Liquid Lose to FURIA, Lose Out on Over 100 VRS Points at FISSURE Playground 2

Liquid Lose to FURIA, Lose Out on Over 100 VRS Points at FISSURE Playground 2

Team Liquid suffered a setback in their StarLadder Budapest Major qualification hopes after losing 2-1 to FURIA in Swiss Round 1 at FISSURE Playground 2 on September 13, 2025. The match ended with FURIA winning Inferno 13-11 and Train 13-7 after dropping the opener on Dust2 13-9. The defeat means Liquid missed the chance to gain more than 100 Valve Regional Standings (VRS) points that could have significantly boosted their Major invite prospects. 

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Match Breakdown & Key Moments

• Map 1 — Dust2 (Liquid wins 13-9): Liquid started strong, especially on their Terrorist side, and closed out this map rather comfortably.

• Map 2 — Inferno (FURIA wins 13-11): Liquid had a sizeable lead at 9-3 early on, but FURIA mounted a strong comeback through clutch plays, especially in the second half. Despite a solid offensive turnaround from Liquid, FURIA pulled ahead late.

• Map 3 — Train (FURIA wins 13-7): This map saw FURIA control momentum early. Liquid had various economic struggles and repeatedly lost opening rounds. A critical moment was when Liquid’s player NertZ let an apparent 1v1 opportunity slip, which contributed to the shift in control.

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VRS Points, Major Qualification & Stakes

• For teams like Liquid, where the StarLadder Budapest Major invite is still not secured, every match results in VRS points matter. A win over FURIA would have awarded Liquid over 100 VRS points, a large chunk that could move them closer to the cutoff. Missing that opportunity now increases the pressure for upcoming matches.

• Currently, Liquid are projected to miss out on an automatic invite to the Major, because of both prior performance and now this dropped match.

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Individual Performances & Errors

• Liquid:

  • Twistzz had one of the better performances, especially on Dust2 and through key rounds elsewhere. He posted a positive kill-death differential and showed his impact in close rounds.

  • NAF also contributed well on certain maps, but his presence could not compensate for some of Liquid’s tactical or economic weaknesses.

  • NertZ's misstep on Train (letting an important 1v1 go) was highlighted as a turning point, where the momentum swung more in FURIA's favor.

• FURIA:

  • KSCERATO had a very strong outing, particularly on Train, helping FURIA secure crucial rounds.

  • FalleN also came through in big moments, especially in clutches. His experience showed in closing rounds when under pressure.

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Liquid’s Mistakes & Pressure Points

• Liquid’s economic decision-making came under fire. On Inferno, despite being ahead, shaky finances and loss of key rounds in the second half led to their undoing.

• On Train, losing opening duels and failing to build sustainable round wins hurt their map control. The slip by NertZ, which allowed FalleN to get a favorable exchange, proved costly.

• Pressure in Swiss stage: 0-1 starts are tough because you need to win subsequent matches to avoid elimination; this loss means Liquid has little margin for error going forward.

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Implications & What’s Next

• Liquid must win their next Swiss stage matches convincingly to accumulate enough VRS points and salvage their Major invite chances. Losses going forward could not only affect their seeding but also exclude them entirely from automatic invites.

• FURIA, having gained momentum and confidence, move to the 1-0 pool, which gives them a favorable position and psychological boost. They also reinforce their reputation as a strong contender in this event.

• Fans and analysts will be watching Liquid’s map vetoes, roster performance (especially under pressure), and whether they can avoid mistakes like those on Train. Consistency in opening rounds and avoiding economic collapse will be essential.

• For other teams around the margin for Major invites, Liquid’s loss might shift the landscape: opponents who beat FURIA or Liquid in coming rounds may gain those very VRS points Liquid lost out on.

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Broader Context: Liquid’s Recent Struggles

• Liquid has had several recent poor results, especially in big events, which have already put them under pressure in VRS standings. This additional loss worsens that.

• Their roster (including players like Twistzz, NAF, siuhy, ultimate, NertZ) has shown flashes of strong individual performance but has struggled in consistency, especially on the defensive side and with under-performing support roles.

• VRS (Valve Regional Standings) has become more competitive, with many mid-top teams vying for Major invites, making every match result very consequential. Liquid are one of the teams most affected by narrow margins.