The trophy drought is officially over. In a display of dominance that reminded fans of their glory days, Team Liquid swept through the iBUYPOWER Masters FML 2026 in Las Vegas, claiming the title without dropping a single map.
For an organization that has spent years navigating roster shuffles and near-misses, this victory serves as a vital psychological breakthrough. While the $30,000 event in Las Vegas might not carry the prestige of a Major, the significance of lifting a LAN trophy for the first time since July 2019 cannot be overstated.
A Flawless Campaign
Liquid entered the tournament as the clear favorites, but they backed up the billing with clinical efficiency. Their path to the grand final was methodical: they dismantled Chicken Coop and NRG in the group stage before overcoming M80 in the semifinals.
The grand final against Wildcard was a statement performance. Liquid’s CT-side on Inferno was suffocating, allowing them to cruise to a 13-4 victory. They followed that up with a 13-9 win on Anubis, effectively shutting the door on any potential comeback from Wildcard. Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa was the standout performer throughout the event, anchoring the squad with a 1.62 rating in the final and proving his worth as a cornerstone of this current lineup.
What This Means for Liquid
This result is more than just a prize pool boost; it is the momentum shift the team desperately needed. After years of struggling to close out events, securing a clean 2-0 sweep in the final proves that the current iteration of the roster—featuring NAF, EliGE, malbsMd, Jorko, and JT—is finally finding its rhythm.
With this trophy in the cabinet, the pressure shifts to the upcoming international circuit. The team is now looking toward PGL Masters Bucharest, where the competition will be significantly stiffer. Whether this regional success translates to the global stage remains the ultimate question, but for now, Liquid can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Check out the latest MyEsports predictions to see how the scene is shaping up for the next set of events.