Team Liquid entered PGL Wallachia Season 5 as the champions of the last two events in the series.
Team Liquid have been eliminated from PGL Wallachia Season 5 after getting swept 0–2 in the lower bracket finals by
BetBoom Team. Despite earning a podium finish, bowing out in third place, the defeat marks a disappointing end to Liquid’s campaign for a three-peat in the PGL Wallachia series.
The team entered as the defending, back-to-back champions of the PGL Wallachia circuit, having won Season 3 in March and Season 4 in April. Nonetheless, this third place finish still stands as a significantly better performance compared to Liquid's runs in other tournaments, where they managed a Top 6 placement at best.
Liquid face multiple setbacks in PGL Wallachia Season 5
Although Liquid came into PGL Wallachia Season 5 as one of the favorites, their journey was marked by uncertainty from the start. Team captain Aydin “iNsania” Sarkohi was absent from the lineup during the Group Stage for personal reasons and was expected to return if the team advanced to the Playoffs.
Tobias “Tobi” Buchner successfully filled in during his absence, helping Liquid survive the Group Stage with only a single loss to
Natus Vincere (NAVI).
Insania returned as promised for the Playoffs, during which Liquid defeated Eastern European powerhouses Aurora Gaming and BetBoom, before eventually being knocked down to the lower bracket by longtime rivals
Gaimin Gladiators.
In this pivotal elimination series, Liquid once again faced BetBoom–a familiar foe they had previously sent to the lower bracket. However, just moments before the match began, Liquid announced that Insania had been playing while unwell and that his condition worsened before the series. As a result, NAVI’s Matthew “Ari” Walker was called in last minute to stand in.
“[Insania] has been sick for the last four days and has barely been able to play. Today, his condition worsened, and PGL graciously allowed us to use a stand-in, [Ari]. Thanks to the fans for the support. Please send Aydin your love. Bless you all,” Team Liquid coach William “Blitz” Lee posted on social media.
The lower bracket final unfolded swiftly in BetBoom's favor. Despite a more even opening match, BetBoom outplayed Liquid decisively in game two, closing it out in just 29 minutes.
With Liquid eliminated, BetBoom advances to the grand final to face Gaimin Gladiators. The winner will not only claim the fifth PGL Wallachia title but also take home a massive US$300,000 in prize money.

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