iNSaNiA Calls Out BuLba After Team Liquid Secures Top 3 at ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023

During Jonáš "SabeRLight-" Volek's post game interview with Jake "SirActionSlacks" Kanner, Team Liquid’s Captain Aydin "iNSaNiA" Sarkohi came running towards the duo and got in a quick message for Shopify Rebellion’s coach Kanishka "BuLba" Sosale.

iNSaNiA called out BuLba and questioned how Shopify Rebellion can lose with a player like SabeRLight- in its team. For those who've been out of touch with Liquid's recent developments, at the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, Team Liquid faced a problem with one of their player’s visas.

Newly-joined Neta "33" Shapira could not make it to ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 due to visa issues so Liquid had to resort to playing with a stand-in. SabeRLight- who is currently playing for Shopify Rebellion joined the ranks of Team Liquid for the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023.

iNSaNia Sends a Message to BuLba

During the post-game interview after a victory over BetBoom Team, Team Liquid's captain iNSaNiA was not shy to call out Shopify Rebellion's coach, BuLba. While SabeRLight- was talking to SirActionSlacks, iNSaNiA grabbed the mic and said, "I would like to send a message to BuLba. How do you lose with this man [SabeRLight-] in your team, man?"

Shopify Rebellion hasn't had success in recent tournaments. It finished with a heartbreaking 13th-16th standing at The International 2023, 15th-16th standing at the Riyadh Masters 2023, and 9th-12th at the Bali Major 2023 amongst others.

However, interestingly, SabeRLight- has been finding success at the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 with Team Liquid, as it managed to secure a top 3 finish at the tournament. It defeated some formidable teams like Team Secret, 9Pandas, and Tundra Esports in its journey.

SabeRLight- Boasts About His Mars Pick

During the lower bracket semi finals Team Liquid faced BetBoom Team, Liquid opted to play aggressive and drafted Mars for SabeRLight- in both the games. Mars has been heavily buffed in the recent patch of 7.35.

In the post game interview, SabeRLight- mentioned how Mars has been buffed and since he was “the only one” to do the Arena + Spear combo he will now be “cooking.” The patch notably saw a decrease in the formation time of Arena of Blood from 0.3s to 0.1s and a decrease in the backswing of Spear of Mars from 1.03s to 0.15s which means the combo can be done extremely quickly.

Team Liquid vs BetBoom Team: A Recap

In the first match of the series, the narrative unfolded with BetBoom establishing an early advantage by securing the first kill on Michael "miCKe" Vu's Medusa in the top lane. In response, Team Liquid responded by moving its supports and mid Pangolier around the map to find kills. Concurrently, SabeRLight- held the fort in the bottom lane, keeping Egor "Nightfall" Grigorenko’s Lifestealer in check.

Despite Team Liquid's initial onslaught, the tide turned at the 20th-minute mark when a pivotal team fight broke out in the bottom radiant jungle. Surprisingly, BetBoom not only withstood Team Liquid's pressure but managed to wipe Liquid out, swinging the gold advantage in its favor.

Nevertheless, the pendulum swung again in the 40th minute when Team Liquid, besieging the top lane barracks, executed a game-changing play. iNSaNiA's expertly-timed Nether Swap on Nightfall's Lifestealer, who possessed the Aegis of the Immortal but lacked gold for a buyback. Liquid swiftly capitalized on this opportunity, instantly killing Lifestealer. Before Lifestealer could react and BetBoom could mount a counter-response, SabeRLight-'s impeccable Arena + Spear combo sealed Lifestealer's fate. Unable to recover from Liquid's overwhelming damage output, BetBoom ultimately conceded defeat, throwing in the white towel at the 42nd minute mark.

The second bout between Team Liquid and BetBoom unfolded as a riveting spectacle, marked by intense skirmishes that commenced as early as the 10-minute mark. Both teams remained in close pursuit, with BetBoom initially attempting to match Team Liquid's aggressive style. However, faced with mounting pressure, BetBoom shifted its strategy towards a more farm-oriented approach. Despite their efforts, Team Liquid persisted in applying pressure, with four players actively seeking opportunities and kills across the map while miCKe diligently farmed on his Lifestealer.

A notable occurrence took place during the late 24th-minute when SabeRLight-'s Mars landed a stunning blind Spear on Ivan "Pure" Moskalenko's Centaur Warruner, securing a crucial pickoff. Energized by this success, Team Liquid capitalized on this momentum by heading to Roshan. BetBoom, refusing to let this go uncontested, engaged in a major team fight near the Roshan pit. The skirmish concluded in Liquid's favor, nearly resulting in a team wipe with only Nightfall's Chaos Knight surviving.

As the game progressed, Team Liquid's continued aggression and strategic pick-offs around the map that left BetBoom struggling to farm and recover from a substantial 28,000 gold disadvantage. The inevitability of defeat loomed large, and at the 35th-minute mark, Team Liquid solidified its victory, spelling the end of BetBoom's journey in ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 and securing a top 3 finish.