Liquid outclass FURIA to secure IEM Global Challenge playoff spot

The North Americans ended their losing streak against the Brazilians in style as they made light work of their opponents.

Liquid are through to the semi-final stage of IEM Global Challenge following a comfortable victory over FURIA in Group B's decider stage. The North Americans entered the series determined to end their poor record against FURIA, having won just two of their previous 12 series against the Brazilians, and none of their last four. Jake "⁠Stewie2K⁠" Yip's charges won their map pick by the skin of their teeth as they almost wasted a 14-7 lead, but then coasted to an emphatic victory on Inferno, where FURIA looked off the pace and short of ideas throughout.

Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken put in a series-high 1.43 rating to lead Liquid to victory - a timely boost for the struggling Canadian as the team will switch their focus to Saturday's semi-final clash against BIG, who enter the playoffs in high spirits after defeating the top two ranked teams in the world, Vitality and Astralis, in the group stage.

FURIA made a bright start to the contest as they hopped out to a 4-0 lead on the CT side of Overpass. Twistzz then finally put his team on the board as he denied Yuri "⁠yuurih⁠" Santos a 1v4 clutch and spared Liquid's blushes. The North Americans were unfazed by that scare, however, and ran all over FURIA for an 11-4 lead, with Twistzz and Keith "⁠NAF⁠" Markovic combining for 31 frags.

Now playing on the T side, FURIA bagged the first three rounds of the half before Liquid responded with a streak of their own to get within striking distance of victory. The Brazilians still fought back and took the game the full distance, only to suffer the agony of a last-gasp sting as they spurned a 4v3 advantage in a chaotic ending to the game.

Liquid came out on Inferno firing on all cylinders as they shut out FURIA with a tight and compact defence for an 11-1 lead. The Brazilians were still able to salvage two more rounds, but they knew they had a mountain to climb to turn things around in the second half.

But more misery was to come for Andrei "⁠arT⁠" Piovezan's side, who were helpless to stop Liquid as they stormed into the B site in the pistol round. The game was all but done then, and Liquid refused to let their foot off the pedal as they wrapped things up in dominant fashion.