Even legends can falter. And so it was with Team Liquid Team Liquid Europe Unranked paTiTek Patryk Fabrowski kamyk Maks Rychlewski nAts Ayaz Akhmetshin Keiko Georgio Sanassy kamo Kamil Frąckowiak .

After a rough Stage 1, Stage 2 saw the team get back into form. The team only lost four games on their path to qualification for Masters Reykjavik, where they placed fourth after a 2-0 loss to FNATIC FNATIC Europe Unranked crashies Austin Roberts Boaster Jake Howlett kaajak Kajetan Haremski Chronicle Timofey Khromov Alfajer Emir Ali Beder .

But upon returning home, things just weren't the same for Liquid.

soulcas, L1NK and Jamppi walk away from the camera Liquid want to avoid a repeat of Masters 2 in Berlin (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games).

The first warning sign for Liquid was an early exit in Stage 3: Challengers 1, when they were swept by FunPlus Phoenix FunPlus Phoenix Inactive SUYGETSU Dmitry Ilyushin Zyppan Pontus Eek ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky ardiis Ardis Svarenieks in the lower bracket. Liquid pressed on and returned for Challengers 2, where they managed to take first place and reach the EMEA Challengers Playoffs.

There, Natus Vincere Natus Vincere Europe Unranked ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky Ruxic Uğur Güç hiro Emirhan Kat koalanoob Gianfranco Potestio upset Liquid in the opening match after taking a 2-1 win. Liquid held on for two more games in the lower bracket, later eliminated by Gambit Esports Gambit Esports Inactive Redgar Igor Vlasov Chronicle Timofey Khromov d3ffo Nikita Sudakov sheydos Bogdan Naumov nAts Ayaz Akhmetshin 2-1 in the qualifying round.

Something wasn't right. Liquid felt it, and they knew something had to be done about it. So they added a little more of the Benrlitom blood. On September 25, Liquid announced they would be swapping James "Kryptix" Affleck out for Nabil "Nivera" Benrlitom, Adil "ScreaM" Benrlitom's brother, as the Last Chance Qualifier approached. If something good were to happen, it needed to happen then and there.

And, boy, did something good happen.

Nivera's debut map, played against One Breath Gaming One Breath Gaming Inactive minse Vladislav Kuzminykh zeddy Nikolai Lapko , was marked by an Ace on the pistol round and a 13-0. Liquid then won the second map 13-9 to close out the series, and proceeded to ravage through Guild Esports Guild Esports Inactive , G2 Esports G2 Esports Inactive and Guild again in the grand final, to book their Valorant Champions ticket.

“This victory is just amazing,” Nivera said after reaching Champions. “I'm probably gonna cry in my bed. It's so crazy. This is my first tournament. First tournament, first win. It's crazy.”

ScreaM and soulcas looking at each other ScreaM had the second-highest ACS of Reykjavik. How high can he go in Berlin? (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

With the Benrlitom brothers buff in full swing, Liquid decided to attend the Red Bull Home Ground #2. The Jamppi-led squad crushed absolutely everyone in their way. They topped Group D while only dropping 13 rounds. In the playoffs, they only lost one map, in the grand final against Acend, showing how ready they were for Champions.

Ever since Liquid signed Nivera, they've only lost three maps in the span of nearly two months. That includes 10 games, all in which Liquid has shown clinical precision and newfound life. Take it from Martin "MAGNUM" Penkov, who recently told VLR.gg that Liquid is the team that has most garnered his respect, with huge potential and on a whole other level ever since the addition of Nivera.

Liquid are placed in Group B of Valorant Champions. They'll lock horns with KRÜ Esports KRÜ Esports Latin America South Unranked keznit Angelo Mori Mazino Roberto Rivas adverso Benjamín Poblete Shyy Fabian Usnayo Melser Marco Eliot Machuca Amaro , Sentinels Sentinels North America Unranked N4RRATE Marshall Massey bang Sean Bezerra Zellsis Jordan Montemurro zekken Zachary Patrone johnqt Mohamed Amine Ouarid and FURIA FURIA Brazil Unranked heat Olavo Marcelo raafa Rafael Lima mwzera Leonardo Serrati havoc Ilan Eloy Khalil Khalil Schmidt . Liquid will first play on the second day of the tournament, on the second game of that day.

Ever since Reyjkavik, the world has wanted Liquid back on LAN. It hasn't happened. Until now. They're back, and hungrier than ever.

Liquid were there for Riot's first-ever international Valorant LAN. They'll be there for Riot's first-ever world championship Valorant LAN.