trexx and Kicks Debuted for Liquid. Their IGL Wasn't Even There.
Team Liquid opened EMEA Stage 2 with head coach LohaN filling in for an absent nAts, and lost 0-2 to Eternal Fire.
Three weeks ago I wrote "July 15. Let's see" about trexx and Kicks debuting for Liquid. I've seen it now, and it's not the story I expected.
nAts didn't play. Liquid's IGL sat out the Stage 2 opener against Eternal Fire for personal reasons, and head coach LohaN stepped onto the active roster in his place. Ivo Albino hadn't competed as a player since 2021. He got almost no prep time and a Stage 2 opener anyway.
Liquid lost 0-2. Split went 6-13, Lotus 2-13. Neither map was close.
The Debut That Wasn't
This was supposed to be trexx and Kicks' night. Liquid brought both of them in specifically for this stage, betting on chemistry the two built together on Vitality back in 2025. Instead their first game as teammates on Liquid happened with a coach on comms and in the crosshair, running the calls a full-time IGL usually makes. That's an impossible ask for a debut. It showed on the scoreboard.
Give LohaN Some Credit
I'm not piling on the coach here. Stepping into a competitive lineup cold, in a tournament opener, against a team that just knocked ULF out of the league entirely, is not a fair spot to be in. The fact that it wasn't a blowout on every map says something. Split at 13-6 is a loss with actual rounds in it.
Where This Leaves Liquid
Liquid's next match is against Team Heretics, and nAts is expected back for it. That's the version of this roster I actually want to judge. Until then, this loss barely counts. You can't grade a lineup on a night it wasn't really the lineup.
Get well, nAts. See you against Heretics.