Liquid’s European-majority squad debuts with 2-1 victory over G2

Liquid won a hard fought series in their BLAST Fall Groups opener against a top 5 opponent.

Liquid will go up against FaZe in their next bout

Liquid’s European roster debuted with resounding success as they took down No. 4 team in the world, G2, in their BLAST Premier Fall Groups opening match. The squad now led by Mareks "⁠YEKINDAR⁠" Gaļinskis did so in a fought out 2-1 series on Ancient (16-9), Mirage (17-19), and Vertigo (16-14).

"There's been more changes, not only because of the initial spots that they played, but also because of new personalities," YEKINDAR said before the match, hinting that his team's style and understanding of the game may still be somewhat fluid.

"You need to adapt the system, change the system, new people come in with new ideas and you obviously need to listen to them to adapt the way you would want the team to play with how they want to play."

The series, which started on Ancient, confirmed some initial assumptions about the new Liquid constellation as Robert "⁠Patsi⁠" Isyanov took on the role of aggressive pack rifler while Aleks "⁠Rainwaker⁠" Petrov added a passive element.

Liquid, who started down 0-3, played it perfectly after bringing the score back to even, 3-3, changing the pace to great effect on the seventh round after a tactical timeout by G2 to take the lead. The two teams then stayed neck-and-neck throughout.

Rainwaker and Patsi played well off of each other on the CT side. The Bulgarian anchored A or took Donut while Patsi flew down Mid or rotated to the A site when necessary in what ended up being a one-sided half for Damian "⁠daps⁠" Steele’ men, who closed it out 16-9.

The frags were even across the board in Liquid's win; every player on the team was comprised between Patsi’s 20 frags and Rainwaker’s 15.

It looked like Liquid were going to wipe the floor with G2 on Mirage after denying them double digits on Ancient. Again on the CT side, with Patsi on Short and Rainwaker anchoring A, they got to off to a brilliant 8-3 start, but a 1vs4 by Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač shook the new-look team, who then lost every remaining round all the way to the half.

G2’s CT side was not the strongest, but they did manage to keep Liquid at bay as NiKo started to show his best self. A crucial 4vs5 retake on A that Rasmus "⁠HooXi⁠" Nielsen ninja defused tied up the game 13-13 and avoided crippling money issues for G2 before the map was sent to overtime.

In a diametrically opposed showing to that of Liquid’s balanced scoreboard, G2 were propelled by NiKo to a 19-17 win , whose 37 kills towered over the second highest, Justin "⁠jks⁠" Savage and Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov with 27 each, and nearly 30 over in-game leader HooXi.

Vertigo introduced some early discomfort for Liquid, whose disjointed attacks and struggles in A ramp battles gave G2 a comfortable 7-1 lead. The tables turned, however, and the half ended up as tight as could be as Liquid adapted their offensives and YEKINDAR recovered from a dismal start.

A brilliant four-kill pistol retake by Keith "⁠NAF⁠" Markovic brought the match back to even before NiKo, with a triple of his own, got G2 back ahead. The No. 4 team in the world leapt ahead, finding the kinks in Liquid’s armor, but once again the YEKINDAR-led side adapted and put up a wall to close the map out in the final round of regulation.

Liquid's second test at BLAST Premier Fall Groups will come on Monday at 15:00 , when they will face off against FaZe for a spot in Group C's final match.

Europe
Matchpage
1
2
15th July 2023
9
Ancient
16
19
Mirage
17
14
Vertigo
16
 G2 K - D +/- ADR KAST Rating2.0
77 - 65 +12 93.1 70.3% 1.27
61 - 58 +3 77.4 70.3% 1.03
65 - 65 0 71.7 65.9% 0.98
48 - 65 -17 63.5 64.8% 0.85
38 - 63 -25 46.0 60.4% 0.64
 Liquid K - D +/- ADR KAST Rating2.0
70 - 54 +16 75.2 79.1% 1.20
67 - 57 +10 79.4 68.1% 1.14
65 - 64 +1 81.3 68.1% 1.12
59 - 52 +7 67.3 72.5% 1.07
55 - 63 -8 75.3 72.5% 1.04
Denmark Rasmus 'HooXi' Nielsen
Rasmus 'HooXi' Nielsen
Age:
28
Team:
Rating 1.0:
0.85
Maps played:
920
KPR:
0.57
DPR:
0.68
Time is adjusted to your selected timezone
Australia Justin 'jks' Savage
Justin 'jks' Savage
Age:
27
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.07
Maps played:
1303
KPR:
0.70
DPR:
0.63
Canada Keith 'NAF' Markovic
Keith 'NAF' Markovic
Age:
25
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.09
Maps played:
1718
KPR:
0.72
DPR:
0.63
Bulgaria Aleks 'Rainwaker' Petrov
Aleks 'Rainwaker' Petrov
Age:
22
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.06
Maps played:
1409
KPR:
0.70
DPR:
0.63
Russia Robert 'Patsi' Isyanov
Robert 'Patsi' Isyanov
Age:
19
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.02
Maps played:
618
KPR:
0.71
DPR:
0.69
Latvia Mareks 'YEKINDAR' Gaļinskis
Mareks 'YEKINDAR' Gaļinskis
Age:
23
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.07
Maps played:
1248
KPR:
0.74
DPR:
0.70
Bosnia and Herzegovina Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač
Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač
Age:
26
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.15
Maps played:
1747
KPR:
0.79
DPR:
0.67
Russia Ilya 'm0NESY' Osipov
Ilya 'm0NESY' Osipov
Age:
18
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.18
Maps played:
385
KPR:
0.78
DPR:
0.60
Let's go Liquid
2023-07-15 16:08
0
11 replies
-HooXi +loba plz at least he will drop an AK to the best rifler in history of CSGO, instead of keeping it for yourself (hello Hoo.64Xi)
2023-07-15 16:08
0
10 replies
-hooxi +richardlewis
2023-07-15 16:11
0
1 reply
upgrade
2023-07-15 16:11
0
loba lol they tryin to get swole on steroids or what?
2023-07-15 16:22
0
6 replies
#36
 | 
Lithuania Leo713948
loba is natty just good genetics
2023-07-15 16:33
0
5 replies
yea just like the liver king
2023-07-15 16:39
0
4 replies
#54
Faceit level 10  | 
Brollan | 
Sweden EntonXD
Loba naturally 4:3 stretched
2023-07-15 17:35
0
#72
kz | 
Georgia pandorra
Loba isn't that shredded to accuse him of steroids, he's just big and got some nice muscles. there is always a possibility that he might be using it but he'd most likely be big and have a very low % body fat, instead of just big with some considerable fat.
2023-07-16 06:33
0
#74
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
blameF | 
Denmark hEnzeee
Sure Loba looks like LiverKing u clown. Loba is dwarf and got compact muscles. No way he's on steroids still... Don't talk shit if u have absolutely 0 clues about steroids...
2023-07-16 08:34
0
1 reply
you don't really look inflated like that without them dude
2023-07-16 14:47
0
#64
 | 
Serbia Xajgyk
I have not seen the bigger bot leading top team! Hooxi can be coach, banter guy, water boy, he can’t play and it is a liability for the team. They missed the chance in reshuffle to grab Electronic or to go with Flamez as entry and let Hunter IGL. Could have even try to get Nexa back :(
2023-07-15 20:32
0
#2
Faceit plus user Faceit level 10  | 
zorte | 
Latvia kre1zyyy
save niko
2023-07-15 16:08
0
nice
2023-07-15 16:08
0
#5
 | 
France GoIMP
Liquid goes into hooneymon period who couldve guessed. Will be clapped by g2 when it will matter the most
2023-07-15 16:08
0
17 replies
#8
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
COCAINE | 
Uruguay RamzeYC9
Go to bed , your team with 10 month playing can’t win against a two weeks rooster kek
2023-07-15 16:09
0
4 replies
#71
 | 
India Faze0089
g2 won 2 big tournaments in last 10 months , they earned $1million of those 2 tournaments alone, wtf has liquid won in last 10 months?
2023-07-16 05:39
0
3 replies
and g2 lost to this shit team lul
2023-07-16 15:15
0
2 replies
#78
 | 
India Faze0089
So what, its blast groups and G2 can lose 3 games and still qualify.
2023-07-16 17:49
0
1 reply
you right G2-3
2023-07-24 00:40
0
Liquid played 10x times better than g2
2023-07-15 16:10
0
5 replies
played 10x better and won just barely lol
2023-07-15 17:04
0
4 replies
NiKo hard carried on mirage
2023-07-15 17:34
0
It should be 2-0 for liquid. Patsi and yekindar whiffed so many kills on ct side. Tbf, g2 has no rela excuse to play that bad, tactically wise.
2023-07-15 19:00
0
2 replies
i managed to watch only vertigo and tactically wise g2 looked like complexity. Straightforward "brute-force" rounds on t side with no mid-game calling, hooxi from spawn calls "go a, go b" and they obey.
2023-07-15 19:18
0
1 reply
That mirage was basically niko clutching or the round was lost. For an established team, it is just ridiculous.
2023-07-15 20:42
0
Imagine defending this trash team with hooxi. Monesy is also overrated or at least he should join cis team. His eng is so bad.
2023-07-15 16:15
0
2 replies
#73
kz | 
Georgia pandorra
m0nesy isn't overrated lol, he just had 1 bad series and still he's 65-65 (while the enemy awper is 59-52). he's young and he'll only improve. there is literally no other better option than m0nesy for G2. if you have any suggestions for players who should replace m0nesy then i'm all ears.
2023-07-16 06:45
0
#83
 | 
United Kingdom SnO0py
I don't know if you've ever tuned into m0nesy's streams, but his English is perfectly fine. I don't know why you think his English is bad?
2023-07-18 05:04
0
#26
 | 
Malaysia Level1Cam
G2 fans talk about honeymoon period
2023-07-15 16:15
0
#42
NAF | 
Canada Chordal
stay mad that your team sucks even after all those months
2023-07-15 16:50
0
#44
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Denmark slacking
Lmao cry more
2023-07-15 16:53
0
"b-but they betrayed NA!"
2023-07-15 16:08
0
1 reply
#20
 | 
Europe _Liam_
comedians really love this line lol
2023-07-15 16:13
0
Nice 0.6 rating from Hooxi in a 3 map series!!?! 😱😱😱🔥🔥🔥🔥 THE NEW KARRIGAN??? 🔥🔥
2023-07-15 16:10
0
4 replies
karrigan mustve paid hooxi its crazy that after watching hooxi play i perceive karrigan as the ultimate god fragger IGL
2023-07-15 16:13
0
#35
 | 
Korea xiwon
budget karrigan at best
2023-07-15 16:33
0
Welcome my dear sir, you must be new to CS
2023-07-17 07:45
0
#82
 | 
Europe yommamas
>implying hooxi was ever better than Carrygan
2023-07-17 12:01
0
#10
 | 
Taiwan bugrerkong
expected
2023-07-15 16:10
0
oSee going positive? Did someone drug him or something Also, finally NAF has performed once more.
2023-07-15 16:10
0
1 reply
The role changes have helped both look more comfortable on the map
2023-07-15 16:55
0
#13
Faceit level 4  | 
crow | 
Indonesia ycrows
fuck
2023-07-15 16:10
0
No NA haters to be seen in comment section
2023-07-15 16:11
0
1 reply
#21
Faceit level 10  | 
Aleksib | 
Finland Toucherofgrass
Liquid is EU now
2023-07-15 16:13
0
#16
 | 
Czech Republic tw33m
EZ4LIQUID
2023-07-15 16:11
0
#19
 | 
India vpatel_22
It was Great Game to Watch Excited for this Liquid Project
2023-07-15 16:12
0
#22
 | 
Georgia Megobari
Nice showing from Liquid, gg's
2023-07-15 16:13
0
-huNter +forsaken
2023-07-15 16:14
0
wp by Eastern European liquid
2023-07-15 16:15
0
Hi good stuff
2023-07-15 16:23
0
that mr gigachad should be kicked asap
2023-07-15 16:26
0
2 replies
#32
Cooper | 
Europe kuu1
Gigachad doesn't care about haters' opinions.
2023-07-15 16:31
0
1 reply
not a hater at all, nice guy just not for counter strike
2023-07-15 16:32
0
#31
 | 
United States kamenator
GGs
2023-07-15 16:27
0
#34
Faceit level 7  | 
 | 
United States cr4zy_m3
NUTTY AS FUCK
2023-07-15 16:32
0
#37
 | 
Korea xiwon
mom can we have karrigan? we have karrigan at home. karrigan at home:
2023-07-15 16:34
0
1 reply
+1
2023-07-15 17:04
0
G2 fell off
2023-07-15 16:38
0
womp womp
2023-07-15 16:39
0
embarrassing to lose to this awful lulquid
2023-07-15 16:44
0
1 reply
liquid played great, G2 were not even close. Only heroics by niko and monesy got them across.
2023-07-15 16:58
0
wow nice win
2023-07-15 16:51
0
4v5 and it's a close bo3 Kick hooxi asap
2023-07-15 16:55
0
1 reply
true
2023-07-15 17:01
0
#48
 | 
Norway Gjellan
These G2 chokers
2023-07-15 16:59
0
I hope G2 will swing back, just have fun and win. Anyways, nice win by Liquid!
2023-07-15 17:25
0
2 replies
#63
 | 
United States JaYem100
Nicest hltv poster confirmed
2023-07-15 19:28
0
#67
broky | 
Canada papiB
+ 1
2023-07-15 22:12
0
#55
 | 
Sweden Vrede
Pog Patsi
2023-07-15 17:43
0
Only if Osee stops whiffing his shots, looking like a great team so far
2023-07-15 17:46
0
#57
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Poland miedzianek
g0-2
2023-07-15 17:57
0
Mby +Gla1ve ? He's benched and historically was decent fragging igl + great experience.
2023-07-15 18:14
0
LMFAO choko and botxi gotta go
2023-07-15 18:47
0
#62
 | 
United Kingdom Jonty04l32
All the blame on HooXi and yet huNter- went negative 17 in this series also. Nice to see NiKo still on form and nice to see NAF and YEKINDAR still carrying the team.
2023-07-15 19:21
0
2 replies
Igl isn’t utilising one of the best 4 man cores in the scene at the moment, especially when the scene is weak atm after all the shuffles. Only excuse is coach and igl not doing their jobs. Karrigan can go -20 and still get praise for the game because you can see the calls and the game plan. Hooxi you can see the lack of ability to coordinate his team with the same inability to frag
2023-07-16 00:11
0
1 reply
#69
 | 
United Kingdom Jonty04l32
He definitely had that spark after the BWF and Katowice wins but several chokes, underperformances and just cannot get into the rhythm of things with G2 currently. Still a top team contender strictly because of the core alone but HooXi is definitely losing his relevance in G2, that's for sure.
2023-07-16 00:36
0
#70
 | 
Australia ryan_18
So many stupid deaths by Hooxi. Very frustrating to watch. I really like the guy personally and would probably make a decent coach but his individual fragging or lack of is too regularly a burden for the team to overcome. He had a period there where his individual stats were really respectable and G2 were winning everything. I think he said he was non stop deathmatching at the time so maybe you need to focus more on that and less on strats. Go back to aim school. Because G2 can't waste this mega line-up any longer without a IGL who can hold his own.. We all know a IGL that can frag would totally unlock this team.. They have a fairly loose style that relies on individual ability so surely this would be easier to call as an IGL and open them up to more options??
2023-07-16 01:20
0
#75
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Estonia rYm
0.64
2023-07-16 10:11
0
#79
b1t | 
India Mr_UNX
G2 still letting hooxi cook smh
2023-07-16 19:04
0
Bntet can igl + fragging, cheap but better than hooxi, dies for info is not worth hahaha
2023-07-16 21:16
0
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