Team Liquid are knocked out by Nigma in the WEU TI Qualifiers/ It will be the first time the organization has not been represented at The International in 5 years.
All good things must come to an end, and for Team Liquid, that end was today. It was a long road full of trails and tribulations, but it ended in defeat. Team Liquid are perhaps the most hot and cold team in Dota 2 right now. Being a fan of the team has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. While they've come back from the bleakest situations with style, they've also faltered more than ever before this year.
Liquid's Mixed Results in First and Second Season
Liquid’s season started out shaky, finishing in the middle of the pack of the Western European DPC season. Pulling out a clutch victory to defeat both OG and Tundra in the three-way tiebreaker for the wildcard slot to the Singapore Major, Liquid kept their dream for more DPC points alive. By the skin of their teeth, Liquid was able to secure a spot into the group stage. This was partly because a third slot had been opened with the departure of Na’Vi and beastcoast due to COVID restrictions. After a 1st day winning streak in the group stage, Liquid quickly fell behind and was eliminated in the 1st round of the playoffs.
The second season of the DPC also started out with a shocker. Samuel "Boxi" Svahn took a leave of absence from the team in order to handle family issues. Joined by Syed Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan, Liquid looked fit to be in tournament from, placing second in Europe and qualifying to the Animajor group stage. But Liquid couldn’t pull it together there either. Looking lost, Liquid was knocked out of the tournament in a tiebreaker by Team Spirit to stay in the major.
A Last Run at TI
After a short run at the ESL One Summer Tournament playing without their carry, Michael "miCKe" Vu, Liquid regrouped with their full roster to play in the WEU qualifiers to TI. With a shaky start, and an insane 100 minute game against Chicken Fighters, Liquid still managed to pull through and make it to the lower bracket semifinals against Team Nigma.
It was here that Liquid was defeated. While Game 1 was a strong showing, on the back of Boxi, the momentum didn't carry over to the subsequent game. Nigma were able to bring it back, crushing Game 2 on the back of a Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi Storm Spirit. The third game was much closer, with both teams going back and forth and neither pulling incredibly far ahead. In the end, it was a drawn-out Roshan pit battle royale where Nigma pulled too far ahead to be stopped.
A Sad Day for Team Liquid
As happy as we are for Team Nigma, we can’t help but feel sad for Liquid. This will be the first time since TI6 that the organization will not be represented at the world’s biggest Dota tournament. Many people have identified with and rooted for one of the more wholesome teams in Dota. This Team Liquid roster is one of the longest lasting in Dota at this current moment. According to statistician Ben "Noxville" Steenhuisen, the team have played 430 games together, the second most outside of China.
It’s unclear where this will leave the team's roster after a disappointing end to their season. Liquid have stuck together through thick, thin and Gyrocopter misclicks,, but this has been arguably the lowest the team has been yet. For now though, their Dota 2 season is over.
For further coverage of Liquid when they start playing again, and the rest of the WEU qualifiers, stay with us at esports.gg.