TL;DR
- Team Liquid secured MSI main event qualification with a clean 3-0 sweep against PVB
- Impact’s Gangplank and Jensen’s Akali proved decisive in closing out games efficiently
- PVB showed early aggression but failed to convert advantages into meaningful leads
- TL demonstrated superior late-game decision making and objective control
- The victory sets up challenging matchups against SKT T1, G2, and Invictus Gaming
Team Liquid earned their spot in the Mid-Season Invitational’s main bracket following a hard-fought three-game series against Vietnamese representatives Phong Vũ Buffalo.
The North American champions progressed to MSI’s next phase by defeating PVB in consecutive matches. While PVB created challenging scenarios for the LCS titleholders, Liquid maintained control after the early stages. The Vietnamese squad consistently faltered during crucial moments, unable to capitalize on temporary advantages and build sustainable leads.
In the opening match, PVB concentrated their efforts on neutralizing bottom lane threat Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng. While this approach has proven effective against TL previously, PVB’s execution fell short. The bottom lane pairing initiated early lane swaps, attempting to accelerate beyond the laning phase prematurely.
At the 17-minute mark, PVB achieved a team wipe near the dragon pit. However, this accomplishment yielded limited impact as TL secured compensatory eliminations and maintained superior scaling potential. Thirty-one minutes into the contest, Team Liquid claimed three crucial kills during Baron vision control skirmishes, creating the opening needed to secure the first victory.
Game two commenced with intense trading across all lanes. PVB persisted with their characteristically aggressive style, but this time Liquid was prepared to counter early advances effectively.
PVB jungler Hoàng “Meliodas” Tiến Nhật emerged as a key difference-maker, consistently supporting teammates and responding to TL’s offensive moves. For Team Liquid, top laner Jung “Impact” Eon-yeong delivered exceptional performances on Gangplank.
This action-packed contest concluded after merely 25 minutes, largely due to Impact’s remarkable scaling capacity despite facing early-game difficulties.
TL sustained their momentum into the decisive third game, with mid laner Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen initiating with an early double kill on Akali. PVB retaliated and appeared to pressure TL repeatedly, but the Vietnamese team’s sporadic skirmish successes proved insufficient.
The series concluded following a Baron pit engagement where TL eliminated four PVB members before advancing directly to the enemy nexus.
Although Phong Vũ Buffalo demonstrated competence during laning phases and select engagements, they consistently failed to transform these moments into genuine victory opportunities, capturing only four structures throughout the entire series.
Team Liquid advances to compete against SK Telecom T1, G2 Esports, and Invictus Gaming in the next tournament stage. Meanwhile, PVB retains one final opportunity to reach the main event through the lower bracket.
Action Checklist
- Watch Team Liquid’s Baron control strategies in game replays
- Analyze Impact’s Gangplank itemization and scaling patterns
- Study PVB’s early game aggression and identify where it broke down
- Compare TL’s vision control around objectives with other top teams
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Team Liquid sweep Phong Vu Buffalo, advance at Mid-Season Invitational Team Liquid advances to MSI main stage with strategic 3-0 victory over Phong Vũ Buffalo