The intensity keeps rising at VALORANT Masters Toronto, and with Day 4 done, we have already said goodbye to the first two squads. Team Heretics and MIBR have been knocked out of the Swiss Stage after suffering back-to-back losses, ending their tournament run early. At the same time, Wolves Esports and Team Liquid now have one last shot to make the playoffs.
Wolves Turn the Tables on Heretics
Team Heretics, who hoped to bounce back after their loss last week, couldn’t hold off the aggressive pace set by Wolves Esports. It wasn’t looking pretty for the EMEA team as they got outclassed 2-0, with Wolves showing why they’re not to be underestimated in Toronto.
Oddly, Heretics let Pearl through in the veto process, despite getting slammed 1-13 on it in their earlier match. Wolves gladly picked it up again, bringing in a unique Chamber-Vyse combo that paid off. They took control fast on defense, ending the half 8-4, and even when Heretics started to rally a bit in the second half, Wolves stayed in control and wrapped it 13-10.
Next up was Lotus, where both teams had problems finding rhythm. The attack rounds looked messy from both ends, especially on the C site, where they were getting punished often. Even though Heretics managed to win their first pistol round of the whole tournament, Wolves used their better team play to close things out with a 13-9 scoreline.
Big credit goes to Liu “Spring” Jiunting, who stood tall for the Chinese team. Playing Astra and Viper, he ended with a 44-29 K/D and 260 ACS, making key plays that really put Heretics on the back foot throughout.
Liquid Bounces Back, MIBR Drops Out
In the afternoon match, it was Americas’ MIBR facing Team Liquid, and they got no breathing room. Despite Liquid still working things out with their roster, they seemed more ready this time. Even with Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin returning, Liquid kept using their six-man rotation, starting penny on Icebox and swapping in Serial for Sunset.
It was a gamble, but it worked fine. Liquid picked up a smooth 2-0 victory, sending MIBR home without winning a single map.
Image Credits: Riot games
Icebox, which was MIBR’s pick, started off with close exchanges. paTiTek got an early 3K to kick things off, but once sides switched, Liquid completely took over. A late-game 1v3 clutch by nAts inside Viper’s Pit ended the map 13-6. It was an impressive moment, though Keiko actually finished with the higher rating for the map.
Then, on Sunset, Liquid grabbed the pistol again but struggled a bit to turn it into early dominance. MIBR managed to answer back with a timeout and an artzin 4K, but couldn’t keep the pressure. Serial clutched a 1v2 before half, giving Liquid the 7-5 lead. From there, it was mostly Liquid chaining rounds and ending the match with a comfortable 13-7.
Image Credits: Riot Games
Keiko was once again leading the team, with a 1.39 rating and solid aim throughout the game. Kamo helped too, using Neon to burst through space, gathering six opening kills and 159 ADR. MIBR’s Verno did all he could, even topping kills on both maps, but no one else stepped up enough.
MIBR Out After Disappointing International Debut
Image Credits: Riot Games
It was a hard exit for MIBR, who were hoping to show their level after a solid regional Stage 1. But instead, they left Toronto without a single map win. Four maps played, only 19 rounds won total, and no pistol rounds to their name — a result far from what the Brazilian squad had in mind.
Still, the six circuit points from Stage 1 leave them in third place regionally. If they perform well in Stage 2, a Champions qualification might still be possible.
Liquid Finds Momentum With Six-Player Setup
Things weren’t looking smooth for Liquid earlier in the tournament, especially after losing to Bilibili Gaming while missing their IGL. But now, with nAts back and the six-man system showing potential, they seem to be finding some groove. Swapping penny and Serial based on the map needs gave them a fresh approach and flexibility.
nAts brought more than just his play — his presence helped the team coordinate better. Still, it was Keiko and kamo who made the biggest impact against MIBR. With this momentum, Liquid might have what it takes to break their recent string of group stage exits.
Their real test comes next, though, with Paper Rex waiting for them in the final Swiss round. A win means playoffs — a loss ends it.
Final Swiss Stage Matches Confirmed
After today’s results, the final two matches in the Swiss Stage are all set. Rematches aren’t allowed, but regional battles are. The final round will determine who moves on, and who will be heading home just short of the playoffs.
Match Schedule for June 11:
- 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST / 5 PM BST – Bilibili Gaming vs. Wolves Esports
- 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST / 8 PM BST – Paper Rex vs. Team Liquid
Winners of these games qualify for the playoffs. The losers, same fate as MIBR and Heretics — out.
With two teams already gone and only two more spots left, the Swiss Stage of the Masters Toronto is coming to a close. Wolves and Liquid still have one more chance to prove they belong in the playoff picture. The next day is make-or-break — the tension and the stakes, both high.
