TL;DR
- Both Na’Vi and Liquid sit at 1-2 records after devastating overtime losses
- Critical clutch situations and late-game execution have been major weaknesses
- Best-of-one format volatility has exposed strategic inflexibility
- Teams must adapt quickly to survive elimination best-of-three matches
- Individual star power hasn’t translated to team coordination under pressure
Two elite Counter-Strike: Global Offensive organizations now confront potential early elimination from the prestigious StarLadder Berlin Major, marking one of the tournament’s most shocking developments.
During the crucial third round of the Legends Stage, both Natus Vincere and Team Liquid suffered devastating best-of-one defeats that pushed them to the tournament’s elimination threshold.
Natus Vincere established early control on the Nuke battleground against Mousesports, demonstrating tactical discipline during the initial phases. Though Mouz initiated with an aggressive T-side winning streak, Na’Vi countered effectively to secure a 9-6 halftime advantage.
A successful second pistol round execution and economic conversion positioned the squad approaching match point, while superstar Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev delivered a spectacular clutch that seemingly secured victory. However, Mousesports mounted an astonishing late-game resurgence to force overtime.
Despite consistent performance throughout regulation, Chris “chrisJ” de Jong elevated his gameplay dramatically during the extra rounds. Following a 1-2 T-side performance in overtime, he dominated completely while defending, accumulating eight eliminations across the final three rounds alone. This explosive individual performance enabled Mousesports to clinch the 19-17 overtime triumph.
Team Liquid’s confrontation with Avangar on Overpass mirrored the same heartbreaking narrative pattern. Liquid constructed a solid 9-6 first half foundation that Avangar dismantled emphatically, though the North American squad stabilized to extend the contest into overtime.
Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski delivered exceptional performance for Liquid, but Sanjar “SANJI” Kuliev provided the answering heroics for Avangar, escalating the battle into double overtime territory.
Ali “Jame” Djami emerged as the decisive factor for Avangar during the second overtime period, and this time Liquid lacked the strategic response. Avangar captured four consecutive rounds to secure the hard-fought 22-18 victory.
Why are Natus Vincere and Liquid struggling at the Berlin Major?
Liquid and Na’Vi entered as primary championship contenders for the StarLadder Berlin Major. Liquid has been systematically assembling CSGO’s most impressive trophy collection this year through one of competitive Counter-Strike’s most dominant performance streaks, while Natus Vincere arrived in Berlin with a powerful roster and their complete preparatory focus dedicated to this tournament.
Despite these advantages, neither organization has demonstrated their true competitive potential throughout the event. Partial explanation resides in the best-of-one format against skilled opposition, but both squads clearly operate below their maximum capability levels.
The strategic inflexibility displayed suggests inadequate adaptation to opponents’ tactics. Teams frequently prepare extensively for these elite squads, creating customized strategies that disrupt their established patterns. Additionally, the mental pressure of maintaining dominant streaks creates psychological burdens that impact decision-making during critical moments.
For aspiring competitors studying these matches, understanding weapons mechanics and tactical execution becomes crucial for understanding where these elite teams faltered.
Both organizations now advance into elimination best-of-three matches with their tournament lives at stake. Natus Vincere will confront MiBR while Liquid’s opposition remains undetermined. They maintain favorite status for tomorrow’s encounters and will benefit from increased error tolerance, but additional losses remain unacceptable.
The transition to best-of-three format should benefit both squads significantly, allowing deeper strategic depth and adaptation opportunities between maps. However, they must address fundamental issues in clutch situations and late-round execution that have plagued their performances.
Successful recovery requires improved communication during high-pressure moments and better economic management. Teams should review their complete strategic approaches to identify where their standard protocols break down against prepared opponents.
Action Checklist
- Analyze overtime round decision-making patterns to identify recurring mistakes
- Review economic management during critical match points and identify optimization opportunities
- Practice clutch scenarios with specific role assignments for each player
- Study opponent VODs to anticipate counter-strategies in best-of-three format
- Implement structured communication protocols for high-pressure situations
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Team Liquid, Natus Vincere face elimination from Berlin Major Analyzing the critical performance issues and elimination risks facing CS:GO's top contenders at Berlin Major