Liquid SAWed in half by Portuguese powerhouse
Liquid's run in the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2024 has ended before it could start thanks to SAW, the first Portuguese team ever to qualify to a Major.
The Americas squad is reeling after a disappointing showing at the Americas RMR where the team was eliminated at the hands of Complexity in the final match of the competition. Now, the team has to look towards making the most of their off time this month, but they won't be able to get things going in the BLAST event.
Beginning on Nuke, Liquid actually came out looking much stronger than expected as they reversed an opening pistol round loss and took a 5-3 lead on their CT-side. That lead was cut down as SAW brought it to 5-7. When the sides switched, Liquid would win their first pistol of the contest, but could not parlay that into further rounds as SAW held fast in their defense to reverse the score and secure a 13-10 victory.
Inferno was dangerously close for Liquid, despite usually being a comfortable map for them. The squad used a pistol round win as a good excuse to take a 5-0 lead. However, SAW were not ones to let that slide as their defense brought it back to a 5-7 first half. Liquid, now on their CT-side, were the first to get to 12 rounds, but SAW somehow came back to bring the map to overtime thanks to several amazing clutches. Liquid, finally getting their economy under control, were able to hold on to their CT-side and get themselves to a 16-14 map victory.
Ancient had its first half dictated by retakes from the Portuguese side that started on the defense. SAW started off with the decider with three straight round wins before Liquid got on the board. Much thanks to João "story" Vieira, the Portuguese men were starting to run away with the game, as they led 10-2 at the half as Liquid were looking shattered. Despite winning the pistol round, Liquid were not able to stop SAW's force buy rounds and the Major-bound team from Portugal closed Ancient 13-4, winning the series and eliminating Liquid from the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown.
LiquidSAW| Liquid |
K - D | +/- | ADR | KAST | Rating 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Keith 'NAF' Markovic |
45 - 43 | +2 | 70.9 | 70.0% | 1.06 |
| Russel 'Twistzz' Van Dulken |
44 - 46 | -2 | 74.3 | 75.7% | 1.04 |
 Felipe 'skullz' Medeiros |
49 - 47 | +2 | 72.8 | 71.4% | 1.02 |
 Casper 'cadiaN' Møller |
45 - 43 | +2 | 65.0 | 65.7% | 0.99 |
 Mareks 'YEKINDAR' Gaļinskis |
32 - 52 | -20 | 58.9 | 60.0% | 0.76 |
| SAW |
K - D | +/- | ADR | KAST | Rating 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rafael 'arrozdoce' Wing |
59 - 43 | +16 | 85.6 | 72.9% | 1.30 |
| Christopher 'MUTiRiS' Fernandes |
47 - 40 | +7 | 77.8 | 84.3% | 1.18 |
| João 'story' Vieira |
50 - 42 | +8 | 71.4 | 72.9% | 1.09 |
| Ricardo 'roman' Oliveira |
37 - 47 | -10 | 68.7 | 72.9% | 0.95 |
| Michel 'ewjerkz' Pinto |
36 - 45 | -9 | 63.1 | 62.9% | 0.92 |
