Natus Vincere Natus Vincere Europe Unranked ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky Ruxic Uğur Güç hiro Emirhan Kat koalanoob Gianfranco Potestio have defeated Team Liquid Team Liquid Europe Unranked paTiTek Patryk Fabrowski kamyk Maks Rychlewski nAts Ayaz Akhmetshin Keiko Georgio Sanassy kamo Kamil Frąckowiak 2-0 to kick off Champions 2023. Every round of regulation was played across both maps, with four sets of overtime required to close out Bind.

NAVI came into the series after a disappointing string of play with a joint last-place finish at Masters: Tokyo. Liquid will likewise hope to recover from a Tokyo run that failed to live up to expectations. A 1-2 series record with losses to Evil Geniuses Evil Geniuses North America Unranked Derrek Derrek Ha NaturE Nicholas Garrison supamen Phat Le icy Jacob Lange yay Jaccob Whiteaker and NRG Esports NRG Esports North America Unranked FiNESSE Pujan Mehta s0m Sam Oh Verno Andrew Maust mada Adam Pampuch Ethan Ethan Arnold was an unfortunate turn of events for the EMEA League victors.

NAVI on stage NAVI are one game away from the playoffs. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Liquid got off to a hot start on their opponent's map pick of Fracture. A 4-0 lead and Jamppi delivering the first ace of the tournament were promising signs for Liquid coming into the series.

nAts returned to star form for Liquid in the series with a 1.26 rating, narrowly topping the server ahead of his Viper counterpart SUYGETSU . He began his stellar series by attempting to carry Liquid in map one — nAts was the only Liquid player to post a rating above 1.00 on Fracture.

All 24 rounds were required for NAVI to take the map and lead 1-0 in the series with the trio of SUYGETSU, cNed , and Zyppan delivering heavily in map one. SUYGETSU posted a team-high rating of 1.23, while cNed's Killjoy Operator was crucial to coming back into the first half with strong site holds. All the while Zyppan excelled on the entry, ending the map with 153 ADR.

Despite a map loss, Jamppi delivered the first ace at Champions.

ANGE1 's trademark playstyle was on full display coming into Bind, Liquid's map pick. NAVI took strong early leads in both halves, largely off the back of aggressive info gathering from the in-game leader. ANGE1 also found great success as an individual, dropping 152 ADR and the highest ACS for his team with 221.

The ex-Gambit duo of Redgar and nAts combined to keep the map close while Sayf provided extra fragging. Bind was an excellent map for the old Gambit roster and Redgar displayed his comfort with mid-round calls that kept Liquid in the map. nAts likewise reminded of Gambit's performances with 193 ADR and 34 kills to end the map.

NAVI turned to SUYGETSU as their own star player to rival nAts. A 1v3 in round 18 and a 1.23 rating provided the boost necessary for NAVI to narrowly cross the finish line after four sets of overtime, closing out Bind 17-15 and the series 2-0.

ANGE1 on stage ANGE1's unique playstyle excelled versus Liquid. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Liquid are now one game away from elimination in groups and will face off against the loser of LOUD LOUD Brazil Unranked dgzin Douglas Silva v1nny Vínicius Gonçalves pANcada Bryan Luna tuyz Arthur Andrade cauanzin Cauan Pereira and DRX DRX Korea Unranked Flashback Cho Min-hyuk (조민혁) MaKo Kim Myeong-gwan (김명관) Athan Na Ha-jun (나하준) freeing No Ha-jun (노하준) HYUNMIN Song Hyun-min (송현민) on Thursday, Aug. 10.

NAVI proceed to the winners game of Group D and will face off against the victor of the aforementioned series tomorrow for a spot in the playoffs.

“I really want to face aspas ,” said SUYGETSU.