Vitality convincingly defeated Liquid in the quarterfinals at the BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 2 LAN Finals, closing the series 2–0. The match was played in a Best of 3 format. This encounter was expected to be a serious test for both teams: Vitality aimed to reaffirm their status as one of the tournament’s top favorites, while Liquid sought to prove that their roster could compete with the elite on LAN.
Train (Liquid’s pick) — 16:13 for Vitality
Liquid started the series on their own map choice, but it was clear from the early rounds that Vitality had prepared well for Train. The “Bees” won most of the key defensive duels, thanks in large part to sharp retakes and the accuracy of ropz and ZywOo. The first half ended 9–3 in favor of Vitality — a significant cushion going into the second half.
After switching sides, Liquid attempted an aggressive defensive style, winning several early rounds and narrowing the gap to 13–12. However, in the decisive moments, Vitality regained control, shutting down Liquid’s pushes and sealing the win 16–13.
Key moments included multi-kill rounds from ropz on defense and several impactful clutches by ZywOo that prevented a Liquid comeback.
Nuke (Vitality’s pick) — 19:16 for Vitality
The second map started more evenly, with the first half ending 6–6. Liquid’s defense showed solid site coverage but often lost crucial entry duels, allowing Vitality to execute their pistol and force-buy strategies effectively.
In the second half, Liquid pulled ahead 13–11 thanks to consistent play from ultimate and NertZ, but Vitality quickly equalized, exploiting weaknesses in the CT setups. The match went into overtime, where Vitality’s experience prevailed — they won 4 out of 5 extra rounds, closing Nuke 19–16 and the series 2–0.
Once again, ropz delivered key clutches in 1vs2 and 1vs1 situations, while mezzi secured important opening kills during site takes.
Player Statistics for the Match
Vitality’s Performance
Vitality demonstrated a perfect balance of individual skill and coordinated teamwork in this match.
- ropz was the series MVP: 25–16 on Train, 1.43 Impact, and 93.3 ADR.
- ZywOo remained a driving force on offense, ending with a 1.35 rating and crucial clutch rounds.
- mezzi and apEX made valuable contributions to the team’s cohesion, while flameZ, despite a negative K/D, played the “entry bait” role to create space for his teammates.
Liquid’s Performance
Liquid had chances to challenge Vitality, especially on Train, but in the decisive rounds, a lack of coordination and clear round plans became apparent.
- ultimate (1.16) and NertZ (1.03) were the main impact players, taking initiative and creating openings.
- NAF played steadily but lacked the explosive moments needed to shift momentum.
- Twistzz and especially siuhy struggled, with the latter finishing the series at -13 K/D and the lowest rating in the server (0.61), a factor that heavily influenced the outcome.
In the end, Liquid left the server with a sense of missed opportunities — losing both maps where they had comeback chances, falling to a more composed and experienced opponent.
Player of the Match — Robin “ropz” Kool
The Estonian rifler delivered a series without noticeable flaws, combining precision, sharp reads of the opponent, and composure in high-pressure situations. On Train, he dominated key duels and denied Liquid any real chance to leverage their map pick. On Nuke, he won clutches that broke the game’s momentum.
With nearly one frag per round, a high survival rate, 78% KAST, and over 93 ADR, ropz was the quiet yet decisive force that propelled Vitality to a 2–0 victory and into the semifinals.
Vitality march confidently into the semifinals, maintaining their favorite status and showcasing a perfect blend of team synergy and individual brilliance. Liquid, meanwhile, exit the tournament with a sense of missed chances — close scorelines on both maps never translated into a win due to a lack of composure in the most crucial moments.
