Aurora Gaming Ends Team Liquid’s Four-Peat Bid
Aurora Gaming PH eliminated defending champion Team Liquid PH, 4-3, to punch its ticket to the MPL Philippines Season 18 Grand Finals and secure the second Philippine slot at the M8 World Championship.
The Northern Lights shattered the Cavalry’s hopes of completing a historic four-peat, denying the defending champions a chance to extend their reign after a grueling best-of-seven showdown.
Team Liquid had defeated Aurora during the first half of the regular season, but the Northern Lights turned the tables in their subsequent meetings, handing the Cavalry consecutive losses in the high-stakes playoffs.
With the victory, the M7 World Champions will join Team Falcons PH as the Philippines’ representatives at the M8 World Championship in Istanbul, Türkiye, as they look to defend their world title.
The Cavalry Strikes First
Team Liquid drew first blood in the series, with KarlTzy’s Aulus securing a double kill in the bottom lane at the 8:57 mark after Jaypee’s Marcel landed a four-man Golden Hour on Aurora, trimming the gold deficit to just 3,000.
Both squads went neck and neck, reaching an 11-11 deadlock past the 14-minute mark. However, Aurora secured a comfortable lead of more than 5,000 gold following a 1-for-1 trade during the Lord fight.
Jaypee’s Marcel stole the spotlight once again, perfectly timing a Golden Hour to freeze three Aurora members during an 18-minute mid-lane jungle clash.
The play allowed the Cavalry to secure a favorable 3-for-0 trade, erase its gold deficit, and claim the Lord uncontested.
Team Liquid mounted its comeback during the 19:20 base siege after Sanford’s Atlas caught three Aurora members with Fatal Links.
Teddy’s Harith made his presence felt, posting an impressive 8-2-8 KDA to give Team Liquid its first win of the series.
Aurora Fights Back
Aurora responded emphatically in Game 2, taking complete control of the map by securing all three Turtle objectives before Domeng’s Freya delivered a double kill during a 10:17 clash in the top lane.
With Team Liquid down to just three members, Aurora capitalized on its numerical advantage and ended the game at the 10:39 mark. Nathzz’s Yu Zhong proved reliable in the frontlines, finishing with a commendable 4-1-5 KDA as the Northern Lights equalized the series at 1-1.
The Cavalry Rallies Back
In Game 3, Aurora debuted a Thamuz pick in the hands of Domeng in the gold lane, marking a rare appearance for the fighter hero in the role since MPL PH Season 8.
Aurora held the lead until the 11-minute Lord objective clash, but Teddy exploded for a triple kill after finding his way to the backlines with a Leap of Faith-Flicker combo.
Teddy’s Freya continued to prove reliable in the gold lane, earning another MVP performance with a 7-1-6 KDA as Team Liquid reclaimed the series lead, 2-1.
Aurora Comes Back Biting
Aurora flipped the script once again in Game 4, dismantling Team Liquid behind Koyl’s Hirara, who secured a double kill during a seven-minute mid-lane clash as the Northern Lights also claimed the Turtle objective.
Despite Team Liquid’s efforts to fight back, Aurora built a lead of as much as 10,000 gold past the 17:27 mark.
The advantage grew further after the Cavalry failed to contest the 20-minute Lord. Koyl’s Hirara then secured a double kill, triggering a four-man wipeout that left only Jaypee’s Marcel alive to defend Team Liquid’s base.
Light’s Kalea absorbed much of the damage in the frontlines while maintaining a perfect 0-0-12 KDA, helping Aurora level the series at 2-2.
Aurora Takes the Lead
Game 5 saw Aurora’s Yue and Light work like a well-oiled machine, with Yue’s Zetian and Light’s Marcel combining Golden Hour and Fury of the Phoenix during a 4:46 clash to stun at least four Team Liquid members.
Aurora came out ahead in the ensuing Turtle fight, securing a favorable 3-for-1 trade despite Koyl’s Nolan getting picked off.
The Northern Lights eventually took a 3-2 series lead after another decisive team fight at the 15:37 mark. Yue’s Zetian landed Fury of the Phoenix to stun four Team Liquid members, while Light’s Marcel led the ensuing base siege with Golden Hour.
Nathzz’s Barats served as Aurora’s frontline punching bag, absorbing the brunt of Team Liquid’s attacks while finishing with a 1-1-13 KDA.
Team Liquid Forces Game 7
Refusing to go down without a fight, Team Liquid delivered an emphatic response in Game 6 to force a winner-take-all decider.
The Cavalry raced to an 8-0 lead approaching the six-minute mark, with Sanji’s Zhuxin securing a double kill during a top-lane clash. He was eventually punished by Koyl’s Hirara for overextending, but Team Liquid maintained its momentum.
Despite Aurora’s valiant stand, Team Liquid unleashed its signature stampede during a 16:21 mid-lane jungle clash. Jaypee’s Belerick answered Domeng’s Cici’s Curtain Call with Wrath of the Dryad, turning the engagement in the Cavalry’s favor.
The clash left Aurora scrambling to defend its base, with only Domeng’s Cici and Nathzz’s Barats remaining against four Team Liquid members.
Sanji’s Zhuxin stepped up when it mattered most, finishing the game with a 3-1-9 KDA as Team Liquid forced the series into a deciding seventh game.
Deliver the Final Blow
With their Grand Finals hopes hanging in the balance, both teams entered Game 7 with everything on the line. Team Liquid looked poised to complete the comeback and close out the grueling best-of-seven series.
However, Aurora found its opening through a crucial Lord steal from Koyl’s Suyou at the 13:13 mark, turning what could have been Team Liquid’s game-winning push into a disastrous team fight for the defending champions.
Koyl followed up the objective steal by helping Aurora secure a game-winning wipeout, even picking up a double kill during the ensuing bottom-lane chase.
Nathzz’s Yu Zhong anchored the Northern Lights with a 3-3-3 KDA as Aurora completed its comeback and eliminated Team Liquid, 4-3.
The victory not only ended the Cavalry’s historic four-peat bid but also secured Aurora’s place in the MPL Philippines Season 18 Grand Finals, alongside its ticket to the M8 World Championship.
