In a back-and-forth battle that went the distance, Team Liquid outlasted FlyQuest 3-2 on Saturday to advance to the grand final of the League Championship Series Summer Split playoffs.
Playing in the day’s only matchup, Liquid took the first map in 40 minutes but FlyQuest answered with a 37-minute win. Liquid grabbed the lead again with a 29-minute win, but again FlyQuest evened up the match with a 37-minute win. Liquid pulled out the winner-take-all fifth map with a 33-minute win.
Liquid played all five maps on blue while FlyQuest was on red each time.
Eight teams began the event and six advanced to the double-elimination playoff bracket. All playoff matches are best-of-five, with the winner of the tournament taking home $100,000 of the $200,000 prize pool. The top three teams qualify for the World Championship.
Four teams remain in the tournament.
Cloud9 and 100 Thieves play Sunday in the lower-bracket semifinal. The winner will then play FlyQuest in the lower-bracket final on Friday. That winner will play Liquid in the grand final Sept. 7.
LCS Summer Split schedule
Sunday
Lower-bracket semifinal
–Cloud9 vs. 100 Thieves
LCS Summer Split prize pool:
1. $100,000, qualification to Worlds
2. $50,000, qualification to Worlds
3. $30,000, qualification to Worlds
4. $20,000
5. No prize money — Dignitas
6. No prize money — NRG
7. No prize money — Shopify Rebellion
8. No prize money — Immortals
–Field Level Media