In a close series, Team Liquid Brazil earned its place in the GCC 2025 Grand Finals by finally taking down Shopify Rebellion Gold.
The latest matches have shown us a very different Team Liquid Brazil compared to 2023. One playing with a level of confidence and strength we had never seen before. But against Shopify Rebellion Gold, the two-time champions, they needed even more. They had to overcome the team that seemed unbeatable. And at the VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2025, anything can happen.
Team Liquid Brazil took down the tournament favorites and secured their place in the Grand Finals, set for Nov. 30. Shopify Rebellion can still make it, with a chance to reach the finals if they can defeat either MIBR GC or KRÜ BLAZE in the lower-bracket final.
The 2023 rematch
In this VALORANT Game Changers 2023 rematch, Shopify Rebellion Gold were the favorites. However, Team Liquid Brazil was not just any team. They were one of the strongest opponents SRG has ever faced. The last time the North American team took the trophy, it was a close series. SRG ended up defeating Team Liquid Brazil by 3-2.
In 2023, TL Natália "daiki" Vilela still had her iconic short hair, Paula "bstrdd" Naguil was still on the team, and Shopify Rebellion had Ava "florescent" Eugene. A lot was different back then, but the energy and confidence in both teams remain the same.
Two years later, these teams are fighting for their spot in the VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2025 Grand Finals. And if you think Team Liquid Brazil is the underdog, you're very mistaken. You are looking at one of the strongest GC teams out there.
Team Liquid secures its ticket to the Grand Finals
In a very intense series, Team Liquid ended up being stronger and took down, for the first time on LAN, a series from Shopify Rebellion Gold. The North American team leader believes both teams have evolved a lot since 2023. "Their calling on Haven was immaculate. [daiki] was calling exactly when to contact, exactly when to execute. Seeing how the teams have evolved in the past years, it's amazing. I'm grateful to be able to play against them," SRG meL stated on the post-match press conference.
A great man once said: "Even losses can be small wins." You know which man said that? Faker.
On Team Liquid’s side, the players expressed pride in their performance. “The 2023 final was very hard for me, but that wound has now been cured,” said Letícia “joojina” Paiva. Julia “Jelly” Iris, who lost to Shopify last year while playing for MIBR GC, believes this year is different. “We didn’t have the chance last year, but this year we are going to end the SRG empire,” she said, confident that the trophy will return to Brazil.
Shopify Rebellion Gold vs Team Liquid Brazil: Match recap
Haven was Team Liquid Brazil's map pick, but that does not mean it was an easy victory. It was a very solid beginning for the Brazilian team, as they finished the first half with a big advantage of four rounds. However, SRG was confident enough to tie the score and win four rounds in a row.
But if you think that was enough to shake Team Liquid's confidence, it was not. This was their map, and they were ready to conquer it. The game went to overtime, but in the end, daiki was able to close the 1v1 and defeat Shopify Rebellion Gold in the first map.
The second map was slightly different. The advantage was now on Shopify Rebellion Gold's side as they started with a 6-0 lead. Still, Team Liquid Brazil was way too confident in their strength to let this advantage scare them. In the first half, they tied the score and ended SRG's advantage for a while. The second half was way better for SRG as they won four rounds in a row. As SRG reached the 12 mark, ending the game was starting to be a hard task.
Everything ends on Sunset
On Sunset, Team Liquid Brazil was more than ready for the challenge because this was the most important moment of their lives. Their ticket to the Grand Final. They came confident, strong, and very precise in their decisions and team calls. With a considerable advantage in the first half, the Brazilian team had everything in its hands to finish the match and secure its spot in the Grand Final.
However, the battle was far from easy, as Shopify Rebellion Gold kept closing the gap. Then, Team Liquid was able to regain some firepower and break the SRG comeback. The crowd was going crazy, and everyone was feeling the pressure. Team Liquid was one round away from the Grand Finals, and they did it. They sent the Championship winners to the Lower Bracket. This victory meant everything for them!
Team Liquid Brazil was the only team to take a series out of Shopify Rebellion Gold.
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