The opening day of PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 brings a fiery matchup between Latin American flair and North American structure — Legacy versus Team Liquid. Format: Best of 3 (LAN). It’s a clash of philosophies: the intuitive aggression of Brazilian Counter-Strike against Liquid’s calculated, systematic approach.
Previous Encounters — A Narrow Edge for Legacy
Across their last five maps, Legacy lead 3–2, but the picture is more complex than that. At the CS Asia Championships 2025, the teams play three maps: Liquid claimed Inferno (13–11) and Dust2 (13–6), while Legacy struck back on Mirage (13–6). This shows that the Americans hold an advantage on classic maps, whereas Legacy thrive when they can dictate the pace.
Earlier in the year at PGL Bucharest 2025, the Brazilians defeated Liquid twice — Anubis (13–10) and Nuke (13–4) — demonstrating how the balance of power between the two sides continues to shift over time.
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Current Form and Key Players
Legacy enter this event in the best form in the team’s history. They recently captured the CS Asia Championships 2025 title after a grueling grand final against 3DMAX (3–2) and strong playoff wins over Heroic (2–1) and FUT (2–1).
- latto (1.14 rating) remains the team’s driving force — his consistency in opening duels and clutch moments has been crucial.
- dumau brings mid-round flexibility and aggression, while lux and n1ssim anchor the defensive structure.
Now ranked #15 in the world, Legacy’s confidence is at an all-time high.
Liquid, meanwhile, are in a rebuilding phase but showing significant progress. They took down Heroic (2–0) and MIBR (2–0) with disciplined, well-paced play, blending experience with youthful energy.
- EliGE (1.17 rating, 85.3 ADR) continues to be the core of the team’s firepower, delivering reliable opening kills.
- siuhy has transformed Liquid’s structure since joining as IGL, while NAF remains one of the region’s most dependable clutch players. After a few months of inconsistency, Liquid now look primed for revenge.
Map Pool and Veto Analysis
Map stats (last 3 months):
- Dust2: Legacy 60% | Liquid 60%
- Mirage: Legacy 47% | Liquid 62%
- Inferno: Legacy 53% | Liquid 40%
- Nuke: Legacy 57% | Liquid 33%
- Ancient: Legacy 38% | Liquid 67%
- Train: Legacy 33% | Liquid 25%
- Overpass: not played
Predicted veto:
- Legacy will likely remove Ancient — Liquid’s strongest map statistically.
- Liquid, in turn, may ban Nuke, where Legacy’s CT setups and economy are highly structured.
Expected picks:
- Legacy: Inferno — a playground for their mid-control and tempo-based aggression led by latto.
- Liquid: Mirage — siuhy’s favorite pick, allowing tactical flexibility and positional adaptation.
Potential decider: Dust2 — a neutral ground where AWP stability between EliGE and latto could decide the series.
Key Duels
- latto vs EliGE — a symbolic clash of generations. latto thrives on instinct, while EliGE relies on precision and positional mastery.
- dumau vs siuhy — two contrasting round philosophies: creative improvisation versus calculated structure.
- n1ssim vs NAF — a duel of composure; both players are capable of turning the tide in late-round situations.
VRS Forecast — Battle for the Top 10
According to the latest Valve Regional Standings (VRS), this match could significantly impact both teams’ global positions.
- Legacy (1654 pt, #13) would gain +47 points with a win, rising to #11; a loss would drop them to #14.
- Liquid (1666 pt, #11) would gain +30 points with a victory, strengthening their top-10 contention, but lose 9 points with a defeat, falling to #13.
This isn’t just a Swiss stage opener — it’s a ranking-defining duel that could shape the psychological and competitive landscape for both squads heading into the fall season.
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Prediction
Both teams enter with momentum — Legacy riding high after their Asian triumph, and Liquid displaying newfound balance and discipline.
Expect a close, tactical series where AWP consistency and economic control will be decisive.
Predicted score: Liquid 2–1 Legacy.
