en
Liquid pull off incredible victory over Fnatic in VCT EMEA Playoffs Grand Finals
Great champions are not born. They’re forged by the choices they make.
Last night, Team Liquid were crowned the winners of VCT EMEA Playoffs with their victory over Fnatic. Team Liquid took the series in four maps, winning 3-1 in an incredible performance from the star-studded roster. Moreover, their victory over Fnatic places them as the first team to beat the latter in a series in 257 days.
A Trial of a Series
Fnatic had defeated Liquid earlier in the tournament (during the Upper Finals), sending the latter to the lower bracket. However, Liquid defeated opponents in dominant 3-0 fashion. Moreover, Liquid took down FUT on two of their own map picks, 13-5 both times. FUT’s own map pick still went Liquid’s way in quadruple overtime.
The series against Fnatic initially promised to head in a different direction. Fnatic was off to a dominant 8-4 half on Lotus and all signs looked great for Fnatic. However, Liquid fought hard, with Fnatic barely pulling off the win in regular time. Ascent and Fracture were equally hard-fought, and the teams battled deep, with strategic depth and incredible plays from both teams. That said, Liquid took the last three maps, effectively finally triumphing over EMEA’s indomitable kings and winning the Playoffs trophy.
Favorites to Win it All
Despite Liquid’s incredible run through the VCT EMEA Playoffs bracket, having taken down Team Vitality, NA’VI and FUT, Fnatic was still favored. The orange and black had yet to drop a series since VCT Champions 2023 and have not lost a single Bo5 since March 2022. During the VCT EMEA season, they played 9 series in the regular season and 2 in the Playoffs prior to the Grand Finals. They lost two maps across all of that. With such an incredible record, the odds seemed stacked against Liquid.
However, Liquid had been constructed with some of the best mechanical players in Valorant’s competitive history. Players such as Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen and rising stars like Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel alongside more seasoned firepower like Masters winners Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin and IGL Igor “Redgar” Vlasov. That’s not even counting in the redemption arc of Dom “soulcas” Sulcas, who has not only seen a rejuvenation of form but a new consistency and level previously unseen.
Despite that, all odds pointed to Fnatic winning. The teams had clashed two days prior, with Fnatic emerging victorious in 2-0 fashion. As a perk of their performance, Fnatic had also claimed a 2-map ban advantage. Moreover, Haven was the third map, a clear favorite for Fnatic and one they have not lost on since October 2022 (before the roster changes).
What this means
Liquid’s triumph over Fnatic to take the VCT EMEA 2023 trophy and securing of top seed at VCT Masters: Tokyo has also proven that Fnatic is beatable. Despite all odds against them, and an incredible record to overcome, Liquid was able to do it. And as such, EMEA has now produced yet another visible top contender.
However, Fnatic’s victory at VCT LOCK//IN has granted themselves a secondary slot direct to the VCT Masters: Tokyo Playoffs Stage. They will join Liquid in skipping the Group Stage.
As previously reported as well, unlike the other regions, thanks to the extra slot, EMEA’s representatives for Champions 2023 will be decided differently. The four EMEA teams attending VCT Masters: Tokyo- NA’VI, Fnatic, Liquid, and FUT, will be tested at the event. The top three teams between them at VCT Masters: Tokyo will go on to qualify for VCT Champions 2023 at the end of the year.
Team Liquid now join the hallowed halls of VCT 2023 champions that includes Paper Rex and LOUD. The best Valorant teams in the world will converge in Tokyo for the anticipated showdown.
Follow VCT EMEA Twitter for all updates on VCT EMEA.
Credits: Colin Young-Wolff // Riot Games
You can also follow VCT EMEA on Strafe with Live Score, Updates, News and More.
