Team Liquid is the champion of IEM Sydney 2019 competition. After starting the grand finale with a defeat, the EU side recovered and beat Fnatic 3-2 in a best of five series (BO5). During the final, Jonathan “ElIGe” Jablonowski and Keith “NAF” Markovic stood out, helping Liquid to turn the series and take home $ 100,000 in prizes.
Cache
The Fnatic side started as CT and dominated Liquid from the start by winning nine consecutive rounds in a row. Yet, Liquid did manage to swing few rounds in their favor and went in the break trailing 10-5. After the broken Liquid started strong by winning the pistol round. Team Liquid was unable to stop the Swedes who went on to draw first blood. Fnatic won with a 16-10 scoreline. Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin was the star of the map since he inflicted 95.4 damage per round and got 26 kills.
The Swedish power house 🇸🇪 @FNATIC claim their map pick with a 16-10 scoreline – giving them the 1-0 lead in our BO5 series! 👊
Overpass is where 🇺🇸🇨🇦 @TeamLiquid will look to equalize things shortly.
📺 https://t.co/fTBRGuUiMV#IEM pic.twitter.com/gP3dtirqRo
— Intel®ExtremeMasters (@IEM) May 5, 2019
Overpass
After a very one-sided game, the NA team was not expected to start strong in the 2nd map. But they proved everyone wrong. In the first nine rounds, Liquid won seven and went into the break with a 9-6 lead. They continued to dominate and managed to push into a convincing 11-6 lead. But Fnatic did not hand over the win and even managed to tie the game 12-12. After an exceptional performance from the duo Keith “NAF” Markovic and onathan “EliGE” Jablonowski. Liquid tied the series 1-1 after the 30th round.
🇺🇸🇨🇦 @TeamLiquid have secured the victory on Overpass to even out the series!
With both teams tied up – who will bring their A game heading onto Mirage?
📺 https://t.co/fTBRGuUiMV#IEM pic.twitter.com/9JHoEezpOY
— Intel®ExtremeMasters (@IEM) May 5, 2019
Mirage
After winning the pistol round, Fnatic got a decent start with a 4-1 lead. But Liquid showed the quality of champions and went into the halftime with a 9-6 lead. The second half was just a flawless performance form Liquid. Nick “nitr0” Cannella and EliGE reigned supreme on the scoreboard. They led the series 2-1 after winning 16-8. At the end of the map, EliGE stood tall with 26 kills.
NO @EliGE NOT LIKE THIS! 😱#IEM pic.twitter.com/cdqTmZe2FA
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 5, 2019
Dust 2
Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken got the perfect start for Liquid in the 4th game of the series after getting an ace. Yet the team couldn’t stop Fnatic to take control of the game as the Swedes led the 9-6 at half time. Fnatic had an incredible start with four kills Brollan on the pistol round. This victory propelled the team to a six consecutive round wins to tie the series 2-2.
THIS KID IS TOO GOOD! @Brollancs#IEM pic.twitter.com/6S5QJRWKUR
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 5, 2019
Inferno
Twistzz started the final game well for Liquid as he secured the pistol round after an intense 1v1 victory. Liquid woke up after two demoralizing defeats and completely outplayed Fnatic on the CT side. Team Liquid went into the halftime with an 11-4 lead. They continued this momentum into the second round by winning on the pistols. Yet Fnatic did show some signs of a comeback with five consecutive round wins. But Liquid won the series 3-2 after winning the map 16-9.
🏆 C H A M P I O N S 🏆 @TeamLiquid #IEM pic.twitter.com/pddbH29SPI
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 5, 2019
IEM Sydney 2019 is the first big title of Team Liquid of the new year. They previously won IEM Masters by beating Astralis 2-1.