The VALORANT Champions 2023 actions continue, and on Thursday, Team Liquid and FunPlus Phoenix were eliminated from the tournament after losing for the second time in a row.
Team Liquid arrived as one of the strongest teams in this tournament, winning the VCT EMEA League Grand Final against Fnatic. However, the team could not overcome the Group of Death; they lost to NaVi and LOUD and are eliminated from the tournament. As a result, Liquid ends its 2023 VCT season.
On the other hand, FunPlus Phoenix was overwhelmed in the two matches they played in this Group Stage of the VCT Champions 2023. In the first match of Group B, they could not beat Evil Geniuses, while in the Elimination Match, they were crushed by T1. Just like Team Liquid, the team leaves without winning a match in this end-of-season tournament, and right now, they should be flying back home.
Let’s see what happened in Team Liquid and FPX’s matches on the previous day of VCT Champions 2023.
Team Liquid can’t beat LOUD and are eliminated from VCT Champions 2023
The career of the current champions of the VCT EMEA League 2023 in this VALORANT Champions has ended very early, as Team Liquid could not defeat LOUD in the Elimination Match and, as a result, they are eliminated from the tournament.
Undoubtedly, Group D is the most complicated of this VCT Champions 2023. However, the fact that Team Liquid was the only team able to beat Fnatic in the 2023 season made us think they could easily qualify for the playoffs.
The series between LOUD and Team Liquid started in Haven, LOUD’s map pick, where the Brazilian squad more than proved their excellent level of play and deployed an almost impenetrable defensive wall. In the first half, LOUD was in charge of preventing each of Team Liquid’s approaches from taking a crushing partial victory by 10-2. Then, switching sides, LOUD won the first three rounds for a 13-2 thrashing in the first map of the series.
Then, the teams moved to Split, Team Liquid’s map pick, where we had a really exciting and, above all, different match than the first one. The first half was back and forth, as both teams were very good on each side, ending with a partial score of 6-6. Team Liquid won the first two rounds to take an 8-6 lead at the change of sides. However, this woke up LOUD, who won 7 consecutive rounds to take the victory by 13-7. As a result, Team Liquid are eliminated from the tournament, while LOUD will play NaVi for a playoff berth.
Far from what everyone expected from @LiquidValorant for sure, but @LOUDgg was unstoppable today!
❌ Haven 13-2
❌ Split 13-8#VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/dFE084kUsw— VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA (@valesports_emea) August 10, 2023
T1 annihilate FunPlus Phoenix 2-0
The second match of the day left us with an excellent victory in T1 against FunPlus Phoenix by 2-0. FPX, with this defeat, are eliminated from VALORANT Champions 2023, and their season is officially over. Meanwhile, T1 will have to play in the playoffs against FÜT Esports in the Decider Match of Group B.
It all started in Lotus, FPX’s map pick, where we observed exceptional play from both squads. In the first half, FPX showed why they selected this map and achieved a partial victory by 7-5. However, at the change of sides, they could not defend themselves from the onslaught of T1, who, led by Son “xeta” Seon-ho, managed to take the victory by 13-10.
Then, things changed radically in Bind, as T1 started with a lot of strength in their attacking side to take a partial victory by 9-3. At the change of sides, FPX tried to wake up and put the score 7-10 against, but it was not enough, as T1 won the last three rounds to take the victory on the map by 13-7.
.@T1 moves on to fight another day! 🙌
They keep their #VALORANTChampions run alive with a 2-0 win over FPX. pic.twitter.com/x1vJasV22W
— VCT Pacific @ Champions (@vctpacific) August 10, 2023
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