Map Pick and Agent Composition
Leviatán banned Lotus first during the map selection process, and KRU banned Bind in retaliation. Next, Leviatán selected Icebox, and KRU selected Sunset. Regarding agent selection, Leviatán chose to go with the standard group of agents: Jett Killjoy, Viper Sova, and Harbor. KRU, on the other hand, made their decision and went with Kayo over Harbor.
Regarding the second map, Sunset, both teams are catching up with the meta-running Omen, Neon, Cypher, Sova, and Breach. The well-balanced agent composition allows the team to control the map with the Breach and have a strong site hold with Cypher. For the dualist part, Neon has been good after the buff, giving her solid abilities for site-taking.
A One-sided Affair on Icebox
The match between Leviatán and Kru kicked off with Leviatán 's strong defense, quickly scoring the first round with a smart retake and only losing one player. Kru struggled to find their success, losing the next three rounds until Atom called a much-needed timeout to regroup. The phenomenal player Aspas from Leviatán was unstoppable with his operator, shutting down any chance of Kru taking the lead. Despite Kru calling for a second timeout in round nine, Leviatán continued to dominate, allowing KRU to score only two rounds by the first half.
Twitch Stream Fragment - killjoy showdown
The second half saw Leviatán crushing over KRU, not giving them a chance to return, ultimately giving them their first series defeat.
The Last Nail in the Coffin
In the second map, Leviatán came out strong after their previous win, taking an early lead over KRU. KiNgg landed an impressive three kills in the second round. However, they faced a challenge in the fifth round when they found themselves in a tough spot. KiNgg and Mazino stepped up to win a two-versus-three situation.
Twitch Stream Fragment - Nice retake
They were not an easy opponent, preventing them access to the site and stopping KRU at every turn with the help of Tex. KRU fought back, securing a second thrifty round in the first half, but Leviathan kept dominating, finishing with a 10-2 lead. In the second half, Leviatán struggled to find success on A site, allowing KRU to win the pistol round. However, Leviatán eventually secured a 13-4 victory, making them one step closer to the grand final.
Twitch Stream Fragment - Winning moment for Leviatán
Meanwhile, KRU is sent to the lower bracket, where they will have a chance at redemption against the loser of the match between G2 Esports and 100 Thieves. Leviathan will face the winner of that match in the next round.
What Does This Victory Mean for Sentinels
Sentinels lost against 100 Thieves in the Knockout round, disqualifying them from the playoffs but not from the champions. In one scenario, Sentinels can qualify for Valorant Champions 2024 if Leviatán wins this match, allowing Sentinels to be eligible with points. Luckily, Leviatán won this match stress-free, giving Sentinels a way to the Champions 2024 event.