Liquid avoided an early exit from FISSURE Playground 2 by defeating Heroic in a tense series. The duo of NertZ and Twistzz managed to maintain their composure in decisive moments, while Heroic failed to impose their pace of play.
FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2
Liquid and Heroic faced off in an elimination match in the Swiss stage. Both teams entered with a 0-2 record, so defeat meant automatic elimination from the tournament. For Liquid, it was a chance to stop their losing streak and keep playoff hopes alive. For Heroic, it was an opportunity to prove their status as a stable team, but in the end, they left the competition.
ROAD TO THE MATCH
Liquid had been going through a crisis lately. The team lost to Spirit, G2, Vitality, and even struggled to maintain consistency against mid-tier rosters. Their only win in the last month came against Imperial, so the squad was under immense pressure.
Heroic were also underperforming. Losses to Aurora, paiN, and Legacy deepened doubts about the roster. Although the team had wins against Spirit and Passion UA, those looked more like exceptions than the rule. This match was supposed to determine which of the two squads was truly ready to keep fighting.
LIQUID SURVIVE, HEROIC FALL
The victory was a breath of fresh air for Liquid. For the first time in a long while, the team showed resilience in a decisive match. Heroic, despite the efforts of nilo and xfl0ud, never found stability in either attack or defense.
Liquid took the lead on Ancient (13:8), but Heroic tied the score on Dust2 (13:8). Everything was decided on Mirage, where Liquid — led by NertZ and Twistzz — shut down their opponents 13:10. This win not only saved Liquid from an early exit but could also become a turning point in their season.
MATCH TIMELINE
- Ancient (Heroic pick) — 13:8 for Liquid
Heroic started the map with a lost pistol round, which immediately put them in a tough financial position. Liquid, using the early economic advantage, quickly pulled ahead. NertZ became the key factor: his consistent entries and precise clutches prevented the opponent from finding their rhythm. In the second half, Heroic tried to fight back, but a string of lost force-buys finally broke their defense. Liquid confidently closed the map 13:8.
- Dust2 (Liquid pick) — 13:8 for Heroic
Liquid wanted to capitalize on their favorite map, but Heroic came prepared tactically. They took the opening streak thanks to xfl0ud’s aggressive plays in mid and nilo’s accurate shots on A-site. Liquid managed to fight back a few times through NAF, but lost a crucial round after Heroic pulled off a successful force-buy. In the second half, the Swedes and Turks solidified their lead with strong offense: LNZ found his rhythm and helped the team tie the series with a 13:8 win.
- Mirage (decider) — 13:10 for Liquid
The fate of the match was decided on the third map. Liquid started strong, winning the pistol round and building momentum thanks to Twistzz’s steady defense. Heroic, however, didn’t give up — xfl0ud and nilo twice sparked comebacks, narrowing the gap to the minimum. The final rounds made the difference: with the score at 11:10 for Liquid, NertZ secured a crucial 1v2 clutch that broke Heroic for good. With that, Liquid closed the map 13:10 and sealed the series 2:1.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Guy “NertZ” Iluz was the main hero of the match. His consistent performance across all three maps gave Liquid the decisive advantages.
- K-D: 57–41 (+16)
- ADR: 98.3
- Rating 3.0: 1.39
- KAST: 78.5%
TEAM PERFORMANCES
Liquid finally demonstrated the team play that had been missing in previous matches. NertZ was the driving force — his confident clutches and stable entries gave the team the upper hand. Twistzz supported him with precise shots in crucial moments, especially on Mirage. NAF stayed composed and once again proved to be a versatile element of the roster, ready to cover any position. ultimate did important work in the support role, often staying in the background but creating the conditions for his teammates’ success. Even with weaker stats, siuhy led the squad smartly, keeping them focused until the final round.
Heroic, on the other hand, looked disoriented. nilo tried to carry the team, winning duels even in the toughest moments, while xfl0ud occasionally added aggression, especially on Dust2. However, LNZ couldn’t find stability, and both Alkaren and yxngstxr collapsed in decisive moments. As a result, Heroic lacked cohesion, and even bright individual plays from some players couldn’t save them from defeat.
WHAT’S NEXT
With this victory, Liquid remain in the playoff race, but tougher opponents await. If NertZ and Twistzz maintain their form, the team could well advance from the group.
For Heroic, the loss means elimination from FISSURE Playground 2. The team will need to rethink their strategy and solve their consistency issues, as the current roster could not withstand the pressure even in a do-or-die match.
