BLASTPremier
BLAST Rivals Fort Worth 2026, Group Stage, Day 1 - Vitality vs FUT, Astralis vs G2, NAVI vs FaZe, FURIA vs GamerLegion
04-29-2026 · 11h 10m
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Music
Premier arrivals, Fort Worth, where we are in the city where the West begins, ready to
begin our tournament to find out who just might be Fort Worthy of this trophy.
And of course, to start off this tournament, I had to bring in the cowboy of Counter-Strike
himself.
We've got Mr. Dustin Morett here with me.
Dustin, how you doing today?
Doing great, man.
It's actually cool to be back here in Texas.
The first CS LAN I ever worked was 15 years ago, about 45 minutes down the
road.
really cool to get to revisit it here.
What's some great teams behind us?
Damn, you're old.
I am, man.
Moving into these teams that we've got,
for anyone who doesn't know, the last premier rivals
is an 18 tournament.
We have eight teams entering, divided
into two groups of four.
Six teams will make it through to the playoffs,
which means that you just have to win one series here
to appear in front of that NACS crowd.
And who wouldn't want to do such a thing?
Here in Group B, we've got FaZe, Navi, Furia,
the game and a legion, all of them vying to play in front of that crowd, all of them vying
to represent and for group A, we bring in foot, Vitality, Astralis and G2.
So the stage is set, the groups are there, the format is determined, but the question
remains what should we be looking for here, Dust?
Yeah, what is the question is can anyone actually topple Vitality?
You know, they have cemented themselves in era, they have become in my opinion
the greatest team of all time, and they're on a hot streak to kick off this year, and
no one seems to be able to match them.
Yeah, I don't think it's exactly a bull to take at this point.
They're establishing themselves as pretty freakin' unbelievable at every turn, every
moment where you think maybe this is where it ends, maybe they take off.
They just become better.
They just rise that much higher.
The question coming into this year was like, can they sustain?
We weren't really anticipating that they would just get better, but the question
is, Dust, who are we looking at to topple them?
if we're looking towards furia, perhaps the Brazilians,
why could they do it?
They've done it before, right?
I mean, that's really the kind of thing
you have to rely upon if you're a FURIA fans.
You've done this before, right?
We talked about a FURIA that really was the story,
in my opinion, of the second half of last year,
you know, winning four titles,
becoming a consistent contender,
and one of those wins, they did beat this Vitality team.
At Chengdu, they beat them 3-0.
They are one of the few teams to beat Vitality
and the best of five grand final,
which is what it's gonna take at this event as well
if they wanna hoist a trophy.
So, you know, this is one of the teams
that you kind of look at and you think,
if they can get their acts together,
there should be a squad that should be able to challenge.
And especially with the news of Fallen's retirement as well,
we know that he is going to be stepping away
from competing at the end of the year.
That's given a new sense of urgency
through to this Furia team, right?
This is a team they love Fallen.
They love holding his standard high.
And you got to imagine there's a ton of urgency now
to try and add to that trophy cabinet
here on his swan song run.
Absolutely, because they looked a lot more mortal this year
for Rona. Some good results,
not as good as what we saw at the end of last year.
But as you said, this is, you know,
Fallen's last hurrah as an in-game leader.
And he already has, in my opinion, an outstanding legacy.
He's definitely a Hall of Famer.
He's a guy we'll be talking about for years to come.
But any more trophies that you can add to the cabinet
on your way out is just going to add to your resume.
And look, if one of his last stories
as an in-game leader is finding a way to topple
the behemoth that is vitality,
that's just kind of another feather in the cap,
so to speak.
We're talking about another team that has started
to surge this year.
We've got to talk about the team in yellow and black.
We got to talk about Navi.
Absolutely.
I mean, Navi was a team that was really kind of teetering
on, on relevancy for a while there.
But, you know, I think they ended last year strong
with the top four finish of the Budapest Major.
And as you can see here on your screen,
they've had a pretty good year.
I mean, they've consistently placed within or near the top
five, they have a title to their name at the EPL
and then had a really good finish at Open Rotterdam,
you know, on their way here.
So this is another squad out there
that you feel has the tools to at least challenge Vitality.
Although so far, their previous meetings against Vitality
I've not gone so well.
No, perhaps not, but that's the big object
on everyone's radar.
And certainly Navi's gonna be trying to bring it.
We heard Blade talking about it, back at the open,
that this was the measuring stick, right?
As much as they might be good now,
as much as they might be competing for this trophies
when a vitality isn't present,
it's what can you do against the big dog
if you wanna claim those prestige trophies,
if you wanna win a Rivals,
if you wanna win a Major,
that's the team you gotta beat.
Move it on in as we focus a little bit on Group B.
There's also a huge storyline here, Dusk,
is what the heck are we expecting from phase? Yeah, phase is a tough one to really put your
thumb on right now. I mean, this is a team that has struggled. They're one of only three teams
in Counter Strike history that went from a major grand finalist to not even making the major.
And in the past, that might be because you just lost one RMR and you got unlucky. That's
what happened to the outsiders or the former Virtus. Pro team, right? But this squad,
it was a whole season under this new VRS system that pushed them out of being an attendee
that is horrendous. You see
the results there. They really
do speak for themselves. This
is a team that has been
teetering on death for quite
some time and now they have
to try to have twist,
basically come up and try to
lead this team to something
new. Yeah, of course, that has
led to change, right? We've
got net you in because
Karrigan left Karrigan that
the standard bear the totem
of phase for so long is now
on Falcons. We've got net
you coming in. We've got
twists taking over the
captaincy taking over the
I yelling short term, and
that is a huge
responsibility on his
shoulders. Yeah, I mean
that he he he he he
Yeah, I mean, he's like kind of the one thing that you know, maybe might last a while, right?
He seems kind of committed to trying to lead the rebuild of this new phase and try to add a new chapter
because for a long time it was Rain's team, then it kind of became Kerrigan's team.
And now it is going to have to be Twist's team. You know, you kind of look at the interview he
did here with HLTV where he feels like he does take a lot of responsibility and he feels like
if he can be a great captain and make this team work, it'll really kind of flip the script
on how we assess phase going forward and this has been a storyline for a long time that twist
may be the heir apparent to Karrigan but I don't think anyone expected the transition to happen
like this I mean it's clear from the phase side that there's some hurt feelings about Karrigan
exiting in this fashion and I mean for twist as well you talk about we were expecting like maybe
a gentle baton pass of mentorship into leadership now it's like you're ballgame buddy yeah and
he's one of the few North American representatives that are going to be at this tournament obviously
being Canadian, but we know that phase is an American organization and you know, he really
is a guy who kind of speaks here in the interview about, you know, it's important to represent
phase in North America and to get into that arena. And again, try to give phase a new
look and it's going to be interesting because there's always that debate that happens. The
same thing kind of happened with Nico where it's like, do you go ahead and move away from
being a star player to being an in-game leader? Do you sacrifice that? You know,
Twitz has kind of enforced into it for this moment. As far as what happens long term,
No idea. But for right now, he's the guy.
That's the question. What I will say is if they do manage to make it through the first round matchup,
if they do manage to make it into that arena, we know Texas loves FaZe.
So that would certainly be a lift and a little bit of a buoy to a team that needs any sort of life wrap that they can find.
Listen, it can't get any worse, you know, for the most part.
So listen, any small signs of life would be huge for them right now. Let's just put it that way.
And I mean, we are looking to the future, right? The question is going to be how deep of a rebuild is this going to be?
Is it going to be studs up?
We're going to ship a thesis on faith?
Or are we going to try and continue this roster in some way, shape, or form?
Well, if you're believing in the future of faith,
you can head on over to do your blast.tv fantasy courtesy of giving Malta here.
We're going to build our own here, Dusk.
We're going to see if we can do better than everybody else out here.
Diamond tier, what are we taking?
Who are we taking?
We're taking, we're taking, we're like, what are we talking about?
We're not trying to reinvent the wheel.
We're not trying to take a bolt back.
Okay, so we're talking with the number one player in the world.
Go ahead and throw them on there.
Lock him in.
We're feeling French early on.
Platinum tier, who we got?
I'm going to go Macaulay.
He's got the hot man this year.
I like him.
We're going to go ahead and give him a shot here.
He's going high percentage picks right now.
Gold.
I'm going to take Frozen.
He's the one bright thing happening over there.
So I'm going to go ahead and give him his look here.
He has been consistent even in the darkest moments.
It feels like now maybe if they get a little bit of a surge,
maybe Frozen is the driving force behind it.
I see the logic.
I see the vision.
Silver tier.
Silver tier got to be apex, right?
I mean, this team's going all the way.
So let me go ahead and take the cap.
reading the high percent no I'm right I'm being realistic all right bronze tier who
we got no vitality players you can't go easy
swanson fallen Jacob Nate you the new guy in for phase let me give it to fallen
let them have a nice right that's right I was thinking maybe a Lexi B but we'll
get falling a little right here okay we're playing it safe we're going
high percentage picks all the way through that's that's how it was the
highest percentage pick in that category we got a lock in it he was
is actually pretty high percentage.
We're locking it in.
We've got our fantasy there, courtesy of gaming Malta.
And there's also been a little bit of a fantasy of mine,
which has been realized and made flesh,
which is like, cash is back.
Cash is back, baby.
It's not quite in the pool just yet,
but let's be real, we know what's coming.
It's currently available and played the game.
Oh my God, it's so beautiful, Dust.
Look at that.
It's so beautiful, man.
I miss you, Josh.
Cash has been one of my favorite masters so long.
I mean, I was a Counter-Strike source player
back in the day, and that's where Cash
kind of got introduced, and we obviously saw it in CSGO,
We haven't seen this map in competition, except for some show matches since 2019.
It's been a really long seven years to get to this point.
Again, the last major was I am Sydney that featured this one.
The last blast event was a Miami pro series way back in the day.
So I can't wait to see this thing come back in after the major.
That's actually crazy.
Only 20 percent of the players here have played an MVP event in cash.
It speaks to the new era of Counter-Strike.
And I just personally have to say, I'm glad they found the weed killer
for the map. I'm really liking what I'm seeing. I cannot wait to get back into the server myself
and get my hands on this, but oh my god, look at this. It's like it never left.
Yeah, they've done a great job with this. I mean, kind of like what we saw happen with Overpass and
maybe a bit on Inferno. It's just that aesthetic uplift. It's kept the core fundamentals of the
map. You know, it really hasn't tweaked, I think, too much as far as how the approach will be.
Obviously, CS2 just being a different game. Utility being different in this game. Those
types of things will impact how this map is played, but the foundation is very much the
same as what we've known for years.
And if you're wondering, production's opinion on what map should go, you can read that lower
third.
They're saying Anubis.
I don't know about that one, Chief.
I like my Anubis, but we'll have to see because it's almost time for us to get
into the match.
But before we do, a quick break.
MUSIC
The Rock Life Arena crowd is done.
Let's get into this swamp.
Oh, a very loud and warm welcome here in Hong Kong.
You like this?
Now that people are here, is that crazy?
If you think.
It would be cool if we opened the show.
Act out Moody's Center from I Would Killed It.
Alright then, how would you do it?
First, I remind them where we are.
Austin, Texas.
This state has been the beating heart of Counter-Strike for 25 years.
You know, who's waiting for you backstage?
You wanna hear your hype?
You wanna feel it?
Six teams entered here,
we know that there is only one prize waiting on this stage.
Let's blow up!
Make some noise!
That's it.
Music, people, give a rise.
Do you feel it?
Your heart pounding with anticipation that shiver down your spine.
Counter-strike lives within us.
From the bottom of your heart, the pain in your heart.
We were happy that they won the Grandslam because I knew they were going to take one week off
and I think we had the best chance to beat them, even though it's not that high, you
know, like they are the best team in the world and in CS.
But like right now, I don't know, no expectation, but it's nothing to do.
Maybe I just had to come back and beat them because nobody can do it, you know, I
don't know.
For us it doesn't change much in the way we take the game.
We know they can be strong.
I don't know much about Kulio as a player.
I just saw that he's actually a really young coach.
I'm 33 years old, he's 25 and he's coaching, so he still has it in him, I'm pretty sure.
So for us it's going to be like just focusing on ourselves, focusing on what we have to do
and hopefully we're going to get the W today.
The Kings of Counter-Strike arrive here in Fort Worth, take their place upon the stage
and Coolio's making no bones about their role in this one.
He knows that it is an outside shot for a foot to challenge this because these
these guys have just been that damn good.
Indeed they have and they've kicked off the year very well with four events in a row.
But foot to team that's been on the rise and they've been doing some good things.
They're fresh off of, you know, going from being an academy team to being a team that
hoisted a tier one trophy and they beat some really good teams to do it out on Bucharest
beating Mongols, beating Paravision, beating Astralis, top 10 teams in the world.
So they really have made a lot of progression in a short amount of time.
I mean meteoric ascension, right?
It has to be said.
obviously a huge asterisk on the expectations for them at this event purely because they have
Culeo coming in because Lawn X the guy who really was a difference maker when he joined this team
isn't with them isn't that that signal bearer that that standard bearer that that spark plug
for the wrestler roster they're going to be missing him for sure but you can't diminish
how successful foot have been this season. Yeah obviously missing long says huge I mean he's
their entry fragger he's the heartbeat of the team he's the emotional leader of the squad
You know, you always see him pumping everyone up.
He's a guy who's matured a lot, even though he's still very young in age.
And this whole team, he's young in age.
I mean, the oldest guy on the team is Corbinny at 21 years old.
They're in game leader.
Everyone else is a teenager.
I mean, it's a squad that it's so cool to see that story.
Again, they were Navi's Academy team.
They were limited on the opportunities they were able to get.
They weren't even really playing lands, period.
And now, you know, going over to the foot organization,
this is a year where they got a chance to, you know,
finally get into the tier one scene.
And they've, again, rapidly excelled to a very high level, in my opinion.
I thought it was interesting that Apex pointed out that even Culeo, their coach, is quite
young by coaching standards, 25 or right, but still bringing in a wealth of competitive
experience and not so far removed from his playing career that we can't imagine a world
where he can hold his own.
Yeah, I mean, he actually did a play for the official team of Hungary in IESF in
2024.
That's the last land he played.
So he has, you know, dabbled a bit on the server, I guess you could say as
a player, but this is a much different stage that's being set here than the one
that I just mentioned.
So it's going to be tough, but you know, the thing about this that kind of helps for
us, they do have Wally distributed talent.
There's still a lot of skilled players in that team even if it wants us in here.
And also Coolio can kind of maybe help with the calling a little bit, is he's going to
be in the server with them.
So there's a couple of things that help them out, but we're kind of grasping that
should also be honest.
Well, I was curious about it.
So I asked Coolio, let's give it a listen.
Coolio, tough situation for you, stepping back into the server.
How's the crosshair feeling?
Crosshair is feeling good, the movement not that good.
So closer, good movement, shaky, but we'll see.
Now, with this kind of situation, right,
where you don't have long on accident,
you're playing, how much do you have to change things up?
How much do you want to alter things
about how the team functions or how you call?
Like we change a little bit with positions.
Like we will try to use me like, I don't know,
in a smart way, but like in the same time,
I'm not going to take over the calling or something.
We just want to keep everything how we have
and that's just how it is.
So maybe he's the secret weapon.
Maybe that crosshairs feeling good movement, not so much.
But I do like the idea that he's not
trying to rock the boat too much.
Sometimes you do see him when the coach comes in,
they feel an obligation to call, because they feel like that's
where they can have the most impact.
But let's be honest, Krabini's shown pretty good ability
to command that team.
Yeah, Krabini really has solidified himself
as that quote unquote, fragging IGL that you speak of.
And he's a guy who's one of the highest rated IGLs
on the top 10 team also very good entry stat.
So yeah, you're missing lancest the tip of your spear,
but you still have for Benny who has that just nature to him
where he can aggressively lurk and take entries
in his own right.
But yeah, I mean, Culeo coming in,
if he is just gonna fill in lancest positions
and it is true that they're not changing anything,
that puts him in a lot of star roles, right?
I mean, they really do trust in lancest
to kind of be their big space taker
to play a lot of key CT positions.
So I am kind of curious how that'll play out
in the server today.
I think there's also an emotional element
that we have to consider.
I was watching Kulio's interview with Kay Busy recently
on the halftime show.
And one of the things that he mentioned
that they've been learning through their last few events
is the emotional regulation, right?
They played the first event where they sort of made a studio,
they made a stage, and they were maybe too hype.
Screaming after everything we know launches
a big piece of that big voice, shall we say,
literally on and off the server.
And maybe their level was too high.
They've been finding that nice middle ground,
getting towards a safer, more level point.
But if you're gonna be missing that spark plug,
If you're going to be missing one of those big arithmetic pieces of the equation to find
the right level, somebody else is going to have to step up.
And I don't think Kulio's a shouter.
No, I mean, but at least on the server, they do still have a lot of talent.
I mean, Cemetery was the MVP of the tournament that they just won, right?
So you're hoping that his op can still come alive in a tournament like this.
Obviously, you have Jugs, who's one of the best anchors out there, in my opinion.
And again, we've already mentioned the impact that Benny can have.
And, you know, Demon's also a really solid player in his own right.
So I mean, they still do have a lot of skill on the server.
you're facing a way different
opponent than you ever faced before,
and you're not even able to put
your best foot forward to do it.
So let's talk about that opponent.
Yes, we've waited long enough.
It is time for the glaze session.
We're swapping on over vitality.
They're set up behind us.
These guys. Unbelievable if if you
haven't watched Counter Strike in
like two years dust, could you set
the stage for us? Who is team vitality?
But the greatest team of all time.
That's who they are, right?
I mean, this is a team that has
done crazy things in the amount of
time that they have played together.
together. The last 20 events in a row, they placed at least in the top four. They played
21 tournaments, they won 13 of them. I mean, this is just a squad that continues to put
accolades on the board. Two Tom major winners, two Tom grand slams, three players in the
top 10. I mean, it's just unbelievable what this squad has been able to piece together.
It really is. I mean, they're just coming off of another grand slam as well, right?
So now the only team that's done it twice, what is an unbelievable testament
to consistency at a top tier level of Counterstrike,
something that is all but impossible to obtain
that we thought might be impossible to obtain
in the modern era of Counterstrike
and we're proven so very, very wrong again and again here,
Dust, it really is just an extraordinary accolade
at every level.
Yeah, I mean, there's so many trophies,
they lead in almost every metric you can think of
when it comes to like round win percentages,
converting four on fives, getting opening kills.
I mean, they just have everything you could ever ask for
of a team as far as talent, map, pool, and so on, right?
We could go on forever and glaze this team,
and we'd never be able to get to the end of the list
by the time it's all said and done.
But yeah, this is the final boss of Counter-Strike,
and this will be the first time they play against Foot,
who is that fiery up-and-coming team
that likes to play a really flashy, aggressive playstyle.
So it could be some fun fireworks,
at least on the server.
I was curious, there was an interview recently with Apex
over on the Reflections with Thorn,
where he talked about the super or not super
of this team and their super results, so I asked them a little bit more about it.
Apex, I was watching your Reflections interview.
You mentioned you don't think this is a super team.
Could you talk to me about that distinction, about why this vitality as
super as you are, isn't a super team?
Well, we have super players, but the team of all is not a super team.
Raps and Zayu are superstars.
But Flamesey and Mazey, when they're not
superstars, when we picked them up, they became good, they became the best
of the roles. We did everything for them to move on. I think a superstar team is more
like players that play. As a support you can't be a superstar in this role. And Messi is really
great at what he does, but he's not a superstar. And the same for Ramsay because he doesn't
care about the team. The stats of himself is more like taking care of the team, sorry.
So it's like me and me, I'm just a decent Agile.
So overall I just don't think that we work as a super team and everything went really
smooth with each other because we just want to win and when you have too much of a super
team I tell you that because I played with the French super team, it creates a lot of
egos and a bad stop, so it's different here.
It is kind of remarkable, right?
Ego has been the downfall of so many of these extraordinary teams over the lifespan
of Counter Strike.
for being a team that has won everything, that have won every accolade individual or collective,
they are quite good at putting those egos aside at times and certainly that's been a huge part
of their ability to sustain. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's kind of funny, like when you talk
about Ego, you talk about a guy like Zewoo who is number one player in the world,
he never acts that way. He never, you know, looks like he's, you know, egotistical. Like,
in fact, I remember in the past, people used to complain that he didn't try to take on
more, that he didn't actually try to be more of a star, but you kind of see him come into
to his own a little bit more lately in that regard.
I guess you could say, but yeah, a super well-grounded team,
best in role and a lot of different players on the squad.
And again, we could go on forever
about how amazing they are.
I think he's threatening a little bit more this year.
Yeah, a little bit.
The whole team, I mean, how can you not just gain in swagger
as each event goes by?
Look, we have the map pool here as well.
It's very orange.
Anything wild about that one?
Yeah, I mean, I think this is exactly how
I thought it would go.
So no real surprises were pulled out.
I think Mirage was always going to be
foot's best chance to find a victory here.
You know, it's the one map that
Vita doesn't have some crazy like
recent form on or winning streak on,
so to say, and it definitely is.
I think foot's best map, so at least I get a
chance to put their best foot forward
as far as Matt being played.
They will put that foot forward.
Indeed, whatever foot it might be,
they will try and do what they can to
stamp out the dominance that is a
vitality and two voices that will
now dominate your ears.
Moses and Dingo take it away boys
Yes, indeed Mike. Well back to Texas for some kind of strike happy to be here, Jason. Very excited
I was more excited about this game coming into the event than I am today now
The announcement of locks not being here really really hurts
But I mean look there's still it's still a fun team to watch you have to say that like obviously
I think with his with his departure with coolio stepping in or I assume it with his absence
In coolio stepping in no chance of them winning the series, but you know, let's have some fun
Like you said, this has some fun.
We got the maps for fun, Jason.
All the orange maps through it.
Everyone loves that.
Yeah, we do.
And I mean, it can be a little bit of a Brawley,
kind of a sequence of maps that we have.
But yeah, when I look over at the roster of foot,
even outside of Coolio, I mean,
Deven, Krebbeni, his calling, Cemetery Jokes,
like these are guys that play some fun
conversation.
And even with Long's missing,
he's been their top performer on LAN in 2026.
So like it hits home extra hard to his absence
on top of the energy and emotional state
that he brings into the squad.
on, but I mean you still have some danger in the other players, there's just no way to
sense that it's ever going to be enough.
They have no pressure, no expectations on their shoulders, so let's see what they can
do.
Okay, that's the angle.
Exactly.
Look at the smiles on their faces.
They come into this game, foot versus vitality, kicking things off here at Blast Rivals of
Fort Worth.
We get into Mirage straight away, and we want at least foot starting on the T side,
so we'll see what kind of T side antics they get up to today.
Yeah, let's see what they got in store for us.
It'll be really patient to open up this pistol round and march on forward slowly up catwalk
Looks like a split towards the B bomb site
They've got the option to bail out towards con as well vitality playing three players at this bomb site
So defense looks primed to have a very strong start. Yeah, the bomb though
Going to connector towards I whoop his wedding with that
It's gonna go down. She was also getting his kill out of Palace and that a bomb site is sworn now
Now the rotation is arriving here for Apex, but Demon not putting himself in a position
where Apex can get that kill.
So locking themselves in this ball plant, hoping to find a pistol round now as well, but Demon
not winning the fight against Apex, at least the trade comes in from Jukes.
This position is strong, the cemetery is in-connected, but Mezzi clues him out, finds that kill,
and Vitality are still in this pistol round somehow.
Two players coming back up through stairs, and we've got Mezzi trying to peer over
the top.
Jukes not giving him a chance, but now he's landing his shot either, and now
He's made it into the open plants has got the kill tall and Krabetti and that bomb
It's in the open the deep uses being stuck and there's a bodyguard
But they come off the diffusal and get right back to it. It's unbelievable the vitality find the way back
It really is and especially because that's that's the other four players the may like the actual players of foot dropping the ball in that
Man tough situation, but you can see in some of these positions
They play in the post plan very spread out and not playing as a team where the rest of that was kind of a group mentality
a trade game into the bomb site.
This is a one on one fight that demon,
I guess doesn't reload.
So runs out of ammunition.
You have the player over and con who gets cleared out.
No chance for support,
especially once demon goes down.
So vitality given the gift of a few isolated fights
and they get the pistol.
All right, crazy to see them pull it off,
but we're going to see foot with that ball and plant.
Obviously have enough money to get a purchase here.
So we can have the leels,
the equal tech nine out to play here for foot.
They're going to be on foot.
It's the middle of a couple of players,
but it's the group up at ramp
that looks most hamplizing here for foot.
They don't have a huge amount of flash abilities.
Imagine they're just gonna go through
Fonsec, but that flash comes through, Apex.
Taking the most of it.
Zaihu gets overwhelmed inside of connector.
Kribbetti getting really big, but cradled out immediately.
Flanks off the back of triple, no problem for two.
And that bomb plant is going to come through from demon.
At least securing a little bit of extra cash,
but Apex running him down, making sure
he can't get off the default spot.
And Vitality come in locked in for the first two rounds.
The jump, yeah.
You can see Apex, and he gets the first kill.
He's spamming into the smokes.
second player going he's trying to shout it out to zaiwu who's also trying to
spam the smoke to find him that's twice now now the first two rounds pistol run
as well as i will got caught from con so a couple maybe like miss cons or
misunderstanding of the timings but no no big deal obviously as vitality still
marching forward with a pair of victories and should be an easier time
of things there is a bomb plant but without enough kills it doesn't make
any sense to force up here if you're put a real challenge it would have been
even with lungs on the server today, but when we were very excited about it coming into this event
I think foot was the team I was looking forward to the most with the way they input the rest and really building up for
me this first half of the season first half of the year rather and
It's obviously disappointing to see long stop able to make it. They have four stinker
They've shoved all in on this one. So Galil's again. I like it. Just keep throwing things at the wall
Let's see if any of it can stick. I mean, Red's getting another kill here. It's a rock. She's gone down this time.
Apex doubled up with Flames inside of connector.
Flames getting spammed down. Actually, they've gone rid of it. Apex to the quick trade. Now here's the push forward for Mezzy, but he's lost it.
All of a sudden, Zywoo and Apex try to win this one out, but look at impossible, but Zywoo lost the impossible.
the impossible. He's got himself too. Now taking this in for boy wasn't ready for
demon. And you just think is how quick he gets those first two kills. You're like,
okay, this is on. I actually did think he was after those two kills. I was like,
well, he probably knows there's the third one here ready to fight as well. So
yeah, unfortunate for Zai Wu. It's caught a little bit off guard by that
third player, but I mean, great, great work on that buy. That's,
that's incredible. That's what's able to actually win that out. Very slow
progression in middle, taking advantage, Rob speaking off shore.
A couple players were passing over and caught a bad isolated fight and some good spamming through the smoke.
So, let's bring it to the Azure Vitality earlier on the left.
Not giving up early, not giving up even though the buy seemed to go as it was right on the edge.
Another investment from the CT side of Vitality, but they're not down to fumes, man.
There's very little utility for the defense to work with.
Kerbetti just getting stuck in up through short already.
Mezzi gonna peek out for the opening kill though and switch out to the AK-47.
Uh-oh.
Everyone's hanging out right next to Robs.
Three players coming in.
Flames he's gonna have to turn around.
There's the smoke calling that out.
Oh!
What?
How has he gone away with that AK-47?
And Robs not able to get anything out of that but the cemetery stepping through
getting a double kill.
still vitality holding and short short advantage because cemetery over the top of triple takes down
zaiwu little sloppy it feels so far from vitality in some of these situations i will get caught trying
to be a little too aggressive but thankfully apex with the mp9 he gives him an advantage yet again
the cemetery would have to ace two in this one you know exactly where he is he's got a galeel
and he steps out of the open you put apex on stairs and messes ak that he caught earlier in the
around is the ones around things out.
So I want to say that they do pick it up.
I want to see that Robskill.
We like switched to his POV right when the kill comes out.
That was crazy.
It's just straight up reaction, immediate headshot.
I mean, that's all he really needs in that scenario, right?
It's just the one kill.
Here we go.
Oh, lord piece.
Get out of my face.
You got three, come on, Robs.
Out of the ladder.
No, I do not.
It's unfortunate.
He's a sad man after that.
Three to one, vitality back to the winning ways,
back into the advantage.
back into the lead. They've got plenty of money moving forward and finally foot is relegated
back to just the pistols. Deagles are out, I say that, but their Deagles are actually
incredible. Yeah, we see them when... There's been some weird rounds pretty much all the
time, Jason. It's like some of their better rounds, really. Let's see what Craveni's
Deagle can do. It's a cracked open, a skull to a CT spawn, but it could be blinded
and held back. You notice how vitality in pretty much every round we've seen so
far have opened up strong and middle. This is where you kind of get to the
next stage of being tested if your foot, which is an additional reason why the absence of
longs is kind of a bummer because the route of like you've seen the full lineup. But as
this rise they've been on throughout the year, I think what they began the year like in
ranked 19th, now they're ninth in the world in the ranking. And some of the scalps they've
taken are so impressive. Now teams are starting to scrutinize them a little bit more. Now
teams are starting to look into them a little bit more. And there's a heavy preference
for foot towards the middle of the map, as with a lot of teams. But that's where
preventing there's a lot of his good work opening. There's a nice deal shot. And
Vitality obviously very much know that that's a part of the map if they shut it down
Things get so much easier for them
And this is where I say it's the next evolution of foot is because as this team that's on the rise everything's kind of cool
It's going well
But once teams start like looking into you and really kind of breaking down your details on how you play and countering you
Now you have to take that next step of being able to flesh out a deeper game to be able to get past that
Yeah, and unfortunately in this tournament playing with only four toes Jason. Yeah, not really the full foot going on
Not a complete foot. Yeah, I don't know. I'd say even with four toes. You still got a foot
Sure, but it's not the full foot. Not the full. Yeah
But a bit of a weakness that for sure. You got a foot getting ready to go in towards this A site though
Which toe is missing?
The big one you want to say the big one don't you? The big one. Yeah
All right, we'll test for eight backs. He's alone inside this pop site. Oh, he's also extremely blind
It's gonna be flames coming through with a quick kill in return
return. The jugs make sure they still can't reach out for now and the shop in Zaiwu looked
a little cold the start of the day. Goes back again in cemetery and he caught it on the
side of the rock just diving his way down into the sandwich. He doesn't get a kill
from it because Zaiwu actually connected the ballad but all of a sudden demons in
a clutch he can win and it's Mezzi out towards CT spawn. It's got a lot of time to work
with here demon. Oh this is sick though. Okay Mezzi makes the noise cue like he
He wants to shift back towards the window.
Demon just gets aggressive on it,
waits for him to actually step up to the plate.
Palm is down over at default,
and has he not considering this?
No, it's a smart play, he's calling it, oh no!
No, no, no, no!
Oh, you would not see him mess that up.
Oh, that is so unfortunate for Demon,
and a Vitality Overs is gonna shout over or let him know.
Yeah, that'll happen, I guess, is the best way to phrase that.
Oh, that is a bastard.
That was the painful one, you make the play,
you make the right read, you make the right decision,
Miss all the shots a little bit of frustration
I'm with you feels like a slower start to the game for Saibut
But you know that's not gonna be here the entire map, right? You know, it's not gonna last
Ah
Reduction is merciful
To everyone
Well the Teagles are back the Eagles are back so some tech nines
I don't need this to say, if you can make a competitive versus Vitality, you did need
to win that one.
Yeah, I mean, that's, that's a, you're exactly right.
I mean, obviously with the stand-in situation is a little bit different, but just in general,
anyone playing against Vitality, when you have an opportunity presented you like that
to win a 1v1, have to take it, has to be a win.
Pick the part with these pistols.
Apex is going to add a third kill on top, six to one, and it feels like this is
the moment where Vitality has planted their feet, and they might just run away with
is half.
Coolio and Jugs.
Just hanging out far away from one another.
Mezzi's got Jugs and just leaves Coolio left with a tech 9 down in the underpass.
So ends up getting peaked out by Rocks, finished off and yeah, really running away with the half.
Now 6-1.
And looking very cool and composed right now for team vitality.
I mean in another day in the office for them kind of strolling in starting this this group stage here at the blast rivals
But I mean with with the kind of I mean dust highlighted on the desk
And we all know with the kind of legacy they've had and built over the last two years
Yeah, this is this is them kind of warming up into the event
I think in terms of you know get the win the results of the score line doesn't really matter not gonna change any thoughts
We have on vitality. This is a team that's just kind of gearing up mentally for the major coming up next because that's gonna be the
next big trophy that can solidify them and leave no doubt as Flamesy said that
they are the greatest team of all time.
Their mentality all year has been so so strong. What they have most
interest in vitality outside of the gameplay is just there's there's
constantly a next object. I like that. Constantly another goal that they're
speaking of because at some point you are sort of like what what luck do they
have to accomplish. Yeah. What is there? I completed the game. Yeah. As you
You can see, Polymarket, the odds over there,
like the percentage of them taking the win,
it's not looking good from Polymarket.
So we're gonna take the shot,
lovely work from Cemetery.
I like that, the big toe.
Well, yeah, as I was done very well
to get the opening pick,
and I can play with a 4v5 now for a foot,
and that mid-control being contested
is real tough here for a foot,
but I tell them to get a peel away,
they've got the advantage,
and they're gonna leave that mid-control open for a foot.
I want to see what they can actually do with it.
That's the issue.
And if I tell you, you're not going to just sit back and stop
moving, and there's another play being set up,
and it's going to be that ramp control being taken,
flames moving forward.
And Jukes will be watched by Apex.
It's going to be a hard setup to crack.
But the main thrust of this still feels
like it's going to be coming in through mid.
Culeo working his way through the underpass now
downstairs, so he'll join up in middle.
Once he kind of gets a little bit closer,
they'll start making their progression down the mid-ramp.
That's a good one.
That one really spotting mid either with this kind of advanced position towards a ramp that can be a little bit more lax and give a little bit more room over to foot.
But if you look at the B defenders, they're way far back as well. Nobody's on short, so there's really no support coming to this bomb site anytime soon. Nobody can help out.
So you have to rely on the drops and he can't get anything. So D-Min gets rid of him and leaves Flames over towards ramp. Now he's spotted as well.
And so it's going to be very tough to see a wall to which that's how they pull this back for flamethrows out
That's the bomb spilling the floor and it's bought a little bit of extra time for someone to arrive
But down the bike to impose palace in this round
He won the fight firstly against apex and those final two to close out the round massive round there from juke
Yeah, nasty shooting. That's great to see that's that's the kind of flare that some of these foot players have so triple kill
Secures the round here's how it opened up
Managing all the utility, blind, smoke, smoke and open, chaotic situations, Airov comes out on top of it,
but everything from that moment on is all chokes.
I skill from Demon, but this shot cuts him down before he can get involved in a beauty on Mezzi as well.
6-2 a 4-round lead for Vitality.
Yup, full buy back here for Foot, probably running away into the game,
but Saewoo another opening frag towards middle at Cemetery taken down,
so no AWP presence for Foot on the other side of things here.
That demon looking to get into connector a little bit quicker.
Using their own smoke as well.
So that he might not be pushing up that quickly into call,
but it's a strong position to get.
Now AWP for Zyle, who's not going to be connecting towards the apartments,
as Jukes will back away as the warning shot rings out.
Yeah, it's not connecting, but it kind of accomplishes the same thing, right?
Nobody wants to be home.
Demon finds a sneaky kill.
Apex had no idea he was pushed up into its con.
That information never made it over to him.
So brought down into a four on four.
Coolio is low, but still kicking on the map bomb is up in ladder room right now a little bit centralized
It's gonna have to work its way up short in tandem with the be attack now in the back of crub any who's currently wheeling me off
So as I will then you're gonna have to get past that if you want to make it into the B bomb site
Drifting back over from market to get eyes on short look at the timing. He's got on this as well. It's perfect
Now just drifting back at the right time
Jump up on the van and he's being held so Zywu gets the warning shots down to 12 HP
But now he's in a tough spot because Krebhendi's taking up position at short
So he can't cross back into the site open Zywu not putting himself in harm's way
In fact, he sticks around so committed to get that kill now
He thinks about the next flight, but the timing is favorite Krebhendi
He's got beyond the scope, but Robs is rotating so Krebhendi is going to fall and Robs has got that kill
So a Zai Wu with perfect positioning, never putting himself in danger and keeping it clean
on that B bomb start for vitality.
Yeah, look at the ways that his presence just freezes them.
They're just stalled out, nowhere to go against that AWP.
Don't want to kind of take this space up in Hall's narrow corridor against that off.
Only real option is to lurk up short and try and wrap around, but Robs has that covered.
So yeah, looking good for vitality now.
Responding each and every time Foot win and a second time out as Burns as they
need to talk things over on the foot side of things.
Maybe you've got the coach playing with them there. They're necessarily always need the time off. So yeah, they're just
Trying to get it done get through them
But unfortunately, I feel like there were a couple of chances and this has to be competitive for foot
Yeah, there were a few like sneaky ones the one big one is the big one that we saw right?
I think the pistol round as well where they had an advantage would have been a nice thing to have
But yeah, those critical rounds if you're gonna cause an upset so that you need to win
Especially early to build momentum and get some rounds off the economic advantage those all go the way of vitality
So it's been fun seeing a couple scrappy rounds, the jugs 3k, but these rounds don't seem replicable
and they're having a tough time putting them, stringing them together.
Five rounds, the difference between foot and vitality.
I think they've had enough of playing the paying rather design with tax in the middle,
No, hit the pause button for a second before they swing out.
Yeah, he has got his timing.
Two opening kills in middle on cemetery in the past couple
rounds, three rounds or so.
Flames is pushed up.
Look at the position he's got already inside of ramp.
He's going to start backing away now.
Blockout palace.
Continue to retreat further and further into the bomb site.
Slower rounds here from foot.
Do you not say that often?
No, you really don't. They're looking for the play from Vitality.
It's right now as they hunt for information when it clears out the middle of the map and they just turn away.
Nice timing of the peek from Krobeni.
I don't want him to overextend and expose himself to short.
That doesn't allow Apex to get back into connector, but maintaining the advantage here for a foot for the time being.
Yeah, but now they're looking up ramp. They're just walking this too.
Apex has no idea they're already up.
Now the smoke comes in, but they're going to close the tour of that corner.
Miss from Zairu and Cemetery's got the punish.
Yeah, Cemetery making the most of that opportunity.
I think you gotta save this if you're vitality.
Yeah, but 5v3, getting into the bomb site,
plant coming in now from foot.
This is maybe like the last opportunity
foot have to carve out something in this opening half.
Because if you're looking at the money,
this is why they're saving.
I mean, they're on the verge of a reset here.
You lose this round and you're pretty broken.
So I want to bring these weapons forward.
Anything for them, you can grab right at the end,
is worth its weight in gold.
Fine as best.
See, we'll get that kill on Apex towards van.
Mezzi, middle of the site, and Krabeni.
Oh, not too far off there, but it's going to back away.
It took a lot of damage in that engagement with Apex.
And if you ever complete this economic reset of Vitality by winning the next round,
obviously there's not like a slew of rounds it's going to impact,
but clawing yourself back from 2 to 7,
all of a sudden you could be looking at 5-7 going into halftime,
and it's not going to be an incredible accomplishment
for a foot team that started to half slow,
had a couple of heartbreaks early on.
But they're still in this fight.
Man down, Long's not here, Kulio's standing in, and not getting completely deleted off the map.
Well done for preventing, still a little bit shaky from Zayun, we've seen some good moments, we've seen some ugly ones, this is one of the uglier ones.
Absolutely, great opportunity, I mean if he gets that kill it's a very different story in that round.
We'll be a fight right down to the wire
But seven to three now vitality you can see that the damage that has been inflicted upon their body
They do not have the AWP out here for Zaiwup. They're staying committed to this mentality of getting a crescent for a top middle
And it's gonna work out this time removing the playmaker and Krebbeni and retreating away with a man advantage
Yes, a very strong man advantage. Rops is all on his own. He's hiding over towards the B bomb side
Nobody shifting in this direction yet. Mezzi's coming, but he's gonna be I think a little bit late or just at the perfect moment
it rops at the ruddy here in the steps you've the drop down through the window
misses the chance and oh he's trying to clean up that mess but can't exactly do
it I want apex after doing now that plant is going to be denied and apex on the
cleanup on cemetery as well and that dream of five rounds and a half from
food yeah dead apex got in there so quick they had no idea he got up that
close well done from apex poor rops just had so many options to pick from
his brain couldn't couldn't choose fast enough and yeah you're right once again a
third round win for foot that they're not able to convert two in a row not
able to build up any of the success they've had in this half which I
mentioned so so difficult that's seven five agreements gone it's now eight to
three and by now we have all the advantages in this final round of the
half
Mezzi realizes there's pressure coming towards his B-side-side movement and miss shot, not completely blinded.
Mezzi though is stepping up on top of the van, nice clean up here from Mezzi, leaving Crepelli 1v2 to try and round out this half.
Up in the apartment Apex has his sight and there will be a ninth round collective for vitality.
They've come to Texas and they're in control of this opening map.
I don't even think it's all for a second there.
The monster is back.
Let's play again.
There are some pairs.
They're just more different.
Some try to intimidate you.
She doesn't like to.
Everything she does is deliberate.
You never really feel out of place.
You just feel late.
He is now...
patern.
He doesn't move faster.
He's in the first.
He makes it look easy.
And that's the scary part.
He was mine for this.
It's not about losing to him.
It's about arriving at him.
Calmly!
Oh, he stops!
Beautiful work happens I will
It is ridiculous
I don't need to help
Every single shot right here right now on Mirage 8
Oh my god
Oh my god
Fight
I will know he's gonna fight
Right here right now
It's a efficient player in Counter-Strike history
The wasted ammo
The wasted movements
There's a chance
There's I will
I will catch you
We are here with vitality versus foot and nine to three lever vitality is not that surprising
to be honest Jason.
There was chances there for foot in the first half, but you've really got to take them
and they just missed too many opportunities to really make this one competitive.
Yeah, they did. I mean, yeah, it's just, I mean, you know, both teams having some weird, like, we've seen a couple of odd misses out as I will.
I think both teams enjoying a little bit of jet lag here to start your campaign in Texas, yeah.
So, it's an excuse I don't hear you use often, Jason?
Well, you know. Let's give him a little bit of a benefit of a doubt.
It is, well, we were talking about it, because normally at the European events, games start a little bit later.
We do it earlier here in America.
Yeah, Gushed out. He's gonna have to back away. Cemetery takes a Gush as well.
So yeah, you have a two-man advantage, but that can be evened up real quick.
I just remember Foot running in position to piss around where they looked so strong.
And Vitality somehow pulled it back in that first half.
So, look at me about here. We've got Rop sitting down on default.
Should be too tough now. You've lost Mezzi.
And Zywu's still alive. Flank alongside Rop.
Yup, Flank coming around the ramp.
And Zywu running back. And Tetris, you've got to take this kill.
You can't afford to die to demon and so I was not that one he got back into it
Not like they surely not and I will come close to it
But eventually they get rid of Zai Wu off Tetris, but you can see that little laugh
He knows he was close to a chance there. Yeah, he's he's he's got a pretty famous clip from that position
He could have had his six kills yet again
That would have been something special
Zai Wu almost makes it work almost able to clean up all those grishes
But again, a good pistol round, and unlike the first half, at least this one,
but that's a great job of closing it out.
Seven into the action, good retake, waiting for the flank to arrive,
waiting for it to show up and be a distraction,
and even though Zywou had a very real chance at it,
pretty strong pistol round victory for foot.
So they get their fourth on the board, but again, haven't been able to win two in a row throughout this map.
I mean, Demon's got to be slightly in his own head.
You have to imagine, you know, that won't be one you've missed.
That now on Zywou,
Well, as he gets the opening frag, preventing it a little late to try and get outwinds out of that.
And then the opening for vitality.
That's the scary part, almost that bomb goes down all that damage as well as I was going AK out.
Semitri taking the risk, pushing up through underpass, he's got a lot of space, a lot of information.
And Saewoo just charging up near him, but he's ready for the fight!
And Saewoo wins that!
Semitri's just... I feel bad for him in that scenario.
Well, I won.
Bang! What a good reaction.
I wonder if he knew or if he was kind of assuming there might have been a push from the kill on
Krebbenny. You might be thinking like a first player surely got the timing right and a second
player you know you kill him as he jumps out so maybe a little bit of awareness in that sense
regardless I was just doing Zywu things. Yeah and now Vitality's fourth buy is a 5v3 just
under a minute left in the clock plenty of time as well for Vitality.
We'll see the final adjustments from foot. They're gonna put all three players on a
Banking on it being an a finish currently looking like it's gonna be a b finish though from vitality. Well, there's there's no vitalities
There's no reason for them not to investigate a little bit apex is already like ten steps ahead of pretty much everyone on the team
Like might as well just step into the b-bomb side on your own and see if there's gonna be a trap laid for you
Robs now at his hits so they could at least trade but they won't encounter anything
So double digits for vitality and yet again for foot only the singular round win and nothing else
Yeah, they're gonna be that save call on the other side of the map for foot they go for this unlikely
Retake attempt and obviously lose everything have nothing to play with in the next
So not being a long note save for them. Yeah, and they're also kind of looking at the long game, too
They're like if we're gonna win this one, it's gonna be it's gonna be a comeback
We need these we need these weapons moving forward. So big big
Big problems right now for foot as you can see it's just getting worse worse and worse
But I mean this is a team like even with with long side here like they're gonna
I don't want to say like a full blown pass, but obviously it's not going to change too much of our excitement for foot
I'm just curious watching this team progress up to the major
I think that's the major is going to be a really cool glimpse of what foot's been able to put together in this one
Five six months of the first season of the year. Yeah, as they've kind of been on this rise as they've been getting better
What have you been adding into your playbook? What have you been developing? What have you been working on?
They're just gonna be a lot of fun for foot.
They're gonna head into that having some pretty big aspirations as well.
I would imagine they're thinking quarterfinals.
Well, in the context of this event, at Group A we're currently watching him with Vitality.
Foot is the opening and we have Astralis G2 coming up as well.
And I mean, the winner of that hook I want to play with Vitality.
So, I think this is a really cool group.
Obviously, looking at the other side of things, you've got some good teams in Group B,
Is it clearly the stronger group out of the two?
Maybe change that well now. Yeah, but maybe change it with longs missing. I don't know whatever way you want to go with it
I'm not gonna argue too much
Look for Betty over the soft pecan and it's I will take it down
You're always gonna get a couple of Krabani D shots right amount. Yeah, he's not gonna let you down in that sense
So five on four now for foot
Still have the M4 in play and Jokes and Demon, Kerbeni another shot with the Deagle Lance nothing, but now it's a dangerous push when you have the advantage, not around you want to give away the lead. And Kulio backs away.
way.
I'm smoking a connector.
Chooks his vision, taking away from him.
That doesn't allow Flames to move up to his ladder.
I see a position for Flamesy, but it gives him so much information.
Three different angles he can peek into, and as long as that smoke is up, he's comfortable to chill.
He gets one, spots another out towards Conn.
Hit moving in towards the A bomb site.
So Jukes backs off as the utility rains in.
And it's numbers through Palace, one player through Ramp.
This is hard. Only the Deagles being in CT spawn
unable to really have an influence on this is going to be really, really tough.
You see Jukes really wanting to fight,
trying to get an advance somehow with that right flut towards jungle
but gets involved in engagement with Robson loses it.
They're going to play the time. They want to stop the bomb flight.
They're going to have a great chance for it, although Apex steps up
got catwalk covered. Yeah, so they don't get in a position to deny that bomb plant.
Now this round becomes almost impossible to see footwitting.
But let's see if he can get one quick shot.
Apex was turned away, but he's ready for that second fight as well.
Apex spams down through the boxes, gets through the cemetery and puts Puglio in 1v3 here.
He's going to be playing towards jungle trying to grab that M4.
And step out of the open.
Robs is ready to punish.
So good work from Apex.
Important kills towards CT.
Vitality just storming towards the finish line.
Yeah, recovering of 4v5. Here's the opening kill from Kriveti. Really well done.
Saru goes down.
Oof.
Looks real well from Saru's POV.
1 for 1 for Flamesey, which gives a lot of information, and those Deedles just never motivated to be aggressive until the bomb gets planted.
Tough round for Flick to try and piece together, but it's only gonna get worse.
4 to 11.
And sitting back on pistols, I feel they need the rifle to begin to come back, and for the rest of us watching at home,
and here in the studio this feels just over yeah it does feels like a
formality obviously foots math with this walk here on the Raj up next desk to
make sense it's a strong map for them now they've had some good successes on
it when locks is in the roster as well apex gonna try and clear it towards
cemetery such the USB around this corner for now
Actually, taking a damage to one of your right-packs.
He's under a bit of pressure, but he does have plenty to help him.
Last two positions now known with the Cal Walkers, so Molotov gonna rain in.
Zaru is gonna scale up towards the bomb site with the bomb.
And this will be the 12th round for Vitality.
They'll have eight map points to close things out on this first map of the series.
Drops capping and eventually finishing off Kulio.
I'll say this with this group just because you touched on it a little bit earlier as we get into the the final potentially the final round
One thing about this group is really cool. I actually think the most exciting team at this event is in this group
And that would be G2. I'm so interested in seeing what G2 is gonna look like at this event
That actually was coming next against the Stralis, which is gonna be gonna be really fun to watch
But that's a team. I think you know going into the major with the acquisitions. They've made nerds for uniting with Saul
I think that team has
They've got they've got a play written all over I'm pumped of course this fall is end up in the group of foot
I mean obviously
Just one more time we need to hit our throat of a strong suit games for the event
Well, we got jokes just playing towards stairs and already vitality have put a couple players through that smoke
It's gonna be an awkward timing to try to deal with it for but they now detected it
The issue is funds and robs have come in with kills. We are getting one cemetery out from CT
It's a good kill here on Apex and it's a 2v3 as Zahuu now arrives towards connector
It's got to be a clutch to close this out
So I was taking the first he's got plenty of time so we don't count Zahuu out completely
Issue is look with the bomb is it's over towards ramp. So we'd have to
Find a pathway back there is gonna eat a lot of time off the clock
It is especially because this is a great decision from demon jumping up where it did he would have been able to
Hear the footsteps running
Don't see him calming now
So not hearing as I would turn the corner to run all the way back
But that's gonna be his first engagement 55 seconds now
We saw how aware he was earlier with the push in towards the B halls. How where is it gonna be here?
We know Zywoo imagine putting Kulio in a 1v1 against I would play it perfect
I think this has been missing but not this time takes a lot of damage
But eventually gets that head shot off I just know Kulio sit at that side like please win your fight
Please when you have youth even
Could have been something special
close, I would but
stylistically
You know vitality going for this place with a smoke or contact you can see because they chose to go that route
They don't have the utility in place
So actually it helps it helps put out a ton when they're able to swing and trade those fights
Yeah, no nades in their face no smoke walking off angles no Molotov making them take damage
Nice defensive round from foot. They're gonna have to deal with a nice uppercut towards the A bomb site
Here's that push. Oh, Xayu had his knife out as he was crossing.
It's an awkward situation there for Xayu,
where a demon is going to get that kill.
Now, here come Vitality again. Look where the bomb is.
It's all the way back in T spawn,
so you're gonna have to send the player back to get that.
That's gonna be quite an issue.
Well, the nice thing for Vitality, I feel like,
one thing you could do here is just have one back off.
Like, if the bomb is that back, this tactic is kind of drawn to health.
So you're... Oh, my God.
Manly got Rob's doing that.
Yeah.
Alright, come on back to the end, I'll say it, we've got five good times.
Bring that bomb back over here, Apex. Oh, it's all good.
A 43.
We got Coolio rotating over towards CT, he's got a cemetery in behind him.
They got more utility as well, no smoke to block off CT spawn.
They got Molotovs, they got Nades, they got Flashbangs as well to take them off the angle.
Well, tells you all you need to know.
Vitality can leave the bomb in spawn and still look like they're gonna close this.
but Demon and Kulio with some resistance and now Apex is left on 14 HP.
He's gonna kill out and die at Demon's hand.
So, nice round out of Demon, real sharp shooting and they hold on at least for another.
Yeah, well thankfully Vitality's up like 12 to like 6,
so I don't think that's gonna tilt them too much, you know?
Like this is a closer game, I think that round is a tilter
because that round was really disorganized
and I think that's just an indication.
I think Vitality feels so comfortable at the moment that a little bit of a focus slips even in this round.
Yeah, I would imagine. Also, I think Zyrus, they kind of lose the ball there.
Zyrus probably supposed to pick it up on his cap right back there, but his life is he couldn't push.
That's two rounds we're trying to get out, but we can only hit on A, and it hasn't worked out here.
Demon is really warming up now. Good shot, it's one here, two.
Zyrus and Apex both gone a couple of seconds into the round, and it does free up Krobeny to feel confident to push up.
Flames is all on his own, and he's got the ball.
My Krabati not gonna punish him.
Demon just might though.
Flash is gonna set him up for the peek.
Ah, Flames wins it, so at least pull him one of them back.
Yeah, the vitality is so dangerous in these situations.
Three versus five now with three versus four.
Minute and 14 seconds on the clock,
and at the moment they're looking for any more pushes,
and Rops wants to wait out the smoke.
I'd look for him to find a timing,
keep an eye on the minimap of when he starts to make his move
to probe into that deep bomb site.
I
Was getting excuse me messy getting time with that beagle
So really no decision yet for vitality
window is smokes
Con is gonna be smoked off cemetery. He's got no vision a breaks open the smoke not completely
So it falls to coolio. Let's see cool here get shredded messy dropping him more pressure now on quibbetti
30 seconds. He's going to deal with players coming through short and one through the apartments.
For Benny trying to position himself perfectly, but he's now spotted. Robs going to take him down.
Semitrnourney stepping forward. Needed that kill. He's got it. And now Flane's bringing that bomb to the site.
He'll commit to the plant. And Semitrnourney now, because of the open, Robs is ready to shut him down.
And it's all on chokes. And 1v2 and a great recovery to this round from Vitality that is looking like it's going to close out this map.
A top position for Jules and a win from Vitality on the opening map.
Mirage goes to a way comfortably.
Little slow start from both teams, strange moments, but Vitality getting through.
Yeah, that's a nice win from Vitality. You're right. It did seem a little bit disorganized at some places,
but it doesn't really matter all that much at the end of the day.
We know Vitality's going to grow into this event.
They're going to snap into place and playing against a diminished foot
who do not have a lounx playing with them at the moment here in Fort Worth.
So yeah, everything pointing out that Vitality is going to be able to wrap this series up
pretty casually.
Just a little bit on the end there to make you start to believe, DOS, but this was always
a one-sided story, and we see the end result, another very strong showing for Vitality.
Yeah, unfortunately, Vitality's opponent was not able to put their best foot forward
in this game.
We had some hopes with the being Mirage, a map that this foot team has been very
successful on this year, but a man short, so to speak, as far as not having locks
on the server. Definitely you could see the impact that it had throughout the
course of the game. And yeah, unfortunately, they just didn't really
have it today. And the story that map really as it always does on Mirage had
a lot to do with mid, didn't it Dustin? Yeah, I mean, in a world where on Mirage
you see a lot of teams going for just like the ACET pieces are the fast
splits, you know, foot is a team that is very mid control oriented
whenever they play Mirage. They really like to get control of the area
consistently and build mid rounds off of it. And really throughout the
majority of this first half, they just were not allowed to have that
territory for free. They were losing players, you know, very often, you know, in these early
round situations and Flatella was able to build on those advantages and really shut down
a lot of these rounds.
It does make it so very difficult when you're playing with one hand tied behind your back
in terms of positional control. And a huge part of that, the man who was mentioned
is maybe not being as much of a superstar in the pre-game interview, Mezzi, looking
like an absolute star in this one, particularly that first half.
Yeah, I mean, this guy is like an anchor specialist for this team, right? I mean,
He's kind of the role player that you kind of, you know,
don't talk about as much as some of the others
because maybe he's not a guy who's ranked in the top 10.
You know, maybe he's not a super team player
or whatever it was that Apex was trying to say,
but what he can do is his job, right?
And his job was to lock down these bomb sites
and he did that in spades throughout the course
of the game, had a couple of moments here
as well on the T side to help close down the game.
So yeah, I mean, Messi's a guy who maybe sometimes
flies another radar in comparison to his teammates,
but had a really big showing in this one for sure.
I do also want to give apex a little bit of a pass on that one because elsewhere in that interview
We talked about the fact that messy has played many different roles into different teams
He was sort of a star rifle at one point in the fanatic roster and I gel at one point in a fanatic roster
You can do whatever the team needs them to do and sometimes the team just needs them to shred heads
And that's I mean 1.8 117 and I had his damn good show and for the Brit
That's the scary thing about this vitality team is even if one of the stars is having a tough game
Someone else can really step up and have a big performance and messy is one of those guys
even some of the big grand finals that they have won he has had those you know
rises to the occasion so to speak and this game obviously was kind of a breeze
but yeah everyone was kind of firing all cylinders if we're honest but yeah
messy had a little bit extra flair in that one it's always nice to know that
you have even if you don't need the extra horsepower sometimes you just want
to get on the highway and let that turbo roar absolutely let me hear that
Timmy roar here in Fort Worth as you see it's also obligatory Z-woo
that we have to do now. Let's do it. Let's do it. Number one player in the world. Best
offer. Also, I really did aggressive right. The true hybrid. I guess you could say the
game itself he is called and he had another one. You know, he had another good day at
the office. It really was that one V2 where he was approaching back from Ram and it was
demon on the other side. I truly believe as soon as I realized it was I rule in
the one V2 that that was just going to happen. It's the feeling of inevitability
you get with this guy sometimes. Yeah, I mean, it's just so hard to play against
the guy like that who's just so versatile.
This is a guy when you look at his
individual statistics this year,
not only is he leading in some of the more
aggressive like rifling and hopping categories.
He also has some of those clutches this year as well.
So when you got a guy who could just play
the full spectrum of the round from start to finish
and have advantages over you,
not only finding openings, but finding closers.
And it's a tough guy to play against.
I don't know what you do.
Yeah, I mean, that is kind of the story of it, right?
This is a tough guy to play against at every moment
and we did see it on the other side as well, four foot.
I will say for Coolio,
Obviously the statistics are gonna look great. I don't think he was probably as much of a sore spot as he could have been
But he also wasn't the difference maker that we would expect if we had a long sum the server
Yeah, I mean again a team that's so predicated on that mid control that we were kind of talking about locks
It's kind of the key factor in that so they're not had that it's tough
But hey at least cool
You'll did well enough to where he's not gonna have one of those like meme like one kill frag highlight videos that gets put on
Reddit when this is all said done. He's got a handful
He's got a few in there right but you just know he was quaking his boots hoping that you know
his teammate was going to win that clutch against you at a ramp and he did kept the game going.
So he would have to do it himself. So, you know, he hung in there as best he could.
All I'm saying is you just need a little bit of a warm up one map.
He's got that under his belt, shake off the nerves, steady in the movement a little bit.
So do you say it was a little rougher here?
I'm thinking it might be coolio time on map number two.
Listen, Kerrigan was the number one rated player at Bucharest.
I'm just saying things can happen.
Things can happen indeed.
But we'll take a break and see if on the other side of that it's coolio time.
The
Vitality messing with the wrong kind of football for the great state of Texas
But still having a grand old time in between maps here and why wouldn't they the sun is shining and they are in the server as well
though for foot
Clio might need to make sure he's warmed up for this one
Yeah, they're doing a little bit better with the ball than they were on the server with the guns unfortunately
Meanwhile when you look at Vitality with the football very much what they were doing a foot in the server on Mirage
They will hope that does to can be a little bit better
pretty clearly the sun is also not shining there so wrong about that him oh
let's go all right coolio's he's got a career yeah might not be shooting but you
know what I did say he needs to get warmed up he's got warmed up here it's
dust two though it goes from bad to worse for foot they were on their map
pick a mirage now we had to dust two if I tell you a dust two all right at it
yeah might be like one of the most dominant map resumes that we've ever
seen in kind of strike history this five tally team has played 44 games with
Dust 2 on land. They've won 40 of them. All right. Okay. They've won the last 16 in a row.
Okay. They've only lost two in their last 35 games.
Those seem like good numbers. I don't know. Yeah, you don't really need like a PhD in mathematics to kind of figure out that that is just unreal levels of performance on this map.
I mean, foot on the other hand, kind of a 50 50 team on this map so far, but they've beaten some good teams. They've had to win over like Furia, Paravision.
They've beaten some big names, but they never beat a name like Vitality. Just oh, so dominant on this map.
So if that's the story that we're building, and it is the narrative, it is the reality, right?
And we are truth tellers, we need to acknowledge reality here.
But if we were going to deny reality for a moment, how might it happen for Foot?
Yeah, I mean, I think the big things that Foot would have to see happen here
to have a shot in this one is you would have to see the anchors
really perform on this map defensively.
You know, so much weight gets put on whether or not you pick and choose
to hold your battle at long A or give it up.
Same with the B bomb site and how hard it is to retake.
And so Juge's and Deem are going to be the two guys
I think that's going to be called upon a lot to be responsible in those individual positions
and try to find a way to handle a vitality team that has such a diverse playbook and
can give you a lot of different looks and how those anchors respond to those looks is huge.
And if I'm going to talk about, you know, two other things that you have to think about
is cimentaries up, right?
We know that this map off is so very important and cemetery for a while had like a big
microscope on him that he wasn't performing at maybe the same level of his teammates.
But he had an MVP performance at their one in Bucharest and he is a guy who
has these uncanny forward angle positions that he'll take that's a little bit
unorthodox that might catch people off guard. So look at that. And then the
other the third one in and final one for me is Krabini. Right. Not only is he the
shotcaller on this team, but now that longs is not here, he's gonna be their
primary guy to find openings on the T side. You know, for in-game later
standards, his opening numbers are really good, but this is a whole
different B-saves gonna be battling against today. So those are kind of
the big things to focus on I think this game. So we're just setting up,
you know, four out of the five players as the big things to focus on.
And it tells the story of how difficult this is going to be.
You hear the cheers going up from Vitality behind us.
They're looking to make this a quick day.
They're looking to make this a quick morning for them
as they get in towards lunch.
I mean, it is just the reality, right?
You set the stage nicely.
Foot, they need a little bit of a toehold here.
Yeah, they would need a bit of a miracle.
They need to get to a hot star.
And then again, like they need their stars to actually
show up.
I mean, we credit Foot for having
while they distribute a talent.
Long's being their best players, specifically speaking.
They don't have him.
So those other guys who are kind of up there
are going to have to do even more, right?
A situation like this against the Tati team, who just
doesn't really show any weakness on this map.
I mean, again, we talked about the record that they have.
We also just talk about how they approach the game.
They have one of the best mid-b defenses I've ever seen.
That's one of the critical parts of the map
that's so tough to deal with at times.
And Tati has found a way to perfect it.
You know, the way that Messi works with Apex
and those rotator rolls, the way
that Zewu was able to be so mobile and assist there.
Just their protocols to handle some of the tough situations
that the game can give you, they have them in spades
and just are so efficient at how they use them.
So it's just, I mean, again, earlier we did the same thing.
You could glaze Vitality forever.
Dust2 is probably the most prime example
of where it comes from.
And look, the one thing that you were looking for too
is foot, was that perhaps you would have
a little bit of a slower start here for Vitality
coming off that Grand Slam,
not having as much prep as props they're used to,
taking some time off.
We haven't exactly seen it impact on the server so far.
We haven't exactly seen it be the problem.
any expectation that maybe just maybe there's a little bit of disorganization
that foot can capitalize on? Not after what I saw on Mirage. I really thought
Mirage was their best shot, right? I mean that was a chance to you know play
basically their best map. If you look at the entirety of Vontari's map pull,
Mirage was like the one map that they actually play, obviously,
permabaming ancient for the most part, where they actually showed like some
signs of not as strong a form as their other five maps that they play.
So I really felt like that was foot's ticket to get a map in the series
This is what we just witnessed.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to show up
in a big way on that one.
But on Dust 2, we'll just have to see.
I mean, can you be the fifth loss that Vitality
takes in 45 games played?
I don't know.
The odds are not in your favor.
But we'll sit back and watch, see what they can do.
We'll see if they can indeed.
We've set the stage, but only time will tell.
And to tell you what's happening in the server,
we got Moses and Dinko taking away boys.
Thank you, Micah.
I think Dust has set and seen perfectly
for us of how difficult this is going to be.
I mean, we've just seen Mirage panel.
It's exactly what we expected.
I'd imagine Dust 2 is going to be no different.
Yeah, you're kind of thinking of like,
how could this get worse?
You know, missing one of your strongest players.
You know, what could go worse from here?
And then you get Dust 2, which is where
just fightality are monsters.
Their last loss on this map was 166 days ago.
It was November 4th.
Damn.
2025, it was at Blast Rivals, though.
Oh.
Blast Rivals.
They're just on the back.
It had to happen on the other side of the world.
They're out in Hong Kong.
And all of a sudden, you know, now and since then,
it's just been a streak of dominance on the map.
Now, thankfully, I was checking out just on the cams.
What guys, you mentioned, obviously,
you're playing with no pressure with lounge top,
being here with no real expectations
any longer, kind of hanging over your head.
They were smiling, they were loose,
so I mean, no one's completely crushed,
and obviously everyone understands the situation,
but they had their moments in the first map
to make it more competitive, and they missed them.
Miss shots, miss kills.
That can't happen here on Dust2.
When you have these moments
and these one-on-one clutches,
you have to capitalize if you want this
to be a close affair.
Ooh, all right.
That sounded worse than it was.
I think it's all for a foot.
Is they were so close to winning
the piss around the opening over
on the rise. They let it slip.
We can't afford to do that here.
Let's take a good start.
We'll see.
Corbini looking down into the
mid-toes flames just on the
other side of it.
Just going to bake.
Corbini into the open here
plenty of targets.
Yeah.
It's worked out exactly as
vitality intended.
You can see that swing.
Did you know someone just
goes now and they both just
crush him.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to go.
I'm going to.
crush him. Robs waiting patiently. She's going to win it out. Coolio maybe a little bit
frustrated. No chance has jugs. And that's the pistol.
Yeah, that's it. That's wrapped up. Straight away. Cool pistol from Vitality. Robs is missing
a couple of shots in the tunnels, but eventually getting Coolio and once that kill comes in,
that people on site can just be able to run. Jokes can be expected to do nothing.
Oh, nice. I love it. Okay. At least some stall boys. Something going for the pistol
round.
AWP right and a round where you otherwise might not have it so potentially a little bit earlier to get some weapons out not a bad outcome for demon
And but a rough one for foot who lose the pistol and you're gonna cause any kind of an upset obviously the pistol rounds critical
So they won't have that luxury
One to zero for vitality and we're gonna we're gonna start seeing how much they could run away with before foot plant their feet. I
Was surprised these well, maybe I should have been surprised these two teams haven't played each other before
for. First real look at it.
That's another reason why I was like, ah, isn't it?
Doesn't it suck that Longs isn't here?
Yeah. Yeah, that's that's the thing.
It's like this would have been the first glimpse of them
against the best in the world.
Now, we should say this too, Longs out
for personal health reasons.
Yeah.
Yeah, so we're hoping Longs, I'm
assuming you're watching back at home.
Hope you're getting well.
Can't wait to see you at the major.
But obviously a situation to take care of now
so that it's not affecting him come the major out
in Cologne.
My P, you're taking Ls back in 2023.
Yeah, well they're taking Ls in 2026, about 2023, so that's pretty sweet.
Well, a good start here to the round for a foot, they've got the opening, it's Apex
that has been taken down.
just keeping things in control
here for vitality. Spread out in
the default waiting for some
aggression foot. Love to throw
that at them. They really do
ball when it's back. I think I
think also like after the first
map and knowing you're playing
dust two, I think it's a
situation where you're almost
going to lean into that a
little bit more. I would
imagine if your foot that's
maybe like the one X factor
vitality has to stay on top
of his. It is like a
situation of like, you know,
you just never know what's
best map they've already lost their own map pick you know playing with the
standard things are gonna get weird
I honestly don't think I was gonna ever step in the cave this round he's gonna
wait for that flank to come with only the 32 HP the catwalk players create
the opportunities and four oh no here we go stepping up and dying so demon
able to get away with on the ones I will have a flage moving up through
short. Belial not able to get the kill. So claims going to jump on down. There's a nice
lineup. Loves the fact you got to that for Benny's eagle again getting a second this time
on flames leaving rops in a 1v2 with his AK 47. The problem is 23 health and 18 seconds
left. Anyone's going to win it is going to be rops. There's the bomb not tapping
it. He's sticking it all the way through plays it perfectly to back off. Keep yourself
behind cover but hasn't been able to connect that head shot and goes back out eventually
Jukes they committed, made sure that Rops had to fight him and comes through with the win.
So foot bouncing back of the force by victory here.
Yeah, I was surprised to see is I would take that step into cave.
I was, as I was saying, I was assuming he was going to let Katwalk take the initial contact,
see if you can find that kill, pull that long player who might be there,
pull him either into the push you were waiting for or pull him back.
But Zahru comes in to take the fight, wanted to be part of the execution and try and help
out turning that long corner. It's not to be and yet again, it's the foot deagles,
The Krebbeni dealer, that's the difference maker in this round.
Nice double kill there. It looked like Flames had won the round there for Vitality
once he drops down and gets that double out long.
It doesn't matter anything to help the people over at Polymark
and have any more faith over on the foot side of things, still far against them.
One to one all tied up and I guess that's a positive we could latch on to
because we haven't had many.
Uhhh...
Jell-I.
Um...
Ha ha ha ha.
We just can't kind of came into this map saying they had their moments on Mirage
to be a nuisance, to stay in the game, to at least challenge for stages,
that's the moment they've capitalized on. Mirage, they weren't really able to do it in the first
five rounds. This is one you've actually done a phenomenal job of turning on a 10.
I don't know if they got the smoke to land in the way they wanted even on the second time there.
Let's find out.
It's tall enough in the mid-doors, yeah. So a couple of missed pieces here for vitality.
Five foot non-smoke.
Well, here goes a cemetery
Ready for vitality come on the short corner
Almost down mouse one gets himself both kills
Great openings here for foot not offering up any response or vitality
Okay, it's kind of crazy that as he gets away with that this is dicey though
Kribbani's got to come close the gap if he gets caught for whatever reason
There in some trouble. There's the flashbang out Kribbani. He's still stalling still waiting still biting his time
There's no utility to force him out of cars. So once his teammates arrive, it's perfect for Krebbeni. In fact, he peeks up.
It just takes that shot up fight even with that flash, catching him.
Zairu would take him one and Peeling away. He's got the bomb, and he's got an open B bomb site.
Well, they think it's gonna be A. They think it's gonna be A because they have all the attention here,
but Zairu's already into the B bomb site, so Ropp sets him up perfectly. One versus two, and Kulio's only working with six HP.
He's got all the chances he needs. Smoke flash, flash as well for Zairu. Gonna make it even more difficult.
only a smoke available no gift for foot so that's all they've got to come back
in on this retake. Zaiwu going into the tunnels a strong position to get 1v2 for
Zaiwu. Steps in, coolie up, the decoy sent forwards, Zaiwu gets rid of him now
down to the real 1v1. Jukes in this site up on top and Zaiwu never a doubt he
was gonna win that one. A 1v2 collected on the B bomb site and vitality
back to winning ways. Yeah, so calm. Zawoo just know and exactly what to do.
That's so perfectly played from him and Robs as well. Robs continuing to be the
distraction, baiting out towards long. And this is the real strength of
vitality. It's just individuals understanding the situation they're in.
Understanding when they're in the situation to be the supportive element
when they have to be a lurker, when they have to be the aggressor. And you
could see the way Robs is trying to fight it long and seize the moment.
It kind of just disappear and turn into a nuisance for later on in the
round. It's done absolutely perfectly. Round four, two to one lead for
We're going to get a short push.
Well, it's worked out for vitality.
Numbers favoring them for ready getting the one then Jews actually sends the made up
towards that telephone pole and catches eight packs.
So 3B3 because of that.
Yeah, pretty cool idea.
I think this is what we saw.
Coolio kind of barking orders down the line in between the rounds.
That's actually I mean around like this, put it into a three on three.
Yeah, let's party.
Deagle's on board.
No information for foot, really, that they can operate with or move around with.
Robs trying to discover where exactly this defense is positioned.
Mezzi's got to be careful knowing it's a tantalizing prospect for the CT side to push up mid.
Follow up those nade kills, pick up some of the AK-47s, and all of a sudden have a very strong situation.
Rops is the lurker is just cleared out to be bombsite. He's gonna call apex and I will back and just say guys
Just call that one off. There's no point because nobody's home
40 seconds on the clock
Once they clear minute, it'll be the sprint through T spawn they got plenty of time
And still foot have no idea what's happening
And even when they realize what's happening, they're just not gonna be able to deal with it
They've been static for for too long. I think more than anything probably happy to have these rifles. Yep
You're a sort of gamble if they come a great and yeah
Actually have a chance to win it if not then we're not retaking out people so regardless
So let's hang on to these weapons take what luxuries we can get and it's gonna end up being a three-to-one lead for vitality on dust, too
Yeah, we're looking looking good looking solid like they're just gonna close this one out
Three to one I
I guess we could talk about the context of the tournament a little bit more because obviously vitality coming is heavy heavy favorites every event
They go to but especially this one, you know, and I was looking at g2
As a team you obviously you were mentioning is most exciting
You think there's any world in which any of the teams here at the event
We'd like I'll put Navi fury a g2 is probably the top competitors
But sure any of the any world in your mind as to vitality being challenged by any of them
That's why I'm so curious about G2.
I feel like G2 could be a team if all those pieces fall into place.
I think if you continue seeing improvement out of some pious, I think Nurt's kind of
getting reinvigorated and reunited with Saw, who clearly knows or knew how to use him in
Ence, and I think it's going to be, I think that partnership, that tandem is going to
be back online.
Heavy God's continued development, Hunter as well as, I think G2 is an individual.
I guess if you want to put this event into the context, there's teams that you
can place in a different category.
Vitality is going to be the favorite, obviously.
G2 and Navi are in that same sense of like, show me,
infuria, show me something that makes me believe you can beat Vitality.
And then you got teams like Foot and Astralis where it's like, show me the continued progression, you know?
There's a couple of different kind of storylines in this event, right?
It's Vitality obviously.
And all those get wrapped up in that nice little bow, come the Major.
We're looking forward to seeing the rest of the tournament pan out.
We got Astralis G2 coming up soon.
We got Flam stepping out towards the mid-toes, Jukes gonna be knocked over.
Climbing on up, it's Flames on for the triple, but who actually somehow reacts faster so it's gonna make quick work of him
Franco's falling for Simon Wuss, the cemetery taking down a Culeo. He's having a round here. Three kills. He's carving out vitality
Oh, get your frag movie. That's sick. Well done coach
Rob's got anything else. Yeah, why not? I think your brain didn't even expect that to happen. Oh
It's just Flames is gonna get oh, he didn't so brilliant
I don't know, Krobeny about to step up in behind them.
Yeah, this is a really nice timing, especially considering Rops is pushed out of the window.
I don't think he can stop the plant.
And now that Rops has got this kill and sees nobody else home, the Molotov going to be
in towards B tunnels, Vitality going through all the details, except missing that one.
And we're in from Krobeny, powered by Coolio in the early stages.
They snatched that round away.
Yeah, he just tanks that Molotov and I thought Rops had repositioned out of
window because they knew that he was running at them but actually it just gets the angle to
deny the bomb plant and then a great shot out towards window and rops peeks out. Oh man that's a
rough way for it to go and I thought they would be ready. I thought they were going to sail off the
plane and kind of turn in to react. What around from Kulio? There's the first two kills, the
headshot angle takes down Zaewoo. Brian's scurred any for this kind of a win and even
knows obviously where the next peek is going to come. Perhaps rops before he can swing into
the fight. Oh the tag's in though. Yeah well so is a weird buy for the astral, for the
the vitality side of this all greatest of all time.
Oh, another one. Yeah, he's not enjoying that smoke today.
So no, he's not.
I'll tell you, I don't think eight boxes
and enjoying that smoke either today.
Those are the ones that are really tilt the IGL.
Yeah, let's see.
So we can make out for it with some shots on the off.
Cemetery.
Don't be waiting in the doors.
And they come through.
So unfortunate to lose in that fashion.
Mezzi getting the tech nine breaking through the all.
Okay, they want to give the confidence.
You see the P250, you see the tech nine,
you have no belief there's going to be an AWP,
so I will set up for just an easy one.
Kerbeni tries to grab the wide angle,
thinking he's got all the advantages
over the pistols in the world,
and it's the off that just wrecks him,
but Demen's here, not for long.
Yup, Zahar was making up for it.
Think of a shot again.
Good response to Demen,
who look like he might actually be on for a triple
from that spot, that plant coming through for Zaiwu.
Look at Robs.
Oh, headshot him for just a second.
The jerk's gonna be stepping out.
Robs is making his way down to the lower tunnels
at the moment, but we've got jerks just trying
to get someone to peek him, someone to fight him,
but Vitality staying disciplined here,
letting Robs have all the time in the wall
to get closer and closer to the position
that could impact the outcome of this round.
He will come down towards CT,
but the kill's coming in.
It's on Zaiwu.
He clutch up and he's looking to do it again
and he just about misses out on it.
time a huge round down from foot that did not look like it was going to go their
way but all of a sudden those kills just appear in the kill feed in favor of
foot. It's in Robsmith's alert kill like that. They set up the whole round and felt
like that was going to be a nice one for him. The long player only had a pistol so
kind of understandable there but what a well managed retake in a two on three
when they have all the high ground they've got all the good positioning
jugs is able to make it work taking down Zawoof for a nice trade in a
third round victory and for the first time in the series they went two in
in a row. Never able to do that on Mirage, but here on Dust2 they've got it early.
A very unclean start to the tournament here from Vitality, even on Mirage, the wind looks,
when you look at the scoreline you're not going to be too worried about it, but it's
like the ITAS a couple of those rounds, look the little shaky. Again here on Dust2
with Sam's story.
Thank you, 47 out for Zai Wu.
They've resorted to just chucking out regular old smoke down on the doors.
Having to say Cemetery's name a whole lot so far in this series.
A heavy hitter with that AWP, super fast, but got negated on Mirage early.
Never found his flow.
The last one was disastrous as well. This one too, that's the Zywoo Hero 8K.
It's stepping up and it's charging forward. It is demon dead at short.
Kulio in the middle of the tunnel needs this kill. He gets it, but already Vitality have moved through towards the A bomb site.
Yeah, you're not gonna lose two post plants in this bomb site in a row. Not of your vitality.
No, my god.
That's a four. He's never- oh, yeah, actually he is. Kulio's the one who got the kill. Give him the ace.
I
Will have a hero like that everybody else was on pistols. Yeah, it's remember that it's nasty
Yeah, I'm beautiful shooting. I mean, but I mean like vitality is just so so good at always having plans, right?
Like that that's awesome
I mean, what would we see in the last round when he had the AWP right show the pistol back away
Let the op take the angle grab yourself a free kill. They've always got something cooking
This might just be raw straight
He's making every peek and every headshot.
That's an all-peress one, but he wins that fight against.
Semetrius has two nightmares, back to back.
They're a really important all-in role in that position.
Tourist CT lost the fight against Mezi on a tech nine.
Then he's lost his fight to Zaiwu of an AK.
He's getting a kick in himself.
Maybe we will start to say Semetrius gave a little bit
more often, Jason, but in a negative sense.
Okay, yep, that just falls in favor of Vitality.
Mezzy spamming down through the smoke, getting two.
The tunnel's pushed, not expecting the second player there.
Thought the next play would perhaps be through the lower tunnel, so that costs flames.
But I think Vitality gonna feel fine.
You got two kills out long, you're now in a 4v2.
Yeah, they're not stressed whatsoever.
Sennachery's got to be bold and he's got a challenge, and he's got to try and just snag a headshot before they can trade him off.
Apex is coming up short as we speak and that's a nice easy kill.
The cemetery jumps up onto the boxes, traded off and once again rops the final kill.
So everything turning up vitality here, 5-3 on Dust2.
I heard foot saying, or excuse me, Vitality is saying let's just go long.
There's a message double right through the smoke, just snow in the angle of the fallback.
Good timing for Apex to step up.
Unfortunately for foot it's only pistols now.
Money is quite an issue.
Everyone hovering right around 2K.
And Zywoo's got a kill on the cross.
Alright.
Symmetry.
Same as main, you were right.
Yeah, he's gonna be taking a basic bullet from Zywoo's.
There we go.
That's easy, beautiful stuff.
Just gives a casual, like, twitch of the lift.
That's the opening.
If it wasn't already difficult enough for foot.
a lot harder so yeah long together pushing down with pistols and walking
right into the waiting arms on Zaiwu and Apex so cleaned up dealt with six to three
now the hero AK round from Zaiwu might end up just be in the turning point that
just allows Vitality to run to the finish line yeah that was that was a
brutal one wasn't it three rounds remaining in this first half or
foot to recover Zaiwu sitting at 14 kills and three deaths just under
1200 damage total in the map so far. This is a phenomenal performance from obviously one of the best.
Round 10 and this time we get the M4s back in hand. The awp not in the hands of Cemetery.
Culeo tagged on the cross not taken down but softened up for later stages and they're going
long. They want to just extinguish this and pop right through it.
And then Corbettian Demon to important kills. Flames and Mezzi shut away so happy
about this start can't afford to somehow let this slide and you need to do a clean as well right with
the money need to do it with the four or five players surviving in this round
but with a hundred and or one excuse me with a minute and 18 seconds on the clock there's plenty
of time for zai wu rops and apex to get the work this zai wu AWP can open anything up with
with just a pick either towards the bombsite,
either out in the middle,
that's gonna make it so dangerous.
And Apex is kind of relying on that.
Zai Wu and Rops working together in tandem,
smoke over towards short as a bummer,
their gaze goes elsewhere,
Apex is positioned out towards long,
but I think that smoke is gonna change their plans.
It's gonna be a late split towards the A bombsite,
but they don't wanna wait while that smoke is up.
So showing mid pressure,
showing that they wanna execute a split,
and they'll come right back into the original idea,
but here's another smoke over towards short.
I'll break you the smoke.
Cemetery.
Oh, he didn't even see a glimpse of Robb's, but he gets taken down.
Demon, a really important head shot.
And now he races back to try and deal with Apex, but he just can't.
And Vitality somehow, someway, have opened up a chance into his A site.
Tywin with the Utah going down, but Tywin's falling away.
And with his death, the bomb is loose, and then Apex is alone.
So, gets a little scary towards the end of that round, but eventually get it done.
But they do not do it in the clean fashion that you said they needed to.
Which is a bummer, because that's a 3 vs 5 that Vitality's almost able to bring back
and make competitive, get a bomb plant, force you to retake.
Actually a sick round, really low orchestrated from Vitality.
You do get that kill that was necessary, finding cemetery right here to open things
up.
But just due to the two-man advantage, everyone's in position.
On the foot side to just be there and close down that opportunity as fast as possible.
Culeo backs away from mid aggression.
Towards the B bomb site we go it looks.
Four players of Vitality there.
Apex is going to join up with them.
Zauhu is even lined up the utility for the B execs.
So we're ready to party.
Look at him, he's chilling.
He's fighting his fingernails, grooming.
He's just nervous about throwing smokes.
That's a good point.
He should be.
Yeah.
Alright Ted's right now let's see if he can nail it.
Ronzai who smoked watch today.
Off it goes into the sky.
Oh it's beautiful, looks great.
And there we go.
Towards the doors.
So, Jukes sparring down, Messi is going to be caught.
Now going through the window is coolio.
He won't get one before going down and Jukes also getting his one.
So Vitality limping into the B bomb site.
You see Flames is taking damage, 35 HP.
But Robson flames a position to try and win this great reactions from Robs now
They've got to worry about the tunnels and Robs is doing that at the wrong time because he pulls out utility and demon able to
Deal with him. So flames now inside of smoke worried about window. Oh my god
He hates everything about this position. He does but somehow he's maneuvered himself perfectly
Oh, there's the first head shot nearly getting out to a cemetery as well
But quick reactions with accuracy the AWP does bring him down and a fifth round
that's put steak competitive in this first half.
Yeah, they really have and in some sense it doesn't even matter how close they've been
to the economic destruction just because there's only one round remaining.
They've made this a competitive first half.
Very impressive with Julio and Stammin, having some great rounds and good impact as well.
Beautiful head shot from Rops.
Little bit more fortunate with the timing that smoke and V-Tonus protects him and
that's an easy post plant for Vitality.
But Foot snatch it away.
Five to six going into round 12.
I'm going to close this half on a three round street because I will miss the chance to shave
a top of cemetery.
This rock's gone, so hopefully a fight falls in favor of foot going to the last round
of this first half.
They extend upon it. They've got Coolio making his way down that short smoke, which is gonna broke it open
Doesn't detect anybody
Meantime though some space being taken for Flames. He actually walked past them in CT
Let's see what Flames can do with this spot waiting in the smoke Coolio has died at the hand of Zywoo
But Flames has been waiting
Binding his time for this opportunity but looking for Benny so ready
and flames gets nothing from it so under a minute left on the clock for
vitality they start to move towards the A bomb site as I was paused at short
waiting here in the steps and positions out perfectly to deal with jokes and now
the bomb is freed up to go elsewhere it goes into the B bomb site that Messi
has already taken control of yeah how crazy they're able to pull off this
fake so clean so smooth Zawooz only got 12 HP so a lot of this is gonna be
on Messi but that all can do great work and find a way to disappear so
I was got control of the tunnels as this bomb gets planted for the moment.
He's going to have to watch out for demon on the flank and without the angle,
that HP is going to be an issue if he steps back into it.
Oh, he does step right into his demon.
So messy, a 1v3 that looks almost impossible to win for him back to the
platform, 42 health to his name and time as he peaks up against the
immediate head shot.
But foot really impressive.
They stay in it in this first half.
It's a six to six scoreline and perhaps even more of this to come in
in the second half, we'll see if Foot can somehow win dust too.
Welcome back to the ROG Laboratory.
Today we have on hand the ROG HARP 2 and the ROG Falcon.
Now back in Hong Kong, we used these launders
when we were testing the OLED monitors.
And well, today I was thinking we've
got to find some kind of way to put them head to head.
Yeah, there's only some kind of scientific way
to try this out.
You think what I'm thinking?
It gives on keyboard.
All right, Launders, pre-game talk.
What are your thoughts on the falchion?
I have lowered the actuation point so that I feel like Santaris right now.
I've got two sets of WASD.
It feels like I've got like an N64 controller.
Okay.
Spacebar helps me shoot.
It's a new wave of minimalism that we've got for Counter-Strike players, keeping it
very simple here.
I'm handling a Formula One driver right now.
Okay, so that's one thumb, six fingers.
Oh!
What, what, what?
That's a lot of mousepad you got there.
That's because, Mohan, I plan on hitting you with the flick
whenever I need to.
You know, that his harp is so light,
but I think that's going to play to my advantage today.
Paul, what are you doing for your keyboard buttons?
Well, I've gone A and D on mouse four and five.
Okay, because it's all about the strafe.
Left click, still shoot.
Right click is forward, just in case
I've got to close the gap and then end wheel up and down both jumps so that I can hit some be hops while I style on you
All right, Mohan you ready? I'm ready. I'm ready and the inaugural ROG Cup is underway. Oh
My gosh a headshot. Whoo. That was a good shot. Thank you
Here I'm gonna you know it mercy
It's hard to aim it's a bit of a just a mouse
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
What the heck did you do?
You're going to be jumping right now?
No.
Wait, I can't jump though.
I'm closing the distance.
They like a shark in the water.
Oh, please.
The one thing I have to remember is I can't actually
pull down my recoil.
I can see you doing this.
I just can't stop.
Winner takes all.
All right, winner takes all.
All right, congratulations.
Off that round, you win.
Thank you. I am the big winner, and to be honest, I had a hunch.
I had a hunch that the mouse would be Victor here.
This might seem like my serve are more important, but I've honestly been impressed by the utility of
just using a keyboard. They didn't even know I could do all that.
And so, at the end of the day, we've learned two things.
Firstly, that I am always humble in victory.
And secondly, that when it comes to Counter-Strike, aim remains king.
Can you play with just a keyboard?
I guess. Should you? Nah. Probably not. Thank you guys for stopping by the ROG Labs
one more time and, well, crazy idea. How about next time we just combine the two?
Welcome back to Blast Rivals Fort Worth. We've got a very competitive first half here all of a
sudden you know a six to six scoreline not expected between vitality and foot
here on Dust2 because Dust was highlighting that this was going to be a
one-sided victory for Vitality everything pointed towards that but somehow
some way foot have stayed in this fight. Yeah I think I mean to their credit I
think we got it we got to give them that those flowers a little bit and say
we have to have... I don't know we're playing right now but it's a fucking mess with us.
Let's fucking play for the team. It's the fucking discreet the way we fucking
play right now. Fuck's sake it's not the fucking bug boys! Hell yeah Ifx. Get in there we've
seen it the miss smokes, some shots, some focus slipping in different moments. I like
his call on that out you know it's great to hear that listen in there and then
hear it. I've seen him getting frustrated obviously. Yeah if you're one of the
other four guys you're like, no we're just gonna have fun. Can we have a little bit of fun?
Nope, not at all. Soon as, not a bug. What I was saying before I came in with
this foot team with the way that they played in the first half in the
We have to sit here and have the conversation are they going to be the first team to beat
vitality on Dust2 in 160 some days?
It would be an absolutely crazy story line if that actually managed to happen.
So let's see if we're going to see Foot get a good start in this second half.
I mean a pistol round would go a long way in establishing that story.
We've got Cemetery turning back and spotting out that aggression so Rops is taken down
and now a 4v5.
is starting to look like a pretty good chance for foot to win this, but Zywou has made sure
that Kulio is gone, so at least numbers even for now.
Yeah, Mezzi's got a point.
The way that Apex has the flage and he needs to land the shot, he will.
Eventually, he widdles them down.
Mezzi's died out towards long.
It's Flamesy here.
Left alone.
They can't plant.
They're getting harassed from two different angles.
How are you supposed to get the bomb down?
Yeah, Flameson for a lot of pressure and scrutiny.
He can't handle any of it, so it's now just Zywou.
The only player that can do anything about this outcome.
He's got a lot of targets three different positions. They should all work together to make sure as I will can't even get close to this
They're swinging him. They're fighting him and eventually enough bullets connect to the body for foot to win the pistol
Yeah, but they got so much respect for as I were you could see how long it takes them to commit to that fight
Everyone's just kind of jiggling so we've got plenty of time to land a couple of shots and couldn't hit him tough this around
67 so
It's a cool opportunity for us to see the reaction to being put down by a team that has a coach playing is growing
And the reaction to apex off the back of that as well because that more of that apex is going to come out if they keep losing
If this hat keeps getting rougher and rougher
We're gonna have foot gathering the majority of their forces
Towards the tunnels and they landed the smoke better, but but I still hasn't landed perfectly
I'm wondering if things like this I haven't tested it because just haven't been able to play since the up there.
I'm wondering if the new Anagraph update is throwing off smokes a little bit?
No, 100% sure on that, but...
I'm just trying to help the players out.
We're seeing a lot of mismatches right now.
I'm just trying to help the players out.
You know, we're at smokes towards the mid-doors today.
today. Let's see, let's push in towards the B side. We've got Robs going to be blocking
the tunnel. 5-7 cleared up by Coolio. Masi now with a scout, nothing he can do. So Coolio
is loving the fact he gets some impact here. Pushing in to the B bomb site, clearing out
with the Mac 10. Yeah, he's coming through and that's the round out for Poop. Some
bonus money for him as well on the Mac 10. Yeah, great stuff so far for Foot. String
and do-together and getting started. The first time in this series we're going
to see them have this like nice start.
This cushion start to a half, right?
When the pistol convert the second
and then see what you can build on top of it.
So, yeah, they're a team that's historically,
I mean, short history, but historically
been really, really good at playing with momentum
and playing from the front.
I love that Apex is saying in that listening,
you know, this isn't a pug for, for foot.
It's like, let's play like a pug.
This is like a pug for us right now.
Dust2, we got four of our main players,
our coach is playing.
They love that this game feels like a pug right now.
I mean, yeah, and I honestly, even when they have their full lineup, there is, I'm not going to call like a full blown parger or anything, but it is a little rough around the edges.
You know, it's not like it's tactically the sharpest, but you have five players who are very strong individually and play very well together with good teamwork.
So you're able to get past some of those.
And again, that's the next development we're looking for out of foot is those rough edges to be smoothed out and strategically start looking on par with some of the big names.
Really nice showing here on Dust two, up by two, eight to six.
And you got, I mean, you got to think about it too, they've outlasted Zai Wu's hot hand.
He was 14 and five at some point, now sitting at 17 and seven.
Yeah, he was definitely having his moments in that first half.
There could be the breaking points, right? We thought it might be.
Earlier in the half, but here on 8k round, I thought it was going to be the turning point
that would allow vitality to grab control of this.
It's so ridiculous. Just, no one landed that serve today.
Zywoo has come through with the opening because of it as well
They're gonna be so frustrated
Zywoo is telling Apex to come look at this mid smoke. He's like, see these idiots can't handle it either
That's not my fault. Well, this is slightly better. At least it's the lands on the hinge
Zywoo didn't really make it into the sky. No, it didn't it didn't get anywhere. It's lame duck
that players just walked into the tunnels,
rocked, trying to deal with it.
5-7 at that range, still getting one kill.
Flames hopping through the mid-tores.
That's a better weapon available,
and the plant is coming in here for a foot,
but it's a 2v3 in this post-plan.
Yeah, well, Zahoud might need to pick up the MP9.
He might have to be a guy who goes in
a little bit earlier with the HP,
so Flames he gonna set up with flashbangs,
and only six health, and he almost got the peek he needed.
You know, well, now Jokes in the car.
It's a strong spot with a lot of cover,
and it's worked out for Jokes.
It's now Flames coming back in.
Jokes makes sure he gets all of him
Holding from that position could have got a little scary yet towards the end of the round
But make sure they move through to a ninth round victory. Okay, nine to six three round lead things looking good for foot
Converting a four versus five on top of it as well
You know benefit of obviously some weaker weapons for the vitality side. That's a great shot. Yeah
You know sometimes those I really like don't even don't even mention the really good ones. Yeah, it's par for the course
Well, they opt out for Zai Wun out, so we've been waiting for Vitality to buy here in
the second half, but if Book can overcome this obstacle, we're truly on it and we are
on high alert.
Could be another flash rifle, Dust 2 lost for Vitality, been a long time since we've
seen that happen.
Well, it's got worse, so.
But maybe Grows Tall, you know?
Grower, not a shower?
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, it is.
There we go.
No surprise.
that. We got flames pushed up in the long, raw shadow. Here we go. It's on
leashing bullets, early demon dead, and now that unfortunate reality is sinking in
for Coolio that they have no control of Longhouse. It's completely taken. So
what's the reaction here from Foote?
Especially when this is so clearly part of the tactic that you want to run
is having this kind of control. Stepping into this cave when you know
Somebody is potentially in there is always taken down one of your teammates is gonna be so tough
But they've got utility to try and handle the situation
Well there's the push in Flames is not leaving in fact he's just won the round so
So I will also connect you with the AWP junks will do what he can but the possession of the bomb safely enhance here
If I tell you a long way away
Yeah, but I hate that out of fire like he what do you take just taking the flip in the coin like we were just gonna
Assume he's gone away or we're just gonna see they know no flashbang in coolio goes down
and the town's not prepared for anything.
That's the people who had the bomb as well.
Yeah, not the biggest fan of once Flamesey's position
is known, I'm still trying to force the issue.
Vitality's loving it though.
They got their seventh round off the back of that decision.
The triple kill from Flamesey
and we're gonna get our first time out.
Yeah, it's gonna be clawed by foot.
Team that have an opportunity in front of them
that many didn't expect was even gonna be possible.
No, I mean, on some level it's crazy that they're sitting here with a lead on Dust 2.
A real chance, and you've heard from Apex trying to snap his players and his team into place,
trying to get everyone focused and locked in.
I imagine he's having a similar combo right now, but they're playing a lot of pressure over to the Vitality side,
which, yeah, that's the surprise with Coolio playing.
And now let's see if they can actually continue responding, continue building upon this and start getting to the edge of a victory.
I'm stealing a map away, the most dominant map, the Vitality's Pool.
And they might just have an upset on the cards
16 kills on demon 15 on jugs
Missing a little bit of utility in this round is the foot side of things
But they're gonna be quick and they're gonna be decisive down mid we go and they're going right through this smoke. Oh, yeah, they are
It's a foot special. Here they come. Smoke came for that CT cross, cemetery demon, Culeo,
Cropeni, all making their way through.
Laiwu needs a smoke breaker. They're in trouble.
He's going to create it himself. Breaking over the smoke. Now needs to land a shot.
He will certainly do that. And then Mezzi out from windows taken too. So I was enjoying
the build up to that round. All of a sudden the kills came in from Mezzi and Zaiwu
you start to feel like the rounds immediately dead and in fact it is so
Krobeni through the mid-toys Vitality handle this one easily. Yeah, what a great reaction from Vitality.
Alright, there we go. Apex getting fired up. Give a little credit over to Dusty.
One of the mention coming into this that he believes that this Vitality team
has the best mid-to-b defense that he's seen. And at least in this round there's nothing
into that lovely shot from Zairu over the flames.
Obviously great coordination with Rolf speaking out
towards the window.
And that meant that he spoke to us absolutely nowhere.
Let's go in!
Siflind!
It does, Alan.
The vitality's got their energy bringing.
Yeah, it does.
Looks like, man, we could use one of those right about now.
We wish we had longs.
Okay, we've got Krebbeni.
Oh, we know what he can do with this.
We know what he can do with us on Dust2.
The scouting taking out for an opening
frag against Apex. There was no sludge on the scout himself.
That's the kind of round you get once in your life. He's already had it. He can't do it again.
Wait, wait, you see Jay-Z. You'll do it again someday.
I had one of those rounds in 2007.
Okay. And it's never happened again. Oh, six.
Six, seven, Jason. Something like that.
Okay.
Rops is taking Krabeni away. So that
opening kill is all that he'll get. Yeah,
Trying to just be sneaky, helping maybe that one opening kill move the defense away.
Did, didn't. Zywoo's gonna get hunted down with the AWP, but Zywoo's team attacks are crazy.
He's actually gotten all four of Flames. He backs him up and steals every single kill. Zywoo.
Yo, you think he's game one? Oh, no, Zywoo's out of position. He's about to get overwhelmed.
No, Zywoo just kills everyone. A collateral, of course, in the mix.
Apex hyping him up as well.
Happier with the start to the second half.
There goes, Iowa's perspective sees all those players running out of catch away to collateral.
Of course he does, and then pulls out the default pistol for the finishing kill, then.
Yeah, I mean, you could see you're like taking the up, like, get run down,
and then the peek out from Flamesey to just be there and ready to help support
and kind of give him some time to get comfortable is lovely.
The utility in towards cave.
Julio waiting for his moment, and Flamesey gives it to him.
You're really hurting this defense spreading it thin and if rops can't do something miraculous as he hears this exact
They're gonna have to just
Save the round most likely all eyes move over to coolio
Guarding this flank. Excuse me. Corbini guarding this flank
Yeah, just under that Xbox
Ralf actually just drifting over to join his teammates on the long side and they're gonna hang on to the weapons
Which doesn't allow foot up to 10
Yeah, but I mean you could see vitality. They they have the cash to go for this if they want
They just want to prioritize the money down the stretch and the weapons they've currently got no reason to risk it all
And I was such a low percentage round so given the win that they were after given the win they called
9 to 10
But regain the lead and still keep that pressure up on vitality. So yeah, I'm with you
I think that seems like he's a little bit happier with how things are going. He's got like a crazy mixture of like, you know
Negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement in this game so far. He's doing a little bit of both
Just trying to find the winner recipe.
Get this one over the line for Vitality wanting to get this win locked in.
Great high five.
Lovely sound, strong.
Was a strong connection.
Powerful.
First time out used by Vitality in this series.
As they talk things over, down around here on Dust2.
I've been storing up my thoughts for the last couple of maps here.
I'll take this one time out.
It seems like they didn't even really need any kind of an actual talk.
Maybe just a pause in the action.
You know, I didn't see any kind of crazy conversation.
X-Taz wasn't on the mic for the entire time out.
I think that's more of anything, just like kind of like everyone chill.
We got this.
Now's the time.
We've been a little bit loose.
We've been a little bit kind of lackadaisical here and there throughout this series.
And now's the time we lock in, let's not let this go to three.
Let's not even have to think about that as an option.
So Vitality looking to go on a run, they've got money in the bank behind their players
to support that.
Zairu on the AWP.
Got Flames, oh charging towards Kulio, Flames dead again.
Okay, well that's twice in a row and I wonder if use his mindset is kind of like they'll never expect me to do it twice
But well, I'm getting this back
Oh, I'm getting a second crack at this remember flames you went into cave one around now coolio is shut them down twice on these pushes in a row
So advantage coolio in the series
coaching flames
Look, I said easy that from coolio
Tough round ahead here for Vitality of 4v5.
This time, 8 hit coming in from foot, got a couple of players through short,
last at long, 8x.
And spray down through the smoke as Semi-Tru is walking out and Semi-Tru dies in his hand.
So, important kill for Jukes to pick up on that flank.
Zaiwu now arriving though, will he look the right way at the right time?
Zahua gets the scope out, turns us back and dead at the hand of Demet who goes ahead, opens up and it's actually Julio to get that kill on Rops.
Vitality can absolutely destroy this round.
Yeah, Foot's starting to believe it. It heads up to watch your flank as well as your teammates are progressing up Catwalk for the jump up from Mezzi.
The timing of that mid portion of the play from Vitality could not have been worse. Apex with the kill out towards Long forces them away from that part of the map and they're shifting right back into Vitality's push.
Vitality's push I think it's a good time to remind us all Jason. How many days has it been since vitality in 66 days?
They lost it at blast rivals Hong Kong November 14th 2025. It was against spirit
okay
Well, they could be losing dust to for the first time in 166 days to foot with a coach
With foot with a coach playing. Yeah, they've always had a specifically. Yes, okay, they say that playing
Which we can all agree makes this much more impressive for the foot, and it's more disappointing for Vitality.
Yeah.
Sloppy day of Counter-Strike for Vitality, and we've seen that before, and you know, there's a team that's able to win big series on their V-game, on their C-game.
Foot's giving them an issue now.
two rounds back and this time vitality don't want to get cute you don't see
flames you go and try and ego challenge out towards long you don't see any kind
of pushes in towards cave the Zawoo's not even kind of looking for a fight they
want to play something more standard now as what's forced vitality to respect
them
the
final pieces of utility being put out
corridor of cover thrown out with the smokes
out from window just the dink on Kulia dropping them down to 11 HP. Krebbeni also low in health.
Coming up there's B bomb site defense. Mezion robs look to ready themselves and steady themselves
to what needs to be a big hold but both of the B defenders dead and in an instant and Zairu
taken down by Kulio on the AWP. It's map point here for a foot on Dust2 and this is a stunning
map right now from foot. Yeah Vitality gave them the most respect they've given them in
in this whole series and this round and that foot's like thank you very much.
We'll take that all day long. Great map control, two sets of mid to B
smokes and just stroll into the bomb site immediate headshots.
And now you can try and hunt down these weapons.
It's going to be 12 to nine, three rounds that foot have to try and steal
this map away and break vitality stranglehold on the map.
And we heard apex coming into the start of the second half
that listed in out of the break. He was chewing his team out.
You know, telling them that this is a disgraceful we're playing right now.
It's not at the level of vitality should be playing at against a team with a
coach standing.
And right now it has been caught better here on the second half.
We are looking at foot about to win dust to take this one to a third, which
I don't think anybody was expecting to be honest.
Anubis up as that third map.
Wild, absolutely wild.
This is turning out.
And I mean, just just to add on top of that, Anubis as a third map is
one that's only been played twice for vitality, not like they've got the most
experience on it. Yeah, you're kind of stepping into a situation where the
conditions are right for an upset in this series, but for now, foot just need to
close out dust two. All they're thinking about at the moment, Anubis far away in
their minds. How many times have we seen this foot team though, they get to
that point where it's like, okay, just one more step and you've got a
great accomplishment here. Yeah, but you open up this series, say no
pressure on the foot side considering Kulio kind of stepping into the
roster and longs his absence so yeah let's see if that issue is kind of gone
due to the lack of pressure due to the lack of caring 12 to 9 time out comes
to a close apexes said where he can to the boys time to get into the server I
mean it's a good thing that they did prioritize the economy earlier and
didn't go for a retake they could have feasibly pulled off because it has
given them at least this round of rifles you got for Betty trying to take
that off for an opening at long I think that yeah I think they wanted to
pick over at the long corner that they wanted to grab any to grab that
with the spawn and then be able to just pounce into the B bomb site on a timing.
Not going to be there without the opening kill.
I mean, we were highlighting dust who was talking about how vitalities
made the B defences be incredible. The B bomb site defences is being exploited here.
Look at the time, see what we got. I mean, Mezzi and Robs got knocked out last round.
That can't happen again.
Let's see. The front half got players wetting in the tunnels.
It's crazy the way, I mean, we want to talk about like foot just being in this game
is one level of surprise, but also outlastings Zha'u's 25 kills. Zha'u has had some incredible
moments here on Dust2. Perhaps a couple more needed for vitality to force overtime.
Moving around on the map, reconvening elsewhere. Utility to take close middle.
There's mid to B splits and these past couple rounds have been very effective for foot.
So this seems like they want to like show vitality mid to be make them nervous off the strength off the round wins
They've had so a little trickery thrown here
In around 22
There's no all but all to deal with on the other side. So for foot coming out through cat
They don't have to worry about being picked off
Now it's an issue for foot. Yeah, they've got to go down
They've got to go into the fight apex is taking the first kill
Zai Wu draws second blood and Apex's fire burns away the chances here of foot.
Not going to be happening in this one.
They get shut down in effect.
Really important vitality, not only win this round obviously,
but in the fashion that they have, keeping these players up allows that economy to continue to grow.
Yeah, Apex will have to drop a weapon over.
Flames each, means he falls towards the end.
Two for Zai Wu.
Yeah, that's a nice piece of the puzzle to pick up right at the tail end.
12 to 10.
And yeah, that makes it get much, much more difficult for foot to close things out the opposite. I will. I think unfortunately this is another situation where perhaps you are you on to something with even without the lack of pressure or even without the pressure still kind of falling apart when they
right have that victory and grasp. There was that moment. I think when you throw that mid to be smoke, you can't sit behind the short smoke after that. You have to go through it because that's the timing you've created of when vitality think you're faking.
The fact that Wu gets the information with the smoke break and rotates back would just
miss those 10 critical seconds they had to make something work.
Damn, this is the only conviction at a crucial point.
We've got Kulio and Krabeni moving out through Cat.
It's quite quick here, actually.
They want to keep this pace up.
Smokes are going to go out shut away.
off over here. Now you've got to deal with Zai Wu. Now you have a second hand.
He got Zai Wu's off here. Which one are you picking?
Yeah, while holding for Ram, Zai Wu obviously going to walk away. There's at least one here.
Kulio going down. And Zai Wu missing on the second peek.
Out of the pressure, so on the flashes are in though.
And from unable to deal with the threat, Zai Wu's off.
And it's just a kill for a second time in this round.
And Apex is with him.
And back to back rounds has been the French connection
that has stepped up and held on to this game.
We've now got Krebbeni and Jubx in a 2v3.
and the ball not planted.
In fact, it is dropped towards C.T.
And Zahouz has eyes on it.
Just impossible to see a world in which
Krebbenian jokes can get away with this one.
Yeah, this buys so much time for Robson's flank
to come to fruition out towards Long as he starts moving in.
And if you look at the money, it'd be great for Foot
to have a bomb plant in this run.
They could use the extra bonus money.
Zahouz is going to get another.
There it is.
Robs shows up 12 to 11.
Two in a row for vitality on the verge of forcing us
into overtime.
Impressive from foot by getting over that last round that 13th round has eluded them for the past two
And plenty of chances to shut down Zai Wu who again shows a couple of misses two or three on the repeat
But never able to truly punish it and a second time out taken from foot to talk things over their final chance to avoid
Overtime take a map win. Take us to Anubis
to be able to manage.
Absolutely incredible what they've been able to manage.
With Longs being out, with Culeo stepping in, Culeo the coach, 14 kills, 17 deaths, 1,700 damage across the map so far.
That is not a bad performance for someone who's just kind of stepping in and, you know, not expecting to have this sort of a scenario.
Exactly. Highlighting, you know, the young coach as well.
as well. Oh, they burned back to back. Okay, long talk. Make the most of it. Yeah, I like
it. You can't keep them. Yeah, and you get another one. Last round. Yeah. I think we'll
see by vitality call theirs and give a third time out in sequence over to the foot side.
They're going to be happy to use their experience in these timeouts called by the
offense and roll with it. One final chance for foot to steal Dust 2 away from Vitality,
their best map. And take us to Anubis. Otherwise it's going to head into overtime and that's
where Vitality, you would imagine takes control. The favorite snaps back in. But here on this
final round they bring in a couple of Galils, money is an issue, lack of utility on a
couple of players hoping and praying that flames he's gonna give him that
aggressive peek yet again
I'm going to go back to the middle.
Mid-door smoke deployed.
Benny moved down mid with it.
Climbing up onto the Xbox
They got this space in the last round weren't able to do anything with it
I think they're just gonna keep walking to be honest with you
Zywoo is now coming back at the right time here for vitality to get eyes on this
Okay, so they're showing a mid to be smoke for Benny's lining lining up the rail utility for a short hit
They're gonna go right at Zywoo again. Yeah coming back at him
just to lurk her in middle. A couple of rounds we went quiet, got the AWP out and
immediately returned to perfect fragging form. Looking to do the same again.
Spoke break. Dropping back, getting away from the utile. Even his head turned away
from potential flashes and then turns back but they've already moved into the
site. Xayah looking for the victim spots the head, can't connect it so
there will be a bomb plant and this map will come down to a fight in a
retake in the last round of regulation a 5v5 post plant scenario.
Oh nice play from Juggs here's the footsteps and he's a big win.
Yeah he stays alive too, sees the second player keeps Mezzi occupied.
Kripeni with a kill, Juggs on another and Flames in Saewoo a 2v2.
The kills of Kamen at the last block from Demen and they deliver dust 2.
A miraculous win of 166 days in vitality last loss this map.
But now again at Blast Rifles, this time in Fort Worth, they have lost to Foote, playing with their coach.
Yes.
Well now, it's just damn coolio for Foote.
Oh my goodness, what a showing there, Dust.
Wow, definitely didn't expect that one.
You know, when you came into this tournament before the Lamps knew you were like,
maybe Foote could get a map off of Vitality and you thought it'd probably be Mirage.
Well, they don't get to put up Lamps, they get crushed on Mirage,
And then Dust2 comes up, and you're like, well, this is probably the end, isn't it?
They are just the final boss of Dust2, and somehow, some way, they have crafted one of the bigger upsets we've seen in a game against Vitality.
Again, they've played Dust2 now 45 times, only five losses, as Dinko and Moser are in the broadcast.
This is their first loss in 166 days on this map. That's crazy.
That is astonishing. That is a marathon of map dominance, and especially on a map like Dust2,
where we do traditionally think of it as having a little more variance than some of the more tactical slower maps.
Mm-hmm.
Extraordinary.
And the fact that they're doing it in this circumstance, in this context, coming in without one of their lightning rod players
in the longs playing with Culeo, the coach stepping in.
Look, I said it in the last break. I said he just needed one map to warm up, Dust.
And I think he's warm now.
Yeah, there will be no frag movies introduced by Linkin Park where Culeo only gets a one kill, bro.
to be a lot more to cheer for as Juke's really did a great job
helping finish that off.
And we kind of talked about a pregame,
like if it were to win this map, how would it happen?
We thought one of the factors would be cemeteries up.
That actually wasn't the case.
But one of the things that we did see transpire
that we were kind of hoping for was,
would the anchors of this team show up and make the big holes
that they needed to or make the big plays on the extremities?
And we did see that from D-men and Juke's time
and time again throughout the game,
like they played really, really well.
So hats off to them.
That really hats off indeed.
And again, I do just want to highlight it
because it's rare that we get this opportunity to really praise the coach for what they've
brought individually.
It was kind of set up beforehand, I mean it hasn't been that long since Coolio's playing
career.
I remember a Budapest 5 game and I'm just saying Coolio clearly does too.
This guy, really quite impressed.
In picking up the AWP at one point, getting a kill with it, he's doing everything that
they need him to do.
He's obviously not the feature piece, he's not trying to be the feature piece, but
when his number was called on this map of Dust 2, again considering the circumstances,
that is damn impressive.
Yeah, I mean when you just kind of look how this game started was pretty much foot outside of cemetery having a cold start
Everyone else was like in that seven to eight kill range to kind of the the first half of the first half and doing really big things
You know causing kind of an early scramble like it was a very early tussle back and forth on you know
Some of these anti-eco rounds and such and what I really liked about foot's play style here
Is that they didn't shy away from who they are, you know
Sometimes when you get young teams who like to play a very aggressive play style when they get put in the limelight against a top dog
like Vitality they kind of cower down and when you don't have long so it's kind of your main driving force of that aggressive play style
You kind of wonder are they gonna come in a bit flat and timid they didn't they played their game the way that we always see them play with
A lot of confidence and the reality is as well when we look at this
It's not like they did this the easy way right?
It's not like they just came out and vitality was totally shell shot for one reason or another
You had a lot of the vitality win conditions. I was incredible had some magic moments
You have the rounds going late you get to that nine nine where it looks like vitality might just pull ahead
You wind up having vitality start to make that comeback towards overtime.
We've seen them do that so many times, brings repeat when they have their backs against
the wall able to pull it back.
They do it the hard way.
They go the distance and foot still close it out in regulation.
Yeah, I mean, I think one of the things that foot did really well to kind of close down
this game in that second half was just some of those nice timed aggressive lurks that
you saw.
Even that fun around you basically see two different lurks have impact.
You have Jukes' lurk out double doors into CT spawn getting a kill and you have
the late lurk out long a to close it.
So it was just like these kind of, not unorthodox maneuvers, but just the way that foot kind
of just creeps in on you.
Like they're a very sneaky team in that way and we saw a lot of those moments throughout.
We did indeed.
And now let's talk a little bit about vitality, right?
Sure.
Because, yes, it's just one map.
We'll put that caution out there.
But it's a map that we really never would have expected vitality to lose in these
circumstances and we're seeing some of that sloppiness where we were talking about
less preparation time, less time together coming into this event, coming off of that
that grand slam, maybe taking your foot just off the gas, that little bit of a
degree and then comes back to bite them here on Dust2. Yeah, I mean, you heard Apex
has kind of call out there when we start the second half, some of the comms
from the team where he's like, Hey guys, it's not a bug, you know, because to
Apex, like this means everything to him, right? I mean, this is a situation
where no game is taken for granted when you talk about a guy like Apex. Apex
of anyone on this team knows what this team is really hunting for in the
big picture. And that is building a legacy of being the greatest team of all
time and making that resume untouchable for any future teams that
going forward to try to catch them and so every when they get every trophy they
put in the cabinet means something to this team right and so apex you know
even though it's a group stage game it's the opening game you only need to win
one match make the playoffs you know he still cares about this right and
there were moments where they're missing smokes you wouldn't expect them
to miss there's like just little things that they just they didn't look as
tidy as we normally see them it's kind of what I'm getting at and apex
certainly let us know about it and it has always been a conversation that
for this vitality team on these really long runs of how you manage
Rest versus practice right when you're going deep into every tournament when you're competing for every trophy
You want to have those times to relish the victories? Mm-hmm, but sometimes we do see that come back to bite them
It's been rare, but apparently we might be having that moment and foot might be informed to capitalize
Yeah
I mean
I think it's one of those things where one foot plays that really aggressive confident play style if you have one or two guys
Who are just a little bit off they can expose that and we saw that a couple times throughout this game from those be
Executes really being able to bulldoze down rocks and messy in a couple of occasions
you know just all in all it was just again foot kind of playing to the style
that we know them for and even though they were missing one of their key
pieces they were still able to instill that style in a good way. Now if I thought
you wanted to sharpen up before this next map if they wanted to prepare for
maybe some of the aggressive moves that foot would throw at them one thing that
they could do is they could hop on into refrag the premier training program in
Counter-Strike and play a little bit of Defender. You can see our wonderful
Observer, Chef, playing a bit of it right now. Defender puts you into
situations where your insight control trying to hold on to it.
Utilities coming at you, bots are swinging you,
they're trying to retake the site from you.
It's all sorts of different circumstances and situations.
Really helps train your angle awareness,
your ability to maneuver from unexpected circumstances,
and helps you improve as a player.
It's challenging.
Let me tell you that.
I'm not exactly the greatest Counter-Strike player,
but I have seen my own improvement through the Defender mode,
and it really can't help you at all levels, Dust.
Absolutely. And also shout to your boy, Chef, best observer in the business.
He's also pretty good at Counter-Strike.
He is pretty solid at it indeed. I give him that he was doing some of the same stuff
He saw Zewa do a mirage earlier today
It was indeed so if you want to play like chef or like Zewa you can hop on into refrag and try to defend it yourself
We're going to take a little bit of a break here as we get ready for that third map
We didn't think we were gonna get it but now it's all to play for as we head to anubis
A third map we may not have expected with miracle shots like this being hit by the miracle man himself Zai Wu, but they're going to need a whole lot more of that now for vitality, because it couldn't secure the series and Foot, we said they needed a toe hold, now they've got both feet firmly planted under them as we head into Anubis.
Yeah, a rare loss on Dust 2 and Flute's the one doing it.
So now we go on to Anubis where things are a little bit up in the air now.
Now, I will say there's another smaller streak on the line on this one.
Okay, Vitali has won their last eight Anubis games in a row.
Overall, not in three record, Flute yet to win an offline game on Anubis.
Oh, and three, a lot of close losses to some good teams like Aurora
who were kind of an Anubis merchant.
So they've had some good eye test stuff.
They just haven't been able to put a result on the board yet,
but they could maybe perhaps get the biggest one of all
If they were somehow able to topple vitality, the number one team in the world, what the coach stand in in a, in a, I mean, in any fashion, really, like any win here is crazy.
That would be truly astonishing. Yeah, I mean, if there's one way to buff your math stats when people are going back and doing a little prep and clicking out through on HLTV, it's to put a scalp like this on the board.
Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, again, this is not one of like the more heavily played maths of vitality. It's definitely in their wheelhouse and definitely have performed very well on it.
I'm not going to be able to
get into the game. I'm not
going to get into the game. I
don't want it, but it's a map
that again, even though foot
don't have the winds the way
that I've watched them play
the map. I feel like they have
a very good approach. Yes, the
tip of the spears a bit
blunted, not having the
longs here, but we know that
Krabini can still create
those openings and hey,
cool. He has been. Yeah,
man is all he's holding his
own out there. I'm just
saying I saw a double
entry. Matt 10 around in
towards B said on dust, too.
Cool. You can do a little
bit of himself red panda or
Flipping the script to the vitality side right here. Sometimes you need to get
smacked in the face a little bit to walk in in the way that we know that they
can and they've certainly just gotten a smack in the face and I wouldn't be
surprised if apex has given them a few more verbal smacks in the break between
the maps. I would imagine they're gonna be coming in a lot more dialed in
right off the bat here. Yeah you'd expect so I mean this is a team that
obviously is super diverse has a really good playbook on this map has
really good extremity riflers and robson messy obviously the heartbeat of the
team you know flames and apex being those entry guys they have been
I'm like experimenting with new CT positions so I'm kind of curious what roles we're going to bring out today on the CT side.
I've kind of seen them moving Apex and Flames around in the last few months so I will be kind of curious just to see what they finally settle in on.
Because so far whatever it is, it's all been working. They've been getting very good results on this map.
So what in particular should we be looking for in terms of those positionings? What do you want to key in on?
Yeah Flames. I mean I know Flames at times has been kind of an anchor and you see him anchor on a lot of other maps but they were having him play middle on the CT side of this
They move apex to the B connector.
So they've been kind of messing around with their CT positions
kind of a couple of times over the last few months.
So I'm just curious what they're going to settle in on.
And Foot's kind of the same thing.
They were experimenting moving locks around defensively.
Now that he's not here, who really
knows what they will settle in on?
But I think the big guy I want to watch out for on Foot,
this game is Demon.
Again, I think that his trade fracking potential
on the T side is going to be really, really needed here.
And he also plays a very important position defending
that canal on the CT side.
So this is where Demon, you really
I hope he can step up.
He was huge on Dust 2.
And that's big for him because this is a guy that last year,
I think he was probably the most hyped player on this team.
So many people were talking about Deeman.
So many people thought he might get sniped by another squad.
But he kind of faded into the background a little bit
as 2026 started.
Other guys were kind of taking the mantle
of being the leading figure on the team.
But Deeman looked really good in Bucharest
and he's looked really good on that Dust 2 game.
So I'm hoping that we're getting that hyped up
Deeman that we're used to.
We'll have to find out.
We saw Matt, the assistant coach for Vitality,
having some very clear direction for Mezzi.
So curious to see if there's something in the game plan.
They might be implementing there.
Also, speaking of assistant coaches,
we do have Trochu sitting behind foot.
Yeah.
Julio is stepping on into the server.
An interesting thing to see there
is a relatively recent addition coming over from Falcons.
Yes, he was formerly the assistant coach of Falcons,
also an analyst for Falcons at times throughout CS2.
So he does have, obviously, some experience working
with an elite team.
And that's an extra brain to have at the table for them,
because now they have their coach actually in the server
with them, and they have their assistant coach who
might be involved in scouting reports and things
that nature also behind him for just the third perspective,
I guess you could say.
So you got to make up for the loss of long somehow
and maybe have an extra brain power is kind of a way
to help out.
It is always that interesting conversation, right?
When the coach has to step in as a stand-in,
who do you have sit behind?
Because it is helpful to have that extra perspective,
that sort of eye in the sky to see everyone's monitor
and positioning at the same time to kind of note the trends
and pick things out.
When you're locked in, you think about your crosshair
and what your responsibilities are,
you no longer really have that luxury.
Yeah, I mean a lot of times your analyst and assistant coach is only really going to be able to have an impact when it comes to like, you know, game planning and preparation before you step onto the server.
And so for him to maybe be able to come in and maybe just point out something that someone's not noticing or maybe say, hey, we still have this play in our back pocket. We haven't tried yet.
Maybe this is going to work in this situation like those things definitely can come into play and help out.
It also speaks to the fact that this foot team and the organization in general are very serious about supporting this roster and building it up, right?
the fact that sometimes for these newer upstart squads that are rising through the rankings,
they don't have that level of support, they don't have assistant coaches, they don't have analysts
yet, they kind of need to build that in, and we're seeing that come in for foot, and it speaks to
the fact that they're not just interested in being a flash in the pan, they're interested in
building a real contender. Yeah, they came from the shadows of being a Navier academy team to
now being on their own organization and having their own story going from academy to a tier one
trophy lifter, right, and now they're up against the best team in the world and they're
they're doing damage. You know this is a very young squad with a lot of talented
players and as you said foot are invested you know they you know for one
they stopped anybody from getting picked off by another squad they also
contracted the squad in such a way that the core three cannot be purchased so
they really do want to keep this squad together with all the talent they
have and just see how much damage they can do and so far we've seen that
steady incremental climb but this would be really a huge feather in the
cap if they somehow figure out a way to close out this series in their
favorite. Well it's time to find out almost if it's going to be demon time on
the server but first we'll get some demons on the microphone whatever flames
he's up to right there. Let's pick our camera angles carefully and let's pick
our casters carefully we got Moses and Binko. I thought Flamster was just
excited because we have a surprise Jason. Yeah we know exactly what he was doing
we all know exactly what he was doing. Well the surprise is that the third
map is gonna be Nuke not Anubis. Surprise. Surprise isn't that a fun one. It is a fun one.
There was a little bit of a miscommunication error between the admin team and the production
team.
All of a sudden, we kind of ran with things as a newbis.
It's actually Nuke as a third and deciding map, which sucks for foot.
Yeah, it's really good for Vitality.
But you know what?
They knew it the whole time, so it's kind of all good at the end of the day.
We just weren't in on it, so I'm glad to see, you know, I like Nuke.
I'm happy to go here, but I think Vitality is going to be the happiest that we're
going to Nuke.
Well, there's a real chance to bounce back and recover this.
I'm glad I didn't think this would go to a third, so I didn't bring it up, but when I saw that Nubis was that third map,
it was like, okay, so maybe Vitality's trying to strengthen the look of this map for the Major,
trying to show that they can flex on it a little bit for different vetoes when we get out to the Major,
but no, it's just Nuke. It's just going to be Nuke.
Yeah, all right, well, we're getting into it shortly. Headshots are getting on soon for Vitality.
You can see just the warming up getting into the server.
I mean, this is a team that haven't really had to deal with a lot of disappointment recently.
So, you know, I'm interested to see how they get a balance back coming into this.
I have the opinion that I do feel like Vitality are going to come in and just walk away with Nuke.
I think Dust2 was a very disappointing off-game.
And Ibrahim Raj was also a bit hit and miss.
They looked like they were missing a lot of shots and, you know,
Dust2 a lot of miss utility, a weird decisions.
Nuke is surely where they tighten things up.
They have to have had a really intense conversation during that break.
Well, I'm keeping my eyes on Zaewoo and Apex,
especially on the CT side,
I'm gonna be working in tandem outside.
The headlines that have come out over the past 24 hours
have been awesome for these two.
Thorne just released his reflection series,
the first of three videos that he's done with Apex,
which I haven't really had the chance to listen to yet,
but I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.
And then in that, Apex mentions,
and this is the headline,
80% of the fights I have are with Zaewoo.
So they're constantly battling each other,
whether it's game theory, whether it's attitude,
whether it's practice whether it's how you're leading into events they're always
going back and forth and then I just read you know Zaiwoo gave an interview and
on Apex he said we love to say that we're an old couple we can be grumpy we
can be mad at each other but it's always in a good way I mean they are just
kind of like always always clashing a little bit and I hear they have pretty
mean table tennis competitions between the two of them as well Jason I've had
the privilege of playing Zaiwoo in a game of table tennis I've played the
I've got that nasty French spin going on
Tough to handle.
Unfortunately, I've also played A-Faith,
and it was embarrassing.
I just kind of smashed the ball over and over again
until the game was over.
Yeah.
Maybe that's what Nukul feel like.
It might.
For a foot.
That's maybe what the Counter-Shite feels
like on the other side sometimes.
Well, not after Dust 2.
I think they're saying, you know...
Let's see who takes this battle to them.
Yeah.
They're so pleased after those first two maps.
What's thinking, you know, we actually have a real
chance of this.
The idea that we were able to battle them on Dust 2,
such a strong map, and actually take that win, outlast,
and prevent overtime from coming in?
I think that's coming into this super confident.
Yeah, I'd imagine so.
I mean, like we said, the pressure
isn't really on them at this event now.
You've lost, Lawrence.
It wasn't a huge amount of expectations coming
to your shoulder, but if you get to the point
where you might just beat Vitality, Jason,
if you find yourself at that point of this game,
is that where some sort of pressure of, oh, actually,
we can make this a reality?
Oh, yeah.
Then it'll come rushing back, and then we'll really
see if they can get over it.
The loss on Dust 2 moved Vitality's win rate on the map from 100% to 92%.
Ah, it's a big drop.
I know, it's a huge drop.
Man, that's painful.
Well, 8%.
8% is a lot, when you think about it.
Just remember, they'll never have that back.
Yeah, they'll not have that 100% back for another possible three months.
Yeah, that's sad.
That's a loss.
That's all right.
They have 100% of overpass, so they still get something, you know?
Yeah, and they get a team huddle, they'll always have that.
Yeah, after the knife round two, which is always great.
Yeah, but as you just like, don't put your hand up on my shirt.
That's what when we talk about messy being one that takes things for the team that he's also
that's what we're talking about napkin when necessary have you got sweaty hands flames well my jersey is the
right thing for you yeah I saw flames in between it looked like he was he had like some wrapper on
it looked like he was putting on some lotion or something like actually I
genuinely think he was there's something going on we saw a couple of things
were playing his hands yeah that's fair well I'm looking forward to I think a
great point from Mike and dust there was a fact that demons playing really
well on dust too when demons having a good game man this team is just a
different squad he looked so miserable on Marar's like they won't be one he
missed and the flank on Xayu from ramp yeah coming into dust too well he
probably told himself again have another map like that I don't want to show
that level yet again. Either way, Nightfran has been concluded. Thank you all for your patience
through this small delay. We're going live with this third and deciding map here in Fort Worth
at Blast Rivals. Foot taken on Vitality and on some level it all feels a little bit crazy
that we're even here in the first place. Foot's going to be starting on the attacking
side into Vitality's defense. And it looks like attention is going to be taken over
towards ramp. Small fake towards the door, break open the door, throw the smoke in
in towards Mini and then hit ramp room after the fact.
Robs.
That's a difficult player to force away from the ramp.
Missing the ramp off his way, yep.
And this time, not so difficult as they get rid of him.
So Apex has already rotated down.
Sharp shot on the first, but he's getting flooded.
Now, players charging towards him.
Apex trying to handle that pressure, can't do it.
Play him swing, help him de-con,
and gets a kill on Culeo.
A rare moment, you'll see Robs miss that time.
A beautiful shot from Semitra.
You can see the confidence.
Look at how they're all challenging,
and now they're going to go up the vents.
Yeah, they're out of that was the A site as you're realizing that trying to get in position, but you don't want to step into that vent.
So bomb getting planted here for demon.
Krabeni has positioned himself pretty well here.
He doesn't get sandwiched out from the heaven peak.
The Zygos already focused on the site.
Have to win this one, three and that's just not allowed to happen.
Krabeni was in great shots towards the end of the round and that's foot winning the pistol here on new.
Oh, they look confident.
Yeah, they really do.
I know it's only been around, but they look confident after that dust two victory.
Very cool.
Let's see what new guys in store for us.
Good pistol, as I mentioned,
like Rops is normally so perfect
with how he chooses to fall back this time.
I don't know if he just got the information late.
I don't know if maybe he stuck around an X
for an extra shot that he usually doesn't.
It doesn't need to, but getting caught on the fallback
is painful for that ramp player.
So Rops gonna be disappointed in himself
and I want to nothing start out of the pistol for foot.
We're just going to exact into the upper bomb site. Three defenders here, Mezzi up in heaven.
Flames in Apex close high. Flames ends up getting caught by the flash. Mezzi able to
assist and the Deagle comes through. Battered and bruised right now. Vitality hold the
advance each against foot and they win it. They stop them in their tracks trying
to get out towards this site. That's a massive round to lose there if you're foot.
Yeah, absolutely was. You got to give a great credit. I flames you completely blind. It's
so much damage done. A second player, Mezzie drops into the site.
He's not genuinely angry there for a second.
Oh, yep. Getting the boys going. Tied up at one.
I'd see it from Matt's
Don't want to lose the kids on the other side
Yeah, they were talking about that at the start I think of the previous map how it's just like the youngest youngest team
Average age is just crazy average age of 19 and coach coming in to the squad today 25 years old
Bring it up. Alright, demon. Hot hand on Dust2brick is shut down. Look at the roll.
What the hell is that? Dude, that is so clean.
He spilled me from Zaiwu! And then we've got two extracts left outside, and yeah,
all that ace is taken away, but he's going to get plenty more opportunities,
I'm sure, to help the event, but that is really, really beautiful stuff.
Yeah, he's got another clip for the frag movie.
He's just so good.
Just nasty. It's just so quick, so calm.
It's freezing together like it's nothing.
I was trying to re-sprag it at this point. It's crazy.
Yeah, what a feast.
Two to one.
And unfortunately for Foot, we met you on Dust2, they won the pistol, they got that hot start.
That was the only time they've been able to have it in this series, and yet again, it's kind of turned against them.
It's quite a depressing, deflating feeling.
No matter how many times you're down to those glocks like this, and you're going to have to watch Vitality head up 2F, 3 to 1 lead.
Rob's just taking the Org out.
We're just going to see a French timeout.
A French timeout, yeah.
Just hang out, leave blocks, just talk things over.
Yeah, chance for an extra conversation.
Well, next up, next series of the day
is going to be G2 taking on Astralis.
Tinko and I will be walking you guys through that one as well.
Both matches in group A. So loser of this,
we'll face off against the loser of Astralis G2.
Winners will play each other as well.
See who's moving on to the playoffs.
and then group B beginning later on today in the afternoon I should say evening games
shouldn't I it's already kind of afternoon yeah 12-17 here in Texas it's a very french
timeout you know some teams are only slightly french timeouts yeah but it you know I think
uh why is it called that Jason uh it was a history lesson the old existence uh with
the French teams back in the day in the early days of CSGO used to use this as the timeout
of just everyone just kind of sit back with blocks, waste time, just have a conversation.
It is funny the name you attribute to the French timeout is Belgian.
True.
Most French teams, you know, they're all the French teams.
But as I will, it's the French player.
Yeah, we're going to give it to them.
Well Apex got dinked like seven times that round.
Distance with the clock.
Yeah, clocks did.
Just kept taking them.
I'm not expecting it, but we finally get back into a buy round.
There he is.
And Zaru just holds the line.
Nice and easy.
How are you going to get past him with just blocks?
Excuse me.
Three to one.
AK is backed out for foot.
All out for rops over towards ramp room.
There's no AWP in play.
But yeah, Zaru happy with the AK 47.
He'll be aggressive at red box with it.
Yeah, and right now I'm happy to watch with, as I won the AK, clean last couple of rounds,
see what he's like against the buy.
Now, big ol' gap in that smoke.
You need to be careful here, footage you move outside.
Yeah, I think Apex blocked that very well.
He's moving inside the smokes to try and make it destroyed and what does it work?
Maybe he's setting up an internalized run boost in the middle of the action, they
call it off.
And Apex plays up close behind the smoke.
Flames he's even shifted over in towards mini.
Well, they get in towards Flames.
That's gonna work out pretty well.
He ignites for a double, couldn't quite get three.
Jokes trying to react up to the rafters in time.
He keeps his head down behind cover for the time being,
but hey, thanks to the patient waiting on that
the whole time and cemetery currently
strolls into his cross-hat.
And a comfortable round save for vitality
against a by-round of foot.
I think this is gonna be such a,
this is gonna be a tough map for a foot's offense.
I think if you're gonna be slow
and more calculated and strategic like that,
I think this half is just gonna be a watch.
I think Vitality's just gonna run away with it.
The hard thing is, if you're foot,
you're thinking, you kind of know that,
and you want to have success in one of those rounds
so you can do the pace changes, do the timing changes.
If you're just gonna be,
you can't just do the fast tactic the whole half,
but they'd love to be able to dip into that
to catch you off with a round win here or there
to steal one away at the right moment.
But I think if you're gonna go slow
and tackle against Apex and Zairub
and playing yard together for like six years,
I think you're in for a really, really bad time.
I'm just breaking the smoke outside consistently.
I'm gonna leave foot in a tough spot, I can't cross at all.
So I'm gonna try and fight Apex towards me, he's shatter spotted, Apex can ready himself
with a jumping coolio tech 9.
Make sure Apex goes down.
That's a lovely piece of aggression that's going to make it in the action movie man okay let's see what foot has now moving on AK 47s on the board we've still haven't seen rops is all tested still haven't seen the AWP come out for Saewoo I can say that's maybe the conversation apex is having at the end of free time if he wants the arm dropped over or not.
Yeah, Apex looking have a nice clean easy stress free third map so far so good five to one
A lot of utility towards squeak door from foot break it open, but it's outside
That's gonna have the attention yet again apex is here with Saewoo
Uh-oh
Gathering the smokes up in the corner and now I can toss him all outside
The Crabbetti is the smoke man and the Crabman.
So it's deployed.
Foothub plays it red.
No reaction in terms of a shift down to secret from Robs over in the ramp room.
He's holding his ground for the moment.
Raypax hasn't called for anything.
Flamzie is not dropping down vents whatsoever.
Just some spam through.
Good nade damage, good chip damage onto the T side, but still no information.
Yeah, Mezzie tapping through the smoke. Demon has been taken out.
So Vitality have the opening kill here with 50 seconds left, but it's a tough old spot to be in.
And the door slam shut on any kind of a secret play. Flames is here, and Zaihu's over in the ramp room.
He's kind of dropping in and out based off what the comms are. Apex is watching for the fallback for the readjustment back to Mini.
And what are you going to do when you get up here?
Well now Xayu is called over to peek out from locker room and
engagements
Getting the clean fight he's looking for it all so cemetery getting rid of Xayu. It doesn't matter time
You're gonna have to be forced into a disorganized hit through mini
Yeah, you got mezzian rafters apex in the back of the sides a quick trade from Krebbenny
But you really have to hope the flames can't get something from the back
They turn on it bombs in the floor apex trying to stay alive. They have to get rid of it
Robs is right in time from Heaven and the saving grace is Apex and Robs together on their A site holding on for team vitality
Yeah, I mean not a bad idea from Flo it would have been great if they had 10 15 seconds to be a bit more
Calculated to go through some more details attacking into that upper bomb site, but tough situation. They're put in good read of the scenario though
Realized secret wasn't gonna be the plane this kill from Nezzy allows the rotation in time
Trying to get back up to break in but vitality's defense vitality's read and shift is just too strong
Five rounds ahead for Vitality on the CT side, new Tec-9s and Deagles.
For foot on the attacking side.
I mean, we talk about foot being able to win rounds like this.
They really need one at this point.
Six-one down, you've won the pistol round, you haven't been able to win anything other than that.
Great time to have around like this at four foot. They're gonna be coming at rops and and I was here as well
Okay
Anything so apex is a pain. It's come out to swing and apex is partying. Okay. Yep. That's a big old shutdown from apex
Taking cool. You're down through the side of the box as well apex is off of the ace looking for everybody
In fact, he's even looking for his own teammate.
Krebbenny prevents Apex from collecting that ace, so Zywu steps in instead.
Krebbenny, the shot always passed him, but he's ready himself for the attack here on Zywu.
He's got him!
Can he get another one?
Okay, a real shot there on Flames.
He would have been down to a 1v1, but in the end, Vitality do clean up
off the back of the heavy lifting from Apex.
Yeah, really nice rotation.
Both Zywu and Apex both ready to rotate and be there.
Obviously, no one it's a low economy round tech lines likely on the field
Yeah, you're kind of your brain is going to tell you an upper boss store or a ramp room rush very fast paced
So good read from Zayu and apex even though raps goes down there to pick up the pieces and a timeout forced out of foot
And still no winning recipe it's the pistol round and then nothing
Last two rounds have been closer, but none of that truly matters at the end of the day
if you can't put a round on the board.
That's great work from Apex,
especially that Molotov is still up,
making things difficult to fight inside for foot.
This half has just been them getting harassed
and always it feels like fighting at a disadvantage.
Oh, usually the piss around feels so good
to win on the T side of New York.
You gave yourself a foundation to build on.
You don't necessarily even need the greatest half
comes to gun rounds if you win it one more it's doable but
in front of the big stop. I haven't caught a break in force by scenarios either.
I want stronger looking from vitality here on the third map of the series it's the best they've
looked all day long crossing down secret apex look at this round the bat oh my goodness okay apex
this is just unfair that's the bomb he's like communicated that he's not just tracking them
Four kills for the last rounds.
How much can Apex really get from this?
Which direction does he want to go?
Follows the ball.
That is two.
Turn around and no gaping.
Apex, he doesn't, in fact, get a third kill immediately,
but he'll stay committed to it
and get that frag.
Brilliant play from Apex.
Taking matters into his own hands.
He is the star on the server right now.
Again, I think it's time now.
In these last, like, two or three rounds
you're going to have in this game.
Go faster now.
You need to change the pace of this slow and tactical vitality.
It's going to be you.
They have too many protocols, too much experience together,
making the decision to go find information,
where to shift, where to rotate.
You got to do some things that catch them off guard
because right now you're just playing, you know,
like textbook, strategic counter-strike
and they're chewing you up.
And, you know, there's probably no great answer at this point,
especially with a coach playing for one of your star players.
But I think now you have to introduce a little bit of chaos
and things that they're not going to be expecting whatsoever.
It packs his lovin' it.
Let's see if that is the case.
Around like this, Tech 9, so we suggest so.
They're gonna throw the utility towards the door,
blow it off and charge on out,
so jerks accelerate and catching flames,
completely blinded inside of the site,
but Mezzy from Rafters gets the one kill
and realizes no one's actually followed up on this.
I actually wonder if they just straight up
called it off because of the miss mini smoke.
I'm assuming everyone else was just like,
nope, we're not goin' with that, either way.
It's opened up a cool avenue that is not open any longer.
Yeah, that road's closed.
Rops also taking the Org out, finally getting something
packed here.
Rops that quad, OK?
Quiet dude are not having a whole lot of attention his way.
Like he had the pistol round come in his direction.
He got killed.
And then I don't think they bring up a cover.
And at one other time, when he had the AK and he missed,
that's when Apex delivered.
Got his quad kill.
But outside of those rounds, there's
isolated direct heavy hits.
He hasn't gotten a whole lot alone.
It's been so dominant, he's not even really needed on the rotation.
Honestly, like, nice opening kill, and that could have been something if they commited that.
And I really do believe it's that missed smoke, that missed piece of utility that just feels like,
no, we can't execute this if we don't have that smoke in place.
Okay, double-op setup coming out here for vitality.
Drops in Zywoo.
Well, the guns are back here for a foot.
We'll see if they continue to step up the pace a little bit.
Rops gonna plant himself on the back of the box here in the ramp room.
Smokes go outside for a foot, but no one playing with it.
So they're coming at Rops, more attention being thrown towards his position.
They won't miss this one, AWP connected, he's blinded.
Keeps himself back, going out for the repeat.
Now a lot of utility gonna be used up, trying to burn Rops out of his position.
Missed.
Got information, but he reacts, he's able to get the kill.
Rops under pressure, but handling it beautifully.
Finally dead by demon, but all the work is done already and Simon's just wall banged in
So Rob says something to smile about vitality have an impenetrable fortress being set up here on the CT side
It is 10 to 1 and this is very much the vitality. We're expected to see coming into the series today
Oh, yeah, that's this shot is crazy from rops as if vitality is not a second player who can do some nasty things with
AWP this right here headshot angle so quick for many probably can't believe it
That's his rounds. Yes, it is Rob's got his quarter for the half. He cares now. We can chill. He's back to the AK as well
There's a pecs that sounded way too clean wait see we can see a pecs got another one the predators on the server right now
And he's going out forward. We've got juice coming through the smoke apex and rock from 111
Dominant on the third map here for vitality. They're going for the win here in their opening game in Fort Worth
Looks like Rob's gonna be tested in this pistol round, but he's got dual Barat is over towards the ramp a
Confidence start from Zywoo who's already taken space away out in the yard. It's Rob's though on the chopping block
Duel for Rediz. Fire off! And it's all Rocks all day!
Every single individual of this G2 squad refuses to falter at the hands of Vitality.
Finally, something comes through in round 11.
Zywu's double kill out through the tip of that window sill.
It's better late than never for Zywu to step forward as the hero Vitality need.
And they needed one five rounds ago.
Apex gets burned into it in Zywu. It's all or nothing.
Here or never
They'll come barreling towards his sight back
Pax has been all over the mag 7 today in photo banana. That's actually one of the stronger places. Yeah, what if you get a cheat?
Oh, this is a bit deep jump shot. Go on do it. Surely they know they must have seen my
time to do this. They must have seen the Apex dude. They're holding the Apex. Yeah. Do
it. Do it. Yeah. Okay. On the stomp. So I'm gonna jump on the commit. He finds a double
Mag7 back as he finds three four of the jump apex.
That's one way for the RNG to fall in your favor.
Nato.
They're killing the clock, 35 seconds now.
Navi have to make a choice.
Flames, he's in the same corner he's played in the past.
Wonderful, right here in hut.
Meanwhile, eight floor falls.
Navi get the entry.
Mezzi, back site, the anchors.
Oh!
Vitality's king.
He sits here, responds, the head shot hunter
only gets the two.
And so now it is on Eme and with 15 seconds, it's got to somehow grab that bomb.
We've got low health on Messi and they end it right here.
Maus are so frightened of banana.
I mean, retake util's being set up, but Maus aren't even close.
They only now re-enter ahead of that smoke.
Now it's well timed.
Molly will stop Maus' approach over it goes.
Flames again forcing these kills and this time he flicks up with ease.
And no matter how you sliced it in this matchup, there's multiple scores to settle.
Vitality, since getting back from the player break in this season, haven't seen
them made a final yet. Last time they were here, Messi falling short of the
finals in London. And now's the team that started it all, the beginning of
the fall apart for Vitality. Well, they're back now, in to the grand final.
Vitality, get it done in two!
Well, this is more like it.
This is more of what we expected, more in line with kind of our thoughts coming into
this series.
Vitality with a dominant first half here on the deciding map of Nuke, 11-1 lead.
And just here there is a conversation.
There's not even a whiff of a conversation here.
Yeah, the French Star Apex really showing up here for Vitality as well.
18 kills, five deaths.
You know, the other French players are with 14 and three, he's catching up.
Slacking off.
Yeah.
Let's see how the second half might not be much of it in Vitality with the pistol.
We'll go down.
Well, important to mention that the one round that foot have is a pistol round.
That's a very good point, Jason.
They could double it with another pistol round.
We've got Flane smashing up in the locker room window.
We've got Robs ready inside of Main.
Semituri drew first blood on Flames, but Ross grabbed it right back. Semituri though, quick shooting, slinging his way forward with that USP Manaculio in rafters, good headshot, two bulletters on the chase, on the hunt down inside the hut.
Just like that, chasing another pistol on, they've doubled the amount of rounds they've won.
That's magical. Nice shooting. Nice shooting with these USPs. Semituri especially, we were kind of lamenting on Dust2 that we haven't had to say his name a whole lot.
Good to see you fill up the feed here for for a good reason I think we said as they mostly getting picked off by by Zai Wu
But here just a lovely pistol on being aggressive maintaining position not giving access over to hell
And great reason for making sure they close all the gaps I
Think they had a conversation half time of like just go ridiculous
When like we won the major just like everyone do your lungs impression if we went around yeah
maybe together as a five-man unit we can replicate lax we can match the volume
well that forces the vitality into a situation where you don't get the bomb
plant you don't get a good force by so much while hang on the clocks here and
get a good buy in the next so third round coming
Group up towards the inside.
Overwhelmed some of the defenders,
but teaming for Benny, no problem at all.
And jokes to round things out.
So a third round collected here for a foot.
Won't get into the next one here for vitality,
where money finally is at a good enough point
to pull out the AK-47.
Look, I know this has seemed in felt casual
and it's still a massive lead.
And there's no reason to think
Flitzkauer's going to make a comeback happen.
But I think if you're in apexes shoes,
you're a little bit more harsh considering the situation
in terms of close this out now.
That's not like what happened on dust to happen here,
which is demons started to heat up.
Demons started to have some really good rounds.
The rest of the foot kind of rallied around those sorts
of performances got much, much better.
Let's shut this down right now at 11 to three
and get done with the day.
Smoke wall is up, broken open.
Cemetery sees nothing for Benny's already rotated down
secret another break in another lack of information passed over to foot so still no idea what's coming
Any packs shout out spotted
Shook starts to unleash bullets eight packs actually i'm just to get away with that
No two HP to his name. He doesn't want anything to do with that fight
And he still has important utility available so it's good that he stays alive
See that utility be put in place
Over towards secret stairs that model 12 about to be thrown out
Flash as well, so what's been?
You see a foot player now coming towards secret.
Got to be careful though if you're playing up in heaven or if you're
Kerbendi to be honest with you, any wrong move and you go down kind of for free.
But Kerbendi's got a nasty timing now, going to move over to red box. He's found one
and two. That's half the attack. The other half waiting over and
hurts the pounce. Yeah, demon now swinging forward. Looks like he's going to have a real shot at that, but
It robs somehow getting two out of it.
Keeps vitality in this fight.
Remember, Apex is on two HP.
So really, it's all a messy to win this one.
And Crebbenny denies that.
So I love the play from Crebbenny.
The Molotov from Apex comes through.
And as soon as it fades away, he just walks forward behind it.
And so you're kind of switched off to the idea
that that could happen if you're playing.
Every step of the way, he's like, OK, no one's at Red Box.
No one's hiding at any of these places.
And I said I'll wrap around.
Really good move.
Takes a big risk and gets a big reward.
I think we'll see a lot of similar plays like that
throughout this half if they keep battling back into this because that's what they're going to need
to come back in this map.
Op is out for cemetery and for vitality it's back to just the pistols.
Techman unwrapped, D.G.L. on Zywoo.
And it's not longer like a nice stroll through the park for vitality is it?
This is where like Nukes, like your T-side nuke like gets a little bit, a little bit sketchy.
comes are out utilities out they got plenty of money for rebus they got plenty of money to replenish that utility
you're kind of like you're kind of like if we want to do anything in the first 20 seconds
so we're going to have like utility fire and grenades in our face it's just the level of
defense you have to post here if you're for it and right now they've been bruised towards the ramp room
some space here for vitality weapons picked up and they shot at winning this as they go down
lower juke's is trying to get in a spot with his ak-47 towards the control room window
We can end up controlling this round, but he doesn't step far enough forward to spot them going down into the site
So the bomb has made it through
Now you'll know about that, but he smoked out of double toys. This is a scary round vitality could be off for serious points here
He's close but not denying it in fact Rob somehow dodges those bullets and the grenade jumps up
But oh, this is all three players up on these Raptors. This is I can't imagine anybody being comfortable
Especially with cemetery coming ramp. He's gonna have a field day. It's a shooting gallery for the off
Yeah, and they're so low low in HP right now here for vitality. They're sandwiched resolve all the information you need
Yeah, just the positions there for vitality not going to be strong enough to round it out
But find themselves a bomb plant into a 3v3 was impressive considering how they started the round
Yeah, two kills and the bomb plant is a phenomenal thing to have and I think all of them kind of realize it at the end
There's really nowhere we can get to say for all kind of stuck in these positions
The only option I think was all three of them get aggressive towards one of the doors and see what you can find but
Low by round, it wasn't a huge chance to begin with 11 to 5, 6 rounds away, vitality, 2 rounds
from closing out their opening series here at Blast Rivals.
But getting tested, getting some resistance out of this foot e-sports team, and round
17 underway.
That was a quick opening from Zai Wu.
You're not going to feel good if you're cooling out, going down so early, Apex outside, just
fighting with no smokes up, so confident.
Again, cemetery and he wins it, so now we're into a 5v3 for vitality.
Pull position, take grab, map and series point.
Crebeni in a good spot though.
I think Apex had such a nice timing, had such a quick kill on the AWPer, he doesn't
think anyone would have shifted outside.
Yeah, now he's dead.
Oh my god, he got that kill.
I know.
the same thing. There's any war to which Krobene gets on on that. Well Molotov to
prevent his wide peek in towards the ramp room so nothing he can do to punish
anybody but calling it out to his teammates so yet again here's the
rotation the foot race to the lower bomb site Jukes has arrived held off by
Molotov though.
Zywu chasing and getting taken down by Jukes so 3v3. We're gonna see Krobene
start to get closer and closer to the site and he catches them looking the
wrong way. Demon also assisting in that, so Rops has to win this one. Diving down,
Krupp and he heard the steps and just paused. Let Rops walk to his demise.
I think we're another one for a foot. We're surely gonna time out from
vitality after that, right? Like if Apex was mad on Dust2 about things looking
sloppy. Yeah, that's gotta be a moment of a time out,
because that was a very flat post plan. And another post plan where like the
previous round I was like, okay, they didn't really have HP, they only had pistols,
didn't really have a whole lot of time to secure a different position. This one
was like you guys just got destroyed on this attempted retake so conversation I
think and the vitality side is about snapping into shape getting the focus
back and playing like the team they know they are a back's gonna be
disappointed even in the victory I think today
and this is a 5 on 3 two opening kills provided yeah it's crazy and how easy
those kills are like the game is alright yeah apex is walking outside coolio
swings for the fight loses apex just holding side of his fallback drills
them
Oh, they're getting frustrated now. You can understand the timeout coming through for vitality.
A real chance for a score line look more respectable if nothing else.
Going back into the second half. Still a lot of work to be done.
Smokes being thrown out by Mezzi. Apex going to use them.
Apex is trying to find him, but Demon not offering up that chance, Apex in a tough spot
realizing he needs to maintain control of the bombsite, but Preventi denies that and
put Zywu into the 1v4. If there is a player though on the server that could pull this off,
of course it would be Zywu. They know what they're up against.
The utility doesn't spread towards him. Demon on the climb up, get spotted, gets taken down.
And Zywu now a winnable 1v2 in front of him. He's got the health. He's got a chance.
No way.
Down to a 1v1, Zaheem will stick him down at the end.
The USP brought out the right time,
but Zaheem can make any round look possible.
Yeah, but again, when he's been in these moments
in this series, they've given him a lot of respect.
They're so scared, tentative, molding back,
waiting for the peek.
Zaheem gets to dictate everything.
So impressive.
Zaheem almost claws it back.
Just ridiculous.
And what a play from Cemetery.
To just be the aggressor, just say, you know, screw it.
He's got to be low.
He's got to be low when we can't keep playing this game.
And look how hyped up foot's starting to get.
Don't need to do a long impression.
You've got the energy flowing at this point.
7 to 11.
Six rounds in a row to start this second half.
And yet again, foot with her coach
Cuglio playing in the lineup, giving a test over to vitality.
Got a little bit of a tech issue right
at the tail end of the pause in the action.
So we'll get that fixed at and looked at, fixed up and looked at, excuse me.
It seems we're already underway.
Fist bumps are out.
Palms are flowing.
From freestime, it's taking down.
Okay.
Look, it's done to the buy here for vitality.
You've got two AKs out for Apex and Zywoo.
I'm going to go back and play until he's 36.
That's not bad.
Yeah.
He's always bringing the jokes.
What do you got?
Coolio stepping up.
He's got the scope of cemetery in behind him.
Flash.
I'm going to activate a Coolio aggressive maneuver, but it will gather information.
How do you have players waiting around that corner and you hear the tech nine as well?
You probably assumed it was gonna be a lower by but confirmation
Keep smoking vitality really haven't challenged or progressed anywhere. You got apex working outside at a snail's pace very slow
They obviously raps as we know he likes to do washing for these pushes over in lobby. Oh my god
That's so much damage
Just a little peek out.
Just a little two tap with a tech nine.
I'm going to drop demon down to 15 HP and tell the tale.
We've got apex again constantly walking outside,
trying to fight towards heaven.
Vitality flood the ramp room.
38 seconds, and it looks like they
want to attack to hotel right into Kerbeni's position.
He's got no options but to stand and fight.
Traded in a one-for-one Coolio,
waiting at the top of heaven.
Yeah, it gets damage off on Xayu as well, 37 HP.
So 25 seconds, that's the problem here for Vitality.
not a lot of time to figure this out.
They're going back.
Oh my God, they're gonna slow play it.
But imagine if you're foot,
imagine how long you have to keep your nerve
and Demon is very low.
Robs, remember, probably called out.
I dinked the upper defender, dinked the anchor.
He's that damage to Robs,
about to help them out massively.
Demon, get your first place down, take it away.
Time is the limiting factor,
you have to plan now, deny.
By Juerks and Cemetery.
Foot are staying in this one round after round,
piece by piece, they're building their way
back into this game. Yeah I don't think vitality came in today expecting this
kind of resistance whatsoever but this is rough now. Foot have gained complete
momentum still have not dropped around in the second half. Defense is looking oh
so strong. We were coming into the semifinals before we knew Lax wasn't
attending. We were so excited about foot the prospect of this team coming
into this event after winning a trophy in Bootkerize. He's getting better
and better in this season. What would they look like coming here to
Texas. Well, unfortunately,
don't have lunch with him,
but they're still making vitality
sweat. I mean, you tell me they're
playing a team like a Sorales and
I'll say even with coolio,
they can upset that one.
The world number one,
absolutely no way.
I thought that they would be
able to do it.
Still the ways to go.
Four rounds if they want that
win in regulation.
And vitality's T side has hit
a massive obstacle.
Yet to post around in this
second half,
they've lost post plants, they've lost opening kills, they've played rounds 3v5.
Smoke wall outside, broken open, but no information yet for the CT side.
With three players kind of waiting over in lobby and two outside,
it feels like they're just going to turn right in towards Mini and hit the upper bomb site.
Well, Kribani taken away first.
We've got a demon waiting at the back of the site.
There's the barrel.
Jokes knows he's got an opponent right in front of him.
Jokes is patient, gets rid of flames.
Demon steps out from the cover of the site.
He's confident to fight in the open and shred vitality
as they try and get into the ace site.
Once again, Zywu 1v4.
But this time only 30 seconds left
and no real pathway to victory.
Cemetery detects him, hits the shot,
but not bringing Zywu down.
14 HP as I will will start to back away. It is going to be a ninth round here for foot quite the off day for vitality
You're struggling against foot playing with their coach and you're and I look at the scoreboard apex has 23 kills
I will has 20 kills. Yeah, and I was also popular as well
That it feels like it should be the recipe for for the victory and obviously all that comes from a very dominant CT side a
Dominant CT side that foot is now having as well
But this one is just demon taking control of the situation at the upper bomb site that that confidence is back that like young
Young player. I'm not afraid of any fight whatsoever
Constantly peeking constantly looking for the next one not letting you enjoy any kind of safety not letting you take a breath
Demon just wrecks him in the upper bomb site and yeah apex keeps getting more and more frustrated as this goes on
Yeah, it's great to win.
Or it's a little bit of desperation,
pleading to play for the win here on Vitality's side of things
from Apex, but he's dead for a cemetery.
He's brought him down.
And how often did we talk about this foot team,
the core of this team being a momentum-based squad,
Jason?
I know it's a cliche, but absolutely
when it comes to this team, when they get the ball rolling,
just like they can topple everyone.
Yeah, well, and on the other side of things,
I think that's the kind of death that Apex takes
that is very dangerous of vitality, even unraveling further.
You know, like when he gets into these moods
where he's like feeling like the energy's not there,
people are making good decisions,
they're playing sloppy countershoots,
he tries to do too much.
And when he goes down first,
he's gonna sit there frustrated and angry
and watch for the next minute.
Well, Robs inside of the smoke,
two players in it with him.
Robs, can he get anything?
No, Krobeni to take Robs away.
It's now a 5-3 in favor of foot.
But that B-bomb side
at least is being taken here by vitality
And they're fighting towards the vents.
It's a kill from Flames and a better weapon available
he can get to.
Oh, nice follow-up smoke as well.
That's actually huge to take away the avenues of the retake.
They just gotta chill.
All four players are here, too.
While these smokes are up, nothing productive
is being done by foot.
Absolute catastrophe and good utility from Vitality.
Mezzy, tech nine.
Can he bring even ones out with him?
He absolutely can.
He gets two locked.
Okay.
Sideways helping him out.
And we've got Demon now stepping up.
But this round, of course, is the round that Vitality get.
They're least likely of them, but they find success.
They'll get up to serious point, and they break through
into that deep bomb site.
They hold all of foot at ramp with utility,
and a really important kill from Flames inside of that vent.
Yeah, it really was.
That's a huge hold of that position,
the upgrade to the AK-47,
but really the utility that they just picked up
along the way, that extra smoke,
the double Molotov for each side to get the bomb planted,
smoke to each side as well as just brutal.
This is a 3 versus 5 with tech 9s with pistols.
The fact that they recovered the round and win it is insane and it's what makes vitality
so hard to put away.
Three chances vitality to just get through this struggle fest.
I think you'll just feel absolute relief getting the win, but disappointment how they started this tournament
You've got flames already out into the side. It's gonna be jokes. I was first demon. Okay
No, really whatsoever the pressure firing on is that is a destructive round going in favor of foot
They do not even have a single death. Yeah, I mean I don't I did people shoot from
They just did they just get so deleted. I'm not sure how it's that clean
It's actually not a bad like hit right the first player scaling really nicely through the bomb site
You're not running through a Molotov. There's not needs or flashbangs raining in. No one appears top-up
Reminds us J.C. Williams to score
11 to 1 at half time 11 to 1 ladies and gentlemen
This is turned into a 12-10 game and this is not the best buy for vital
You've got apex on a tech 9 a glial on messy a real opportunity for foot to take this one into overtime
You suffer a round loss finally here in the second half, but you bounce back like that.
I think you just pick up where you left off.
Apex trying to be cheeky through the smoke, getting caught.
Apex head to tech in and ripped off by cemetery.
You're going to see them move into the ramp room, cooling up and keeping his steps
safe.
He's going to back off a little bit lower into the site.
They've used so many nades taking a ramp room, I don't think they have the utility
that need to actually secure the lower bombsite and get a bomb plant with any kind of safety
to it. Only flashbangs left, Bakulio's gonna give him a chance. That's a dangerous transition
into the- I don't- Oh, he's- He's extremely dead. I'm assuming he was spotted. Flames
looked like he was holding that angle very, very confidently. Yes, I was. Well, so eventually
there will be Kulio to step into the open. That kill comes in. Again, you have no
smokes. You have no Molotovs to block any of these doors from opening at any moment.
rotation this time from foot to try and deal with the B bombsite threat.
Vitality looking to close the series. Krupp Benny's taking down Messi. Rops his
dad at the hand of Cemetery's AWP. At least Flam's still fighting here for
Vitality as the Flam Zaiwu combo that still could be enough but Dekon door
open. Denial of the Prime Concern. Cemetery got that final kill on Flam's.
So this will fall to the final round of regulation in the series. Vitality
showing no signs that they're going to close this one out. No, no signs of life at the moment.
This has been brutal. So, Hextas is going to be the one, I think, taking all the heavy lifting of
being vocal during this time out. Seems like the flow of comms, the ideas, is shut down.
Messi's chiming in as well. Vitality is desperate. And this might be the shakiest
we've seen them. It's the first match of a group stage, but today has not been a good
day of counter strike for the Vitality squad. 12-11. And if you're on the foot side
of things this time out as you sit in there looking at each other laughing and
be like we're playing coolio and we just made the best team in the world call a
timeout because we're about to take it to OT. What a huge test it's turned out to
be for vitality.
I'm assuming like the only team that was capable of actually beating vitality was
Falkins but now we're in a situation where they're about to lose or a
a chance to lose against Foote, who are playing with their coach.
I mean, it's mind-blowing that this is happening right now.
I thought Austin was the city where things are weird in Texas,
but Fort Worth seems to be stepping up as well.
We've got Coolio getting into the corner, hugging the wall.
Gonna try and deal with Vitality, who are coming at him now.
Yeah, five kills, though, on Coolio.
I mean, if your Vitality is, like, going to the coach,
seeking at the ramp room, but Coolio's passed the first test.
It's Mezzi that's going down,
to respond immediately as they drop down into the lower bomb site Vitality trying to get there quickly.
Yeah, they took rep economically this time, so now they have the utility to chuck out towards the doors and be safe on the bomb plant.
And you've got position, they try and speed things up. Apex adds one, but Jux is still alive.
Yeah, passes the test, still alive, still alive, but then pulls utility at a crucial point.
This is now Vitality with a prior advantage in the lower bomb site, forcing Demon and Cemetery into a retake.
Otherwise, it is going to be a heartbreak and finish, but pushed into the break, but
vitality will prevail.
The opening game here at last run with Fortnort is a weird one, but vitality will just feel
relieved.
Right down to the wire, pushed to the absolute limits.
After an 11-1 first half, I don't think there was a world where we were expecting
this final score line, but pushed to the absolute brink, vitality still do triumph.
Listen, when we started this new game and we saw Vitality charge to 11-1 lead,
I thought we were about to come back to this segment and just be like,
well, Vitality open again and what bass on foot, finally.
Like, if finally I got done, we're in the south, we're in Texas,
we'll bring some southern slag in here to finish this thing off.
That's not what happened.
All the way down from 11-11 and somehow some way,
Foot went out kicking and screaming.
They did not go quietly into the night.
They nearly put this into overtime and put this series in jeopardy for Vitality.
Absolutely incredible.
I think there's so much to be proud of there for foot just to fight just to resolve
Considering the adverse circumstances considering the challenges there. There's so much that they can be happy about and I mean
I think they've shown us that even with Julio in the roster
There's a lot to be feared about this team as they're gonna go down to the lower bracket
They're gonna have another chance to make it through to playoffs. Yeah
Definitely keep your arm foot now for sure
I think maybe some people are wondering if they will be able to still be dangerous without long stance
Yes, they can now we need to break down what happened with vitality there
and I think we've got the subject matter expert here.
X-Taz, I'm sure you've had some thoughts
having watched those last few maps.
What was going on with Vitality?
What was happening with your team?
We played really bad, no discipline at all.
We threw away many runs, spent on you, come on us too.
We didn't play together.
It was too individual, so it was really bad game,
so it's still a win, but not happy at all.
I have a quick question for you.
Before we get into kind of the frustration there,
When you were scouting Flick coming into this matchup,
what was kind of your assessment as a coach on Flick
and kind of where you thought they were at compared to you?
I mean, we know how they play.
We watch them a bit.
We said it.
We need to be careful with the discipline.
They don't hesitate to take joules.
They're really good individually.
But we just didn't really expect it.
So that's why it's really annoying right now.
So when these moments are happening,
we're thinking of getting a little out of hands
when you're playing on discipline, when you're losing advantages or missing a smoke or whatever
it is that sends a round out of an array.
What do you think is happening?
Is it communication?
Is it focus?
What do you see happening in your players?
I think it's the mindset.
You know, each time we play against a stand-in, we are like, it's going to be tough and at
the end we don't play correctly the game, even the plan.
Like on T-Sign Nuke, we had some plans, but all the time someone missed something.
On CT, for example, on those two, we just didn't play.
You know, like, as a play-send team,
maybe they can do something crazy, it's strong,
but at the end, it's still...
So, can we have some rounds?
We can play together, and we just didn't do it.
Final question here.
Obviously, you guys are coming off of a huge victory
with the Grand Slam, right?
A massive achievement for any team.
You've had these moments before where you hit a peek,
and then you need to find a reset.
What do you think's the answer?
How are you going to get the reset in?
What's the message going to be to the team
coming into the break here?
I mean, after Rio, honestly, we took a week off
because since Cruz, we were just grinding the game
just to make sure to win the Grand Slam.
So of course, it cannot be perfect right now
after one week off to close the updates.
So just to make sure tonight, we have a talk about everything
and I'm not worried.
I just want to make sure we are here to win
and not like just playing.
Well, I appreciate you spending the time with us.
I'm sure you've got work to get to.
So thank you for joining us and congratulations on that one. Thank you, sir. Thank you
Taking a little update into the groups. We've got our first match done vitality through to playoffs confirmed
And in that upper bracket with a chance to go straight into the semi-finals
But now does we need to find their opponent?
That means we're gonna head into our second match, but the day it's gonna be a straw list
Taking on G2 on the other side of this break
I think the stars lately are playing really good.
I watched their games and it feels like everything is connected for them.
I feel like also the way how Wuxi is moving, how he's controlling the pieces that he has, I respect it a lot.
And overall, it's going to be a good game, 100%.
Looking forward to seeing you. Good luck man.
a good luck man. Thank you very much Steve. I mean there's not much to think right now they just
changed the player and you know it's not much of the lineup that I picked with that has left
it's only Hunter and he's in a different role so I mean it's always fun to play them and to
see some familiar faces but yeah I mean I focus more on us than them so it's nothing crazy.
Would your focus on you how do you think you match up against what they're going to be
bringing to the server? What do you think is going to be your strength today?
I mean, I think it's our strength that we played together for a bit longer than them.
And they also just had a tournament with Stanton.
So, I mean, it's probably a bit messy at that camp right now, I could imagine.
Yeah, I hope we have some form. I hope we have some extra structure.
And yeah, hopefully that will be the edge.
Looking forward to seeing you. Good luck.
We just got done watching foot another team that we're thinking a lot about food foot one individual is G2 hunter back in after his injury kept him out of Rio rejoining the team rejoining the squad with the nerds newly in tow here does.
us. Yeah, absolutely. Nurtz reunited with his old coach saw where he's found his
most success is when that man's been sitting behind him. G2 will hope that
that will be the case yet again to add some additional firepower to the squad.
Stars are rising on the other side. It is the Danes of Astralis newly
rebuilt with a swede and a Ryu in tow. Yeah, this is kind of one of the
last holdouts of going from national to international, right? You thought
Astralis would be a Danish brand forever. And while they're still
very strong and Denmark. Now you do bring in two players from elsewhere and so far not too shabby.
Not at all. I mean, Fuzzi, you know, Mr. Worldwide been just about everywhere in his career,
really blossoming and showing what he's been capable of. We've seen flashes of it in that old
wild card team in nine. Now more consistently in Astralis with a more structured team around him.
We are seeing that firepower come to the fray and a huge part of that firepower as well
is the young guy in Stair. Yes, Stair is kind of one of the longstanding members of this
team. He's been there the longest really of anyone that's still left on the squad and you know
early on he was kind of just a solid player that kind of was just a role player right. There were
other guys who are more of the highlight feature of the team. Since this international roster has
been put together, Stair has been put at the forefront of this squad. He plays nearly all the
star positions you can think of on the TNCT side and he's having career best performances
so far this year. I mean he's really helped lead Astralis to heights I didn't really expect
right you know to see them make the top eight of crack count the opening of any year to
to see them get third place at EPL.
They came second at Bucharest,
disappointing I think on that one for them probably
just because not the end result of second
but more of the nitty-gritty details
of how they got there
and how they nearly fell out so many times.
But overall, you can't complain with that resume
this quickly with an international squad.
No, certainly not.
I think it's very encouraging
and I think it's cool to see this Astralis team
find their form again, right?
Find some wind in their sails
because we did kind of have that flash
was what last summer where they were a little bit competitive at a few events
and then it just faded, it faded out and now we've got a surging Astralis
back in where we're expecting that they're probably going to be able to
contend against a team like G2 that they might be able to push them. What do you
make of Astralis' match readiness now for this level of play?
Yeah, you're talking about like hooks he took them to the grand finals of
Astana, his debut event and they were chanting his name in the crowd. So
they had their moment but now we're starting to see some consistency. I
think his calling has been good. I think we've obviously already highlighted
there as a star who's been really good. I think Fuzzi with AWP in a world where the
out market is very tough. He's really delivered pretty consistently. I think the other one
that people maybe haven't focused on and they should is Yabi's resurgence. He's been given
a lot more freedom on this squad to play some more star CT roles to get a little bit more
aggressive on the extremities and be a playmaker. He's really outside of one event. He's
been really strong for this squad as well. So shout out to him.
I was asking Hooksie about it. He said he thinks Yabi is back to his peak form.
We'll move over the conversation to G2 because the match is set to begin shortly G2 as well a team that's going to be
Fasting to watch they're right behind us right now
They've got hunter sit-in center console here to lead them through this and with nurses
Well, this does feel like a team that might be hitting a strike. Yeah, it's been kind of up and down if we're honest for G2
I mean that they won London obviously was like the big highlight of the core of this team
But then they kind of went down after that they've made some changes and throughout the courses here
They've had some big results. They've also had a couple of misses
is they've also been dealing with adversity, right?
Being able to bring in a new player and urge
and try to figure out how to make that work.
Obviously, Hunter wasn't able to be with them in Rio.
They still actually did kind of decent at that event,
despite the fact that they didn't have their IGL.
Some ties took over the role temporarily,
did pretty well with it actually.
So I think this is the team where,
when you're kind of looking across the team list,
I think Moses also kind of echoed this intimate.
When he's talked about them on broadcast,
it's like there is a real chance for excitement there.
Like when you look at the pieces that they have,
if they can find the form
and find the right rhythm to work together,
They can be a dangerous squad.
Absolutely.
And I think bringing Nertz into the fold
has been a piece of that as well, right?
Where he was a player who just really didn't look like himself
in his time on Liquid, really looked like he was just
very muted, wasn't playing to anything.
Bro, look, listen, everybody says your time on Nip
don't count.
It's about to be Liquid too, bro.
Because look, let's just look through the timeline
of Nertz real quick.
2023, rookie of the year.
Post-Blast Paris major, this guy
was lighting it up with Nts.
What saw us as coached behind him.
You put him on heroic, particularly that second half
of 2024 with their run at the Shanghai Major and kind of the build up to that again, an
absolute stud, just huge playmaker, great space taker, great like mid to late round aggression,
really good stuff. But then he goes to Liquid and he starts out okay, but then he just kind
of tapers off. You're like, man, we know that guy can be good. And you know, who better
to bring him back than G2 with his old coach saw behind him? And what's some really
good pieces around him as well that I think he kind of fits better on the team in
my opinion?
No, absolutely. And I mean, you can also just see it pretty obviously in their
their arrivals and the ways that he's walking around the studio.
It's all smiles.
It's back to that swagger that we know that Nodes has.
It's back to that joy that he has.
He mentioned it when we were talking in the pregame
that it just feels like this seems having a lot of fun
right now, right?
That the bringing in the right atmosphere
was a huge part of how they were
able to have some success in Rio, even with a stand-in.
And it'll be a huge part of what they need to have
success here.
We got Dust to overpass ancient.
This time, we're pretty confident this is the veto here,
Dust.
What do we think of it?
Yeah, I think this is exactly how it would go.
Both teams did their normal permaband.
Both teams picked their strongest map.
Both teams are very good on ancient.
I thought maybe some of you get a little bit tricky
and pick ancient early, but it being a third map
is also exactly what you'd expect.
And need to note this really quickly,
these teams have never played against each other before.
And there are two teams kind of hugging around
the top 10 in the world fighting for space,
like fighting to be a real contender.
So that makes this match even more interesting
to kind of see them scrap for the first time.
It is a little shocking to be honest,
considering the level of tournaments
they've sort of been dancing around each other.
Yeah, exactly.
The funny thing of the path of the VRS right now
is you can pull out a very different course
through similarly ranked events.
All right, if you had to stamp this one,
what are you looking for from either of these teams
as we head into our first map?
I think it's a three-map series.
I really do.
I think that each team is pretty well-favored
on the map they selected in this one.
I do think that Shouse has done to us
lack where G2's does to us look great.
I think when you look at Overpass,
Shouse has been one of the best performing Overpass
teams of the year.
So I do think there are clear advantages that are going
to be gaining those picks.
And then the third map at Ancient,
I mean, that's going to be a brawl because both teams,
to play that match to a pretty good level.
I always feel like with G2,
Sun Pius on Dust here is always a revelation, right?
Even in his rougher stretches of form,
it feels like when you get him on to Dust too,
you start to see that guy that we know he's capable of being
and so I'm expecting to see that again a lot here
and I think that's gonna be a challenge for Astralis
to activate Fuzi, to really be able to contend
with the all presence here.
Yeah, I think one of the big things for me
when I think about G2 is when you bring Nertz
and it just brings you another aggressive playmaking
left in next to Mattis.
If they can figure out the right balance
between those two players,
that gives you such great split pressure capability.
And the fact that Heavy God is essentially a Swiss Army,
and I have to do, can play whatever role you need him to play.
He's one of the best in role right now as an anchor
and kind of more of an extremity guy,
but he can come in there and make big plays
when he needs to as well.
And let's be honest, when we saw 100
kind of first making this come up as an IGL on G2,
he was fighting pretty hard, you know,
and he's actually a guy that I think will develop
into a really good IGL.
He was already doing a lot of secondary calling
and like calling pistol rounds, calling CT sides,
you know, even when Stax was the IGL of this team.
So he's been kind of slowly tapering into it.
He's got a strong coach behind him.
So I'm kind of with Moses.
I think this team is exciting.
It's just about can they hit the right stride?
We do have just a little bit of extra time here.
I'd see behind us that heavy God is getting his headset
sorted out.
So audio issues, always a little bit of the devil.
But it does give us more time to yank in your ears.
I think it was well put, right?
Hunter, somebody that was talking about
as a potential IGL for a long time,
he's sort of this anointed successor
to pick up the leadership of G2
matter of like when and especially once Nico left the roster it definitely became a really when is
this going to happen but we do have to remember that despite the amount of involvement he had calling
pistols calling CT sides helping out with setup helping out with the mid route he's only full
time have the role for less than a year now. I think the other thing you have to think about is
he wasn't at their last event they just got nerds that's a lot of moving parts to be within a
short amount of time with not much layover between Rio when this event started meanwhile
Hootsie is an established IGL who's been working with this squad all year long uninterrupted and they have built a pretty good system
In my opinion, you know, again, we already kind of talked about, you know stair being a heavy hitter yabby three service in form
Fusey's op I think it's going to be huge here on dust
So I think that's a big win condition for them to see if you can have a bit more impact in some pious and kind of see
How that dual breaks out so that there I guess you could lean some edges as far as like preparation for a stress
But if you go overall firepower g2 matches them pretty darn well
Yeah, I mean, that's always been the hallmark of various G2 squads, right?
They like to have the shooters on that deck.
I think it is really going to be about this guy in a large part, because we've seen him just dominate at times in this
Astralis jersey, right? Takeover maps really make his presence felt and make it something that the other team has to account for.
Yeah. And that kind of arithmetic can really just make a difference.
Yeah, I think in a world where hoppers are hard to come by for top teams, especially ones that perform consistently,
people kind of miss foos.
I think he kind of flew under the radar and it's unfortunate because he was playing on wild card in the NA scene a lot
So I just don't think people really had a view of what he could do
But then he went over to Europe he was playing with non in a couple of other little mixed teams
And I think that kind of revitalized interest in him because remember he did play on it back in the day, right?
Didn't go so I don't think it was really the right situation
And so he kind of faded into the background
But now he's back at the forefront with what he's been able to do on the Soustralis team and people can now once again
and take notice that this guy is an opera that can deliver.
He's very exciting.
Seems like we're getting a full PC swap
to sort of whatever the issue is.
So cue the F1 pit stop music.
That's what's going on right now.
Hopefully we'll get that sorted pretty quickly there,
folks, you can get this server underway.
But yeah, I know, diving right back into this mashup.
Another aspect that we touched on a little bit,
but is worth expounding on more.
Yeah, we had a phenomenal event progress, right?
Really starting to show up nicely.
And that kind of surging form is something that has to be hugely encouraging to an Astralis team that I mean our look the acquisition
Obviously didn't work out for half of it
But they did invest a lot and make a big move to bring in stone and yabbi hoping that they were the future of Danish CS
Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up
I was kind of leaning in that direction a little bit because we know we did actually have
Stown have an interview with HLTD's now the new primary opera of NIP
Apparently he was almost the opera of Astralis like that was apparently so I got tossed around. Oh, yeah
Yeah, that's right. Correct. But he thought he might come back to us trousers and opera as well before they want to fill in the fuzzy route. So, you know, that was interesting to me to kind of hear this kind of what was going on behind the scenes. But yeah, getting back to just the happy as the focus, you know, he's a guy that was good on heroic. He was heavily invested into by
Astralis 100% didn't really live up to it all the time, but has lived up to it this year in my opinion
Again, I think it's because he's got more freedom now with this roster
You know now that they have a guy like Ryu kind of being a traditional anchor
It allows him to be freed up a bit more to play more active city positions
The one that always comes to mind for me is like being that B rotator on Mirage and actually getting involved in the midfights
And just being proactive. He's really good at that
He's also just a good like guy at finding timings like coming on the edge of the map and finding the right time to
Engage someone and find a nice entry pick for you
So I just think he he kind of gets to be a little bit unleashed on this team if that makes any sense
I think Hootsie really likes to let him thrive in more aggressive positions
And I mean certainly if there was ever gonna be anybody who knows him as a player
It's gonna be Hootsie. He's known absolutely so very long back to that Copenhagen Flames roster, right?
Really nurtured him at the very beginning of his career
So definitely the one of the best people in the world
Undoubtedly to know where he's gonna shine where he's going to deliver for the team
Yeah, I think the big thing that we're kind of getting at with all this discussion is that, you know, we already talked up how G2 has all this great talent,
Nurtz what his potential is, Mattis, how good he's looked since he joined this team. Heavy God, one of the best in his role.
But you have a G2, excuse me, an Estralis squad who has pieced together some good talent. You know, again, we talked about Fuzi's out,
we talked about Gabby, talked about Stair, really even at times just looked really good.
He did have a weaker performance in Bucharest in my opinion after a really hot start in Cracow, so I kind of want to see where he balances out at.
But he has his own capabilities of being able to frag on the server.
So I think that you got two teams like this who are pretty near each other in ranking,
whether you want to go by VRS, whether you want to go by HLTV.
Either way, they're pretty neck and neck as far as like where they're at right now in the world.
And again, each of them have pretty decent firepower split across the entire server,
and they haven't interacted with each other yet.
So like that's what's really cool to me is I think this could be a very scrappy game.
It could indeed.
And we do still have a little bit of time here.
So we caught up with Nerds before the game.
Let's see what he had to say.
Nurtz, New Jersey, feeling good, a little bit of time under the belt with the new team.
How are you feeling in this?
Feeling good.
I'm happy to play with Hunter once again, the first year one with him.
And I feel very motivated.
And the reunion as well with some of your old teammates coming into the squad.
How far along do you think you are with being integrated?
How, if you had to give it like a percentage, how far do you think you are?
like with the individual layer.
Just how you're feeling of the grasp on what the team is doing
and how you're playing.
I think like after the last event,
because we didn't play with Hunter,
we maybe we slowed a little bit.
But from event to event,
I know it will be better and better,
but I feel like the chemistry outside and inside the game
is really good.
And overall, I'm super happy and I hope it will stay like this.
And considering you didn't have Hunter,
considering it's tax standing in,
pretty good results in Rio, right?
some nice maps shown, what do you think was working there?
Well, I feel like we were having fun.
That's the bigger part about why it was good,
even though we lost to the two finalists
in this tournament.
But like, if we will show up and we smile
and we will have fun, I know that we can win this game.
Very easy.
I love that he brought up the atmosphere, right?
Because I do think it's interesting
that they had so much success in Rio.
I know it didn't necessarily translate into a deep placing,
but they lost to the two finalists, right?
So it was impressive.
Considering the circumstance, considering
they're coming in with an inexperienced stand-in,
considering they don't have their IGL,
I think maybe there's some lessons they can learn.
There's some brains they can dig out of what was working
that they can now bring into the full team.
Yeah, I guess some new perspectives
to some of the players, right?
To try to figure out how to operate without him.
Sol's probably going to be a little bit more involved.
Some pious had to do a lot of calling.
He was the in-game leader for that tournament.
So I think it maybe it gave people
a little bit of expanded perspective on what to go on there.
But just getting to nerds.
I mean, again, we kind of talked through his history
of a guy who rose up in 2023 as a rookie,
one rookie of the year, did some great things
with Ensign Heroic, goes to Liquid,
and you feel like, man, there's a lot of talent in that squad.
You got Elise, you got nerds,
like, you know, you're bringing an experienced in-game
leader in Shuhay, you're like, man,
this really should be a team that can fight,
get up there and punch,
but it just seemed like for whatever reason
it didn't work out there for him.
And, you know, maybe we'll never know why
If it was interpersonal issues or personality clashes
or different philosophies on how to play the game
or roll over, who knows really?
But the point is, is now Nurtz is in
what should be the most couple spot he could get,
which is another team that's really solid,
that has potential, and with people he's worked with before
and that he's comfortable being around.
And I hope to see that Nurtz come back again,
because the Nurtz that we saw popping off
a couple of years ago, that is some fun shit to watch.
The real question is, how many G2 players
is a take to resolve a tech issue.
And the answer is just one admin,
and then 3G2 player's looking at it.
Eventually, we will get this sorted out.
I'm seeing, okay, he's asking somebody to yap a little bit,
see if he's got the audio.
What's going on here?
Here's my, oh no, a head shake.
That's never a good sign dust.
My analysis right here is,
it might just be a little bit more.
So, anything you wanna talk about?
Let's see, I'm running through my Rolodex right now.
Any good barbecue you got since we've been in Texas?
I've been here a couple weeks already.
I've been out of my fill.
I think I'm 50% beef rib at this point.
I hear you.
All you can eat for $20 at certain places.
That's pretty crazy.
Cool to be in Texas, right?
This is kind of like one of the big states
for North American Counter-Strike history.
When you go back and you look at the CPLs
and you look at different things of that nature.
Again, my first event was in Texas 15 years ago.
Just 45 minutes down the road, actually.
So it's kind of cool to be back.
obviously the blast Austin major was massive. You know the first North American CS2 major people showed out in droves for that. It was an epic time. And so now we're in Fort Worth and we were a couple days removed from being in the Dickey's arena where once again, you know, in a won't have any in a teams this year for on the stage, but they might have an in a player. They might have a nice.
They might have an org. And as long as phase is there, they'll think it's NA. It doesn't matter. Yeah, on the roster 100% the delusion will start immediately. We're very good at that. Yeah, we are as Americans are very good at that. You know, it started out. It's like, yeah, U. S.
you know, it's like, yeah, US CS, then we got some really good Canadian players like in ACS and then all of a sudden the Brazilians got really good.
We're like America CS, you know, so, you know, we move the goalpost as much as we need to to stay relevant.
You know what I mean? That is what it's all about.
It is relevant in our own heads, but I'm seeing heads that's on and so G2 might be ready to show their relevance here server.
Some bats are being exchanged. Some handshakes.
This is very encouraging indeed Astralis fist bumping up it seems like it is time so without further delay your cast is Moses and Binko.
Well we finally found the Caster start game button Jason it took a while but we found it.
It did take a minute it was right next to the light switch.
It was so finally getting into this one second game of the day second game of the tournament.
The last one delivered in a weird way I'm expecting this one to deliver in a very different way because dust is highlighted I think perfectly.
Perfectly two teams are kind of floating at the same level in the rankings in the wall cars right that haven't clashed yet
And I think the series itself being highlighted as a possible three mapper from our desk is perfect to because dust to a map that
We were hearing about some pies and how he's very comfortable on it the opposite story for foosie
Who is quite often openly talked about his struggles on dust to yeah
I mean, well, yes, I'll have that life game against spirit
You know, back out, back at yourself,
trailing into playoff.
So he's had some positivity there as well.
Let's find out.
I just think it's, I'm so pumped for this
because I want to see what G2's been working on.
I want to see what they've been cooking.
It's been a while since they've been at like the tier one,
the big events like this.
Spent a lot of time in the tier two circuit
after this roster change of nerds
having laid a little bit of an easier time working him in
and going over protocols and plans.
Yeah, it's just good to see Hunter back with him.
Let's see what kind of level he can bring to the event.
Miss Rio breaking his ankle.
Yeah, well, heavy cut.
Breaking a skull.
it's foosie dead first. It's going to be nerds to follow up in behind it. So G2 have the first three kills, thanks to nerds who just had another one through the smoke.
And they're already up short. There's really not a whole lot Hooksy can do. It would have to be just an incredible sequence of events. There's the first.
And going to back away and that should secure the pistol round over for G2. Good kill from Heavy God. And that's about it. One and nothing for G2.
It must be a cool game as well for Hooksy on a personal level, right?
You're going up against your former organization that you won the big trophies with
and going up against your former teammate Hunter who's now becoming a game leader.
I mean, it's got to be some level of personal determination
and Hooksy side of things to get the win today.
Yeah, these these these kinds of games, as you mentioned,
you highlight all those different interactions here between the players.
Yeah, they're always about pride.
You know, there is some level of like playing for pride,
along with, obviously, the team goal of progressing through the tournament.
but there's something that feels really good
about beating your former teammates.
Nertz has been opening things up with a double kill
and his reacquisition for me has sparked
the most interest of this squad.
Cause I have to say,
we had to give the G2 organization a lot of credit.
This was what March 1st of last year
is when Nico departed the team.
It was March of last year.
I think Monace left like a month later.
And at the time it was just kind of like,
what are y'all doing?
We just ended CS2, like the individual players popping off
seems to be like a really strong thing going on.
And they just had a different vision of where they wanted to take the take the team and I'm surprised they hit the ground running in the way that they didn't.
So I give a lot of credit over to the team at G2 to put this roster together and some very interesting pieces.
Mattis has panned out very well.
Heavy God obviously has been incredible.
Now you found a way to bring Nertz in saw as a coach is super underrated.
This is a scary team, I think.
Given some time as long as they back all those up.
Right.
It's essential. You have to realize it even more now at this point, so it's went through mid and it's Nertz who was
much gone in this game like that. So the fact that you know Nertz had so much success in his previous teams
It was a rising player in the world. It kind of struck. Went to team Liquid seemed like a great move for team Liquid made a lot of
sense. Oh wow, you've been able to get Nertz for whatever reason didn't pan out there
But I do have a lot of faith in him returning to playing with his former teammates and most importantly former coach
I think this could be a way to unlock that nerds potentially can't because he did have some good games in the liquid Jersey
Was just pretty inconsistent. Yeah, few and far between now
Time out called
Actually, I take it back looks like almost like a tech issue. Nope. They're talking. We're just hanging out
We're just having a good time having a great time
I'm all cold and we'll settle that one in as we get into the action again.
I mean, looking at this group, the winner of this will go on to play Vitality.
Yeah.
Depending on the levels, we got to see if Vitality really struggled in that opening game.
I don't think we'll see that again.
I don't think so.
I think on one level for Vitality, you almost got to like, you know, when you get a chance to look back on and get past the frustration, you'll be like, you know what, at least it happened in the first game of the event.
of the event than then the third or the fourth or the fifth. And we still won.
And we still won. But so far so good with the smokes. That's something we've seen in
the Vitality foot game. No one could land that mid to full smoke. So how do you
get it down here G2? Oh I forget who it was and I apologize. I saw one of the
pro players kind of tweet out trying to redo it and saying essentially one of
the updates last week kind of messed with the lineups a little bit so that
smoke isn't as consistent as it as it should be. Well landed this time. A little
Bit of a bug, perhaps.
I wanna see if G2 can work with it.
They're gonna make their way up short.
They've got good control so far.
They're up top through the mid doors.
Smoking towards the CT cross.
I'm not looking like it's gonna be a V-square.
I don't have anybody in the tunnels yet.
Or if that could change,
you still have plenty of time.
It's also very intimidating having that fight
come at you at the B bomb site.
So, I mean, it's also like a play to counter,
drop some counter utility
before you have to commit.
Now, it doesn't fall all the way back into safety,
but Ryu doesn't actually commit to that fight.
A little bit nervous himself with the MP9,
so he backs off of it and has to disappear into the B site.
Now I think G2 is saying,
well, no counter utility in an MP9, let's go B.
Let's hit the split.
We got Ryu applying it, looking into the corner of the wall,
and it's just all sort of crumbling him.
For Astralis' defense,
the B-ball side does nothing
to have to save the three other players,
and even that, you can top your stair on 18 HP just about, gets away.
So, Shrawl, so look at the hang on to these weapons, a 3 and 0 start here from G2, looking really really strong.
Yeah, nothing complicated to it, it's just getting nerds out into a little bit of mid control,
having kind of peek towards the window, just maintain some presence, announce your presence,
and see what we get after that.
I think they are just so pleased to be like, okay, it's an MP9 and there's not even utility breaking open the smoke,
so let's just rock and roll.
Now for the hunt out towards Long.
G2's being ruthless pretty early on, helps that you have the MP7 on Hunter, but turning
the corner and actually fighting towards Pit is stuck too far.
G2 content with their 3-0 lead here on Dust2 to open this series.
early frustration for the Astralis defense and round four coming in hot three
rifles saved on hook see Fuzzi and stair reeling yabbi have picked up Eagles
and those are the B defenders the only two players that G2 killed in the
previous round so once again Hunter keeping it simple roll yeah the A
Defender saved well, let's go be yeah, this person to that be bomb side. It's gonna be weak again
And they break through so easily so the plan is coming through
For a straw as it'll be the save call again is gonna start back in a way
The position being gonna tip this so retreat get those weapons into the next round
Save yourself a little bit of cash, but if we start from G2 it's looked so comfortable to kick off dust, too
Yeah, it really has I
I mean again like I mean we're still very early on well
We'll see if you have to imagine Astralis's defense is gonna click in and cause a little bit more problems and
Be able to harass this offense, but yeah, it has seemed very chill
Some pious goes one for one
It's just it's just a virtue of also, you know G2's plays kind of just just working
You know like the nerds like probe out middle back away
Executed and you're back in one piece of utility in your back in the middle
Everything's just kind of worked out exactly the way it's been designed so far, so we're going to get a time out it looked like.
Chats have a little chit-chat before this map truly gets out of control.
So Astralis put on the back foot a little bit early and get a try and recover.
Got a decent amount of money building up for them, despite the losing effort, the losing bonus growing and the save weapons are going to help with that economy as well.
I think the AWP is still going to be missing though. I don't know if Fuzi will be able to have that one quite yet
And he will in fact have the AWP so AWP is out
For both the defense and the offense some bias he gets to show us what he gets to do in the G2 jersey
And we head into round five
Long, Mattis tries to make his way up long, throws his utility onto the long corner, but
we're just seeing Astralis cross the player into the pit, Mattis looking at Brawl, and
Starr is waiting down there in the pit, but Mattis has made it out to the blue, and he
can start to communicate to his teammates, he's actually just been severed off from
him with that smoke grenade.
That's his force of the open expecting that utility to come in ready to fight his heavy
guard down coming to support him.
G2 working well trying to get rid of Stab but he's defending the ping.
Very well.
Finally taken out by Hunter.
Now he transitions to Nurtz on board with him as he's moved through the mid-toys and
he's come out very successful on the Horsba-Kudin.
What?
Actually get it done versus Yabbi.
And Yabbi missed the shot with the AWP and just one digs him for a good reason.
That's pretty wild.
Gonna be frustrating for Nurtz.
That was the round win if he gets that kill.
it's an easy pivot back to the B bomb site. We'll see if that crazy little
moment there for Yabi ends up getting Astralis this round victory. It's still
gonna be tough because G2 will have 50 seconds left and both players stay
committed towards a wall. Oh, it's kind of a tie ball game when you look at the
HP in that sense, right? And Hunters just picked up a smoke right at the end
to chuck out for that cross. So Sunpias is gonna move over quietly not
giving any indication of the scaling. Only a Molotov and an HE for Hunter.
There's no flashbang to allow him to jump up towards rail.
So Hunter's going to have to cross and drop the Molotov for safety.
Luckily, the high HP player taking the utility damage here.
So Fose is going to be held back.
Oh, some sent towards Hunter.
15 seconds left.
This is when all you can do is pray that the HE grenade isn't in his hands.
It's the only option just to stick it and see what happens.
And Paris answers.
You know, as the kill comes in, long and supplies dropping him.
It's now on Fusey to try and win this 1v2.
Kenny stepped up first team to get them their first round,
but no, he gets peppered down.
And so he can't actually even consider this.
So he backs away, drops down into a CT.
We'll go for a shot on the way out,
but Fusey's not going to get into a position to win this.
And no kit on his back, low HP.
It's a safe call for the AWPer.
And it's five in a row from G2.
That's a big swing round.
I mean, remember, this is out of an Australian timeout
as well that they come into this round.
And obviously, they're going to be down 0 and 4 now 0 and 5.
Huge opportunity for Estrellas in a 2-on-2 to snatch around that maybe you can build upon.
And it goes the other direction.
Wonderfully played by Hunter on some pies. Extremely patient in this situation.
Really well done from Stair. And he's going to be extremely bombed at that kind of input, that kind of impact in the round.
Went the other direction and wasn't actually able to be capitalized on.
But it's all sunny P with the AK-47 to win out at the end of the day.
Strelts looking to post their first round here at Blast Rivals.
Op again, still in the hands of Fuzi, due to the save in the previous round.
And Hooksy will have him keep that at the long corner, so no mobile opting for Fuzi
in this round at least for the moment.
up on top of Xbox and the smoke out towards the CT cross G2 have some of the
short control they're looking for once they round that corner they'll have
everything and they'll know it when challenging that DP from a Charlis
nurses looking like he wants to be a little playmaker up on short stairs
looking like he wants to be one over here towards this mid smoke yeah nurses
look like he's ready for every fight, every play so far on Dusty.
He's going to round the smoke, get closer and closer to the site in 35 seconds.
Eventually, G2 have got to decide where they're going to finish this one.
Oh, I don't think they can really do anything on mid because they've never
actually gained that first step of control.
So that'd just be too much of a risk and said you're going to go contact
and actually hook you doesn't have this information.
He doesn't realize they're already out wide.
Oh, he's in trouble.
And now they've limited the positions he can play from so they can focus
on the ramp when that Molotov comes in towards Goose.
so no kills or hooksy, that puts the long player under a long pressure.
Skar could alleviate it but can't do so as Matus takes him down,
Nerf on the follow up with his rifle, and it's just Yabby and Ryu,
and it's got to feel so frustrating right now for Astral,
if they're not able to get in to any of these rounds,
Yabby trying to force them into it though, he's done well,
and he's gone away with that one on some players
who continued to fight for some reason.
G2's playing a stupid game right now about to win a stupid prize.
Yeah, this is really being teed up at the moment,
but this point could save them.
Great kill from Hunter.
Yabbi up next, but time is ticking,
and here comes heavy guard round the back.
It's planted for him, and he's got the angle.
So, yeah, a little crazy there for G2,
but a little bit overconfident in that post play,
especially from Sympias.
But in the end, it's the heavy guard-hunter combo.
Yeah, that's a good, I mean, it's a good recovery,
good save of the situation.
Should've never felt like it was really possible.
This is G2 in this round having such a grip
on the victory that they're willing
to throw caution to the win.
Take another 1v1, take another 1v1, take another one as you're jumping up on the boxes, but thankfully when all five players are alive against two, you've got enough bodies to throw away like that.
Having maybe like a warning system for G2, those rounds can still go against you, but 6 and 0 start from G2 at the moment, this is fantastic work.
Quite an issue now for Astralis, a 0 to 6 hole.
And you don't really have anything positive going on I guess stairs double kill and pit is probably the best
The best situation you've been able to put yourself into
Because he's been quiet with the offer you's got zero kills
a bomb site's been over on a number of times
Now we know hooks he loves a bit of aggression into the long cave
It's some of the plays he was making against team spirit back at ESL pro league where he actually was able to beat them in the
playoffs off the back of a lot of those plays, but teams are going to start realizing that
as well. So he needs to be careful and pick and choose his battles here. He backs away
behind as the smoke fades, plays the off angle.
The peek out hook seat sinks heavy to up, but immediately coming back into it a mattress
and some bias to kills the crack open long. Notes is moving through shorter swan all
these draws players are out of position to defend the site. So you have to like
on the flanks and stairs spammed down through the smoke and those have worked
out pretty well here for Astralis all of a sudden they got the player advantage
and hunters on 31 HP. Yeah could you tell me they're up towards short that's
gonna be awkward for this retake there's no kits on Yabi Ryu and Stair. Any
damage that is dealt and some pious is gonna push behind the smoke they might
just eliminate this perk. The retake with the jump up. Oh Stair cleans it up
triple kill and the first round for Astralis. Yeah saving them finally
getting on to the board there from stat, we'll go and find that AWP as well, get to that
defuse in time.
And our first round secured finally, it's taken a while for Astralis.
Taking a while and it wasn't clean, G2 able to get in, but you know, a couple clean up
kills on the cross through the smoke one gets spammed.
Yeah, it was perfectly timed, really, really early on, Nurtz hasn't even kind of gotten
to the corner of short before he's got to turn around and have a battle.
So yeah, a lot of good things going on in that round for Astralis.
It's good to see them get a W.
Let's see if they can string them together because there is still plenty of cash for the G2 side.
Uh-oh.
You know why.
extra smoke throw it on that double it up extra smoky barbecue over here
you know foosie you know take his AWP for a spank some pie sends a shot forward
that's enough for foosie to nope I'm gonna change up what I'm holding actually
position a little bit further back towards the A site itself and more
pressure from G2 coming out long yeah and his teammates were just kind of
He's shifting very, very far away, so reinforcements a long way off for Hooksy, but who needs him?
Yeah, great flashback. Hooksy with a triple kill. Heavy caught Mattis and Hunter all dead.
And Hooksy's happy. She goes to dead. Hooksy shutting them down. Long is completely closed by the day.
Yeah, that's lovely. What a round from Hooksy. Quad kill, and that preserves the money on the Astraliside.
Nobody goes down they get a build tons of bank behind that wind and that strings two together
All right, here we go. Astralis has showed up
Two rounds in a row
And put G2 in an awkward situation where this next buy is gonna be the remainder of the money that they have to work with
So big big chance now for Astralis to recover in this half
Just do what's obvious, it's so obvious, they're not that kind of team, you know?
Well, Insight, I'll hook him, he thinks about his opponent today.
And then Darth Vader at the end?
Hey, that's Darth Vader!
Darth Vader with a science infection!
Oops!
Oh, alright, good kill from Yavi.
And if Ryu pushes up at the B bomb site, he'll see it's completely clear, but he's probably
a little bit nervous.
Zero and seven for Ryu so far.
I'm surprised that G2 hasn't latched onto that a little bit more.
Oh, not between the legs.
It's a miss for the AWP of Fousey.
Strauss need to be really careful, because at the moment they don't really control catwalk
or long. They have a smoke down, which means Nerth is going to be a little bit more passive
and kind of chill. They have another one as well. Now stepping forward, okay. They've
They've got control of short.
Good place to be.
Fozie's position has been realized, has been noted.
Sampias just gonna try and challenge.
Good flash, it's heavy guard for the kill.
Yeah, even better kill.
Let's see what heavy guard can do again.
Next target's up.
Just the head spotted, that's enough.
Hook's gonna be toppled this time.
Stare waiting for mercy comes from the smoke
and good patience, it's paid off.
That's his guard.
Three, three, he goes, yeah,
he's swinging through the smoke.
You see, he's spawned.
He's a little uncomfortable.
He's won it because the time that's the bomb that hit the ground and so yabby with that play forward actually wins it and
Stare gets the head shot on some pies to the end
Fracture insult to injury a nice one from heavy got on the way out the door at least surviving, but that is
Frustrating around there for G2 a great play forward from yabby. Hey, and also you just decimated some pious he killed him after time
He's only got a hundred fifty dollars in the bank. This go happens at twenty four seconds
Trying so desperately to get into the bomb site. This flashbang comes in
Yeah, he had his pick his choice of
And he picks the bomb carrier drops it to the ground round one. Yeah, I love how
Things were going so well for G2. It felt so easy there, right?
And now they've started to unravel very quickly and are now at this point what yeah, like you said that the
Kill after time for supplies. He's sitting down there with no money
That's your offer who's run the cash at this point in the half. That's a very tough scenario now line in front of G2
Well, you've given the right man the AK-47, the hero AK, as Heavy God just showed you some
beautiful stuff in the previous round, ooh, and brought to his knees by Hooksy, spam through
the smoke, the op chimes in as well.
Alright, took him a little bit of time, but we've warmed up.
Astralis is warmed up and now going to rattle off four rounds really, really quickly
in a row.
I
Was love hooks you listen in
Always get some gold out of him
He's not very he's very candid when he speaks. Yes, there's like a yes that quality that apex has to where it's just like it's just like no
No bullshit, you know, this is this is what it is
Real I mean we heard from
From dust on that before this you can talk about one you see real really start to have more consistent performances
I mean, 0-7 at the moment.
Yeah, we saw that sound as well,
the second we're starting a match for him
in his short career as well from the PGL Bucharest final,
also had a slow map in there.
Here's a chance, confidence kills.
Go ahead and think about the Mavin' Glocks.
You're on the board.
He's earned that fist bump finally.
It's earned it.
They're being so hard fought.
Glock kills through the smoke.
Exactly.
Timeout now called by G2. Saw wants to have a word.
You got to be happy about that if you're Astralis, starting out 0-6,
but forcing a timeout out of your opposition at this point
as you've made a real half out of this 6-4 in the favor of G2,
but that's disappeared rapidly.
I wonder what the call is going to be from G2.
They've been playing grouped up quite a bit.
They've attacked long quite a bit,
but a lot of the attacks have been kind of like nerds as the off-pack player
and more of like a three-to-four man pack unit
trying to trade their way into different positions.
Haven't seen them hit the B bomb site feels like that was the initial game plan as now run its course right so there has to be some sort of
Adaptation coming into the end of the half
Oh, this is like that adaptation might be a little bit late to be honest with you
But let's see what they've got coming out of the time out especially because it's Charles
We're gonna be coming in with a double-op setup. So I might catch them on car a little bit. It might
Yabby and foosie picking up the AWP's
He's not making the kill on the cross tell you what it's a great round to switch into
a double off as the bomb is picked up in T spawn heading towards B. Yavi might have
just been around the head of G2 because he's in position and he's ready to party
with the AWP.
That lurk smoke coming through, trying to get a higher vantage point, but now it sees
that utility coming in.
It doesn't want to be caught in an awkward position with the AWP, so Yabbi readies himself
with the ensuing attack, where you're trying to help him with the right fall, Mattis is
in, the smokes are up, he blinds as well, it's absolute chaos in here for Mattis,
but finally backtracked into the no scope of Yabbi, and a 3-3 after all of this
is ensued.
Fousey's waiting for a hunter and he's got that kill on the double AWP.
He's really working here for Astralis.
We head under one minute on the clock.
Sumpias and Heavy got still with a shot at winning this round,
especially with that kill from Sumpias.
Yeah, and Heavy got was so aggressive at short
that Fousey doesn't want to mess with this fight without his teammate.
He was actually going to try and scale up the ramp and grab an angle,
but Heavy got beat him to it.
So he's got to sit back and be patient,
which allows Sumpias to grab a pickoff in the flank
in the middle of the chaos.
now a two on two.
Both coming in from the same spot
of the Xbox they go sharp quick shot
there from some bias puts the
light out on Ryu and sports
Fuzi as well. So you're back away.
No reason to give him a 1v1 flight.
Some flies get to better position.
Fuzi runs right into him.
Great work from some past
towards the end of the round.
Yeah, good bounce back and good
victory right out of the timeout.
If you saw my memory serves correctly,
I think he was one of the coaches that we we found had like one of the biggest success
rates when he was coaching Hens in terms of winning rounds after his timeout.
I think he does another good one here.
There's that pick on Yabi trying to get over to the other side of the map.
Sumpias quick shot.
It was clear when he came back in to this G2 roster, a little bit rusty,
a little bit shaky, a little bit up and down.
But I think that consistency is starting to get there.
I think we're starting to find some of that old Sumpias like coming being consistent.
That would be a huge key for this G2 team to be dangerous at the major if you have that
kind of if you take the Sunpias all the way towards the end of CSGO and insert them into
the squad now.
Change map to map to go with Sunpias, we know that, notes is taking the Abbey away from
the B map.
So opening kill here for G2, it's the last round of the half, got a quick flight
from Hooksley, look at this.
I don't think they spotted it.
They get in behind him, but Matt says it's just cleared out for you, and Nertz has got
to kill on stairs, so even though you've got a powerful flank from Hooksy, no one else has
been able to deliver you anything.
So Hooksy gets the kill, eventually, and Nertz through that smoke, but you've already lost
to B-Bomb site, you've already lost the round.
Yeah, there's nothing you can do here whatsoever, but it is the last round of the half,
so you're going to give it the old college try.
The utility running over the roof, and Hooksy and Fuzzi, you're just going to be desperate.
Chuck a flash in, see what happens.
Yeah, hope for some magic.
A strong initial game plan from G2 was smooth sailing for the first six rounds of the game.
A little bit of disruption here and there from Astralis, but in the end it will be an 8-4 lead for G2 as they leave the first half of Dust 2.
I was going to go back to check on Ivy, okay, Hunter's still in a strong position,
has his cross to the site, does lose his teammate in the meantime, but they line up and Hunter
redeems three.
I'm worried that they're kind of tunnel visioned on breaking through this a-hold.
Okay, that's going to help.
Dude, that's a huge kill.
Ultimate he's not exactly topping the charts. He's not there alongside
Both fell by this eagle to be fight back for twist and now
Up close in the slow
Huge round for a madness what a 4k have you got a waiting some kind of an action
Now wrap you guess what he was looking for and he takes minimal damage in return
He doubles back to site. Ah, as they're trying to chase down Shiro, he strikes, but Shiro, that is crazy.
Looking to emerge around the side of the smoke as Doc is still a couple steps back, and Doc doesn't get the heavy god kill right away.
In fact, heavy god takes his head off. Man advantage in a clutch.
They're gonna double swing the other way.
He makes loud steps. They know they slide right out, and this streak of rounds keeps going.
Going look at this cat presence coming out of phase they are tiptoeing closer to an unexpected gunfight for g2 g2
Fully focused here on doors if frozen draws their attention the cat swing comes over top
And the bottom carrier is dead heavy go from the trades going three kills on the round. Oh, that's excellent now
He's low
They lock horns and heavy God rips Reigns head off
Hunter's calling the correct move at 25 seconds.
We've got an incendiary down on short side.
That's going to make this problematic for Furio.
The bomb has to go.
And then we get this activation out of some pious boss down.
Oh, man. Again, it's the multi frag.
Again, it is G2 throwing a wrench into Furio's works.
It's been amazing to be back, London.
Thank you for having us. Let's enjoy this five map final.
This pistol is going to feel like everything.
Okay, never mind, no chance at catching your breath whatsoever.
It is immediately out onto the set of the yard.
Mattis continues to tap players out of the surround.
Oh, what a pill.
Hunter and Mobs within this bombsite versus three.
Three of 2025's the very best.
The old bones of this new lineup.
Hunter waits for the presence.
Oh, it's an instant headshot.
The Kovac blood runs deep, the talent knows no bounds.
But with Flamesy from the bottom of the board and the smoke on the bomb,
he's gonna just try to stick this.
You are denied and G2 do what no one else could.
Not Mouse, not Falcons, G2.
Welcome back G2 here in Fort Worth this time around and they're looking good. It's an 8-4 lead going up against the Stralis.
This is the map we thought G2 would be the better of the two teams on and so far that has been the case.
We now switch to the T side to see what the Stralis can do over here.
few little hiccups in that first half to allow Strauss back into things but I
closed it out at the end of the day with a couple right at the tail end of the
first half so things looking good with this small lead that they're nursing at
the moment. Stare clearing out lower very passive defense nobody being
aggressive deep into the B bomb site just falling back from long now our
hunter and some pious. So really at the moment both teams playing blind no
No engagement, no information gathered quite yet.
Well, Hunter waits and descends down towards CT.
It's going to be Sterak taking an opening fight,
but surprise, I was trying to grip a second.
He just couldn't get it going,
and now Matt is having to deal with pressure from both sides,
at short and long, so he can't handle that either,
putting Heavy God in a 1v3.
Yeah, this T-side's going to be fun to watch,
especially, okay, hold the phone.
Heavy God's just going to press the issue.
It just feels like it's only way to win is to get in right here right now, land a shot, he will.
Can't find- Oh ho ho! No way!
No, no way! This is unbelievable until finally Star gets rid of him jumping up with a clock.
Have he gone- Holy.
Nearly pulls off something miraculous.
Yeah, I didn't think that was gonna be possible whatsoever, but heavy god, he just realizes he's gotta get aggressive in that situation.
This is gonna be found at T side to watch.
The Dust made a huge point about the resurgence of Yabbi during the segment coming into the series, and he's spot on there.
I think one of the areas that his game is a lot of fun to watch is this Dust2 map on the T-Sign.
I think he's so good at realizing and understanding the timing that he needs to hit as that long lurk,
especially in the chaos of it being executed onto the A-Baltid. He's very good in this position.
Tunnels have been taken over by G2 and we'll get information on that getting to ready themselves for what is unlikely long play
How deep smoke out try and buy some time and position themselves correctly
Stacked up
Slide miss from some pious looks like they want to come through that smoke. It's not gonna hold them back
Yeah, some pious just holding for that cross to come over big gaps on the slow heavy car going forward into the fight with
the mask and Fuzi and Hooksie coming out with two of their own so it's now a 3v3
a minute five seconds left and Astralis just trying to somehow sneak that ball
across the smoke without getting spammed down and Hooksie made it across then
Masters just swings out and gets all three kills with the SMG. I'll tell you
why we heard in the first half Hooksie saying that G2 was the team that was
obvious that you know if they're not throwing them all it's not throwing the
utility they're not coming everything they do is obvious well I think G2
We feel similarly.
New exactly what was coming this whole time.
A small, small gap in the smokes
that the pop flash peek takes away.
The player's meant to create space
and all of a sudden, your bottlenecks.
Great triple kill for Mattis at the end of the day.
It's nine to five.
You know, you see the strollers having to go down
to a scout, upgraded pistols here and there.
G2 came very likely to be up to 10 rounds
in just a moment.
Mattis not slowing down,
continuing his success in the previous round.
He's removed Hooksy.
They removed Hooksy and told his team that there's nothing happening at long.
They heard the flashes, they had to call the smoke landed at the corner, but no actual presence.
It means the defense can start looking elsewhere and set up for other things.
So Hunter's going to be on short and he's paired up.
Two players inside the B bomb site, Nurtz watching middle from the window, but all
lies truly on this A defense.
who once again, a similar scary situation
where you're not controlling long or short.
Which means as a defender,
you kind of position yourself to drop away and survive,
but that's given a lot of real estate
over the attacking side.
So Hunter and Mattis have some decisions to make,
but with the cover of smoke, they found some safety.
This light burned out the sky, but we go back the way.
And we'll get away from short, dropping down towards the mid-doors, utility gonna fly out towards CT.
Break the vision of Nurtz now, but actually to go a little bit too early for you, steps into the open, chest before that smoke pops.
And so you end up getting a free kill of Nurtz. Now Hunter's turned to jump up and spanned out to try and get up the B-Rap.
It's just a happy speed to 50.
And that's not gonna end up doing much at all. So Nurtz comes through USP to the headshot at 10-5 lead.
It's a great start in both halves now from G2.
Yeah, it really is.
It's been a great dust two for them.
They're about to pick in the series.
Up next is Overpass where Astralis wanted to take things.
Good find from Nurtz in middle and playfully setting up
the boost as Hunter comes sprinting over for a double kill.
And I mean, potentially, like one of the few gun rounds
we'll see in the second half coming up now.
Astralis, excuse me, not coming up next.
I mean, there's just not going to be a whole lot of chances
to get back into this game right like you carved yourself an opportunity in the first half of four rounds, but now it's just
They got to do it on nightmare mode. It was just almost playing perfect. Conor strike on your t-side just get the win
Now really tough scenario now for a straws, but I think this is kind of what we expected in terms of
Dust two to go the way a g2. It's next that we feel better about a straws
That's an overpass thick. So there's the second half of the series
Oh, that's a lot of bodies in middle.
I spread out from nerds, quad killin' the round overall.
11-5. G2 two rounds away from taking us on to overpass with a map lead in the series.
And timeout is called this one by Astralis.
Azurksi wants to have a word.
Raga as well. Coach chiming in.
Trying to get this team geared up.
has got one final push to try and create this start something of a comeback anything of a comeback
Very pleased with the way g2's looked if I kind of circle back to the idea of like, you know
It's better. It's been a while
We wanted to see what they were gonna have been working on what they're gonna look like with nerds and saw back together in this roster
I like it 16 kills on nerds 15 on heavy god 13 on some pious
Yes, for the Astraliside it's 13 on Yabbi, 12 on Hooksy.
Stare with 11 kills overall in the game so far.
Well, this is it for Astralis.
There's got to be one special run here on Dust2.
Gonna have to wait out through short.
Hooksy can be flashed into it by Fuzi.
over the top. Here's the Pico.
Some biases, a good flashback.
Now he's caught the AWPer.
Stabbing your steps away.
Cook C tries to step up, but no.
Well, the catcher had shot.
G2 stay hidden away.
Then Nertz comes just a silent stab
before he got his opportunity
towards those ramp players.
Nertz now confident to try and engage,
but realizes there's multiple players there
and gets away.
His heavy guard filters in to try
and block the opportunity of the opening.
Oh yeah, ain't nobody making it out middle.
What a nice collapse from heavy guard and Nertz
to make sure that nobody's home.
Kind of a cool setup with the aggressive short play
to allow Stare to find that fight towards CT spawn.
Just a better reaction from Nurtz
to shift out of the site.
Absolutely perfect and a man advantage over to G2.
At the moment, you're heading right
at the AWP of Sumpias,
and you're doing it in a round
where you really don't have a whole lot of flashes
to take them off the angle.
Two smokes, a Molotov and one single flashbang.
All of that utility is gonna be used
to get past Sumpias.
getting past him even while he's blinded it proves to be very very difficult
it's hunter on the back and it's one and a second here from hunter foes he
finished off and we're now looking at map point for G2 it's been a very
comfortable game for them a little blip on the radar really in that first half
a couple rounds going the way of Astralis but other than that it's been
smooth sailing indeed I think smooth is a good way to describe it too because
it's not like we've seen any like crazy individual you know Herculean
effort to get you to 12-5, or even win this map, 13-5.
It's not someone blowing up in the scoreboard,
and it's not like these ridiculous rounds of someone
winning a 1v3.
This has just been a very good, solid counter-strike.
Yeah.
But you absolutely love to see G2 looking solid here
to start blast rivals out in Fort Worth.
That Stralis might feel like they
I've got to go back to the drawing board after this map
This bumps around time outcomes to a close we head into round 18
There are seven chances for G2 to close out this first map
And this first step for us Rallis begins with a scout a galil two deagles and another galil
Yeah, we know Dust2 hasn't always been the kindest map to a straws, but this does feel
especially disappointing.
They'll always have the win over spirit.
And don't highlight it too much, but real will always have those glock kills, too.
That's fair.
That's fair.
Lacy's got those.
Well, supplies, looking out to us top mid. Not gonna be able to connect the shots straight away. Hooks heat, jumps down into the pit.
I'm just hoping to land blind on the deagle. No one's giving him any information here at all, so he's just gonna keep moving up.
Eventually, you could have that space to as long as you so desire.
I wonder how much of a fake he's gonna be, or how much of just a lurk he's trying to be.
he's trying to be, trying to pull attention to let,
oh, I don't think any of them are ready for the smoke break.
Even Mattis didn't seem like it.
Turned his head, but snaps back.
It was like reaction test.
Surprise.
Luckily Mattis is able to pass it.
And now looking for a little bit more here as well.
Of course you want Mattis holding on to short.
Fuzzi finally getting rid of him.
But 35 seconds left, and it's all over.
It is dominant from G2 here on Dust2.
Not an issue to be seen.
The opening nap of the series versus Stross
falls in their favor.
And we'll see if they can go ahead and get
a 2-0 because this is looking incredible.
Incredible indeed.
Clean as you like.
Comfortable for G2.
That's the way we wanted to see them start here in Fort Worth, and they certainly have
lived up to the billing.
Yeah.
Hunter Maynard got off to the wrong foot to where he wasn't able to attend Rio.
He was on the right foot here in order to drive his team to a big win on Dust
2.
I think it was the left foot that was the problem.
Yeah.
Apparently so.
As the ankle serving him well in the in-game leader chair, I guess you could say as
the game. And so we're
going to have a little bit of
time. We're going to have a
little bit of time as a man
just right out the gate came
swinging six zero start looked
really good. Strauss was
able to fight back a bit with
a couple of big individual
plays, but it just felt like
G two were in control the
entire time kind of on cruise
control there towards the
end and really made short work
of the map that they picked
and the map that we felt
like should kind of go this
way. I mean, looking into
the big pieces that were
firing the new guy a big
part of that heavy God
just overall dominance from these two over on G2. Highlight real after highlight real indeed the ever every opener needs a
Closer every alpha needs an Omega and these two are for each other, right?
I mean you have nerds who is that
aggressive space-taker not a traditional entry fragger, but just really sneaky, you know
Just kind of has these like grimy plays where he gets, you know
These aggressive space-taking maneuvers and you have heavy God who's essentially a Swiss army knife
But for this team he's been really solidified and kind of that anchor extremity roll more passive positions
and I think it's a great
opportunity for us to get
into the game. It's a great
opportunity for us to get
into the games, but really
just both of those guys showed
up in a big, big way that they
company each other very
nicely. They do indeed, right?
And it is just having as you
said that opener in that
closer, right? There was one
round in particular that we
wanted to dive into a little
bit more specifically was right
at the end of the first
half, which demonstrates what
nerds bring as an asset
towards this team, the
things that he can do that
are kind of unique to his
own play style. So let's take
a look around 12 year dust.
Talk to me about what we're
seeing here. Not just
just let him kind of call his own number and play his own pace.
He just has this way to maneuver around and get in these four positions
and find ways to wreak havoc.
And you see it here, mid-beast play, classic move on Dust2, very tough to deal with.
Nurtz able to draw attention from one.
And then Mattis uses the opportunity to come out and beat Tons of Grimms up an entry.
And Nurtz just finding a way to stay alive, keep attention on him as long as possible.
Even winds up with another kill, and it's all said and done.
A little bit of awkwardness here to kind of finish out the round, of course,
but they still did their job when it was all said and done, right?
And I think that's what's really neat about them,
is that they have this great split pressure potential
because you have Madison Nurtz
who are both comfortable taking leads like that.
I think it's also really telling of the chemistry
that's already quickly developing between these players.
If you just look at the timing
on what Snurtz is doing there in the mid,
he reacts perfectly off a flash,
finds the exact window where a player's gonna be ducked
and he can take the space,
and then he plays off of his teammates
taking the engagement with the other player.
That's communication, that's timing,
that's feel for each other,
and that's the kind of thing
that sometimes can take a while
to develop after a new addition.
Which is something they haven't had, right?
I mean, you know, Nurtz just got onto the team,
He's only played a handful of events with them.
They were without Hunter in their previous event.
Yeah, there's some reuniting of players.
Obviously, there's history there between Nerts,
between Sunpius, between Saul, so that there's
definitely some understanding there
on how to work together.
And you're kind of just seeing what this team can be, right?
We know that the potential is there.
I know Moses has been kind of high on them.
It's like kind of a dark horse team for this event.
Kind of a team to be excited about,
a team that you can kind of get behind if the pieces all
work out the way that they're supposed to.
And certainly, they did on Dust 2.
And again, I think that Moses is right.
I think this is a team that has that potential to take a step up.
Is it enough to tap with team like Vitality?
Probably not, if we're honest.
But you've got to start somewhere, right?
And I think that G2 has been a little bit shaky
due to some of the instability, I guess,
of the roster situation.
But hopefully they can start a final.
You do have to start somewhere.
Starting with a good atmosphere, with a good mood.
That's what nerds mentioned in the pre-game interview.
That's what we're seeing again, right?
They're all smiles.
They're having a good time.
They're enjoying it.
They're celebrating the wins the way that they should.
Flipping the script to talk about Astralis,
What did you see from the Danish squad over on Dust2?
It's kind of in the same story for them on Dust2 this year
in general.
You know, they don't really have the same proficiency
on this map as they have others.
And it really did take individual efforts
to even make a splash on this map.
I mean, G2 has the 6-0 star on their T side.
The only way that a Shrouds got rounds on the board
was Hooksy had a crazy 4K at long A1 round and nearly
aced.
You had Steyer have a couple of multi-frag moments.
You know, it really kind of took individual stepping up
at just the right time in order
to put some points on the board, give themselves a chance.
Alternately four wasn't really enough, right?
Because then it put so much weight on that pistol
and so on and it just wasn't quite enough to get it done.
No, certainly not enough on the Dust 2
as we're starting to look forward into this series.
Was anything that you're seeing on Dust 2
concerning for you overall?
I mean, obviously we have the slow start from Ryu.
That's not ideal.
You'd like to see him be a little more
activated into this team, even if he's not necessarily
going to be the focal piece.
You know, for me, I think it was more about just wanting
to see what kind of form this team is going to be in.
Because when I'm being honest with you,
that second place at Bucharest looks really great
on a piece of paper when you're talking about, oh, look,
we've made the finals of a tournament.
But when you look how shaky that team looked at that event,
it was really not all inspiring.
It was very much the difference.
And I kind of want to see, were they
able to tidy things up a little bit,
were they more on the same page?
And I don't think we really had the opportunity
to see too much of that in this game.
But they had some moments, right?
I think at the very least, like Stara had his moments,
Hooksy had his moments, that there was a couple of things
here and there, but just nothing consistent.
I think we seem to see more film on this.
Well, we will get to see more,
but if you are already making some conclusion
based on what you've seen so far,
well, maybe you could go to the live prediction market,
poly market, and do some marketing predictions of your own.
We'll valve ad cash to the map pool by April 30th,
June 30th, current options.
What are we thinking?
I mean, after the major, obviously.
This is specifically the competitive map pool here.
Oh, the competitive map pool there.
Or is this the premiere map pool?
like if we're talking the actual competitive level.
Active duty map, well, okay,
we got the clarification here.
Oh, same thing then.
So we're figuring out, so this went up in February.
It's still technically in there.
It would be after the major in June, yeah.
Yeah, but what date would you put on that June 30th?
End of the month?
Or are we talking about time?
It could be July, they could extend July,
they could be like that, that's true.
Let's be real, with Valve it'll probably happen
a week before the next tournament or the next season.
If even that, we'll find out, that's Valve time,
but now it's break time, we'll be right back.
Welcome back to the Dickies Arena here for Blast Premiere Arrivals, Fort Worth.
We are one map deep into our matchup between G2 and Astralis, and it is looking all too
clear for G2 right now.
Astralis need to change their fortunes, and we're headed to Overpass to do it.
Dost, what are we expecting to see from Astralis here on Overpass?
Potentially a bit of a role reversal, right?
I mean, I think G2 came into Dust2.
Their pick, the clear favorite, just based on what we've seen out of them throughout
the course of the year.
I think when you look the other way around on Overpass, it's a different story.
You know, both teams have played a similar amount of games, like 13-14 matches.
Astralis has won 10 of their games, really solid.
G2, on the other hand, only five, right?
And even some of their losses have been to weaker teams.
You just wouldn't expect them to lose to a center, for example,
or something like that, at a small land.
Just things you don't really expect, right?
I think Astralis comes into this one a much more
balanced team than G2.
I think G2 is sometimes on this map, from what I've seen
so far, again, early days with Nerds and whatnot.
But they kind of rely on aggressive LOP CS
and just trying to trade frag their lane to things.
Whereas I feel like Astralis is
able to kind of play your classical defaults,
and dicks and pacing changes and just generally speaking had more consistent
performers on the map.
Just just feel like a map that lends itself to Hoocse style of calling right?
I mean even Nerth was mentioning in the pregame that he respects the way Hoocse
manipulates his pieces around the map while
overpass so much of it is about rotation and manipulating the rotations
and manipulating the presence.
That's very much Hoocse's playbook. Yeah I mean you have a star and stare on the
A side of the map you know both ways attacking and defending is very good
at doing what you're talking about as well as being an opener and just
you know shutting attacks down. You have Yavi on the opposite of the map
who can basically do the same thing.
You know, he's a really good D-Play maker on the T side,
not just, you know, a lurker that's just holding ground,
but a guy who can actually take space and scale for you.
But we talk about them oh so often.
I kind of want to throw the spotlight on somebody else
for a moment.
Let's do it.
Who?
Ryu.
I want to talk about Ryu.
Because Ryu got me excited watching him play on this map
in particular because he showed to me
that he was able to kind of be
like a secondary aggressor at times.
You know, he plays connector on this map,
which is kind of a secondary aggressive position
at times.
And he was actually really comfortable in finding
goals and being able to trade and do some really good things.
I feel like you have like a nice start to the year in that way.
But he kind of cooled off a little bit, if I'm
honest, in some recent events.
So I think this is a map where he plays some roles where he could
flourish a little bit and show you that he's also a guy who
can make some damage at them.
There is always that adjustment period.
Wow, that is a very good thing.
That is an offside.
That is a flight.
Don't choke us out.
Everyone run away.
Well, we'll see if that helps him hit the Hadouken in this one.
But that's a good one.
I think we see this sometimes with young players, right?
when they make a step up in competition,
which is you show what you've got,
and then you have to make that adjustment
as all the teams have the tape on you and know what to expect.
And there's a level of anti-stratting at this level of play
that you just don't get when you're competing
in the tier two, two, three online circuit,
and no one has that kind of prep time.
So maybe time to start to see where you blossom
to show some more looks to what he can do
to show some versatility, perhaps?
Yeah, I mean, look, he's the lesser experienced guy
on the team compared to everyone else, right?
I mean, he comes from Monty,
a team that played some smaller events, nothing huge,
but he's showing some sparks.
I kind of want to see if you can keep it up.
As far as G2, though, if we're kind of talking about
is there a way to two out of the series,
I think the way home for them is that at least they
didn't have to change much.
NURGE is kind of the one for one fill for Malb's on the A
side of the map both ways.
So they don't really have to adjust too much as far as
what roles people are playing.
But it's just more about getting on the same page in
those mid-round situations and making those key calls
in those 3v3 moments or when you maybe get an early
pick or you lose an early pick,
how you respond to it.
It's just about how well ironed do they have those protocols.
For a map that's very technical.
We'll see how well ironed it is, or if maybe some wrinkles
can slip on in there.
What are we expecting?
Put your stamp on it, Dust.
What's happening here?
Who's winning?
I think a Strauss is probably going to lock this one in.
I would say probably 13, 9, 13, 10.
That's where I'm at.
Interesting.
Interesting.
Well, Dust is feeling confident.
Are you being going, Moses?
Confident in what?
Yeah.
Well, he's locked in.
Confident in what?
Confident.
You're confident in G2.
I thought you would break.
You think they're going to be still strong coming into this one.
I think G2 is going to spank him on this map.
I was so impressed with how clean G2 looked on Dust2.
Like it was smooth decisions were there.
Teamwork was there.
They went on that small little streak of losing four rounds
in a row in the first half.
And then Hunter, time out, him and Saw figured out.
Win the last two.
I think this G2 team looked so clean in that first map
that I'm confident that they're going to have not an easy time,
but they're going to get through this 2-0.
OK.
Well, looking forward to seeing that.
I think G2 have played this map recently, you know, they've been on their little thing
and run, but you're looking at the teams they're playing, no one really stands out as a...
Yeah, Gentlemates, Betboom, Ascend, Sinners, Foot, MAD, Maus, all those games against the
bigger names go deeper into the history and that three months back, back towards Krakow
even, two games from Krakow saw on the list, so yeah, you're right, recent times
G2 hasn't really had to be tested on this map by anyone, too crazy, and Astralis
is going to be that test certainly here today.
Definitely we'll see what level G2's overpasses that I feel good about straws
I think you're gonna be playing a lot better obviously that what we just seen on dust too
Is the game where I think foodies gonna be able to deliver more impact per dust talking about how where you might actually be able
To flourish a little bit more for a sake. I really hope so
I mean we've had some great games for review this year and some yes quieter games and dust to the certain one of those quieter matches
But the straws versus G2 back on here second map of the series here an overpass
We're hoping Astros can put up some resistance on map 2.
Yeah, we didn't see it at all in the opening map of the series.
So absolutely would be great.
Unfortunately, you bring it to your map pick and you're going to have to start on that T side.
So here in Overpass, it's the CT start for G2, which can be the much stronger half.
Now, four players leaning towards the B bombsite.
Nurtz is going to be in the stairs and some pious over towards bathrooms in Divider.
Just jumping for information.
information, but this is this is a situation where staring hook see these guys are meant to be a fake a distraction
And that'll activate the other three to walk through monster
But you're you're spending a lot of time setting these two up to be the fake because this map is so big
It's his time for nerds to make a place clear out the middle of the map. Oh
Well a great start to your fake life
Yeah, and happy God then just stays committed to dealing with the monster threat
He's got a head shot so he might as well just have to kill feet for the second time in this first round of play
And it's very very comfortable there from G2. Worryingly comfortable if you're a strawler
Worryingly comfortable because it doesn't even like I don't even know like I know what the big picture was
But there was no like real punch in that tactic right like know whatever sprung
No one no one got like the signal that was like go first player gets killed just jumping over the flowers one tap
What are you gonna do second player same thing happens heavy gods able to clean one out like look at these shots
You weren't even able to fight back in those situations. So what a nothing for G2?
You're so fucking good on this map, so no matter what happened on first map, I know this is gonna be different.
So also have the...
Sorry, the belief and some confidence that all of us are on ground, you know?
All right, let's check back in with him after the pistol round.
All right guys, you know the pistol is not that important.
Guys, we're really good at this map. Just whatever happens on the pistol, we don't have to worry about it.
Don't worry about it.
Yeah, like I said, we're great on glocks.
So we do our best work outside of the pistol outside of the pistol. Let's see what they can do in this one
Gonna be grouping up heading their way through middle some pies is ready
Rarity terror with this
Taking down Hoaxey straight away with that nerfs up next and there's no problems
Money being made only by hunter the rest of the rifle is just making sure it's over and done with and that'll be a two to zero
early. Yeah, it's really good. Some pies taking tons of damage, but teammates close by to help keep the distance between them. Keep them alive, keep them feeling good, healthy economy for G two as well. All things all things going positive for G two at the moment.
Astralis still going back to that first map haven't been able to introduce anything into the series to make G two feel any kind of pressure whatsoever. That's their big task here to start overpass especially on this T side. Can you get an early
win an early economic break and early reset something that makes G2 play with a disadvantage.
Well we've got nerds here.
He's looked very sharp in this series so far.
Continuing to do so here at Overpass is Yabbe.
He goes down first, controls the spray eventually onto Fuzzi as well.
as well. It's not a connector. A very disappointing start to the game here for
Strauss. They're getting carved up. Matt just moves out short. Every fight they
take, they're winning and it's 9 HP and Hooksy needs to be killed by Huntsman who's
pushed all the way to the back of the map. So yeah, this is very worrying now for
Strauss. It's gone the other way now. You know, like, oh can they get the
economic reset and it's like actually no, you'll get zero kills in this
round and Hooksy will get bonus money with an MP9 and then switch to an AK-47
for free. So G2's rich. All the advantages in the world. I know it's
It's only 3-0 in, but the pistol round is so dominant.
This round is so dominant now.
Yeah, I think if you're herstralis, you already have the alarms going off inside the building.
A very rough start on their own map pitch.
And Saul's got to be loving this.
He's got a team firing on all cylinders.
That work they put in over the last few months really showing is it just seems
everyone's on the same page communicating very very well and individually on point for the g2 side
and you know for astralis as well the the hard work has to be done in gun rounds right so this
half becomes just nightmare mode because you don't get any of the first three of play on the t-side
you don't have any foundation to build on and you're gonna be taking a pause here it's gonna
be a four zero lead from g2 before you even get the opportunity to get the rifles out again
Oh, it's it's gonna be a tough long half here from the strollers
They're gonna need someone to really step up and get them into this game
That was staring what some impact moments on dust to when it actually found a little patch of form there are
Zero kills for a strollers on this map so far. That's uh very terrible
That line to look at first Ross. Yeah, I didn't really notice that until just now
Think they get a color strong
Yes, we're not one one. Yes single frag
Maybe comes from a foosie tag. Yeah, they still finish them off. Sure
Gotta believe in some level of positivity. Yeah, but you have to
Set past close
Fuzzy clears out the close corners all good so far
Are you and Yabbi now join up at the front of bathrooms?
And Fuzi's scout has been spotted and actually tagged Sumpias.
So there's your tag just looking for the cleanup down the stretch.
Here we go.
Nurt's under pressure as well.
He's very committed, could be pushed, and yep, two kills come in.
Something was wrong.
There was two kills, not one.
Sumpias and Nurt both tagged, but is he going to get out of hand at this point?
Shaw is looking for a round win out of it.
All of a sudden, they're charging up into the site.
Fuzi's got the flank covered off.
And this is kind of crazy how it's come to this position.
Yeah, with how dominant G2's been for three rounds,
everyone missed everything this time around.
You can't go for it.
So thankfully you built up a nice healthy economy
to start the half, but that's a...
That's a strange round, isn't it?
It is a very strange round.
It's gonna be, I don't know, not super frustrating,
but you're set. There's G2 just like,
oh, that's stupid.
That's stupid that we just gave that round away.
And actually, you could lose even more.
Yabi's on the hunt and he's got a great read.
Deviga's got no idea. Close-up free kill, more money taken away from the G2 side.
Yeah, just walks right into it now.
Mattis...
He's gonna fight his time.
That's probably why Nukko gripped his M4.
I'm gonna see if he'll carry his over into the next one.
That's a... That's a run that can get some happiness flying through Strollers.
Who's he trying to make the most of it?
Yeah, well, he's trapped in his churping over to the other team already.
It's a good hold at the A bomb site guys, and I mean they did kind of get smoked. Everyone missed shots.
At a day where they seemed so sharp on Dust2, so sharp in the first three rounds, it was just missed shots that sold this one down the river.
So 3-1, G2's going to try and bounce back.
I think an element of it as well positioning.
You think Norths could have been in a better spot considering what they were likely up against there?
Uh, yeah, I mean, well there were three players there so someone had to be a little bit aggressive.
I think the spot gets much easier to manage if you get the first kill.
for sure. Look at this. Fusey looking for the first kill of the day to be racing up to short.
He's got that peak and supplies the steps right into it. So it's a great start here from Fusey
and he's going to try and hold onto it. If I can stand up on it, perhaps as that jump comes out,
but just misses him the opportunity.
Alright, five on four. Strahle's offense getting started here.
Giving an advantage over to the T side to start things out in round five.
Not a big risk. It's blinded. Still continues to move forward.
control of short as yabbi slides in tough fight for the CTs, but yabbi's
distracted and all of a sudden that's a that's the worst possible time for that
to happen to Astros they're so far away from being able to respond to that with
anything they're just they were just passing found and now they have to
change the game plan all together. Well at least they got plenty of time so I'm
gonna be shifting up sending those players back through T spawn all the
way outside of that B bomb site eventually. Let's see Heavy God, Matt has both start the
back away.
An ult out for Heavy God. We're going to prove he can do everything. He's capable of wielding
the big green gun, 25 seconds. Heavy God awaits but the flashes are through so Heavy God
That's the chosen position, can't do it.
Can't really make anything of it,
but still manages to at least get one out of it.
Matt takes it, moving forward.
Hunter, clean head shot, all of a sudden the system,
oh, he pulls the D, he's gonna die for the grenade.
Hunter, postmortem, getting that kill.
Yeah, so happy the grenade cleans it up.
I mean, look at the luck, the HE grenade there,
but sure, heavy gun as well.
80 feet, misses, they all miss on him as well,
and you get the guy coming through the smoke
on short by sandbags.
It's about, this game's all about the shots
you don't hate this is wild crazy turn of events get aggressive move from cozy not
able to win after the fact lovely shot from steering his death was already in
the air at that point that's a maritime 10 out of 10 I'd say good landing very
small splash love that a little bit of comedy in there as well
Oh, just the toes, and that's enough for Hunter.
Riu gonna be taken away.
Well, Astralis, they just cannot get a grip
on the opening of this half.
One round away, immediately responded by G2.
Money's in a weird place, a rough place
for Astralis as well after this.
You've got Yabu with 1200,
but everyone else has 500 or less after the fact,
I mean, what are you supposed to buy moving forward Z2 can get a real stranglehold on this map
By winning this round right here
We got missed this little piece of information, which means Mattis is in trouble
He's just holding made if you have he ever just walks up the ramp
And he's gonna call him back as well. He's just like guys. I have the advanced position
I have a play that's gonna win the round might be a little bit early to make this, but he goes for it
Yeah, but once again, this is why it's to like you're still in a period of transition if you're the rest of Astralis
There's nothing you can do with that fight nothing to fall back on
You have to reinvent the wheel at this point to get some way back into this round 25 seconds
What's that now short into the way ours of Matt's who wasn't so clean on it's only just the one
Heavy guy gonna be taken away with nothing which is extremely surprising for the position that he had but 15 seconds left still very tough
Dear first trawlers stare trying to fight all I can't get it done now. Hooks he left eight seconds
Getting from heaven and the pushing to the bomb site
Never a moment though
You felt comfortable if you're a straw list and the scoreline starts taking back in favor of G2 again up five one to kick off
This game. Yeah, dude. It's Ross has been smoked right now. I mean just disruptive this boost from Hunter
Heavy got able to handle that swing from Yabbi.
I think Yabbi needed to weigh just a few more beats
for the rest of his team to get a bit closer
than they can combine with his swing.
Heavy God's got no chance of survival.
Maybe you throw a Molotov into the mix from short as well,
anything you want, but Astralis not able to find the kills
that are giving them access to move into the bomb sites.
The one round where they got that pit from Fosy
with his aggressive play towards Sandbex,
they wouldn't, actually they lost that one, didn't they?
Yeah, so here comes the run.
I'll take it all back.
It's was the site, Pistols trying to break through
and Heavy gone.
Could be a double.
Yabbi, Fosy, both dead.
Matt is also assisting, and this B rush has come to a very quick end.
They meet the demise and start of the smokes.
Alright then, well, Heavy God's got another nice little transfer there.
Another nice double kill, and I mean, yeah.
He's just been so rock solid for this team.
Heavy God's just the reason why it feels like this team has so much room for growth.
There's so much more space in the ceiling, it feels like.
I love what I'm seeing. This is a huge, this is a huge barometer like it's a big check.
This event for like three teams is like a huge check of where you're at foot.
Although with the missing, longs missing, kind of take that one away.
Take that to the side.
But Astralis and G2, these two teams are both like, I think at this point
with the major around the corner, it's like, what do you look like?
You know, what have you been working on?
Have you improved upon things since we last saw you?
And for G2, the answers are resounding. Yes.
For Astralis, there's a worrying sign.
Okay, you made it, I think that's probably the point perfectly.
You made it to the final of Bucharest, got runners-up placed there. That looks good on paper
But I think throughout that tournament he highlighted we noticed that he didn't look great
You know, Hooksy was frustrated with his team throughout the tournament
So I mean I would hate to see them have a very bad event here
Yeah, leading up into the major after I think for the whole year so far
We'd be positive about Astralis
Nerds has been spotting Boatry who comes out into the open and it doesn't matter that they know where Nerds is
Because you're blunt. Hunter's utility on point. Have you got it once again?
It's a weird timing but still snaps back to Reiki Abhi and I don't know this this is it's
crazy how it looks like there's such a wide disparity between the two teams yes I didn't
expect to get that sense no I was expecting a much closer game today but this is a while
it feels like heavy dog can do no wrong I know he is at the B bomb side just like I'm
the king. He's missing all the shots. And it's one kill somehow on the short
player earlier in the house. Sometimes you just have those games. He seems to
happen. He seems to have him quite frequently. Yeah, this round looked like
he was guaranteed that kill on him. He's just turned. It's wild. Well, you know,
that speech for from rugger sounded great, you know, about, you know, we
got to believe this is our home ground. I want to wait right now. Yeah,
The team is finding a lot of success right now.
Winning big. And I mean it is their home map in the sense of how often they play it, you know?
Stralis the team that loves picking overpass 16 maps in the last three months played on overpass for G2.
It's only eight times. This will be the ninth.
Yeah, a little trouble at home right now for Stralis.
Yeah. Or at least they get the AWP in the next round, you know?
That is something.
A positive.
It is a thing to latch on to.
to save her food you can do anything with it and really make it a positive 824
huh good time
all right hunter was very intensely looking down the line barking out some
mortars. Oh, coming up next.
Counter strike action coming your way. And of course, uh,
everybody's waiting to see is that new phase team day.
So what are they going to look like going up against Navi?
I don't know, man. I don't know. Yep.
I don't know. I was excited though. Yeah, it's kind of cool.
Fury a game of legions around things out today as well. Yeah.
I'd say Navi, Navi, that that's going to be a good, uh,
I hope Navi comes in just like full focus because I'm not,
not like anti-phase, but Nabi's a team
and I want to see some signs that you can challenge vitality.
Love to see them come in and just have a great start
to this event.
Opening positive.
Opening kill for Fozy.
He makes it work.
Now, last time this happened, we corrected myself,
or I corrected myself earlier, and you backed it up,
that they did in fact lose this round.
So let's take this man advantage and do a win,
or give it right back.
That's such a sick find from Nerth's as well.
He's a guard.
See you later.
I'm gonna leave.
With that. Thank you. Here's a young fun at the playground. I'm out
Peace out
But he's not he's kind of half in you know, he's willing to double-dip eventually, but the problem is the AWP is coming
Or foosie. That's the problem because nerds is so sharp
And he's taking a headshot now. He's confident realizing. Okay. That was the big guy
Let me try and deal with it
He's got all pistols and he gets another head shot before finally being domed by hook see liquid fans are so mad watching that
It was like that used to be a liquid player a couple of weeks ago. I want to happen now
No, that liquid fans never got that nerds as a player
She's disgusting
All right, Matt is gonna start working his way up two versus three winnable. It is winnable for a drawlis
Is it not anymore? Yeah, this feels like the checkmate move
It's a shot goes into this second Mattis brings you two up to eight rounds
Alrighty
Well, yeah, I've to imagine as Ross is perhaps just a stunted wheeler. This is a very very
Weak opening to the event
There's the pick
Twice now you've gotten an opening kill from your offer and twice now you've let the man advantage slip away and
Haven't been able to capitalize on the five on four. That's so gross
I'm frustrated, I didn't get everything.
7 round lead.
How foosie having to play with a D.E.G.O.L.
But he also at least got in the AK.
Move their way towards Long.
Utility over the top of the hedges.
Instead, just clear and close.
Rock, tree, and realize they've actually got a bit of space to work with.
This time it's Hunter coming towards Long.
We're going to tuck himself into the corner.
I think he's going to get some support from St.
Pius when he starts here in these foot steps.
Mining is time.
Some Pius is going to get brought off the ankle.
You'd imagine by utility.
So Hunter is going to have a difficult task staying alive.
But one kill from some Pius does a lot.
And now Nurtz is buying more time.
Welcome to the Nurtz log.
And that's just incredible.
He's just absolutely destroyed them.
It's now just one player left as Hooksy.
And it's all shut down.
It's a 9th round collected here.
I think out of G2, I just can't believe how dominant this is today.
I have to imagine the straws players are so confused on some level.
It doesn't even feel like they're...
I mean, these are nice shots out towards long, but it doesn't feel like they're kind of like real.
G2's always a step ahead. Always have a 6th setup, always a reaction.
I think his straws is kind of cut off guard by how strong, how well G2's playing at the moment,
playing at the moment and obviously on their end. We've been starting out in a
very quiet game from Astralis.
Nine to one. The mode hooks. He's got four kills. Fosy's got four kills. That's
the most that's the most on the team.
Again, Ryu has one kill here on overpass. I believe dust two. He ended
with two.
Yes, two kills and we're against Glock.
So just, yeah, and that's not to be hyper critical of him specifically, but just individually
Astralis having an off day.
A very bad day.
Yeah, usually it's like one or two guys off the off day.
You two having a great day.
I think like that perfect combination has worked out very well here for just you.
The opponent's not in a great day.
They're having a good day.
Yeah, whichever way you want to spin it.
Whichever perspective you want to have.
One of the B bombsite, keep it simple, because the tactics aren't working all that well.
Heavy God gonna get tested again, but he's passed all of them in this half.
Yo, that grenade land right on Ryu, so the pain continues.
And Heavy God actually gonna be able to run over the top boss to Ryu getting one before being traded,
but more success from Stare and Yabi, and finally a foothold in the round for Astralis.
Yeah, maybe G2 hit the snooze button, because he just didn't expect the change of pace whatsoever.
Some players can't step through the smoke to get a clean shot off, and good catch from Stare.
So second round now for Astralis and they're just desperately trying to scrape together any number of rounds to keep them alive.
Regardless of how this ends, 9-3, 10-2, just as this series has G2 written all over it now.
Yeah, and some pyres just taking a little break, hold on to the enemy team, save that
over quiet time.
Last round of the half coming up here.
The third round is all that the shawls can hope for.
I mean you just need a third round right?
That's the problem is, is like you just need it.
Even if you do get a third round you're still going to be sitting there you know
Realizing that it's gonna be so hard to make the comeback happen to go for the win, but you must have it
We have you know see headed towards B
Reu
Playing at the stairs and
Posey's gonna be chucking out utility towards fountain and then stairwork and in tandem to clear things out
Make sure there's no aggression nerds has been a nuisance. They don't want to deal with that
However, G2 emphasized the B bomb site at the start. Hunter was boosted up, saw nothing,
so they activate Mattis to go for a peek. He also sees nothing. It's a very passive
opening on the T side for Astralis.
of the
gathering
of the side of the smoke ready to go into the bathrooms here
that combo of some piecing notes there's been almost impossible to get past
The bias patiently waits for a player to walk in through his scope.
The nerds on his toes jiggling, going into the fight now.
Just missed the timing.
Standing goes back forward, this time foosie to punish nerds.
30 seconds, and that's the kill they wanted.
Have you got it?
Seems like you can do no wrong on this start of the map, but this time losing his life.
Good headshot from Yabi.
You can't lose this one now if you're a strawless.
No, this is that third round I desperately needed.
Gonna march in and no reason to be nervous.
Madness is gonna slide over.
Everyone from G2 starting to move into position.
Final round of the half, so a retake you'll have to go for.
But very little light being seen at the end of this tunnel
for G2 in terms of winning the round.
Utility dump gonna come in and then we'll see what they can get.
I'm gonna give it a good go.
Well, Astralis have sucked their teeth deep into this post-plan, shot from some pious,
blunting at least a pair, but at this point, Hunter is the only player left.
Good shots at the end of the half here from Astralis, but after a destructive defensive
effort, it will be a 9-3 lead from G2 heading into the second half.
We'll see if their T-Side is enough to round out this series.
Hello, and this...
No wait, that's a horrible idea, let's go again.
Alright, it's blast down here. I just kicked the table, I'm gonna restart that.
Fucking this table.
We're here ba-ba-ba-ba.
Straight into the barrel of the camera bridge.
Straight in here.
Are kind of doing the legal thing?
I mean, it's legal, but it's not 100% legal.
I mean, you can come up to the room.
Let's get this thing.
So tell me about the bullfills again.
What do you want to know?
Our kind.
Kind of, kind of, kind of.
One more time, one more.
Inglust.
I don't want to.
Small one.
He needs to be more accurate.
Because we believe in him.
I'm such a bullsh**t.
It's very, very hot.
I need to continue eating.
Because it's so addictive.
No, because it's...
Because it's so spicy.
If you keep eating it, then you can't tell, right?
You have to keep eating, sorry.
I'm sorry.
I mean, it's the right of referees and player managers that don't have...
They don't have
I mean it's just small differences, but they got all the same shit that we got at home
Yeah, fucking shit. It's all right. They know how they call the eagle
I don't know what the deal is.
How does it go?
I fucking know.
This was me.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
just six weeks ago before I started my training program.
I was stressed, blessed, sorry,
trying to hear every problem out, okay.
This was me just six weeks ago.
I was commentating, I was blessed.
Go to HTTP colon slash slash Henry.
Sorry.
There's a lot going on.
There's a lot.
I got it, I got it.
You're basically dealing now, man.
I'm running out of money!
You're saying the place is full of streets?
I don't know.
I'm not sure.
Not in this casino, bro.
I'm done, bro.
Okay.
You got the Nui Partout!
You got the Nui Partout!
Look, what the man was staring at.
That was so close!
Yeah, come off that.
That's full.
Welcome back to Fort Worth, last rivals underway, second series of the day we're going to conclude
group A for day one and then group B will be coming up a little bit later on.
Group A for the day.
It is a great day.
G2 taking on Astralis, it's a 9-3 lead for G2.
They smoked him on the first map, we got here pretty quick and Episterum would be
deja vu.
see what they got. Yikes! People on the following market, not a whole lot of faith in me. Astralis
come back. Well, nice shot from Fosie. What do you think about it though? These last
two rounds, the first half, Astralis kind of came along there. Can they carry it on
here? Well, we'll have to wait and see. It's a good start at least. It's an opening
kill in favor of Astralis, but that could go back against them. Yabby! Close fight!
Oh, he has the advantage and he will win it against Masters. So follow it up here. Astralis have a 5v3.
We were talking the first half out for like Astralis individually just having an off day.
What happens if we switch sides and all of a sudden it's like Astralis players on point and the G2 guys are just like,
Oh yeah, we used it on the first half and we're out of juice.
We need a long conversation about so peaking at the right time.
Well, we've got heavy guard and supplies marching in.
We're getting a couple of kills back here for G2, but important the hooks he'd think connect that one.
putting heavy guard in a 1v3. Now I'm gonna count them out a bit, but I will. I should have, and I have.
And he's been put on the ground very quickly.
Considered it? Yeah, whatever.
And you know what? Based on that, I think he's not gonna win that pistol.
So our fourth round, there we go. Strahls have a bit of a run going on.
Yeah, gonna start me within striking distance pretty soon. G2's gotta be careful. I think
whatever G2 buy around next, I think Strahls gotta be ready for a timeout.
Alright, but let's fight for it here boys, okay?
I mean, at this level, you know as well, like this T-Side Overpass can be fucking hard if you don't get any like openings and stuff.
So let's just use it to our advantage and grind round by round and see where it takes us, alright?
Yeah.
He's right, even when they got the opening kills on the first half, they still struggled to close it out.
So, T-Side Overpass can feel very suffocating at times.
But a good start from Astralis bodes well.
Just a number of blocks.
Deagle on Sunpias. So next round of the by-round comes in for G2 obviously, but if they're to lose that, if they're to struggle in that
I think Stahl just needs to be hot on the hand for the time out. It's what I was saying before we heard the
I think it's gonna be uh it seems to be perfect.
Minute on the clock.
Coming at Hoaxie who has just jump spotted.
Definitely uh scary to see a bullet was towards you as you jump spot on that truck.
Uh oh.
could be a disaster. Could be a disaster. Nobody looks. Okay. And now he comes back.
So he's got the head of some pie. Solved it up. He'll take no problem.
Stealth on the high loads. Be aware of the place coming to the bathrooms and then the
rest of the straw is cleaned it up. Yeah. Lock it down. That gap is really shrinking.
I mean, it's still a while to go, especially through gun rounds that are now coming
up. Four rounds straight for us. Rollers, though. So that's going to feel good
for them as they start building up for the first time it feels in this series
in this match all right so g2 put in their plans into place figure out who's
joining up with who who's doing what first
nerds some pious gonna start moving out towards found Madison Hunter heading in
that direction as well have you got in charge of playing outside the B bomb
website.
You know, it wants to be aggressive and he's got a lovely flashbang for it.
Fosy never moved a muscle.
He just tanked that flashbang and I'm not going to say he did anything wrong, but he's
about to get destroyed for no good reason.
No, Heavy God, oh, he's spams him down to the wood, actually is forced away by the
utilities.
So, Heavy God will respect the smoke, not wanting to give away his life and the
advances that G2 have fought hard to get.
Now we're looking at a 5v4 and plenty of time still left here for G2.
Yeah, they can take their time moving out towards Long.
Hunter wants the AWP.
Bring that back for his boy so Sumpias just gets an upgrade.
Lovely work from the IGL.
Defense with that death of their own AWPer has been forced way, way passive.
Just to regain a little bit of space, Yabbi shifts over, which leaves Ryu alone at B,
but it allows him to activate his two teammates to regain some of that territory they'd lost previously.
Stepping in towards Sterid is Maths who has followed up here for G2.
10 rounds looming.
Hooksie can try and change that as he gets into the bathroom as close as he can.
Maths is looked like he was going to get that fight, but if Hamas is stepping ever
closer here and the steps running on by can call that to Yappie who gets the one.
Hooksie steps out of his really setting himself up there for a double kill, but
only getting the one has put Ryu in a 1v3.
He is really struggled here.
They know where he's coming from and he doesn't really have a great weapon for the job.
Yeah, and he's not really in any kind of a situation to make something out of this either.
He does have a kit.
Gonna grab the AWP and just back away.
This is a call I'm trying to make here.
And there he goes.
So a 10th round.
Double digits for G2 off the really aggressive early play from Nertz.
There was so much speed to that.
I think is the biggest reason why Fozy gets caught off guard it so fast.
like Nertz has barely any hesitation.
Gives us small beat for a teammate to chuck a flashbang
so we can get downstairs past the angle,
but then it's just pure W through the smoke.
Brutal way to provide an opening kill for your team.
And Brutal way to take the ult
that it's always used to have to really frustrating.
round 16
And it felt like for a moment there Astralis was building into something with four in a row
Add one more on do it then we can start having a conversation, but all that goes the other direction now
Yeah, once it's here. Yeah feels deflating
Well, it's still got a good buy. It's not it's not a bad buy all things considered for sure
They're gonna be all about for foosie for rifle still in play
I'm just lacking utility on players, especially in the areas where it's going to be tough to slow this down if G2 decided to hit him hard.
The other side of it too is you're playing this entire half of Seralis knowing if your economy gets reset ever, you kind of just like lose, you know?
Like if you ever just have like a really harsh breakdown of the money that you're working with, it's just over.
So, Fosy's gonna have an aggressive stance.
You can hear Nurtz between rounds,
thanking a teammate for the great flashbang
that was effective on Fosy
to activate his open and kill in the previous.
Stare, trying to bait Nurtz back into that.
It's worked perfectly.
Says those steps out,
stomps in the ground, pulls Nurtz into the peak,
but then those kills come right back
Immediately G2 finding a 3v3 out of this somehow.
Yeah, sometimes just like just hard swung as fast as he possibly could into that fight.
That's absolutely sick. He drills it. Hunter brings one back as well.
And they've got time to work with you.
40 seconds is not a huge amount of time, but it's certainly enough to get yourself in a strong position outside of that B site,
especially with heavy car moving in.
Yeah, you land your next superstar player to provide you the finishing move.
Let's see what heavy car can do out of this one. Hunter's gone.
More pressure on heavy car to deliver here for you.
just moving off, went into the smoke,
just about getting a good timing to hide away here.
Sitting in the smoke, 14 seconds on the clock.
Heavy God is not in a position to protect the planter.
It's over, Ryu's in a great spot.
Surely he's won this, but then Heavy God finds him!
Of course he does, just in time!
It's Heavy God with another one,
and hooks you like the 1v2.
I don't know how he's got away with it again,
but we were joking in the first half saying,
heavy God can do no wrong. And once again, it's that scenario. Hook see needs a
miraculous recovery to this round. He just doesn't have an enemy doesn't have
the kid on his back. He doesn't have any utility and no one from G2 is going to
give him a chance. It's not worth the risk for hooks. He'd even try and go
for this. You want the off more than anything. Oh, the timing of that smoke
fading sometimes dropping the smoke and coming into the bomb site draws that
player out of the smoke makes him makes that moment feel like the one where
He's got to make his move.
They credit where it's due.
Have you got patient the entire round looking for pushes remaining
unspotted? Nobody knew he was there and just slide so quietly
under the ramp.
I don't just the timing of disappearing into that smoke.
But see how he steps back out of it.
It wants the angle.
He wants the off angle behind the smoke to kill the planter
as he's walking in, and that's his undoing.
It's the second follow-up kill that separates heavy god.
Delivers a round win for G2, it's 11 to five.
And you have to shove all in if you're Astralis here.
With the AWP recovered,
you need to get the strongest weapons out next to it.
They can punch you, stab me in the lion's den.
Oh!
What?
How has he done that?
Hunter, that is something special on the AK.
Hooksy's got two, but Hunter's not stopping.
That is just unreal.
Feasting on his prey.
Hunter's off for the ACC's, his next victim.
A Fuzi is just not wanting any of that smoke.
He's out of there.
Welcome back, Hunter.
What a transfer to a headshot angle, out of distance.
What is that?
That's so nasty.
We got to see that immediately.
That's the kind of spray where you're looking around.
You're like, now that you saw that,
but you all need to see the replay.
Yeah, he's like, first order.
We're going to go look at this again.
Oh my God.
Nasty.
He's also keeping in mind too,
he's doing this as he's ignoring the bullets
being shot at him from that boost.
Like, he's just like, can't handle that one yet.
Cheeky's wild at all.
He knows.
He knows what he's done
Okay, well pack it up that's not a that was a final blow
But on there on the coffin have murdered a Charlotte's heading out as a formality into round 18
for here for stare
There's his elevators stopping this whole way. Yeah, I did you one
All right ready to go to be well, we got one player here
It's Yabi, so let's see what the five seven needs a fairy tale can't get it Hunter just smashed him in the face
G2 is hoaxy, boozy and stare with nothing to do.
G2 for me is the most exciting team at this event just to see what they can be.
And this is such a good first look.
I think we're going to want to see more.
I'm hoping this is going to be consistent throughout the event
because G2 is a team that I've pointed out and I've said to myself,
this team can beat Vitality, come to major if they show improvements,
if this lineup falls into place the way it should.
And this is a great sign that it's starting to come together.
to jump together with his retake stare on the bullets he goes down supplies runs away
trying to get into position to win this round and stay alive long enough to drop that clock
but foosie's got to kill goes back to that diffuse and stare somehow caught them back
into it this is i'm saying it just doesn't hyping them up i'm talking them up how well
they're playing might be a nice send-off wasn't it right it was gonna be a great
send-off never mind oh my god there's god is going again what is this uh this retake
end up being a three on four.
Look at this.
Sure.
Amy, we got him from the start.
He showed.
Yeah, but shout out to Hooksy.
Look at those assists in the kill feed.
Lovely flashbang to activate Stair.
All right.
Well, drop ball.
He still don't get the sense that G2 is going to lose this one, let it slip any time soon.
But it certainly should have been, feels like it should have been over.
Definitely felt that way.
But a great steal away from Hooksy and Stair on the retake.
It's their third and final timeout use G2's first timeout
Six more chances to close out the map in series
round 19 so full sets of rifles for the astraliside finally they get replenished with all the
utility you could ask for three kits are in play they've got the money low at least
for G2 so this is a great braking point like yeah you might have kind of stolen
that round away and feels like G2 lost it more than you want it but at the same
time take it because now you can run with that
the
star running away
retreating back into the A bomb site
heavy guard who
get swung on here by yappie
And Nurt's taking sprinkle of damage to the smoke.
Can't reply.
Oh, that would have been a great fight to it.
Nurt's trying to create all the space,
but the follow-ups for G2 have been just as dangerous
sometimes and Madison in a really good position.
Steps out into the open, somehow wins that on Fosy.
Yeah, keeps the gun out as well,
ready for the second fight.
Couldn't win against Hunter, will do so.
Hunter and Sumpi is now a 2v3 to try and win this
Limited time and Hoaxie is already in front of the truck. He's in that common corner. Will Hunter clear it?
Let's see, moving up to the truck, now he's there. Hoaxie gets the first few shots off
and I'll end up being a win for Hoaxie and
for Astralis because Sumpi has to back away. Not enough time to do anything about this round
Okay, well this half is playing out just the way Ruger kind of mentioned at the start of it, right?
Remember when he's just like, yeah, T-side,
well, you know, you can get bogged down.
You know, this can be a tough side for them.
So keep it up.
They've kept up the hope and they haven't quit, to be fair.
That's, Astralis have been fighting back
to get into this game, fighting for a foothold
in this game this whole time.
So good determination here.
That's a solid round victory.
Money's in an awkward place for the G2 side of things.
As a chance Astralis can close the gap even further.
So the saved AWP on some pious from the previous round outside of that it's just pistols
Well stare
That's a good quick line up because you take the AWP away straight away
It picks it up, but it's also gone stare
He's just running forward killing everybody.
Then he goes a little bit too far, Mattis.
Thank you, sir.
The Tec-9 at least gets rid of them eventually.
Off for heavy guy to recover,
so you can actually do some damage.
Two on five, now two on four.
Mattis looking for that fight, gets the dink,
but can't clean up the kill.
It's Fosy on two HP.
There's no way he planned that.
it was right there's no way you want to nothing have a god
there's others can be wrong i'm i refuse
refuse to believe that that actually happens that way
it was
why is he such a badass today
all it's so sick
oh my god
He's running long 35 seconds
Still sprinting
Goes quiet now
Yeah, be king have fun spots him time is a problem
And he's got the kill on Yabi hoaxes up next until he will delay and so that should be it
It's a bad peak though from Yabi. That's a that's a death. You shouldn't be taking
Yeah, you got no chance of winning the round, but didn't need to be in a situation where you're rebind not the biggest deal in the world
We're gonna move on to the next round 12 to 8
Astralis is four rounds back
Here's the opening from snare his triple kill takes down the AWP as well
It's a little rough after this fact matters with one second kill is gonna be found later on
Yeah, a little bit of your props that he kept pushing thought maybe it was entirely clear
12 to 8
Starting to get weird though, like if you're G2, it's you're at that point where it's like
we've had our fun, you know, we've played with our food enough, now the food's punching back.
Yeah.
We need to get rid of it.
Toss it away.
And heavy gone.
Straight up through short.
Oh my god.
Oh, let's see.
Back turn.
It's a tough kill to try and get here.
He goes back though.
Yabby.
And wanted to fight heavy gone.
A lot of damage done to Yabby, but no kill against him.
So to remove heavy gunner really is a great kill to get here for his Charlis
And now what do you do if you cheat to?
Needed that kill. I mean this
Yeah, your next got one you finally clean up the low HP player, but at what cost still to be three
I mean you got minute ten on the clock and nurse could be the release valve
Right he could move up through the bathrooms and try and find some success towards this a site
Smoke is up for the time being you're gonna go into a foosie orb if he misses what he won't so we're all good
He's got that kill on nurse and that should really silence any opportunity. Yeah, and sometimes I mean, I think I think you still go die
Go get that bonus money, but this is a okay
G2's in a bit of a situation here
Sometimes gonna start moving forward
Fosy missed shot
Shouldn't be in a situation to be given a fight of any kind but he is off goes down hook see on the flank stare playing at the stairs
players. And who's around the
back cleans them up. Surprise
knocked over. And that'll end
up being comfortable enough
round victory towards the end
from Astralis. So 12 to nine,
a lot more respectable
already. Still a lot of work
to be done to get this one
into overtime. Yeah, but it
actually seems possible now.
Yeah, you know, yeah, I
wouldn't have even entertained
the thought like five rounds again but now I'm sitting here and it's like all
right well the game has changed quite a bit
G2 hitting the same wall that Astralis was stuck at for the entire first half
and Astralis within striking distance now three chances remain for G2 to take
this victory in this map in series dominant on Dust2 dominant here in
overpass for what, like 14 rounds total.
But now they're dropping the ball at the tail end of the map.
And Hooksy and his boys are taking complete advantage of it.
Four rounds in a row for Astralis's CT side.
I'm taking the diggles for a spin, heavy god.
I'm going to look down into the tunnel in the monster, not spotting anything just yet.
It should be a 10th for Astralis.
Fuzi waiting for that connective peek to eventually round and he'll find success on Nurt's first.
That does free up Astrali- uh, G2 realizing the AWP shots running out.
There's a second they can move forward and take a little bit more space towards bathrooms as Fuzi is already setting.
thing. Well, there is a world in which Fousey just pitched him apart one by one as they
move towards him.
Gonna pop again through this smoke this time with the flashbang. He gets blinded actually.
He's in some trouble. Yeah, he has some pyre springs up down. Oh, another one from heavy
god, but Sterak can save the day.
He could, but now he's been spotted as well, so they turn their attention towards
The tag is landed, 28 HP left, and this could be a disastrous way to lose it.
The straws are starting to come back into the game, but with pistols they overwhelm the AWPer,
they get into the site, the Deagle dies inside a bank, it's heading gone.
Gone, but Sumpai is standing up, and now Stare left.
They were getting wrapped on as well.
Hunts up to close it, he's the man to do it, they go on through the back,
and G2 to the 2-0 win over Astralis.
It was dominant for the most part here on Overpass.
That's a little bit of a comeback from the straw list, but it's not enough to leave with a positive feeling.
G2 rolled through. The 2-0 confirmed nicely done as well.
Looking strong in a way that we were hoping they just might come in here into forward.
Realizing some of that potential that Moses saw on them, that I saw on them, that on paper this team's got a lot of weapons that can do big things.
do big things. It's about lining it all up and we saw that on Dust2 overpass. I thought
there was a good chance of Shrouds could force the third and yeah, that was just never
a moment there. I mean, yeah, nice little comeback there, I suppose at the end to make
it respectable, but really G2, seeing the control. Even the rounds that were losing
in the second half, they were doing a lot of damage and keeping it close.
Yeah, we'll touch on them just briefly for a while. This is a pretty disappointing
one for them. Not necessarily just that they lose, but the fact that they just
never really looked in it.
Yeah, that's unfortunate, right? I mean, other than kind of the E-Call of the
the Cosmetic comeback there in the second half on the CT side, kind of what happens in Overpass, right?
I mean, the very CT side of Matt, you know, that's where you're going to get the bulk of your alms,
and the Fallosh just got off the cold of a start in the first half to really give themselves enough room to breathe,
to be able to make that comeback out.
And now the reality is we know they've gone down to lower bracket.
Based on what we saw from Foot with Coolio, that's not a comfortable place to be.
That could be darn right dangerous, but the guy who's here in the upper,
joining us on the desk or standing space that we are, Hunter coming on in, Hunter.
Nice win today, how did that one feel?
It felt good, obviously because one win is a playoffs,
so we are already in playoffs,
and I'm really happy because of that,
and I am more happy with the way we played today
and what we showed.
Yeah, a question for me would just be,
how difficult has it been embedding a new player like Nertz
while yourself not being able to be at Rio
and limited practice, I'd imagine.
You know, how has it been
to try to get the team ready for an event like this?
Yeah, I mean, it's been hard,
but we accepted it, and we knew it would be hard,
And we know that we are not on the level of where we want to be yet, but our goal is to be real G2 and the strongest G2 for Major.
Now we are still trying to improve and fix everything, and more games we play, happier we are.
So yeah, we just need to go game by game, and I think tomorrow is real test against Vitality to see where we are standing.
But I think as far as it's a great team as well, they showed it lately.
And yeah, once more I'm happy with this build.
We got something to show you here, Hunter. Just real quick, a little spray transferring you hit there towards the end.
Whoa!
That's pretty crispy.
Felt good, though.
That's nasty.
That's nasty.
That's gonna be nice to see.
A little smile there coming through.
I mean, clearly not too much rust,
missing one event, rolling right back in.
Overall, what's the expectation now?
We've been talking about it.
This seems like a newly reborn G2.
The vibes seem very nice.
There's lots of smiles for you guys on the server.
What's your expectation?
How dangerous do you think this team is?
I think we are really dangerous individually. We can shoot against any team and be better.
It's just about us to be strong mentally and it doesn't matter what happens to keep that good mood and to have fun no matter what.
That's our main goal. And expectation to be honest, as I said before, just to play more games and to try to improve every day, to try to be better.
That's the expectation. I don't want to say our expectation, our goal is to go to finals or to win this event.
Obviously, if you have a chance, we'll do it, but yeah, we just need to go step by step,
and I'm happy with the progress so far.
And I'm sure you've got some fond memories of playing in front of the Texas crowd, so we'll look forward to seeing you there.
Congratulations on the win today. We'll see you in the next one.
Thank you guys. Thank you.
Thank you so much for joining us. We'll take a check in on our brackets to see where we are,
as we've now got our first two rounds of Group A,
which means we've got a very interesting upper bracket matchup between a vitality
that looked surprisingly mortal and a G2 team that's surging forward does I think that one suddenly takes on a lot more importance
It is interesting one right? I mean G2 the core of this team one of the only teams to beat by touting the best of five grand final
Well fury the only one who can claim that so there's some history there of close games and even being able to top over town
Even with the stand-in at Rio G2 forest fights out of the three maps and had some tight games
So it will be interesting to see because you feel like if they're ever going to do it
It would be in a best of three environment
It's gonna be interesting indeed. We're done for the day, but the evening shift is taking over and to set the stage for a
Navi phase matchup. We got some check-ins with the players
So it's welcome to Fort Worth
It's been a busy week. It's been a crazy week for you guys now that the dust has settled a little bit on the caragon news
How how is everyone feeling? How are you feeling? Oh, it's good
I mean we moved on pretty fast after the news biggest objective was finding a stand-in that fits kind of what we're looking for
I think with Ryan we got exactly that and we've had solid six days of practice and now we look forward to showing what we've got
You're also stepping into the IGL role
It is at interim at this point in time, right?
But tell me a little bit about your approach knowing that you are incorporating a player that doesn't have all the reps
Then some of your other players have I mean luckily from day one
He played with a lot of experience. His communication was very good.
I don't feel like I really need to hold Ryan's hands.
People feel comfortable with the way I'm calling.
So, yeah, incorporation-wise, it hasn't taken much to get the team aligned.
Tell me about this first matchup then versus Na'Vi. They're looking hot to trot.
They've really been on an uptick.
Like I said in my HLTV interview, this event is really just used as a learning experience.
We hope to get one or two upsets, BRS-wise, and review the footage that we get from here,
and go on to Atlanta being a stronger team.
It's CS, anything can happen. We can for sure pull off an offset.
They're a great team. They're on fire.
They're the only team kind of competing with Vitality at the moment.
And yeah, I think it's going to be a fun game.
We are confident. We had like only two, three days off from the tournament
after we started with practice, trying to fix mistakes.
and we traveled here and let's see what's gonna happen.
You've been making headlines because you've been playing extremely well.
Your coach was giving you so many compliments and your stats just soared.
Why do you think you have felt more comfortable in the last weeks,
in the last months that you've been able to show this performance?
I mean, I got used to play system, I would say.
I got used to my teammates also, like I'm more freedom.
Like when I'm speaking to them, like I'm not like shy anymore, I would say.
So I think that will help.
What do you think about FaZe as your first opponent here?
I mean, they had hard times before, but they make roster change.
And now they have new player, Natu. I was meeting him when I was in our junior
with Ants. I mean, he's a good player. Let's see what's going to happen.
Good player indeed and some shared history there for Mikauze versus the new player
a new player on phase nature as we see Navi arriving to the arena a little bit earlier.
My name is Shox.
I'm here with Maui to cover the second half of the day, which hopefully will have a banger,
but I it might just very well be awash by Navi.
Even though a lot of people are tuning in probably excited about the prospect of a new look
phage, putting something on the board against the world number two in Navi, a team that
has firmly established itself with their ESL Pro League victory with their runner
to finish at Rotterdam. It's gonna be an incredibly tough task.
You're right. I think so many eyes are on the phase lineup.
What a bombshell just a week ago.
Kerrigan making the move.
Now Twist stepping into that IGL role once again.
I mean, it is so much to contend with her phase,
but it can't go any worse, can it?
I guess not. Given the fact that they miss out
on going to the upcoming IEM Cologne Major,
it already feels like there's a gut punch
that phased themselves reeling from.
So they change up their lineup pretty drastically at this point.
Part of it by force or the fact that Falcons took care again from them.
Also though from actually doing some good scouting.
I think that they actually have a couple pieces in total that can make things really
interesting for them moving forward.
Well that is that's the big question of course.
We saw also twists commenting on the fact that yeah it's frozen in this
for the long haul.
What's it going to be like new coach change in nature of course as a stand in.
that he's going to be able to
play a little bit of a little
bit of a little bit of a little
bit of a twist set in the
interview. It's going well.
He's a superstar stand in so
far. So let's see. You'd have
to hope that he's able to find
a little bit more mileage than
Kerrigan did from the same
positions. That's the one
thing that they have going for
them getting nature that he
was bred to be a player to
play those anchor spots the
bad positions, but he's
actually thriving in tier
1.5 Tier two. So that's
for them right now, that they do have firepower.
Men, when you really do need structure
to take on a team like Navi.
Actually, I like what you're cooking.
I have a little bit more faith in that perhaps
a new leaf right will be good for FaZe,
but here we got Navi.
As the Vita rolls in, are we seeing a Nubis pick out of FaZe?
That's a little bit interesting,
given FaZe's recent record on it.
It hasn't looked good under Kerrigan,
but one thing that I wanted to bring up about them
and the potential they had for going for Nubis,
it was Twist's best map,
when he was the in-game leader of Liquid.
It was above a 70% win rate.
It was one of the only maps that he was actually
a really competent T-side caller on
when some of the other maps gave him some woes.
This is cool, Twist is like back at the helm
and he's saying, okay, I don't care about your strats,
Karrigan, I don't care about anything.
We're playing Anubis.
He's playing his system.
And I feel like the thing is that
Twist got a little bit of a bad rep
from community members, pundits.
I myself wanted a little bit more,
maybe a change in direction.
Did you flame him?
A little bit, yeah.
I think that some of his calling got a little bit rudimentary.
Sometimes it felt a little too simplistic.
But now I feel like with the fact
that he has that experience in his back pocket,
that's something that's gonna definitely bolster
his abilities as being a captain, as an in-game leader.
And let's not forget, this guy did in-game lead a team
to make it to the playoffs of a major.
So it's not like you're working with a guy
who's just trying it for the first time by any means.
No, absolutely not.
But this is a tall order, right?
Navi looking hot to trot as we get closer and closer
the game. Tell me a little bit of what you expect from them at this tournament, knowing that they've
been on a great streak. Anything worse than top two or maybe a semifinal where you lose to vitality
is an underperformance for this Navi team. You should be gunning for a grand final birth and
yeah I guess at the same time losing to vitality you're not too unhappy about that. The only other
team at this event that has taken down Navi in the last two months is Furia and I feel like
That's the team you're trying to get even with a team like phase should be a stepping stone for you as you move forward
That absolutely should be what do you think about Macaz is I don't want to say
Resurgence because he's been good, but like stepping up to a different kind of plane
It's exactly what we saw glimpses of in the beginning when he joined Navi
You saw a couple tournaments in the previous season where on big stages
He showed that he could be the best player in the server his debut event at I am cologne with Navi was fantastic
his Budapest major performance in the playoffs, also excellent too.
But now you're seeing it on a regular basis.
It's not just when the lights are brightest.
He's become a system player, one who has reeled his play into a point
where he is now a lot more concerted with his efforts,
not just gung-ho, guns-a-blazing.
He's actually recognizing,
okay, I'm going to live a little bit longer in this round.
I'm going to play this situation a little bit smarter,
and that's exactly what you would expect
when you have somebody like blade right behind you,
scrutinizing every move you make.
think about what he said in the interview. I guess I'm getting incorporated
board to the blade system. I'm there now because that is something that I think
almost no other team and counter strike has right to adjust to as a player.
When you're playing in the blade system, it does feel like with the little
bits and scraps that we've attained over time with how blade runs a team.
It's probably one of the most convoluted, but one that sounds bad.
It's convoluted and when you're entering, but once you get into the
the flow of it. You recognize where you have for wiggle room in a round, where you actually
have in terms of where your volition can take you. And so the options that Macaulay had
in the past probably felt very constricting, but now he's freed himself and recognizes
where he actually can strike in a round where he can upset the balance.
Okay, what's the maximum of rounds FaZe got here in the first map?
Oh my goodness. Uh, well it is their pick.
Yeah, it is actually.
It is their pick, so I think they have to have something in tow. I'm gonna
to say eight. Eight rounds to me would be a good debut for face. All right. Let's see
how face does here up against Navi as we kick it over to Launders and us. Ronnie looks
different. Damn it stole my material. Welcome to day one of Fort Worth and we are starting
off with a couple of stand ins. Yeah, you here as well. I'm obviously filling in for
a couple of days in the group stage and it's gonna be a lot of fun here in Texas.
to be back. You know, this one's a crazy game because the phase coming off the back of obviously
huge news and huge changes and no time to adapt. And they're up against, would you say the second
best team of the season so far? Yeah, like a team that I think before the season started, it was
like, oh, not be like, they'll be top five. They'll make playoffs. They're kind of almost in a
mouse category without any of the negativity around them. Like it felt like they were
punching above their weight consistently. So they're never disappointing, but it didn't
feel like they're a real tournament threat for the end of last year.
Now they're just a mainstay, now they should be, as Maui said,
there should be some pressure on them to actually close out in playoffs
and also make grand finals and actually go toe-to-toe with team-like vitality to take a trophy.
I'm in line with those expectations and I think this will be the point for Navi
where they either take disappoint or they exceed those expectations
because I think it's probably impossible that they can win.
and Blade already put it that in their last couple of events,
they were going to test their firepower
to see if they could stand toe-to-toe with guys
like Zywoo, right, with the lineup that they have.
And I don't know if they've met those expectations,
because when they still play against Vitality,
it's not like they can just beat them.
But at the same time, you see that they're still
consistent at a very high level.
Yeah, they were getting outgunned by Apex
in that quarterfinal back in Rio.
So keep that in mind for Navi.
But other than that, some great tournaments,
great couple of runs here for this team. You know, I want to hear your thoughts on phase though,
because are you ready to retire the phase magic, the phase BS? Are you are you still buying into
the fact that, hey, when phase are in the server, anything's possible or now a caragon gone? Is that
disappearing? Well, it's like I'm kind of the only guy that's going to have their pick-ups
screwed before the major even begins. Because who am I going to go with now? I don't know
what to do. Like they were always like an outside favorite or a dark horse or like basically no
chance, but they'll still make finals. Now they're literally not there. You know,
he's with Sandin says normally been a cool thing to talk about, but that's
usually because of Kerrigan's calling. His ability to fit anybody in on short
notice. And now what we see is that Twist is taking over calling again. This
wouldn't happen if Kerrigan was still on the lineup. So we have to put that
out there first. But the caveat to that is that he's had experience calling
on like with, then he's given up the role probably learned a lot as he's
put that role down and then played it with Derrigan. Again, I imagine that's actually
taught him another sort of a lot more about the role and how he fits into the role. And
so it'll be another real stab at it. But at the very least, you should be very decent.
I mean, we know that.
Well, we're on a map we don't see very often these days, and Nubis and CT side staff
of FaZe, Navi probably not knowing what to expect in this series from a team that
can't really prep against the net you in the server as well standing in from
enter side of things that orc there's already just gone full finish
net you it's a new start
now be very sorry this pistol they have managed to creep a player all the way up
water and Jacob hasn't yet got that info he's missed the timing awfully close
because he might announce with a Molotov
Jacob doesn't know
Yeah, definitely some subversive pressure going on here, whether he knows it or not.
But this Molly will chew him back and MacCausit will hear Republic 6 of damage and get a few shots off, but no headshot.
This is all a fake. They pulled them entirely out of the A site right now, and that's you as eyes on, but that push from B is going to open things up, frozen on the flank.
Rotate, start to move, FaZe putting three players in the last second in this site, Navi are announcing it. They're coming in with three players of their own, but FaZe are ready.
Numbers in position. Brokey's Julie's dead first.
Twist can't connect the headshot.
He's getting blocked on his teammate as well.
So, Narvi, more space taken in this pistol.
And through the smoke comes one more.
This is going to get messy as blocks run dry.
Jacob comes through with two.
But I don't know if there's time or a chance here for FaZe.
Bombs to the down.
Frank hits it, but Jacob reads it.
Triple kill for the young pole and a 1v2 for Frozen.
They don't need to give him a thing.
He got the legs in contact.
They go swimming together.
and Navi bounce out of that pistol with a smile on their face.
It was kind of a good round for a face from the perspective of
they didn't fall for the fake and they immediately rotated three over.
But the three guys that came over weren't all able to be useful at the same time.
All playing in rotator spots and no one got committed.
And you could see the fights from the block from the site.
There was no one in a crossfire position to really take that first frag
to strap them slowing down on the main choke point.
And in the end it was just Jacob to get all his frags.
So we know about Jacob on pistol rounds.
he can be excellent. So at least as a as a team that's calling in, that's something we're looking for.
FaZe make the right move. They don't fall for what Navi have for them, which speaks to the prep.
They're the ones who come in prepared for a new bus, but Navi can already play the map, obviously.
Yeah, it's a map at least where you're going to get a lot of freedom to make your moves, right?
A little more, I think this map comes down to being random at times on CT side, right?
knowing whether the whole map is quiet, we've lost mid, do we push B, do we push A, do we take water
and you know without full info you're kind of wandering into the unknown there. Is it an empty
position and you can full flank or is the whole team waiting for you? Please at least make the
right move in that pistol but it's an RV to take it and a full eco in the second. It does make
it unfun to try to get information back. You always feel like you're just gambling basically.
And speaking of, they do have a stack here on A. I always prefer one guy on the other
site just because if you're going to have a better feeling of when to commit if, you
know, the other sites open right now, they've got no audio at all since Valentine's Day.
Wow.
No love lost though.
No love lost.
getting there might be a little bit of love lost
yeah maybe it wasn't the perfect ending for phase
they might get what they want in this round players coming into middle flash
ready don't want to go too soon and actually navi pulled back leaving
just alexia middle and he spots them it's
quiet too quiet
Flood into middle Alexi
You may as well hang around advice got the match set after all
We're gonna swing together one is not a lot but he sites lost and the round should fall as well here for Navi
So phase looking for scraps couple of exits, but that bomb ain't big
I tried this with Connor, but I really wanted to call that cool aid. Oh
Yeah
Someone does come flying through it. You can you can pull it out today. Yeah, all right
The leash is off.
All right.
A little farm session here for Ima and the 2-0 star.
And all Navi are hoping is that they could just get into a nice rhythm on a map that they know it's always a risk to bring out a new map.
No matter how much you prepped it or whatever, once you play in the official, it's always that Mike Tyson quote,
everyone's got a plan that's like a punch in the face.
Sometimes that's what can happen, absolutely.
But I do love the immediate, just like we've got something new for you, considering we're
coming in with a new team and we didn't have much time to prepare for this.
He's going for the Fury Abide.
Despite full eco second round, they get MP9 and armor.
I like it when teams do this.
It feels like a good map for it as well.
Not expecting rifles.
This is the Aurora buy for me.
Oh really?
Yeah, they love those MP9s as well.
I feel like Fallen did it first.
He's been around for a few years around first.
So maybe it was odds.
I don't know how long this is how old it is.
Okay.
Okay.
See that would also add up for sure.
Man, but once again, just like fog of war over on the A side, absolutely no information
on half the map here for face.
How likely is it that the full exact comes where Navi don't scout this out?
I feel like it's not that likely.
how often are you going to see a team like Navi run into a full stack without getting
some information first?
It's not a blind exec team.
And they are going to go middle, so avoiding the worry for now, phase with flash set up
at B, Navi putting pressure on this A site and you'll see that bomb is going back.
So as long as phase don't worry too much with all this util on the other side of
the map, the bomb is coming their way.
They are trying to throw a fake to get them to rotate the wide side arounds, but the split is coming in the right direction
So this could be a golden call here for phase clan again
Not often that you see Navi make a mistake in the situation
But absolutely these MP9s will hurt. They're gonna shred pretty quickly smoke comes down frozen waits for a sign to strike
And that's a team class that makes it very uncomfortable
Look for who 15 seconds here Navi
Are you gonna get this bomb down or not? Trains go quick but not quick enough chase down by the MP9
He just saves the round. He has failed them out and it's into the 1v1.
Full stick. Wonderful puts it in.
Netiu taking his timing and the swing from Wonderful.
Secures that for Navi into the entirety of FaZe.
Go, Navi, and they come out with the round.
Not gonna lie. Still very impressed that FaZe pull up the stack.
They commit to it. They're right that Navi are gonna work the map,
but not go in for a scout at all.
And nearly coming away with a round, even though they don't win it
with this huge five players, they don't have the best guns in the world.
So it's not bad and if it doesn't get this second kill, I think it is over.
That ball probably doesn't even get planted.
Very fine margins in this situation.
And just the swing in the 1v1 as well.
Yeah.
I'd love to see that from WandaVul here.
It's definitely been renewed in this recent rise for Na'Vi.
Let's bring you all quick into A main.
Knowing Brokey's definitely got his in this round.
It's a costly bit of damage though.
Molly, HE puts him down low.
So, Brokie in middle, waiting, and this is what Faye's waited for, four buy-round with
all the trimmings and Brokie gets headshot by the captain of Navi to kick it off.
Just a touch risky, it's the perfect approach side there from Alexi B, just the right amount
of suspicion.
And even though that last round was close, it doesn't mean just because they upgrade
their weapons that they'll suddenly win.
Russia keeps Jacob honest.
Not v1a main, but phase waiting in the smoke.
There's only one player here.
Two kills feels impossible,
but he's going to cut them off.
This might not be that bad.
Oh, no way.
A lot of players running.
They go deep phase move in,
but there's a second player cleared after the fact.
Wonderful taking down the flank
and they're ready for one more as well.
So this is Navi onto a dominant start to this map.
T-side Anubis, always a nice place to be.
Navi rebelling, reveling in that fact.
Man, trying to base that smoke on it.
They're already playing, you can already see
how they're playing different.
Like they're doing some stuff that I feel like,
and you know what?
It's, it is a new roster.
And I think in the spirit of, of Kerrigan,
if it sees somebody who,
if he brought someone new into the team,
he would adapt that team to that player.
I mean, even when... And I don't know if this is a good example, but you remember, was it the cattle run with JKS?
Yeah.
Where they made him into an entry fragger out of nowhere, and it was perfect.
You had to play for Robs and for Rain!
Yeah, that was crazy, but it ended up working and kind of made a brand new team with a week's notice.
Real ones remember Chroman.
Yeah, big time.
But where is he now?
That's a great point.
the update. Hit the top and
retired. Went out on a high.
Went out on a high. Bell rings
were back in.
You know, we're talking
standings is also NKJ. Exactly.
New coach for phase.
Bringing bubbly leadership.
Which is a is that an oxymoron?
I think I mean it could mean
happy. It could mean fun.
Vibes yeah, okay, but also a captain. We'll see. Yeah, see what you know, there's a lot to
Do for a new coach in this team right now. Yeah
Not starting off easy
I'll be all they're confident now
They're just going for the straight-up Hail Mary into this B site. I appreciate the tempo as soon as they do any kind of check
Op is ready to do some damage. She has won me. Oh, I was ready for this
Damn, he definitely is he saw the Op as well. No need for repeat
He gets upgrade and smokes off main nice Molotov at least doesn't let him escape for free and suddenly Navi are back in the conversation
And this is three on three
This is the kind of thing that inspires hope when it comes to Navi. That's a huge recovery now
And frozen can't get to these guns just yet he's gonna have to take a couple extra seconds
This is where you'd love the old hole in middle, Netsu has no idea they could be in
the A-Sci right now. Phase up the gamble. Narvi waits out the mid smoke, grouped. All three
players is the right answer here for Narvi able to just trade out onto the lesser weapon,
still no guns retrieved. He literally could not let them in a better mid-round spot.
Totally blind to phase at the moment, who have to guess. By the time they know
that bomb is gonna be down there's no kit there's no utile there's no hope here for phase yeah that's a
very strong call and then they can leave the op to start to roam around to net you can't just peek
all of a sudden just look how much space nally got before they even made a step
until you locked out by that smoke and this kill should just guarantee it only a leg but
I think phase should walk away there are guns to take on that b-site
It looks like Broke is going to wrap around, maybe they don't want to exit through CT and
they could just get a full punish here.
Best case.
Surely they go for it.
Where would you exit if you were a Naby?
Not a main.
Not a main.
Looks like they want to call the bluff here.
I'm shocked the FaZe are going for damage here over just saving those guaranteed
guns, but playing for the long game, they get these kills it's worth it, but
I'll be given nothing and so to a case down on that B bomb site none retrieved by phase
Man just coming right into the event with a ton of discipline. Everything's perfect so far again a great
This is after Jacob gets a 3d fiber covering. They had to do it with utility to make sure they got this kill
They have a lurk in place. So it's not actually just a full-court press on to that one site. They have options open
They're not getting tunnel vision. I mean, this is a very strong-looking Navi
Twizz covers and again contact for Navi, but they do have a flash.
Can I catch Brokey's position? Molly is great timing and Navi called a cancel.
Not looking to be cut off from the rest of their team.
Twizz ready to swing on Brokey's contact. This could be a bit messy now.
Brokey's off, Twizz committed in the middle. No way to go and fall blind as well.
That's a nice kill for Brokey, but it could just be smoked off.
If Navi don't have to commit here, water is open.
If they want to change their mind to go back to that B bomb site and it looks like they
will, you're malarkey B main, rookie is on the move.
If this lurk plays now, it might just be cut off entirely.
Kind of hoping for some heavy mid presence, but instead it's position where Alex is going
to slow it down.
So they need to come hunt him and they will.
That's nice.
It opens lines.
The smokes will imply exactly what site they're trying to go to, but right now
there's no one home.
Navi should know exactly where they're ending with Alexi's position though.
They're still retake on this site though.
Yeah.
Only one kid is on Frozen.
All will be coming in from CT together.
It's going to be this wonderful op I feel like is the most important part of the round.
There are a lot of numbers, but you'd rather be the T's in the post plant.
Got a trade bit.
You cannot get away with more than one.
In this corner phase, have to space adipotently, first in, get traded, wonderful, just try
to sing from back site, and Ema follows up with more and more from wonderful.
having a great start to this game and Navi are running away.
It's just so, it's so, it's so smart, I mean the way that they're moving around the map
and even phase they make a good mid round here to pick off a Lexi D but there's no commitment
after that. They're still a little bit cloudy as to like where the site's gonna be hit.
They've seen a couple of fakes here and there. They know that Navi are coming in
nuance not gonna give away their entire game plan. But the start to this round is just
perfection to be honest. Setting up both those slashes exactly approaching in that door position
made it so that there was no way he could find his kill.
Harvey making it look easy, walking into empty bomb sites.
Phase have yet another buy.
Brokey hoping no flash in middle, but T.O. did it.
Next, he pushes in and wonderful full flash takes his shot.
Brokey feels like he has to get involved.
It's a bit of info there.
Does take Alexi, but there's one more in middle.
Brokey won't hang around.
keeping that all mobile filling the gap on a nice aggressive push from phase on B
but broke if he dies for nothing that might just be the round info spot is
not worth his life and email's luck comes in late in middle it's just a
beautiful T side round right now for Navi nothing can go wrong they're
creating every single timing I mean yeah even even knowing that they could
just freely get into a main broke he obviously shoots the up earlier so not
worried about someone on the line the contact explode makes a lot of sense
And all he wanted was just confirmation of anybody. He didn't want to commit to jump into the site
But even just that was enough for Macaulay to take him out. I thought they already know you know phase push be made again
Both times they've done that they found well, I guess exactly what they're looking for empty control
Yeah, it's still it's too late and speaking of a core right now for phase. I mean frozen and twist still don't have a kill
Core
I've had a couple of rifle rounds still and obviously just no problem. Even if it is in
clutches they're winning all of them. Do not let your foot off the gas especially not on
T side of Nubis. Just those three rounds at the end of the off can come back to
bike.
It's a bit of a wide peek, feels. It is a it is a map where flash pushing A or B
just feels random. Yeah. Whether or not it works if someone's holding because
there's so many good spots to hold from far back from that they're always
taking some kind of gamble but I mean what can you do if you're on CT side
You need to do something
These are flying through these timeouts now
And
Guy I always want to know who's the guy telling jokes when you're losing rounds
That's the guy I'd be trying to approach for my team
We don't need to say, nah, V7 zero up quick to the punch.
Jacob, that's what I want to see.
Wow.
Fearless play through the con smoke.
There's no flash.
Yeah, just sends it.
Raw done, dad.
Love that.
And so phase 5v4, what could go wrong?
Yeah, could this be the hardest situation?
Last time it was only versus an eco.
But it's such a clean 5v4 to grab.
cleanly jump is tagged by the orb. Can he put that Molly in main to stop this
split? Has Jacobs been found in Conn as well just frozen here? Molly only buys a
few seconds for his rotation. Not even necessary because this round is lost.
Navi in a 4v5, storm into B yet again and it's Bits double entry to put the
eighth round on the board. They're unimprovable right now. They're actually
just playing amazing. Every losing position they turn into a winning one.
their flashes are perfect the timing on the bit push is everything if that trade goes the other way
everyone from the A site could have pushed through gone for a big flank on time that
still two players in the site with e-box control it's just so massive it takes that as an opportunity
just to go just not missing a beat and that is a bit of the problem with the roaming that's
happening because they're coming in and out of choke points and Navi are moving a little
slower but with just the right amount of conviction.
Also, it just feels so hard for Faze to justify three players gambling on B bombsite, late
in a round where the whole map is quiet, you've never had A info, you don't have mid-bridge,
Navi could be lurking through.
There's so many gaps on the map that Faze are paranoid of.
In the second they leave B, that's when Navi come in.
I'm not going to call it a 13-0, are you?
We've said it now, so Faze's first round is coming up.
I have a decent track record at this, but that would be bold. Damn. It's not feeling good right now for face
I hate calling
But actually the joke I mean not the joke but the fact when Twist was calling on liquid
He's playing some of his best CS at the same time. Yeah
Now what now what I don't know
It's the question
Oh, yeah, it only counts to be drops. Okay. That's why it was quiet if you drop that was
gonna. Oh, no. It's not like phase haven't had these man advantages for the three five
I'm real scared for the phase in mid because
He's backing up to be right now
There's never anyone in here
Nowhere to stand double Molly down smoke Kevin and they put a third in just to ensure this round RV
Are they just gonna force a 5v5 save right now? This is a predicament for phase
Maybe they want to look for a lurker, but they are simply out of position at the moment timer has started bomb is down
Phase don't even have heaven control. That's Navi's domain miss shot from Brokey, and you won't get many more chances
Wonderful moves back to a strong position. That smoke does give leeway to phase
It looks like they want to go for this all in right now
And this round ends before it begins no getting through that choke point Brokey saves and Navi again
9 rounds straight here on phases.
No, it's incredible.
I mean, okay, because they
is totally blind.
The second kill.
What are you doing?
But that, but he had a teammate
to trade that one out as well.
The important part was the first
one.
And on both sides of the side,
it's just a lost count.
It feels like Braves can't get
a read on what's going on,
right?
Like the round prior, they leave
B for that exact move.
Now, Navi throw it in.
This has just been like whatever
happens from this point on. It's already been a masterclass of recovering the game,
taking timings to get the flashes are right.
And the only thing truly negative about phase it feels like that they could
clearly improve. It's just committing a bit more to when they're when they're
in sight or when they're suspicious. But there's almost never been a time
where I don't think they've ever fought anybody on default in the site
ever on the other side of the map. Sure.
But almost every single time they're up in heaven the one time they tried to phase the smoke it was twisting that you yeah
They wanted to push out of in out of a man
But outside of that like there have been no standard holds no often position
The electrolytes are working for nothing
Okay, again, another pick given us by Jacob.
He's been the only guy delivering FaZe's early advantages, but it's not yet been enough.
Narvi, again, dry walk middle there.
Don't even announce with a flash.
FaZe don't know for sure, and uncertainty here for FaZe, whether or not they want
to continue pushing.
and there's a block ready here on camera.
I don't think Narvi can call a bluff
on a smoke in this position,
but how confident are they?
Mikaze has been red-hot.
This is interesting, what happens right now?
Oh, Miss Flash does actually catch twists though,
and now a smoke doesn't come down in time.
Twist moves ahead of it, 5v3,
and you said it was a 13-0,
and so here's Narvi showing up
with their first lost round all game.
It's a bit of a bloodbath in Middle-Face, go sending it.
Did I speak too soon?
Surely not.
Take about now.
Oh, OK.
Don't let him leave.
Let's go for a start-up.
Who was that?
They're the American audience.
That's a new voice.
Was that Lake?
Who was that?
I don't know.
I actually have no clue.
Gassing into Jayburn.
Don't sound German to me.
Oh, yes.
All right.
That's a great round.
Needed that here for FaZe.
Just to feel something.
Yeah, and can't twist with the TOR.
One time too many with that push.
Yeah, they love their lesson now.
Frozen commiss to position.
Aggressive still, FaZe.
OK, finally throwing themselves into the fight.
trade back on a smoke in middle is only going to do so much that's real
like the twist is dangerous but he doesn't even if it is mccasey climbs over the smoke
even a pressuring be everywhere phase are they're getting pushed right now
frozen holds on keeping this even again this has been back and forth all round
but in that downtime mccasey is taking space big time this is i mean how you
supposed to keep track of this when you've got the whole rest of the map to worry about
they're watching their backs but it's a little bit too slow it feels like as if the
flank is holding the flank because he's just missed it though I mean yeah they are
calling to watch this so maybe he just goes down clean and that's nice but now
they got to be thinking about going towards a they're sure that there's
another person here
Wow they would never go be after we killed that B flank it's crazy because
they kind of pick up their litter they could have walked into a they now can go
be with two CTs leaving three CTs leaving and this is exactly what you're talking about phase insane
quite a commitment here in round 11 and Navi they're not even gonna believe it when they walk in
nothing no way they've given us the whole site bit's got a smoke for temple
soon he gets that in the bed but maybe they just walk in for the entry 10 seconds on this
clock bit catches them by surprise in an awkward spot if he wants to swing uh-oh left
that's going to kill so much
of the clock. Two players now
known as it's an M four and an
AK shooting. Can't exactly do
much here from Sporty can
flash them out, but scaling
with your is a death sentence.
You till goes in and she's
going to charge frozen. Easy
kill and bit follows up with
a double broken. No chance
can't even as not be swing
him again. It feels like
they've got wall hacks right
now. They're walking into
every M. M. M.
to be able to get to the
top of the game. You know,
you're walking into every empty
site that phase give them. I
try not to say that when we're
casting because some people go
Yeah, see, I knew every
player was kidding. But yeah,
that's that's that's how
they're moving at the moment.
The calling is absolutely
perfect. And the fact is
they in that moment where
they didn't go be right away.
That was the moment that
they decided to leave the
site. And so not here
completely in their heads. Hey,
too much. Yeah. 10-1 up. I'll be showing again their form from these first few events of the year.
Two grand finals in a row, one trophy, and then, yeah, a quarter final loss, but to vitality.
So now we were saying on the desk we can kind of write that one off.
However you're looking to beat every other team in attendance here in Fort Worth.
I'm looking to send a message to FaZe in this opening map.
Shot for Brokey.
It's Tuesday and it ain't Friday.
and
Friday is not guaranteed either. It's actually Wednesday. It doesn't make a difference. Hey, it's only 9 a.m.
somewhere
Take a close on the pillar frozen back site. This has been still exploitable
This B site has been the problem and Navi looked to when I extend that
Big, catching the flank.
Frozen does hope for one, but one is not enough as we're learning in this site.
Another trade for Wonderful.
Crucial kill to even up to a 2v1.
Twist is here.
He surely wants to jump on this, but he sees the swap out to the 8k.
Oh!
It's not meant to be.
And Na'Vi make a statement here on Phases' map pick.
This is a new phase, but they're giving us nothing to talk about.
We've still got two and a half more days of action, but speak of action, off-climb into
Catwalk.
Xayu tries to get away with a slick move instead of fast-moving Navi, and in total contrast
to the round prior where Wonderful was a lone top mid, you've already got Navi players
up through connector trying to combine again with this big JL walkout.
Flames has got a lot of pressure on him and he has not been performing, he has
not recovered.
Mmm, since that awkward ladder kill and this A site goes down with nothing until the jungle players come out with two.
This is Emael and Atare. A triple kill through middle extended up to the third right back into the reaction. Quad kill for E-Math.
Not yet able to soften up the bomb site. Niko tries to go through. Will stuff one up close?
And a wonderful still yet to strike down his second victim. Tess asks looking for his impact.
You didn't kill him, you just softened him up and that's not enough to stop him.
Bomb is here on the ramp. Tess has got another kicks in into the kill feed
Right there to stop it his multi-kill with a quad kill cause they stays tucked in
Here's a chance. They're under balconies. Ella's adding them up. That's two
Will McCauze go unnoticed because the operant could serve up a perfect distraction
Bones can't get planted here now. On the other side. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They've lost this guard
McCauze delivers!
Wonderful goes down, but he's to open the door for this!
Makaase, marauding inside of this A site.
Jame on the other side of it, 17 and five is Makaase.
This guy is ascending to a whole new level.
And Jame waits this long, this might come back to bite him.
He's got the kit and that kit could be so key.
You gotta go, BV.
He needs to move.
From the ball to the leg.
Oh, welcome to Leipner leg.
Yeah, he just wants to take the fight, but he's letting him get closer.
Finally puts wonderful to rest bit in the meantime slip the net inches ever closer
Gathers them off guard and finishes Jane. No, no, you've got to deliver with a huge health advantage bits on the pistol
Novi to maintain control despite the cost and go up 3.0
Donk plays behind the pole. He's got Shirou
He's going to work with, he's going to blind the operas, the shot, shiro's down, Alexi, B, double entry.
They came out ready for that.
Just like that, he takes back what Alexi worked so hard for.
We're talking about Bitt's lurk though.
Deep inside the A site, the bomb gets cut off, bomb control again.
Alexi's down to nine.
It is all Alexi thus far for this round, but remember, Saumtich gets active.
And also Bitt can get involved.
There are lurks on both ends, and the bomb's still yet to be retrieved.
Magic's losing almost all that HP.
Xantik Stomach snaps up, and this is his chance.
Alexi B sees all.
With nine health. Nine health, he's got it.
Oh, no!
The name misses.
Oh, the name!
Call it overpass in the major final
because FaZe are happy to just have one round the same vitality though.
RV is showing up.
I don't think they'll be laughing either.
No.
When the game ends.
I don't know.
Smiles on FaZe is here for FaZe.
Yeah, actually maybe they will be.
You know, because I guess at the very least,
you can't have expectations that are too high.
That's always nice.
Yeah, but this low.
Hey, they're only a top 50 team.
That's true.
still higher than liquid. Can't go lower than that somehow.
The Bay Jacob has survived in four out of his thirty eight and new best tea side grounds
this year. Oh dear, four out of thirty eight. That's not many.
I position him there for the flash lands, the full victim. How did he get three? That's
Two triples up, and Jacob as well looking to make this his fifth round.
It's wonderful 1v4, bomb here, but I'm going to give him the satisfaction.
Who? Who is that? Is that NetEw shouting?
I don't know man.
Maybe catch it on cam, isn't it? There's a deep voice in there.
Yeah, there's it.
Look at this.
Oh my, he killed the door player first.
Yeah, well done. Yeah, that's the reaction you want. He was down everything in those
two minute breaks. Yeah. He's like, I am the best coach ever. 100% T side, next to a round
win rate for FaZe with this roster. We can't talk past this round. This is the kind of
game where you're not winning every situation, whether it was good or bad, and you know that
we've got to keep phase on notice for now.
They force up bits on USP armor.
Respect, man.
No, he's been an assassin today.
He's going to shoot him in the back of an arrow.
That's actually a weird buy.
Yeah, he's got five hundred bucks as well.
Or I forgot the five seven.
It wants to be different so bad.
He's got an HE, a smoke, and he's got USP armor.
It's like a troll buy.
can only make that buy when you're like you're actually insane you're winning
every round. Watch him still make it work. Unfortunately for McCarthy it's a bit too early but
FaZe weren't looking his way. It's damage off. He's don't chase him here. It's dangerous.
If surely just get slowly hunted down now. Oh no! That's a lot of damage. Yeah, I broke
you on this last leg. One of two AKs, twist entry. Ema catches him by surprise but
Bombs coming in, so they're committed here.
Ema could go crazy mode.
1v3 on this site, no support, bit behind the smoke,
and Ema fouls.
Here's why we see the USP armor.
No, that's why we don't.
Phase two converts.
All right, they land on their feet.
They did a great job trading through that,
and Twist is ready to get right into the calls.
Let's see what the steedside has to offer.
And you bring in a new map into the pool,
I can only assume you're putting a good amount of work in the CT side, but with time constraints and probably going to be like
How do we get a T side together to look really confident? That's just got more moving pieces
Spread D4 here for phase
It's simple
These rifles search for the V-Site even get it overwhelmed
That's my car see here. I don't even know
Well-placed Eagle but I don't want to commit to this
Dear that's too much out of there so bad saved by K
Frozen warming into the game
And he's going to take it with him.
So he's recovering his score and recovering the AK that he just dropped.
For me, we're in the dignified rounds territory.
You get to eight just to make sure that it's not a stomp.
Then you start thinking, OK, we can actually win this game.
Saving face for the minute.
Not the corner timeouts.
Yeah, they didn't have to use them.
And the first half is always nice to have them for T side.
I think AJ is not getting involved in this one.
The team with the lead phase have the first few rounds of this tea side ready in their pocket.
So let's see what they got.
That was the Ludwig Moe.
He's taken the eagle.
I have an eagle if anyone wants it.
I guess they do do it at every level that's mean we got an orb for brokeie so
let's see where he starts on this T side wonderful the same so broke your
middle every round he had his last wonderful just jump spot if broke he
holds calm
I'm in America so maybe I have to call it e-box Jerry's still out I mean
Ramzes is still open if you want. That's not gonna crazy. Be serious. Oh, that could be nice.
Gnarly grenade. Square in the middle of three of them.
They want to pounce on this right now, FaZe.
I'm not done with that, you two cooked like Gordon Ramsey out here, and the car's on this
angle, I'm fearful of that phase, but Brockey's all weight and does punish that peak, a huge
opening kill here from the Orpah phase.
Yeah, the patience is working, and can Alexi really just stand here, got a molly coming
his way. Oh no, that's not the e-box. Where'd a Brogy go?
Oh, they're all blinds!
Three here!
Let us free it out!
AlexiBeast, triple low down, and this B-side, well, defended. Locked out.
We got 10 health on frozen.
Nine and five. Phase fired.
Oh, man. I mean, that flash could not have higher efficacy.
That was full blind, full four and a half seconds.
He had time to get the first kill with some missed bullets and still take out the rest.
Five and nine HP remaining.
And that's map point for Navi secured.
And you know, we're talking about anti flash and those positions,
but that's not the flash you're expecting out into the water.
Yeah.
That deep.
And it's been all game that Navi have found perfect timing for the flashes
and have lined up every single one.
It's all game, the FaZe have found five E4s, but I'm unable to convert the rounds.
Oh brutal. Even the captain's kicking them out.
It happens all too quick here. Narvi might just strut through this first map.
Helped a ton with the HE damage too. Almost got away with it all there.
That'll be the call this time. No wonderful hit down already.
I like this for a bit. Not the angle you're ready to fight but Faiz aren't fighting.
Faiz are in the holding pattern right now, just doing loops.
They want the same thing that Navi have.
I think Navi know it.
This could be a curtain call for Pazen.
And really, I think time pressure is actually going to be another threat
if they don't start making decisions.
Mary Smoke just comes down.
That is Navi's last block.
the smoke.
Ema might go completely unchecked in this position. If mid plays first, terrifying spam and just
taking one off and they have to go through it. Right in the water. Ema. Oh, it's one more.
It's a beautiful double out of frozen to keep this round alive. But it would more needs
retrieved from face bodies, puts himself back in this site. It's not going to let
them in for free. That's a big flash to keep him back a bit high inside of the
Phase with 20 seconds. Can't dilly-dally. Can't doggle. Must put that bomb down. That's free damage for Bitsnade.
It's coming.
Nobody hooks it on the smokey set and catches.
Oh!
Frozen fails out-broking.
2v1, Mikazi's revealed position, and no kit right now either. So clock ticking in Phase's favor.
Mikazi can't wait forever.
Where have Phase gone?
I mean, if he doesn't tap this now, it's pretty much over. No kit on him at the moment.
I mean surely it's fine now it is. He's got to just stay tucked. Yeah,
because it will have to see his way out.
Oh, never mind. Let's get all five first and get the Op as well. That's a nice
little cheeky escape from the car. Say, you know, one round for face to keep
them in this game. Three kills for frozen as well. That was high impact
in middle. It took a lot of excellent utility usage there for face to
just ensure that position. They're late Molly to counter.
face to just ensure that position. They're late molly to counter bit smoke and when he
needed that smoke open it looked like oh he should have just dropped it on the planter
but he nearly got the kill for it. That was excellent two kills from frozen. And save
on to Brody. Yeah, it's gotta be there. Careful. You stop, they hatch him. That's a scary
boost to acquire as well with the nade on the consmoak. It's having none of it though.
Fifty and a nine looking for yet another down in water. Why is he just ready to just
Raw dog another peak no flashes or anything like he is not scared whatsoever and supports coming in from behind
Oh, he's nuts right now
It follows up with a third kill it's still double trades back for net you this round is alive for phase
Navi are moving
but it's been open for some time so wonderful is cautious
shifts his way back in the heavens got to clear everything but phase are doing
the same thing by the time he gets there phase as well it's really trying not to
get tricked but the suspicion is right oh excellent shot an excellent round so
far for I don't think you're ready for mccasey he is right here to end the
game right now on top of heaven knife pulled mccasey biting the bit looking to
just fight back in this site. Frozen puts that bomb down allowed a few seconds of
safe-hating and throwing the round here for FaZe. Just a touch too messy. A wide
swing would have done it right there. Yeah. Great round though again from Netsu
with those two kills not a second quick double and a third to ensure they
get into the site versus Wonderful's op.
It's a freak of nature right now and I was confident it's just so high
And I like that
He's bringing energy because I know what that round means a broken Navi's economy
Most of Navi's most of Navi's a cat's like this a post 500 bucks because he's got an M4 right now
Now, locked out of this site by an instant execute here in phase, dare I say, might just
have a seventh.
The plan came down so quick, no friction at all.
CT's will have to move fast, they really want to try this.
Chaos is the only hope here for NARVNIA and TWIST, surprise they're double.
out there it really just wants to hang back with this gun.
Phase not only get a couple rounds down the stretch on this T side they build their money up.
Get another swing at Navi and a rifle on rifle.
We're leaving any pressure that that won't be one clutch put on phase
Doing it again doing it again. All right
All right, we'll see if if the pre-nades are coming out if they're ready for that kind of push
We know bits already made a cameo towards a main. That's something they've got to think about
That's around I would not want to run into bit. No, I was gonna say that's around the bit wasn't a you want to pull it off against bit
It's a brave call to make.
It's not the you want to make the adjustment timeout called by blade.
But you know, Bobby are also thinking about how we've conditioned them, what they should
be and shouldn't be afraid of.
And we'll take a hell of a read to think, okay, well, we think they'll try to rush
it again.
Maybe that's unlikely in their ads.
Feels pretty out there.
We're doing it again.
Looks like just wonderful, interestingly, the AWP.
Oh, and it's really close. They've actually got two quick rotations.
Ah, that's a punish.
Polly full short as well. Doesn't seem to matter for Wonderful.
He wants them here in his sight. A second tag connects.
Wonderful. Two quick shots.
Has put Navi on the precipice of taking FaZe's map.
They still want to do here though.
Throws it with his AK, taking one on one.
And Twis has not got the gun for the job right now.
Gonna be seven. They start to storm.
Brookie coming in, let's go deep, take the line up!
Brookie takes one more before all is said and done, and twists his thrust into a clutch without the bomb on his back.
Go searching for the kill.
And he has no idea where Mikaze could be coming in from.
Believing that bomb means this gives Mataze time to get into position.
He's here on camera, ready to push.
Oh...
Just a MAK10.
The timing couldn't be worse.
The info of Mikaze confident love from his last clutch swings out,
takes the round and puts Navi a map up in this series.
One more map for Navi will chase him to the playoffs here in Fort Worth,
and it will phase too slow to start in this one today.
I mean, you couldn't really ask for it.
Definitely. Sir, I'm going to cut you off.
Well, I'm sorry. It's time for us to talk.
Because Makaze said Maui, you thought they were going to get eight rounds? No.
Hey, I was close. Yeah.
Okay. Phase, they just needed a little bit more in the first half.
I felt like the T side was actually quite well prepared, but you could see in this one exactly why
Navi are the number two team in the world. I felt like they exercised so many options in that first
half. It's true. Flexibles throughout. They read them throughout. Talk me through a little bit of
that T side from from Alexi and some of the rounds you'd like to see. Well, we have a couple
actually and I feel like a lot of them are predicated off of the fact that they use
middle so well that they were always pressuring with one player with two players. I know the
the first round that we have queued up is gonna show just how they were able to
take that sort of space and even though they go one-for-one in the opening pick
it shows that they're able to from that position push through middle they're
able to just try to use three pincers onto the bomb site simultaneously which
puts them in a good enough position in a post plant even though they lose
their advantage in middle to then swarm the bomb site so that is a
a moment where Navi, they are showing that they're very willing to use every single option
allotted to them and a phase team is going to have to kind of pick up the pieces.
And that was kind of the story throughout a lot of this half that they had to always
try to figure out where is Navi because if we lose one kill, one advantage, then they
could just be everywhere.
It's true.
And we were talking a lot about how their T side from phase was a lot better because
that's probably the only thing that twists had time for to prepare this core for.
But conversely, you know, starting on the CT side, a lot of times, right, the site completely
abandoned, right?
They were really frazzled.
They tried to create their own destiny with some opening picks from Jacob.
He found four in the first half.
And you felt like in some of those moments, maybe Faze would be able to convert.
But again, it just kind of exuded all that class from Navi.
We saw how even when they lose the one, they're able to then slink into further
positions.
They're able to convert.
in a couple man down deficit situations because they had such prime positions in
post plants, key pieces of utility in order to take rounds back into their
control. Talk me through round 11. Then I think this was a great example. Yeah,
another one where actually unfortunately for phase in this one, they don't get
the opening pick and you see how knobby just puts a choke hold all over
the map once again. Again, this is just the story where McCauze gets
boosted into the window early on here. Twist drops a counter smoke here
and he's somewhat aware of this sort of play from Mikaze,
but I feel like that tells a tale of two stories,
that Mikaze gets the opening pick
because of such forward positioning,
but twist being a little bit slow on the draw there.
And even though Mikaze gets found out on this flank,
once again, you just see all of this pressure
exerted from Navi, Hal-Faze did not know
where Navi was going next in the round.
They were scrambling towards the A bomb site
and it gave just enough room for Bitt and Alexi
to get this post plant in order.
the fact that bit also it drops this incredibly timely smoke perfectly uses all
the utility has on on his belt and this is around where face needed to get
something together but the classroom bit was full on display it absolutely was
and of course this was a map that probably Navi was always going to win
it was a gambit thrown out by twist to go back to that anubis which he
definitely likes to play in his system but when it comes to Navi you are
very celebratory about them and I liked in this one that it was
everybody right and it seems so visceral. The Navi team that you see today is so drastically
different than what you got eight months ago or so where they were trying to put the pieces
back together off of losing some of the I would say camaraderie that they had in 2024
where now you're getting this team that really I think Macaulay has breathed new
life into a roster that was sort of on its last legs and now they've become believers
again. They're a team that knows that they should be the dominant force in the
in the world, not named by
Talady, and so they showed
that the way that they were,
I feel like confidence gets
thrown out a lot in this sort
of space. But really just the
way that they they take space
without even second guessing
that everybody's moving
forward, knowing that this is
all part of a greater plan.
It is, and it makes you
think back to when they they
were successful in getting the
major victory, which is now
a completely different era,
right? And parts that they
have to rebuild the fact
that Macaulay said. Yeah,
I know it now. I
understand the blade system.
I'm happy to be vocal about
I'm happy to be vocal. I feel like I'm confident to be vocal.
They're only one map away from the playoffs, and I think we're going to see them go far.
Oh yeah, I feel like if they don't make the grand finals again, I feel like that's going to be a disappointment for them,
and they're taking care of business here with Faze.
Okay, nature then. Okay, first map, right? A lot to put on his shoulders,
Twist had a lot of faith in him. What do you think?
That was a great opening showing for me.
the comeback that phase started to spur there was off of the back of nature and
some of those late round situations. The way he was able to take down the cause
in a 1v1 on the a bomb site there was really impressive. The kind of force he
showed didn't want to play back on his heels. They want to play back on to the
default positions on the site. Just wanted to take the fight on his own
terms. I always respect a player when they go for those kinds of moves. So
this is already pretty nice from him. It's a bit of a shame that some of
the old guard from phase was kind of slow to start in this one because it was mostly
just Nate you and Jacob. Yeah, it is kind of like they have lemons. Can they make lemonade?
N K J will do his absolute best to erect a stand in the middle of his neighborhood and
sell as many lemonade glasses that he possibly can because that's the that's the best you
can hope for at this tournament. It's true. At the very least, you also hope that
the players that should be performing are performing. But I know you had some
the game, but it's not going
to be a good game. So we're
going to have to go back to
some questions. Words for
Jacob, for instance, in the
past now, twist is left with
that. That heritage almost of
care and bring him into the
team, right? But still we
need to see more definitely on
this next map if they want to
do anything here. I would
say that they still are
going to have a lower
bracket game where they can
maybe pick up the pieces
from. However, I think
that Jacob right now is just
kind of at a turning point
where he now really is not
shackled by a care again
him in this sort of game, we know that the aim can be incredibly sharp. That was totally
on display here. It's just that it didn't really get parlayed into any sort of victory,
unfortunately. It's true. We'll talk a little bit about the next map. It will be ancient
when we come back.
In the ancient we go with Navi very happy after that first map and now only one map away
from making it to the playoffs here at Last Rivals for Worth but they're up against FaZe
and well they tried it on Anubis, Navi's win rate on Ancient is much higher than
it even is on Anubis so talk to me about what makes this Ancient so scary for Navi
team.
Navi who loved Mirage in the past slowly came to terms with the fact that
ancient is just their best map and that's because of Mikaze.
He's the driving force for them in middle and given that it is the most
pivotable part of the map it is one where having a star entry like him
just pays dividends. So his explosive play the fact that they have so many
different utility sets to get him into middle to burst out and the
fact that he's even learned how to play the second third stages of the
the round to a much higher degree. Now they're all reasons for why they love this map. It's
really like an investment paying off dividends more and more, right? For for mccasey. In the
beginning when they had him, he just was that explosive. Yeah. But now under blade,
Alexis Toodalich, you see him taking his time. You see the way that he's working
through mid rounds that he isn't just sending it into donor. He's not just sending it
up to red room. So yes, I would say it's an investment where they definitely
added a little bit more to it at the beginning, but one where he's now just looked like the
most complete player on this map for my money.
Other than when Zywu rarely decides to boot up ancient, given its vitality's perma-band,
I would say Mikaze is the best in the world on this map.
You always have to mention Zywu.
Donk, Zywu.
They're just names that you have to...
They're just names.
They're benchmarks.
They are.
They very much are.
Talking about benchmarks, for FaZe, this is going to be a rough one for them.
Can we expect?
of course there are a lot of changes in terms of how they're going to approach these maps right now at nature.
Nature is in for a little bit of a rough transition period. I'm imagining here that even though with ends he was playing the A anchor position that's kind of where frozen and twist usually end up in the middle of a round.
So I think he's going to have to lace up and get into cave because nobody that I saw from phase was really a prime suspect to get back into that position.
I want to see what rookie has in store for us here in a position that is so
nerdy is so geeky. You have to do all these little wall bangs. You have to know
all these little lineups. You have to know basically off of fake reloads. Are
they going to swing me or not? It's almost like you're trying to mind game
your opponents. That's why Karrigan was actually pretty, pretty reasonable in
that spot. And now I feel like with Nate you, this is going to be a trial
by fire. Yeah, it's interesting because we always think about everything
that changes around Karrigan leaving in terms of leaving a hole as the IGL
right and twist taking over.
But on the other hand, you could have a real uptick
if you have someone who can now be better in those positions.
But that is also a tall order on each of you, though.
Of course it is.
And also, I just want to bring up this one fact
that Twist was a great, fragging in-game leader
when he was on Liquid.
That first map did not showcase that whatsoever.
He himself does need to step up
if he wants this phase project to work in his favor.
If he wants to earn the respect of Rosen
to say, please stay on this roster.
You're going to need to step up because Rosen
needs reasons to want to stay locked into this phase project.
Yeah, absolutely so that that's a great takeaway.
We all saw that interview on HLTV.
So you gave him eight in the first one.
They only got seven.
How many do you give phase now?
I'll double down.
Eight again.
Eight again, OK?
I feel like this phase team has a little bit more
going for it than people may expect out the gates.
And the fact that they get to start CT side
on an ancient map that, by the way,
Twist wasn't even too shabby at calling on this map when he was with Liquid.
So there's a lot of things that work in their favor, but Liquid or
but Na'Vi that is they're clearly the better team.
They are tall order, but maybe they make it work.
Let's get it over to our casters.
Home ground here for Na'Vi and looking for a spot in the playoffs quickly here
on day one of Fort Worth.
Here at Blast Rivals, I'm here with Mohan and FaZe map too.
Do you have more faith after seeing that first game?
I'm not sure for me. It's not I'm not sure if it's gonna be I have more faith in face
I just have tons of faith in Navi. I feel like
Unfortunately, this is gonna be one of the hardest opening round teams they could play against like even not vitality lost a foot
Who have coached I mean foot are amazing, but they lost to lost a map on their best map
Yeah, he was a coach that might have even been a better draw for phase right now
Just based on how well Navi played that last map and it's only gonna get harder
I think some players might be more comfortable now, but I think nothing matters more than
if the better team is going to be more comfortable.
At least again, it's going to be a CT side start.
That's always nice.
Yeah, Anubis was always going to be a risk.
So problem is that we did see some good things about FaZe back on Anubis and yet
they also didn't really stand a chance.
They made sort of a comeback happen,
but Navi were never out of control of it.
Yeah, I didn't really feel like it.
And I think we're going to have more standard map
in the sense of, you know, phase hopefully able to close
advantages if they're in those positions.
Because, you know, we're talking about the randomness
of Anubis, it did just definitely feel like,
well, if you just random Navi,
just made some great mid-round calls,
found all the gaps, exploited everything in that T-side.
You'd like to think on a, yes, a more comfortable map
for Navi, but the same can be said for phase,
They're gonna slot back in a little better here on ancient either way. It's not his home ground
So let's see this show up on this T side because he's always a delight to watch on this map
Yeah, no kidding and the other thing was the flashes last map for Navi
Those had me shook a bit again from the bottom of their map pool. They made it look like it was at the top
Likely get more of the same now broke you in a great spot with these dual is oh
Oh, even better now they don't know and so he's patiently waiting for mccasar to overstat
but instead not be checking out middle feels like it was always going to end be with Alexey
here with the bomb but broke he getting a little bit more aggressive just missing each
other. Seconds of difference. Oh trying to escape though. Preparing themselves for this
B site attack and Navi getting closer and closer. 4v5, 4, 3v5 as Frozen Plucks and other
broaches just wants to fire his Juleys right now. He's getting too much support. He's
going to get a chance. Bombing Cave, he's not gone. After none. And the pick up for
Emo pays in a 5v3. I'm going to be scared right now as Navi execute the site.
What would be their first 3v5 victory?
They still have to look alive some shots getting missed. Oh
Yeah, it's brutal for naffy and they don't lose a man
Oh, that was the perfect camera NKJ had his hands in the air and
Sometimes that's a good thing, but this isn't a music festival. Yeah
Going straight down on that roller coaster and you can feel it in the pity your stomach
like two nice USP taps to open up here and then Navi just comes swinging it. Wonderful
P250. This is delight for Navi. It felt like, you know, a reasonable retake-ish setup for
FaZe, but the same thing on Anubis. So many times they're playing from the back.
Great. It's not like it's a comedy of errors and everything goes wrong. They just get
frag all the same time. They were kind of in decent spots following those kills. I mean the only
funny part about that was Broke not able to shoot a single bullet.
There's USP's along can be rough.
And now they have that dog in them right now.
They're just so incredibly good at every turn. Haven't really been shaken when it comes to the
the Ecos as well early on in the new best,
there was that MP9 by that came close.
But even when Navi run into a whole stack,
they still end on their feet.
And you know, we talk about Navi being number two
and having a great run of events recently.
And it's not just about beating
the top five teams in the world.
It's also just about dismantling teams below that
with no problem.
It's something we attributed to perhaps a mouse
their peak, right? Just not losing to other dogs when their favorite you would know it.
And that's the Navi we've been getting recently, right? And the games are expected to win. They
don't really stress. They don't really sweat. And this feels like another one of those.
Yeah, I mean, if you're a top two team in the world, you should be beating down on
top 50 rosters. And it should be 2-0s.
Phase, just getting tracked around on this MP9 half by delaying their first rifle when they get on a Nubis.
Obviously making some AWP money, that's an important double, it will get him the cash.
And so AWP can come out in this first proper four rifle round now for Phase.
And there'll be 3-0 up, that's just another nub on the Tinker, closer to the playoffs.
fun part about ancient as it can go quickly.
A lot of mid control.
In for both sides, you can have a lot of deep B control,
which means early gunfights, which again, can be fun,
not as much when you're on the CT side
and you've got to try to stabilize your economy at the same time.
So here, this is a big risk, but it kind of pays off.
Oh! For a second, Tomokaze comes out with two back.
Of course he does transfer as well, so it takes Jacob to save them.
them. If Navi go quick there's still two players on this B bomb site that's exactly what phase wants.
Broke his orb, lost it for the kill, missed shot. Navi still here on the edge waiting to execute.
Will they reconsider? Two players spotted at B. Wonderful checks to flank.
But I mean they have a molly and two flashes. Alexi smoke inside of the cave.
Man, they're all worried about a mid-lurk, and they don't have that open.
This gets scary.
Interesting spot for Twist.
No one's here to peek this right away.
Maybe he can get away.
Wow, he somehow gets both.
Doesn't have a spot to run to.
No third player to trade that out.
And now almost no hope for Alexi B.
You can maybe get to this bomb, but you know CTs are going to be close.
Twist, Crosshead doesn't move.
They just get guillotined.
And Lexi B crouching in does a lot of damage, but he's not gonna find that kill.
Broke is on the line, nice pre-fire puts him on 30 health.
And he knows actually that twist is low now.
Nate got a long way.
Backside, hate lines, Broke.
Twist saves the round with a third kill.
Phew.
Yeah, no kidding, man.
That would have been a free plant and a nightmare 1v1 for the TUS to retake.
Health wouldn't matter that much at that point.
Crazy, he starts shooting while he's turned around.
Now this is a real emergency spot for Twist, I mean it's great that he can hold his nerve
but you can see he's worried about everything.
Alright, he's breaking in earlier than Anubis, that's a good sign.
He want to go from it again.
Sometimes it's a poison chalice.
But again, he can get you with that first kill.
course the council because he low health as well gonna recommit later Lexi
has made it up heaven had no real cave presence here for phase it's broken again
orping on the site they've run the whole rotation I don't think Alexi is gonna
feel like this is a fake so they'll just quietly come back in the mid that
does this mean they want to walk past donut or not they need my tempt you
for the splits, but it's no in-game until there.
Jacob on a pixel line catches him.
Broke his patience, persevering.
We saw him try to come in with a pre-fire
and the perfect crosshair placement.
Last round was a little off.
Like this over, Navi, showing face in middle
is going to make you scared of Donut
late in the round. There's no one there for now.
And it's going to be a CT mid timing.
They want to reclaim some information or they tie up a player,
which means Jacob's going to be alone for a while.
And a fear of middle is just leaving a solo player there.
Navi are going to try to erupt.
Jacob, topping out a second.
Oh, an artist. Lovely done.
The kill is fantastic.
And that is the round at the feet of FaZe.
That is beautiful.
And again, because they didn't push back in the mid,
It had to be all him.
So, side relief, if a face, not just the first round of the board,
but back to back and clean.
All the setup for a more competitive map here.
There's Navi, our fourth brogue.
right now we get anchors and off of their individual level are putting
together formidable sideholds and handling business one at a time but
that's enough to just send Navi back to this you know low buy obviously one
saved gun. No investment beyond the skilill. And I thought if this was gonna come down
to mid control that this is where Navi would actually be able to really impose their will
on FaZe. But so far the trades have actually been pretty good from the defense. But they'll
be quite stubborn about it here they are back to it.
Are we really just trying to put this rifle in position?
I've got that mid control for free but again it's info for net you can drop a smoke as soon
as he sees him.
It's just a flashback.
It's going to flash it.
It's going to flash it.
He has no head armor.
No helmet.
He gets taught a lesson here by Mikaze.
No dear, this is going very wrong very quickly can they get that all?
Wonderful is knife out gunning him.
No, I got it.
This is going disastrously for FaZe, a 5v3 for Darby.
And WandaFloy extends the lead, just going for pod shots now.
Mothra finds another dink,
Twist trying to fight back with a US peel.
There's a glock again, but Mikazi, low health, will not stop him.
Can Frozen do anything?
Thrust into an impossible clutch by his team.
Here's Smoke, Kit and Timing.
Harvey hide out in plain sight.
Frozen, the Thins the hard, double up.
Smoke on the bomb.
Things are getting weird now, Mikazi needs to glock triple. Surely that's unrealistic.
Frozen with a 5 second, and Mikazi with a bluff called is too late to the party.
They saved themselves from absolute embarrassment. It is frozen who bails them out.
They would not have been able to live that down.
Oh, they just let him walk into the site off the single box.
It's a glock one-shot entry followed by a deagle kill, the little not necessary.
And that should have been the final thing.
2v5.
Insane.
It's great that that throws and pulls us back.
They're gonna be happy about it for sure.
My goodness.
Oh, I heard some of the cars, he never got a gun in all that action.
He got two Glock kills and he stayed on Glock.
Yeah, the friggin' upgrades should have fallen from the sky.
Unlock it.
Look, you can laugh it off if you're not.
You've just got a fantastic round with nothing, but...
Yeah, they also know they could have won.
Yeah.
Missed opportunity, perhaps.
No alarm sounded yet here. Let's see this mid-control again.
Kofi do want to go back to something.
Pressure early just to stop pace from feeling confident enough to climb up and let you
I'm gonna hide out again, but Leif Flash will just wreck his round and because he does that stuff, never triple kill in middle, this is his domain.
He's playing aim labs, there's absolutely no way he just got that third.
Transverse, just another date.
That's a dunk round. Round of your dreams as you're coming out of elbow. I mean, it's nothing but aim that gets you those kills.
No amount of planning could set you up for success in that situation.
I mean, a first flash helped obviously, but man, that's all mechanics.
Well, aim he's got in spades.
Yeah, and as Maui brought up, they've transformed him into the whole package.
He was just such a great entry fragger, so explosive, so selfless to be honest,
but now just so good at also slowing down, which you have to be when you're playing on Navi.
But they've really harnessed his full talent now on this team
And what it feels and you know unfair to compare anyone to donk
I think you know just in the style and in the positions at times you can I see what you're talking about
You can with with his stats on a new bus. You can't you know if there's there's one guy out there
That's something special
Just smashes down the front door here for FaZe and simple walking to B, puts Navi on their fourth.
Brokie hanging around quite close here, not wanting to concede too much ground.
I feel like money is pretty relevant for FaZe, I mean, they'll be able to keep this.
One save allows five guns, so Brokie does need this open, they'll allow it.
Show me that Macaulay triple.
What's better than the first time I saw it?
What can you do?
He's got to shrug it off.
Yeah, you got to walk that one off, I think.
Yeah, this this half gets very expensive if they don't win this round
The fact that now we still have the propensity to just walk out mid every single time they're happy to try it again
And it always used to be in my to be the one get all those frags
There's a new sheriff in town
through the red smoke, you wouldn't dare, Frozen's not going to let him get away with that.
Double up with the Famas before Wonderful extends the bleed.
The Ross is not watching that.
Okay.
They're coming back for more.
Slow down boys.
This low health, 2v4, we've seen some ridiculous rounds in this series already for Narvi
and Pit.
He's just seeming to do something else.
Yeah, they no tour in Dona and one's back at mid for sure.
Free walk into the site.
We'll get cut off if they they come and try to clear this
Just depends on how fast they speed up. I mean bit would love to be able to come back to fight them
But instead this is the safe way to do it
Will deliver it
So bit at this point they can't presume watch out on that be bomb site
Oh, yeah, they've got an air tag on them, they know exactly where he is
So let's start off with this map for a bit, but he was sharp on Anubis.
Chris is ready.
Okay.
I mean, that's pretty solid, and we saw some of the best stuff about Anubis, where they
were being proactive, sort of resulted in rounds being won now here on Ancient.
They're winning the rounds.
They have to win, as in the money-breaking rounds, not losing to the eco just about
and keeping themselves in this game.
Man, this is so good from a pro's point of view.
He reads it well, crosshair placement's perfect,
falls back just enough to let his recoil reset.
The ground boost, and that's one way to deal with a midman,
but Akazi is behind looking for a pickup in the smoke,
having ses down the clock.
Yeah, that got you two kills.
I got to turn your back on it.
What gun is loose in middle though?
Is it just a pistol? AK?
Not just an AK, a fire serpent.
Bless now in Macaulay's hands.
Aggressive A push.
Lot of resources on A. Broke he's going to have that all, but don't know this well.
They do make the cross past.
Be conceded for now.
It's a fall for Brokey.
Run and gun, nice trade here for McCarze, but anything more feels unrealistic.
He is hyper aware of his position, but he'll have to add up.
Aim graph two peak, and aim graph rather.
That face I've got to be feeling really good.
Now I give him eight rounds.
You can come in half way through the game and decide double up 16 rounds a
overtime loss
Not be taking the first breather
And sure you've had Mikazi find you entries out mid, but what else have you had in this t-side?
I mean, that's where they've really tried to make their money, and there has been answers.
So their mid-rounding has still been good.
I mean, when they came to Jacob when he was left alone on A, it was still the right idea,
but Jacob gets the rate.
went to twist he got to but he was alone so it's not as if they're running into
stacks
another opening phase no the importance of fighting for this mid control but
still they can't get a handle on it early down a another trip for a new
contender for it he enters with all the Swiss fires back of the cave he
Once more though, fight down on this lane.
It's actually unreal how scrappy it's been inside of middle.
Yeah, considering that Navi are throwing these pre-nades as well,
they're getting damage on FaZe players jumping off of red.
Navi are happy to give away the first kill
because they know they always get two back,
but then FaZe still answer back even more.
It's actually a rare situation where Navi come out with the material advantage
with the map control at the same time.
The phase clear middle, I mean repushing with an AWP is bold here.
Yeah, you know, minute timing is pretty good, but Broke is watching elbow, rifle to cover
this push.
And, okay, so they would have loved to get a kill and get out, but that's not going
to be the case.
Navi pick it up and keep it 5-5.
triple for Ema nice to know that when Mokazi is felled in middle there's another guy for the job as well
these rounds are living and dying in mid right now for nothing so
gonna need these entries
lovely
look like there's a little mist time at the flash
I'm actually pacing up towards heaven as well.
They said you won't fight us five times in middle.
Phase will, but from the back.
I actually love the call, like no one's watching this.
Are they going to get suspicious since they don't see anybody?
The smoke push, he walks right through, he's still a second player there though, so blood
will be spilled in middle in the favour of phase yet again.
This is having a far better map here, 12 and 6.
That's a great call.
I mean it's looking like excellent protocols as soon as the Navi were suspicious about it
they have already got someone inside of the smoke.
Just shocked that Navi go for it yet again but it's what FaZe come to expect and they
offer up an answer.
2v4 with Bitton, wonderful.
be a good chance for bit to get going in this game.
Wonderful, holding for the flank, knowing MN corrupted.
This is just a save for Navi.
The elongated one in 2v4 with almost no utility.
Now as good as this CT side is looking, you know, you still got a quota.
It's still ancient and some of your best rounds can be behind you when you switch over so they really are looking for seven if we want
To see some kind of upset in this series
That is a sweaty angle makes the old look tiny yeah
It's just the anim up
Well, no hunting here, FaZe will keep their money, keep their guns, and keep their lead
for now.
Just like I can't shoot through this camera, I get out of my way.
Well, in terms of conditioning, you've got to love it from FaZe.
It's all the right answers.
They're the ones who do have a right to be fighting middle if they're coming out most of the time with all these great trades.
Question is, did Navi do it again?
Yeah, they're really going to go for mid, it looks like not this time.
And how quickly are we talking about with the speed play?
Oh, it doesn't even spread really, so Navi just go charging into this site, take him up close.
He has been a bit of a rock in this series, holding on for one, can't catch the jumping
LXCB in an upgrade as well. Wonderfuls on that AWP.
If he's an AK's handed over, might need to be here for Navi as they freeze and wait for the flank.
M'Kazi only pistol, P250 waits in red.
This is crazy, but Broky, he's not going to walk out of mid surely with this up.
I mean, they're doing it together, so is this the mid free throw that comes back with
fight, FaZe in the face, Netsu takes a bullet to it because he may be ready for war.
Did you see Shadow? No, Brokey still gets that kill. 2v2, Navi could have reset, so Brokey
leaves his teammate alone. It's frozen, back up CT, and Navi may be feeling like they have
to take some space before those wards long back turned. Easy picking here for frozen.
That would be FaZe, Recover on the second map and maybe Navi's pick, but FaZe have
something to say about that.
Oh, David. Listen up.
Listen up.
No, I say...
I say...
Bro, just, just, just say the next bit.
There's been a lot of bad communication recently.
Oh, lot.
People are telling you that you need to learn how to...
That is bullshit.
That is loser talk.
You're too close.
You...
Hold this.
Like this, yeah?
Thank you.
Okay.
Yeah.
Which is why we've used science.
Science, bitch.
You're not gonna take this seriously.
I am taking it seriously.
Then stop, Peter Androm.
We use science to give you everything you need to win.
Power, Power, Power!
Made by gamers.
Made by gamers.
For gamers.
I drink it every morning so I can play like a pro.
You got to turn it.
You got to know it.
Rotation.
You can drink it whenever you like.
Just show them.
Show them.
Power!
Good.
All right, listen up.
Power formula!
Think less, win more.
Think less, win more.
Well, we had a lot of good action in that first half, and I think FaZe proved a point.
They come out of that with a two-round lead, leaving us seven to five.
Going into T-side, it still would not be easy, but I think in terms of matching up to an
opponent on their map choice, especially to the caliber of Navi, point taken.
We have to respect them now.
is very good from the perspective of rotations and mid rounds and I think most importantly
sight holds. Yeah, we've had a great game out of twists and frozen as well, which is kind of
necessary players here to perform for phase if they were going to have a chance today.
Pissed around fate, just running this A site trying to get the dualies off the top and Jacob will
do so. Oh, even a Goosh to Mikaze, they could running him down pulling most but not all of
of Na'Vi over. Nice kills.
This guy always gets his own pistols.
Somehow, he finds a way.
Bit still here though, and they weren't ready for a player
on the long side.
So he storms in, plays his timing, takes the space,
player on deep spot, announces their presence,
and bit more full to the man at ramp.
Nicely done here.
Four phase, bringing the energy as well as the volume.
Yeah, big time.
I mean, you lose Kerrigan.
But so you've got to replace that sort of noise vacuum.
You've got to make sure that and I mean sometimes you never know who it's gonna be
It was like Nafini before he came out to land
We didn't know how loud he was gonna be and then he was really loud so
The nature's contributing big time so that's an energizing victory phase get an eighth round
I mean it's a great
I guess for him there to show what he's got right he's been a bit of a prospect
We saw him with ends kind of struggle to find stability success so much so than the all bench the team and went full finish and
You may may may be out on phase, but
for a player of
This is lack of I guess opportunity
It's a great chance to play on a play team obviously no room on vitality
three on two and this is the lock down here for phase.
This is Navi's pick. This is their home ground and this is phase making mincemeat of them right now.
Yeah, truly. Couldn't really ask for more.
And could it be more surprising for, you know, for Navi to maybe get it like the pick obviously coming out here.
How prepared are you going to be with the whole rest of the map pool not knowing exactly what nature is going to bring to the team
Then also having to play a new best, but they were just they were perfect
All different story over on ancient here
the map is dust that may be where reality gets set in mm-hmm let's not count
Navi out before we've seen gun rounds on the CT side it's not gonna come up
until 10-5 I need a pitch perfect defensive half here for Navi now one
more swaying with pistols and yeah I believe it. Yeah already 8 and 2 in
pistol rounds this tournament. That's just his golden stat.
One trade back and we'll fall back from donut control. Now this is where we
really see you know how well Twits can organize the troops. One for one
won't be entirely satisfactory yet.
Oh reset, as Navi go for Nick Clear.
So realizing that Donut Smoke is a fake they're gonna go back and stack this B site.
They've already got the right movement from the CTs.
He may even flank, I mean this could be high impact if Navi find kills in their
defense.
run into this. Let's see if he's just going to clue into all the utility. Himmum starting
to take speed and Brokey sees him rotate in. Yeah, still too late. Phase committed. They
got cave smoked off. Thanks Kanabi. And so that bottom. And go down, bit of a fake to
draw them out. And some smoke spam for good measure. Locking in a 10th round here for Phase.
That's really nice. I think when Brokey saw that pushing the cave, he realized there is
the stacks so if they plan is perfect they had the time to do it smokes are
still fresh and everything like that and it's an easy and cool 10th round now for
face glad all right is that anything here for Navi time to find out they've
given themselves very little room here in the CT side
I
WP comes in for wonderful blade comes in for Navi. This is why we never force guys
I think for sure this game isn't over even if it's a five-round gap, it's a great start the full rifles will tell us a lot more
I remember a period of time where Navi, it felt like from interviews they were just kind of like tired of having a bootcamp with each other and spent so much time together on the road all the time.
You don't really hear about that anymore.
Winning really just solves all your problems I think.
Yeah.
It's messy in the middle. Oh, Blimey.
Jake was right there, but because he gets him through smoke.
Here, we're getting loosey-goosey now.
Oh, through the smoke. Second time, might be the charm of the counter-flash.
Look at that USP Popspiz head back out for another.
That's about as messy as it gets.
Yeah.
Everyone had an arm over their eyes coming into their fight,
whether it was elbow or up B lane, and that was even through smoke.
Two USP kills per bit against guns over here.
here and I think I don't think he's having a great game either so
they caught him on the remote
I don't like to know about that. Who got the counter flash or was it their own flash?
Might have been from CT rotation. That's possible.
My face has great counters to make control of the CT side but how do they
There on the offensive arc, it's another parol for middle.
Take your bit down and net to your trading.
Even Lexi comes in to assist.
I do enjoy watching Lexi in this position.
Yeah.
Knows when to thrust himself through the smoke.
The timing, God.
Always so good at finding those HEs.
Now, if they want to live and die by the sword going for mid control,
it's not going to be the same deal coming at a T side.
It's, again, always about who throws that last flash.
It feels like it's something that's just falling out of the meta a little bit.
It's just going for those scrappy mid-dules.
People are trying to find new answers on ancient.
And that's probably not one of the answers.
Oh, it worked.
All by design or not, but the bomb's going A for the record.
So I'll be don't know where this one's ending up.
Not yet.
It's twist through this smoke and he hasn't been seen.
So as they speed up as they make their presence clear,
This might have one more kill before all is said and done.
Ooh, the full flank is coming in quickly.
They're gonna molly and put the bomb down any extra time on this,
and the flank is gonna be so potent.
They're still floating a little bit, not ready for this timing.
Yeah, not in positions, out in the open.
Three kills here for Ema. Can you figure it out? Yes, you can.
And they know Twist is on the other side of the map.
Two fires, full stick. Ema puts a molly down,
and there's nothing Twist can do. He has to run right through this one.
Whoa, wait, missed chance, but it's okay.
But it's okay the box refuse and it's gonna be Navi onto seven email big flank big impact. Yeah big time
Big guy for you big fuse
Space pounding around here
Unfortunate
Reclear timing there for Navi
My face made the perfect move though. They have to wish really selling it just comes out to even not believing
never believe your opponent that's what I always say and liars yeah all right
oh they're gonna try to come in fast with this beat play careful this is a
rich CT side a low smoke down and they just shoot right through it these might
just run and that's the bomb gone as well it was only armless pistols for
the most part you really want to plant that thing if you can if you jump
through the smoke
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Well, that giving him nothing.
Well, it's not very convoluted in terms of the T side calls.
They're trying to go for very minimalist T side early mid-entries, quickly to P.
It's a very simplified game plan.
I don't know, Navi looked very comfortable with that.
Obviously, a couple of these rounds weren't full buys.
another real test for face to come forward with now he said at 10-5 this
game is not over how it's tightening up quickly as face put more money into this
round two galels and a eagle make that one galel but it's still a bit desperate
just like in life money is the most important thing here y'all
keep your friends close, keep your cash close
try to invest in as many weapons as possible
this is not financial advice
is the best ancient B site anchor in terms of bomb site
all percentages here.
That's not because my talent's gonna fly this map.
That's not true.
Or Aurora.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It is low.
They're both dead, man.
That was just off the pause as well.
It's funny because it's off the pause
but the seats act same around.
And they tried different timing,
but there's no reflash to get them out middle.
They're waiting for navies
and then McCarthy just swings them dry.
to just hit him with that native so he knows he's there.
Native?
Yeah.
Rest in peace.
Just break in twist now.
And the timing.
That's counter strike for you.
How about ball?
How about it?
Damn.
Macause on both halves, causing a ruckus in middle.
And this game is almost tied up.
I guess I'll photoshop down by the causex.
This one is crazy.
Did he get all of them there or is that four?
Who's got that last kill?
Who knows.
Who cares?
That dad ain't they?
So they wanna try mid again.
They're dead, ain't they?
So they want to try mid again?
Yes they do!
They're dangerous to come out!
Seriously, why does that blind?
Bull blind!
Transverse perfectly.
He knows what they're going to do before they do it.
So inspirational, Mikaze.
Just come and get me!
Get off me!
very quiet first half but well and truly back in the game now with multiple stellar b-side
holes.
Dude that's kind of a strange before he saw it.
Yeah he's blind before it.
I swear when we watched it, initially he wasn't.
But now on the replay?
He definitely was.
I'm reconsidering.
And there is the lead gone.
Oh my.
Well.
Lead never happened.
What leads?
10-5.
brookie orb on the floor
I'm gonna try but oh so close if you shot a bit sooner that would have been
here is brookie's low now okay it was just a bit too much going on
oh okay I can't see this time that get a bit flashed but it's okay because no
punish here phase outside of the B door the exception of frozen it's just when
When you have nothing, like how do you get back in this round?
You have to hope not to give you the kills and Mikazi is not in a giving mood.
No.
He's the Grinch right now.
It ain't Christmas.
It's like cold day in hell, twist, double, Mikazi is just confident.
He could have bailed any time but he is looking for this round.
No crouched dam in the left, doesn't care, still wants to fight.
There's a guy coming up behind a brook, he's not ready to fight though, the door
smoke.
Suddenly, he has to peek.
And he does nail the shot.
Bomb is at his feet.
Second player of the cave.
Wonderful scope.
Did they hear it?
They don't know.
Brokey, oh, wonderful.
Rather, does take it.
Brokey speaks up towards that B bomb site.
Doesn't hang around for the fight.
Put that bomb down and take space back.
Man, wonderful.
He's playing a little bit far back.
Bomb gets planted.
Now he knows he can move.
Brokey's so low, though.
I mean, swaps the AK makes perfect sense.
Is he going to sit in his own smoke?
Hold the timing, but I'll just place back in cave knows where wonderful is going to be coming from
Is he gonna prefire it or what man a Molly is actually a huge problem for brokeie of wonderful even? Oh
Surely not one
Saves it whoa, that's close skinny or teeth to make that move on 20 health the presumption is he wouldn't dare
Yeah, it actually makes it 11
And if that Molly drop there would have been no downer play for brokeie whatsoever
It's been a solid map for twists, number of rounds of maltese.
Huge round to win here for FaZe, felt like they were just running out of steam 5 rounds
in a row, getting batted in middle, because he did it again this round with two kills.
Brokey, who felt like he was just almost too late on that door smoke, still saves him
in the 1v1. They feel like Emma played too soon on cave right? It was a wonderful clearing
middle. Yes, that was free if they just could. He was calling you had to kill for sure.
You think he was though because it's wonderful. Yeah. That's what I was thinking. I was
like wonderful say something. Yeah. Why is he still fighting up top? Don't peek.
have him that would have made all the difference what a bit of 2v1 against
broke on low health we know wonderful the quiet guy so you got to communicate
just that Nate smash in middle phase don't want to risk running into mccasey
again
he may not hold on to his position while twist cause a fake and it's wonderful
he's site it's wonderful gonna get shaken he's up the signpost which is
Perfect to hold.
Rotation back around, but it's going towards the B site.
This fake is working out.
All the enemies charge their wonderful head shot down low,
just choosing to escape.
But that's still a big problem.
And he's not having no real estate on this A site.
As the bomb goes down, do not be
know that two-phase players are lost to the wind.
Man, there's such big flanks in place as well.
Mikaze's timing is huge.
This boost is not going to work.
Oh my goodness, what a spray.
He's up there now, at least.
Yeah, but what cost? 2v5 and they've got the info as well.
They can wait for McCarthy to finish the job.
Three kills deep into this retake.
The hot flank that could, and McCarthy's on that defuse,
he's just gonna stick it straight up to 11 rounds here
for Navi.
FaZe have given us an admirable run here on Ancient,
but Navi could be pulling the rug from under them
at the end of regulation.
Five of the last six rounds, and, or is it?
Yeah, yeah.
Six out of the last seven rounds, sorry man.
Unfortunately, you have to say that.
But the one round that phase win, it's a 1v1.
It's pricey.
Yeah.
No gifts.
Just poison here.
Four phase.
And of course, they have to buy triple glills.
and maybe even more and so all of that hard work on phases first half it goes up in smoke
I could just ignore the B players in that situation and just focus on full flanks
just so quick right like look at those couple of rounds of phase of found timing in a main and
found either an empty site or wonderful misses his shot it's Ema on the half flank and now
it's Mikazi on the half flank that shuts it down completely oh man mid they're trusting flashes
here they want to try to take this it's risky it looks like okay no just a lot of damage it might
be enough because he was still up here in heaven and he's cornered off in that corner net you cannot
find the trade kill no way he's gonna just stick it out here if you're ready to jump out that's just
ridiculous 4v3 and this is a dirty position for a lexie this is all he needs is just one kill
if they don't clear this if he oh and he can milk it too squeeze it grab that other and yank it
Oh, absolutely milked right there
Man
Damn, and that's a 12 for Navi and that is series point now for them playoff point. They have completed the comeback
And phase out it's gonna hurt man to come in slow day into a new business one thing
They were ready to go from the start of this map. They answered the question that Navi gave them in middle
with some excellent
Blanks and Brawls, but then despite a pistol conversion for FaZe, Navi have pulled it all
the way back to their favor.
The final swing here for FaZe might just be a B hit.
The leg is just another series of glills.
It's not going to inspire hope.
Meeting new-till damage along the way and look, oh my goodness, who's in front of
it all?
He just crashed with a smoke right behind him, because he does the same.
Brawling on this B site for FaZe, making it interesting.
Another birth in the playoffs for Na'Vi making short work of FaZe despite it being
I would say short work here
on the second map that was much
closer than expected, but that's
really why I've been bigging up
Mikaze in the fashion that I have.
It's rare that you get a youngster
player who can have a bad start,
but still at the end of it feels
inevitable. The fact that he's always
going to find his way back into a
game. He was just simply electric
and helped deliver Navi this win.
Is this something that changed?
Did you not be able to depend on
for recovering from bad starts? Is that something that's definitely like a boon for him now?
Definitely in his first season with Navi you got a little bit more of him just kind of running
his head into the wall over and over again but now it feels like there's mix-ups, there's switch-ups,
there's ways that he changes up his play in order to make sure that he stays activated.
On top of that, Navi always find a way to just support him with the right utility
and change up their own starters too. Absolutely, Alexi, welcome, congratulations.
We're just singing the praises of Mikaze. Do you want to do the same for this map?
I feel like every interview I'm doing this, and I think it's warranted. I think he's playing tremendous, no matter if it's a group's texture or the players.
It's true. Tell me a little bit about your recovery on this map. We thought it might be a blowout really for Navi, but a bit of a slow start.
start? Yeah I think that we just couldn't keep our economy in control on the T side and maybe
we underestimated their midfights a little bit they kind of caught us off guard we ate or at least
the way they were saying Miha and Makasa they were like eating like a flash millisecond too quick
or something else our flashes didn't blind them and we ended up a bit on the back foot after
even winning the pistol in the four-spy. But then, yeah, I just felt like it was 10-5,
and we finally got our money on CT, and I'm just glad we didn't let the game go.
Yeah, definitely so. Maui, you were talking a little bit about how
you thought it was going to be very comfortable for Navi specifically via mid,
so do you have any criticism for how they played it?
I don't know if I want to throw up criticism right now for it, because it did feel like
it was a lot of mid brawls, and sometimes those just simply go in favor of the other team
if their utility is second delayed, or not exactly what you expect.
I wanted to ask kind of initial impression, I mean, a lot of the story here in this match-up
is also the fact that it's a brand new phase roster in a sense, bringing a new coach,
new in-game leader, new player, I mean, how did it feel to play them in this one, just
kind of as a team?
Yeah, for sure, I felt like it was competitive on ancients.
They could have ran away with the game also, we could be on the third map now.
But in the end, we just show our class and show the fact that it's hard to close a game against us.
But at the same time, yeah, they played well.
And I think for all of the teams you saw that Vitality lost their Dust2Win streak against Coolio.
So I feel like these new rosters here, especially before we go into the stage, they have this...
I wouldn't say honeymoon, but they're just trusting each other, doing everything they can,
like being very excited and loud, and I think that helps them.
Yeah, it's almost like they have nothing to lose, right, especially in those situations.
We have a round for you as well. You want to show him round 16, I believe, or 17.
Okay, yeah, I guess this one was pretty interesting.
I just felt like the the comms in this one had to be really good.
This is the one that gets down to a 3v3.
I think we have a player around cave.
It might be bit who dies to twist at the ramp.
But then Ema is going for this flank at A.
It happens later in the round, but how did this play out from your perspective?
Because it felt like you guys never really bit the idea that FaZe was actually committing to this B bomb site.
So what made you think that?
Yeah, so after we saw the smoke molly and we peeked, we didn't see anyone, our AWPer was holding the ramp.
I died and after he killed me, I think Valera still understood.
Maybe someone threw the utility from B lobby and Frozen didn't throw the utility and went to Vietnam.
Or whatever you want to call it.
And I just think our mid players were aware that you were saying Igor was saying when he was holding banana like carry carry
I don't see anyone and as soon as we peak B. We also didn't see so Macaulay made the right play and just playing Damon
Okay, nice Macaulay makes the right play a lot we've been talking about it a lot and the whole unity of Navi is getting so much praised
Obviously second best team in the world
But we haven't really seen those reps against
Vitality where you you're able to come on top on a big tournament in a big final something like that
Do you let it get to your head that everybody's like well, obviously they're gonna do it obviously they're super good like
But it has to happen also. Yeah, I mean
as I've said in some interviews as well like you can't
Like the era cannot go for no
You know years it has to stop it. Yes, it has to come to an end eventually
But you know for us they've just shown that there are level level above us
And I think you know when when we reach them the finals on
Rotterdam. We felt like we were playing a very good CS. We had a streak going into
the finals and then they kind of just shut us down. After that we lost to them
on the quarter-finals. They just completely wiped us. So now I feel like the next
time we're gonna play against them I think it's like we have nothing to lose now.
Like we need to calm down a bit. Like we can see how well we can play against
other teams and we just need to do the same against them. Yeah, it would be a
fantastic matchup if we do get to see it. I know you're a big fan of the
way Navi's been playing but we'll see. Thank you so much. Thank you guys. We'll
to let you go. That is, of
course, a couple teams you've
got already locked into those
playoffs. Always so nice to talk
to him, but always level headed,
right? He knows that they they
have those losses to vitality in
the pocket. And that's, of
course, the big goal for
everyone here at any tournament.
We're also just trying to pull
any string we possibly can as to
a reason why a team like
Navi could find the upset when
eventually versus a vitality
team that barely looks like
they've even hit a speed bump
here. I know that they lost
them. They did actually, but
But I feel like if there's ever a time to look a little bit less than yourselves, it's
off of a big travel, you know, flying from Europe to America.
That takes a lot out of some of these players, and different people handle jet lag differently
than others.
Oh, the jet lag.
The jet lag spiel.
I cope for a lot of teams.
You know, I cope for Novi themselves.
I cope for a lot of underdogs, but I'll also cope for Vitality when I see a reason
to say that.
They can just brush that one off.
You think they only travel in first class?
If you're winning this month, you're upgrading yourself sometimes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
not do that like hey congrats you guys have been doing well let's keep it going no i think vitality
probably should i mean falkins is a guaranteed business minimum class i always see those pictures
on stories i'm like they're in business again we get it we get it you have leg room okay you have
miles okay we get it uh anyways let's take a look at how the groups have played out so far because
you said it already vitality maybe no speed bump i think a big speed bump it was a difficult
opening match for them earlier in the pothole i call it a pothole okay but this is group b we'll
We'll have fury versus gamer Legion as our last best of today and we'll see indeed.
So it means we do have a lot of time before we get into the next match.
So it's, what are we going to call it?
Chocks and banter, Maui and Snake.
Maui shocks.
Maui shocks.
Not bad.
Yeah.
Chocks and banter is good.
Chocks and banter is good, right?
Yeah, we're coming for you.
How original.
What would you like to talk about first?
I just feel like this tournament, even though some people might just glance at
and say, oh, Vitality's gonna win.
We can just kind of walk away from this
and we all know what's gonna happen.
A lot of the other little narratives
that have been developing,
which in my opinion are more about individuals.
I look more frequently than a lot of people
at who are the top 20 players at any given time
throughout the season.
Because we know who the best team is.
You need to start from a real self-pad out of the back there.
Nobody else does this.
I'll do this.
I'm just saying, I'm gonna say,
I keep a running list all the time.
And so I think that at the end of the year,
that's what everybody cares about.
Who were the best players in everything?
And we've got a handful of them.
We've got over 10 of, in my opinion,
the best 20 players of the year so far here.
And they're not all on Vitality.
Some of them were here on Navi.
Some of them were even on Astralis,
who got beaten by G2 earlier.
So I'm just kind of interested in,
can those individuals hold up the form,
even when they now eventually have to pay
the Vitality tax?
When they have to lose to Vitality,
can we still see some of the individuals show up?
And that's what was impressive about Demon today, actually,
versus them in that foot game.
Like, he did extremely well.
He was a guy that's kind of lower on my radar,
but he can actually, to me, show every game
versus vitality is under a microscope,
and he really showed a lot today.
It's true, right, where others crumble.
He did step up.
Give me another couple of names, right,
in the context of this tournament as well
and what they could do.
Well, I'm also looking at people on Astralis,
like Stare and Fozy.
Those were two guys to me that were in the top 20
so far this year.
Starrer already has shown so much this year.
Fosy has these weird kind of life games in bursts
at the PGL events that Astralis did very well at.
He took down Spirit almost single-handedly.
Like he completely bodied them.
Like every opening pick he went for worked.
He was clutch as hell.
And so I want to see a little bit more of that
because we have a very slim list right now
of great operas.
Fosy's punching into that upper echelon.
I want to see him maintain the form.
Yeah, but they didn't parlay it into that first match versus G2, right?
Of course G2 kicked it off with us too.
We know that some pious is also really, really good on this map,
although Fuzzi had that live game versus Spirit.
So did they let you down today, Astralis?
Because I feel like this is a trajectory of a hooksy that is now,
this is his team now, right?
We've seen them improve and take these increments,
but this is such a bad start.
It's a game that I felt like was a coin flip
that was probably leading Astralis.
Yeah, I thought that the recent results that they've shown showed more teamwork.
I looked into the Tier 2 lands that G2 had played and it was kind of a rocky
start for them. So for them to ramp up in this fashion is a great sign.
I'm glad that nerds looks well integrated, but on the Astralis side,
like you're saying on the flip side, yeah, it's a worrying sight to see them
get bodied. It didn't even feel like you had a supporting cast for that kind
of game. I feel like Ryu is a name that I was super excited about.
first two months with Astralis.
He was sick, but then he started facing good teams,
started facing playoff contenders
or championship contender teams.
And that's where you have seen the floor fall out beneath him.
And you just need a good anchor nowadays.
We saw on the other side how well heavy God
was able to carry some of those rounds with lurks,
with clutches, anchoring on the B side of overpass.
All of those moments are now seared into my brain.
But Ryu, on the other hand,
I'm just left looking at a scoreboard
where that dude had two kills
for almost the entire map.
Yeah, it's true. It was disappointing. It does call into question the idea of the ceiling.
And if it's been hit, I think you could also make that argument for G2, right? Because
ever since they came onto the scene with blast open in London, rather, that they had that
first event that they won, we thought the sky was absolutely the limit, but it's been
meddling. Are they on the route to recovery?
This looks to be an incremental boost for me. I still find when I watch G2 games
that they have a couple glaring problems. I was actually looking through, again, those
lands earlier when they first were integrating nerds.
They are weirdly bad on anti-ecos.
That happened actually today versus Strahlus
also on Overpass where nerds just kind of dies by himself.
I just feel like maybe they're outlining the bulk of the rounds,
the meat of the rounds first,
and then they're worrying about those what seem like gimme rounds.
They also need to just take care of some of the fundamentals for me.
And I also think that Hunter as an in-game leader
still has a long way to go before I really full send it
and believe in this G2 team.
I feel like the strategies are a little bit more just,
We have a starter and we have maybe two finishers
that are ideas.
He's not really mid-rounding super well.
When they play the actual elite teams,
you don't really see much lurking presence.
So I'm glad to see that Heavy God had some moments today
because he's a world-class lurker if they ask him to be.
But so frequently Hunter just says,
okay, we got the opening pick and mid,
let's five man group A and just go.
And that just looks a little too rudimentary for me.
I see definitely when you're gonna be making
deep runs in this tournament.
Now thanks to the way the tournament works,
They're already in the playoffs.
So that's a cap on their back.
But heavy God, what a Swiss Army knife.
Dude is seriously capable of doing absolutely everything.
From his time all the way from OG, then by the way,
switch languages to play with Cloud9 for a while.
He's swapping positions up, rotating, anchoring.
At one point I even heard in his career
he was an in-game leader super early on too.
So maybe, I'd say Hunter, watch your back a little bit,
okay?
Things get a little too rocky for you
and the calling doesn't improve.
That might be the replacement already on the roster.
It's a ways away though.
Whoa!
They're gonna get a punter a lot of time here.
Okay, they just won, okay?
I'm not trying to, I don't even know.
I'm trying to punch up, I guess, right now, okay?
He's already on the top.
But I just feel like when it comes to them,
I just still need to see them be consistent
against elite teams.
To me, they're not really like in that upper echelon.
They're not in the top six.
I'd barely say that they're in the top nine or so.
So I just wanna see if they can actually
get an upset victory versus like a fury,
a Navi or a vitality.
They were close versus vitality.
That's true.
That's true, but that's when you begin to convince people.
It's true. Yeah.
We're going to take a quick break.
Thanks for yapping with me.
Always, always.
We will be looking at Furia versus Gamer Legion.
I was wondering how you were dealing with Everteam, because I'm sure you've gotten an outpouring
of support and strength in terms of your messaging and your retirement?
It's been amazing.
A lot of nice messages I received over the internet, people that worked with me in the
past, a lot of fans, people from the industry.
So it was very amazing.
Right now I'm just trying to enjoy every single day I have left.
It's been very fun.
I've been challenging to play with my teammates and I'm looking forward to a good starter
today.
Of course, there is still the reality of these results that you want to get.
So let's start at the beginning.
How do you make sure that this group of players knows that you're still very much here to
get the trophies to continue that work that you have even though you will be leaving us?
Yeah, the work is the same.
Every day we're working to get better at the game, to get better chemistry between ourselves
and to dream of lifting new trophies.
The path towards winning is a very difficult one.
There's many, many good teams playing out there, not to mention the big boss at the
moment who is basically fooling all of us for a couple of months now.
So we got to work every day, look at how to get better,
how to increase the chemistry between ourselves,
and, but the best show we can to maybe win trophies.
Where do you think the percentages are still to be,
to be won here at this tournament,
but of course, very importantly,
with the major coming up?
That's my friend Gilles, it says 50-50 either we or not.
Yeah, that makes sense.
Tell me a little bit about preparing for this tournament.
It's been a bit of an insane tempo.
I know that Brazil was very intense
for you guys as well, right?
So what did the week look like,
What are your goals here?
I think some of my teammates were able to stay in Brazil
a little bit longer.
They had some stuff to do in the free office.
Were able to practice a little bit down from there.
As for me, I was able to go a little bit from a house
in Miami.
So I was only three hours away from here.
And we were able to play three or four days
before coming to the tournament.
And we want to progress as much as we can,
match by match, playing against game religion.
It's been a while.
We don't play then.
It's great to see us next.
Another old-faced, friendly, old-faced playing here.
So it's going to be amazing.
I'm looking forward to play that it's been a long time so I'm not really sure how they're playing lately.
That's just the thing, there's not a lot of info. They also haven't really played a team of your caliber for a very, very long time.
Is that maybe a trap because you think, well, how much can they really show?
Yeah, definitely, it can be. They have been playing other tournaments.
We are of course able to see some of the matches that have been displayed.
But overall, they're probably very hungry to play a good team and they are looking to win as well.
So I'm sure we're going to put a good fight and let's see who's going to be the best today.
Was the video difficult or comfortable for you?
We're thinking they would pick more of Mirage than Inferno, but Inferno's comfortable map as well.
So I think only Inferno kind of came as a surprise. We're expecting more from Mirage.
So maybe they get some thoughts on how they can beat Inferno. Let's see how it pans out.
Let's see. Good luck.
Let's see. Indeed, that will be the question.
But yeah, Magnanimous has always fallen, but it has been one head of a week.
And now whenever I see Fury player, we're going to see Fury play, it's always in the back of your head, right?
you're head right can they get those big tournaments in that last run in 2026 for him.
That's what's unfortunately on everybody's mind.
I feel like they'll be able to wipe away the tears though.
Yeah.
Okay.
That clearly perturbed them when they were in Rio.
I feel like Molotowite was actually just I think he was a little misty eyed throughout
some of those playoff games which led to him not playing quite as well.
The added pressure is something that he has already had difficulty playing with in
big moments.
So now that he has this on his shoulders.
I feel like it gets even more difficult,
but you want to see them overcome it.
And I just kind of want this fairy tale ending
for Fallen and Company,
where they can lift a couple more trophies,
give them a little bit more to add in the cabinet.
Yeah, I like that you said that,
but the thing about fairy tales
is that they don't pan out nearly as often
as you want them to pan out.
So talk to me about the greater context then
for knowing that the major is on the horizon,
but this is a very big tournament
that Fury has set their sights on.
There's the fact that the major is on the horizon,
there's also been a lot of rumors surrounding the team as well.
And I feel like when it comes to Furia,
they were the second best team of the second season of last year.
It's not as sexy as saying the second best team of last year.
But yeah, the six months between July and December,
they were arguably the best if it weren't for the major.
That's where obviously Vitality came in, swooped in,
took the cake.
And now you've got a Furia team
that's seemingly putting some of the pieces back together
where they were able to have a nice showing here in Rio.
We obviously had the fourth place.
The beginning of the year started really nicely for them
with a second place finish at Cracow.
But it's not really holding up to the fact
that they had four trophies in 25.
Yeah, definitely.
Still trying to find that magic,
rekindle that, Gamer Legion.
Yeah, we're going to talk about PR, which kind?
The player or the public relations?
OK, well, that's a bit cheeky given
what's happening with that team.
But we'll move away from that just a second here.
We're serving that one for the podcast later on.
This is a gamer legion team that has actually found its stride.
It's a team that at the beginning,
there were a lot of rumblings for me
where it felt like PR himself as an individual.
Look at his first month of this year.
It was pretty disastrous for a guy that was really
biged up to be the replacement on an organization
like FaZe or G2 or Navi that he felt
like he was gonna get his shots.
I think that got to his head a little bit.
And I think that since then, though, he's corrected course and exactly what this team needed a little shot in the arm off of what was looking like a disaster start to the year in the form of PR.
You still got the steady force in Rez to his left.
But at the same time, I think that PR now living up to being one of the best prospects in tier one counter strike, you have a game religion team that definitely has the firepower to put wins on the board,
which is what they're doing throughout that Tier 2 land circuit, but it might not be enough versus a Fury team that's so used to Tier 1 CS.
Yes, this is a very different beast from what they've been playing recently, right?
Inferior, a big scout for Gamer Legion, possibly eyes on PR. Let's see what they can do. Let's kick it over to our casters.
Gamer Legion punching up, and Fury trying to stay stable here in Fort Worth.
it's our first day here in Texas and Furia, well showing up with smiles on their faces.
Game of Legion, surprise entry, not seeing them in the blaster then, since Bounty back
at the start of the season, now you've managed to make it to the land portion and swiftly
got knocked out by Vitality, but there was actually a pretty close game in there as
well and Rez a pop-off, I'm excited to see back on land facing another top squad.
Do you have expectations for Game of Legion, rather they've come off the back of
some decent online results.
The land winners as well tier 2, but this is a different beast facing a team like Furia
even in their current form.
I agree with that.
I mean, taking all the wins that they can, but I just don't see them on the same plane.
For me, it's got to be real, like just, you know, in terms of the news with both
of these teams, I couldn't be higher on Furia and lower on Cameroon.
So I'm really excited for like this whole new narrative with Fallen and what this
means for the rest of the tournaments.
I genuinely think it's going to have an impact on you know the way that they approach practice how they play
And keeping faith because I feel like that's where mentally
I feel like they've fallen apart a little bit recently, and we know how much better they can be
Okay, well they're just coming in well prepared with two sets of utile in this pistol
Looking to perhaps explode on this B bomb site. Who's that guy pretending to be quesarrotto in that photo?
Yes, the new glasses. I swear
You can dirt picks one off despite the double name and that's smoked down. It's not going to deny him
Your kinder doubles up probably stuff snacks still with one the bomb creeping in it is snacks
So of course he's shifting through a smoke, but this is a bomb in spawn right now snacks dies round is done
We've got a lurk out and snacks is starting to make the move round coffins while this player tries to keep him here
Can he waste Furia's time? Wait, as Snacks still flanks Keisarato on the B bomb site was always meant to be B
But Furia are chomping at the bit to take down PR. Where's Keisarato?
God, he's not even home and neither is anyone in A. Gameligeon can get that bomb down, but Snacks is still hesitant
He doesn't believe it. No, he didn't see that. The fake has worked almost too well Snacks is clearing back site right now
To be honest, he should get cleared anyways. There's nothing else to watch
Instantly
Too much time taken here, but Snacks aggressive position.
He should just line them up and knock them down close, but not quite.
Furia, despite getting pulled around, still win that pistol.
Damn. I feel like, well, there was probably a way to plant a little bit fast.
A super hard situation to figure out, for sure.
And I think what was good about it for game religion is they did have the arch play happening.
If not for that, there's no way Snacks gets away from his position pushed up to the tree.
So the downside of it was trying to kill K serato
But he actually just leaves the bomb site. Yeah, and so that's a three on one on retake rather than even odds fight
There's a little bit too well there for game a legion PR. Well, he's had enough
You go. We're all getting glasses. When's your turn? I have amazing vision. Yeah, that's what I said
I only sense before I just tried on my friends glasses just to see how good they look on me
And then I realized I can't see you walk you can't see far. You can't see close. What is it?
I have an astigmatism. It means that God stepped on my eyeball
So everything is a little bit blurry from every distance. Is it hurt? I feel fine actually, but it's nice for reading
Well, they look good on you. Thank you. I
Think they'd look great on you too. Well, I would take him and you'd be blind because too cool
Then it follows avoided it actually for many years now
I'm not sure.
Show me case for outside.
We'll see those.
Yeah.
Pick frames.
Yeah.
I gotta have a lot.
Of course he's hiding.
Hey.
Oh man.
And blue light blocking.
I like gunner.
Gunner for a shooter.
Pow pow.
That's how you live forever.
Glosses.
Blue light blocking.
Okay.
Yeah.
Never get tired.
It's dangerous.
It's dangerous.
Gotta sleep eventually.
I'm gonna go to bed.
I'm gonna go to bed.
I'm gonna go to bed.
of sleep eventually. I mean it's not like doing math or something like that. It's like way
healthier than that. Alright PR is back in the server. In case Rato's hydrated and fully
sighted. There's privacy in game leech and buy up here in the second. Triple Glill. This
the team is going to have like a lot of cheeky plays I think like little pops little things
to catch you off got set moves. That's the way you come in and you try and upset against
a fury today. And that's how snacks he play you know he calls like he plays kind of right
he's got he's got a sneaky beaky plays and when he's I yelling he does get crafty with
it. Absolutely. That's a nice counter. Not ready for that push at all.
the corner.
Watch out, you can't either.
Gun's so bad over here.
Two MP9s.
Oh, dear.
Nades aren't cheap these days, and also,
your kid is holding onto a grand.
There's two smokes on this B site.
There are three smokes on this B site.
Somebody use them.
Yeah, you gotta use them.
Man, I don't think Gamerlea didn't even care.
They're getting nice and cozy up to these smokes.
I'd be forced to send it.
Fury are locked out of this round right now. There's a very tough call to make here despite the lower left bingery
I mean they've got the best gun of the round AK who's back of the site and this is probably the safe
Yeah, it's a bit of a weird round because they missed the timing when they push down B and the support is an MP9
so there's no trade and then they
They really play with fire keeping it up there. Don't mind this so from your kinder
can really punish them trying to leave for cheap for free maybe even for free for
me maybe even he'll make money no
it's a game legion you get out most of it even lesser than these days it's not
not too bad on the losses for Furia. It's just, you know, how the round goes. That's
more of the issue. But they save their free big guns.
How long till you can do these glosses? Yeah, you think it'd be before Cacerado,
right? Maybe never if you can just keep moving the monitor closer.
That's gotta be a limit
When you start putting sunscreen on your nose that's when you're that's when you're too close
Locked in P9 again both these v-players
Why put down six health
life and I leave the whole world to lie it's kind of tripping me out seeing these double
mp9s on beat utility doing half the work though going to flash for the back end all this could
be good as well actually landed nowhere so red gets an easy kill did he mean to throw
than eight I don't know but might have been around with it
so health also so they're gonna play retake again CTs are not in a great
spot to go for it so I'd like to see them get more committed you need a guy
in the site I think to stop this kind of move because even that smoke on the
boost yeah stop fury on their tracks they go around look at this execute
there are four molotovs being used on this site hit so Molotov has to make a
play through the smoke. It takes one with the Acerato's rifle, reaps another. I'm looking to go down.
Well, Furia just bounce on the tap as they hear it. Flash through. They get a bit stuck in the mud here.
Nice sprays. If you don't need anyone in the site, you just need a smoke to shoot through.
Hypex 1v4 committed. This is a trade at best.
That's fast. Very fast. Yeah. Okay. You can survive at all. They win playing retake.
They get all their kills through smokes. It's not exactly what you're used to seeing in
that spot, but fear are going to be quite happy about it. Yeah, I think they really
wanted someone inside the site there. That was three mollies in sight and one in CT through
the smoke. So, yeah, giving no room here except this room. This round frosty by
I see us to 100%
Yuri's just wondering when do I get to play
The reforce down okay full investments for an AK at the leal and some sort of utility
But there won't be two MP9s this time on B. Everyone's got better guns.
And that seemed good all utility.
It's gonna keep coming.
Back to the ground here for Torso and Fallen.
Is the only player alive this time?
He can't do us first to die.
Oh, risk it.
Worth.
Just get that gun out of there.
Oh!
More utility seeing case routes in the kill feed may tempt you back
Game a legion hang on
They're not playing around. They know they're just camping out here on B
They said you might get punished stick around this is the site that's often exploited
So game a legion pretty clear about their goal here no flash for this corner and fallen is hanging on
He's just going to play CT as well. You can spam smoke. In case we're up to crimes of flashbang.
Fallen takes one but gets info on both. So 20 seconds, all of the fury has started to move. In case we're up to might just risk it all.
On the bomb tap, you'll have a 1v1 and this could be a disaster right now for Gamelige and
carries in with the Swing and no cover for Rez.
Man, hugging the left wall is so smart right there.
Right here to finish the job.
And you gotta love that from Kceroto.
You know he plays it super safe, like he's not gonna make a move like that unless he has thought behind it.
And he could hear one guy scaling on the Orange's side and he
shielded himself from that perfectly.
Because it's not just a one-for-one kill either.
It gives time for Molotov to get even closer.
There's no time to do anything but stick that bomb.
So, excellently done.
And that's the Furious style right now. Starting the retake before it even begins.
With no bombs down, Game of Legion. Left to pistols.
Yuri, zero and zero.
Five rounds.
This is where my change someone's got to go away. He's pushing apps
Yeah, zero and zero has got to be the funniest score line. That's how long can you hold that? Yeah?
Be trams is sweating right now waiting for it to break a record
I do wonder
You too. As far as I'm concerned, it's already a record.
I can't even remember the last time this happened.
Surely there's another example.
Yeah, it's only four rounds played.
I feel like, yeah, someone's being this.
I feel like you're gonna survive.
You just need to survive this one without a kill,
and then it goes back to B,
and then that's when the floodgates open.
Now it's okay.
Yeah.
Okay, so we'll have to need to kill them all.
They come running through that volatile B.
four-feet for a double.
Oladoy, can you get the rest?
Two more will do.
Yuri is also on the team.
He can't prove it.
But there's no evidence of that.
Five rounds deep, zero and zero clean up here for Oladoy.
Four and one for Furia.
Yuri's been contributing comms.
He's ready with Nido.
Nice, guys.
Well played.
He's never been a problem.
He's never been a solution.
He has zero damage.
He has zero damage.
Zero flash is zero damage. Nothing there is zero you do anything nothing an anchor that just doesn't get in the way
It's not a that's what you want. He's not rolling. It's not giving them anything. Come on. Yeah, no, he's probably kind of angry
Okay
Lacks on banana this time and Yuri will be getting on the board one way or another
another. If they go for this mid-fight, flash high, Yuri dodges it, here's it coming and
dies. With nothing said or done, PR double entry.
This Orato is spraying, but he needs something to connect to or they're going to get into
that site. He wins the herd. Now the retake is possible.
There's still a lurker in middle. The site contained. Game of lesion.
You need to put that smoke down if they want to buy the time.
about lurks. They're not wrong. Torsen is waiting. Strong positions taken here for
game a legion. Double pits. All about not giving away back in.
The re-smokes is in the game. Burber's post plant. Intelsen, he's gonna come and clear this.
But now Typex in a one-on-one. He doesn't know the last players are, so he's watching for it.
Great shot. Sharp shooting in the post mark for Ipex. Fills like Torsen gets
little greedy there but not a worry now this is kind of silly but I just want to
know if Yuri hit a bullet last round or if that was still zero 34 damage
I'll give him an assist. It's about time.
AHHHHH! God, boys!
Activate auto, perhaps. Oh, nobody saw it.
the back side of library on CT side I'm gonna give it more thought but maybe
get a different timing
we start the kind of crouching
I can avoid it
blinded that's awkward
it's a T flash well the catch is forcing 50 on the nose there for snacks
BONG.
Oh, and there's the rest of the 50.
You tell has been really perfect for Furia so far.
I mean, for the most part.
That's some new smokes coming out from both sides.
Well, if he was on the roof.
Perhaps that the meta has developed faster than ever in these last couple of years.
This round is underdeveloped because the game of legion is just stuck, nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.
They still want to give it a shot creeping up into this A site. Molotov 9-1 connects with ease.
That might just be the door shut on this round here. 30 seconds for game of legion to manifest something.
Case Rotter won't be committing to any kind of fight here, so back they go.
Under 5-2 lead here for Furia, Fallen said in that interview, wasn't expecting Inferno.
But no problem for Furia right now.
We're just going into round eight, Yuri just on a humble zero and one.
I was planning to wait out the flash, sometimes it is a bluff, it's just a flash no one swings.
But it wasn't this time.
I mean, here I've been pretty serious about attacking Banana.
The worrying part for game religions are sitting on every single early grenade.
580R.
Zero and one though.
I mean, it's not that bad.
It's just the pistol round.
Oh, gang meaty grenades, man.
What can you do about it so late as well as they walk up?
And we've got 3B here for Furious,
so it's going to be another big fight.
Oh, great grenade.
That's the one that the kid wanted.
But still, Fallen falls, and Kacerato has to clean up.
He'll do so with ease, spraying them all down on this B site.
Quick swap, out he goes, and he gives them nothing.
There's even nade damage on the way out.
Gamelizion may cross in, make nothing for it.
Smoke put down, PL fights above.
This might just pay off, but Kacerato's just
refusing to go back in.
He's so suspicious about it.
Oh, wow.
The most careful shoulder peek ever.
What's he peeking?
That's Naxx.
When's he planning?
I need to get it down with these smokes in way.
Another HE here on Yuri.
Why not?
Yikes.
Lob it in and he hit it with a big net.
Just on the head.
Three on one.
PR.
I'll lead out of position.
He's flying shot at the Caserato and Yuri's going to have to earn his KD here in this
2v1 Molotoy.
Swapping off you know his position back of the site one way or another
It's spotted this food here PR takes a second and now closing in
Oh, yeah, I can't cover Yuri was waiting for his time to strike and that is the right time
The PR is deadly man. That was a really really good try
But they still win with one alive
And Yuri
This first kill and it's a clutch
Oh, it's second actually with the HE.
The killer has 400 utility damage in 8 rounds.
It's going for the Alexi B record.
I think Alexi B still has the record from when they first made the knee-dropping update.
He had over a thousand damage in one half.
In half?
Yeah.
One Inferno CT.
It was Dust 2.
Dust 2, yeah.
So, well, he's on pace.
Somewhat actually.
No, maybe not
There's a ways but if there were a map to challenge it
This is a map where apex gets away with an awful lot
Wow snacks very good versus fallen fallen very good versus Virtus Pro
Okay, they feel like they've truly waited out all the names
Now is our chance.
But back in spawn, set more nades.
See what they got. It's a smoke right now.
And there we go.
Another HE, okay.
Oh!
But he's going to the wrong side.
Okay.
It's too quiet.
Falling no smoke down either. If they just pop here,
Falling won't know until it's too late. It's gonna have to be another retake setup here.
Four curia, and they get nothing from that fight. Big spray back.
Evening out.
The retake setup, man. It's uh...
Sometimes that's the best best that it goes, but
Now it creates all kinds of problems. It's gonna be tricky if if you're clearing snacks close with tech knives
Well, you can guys knife out coming around the corner just set up the trade
Although it might need a quick swap, but he gets his head lobbed off and Yuri needs another clutch
Won't be to that. He might not consider
How do you use this thing?
Where's the on button
And they're coming for him as well, so...
Could be squeezed out, as Jut and Bres gets it.
AWP grabbed, and everything else here for Gamer League.
You're making it work finally on this B-side post-blot.
I mean, you really just don't want to see this retake set up over and over again.
Gamer League are so happy to contact explode.
Fury, they're on so many of these rounds, they're just hoping they can pre-smoke
and stop them from coming in, but if they're going to come through the smoke
and you're not watching it, no one coughs, there's no op there, no one's a quad.
They have the right to do that. I think it's a really easy round for them.
So, I don't wonder why Fjord tried that so many times.
Yeah, I'm just shocked they were so surprised that Gamelitian don't have coffins or don't have ruins at that point in the round.
They had so much time to take space and be... Where else would a pistol be?
And this is the disaster. You know, the smoke comes up, Fallen could have actually got a kill.
Just in case it doesn't and you're in a replay setup, well suddenly your odds of actually winning go so far down.
If Fallen doesn't die, if they don't take over on control, then, you know, with Ruins, they can just post-plant delay for time, get someone in two position, get a free headshot.
Doesn't matter what guns you have.
This is suboptimal by here for Furia. They have the auto and Yuri has rifle so there's always a chance here.
He came down really puffing up his chest on a solo B site thinking they wouldn't dare do it again, would they?
More nades, more smokes, more time to buy.
buy game a legion selling
honestly the amount of you to game a legion have is not much either it's kind of perfect
made for a B hit
I don't believe you're doing very well to avoid everything here
bruised. That smoke gives them time to set up utility for B site, B site exec. This will
just be a full save unless the Echinda goes out of this world.
Yeah, it's remained unconditioned. That's a dangerous game to play. All he's getting
ready for his push. That could be good actually. Oh no, never mind.
That's the wrong place. Echinda, they're gonna go and they're gonna hunt him down
here shortly, good grenade. Taste of his own medicine. So we bomb down, that all gets saved,
and Gamer Legion are eyeing up a decent half. Yeah, very much so. Again, it's been B centric,
but you know, that's not uncommon to be honest. I think with the starts that Fury
have had, they've been looking to get more kills on Banana before they fall back. But
But then the other part of this is they could still be playing top and added control with two players late into the round and still fighting.
You're seeing a lot of teams do that now and it can still work.
Some of your best angles are up there. It just feels scary when you have to fight like that.
And when you're on the side, you have a little bit more room to reposition and delay and you have more spots to sand and that can't be hard cleared.
But I think with the amount of Utah damage we've seen in some of these rounds from Fury up, they should actually just continue to be a bit more aggressive.
And instead of playing, you know, one on retake, what we've seen is they should be playing three beast setups and we're leaving 2a
It's just numbers on retake as well, right? Like even if you don't play heavy in the site
You need a couple of kills at least because when you get four or five keys and a post while on that B bomb site that is impenetrable. Yeah
Fury have tried their banana aggression. It's not really panned out
out.
Jamalison has started to play a lot slower now on this T side.
This time something more direct, walking right into A.
Well that changed their tune, no flashes in, a lot of dink to snacks as well, Fallen
trying to get out of the way, just about survives, forces them into library side,
break the smoke and Fallen still has a strong position, this could still get really
Well, good.
The pistol kill from Fallon gets the upgrade, and the Stalkacerato down in pit.
They try to clear Yuri.
One health is all the difference, and it does make a difference.
1v3 for Torsen.
As he takes the first kill, Fallon's crept into the site.
This graveyard might have another body in store.
Fallon falls for information, and Torsen waits for Lolladoy to make a move.
So now that's the bomb down.
1v4 Ace for Tawson is on the line.
He came to play these.
Tawson finds!
He finds all five.
What a monster.
That was so cerebral from Tawson,
reading every single position from the CT side.
Using graveyard with that smoke up from library,
biding his time.
I don't even blame Molledoy for peeking into Lane
at that point in the round.
Like, you think he'd be thinking about the site
or looking towards Arch.
He had a perfect inventory of every single peek.
All of that coming through for Furia, only they get 1v4 aced.
Yeah, this could be a double USP kill.
This could have been a round where we talked about how smart Fallen is.
We still could, but I'd be taking away from Towson.
He had the... even the timing to know he could exactly fall back.
Thorne could smoke down and make it look like he went to the site,
got into the library, got two USP kills.
But the perfect response.
That Molly lost it.
Good to hear that.
Now Yuri, he's off one health backside,
tossing just marvelous play.
Terrorists.
No!
Fury did not see that one coming,
and that is gonna change your tune towards the end
of the half, getting one more full buy in at least,
but he became a legion of room.
He can take damage on that.
Crazy.
Eight of Fury's 11 opening duels
have been taken by Fallen.
He's got something to prove this year.
do it again look at this we've stopped in apps at least but this is weak on the
A side he's gonna have to fight so fast yeah
I'm gonna have to be ready for two in all right
probably not but how much can you really do bomb drop we've got a long way almost
with for Molladoy I bought a few seconds here but Renee's landed his feet and Fallon
comes through the smoke he is just taking matters into his own hands
4v2. Now you can't butcher this one. It's PR in the clutch. Back site. Smokes down but
Furia starts to lurk out and his footsteps are heard. They know exactly where he's gone.
PR pulls back, trying to replicate the round and another clutch almost taken before Furia
put a lid on it. A hyper competitive game the Legion who are here to compete but
but it is Furia who win out this first half of Inferno.
He's not the player he wants on the rest of his time.
That's what he wants.
That's what he's missing.
He gets in your head, always watch your back.
He doesn't just represent you, he represents the whole nation.
I never found him out.
He loves it.
Oh, God help!
Oh, I'm not done yet!
He's actually swung the round.
Oh, hey, that's all of my stuff!
Oh, it's no clutch too far!
No bomb sight too much!
Oh, no way!
It has to fly!
From J.S. Serato!
It does it.
Like no one else does.
He always finds a way to be at the top.
the game with fury up and they had a half that definitely left a little bit to be desired.
I think game religion capitalized on some big moments. We saw some individual place shining through obviously Towson
Really broke some necks with that ace. I was that was beautiful stuff
Now of course the job isn't finished as we switch over and the question is gonna be today
Is this gonna be an easy series for furia or are there gonna be some problems?
Okay, I'm a legion already causing some threatening questions just with that clutch alone, but across the board
This is still a comfortable veto for Furia. Pistol round on patrol for PR.
I think I'm swinging around that corner to find your kinder.
He's even going to escape as well with a 5v3 and three players of his B bomb site.
Feels like a stellar hold. Smoke pressured here by Furia.
You've got to shut the molotoy. Are you ready for another man in the back of the site?
Are you ready for snacks hiding out?
He's going to get a backstab here onto Yuri Molotoy trading 2v4.
here for Furia and cover on the plant is just good enough. Fallen trusts in Molodoy to keep
that one with a lid on and three kills deep into this round is young Molodoy.
Not committing with the double push in that spot might be something they live to regret.
2-1-2 for the retake. Molodoy technically on for an ace. He has a teammate alive. We'll
see if he's needed.
There's 2v4. This is Furia fighting back against the wall and Molodoy's picked one
more off as he looks to match a case as well. All the way, Molodoy shining bright in this map of
Counter Strike. He just teed off on all of them. That's nice stuff here from Molodoy.
Obviously telling the story as this unfolds, first kill is probably the most impressive.
What in the world?
It's linked to that headshot as well. And I feel like the only thing missing from that
the Towson push was just one more player.
I mean if he didn't take that risk to have a 3v2 retake,
it's not necessarily a done deal.
But even if Rez is willing to push through,
that ruined smoke at the same time,
they know one person's planning.
So then they at least can make sure
someone gets that bomb planner,
but instead he dies for nothing.
That pistol has ramifications here.
Game of League and May of One,
there's on the T side, they lost a force by,
Gonna try and replicate that here in the second half. Fury are gonna heavy your Mac Thens.
More pace.
Who's gonna bring it? It might be Midrush if a gamer legion.
I love it.
One that's open.
The stormy ult, man. Galil is ready for that.
Should be easy now.
It's not a this, this.
Only snacks could end up here.
He did turn around.
Only stack yeah
He's really seen it all
So Moldova boots in this round are treaded on
17 and 5 not a bad game
And I think the words about you know Moldova from Fallen have just really
that just been I feel like it must be so impactful. He's just called him like the
sum that he's never had and you know handed over the opt-in and you know the
legend that that fallen is I mean that's got to mean a lot. So he's gonna help him win
some trophies this year and it's a great promise to want to make it very hard
to keep, obviously, just because of how competitive things are, or still in the midst of the terror
that is vitality comes off of other contenders. It wasn't long ago that that Fury, you know,
somehow last year, Fury had touched rank one in the world because they were actually that
good. So we've seen what they can do. I mean, beating vitality in a BF5. I mean,
If Mollidoy brings Fallen two majors this year, he might go down as they go.
It's crazy.
There's still time for it.
Will it be going out at a high as the question was 2025 and the latter half of it,
the best that Furia will get.
I like that we're still in that limbo where we don't truly know.
Yeah, we've seen the potential.
I was saying I actually really liked the way that Fallen sort of announced
retirement so far ahead, because you don't see that from a lot of people. I don't think
a lot of players would be in a position to do something like that. I think you've got
to be kind of confident about what you've done already, that no matter what happens here,
it doesn't come down to, oh, I just got to win one major. He's already got his. He's
got his era. He's got his majors. He's got his individual accolades.
And maybe it takes some pressure off this year, in a weird sense, because you have those
accolades even if, you know, of course, fighting for the trophies, but at the
same time it's not like you there's anything left to achieve yeah I feel
that too it was an interesting move an interesting chess move for the professor
yeah you just kind of hope you still see this roster lost though right I think
yeah by Maui some of rumors I mean if he changed his mind I wouldn't care it
just didn't retire at the oh okay yeah I think I'll do it a couple times but
Do you do it on home soil, on the stage, make everyone cry?
Those were some very realistic tears, I'll give them that.
You've got to follow through.
It's the ultimate prank.
Let's see if you can see it through in this map.
Simple conversion, faces them down.
Still putting together the utility damage on both sides.
contact the right
Not at all
It's wide open no one in halls it's time to go lane
Nineteenth year from olah doi not slowing down
Whoa unlucky really
Yeah, the bomb
Yeah, true that could have got scary
Can't say I was super impressed with the way that game religion called that last half
But in terms of them reading that B site was gonna be super underserved when it came time to exact that was true
They they did abuse that fact a lot
You want to hear the
the dream run for Furia. It's the idea that, you know, after this event, they go to back
to Molodoy's home country. Yeah, player Starner event that was Molodoy's first event in the
Furia jersey, one where they lost to spirit in the semi final of I recall, and it was
a close game. The game they could have won spirit went on to win the event. They
also lost the third place to cider. That was you know, Molodoy's first tier one
competition first arena first everything really playing alongside fallen so we'll just call
that a lock now well go and also going back there but no vitality no vitality to stop you
they're always you know the bookend yep now they're taking out Dawkins in the final back
in Hong Kong they're taking out Navi in the final back at TWC
And don't forget vitality in Chengdu, but...
You'd rather not have to.
Yeah.
I thought I assumed that could happen twice.
Well, a lightning strike here for Gamer Legion, because 10-5 down.
I need this one.
Kinder.
Getting antsy.
Chasing that trade. PR will fall.
Oh and it hit snacks as well. There is nowhere to hide.
Fallen and your Kinder combined. That's a nice molly on the way out.
Res will not survive. It's falling. Chasing it down.
I could not handle that. Like all the juggling and utility that was coming through the different times of peaks.
Hey Pex, this is ridiculous.
Okay, it's a 2v1 in this site.
This is crazy. No one flashes in.
I'm watching for a push I guess how far the lurk is right now there was a chance
Yeah, that case ross is gonna kill the save
Ouch, it's gonna catch this timing off is coming in
Hello, anybody home, okay
That's actually not not terrible little scary for height backs, but he does have the up I
I think you'd want to approach from our side, but that's being covered.
Well, the smoke is so good as well, it's going to cut off his team.
Oh, right.
It's meant to, at least.
Whoa!
And that's the kill they wanted.
That's the only one the man is off removed here, the game of the league.
And we're talking two rounds to Furia taking their opponent's pick.
The way they handled me was just so professional here in the area.
Between the ball ladies and the different heatspots even behind that one, they had gamer
a legion dancing that whole time.
Bring the speed, no respect to the nades.
PR will catch one, but now Fury are just dancing into this B-bombsite right now.
They are charging through the user.
Healless gameplay from Yukinda.
And I said that's how you take B and you're kinder. Sorry, case or auto is on our side and he's waiting for someone to come out of halls
It's punishing and then there's that
Game of Legion surely they've learned that the back door can be occupied and so I pecs is checking his corners
And that's all three known now as case or auto seems certain there are some of these inside of walls
But fear I don't even really care.
Rounds have just been too easy.
Yeah, you keep your guns.
What are you going to do with them?
Yeah, we're going to be anyway.
So who's going to win this tournament?
You go.
Come on.
You know, it's hard to argue it's vitality, but...
12 and 5 for our period right now.
Foot made a good case.
Foot made a good case.
No, no, over vitality, I mean.
Oh, I see.
Like, they showed that they are beatable on a map and almost on a series.
Yep.
And for a team of the stand-in, who's going to win the tournament?
I mean, I think it's...
Here's my real answer.
Don't give me the fake answer.
No, I'll give you the real answer.
answer. It's the same thing as Falcons, because I'm not going to be the guy to predict Falcons
to win a tournament until they do it. Yeah, sure. And so I'm not going to be the guy to
predict vitality to lose a tournament until they do it.
Oh, I thought PR was on the server. I didn't know he was standing beside me. Such a good
answer. Yeah, you know, it's safe. It's small.
I agree, though.
Well, you can call me PR, cause I'm getting out of here.
I won't know.
Oh, he's down there all right.
Damn.
Well, at least they got one back.
With banana control.
They denied that tempo.
Careful, snacks.
Your presence is everything.
I don't think they're gonna respect that.
and that might be all said and done. All it takes is Furia to mash that W key into this B site.
Window flash, uncounterable, perfect play here from the T side.
The fact that Case Rado is always still lurking because the B entry's been too easy.
They try on these brakes but fury away patiently.
Bombs gonna make it down and well at least we get to see what a man down retake looks
like of this B-Site but it might be double disadvantage.
Molodoy following up with a near perfect game, 22 and 7.
Oh and he wants some more as well.
Had those stats on the way out.
Guaranteed around.
There's Molotoy with another, and Fallen to finish perhaps as a Furia make a statement over GamerLegion, a dominant win on GL's map picks, 13-5, get him out of here.
Yeah, that is a wrap.
What a moment. This is just so clean on Inferno. Not the map pick that they were expecting, but one they were still looking clearly prepared for.
And that's in spite of gamer legion trying to call them out about their CT setups when they were in the first half
When the second there was no looking back
Nope 23 kills for Molledoy and he heard you talking
Some guys what the CS broadcast so I heard you talking shit
I mean this is great to see him like this
I have a off of the back of a Rio that did not go as planned for him
Where he looked like a shell of himself in the final two series that they played over there
it's not the same in North America.
Moldova is looking like a different beast here,
and it's a welcome sight,
one that was necessary to just really pick apart
game religion who didn't really show the fight I expected.
No, only that ace, right?
The sign of hope.
But let's start on the CT side for Fury of Fallen.
Did say, well, we expected it to maybe go the way
of Mirage, it was Inferno instead.
They didn't show enough.
Talk to me about Fury's approach here
on Inferno to Banana.
We have a couple of examples.
First one we've got here,
It just kind of shows the way that Fallen, Yekindar work together so seamlessly.
Even when Yekindar goes down in one for ones, that Fallen's able to pick up the pieces.
You see the utility damage early on, the Nades peppering on in, the fact that Fallen
is able to get the one, and Yekindar gets a little bit antsy there, trying to find
even more, doubling down on the issue, but I'd say that the way that I would describe
and their approach to this compared to game religion is almost like they see
every section of banana as a quadrant and they clear it out so meticulously
whereas game religion on the other hand they just kind of see banana as banana
I mean there's probably like two halves to it or something like that but
there's so much more thorough through every little section that they work
through. Oh I like that so much I've never heard that perspective before
but that goes to show that you have a more complete team versus a less
complete team right? Exactly and that's what actually shows up in the
second example we have towards banana where even though Gamer Legion tried to
get a little bit tricky on round number seven they try to peek over the smoke
every single option is just so well covered that the Yekindar that fall in
they've seen all of this before okay it's like it's like squid game you know
they've seen these games before okay it's not their first time here they're
the nades come in they're able to just inflict so much damage every single
attempt from Gamer Legion is so easily stuffed and I felt like that just
told so much of the story from this half and even on the T side too yeah
I absolutely agree. It didn't look uncomfortable for fury at all. It's also kind of what we
expected to be completely honest with you. And they needed a sign of life in the terms
of gamer legion with absolutely heroics. We're going to look at it later. But was that also
the way you saw that game? There was no like systematic approach that would have netted
them to victory so they could only really go off these insane outplays.
Well, the system that they outlined for themselves just failed.
Yeah. And they didn't really have a plan B option.
What were the TLD artist system that they outlined?
I think we're going to show
it to you. I think we're going
to show it to you. We're
trying to fight a fallen in
Yekindar duo, which clearly
had every necessary procedure
protocol outline to dispatch
of them. So. Swing and a miss
there. Swing in a miss toss
and, though, five swings. Yes
in round 11. And I think
we're going to show it just
because like if I was him,
I'd want to check the
board. I want to like see
it again. We've got to sing
a little bit of praise
play that looked like it had already been defeated. He's able to come up with some major
goods and it was necessary to just breathe a little life into this game religion team. I mean
to get five rounds on the T side. I kind of wish that the second half went a little bit better
for them because then you could have wrote a little bit more about how much this meant to
them in terms of tossing popping off. And as a player, I'd say that tossing definitely the
least talked about of the three primary riflers for the team. Rez and PR tend to
to steal the show, but Tawson has definitely elevated his game in some of those poorer positions,
the anchor extremity spots that are a little bit underserved on his team.
So I think that he's doing actually a really commendable job and he also kind of completes
that trifecta between the other two riflers I mentioned.
To give Gamer Legion a punching chance, albeit not always against Furia's level
of opposition.
Yeah, that makes sense.
and the pistol round. Yeah,
Moldova said I can ace you as well.
And that really was the nail in the coffin.
This is where it felt like, yeah,
game religion probably needed something
because furious T sides can be quite
ferocious themselves. And so for him
to just show such pinpoint accuracy.
I mean that jiggle peak to take down PR
at first and to find the trade
as well here against snacks.
Every first bullet was just fantastic.
I feel like this cover also like fallen
is planting the bomb right now saying
I'm glad he answered the call.
You're hammering on that so hard.
I mean, we had the casters
talking about like the sunny
had fallen said in Rio that this
would be bigger than winning a
major and it's like, well,
it's just crumbled. He could
have handled that one bit, but
I'm glad that he's standing up
in Texas. He said that for
sure. Yeah, great start from
them. Then we'll go going on
to new connects. We'll talk
about that later. Final notes
though for gamer Legion. I
think I'm actually. I don't
know. I don't know. I
So for gamer Legion, I think I'm actually I don't know
I felt like I saw more than I thought I was going to considering the fact that they went the VRS route
And they haven't really played for middle opponents for very very long definitely not the type like furia, right?
So this is I don't know. It's pretty good. It's interesting because gamer Legion got this invite earlier in the season
Yeah, but then they kind of had a little bit of a fall and now they're rising back up
So we're actually catching them at a time where I kind of wanted to see a little bit more myself
I know maybe in some assets or aspects you were satisfied there, but I feel like there's more to this team than what we got there
I actually think that snacks is calling which to me was kind of one note
Just all these set pieces and it really exact heavy
I think he admit rounds a little bit better now, but he just lost so many opening picks there
He couldn't have much to work with. Hmm. Let's take a look at some poly market prediction markets
This one is will furia make a roster change before July. Oh, well that would make sense. Would it? Wow
I mean, there were rumors about Aurora there where they might go international and some of the
likely suspects to join them might be on the sphere roster, but that's a really, I'm surprised it's
about 50%. I personally thought that this roster was just gonna stick it out. It's Fallen's
last ride, guys. How is anybody gonna leave him in that way? No, that's insane. But on the
On the other hand, if you're like a recently ousted IGL,
would you want to wait six months?
No.
No, you wouldn't.
No, so.
So I think that there's some likely suspects
that could possibly fill the gap, fill the void.
Yeah, I agree.
But I also think, I don't think this is very, very likely.
We're going to take a quick break.
But when we come back, we'll talk all about you.
Well, Furia punched their ticket directly to the playoffs here at Blast Rivals.
We received a bit of yoga bonito, and that was the same case on the server, but now we're going on to Nuke.
Will this be the deadly blow for Gamer Legion, or do they have something to say about this map?
I feel like it will be. This is a little bit of a surprise that Furia decided to go with.
I don't even really want to call it a punish pick. I mean, the stats for Gamer Legion are pretty decent on this map.
on this map and to me it's a map that Furia probably trying to work on a little bit. I feel
like they go for so many other maps in the pool before this one and I think that if I have to
brainstorm, if I have to come up with what they were saying in their coach discussions, yeah,
is that they see snacks playing outside and they say, what is this boomer doing over here?
This guy is going to be in all the action all the time. We're going to keep him in the
action all the time and we're going to throw so many different varieties of smoke plays at him
as he tries to wiggle his way through that utility that we're going to dumpster them.
So that's my take on where Fury's going to go in this strategy.
Yeah, you're writing a movie for sure, but I do follow you in terms of like,
if this is something we should work on, this is probably a time that we should try because you
still have Mirage in the back pocket if it wasn't to work out. But let's assume that it
does. What is it going to come down to and talk to me about the opera matchup here?
Oh, okay. Yeah, I haven't really spoken too much about hypex yet. I feel like this is the
Funnily enough the one time that Ash finally is out of gamer Legion. They have a good offer
That's the bright side. I'm like, oh
No, it's like why did I get to work with this guy a little bit more because I feel like hypex is really coming to his own
He satisfies some of the minimum criteria to be a solid tier 1.5 offer
He hits a lot of the easy shots
He rotates enough that I feel like teams are left guessing a bit more than some of the more static guys
that are into your one. So I feel like he can definitely be part of the difference maker.
Like expect them to start in secret. Expect them to be getting a little bit of utility
with snacks to try to dissuade Furia from crossing with those smokes towards outside
yard. There's a lot of opportunities for him to be a difference maker here. And I feel
like this guy might be the best offer that has dawned a game religion jersey for,
I want to say three years. So this is as good as it's really going to get for them.
All right, let's see then what about the other side?
I know because this is something that Fury is working on, right?
Do we have a lot of tape in terms of how they like to approach Nuke?
Oh, yeah.
I mean, they go for a variety of set piece plays along with the variety of outside yard
smokes, whether those are the old ones or the diagonal ones.
They go for both of those.
I think that part of their game plan can involve ramp.
But if I'm looking at PR in that position for gamer legion,
I'm probably not going to try to target him.
I think he's a little showed a little bit too much already in this series and through the last couple months that you'll probably
Focus your efforts towards a towards outside. I think that's where we're gonna be the bulk of attacks will be from fury
Okay, we're gonna be outside is what I'm hearing here for me outside. Yeah, maybe outside on nuke
Isn't that always how it goes? Let's kick it over to our casters. I
Will catch you outside
We'll catch you in the playoffs here with furia if they've able to finish this one up on you kids game
a legion down a map onto Furious pick a matchup we've not seen in almost a year and one that
fury are happy to repeat a legion of looking for a lower bracket against FaZe if they can't
get through this fury right now and it's hard to bank on them after 13-5 on Inferno.
It's kind of the team you want to play I think if you're at this event is to try
to go after gamer legion.
One thing that's interesting about their nukes is that for gamer legion they struggle
on T side and for Furia it's actually the opposite. Their C sides are scoring better than their
CZ sides and that's why you got to catch them on the side. Welcome to the yard ladies and gentlemen.
That's where it's all going to go down. Yeah, you know, if I do a Furia on you,
you got to go to the recent game at Rio which was up against Navi where there was a bit of a
comeback on that very half on that T side from Furia from 9-3 down able to win it out of an
over time so evident to us to what you're talking about see if they can get
away with some more high jinx here as case Rato looks for a used one it's been
it's stuck in this smoke but he will get down the vent fall and falls on the
first has dropped it back in lobby look like they wanted to go back and so
they shall forcibly oh that's not getting clear oh for height backs yeah
No problem. No. It's very clean. Someone clean.
So good enough. Clean. Very clean. Yeah. Dirt. Snacks double on the lobby first. An uncomfortable
for Furia who are kind of all over the shop. It's closed.
timing is great on the pushes. I'm catching the bomb especially after getting spotted from hut 2.
You have to like that reposition out of towson to top it off. So they got reps on the map. I mean
there's one thing for sure. Like what like Maui said it's hard to call it a punishing pick
when a team is putting in this much effort on the map.
What if you punish them if they do crush them here then yeah we can call it a
punch pick retroactively I look to hit this topside quickly we're gonna come
down on me my flashes now they go storming case or auto but resin a
prime position where we can really talk about a tool last map but he's
Coming up with one, that's all he'll do.
There's so many spotted, they want to get out of here.
No one's dropped into the vent.
They had full eyes on it too, but they're correct actually
that they can take it ramp side.
And I'm crazy to lose these skills here.
They don't need this fight.
Snacks has already shifted down into low.
He's put into a prime position, but with that kill,
it tempts you back up.
Hey, yeah, this is really smart out of fury.
I mean, it's also just fundamentally sound,
and I think game religion are aware
This is now a threat, but they're literally running this back upstairs vent is being protected
He's still got it down. I mean that's a rifle picked up, but that's kind of crazy they allow him to do that
You came to holding up the vent climb
This is
Still winnable for game a legion. They're just a little out of position right now snacks making moves up having no kit
at the moment see how well this angle works out they line up for a second but
both players come in both full I packs gets a double and game religion whew
that's all I can say yeah close call I wonder if they I mean I thought first of
all we thought that they were certainly planned for heaven and cover went up in
the heaven I guess main is the least likely position it was with the
rotation that came out so it was a smart move for game religion the
I'm surprised not seeing a kinder try and swing off that spray.
Yeah, at least.
A kill was there.
He really tunneled in on vents.
He was focused.
Yeah, I got nothing from it sadly, so came a Legion, early control.
To be honest, he has two teammates, one's planting, one's watching, and they don't plant
for heaven, and they came out of hut.
So the only other guy kind of needs to watch his main, and they would have been good.
Not an easy duel to win a forest putt.
Well, it's tempted them back in with no AK either.
Okay, so I'm going to spam back Lobby, but everyone else on Galils.
And we're then not broken either.
There's no threat on a player already being lost.
Snacks has some security.
Start an in-seat ramp.
Mobile PR taking back ramp.
Inferior shift their way down.
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, Snax is blocking you till ready.
No, he really likes Lucky there. He missed the timing completely as they slipped out and they saw him.
So run down into this B bomb site. You get that charge, you take it.
and all this utility and they have vents.
They have enough resources to wait on everything.
No luck and needs to play.
I mean, how are the CTs even going to think about this?
They're going to save.
Yeah, this is like too much of a kill to get away that quickly.
Sure, you know they have the whole site.
They know they don't have an easy way to get downstairs.
Very uncomfortable.
It's rough because you sometimes see players play like pixel angle down there,
but then they get pre-fired and there's nothing you can do.
And so the count of that is jiggling, but there's the downside.
What's worse?
Yeah, it's a good question.
I mean, you can really, you can get that angle down to like,
I mean, there's only a few players in the world that are really going to punish you
consistently for doing that.
But it's, it's, it's one of those things it's hard to say.
It's like, you know, jump spotting is the, as Bayes famously once said,
that the safest way to get information in CS.
And, uh, like as teams always just jump spot everything.
And you can die jump spotting.
And when you do, casters go, oh my God, what a shot.
But that's because it doesn't happen very often if you do it safely.
So you're always going to leave some kind of gap create a moment like that
And that's just one of the moments where you're the lower guy on nuke
You are supposed to be able to lay for like 20 30 seconds
If you die in that fashion, there's just no saving around the other team knows they can run it down
Just call it unlucky. Yeah, no bad. It's just unlucky and you can also it's a skill to jiggle better
better. Yeah, yeah, those are pretty thick giggles. Yeah, he likes them. Double day just
dodged by snacks. See if he can get involved here outside. Give it another try. My goodness,
that's crazy. Yeah, that's insane. Over the red. He had to drop off of that. Yeah.
It works as the craziest part by the three-fourths and the navel shorts and no early kill back for game
Allegiant until torsion and high-tech strike is suddenly it all comes crawling down. Oh, that was a 3v5 in an instant
Damn, they got everything back
After that crazy first kill I mean tell us in the high-techs are super low, but that does not matter right now
It's a case rata though. Yeah, man. They're gonna have the bomb has to be retrieved
He's got his work cut out for him.
Whatever first peek he gets, oh, he's going to say he needs to make it a kill.
That's Rez with the most health.
I'm still interested.
It's the backstab that might change that if things come very quickly.
He's going silo as well.
K-Sharat is not going to be ready for this.
He's got Tima jumping at the bit to go fight.
He's got everyone low.
Yeah, he doesn't know if they're relevant.
One step in the wrong direction, whoa, whoa, whoa, careful, don't overcook.
Why is there a way?
I'm getting way too many chances there, but low health is still fine.
I think the game of leeching recover from a two-man deficit.
It felt like they had no idea what was going on with all the smokes on the cross, the
first kill that took place, and then they instantly got three back.
Why the game of leeching y'all? Just decide to full fight with 4 out of 5 players in the yard.
Knowing that if you're a made-it-to-secret after those first 2 kills, round is closed.
Gotta stop them getting there.
I mean I do always hate when your C-teams not fight enough outside.
They let the crosses go down. They start guessing about when they should rotate.
to the left. Okay.
Health on Torsten. Hangs on
just about and this is
crossing behind red. Oh, that
could have been a death
census. Oh, I mean, okay.
Hypex hits his this is one of
the better maps that we've
seen Hypex on in the game
of Leisure Jersey. CT side
nuke has been enjoyable to
watch these Polish. They'll
be trims going to have the
staff for you in a couple
Rocker and snacks is learn his lesson jump spotting in the door
There's a peek on that
Look at the knife for they were not ready for a double set up
Fallen gets a double kill and then corded off. That's pretty impressive
Yeah, I swear PR just started pre-firing that entrance
So well done. Do you know why he's called PR?
Hit me. I asked him this is gonna sound fake
Oh, this is gonna be real. It's real. It's a real with the smile on your face. I'm no way this
It sounds like it's because he called himself Pringles after the crisps or sorry chips
And then he realized he couldn't call himself a brand
So you just call himself here. That's too late
That's true. Really? Yeah
Almost unbelievable not even like Pringie. No, just PR. Wow. Okay, so it stands for Pringles
Actually, do you know the lore behind Flesh's name?
Go on.
Flesh of the Toilet.
He actually said that.
Yeah, literally.
I can't.
Yeah.
I don't believe you.
What's crazier? You decided home.
How's he here?
He beat the molly.
But all is fine.
Hey, game of legion, off to the races right now.
5-1.
Damn.
It's their good side.
But it's also Fury's good side.
My side is better than your side.
Hey, didn't they have a Hellman sponsor?
They did. That was my favorite one.
I was there for you. You can't take that on a fallen retirement year.
Wow.
No wonder they're losing. They're trying to catch up. I know Mayonnaise is an infinite money glitch.
He's on Falcons.
I swear they had Pringles at one point no yeah they definitely have Hellmans I feel like
They might have had Pringles as well, yeah
Well the chips are available
presumably
All right, Furia poking with a stick Pringles would have just been bad SEO anyways. He's never beating that company on
Google searches
I guess they hadn't cleared ramp.
That's a little awkward.
Punishment, and now the bomb can come back.
So as Gamelizh and Gamble2B, because they've got lobby info,
now they're left in the dark.
It's right as jump spotting.
It's high-pitched still controlling outside.
The kinders lurk.
Might be cut down.
It's a game of patience here.
High-pitched is looking jumpy right now.
Yeah, he's always got ants in his pants, honestly.
Oh, man.
We'll give it up, but he got the info.
One shot's all at the same rate.
Just couldn't hang on the angle.
The kinder made him nervous.
Yeah, getting shaky here.
That's opened up this A site.
The kinder's like, presence is pressure.
One drop back in Lobby.
It goes forward though, right?
They picked it back up.
Molo doing he to get it down on this site right now.
It's Rez in main, keep dealing with the Echindar after all, they're running down from the hut surely.
Molotoy finding one more, where's Yuri gone to? They're both together.
Did they spot the second guy? No, it doesn't look like it now they have.
Yeah.
This Max is kind of trapped actually.
Someone get him out of here, he's going to fight his way to death.
Molotoy one health, Rez nothing here, nothing being given.
Molotoy swings out, Yuri spotted as well, good damage.
He's down to 40v70, moving in, just getting toyed with right now.
Uri buying time, Rez trying to fake steps, and it's Uri to clutch up Puff Uri out finally, getting them back on the board.
They have to work hella hard for that round, and it's only their second so far this half, and in a 1v1 no less, so still very competitive here.
It's this push in the lobby that looks so good at first, wisely played from Rez, but then pouncing over step when they took over lobby control forgot that ramp could be a problem, and that's the same guy to win the 1v1 in the end, Uri.
So Hybex playing as well as he is, but 7-0 coming into this round, he's just so shaking, he's just all the line, he's so amped up all the time.
Hold the line, can he get the kill, come to you.
Wanted too much there, that would have set them up for a dominant half and now Fiori have the chance to break in and break their money while they do it.
Suddenly a 5-1 lead will disappear for your very eyes.
That's going to be a turning point for both of these teams, I mean, look how much money
comes into it.
Got a FAMAS on one side, the Lille on the other.
It's not exactly a sign of opulence.
Nice pick off with that nade.
This is swift.
They're walking my life.
Oh!
I've also got a weapon or something.
They're still quite as further out, but double CT vent.
Well, T vent intact.
They just run down.
See you later.
Molotov is still up there.
Leaving one guy here is insane.
He's got a plant.
Can Yuri do it?
He's got it.
Yeah, they aren't even fighting him.
This is the worst way to die there, Molotov.
You can shot in the back like that.
Snacks down the vents.
Whoa.
Wow, I can't believe Yuri walked in jump
kind of not fully pre-aiming and just hearing all steps down the ladder as well.
They're looking a little cooked right now for you.
Just a touch.
We're still ramping up for cologne, OK?
I hear Blast to come to Rio.
Yeah, you can cut retire every oh
Run it back
I'm gonna just see substitute
It's start off you start off in tears and then go back to not crying. I'm not retiring the bench in the bottom
I'm back
I'm so tired of the furia and that's the rightful gone right away again case
rose the thing is so much damage inside a squeaky res staining right now he
just robs that 8k off of that feeling it through ensuring I don't I'm
literally don't think I said his name back on it for no one's through
and he might just get some more.
Step into the angle.
Just try it.
Yeah, just keep powering him up.
That's what you need.
I
Sight is I don't know how I was gonna say it doesn't feel like the gaps in upper right now
No, no is that four frags a monster. It's like Oakland all over again
To be fair he looks like he has an age today
I
Was his skincare routine it's definitely a hydro homie
Well, well fear it's burning through these timeouts
Looking like pushovers kind of on the seaside so far every thing has been way too easy at first
They look like a wild game religion to make a really proactive moves
But outside of that even with those kills that they're getting sometimes in the beginning
It's Raz who's winning L versus Keisarov getting lots of damage in Squeaky.
They've got that push.
One of the only rounds Fiora won is in spite of them losing the 5v4 in lobby control.
And it's a 1v1 to get them that as well.
And then the only other round they won was when they killed Snaks and Lower off of just a lucky timing.
I can't say they haven't had chances to break the money, Game Relegion, but now that is looking
like an impossibility as Fury and Vibe again with more weak utility.
This isn't after they've thrown the outside smokes, they aren't going to be able to
throw these smokes.
Alright, they were in the air.
Yeah, but no second layer.
We've seen Game Relegion actually over respond to this default.
for now. I'm really thinking about it. Hypex, another great angle of verticality, but he's
missing something. Oh, he's missed a couple of really key moments. He saw something there,
but see if he's nervous about this push. They've watched right on him, and there's his
appalling needs. And you know that's an orb. Fallen's not falling for it. He's going to
go right underneath this player. This is beautiful for Fallen. Yeah, Hypex. He's
Punted
What's he gonna do buddy you're trapped fallen takes that second they do lose ramp PR with double but fallen
Sneaky sneaky that's no less and that's not the ramp player. So more info for furia
They want to pounce on this A site PR's had a timely reposition back to lobby
But that bomb needs to go along and raise giving it away
These are the top two players here on game will each and try to hold on a model has been dropped by an aid
That bomb is in the open
PR pulls back in hopes for Fallen to overplay his hand.
You know what? Maybe he's onto something. Fallen's repositioning.
There's the info.
Oh, spotted.
And it's one-way info.
Yeah, but PR can't run. It's a little awkward.
He still has to respect the amount of time it takes for him to get downstairs.
And now the plank going down,
Fallen's also not worried about giving away info,
but PR still has to keep walking. Let's see if it pays off.
Oh, he's right in the open. Fallen swings the door to fate.
Oh.
is right behind beautiful play for PR just plays information game and that is
thinking man's counter strike right there and fallen really had to do it all
in this round they were just dropping my flies something definitely went wrong
when it came to the absurdity talk about a guy who can heaven wrap two
kills here three actually as he stops the ramp rotate and takes haven't
got no idea I guess you want them to put
Pressure on to keep that rotation plan looking ramp, but for both of them to die
Overcommit and here for furia. Yeah, it feels like for sure
He should have been fighting to make first contact or waiting until they came back to him for anyone to start that exact
Memory smoke hasn't dropped down so there's a big gap outside there replenish on the fly
Gamalison constantly breaking these smokes open never a moment you can feel safe on
this cross and with an angle here careful gotta love height backs always
looking for some verticality hasn't worked out this time you're just needing
an opening at this point anything come their way case routes has just been
Locked out and lobby this entire half to sat back in the door no more pushes for
Rez he's 14 and five years fine to sit back and relax
this fury again fallen down secret game Malaysian have no interest in
biting
Another damn shot the PR they are not winning in the default
All this one's free as well a little credit card swipe here for snacks
And pushing a hut a double push but snacks has another kill. That's round. This whole thing is falling apart
Yeah, it's a fury of failure to launch failure to even get a kill. Well, but it's falling in the best spot ever somehow
He's doing it all he can.
How's he walked out?
I don't even know.
I don't even remember when this happened.
He's stooping single door and shifted his way through this site.
And that's round.
Maybe everyone else should retire.
Thought my goat.
Retire and disband.
Oh, dear.
What more can one man do?
He has been let down a couple of times for sure.
I mean, just the previous round, like getting that triple,
letting all that space,
his team dying on Ram.
Not unnecessary.
What is going on?
Game of Legion, making a statement,
making a convincing case here on Nuke.
Hard to see a way for Furia back in,
but a third round feels like a necessity right now.
So Pace denied, as a beautiful flashbang,
Sets Rez up for that first kill, finally PR falls with nothing done, and Hypex no connection, so drop down B, establish for Furia, Rez is home.
Eating in danger.
Dink onto Molotov.
They smoke, they don't have a molly for it, Rez keeps pushing.
Just keep fragging at this point, nothing stopping Game of Legion.
16 and 5, Rez keeps pressure on with door open.
They freak him out.
Yeah.
Spooky.
Gotta put it down though.
I mean, how are you gonna win this? No control side, you're just floating.
Gonna take a series of errors here from Gamer Legion.
Yeah, this is Yuri just trying to hide back behind the side, but spotted from the ramp as well.
As soon as he makes contact, that door's gonna open, Yuri flicking back.
Fallen has a bit of cover, but two from ramp, but they don't know about the third man in the door.
Good jump for Hypex. Fallen alone and nowhere to go. They can't trade this kill with ease.
Torsen doesn't need to port.
And so Gamer Legion coming through with a absolutely sick
first half here on Nuke.
Nice boy.
Nice boy.
Nice boy.
Welcome back to the ROG Laboratory.
Today we have on hand the ROG Hark 2 and the ROG Falcon.
Now back in Hong Kong, we use these launders
when we were testing the OLED monitors.
And well, today I was thinking,
We've got to find some kind of way to put them head to head.
Yeah.
There's only some kind of scientific way to try this out.
You think what I'm thinking?
Gives on keyboard.
All right, Launders, pre-game talk.
What are your thoughts on the falchion?
I have lowered the actuation point
so that I feel like Santaris right now.
I've got two sets of WASD.
It feels like I've got an N64 controller.
Okay.
Spacebar helps me shoot.
It's a new wave of minimalism that we've got
for Counter-Strike players.
Keeping it very simple here.
I'm like a Formula One driver right now.
Okay, so that's one thumb, six fingers.
Oh!
That's a lot of mouse pad you got there.
That's because, Mohan, I plan on hitting you
with the flick whenever I need to.
You know, this harp is so light
that I think that's gonna play to my advantage today.
Oh, what are you doing for your keyboard buttons?
Well, I have gone A and D on mouse four and five,
okay, because it's all about the strafe.
Left click, still shoot.
Right click is forward,
just in case I've got to close the gap.
And then M wheel up and down,
both jump so that I can hit some B hops
while I style on you.
All right, Mohan, you ready?
I'm ready.
I'm ready.
And the inaugural ROG Cup is underway.
Oh my gosh, a head shot.
Whoo, that was a good shot.
Thank you.
I'm gonna, yo, you know what, mercy.
It's hard to aim.
It's a bit of a T.
With just the mouse.
Oh!
Oh, no.
Did I hit you?
Are you gonna be jumping right now?
No.
Wait, I can't jump though.
I'm closing the distance.
They're like a shark in the water.
Oh!
The one thing I have to remember
is I can't actually pull down my recoil.
I can see you doing this. I just can't stop.
Winner takes all.
Alright, winner takes all.
Alright, congratulations off that round you win.
Thank you. I am the big winner.
And to be honest, I had a hunch.
I had a hunch that the mouse would be the victor here.
This might seem like Meister are more important,
but I've honestly been impressed by the utility of just using a keyboard.
They didn't even know I could do all that.
And so, at the end of the day, we've learned two things.
Firstly, that I am always humble in victory.
And secondly, that when it comes to Counter-Strike,
AIM remains king.
Can you play with just a keyboard?
I guess.
Should you?
Nah, probably not.
Thank you guys for stopping by the ROG Labs one more time.
And, well, crazy idea.
How about next time we just combine the two?
I think they had only keyboard
or any mouse. Yeah I don't
know. I feel like they
definitely didn't turn their
monitors on for that half. So
maybe it was a different
peripheral, but I honestly if
it felt like we saw some
moments early on in the
We saw some moments early on in the half
that could have led to us having Fiora
with just like six six at the end,
but still never a moment where you think
they could just take off and win every round.
Gamer Legion were definitely in control.
They did great on their trades or mid rounds are solid.
And yeah, Rez put on a clinic.
Yeah, big game from Rez right now.
And it's got all the needs here for this air attack.
Gamer Legion can end it with no worries
with a bang perhaps on this top site,
flood it with utility and storm in case we're on to waiting safely but yeah there's nothing connecting here
for furia that's all in life flies nice follow-up for fallen kind of the hero of this game for furia
and everyone will flood in it's going to be a 1v4 here for res
full hp lots of time on the clock a great haircut and a good amount of damage i mean why not
They want to peek him with 12 HP.
That's how you set up tragedy.
Oh, Fallen's position potent.
He walks in roughly and says, I'll do it myself.
Yeah, I mean, if you're not peeking, you don't believe in yourself.
At least, if you're believing themselves.
Hey, I had 12 health.
You weren't saying that.
That's true.
I'd just like to make it much more epic.
Nothing's impossible, but it won't be easy here for Furia.
Satch.
Game of League are playing so many tier two and three teams reps.
Yeah, lots of reps.
And to be honest, what's even tier two and three anymore?
Like we just looked at the top 40 to 50 teams
and you have Liquid, Passion UA, FaZe, and Tyloo.
40 to 50, yeah, it's like, dude,
what even is our ranking anymore?
Life comes at you quick.
Yeah, like the biggest, more highly ranked in all of them.
They're winning clones, like.
True, it all makes sense in just a couple months.
Okay, game of legion.
They still went nowhere.
How about the first gun round?
Nice little wall coming down near the snacks.
I'm gonna make this a ramp up go for it because
Well, they're gonna see anyone out here immediately fall and starts to run back to his post
Really wants that do all yeah, that's a
Yikes, what's happening now? I mean, that's such an important way to get downstairs
Nothing worse than just a free kill on ramp here for the CTs. Molojus can try to plug up
if you get the kill you're just suffering from success at this point throw it over the gap
they have all control side they've actually left the ramp entirely so they're a little worried
about it like it now they're just looking for a way out
up.
Get them all laid on the fallback, but the T's are just happy to have won the round so
cleanly.
They don't want any more duels.
Gonna have to move from here, Snacks.
I mean this specific golden chance to give up to one kill like that obviously is a very
nice one.
That's pretty flimsy defense, they weren't really blocking ramp while they were rotating
out of it.
And certainly not watching a smoke if there was one that was deeper.
Now I'm thinking about Furious T-Side and I'm realizing that they never went ramp.
Oh, I guess they did towards the end.
Not like that, not like that, you know, just smokes outside, dry ramp, entry.
There are a couple of rounds late in the game there, but...
You know, you can keep it pretty simple to lock in the first gun.
In case you're on the first-gen secret, but that might not matter here,
with the collision are jumping at the chance to take the say sight a lot of
pressure outside snacks you go like this lurk
just three
it's like shooting you in the back no trade really slow on secret but I guess
it's right I just wants the lurk to come his way I can't believe he didn't
even attempt I know yeah it's really hoping snacks comes down secret later
but it's being covered from silo I have no idea must have it's gonna
pressure in the lobby taken down by Torsen with two mechanics are on
display here for game a legion in this map from res PR Torsen and the likes
snacks will just he never gets the kill in the end you can smell him yeah
Oh, dear, Yuri's gonna get killed from heaven, isn't he?
Snack sends his team back to lobby.
Case Rato does fine.
Does fine.
Does fine.
And they're gonna come back to him.
Okay.
I mean, they're gonna forget someone's here.
Uh-oh!
Oh.
Ipex has it under control.
Safe hands.
Yeah, I'll get that bomb down, though.
He's in a great position to punish.
You'll see the shadow, if Kacerotter climbs on the outside.
But he's also ready for close.
I just know where you clear that, is there.
12 rounds for Gamerallegion, quickly.
And that's after losing the pistol.
12-4.
Yeah, that's been pretty disappointing here for Furia, that's for sure.
This is more dominant than the last map. If game of lesion can close it the loans never felt so far away
I mean
Not but we can't be kept a country. Yeah, we can't know how to pay the skin. That's fucking as in action
Wow, maybe forgot it after the first map
That's like showing what what why you gain confidence to play against better teams here. They are proving themselves for superior
not bad actually
I thought we were good
they just had them ruffled all game long
so one more ought to do it here for game leeching and they just can't do anything wrong
he had so much damage both sides of this week he fight
You know, immediately switch that gun out to Yuri.
Another wall down, but boost could be cause for concern here.
How much damage can Fallen and Molodoy do to this unsolvable out-ramp?
Everybody moving in, Fallen just molly, Molodoy jumps to the charts to trade his captain,
but again, two for two, just won't cut it at this point.
There's no one on that B bomb site.
He starts to sneak down the vent, but he can get weird and you know what? I think they just might
You've been a little bit timid thinking about going for a plant, but it's always worked out
Give us one a little extra juice. They've got a lower rotation. Oh, but up in heaven waits, case or auto
No way! He might do this!
Yes, he definitely could.
CaseRotter turns for one second.
They're gonna burst up through this vent.
He's got 1 HE on him to soften him up for one steal.
Guns out. Funs out.
The Furia still survive for one more round. My goodness.
Okay. We'll see if that's a drop in the bucket or not.
It gets Furia back in the game.
I definitely want to see more of their nuke before we end.
But I think as far as Gamerlade you're concerned, just, you know, one double entry away from closing this out.
They see, they look like they have way more confidence than Fury would do right now.
Yeah.
It's like they overcooked this one a little bit.
They had just gone lower, obviously.
Not a single person on Fury with over 10 kills.
of
the
This is all posturing right now for Gamelief and no moves being made yet.
Smokes available, two of them.
This is the A hit, Snacks lurking outside.
Am I like kind of worried for game religion right now?
Oh, they come back.
Yeah, on this round.
This is the last couple I can see them overthinking,
and I'm not seeing a clear idea just yet.
So I have so much freedom, do you think?
But maybe this round is some force for concern
until Rez activates top-up player with nothing.
He gives the feels like he has to give it up.
That force is in the snacks,
and so Gori avoided for now.
Fiora thrust into a 2v2.
Be fair, Hypex and Rez, 50 health between them.
It's not ideal.
Hypex playing for the late round clutch.
Can Rez thin them off?
Oh, but the head shot.
One kill on his way.
Fallon will say no.
This flank is very quick, isn't it?
Very, very dangerous.
Hypex up and above has to nail.
Both kills right now.
Cannot jump the gun.
Hypex down the mound.
Takes them over the line.
That's how you do it, the young foal showing up and shutting down fury here on you.
They're highlight there, right at the end, thinking they were thinking about the comeback, the casters,
but Hypex said absolutely not, love that little switch up and then holding his nerve and just bringing it home.
Nice to see.
Beautiful example of trigger discipline there for Hypex, and first bulleting the second guy with the headshot was just exactly what he needed.
He was on low HP also beautiful finish there from gamer Legion off the back of an excellent CT side where they had so many ideas so many ideas
They did let's take stock of a couple of things that didn't come to fruition and some that did I'm going to start with what you did say in the beginning
Right about outside and how that would be probably a problem for snacks probably be a problem for game religion
But it wasn't well they just had contingency plans
That was what was so great about it that even though they could sometimes lose the opening pick as they do here on round number four
Even doubling down where fury to get a second kill on PR there. It's the way that they respond
Yeah, the way that everybody just says we're gonna send it at this point
We've already lost a couple of players. It's do or die time. So the reaction is just perfect
I love that gamer Legion had this one ready to go even though they had two deaths outside
They don't just sit on their hands wait for some kind of conversion from fury
They say we are taking control of the rest of this round.
So the fights from the rest of the players
were just impeccable.
Maybe they knew what you also knew,
and it was that they might lose snacks outside,
but they were going to punch back immediately, perhaps?
For sure.
I think that that's a really great idea for them
to try to just keep mixing it up.
In that round, for example, we saw that snacks
was the first to fall outside,
because Jettkinder got him over the top of a box.
PR was actually waiting in the garage in tow
and still falls.
But then the rest of guys, as soon as snacks died,
I think that's when the needle dropped
and they recognized we all have to just send it
towards this one.
So they knew that Fury was gonna pick on that weakness,
but they were ready for him.
They were.
You also wanted to show us round 10, what happened there?
This is one that I felt like just needed a revisit.
This is one where Fallon had a great opportunity
on this flank play.
He goes for the crouch underneath this position
so that the offer can't see him.
Gets the back sab on the toss,
and he even doubles up, gets the kill outside,
But it's just the defense from these two Ramp players in Snacks and PR who were holding on to that space as they knew that okay, Fury is not doing all too much outside.
I don't think they knew about lower and so they were able to just recuperate off of a round that looked like it was lost, but it was off the back again of the fact that Gamer Legion had a different set up that all of these different
that gamer legion had for themselves just gave themselves opportunity and then of course at the very end we see PR
He's holding this sliver angle just this hairline angle to see fall and go down
Sneaks past behind him and he's the guy that I was trying to also big up at the beginning of the game
He was having a rough start in January when they got this lineup and he thought he was gonna go to another team
But I'm glad that he's still delivering here today. Yes
I want to it comes to where in the second half of these rounds
They're still very very sharp and they are cognizant enough and confident enough that they will be able to bring it home
Even when it's not necessarily an advantageous situation
And this is something that I'm actually quite impressed with from gamer legion today because our big question coming in was yes
You've played a lot of games. It hasn't been against the tallest competition
But honestly also begs me to say that fury can sometimes just not show up
No in a handful of these rounds
I mean we saw two examples right there where they get openers they put
themselves in winning positions but it's almost like they jumped the gun or
they just think the rounds over already in the round four where they get swung
on outside it just felt like people probably had nades in hand they weren't
ready for those trades to come about from the game religion players they
just caught were caught unaware there and in the second example there it's
one where they just kind of also went a little fast at ramp off of Fallen's
the game, and they're
playing the game. They're
playing the game. They're
playing the game. They're
playing the game as initial
contact. They could have
stretched that round out a
little bit more, but they
just sent it at an
inopportune time, and maybe
maybe those situations
work out versus tier one
team, but game religion
just cup with a couple
tweaks. They had that kind
of tier two flair that
kind of sent it over the
edge and caught Furia with
their pants down. Tier two
flair. I like that. Also,
of course, the fact that
here I hadn't really had
experience playing them fall
and said well up against
snacks. That's kind of.
An old school matchup,
the other round you wanted to
look at was round 15. This one
felt like kind of a nail in the
coffin one for the side of
fury. I mean, we had them with
game religion, pull the
rotation slightly towards
outside. They threw three of
the smokes outside, really
indicating they're going to go
for that fallen is actually
trying to get back into ramp
and this is unfortunately one
of the weak spots of Moldova.
If I really have to pick on
him a little bit more off of
a bad map one or not. I
actually know it's a great
map. It was just that he
that's right. That moment right there that rifle situation is kind of why he's not always just topping the charts that sometimes it leaves a little bit to be desired and what with his a K with his M for he's absolutely an elite opera and when he has that weapon. Fantastic but with a rifle just want a little bit more sometimes.
Yeah, one of the other things that you said coming into this map was the fact that you've been very happy to see Hypex play right on the up
But as we saw in this game also on the rifle when it was necessary Ash somewhere is smiling saying you've got a good offer this time guys make it work
But yeah, I had a great game for sure
I had a handful of great op picks in the first half on the CT side with the rifle as mentioned
I mean yes
He was able to find those trades that were so desperately necessary for them to bring some of these rounds back for game
the game, but then obviously
can't forget the final round
in this game where he had the
trigger discipline, but you
could see in some of the
highlights there where he got
the off activated how he was
able to make it happen. But
yeah, again, let's just look
back at this one to wait off
of the tap and insufferce
bullet Molotow there is just
picture perfect. It is. It
is perfect. I would have
definitely not had the trigger
discipline or I would have
then I would have missed
them both because we've
seen it happen at the
pool. That's why you're
standing up here, though,
shots. That's fine. We all
have our skills. Okay.
What like I see purple
this is the one. And the
last one. Yeah, Yeah. Remember
the ultimate clutch? Remember
the ultimate clutch? Yeah.
Nobody remembers that one. I'm
sorry. What Which one? Are you
talking on Mirage? Is that
Crackow? It was last year. Yeah,
last year. You're going all the
way back to last year for an
ultimate clutch. I don't know
why I brought it up. We're
digging up. We're digging a
whole process. I'm just
letting you know I actually
watch everything. Okay Just
let one Polish hopper
thrive. Okay? Okay bring up
another one. Let's do that.
Um we're going to take a
break. I was just you
After this.
from outside on nuke to outside of the arena a little jog keep everything flowing because we're going into map 3. It is Mirage. They're they're smiley. They're not worried. They've been here before, you know, it doesn't always go perfectly, but the mark is of a good team is that they can always bounce back.
But will gamer legion finish the job completely against all odds here on the first day of last tribals.
this is pretty scary for Furia because coming into this series, one may have assumed, as I did,
that they would have picked Mirage going into this. So they have a lot in store for their T side,
their CT side also, just like we saw on Nuke, can be quite dynamic. Snacks has a ton of tricks
there with PR towards the A side of things. It's a scary proposition for Furia to be
one-one in a series where they were going into what could have been a punished pick
and they slipped up. Yeah, it's true. We're talking about Nuke as, okay, maybe they want
want to get some reps on it, Furia, to make it better.
But the win rate for Gamer Legion
is much more phenomenal when it comes to Mirage.
Now, one could argue the opposition
on which they played, right, on this map
is not as good as the opposition that Furia played.
But how do you take that into account,
because we've got a lot of unquantifiable in terms
of people that have stepped up for Gamer Legion today.
When major qualification is on the line so frequently
for a team like Gamer Legion, the competition is real.
even if the names that are in the server against them
aren't household, the stakes at hand
are arguably more impactful than what Fury is facing up
against on a regular basis.
So it's been a serious trial by fire for Gamer Legion
to even get those numbers.
And even if you scrape away some of that,
I think the foundation of what this team does
in Gamer Legion is still completely solid on Mirage.
I really think that this is a map
where when they've flipped to the T side,
I've seen stacks just run such a variety of plays
I think that's not just one
no where I was extremely critical
of him back in the day,
especially with G2 where I just
thought it was a lot of just
spamming set pieces.
But I feel like this team in
particular has a bit more up
their sleeves.
So I'm not even too worried if
they lose this knife round here.
Yeah, everything's good.
Everything's coming together a
little bit more.
You watching it?
Yeah, I'm watching it.
No, I'm looking at it.
Okay, okay.
It'll take all my analysis.
There we go.
Oh, okay.
Well, they are on T side.
It looks like then.
Yeah.
Okay.
So I think though this is
he's going to be a time for
because now that he gets to
just wield the off doesn't have
to worry too much about his
offensive rifling too much.
They're going to just stuff
that up into his hands. He's
going to have to try to break
up whatever it is that game
religion or trying to
construct in the rounds. And
I don't think that this guy
is going to have too bad
maps in an opening series.
Yeah, you've been flaming
him all day. So is he going
to be possible if you bring
up for you one more time?
sure.
By the way, did you remember now
what I was talking about with the ultimate thing on Mirage?
It was the trigger discipline.
It was.
It was.
So we'll see if Fallon pulls off anything
like that on the pistol round here,
as game religion probably are going to actually test them.
I feel like that's one thing I see a lot from GEO.
A lot of B hits on these openers.
But at the same time, I don't think Fallon's
going to fall into the same pitfalls that Ultimate did
in that famous clip that Sponge narrated.
If everybody remembers that one.
Now you remember.
You looked it up.
You googled it.
I didn't have to Google it.
I just needed some more explanation in the off camera.
I mean, there's added pressure, right?
Fallen announced that he's going to retire.
And I always think what does that do to everybody else, right?
Because he feels he has allegiance to them to make sure that they get a trophy
or that big trophy this year.
And the other way around, they're all thinking the same thing.
Depends. It's a two-edged sword for this one.
You either have the team firing up for it,
almost in a way a renewed honeymoon
where you just realize this is our last for all, the last dance.
Sometimes people go out to play,
This is our last for all the last dance.
Sometimes people go out guns blazing so many times you see a second gear that they shift
to that they didn't really have unlocked before.
But on the other hand, you'll sometimes see them just quake, they'll quake under the
pressure, the way that they'll, every situation just feels like they're second guessing every
action that they're going for.
And I feel like after that nuke, that might be in the back of their heads that this
is a real opportunity of a tournament.
It's very much a bridge compared to the 16 team or the 32 team slogs we sometimes have
in our season.
So this would be a great opportunity for Furia to just bounce back after a nuke that did
not go their way and show that they're actually a contender.
Conversely, it would be a huge scalp to take for Gamer Legion.
So is it possible, Moe?
As you said, fairy tales don't often times play out.
I mean, in the case of Furia, however, this would be a great time to start.
with a ramp into Astana coming up with a major coming up and with the fact that they also
should be fully ramped. This is a team that was so good towards the end of last year. There's
almost no discernible reason why they even had a drop-off in form. They're the same
players, they're building on the same sort of game plan that they've developed to
a point that they could take down all of your favorite teams inside of playoffs. And
And so also some of their biggest issues come from moments in the games.
You know, whether it's Molodoy in a Grand Finals or in front of a stadium, not in matches like this.
That's not where it should happen at all.
And, you know, as Mallory mentioned, maybe doubting some of their decisions after that last game of the Nuke,
while with Game of Legends being as comfortable as they are here on Mirage.
Let's see if that continues as a succinct pistol round comes in.
really try to squeeze out value from that position. That smoke will stop them. No, they jump through, but into the stack they go.
Three players in this site. Snacks making quick work of them and just like that, a bang and game of legion lock in a pistol.
That was through a smoke, into a stack and they still come out with the win.
That was a full frontal attack. Perfect really with the spacing. All the shots got hit. I mean, if you could ask for,
like couldn't have asked for a sort of a better setup to deal with that, but there is no changing the
fact that gamer legion just on the criteria of trading on that last map were able to win all these
gunfights versus furia, multi kill where they could ends, and it looks like mirage might be a little
bit of the same. They're coming into their most one map, this is where they usually pick,
you know, they're playing against some plumbers and firemen honestly sometimes, but
But again, it's the same thing as Nuke, lots of reps.
That's a map that Furia expected them to pick in this series and they're at least comfortable enough to float to a third.
To me, that says Furia have done their homework on Gamer Legion and know what to expect.
Let's see if that actually comes to matter in a game like this.
And you can see how a smoke like that doesn't necessarily give you all the advantages that you want to defend against it.
Three players jump them through on Cat, it's such a wide open choke point.
I think the important part for them was it wasn't one at a time. It was both sides of it, it was three players coming through, that's just hard to stop unless you have rifles.
I wasn't a massive fan of the way that they played on Inferno, but ever since then it's
been a whole different story.
Phase fans are cheering for Furia right now because that lower bracket suddenly gets
Very hot. If game will each and find the upsets.
It's a good time to go be nobody harm.
Nope.
This one guy standing in the kitchen dead.
one of the few skill jumps left in the game but even that they've made it
easier yeah but on cash you can still do the reverse mid boost yeah but they
also made that easier did they yeah they made it wider yeah of course they
did new friendly yeah anyone I remember when in CT hell on nuke you could
ladder jump onto the side man ladder to pallet well that but also the one you
doesn't even harder one you could do it in hell back off the ladder onto the
filing cabinet in hell oh yeah it's completely out there I have a tutorial on
that on oh damn I have a tutorial for every single skill jump in the game
yo on YouTube didn't have to do them in CS2 because other things just got
easier it don't exist anymore but every single one from CS go if the
Palatinate was the thing. Yeah, that was that that I miss
I was it was when they did the spider-man update where you could see people's legs moving when they climbed ladders and slowed down the ladder
Speed and then you can no longer fly off of it. What a shame
All for realism who asked for that
Grew up on Lord Viz skill jumps
Whatever the word is
Yeah, tutorials self-boost and whatever some people would be like you can't call it a self-boost that doesn't make any sense
What else would you call it?
It's doing something you'd need a boost for by yourself
Did you see if you're the other day?
Boosted a player on main on nuke from behind main, you know from like the dark area
You can still do that. You like spam jump
still something's left in the game but not a bad spot until thousand got that
kill third player here but this position just gets isolated these are I know
it's pistols right now these are clinical hits you know the space in the
trading it's all looking very nice for game lesion more of what we're talking
about in them having the reps the experience and the confidence with a
map in their pocket we heard their voice comms last map as well wow we can
actually play this game you know what they're playing it pretty damn well
here on mirage yeah what was the exact calm that was pretty good I guess
Pezitively.
An establishing shot of this half. Love the full rifle, bye.
Palace smoke push.
Cheeky boys.
Punish here from Yuri and Sandwich.
Would have been the perfect disrespect, Paul.
There wasn't a watch in. Yeah, that would have definitely tilted Fyria, so...
don't mind that stylistically at a game religion but now they're just getting
caught
one by one and out through another they even have the reload fury of the ladder
getting crazy with it I mean good cover
not today I like that they tried
and again and again and again three through the palace smoke
too many people give up never surrender
no
Yeah, oh nice frag you're from your kids are enough lines up, but this is him
It's rather still firing through that smoke reds completely sideline the volatile over the smoke
Couple more before all is said and done. That's a torsion break. Yeah, it's broken
See you buddy. I begs 1d5 oopsie daisy
easy. A full core press on middle. Every CT wants some action.
No thousand survive with this up. It doesn't seem like it. But how many kills do we get
before he goes down? That's the other question. 14L and he gets one. That's kind of crazy
because that was a flip, right? A little bit. I mean, Molotov running up top mid with
the office while they're insured that doesn't get out of hand.
The smoke work is too much.
It's like perfect.
Meant to be.
Okay, Furia not playing around here.
Seizing the bull by the horns.
Oh, and on a full buy.
Hypex, that's an interesting choice.
I'm not exactly the perfect distance weapon, it's better than the max head.
Yeah, okay, sure.
What about move speed?
Pretty good.
I'd say it's like a, it's like a mini M4.
That's selling it.
Yeah, yeah.
Are you buying?
Nope, I'm buying if it works.
Let's see.
I thought it was more oriented.
Straight up cat.
Ah, that's not fair.
Smoked spam, and he doesn't even get another gun.
to find a double, toss him, but the D can be as open, but bomb is lost, so you got bigger
problems here, Game of Legion. Oh, you know what? That is quite fruitful of a fight, an
AWP, and it's still a 2v3 with time. So CTs, you can't just chill just yet. You have
to make sure that Game of Legion aren't going to go for this first. Snacks round
the world and tell us that he just wants to give this a shot I mean what are they
gonna do can't just stand in the way of the knob is when a ball but snacks is
having to walk in case they're top mid and so that shaves time off 40 seconds
prior in comm waiting and he's worried about his flank well there are small
timings here available this year oh that could have been the whole thing
It was on purpose.
Look, OK, 20 seconds.
We're cooking, but you can't drop down that smart one
between the snacks and he had it right there for the taking.
That smoke lands.
I think you can get out middle and maybe something happens.
Yeah.
Just pixels off of that landing in the right spot.
A good effort.
I think a Mac 10 wins that for sure.
Furia, I'm going to fizzle out in this game reassuringly after a dismal nuke standing
toward the start here of Mirage.
the playoffs on the line remember rivals 3 out of 4 teams going into the arena and so yes it was
never going to be easy for Gamelige they're so close closer than they'll maybe ever be
so why stop now no room for a slow start to this event
especially again you look at the team list and your fury you're pretty happy with this draw
all but a flash here for gamer legion support these deagles but there's a round three splitting up
fucking for kills. Okay, Sir, I just had enough forming pistols. Okay, last bullet.
I'm not going to be able to
Yeah. All right. Sends a message
and it's personal.
All those been daked out by two
players now in the last two
rounds.
Yo, he's done it again. What a
Bomb's not making it in though.
Alright, attempt number two in the 2v3.
Oh! It's actually possible!
Slow down!
What a crazy couple of kills here between PR and Towson.
This is 2v5, but your kinder has crept back into the site.
Oh, it's ridiculous.
Oh, wow, he doesn't get the kill.
Oh, he'd be tilted about that.
20 seconds.
That was on a silver platter.
Good, nade.
Boom!
And PR, it's not easy to get this bomb down.
It's gonna have to fight for the site,
Kind of got the right idea.
Oh, I was 2v5 down to 2v2.
It just eagles are moving deadly now.
Oh, and locomotive.
That's crazy.
That's insane.
What's that sticking out?
Oh, ridiculous.
How do they do it?
The fury is still breath-easy.
I mean, that is four rounds in a row.
What's this new fangled window smoke?
No one's seeming to find holes in it anymore.
He knows what they're up to. He wants the demo. That's all I'm saying.
We all know about snacks.
I've seen too many polished smoke walks with Yuri in this position.
He said I'm starting sandwich.
Yeah, and I'm staying there.
Oh goodness, Cinda caught out.
It's a little messy.
Where's Ted?
You're still here waiting in the sandwich,
waiting for a mistake, a lazy clear tosser.
Will not be that guy.
Beautiful shot.
PR out palace at the right time.
And this Lurg about to catch a knife out.
Ollidoy thinks he's got all of middle under his domain.
Not today.
This Rato won't be too top performer in the server, but over the top of default, they spot him and take him by PR, he will finish his meal.
Did I miss something, or did Towson hit that headshot instantly switch his gun?
Yes, he did.
Okay.
What would possess him? I'm not sure.
Just trying to get further faster, I guess.
Wow.
I
Don't even knife that's that's just he's grassy and I love that fact that's ultimate disrespect. Oh, thanks for the gun buddy
Why would he want that?
Kassarato knows that's a fake smoke because he heard no tick and even five snacks trying
to pull back.
This B-Hick coming in quick right now and that was a necessary kill to make this round
interesting.
Heavy on the short side and Kassarato drowns him on this site.
Yeah, this one stings a bit.
The chance here to get a kill if he doesn't get peeked, but he will.
Five between Moldova and Kassarato.
That's mid control one.
They are doing well at getting these first kills on B.
We'll give them credit for that.
Something more sad to them for game religion,
getting desperate after this streak.
Have you ever pressed E by accident?
I can't even think of that.
How that could happen.
What, yeah.
Where's it, where's, which finger?
Where you going?
Where's it going?
Yeah.
It's a W and you just miss.
Unless he has it found differently,
but I can't even...
Yeah, that's crazy, man.
It's insane.
That was just pure reaction time then.
He's like a skin.
Oh my goodness.
What?
That's the window smoke.
Nice catch.
But that's great.
That's how he stops it from, because Fiora, one of those teams are always, you can always
jumping up on the little bench, spamming the smoke and, you know, finding little holes.
If Snacks has a lighter for that, that's something.
Yeah.
And so he has been known.
For his next gen utility, it doesn't get blocked.
OK, but I do think it's a bloom, so don't worry about it.
Oh, OK.
It looks different.
We've seen you can do spamming it to no avail.
Case or auto for kills in metal.
He is just living in the valley right now.
Yeah.
16 and 4. Everyone looks a little bit tilted this game, winning or losing.
Fury are tilted, they're on a third map. Sure.
Game of Legion are tilted, Fury have six rounds in a row.
Yeah. Especially how much they could try to push
them back out of middle get connector splits going stop house guy don't work oh my goodness that's
next level out of case or auto it's just a standard move as well but it completely catches game
legion with their pants down the hype right hidebacks basically saw that it's gonna shoot there
right between them all right even molodoy pulls back he knows not to go too far here
They will be able to walk right into connector wall with no boost as your kinder rotates
Fair play, I've made it in but I still want to win this fight, my kinder looks very aware
Oh this is just 4 seconds away from winning mid on both ends
And Yuri's right here, right ready for the round.
High-pitched follows up, but instant repeat.
Can we have mid-wiz close, boys?
Completely.
It's a bit of an early scare by a gamer legion,
but Furia have really landed on their feet.
Brazilian shallow them down now.
It's definitely not supposed to be able to get two
when you're getting held like that.
What are you doing? Look at that!
That's got to be frustrating for them.
Now this is your buy to finish the half.
Full A exec.
There we go.
You're getting in there.
I'd be scared to stand here with the palace pushes
Yuri's gonna take the cover now and see if I guess all part of the plan a lot of footsteps
So he's PR throws a Molly. He's just gonna get full spam
Blocking the flash and blocking men in the smoke Reds will still catch him. There's nowhere to run
Mac 10 chases down takes an AWP on PR. We might just put it right down the eye of
Furia in this fight around to the half
I'm down, spawn controlled.
You've got an off-on missile, 5v3. Now it's a 4v2.
How do you lose this?
I don't know if you do, you know, bang a shot.
Coming alive right at the end here, him and Rez combining for four kills.
And Quesarato's had a great game, but this would be something magical.
Something special! Something Quesarato!
Orp on his angle, Cacerato falls, and a nice try but not meant to be as Game of Legion at least get out with five.
You can't survive it.
Last time someone said that to me, they may need that, Joe.
I'd say you're wrong.
We're going to do this again, second gate.
No, but next time we're doing it...
We'll help you.
We'll help you.
We'll help you.
We'll help you.
We're doing it with Helm's Kitchen.
Kitchen, baby.
Kitchen, baby.
Power!
Formula!
What's that?
What's that?
What's that?
What's that?
What's that?
What's that?
What's that?
What's that?
Yeah.
You have the best one.
You have the best one.
I don't think you go.
Thank you, good cause.
Have an action.
Scalpel.
Scalpel.
The one real tool.
Whoa, it's so good.
Stop trying to cauch me, dirt horse.
Oh!
Stop trying to cauch me, dirt.
Drop, ass.
Drop the fuck.
I'm not gonna...
Fuck.
What's up?
Woo!
Losing the plot.
We gotta get some bloopers of it.
Losing the plot.
Representing the mighty mouths we got, Donald V. Donaldson.
Parker, what's your last name?
Parker?
Parkhurst.
Sister Donald Booth CSGO.
Donnie over here.
Who looks like the team to beat in the final week?
Are you sure it's you reading the question?
Are you sure this is the question in there?
Do you want a bet?
No.
Because you don't know what's going to happen if you lose the bet.
How would N-A-T describe Faze?
Clips.
that was a good one.
Fury awoke up right before bedtime, here on this first half of Mirage storming through
despite a pistol round converted by Gamer Legion.
The rest of the half was all Fury, Gamer Legion finished.
up before bedtime. That just brought back some bad memories, man. That's how you waste the day.
It does feel like that. You can see it on their faces as well. But they have recovered quickly.
As soon as waking up, they've had a very productive evening, it feels like. And if they win, I think
it, you know, none of it matters really. They won't be the ones that have to go down to lowers,
go up against phase potentially. But that's certainly not a guarantee. Another look to the
to the pistol round start here for game religion.
For a second.
Stuck in the window there.
Three more targets here, however.
Get ready with the stack.
I mean, they won on that T side.
Everyone's on the B side now.
Furia finding the kills, but the flank isn't quick.
And Fallen's got the bomb.
If he doesn't get it all, it's fast and he does.
Well, there's still a chance, actually,
the snacks coming in from behind.
He's clinical though.
There's a spot.
Good info gathering.
Rez takes one off and snacks can buy some time and wait for Rez to take some space.
Both players looking snacks his way.
He is drawing them in, but Fallon shows him how it's done.
This is first jump into the window and it's set up was just enough time.
Really not, Rez.
My goodness, Fallon rolling back the years.
Yeah, he wants to go to bed right now.
Three frags on that pistol. Lock it in for Furia.
As they say, sleep is earned.
He's doing the first watch.
Very nice.
I wonder if psychologically it does something for you if you're falling as well.
Let me talk about how it looks for us from the narrative perspective and for his teammates
but even for him to be announcing so far ahead of time, I don't know, maybe it just fires you up.
Go out with nothing unsaid that will entry for falling in this round and like I can't think
of a scarier prospect than someone like falling leaving it all on the table, you know.
Yeah, what are you going to do? Phone it in for eight months?
Yeah, because otherwise, maybe you do a little bit if you don't think it on the other side of it, you're actually done, you know?
If you think that I could just play out three more years and make some more money and, you know, maybe get a winner or two along the way,
but instead you actually put a little bit more pressure on yourself, and I'm sure he's someone who probably needs some pressure.
You know, he's somebody who's achieved heights that most will never.
And to look for a second renaissance this many years later.
And like we were joking about back on Inferno, you don't walk back through a time, man.
When are you announcing like that?
When you do fall in, it's all good.
Well, allow it, you know.
I won't tell anyone.
I'll delete them all.
I mean, we can't stop you.
Prank, they got one more in me.
Just when I'm out, they pull me right back in.
Oh, he all shot this evening.
and Rez combined for a couple of kills. Wait a second, this is full eco right now with just
upgraded pistols. We have no Kevlar. Oh, still Snacks is making it work. One shot will do it.
Casewater low health. Extremely low. And that smoke fang is perfect for Gamer Legion. Blink,
and you miss it. The pistol upset with a Snacks Deagle. Unreal. And that's going to flip this
one on a 10. And a timeout from the T side. Yeah. Hold on, let's get this together.
Whoa, what are we doing?
You just wanted to go for an honest 8 play, and then move on to the next rifle round.
Is that so much to ask?
Shake hands on a nice, easy converted pistol.
Oh, dude, no, we were trying so hard, guys.
Rain it back in.
We get it, you want this.
You know, I'm at like a 45, 55%. I think game relief and absolutely could pull this back.
Okay. CT Mirage, man.
Yeah, CT Mirage.
And that's a vibe injection.
Yeah, you see the opportunity at hand and you, you know, winning on an eco is winning a tempo.
Ooh, and the investments. Ooh, two tech nines. Two AKs and a Galileo here from Curia.
We're gonna need high-packs to perform in this half, so 3 and 12 right now.
Sure, we can forgive that T-Side, but CT AWPing at the moment.
Gonna be a requirement.
Yeah, with this prototype you mentioned, very quickly this game is even.
What do you want, Snacks?
Jump up, spots him.
That was such a great chance.
Oh no.
That's huge.
Oh, and he doesn't really work out.
Wait, he doesn't know about this. Yeah, surely Snacks just walks out the other way right?
He's waiting
Where's he gone? Wait? He thinks case for auto might have gone out the jungle and case or auto the way he plays
He might not move here from here for a minute. Oh
Dear back. He looks ready for one more but low health case or auto should just get this prefire
Kind of has a cover from above
This is a weird old round right now the fury of might just have something to say in
and Hypex's attention drawn to this window room.
He knows he's in position,
but he can't do anything about it.
Ah, he's unspining.
I thought Hypex saw him.
Yeah, me too.
What are we talking about here?
What are we doing?
Back out of the window,
but not for long, toss and punishes.
Be hit coming in, nobody's in the site.
You'll have to get organized.
They can pretty quickly.
Rez has to make sure this is all good now.
Oh, line up, baby.
It's a gamer legion, back on the board, building off that eco-win.
Money was shit.
It was.
The attack pause, they invested fully into that one, so this is looking like a potential
tight game.
hard situation to distill with the window lurks that took place well well well
this is turned into a bit of a mess now for fear yeah
this will not come easily
Careful with that reload.
Oh, he did!
Get time to get out of there.
Flash lands.
Oh, the eagle has got.
Hits one hard.
Now they're everywhere.
Something to say in the back of the side.
The only man to stop Furia from winning this eco
and he is good for the job.
Lovely mechanics.
Flicks back to find the third.
It's game a legion right behind them.
It's always sad when it's like Towson and PR.
They just have so much in common mechanically.
I think PR is just that like touch better when it comes to game sense or whatever but
Pantousin is so sharp and he got that ace back on inferno that was inspired it as well
It's getting a bit scary very scary
See what this guy does for Furia PR love this position
I flashed in as well. He's even gonna get the chance to escape. He doesn't take it.
Oh, that's sick of it! On the jump! What a message! What a menace!
Damn, right into the rifle round. I mean, Viria are already down to three grenades.
that one might be beyond reproach uh game religion could have a tight game on their hands they play their cards right
following up with a kit of utility by himself they have to simplify the situation they can't just go for something long and drawn out and I mean look look at the counter play here from snacks they already know it's not the A site three players waiting for them
for him. Oh, dear. Hypex gonna get that first free shot on a
kid go and he'll nail it gets into the side as well. There's too
many players here. There's not enough room. Hypex putting
bodies in bags and you maybe want to save here, boys. But
snacks is lurking behind and they know the push came out
as Hypex is already in the window. Snacks and his own
One more time. Again, he's got another.
Uh-oh.
R-Row.
Where are you gonna go?
Damn, everyone dies.
Oh, dear.
No casualties for gamer allegiance.
They tie this up.
This is happening right now.
Yeah, big time.
9 to the 9 on the third map for the playoffs for gamer legion.
What would be so funny is if Snacks after this game tweeted out I'm retiring at the
end of this year.
That would be so funny.
He has the opportunity to do the funniest thing.
more standards here for Furia. I mean, dude, think about how much K-Sharp was melting them
in middle on CT. How a game will lead you back in this game, full blind, flash shot,
connects for high-pex, and hiding out behind the box, and you're always to strike. One
is fine. There's a gun that's perhaps gifted, but with no jungle smoke. Oh dear, what
are you going to do? Snacks has come right through this, into your Kindis Technite,
opportunity presents itself. 2v3. Patiently waiting, but he saw the shadow. You know someone's
up there. You kind of got wall banged out. And Quesarato, while his de-connects, he needs
one hell of a clutch to bail Furia out of this predicament.
Yeah, it would take a heroic effort right now, but honestly, it could be imperative.
With the amount of HP, this is a winnable clutch. Of all players on this team, you'd
want to live in this moment. Not only would it be Quesarato, but Quesarato today,
22 and 12.
Oh!
And we call out kill from highpacks.
Three kills a half for highpacks.
Huge.
Quite a redemption right now, hitting some very important shots.
And now the lead is in play and there's just so much money that's been made for game
relief.
Yeah, they lose three players here.
Hit Wild in this previous round to keep the off in play.
Wow, that's great.
wall back there.
Getting high tier high pegs.
Knows he's having serious impact on the CT side.
I just can't believe this is the same game that Cacerata was 18 and 4 running up top middle.
This is seriously coming down on the wire.
Can't sleep on anyone these days.
Just comes at you so quick.
No molodoy up and out, you know, overall it's just not a great series now for molodoy.
You have one really strong map, but it could be two bad ones if he doesn't just get
it together quickly.
Oh, and highbacks, he just keeps getting better by the round.
everywhere fallen found an only case or auto to rely on a middle came a lesion
slink back they're giving away nothing right now
they're playing an advantage earn the right to turtle up
I'm very good at this shell previous realm this happened it was snacks push they ramp
went to the full flank on a beat now there's no real prophylaxis from the CT side there
just content to wait and they have this lean already that's correct I mean
Furia are circling the same site that they're stacking.
Oh my goodness, GK!
Bomb gets spotted, but that's two players dead on A.
I think you can escape there as optimistic at best.
Snack's still in the connector, but no luck.
Kill available to him unless Molodoy moves early.
That's a window peek, but Molodoy tames the spray quite nice indeed.
Double kill secures this situation for Furia.
Even though Molotov pays a price
There's no winner this round snacks
Yeah, you say his name and he'll appear. Those are two important kills
Also because this game isn't over even though they win this round
There's still so much money to chew through for game religion like they're very healthy economically speaking
They're buying full strength next round all the utility in off in play
So what's it bad?
Both teams burning timeouts now. It's been pretty one-sided across the series to dominant maps
With a lot on the line chance to play
In the arena here in Fort Worth, you know how the crowds get in taxes man. It gets rowdy. Yeah
Yeah. Three rounds separate either of these teams.
You're getting the UTLN. Fury, go for the control.
Hype X is here.
And that was a 45 victory for Fury.
That window smoked out.
Yeah, they left it open a couple of rounds.
Oh dear, you can't, uh, yeah, he took a risk with that one, he pays for it.
Snacks push forward by the molotov, but strong position to commit in here, and that moli gets
put out by the smoke in front of it, so Snack tries to hide out that way, right?
Yeah, I don't know, he'll be kind of out of the round if he just sits there.
Oh my goodness, Snacks is willing to risk it and let them pass it.
got a kill. That's deep in the apartment. Second door finds caseurato. Snacks right
beside fallen who favors in this fight. It's snacks five V two. And this is Furia who can't
afford the hemorrhaging economy. Game of Legion have money for days. Honestly, might have
looked great if your kinder got that one killing connector. But the fact is that's
a third round this half already that they just give up the opening inside of middle.
No immediate trade already playing from the back foot.
I think this one's a save.
Yeah.
They need the money.
They need to buy.
You ain't winning a 2v5 in game legion.
Yeah, it might be last time Maldoy season up
if he doesn't save this.
Not even sure if that's gonna be the difference maker.
How can it be?
Might feel like he has to force something.
That's pretty critical of the fact that Gamer Legion were really trying to force the issue
and taking mid in the first half and couldn't win it.
Well the same thing is happening to Furia now.
They dropped, yeah they dropped the double orb at the end as well so Torsten despite no
one dying I think of your Furia you're expecting that double orb to remain but they've
actually dropped it off.
It's something Vitality do a lot right.
Robs will never like double orb two rounds in a row.
They don't want to get abused on their bombsite.
Wait, is that a real stat?
No, it's not real, but it's anecdotal.
Like, Robs will always trade off an orb.
Like, he'll pull it out at 10-10, and then he'll trade off to an AK if it works.
Never know what that guy's gonna do next.
I'm sure he's done it a couple of times, but it was more often than not.
As I wooed you to talking.
I
Don't mean for that boost
Connected on the smoke
Another opening and that's through smoke smoke. Yeah, I don't know if Yuri was lining up that Molly for underbalk, but
He did something to make res mad Yuri 5 and 11
My goodness just out of it now
That's yeah, okay. Oh snacks will be upset they let that happen
Yeah, he knows that they've been doing a good job of like keeping it tight when they're in their 5v4s
And they're still past a minute. Oh, they're so late to top middle
Just get out of here you can escape res you might have to hang around for a second
That's a punish, but I'll through the window right out of nowhere
They crunch me together triple from pr hunt down for hypex
And hypex the recovery of a lifetime in this game
That's a huge find. If you let him go around the corner, it's a whole different round.
That might just send game a lesion into the playoffs over Furia here.
Money has always been an issue for Furia in these last few rounds.
Where did PR come from? Did he jump out the window?
I have no idea.
Yes, he did.
Triple kill, flying in, three players scrapped.
And it still came down to a 1v1.
And Molotov, you would have bet on him every day of the week for high-packs.
It's too quick.
Swings in.
Oh, there are going to be some salty fist bumps after this.
Yeah.
Painful game for Furia.
They are left with Galils and AKs.
This ain't the way you want to start.
But you've got to give Gamer Legion all the credit.
They've been a two-way team in this map.
In Hypex, despite the slow start, the impact is there now.
And just way too many 5v4 starts for them.
Oh, another one.
Oh, Snax on T-ikindah.
Yeah, he's been getting totally countered.
Yeah, Snax has had a bunch of impactful multi-kills on the CT side.
This is four kills away from playoffs for Gamer Legion.
The de facto bottom of the group, the one you're ready to doubt.
And here they are, two kills from Playoffs, Furia, falling on their face.
Torson's aggression, ready to cut this bomb right off and there is nothing left but Yuri on five kills.
This is 9-5 down for Gamer Legion, all the way to a clean win in regulation.
And Furia.
Devastation, falling short here into the lower bracket.
Game of the Legion with an upset with all eyes on this squad with high-pitched showing recovery and PR at Reds giving us a damn good day to game.
A very first upset of the tournament and what an upset I mean, a great summary there from Hugo, right?
The fact that all these stars are lining up, that they had to do it on this map, that Hybrids has a recovery, which I always think is super impressive, especially in situations like this.
We're going to talk to him in a minute as well, Maui.
But wow.
Super, super surprising stuff.
Happy to see it for Gamer Legion.
I mean, they've just been toiling away
in these local land circuit events in Europe.
And I feel like all of their efforts now
are being rewarded.
This is a massive, massive victory for them
in terms of VRS points that they're going to accumulate,
that they're going to steal away from a FURIA team that
was looking to try to correct some of their own form
into this kind of tournament.
saw a great individual plays from a handful of their guys, but honestly I think they were
just so active in the way that they played the CT side, the way that they were able to
play off of each other as well.
So frequently they also understood what was going to be happening next into the round,
so props to game religion well earned.
Playing the long game.
HyperX congratulations!
Oh, thank you, thank you.
We were talking a little bit about your recovery, right?
Slow start.
Tell me a little bit about how you felt Mirage.
Oh yeah, it was a slow start.
I think I was thrown in all of you at the beginning of the game and then I was
coming in and I was just whipping and dying.
So yeah, it was not the best style of the day, of the third map, I mean, yeah, I mean, I was I always look at CT as a new start to the game, and I know my CT is powerful on Mirage, so I felt confident.
Absolutely, it's not about how you you begin, it's about how you end, right? Tell me a little bit about, we talked a lot about game religion and how you you were really taken to VRS route and you played a lot of opponents that weren't necessarily of the caliber or someone like Fioria, but you did get a lot of reps.
How did you think the adjustment for you went playing against this top tier opponent here?
I mean, I think we feel more comfortable against the high-tailed owners anyway.
I mean, it was quite uncomfortable playing the lower tier.
I think the motivation is of course different.
You expect to win, kind of everyone expects you to win.
So that's why I think it's also harder.
Here we come as the underdogs and yeah, I'm glad we were able to perform.
I had a question because obviously one of the big headlines about game religion is Ash.
He was kind of a big part of the team, but now you have IMD behind you.
What does he provide in terms of just as a coach really?
I mean, he's a massive Joker but he just says things how they are so I think you can learn along from that
He he will never lie to you
He just if he doesn't like something he doesn't like something and he'll tell you and then you can kind of argue about it or you
Can state your point and you come to a conclusion
So I think I'm learning along a lot from him, but he knows that sometimes I get annoyed by it
But he at the end of the day he only wants better for the team
So I think that's good. Another thing I want is your take on AnimGraph too. Yeah
Okay, what do you think about holding angles how the game feels right now?
I think it's worse. Not gonna lie. Yeah, I think now I feel like when I get shot with the AWP
I'm kind of beatboxing with the crosshair. My crosshair just keeps going up and shaking. So yeah, I don't know
I think it's worse, but I think it's just a matter of getting used to it. Is there pros and cons or is it just simply worse?
I mean for me as well as I play a lot of AWP. So I think that's why I but with the rifle I feel crisp
So maybe maybe for the rifle is it that? Okay. Okay. Nice. You guys are in playoffs, right?
That's that's really nice
I guess for you to be on such a big stage to get there and stuff like
It almost feels like you're only one one match, right?
You still have that winter match to get to around further immediately,
but how do you react to getting to show what you're worth?
You know, if you're worth your medal on that big stage?
I mean, I'm really happy.
That's going to be my first stage ever in my life.
So yeah, it's probably going to be a bit shaky,
but I think I'm going to be able to use it for better.
And yeah, we are happy.
But right now the next game is against Na'Vi.
Yeah.
So that's what we're going to focus on.
And hopefully we can reach semi-final.
What do you think?
I mean, I feel like also something I want to touch on
It's just the, you're, you're op-ing in general.
I feel like this is the first time in a wild game
religions had a, I would say you've been the best
offer for them for a couple of years now.
I know that things have changed with the team.
So it's not like you can speak on years of the past,
but I guess in terms of your own op-ing style,
what is, what has really helped you the most
develop it at this level?
I mean, I think the first three months at the end
of the last year when I joined, I was quite stressed.
I know a lot of guys are on me and the tough
situation in game of region overall.
So yeah, I was stressed every game, basically.
But since New Year's, I kind of managed to adapt myself
and get used to the guys.
And now I know that they believed in me.
Obviously, we lasted without changing me through the break.
So that gave me a lot of hope that they see what they see in me.
And yeah, since then, I just feel more and more comfortable
every event.
So I'm glad I'm able to show up.
And hopefully, it's just going to get better.
Yeah, you're paying it back in spades, for sure.
We're really excited to see you on the big stage.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, guys.
Thank you.
I'll let you go.
It's, of course, going to be a quite difficult match
up for them versus Na'Vi.
but now that they've got the scalp of Furia,
let's talk about that a little bit actually.
You did say, you know, this is a team that is really good,
but they can drop games like this,
but for me, it's a little bit shocking
that they do it over the course of three games, right?
Well, I think they would have really recovered on Mirage.
I also just think that game religion
as a team themselves are kind of hard to read sometimes.
I don't think that they serve the same kind of style
in every single round.
You don't know whether it's gonna be a set piece.
You don't know if they're playing off of the last default that they ran.
And I feel like Fury were playing catch up a lot in this one.
They couldn't really outline how to be aggressive enough themselves in order to
to have enough info, but not to take too many bad risks.
So that came back to bite Fury in this one.
I feel like also some of the some of the individuals were just not quite there
for them. I think Yuri who was insane at Rio was sadly nowhere to be found
here on the third map.
So that's obviously pivotal in them actually having that little bit of X factor to take over or really cleanly dispatch of a team like gamer Legion.
I agree. I think if you look across the three maps, we've had some shocking performances from a few members of the team, right?
You mentioned Yuri, you said Molotoy also after that, that map won and you didn't really recover on Mirage either.
So that's not what you want.
Like I think it's a conversation that we had earlier about the pressure of this situation, right?
right because the pressure was already super high on them to get those trophies
after the second half of last year now there's this clock right behind you that
saying you've only got a few left that can't feel good no I don't think that
can ever feel good when when are you ever gonna perform better in a
situation like that I think the the two sides of the coin that we tried to
preface this situation with where one is you play with ultimate freedom you
know that this is the last dance that you just go all out on every single
the team. I think that's a
great thing. I think that's
a great thing. I mean, it's a
great situation, but I feel
like everybody's just thinking
to themselves in the back. I
have to do this for fallen,
and they just also felt the
roar of the fandom there in
Brazil. They know how many
people are relying on them to
perform well. So now that's
also just weighing on them. So
there's all these different
factors and situations, and
also they're trying to
chase the ghosts of themselves
in 2025. They were so good
as a team, and I don't
think that they've ever
that's going to be quite
difficult for gamer legion.
Well, you know, I say that
and they just beat Furia and
they will have phase versus
Furia as well. Interesting
matchup for sure. Oh man, I
feel like this is going to be
if you're you don't correct
things in that matchup. You
got to ring some major
alarms because that that face
today look like they have a
lot to catch up on, so
furious should be able to
get some wind back in their
sales with a very good
to catch up on, so Fury should be able to get some wind back in their sails with a victory in that lower bracket match.
Yes, who knows? Let's take a look at the schedule for tomorrow, our second day, and our final day of playing here to see who will all join us in the playoffs.
Another four best of threes coming our way. Foot vs. Trollis. Foot, man, today. Like, they gave the vitality their first dust two loss in forever.
they have Kulio standing in and was playing insanely like I was a little sad
when we heard that Longs wouldn't be here right because this has been a
surging lineup but you know maybe there's a chance. I think that the best that
foot should think about this is that they do have that chance if they just
got completely blown out of the water by Vitality with Kulio playing then
you're just gonna write this tournament off completely but now that you've
already shown a little bit of fight taking Dust 2 off of Vitality ending a
streak that they were holding since all the way back in November now
Now you're thinking to yourselves, okay, even though this is under adverse situation
or conditions, we can still gain some points here.
We can build some confidence with this team and hopefully also just secure some prize
money.
I feel like nobody talks about that.
Do people hate money now or something like that?
It's like not done.
It's not done.
It's about the glory.
Yeah, exactly.
No, get some prize money while you're at it.
Yeah, it's about the dollars as well.
I also see G2 Vitality there tomorrow.
That was such a great matchup back in Rio, but then Hunter wasn't even there, right?
I wonder if they can replicate that tomorrow
because Vitality didn't exactly look like themselves.
No, no, no, no.
This was a good day to try to catch Vitality off.
Foot tried.
G2 have their own chance tomorrow.
And I feel like the G2 lineup has been powering up too.
The local land circuit that they've been playing as well,
similar to what we just saw Gamer Legion get out of
and find Victory out of.
I feel like there is definitely a chance
that they have put some pieces together
and that this new lineup is in a honeymoon.
We'll see.
Let's talk a little bit about stocks, NovaShot stocks.
It'd be exact like, where are you,
where are you getting them?
Where are you taking them tomorrow?
Okay, well, I feel like first we need to see
some of the numbers here for the tokens
on all of these teams.
We see that foot right now the token is quite expensive,
wouldn't probably be going for that.
I'll probably just go for an underdog then.
I think if a straw says then the head to head
versus foot, are we really thinking
when the odds are stacked against the straws here
I'm not going to be a fan of
the game. I'm not going to be
a fan of the game. I'm not
going to be a fan of the game
as if they're supposed to be
the underdog. I'm taking the
underdog on. You know, I mean,
that's still Astralis is full
lineup. They were also just
in a grand final of the
tournament recently. So I
know foot beat them in that
grand final, but it was with
their best player. So Hey, I
feel like I would be putting
my Nova shot tokens on a
straws. Okay, Nice foot
Astralis. Actually, it's
kind of a modern rivalry
Yeah, there we go. So well done indeed. You did. You will them. I am just patting myself on the back.
You are. Yeah, I say I'm the kind of guy that almost wins a clutch and I type NT to myself. You do? It's kind of cute.
Yeah, yes. Yeah, for sure. For sure. Like, yeah, you know, just got to keep the positive mental attitude, PMA.
It's been a long day. I'm not gonna lie. Someone was talking in my ear. I didn't really hear what you said. We're gonna sign off.
Positive mental attitude. That's all I got to know. PMA.
Well, thank you so much for joining us today and watching in this, uh, yeah, full day, long
day for sure.
Another one tomorrow to see who locks in those final spots in the playoffs here at Blast
Rivals 4-4.
Good night.