Team Liquid came out on top against Karmine Corp in a dramatic VCT EMEA series, securing a 2–1 victory after a rough start. Karmine Corp set the tone early, storming through the opening map with pace and confidence on their map pick of Abyss. Their aggression caught Liquid off guard, and they closed the map quickly, leaving Liquid with little room to respond, with viewers questioning the choice of composition as it left MiniBoo on an island on the Waylay.

Liquid looked far more settled going into the second map, Split. Their structure improved, mid-round calls were cleaner, and they began winning more of the small fights that had slipped away earlier. As the map progressed, Liquid slowly pulled control away from Karmine Corp and evened out the series with a composed performance ending the map 13-8 with MiniBoo taking centre stage with 23 kills.

The deciding map was closely fought, with both teams trading rounds and momentum. Karmine Corp continued to pressure Liquid with proactive plays, ending the first half 8-4. But Liquid responded well, staying disciplined and patient. Key rounds in the middle of the map proved decisive as Liquid managed to build a narrow lead and eventually end it 13-10.

In the closing moments, Liquid’s experience with MiniBoo and nAts, the international winners, showed. They held firm under pressure, converted crucial late rounds, and shut down Karmine Corp’s final push to take the map and the series. The 2–1 win highlighted Liquid’s ability to recover from a tough opening and adapt across the series, while Karmine Corp showed promise despite falling short in the decide and eventually ending up in the lower bracket going 0-2 in their opening games of the year.