Liquid made a confident step forward in the lower bracket of IEM Cologne 2025, defeating FlyQuest 2–1. After a difficult start on Nuke, the North American squad regrouped, struck back on Dust2, and closed out the series on Ancient. For Liquid, this win reaffirmed their stability and readiness to fight for a spot in Stage 2, while for FlyQuest it was another painful reminder that the team’s issues run deeper than they might appear.
Match breakdown: three maps, three stories
Nuke (13:6 for Liquid)
FlyQuest picked Nuke, but their choice quickly turned into disappointment. Liquid looked as composed as ever – sharp defense and efficient attacks allowed Twistzz and NAF to dominate the server. FlyQuest only managed to scrape together six rounds, and their attempts to break Liquid’s economy failed to yield results.
Dust2 (13:3 for FlyQuest)
The second map felt like a breath of fresh air for the Australians. They finally showcased the aggressive style they’re respected for in their region: regali controlled mid with the AWP, while Vexite and jks tore apart Liquid’s defense with swift site hits. This was FlyQuest’s best stretch of the match — dominance that briefly reignited hopes for a comeback in the series.
Ancient (13:9 for Liquid)
The decider turned into a test of character. Liquid grabbed the opening rounds and built a comfortable 8–4 lead, and although FlyQuest tried to mount a comeback after the side switch, NAF and Twistzz stepped up in key clutches. The result — 13:9 and a convincing series win for Liquid.
Player statistics for the match
FlyQuest: a team still searching for itself
FlyQuest’s problems didn’t start today. Looking at their last five matches, they’ve won only one series out of five (2–1 against B8) while falling consistently to stronger opponents — FURIA, TYLOO, Nemiga, and HEROIC. The match against Liquid was supposed to be their chance to turn things around, but instead the team once again displayed inconsistency.
- jks (38–41, 1.15 rating) tried to be the leader but couldn’t drag the team over the finish line on the deciding map.
- regali (45–37, 1.06 rating) was a bright spot on Dust2, but his AWP impact faded on Ancient.
- INS and nettik looked flat, with negative K/Ds and little influence on the outcome.
FlyQuest have been trying for two months to strike a balance between jks’s experience and the youthful energy of the roster, but the result so far has been a string of losses and eroding confidence.
Liquid: stability and calm — or just an illusion?
For Liquid, this win was a much-needed breath of fresh air. Recently, they’ve looked shaky as well. In their last five matches, they’ve beaten only paIN (2–0) but suffered defeats to FaZe, Sashi, MOUZ, and even dropped a map to The MongolZ on Ancient (7–13).
This series showed that Liquid can gather themselves when it matters most:
- Keith “NAF” Markovic (1.21 rating, 95.9 ADR) was the Player of the Match, delivering key frags and keeping his team alive when FlyQuest applied pressure.
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken (48–36, +12 K/D) displayed the kind of LAN form fans expect — aggressive, confident, and deadly accurate.
- NertZ and siuhy maintained a steady tempo, while ultimate played supportive roles without costly mistakes.
But despite the win, Liquid don’t yet look like an unstoppable force. Their recent form has been a mix of peaks and dips. The match against FlyQuest might prove to be a turning point — or just a temporary reprieve from ongoing inconsistency.
Community reaction
The match sparked lively discussions across chats and social media:
- “FlyQuest almost pulled it off, well played” — fans praised the Aussies for putting up a fight even in defeat.
- “Not deserved” — one blunt comment, suggesting Liquid’s win was more luck than skill.
- “FlyQuest played really well. Liquid just got lucky — they’ll lose their first game tomorrow for sure” — skeptics highlighted Liquid’s shaky form.
- Others were harsher: “Lucky win, Liquid will crash out in two days.”
But there were positive voices too: “Awesome!” — and plenty of warm words for jks, who left the biggest impression from the FlyQuest side.
What’s next?
Liquid move on to Stage 2 of IEM Cologne 2025, looking ready to challenge stronger opponents. FlyQuest, on the other hand, are at a crossroads: they’ve lost four of their last five series, and today’s match once again exposed problems that go beyond tactics — they’re battling confidence issues too.
For both teams, this wasn’t just a survival match in the bracket; it was a fight for belief in their own future.
