Team Spirit confidently defeated Liquid 2–0 in the Group B upper bracket quarter-final at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026. The CIS squad looked in full control across both maps, with donk delivering a standout performance to lead his team into the next stage. Liquid showed moments of resistance, particularly on Ancient, but ultimately failed to convert key rounds against Spirit’s disciplined setups.
Spirit 2–0 Liquid
Mirage — Spirit take control early (13–8)
The series began on Mirage, where Spirit quickly established dominance. Their T side was sharp and well-coordinated, consistently breaking through Liquid’s defenses with precise executes and strong trading.
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets was the key difference-maker, repeatedly finding opening kills and setting the tempo. Liquid struggled to respond to Spirit’s pace, allowing the Russian side to secure a comfortable 13–8 victory.
Ancient — Liquid fight, but Spirit close it (13–11)
On Ancient, Liquid showed a much more competitive performance. The North American-European mix managed to keep the score close, winning several crucial mid-round situations. Players like EliGE and NAF stepped up to keep Liquid in contention, but Spirit maintained composure in the late rounds. Strong defensive holds and key clutches allowed them to edge out the map 13–11, sealing the 2–0 series win.
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Match statistics
Player of the Match — Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
Across two maps:
- 55–31 K-D
- 115.2 ADR
- 80.0% KAST
- 1.79 rating
The young star once again proved to be the driving force behind Spirit’s success, dominating duels and consistently creating advantages throughout the series.
VRS impact
The result also impacted the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). Spirit gained +35 VRS points, strengthening their position among the top teams globally. Liquid, meanwhile, received +5 points, a modest increase that does little to significantly improve their ranking.
Team reactions
Spirit celebrated the victory on social media with confidence, already looking ahead to their next match:
2–0! Winning the opening series We’ll face PARIVISION on Saturday
The post reflects the team’s strong mindset and readiness to continue their run in the upper bracket. Liquid, on the other hand, took a more measured approach, highlighting positives despite the loss:
Solid showing today… took Spirit to some close games and feels good to see the boys on the server together for the first time.
They also confirmed their next match, where they will face NiP in the lower bracket.
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Spirit build momentum early
With this victory, Spirit move forward in the upper bracket with confidence, continuing to show why they are considered one of the most dangerous teams at the event. For Liquid, the loss sends them to the lower bracket, where every next match becomes a must-win if they want to stay alive in the tournament.
