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Doublelift's Near Airport Is Eliminated from the NACL
Martin Arévalo-Östberg
31 May, 2025, 14:06
|Last updated: 31 May, 2025, 14:18
Despite their star-studded roster, Near Airport have fallen in the Lower Bracket of the 2025 NACL Split 1 Playoffs, effectively eliminating the team from the tournament. After weeks of ups and downs, Doublelift and co. see their dream of making a run for the LTA come to a disappointing end after looking short of answers in their final match against Conviction.
Near Airport Fall Flat
Following their loss to Winthrop University in their opening match of the Playoffs, Near Airport were down to their last life at the NACL Split 1. After a commendable run through the Lower Bracket, the veteran squad showed up to their match against Conviction eager to get to the final stages of the tournament.
And it all started off great. Near Airport dominated the first game of the series largely off the back of Doublelift's 11/2/5 performance on Xayah. Little did they know, though, that would be the end of their winning ways.
From then on, Conviction turned it up a notch, consistently outplaying Near Airport in crucial fights across the bloody and widely entertaining games that followed. In the end, despite giving it their all, Near Airport just didn't have what it takes to make it all the way to the first NACL trophy of 2025.
What's Next for Near Airport?
With their first run together as a team cut short, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Near Airport squad. Over the course of Split 1 of the NACL, issues with team synergy and scheduling conflicts often plagued the team.
Made up of four former LCS stars (and TF Blade), this Near Airport roster was meant for success, especially when it came to the Tier-2 scene. With their dream run cut short, the question now has to be asked: is this the end of Doublelift in a competitive environment, or will the squad run it back once more for the start of Split 2 later this year?
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Featured image credit: Near Airport
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