Team Liquid faced Team Heretics in the lower bracket final of VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff, where the main prize was not a spot in the grand final but a ticket to the first international tournament of 2025 – Masters Bangkok.

The lower bracket final turned into a major upset, as Team Liquid, considered clear underdogs in this matchup, not only defeated Team Heretics – the favorites for the Masters Bangkok slot – but completely dominated them.

The match began on Lotus, the pick of Team Heretics, where they had a 64% win rate before this encounter. However, Team Liquid gave them no chance, securing a convincing 13:4 victory. On the second map, Fracture, a similar scenario unfolded: the first half ended 4:8 in favor of Liquid. Although Team Heretics attempted to fight back and managed to take three more rounds, it wasn’t enough. In the end, Team Liquid secured a dominant series win and claimed the last Masters Bangkok slot from the EMEA region.

VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff runs from January 15 to February 9 in a LAN format at the Riot Games Arena. Twelve VCT-partnered teams are competing for two spots at Masters Bangkok and valuable EMEA Points, which play a crucial role in qualification for the World Championship.