Tl Nats Press Conference Champions 2025 Group Stage
Team Liquid entered the group stage of VALORANT Champions 2025 with high expectations but encountered setbacks in their opening match. Facing DRX on September 13, the European roster struggled to find their footing as the Korean side closed out the series in two maps, moving forward in the upper bracket.
The loss placed Liquid in a critical position, setting up an elimination match against reigning champions EDward Gaming on September 19. Following the defeat, players spoke openly about the issues that surfaced during the match and acknowledged the challenges that await in their next test.
Where TL Fell Short
Team Liquid’s defeat against DRX at Champions 2025 raised more questions than answers. Both players and staff admitted they struggled to pinpoint the exact cause of the loss, highlighting uncertainty in their performance. This lack of clarity suggested that the issues were not tied to one specific mistake, but rather a mix of factors that disrupted their usual level of play.
One of the most telling signs came from Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin, who openly admitted he did not feel like his usual self during the match. His remarks reflected a broader challenge of consistency that the squad faced under pressure. The team’s coach, Ivo “LohaN” Albino, also acknowledged that they needed to carefully review the game to identify what went wrong.
Preparation time emerged as a potential factor. LohaN pointed out that international events often expose differences in how much time teams have to get ready. While he refused to use this as an excuse, he emphasized that Liquid did not enter the match as well-prepared as they could have been. Still, he made it clear that the main problem was execution, not scheduling.
The following table outlines the main issues raised after the match:
| Area | Observation |
|---|---|
| Player performance | nAts admitted he was not at his best |
| Team preparation | Limited prep time compared to other regions |
| Strategic clarity | Lack of clear explanation for what failed |
| Execution under stress | Team did not meet their usual standards |
Despite the setback, the in-game leader expressed confidence that the team could regroup. He stressed the importance of focusing on their own style of play and using the time before facing EDG to understand mistakes. The mindset was not about excuses, but about finding solutions strong enough to keep their run alive.
In short, Team Liquid’s struggles appeared to stem from a mix of underperformance, limited preparation, and difficulty adapting in the moment.
