Liquid have secured their place in the ESL Pro League Season 21 playoffs after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over 3DMAX, marking their first deep tournament run of 2025. The match saw Liquid take Inferno 13-11, stumble on Ancient with a 5-13 loss, and rebound decisively on Anubis with a 13-4 win to close out the series.
Inferno kicked off with both teams engaging in back-and-forth force-buy battles, keeping the score tight. During a crucial timeout, coach Torbjørn “mithR” Nyborg urged Liquid to take a more aggressive approach, a strategy that paid off. Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken’s ace in the second pistol round gave Liquid a strong lead at 10-5, but 3DMAX fought back to level the game at 11-11. Liquid remained composed, successfully converting two 4v4 post-plants to close out the map.
Ancient was a different story, as 3DMAX responded with a dominant performance. Winning both pistol rounds, they took early control, with Pierre “Ex3rcice” Bulinge delivering crisp headshots to secure the first. A crucial 3v5 conversion helped them extend their lead, overwhelming Liquid and taking the map 13-5.
However, Liquid regained momentum on Anubis, where Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak continued his strong form, leading his team through an 8-4 T-side half. Keith “NAF” Markovic sealed the deal with a pistol-round triple, ensuring a commanding 13-4 win and locking in their playoff spot.
For 3DMAX, this marks another disappointing end to an otherwise promising campaign. Just like at PGL Cluj-Napoca, they fell in the final 2-2 elimination match, unable to take the final step needed to break through to the next level. Their victories over Eternal Fire and Falcons were highlights of their EPL journey, but the team remains stuck with the “Gatekeepers of Tier-One” label until they can push through and qualify for a major playoff run.
For Liquid, the win brings much-needed relief. Their rocky start to 2025 included early exits from BLAST Bounty and IEM Katowice, followed by a controversial decision to skip PGL Cluj-Napoca, leaving them struggling in the VRS rankings. With a playoff spot secured and at least $58,000 in prize money guaranteed, they’ve eased some of that pressure. However, Twistzz and company still have work to do if they want to cement their position among the top teams moving forward.
