TL fell to DRX and now faces EDG to stay alive at Champions 2025. Players reflected on what went wrong in the post-match conference.
On Sept. 13, Team Liquid (TL) faced DRX in a tense Group C matchup at VALORANT Champions 2025. The Korean squad secured both maps to advance to the Upper Bracket. Team Liquid now prepares for a do-or-die elimination match against defending champions EDG on Sept. 19, 2025. In the post-match press conference, Liquid reflected on what went wrong and shared their thoughts on the challenge ahead.
What failed?
Overall, TL’s players and coach admitted they weren’t sure what went wrong in their loss to DRX at Champions 2025. When asked about it, TL’s Ayaz "nAts" Akhmetshin said, “I don’t know what happened today. It’s time to figure it out and bring back the usual nAts for the next match.” Head coach Ivo "LohaN" Albino echoed the uncertainty. He noted that they would need to review the match closely to understand exactly what failed.
However, the in-game leader expressed confidence that the team will find answers in this high-pressure moment, solutions strong enough to overcome EDG and keep their Champions 2025 run alive. “We just need to play our game in the next match and take time to understand what went wrong,” nAts added.
“It’s very sad that one of us will be leaving the tournament already,” said Team Liquid’s IGL about EDG’s Wan "CHICHOO" Shunzhi. For those unaware, CHICHOO is a big fan of nAts, which became a wholesome and respectful moment for the VALORANT community. "I think it is going to be a cool match, let's see how it goes."
Speaking about preparation time ahead of the biggest VALORANT event of the year, coach Ivo "LohaN" Albino acknowledged its impact on match outcomes. “It’s probably the most important factor coming into internationals. Some regions have less time, others have more,” he explained. “We didn’t have much time to prepare, but we’re not here to make excuses.” Ultimately, LohaN believes the team simply didn’t play up to their standards. “I don’t think that was the issue today,” he added.
That's all for now. Stay around for more VALORANT news, guides, and updates on esports.gg.
