Liquid beat NRG; secure semi-final spot in Cologne

Liquid defeated NRG 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals at ESL One Cologne, with the latter team set to begin their playoff campaign in the quarter finals.

Liquid and NRG began the Group A upper bracket final on Nuke, where the T-sided NRG won the pistol round thanks to Tsvetelin "⁠CeRq⁠" Dimitrov's quad kill in a 3vs5. Liquid responded swiftly, taking the following three to lead 3-1. After teams traded blows for four rounds, NRG went on a four-round streak to lead 7-5.

Liquid reclaimed the lead before halftime, finishing the first half 8-7 ahead. After Liquid picked up the second pistol victory, NRG went on a three-round run to reach double-digits (10-9). Nick "⁠nitr0⁠" Cannella and Jonathan "⁠EliGE⁠" Jablonowski equalized a round later as they won a 2vs4. Liquid took charge on offense and eventually closed out the map with a 16-12 final scoreline.

The second map, Inferno, commenced with Liquid winning the pistol round on the T-side. NRG secured the first weapon round victory thanks to Ethan "⁠Ethan⁠" Arnold's 1vs2 victory but lost the following five rounds to trail 8-1. Tarik "⁠tarik⁠" Celik and company recouped as well as they could, taking five of the last six rounds in the first half to stay within three rounds of Liquid (9-6).

Despite losing the first two rounds to kick off the second half, NRG won an eco in the 18th round to get their seventh (11-7). NRG came back and had two chances to wrap up the map but Liquid managed to take the game to overtime. Liquid won 22-20 in second overtime, taking the series 2-0 and advancing to the semi-finals in Cologne. NRG will be playing in the quarter-finals to begin their playoff run.