Team Liquid were humbled by Virtus.pro’s academy roster, VP.Prodigy in the RES Showdown 2: BLAST Premier Rising Event, losing 2-1 to the Russian roster. VP.Prodigy have an average age of just 17.6, but in this case of men against boys, the boys came out on top.
The tournament acts as a qualifier to BLAST Open London, with one spot available for the event, which culminates at the OVO Arena Wembley. Liquid were huge esports betting site favourites to make the event as the highest-ranked team participating by far. However, Liquid did not qualify or even get close, losing their very first game in the eight-team qualifier.
Liquid were shocked by VP.Prodigy on the first map of Dust II, losing 13-7. A map loss in and of itself would have been seen as a wound to Liquid’s already bruised ego, but with Liquid winning Mirage 13-2, it seemed that normality was being restored.
On Nuke, Liquid came crumbling down once again, losing the map 16-14 in overtime, with Liquid losing from an unforgivable position in the final round, having been up in a 5v3. That 5v3 became a 2v2 retake on the B site, with VP.Prodigy defusing the bomb with time to spare.
The result will be sure to negatively affect Liquid’s VRS standing, as the team hopes to earn enough VRS points to get a spot at the Starladder 2025 Budapest Major. Liquid currently sit at #25 in HLTV’s live VRS model, with the team needing to climb significantly to earn an EU qualification slot at the major. VP.Prodigy, by contrast, are unranked in the VRS system.
flashie left with a lot of work to do
Liquid did not make a roster change during the ‘Rostermania’ period, but did add new coach Viktor ‘flashie’ Tamás Bea, joining from NaVi where he was an analyst. Sadly, he will have to face the reality that his start in Liquid is an abject one.
In an interview with Pley.gg, flashie stated, “After joining and being inside the team, I can see that there is a lack of system and a lack of fundamentals.” Seemingly Liquid have no floor, as made evident by the game collapsing from under them against an academy roster.
After Liquid’s exit from IEM Cologne after two decisive defeats to FaZe, the Liquid coach spoke to HLTV, admitting, “Unfortunately, we are not ready to face these teams yet.” He has learned now that Liquid are not only not ready for the Top 10, but is not ready for competition even against a team which consists of three literal children.
Soon after Russel ‘twistzz’ van Dulken posted on social media, apologising for the loss and stating, “We are not a team.” It will be flashie’s job to make them one.
Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.
