Vitality has eliminated Team Liquid from ESL Pro League Season 21 and secured their spot in the semi-finals against the winner of NAVI vs. MongolZ. With a Katowice title already under their belt, Vitality now has their sights set on the EPL. With ZywOo and ropz firing on all cylinders, Vitality might just reclaim their spot at the top of the HLTV rankings.
Veto:
- Liquid removed Nuke
- Vitality removed Ancient
- Liquid picked Anubis
- Vitality picked Dust2
- Liquid removed Mirage
- Vitality removed Inferno
- Train was left over
Map 1: Anubis (Pick: Liquid | Winner: Vitality)
Despite going up by four rounds early, Vitality lost momentum after a strong retake from Liquid. While Vitality got off to a solid start, Liquid found their footing later in the first half, securing five rounds to close the gap. Heading into the second half with a two-round deficit, Liquid lost the pistol but quickly bounced back with a force buy, leveling the score at 8-8.
Though Anubis is a CT-sided map, Vitality’s defense held firm against everything Liquid threw at them, closing the game with a 13-9 scoreline. Mezii and ropz were standout performers, delivering impact across both halves with impressive individual ratings (IR) of 1.49 and 1.48, respectively.
Map 2: Dust2 (Pick: Vitality | Winner: Vitality)
Winning the pistol round, Vitality converted their force buy and began building momentum. They dominated most of the rounds, while Liquid’s victories were scattered. Similar to Anubis, Liquid managed to secure five rounds, keeping the match competitive. With Dust2 being a balanced map, it remained up for grabs.
Vitality started their CT side strong, winning the pistol round and making a Liquid comeback increasingly difficult. While Liquid fought back, Vitality controlled the pace and never let the game slip away. A failed mid-to-B split from Liquid sealed their fate, allowing Vitality to close out the series and eliminate them from the Pro League.
This loss marks the end of Team Liquid’s ESL Pro League Season 21 run, as they exit at the hands of arguably the best team in the world. Under Twistzz’s leadership, the roster has shown improvement compared to previous years, but they have yet to deliver convincing results at major events. With a packed tournament schedule ahead, they will have plenty of opportunities to turn things around.