Team Liquid convincingly defeated FURIA 2-0 to advance to the semifinals of the bottom of Group B at IEM Cologne 2024. Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak attracted special attention in this series, showing a maximum rating of 8.2 for the series.
The Polish player has become a fan favorite thanks to his aggressive style of play as part of the new Liquid team. As ultimate noted in an interview with HLTV after the match, "I'm completely free and can do whatever I want during the game"
Preparation and mindset
Earlier, the cybersports community was skeptical about signing ultimate, but after his wins and his ranking in matches, doubts about his professional level began to dissipate. Tomkowiak revealed that he doesn't care what others think of him and knows he is doing his best to justify the trust of the team and captain Russel "Twistzz" Van Dulken. "It's their opinion. I can't get mad about it. But, you know, they have to admit they were wrong," stated ultimate.
Match series and highlights
The match against FURIA was Liquid's first elimination round within the group stage. The key moment was the round on Dust2 when ultimate failed to set the bomb. Despite a minor miscommunication, which the player said was due to Twistzz forgetting, the team recovered quickly and continued to show solid play. The players themselves noted that the mistakes did not affect their mood and they were ready for any difficulties. On the second map Nuke team Liquid took the initiative almost from the beginning, demonstrating their superiority over the opponent.
Twistzz's strategic approach, which allows players to play freely and aggressively, is paying off. The ultimate himself also praised the team captain for the freedom of action he's given. "He helps me become a better player. But my game is definitely in him," Tomkowiak added. The player admitted that it wasn't that hard for him to get used to the high level of tournaments as he had already played in ESL Pro League 15, which prepared him for further challenges.
Ahead of the playoffs - expectations and plans
Team Liquid have two more matches left in the group stage to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. The players are confident in their abilities and are ready to showcase their best at LANXESS, one of the biggest arenas in eSports. "It would be an amazing experience to play on the stage. It's every cybersport player's dream. I can't wait," summarized ultimate.
The victory over FURIA was an important step towards success for Liquid, Liquid's next match will be in the lower semifinals against Complexity.
Source: HLTV
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