G2 Esports took down Futbolist in the upper bracket of the VALORANT Champions Tour: EMEA LCQ, but it took 42 rounds in Game 2 on Breeze. G2 ultimately won 22-20 in a grueling overtime. But, according to Žygimantas “nukkye” Chmieliauskas, G2 were never in doubt.
“Everyone had a really, really good mood, knowing we were gonna 2-1 them, even though we lost the first map,” nukkye said in the post-match interview. “That was just the hunger for everybody and nobody really gave up until the last moment. Nobody was tired, everybody was calling 100% and we kept focus for the entire game.”
That was a long evening 2-1 vs Futbolist, facing the winner of Guild/Liquid. Happy that we managed to keep the composure thru the entire BO3 and to close it out! GG #G2ARMY ♥️
— nukkye (@nukkye) October 13, 2021
That focus paid off, as the Masters 3: Berlin contenders forced a Map 3 after struggling on Map 1. At first, G2 were on the brink of going 0-2 in the upper bracket of the LCQ against Futbolist. On Icebox, G2 lost 13-7 and nukkye acknowledged the slow start.
“They were hitting their shots. They had full energy in the first map, so it was kinda hard to get into the game,” nukkye said. “It’s not like we played terrible. They were just outperforming us individually. They won the clutches, they won the after-plants…. Everything was going their way, so that map was theirs.”
G2 moves on to upper final in VCT EMEA LCQ
Once the second-longest overtime in VCT was over, G2 hit their stride. With a 13-2 win on Ascent, G2 made quick work of the Turkish team. They head into the upper final confidently, but the work is far from over. While G2 are one of the stronger teams in the EMEA LCQ, Futbolist’s performance should serve as a wake-up call.
According to nukkye, it is partly due to the fact that there was less time to prepare than others, but also there that are VODs of them playing at Masters 3: Berlin. He went on to explain that teams were able to change a lot in the time that they were not playing official matches.
“Futbolist changed their Jett player, so it was a different approach from them compared to what we prepared for the match,” nukkye said.
It is a disadvantage, according to nukkye. But, for G2, it proved enough. G2 take a large step toward Champions, but they first will have to face the winner of Guild Esports and Team Liquid in the LCQ upper final.
