TL vs NRG Masters Tokyo: NRG dominates Split to eliminate TL

The battle of TL vs NRG is not one we thought we'd see in the Lower Bracket. Losses up top have sent both favorited teams down, though, and only one will survive. It is a series of EMEA's champions and the arguably most consistent core that VALORANT has ever seen on NRG.

Unlike NRG, Team Liquid's number one seeding from EMEA allowed them to skip the Group Stage. NRG fought through valiantly, but both teams have been dealt losses by momentous teams in the playoffs. NRG was dominated by FNATIC and the same can be said about TL to Evil Geniuses.

They have both gotten victories over tough opponents, however. NRG's first Lower Bracket contest saw them eliminate DRX. For TL, they barely made it out of a war against EDward Gaming who could be on the other side of this series if they best Paper Rex shortly after.

The obvious is that only one of these teams will remain at VCT Masters Tokyo when the series is all said and done. Both have had dominating and not-so-dominating performances throughout the year. This will truly be a game determined by finding early success and riding the wave to the end.

You can watch TL vs NRG right along with us. Otherwise, look for the official VALORANT channels on Twitch and YouTube. Or see if any of your favorite streamers/content creators are hosting a co-stream of VCT Masters Tokyo.

Team Liquid showed incredible discipline to kick off TL vs NRG. They let NRG walk into their crosshairs and got ahead. Things were evened up quickly by NRG, however. The first half started fairly back and forth. This included some fun moments like a double detain from opposing Killjoy Lockdowns, making for a laughable visual. It wasn't long until Team Liquid pulled ahead before halftime, giving NRG plenty of catching up to do.

The second half started much like the first. TL took two before NRG got their guns and their first of their defensive side. Then nAts pulled off a 4K that is the definition of blink and you'll miss it. That got TL close to victory, but NRG refused to go down without a fight. Every member of the team played their part in closing the gap. A beautiful retake at the final round of regulation sent map one to overtime.

The first round of OT saw NRG go down in numbers quickly, but clutch positioning by FNS and crashies allowed them to reach map point. TL responded with a fast plant on the C site. It looked like OT would be extended, but a 3K by crashies and a finishing blow by ardiis gave the later enough time to defuse the Spike. With just .41 left until detonation, NRG came back to retain their map pick 14:12.

The pistol round on Ascent went down to the wire. NRG clutched it out to stop the plant from TL. Then, as is the trend here at VCT Masters Tokyo, Team Liquid were able to full buy and ensured the round count stayed close. Neither team gave the other much ground as they traded rounds over and over. Team Liquid finally separated from them, much like on Haven, to take a lead of 7:5 at halftime.

On defense, TL took the pistol and the eco was almost stolen by NRG. A solid read and clutch by soulcas gave it to them. The deficit was shortened as NRG got the rifles they needed, but TL took a brilliant eco win to reach double digits. A trio of players stood on the Spike to prevent s0m from using his Ultimate to grab it (shown above) and that ruined any plans NRG had in that round. TL cleaned up from there to win Ascent and gave us a third map.

Another pistol round victory went the way of Team Liquid. NRG managed an eco round win, however, and started the back-and-forth early. Two rounds, each with a 4K from Victor, kept Team Liquid from putting up too many. The trading of rounds in the opening portion bled into Split from the other maps it seems. NRG made sure to break that, as they took four in a row to ensure their first halftime lead of the series.

A speedy 4K by soulcas prevented things from getting out of hand, but TL had some work to do to keep it competitive after the half. NRG wasn't going to give them any room to get back into this one. The second half pistol round came and went in their favor. Double digits followed. Everything TL did on their attack was read by FNS and NRG. Split went to to the Americas team and the EMEA champions were sent packing.

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