Liquid edge out close game against Party Astronauts to make Showdown final

In the second game for Liquid against tier two NA opposition, it once again took all three maps for the Intel Grand Slam winning organisation to topple their opponents.

This time Party Astronauts, a team who impressed by beating Imperial in the first round, the NA side put up a valiant effort in their defeat.

With three maps to recap, let's go over the action.

Liquid win Inferno with ease

As has often been the case with these Showdown matches, map picks were traded in order for the game to go all three maps. In this game it was Party Astronauts who picked Inferno, but that was a decision they would soon come to regret as Liquid dismantled them 16-8.

A disappointing map for Party Astronauts, ben1337 in particular struggled as he managed just five kills in the 24 rounds. grizz performed best, he went 17-17 to be the only Party Astronauts player with a neutral KD.

Patsi was the biggest star for Liquid, his 23-13, 1.47 HLTV rated game is one of his best so far in a Liquid shirt. Backed up by NAF and oSee, the trio were key in Liquid's decimation of Party Astronauts.

Photo: Michal Konkol

Party Astronauts claim Overpass

With Liquid taking Party Astronaut's map pick off them, it was time for Party Astronauts to return the favour and win on Overpass. The closest map of the series with a 16-11 scoreline, ben1337 again struggled with an 11-15 statline.

For Party Astronauts to win, however, young trio, spek, viz, and Grizz all stepped up for Party Astronauts as they each hit the 20 kill mark. spek especially excelled, he closed out the map 26-14.

NAF and oSee continued their strong map ones into map two, they both finished with above 20 kills as well but it wasn't enough to see Liquid close out the series 2-0.

Photo: Michal Konkol

Liquid return to dominance on Mirage

The decider map was to be played on Mirage, and given how Liquid played, they'll be scratching their heads as to why they didn't pick it. A 16-7 win, it was the most comfortable Liquid have looked all Showdown.

Patsi returned to the top of the scoreboard, his 25 kills took him two kills higher than his total on Inferno. oSee also continued to shine, his 25-9 performance was his best of an already strong series.

As for Party Astronauts, PwnAlone managed to end positive with an 18-17 statline, but they missed spek as he could only muster up eight kills alongside his 20 deaths.

Photo: Michal Konkol