Aurora Gaming PH snapped their losing streak against Team Liquid, dating back to the MPL Philippines Season 16 title match, with a phenomenal 2-1 victory in the opening day of the M7 World Championship Knockout Stage on Sunday at the MPL Arena XO Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The win propelled Aurora into the upper bracket semifinals, where they will face the winner of the all-Indonesian clash between Alter Ego and ONIC Esports.
Game 1 went deep into the late stages, with Jonard “Demonkite” Caranto (Baxia) and Kenneth “Yue” Tadeo (Kimmy) catching Alston “Sanji” Pabico (Pharsa) out of position near the bottom lord pit in the 21st minute, securing a crucial pickoff.
Aurora capitalized on the numbers advantage as Dylan “Light” Catipon (Grock) executed a timely Tectonic Charge setup. That enabled Jan “Domengkite” Delmundo (Granger) to secure the lord and trigger a game-clinching two-kill spree.
Team Liquid responded in Game 2 with a dominant performance, led by Japee “Jaypee” Dela Cruz (Khaleed).
His early-game aggression resulted in multiple pickoffs on Demonkite (Yi Sun Shin), and his Raging Sandstorm setup during an 11th-minute re-engage helped the reigning MPL Philippines champions secure a 5-for-2 wipeout, cruising to a lopsided equalizer.
In Game 3, Demonkite (Joy) showcased nerves of steel, securing the 15th-minute lord objective. Yue’s (Kimmy) two kills then sparked a series-clinching 5-for-2 wipeout.
Team Liquid now faces survival in the lower bracket, where another loss would mean outright elimination and the end of their Golden Road aspirations.
