Liquid defeat LV 2-0 to reach Group D last chance bracket final

The European-American squad will play one last series for a shot at making the playoffs.

Lynn Vision and Liquid met a second time in ESL Pro League Season 18's Group D. This time it was in the last chance bracket, just days after meeting in the lower bracket. The redundant group stage match was much more exciting than the first time around when the European-American squad quickly dispatched their Chinese counterparts in a one-sided affair.

Liquid had to work for their victory this time around despite — or perhaps regardless of — the fact that the veto went the exact same way as the first time around. Lynn Vision did their homework after their first loss and made gains in the all-important Anubis T side, earning two more rounds than the 7 from their first series.

It looked like those nine rounds would be enough as Zhe "⁠Westmelon⁠" Niu and company even hit match point in the 28th round, but they failed to bag the map as Liquid drove it to overtime. The more experienced side ultimately got ahead when the pressure was on and put enough distance early in the early extra rounds to close it in the first OT, 19-17.

The series moved to Ancient, Liquid’s pick, which ended 16-6 in the two teams’ first bout against each other. This time, Lynn Vision put on a solid defense and hit double digits despite a demoralizing clutch by Keith "⁠NAF⁠" Markovic in the seventh round.

After the half, it was all about Liquid on the defense, as Lynn Vision failed to put forth a strong T side showing and gave up their lead. The Chinese side only managed to sprinkle three rounds and fell three rounds short of victory, 13-16.

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 18
24/09/2023	Eternal Fire 19:55 Liquid	Match

Damian "⁠daps⁠" Steele’s men will now face Eternal Fire at 19:30 in the last match of Group D, just after the playoff seeding match between Complexity and G2, for a chance at making the playoffs.