Team Liquid win RLCS EU Fall Invitational

Team Liquid beat Karmine Corp 4-2 to win the European Fall Invitational Grand Final. This marks the first Rocket League title for Liquid, who have now qualified for the RLCS Major in Rotterdam.

The European Rocket League remains a piñata, with the only constant being Karmine Corp.

Swiss Stage

The Swiss Stage of the EU Fall Invitational was an emotional roller coaster ride for one of the most international teams in the Rocket League scene. The team got off to a bad start in the last regional with a loss to G1, but followed up with two solid 3-0 victories against Aogiri and Quadrant. In round four they met Fall Open winner Oxygen Esports and lost by a narrow margin in the fifth game. This was followed by another sweep with 8-2 ​​goals and an outstanding play by Atow. But this was of great importance because apart from qualifying for the knockout phase, Liquid sent the world champion Team BDS to the sidelines and denied them another major participation.

It is the historically worst performance of Team BDS in the entire time the organization has been active in Rocket League. Since the organization entered the scene in February 2020, M0nkey M00n’s team hasn’t missed a single major.

Playoffs

After BDS, Liquid got to take on BDS’ nemesis, Team Vitality. Vitality showed much more resistance than the staggering world champion, but after five games and one overtime, they had to admit defeat with 4-1. The offensive fireworks, led by Oski with four goals and five assists, were too much to handle for Vitality.

In the semifinals, Liquid’s opponent were Evil Genuises, who fought hard to beat Williams Resolve 4-3. For both teams, it was a do-or-die situation — grand final or nothing. While Tox’s defensive 25 saves matched the opposition, EG’s overall performance did not. Again it was Oski who showed great offensive and defensive work and secured the MVP award of the series. Liquid secured progress 4-1 and advanced to face Karmine Corp in the Grand Final, who defeated G1 4-2 in the other semifinal.

Grand Final

While Karmine Corp were in the lead in the overall standings in Europe, Liquid were at stake in the tiebreaker to the major or a direct qualification. For this nothing less than the victory against the best team from Europe of the RLCS 2022/23 was needed.

The offensive duo vatira. and itachi from Karmine Corp didn’t think much of losing in game one of the Grand Finals and put the first stones in Liquid’s way with a 4-2. But already in the second game Liquid showed nerves and AcroniK. scored after 46 seconds in overtime to make it 2-1. As a result, Oski warmed up and scored three times in two games, but  itachi and vatira. were back and the score was 2-2 in game five. There it was atov. with two goals, which decided the game in favor of Liquid.

Liquid is the second youngest team ever to win a Rocket League regional. KRN (now Rule One) from MENA were a little bit younger than the European team when they won the regional in October 2022. 

RLCS 2022-23 Fall Final regional winners

• North America: Gen.G Mobil1 Racing 
• South America: The Club
• Europe: Team Liquid
• Oceania: PWR
• Middle East & North Africa: Team Falcons
• Asia-Pacific: James Cheese
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Limitless