Na’Vi Defeats Team Liquid in the VCT S3 Playoffs

Ukrainian esports organization Natus Vincere has just scored a significant victory against Team Liquid during the VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA Stage Three Challengers Playoffs. 

A Victory to Celebrate

What makes the victory even sweeter for Na’Vi and sourer to Team Liquid is the fact that the match was the former organization’s debut in professional VALORANT. 

However, that isn’t to say Na’Vi’s current team lacks experience. On the contrary, formerly known as the “No Pressure” roster, the players were signed to Natus Vincere’s new VALORANT team just a few weeks ago. It seems like it was the right choice as the lineup has already proven itself and has all prospects of carrying Na’Vi’s name to the Masters Three in Berlin.

The victory against Team Liquid certainly cemented Natus Vincere’s new lineup as a power to be reckoned with. However, a new challenge awaits: Na’Vi’s next opponents happen to be none other but the fearsome players from Acend. The latter team is currently the top seed in Europe and sports one of the most skilled Jett players ever: Mehmet Yağız “cNed” İpek.

If Na’Vi manages to buckle up and win their next match, the team would be writing history. While the teams prepare for their clash, here is how the game between Na’Vi and Liquid went:

How the Match Unfolded

The opening of the match was dominated by Team Liquid during a game on the Icebox map, picked by Na’Vi. Team Liquid had organized an impenetrable defense and barely let Na’Vi plant any spikes. Liquid’s veterans Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom and Dom “soulcas” Sulcas showed impressive coordination and enviable skill. 

However, Natus Vincere didn’t just wait to be defeated. On the contrary, they regrouped and mounted an even stronger offense, defusing all seven spikes that Liquid planted throughout the match. In the end, Na’Vi won the map with 13-10.

For the next round, Team Liquid chose the map Bind, where they strongly pressed Natus Vincere’s team. Despite Na’Vi’s best efforts, Liquid completely destroyed them on both sides of the map and scored a 13-7 victory. Everything was about to be decided by the final map. 

Both teams were on edge as they entered Split where everything was about to be decided. Natus Vincere once again demonstrated their abilities as defenders and repelled Team Liquid’s attacks. Every single round that Team Liquid managed to win as attackers was hard-earned. 

However, as the map reached its second half, Natus Vincere once again impressed the audience by gaining a quick lead thanks to Artur “7ssk7” Kyurshin. Team Liquid tried to regroup and stall the game, but in the end, it was to no avail. Na’Vi won the map with a close 13-11 result. 

While Natus Vincere will now challenge the mighty Acend, Team Liquid will fall down to the lower bracket. Na’Vi’s match against Europe’s top seed begins on August 13, 2021 – 18:00 EEST.