FNATIC vs Team Liquid – VCT EMEA Stage 1 Playoffs: FNC dominates Map 3 and eliminates TL

It has been a wild year of competitive VALORANT thus far. Many teams you would expect to dominate have fallen short, and several unproven teams have stepped up in their place. Just take a look at FNATIC vs Team Liquid.

This VCT EMEA matchup is a Knockout Round series of the Stage 1 Playoffs. Both teams squeezed their way into the mid-season bracket, with a chance at Masters Shanghai. Only one will make it through, however, with the loser having to rest for Stage 2.

FNATIC vs Team Liquid showcases the two best teams from the 2023 VCT EMEA circuit. We won't say how the mighty have fallen, but they are definitely not in the same position they were, as 3rd Place at Champions and winners of VCT EMEA, respectively.

The momentum for this one may be on TL's side. They are coming off of a solid victory against Gentle Mates, propelling them into this playoff bracket. FNATIC, however, has lost two in a row. To the likes of NAVI and FUT Esports.

Everyone knows what these rosters are capable of, though if anyone said the Stage 1 Playoffs' first Knockout Round series would be between then, just a few months ago, you'd be called a liar. All eyes are on this one, as it could shape the rest of the year for both teams.

There is always the official VCT EMEA channels on Twitch and YouTube, but why head there when you can stick with us? We've got a stream embedded for you, so you can watch while we deliver a recap.

Read on for a recap and clips that highlight all of the action of this VCT EMEA Stage 1 Playoff contest.

Team Liquid grabbed an early lead with a defensive pistol round win. They easily took the next, but once FNATIC got better weapons in their hands, they snagged a round with Leo and his Odin. Well, Enzo responded with some Odin spraying of his own.

Team Liquid continued punishing FNATIC's attacking strategy. Each player did their part, picking off FNATIC and extending their lead. With FNATIC at just one round, TL guaranteed at least a tie at halftime. That soon became a guaranteed lead, with seven on the board. A clutch by Leo kept things from getting too far out of hand.

Defense proved to have the advantage on Ascent, as FNATIC took the second half pistol round. That started a streak, with a Leo 3K cementing three rounds in a row. A fourth would not be found, as Team Liquid hit double digits.

You cannot count FNATIC out, however, and they were soon within two. The following round put them just one from tying. A timeout followed by a Mistic 3K prevented that from happening for the time being. It wasn't long until FNATIC tied it at 11, however. Four huge kills by Derke put FNATIC ahead and at map point, which set them up to close out the comeback.

With Reyna and Chamber in the composition, Team Liquid showed early aggression as the defending team. It did not pay off to start, though. It did the trick on FNATIC's bonus round, however, giving TL their first. That gave them what they needed to tie it early on.

They stood strong on defense going forward, taking a decent lead just as they did on Map 1. A disgusting flank by Mistic netted him a 3K to keep TL ahead. FNATIC kept it closer than they did on Ascent, but again, TL maintained a lead heading into halftime here.

A very quick plant from Team Liquid looked to give them the pistol round, but FNATIC's retake was successful to bring it within one. A major comeback wasn't needed this time, as the former Masters winners soon jumped into the lead.

Leave it to Derke to take down three and bring FNATIC to double digits on Icebox. TL was able to regroup and keep it close. It wasn't long until Liquid tied it at 10, putting this map in familiar territory. Back and forth the teams went, but TL hit map point first. That was followed, of course, by FNATIC forcing overtime.

A big 3K ending with a Shock Dart by Enzo started things in OT for Team Liquid. The combo of nAts and Keiko were the finisher in this one. They shut down a B Site push from FNATIC with ease, taking the series to the third map of Lotus.

Chalk a Lotus pistol round up for FNATIC. In the second round of the map, Derke bought an Odin. And while he went down in the bonus, FNATIC took their third and Leo picked the Odin back up. After five rounds straight, FNC's defense looked unstoppable.

They were nearly flawless through the first half. TL got one on the board, but a Derke Odin clutch stopped any momentum. Follow that up with a 3K from Chronicle and things looked bleak for Team Liquid here on Map 3.

Team Liquid was not ready to give up, taking the pistol and the eco. Still, it was a long way back into this one if they wanted to have a chance. A Flawless round put them at five. Could they make the impossible comeback possible?

No, they couldn't. FNATIC got to map and series point in the next round. They made a quick push to C Site in the following, and that was all she wrote. A 3K by Chronicle put the exclamation point on Map 3 and Team Liquid were done for.

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