Team Liquid fall short in The International 10 Western Europe qualifiers

After surviving an insane 103 minute long and eight Divine Rapiers game at the start of the penultimate day in the Western Europe qualifiers, Team Liquid ran out of gas in the lower bracket semifinals series against Team Nigma.

Both teams had two elimination series on the schedule this Friday in the Western Europe qualifiers for The International 10, but only one could keep their dream alive by making it to the lower bracket finals. Team Nigma made quick work of Spider Pigzs before the semifinal, while Liquid kicked off the day with what can be regarded as the most contested match of the qualifiers thus far.

Chicken Fighters gave Team Liquid a run for their money by starting the series with a 103 game, in which eight Divine Rapiers were bought and traded left and right before Aydin "iNSaNiA" Sarkohi on Ancient Apparition was able to find three of them on the ground and land the killing blows that brought them the win. Forced to a game three, Chicken Fighters gave another scare to Team Liquid with a Magnus-Techies combo, but their brave attempt didn’t go as planned.

Nonetheless, the early insane battle might have drawn a lot of energy from Liquid, who in the final series of the day fell short against Team Nigma.

Team LiquidvsTeam Nigma

Liquid started the series on the right foot by outmaneuvering Nigma with a signature Max "qojqva" Bröcker Lone Druid in the mid lane and a clutch Axe from Samuel "Boxi" Svahn in the offlane, who also was their key factor in game one victory. But, Team Nigma struck back hard in game two with a flawless Storm Spirit performance from Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi. Along with Luna in the carry position, Nigma were able to completely shut down Liquid’s Broodmother plan and headed into the decisive game of the night, they managed to secure an Io-Luna duo to once again deliver superior pickoff setups and overall stronger team fights.

Three teams are left to battle it out for the final ticket to The International 10. OG and Team Nigma will get a rematch in the lower bracket finals and, unfortunately for their fans, that means one of these two TI9 grand finalists is guaranteed to not make it to TI10. The winner will head to the best-of-five grand finals where Tundra Esports are already waiting.