NaVi, Liquid pick up wins in BLAST Premier Fall Groups

The exciting group stage matches for BLAST Premier Fall Groups in Group D have begun! Two fresh lineups and the reigning Major champions added an extra layer of intrigue right from the get-go. As expected, the initial games showcased each team’s skills. Here is a rundown of how Navi and Liquid claimed victories to commence their Fall Groups journey.

NaVi outclass BIG with a 2-0 in their Fall Groups opener

Navi appeared to gain a significant boost in self-assurance following their victory at EWC, maintaining control throughout the entire map. Their strategies were as strong as always, and there was little room for criticism regarding individual performances. Even the frequently criticized player iM impressed with a 1.71 rating over the course of the match.

“rigoN is definitely a very experienced player and he can decide rounds with his feel for the game.“

Regrettably, kakafu’s hidden talent didn’t surface in rigoN, leaving the team to rethink strategies and address their problems.

Map Veto – NaVi vs BIG at BLAST Premier Fall Groups

NaVi steal BIG’s map pick – Dust 2 – 13-7

The match commenced on Dust2, a map where BIG typically excels due to their history. However, in most initial encounters, it was NaVi who seemed to prevail, with b1t and iM standing out. This advantage propelled NaVi to an early 8-2 lead. As the first half neared its end, BIG could only secure two additional rounds, leaving them trailing 4-8.

The pistol round added further bad news to the BIG bulletin as Aleksib took a 1v2 clutch, but tabseN immediately answered back with a 1v3 of his own. That gave the German side momentum, carrying them through the first gun round for a three-round haul. With just a scout and a smattering of Deagles, the NaVi side broke into the B site. And with a gorgeous double Deagle from jL, they took their 10th round.

After that juncture, NaVi dominantly took control of the map from then on, wrapping it up swiftly at a score of 13-7, while iM led the statistics with over 100 Average Damage per Round (ADR).

jL-iM masterclass – Mirage – 13-3

Before the game on Mirage, BIG was anticipated to be off their best form due to not playing the map in over a year. This prediction proved accurate as both of Paris’ star players encountered no opposition during their T-side assault, resulting in 17 frags for each of them. This left NaVi with a commanding 9-3 lead at half-time. The second half saw NaVi play an impeccable CT side to seal the victory comfortably at 13-3.

Navi will meet up with either Liquid or Virtus.Pro in the Upper Bracket Final of the Autumn Groups. (In this match, they will compete.)

Liquid takes debut win against Virtus.Pro – BLAST Premier Fall Groups

Upon the announcement of the Fall Groups, Virtus.Pro seemed ripe for an upset by Liquid, given their fresh lineup, particularly a new in-game leader, facing James’ strategic systems. However, Virtus.Pro’s strategy didn’t appear as effective on this occasion, which enabled Liquid to secure a victory.

Map Veto – Liquid vs Virtus.Pro at BLAST Premier Fall Groups

Triple Overtime Affair to decide – Ancient – 22-20

To begin with, Liquid selected ‘Ancient’, and immediately took a lead with a pistol round win due to jks’ exceptional performance. Virtus.Pro retaliated in the following gun rounds, resulting in a 4-4 tie. However, an impressive 1v3 play by TL’s captain sparked momentum for his team, allowing them to end the first half without losing another round.

To begin with, Team Liquid started off powerfully in their match, securing another pistol round victory. Later on, after an intense back-and-forth battle, Team Liquid reached map point at 12-8. In this pivotal moment, jks stepped up to replace skullz, and Mohan “launders” Govindasamy aptly noted the substitution following a triple kill from the Australian player.

“That’s what skullz was not doing. That level of not-too-passive you need to be ready for”

It was then that Liquid’s lack of experience became noticeable as Virtus.Pro regained their composure. Gradually, the Russian team improved their gameplay, demonstrating solid fundamentals, and took the match to Overtime. So far, ultimate had displayed moments of great skill in an otherwise average game, but in Overtime, the Polish sniper exploded with exceptional play. Both teams remained closely matched, but VP’s use of the AWP proved problematic as they were unable to secure the win.

As a gamer, I pushed the game into an intense triple overtime with an ultimate play, then rallied my team to seal the victory. The strategies that had initially led to overtime seemed to dissipate as one dry move after another played out on the screen, but I seized the moment to shine and claim the top spot in the scoreboard, securing a thrilling 22-20 win in our debut match.

A more comfortable win for Liquid – Dust2 – 12-6

Following Team Liquid’s initial lead on Dust2, they found themselves in a strong position to secure the victory. The game commenced with a pistol round win for Liquid; however, VP seized control early with a force buy. Despite falling behind 1-4, Liquid countered with a double AWP strategy, regaining momentum. Twistzz was excelling in individual engagements when he acquired the AWP, and his ultimate was a recurring factor. The first half ended tightly at 7-5 in favor of Liquid. In the second half, Liquid comfortably surpassed 10 points and swiftly concluded the match with a 2-0 win.

Liquid vs Navi in Group D Upper Finals

Following the exciting initial games, teams NaVi and Liquid will meet in the Upper Bracket Finals. Concurrently, Virtus.Pro finds themselves competing against BIG in the lower bracket. Navi is expected to have an edge in their game with Liquid, but the North American side appears well-tuned and might surprise us, particularly if iM recovers his usual performance. On the other hand, Virtus.Pro feels confident about overcoming BIG after their underwhelming display.