NIP secure spot in the semi-finals after beating Liquid 2-1

Team Liquid lost to NIP in the second quarter-final game of ESL Pro League Season 15. The series started on Liquid's map pick of Ancient, where the Swedes proved that they just are too strong and won the map 16-14 win. Liquid managed to strike back on Overpass in another 16-14 match before the Swedes won the deciding map of Inferno 16-12.

The series started on Liquid's map pick of Ancient, which was an unexpected pick as the map is NIP's most successful one in recent times, only losing it twice this year. But the North Americans proved why they picked the map, as ⁠EliGE ⁠started the series with an ace in the pistol round. At the end of the half, the Swedes took five rounds in a row to take the lead before halftime. In the second half, NIP won the pistol round and converted the following few. Then it was Liquid's turn to mount a comeback, but NIP went on a streak and won five out of the last seven rounds to secure the first map of the series 16-14.

Liquid bounced back on the CT side of Overpass, giving NIP a hard time on their map pick, as the Americans turned the rounds of their favor to establish a 5-0 lead before the Swedish got their first round. At halftime, the scoreline was 10-5, and NIP managed to stay in the game before switching sides. NIP opened the second half dominantly, winning four out of the first five rounds, But Liquid fought for their tournament lives and attained a 14-9 lead. NIP tried to attempt a comeback with a four-round winning streak. But Liquid ultimately took the map 16-14 and put the series into a third map.

On the decider of Inferno, Liquid starting on the T site, won the pistol and quickly made their mark on the game, scoring five straight rounds before NIP could get their first round on the board. NIP was then able to turn things around, winning six consecutive rounds and eventually leading by halftime, 8-7. Both teams traded rounds at the start of the second half, but NIP was able to take the control of the half reaching a 14-8 lead before closing out the map and the series 2-1 to advance to the semi-final.

NIP - Liquid 2-1 | ESL Pro League Season 15 (Quarter-finals)

16-14 (Ancient) | REZ – 1.50 Rating / 28-17 K-D / 89.2 ADR

14-16 (Overpass) | shox – 1.28 Rating / 29-23 K-D / 94.7 ADR

16-12 (Inferno) | REZ – 1.49 Rating / 23-16 K-D / 99.2 ADR

MVP: Fredrik "REZ" Sterner – 1.41 Rating / 79-58 K-D / 98.8 ADR