
relaxed, I think, in the downtime between
maps. You expect them to bounce
back. It's a word we've been throwing around
so much, the expectations
of this team.
That's what you were hoping for.
Both expectations keep going as well, by the way that everything's been going very nice, for Nass in the end, a flawless round of 4Q for him, but yeah, maybe this is, I'll maybe have a little bit of a stumble in these other few rounds, but they have been getting better and better as the point goes from it.
Sure, it is an in-zone flawless 4-team liquid, through Nats.
But as you say, with those lower expectations, I guess non-existent in a way for all, considering the double substitution,
yeah, it does feel good for them.
That's an interesting one.
EMEA, the only region to have picked Weylae on Breeze.
We spoke about it a bit in the previous map, the solo Weylae, we'd seen teams play it on.
Bind, Split, amongst a few.
I think. Yeah breeze doesn't really feel like a way, does it? No, I guess in a way it does in the fact that like you can see the
Wheelie dive deeper than that of a jet. I think the big thing for me is that it's actually not
Demmer on the Wheelie and he's picked up the neon which is something he's been a lot more comfortable on right?
Always think of him being that jet that raised the actually the neon as well.
The other aspect to that of course is the Yorra on the side of liquid which just feels like the metaduror
to be playing right now almost as that second initiator so explain your sense even with a slight
change up in the roles purple back on initiator hadn't seen him in that one since focus 2022 would
have been through back but with the first minute already taking place minibus still eyes on elbow
will be turned to try and deal with a necky history it's just a marshal but not enough to
Marshall the situation itself
Let loose onto the b-side but Wayne has it under wraps
Very nicely done
Stun those still in mid and that's speaking no man's land with a little to no team to pick it up
Hopefully to get a move on here
Stun wrapping around but papa just thinking about it
Looks away for only a moment. All that's here to potentially try and recover things
That is arriving late from main
Wayne is here as well
and nothing has gone past him so far with this Guardian.
Stern trying to plant inside the orb.
But wait, oh, Wayne!
Really should have had that one.
No time left for Stern to win the round,
but he'll wipe the slate clean.
Yeah, I mean, three rounds for Tim Liquid,
but still some individual errors coming out.
Hopefully, maybe feeling a little hard done by there
just in the end, just but hey, listen, overall,
it seems like Tim Liquid are getting
bit of run of luck can build a split. I mean, I think it's due at this point, I mean, some
of the luck they had in previous games, especially the start of that fanatic match, but speaking
of individuals, I don't know how that's not hit, by the way. No idea. Speaking of individuals,
it's exactly what the desk we're talking about, just a little bit of shooting the gun, right?
Yeah, yeah.
Nats has his moment, Camo, Wayne as well. Exactly what the doctor ordered as far as liquid
I think he's a little bit
concerned. It seems as if this
one could be a formality
already still orders does have
the rightful both just here
and put a way under pressure
is that part of an oil is going
to win to the wind, but the
choice of we have not team
liquid up to four first couple
rifle rounds and Wayne is
looking brilliant in
the team, so all of that. It's
not come to my side catching up
for lost time and. Nothing out
those stats. At the same time,
mini boot bringing out an
operator now in full. As off
have another rifle round. Yeah,
right for rounds. Yeah, this
the group one. Look at them
through double tools as we
up and right now the two
are under pressure to split
defense fully brilliant
back there as Cornard is
able to get out in the end
finding another as well.
a three on three and many
with this operator is gonna
I'm so good!
An H triple spray down!
This team like with Academy
are really starting to faint their form.
And so is Wayne.
He's looking comfortable doing it,
even just laying back in the chair
as well as the timeouts queued up
early here from old.
This is the Wayne that we were promised.
The one who sat at the top of
EWOT's specific scouting list
for most of the century last year.
Let's go!
We also wanted to see him come out of his shell. So if he's, you know, let's go in, then why not?
Yeah, 100%. This is what we've been asking of Team Liquid, right? Because they played against that vitality and it was, you know, close.
They looked decent enough. But then as we started to head on, we get further and further through the bracket.
I think that fanatic match and how that was probably like the expectation like setback for a lot of talent a lot of people watching them because right now after that first map I'm thinking God man team liquid are you going to crash out this early?
Yeah, I mean that is ultimately the golden thread or the yellow thread in this situation which connects the two teams on breeze
Both of them played vitality both of them lost the difference being it was by a margin of
Seven rounds in which liquid ended up
Yeah, sort of narrowly being defeated whereas
Little rougher for all but the first week troubles very much put behind them now the question asked can they
break the ice here on breeze more than anything else get a foot in the door
because as it stands it's been very slow uptake from some of the same names
that help drive them here with a lead yeah and with ultimates and plea that's
really expect and will be the tools to do it but with the weapons do you want
to invest it that's the thing just doesn't feel like the round pens if
they're able to find a pick here or so. Diving into the molly, it's well placed from Nats.
The Hunter's Fury connecting with teammates there. Stern backhandedly, struggling to climb
the through as Camo is hindered in the ultimate but eventually is able to collect information
on where all four say themselves up here. But you've got to look at the flank as well.
I mean, you came to us. You're going to use it. They're like,
he holds to miss that way. It's a conversation. We have a lot
about these more inexperienced teams, right? Think of
gentlemates last year when they couldn't close out that string
of maps, so they got up to 12. Sorry to bring it up, mates,
fans, but a lot of that came down to not cycling the
ultimate correctly. Just thinking, oh, yeah, you know what?
Roll the dice. Oh, didn't win. Roll the dice. Oh, didn't win.
Oh, I've lost the map, you know?
There comes a point where
you've got to bank on something, and well here they do have rifles.
That they do. This is the body round in Manipur, able to escape
and identify at least where Damor was.
Advance positioning from Ove.
Come on, this is quite the velocity, but the spike is still dropped
back outside the boat house.
It's also advanced positioning from Wien. Look at where he is all the way deep end towards
Wien, but the face to go off sweet and Wien is continuing on.
Neki's already spotted this out though, so diligently cleared by him, was just waiting
for the support to come through. Defensive rotations have arrived, but Oof can't finish
here yet and he needs to go back and get the spike. It looks like A is where they'll end
up heading and it's for the better. Oof, not if Stern can't win that fight though.
Yeah, let's just get what he did. I mean, I mean, I would be one.
Yeah, I felt a low in Team Liquid, a chance here, but the fakes have started to go up the attack sweep.
The win over in the end, but I'm less scratching my head.
Yeah, it felt like a real death match that round, but if the Turkish team has anything to say about
that, it's going to be a round win, obviously. Of course. I just think, yeah, obviously. The spike
Drop back, Lubis sloppy perhaps, but on the whole the macro was quite nice.
Necky identifying the threat, waiting for the support, winning the jewels, Denver kind of doing
his own thing and orders contacting up a lot of space on A. It's starting to expose the weaknesses
in this liquid side. Yeah, and after the back, after that last round, Liquid are finding themselves
a bit of an expensive buy read. He could find this really going the way of off on the attack.
both sides with an operator as Team Liquid know no, Kama has to be careful here, how
has that not been commmed? I feel as if Dema should have been saying to his team that a
player had perhaps slotted into the close positioning but still gets one and gets out.
I mean Liquid will be buzzing with that, the fact that they gave nothing or we know,
Oph looked to re-clear the map and they've got so much to do and they're shroned.
I have, and Sturm's position is duly noted.
Wayne trying to cut him out.
I believe that is Demo's ultimate actually, and now MiniBruce to go looking through the
tunnel.
Demo the one leading the line as it stands, but fails the turn, the head Sturm gets rewarded
and it has to be Camo.
On backside beat, Demo chasing him down, threading the needle in and around the site, but Necki
dispenses off him.
So numbers in favor of off now
There's but Pogpaw's waiting for Matt's to try and join up with them and he's taking his team game here
The duo from 2021 trying to make things work in the current year
Called back into this lineup
Against the odds and now it is only Nats
to try and fend off this off offensive
of the game. It's looking for
back to back. And as you say,
the time simply isn't there.
Necky stepping up again. And
making it two from two. Yeah,
it's a nice uptick and form
uptick and form. Apologies. The
fact that they are starting to
find weaknesses, starting to
actually win the jewels because
at the end of the day, that's
I'm feeling it. That's what you need to see. So it's all about many an off player we've seen
screaming and shouting on the stage and with every passing round, Demo feels like part of the
furniture. That's going to be another in the books for him. That's going down early. Toxic screen lost.
Still two rifles on this liquid side. Yeah, the gun hunted Israel. I don't know about that.
I'm just on the sheriff of Stubb, he isn't a dead one!
Man, as the pistols continue to drop, the rifles are still here, Camo gets one,
Spike drops deep in middle but often care, they're winning every duel.
Yeah, if it was as if Team Liquid are continuously picking a fight with a boxer and continuously getting knocked back in the moment,
Back in the moment we'll keep up with a nice shot there but it's still three to one.
I was thinking maybe we could put the rocky theme on for this one.
I was going to do it.
I always got a long way to clean up.
He does.
He does.
Spike planted.
I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.
Yeah it's a difficult task.
Unless he can find the eye of the tiger, the eye of the wolf in this situation I suppose.
Yeah.
That was so perfect for you. No, that means... come on, standards through the floor.
Your quantum situation is... not going to be winning regardless.
Kara, sometimes I wish I was invisible. Invisible? Why invisible?
That's another song by Duran Duran.
Ah, all good.
Um, but here we go.
The wolves are howling.
All have their furred now.
And Liquid are back to the drawing board.
The money not looking too great for the Mary there.
No, it really isn't.
We're starting to see things get troubling for the defense,
and we know that this could happen at any moment.
This is not good.
That's not going to fill you with confidence.
And oh, getting more confident as every room caused by, in every room that they went...
frustrating signs on the liquid faces now, things starting to go against them after what was a very promising start,
but again, dropped off by those individuals.
Another one of them here, Wayne, completely overran and Demo like a lightning bolt, surges into the site.
Miniboo does have an answer and Perpo will try to find another of his own, but can't in the dark.
Miniboo's still going here, running through the middle of the site.
I don't know what I thought, I thought it was their teammate with those steps up close,
but Fabian finds three in and amongst it.
And another tough pill to swallow for Liquid.
Yeah, and that's forced to go and save all the way on the other side of the map.
It feels like awful when boys were playing double jullies, just as I say,
and they are hitting it with all the might that they've got in the arsenal.
Yeah, within two rounds are all for this is looking excellent.
In fact, we've only seen what two ultimates
there in that last round have learned from their mistakes
where they threw it in on the eco.
Favien still keeps his and his back pocket.
And I think, honestly, this then brings up what I was talking about at the start of the round.
The individualistic nature of this current Liquid team that I think we're seeing.
That synergy may be not as built up as you'd expect it to be, because Cairo, they were talking about with the scouting.
Yeah, we want to get players that can be self-sufficient, but that also comes with things like plan creation.
and maybe this team, people have argued,
is less vocal than the previous one,
and that comes with a whole host of issues itself.
Yeah, and I think that is the big question, right?
And a big conversation point within the entire
valorant scene about Nats in his position, right?
And the fact that he is actually being forced
to really call now, like having to take that mantle before,
he had a vocal players like, um, a party tech, et cetera, right? To help him out. But no,
he has to be the one really leading the lane this year. Yeah. And that, you know, what
kind of a cost could that have on his individual performance? And you can see it here. The
numbers somewhat speak for themselves. It's like changing role as well. Right. We've also
seen him pick up the Astra, the killjoy agents, which he hadn't previously played much of
a little bit. I mean, it's
been a long time since I've
been in a row. I mean, I've
never had a tall right. He was
always the Sentinel on the
side. Um, but it does sort of
raise an eyebrow right is this
version of liquid going to find
success in its current state,
and I have to say with four
rounds now in a row, the time
out called you're looking for
answers in these last couple
rounds to see if they can give
themselves a real advantage
I feel a little bit tough, a little bit of a tough position to be in, but we are going
to see demo's up being brought out, a much slower start from how Alphard played in the
previous, waiting to see what the defence want to do, and so far the defence haven't
really done much, oh nice, a dangerous game here with demo, Spakers here, rotation quickly
Again, it's the mechanical is that how everybody plays off one another. It feels again that you
wreak a moment coming through. The fact that we're seeing that micro being played off of
every single individual showing up when needed. And think about and go back and think about that
timeout that Alf took right. That's where everything changed. Yeah. Since I had opportunities to
to reconnect with the coaching staff.
Another A play here.
It's Groundhog Day on Breeze.
That's at the very least hoping it's not an exact repeat
of what we've just seen and it won't be.
He does find the opening kill.
And we're in also TPing over and with a spake
in Norman's land, this is going to be difficult
for Orph to get back.
Probably a match and he just dives on it,
knows exactly where Nats is,
and Refract is perfect as well.
in the corner without support does eventually get cleared out and the rest of liquid arrive
on the scene to make sure a seventh can be secured. It's come out to nail that one on.
So the very least two round advantage. Yeah, I mean the fact that Team Liquid do get to
go in with an advantage after six rounds in a row is going to at least be a little bit
of a saving grace, but it feels like they should have done so much better over that
post half absolutely and plenty of liquid fans in the house today that have sort of
bested the Berlin weather and descended upon the arena hoping for a better result from this
team as last year of course was a great one for them let's go and have a chat very soon we will
go and talk with one of their fans but yeah we need to see much better from them in this second
Let's go and have a chat with Matt. Who is a big team liquid fan?
Matt, the cast was a lot introduced to you. You're a very big team liquid fan.
I think that's a great way to introduce you. You were here during the entire time.
Decent start from team liquid lost a little. How are we feeling?
I mean, first map was a bit unlucky. Now,
honestly, 7-5-5, not the best. I think after that 6-0 start could have converted more,
but we rolled with it. Now just take them up home.
Do you believe?
I believe 100%.
I mean, the boys know they have to do it.
We know we have to do it.
So I think we just win it now.
All right.
I think we need to make sure that the players on stage
can hear you.
So any chance for liquid?
Let's go, Liquid!
Let's go, Liquid!
Let's go, Liquid!
Let's go, Liquid!
Let's go, Liquid!
We're going to be heading back to Casper's.
Thank you so much.
I'm sure that energized them.
Let's start the second round of this round.
Yeah, Ultras out in full force, backing the boys, even on a cold night in Berlin, but
no, it's great to see the support here and that's exactly what Liquid are going to need
to try and channel if they want to keep themselves in it, Cairo, because they've left themselves
with a little bit of breathing room here, first pissed around for the series, picked
up at the start of this map, looking for another now to just sweeten that deal.
Yeah, I mean the fact that we're able to win the first pistol round on the second map,
I then need to double up, right, equal the pistol rounds that we've been losing out against Oath.
Or won out, I guess, last time.
So, yeah, big round to come up here. Make sure to extend that gap even further.
And as the statistics suggest, this is a more attack-assided map in general, right?
We've seen the switch towards the neon here as well for liquid. So that should mostly be catered towards their attack side plans
So so so far on the uptake team liquid
And oh really having given them faces favin does try to escape back towards tunnel you both get phoned out
Bandit strikes again, that's all the difference right now, Demet, one of his own, also dealing
further damage, but all the while it leaves Oldass unsupported on B, who's just going
to tuck into the corner and buy as much time as he can.
Oh, Stun, the timing, very, very good for him, and makes them pee, but unfortunately
Necky can't.
Oh, Stull player down, and Team Liquid perhaps looking to reconsider the options, but Stun
Stole towards that E-Sate
And holding the cross here as well finds mini boot great start. Oh gets no better for him unfortunately
Doesn't a better damage though the same time and demo. Obviously we know can rotate very quickly
Towards be if needed 30 seconds start to explore that option a
Little bit of mid-loading for information nice shot from demo
that leaves all that's in a one versus two 20 seconds left where a liquid off to
looks like the B site they're walking into trouble here yeah and he's got a
perfect on off angle to team like we clean on the answer no this break on
the ground does have to do with when the thing but it does not go as we team
like quit get the second pistol round when it comes right down to the wire in
in the end. The gun goes empty for all that. With that, liquefied both pistol rounds on
Breeze. So the sheriff initially bought up by Neckie, using that to his advantage at
the end. You can see how frustrated the coaches are with how this one has started.
Yeah, I mean, you understandably saw right heading back towards the state that you knew
the Astros was out. Oh, you'd assume the Astros are apologies. But right now, oh, just looking
to death.
Like they normally do, a shooting gallery, one much team liquid, a happy to play, and
almost with a flawless round. Nice shots from Stun on the bander. That makes a little bit
of difference here. Still three rifles on the liquid side, which they can bring to the
second round Arsenal. Third
round, I should say the bonus
now. An opportunity a real one
for them to kick on because I
think look, it's one thing to
win the first six rounds in the
first half if you can reset and
do the same again. He's off with
little to say for themselves
Yeah, so all right falls against what was nearly the bonus buy for Team Liquid, or the
Antico buy, apologies, only one missing purple on that sheriff, and they will wait to see
if Ulf will take the fight to them, and already we're seeing that space being taken by the
defense in the A main position. But not really elsewhere on the map. Yeah, it's nice, Fabian
can dash out of this corner with the lightspeed if he is required, Denner can drop, well I was
going to say could drop the stun in there, doesn't have the stun. I think we're contacting this with
just two players, I mean it's the weak arm of the push, a great opportunity for Ulf to cause an issue.
But right now that's not really connecting from Team Liquid in the scale of A main, so right now
Ulf realized, hey listen they can come from mid, we need to be careful and I used to do try to cross
a couple bullets connect from the spam. So Alph now aware of this. And they're grouping up to fight it.
Yeah, right now it's all about the possession of stun just on the off angles and players try to
entry through. Team Liquid, they found a gap all the way towards top mid. Two players at the corner
heading down, dealing a bit of damage. Do they expect Fabian? What does he go over? Looked good for
the first. Nothing further. And so only Necky to shoulder the burden of this a-hold. He has a
a three con in pocket and a screen to try and play around from that.
But the spike will go in his hands are busy.
The star is all she wrote in the air for stern stepping up to make it a two on two.
Still, that's close by after planting,
but way lining them up and connecting onto both.
In double digits, phone Tim liquid,
the first half, so even if we
did see all come back into this
really to see a big performance
from the defense.
Another bonus round converted
from liquid as well. I mean,
the streets that they've been
to start these hearts with have made all of the difference in that momentum swing and
keeping themselves on the right side of the round history.
Off back to pistols and this is really a test of their metal. Do they have what it takes the
tenacity to dig in here and find a way back into the game? You're staring at the stark possibility
of an 11th liquid round and what goes beyond that? Pearl. Historically, not a good liquid map.
But one that we've not seen this old team play
Yeah, what do they have in store for us as we head towards it if we do head towards the
Right now team liquid Academy or team liquid so
The muscle memory
My god
I'm not sure. I'm not sure.
Cycle it out, though. Liquid able
to set up here. And how does
the post plant look? Couple
players already into back site,
moving up towards orange.
Crossfire held on double doors
and study is going to get one.
There's a flank happening in
the meantime. What a shot from
Liquid Academy have control of everything that they could want.
They're weighing another one back.
Liquid just not letting anything get passed,
or Das needs to come up with something impossible at this point in time.
Liquid have their 11th as expected,
but now we look towards Ulf again to see what they can do to keep this one alive.
Yeah, I mean we're really starting to see Team Liquid take control.
This was a map that never went well for off when they played it against Vitality, as we all know.
And it looks like it could be the same case here as we head onto against Team Liquid.
The fact that when it comes down to the... I guess like even... I think a freeze is like such an angel-heavy map.
And so uncharacteristic that we're seeing off lose out these duels.
I mean, look at Audaz and Neki, they're on single digits.
I think at the same time, it's been out of the map pool for so long, so heavily reworked now.
The, I guess, just in terms of the practice time that the teams will have had on it is different,
right? You look at even Turkey and then you compare it to Pearl, for example.
Pearl was sort of in and out of the map pool since Stage 2 is when it left last year.
So towards their ascension push at the very least, there was some playtime there,
and I don't know if you can
As you say, while there was
promise in their attack side,
the fact that it took so long
for them to get started now
really puts them on the back
foot. Heading into this second
half where liquid are starting
to rise to the bar to the
occasion to the level that you
really demand of them. I mean,
know what the measure of like aggression really is on this map and that's why they're struggling with
the double duelist. And it looks to be liquid. I have an idea of shown aggression here.
Comp also in the ways that it is different takes that space, challenges it in its own unique way.
Here it's the hinder dropped into the main choke as Fabian's trying to reroute his position.
Or that has a lot of work to do and can only make a way with one, which won't be enough as it stands.
Overrun in position, Liquid continuing to light up the feed.
With 12 rounds calling their name.
I planted.
Oof.
More likely than not, calling to save.
Yeah, you would expect that to be the case.
After a timeout, Team Liquid come out on top.
You've got to be thinking Team Liquid now on that point.
Why would you even risk any of your investments from this round?
You have some good ultimates in the next.
Factors, the operator and players, well.
Things to consider right now for often ones that they've already made a decision on.
Yeah, I mean, with liquid in previous weeks,
what we were saying was that they were doing right things,
but maybe the execution wasn't there.
Now you're getting both of them on this second half of breeze.
it's looking much more efficient with the utility usage the players themselves carrying the way
yeah and i think as well like the thing for liquid is the game confidence in the map
that they can do that's right because after that first half i was thinking to myself like oh you
had a great start but you're really letting this slip like is that going to be the the personality
that the view that we're going to have of this team that they can finish out maps almost similar
to have a rule speaking about gentle meets previously right not as bad as that okay well
yeah digging a bit of a hole there I do agree with you though of course that last chance
for off on this round couple ults to try and play around with nothing put on the table
early another be hold which they must some out to my god it's so clinical surgical
Perhaps his team liquid looked to remove Oph from Breeze and send us all the way to Peril.
Keeping themselves with just a man advantage.
But I could quickly slip.
As the players of Oph are starting to get into position.
Demo wrapping behind it, sort of lives and dies on him finding success.
He has the first...
Oh!
The second!
Demo's still going!
All in play!
Oph might still be breathing here.
here. Yeah, the poles could
still be going by the swing
round. Team liquid looking to
get this done. It's up to
Thank you, but I jump up.
He has execution. Team
liquid will send us to mark
three. Yeah, and you know what?
I have to say that looked much
better. That's getting the
better of that pregame speech,
carrying the momentum from the
end of the first half into the
if they can close it out on Perl after this.
Hey!
Hey, Tom.
Alright, Albert's always looking for you, by the way.
Really?
Yeah, yeah, you better get back to work.
Okay, I'll go check.
Have a break. Have a KitKat.
Tom Bass.
You can't have fun.
It's my turn.
You
you
you
you
you
you
I think it's nice to see the compositional changes come out as well.
I think something that we were kind of highlighting, especially throughout today, was Wayne being
a key performer and obviously his agent has kind of changed across the first two maps.
We were expecting more of an Astra, but seeing him on this omen has clearly been great for
the team in terms of the comfortability that the coaches have spoken about.
Yeah, and I said this map for me was not really about the fear. It's just whether Team Nick are gonna start shooting their gun and they did.
Yeah, respectfully. I mean, 335 ACS for Camo.
Not bad.
Not bad.
Yeah, not bad.
Higher than 300.
Yeah, higher than 300.
Exactly, and that's the number that you were looking for today. So, but like I've seen expectations, which is a great place to be because this is what we needed from Team Liquid for them to at least have, you know, some fight in this game because it would be very unfortunate to go all as an O2 in the low bracket.
It feels crazy that you're saying that about Team Liquid, because, like...
I know, right? But, like, this is the Tyler that we live in!
Yeah, exactly. But I'm glad that they were able to bounce back on that second map,
because it would have been really unfortunate for them to have finished their kickoff journey so early when we considered it.
This is a champ's team that all four are playing up against, let's not forget.
All four came from Ascension into VZT, and they're managing to go toe-to-toe with a team that went to champs,
albeit a different roster, but, yeah, it's kind of crazy.
Yeah, I think Hazel and Kairos are the best that they're playing against.
They're a champs team who are now playing against an ascension team who've got two subs
So like that second map is the kind of performance that you expect
Through the whole series and you hope that that's the case for map 3 to be honest with you
Yeah, absolutely
But Wayne was one of the players that we highlighted coming into this map in regards to what we're expecting from him
He did say we're gonna see some hero plays from him individually
I feel like he did live up to that promise Wayne's world
I love that title so much. Yeah, I think it does just come back to moving from that Astra onto the Orman.
Yeah, they all mistake there on the lower third, but it's all good. Wayne's Road is good enough for me to ignore it.
Yeah, no, it was beautiful. Honestly, those shots, the Guardian clip at the start there, it was just...
Honestly, like, he's a player that...
They cannot come to my side, bro, I'm telling you.
No access to Wayne's fight, or something?
Yeah, no access to Wayne's fight.
Um, yeah, like a player who came over from APAC tier two player like I didn't expect him to immediately just be popping off
And so I like to see that, you know, he's having his moments, you know
Hey, he's flourishing in this roster. That's what we need to see from them and also coming back to the conversation from kickoff
Him not being here from the start there being three different brackets
It does make things a little bit more peculiar
But to see him stepping up to the plate in these in this game specifically when he really needs to is a good sign for liquid
And moving forward is what we want to see. Also want to say like Oph, obviously that first map
phenomenal, they really put forward a performance. What went wrong here?
What went wrong here for Oph?
Honestly, I think that Breeze is a map in which they just don't look that comfortable on, which is surprising because it's a map where you can
play very direct and fast. I think that Demur, especially didn't feel like he was able to spearhead that space on the neon very well.
Yeah, I think it's just like they seem very much more comfortable on the maps where
ironically a breach is in play, despite the fact that hesitations around how nerf that agent is right now.
So yeah, it feels like the breach maps are the ones where maybe they feel more comfortable in that death ball,
and especially on the Judas Friars, they're a bit more usually.
I think as well on this freeze it was very difficult for them to build up any sort of momentum, right?
right to actually be able to get themselves into the game.
I think we saw Glimmer's a poke from Demir throughout the map
when he was, um, oping on attack in particular.
I think, like, we saw some moments
where he was trying to get activated,
but I think that's just been one of the issues today for Demir
is that he's just not being able to get activated.
Whereas in the last series that they played,
we were praising him in the pre-show.
Yeah, I think that coming to kick off,
he, you know, was struggling a little bit.
And then last week, it looked like there was, like,
a complete switch in his attitude
performance, but today is going
back to that initial kind of
lower performances. And if they
want to win, if they want to go
on a lower bracket one or even
win today, he needs to be putting
up better numbers. Yeah,
compared to more as well to
kind of specifically from the
side of team liquid is
something that we want to do
just to highlight a little bit
of that discrepancy from map
one to map two. Yeah, I think
for Camel, he's having a really
great performance so far. The
consistency is definitely there.
We've obviously seen him play
your across these first two
maps. A bit of a composition
maps. A bit of a composition change for Team Liquid, considering that it was purple in Miniboo that
we're playing the double duelist on Breeze previously. I think for us now, it's just a question of
do they carry this through into the peril, because this is another map where Team Liquid do lean into
that double duelist composition, but we don't see Camel on the duelist. So, interested to see if
they continue to lean into that. Yeah, I think that one thing to note there is that he's on the
Yoru, and I think Yoru is just the strongest duelist still, and the teams that are being very
successful in those upper brackets right now are the ones that have very strong yoru players
just playing every single one. I think going forward for team liquid after seeing how good
camo has been on that yoru, I just keep him on it as much as humanly possible.
And that's absolutely fair, and if I remember correctly off the top of my head, Road is next.
Pearl is next.
Pearl. Close enough.
All good.
We're testing my memory here. A bit of a goldfisher for now and then. But Pearl, then.
Yoru and Pearl, that way we want to see still.
Absolutely, and I hope it is camo.
Yeah, I think that's fair. I think Miniboo can still be a good Yoru, but I think in terms of what angle do they go?
I believe it was the way it was the way that they were playing on Pearl previously, I believe.
So yeah, I think in terms of Miniboo's agent pool,
he'd still be able to play the way that Kamen could go on to the Yoru, so it completely makes sense.
All right, so look at compositions in general for Orphan as well when it comes to Pearl. What are our expectations here?
it's very difficult because as I said before the breach seems to be their
most comfortable style and pro is a map where breach isn't very popular and
hasn't been for years so I really will try and run for Julius is probable I'd
say but so far the double Julius haven't looked amazing yeah I think when it comes
to all it is a question of doing it into that double Julius right I think that
that Fabian, in my opinion, has looked better or more comfortable on the breach rather than
the Waeli performances that we've seen so far. I guess, for me, I just want to see them
come out swinging in the way that they did the first map and be able to bounce back on
this pearl. I think in terms of what agents they're going to play, I'm excited to see
what they come up with.
Yeah, and just like that, snap with the finger and we have the agents legs ready. I mean,
I had the Brimstone from Side of Liquid and the Double Duelist too.
Yeah, but my eyes are drawn straight to off here with the chamber. We're gonna see double initiators if everyone's gonna be on some comfort there
But Stern on the chamber is very interesting another player
You know substitute player who hasn't quite had one of those pop-off games yet, and this is a
I mean it's do or die like he's on chamber. This is the time to step up and do something
Definitely, I think as well when I'm looking at team Liquid side, they haven't changed anything, right?
They're running the same composition that they ran when kick subbed in it was him playing the brimstone
I don't like this composition. I think when they move over onto that attack
they're gonna really struggle to isolate Stern on the chamber, especially when you're considering that B long space
where he's gonna be propped up with an operator.
I hope all of them are homework kids. I really didn't like the way Team Liquid played their defense last time.
He's extremely passive and they give us a lot of control, especially in the sense of the map.
So if all of them are homeworked, I know there's a lot of gaps to abuse against Team Liquid here.
13-0 Liquid, easy. Thank you so much, Matt, for the prediction.
I guess I'll ask you two then on the desk here with me predictions in regards to because again do or die
This is it you win this map used to continue and you stay alive in slow bracket
You lose this you are done until stage one. I genuinely think the all-powerful potentials cause an upset here
Of course, I just think that if team look at lose then it's I mean, it's kind of embarrassing
I'm not gonna lie
I think that's fair. An expectation
I mean they have to win this game like they should win this map
the game. I'm not sure. I'm
sure. Well, you heard it here,
Billy. They have to on this
map. Do you? I'm assuming you
do. Yeah, of course. I think
if your team liquid, you're
putting this roster together.
You see these names. You see
the fact that you're going up
against all these boards that
don't have their full roster
that will buy that came from a
sentence. They came from a
sentient. They'll have their
full roster back together by
the time it comes to stage one.
Where does that leave team
liquid if they lose this
series? That is a great
question. And with the backs
with their backs against the
One of these teams will be able to head onto the server as the other continues their lower
bracket run.
Liquid against OLD, whether casters has Aikara.
Yeah, should is a fun word because it means that something doesn't always happen and this
OLD team have shown us in spells what the potential looks like.
As have Liquid, that last map just lingers on your mind.
Is there a way that they can dig back into that well of talent and provide another result
because this is a funny one, Cairo.
That win against Vitality on parl the other week,
the first win on parl, the organization has ever picked up.
Yeah, I mean, it doesn't strike you
with a lot of hope when you consider that,
but maybe it's an upwards trajectory,
but the one thing that you have to consider
is that Alph have not played this map yet,
they've not shown what they can do,
and that's the worrying part,
because Team Liquid are so good at prep.
Exactly.
I mean, I say it in jest, Red Guard didn't want to play it for however many years.
I think his first official on it was like last year or something.
And the Vitality result is promising, as is Miniboo finding this opening pick
on the defender's side.
Off heading A, and they are going to be able to get the plant down on the open
behind these nanos.
Yeah, it's a huge reveal.
And it's even bent up from the rest of Team Liquid as they get those pistols firing.
We have not lost a pester wound since split now be flawless. Yeah and in zone flawless and
Exactly the kind of way you want to find lift off here
Huge opportunity
I mean not only did they win both of the pistol rounds in the previous you have to remember
They've converted both with the bonus rounds as well
So I think we'll be keeping a key eye on just see how this
It's gonna be as clean as the flawless that we've just seen
a reminder for those watching at home, winner of this up against a GXI tomorrow which of course
will have plenty to work on themselves.
Amen, completely been given up by Team Liquid, not wanting to challenge that at all and as
my name is talking about on the desk, that mid-portion of the map completely given up,
only really nuts to hold it down and it's of only really dedicated the chamber to that part of the
the map. The rest of the pike are looking to hunt for these ultimate orbs. Really nice
area of the map for Stern to try and work as well. Has the TP of course to be looking
for these engagements but actually lived with back off completely. Just try to fight through
beat. Midi-boo, another opening pick, gets out of dodge, healthy and good enough to find
the second.
Alright, there's just a little bit of a stunned move in here but all he's done is really
break the turret. It sure shifted the focus, but at the same time, many groups actually have been
left all on, and it is a little bit expensive all, and because of orders, but at the same time,
no, we look at stun. We don't get a look at it for very long, late group. Cleaning up in the end,
three of the players surviving, majority of the weapons, couple guardians and marshal,
not too much to write home about, but still an opportunity nonetheless for them to
keep the snowball rolling. I like the ideas that Alph are putting forward though in terms of like
using the pack to distract while stun gets played in. We'll see if this continues on though
and see if Alph want to explore that mid-portion further. The four players on A for Team Liquid
He doesn't look to try and challenge this.
You can see the TP from Stun is set up on B this time.
Takes a chunk of damage from that.
I don't know, must have spotted the head there.
I thought for a second he'd caught Stun through the wall,
but whichever way you flip it, it's a huge kill.
That's what I thought.
Well, no, you know, I still win as Jill and Cannot.
So without what he called,
Maybe one bit through Niki. Yeah, I have to say miniboo
Well, it looks a little dodgy from his perspective. They're just not expecting
That second player to be walking down B when you often see that solo sentinel the chamber hunting for an early pig
Now a lot of pressure put onto that in this position
Choked out from either side has to try and find a way to fight and looks like he is just gonna back up for good
Yeah, I mean information known because of the old
trying to play it forward to you, still get it does get one, Marshall in hand, needs to
hit the head and cannot, can't even connect a bullet, so spake down, but look at wing,
he will just skip into the seat but won't be able to escape with his life, Carvel going
as well, it's off, get the fuss off Peril, Necky always good for a round, huge 3k from
him here all started with that slow walk up being behind stern interrupting the
play patterns here it is oh my god you can barely see the pixel on the top of
his head there stern a little frustrated perhaps with how that one worked out but
in the end the captain puts them back on track
Yeah, and the old boys getting fired up once again.
Same challenge and the main through the feed, but that's not through the seas.
Looks like O for the ones to win out this utiljul.
At the very least they've created a foundation here.
A main control.
Oh no, miniboo's not been spotted actually.
He's just going to pass turn by.
Neither one of them! What is a bird trying to get his feet?
Hello! And goodbye to MiniBoot!
Oh no.
What's going on?
That's like down on this liquid.
Getting aggressive through multiple avenues on the map and all come out on top.
Yeah, the utility, questionable from Team Liquid.
We can have that talk later on as the round continues and Alf looked to...
I thought for a minute and really go through art, but that's not the case.
You can already see the players through, being mean, looking to skill.
Neki being so far up, mate, catch Nats off guard, though.
He still has the alarm button on the nano to try and play off of here.
No shocks left for Neki. He's all alone.
Knife goes over the top. In fact, it's just a flash, so Nats undetected for the time being.
Finds his first chance of a second. Waiting for that underhand flash.
Instead, he just eats the wall and all find the site.
They've been playing with the numbers that they have and team liquid think the tail has already been thrown in
You can see purple running away camel with a build on thought
Once to recover that up that has to be number one priority here for liquid to try and save face
differences this time from the last map is all get in early so a
couple of real important rounds for them now doubled up
up. Liquid just about in there financially. It can maybe buy around what they've got here
but it's still not going to be the full picture.
Yeah, I mean there'll be a challenge but it won't be like what you would normally expect
on a rifle round. But the thing that will probably tip the scales in Alph's favour is
they're forced to the ultimate cycle right in terms of you can see that Necky has that
a hunter's fury as well. There is a lockdown one away from that, but I've seen that every
day. Yeah, I think the more worrying thing was to be mean, like with approval and the
fact that there was nobody identified on box. I think while we're on this sort of topic
as the operators' cap with Miniboo as well, it's interesting that he's the one who's
using it because obviously in this composition, you have the waylay who with a refract is really
you know, it's just like, you
know, it's just like, you know,
it's really good at taking the
space getting on a line and
then having that safety net of
dropping back. I guess at the
same time, rotation speed on
the euro is really great to just
be such an omnipresent issue.
Yeah, it's just about Yeah, like
the players that you've got
because we do have like three
duelist means on the team. Yeah
they do. They do. And I mean,
players who are comfortable
I mean, in my head, I don't really think of mini boot as an operator player.
I always think of his rightful work, especially on that neon during that matter.
I think that's another reason why we saw the heretics team be so successful
when he was part of it, because he's such a selfless entry fragger that you're
always expecting him to go in, get his one and the rest of the team played off
that maybe, you know, a bit of a system issue, perhaps trying to work someone
in like comeback, who is an off player by trade.
Absolutely, but doesn't fit in the same way or at least not right now from
we've seen is they stay alive in the lower bracket from the result earlier today are just investigating
a slight issue here, which is stopping us from getting back in game, but we'll keep you updated
with anything we have on that, of course. And there it goes. Yeah, that's unfortunate. But hey,
listen, that's some things that we cause. But you know something funny that I've been kind of looking
We're speaking about difficulties. Do you know what's really difficult?
No, Kyra. What is really difficult?
Seeing off place ever tried it?
No, I'm not falling for that
This guy's been going around the green room all day trying to farm people for content
It's what your little tiktok videos just play it. I just wanted you. I don't know
Why don't you say purple burglar alarm for us?
Purple burglar alarm
How about you see it's the color of the player?
Yeah.
See, how about you see a Ulf twister?
If one of the players does it, then I'll do it.
No, I'm not buying into your games.
Not yet.
Not yet.
We'll see how long this step falls, go for.
And of course, we'll let you know how that one goes.
Yeah, yeah.
But yeah, I think like as well, Ulf, you know,
these young guns, in terms of like, how they've come in here,
right, and we look at this game, this Team Liquid game,
the fact that they've got to map three. How do they start to measure in your expectations
as coming into this leak? Because for me, like obviously kickoff is a bit of a one-off.
It's basically them getting accustomized, acclimatized to the leak. And I feel as if
like so far, I think they look pretty goddamn good. Yeah, I mean, they look about as good
as you expect them to, right, with two subs. Like, as is what Minnie mentioned on the desk
that you set, right? Okay. Um
whereas off here, it's like, you
know, one step at a time. Look
at players like, uh, Stern and
demo, for example, right? They
don't know how much longer
they're necessarily going to get.
So for them, that is a completely
different opportunity. Yeah I
mean, I don't often necessarily
buy into the team like with
like championship slash, like,
you know, I don't know. I don't
know. I don't know. I don't know
what I'm saying. I don't know
what I'm saying. I don't know
like championships, slash, like, internationals,
because I look at this roster, right,
and you think of, like, what has every player
been able to achieve, right?
And I think of, like, obviously,
Miniboot, Nats, and Camel,
they're the ones who have been able to achieve
the highest right being able to attend
champions events, et cetera.
I think my biggest question marks for me
is more on, like, waning purple
and what they were able to come in.
But the real problem that I have with this roster
how much they've forced the three pick-up of the duelists. It reminds me so much of that giant X
roster at the start of 2025, when they had all these duelists, didn't know how all the pieces
worked together, and then they switched up, got players that were actually comfortable in the roles,
like for instance, right, if you don't have Camel on a fade, or you have someone who's actually
accustomised to that role, you don't have a player getting misidentified behind box on that A main,
that cost, cost him, purple his life, right? That's the point that I want to try and make you.
Yeah, yeah, I think at the same time, the roles maybe do fit a little better than people are
willing to admit on this liquid team, because Camo at the very least had a huge reveal on the
first round if we want to go for that. He has had impact in spells, but I do agree it has been
constructed in a certain way. And to sort of flip that back to the offside down here as well, and
that we're currently experiencing
a client issue. So hopefully
the restart should have that one fixed
soon. Um this has to be
so tough, right? Because you've just won two rounds
in a row. You don't want to say it, but
this is a break in play, a chance for them
to have built up momentum.
You can kind of see from the faces of the players
on the stage there, uh, Demo Stern, some of the
ones who, like I said, this is
a huge opportunity for them.
When it all hangs in the balance, you just
got to keep yourself as focused as possible
possible right now.
Well, I mean, the experience that the other day, though, right, like they were able to
bounce back, laugh with each other, right?
So I don't think it's necessarily as much of a problem as you think.
Yeah, that is true.
We did have that pause, right?
You were there down on the stage, laughing it up, enjoying it.
Everybody knows you.
So it was, you know, many, many was, was threatened to bite mine.
He was.
I was going to bite my legs.
He was.
That's where that man, he needs to be kept to arm's length.
Well, that was, that was your suggestion.
Unfortunately, we can keep that conversation at arm's length as well.
We can shelve it for now because it looks as if we should be heading back in game,
receiving some ready checks from the players, and the timer has begun to count back down again.
So what can all of do here?
They found two rounds in a row, liquid not with the best of weapons to try and respond,
but this is a test in itself with the amount of time between the two rounds that we've seen played.
Yeah, and we were talking about this right the fact that Team Liquid don't have the best buy
But we're able to see a couple of those big weapons from the run previous
But it's the ultimate that hang everything in the balance the fact that if Nats can get a lot down online
That would be a real opportunity to try and make something work here, but many boo doing his own work and gets rid of demo
Or pass no problems this time connecting off to a first target there
there. Liquid, at the very least, are going to have numbers here. If Ulf want to play
Divide and conquer, it's a risky game because, as I said, that Yoru is able to reposition
neatly already in connector. Make his way between the map. I'm just seeing the deep
alarm bot from Nats. Looks like Liquid really want to play on the sites where possible.
Purple has the coverage on B with his own Vandal.
I like this from Stunnault.
Under the feel of Team Liquid.
Totally unknown.
Is this up and stern again? Just seemingly avoiding each other.
Yeah, but look at this space he's able to take.
Camel, Nix, Nippy, we are.
Oh, that comes in at a perfect time. Can't make it work.
Vandal, what's going on?
Team kill from Necky and then Camel will close it up.
So Liquid finally just only one casualty and all of that me
EME
Peril why is going on when he's ready? Come on. We need to be having a chat
Can many do I tell a streamer? I don't know we might need a few more to just want to tell a streamer
It's interesting actually, I mean kind of reminds me of a conversation
Sliggy streamed the other day he was talking about how like he feels it's the same with Abyss to Pearl right like yeah
Just because the overall level is really struggling, like teams scrimming each other, then there isn't that improvement, I suppose.
Yeah.
It's a wider conversation to have, sure, if you want to open that can of worms, but...
Hmm...
Here.
For this round, Stern has an op this time.
Yeah.
And he's not necessarily looking like he was before.
It's more about getting him on an angle and seeing if he can hold the space.
As he takes his time to do so.
making their way towards A with that roster behind them.
It's actually Perpo, who strikes first,
Stern gone on an extremity again.
Yeah, but look at Niki, and look at the space he's able to buy,
as it looks as if Oph want to go back towards you after freaking.
Liquid haven't rotated on this, though.
They're still committed to this site.
Seems to be the case, as the operator of Miniboot
looks to hold on from back,
so you can see Nats holding on to that lockdown,
and a shot from Miniboot.
Well, hopefully, ultimate to come on lane be used, but that's anti-Mekwits, Stoastia hit, that's spake denied in terms of going down, and there's not a whole lot of team left to get it down.
You all need to get a move on, and they're gonna train a tent for the utility goods, and it's denied the road!
Oh, but it's so close, Gyro! There was half a second in it there, and if Cabo hadn't managed to get himself around the corner,
Then off would have won it out through the jewels a missed shot in the mix from mini boot allowed for Favian to take back site
The rotation here from all for the worst but liquid just committing to their game plan. Yeah, that's a little
It's
The fact that you can see
I think it makes perfect sense.
I was talking about it earlier.
You win two rounds in a row.
Long tech balls or long enough, right?
Defocus you maybe just a little bit.
And then you lose the following two rounds afterwards.
During that time, they can't talk with the coaches.
Just get back in contact with them and try and put yourself
in the right headspace.
I think because that's what a lot of this is about players
that don't have experience on the VCT stage.
But I think it's a good thing to do.
that you've seen in a lot of
tournaments, but it's still a
long process, right? It's a
year long competition. It's not
just decided by this one kick
off. Yeah, I mean, that's the
big aspect to it is the fact
that you have chances to
develop yourselves. You have
chances to really learn from
your mistakes. I think I mean,
all for already benefited from
that. Yeah, and they'll be
hoping that that continues. You
know whether it ends up being a
whether it ends up being a Clash Tournament or something else for them to continue getting those reps,
but I think always as a young player in the league, you never know when that next opportunity comes.
So, into the buy round, there are plenty of ults on the offside.
They could, using a couple of dares in the previous.
But still, this attack is struggling to deal with Mini-Boos-Op.
It pops up here and there.
It's time. It's not the other side of the map.
Damn it. Without a buy, we'll have to use the Neo and Ultimate
as they look to send it in, but nobody wants anything to do with it, so we'd rather just
leave it alone, vacate, and you look at Liquid, they could go a step further.
There's no reason to give him what he wants, right? It's still stuck on a classic, but
we'll have Alts of their own, and it's a scary prospect if they get into post with both Null
Command and Cosmic Divide here. Yeah, I thought for a minute, Team Liquid,
we're gonna go for a flank, but that's not the case, so Null Command in, and that's
gonna delay this retake even further because they can't use the utility that they want
Manipoo's operator, excellent, and shutting down Fabian.
He needs to be brought back up, and you can see Demo looking to try and play Protector,
but there's nobody to protect the rest.
So it's up to Necky and Fabian.
Time tacking away.
Smokes down Fabian, able to hit the short.
What he needs to, as well, is Necky.
No way!
So, just like that, the snap of a finger, off of one of their own.
That's it.
I can't believe it.
It's another huge moment from Necky, Fabian with his own part to play.
But let's get it through just about.
You can see what the idea was there, the call to play deep into secret with the Ultima.
Demo the whole time is literally left on a classic because Liquid aren't willing to give him a fight.
He ends up being good cannon fodder as the core is re-stabilized and Fabian can retain that control.
But ultimately, it just has to be a little bit better in terms of the coordination from Liquid on their retake, I think.
Yeah, I mean...
Disconnected.
Yeah, the fact that, like, you're able to show an individual Brawian to allow a chance for that to happen, that's exactly what I'll throw when given the opportunity.
We can see Cosmic Divan...
Well, right now it looks like Alphard happy to identify and ensure and trying to continuously
exploit that is once again they hit the ESIC with full brunt and Spike gets planted very open.
Yeah, Liquid with a chance to flood here though, plenty of numbers in place.
Ah, yeah, I mean, you see that, but what is going on? Finally Demo at least can fuzz the advantage
The purple dive and end.
Oh, I will shed it for Gens to find some of the big dammer to come out on top.
Yeah, just hits the refract key there on his keyboard and ends up making a mess of it close in the end,
but way closer than it really should have been of getting himself in a post plant liquid.
Flooding back through after the spike went down and I think more than anything,
got a credit demo again how selfish he was trying to make these rounds happen
talk of players like necky as well who perform at their best when the rest of
the team are damage just doing his job doing his role on that is serving all
best right now yeah another big swing round in terms of the damage done to
either team the economy not in a comfortable state but as in a fact all
three probably has the better of the bias considering they have full heavy
these shields, but Operator doesn't play for both teams and MiniBooz is soon to be tested.
Then again trying to wreak havoc against the organization of which he previously represented
their academy. Took home the first stage in North East last year as a substitute there.
MiniBooz has been detected and that's where I all want to go and just send it straight
Yeah, the utility, stopping anybody from getting a real swing over, you can see Wayne looking to dance with the idea, but Demo pointy gets punished for that, so advantage to Liquid.
And a very passive post plant here as well, Oath have to fight on site with where the spike's gone down.
Oh, but stun's gonna be identified through the alarm button.
He needs to get a move on to support the race,
because it's essentially an advantage between like, with the comeback and 3 vs 4.
But being sprayed down is unbelievable!
So he even stands up and looks to go one further!
Now a 1 vs 1, a chamber vs knife!
Unreal.
And it's the chamber of stun that comes out on top!
I don't know how Oof have managed to get away with that,
But again, they go all guns blazing into the fire and it's liquid that get burned.
They're a messy spare, but then as I say, when the spike was planted,
and with all that's going down, no post-bark tools, you just have to commit to the fight.
It's an insane dart from Necky, and Stern wraps it up.
And you can see though, as the team play off one another, it's like,
I mean, you know what I mean?
Left by the sword, die by the sword.
Nakey Street end for the trees.
And I love that about, oh, that's exactly the brand of Valorant
that's been winning games for teams so far at this stage in the season.
What was it that the Vitality coaches were talking about
after that first map that they played yesterday against GX?
How could you go from losing the way they did against BBL
to smashing GX 13-0, going back to the basics, the fundamentals,
and I think that's what all
of achieved here. And I think
there was a really big
conversation point run about
Toronto last year about what's
more important macro versus
micro, right? And you think
about G2, right? The one that
many and I guess is one of the
coaches you spoke about, pal.
They were really saying that
like they really admire the
brand of violent ballerina that
G2 want to play. But in the
end, it was actually paper X
who came out on top at that
event and they were really
XUKIMO on top at that event in Toronto. So is it micro or is it micro that wins maps?
Like you say, a micro heavy team.
Come into the unknown.
Tends to do better on the international stages, but when it comes to domestics, I guess you
too.
Yeah, doing their own thing. It's a regional thing.
I don't know, man.
Could be here all day.
Get with Valorant going on.
Right now, all fluked to be taking things by the scruff of the neck.
Liquid left with bits and pieces out of the time out here.
He's playing back holes on B, sole defender is all far grouping to re-hit the site which
they just found success on.
Yeah, stun being called over as well.
So it seems like a decision has been made for the attack.
Team Liquid once again trying to do this bunker down strategy that we saw in Split, nearly
get a success on round 2. It's versus everyone here, he has been highlighted, his utility
will have no further effects and Demo makes it look easy in the end. All this time playing
on site with a much better plan to facilitate it, Fabian from up high, Liquid River. Last
guard's pretend to have caused some issues and Camo's got off to a good start. Yeah,
only Guardian, only really long range wave and you can consider there.
Stunt at the corner, has a TP as well, Demo.
Quite caught by the hinder just yet, but that off the leash, Stunt finding too liquid.
A couple back of their own, but Demo wrapping it up in the end.
And off continuing, off that time out again in this first half,
people building, keeping that momentum on their side.
Many it's spoken about how you wasn't in place by team which which defense
Seems to me that continues on right now after a couple of spare was given native two rounds
I mean if you don't win that pistol and that anti-equal right now, you're looking at I need to have for all
Yeah, and it's crazy too because you were talking on the last map about how the timeout got them
They're foot in the door right those five rounds in the first half
They've managed to replicate the same effect here, but even a greater extent, potentially,
which depends how many more of these rounds they can recuperate. Liquid now with a full buy.
Having gutted out mid, it looks like Orph want to split the B site this time. Yeah, and with full ultimates behind them.
Very easily, that should have been seen. Many boot, at least able to take stun off lane.
The first bloods have been so important and Liquid now have that bodies on site, Miniboo
the next, up on following it up, with a snap of their fingers, it ends with an in-sound
flawless for Liquid.
Yeah, fantastically done, and simply done actually, realistically, just holding smokes,
not moving position, and it felt as if they weren't really challenged, that's a big kill
from Miniboo, they're just kind of trying to teeter on the edge of being in the open.
That's what you want your jewelers to do, they're extra till they're free from the feet.
It's also the round which Liquid have been setting up for from their own time out, so you have to give credit where it's due.
A simple read against Ulf's repeated hits of the B site, and looks like they've got its form here as well, because at the very least it's early A-pop.
Well, one of the five ultimates that was available this round will be used very, very quickly,
and Moon Maulies to be thrown into the next Camel, getting a kill just before that smoke
blooms.
There's going to get Liquid once again on the advantage to try and walk from, and walk
from there well.
It looks good, demo, getting caught by his own team's ultimate, but is he able to come
away with a kill?
Off trailing by one in this position.
has his ult and he's just looking for an over peek, looking for camo but immediately head
taken off so up to the tool to force off Stun, C tries to walk the angles, it's going to
be a difficult one and no identified and E main through the prologue, team ticking away
and with a bucky or a rocket it's not the best of weaponry you could want,
liquid have the contacts set up here as well, needs to clear close, nose camo's there,
Just waiting for the swing.
So probably going to be a 6-6 half unless something epic was to come through from Ston.
It does get the first, but not the second.
So we end up all even going into halftime.
Yeah, some great defensive fade utility there from Camo on the side hold.
C's had everyone deafened to reveal exactly what the Doctor ordered,
but can Liquid haul it over the line?
Or what off can this story going?
We'll find out off of this.
I
Shot
Red Bull gives you wings
So, with each team taking their own map pick,
things couldn't be closer, heading into the final half of this series, one of them going
home in the lower bracket, and someone who's going to hope that he won't, so we can keep
that kickoff run going, is Demo.
Yeah, I feel as if since the last game, he's really upped his game, but overall, like,
you compare Demo to Sop, and it feels quite unfair, not how the best of starts in kickoff
Demo, but for me, he's always struck me, as I said before, as this neon jet, raised
He's on his comfort, he needs to be shown as his best.
If he wants to try and put himself in the shop window for future splits.
Exactly right, he's just a hard entry player more than anything else, the picture that we're trying to paint.
And now on the defender side, how can you tailor that to your advantage?
The grid heading over to the attack and taking a main beyond this smoke, which...
They're going to invest some utility to do so. In fact, when camo's prowler hits nothing,
they kind of start to realize, okay, there's nothing here, and all of the same in middle.
Yeah, they'll start to reset the sheet. I thought for a minute we're going to go into
the fight, Glein's optimum liquid, and right now, all happy to give everything up.
Yeah, look like for a moment, Demo wanted to fight from backside, but he's given it
up now, a double up in secret, as Liquid have ambitions of their own to fight this one forward.
Perhaps no, it's the art where they go and all that's under the microscope now, yeah.
Good for a headshot or two as the players come his way, can't connect, a whole bunch so we look towards the rest.
Fabio and another player who's pretty good on these pistol rounds and well, unfortunately,
Camel looks to put Liquid even further in front.
Player to the good, and still that's better not being walked at, his time is beginning to tack away,
and that's perhaps me have already won this round. This is two to one with both Plihls and
me and Nicky only a frenzy and hind. He needs to get uncaught in personal but that puts this
distance away from the spake which is about to detonate and I'll owe Liquid the pistol rounds.
Another pistol round for Liquid by my count that's now four in a row over the last two maps so
So, definitely giving themselves the best odds at the start of these, really liked the reaction for them to fight into the art space, maybe difficult with Audas being the casualty, no smokes to make that defuse any easier.
And so, leader restored.
Amazing call from Domi here.
Should I say, liquid in front for the first time in a while.
And it just sounds there, like MiniBoo was the one involved with making that decision.
Yeah.
Liquid this time though, very quiet in their approach, could be troubled what was they walking into though?
Yeah there are sort of three, four players here on the offside if you can't stun he now has the information so
Just having a look at them so I'm capable, yeah, you know what mate, every now and then you get one like that
I think it comes back to just that little bit that was mentioned there by the coaches by lohan. Yeah, that it sounds like miniboo is finding his part in being a very vocal jewelist. You know how important he was to heretics. Yeah, and I think that what this into and for the straight team liquid, and I'm going to have to rely on the
on the drills to be these entries to be in this position.
Lake Puffle been able to get a ridiculous kill, right?
But at the same time, yeah, it's just very nicely played.
In front of the stage, I think he was blinded by the flash
of Mini-Boo there as well.
So we don't know much about what the calling structure looks
like.
Maybe not calling the flashes, I'm just kidding.
But no, he is absolutely leading the line right now
in the server.
One thing which all for without other than moments
is someone putting up big numbers.
That is it.
And I mean, you look towards that FOSS map, right?
Think of FOSS as, oh, Ston, dammit!
Nice mid-engagement.
Can I speak?
Look for a minute like he was going to head towards
B, but instead, nope, be back off.
That's been a huge round for Oph as well,
denying Liquid the bonus where they've already won
a couple of them in this series.
He's tracking the ultimates, Camo has his of course, but no claws to use it right now
and off playing with a lot of discipline, not giving a way back into this liquid side
which currently looking for anything to grab onto.
Trying to find anything here, Camo.
He's been very good individually, will not be able to find himself a kill here and that's
to.
He's himself all on in a one versus four.
He's been good for the clutch year of the year over the years,
but right now feels like a tough ask.
So all straight back in it.
It does.
You know, the history is there for Nats,
but seeing him on Killjoy on Pearl in 2026,
it's like, yeah, shocked at the system of the old Valorant
year, but in terms of this round, I have to say,
impressed with Oath just doing their thing right,
player for player, pound for pound, good in these 1v1s, taking some engagements together
there. And now a chance to really move forwards and actually level up the score, stop Liquid
from finding a commanding lead. Yeah, I left out towards the start of this map, I was like
oh I don't know if I like this triple, Julli's force and plier's off, but Camel, 15 kills,
10 assists, shows you how comfortable he is. How comfortable Team Liquid could get is they
head towards the space site which is only stocked with one player.
It's just necky and he doesn't really have a way to fall away from this position either.
He is committed to this.
Nifle not going to hit him or stun.
I mean, able to stay alive almost gets away with a kill, but Team Liquid will flood the
kill feed in the end and oh, I mean a bit disconnected stuns still end towards that lane or that is
Norwe are near probably trying to support through stars
So team like we're looking to head to name
Unless either of these off players can do anything about it stern without a TP
10 toes down trying to take anything that he can
But orders left it is wake and just forced to save up what he can
I mean off have money here still to buy around they are in a decent position themselves
It was liquid, honestly, on the receiving end of this one that could have been in a bit more of a troubled position.
But a huge round for them to find, nonetheless, it's that two round gap restored.
So, Oda is able to rescue a rifle into the next one, which Demo will be thankful for considering he's the one with the lowest economy there.
I feel like I've seen that same replay like three or four times so far in this series.
The spray battle just strafing.
Protected bullets don't know what those are.
They won't matter with Stern's op here.
Teed up by Favien Flash, looking for something, gets on the line, but Liquid should know this.
Yeah, but there's a player up close and personal right, and the blocker is Popo.
He's able to net himself the kill, and it's more utility, sent off, sweet.
Force back, Team Liquid, Team Liquid, finally, with mid control.
Well, doubling down though, the Flash doesn't get the best coverage from that corner.
Favien dropping back, but then holding the line.
Nobody getting in the alley just yet.
Now the support of Mekki arriving.
You know, all of Oph's forces,
forced to look towards mid, but...
Skewed perhaps, of any other
escalations from parts of the map,
especially the extremities.
Oh, this looks like great mid-rounding.
If they can isolate Nats in A main here.
Yeah, always already seen the leg.
Doesn't anticipate the keyhole.
So Farveen will put Oph in an advantage,
but look at us, the pack is elsewhere.
That's exactly what Oph needed to do.
Get a little bit of info on the map after having all four focused on mid.
Oh, nice grab, Will.
Late rotation towards this B site though, Neki has his first.
Yeah, the players swarmingly try to get out.
Awesome, and it's a brilliant round to come out from all.
Really well constructed from front to back.
Those first couple of fights in the middle,
a little bit of touch and go with Stern's ob.
You could see what the plan was,
but then that instant reaction to pressure that's on the extremity,
gives themselves a bit of control if maybe Liquid wanted to head through R.
the game. And so in this
cost file, which ends up
claiming the rounds. So just
one in it now and liquid letting
loose their final time out.
Yeah, need to sit down and talk
about things before all forget
the momentum at the backs. With
that we are towards the later
later stages of the game, right?
The last season of the elimination
the game. We're going to be
the one and two game as they
stand. Liquid that win over a
KC team, which were close
against heretics earlier off.
There's on a Pacific side,
which we almost expected to see
the two ascension rosters or
just percentage organizations
in the in the lowest perhaps
just in terms of how things
were for them. But. Yeah, I
team. I think it's a great
team. It's a great challenge to
beat this liquid team even as
worn down as they look right
now. Yeah, I think like to be a
team like team like with the
fact that like you have
players that we've mentioned
right who have been all the way
to champs. It feels like liquid
got the best of the rest that
was left out. It's not anything
any criticism of any player
right, but it feels as if like.
I mean that knows what it's like to face a rebuild. It's one of the reasons why he stayed in this team so long and continues to deliver here.
He's going to get away with it in the end and Liquid quickly pivoting.
Oh nice! Hooked in by the stunned player. Couldn't finish it off and Necky's no better.
Yeah, I mean this is the problem. Oh, Paul, try and play this way aggressive in your face, trading off one another,
one another, but there can also be ways to manipulate that. That's exactly what
Team Liquid have done. Setting up for this one. Demo again just the one and so
Fabian has to be the sole old player to find two kills here if he wants to
clutch this out. Util belt empty. No time for the knife. Knows about Camo's
position and has to extrapolate from that where Wayne may be playing from.
still has the molly available.
He can play to the clock.
Favion has to call.
Call of our position and does so.
Extracted to perfection.
Wayne still with seconds to buy,
but Favion maybe knows he can get half.
It's a half too far in the end.
Wayne to take them to 10.
Liquid closing in now.
Yeah, double digits phone,
but a walk cost because all four,
four players lost it in the end.
2-0's 5, we actually don't hit if you want to try and force him to hit, which looks like it is going to be the case.
Ultimate send play for both teams.
Nice, Wayne. Let's go, Wayne.
You talk about players like Wayne, he's coming to a brand new environment.
I don't think it's fair to cobble it in with the rest, right?
He has had a much better series today.
And like I was saying, it's just about putting those pieces together over time, the Nats conversation.
Pico coming out of the team saying that he's a guy driven by routine and he is going to
get the results that he wants in the end.
One step at a time.
Liquid overrunning mid control right now.
And again, it's only Dema in this link position.
I am the hunter!
Hunter's Fury, street earner's a reaction to the utility,
but at the same time Team Liquid have beat the utility.
They want to try and walk away through, man,
but into Fabian's cross here, they go to a double up,
two players to the good, go to the defense,
and a real chance to try and claw back around.
There's a really nice combination there to start,
but Camo finds Fabian on the overextension.
Orph still have stern in main
and he is yet to receive contact,
so understanding the possibility of a B pivot
is very likely.
You've also seen Orders now move over into long,
so control on either limit for Orph as it stands.
Orph said, team Liquid going.
Where do they go?
Yeah, a bit confusing.
I think they're just saving.
Yeah, it's the B.
It's done here.
Really?
I mean don't have all of the control there's not too much that you can do from this position in the end and
Yeah, there's a few players on low crates like Camel 50 mini boo on a hundred
And I mean what all it was expended their for all boys the hunters fury
Yeah, and that's what I was saying right it looked like a simple play on the surface to stunning from them
I to do a little bit of damage if that had landed
Maybe even an extra kill, but actually it's Fabian the one who does the heavy lifting and now
As I was saying earlier where we didn't have off players
dragging out actually starting to
Go positive
I'm seeing you know three players now with 13 plus kills
Actually, it's liquid slowing down the pace a little bit
Yeah frustration from the coaches and there's no way to interject from them anymore
So left to watch on the server and off one round away from equaling things out or once again
I mean, if all can see that things are heading in the right direction, no reason to give a break in play.
Do not interrupt your opponent if they're making a mistake, or in this case,
trending downwards.
Spake has been left to the B-sade door.
And you can see Liquid are setting up to split this through middle again.
It's been a change in the guard though. It's Favian this time in double doors, and with a judge no less.
He's made himself run very early.
Yeah, I mean, really, under the corner there, under the pressure.
Oh, Nicky!
Point shot, spend the end, still the player can't equal.
So it's up to Lecret to try and... Oh, no!
Oh, mistake! But, oh, guys, takes hits!
So Potpo's stuck in a corner to try and clutch up a 1 vs. 3,
and all the players are there to capitalise.
10 to 10 is the score.
Dazzling from Ordaz once again.
And Liquid cannot allow themselves to be blinded by the lights right now.
Alfa brought this back to even footing again.
Each of the players having their moments.
Ordaz is like a turret here on a swivel.
And slowly creeping in the right direction for them.
Now we've got to look at the ults.
How we do that's the most important part huge cycle
Who comes out on top as it seems like off want to stop team like we come in anyway of me up the beast
Say sorry yeah after continuous arrows on the B site for team liquid
I mean it's a mixed life for a quick. They're gonna want a scrap here
Oh, but do they really want a scar because it's all up against and it's all for come out on top
up.
Cabo and win.
Yes, you have ultimates, but do you have what it takes to
fire back?
It seems to be the case.
It's Wins, Sheriff.
Is that exactly what he needs to?
And now a chance for the round to breathe.
Wayne with two under his belt.
He has the ult.
The molly.
If he can get to post-plant here, there is a serious chance
of winning this round.
Rifle in his hands.
But stern is that first
Player that he has to cross in middle and position scuba is deadly
Teleports ready. He's already seen the cross here of the bottle. Sorry. He's already won the round
Oh, we'll take the advantage towards the latter stage of the second half of the
Final map of this series and elimination series
The changeoff of all this time, is they're actually playing behind the same main smoke
that Audaz has been placing for the last, you know, five rounds or so.
It's been a consistent part of their default on the defender's side.
And Liquid didn't quite look prepared for it, at least, Popo dived in and follow-up
difficult.
All wanted to challenge Mid here with all five members.
Yeah, and those ultimates we spoke about still in play, but all so far in front,
I hit enemy lanes and Storm immediately punished for that.
TP was there, they're actually still holed up in middle here, Rolf.
I think we're gonna wait for that smoke though before they go back in.
Bring them down.
And the Reekler will come through.
You can see already, Niki looking for more information as scene one and the second thing,
just camel there.
Shut that leg scene.
Don't even think that scaling has been pretty difficult for Liquid on the whole, they've
been trying to play through middle a lot.
And also having these hero moments in tight spaces.
Two players towards B and it looks like that's the direction Liquid are heading for the moment,
at least, making themselves known in Connector.
Yeah, they get through mid, but remember they had problems last time trying to get out of
the line, making maybe a little bit too eager to take those feats.
That's now the call being made, heading towards A, a foot race, all first one, and demo most
importantly, in A main, detected by the AWP.
Yeah, that's massive, but the operator looks to try and get onto the angle, but immediately
taken out. This could be flawless by Team Liquid and it certainly seems to be the case.
So what it does with plenty of economy at his back will attempt a 1 versus 5. Don't hold your breath.
It is not going to happen. MiniBoo gets a quad kill. Exactly what Liquid need for a bit of a lift
here and in zone flawless as we head right to the end of regulation yeah a
straight answer back but there was ultimates invested in that last one
fortunately for all they still have ults one thing they don't have money not
an infinite supply that's for certain still an op available for stern here but
if they don't win now that final round could be costly and to lose in a fashion
like that against the liquid side which they've given a damn good go with the absolute heartbreak
back to middle again
the trap on the offside is set in art players have left with a go now sweetheart
need to be careful though if they do go this way it's look to just destroy the trap and already
Nicky can farm and play us possessions but deep gulf tip backwards and yeah with spade gloss
but the stone moving in towards the operator we're able at least to find 5a and beston can't
quite connect the shots so we'll look towards off's main control on e and on b as well.
Necky rowing this one out at the same time so if they head towards the other side of the map
here liquid there could be problems the biggest downfall for off right now is over committing
to fight so it's they've been unable to win. It's gonna take another huge moment to win
the miss one though I think. Yeah looks as if Liquid already looking to identify Necky.
One aid about the positions that Lof could have maybe taken up with that lockdown looking
to port. Necky can't quite wrestle. They'll cross here back, close rest on the spray,
And Deimos certainly can, some clean shots from him.
So back to 2v2.
All of these players are split up from one another.
Liquid may be looking to fight towards spawn.
Nice Cosmic Divage stops that backside being a problem for them.
But Wade holding on from Lane, seeing if he can poor power
and prove an extra 2.
Oh, and nice stun.
Oh, that's caught.
So it's a 1 versus 1.
Wayne does not have a lot of health.
Missed one.
All right, there's no going to be good, that's all.
Demo sends off to map and see these boys
Such a key round and it's demo again, but we'll take off 212 a
1v1 against the new boy Wayne. I
Have to say it felt like if there were any errors made in this round. It was on the offside
Really try to get into the fights in ice it early, but
Once again you'll see the value they're getting from this main control, it's ridiculous.
Still that frustration for the coaches, frustration for the fans who have come here to watch Team
Liquid go for that Warbracket run and you can see they have all the ultimacy they need,
they have the better of the cycle at this moment in time.
And it's going to be straight away, many boop off of this.
Yeah, this is the catalyst for Liquid. This is the one that could get things going.
He has cleared a path out to the A site in its entirety.
Think how many times Wolf struggled to retake here.
That's what they might just be up against.
If they can see this one home before and over time, you see that.
But Wolf have all they need for the retake.
Great. I'm thinking of the Overdrive of Demo.
And I'm also thinking of the Note Commander Fabian, which has just been taking off lane.
A massive kill by Nars and an even bigger second.
It's 13 Liquid Huberchans.
They have some life in the game.
But not before... Oh, try the rating.
And it's gonna work too.
It's gonna work. It's ready.
We're going all the way to overtime.
It is nothing less than this game deserves.
Everyone left on the edge of their seat
to find out how it will conclude.
But Liquid, of course,
making sure it goes the distance.
It was a 14 12 win. Uh, against
vitality here. They're first
as an organization. And some
similar issues there for all on
that same a retake that I was
talking about. He didn't really
get a chance to pop Fabian's
all as he went solo searching
and are to find that this shot
from stern couple of fine
margins, but it makes all the
We have to face and that next game tomorrow as well.
GX are going to be loving this because the longer the game goes the less time either of these teams have to prep for the next one.
We even try and prep, purple straight away, we'll get the first kill, there goes Stunt.
The defence with the advantage so far.
It's not the first time Stun has lost his life on B but Liquid should be acutely aware that this is a position that Necky likes to follow up late.
Now tasked with rejoining the rest of his team, Spike in hand.
As Ulf have gutted out the middle of the map here.
Yeah, and found great space to move through.
What we know does mark the escape and towards spawn.
You can see Puppo just watching anybody trying to get in towards lean.
Yeah, it's a great tee piece to up from Miniboo as well.
He'll be ready to join the rest of the team as he's holding on to B.
Oh, are scaling within 10.
Yeah, they are.
And Money Boo's operator on the lane with his demo gun.
He needs to try and find Money Boo, but Neki does instead.
So it's a two versus three.
And Spike looking to go down.
Demo going further.
Yeah, off against the odds again.
This is how they like to play.
And Demo tries to bust out at the wrong time.
That's well aware.
You can't try and kick him off guard.
His Neki now has to show his best.
Oh, my God.
It's round to say, though.
The players don't know where he is.
Oh, perfect play!
And a 1 vs 1 to try and play up against the GENGST WIN!
But it's the control of playing instead!
Well, whatever, against Ols Leader!
I mean, in what world do you expect to find Wayne up there when you reposition?
In Wayne's world, I suppose, because that's the one where Liquid get up to 13 rounds.
A dramatic fashion again, Nicky. Always good for that kind of play, but as you said,
As you said, it takes a moment for them to get rid of Mini-Boot.
And I mean...
It's on a cyclist.
Yeah, I mean, Wayne very correctly...
Identifying the flank player, and you can see all that.
It looks as if, like, on the offside they've enjoyed it,
but on the team liquid side, they're going through the paces, man.
It's like we've won, but at what cost, you know?
Low-handed, through it, poor guy.
One more round, one opportunity here for Liquid to take it in the first of the OTs.
Heading towards the A site again, it's served them well up until this point.
Fabian all hands on deck but MiniBoo will cut him loose.
Orders still hanging around here, needs to win that next draw, but he's going to lose it at the hands of Wayne.
It's now a 5 versus 3, what have you got left?
The players still need to roti, but Lee Stum gets to cat-fire onto Manibu.
Real opportunity here now.
Liquid continuing to play that time.
Wayne has the molly, he's just used it.
Camo in the backlines and still, oof, struggling to get in.
No smoke, no cover, no hope in hell or so you'd feel.
The wall goes up, that's a bit of a distraction.
Demo sliding in to be the problem, but it must rely on stun.
Liquid trying to solve all their problems here, but up against them, it's no problem at all.
They may have washed away the blood, but we get to see if this liquid side has sealed the wound.
It was a long night in the office, they stay alive in the war bracket.
Yeah, they land across the war bracket and to a much more dangerous opponent, NJNX.
Sure, Giant X, me of Ludlick, much different team against Vitality, but I'm sure they're
going to be ready to play against a team like we'd say they're really struggled to
do.
Just the emotions on the face of the Liquid players look like they just ran a marathon
knowing how close they were from elimination here, all from the other side can be proud
of their performance, the fact that they were able to take this team so far despite the
the limitations they face, the troubles along the way.
We'll see them again in stage one,
albeit a very different look to the roster, I imagine.
But plenty of positives to take home
from the performance tonight.
Yeah, I mean, for Stunn and Daymort,
that's the players that will be messing from stage one,
from this stage into stage one.
But, I mean, we know who looked towards the victors,
Team Liquid, they were able to keep themselves alive.
What does that next series look like for them?
Nor a chance to really pray for it,
which is going to be really difficult for the Roastov.
It's a story which we've seen from a few of the former champs' teams
over the last few days that the best will always find a way to win.
Think of Fnatic against Na'Vi.
Heretics moments ago, quite a while ago now, against KC.
They get the result that is required of them in the end,
And that is enough to stay alive in this lower bracket.
Yeah, I mean, that's the big thing.
All that really matters is staying alive here.
And for team Liquid, they have done that.
They've at least managed to do that.
Will they do it against Jannex?
I'm not so sure.
I'm not so sure.
Yeah, that's what we're just waiting to find out.
And we'll hear how the players themselves are feeling
about this.
We're going to head over to an interview with Nats,
who's standing by.
Thank you, Hazan and Cairo, you guys putting in a shift.
Nats, you have also put in a shift with the rest of the team.
Three maps, it's 11 PM.
It's done and dusted, you're making this lower bracket run.
How is it, and how is the team capable of having so much stamina
to continue for three maps back to back to back?
I don't know.
I mean, we just played the game.
We have a match tomorrow also,
so let's see how much energy is left for tomorrow's match.
But, I mean, for the first official,
I don't think it's a big deal overall
to play three maps like that.
Okay, that's good to know,
because we're looking forward to tomorrow.
I will let you go very soon.
I promise you that.
But I want to dissect today a little bit further
because obviously that first map didn't go your way.
You guys are able to come back on that second map.
You're now closest to one out,
even though it was down to the wire
and you had to go to OT.
From your side of things,
we know you really like to give your speeches.
So what did that look like today?
I think we're still trying to find
our strengths on the server right now from what to play.
So we're all still on the path, I would say, right now on the server.
So I think it's more about that.
We're just trying to play a game by game and see what we are capable of.
All right.
When it comes to the strengths, then have you identified any in particular today?
Because we noticed as well that when we're looking at the comfort that's coming out,
we see Wayne on the Omen instead of the Astra, the coach hinting at it as well.
Is that something you're playing more towards?
I mean, something definitely been changed, even the competition-wise.
I cannot unfortunately say, but as everyone said already something did change.
Tomorrow though you're going up against GX and that is an opponent that is now also in that
lower bracket which is crazy because you know you GX teams that have last year historically
done really well it's another giant that you're going to have to slay how are we feeling about it?
Well nothing really I mean we played many times against them they played many times against us
it's just a normal game I think every team is stronger right now in the kickoff.
Okay, so nonchalant just another day in the office. Yeah, I mean the fans here screamed easy to oh
Jiggly let's find out. All right. We're gonna find that out tomorrow. Thank you so much for your time pretty sure
I appreciate it. We are done here for today. We're gonna be back again tomorrow same time same place
So major you tune in and we'll leave you with a razor
Just don't do this ever again
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