The second fixture of the day was billed to be one of the best and it did not disappoint as a rock solid Team Liquid held off a hyper aggressive NRG eSports time and time again across two maps that featured several overtime clutches; TL denying NRG completion on both Dorado and Hollywood on the back of some big tank plays.

NRG looked ready to open their campaign on Dorado, a map which has become their spiritual home, whipping out the Seagull Hanzo straight out the gate. Initial advances beyond the archway are thwarted by id_'s Mei. A whiffed Dragon Strike Graviton and it seems like NRG are floundering, but with under a minute left to take the first point Seagull has switched off to the offensive Mei and finds the money Blizzard to tee up a successful push.

Momentum is favouring NRG as Gods struts into the streets phase with a huge Nano-Blossom 4 kill, but Liquid put a up a huge Graviton Earth Shatter defence in the jaws of the power station. The clock ticks down to single digits as NRG force overtime from respawn to find the frags and the capture to grant entry to the LumériCo Plant. NRG are up against the clock as they have been throughout and finally run out of steam metres from completion.

Liquid's attack brings out a 3-2-1 setup with Reinhardt, Winston and Zarya attempting to create space for AZK's McCree, but an aggressive forward hold reminiscent of EnVyUs by NRG outside the attackers spawn stalls them out for the first two minutes. TL manage to strong arm the fight, but end burning a lot of ultimates to clear out the stragglers and capture Point A.

After a back and forth in the streets AZK finds an opening on the flank for a huge Tracer play, cutting a swathe through the backline at the very moment milo and dummy attempt an ill-fated Nanoboost defensive push under the bridge. On the respawn NRG wipe again inside the power station, things look grim, a supercharged Gods Reaper issues a temporary beatdown to the Liquid lineup, but MESR and id_ take the fight right in to the defenders spawn and Team Liquid make the distance in overtime.

NRG enter Hollywood having lost their home map, obviously struggling on attack to even set that distance and ultimately having failed to deal with AZK and MESR in key fights. Team Liquid open on attack again with the same 3-2-1 setup, but find their Nanoboosted Winston frozen out by the Mei of Seagull. A broken milo shield in to Graviton eventually spells doom for the defence as Liquid unlock the payload.

No respect is shown by NRG who rush forward toward the payload that is still parked up with the confines of A. The hyper aggressive defence forces out multiple ults from a panicked Liquid. Despite NRG having the ultimate advantage in the next fight a Hail Mary Nanoboost on to id_'s Zarya sets up the wipe as respawns arrive just in the nick of time to collapse on NRG outside the saloon. Team Liquid gain access to the hangar, but another hyper aggressive spawn push from NRG shaves a minute off the clock - enigma holds his Graviton in the face of a resurgent TL breaking out of their own spawn, until eventually NRG unload all their ults in the next fight clearing the attackers off the limo in overtime.

Once again NRG struggle initially on attack, eventually cracking A with a well-placed Graviton from enigma to snare the Liquid supports with less than a minute to go. Team Liquid stall out NRG in front of the streets checkpoint. With seconds remaining NRG commit their Nano advantage to Gods' Reaper in the overtime all or nothing push, but MESR lands the pin, strike and swing on Gods before become the supercharged street sweeper himself.

NRG's aggression has been refreshing to watch, but often seems to be their undoing – ironically becoming predictable and creating openings that a patient Team Liquid were all too ready to exploit. The post-game interview from rapha illustrates the different approaches to the game, with his main focus being placed on not losing rather than trying to brute force wins.

Team Liquid progress 2-0 to face EnVyUs in the Winners' Match, whilst NRG eSports must fight for their tournament life against Splyce.