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I'm your host, James Banks, and I'll be taking you through the games today with the lovely
Vubba decided me who is looking like he's a lot more refreshed today.
How are you feeling, mate?
James, I got like 12 hours sleep last night.
I feel incredibly tired because it loops back around.
You get too much sleep.
You are yet again tired.
It's just a never ending cycle,
but soon enough you will be in Bolter
and then you'll also be jet lagged as well.
So, you know, you put it all to cover your way, mate.
Nothing positive is coming out of this for you,
but there was some positive results in yesterday.
This is what we got in your screens right now
of what went down and liquid continued,
that dominant form that was very impressive, right?
But we'll go through some of this
because I would say right, game by game yesterday
was a lot of excitement, a bit of back and forth.
Only the liquid and the mouse games
are really one sided with it.
So let's start with where we started yesterday,
Dendeley taking on phase.
It looked like doom and gloom for Dendeley.
It looked like they were gonna be completely blown
out of the water, but they did give us a surprise on Mirage.
Yeah, I mean, all the big names won yesterday,
including phase, but not in the way you would have expected.
You know, this is phase, they pick up the immediate incredibly dominant victory on Dendeley's pick.
I thought they were just going to roll this one over, but then Dendeley actually had some fight.
They did have some fight. They managed to get themselves that Mirage win, but after that, right, Cash is the wheelhouse of FaZe.
We got some players on that team and knows what they're doing with it, and they held their own from start to finish.
And I think this is going to be a good deciding map for FaZe going into a lot of matchups because people are still floating out Cash here.
after that right we got to see liquid back in action and you said the favourites one does that mean you put liquid as the favourites over G2.
I wouldn't say they were the favourites. I would say they're at least one of the big names you know they're they're a big name that's going to be headed to Malta.
That's what we that is what we want to be seeing but they they did it in dominant fashion. I mean that's that's Elish.
Elysia is pulling off what we're seeing from Zyrshtyn in Maus, which is just all of a sudden he's the new dog.
He's the new best player in the world for two weeks at a time, at the very least.
Well, when it comes to two weeks at a time and being the new big dog, Astralis,
they wanted to make sure that Hotu was not a new dog that they would take them down again.
Remember, Astralis already lost Hotu in the Starladder Star Series full event, and that was a problem.
They lost 2-0 both in overtime.
They looked a bit nervous and worried at times,
but this was an important win to get them to land,
which is what they've been working towards.
Yeah, I mean, Hantu has been looking really impressive
and Astralis has really been struggling
to actually get the firepower behind them in these series,
but they managed to do it this time around
and that's what matters.
And a team that we've been enjoying
and what we saw from them early on was focused, right?
We did see some glimmers of hope,
I think on Dust2 within this matchup,
but after that, it did quickly fall apart.
They are the less experienced team.
We did have Maus as massive favorites and they kind of showed it, I would say.
Yeah. I mean, Banjo has looked really impressive for focus.
Getting the one win, I think it is pretty solid for them.
But this is a Maus team, regardless of a few changes,
regardless of changing the IGL, regardless of having no aura whatsoever.
They're still a team that's supposed to be taking down teams like that.
And they do it. They've done it for years.
They don't lose to teams like a focus.
or if they do, they immediately blow up their roster right afterwards. That's that's what
mouse does. Oh yes, we've seen that once or twice now from the mouse camp. But today we
have four more games coming your way. Four more spots, the final four spots for the land
in multi that'll be taking place next week. And this is what we've got on our cards for
today. Right. So spirit, a hundred fees to end the day with wild card Mongols before
foot 3D max and we're starting with pain taking on N. I. P. Just give me your first favorite
matchup to look at here. I think foot 3D max is going to be interesting, but I actually
think N. I. P. Payne might be the closest of the matchups. I feel like we're going to
have some decided games today and this one is actually going to be, I think it's going
to be a three mapper. Well, I want you to join me and the viewers at home can take part
this as well. I want you to have a bit of fun with me and finish my sentence. Are you ready for this?
Let's do it. Okay, so for the first game I'm looking at here, right? And this means you've
got to really dig deep in it. A hundred thieves will humble Donk and make some magic happen
against spirit. But how? They will do it because Glaive is the goat IGL. Okay, I don't even believe
Gleave is the good IGL. He's allowed to talk all game coaches are allowed to IGL in this
one. And the same way they talked about Sonic IGLing and scrims for Astralis, Gleave is
going to IGL gives me to some insane mid round calls and they're going to beat Sibir. Easy.
I like that. You're kind of cooking. You worked really well with that. I tried to throw you
a bit of a hard one. I threw the magic name in there because you wouldn't throw him under
a bus in some way, but you went for glaive, but you also didn't sell me on it because
you didn't believe in it, man. I believe in glaive as a great IGL. I think he's the second
best of all time. I actually do think it matters. I do think it really does matter. You can
talk this entire time. It's just going to lose. They beat Falcons. Yeah. Yeah. I mean,
almost lost the energy. You're, you're, you're making a good argument, but the problem is
spirit has dark and the hundred thieves has rain and the fight. I they've got some solid,
you know, legacy players, but these are legacy players. Okay. Talk is one for today and for
tomorrow and for the future. Okay. Let me ask you this then. I'm just going to stay on
this a little bit longer because it's not our game, right? But I mean, if we go pound
a pound players. Yes, shero and yes, don't beat out the hundred thieves alternatives.
But what about the other three? It's still, I mean, at best you can say the other three
are a wash. Okay. Maybe, maybe you could argue it, but like don't shero compared to the,
the opposition is, it's, it's night and day. It's night and day, it's enough. Yeah.
All right. What about our next game? Our next game? I'll hit you with a question. All right.
I'll hit you with the finish my sentence. If wildcard are to beat Mongols, NACS is blank.
Is absolutely dead because the only way that happens is if the Mongols, their whole studio
boot camp area blows up. They can't connect their computers. They can't connect their mice.
They don't know how to connect to the server.
Something has to go so horribly wrong for Mongols to lose that game.
That is impossible in my mind.
We have Darkmeister, Olafmeister reincarnated.
He went and had a Mongolian child, and this is what we've got from it.
It's just a secret love child he has, right?
This is not true. I'm so sorry, Olaf.
But we can see that Darkmeister has the skill.
He can AWP, he can do it all.
And then Ticorac, he's just happy. He's just enjoying life.
He's learning English to make sure he can help Mongols
with doing some interviews.
is now gone. It's all working in their favor. Wildcard is not liquid. Wildcard also only
use chat GPT to build their rosters. And that's only going to take you so far.
I'm going to fail you on this quiz. Okay. The answer was is so back. The Mongols and
ACS is so back. We're so back James. We've got liquid. We've got wildcard that are definitely
going to lose. They're definitely losing. You're totally right there. But if they win,
they are so bad. I think is we keep saying in ASO back, but every team just has three
North Americans. They can't even feel five North Americans, bro.
That is why NACS is so bad. We recognize our limitations. Smart gameplay. Absolutely not.
Shoot them in the head and have some smart gameplay imported. Absolutely. All right.
for the last one, right? I'm going to give you this. If 3D Max is to beat foot, what
does Kersi need to do? What rating does he end the series with?
He needs to drop a 1.5. I think that's what he dropped. There's something similar against
magic. If he can do it again, they've got a chance. They've got a chance. Stylistically,
they've got a chance. They don't have the fragging. The problem is the fragging.
You know what's quite fun. You look at this matchup as well. The history is that both
times foot have played 3D Max, they've lost. So they can't seem to deal with the start.
So of course he can pop off, I'm going to agree with you, it might be a possibility even though foot are massive favourites in this one.
Alright, and finally right, for this one, on the game that's coming up your way, if Nip are to win against Payne, what will happen?
If you were to win today and eliminate Payne, it would be because of...
It would be because of us staying in the game, not tilting, and hopefully not losing anti-ecos.
That's been one of our issues lately, but I would say, yeah, if we can do that and stay ahead in the game,
then I think we have a good chance winning today.
Perfect. Lovely. Thank you very much for that.
And a bit about you, man. I want to know, when did you first want to become an AWPer?
I mean, that's a dream I've had since I started playing, basically.
I mean, I also played with my older brother, who was the AWPer, right?
And I mean, I've always played the second AWPer a lot, especially in my first team and
heroic a lot with Kadeon and the guys.
I played the second AWPer as well.
So I mean, it's always been a dream of mine.
So yeah, I'm happy that I can fulfill it now.
And it looks like the change to do all right now is working out really well, if you I would say, but can you tell me what's been the hardest thing of adjusting to it to be like full-time or?
I mean, I'm not too sure if I've encountered the hardest things yet. I mean, I would say in the beginning, not as much now, but in the beginning a lot.
lot like if you would miss an easy shot and something like this it would maybe go more
like it goes much ahead because it can be more you know like oh yeah I mean he with
with the AK you know or something like that but like with all you know is also like you
have to be the difference maker I say I would say and you know you have to hit those shots
so it can be a little bit hard mentally sometimes if you feel like you hit the shots you have
to hit right that's like a different mental thing you have to deal with but that was in
in the beginning harder for me, I would say,
but not as much now.
If you were to win today and eliminate Nip,
it would be because...
Because they just play better than them.
Yep.
As easy as that, just play better.
Well, hopefully that is the case.
And three months in the pain jersey now for you.
How would you rate your own performance so far?
I think we had a great start
with Atlanta playoffs and then kind of fell short in the major so I'd say just I'd say
average overall you know you could could have been better.
And before coming to the bounty you guys sadly lost the qualifier for Porto and you also struggled
at state ranked what has been the difficulty for you guys what have you been struggling
with? I guess just after the break we couldn't find the rhythm in the form that we wanted
and now that we are bootcamping you know there's we can work on a lot of things and the thing
we're just improving day by day. Another thing for pain right it's it's not looking good okay we
can go back to the Austin Major but it feels like a lifetime ago Vue it's more just the constant
changes of positions, the constant player changes, you know, and their recent results
since losing NQZ. It's been rough, man. They are missing him. I don't know what happened
into why they let him go in the end, right? He had a break. He needed some time off as
what they said, at least publicly. And then he comes on to MIBR. He's playing great again.
And they're stuck with safe, who is a little bit out of touch, I would say.
Yeah, that's unfortunately like a, it's just a very confusing change. NQZ was, he was
he was just an incredible
offer for many periods of time,
and then they managed to somehow
lose him and kind of odd
circumstances and safe has had.
He's had some history behind him.
He was once like a big up and coming
name, but he just hasn't proven it
on this roster, and it's nice.
They've had some time. Maybe they can
get a little bit of practice in,
but I don't think they're performing
well into this season either,
so I see them making changes.
trying everything they can, but they have to try something that actually works before
I could feel any confidence behind them again.
And I want to look at the comparison between the two as well, right?
Because to really paint the picture of where they're at right now, it's not a good look.
I'm not just saying we should look at numbers, it's also a stylistic change as well in how
they bow for.
Yeah, I mean, when you actually look at how pain is playing now, they've had to change
some of their play styles.
Like if you look at their mirage, they're going for a lot more execs than they ever went before before because they just they have like a 33%
Opening kill percent on T sides. They just can't go into a round without losing a player and that's not necessarily all on safe
You know that's NQZ wasn't necessarily getting all the openings, but they've lost something as a team that they used to have and safe is the only person you can point to
That's like the big change that they made most recently, you know
I completely agree. But then on the other side of things, when we start to look more towards NIP as well, there is a bit of an IGL difference, at least in the fragging department.
There's more experience on Snappy. We know he's got a better career with the trophies by his name, right from his stints on ends and how far he's been able to take young players coming up on the team.
But I mean, at least Biggizerra, he does put himself in some nice positions and roles, but he does dominate as well.
I almost feel like big is there. It's been it's been a little two sided, right? He's
had several periods where he's been this incredible, fragging IGL. He's had really impressive
stats in important roles. He's had other periods where he's really struggled and he's kind
of lived off that reputation. I think right now he's struggling quite a bit. When pain
is doing well, though, he seems to find his stride. I think it's really tough for IGLs
that want to be fragging when their team is falling apart around them. They're staring
at the radar. They have to figure out what rotations should we they're overthinking things
and then you can't focus on your own game on how you can hit your shots and play your
style. I think he's really struggling at the moment. But overall, the difference when he's
snapping big is there is almost as big as you can get between a fragging and a non-fragging
IGL and the way they lead their teams massively. So I did speak to Stan about how he was feeling
working with snappy because remember he's worked with Hook CK and now he's got snappy.
So take a listen to this.
How is Stapley's way of calling fitting for you and the way you like to be used in the game
and just how it's going for the team?
I mean, I would say overall it fits pretty good.
I think also now that I've joined the team now and I've maybe communicated a little bit more,
maybe bring some more ideas to the table as well, that maybe the style is also changing a little bit.
a little bit. I mean obviously we still have a lot of like set stuff and stuff like this. All teams
have this. I think you also need this now in MR12, right? Because the game is not as forgiving as it
wasn't in CSGO. You don't have as many rounds to play with. So you also need to not mess up, right?
Like every little mistake and you can just be behind, you know, and all of a sudden the game
slips out of your hands. But I would say overall, I think it's going really good and we have a good
dialogue between me and him as well, how we want to play and I think it's going good.
Awesome. And it's also very different from the old days for you guys, right? So many tournaments,
games going on at the same time. How do you work around that as a team to change things up,
not be predictable and like stay consistent?
Yeah, I mean, it's a good question. I think, I mean, it's been a grand lately and I think we've
We've been putting a lot of work into it, also doing extra practice, also on days when we've been playing games and stuff like this, and I mean, it's also about, like, countering the opponent right, because sometimes you can have a different style against one opponent, different style against another opponent, so in that way you stay unpredictable, I would say.
This game could be quite interesting, because you guys are often picking Nuke at the moment, but it's also a strong map for NIP, so how are you approaching this game?
Just normal like any other game. The only difference is that we're going to start CT, so I think that's the only thing.
That's a nice change. That's a positive.
And that's what is interesting here, Voo, right? Both these teams would like to pick Nuke from what we just heard there from Safe Rites, actually NIP, that went for it and took it, which they maybe believe they are better on it.
on it. But I mean, this now means that at least if you're a nip, you must win this map
because then you've given the control of the veto to pay.
Yeah. I mean, when you, when you get down to it, it's, it's a map that you would expect
as a map three for this series, because teams are so comfortable on it. But I think nip are
right. I actually think it is just 100% right. They're just a better nuke team. They are a
an incredible nuke team. They have some really clean execs. They can change the rounds up
in so many different ways. They're really well-rounded nuke team on both sides of the
map. Pain is a solid nuke team. Some of their win rate is inflated by playing some at-home
competition. They play against some Brazilian teams and they dominate them. They are a solid
nuke team, but Nip are incredibly scary on this map. I think it's hard to say this, pick
your bonus best map. I think they're right to do so.
Okay. You like what you're seeing within this one. Now, I would normally ask you, right,
who you think is going to win this series, but I'm not going to do that. I'm going to
would you like to see in Malta personally? What is the better team for you to have in Malta to
playing on land right now? That's a great question because I think Nip are going to win and I love
seeing Snappy. I love seeing Snappy's team succeed, but I actually, I kind of want to see this pain
team in person. I want to see Staph on land. I want to see them prove something. So I'm almost on
both sides, but if I'm saying who I want to win, all right, I'm giving it to Nip. I want to see
I love to see snap. He performed
on land where he's best. I love
to see those names do well. And
I want to see stown with an
or online rolling it back up. We
haven't seen him for so long. So
let's see what happens. We've got
a legendary commentators to take
us through this opening two
games, and it is going to be
part of indeed. Okay. How are
you doing, boys? Doing fantastic
nice and early. We've got a
glasses of water. We've had our
coffee. Now you guys are talking
the game. He's got a lot of
pressure on him. He's got a
lot of pressure on him. He's
always a problem. He's always
a huge problem. He's got so
much clutch and I'm telling you
when it's online, he is very
hard to defeat. There could be
an upset as far as the numbers
are concerned here. We see
favor for ninjas and pajamas,
but I think there's some name
value here. I will rarely bet
against the SM when he's on the
Internet. Dan. Yes, it's
definitely got the he's got the
keep it Swedish, but it's just going to keep it domestic.
Had to go international.
It's interesting, actually.
I see, I think, one player chewing gum.
You rarely see players chewing gum during a match,
but as a person who's obsessed with performance,
chewing gum can help with concentration.
Yeah, I first learned about it because there's a really old-school Quake player
that used to do it way back when called Toxic.
He was winning all the tournaments back then,
and that led me to discover that it's also a common thing.
that was also used in the, I think, community for people that are on, like, motorbikes,
you know, because they need fast reactions, and there is evidence that it's something that helps with focus.
So, definitely something that some people like to do.
With that said, we're into the match, so, pain versus NIP, pain on that CT side.
Let's see what's this NIP lineup has cooking for this pistol.
Can't wait to mess up ex-Kaspersky multiple times during this series.
I mean, if my greater challenger
I would just say his nickname on a regular basis.
DSM starts as he means to proceed.
NIP know that there's a bait set up coming,
but would expect a third player and safe it.
Just waiting to strike.
Seems that NIP have walked into the trap,
but maybe they're able to solve it.
Two on a two, they've collected the bomb as well.
Can they finish off the job though?
Yeah, definitely.
I think a pretty good result,
managing to escape with two players
and one 2v2.
Hey, Lester, now that's the round of somewhat resets.
There'll be advantage here for NIP. They're going to get this bomb down.
Trying to bait out some players. Suspicious!
There could be a CT nearby looking for the punish there, but...
Bigasera, the enemy player with any health here for pain.
It's getting a little bit closer, but we'll want to wait, I'm sure, for Snow
to get into position before committing into the retake.
to be the one to run
distraction as well with 12 HP
because he needs to play off of
him. Still life for the time being,
he's gonna try and win that 1v1,
just not happening because he
are now walking into a new trap.
No kit for him either, so the T's
will, well, the T's don't know
that, but they'll disengage and
just try to waste this time
because he has to solve that quest
and he won't. No more safe
file for him either. It will be
the pistol for the Ninjas in
pajamas. That was an explosive
the ramp again it was a good expectation there from pain with three players. Again, you're
expecting. Oh, it's the ace as well. Very nice indeed. All of the kills because again,
this area was a problem. I didn't even notice that note solved all of the problems on his
own with that P 250. But yeah, it was very hard for them to get out of that ramp situation
with three CTs there. But note was the man with the plan.
I mean, we actually, you know,
How on Earth is that turned
around so rapidly? The initial
openings into the upper bomb
site. We're looking pretty
that's where we were focused,
but you can see that L. I P a
little unsure. I mean, we
actually heard in the interview
as well, like as long as we
deal with the anti eco rounds,
you know, we'll be fine.
you know, we'll be fine. Yeah,
that was so quick. Here we go.
Let's keep it simple. Let's
send it in. So that look good.
It did that bit. But the lobby
bit. That's where there are
problems. The rest of the team
didn't get out into the upper
site quickly enough. Yeah,
that's a really important
response. On that CT side of
I told you, he's a problem.
That's very handily dealt with.
And again, body languages. It's
so interesting to observe like
the face palm in we saw after
that second round from the
ninjas. It's going to be a
shocking continuation after
winning that pistol. Your teammates
just go, Oh, I'm going to be
the game. It's just a
little bit of a shocking.
Continuation after winning that
pistol. Your teammates just got
an ace and then you just get
slapped from pillar to post
trying to keep it simple and
charge into a bonsai. It will
feel unfortunate for the
ninjas. But again, it's just the
beginning. Penty of time to
write their own story here.
off Beagle here on the top of the menu, we'll see if there's something to find.
We're actually taking some damage there early on.
As NIP is looking for picks, I mean it's not really too much else, they don't have the
utility to work with.
They've got this single Beagle, which is really their best prospect at finding a real kill
at range.
So it's largely a nothing rounds for NIP. As long as Pains stay disciplined, there goes
a deagle, will be recycled, and Stown will have a go as well.
Again one of those really good angles to hold the deagle. Where if a CT stops to dual with
you. He's pretty much in your
crosshair. That is how you want
to run the big the big dig in
scenarios like this. Well, 35
seconds and the bomb has been
lost again, but that is a very
important frag that trade from
notes. Three kills. Actually
that's kind of crazy. Yeah, but
there's more damage to be done
potentially able to get off another
shot at the very least. But
that CT economy and those rounds, those frags, really important to achieve them when you've
only got a pistol.
Yeah, definitely. I mean, pain, looking kind of nice on the economy despite that. So you
can really see that that was very helpful. And these kills were, I think, pretty surprising.
And I think this is the third person that Eagle Shadows wait onto, and that will be
finding the killer finds outside. So yeah, ultimately, I think MIP can be very happy with
that one. We're not moving to the buy-arounds. They'll have to contest with a safe on the
off. So here it is, aggressive position, finds an opening, goodbye notes, and that's a great
great start there for pain gaming. And if they want to get active still in the 5G4 on
You can definitely don't have to on the CT side.
Pain are quite happy to have lobby aggression,
but again, it's about the unexpected.
And this could be a nasty surprise as well.
Avoiding the flash all day, save can retract now.
And again, NIP will expect some rifle support somewhere,
especially with five players up.
But Pain are not taking that risk.
Look how they're disengaging from this position.
They've made it through, they've crippled the team of NIP.
So they're not going to make it easy for NIP to find a way back into this round.
Yeah, CTNU, it's a series of discipline tests with how you're playing the positioning here.
Really nice peek there from Big Zero. Perfect timing.
We love to get a couple kills at least here.
you're going to have to go
back to the first place. After
that frag and when you're
trying to play contact as the
T side and there's an all part
in an unexpected position. It's
so difficult to get anything
done with that. You can see the
frustration. That second
frag with the awkward huge but
again because they were choosing
to disengage. Go back towards
CT spawn and then find the
third frag is massive.
The fists of flying James
their desk. Snappy has a 75% win rate on Nuke since he joined Nincid's Jarmas, 70 wins,
23 losses. That is pretty solid. This is just the beginning of Nuke. Snappy is one of those
underrated players. Doesn't get his flowers for how good he is. Maybe we'll see that during this series.
Nice kill, nice kill but in a ramp control there for NIP in a 3 vs 4 they don't really
have very much to get down onto the site. There's a couple of smokes so maybe there's
a world where a bomb plant can be had and that would be really nice but at the same
time Paine have a lot ready to respond with. There's a couple of smokes being sent out
for the attempt. Bigazera is the player to try to keep this sight in contention in the
short term. Also, teammates rotate down. There's the bomb plant attempt. Actually, it's a fake.
If we're going to bait out a frag, and there we go. They're going to be able to find one,
but still, CT's all around here. No space to plant the bomb at this point, but Stown
takes down Bigazera. Again, making these rounds hurts as Stown tries to do another one. Oh,
if they're from Stown, that was an opportunity, James. Imagine the potential. How do you
the
team. I'm going to be like, Oh,
man. Yeah, I think the time
out is good here. Just a little
stress reliever after a difficult
start again an ace to open
things up in the pistol round for
ninjas and pyjamas, but some
really nice rounds from pain
afterwards. Doing many things
right again. The opening pick of
the AWP instant rotation.
So I'm going to be like, Oh,
man, I'm going to be like, Oh,
It still looks really healthy.
Who's?
Paint.
Looks really healthy still, not the same story though for an IP.
Some upper pressure pretty early on here, can be changed with utility.
Makes good burski, able to take down snow early.
That's a really nice kill to get.
In the meantime, Paint are actually looking to put a player in to a secret to get information outside.
and the
and
and
the
and
the numbers.
Now it's going to my P.
What it decided to go this like
outside will be tested.
travel
from the asm
entertaining on the outside
stond the second man to be
dropped by the asm
more here. Not about the highlights, but the round wins. Because you're hiding in the vents.
Look at the timing as well. The SM continuing to be a problem. 49 seconds. Snappy with the bomb.
Position, no. Because it's got the angles. And then there was one.
Should be enough information for a reader on this one, but Snappy looking to get a bomb down at least.
Should be nice extra money in the bank.
And now to defend it, 1 vs 4.
Talking about Snappy being maybe a little underrated undervalued.
Lacking the flowers that he deserves.
But this would be a really nice moment to make a play.
Isolating the player on draft and now he's being spotted at the worst possible time.
Snapp safe rather than able to take him down and the round will be diffused.
the next one at the very least,
but again. I think we're
looking at how likely the
round winds look for the
ninjas at the moment, pain
playing a really tight game,
changing things up. You've got
your rotating, always offering
nasty surprises in different
positions. Some nice work in the
mid-round from VSM there around
T red. Really great work there.
Fitting up the second one and
then just disappearing into the
Looks like Batman.
Beautiful work there, Observers.
Yeah.
Very vocal with the body language, the ninjas.
Feeling like things are just not going their way at the moment.
There'll be some light butyl for NIP and round 8.
They've quickly made their way towards secret.
Yeah, very quickly.
Quickly, notes, he's straight down there.
Now, do the CTs realize or will this be a timing?
Noted more frags, and then the rest of his team combined.
All of them came with pistols.
Clem?
Very interesting.
That's a hell of a start.
Yeah, great work being done.
But we do have a creep, a creep upgrade, down lower.
And it's just gonna be VSM that's there
to potentially defend this.
Really nice position, of course.
might be hard to trade it out.
The door is heard, and there is that angle
unable to with the smoke in place.
Really shot, so you want to make sure it counts.
The trade from Stown is good, though,
and the bomb is down.
Doesn't look too bad here.
What an idea.
Oh, that's going to be a frustrating one,
an already frustrating half.
They can they secure the post plant,
shush on a huge flank, which relieves Stown and Snappy.
In the meantime, Payne are taking their time,
just looking away.
that's going to slow down the
rotation from safe. The numbers
are dwindling now for pain as
period will find himself as the
last man standing. He has a
smoke, but surely there'll be
too much spray to use this one.
Unusual Bob one position and
he might not find an angle.
This two of them, but it can't
do it in time. Nothing going the
way of an IP daylight robbery in
Oh man, that's so demoralizing.
It's such a good chance and just doesn't quite work out.
It's a deep pain that's taking a timeout right now, interestingly.
There were a lot of things going in NIP's favourite post-plot there.
With the position from Shurshi, two players slowly moving through the A-bomb site,
looking for a lurker as soon as they look away.
One of them is dropped, saves in an awkward position.
Do I engage this guy? Do I try and find him?
He's going to be wasting my time. Do I stay here or do I go?
going to flank me immediately. Peria left as the last person, one versus two. Smoke up,
and then I think it's the bomb plant position, which when it's just a bit off the usual,
very difficult to find the right angle through the smoke. And we've seen the
frustrations on the cameras for MIP, and that will only compound the issues.
So VSM, they're trying to hide behind the lifesaver. Didn't quite work out for him,
but Peria will be a lifesaver as far as the rounds concern. Nice.
It's just, it's so, it's just so nice and just easy, easy-roozy game of me so far for
Payne.
Fast, he's going to change again, lifted to get straight up there to the other side, and
absolutely denied here by Payne, looking to try to switch up the pace, maybe catch Payne
off guard, but it's now just devolved into a two versus five for an IP.
Very little to work with at this point in time, and the Troubles only continue.
12 frags for VSM.
Told you he was the guy.
But the question here is, how many rounds are enough on this T-side for Ninjas and Pijamas?
For him to keep those good stats on Nuke, especially for Snappy.
Time for him to think about that.
And see who waits his fates.
But yes, how many rounds is enough?
You're not going to plant the bomb this time.
And, you know, if you're going to be a bit lighter on utility,
perhaps you lean into a faster play, but they are so shut down when they do that towards the A-bomb site.
Maybe ramp is the answer.
There were three people there in the pistol.
That is just a pistol, though.
So what is to come for the Ninjas? How much is enough?
Is three rounds? Will that have to do? Maybe it will.
Yeah, and it's new after all, so it can be a fickle beast, and NIP, if they pick up the pistol on the CT side, you can definitely start to, you can find a dominating form on the CT side as well.
The only thing is that you do need to ensure that by the time you get to the CT side, the team is not feeling completely dejected, which is why it's not great to see some of the raised fists that we had early on in this half so far from the NIP camp.
But they'll be taking a time out now and looking to strategize and figure out what the approach should look like as we now kick off the 10th round on map 1 here in this best of three.
Nice flick there.
The course is final. Too many places for the CTs to stand, but still delivering a perfect defense regardless.
Just enough.
I feel like pain have won almost every duel around or through or in a smoke.
So again, it's just got to feel so frustrating.
They've got four AKs on the CT side. Four.
It's a good day at the office if you've got like two or three.
They've got four and an all. It's crazy.
Yeah, it's definitely not a good sign.
Four NIP.
NIP, slowing things down now, NIP, you know, going as fast, but still losing note very early outside and
It's just kind of easy for Pentecost to get ahead of the push
They made a course and that's going to be the position given on ramp and I think a pretty decent timing now down to low bomb site
But snow finding the headshots here looking very confident indeed just delaying delaying so effectively another kill
I was expecting the ramp play like if you just look at the evidence of what has happened so far and how how little
like they've made on that a bomb site.
The ramp made the most sense, but it is going to be Stan looking for NIP second ace in this half.
38 seconds trying to identify.
You need some good guesswork here.
But then he goes with the bomb, 30 seconds on the clock.
Back we go again.
He really wants to thin the numbers.
But will he ever expect safe position?
That smoke will be there forever.
He will commit this time I think.
Getting tagged in that smoke but he's got such a good angle.
I think it makes sense for them to go for that ramp play there, but there's just nothing doing towards that a bomb site. So I think numbers towards the ramp was probably a good option. But again, still the numbers are just being thinned as they get to a bomb site. There's no one left. No one left to even cover up on once they get there.
that. Yeah, it's just the way they lose a safe outside so quickly as well. It just makes
the plays feel so committed and desperate and also, you know, it just reduces the options
that the NIP slider has and it's much easier for paint to kind of read the play as well.
So just so many problems. Another outside movement though from NIP. I think I've got
that. I'm going to be more
careful with the common four
angles. Oh my God. I told you
like around the smokes bigger
zero is taking liberties and
there's the assembly of another
smoke frag as well. Oh my God,
James. Yeah, my God. That's what
said that round was just that
encapsulates all the problems
that they've been having. It's
just this is this is like. Just
the common angles like that gap from from the orbs perspective on the right side of t reds
Just got to be careful. They're shifting into these angles and and you know safe is in so many different positions
We've seen him forward towards t red. We've seen him go from there to the ramp. We see him playing further back
Just catching him by surprise time and again
So onto the pistols that is and look say I'll go back to
Common place
Here we are doing what he can. He'll want the Q's now.
There are trades though, but again, under smoke,
Big Azirah will get the better of sure.
She's been another huge problem.
Mentioned VSM before the game,
who is delivering as expected,
but Big Azirah has been such an issue for the squad.
It's down with 14 Ls.
We'll see what he can do here.
On a round of the half,
and it is a desperate 11-1 finish.
My goodness, pain-looking phenomenal.
here today.
Welcome to Blast Premier Rivals Fort Worth.
Six teams will make it through to the playoffs, which means that you just have to win one series.
Ready to begin our tournament to find out who just might be Fort Worthy of this trophy.
Hot and I'm just super good shut down look at the roll.
Oh, that shit, what a trooper from Zangu!
They take a bunch of stabbing in the limestand.
Oh!
What?
How has he done that?
Oh, he saws their target.
And there we go!
Goosey hammering the nails into the coffin of Goosey.
One, two.
They say no chance, we're letting it out of this.
No!
Faceclap taken out!
their first bottom-blacing at an event with this roster.
We're live in Fort Worth, Texas,
as Counter-Trike takes center stage here at Dickey's Arena,
where a lot of questions will be answered.
Let's get this party started in Texas.
Oh, say his client are gonna lose the pistols
unless Bros in a twist of a round of Bros hands!
Big step one, big of a lemonade, G2!
Now Flingsy's on for it, 1v2!
Off with his first target!
Beautiful!
Some hope left for Faze Clan.
Unless, wonderful, she just ruined it.
No way!
Bring this fairy tale crashing down!
You know the record that these two teams have,
that it has been disastrous for Navi.
They haven't even won a map this year.
Why not break another streak?
It's here, in four words, that we unleash these beasts.
This is Counter-Strike at its finest!
And 11-1, the nomination out of Noggin.
Our Vitality actually still in this.
You allowed Vitality to crank that dial. You let them in this game.
And now you have to best them in overtime.
Menzi's able to just walk in this spot and patient pays off.
Vitality chase you down. Let's see what's out of this nightmare.
You cannot touch this Vitality.
on the T side of pain and there is the opening kill going to paint as Schuch is lost.
Dooley's at the ready from Exkplusky. They're in the bomb site. Now isolating Snappy. How
many can he find here? Falling back after the pick on to Snow. Looking good positionally
right now from NIP. They're controlling the surge, but you've got to win the battles as
VSM starts to make things look a little bit better. But it's a back and forth affair.
coming snappy's way because here are spots to barrel of the gun.
Seem looking for a second fragger there as well.
Even trade fraggers in heaven.
That's crazy.
Three on three.
Safe will drop ex Kaspersky with his P250 and Stan will fight
to be what he can, but he's running into a trap.
Snappy again, last man standing, just being pulled left
and right by Payne, who still have the bomb heading over
towards the B bombsite now.
So, one versus two, there is a
chance here for Snappy with 12
HP. First place quite low for
the T side, but he should be
able to get the drop on snappy
here. Glasses and broken.
Not peeking, forcing snappy to
get onto the bomb. Time is a
I think they could do with the
break. This has been. I can't
imagine that just an entire
half again. The nature of those
kills getting absolutely drilled
through smokes round after
round, unable to get onto the
A bomb site and hold it. I
can't imagine that just an entire
half again. The nature of those
kills getting absolutely drilled
through smokes round after
round, unable to get onto the A
three smokes, round after round, unable to get onto the A bomb site and hold it, safe
just popping people, left, right and centre. This is their pick as well. This is their
pick, but hey, sometimes it's not going to go your way. Sometimes your opponent's just
having a really good day.
quite starts here from pain maybe expecting some shenanigans from nip who have
four sport not really any choice of course at this stage couple smokes left
here for the nip side you can see they're holding on to one for the upper
bomb sites. It's down. Trying to win the duel here. It's going to be a assist from
Silo. Good timing to fall off actually. I'm but nice to him. I'm sure that Silo player
was about to take him down. So it's down. Receiving his forward position.
plenty of time for pain. I like how careful they're playing this. Allowing an IP to play
their shenanigans. You can see them heading towards the ramp, maybe two spotted by Kaspersky.
See how that changes things. All the players coming notes later, that's a good start. Has
you got another pistolation here? They're closing the distance. He is wasting their time though,
Big of Zero may have to activate because they're running low or pain on time.
So get this bomb planted, no it's found a second, and Stounds drops Big of Zero.
So Ninjas have got a reasonable chance at this one.
Looking pretty good, AK, not going to be enough here, good collapse there, onto the low of
one side preventing the bomb from going down as well.
So up against it, up against it, or NIP, with a huge deficit, they need 10 rounds in a row.
It's kind of insane.
We'll see if they're able to do it and his kills from there are definitely really nice here.
Getting two out of the eagle.
Also, you know, big as Eric, he was looking for, as his teammates went down to threaten the lower bombsite,
he was looking to cut off the rotation and essentially get a surprise kill,
but he failed in doing so and it's an IP and I'm managing to get a few things going their way for once on Nuke.
The paint pulled out the pistols.
was 2 for 11 in that first half.
Alex Kaspersky was 2 for 12.
So again, just in terms of like the mental game there, trying to be resilient with an
experience like that is not easy.
But again, now it's just about focusing on the round in front of you.
We've seen mecha-combacks before, and we will make no assumptions.
Goodbye. That was a donation to VSM.
20 and 6, actually, Vs, I'm having a really fun game at the expense of an IP.
Yeah.
It's Kaspersky at the point of no return there.
I don't think he can really make it back into the lobby.
Okay, they want damage.
Stabby will control the situation 3 to 12.
So, Michelley, you know, maybe something can happen.
We'll see.
We'll see.
Pain will be unable to buy.
They'll be unable to buy.
They spent quite a bit of money in that previous round.
Very leafy out there.
He's got the cap shield in the back.
If it was me, it would be the big gold belt from wrestling, but it would be interesting
to contrast the CT approach from NIP and from Pain again.
We gave great credit to some of the decisions from the CTs in terms of disengaging and just
controlling the variants of around.
Quite low on the bullets there is no, but two might be enough.
have made some space for themselves. Oh, okay. Now we've got problems. Now we've got problems.
Oh, the flashbang as well! Clock not enough, though, and the threat will be neutralized.
Yeah, it looks pretty sketchy. I gotta say, it definitely looked a little bit worrisome,
but again, you know, NIP staying strong for now. I don't know if that will be the resting
I'll see you because that's a comic book thing.
I feel like maybe like Bane's Mask for you.
For me?
Yeah.
I'll see you in Bane's Mask.
If it was a comic book thing, maybe Doom's Mask.
I like the evil characters.
And green's my favorite color, so I
think I'd have to go with Doom.
Whatever.
Well, Vi comes in from pain.
They want to send MIP away.
Can they do it in this map or rather, I should say, in this round?
Secret setup for Snappy.
Not much useful remaining for pain at this point.
No one on the roof.
They do have some mollies.
So, it may be a numbers game at this point. Looking for a response from NIP who can essentially
play a reactive game. Note how to choose when to disengage from this position. Downs in
a common spot with AWP. One and done for him. I mean, he can go back and post up if they
go towards the ramp. But while this is going on, Snow may find opportunity towards A.
and note actually repeating I think because they were wondering oh oh just
turns around snow for you have more time for that one and he is definitely not
gonna have any more time nor will safe get it taken down by snappy and re-entry
now into ramp this is three versus four with 30 seconds can't have to get a move
one. Snappy in position. As is
dispersed ski. I love the off
angles being held. Let them
pick no ones there. Come out of
the most difficult time. Very
nice work there. Expensive round
for the CTs, but it just
matters about securing them as
far as they are concerned. It's
so fascinating. The subconscious
internal clock when people start
to wonder about certain areas
being compromised. Such a key
moments in the rafters to look towards heaven. You saw Stan wondering as well, but that is so, so key.
It looks like he's hacking in that POV. That's hilarious. But again, the internal clock is
really, really good. Snappy holding the off angle here, because he knows they're going to check the
angles. They're going to check control on the way into the B bomb site. Shooting the time to strike
will allow for that fifth round for an IP. They're getting aggressive here, picking up the
the pace of the pistols. Straight down does do enough to keep the EFTs at bay. They cannot
breach the choke points. They will keep trying though. They're committed. I mean, nice one
player left. Safe buys will go through as well. At this point, why nots?
How does it feel, Payne? How does it feel?
I think round after round this will just kind of remove the artificial headache that NIP
may have from the nature of the rounds they lost in the first half.
We can do it too as a great confidence builder.
But again, they're going to have to run a really tight ship in the by rounds.
And even if we get those those half by round where tech nines are surrounded by Kevlar and good utility
That'll be very dangerous. Also, I have to wonder if their a hold will be as good
versus faster plays
From pain
There's always that kind of threshold of rounds in a game like this as you see I safe get eliminated of
of, oh, you know, it's gotten to the point now where you almost favor the team that's behind
because, for example, let's say, you know, if it gets to like 10 to 12,
suddenly, suddenly like, huh?
They can actually get to the overtime now. It feels very, very realistic.
They have had no success, much like NIP had no success on their first off. And then you start to think, oh my god,
is this, is this like a throw? You know, what's going on? And
you know, we're ways away from, from their pain, have a lot that they can throw at NIP.
before, you know, having to get worried about anything. So you can't imagine, you know, that's that's very low percentage that those situations actually happened. But we've seen it before.
Time to focus for pain.
AKs are out again.
Just the one AK in the hands of the CTs for the time being.
11-3 in Jules. I was hoping that they would go, they would find the stat with regards to Jules
around the smoke. 11-3 in Jules. Such a big impact of both as well. Here we are, it's got an angle
through Squeaky, but he will be denied so far so good for Ninjas.
Yeah, that was a great chance for Payne as well to get the opener, even if traded forward to 4,
that's maintaining the 5G4 here, NIP, as the pain looms their upper presence immediately.
Need to work some space, some position now, outside seems to be the move.
It's down with a good angle there.
Now, pain, are they looking to go in secret or are they just going to challenge straight up?
Oh! What a shot from bigger Zera though!
Talk about a pre-fire
The range on that is crazy
How much we're seeing on the kill camp?
There's a lot of time for pain to creep around that's a lot of info for snappy so important
He hasn't used to fight to the death day. He just wants the info
Looking to play around a smoke there with some dodgy sound cues going up the ladder
But once that smoke goes he may be on an island
I don't know if his teammates on the ramp will be in a position to help him
If they choose to come his way, and you can see Shush close to the lobby, we've got a lot of important jewels here, which could happen.
25 seconds and it's going to be a timing, that's going to change everything.
VSM opens the door towards A.
Yeah, heartbreaking timing there for Shush.
XKRZB coming around the corner, can you find something?
Denied by Snow, good protection.
Now Snappy steps up to the plate to see what he's able to find.
Catching Snow, but the trade is ready.
ready and now it has to it has to be the clutch for no tear for an IP off they're
gonna go to map two here at the hands of pain up the ladder making all the noise
pain of tracking his position knowing precisely where he is there's the first
kill but it is going to be the round and map one going to pain
the anti
they're not muted. Hello, you hear me now, don't you? Yep. Yep. Cool. It wasn't mine.
That's fine. So Stown told us at the very beginning that they were struggling with the
anti Ecos, right? They win pistol on that T side. It's their map pig. Yes, we know pain
complain new, but then they lose every consecutive round, which to me says not only can you lose
the anti eco, but you can lose the game off of that by just crumbling afterwards, maybe
being frustrated at the fact you lost another one.
They were struggling. Yeah, I was going to say they were struggling with absolutely everything.
Okay, they were struggling with execs. They were struggling with slow rounds. They were
struggling with the bomb planted. They were struggling with to get the bomb planted. You
couldn't describe that as anything other than nip just getting absolutely destroyed. I don't think
they want a gun round on the T side. They didn't. They didn't even come close. You know, they had
one round. They came close to getting a bomb plan or to getting around when that's it. They had a
bit of a cosmetic comeback in the second half, at least maybe something, maybe give themselves a
little confidence, but that was a thorough dismantling games. It was a thorough dismantling.
And I was kind of worried that actually the same thing would happen, you know, just on the other
side, but pain where it was to deal with it. And I think it was barred off. There was pointing
out right at one point, just the SM's impact that was had there throughout right. And it's
an okay, it's online game. But this is a player for me who at one point we had hiked up years ago.
I think it was during like the COVID times. And then we never really saw him come back to
actually a good tier of CS. But right here right now, he's been able to dominate this game.
I think the SM was one of the next big things very early on in the Brazilian Counter Strike
you know, he really was talked about incredibly highly. And one of the things that I think Dan brought it up is that online his stats are
Dwarfing his land stats. He's like
1.2 online and 1.0 on land. Of course, the level of competition makes a big difference
When you when you manage for that, he still is better online, but it's not nearly as much of a gap
In this game though, you can see exactly why, you know, especially on the CT side here
he's just picking up every single frag you can, you can ask for him. And this one, I
don't know what Shish is looking at there as teammates already, but that was a, that
was an impressive performance from BSM. Even if we, even if we say it's online, this is
a level of competition he still does sometimes struggle with.
And we did also speak about big is there is some of the highlights a little bit there
as well, right? The fact that as an IGL, he can frag out, there was a significant difference
between him and snappy in those stats and what he can deliver right. And in games like
this where you're starting off on the CT side, you know, you can get some confidence going
early on, you can deliver these big performances to also influence just the way you're going
to call the rest of the game as well.
Yeah. I mean, he was part of the reason that this was so one sided. I mean, VSM's got
the 24 intense scoreline, but you look at some of the opening kills. Biguzera was getting
some of the frags he was getting during or in the middle of execs or in the middle of
like an outer smoke walk. He's spamming someone through a smoke. And those are the types of
plays that give your IGL the confidence that he, you know, it does carry over into the
calling when you get into the second half and then you get into the next map as well,
where they should be starting on the T side, you know, you're performing well as a player.
I think especially in big is Eric's case, you're going to perform well as a caller or
two. And we were also talking a bit about the difference between not having an QZ and
safe coming into this team. Well, safe. And he lit up the scoreboards from the start with
that or he gave us an NQZ like performance. I would say this is a vintage fallen performance.
Okay, this is this is safe, picking everyone off left, right and center, getting aggressive
in the lobby. Occasionally, but this is this is CT side, new, you know, nuke isn't known
as an offers paradise, but CT side nuke is known as an offers paradise, right? And if
you can have the off in your hand and you're not getting bogged down. Sometimes the way
this one goes is your opponents, the exec upper, and then you're just sitting behind
a smoke for the rest of the round. You know, if they're forced into a lot of these outer
plays, a lot of these kind of late round plays where you can just pick them apart with the
off, you're going to feel really comfortable as safe.
Certainly would be as well, but we've got to look a little bit towards the NIP side on
this one, Vue, because many people were saying when they looked at this Nip roster, save
He's not like a good guy. I
mean, he's just like a good
guy. He's just like a good ex
Kaspersky. Well, he might
need to save himself at this
point. I know it's just one
map, but I mean, maybe he
didn't have his Red Bull this
morning. Maybe he didn't wake
up into this game. But where
was the ex Kaspersky that I'm
often promised? I mean, I was
thinking about getting a
compilation of player cams, but
I realized they were all just
ex Kaspersky, roughing his
eyes like super unhappy with the
beginning. And this is a map where I actually think Snappy does activate ex Kaspersky quite
effectively, especially they have those upper execs where you really you get him out squeaky
really quickly. While the abundance still have nades in their hands, he has these really
intricate executes that help ex Kaspersky ex Kaspersky get activated on this map. Couldn't
work this time. Couldn't work this time. Now they have changed some of his roles. He's been
struggling a little bit with that. But I think this is one where ex Kaspersky, he didn't really
get much of a chance in a lot of these rounds. I saw him die through smoke quite a few times.
And when they did try to go for those upper execs, they were dead before they got out
the doorway, man. They were, they were just at this, like I said, this is just a dismantled
NIP T side to the point that I can't even blame them too much for, you know, feeling
too kind of bad about this one. But at the same time, they go into the next one just
saying, Hey guys, we never, we never even got on our feet in this game, but it's pretty
bad, right? Considering you, we were talking about this veto and how it can work out right.
The Nip, we're saying we're the better team. You thought they played a better game on this
as well. I'm just worried about the mentality because it's like you're getting so dominated
on the CT side. You couldn't come back into it despite winning the pistol. Yeah, you can
say it can happen in one game. You can give all the excuses you want, but it's just the
way they lost and like didn't have a chance concerns me a lot about where their heads
are going to be at. Yeah. And I'd say there's exactly one round
in this game, that they actually had any chance of winning on the T side. It was this one.
That he managed to get their way to lower, they get the trade on BSM, they actually managed
to take him down one for one, which I mean, he kind of doubled up there. Ex Kaspersky
misses a kill, it's a gimme. And they actually get bailed out by Shush. But this is a round,
again, they're 3v4 here, they never really get into this round until you have the forced
retake you have a couple of frags and they still managed to drop the 2v1 so
but you have what five six gun rounds and a half T side nuke and you you just
have some lack of communication as to where exactly the bomb is planted they
they clearly you can see snappy spamming the wrong spot that's because they
didn't activate into this game and as much as like yeah it doesn't help their
mentality this is their map pick it doesn't help them feel confident going
to the second map. I think sometimes you get rolled this hard and you just go into the
next one and you say, guys, we just weren't, we just never got activated. That's T side
nuke. That's why picking nuke is dangerous, right? Like you start to side nuke against
a good nuke team. You sometimes you just never get a chance in the game.
And they certainly didn't within this one, but hopefully it's a wake up call that nit
needed to bounce back within this series. Otherwise pain are going to be booking their
spots into Bolta. We are going to a short break, but when we come back, we'll be talking
All things mirage between pain and NIP.
This was the worst ever map for ex Kaspersky in a nip jersey and he's going to need to
turn it up again when it comes to this barrage.
He's going to need to be sharp.
He's going to need to be at his best.
otherwise NRP eliminated and this pick of pain from them will not work out. I was just looking
down this as well. I'm trying to understand why pain picked Mirage because bro, you look
down some of their results. They lost to Tyloo. They lost to M80. I had to expand it to six
months. They beat a few teams within South America, but it's not looking great for them
right now. So what the hell's going on with that map?
I think in 2025, this was a comfortable map for them. And I think it's one of those ones
like, Hey guys, they picked our
map. Like what do we do now?
Where do we go here? You can
choose from. They went with this
one. This is why I was saying
this is what this was like. I
was feeling confident with that
IP. They pick new and then pain
don't even they're like, What
the hell did we do it out? They
picked Mirage and Mirage is
about I mean, they're not
performing on too well. I
think they had to change their
style. I mentioned Mirage
specifically. They had they
player picked off. So if you can't mid default on Mirage, that's like not having banana control
on Inferno. You know, you just can't win the game. So I'm hoping they went to the drawing
board and maybe came back out with something a little bit updated because yeah, this is
why I was thinking this was an NIP series. Nuke should have been their map if they played
normally, I suppose if Payne weren't on their BS and Mirage is a map that I think NIP is
just better on to. And I also
want to point out that we were
talking about ex Kaspersky,
but snow also snow has been
gifted back his positions to
be in star roles to be the good
player right this young kid
we've been hearing about again
and again again still only 19
years old. We've now like two
years on tier one. When is he
going to come alive? When are
we going to see the best of
him because I've not been
impressed. Yeah, I think when
it comes down to snow, you're
looking at a player that had
some really solid especially
like height coming out of him
when he first joined up on this team, but he's never really shown it.
He's never really shown himself to be this incredible player.
And he's had a lot of role changes once DJT left this team.
He's become much more of a rotator, but Mirage is a map that he's played as an anchor still.
He's the A player.
Now, a Mirage is kind of a unique position, but it is a map where he's not in the roles
that you think that he can perform a little better on, right?
He's he's still going to be tied down to a specific bomb site. So that's another reason that we're looking at mirage
Was maybe not their best map. I'm not saying I'm not a snow hater. Okay. Okay. I'm not I'm not saying he's a terrible player
I just hate I
Just think he's not as good as you need if you want pain to make that make the next step as a team and yeah
Well, let's see what happens in in this mirage and part of the DDK you guys gave us the VSM
the team. I think that's a
problem. Call. Does this mean
it all ends here? Is it going
to zero to pain? Oh, it's I
think so. I think so. I think
we had we had the full glory of
pain. Then it already seems like
the energy side of the struggling
James. They're on the struggle
bus. Well, they are as far as
the numbers are concerned, 3.13
to 1.45. I think it's more
complicated than that. I was
I don't think so because yes, that was really unfortunate. I think it was the perfect ingredients the T side of nuke a very strong pain side
They got a better of most of the engagement spraying through smoke and so on just a bad day at the office for NIP
You know and when we talk about luck, they didn't have any luck in any situation at all in that first half
But that that T side of nuke does not make an entire series mirage
I think it gives them plenty of room to make a comeback
I don't think we can ever doubt someone like snappy or a squad that snappy is on to just have you know
Be on the worst end of a of a whitewash series. So I think we'll see something from NIP
I think this is absolutely winnable by both squads again. That was a great game from the SM. It was great from many great things
All the action we saw of the AWP from safe how
Different positions he was playing in
that. Maybe some frags easier
than they should be in some
scenarios. However. Nip I think
partly it's going to come down
to the psychological factor
because the body language was
very negative. And again, it's
not just the amount of rounds
they lost, but the way they lost
them on that T side is just very
mentally taxing. So I think it's
partly if they could just let go
a bad game so if they can leave that behind them then they have the tools to win Mirage.
That sounds great James but I think you're wrong. I think they're going to be just all
over this one already on the mid aggression. There is an investigation notes is trying
to keep it honest and he's doing so. He's able to take down safe at least traded though
and the B-split is being worked upon here by the pain gaming side so taste down X Clipperski
and that's going to be entrance now to the P bomb sites.
and shush all that's left to defend no heroics from notes with the pistol this
time no kits no Kevlar for snappy that may or may not matter he's been heard
by BSM not sure if you meant to step on that ladder and things are turning around
quickly snappy in a one on two time is off the essence as far as he is concerned
I'm not sure if they know exactly where he is, bigger zero, holding periods back now as he jiggles from the bench.
And that clock is really ticking. Can he find both frags and find? He won't find either.
And it will be a good start in the second map for Payne.
Yes, on the T side, he would have dictated the flow. Take the initiative.
And IP will force it up. Schiff's actually buying a UMP, which is cool. Haven't seen one of those in a while.
I put one recently and I was like, man, this is, this is crap.
There was a time when the UMP was extremely good at like mid range.
It was a laser beam, but we don't live in those days anymore.
They still, the devs still need to increase the fire rate of the creek, just a little bit.
Just a little.
It's been out of the meta, but maybe they're just leaving it in the hole.
Okay, when it's time for us to change the weapon metal, we can just increase that that Kreegan future. I'm waiting for those days. I do like that.
Particular firearm
So a forced buy from ninjas in pajamas
It's down on the scout. No money left in the hole for an AWP
Snappy needs to get more than one
Bouncing off the ceiling won't be enough for snow, but PSM's there to trade
Yeah, we're there on the scouts.
It's going to make life difficult onto the site.
They go wrapping the SM around the side with the glil,
looking for help here as well.
Really good positioning right now for the pain side.
As you know, the oncoming CTs are trying to burst through the choke points.
Kaspersky with two, but it really isn't going to be enough good effort.
I mean, they took down four players,
but ultimately pain with the round.
Two woes starts and it's going to be eco territory for NIP now.
I think notes was unlucky with a Desert Eagle there.
I think a lot of the time he's getting a frag.
And he knows how much that changes things.
Snappy in a very committed position.
That spot for Stam, scoped in, it's so awkward.
We saw that in a match on Mirage yesterday as well.
Scoped in on that spot with so many places that he can appear from.
It's just very, very difficult.
Not an ideal situation to be in.
Impressed Kusperk.
I'm impressed that X Kusperk.
He managed to get two kills from that one anyway.
No looking for a second one which he will get really a good hand on the pistols today it seems he drops the bomb carrier
And this really puts him in a very, oh
Yeah, oh down his executed note
They've been paid. He's been paid off James. They're not allowed to win the series something's going on here something suspicious
He has got a conspiracy beagle as well
It's all lining up
Speaking of which there is a nice flank coming through here for NIP. It's gonna be very very dangerous there snappy
It could find a great timing as pain are looking to close in on the A attack, but
Snappy quick to the flank with the P250
Because there's only got some HP
nice
Wonderful work snappy gets the last one as well
Well, nope with the pistols, man.
Maybe rewarded for, well, quite making the connection
over towards B in the round prior.
That was a long drawn out duel with that bomb carrier
as well, but a really important one.
I think it's good for them to get on the scoreboard early.
Again, after the oppression we saw in that game of Nuke,
winning a round of pistols will be encouraging.
We'll see if this could galvanize the squad.
Honestly, the only replay I wanted was the team kill.
Oh, that's an angle. My word.
That's a fast one too. And again, you got a scout.
This is a force by, and that's pain starting off winning the opening duel on the force by...
I don't know. Did the gun fly forward? It did.
So that's going to be collected by the pain side.
So it picked up a gun. This is dangerous, James. This has all the makings of an upset.
He's in need here, he starts to train to keep on coming, that's an important answer back from note.
Bomb spotted again, they continue to dual, fast moving round now, down to a 2 on 2.
They know the bomb's under the window, but they don't know where that second man is, period, with the scout.
So it's difficult for Shush to pursue, heading towards B now, as Snappy will find himself alone once again.
Now, how confident is he about the situation towards short?
Shush is in the window, but they don't have 100% of the information, which compromises
where Snappy can stand.
forced by rounds proving problematic for MIP.
See what they're able to do here, though.
Uh-oh.
Back to this one.
Very good rotation from Paine really paying off there.
Oliver, Jesse, Actress.
We'll have a go at this retake, but certainly advantage
here now for Paine gaming.
They can play the post in a variety of different ways.
That plant sort of suggested of kitchen positioning.
But again, the two of them,
Shish is going to have to be making the most incredible reach here as he moves forward through the smoke.
Snow closing in on the angle.
We'll shish tech it deep out surely.
Oh dear!
I think his silent size moderator may have been spotted on the end of the gun there.
A bumpy road for the Ninjas.
Many unfavorable potholes that they're falling into here.
That's a hell of an opening.
Yeah, that's that's such a nice shot.
Damn unfortunate timing to snap you there.
Well, James, your speech at the beginning of the game.
It's still early. It was never going to be easy for the Ninjas. Put it that way. It's
never going to be easy. But I think looking at the statistics for this map of late for
both teams. It feels open to me on paper at least. And again, it's not going to be a
repeat of that half on Nuke. We've got the rifles out for NIP. Stan will have the AWP
also. Heavily favoring pain now, which makes sense. They're 1-0 up. They won their opponent's
pick. Indeed, Noz is doing a lot of work with a pistol, which is impressive, but also not
necessarily a good sign. Yeah. Very true. Painty vaulting, just in taking some lights,
to make control here, just ready for information. And also, you know, spread across the rest
of the map, the apartments. Actually, pulling off of a T ramp now, because there we'll rejoin
teammates so looking go towards B you would see him B pop no utility really
for NIP for retakes or for delaying a push this is really the last bit of
util that's available snappy with the smoke here but it can just run through
that's feel like there's a big part to play for note in this round as a cap
player. 45 seconds, Staphy has help this time. Still stuck in the apartments, trying to make
their way out. It's a really important sound cue for the rest of the game. Staphy tries
to jiggle, but he'll face two. 30 seconds to plant the bomb. CT's on a slow rotation,
as they're all going one by one. Stam wondering about potential presence in jungle, so haven't
identify that there's three around B.
Shersh actually forces the whiff there and that's going to allow him to claim some more space but position now given up.
Now Shersh going for the kills, they can also just be a distraction.
As long as teammates to progress from the kitchen in a cat position, CT's enclosing on every angle.
Definitely not a bad look for them, but because they're a taste town, Shersh, they're gonna give it up.
They don't want it anymore. They're gonna keep their guns alive for the following rounds.
And that's a success here for paint. Yeah, they've got very limited trade utility and how that retake was working out, which made it so awkward
Caspersky can't afford to lose that right. Yeah. Yeah, that seems so if they're not making an exit, I mean
It's a yeah
It's one thing if you feel like, oh, I completely sort of tell her, but I could read his on the other angle, which she was correct.
It's sort of like a drive-by.
Yeah.
And so it wasn't even convincing.
It's like you thought you had a free kill, but the execution maybe wasn't what he was looking for.
Precisely.
And indeed a...
But he doubled down, James.
He went back to the wall.
Yeah.
It's like, what have you got to gain?
What have you got to lose?
that was a bit skewed in the wrong direction in that little situation. So we've got the
hero AWP then for, for Stown. But he's on the wrong side of the map at the moment. Now
he could post up for a potential aggression from short. That's not going to be easy either.
pretty brazen front area. Keeping those smoke frags good for pain. So again,
Stan staying on short makes sense. We don't want to throw you out of the view for no reason.
And all I should do now at this point, I mean saving really is one of the best things to do,
you can't get value on this retake.
Let's say we're back into poor territory for NIP.
The interesting thing about this game is that
NIP haven't been able to find ways to create advantage
in general
for the most part. So from a strategic sense it's looking quite dry for them.
will be held on to those. We'll see if they're able to put that to good use in the next round.
As it now is a 5-1 scoreline for Payne.
We'll actually get a full utility. I think this is probably the best buy that we've seen from NIP so far.
Let's see what I do with it.
Payne proving to be a significant problem for Ninjas and Pajamas.
And I think this is where the score becomes worrisome five to one in the first half will definitely be of concern to the ninjas
It's a good opportunity for pain as well if they have a really
Maybe explosive strategy something that can really throw an IP off kilter and get a timing advantage
If they feel like they have a good read on that, this would be such a perfect round to your point to throw it in
So tech pause before we continue
Safe hasn't had much to do in this first half. I think he'll be busier once we move into the second
This is a bit more time for the ninjas to absorb what has been served to them so far so they can find a way around it
No, no worries, you know, they got the mental bandwidth to just play up to the cameras right now this that really tells you a lot
that. For the pain gaming side.
In terms of options from them, it was kind of difficult as well as because of how wonky
the game has been. It's kind of hard to see really what his pains could go to being in
terms of their defaults. I think that makes counterplay for an IP kind of hard because
it would feel kind of gambling if you are to go aggressive because it's not in that
much information. I feel like in how pain of playing their T side, an IP could try to
play more for mid control. But then, you know, you're more susceptible on the rush timing
to the round as an IP to getting hit on a fast day attack or something or a fast B pop,
something like that. So everything feels, I think, very risky for NIPs. And I also don't
feel like it's comfortable for them to play really passively and then just give the pain
lots of space and give away information. So it's a hard problem for them to solve right
now.
We saw Liquid do really good work around the bottom of mid on the CT side yesterday.
Yeah, maybe they can take some
inspiration from that's down in
these six rounds has got one
frag so far. Okay, I mean, it
has been a difficult half for
the ninjas. He's got a good
spawn towards mid or be. So
we'll see what he chooses to do
with his AWP. I wonder if they
have more money if they might
opt for a double tries to get
one in the apps because there
is actually keeping a Mac 10
here, James, which is pretty
indicative of what he might
be doing for the team as well. Yeah, that'll be fascinating to watch on Mirage. Okay, Stan,
head over towards B with Snappy. So we'll see if they choose to put him up in the apartments.
That may allow them to have an extra man over towards the Ape on site if they can keep vision
on short, not contested at present in that regard.
Yeah, you can see the intention from NIP for a bit more man control with the strikeout
I can act that oh no, but it's actually a very slow movement towards mid here from pain
It looks like they may be trying to put let's go for you know the connector split into a but
We'll see how this one works out. What's really cool here?
Obviously sound just missed that shot, but if he's rotated somewhere else
So if he fires a shot that may give snappy more space to make a play in those be apartments later on
See if that happens down all the way towards CT now
Well, he has to deal with keeping a night on ramp
to keep the numbers good for the CT squad. Now what do they do? Do they disengage NIP
as far as that? As far as mid is concerned.
Now Payne has to play into the opposite downies. He's repositioned to take it and they don't
have the ability to do anything but contact in. So as they lose safe now, really is all
on these two players now. Making their way into the A site and beautiful stuff there
the right read in terms of how they look to hold on to mid control and pain actually, you know,
they're in a situation there where they had the NIP ahead of them on the play.
Yeah, that's the proactiveness that we wanted to see from NIP.
Great to see the AWP in the apartments there with some support from Snappy as well.
And he shows really good timing to take a forward position with the information being gleaned elsewhere.
I'll have to offer some different looks to their T-Site, though, to the T-Site of Pain.
See Stan headed around to the next at this time.
Again, he spoke about Liquid at the bottom of mid, and that's where Stan is positioned.
We've got to fast the place towards the B-Bomb site here, and Stan features his stand to fight in the flames.
Spots the B-Bomb carrier there. How far does safe go right into the hands of the remainder?
And that's a super prompt run from NIP.
So they've definitely changed things up here, much more aggressive and with great results so far.
Yeah, and also preventing the bomb from going down means Payne can't buy in this round.
Additionally, I think another important point there is that NIP also shut down mid. Mid had
quite a few players making their way in for that really fast split onto the B site,
and Payne couldn't get past top mid. They were getting shut down by a stand there
in that mid position, as you can see. So this really shows that the adaptation from NIP in the
and the mid-set up has been working out.
Looks like they're playing to get the bomb down here, pained.
The waterfall, onto A perhaps.
You a fan of waterfalls?
I don't see, can I PR?
Good start from Shush, but it looks like he won't be expecting the remainder to come through.
That is such good timing from Paine.
That creates some space for the squad, baiting a teammate.
Thinking the job was done in IP, now the bomb can get planted.
Three on four, Snow's got an AK-47.
There's no Kevlar for this squad though, which might have a big part to play in this.
too much retake utility either which would be very helpful here but yeah down to snow really
and he's dead not able to get any value from the AK-47 it's going to have to be some wild
or deagle shenanigans now and that's going to get shut down so round will be under control there
from the perspective of NIP but ultimately Pain got what they wanted they were looking for the
bomb plant and they they managed to get the bomb plant. I do wonder what's next for for NIP I was
I was hoping for B action, low and mid action.
We've seen both of those things, one after the other.
But what now?
What is the next thing they do?
We saw Payne try to...
I think Payne could detect that NIP were being more proactive
in part trying to increase the pace
for that faster play towards B,
but NIP had the right men for the job.
So now, what are both teams gonna offer each other?
Payne and NIP are adjusting.
NIP need to keep the pedal to the metal to some degree.
What does this clash going to look like?
I'd love to see from Paine.
It just depends on how they feel they can execute it.
It's winning mid-fac, because that's been the foundation
of what's been working for NIP,
because NIP not only are getting information,
they're able to confidently win the battles there so far.
So, Paine have a way to mix up how they're approaching mid-control
and can win mid-back from NIP.
I feel like that's like the first step, unless they're gonna play gambling and just try to rush sites.
Indeed, it is a big focus in mid from both squads.
What presence up top? Oh, that's another swing in the miss.
Stam can't afford too many more of those.
Good response from the CTs. Trying to keep their team mates safe as they can.
Disengaged if they want to from their mid position, but Nose is looking to try and increase his stats on rifle versus the pistol so far in his series.
dropping bigger zero, leaving safe snow and period to pick up the pieces.
Yeah, not really much in around left full pane at the moment.
Although that's very quick there, snow will hit them.
But around at this point feels pretty over for pane.
There's definitely some points to make around the whole mid dynamic,
but maybe Snow can find a timing as we will have Snappy leaving the position, he's going to come back.
It will Snow turn away, or at least he keeps himself on this, he does.
And actually there is an opening for a bomb plant, kind of.
I mean the TTs will get to the window in time, but the bomb might work the biggest way down.
That's really smart from Snow. Just waiting for that second play up.
and that will save the day for
the squad amused by the shenanigans.
We're seeing from snappy towards the end there.
Things getting a little hairy towards B, but they're playing.
They're playing aggressive, confident style.
And I think it's good to give them the room to play like that.
Just like JW and eyeballers.
It's going to be some crazy stuff sometimes, but the win you
matches as well.
So I think playing this confident style, even though it's like,
a little bit. It's a cure.
Just let them play
confidently. It's all good in
the hood. Great turnaround from
from the ninjas taking the fight
to pain is clearly the solution
in this one, not giving them the
space to set up as they might.
Yeah, I think you have a pain as
well. You know, we're seeing the
IP again. They are winning in
mid and they are investing quite
a lot in terms of positioning
so multiple players dropping into
you feel like they are heavily investing in mids, then the play usually is find the early timing
into A or B and I think probably A is easier to just pop in and you can punish the heavy investment
and the rush timing into mid from NIP. But maybe they're not feeling like NIP are investing as much
as they are. Pistols and little Utah for playing in this one. They'll be prompting the under
parts again. They recognise that this has been a point of strength for the leaders in
rounds of late. But I'd expect they'll wait up some utility now they've taken their initial
positions. Yeah it's a good adjustment from NIP you don't really need mid control and around
like this when it's just the pistols out you can kind of let them sit there they still have to
move through connector they still have to move through you know through catwalk or you know these
other other positions to to get to a site so. You saw the info about MQZ and his performance
on Mirage specifically in comparison to say for you again that's a white game so far.
I expect more from him in the second half.
And the panel were discussing the loss of NQZ
in the pre-match build-up.
Interesting to measure things by the end of the series
as Ninjas and Pajamas take the lead on Mirage.
Who would have seen this coming? They've won five rounds in a row.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Again, NIP, they found the adaptation.
It was made control, and then Painter just had not been able to successfully deal with it.
They're running a lot of their plays without the right adjustments I suppose that would help them to defeat it and that's working out for NIP so we'll see if NIP, you know how much they put into the mid control here and what they decide to do.
I'm going back to this position.
in that pistol run prior, you
saw pain. We're happy to take
the risk to send it into the
underpass and look for
opportunity, but it's back to
a relatively normal default for
them. Once the rifles are out.
Again, I'm changing their
formation once more, so it's
guesswork for pain. Oh, nice
shot there from biggest error.
The two players playing close to
ramp here for an IP. It is a
mix up. I think it's pretty
strong, but we'll see how it
works. Now the players are
trying to progress through the connected position up the stairs they go shush drops both
very nice defense indeed from the deeper positions maybe unexpected and now everybody sort of spread
out here for pain trying to rearrange their setup so they can find a way to finish on a bomb site
bomb drop towards the B apartments there's now they've got a minute left to figure out how to get
onto a site snappy currently playing retake on B playing safe while the numbers are headed
the CT side. You will certainly help with that. And if they walk into a contact plate,
like do they start running when they get to the window? Or are they going to get absolutely
smashed by that reticle? So having a look towards A and there's a crash peak into the
reticle. It's going to be hard for Pyrrha to get a bomb plant now. He's on an island
on this B bomb site. But steps will be heard. Snacky patient just around the corner. I think
This is unsportsive, I think it might have been, but really, time is on NIP's side.
Safe rounds the corner, loses the AWP.
Now grab the stand they've got it!
They've got it!
They make their dreams come true!
The first stage is seen to win the final in a row!
Invision closer than they've ever been.
To the top 16!
A seven year hiatus for China in the top 60s of the major.
And it's limp vision to break it.
Eight round hiatus, or rather eight years it's been, they take it.
Limp vision all the way from stage one.
Stand up, jump up, Emilia, can't quite believe it.
Trying to get closer towards that exit out for squeaky.
Sideways ahead of the pack, now he's going to drop one to the open.
But he won't get punished.
He was able to go back, and the cover tries for a second serving.
He's got him bested. It's pressure on Alexi with 18 health on the line and it's Rops figures this one out.
It's an act of desperation left for bit. Do you really want to push that with an off?
He has no time. He has to run this in.
Nobby's thought once upon a time they had this and with fire at the feet of the player on the right,
it doesn't go deep. Mezzy's able to just walk against the spot and patience pays off.
Vitality, rip, footwork, heart's out.
A little bit hungry. See if there's anyone that wants to flash.
If you want to take it further, Pete, that might be necessary, but...
Oh, never mind. Don't need a flash, Frank.
Oh, ho, ho, ho.
The old-fashioned way.
I think he's down for Sibling before Nico.
Can I get it warmed up? But he's very, very healthy.
He's still a bit full of a headshot.
Give him a chance. It might be possible.
He's definitely spotted it out.
One of the few players in the world that could win around like this one.
15 seconds. He's actually so deep in.
But Messi doesn't see it. He's not aware.
Michael, three counts, and a shot.
And now it is on.
This man is a demon.
I don't know what he did to become this good of the game,
but there's hardly ever been anyone like it.
The rounds hiding.
I bet the pressure is on Apex.
He knows he has to walk into Nico's domain.
Can he find him all the time?
He's nearly there.
Nico ready and waiting, just hiding.
Reading the step up.
A footstep's being heard on the other side.
I'm not sure yet.
grenade no he's not up in the hallway either
AHHHHHHHHH
this is the shot!
it's so close!
I can't believe it
should we have a look should we have a quick look
Nico you might need to start going to the gym
yeah I mean I don't think this was the gym this was just the anger you know
to the left. Welcome back. So
engrossed in the action. I forgot
to throw to break. It's been
really fascinating to see the
back and forth between these two
squads again. Adaptation
adjustment. Nip able to fight
back on that CT side pain trying
to respond to those changes, but
it's Nip after being one five
We'll see if they can continue the success here on the T-side, and to be they go.
We're going to start seeing as well, flashing the bullies.
Although out onto the site now, NIP making good progress as they try to claim space for the plant,
taking the lives along the way.
4v3 here for NIP, and the bomb is going down.
Very problematic here for the remainder of pain.
I'm now trying to figure out how to set this one up, synchronize.
Fishing, going fishing.
They'll show every so often. This is insurmountable. Nine times out to ten I think.
Starting to charge in now. Time is not on their side. A two on two.
save the last one. Looks like he might try to exit and save his Kevlar. Again, more value
in saving the Kevlar than there is in going for a frag here. So, he understands the problem
that NIP are presenting on paint pick of Mirage, and so he'll try to get every edge he can.
That's a good start for NIP. I think before the start of this match, I think they won
about 68% of their pistol rounds on Mirage. They lost the first one, winning the second
one puts them in a really good spot to fight for that third man.
Yeah, I think I think pain, you know, on the first half, they
had such a good position. And I just made one like big
adjustment with how they played mid and pain just never
identified truly how to deal with that. And so there's
something I have to go and look at afterwards. But for now, you
know, NIP in a great position to really start just continuing
with momentum and initiative. Looking for this A bombsite take now.
Let's not forget the second round after winning the pistol on Nuke. They won't be looking
for a repeat of that. There's a lot of strength for pain. Molotovs and HGs will push snow
into the light. Because they are going fishing. NIP, careful with the approach. Swarming onto
the site now after holding it
Tetris for a while and pain are looking to disengage good response safe course in an awkward spot
though because Sierra tried to save him slash the famas maybe he'll be able to reach it but
by the way this looks good for nip so far you are wrong if you wrote them off after that first game
nuke is a very different beast
I can get to save some of these guns. That's obviously a great win.
Another E4 spy, if it doesn't work out.
9 rounds for NIP though, and 10 rounds if they manage to deal with the remaining weapons that pain managed to save.
And so it might be very close to forcing that third map that will be at Nubis.
It's coming. I think it is and
Remember who thought it wasn't at the beginning of this game. You had a lot to say then what have you got to say now?
Well the predictors on the interwebs
Still thinking a pain will win the series
They're clearly listening to the wrong people
I
The close position here on t-rap often a very strong way to stifle these bushes slow the timing
Check for this. I'm sure you go check grace. Oh doesn't check for it, but the adjustment works out the equal close
It seems like there's problems everywhere, but it's okay. Oh
Oh, that was, uh, that was fun to watch. And again, it's another safe situation. Of course, we're not going to see a repeat of this round, but it's no point
finding Kevlar over and over again. Vio said we'll have to do those. He's hungry for an AK-47. Very strong situation for the Ninjas.
again, the pivot in that first half.
Right when it needed to happen,
putting them in a super good spot now.
Nice fit from safe, but it is pain
who have the issues here.
Again, their pick of Mirage.
With the stats on paper between the teams and Mirage.
Again, the perfect storm for a good match.
Both teams high fighting hard for a victory.
I feel like it was a reflection, but the bomb was behind his head.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Foul, please fix.
What kind of glass is that?
Multi-dimensional glass.
Alright, well, okay, this is a very important round for pain.
If they're going to have any chance to come back into this game, it really has to be on
this by the all there for safe and for them for us and util for the rest of the team. We'll see
where the fight actually takes place here because I'm looking to send pretty much everybody except
one player top middle. What's the focus there? And there's not really much focus from pain in
contesting that position. You've got the same as on catwalk. And of course, there is also biggest
error. He's also looked into connector, but you're going to get some deep positions and a great pick
from Stown already.
for the CT side. Really smart pop flash there. You see a heavy connector play. Having there be
someone set up in a T-Rap is a very likely read. So really, really smart stuff from Paine. And now
you can see the plan B quite literally here for NIP now. They have been foiled towards A and it's
going to be really a great test now for Perrier who is anchoring at the back of the B bomb site.
He's got low health. He is
debate now. It's his job to get
on that fish hook. Let the other
ones swing by the couch because
the AWP angle. But what about
the rifle support waiting on the
site 19 seconds to get that bomb
planted fully committed. That's
a big flick from safe. And he'll
catch the last one as well. We
did say that he won't have a
us. That's already. You just love to see when you're opera. He's in that position,
pressured around jungle. We might still be playing here. This exact spot. He's on fire.
A lot of opus might just fall back to safety. Safe is comfortable going very aggressively
for individual play and holds connected down by himself. And obviously, we see the conversions here
on the B site. Fantastic work. This is, that was a fantastic round from fame.
Yeah, really good timing from safe sort of barrel of the gun on the last player as well by defaults
Great swing from him and he starts as he means to go on we sort of stats about
NQC and safe but I wasn't concerned in that first half as long as he delivers in the second
He's doing exactly that pain threatening to catch up quickly and it might just be all at the hands of safe
Yeah, safe is heating up right now. We're seeing it at real time rounds around
So it takes down Snappy there, the isolated duel, and that's the bomb down, it's lost.
Two players left here for NIP. At the very least they could try to do some damage to
the CT economy. That would be a nice reward, but it's going to be challenging. You have
to know trying to find his way up onto a duel there, getting the bomb, and you pull the
one B1. Wow! Nice shot there from Snow.
What do you do with a minute on the clock? You can't afford to lose the AWP, but four
players alive. Yes, the bombs on ramp. They're going to come few eventually. So surely he'll
have to pick a good hidey hole. Maybe the stairs towards B will do really lacking money
for NIP. Again, they've got the round to recover in that respect. But it's been all pain, it
feels like. Quite the roller coaster. What's that scope heard? I don't know. There's not
time I don't think. I mean, the CTs also have a priority about their own money to survive
the storm to come.
The game just got really interesting, James, because Payne obviously, you know, struggling
on the beginnings of the second half, obviously, it was a struggle for them.
They couldn't solve NIP's CT adjustment with that mid-stuff.
But now, you know, Safe is really heating up, providing some very, very strong opening
doors defending Cavalry Fair, really far shot there onto XKaspersky.
Now, LAP, you know, they are in this troublesome spot.
They've got to figure out how do we adjust for what pain they're doing.
And it can be a bit more difficult when it's an AWPer that's running around, you know?
Because you just don't know where they're going to be, necessarily.
I'm not sure if they are even aware that there are two AWPs running around,
because Saif was just charging everybody on that occasion.
I think Karrie was involved.
So, two rifles and two orbs for paying to defend in a four on four.
Superior is posted up towards B and again this can be a painful discovery.
If he stays up here, I don't know if he can buy time for rotation.
Surely a pistol swings first.
Oh, no, it's going to go in.
He's got such a good angle dropping the smoke grenade once again
Now there are two on the B bomb site, so it's looking a lot more comfortable for pain
You know what's before cuz burski looking to push the smoke while carrying the bomb as well
Of course, there's no chance to really get that bomb plant anytime soon
That gets even harder as he doesn't have the timing. He's looking for
Snappy will be traded they made expensive for the CT's
But I think pain will be happy with the round win
Yeah, yeah, that's a very precarious situation because so many I mean period was anchoring to be
The B site by himself his teammates were very far away
So not only does he have to get that first kill he has to delay and he's trying to also just keep space on the site
So that his teammates can get through if he goes straight away
Then the bond can go down and the forward choke points can get shut out as well
So very precarious there from period
but does a great job handling it.
You're now paying any two rounds away from tying things up
against NIP who are back on the by.
This is a Q1, on the ninja's point of view.
I'll put some numbers for now,
because they are a map down.
This is an important moment
where they have to be successful.
All the money spent in round 19.
Pain on the comeback after great resilience in the first half from Ninjas and it's been
spotted.
Here we are forced off the angle, unable to get anything from it.
Now did he expect the CTs to have to rotate with their AWPer posted in the apartments?
to be they go the ones that from pain just yet very difficult position here for
VSM holding space as much as possible although wins it in the kitchen are going
to allow that to be a spot to retake from this battle huge from VSM there now
suddenly exospercy 16 and 8 right now has to do it against everyone one versus
for a first test so we're going out of person a nice second kill out comes the
for the 1v1. Biggest error around the corner is going to get the drop on him.
And that's going to be the clutch there. That is so meaningful there for Payne.
9-10 and suddenly NIP must feel it all slipping away.
The bomb plant at least is going to give him opportunity.
One place of Iving for the CTs will give them opportunity as well.
I think the push into market is where things started to fall apart for NIP.
that's a very good thing. We
see again into the sandwich.
Notes goes the bigger zero able
to pick up another one. Yeah,
as well as a clutch towards the
end. And one thing there, I
think is that paying or very
fortunate because I think period
going for the repeat there. I
think it's so dangerous because
his teammates are very far away
and I feel like you know, a large
on the site. So going for the re-peak means that the risk to die is significantly higher
than the initial peak, and you're not going to be able to slow anything down if you die,
and the bomb is going to go down. Your team is going to be in a retake before your teammates
are into the site. So that was a huge opportunity for NIP.
Yeah, and they still have opportunity. Well, they all feel like they do with only one place
surviving but they'll be short on some utility here and there oh where you going
son so it's not be that's perfect for them oh really hard to train this
situation period ready for the flicks just as safe is
that would be okay for a time being oh period try to avoid the pre-fire through
the smoke, but Nones will catch him as he tries to reposition. That's open sesame for the bombs down, taking some damage.
But there's a lot of opportunity now for NIP to answer straight back. Bigazera and Snow remaining, do they pursue?
Snow is so far away. It's not looking very likely they're going to fall off on this one. But there are, there is one player
snappy who could potentially hunt down Bigazera. But yeah, really nice fast round coming in from the NIP side.
the opening pick on to on to
safe. Fantastic. And I think
you know that's that's them
also making some adjustments
into how safe has been playing
because safe has been looking
for these these peaks. He's
an all that clearly likes to
get a little aggressive. And
so that's just a significant
significantly impactful
punish. And now an IP 11
rounds. And you know, James,
there is no money really for
pay. I mean, well, safe actually
But yeah, it's not looking good. But and again, that's the the good thing about
NIP taking it to that last man over towards the previous
I mean the decision is hard. Do I go first? Do we save?
Makes that a lot tougher. So really good job there by Ninjas to win the most round win.
the money actually is very bad
for NIP as well. So if NIP
loses this round to Payne and it
goes 10 to 11 from Payne's POV,
NIP are in a lot of trouble honestly.
So this next round is significantly
important because given also that
Payne are in a similar position,
they got nothing left after this buy.
So this could be sort of the
round for the game almost.
I need the camera alone.
On the famas for the SMB round 21 type of both squads.
This is this has the potential to be.
deciding rounds for much of what remains in this game and I'd be with
opportunity to force a third map a change of pace then wasting out some
initial utility paying the far worst equipped in that respect while and I'd
be holding on to most of what they have shoulder to shoulder they go out top
mid there is still an awful roaming I could be in safe's favor
That's the other angle around that smoke doesn't look like it, BSM having you look one popping up onto the bench dealt with by BSM.
Oh, safe. Smoke goes back just in time for NIP.
Yeah, early pick here does make life a little bit more awkward for NIP.
Safe seems to be quite cognizant of the play into window.
Seize the edge, but no quicker to it.
Not having a phenomenal game so far here. 23-11.
Fantastic work.
We can do it with the pistol, we can do it with the rifle, but against the holding down connector,
continuation spray is huge for paying that.
Still locking down the position, Stown finally bursts his way forward to play up to you as well,
coming in from Schoosh, but Bigazera seems unchecked.
It's a hell of a pre-fire with the glocks on Stown, but there's more to be done here.
Bigazera and VSM running distraction one after the other, really well.
A stressful one. God, that continuation spray.
where the team damage came from before that second headshot came through on Connector,
but it certainly helped.
Again, the pre-fire from Stound with the glock.
Just to keep the team in the fight was huge, as FF, again, we said that was such an important
round for both squads to win with the money.
Momentum moving through to the end of the map.
MIP don't get a bomb on.
Their money's not going to look great at all right now.
Yeah, go for a half-buy.
Here are AK from different Stound.
Are they just going to run it down? It's like a bee pop. Might be the play.
Oh, that's an incendiary. It's going to delay things.
Let's see. Smoke it so we can run through. A cheese as well.
That's going to destroy notes. First man is dead.
And something now, I feel like, oh, hello.
That looks really close, but it doesn't actually connect with anybody.
But this is the worst possible case, James. You know, you've lost the timing on your B rush.
You've lost the player as well.
If frags can mean something, if it's only to be frags here for ninjas and pyjamas.
It's in the pick mode now.
Can you make that AK make some magic?
Oh no!
There's still so much time.
and I have left money in the hole.
The bomb plant is so unlikely even if the guns are around the corner, it's still not going to be great.
Finally able to find some damage in this round.
Shift 52 HP probably doesn't last long here.
Indeed safe, we'll put him out of his misery.
another AWP frag picked up so much output for him in this half.
Yeah, game tied now, and I mean, this is looking really rough for NIP. Obviously, they're going to be able to get a buy-in on this following round, but, again, it feels like the momentum has been with pain overall on the second part of the second half.
After the major rounds or streak of rounds, one by MIP was offered the pistol and they converted two more after that.
And since then, they've largely been losing rounds here on this T side.
It's been half of the defined a consistent approach.
And as you said, it's safe as being a large part of that picture in the AWP impact for the most part.
11 apiece, notes with 23 frags, followed by ex Kaspersky with 18, both ahead of anybody
on the pain side, where a team effort is allowing the score to be tied.
So guns are out once more, but again, no bomb plant means they are lacking in much of the
the utility here would otherwise have.
How does that change how they can construct around here?
They'll send a few players through
to this underpass position.
Again, we see Payne trying to play under the window
and between there and connector.
Because you're up, he's been a hell of a problem today.
Looking to continue in that fashion.
Yeah, so we start here from both sides.
Payne holding onto a lot of utility for now.
and if you slowly getting into that mid position, bomb down towards the B apartments at the moments.
Clipping up into the window, you can see that's Payne extremely aware of this possibility.
I think it's safe, he was distracted by the trajectory of the monotone previously.
VSM coming to the rescue, they know someone else is there.
can he stop this in time?
Jumping through the window, the heroics,
but no, round window, B-fuse goes to pain.
Stappy can't get there in time.
BSM playing the quiet game there as the third man on the B-bomb site.
They weren't expecting that rotation without any sound, Q-Zen,
out any fights, out any trade attempts.
Catches the bomb planter immediately in our BSM,
but I'm looking at this action in the window.
Again, I think they're hyper aware of that situation.
the safe looks at his right seeing that Molotov getting caught from his left in the previous rounds.
And again, VSM the bait game there paying off in spades. Wonderful work for Payne taking the lead now.
The dream is collapsing for Ninjas. The bomb plant maybe gives them a lifeline,
gives them a chance to do something in this round.
BOMBS!
Two players close to pain, this could get really well for them, all they could get isolated
and it could be very very bad for pain, we'll have to see which way it's going to be.
It's looking like it's going to be very bad for pain, the snow comes out, activates it
from a high position.
Now VSM over the top for another trade, and now Peria in the 1v2, NIP looking at their
chance to secure overtime now.
Big pressure for Peria, BOMBS not planted, he's got $100 in the bank in this one versus
two.
I'm going to go back to the
last round of regulation, though.
I'm fighting for overtime. They've got to be so careful running the clock. They've cut noise, hoping for rotation, but whether they plant
I'm not sure I'm going to be
able to do that. My word is
this nervous territory.
G's Louise almost losing that
one entirely. Yes, it's so
crazy to, you know, pain had
two players deep towards the
towards the rampside of the of
the map. So like, you know,
oftentimes it could be the case
that only one player gets
isolated by the execute, so it's
hard to know in those scenarios
some quick heroics right there in the chaos but it's down bringing it home there for NIP
and now we are into overtime where things can always get a little bit weird we'll have to see
NIP on the T side what can they cobble together three players team ramp with the bomb
they're gonna have to defend it as well
big opening they've got the numbers as well and notes will check for PSM's position
because they're trying to do what you can
That's a great catch from save note completely blind. It looks like
Three on three then and IP were on the way to the bomb site, but the sound cues are there for the exits
Felt like
NIP was so close to maybe getting position on the site, but pain coming in I think that kill from safe especially
That really stifled the chance to get the forward position
Now with a minute left around completely reset and pain have to wonder now
have they rotated or are they gonna re-hit the A site? I'm not sure if that
flash hit because they're all what but yeah there's a second attempt first one
didn't go where it was supposed to said information will be a little slower 3v2
in the meantime as the bomb continues to make its way this town's got to be
careful the crash peak won't be enough to get the best of safe
Bomb planted now.
Ooh, making noise.
Look over here.
Maybe.
He's got one shots in his magazine.
One round, two to find.
Maybe one's all he will need.
He is making a lot of noise now,
but as his teammate gets dropped, it becomes awkward.
He fights his last shot and will make an exit behind the smoke.
And the first one will go the way of Ninjas in pyjamas.
Got that last round of before overtime.
It was a Stounder who had the bomb on the sights.
But so, so tense.
And I'd be really doing it the hard way.
Losing their pick of Nuke.
Clawing back a 1-5 deficit in the first half.
Taking a lead, losing it, forcing overtime.
High pressure theory for them
Yeah, both teams really I think at this point kind of turning up at the same at the same time now
Let's let's see much more interesting rounds that catch from style
Which is really nice punish for info because that was still at the time when pain did not know whether it's gonna be a or b
But back into the next round we go and I pee with that one round advantage in overtime one and
Looking like a pretty heavy commit up to the A site feels like they feel quite good about these a attacks
I'll make that a three versus two.
Another smoke kill coming in from VSN.
NIP, the smokes are not going to be up for too much longer.
They're going to try to find a planted.
Do you have a lot of time here?
They're going to be working their way to see if he spawned,
but the isolation, the flash was perfect there.
Now, Stout has it all to do.
Takes down Peria.
Oh my goodness.
How has he found that?
A smoke frag again.
VSN looking to creep out here.
Looking to find position on this one, the smoke,
and the fake plants trying to play with VSN.
Trying to force him into a position that can be capitalized on Stout.
Unsure, is VSM close? Is he far?
30 seconds now, assume the bomb pressure to plant is going to be pretty heavy on Stout, and he's going to have to switch priorities.
Very worried about the position that VSM could be. He's cleared it.
VSM just playing his safe, waiting for the plant now.
I'm going to guarantee he knows
the position that allows him to
creep forwards. Now which peak
is it going to be? VSM holding
his life as the flick VSM is so
steady.
My words. These rounds are so
tense down to the last men
really nerve wracking to watch
down at the top of the mountain
looking around the bombsite
trying to figure out where VSM
to the left. It's a little bit
more. Why do you patiently
waits? Great job from sound to
take it that far in the first
base. You saw Kaspersky shifting
into CT eating a flat on the
way. That should have been
curtains, but sound forced
their way back into that round
ultimately to lose the jewel to
you look at the complexion of
this map of Merage, it was one
team turning up and the other
one not. And then the other team
turning up and then the other one
not. And then right at the end,
both teams starting to turn up at
the same time. And now we've got a
bunch of these rounds that are
super close. And the individuals
are firing off on all sides, and
it's become now completely
unpredictable as to who's going to
map because otherwise they are going to be kicked out the tournament land finals in Malta on the line
great opening from Stown normally looking towards connector but again they've played so many rounds
perhaps they've learned some habits he's been good up short looking towards con for action as well
He's got many teammates and so again a lurker around the ramp for NIP.
It's down to being dealt with.
Safe looks for that lurker.
Shush, maybe getting active soon.
Snow's in that shadow position.
It's an easy one for Safe.
Safe has been so consistent.
And now moving into very dangerous territory.
The crossfires will do the damage.
14 to 13 is paying.
Get the 2-1 in OT-1.
Match points.
Land finals points.
Safe has been so good on the CT side.
Yeah, he's the answer.
He expected him to be good.
But this may be even better.
Back to the wall then.
NIP, again, once they learned how to play the CT side versus pain,
they did much better. Can they channel that energy once again? Payne, of course, will be aware of that also.
Maybe looking to circumvent that mid-action with four towards A.
Very, very close positioning, and that's going to be a great spray there from Kaspersky to hold the
position and now force Payne into a very difficult position. Go back away from this one and find an
ulterior plan and ulterior motive in the rounds. A is not a possibility at this time. However,
Everyone is rotated off of A at the moment, going to have a rotation back there through kitchen for Snappy
as he picks up that open path on the map.
It's not match point yet. I require caffeine, Dan.
You require a slap on the head, James?
Yeah, maybe both. Bucket of water.
First to 16.
Oh, you could cut the air with a knife.
We will play different pain completely split up the defense now and they've created potential openings on the map.
NIP responding though, T-Rap push for information.
And they will put, or continue that push with Kaspersky.
Kaspersky.
Smoke now onto B site.
It looks like NIP have the right read.
It's still going to win those jewels though.
Twenty seconds remain.
Grenades will telegraph the intentions for pain.
It's a long rotation for Kaspersky from Palace.
And I need just WAIT FOR THEM TO COME THROUGH!
But come through they do!
Safe! Have to go for the bomb plant now!
And he will be denied!
Period.
Can't do it.
He can't do enough because Kaspersky is on the other side of the globe.
Again, so much Utah left over to stunt the movement through an explosive frag from Safe,
answering questions being asked at the beginning of this series.
But it is around for the Ninjas.
Yeah, Safe is really showing that he's able to hit some of these really hard-pressed shots.
That is a hard shot to connect with.
with. But yeah, two, two wait
there for the pain gaming side
and he did a great job in
reading the situation. I was
really hoping pain would
actually boost into the window
or do something funky, but
into the next round we go.
Gonna heavy a focus to kick
off things safe with the AWP
once again. So if he is the
first one to peek across and
then make their way in
contacting into the site, they
have fast position. Yeah, very,
very quick indeed. Looking to
avoid the drawn out Jules
Kaspersky, not seeing that
second player who comes through
a great timing. That's no. Good
position for the squad now. CT
is still being held by an IP and
there is a flank on the way
snappy not rotating from be just
yet. Maybe waiting to see that
bomb. Looking for lurkers either
All down to that jewel. They had the info, but just couldn't get the best of snow.
The struggle continues to just close things for the Ninjas. NIP in the driving, pain in
the driving seats. It's been such a long battle.
We're kind of in the best phase of Counter-Strike in this, in the isolation of where this matches
right now because this match is being dictated James by the clutch.
The second player there, I think it was Snow actually who was in the smoke after his teammate
got dropped in connector, then just re-emerged at the right time, a pivotal moment, a moment,
it gave them so much space on that A bombsite with CT still to fight for.
That was a huge moment on the way to victory for Payne.
Well then.
The must win for the Ninjas.
I'm sure Payne doesn't want us to go any further.
And finals in Malta around the corner.
A very different opening from Payne
to spread across the entire map.
It looks based on the the mini map formation that they want to bring themselves into the A site
But kind of threatening the rest of the map first showing more presence and
Changing the timing it isn't very little you till left with an IP
They have a single smoke left and at this point in time and that's on the note at the moment
could be a pot flash 40 ramp there it is safe ready for it bomb spotted snapping
not rotating just yet it's gonna be heavy lifting for the remainder of the
squad because they're lurking around the mid position what a pain up to here
40 seconds and they are screaming away. Now Snappy's position on short. If he stays there he could hear this rotation
Can help come fast enough
He's got the sound cause you can see him moving and you can see NIP moving as well
If they go through mid, bigger zero could make life really hard
He's gonna get caught by Kaspersky. Snappy with angles on the bomb site. Perfect stuff
That stubbornness to rotate him could pay off for them. 16 seconds and it's safe with the AWP again
3 kills, make it 4, looking for the ace to make their way to Malta.
What a way to do it with his performance after that first half.
Stown 1 vs 3 with an AWP.
Brutal and it will be the ace at the end there for safe.
A fantastic way to answer the questions.
That is true. Safe has answered the questions and given us a performance that tells us
He is him. What a way to close out that round. He looked over for pain. Remember pain started off this map
Getting a good amount of rounds looking like they had some control
Then nip did nine rounds on a row from their CT into their T side and you think nips got control
They're gonna be full just taking this game. We get into overtime safe continues to level up and we end up with pain going
to zero here, boo
Yeah, I mean we even had stown actually start to activate because I think for much of this game
game. There was a clear off
difference, right? Safe was
clearly the best offer on the
server. Period Junior was
clearly the second best off on
the server and stone was the
third best off on the server
for much of the game, but then
he levels up into the overtime
and they still managed to turn
it safe. Incredible on that
last run, and I was thinking
this is surely going double
OT because you just have pain
squad that can't win a default
round. You know the execs are
coming, but doesn't matter if
you know they're coming when
safe is going to hit shots like
This crazy last seconds rotations with 20 seconds left on the clock even snappy getting an orb kill
You think okay? They're done boy. This can be so hard. No gets pushed from the flames into the position this shot on the X
Kaspersky absolutely incredible, and he may not get the last one, but it doesn't even oh, he just didn't get that
Was that him getting the last one? Yeah, I heard the rifle shots, and I thought it was someone else
So he does get the ace to close it out. Yeah
Absolutely madness in this last round, and it was so short on time. It was so short
every round coming down to like five or 10 seconds left. I mean, they even had one near
the end of regulation period with the flank, but just wasn't there in time. Every round
they managed to flub an exec and then reposition, rotate around and just go like, safe. We need
you to get a couple of kills here. Somehow he doesn't safe was really doing it, man.
Just take a look at this one as well, right? During a Molly had his feet when there's problems
coming his way. You think he's going to be just absolutely in a live and he still manages
to make it work. Look at the confidence. Look at the scoreline. He was five and 11 at the
start of this round. Still goes for the push to the Molly. And this was the most pivotal
round in the game. They lose this round and it's going to be a 13 five. They're out of
this game. Instead, he pushes through the Molly, gives his team a chance and he gets
the rotate to the right bomb site at the right time. It's not just hitting crazy shots. It
doesn't matter if you can hit crazy shots. If you're not in the right spot at the right
time. He is everywhere. He is
him, James. You're right. He
is him. He actually is. You
know, we were so worried about
just the performance difference
between him and NQZ and what
pain had been struggling. And
this is if you can have this.
I'm not going to ask him to have
these numbers every game. But
if you can have this style
every game, it's going to help
pain and big is there are who
standing with us for the
interview very much in these
situations. Big who what the
Yeah, crazy map, right? Yeah, it was insane.
It was absolutely insane. Just tell me about how safe was bailing you out of some of these
rounds the performance he put up because I'll be honest, he's not kind of had these impactful
moments for you guys in some of your previous series we've been watching.
Yes, I mean, when he was in the flow in the game, like some maps like that, it's insane
because he's kind of aggressive, so when he was trying to get kills and getting impact,
he was doing very well, so it's insane to watch.
I was just spacking and celebrating.
Okay, so my question is about the the mirage game strategically, you know you go into that one you go up five one
But then it seems clear in your mirage in general
You guys can't get a default where you take map control without losing a player, you know
And then you just go you seem stuck to execs in this game. Like how are you trying to fix that?
To be honest I was kind of a striker for them
They are like a thing that is so aggressively on the city side so it's difficult to play against them on this side.
So we just had to know where they were fighting and just play like if they are fighting mid, so let's go B or make some default of one mid and for B, these kind of things.
So was difficult to read them because I don't know I don't know if it was
Because the result on nuke, but I was feeling that they were just playing you know
So some rounds they they were like fighting me then they at the same time. So
Was difficult to read as a Joe
Speaking of anti-strat I mean you play against the IP you probably expect them to pick nuke or at least it's gonna be a third
map did you have like a really good plan coming to that one is that why it went so well
yes to be honest uh we knew that uh would be nuke uh uh they pick uh so they just prepare a lot
for nuke because uh uh is the map that uh i knew for sure that they would pick because uh i mean
is not just because of like they right now they just have one very good map that is nuke of course
and the other maps i i felt they they were confident about to play you know about to pick
well big is there thank you very much your time my man we will see you in multi congratulations
on a very important win and then look after yourself man thank you
that's why it's that. You know,
sometimes it happens. This is
online CS, but. Voo. What a
crazy way for that to end big
smiles on the face of the pain
players. And if I get this safe
on land when we get to multi
against anyone they have the
face, then I'll be happy. You
know, then it's a good, good
choice. That's that's a big if
but I mean, if safe place like
that on land, then we're
looking at a pain that could be
making a major playoffs again.
You know, they could be making
taking deep runs again, right? That's the, that's the pain that we were looking at last
year and thinking that they were a dangerous team that we haven't seen for a little while
now. Well, we got three DMAX going up against
foot coming up next. Maca ducked us for the winners interview last time. So I had to grab
him for the pre-match to understand what the hell happened with Curzee and how did he get
so good all of a sudden? Positively for you guys, you got revenge against magic here at
the bouncy, right? And a huge performance from Curzee as well. What are your thoughts
on his joining the team and his transition to the rifle, because it's looking good man.
Yeah, he's pretty insane when he comes to aim wise I would say. He's able to perform very well
and being very vocal for the team. So I'm very happy to have him in the team. In the French
team we knew he was like a big tank for quite some time but as a rifle and having so less
He saw less opers in the French scene and lacking of ideas, he had to go through the
op role and I think he didn't feel to like him best.
I'm pretty sure trying to rebrand him as a star rifle is the best thing but he has to
take time.
Sometimes he has like some felt process of an oper, like he's not like every time picking
as a rifle, it's normal, it's very hard.
I think he's doing insane, in such a short time, he's improving a lot.
So yeah, I'm not surprised, I think people will be surprised, but I'm pretty sure he can perform at that kind of level for the rest of the year.
Nice, and that'll be very, very good for you guys if we can keep that going.
Now, today you're facing for a spot in Malta.
Now, this is obviously a team you've got some experience against, you've won every time you've played them.
play them, they don't bang cash as well. So do you feel confident enough to test them out
on it because they've never played it?
I'm not going to say anything. I'm pretty sure they're ready for any fights on any map.
So yeah, we are believing in our map pool in this matchup. So looking forward to it.
They need to believe in it after we kind of doubted their map pool and what they'd be
able to do right last time around. Yeah, I mean, you're looking at a lot of struggles
for the this three max team for, you know, the the removal of oftentimes their best map.
And then we go back to the end of last year, they lost train. Now they're trying to add
in cash and they're not feeling like they're getting consistent success on the map. So
they have some struggles, they have some problems. But this is a team that I think they found
some pretty good success against recently, right?
Well, I want to see what success they think they're going to have in this veto. We are going to get oh, they didn't go for the cash
Okay, I like it. They wanted to come away from it
Maybe they were worried that these very strong individual amers on foot might be prepared for it
So they've mixed it up a little bit here. So we're getting dust to ancient and newt. What do you make of that move?
Yeah, I think the cash would be the mix-up in terms of this matchup for them in the past
So I think you go back to the tried and true the one thing you know about this matchup
is you're going to get those two where foot have really been struggling. I mean, they got
destroyed on it recently. And you, you're going to get ancient where, you know, foot
are a strong ancient team, but 3D max, you can prep into that one and you can have a
really good game plan. So if it's worked for them in the past, why not try it again?
And we also had a great curtsy performance on ancient last round. So maybe he can stick
it to foot. We're going to have to see, but 3D max foot is about to get underway. So let's
the game. We're going to go
into the next round. Let's get
back with bottle from DDK. Yeah,
this is going to be another good
game kind of strike. I hope that
we get that level of intensity
that we just had in our previous
pain matchup. That was that was
a banger of the finish James.
All right, yeah. Yeah, move on
from that 3D Max three. That's
I don't know, man. I feel like
that's to should be a given for
them. It should be surely it
I feel like these players, especially, you know, XR coming into this team, I do feel like they have so much individual skill, if you're a demon, cemetery, they have so much individual skill.
I feel like Dust2 always offers a team like theirs a chance and opportunity to be able to upset a team that is more favoured or more experienced on this particular map.
that. Yeah. Um one map does
not make a series that much is
true. You know what? I think I
would have liked to have seen
two point something for 3D Max
a little more respect for them.
However. It is they who have to
prove themselves against first.
I think we can all agree. So the
uphill struggle is what is set
out on paper. We'll see if he'll
be that way on the server from
We need more scuba divers in
counter strike, taking advantage
of locations. There's so many
shipwrecks around Malta to be
explored if you've got the
qualifications. But anyway, they'll
be keeping themselves above
surface for now. Pretty much on
the pistols, catching X-Flight
lower tunnel. Thank you for
no thank you. Into B they go.
Yeah, pretty much the worst possible
opening for foot to be up against
not just evading them, but also getting a pick on the way to that bomb plant.
So this will be a very hard recovery for Furt. We'll see what they have in store.
It's going to have to be some nice headshots.
And they are waiting for the flank to come in from T spawn.
At the same time, Masuta will just deal with both Jugs and Cemetery.
So at this point, what is there even left to do?
Good movement from Masuta.
It is a blind spot there, but it's one that everyone knows to check for.
So he'll try and give himself a little warning with the movement very hard to stay static in CS 2 if you want to be successful
But certainly a successful start to this game of dust 2 for 3d max very common ground as far as they are concerned
Taking it one step at a time
3d max
On the up there's there's a lot of
of development to solidify in the map wall and so on for this team at the moment with
what we've seen of them so far. Lessons being learned. So a good force buy from Foots, a
late purchase from X-Flouds, but they're all committed to success in this second round.
We went to positioning from the foots, and we're supposed to be worried about the scouts.
Nothing to see here.
Even on the full spy, the HGs into that middle smoke, when the fire rounds come all keep
attention on if they back that up with another one on Xbox or if they're content with that.
team's like to drop a number of hate cheese for the sniper to have a look promising start from just trying to invite
What's really makes into a crossfire which will be dealt with at least half of
X-Fab playing around the smoke. It's got good cover there, but the suit has got a better angle
Krebbeni and demon remain
Opportunities to catch a rifle top mid maybe
Krebbeni's interested
Unable to get the best of lucky though
Weirdly enough, you wonder how much demons got to lose from this situation.
Masuta's got all of 1 HP.
So this could still be a little bit funky, but he'll be dealt with by Masuta.
All is well for 3D Max.
Pretty scary round actually.
There was definitely some opportunities, for sure, to have them go a little bit sideways
for 3D Max, but now they can just rest comfortably against the Eco.
a lot of potential there too without opening kill from the Juggs on a defense and then getting
to the 1HP and also the 1v1 in the mid-doors. I mean there's all sorts of opportunity there
for foot, but let's see what they've got to talk about in this round. Three Eagles, slight
mid aggression there looking for those opening opportunities with that very, very powerful
pistol and you can see that 3Dmax is going to give it the respect they know
that there's a possibility for this type of type of action but if you have an
opportunity jokes just missing the timing on that one
3Dmax eventually will be moving forwards
I'm enjoying the timing of rounds and how it's developed in CS2.
Got a wider spread of players comfortable with later timings.
Such a demanding game.
I'm not sure where the rifle went, if it's something that can be retrieved, but for
to looking forward to the next round to get started on this game of Dust 2, I think this
is a very, this is going to be a very difficult opponent to put away for 3D Max and an opportune
test for them with where they are in their journey thus far. Another one for Mr. Juggs.
And that was really...
Yeah, it all matches in a long run.
Oh, I mean, this is why you're going to give the Deagles a respect. It's my goodness.
I feel like this was a spiritual victory for food. I mean, I feel like they inspired so much
fear into 3D Max in this round with the Deagles that that's uh yeah spiritually that's kind of a victory
Yeah, I would agree with you on that one just looking at the size of everybody's keyboard
Right then the orbs are out symmetry. He's got his big green gun looking for his first kill in this game as his ex flout
Quick take of lower tunnels for 3D Max.
Imagine we'll see an increase in CT aggression at some point.
The footsteps are happy to start this one relatively normally.
2-1-2.
I think 3-0-2 is also one of the normal setups.
Symmetry.
Comfortable in the uncomfortable
Yeah, it feels a challenge that doesn't he hmm
One kids on a one kids on B for foot and 3d max are raising the threat level over towards this a bomb site
Demon spotting a second help is not on the way
you far enough to lose everything they're carrying rather than saving. Not the case on this occasion,
but that kind of extra frag can leave the CTs into a trap sometimes, where the odds
of winning that round are really against them. But Futsal keep a level head.
Yes, tough game for them so far, I mean that was just one by rounds, but they played their
kind of heads up and they didn't really challenge Cat and 3D Max kind of just ran up from that
Cat control, so it does make you wonder, well, if I try to make an adjustment with respect
to how they handle their control of Cat, we see something similar from them.
Oh, he's got a pro mic. He wants the full range of his vocal chords to be heard by the masses.
Good start from 3D Max. And they need to have one on their pick of Dust 2. So far, so good.
challenges yet to come on this one, ooh looks warm over in Malta. Sun-kissed stone.
Okay so no frag cemetery just yet.
They're going for cap though, they're at the, they're definitely changing things up,
they're getting aggressive. Oh no, absolutely found out by Mac. They just, they're dreaded.
I'm just trying to question mark.
Oh, that's a tough loss right at the beginning.
Yeah, and long possession at the same time.
So much time on the clock for them also.
Really good counter smite by the CTs, but demon and X-flat will only be able to get one.
That's an important one from X-flat.
3 on 3 then as 3d max advanced aside a lot places for them to look as well
But that Molly will be quite useful and it'll force Krebbeni back for the time being
To fight with his teammates if he can
Some other stalemates as half the site is taken by 3d max
Folks go away. You got an activation of the all play. Okay. Well, there you go
Great stuff from the rifle is that 5 oh up now 3d max and so everything is going really really well and
And in a 3D max did a good job getting past that counter smoke from the CTs like you described
that that is such an effective way to
Slow them down and even to just get some kills hold that ground behind it
But
They managed to get up onto the site like gravity really looking fantastic
Wow, really tough start from first. That's the most aggressive face palm. I think I've ever seen
There's a double smokes. We did ask about those earlier and there is the answer. Again it does vary from team to team, but if you're going to get the hate cheese through the first one, you want some protection.
Well, this is proving to be an unlikely round for a 5-1-3 in favour of foot, but sometimes it'd be like that. Doesn't matter how that first round comes, they'll definitely want to seize this opportunity.
Yeah, interesting challenge now for 3D Max to try to fight individual moments, but Demon
very ready for that particular timing.
And there's no reason for Foot to give anything here.
I felt like for 3D Max they just want to ensure that Foot don't get free weapons.
So they have to kill some players for that to be the case.
And scale from this cap position.
So it's good if the players any at this particular moment trying to make their way forward.
There goes Kobani.
Still a lot more work to do, a lot of friction.
And with that flank,
Juts, ready,
and an angle.
Not looking good here now for 3D Max's chances.
And there we go, three players will survive for the first side
and they'll be able to collect some upgrades.
And as you say, it doesn't matter how you get it done, as long as you can get it done.
Yeah, just one of those mental barriers broken.
Securing that first round.
Big swing with the HE from Krabeni.
Nice combo on that short position.
So make Acer be collected as well.
Now, how much does that break the focus of a 3D Max
who did feel in charge?
They'll take a time out, whether it's just to stop this momentum.
being built by first or two.
Double their efforts. First
test for them. How did they
respond to their first round
lost? Yes. Interesting because
you know, cemetery is not really
been able to get into the game
just yet. He's actually over
four. But we've seen some of
the attempts that he's had to
or has tried to activate upon
with the orb. And it's just
It's been a tough game, it's been a tough game.
He's done 290 damage, he has two assists.
But with the AWP, it's not about the assists.
Yeah, yeah, it's definitely not.
And you know, different players deal with having slow games differently.
Sometimes you just don't get many opportunities.
It sure will be tunnel or pressure.
3D Max has beaten for 13-5.
both times they've played them on Dust2 this year.
Interesting, maybe a bit of a stylistic advantage for 3D Max perhaps in this particular matchup.
Closing in on shorts.
Run a minute, Mark our 3D Max.
Changing the pace.
Now we've seen CTs with good late mutil
in terms of incendiaries and smokes.
Those will be somewhat lacking on this occasion.
There are two smokes here for Flitz,
but really it's going to be about the firepower.
40 seconds, hold on a second.
We have a lurker outside me.
35 seconds on the clock. Three players heavily committed towards A, but are they starting
to wonder?
We're in a position on the low, in case anyone drops down. 20 seconds, we're now making
it so we have cats. Very, very slow progress. 10 seconds for the plant now, I decided to
get a little bit.
actually cemetery makes a very important kill there, but the trade is very faster.
And so he's a five seconds put that bomb to go down.
If you're going to stop it, not in time, great shot.
So coming on through from foot as they try to eliminate the defense around the bomb.
Lucky comes up catwalk quickly.
Now three players to deal with, but demon is going to hold it down for the squad.
Fert with another round, making it to two.
That was a really fascinating construction from 3D Max.
There was a lot happening at the same time.
for players posted up in a staging area on short.
You saw, I don't know if you could see Lucky on the radar,
lurking behind the smoke at the entrance to B.
I'm sure it was still a consideration for them to drop into CT
and maybe make a play towards that B bomb site.
By the way, they were entertaining players
on both sides of the map.
And with plenty of rounds to come in this half,
we'll see how they show variations of that.
Lucky ended up in a lurk position
in mids trying to cut off rotators and then having to go up short and trying to save the round.
So again, maybe 3D Max just wanting to pick a little earlier that he were able to get one.
And again with the U-Till being a little less than ideal for Foots,
I think they'll be pretty happy with that as 3D Max now find themselves on pistols
that momentum has dissolved from earlier on.
Yeah, something has foot in a really good spot now, and I think if the cemetery and I think
he's going to have more opportunities into this game, teammates doing a really good job
and this could be dangerous.
Flash comes in, very scary, somehow X-File manages to make both kills happen.
Now Jug's able to support from range with that AK-47, oh man that was extremely worrisome
for X-File.
I was wondering what that was. Flying across the map.
It's after the HAL, the M4 HAL. I think there was a clip I saw recently on
Inferno. I think it was Inferno. Something, I think a grenade went off and it was right
on the floor and it flew across the map to someone who had auto pick up on the right
from landing on someone on the balcony. Yeah, just instantly pulled it out, which is just
very hilarious. Yeah, it's not that. That's pretty cool. Although I think the if you are
heading towards ready, there is a clip of a leash from yesterday on Mirage, just how
robotic his aim is at the moment. Completely out the peak of his powers. I feel for anybody
going up against a leisure presence. Yeah, he's someone that took any training very seriously.
What many players have in going to his level. Yeah, it looks crazy. Anyway, two round leave
for 3d max. But finding their way, you might say finding their footing in this first half.
the
the
the
the
the
very quiet at the moment minute to go.
Pretty nice current groups towards the mid position showing one player towards Kat.
Very careful, Kribbony, he's spouting himself out there.
Well, that repeat can guarantee you'll take full advantage.
Their formation is pretty much the same as before.
Again, lurking in B-Apps and you wonder,
is that the pick that they were missing last time around
when it was 10 seconds as they were approaching the bombsite?
Well, things are turning back into the favour of X-Floud and Coat.
a flashbang beyond the tree.
And again, that lurk keeps their options open,
but there are smokes up on the corner in mid.
Bomb rotating towards B halls now.
Many of these tutors out of position.
Maka looking away just as Judd speaks.
Semi-tree on an island needs to come alive now.
On his B bomb style, certainly do that.
Staying alive as the rotation comes through.
And 3D Max will be denied on A and B.
Yeah, great shooting.
I mean, this is the kind of shooting that, again,
I was talking about with Furt.
I mean, they're very dangerous individually,
Even though Dust2 hasn't been a great map, especially in this matchup for them.
First one from Dn, fantastic, outside with the shot down.
And not sure if Mako's looking away from the fact that he's got 12 flashes or what exactly, but...
Yeah, so much he delivers, you know, on the one shot that he had to deliver under pressure.
Just, you know, good display overall from Furt, 3D Max, but try to play a slow round.
We'll see what their next buy-round looks like, but for now.
Furt looking like they're gonna get to 5.
that's a bit of a shocker for
3D Max again. That previous
round where it was 10 people
alive with 15 seconds on the
clock, they get the early pick
on shot with a similar set up
lucky lucky in the apartment,
but then just get absolutely
drilled towards a really
quickly. After downing that
point man. Don't think they
could have been expecting
that. Yeah, and that that
be times player is I think so
important because obviously he
There's so many options he can give you just like you were saying like if the CTs push for info you need to know that
And that's something that he's able to determine, but I just hold that thought for the moment because
Cemetery might be offered up some
Some chances here to improve the stats
That's a hard one to hit
And what to see if you know three masks can make the Eagles look as menacing as foot we're able to
really sharp fraggers holding AKs on that B bomb side. 3 AKs for the 4
rifles on the CT side always a good measure of your momentum as the CT
squad. A brief highlight for Makka towards the end but they're going to have
to find that success again, our 3D Max, because they won five rounds in a row, then they lost
five rounds in a row.
Yeah, it's funny, they don't actually collect Cemetery's AWP, you have to rebuy it, because
I think they have three AKs, so I don't see that make sense, you know, the AKs, they read,
you know, very impactful, the ranges you're dealing with it.
Yeah, X-Flight leaves spawn with $13,000, so no concerns there. If you've got the AK,
not dropping that for an all unless you're broke a good spot for cemetery
early on playing in front of the smoke here
sports as a security but maybe the slow start really is a problematic for
cemetery they're missing that one giving opportunity now spot on the boost
could be able to trade make it a four versus four we've seen that boost spot
being pre-fired by plays and lowest on a law so all that's gonna be a meaty
HG grenade, big flashpoint here through midders, but refused to leave that short position to the Victor the spoils
The pain continues for 3d max gravity creeping onto the B bomb site
Sorry, Makka creeping onto the B bomb site
Dropping x-flats
And there goes demon as well
And there we go, round converted, six to five.
Now as we go into the final round of the first half
and three max, finally finding something,
but we've got to say like Macca,
I think his performance in this round was utterly absurd.
Well, okay.
Oh, I see, okay.
He's trying to do a funky throw of a grenade.
I don't know if it worked out.
Actually, I've got a weird story about
lending a mouse to a body through a land in London.
I had the same mouse that he was using,
but my mouse was dusty and I remember watching.
And there was, I think there was my piano,
eyelash or something on your optical sensor.
And it just went straight to the ceiling
in the middle of a firefight and I was like,
oh no, that's kind of my fault.
I felt responsible.
Kersey lost early for 3D Max.
I think that's a good start.
Again. Good start to this one.
Can I have a good finish, though?
And keep a leader halftime.
Okay, so different movement here
from first actually going
aggressive long house. We
haven't seen this a single time.
They've not really put any
emphasis on this in the timing
is looking really scary. If you
What a conventional.
Demon takes down one, a second kill from Demon, surely not!
Three kills and one more player, you never knew he was there and that's it.
Six to six, tight score, into the second half we go.
It doesn't really get much better than this, that's the other problem.
If you're not doing this round of people, I mean, are you gonna get better chances than this one
to try and do anything later on? Probably not.
Niko's deep on the site, actually, again, probably should be dead already.
He's gonna get the one kill there little double for be ready and might as well have been a triple there and bonuses and a lot of
Trouble he knows folks one of them. He keeps going ten seconds
He fakes the bomb is around takes down woody and now he's at the heart running up close and personal
It doesn't have the time for the showy. No, he just give it to me. Yes. How's that possible?
Would it absolutely?
God like sequence from honesty. He doesn't have to move so much now. There is a model von turtle
He's gonna throw it. It's not deep enough money. She still could have the shot. Oh, and there it is
What are the best touches we've seen in a long long time? That is something special
the flames and Dexter
His bomb down is scary flames is taking real estate that ends up getting punished
Liquid hold and they wear these fights just eggs that left to get past
But he's an iron wall at the back of the site
Thanks, Tom!
Make some noise for him! That is incredible!
Nitro slots into the corner on Arch. Simple catches.
Oh, see, immediately, an electronic also shines.
Nitro, it's a good chance!
Oh, and he gets three on Arch! Oh, he gets them all!
But what about that flash from SDY? How about this hold from Perfecto?
Incendiary to the right, Sumdai Young turns his attention.
Oh! All three!
Some die young, and some die again, and again, and again.
Lamef. Got to be careful.
Looks into the shot.
It's just Brokie talked into that behind the smoke.
Yeah, Brokie.
He's wondering what's going on inside of the smoke.
He's going to find one. Finds a second. Absolutely not.
He's already done this so many times,
and now he's looking for an ace clutch instead.
It should be impossible, but we said that many, many times
Already goes straight for the bomb plant. They open the door in front. Oh gotta be careful
He gets one more short. You're not on the other side slave is ready and waiting broke
And JKS goes down for essentially free three
CTs meant to work this forward utilities off of the mark can hunter selvis can Niko clutch it will he be needed?
Because that tech 9 drops and here comes Nico's rifle. It's head shot galore all three dead
And Nico's gonna keep it back in force. Fuck him in son
Relatively straightforward electronic with the opening kill over the top of the smoke. Oh gee falling back
That's precise and he gets another over the top. Oh, yeah, filthy absolutely filthy
It's very close to keep up with the statistics there as the push comes in to long, Makka.
It would get the fade-away shot from the USP, just thinning out the numbers ever so slightly.
But, foot-looking, it should be able to get the bomb down, although strong CT presence
might actually defy that attempt.
Makka has managed to do quite some damage, taking three down all by himself so far.
Bomb does get planted for the guaranteed money, cemetery, and something.
a lot of people are going to
play this game. It's a
fantastic way to start a map,
especially on a map with
ranges such as dust to.
That's a hell of a name punch
there. And I have a lot to say
afterwards. Mac has been really
good so far. We've got the
got the all and Kevlar in the second round. That's unprecedented! Nasty surprise! Nasty!
Okay, well the deets are dangerous. Nice rifle support there for the the CTs taking over the
tunnels. Oh, hello, hello! Is that recoverable? It might be. There's a CT on the way though from
CT spawn. Can Semi-Tri get to the AWP? I don't know if he can here. He's going to have to frag his way forwards, if so, but he's going to back away.
And this is a 2 vs 3 at the moment because he's critically well on HP, although Krebbeni will finally get taken down from the side.
Bomb collected now by Semi-Tri with that deagle. And certainly more damage to be done early against the CT economy.
Yeah, I was thinking they'd have to win by elimination at that point, but cemetery didn't want to risk the peak on CT thinking he's probably going into a one versus two. So that will be a site of relief for the CT squad because that was getting a little nervous.
to save the AWP towards the end there.
Honestly, this in the second round
is like someone turning up to your birthday party
and just punching your birthday cake,
putting the fist straight through.
Definitely a party pooper, but again,
that's such a rare perfect storm in the pistol round
to get those cheap helmets,
enough frags, bomb defuse, AWP and full armor.
Beautiful, almost didn't work out for them,
but hey, they're still standing.
that. Yeah, I think that's
interesting. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Yes, they are so. You know, it's
interesting because, you know,
we saw that from the earlier
statistics that in the previous
matchups in the past, but tend
to struggle. It seems like
stylistically, especially on
Dust two against 3D Max.
Obviously, you know, there's
been changes to Rosses and you
know, it's the start of a new
season. So we have to have a
pinch of salt with all the
statistics there. But I think
will finally bring themselves out into this round with a four by all points of cemetery. And again, you know, it has been. It does seem like dust to is it's not a great map for cemetery generally speaking, which I think you know is unusual for an opera.
It seems to be more of a challenge though these days does too. I feel like for snipers. I think sniping in general is
Less opportunities to have it of course with MR 12
Seems to I think someone did the math on it and felt like the orp was
20% I don't know if it's just impressive or not present. Anyway, cemetery will have the spawn quick pot shot from him
But there's nobody home
It's pretty passive opening from 3D Max on the CT side, so it would give a lot of space
for Furt to kind of run the E4 hour they want to, if you can see that's one to one
ten minute cat timing, they're going slightly faster than that here, and again no resistance
to slow it down from Furt, I'd rather throw it in front of 3D Max, he will just give the
space. There's a HG, HG tax for the position. Maca in a spot that is definitely dangerous.
Great pick from Maca. 3D Max will respond to the utility as well. Absolutely ruinous because
the game. He's got a lot of
players. He's got a lot of
players. He's got a lot of
players. Foot to thrown almost
all of their utile. They've got
a few flashes left and that's
about it. Lucky. But how much
issue avoiding the flashes, but
you can't avoid the guns.
Demon and chugs coming through
to find clean house with
Macca. We're still standing.
Maybe not expecting him on the
side. The problems are still
here for foots. You should
kill that. Macca. Great fall
up as well from jokes, but in
with a great timing on the
that looks really out of hand there for foot manages to turn into their favor. And I think it's largely those two players playing close to the smoke. The variance catching them the wrong way.
That's really ruinous for the CTs as well. Again, a huge firefight around those smokes at close range is enough to give foot a fighting chance.
where the T's can really start to take the momentum in this game of Dust2.
Talking about the big opportunity,
Furt's currently 88% win rate on Ancient.
88%.
So, 3D Max are going to be in hell if they lose this one.
Sometimes the best tools is just usp's all day.
No deagles or a single one so the kill potential is very low especially at the ranges of dust
too.
Do you know what happens Dan when you've got five usp's?
What's that?
Not much.
you. Unless you find demon who
is roaming with no helmet. Oh,
And he's the point man going out
on salon. Oh, there it is. Come
on, man. Oh no. Okay. God comes
out. Okay. Two kills. That's
actually the worst possible
that is definitely a heavy
oversight. I can understand
what you want. You don't
necessarily think about it, but
at the same time. You know,
because if that's if that's your
dedicated entry player, you know,
maybe just not. You're just not
thinking about it, but they've
got two a case. They picked up
here. You don't want the CTs on
dust to get free a case on a U.
s P safe. This is an enormous
I think that's a good one.
Yeah, that is definitely a gift.
On a map. They have to win.
All measure. Oh, man. That's
crazy. Crazy value. Crazy value.
Now, Matt can drop the a K and
fascinating scenario it's kind of like you will get into into existence you know
that's what I'm here for just so you know pointing out that there's one player
without a helmet I'm an agent of chaos of course that's the the entry for perfect
it's just too perfect okay well it's a fall by for both sides and Mack has been
and extremely a large problem I think in general he's on that so I try to take
the action to the T side of foot but foot we're interested in a delayed long
take it seems. We have to put through the middoors there from Kersi lucky able to
trade it in the meantime foot are in position to take long now there'll
There'll surely be a molly coming gravities way.
But the counter-smoke comes before anything else.
Again, really good for annoying a T side.
But as you can see, Ferts have shown that presence
and are heading elsewhere.
B-halls being kept honest by jugs.
Will there be any found cues for Masuta?
3D Max still looking to just identify the climate around long.
They are so far away from B.
Yeah, this is such a smart timing from Furt to take
and go back into that in a moment.
We will have the heroic attempt at a defense here
from Mesuta.
Currently quite alone in the composition.
They want to take down the first player with no trade frag.
Hello, anyone else coming through?
Yeah, there's the rest of the players.
Mesuta will take down D-Man before getting traded,
but he's done it up like this.
Enough time has been bought.
There's a flank coming.
Bomb has yet to be planted.
There's pressure on time.
20 seconds to get it down.
and his three CTs, almost ready to push the side.
No U-Tour left for the T-Side.
Just about, fragging out, too many angles to cover,
and now X-Lars in the clutch.
He could maybe find another one here, dropping off,
but gravity will collect him.
First hitting the brakes on the push towards B,
gave 3D Max the positions around the bomb sites,
and that really made life hard for them.
A great play towards Long,
the team. And they just
hooked it. And they hit a great
timing into the tunnels. But
the space between the entry
fragger and the entire rest of
the team. It's like they
donated a player there. And I
think that was that was a great
opportunity for the team to
get into the tournament. And
then they just hooked it and
they hit a great timing into
the tunnels. But the space
between the entry fragger and
And I think that was a really big problem, not being able to fully execute or to punish.
And now that gives control of the game, I feel, to 3D Max off the back of that.
Lifeline for 3D Max.
Well constructed round four-foot.
But the finish left much to be desired.
He's walking all the way into this pot flash.
Oh, they're lining up for him though.
It'll be the team kill one way or another.
It's a four on four, but they don't have any position on shorts.
Lucky he's on an island here.
They've got good spots for the splits.
to slow it down though. So, does give 3D Max more time to adjust. It might be an opportunity
here when the smoke dissipates. He's going to get the better of this one. Both teams
ready to go. Just waiting for it to dissipate. There we go. He does. And quicker to it. He's
preparing the jugs. But the flank timing, that tons push, really paying off finally.
But a 2v2 now as the bomb makes its way up long.
down to the wire. These rounds economy to down to the wire for both spots as well.
23 seconds to get the bomb planted. Footsteps heard by Macca.
Another incendiary forecursor to throw to the bomb sites.
The timing couldn't be better.
Cemetery drops in the meantime, looking for a post plant spot.
But that Molotov has been quite a problem. Eight seconds now.
So much utility after that firefight on that short position.
Well found, well delayed, well secured round for 3D Max.
Yeah, they're definitely making great use of the opportunities that they find and I feel like foot is not without opportunities
They've definitely been fighting creating some of the opportunities for themselves, but
Just getting a little bit out of play in some of these positions and
It feels like three max starting to edge forwards edge away from
Foot in this one to make the difference. There are any two rounds in advantage, but we're almost at the end of regulation
So we'll see a tech pause coming on through
Just a microphone being righted before we continue.
Four of the six rounds in this half going away of 3D Max who have won both pistols.
Again, this has got to be a must win for 3D Max but for fighting tooth and nail.
They found themselves on average $2,000 in this round to tworick.
So this is almost definitely going to go the way of 3d max and put them on 11.
Then there's just that one route.
Yeah, have the guns and have to win.
Yo.
Yeah.
Yeah, hard map to predict. Seems like a really tough game for Cemetery to have
the impact that he might want to have.
Gonna get the pistols. Now no, no deagles, you know. I feel like they look pretty
challenging with those deags, but all too poor for that. Might just try to
desperately run into the B site. And that might really just be all this random
announced to you next waiting indeed historically between these squads 3d max
have done well on dust 2 in March and January
will be for the most part cemetery has a small chance for a bomb plants he might
entire game is the one to make the clutch and basically double his scoreline in this round
with this super heads up play getting really aggressive in the right spots and uh that now
completely changes I feel like the storyline of this particular game because the money is looking
pretty poor for 3d max they like they needed the economic package from winning that anti eco
but in failing to do so now foothab all the money they've got the guns they got the awp
And I mean, 3D Max have to figure it out.
Do we, what do we do here?
Do we half buy?
Do we full save?
What do we do?
That decision from Cemetery to Peek is so, so good
because I think a lot of people are just gonna
desperately try and plant the bomb
for that money worst case scenario.
And you can see that on the minds of 3D Max
rotating through as a care in the world.
But up he goes for that rifle to make a 1v1.
My words.
a star could be imploding here on dust to that. Yes, crazy. Honestly, so crazy. That's that's that's mad. But it's such a good position and huge long stack coming in from 3D Max for players looking to defend that position. Obviously, that's where they found value from the USP in a previous round where the anti eco play from
was to go a long, but this time they go to B and it's completely for free. And so no problem at all.
So in that essentially,
I was trying to give some context towards ancient because yes,
Furt are 88% recently on ancient, but I mean, these are teams who two teams who are very familiar with each other over, over months in the past.
3D Max with beaten foot on ancient 1311 in March and they lost them in over time in January on ancient so
while the recent stats are great between these two squads it's a little different so while it might not
be a complete disaster for 3D Max to go to ancient without a map win it will be a disaster or some
the game. So, I'm going to
put it in the description.
Hang on. Mac is stolen off
from cemetery. Oh my goodness,
and that's the kind of stuff
where again, you're thinking,
do you need to be even there?
What purpose for what purpose
are you even then? What are
you doing here? A security
often say to Dan. Exactly. And
now Mac of all players has
picked up an AWP and now
obviously centuries had to
one of those big rounds, one those big, late rounds, cemetery posting up, again very common
to try and catch a CT up in that big box position. And sometimes you do get some sloppy play
and an opening pick for said sniper, but not on this occasion, giving nothing away for
free. Yeah it's a hard match to predict with some of the snafus we've seen from both sides.
Yeah the money situation for everybody is really suspect at the moment,
first taking that mid control. It's not true if there's anybody to peek mid, but at the moment
it's not to be give a play out by a CT smoke for CT. C1 to setup for the CT side.
That does typically mean that the A attack is stronger from Kat, but we'll see what
Flick decides to develop from this position.
So Lucky's been gifted some nades from Makka, who still has a flash.
Often the Sniper player playing around Kar might need to flash for a long player.
In this scenario, we'll see if Kravity throws a flash behind Lucky, or just posts up with the AWP.
No lurker for Foot towards B as we saw from 3D Max in the first half.
20 seconds on the clock as the NAV starts to stream in.
There is a flash.
Lucky tries to do what he can.
Lucky and Maka combine for 3.
Keeping the pressure up, I'm not sure if it's time for him to pick up his bomb and then plant it.
there is not. Jugs and cemetery need to find a place to hide. Hunters on the way also.
That alleviates some pressure. Maybe cemetery survives with the AWP. Again, it's a tense
one. 3D Max to 11.
Oh man. I mean, at least they saved the AWP and AK. It does give them a good shake at
this next round, FIT. But yeah, 3D Max in a really good position. But again, still not
that comfortable. Just yet given that I'm going to have quite a lot going into the next
and you've got to give it to Lucky there, you know, getting the extra kill, that one extra kill in that position makes all the difference.
And now the challenge for Lawn and completely blinded, Demon's gone.
And that is 5 vs 4 in advantage 3D Max now.
It's going to be hard to get back into this one.
Two players outside B4 first.
Again, looking for opportunities on the platform.
The suits are playing from the site for now.
Nothing doing.
Can be hard to get an opening pick with AWP on Dust2 these days.
They're streaming in though.
It's been a surge into the bot site.
Well done.
Cannon fodder for the first player, drawing out the CTs and the rest clean up.
The vacuum that remains.
What to do now then retake of B
This could prove expensive
Yeah, I think that is the exact problem
They might try to see if they can get something quickly, but if nothing offers to self up
Do you want to sacrifice the AWP you can't rebuy that if you are on the 3d max site here
But it's like they might try to challenge
There's a flash from Macca who can keep the ult safe if this does it go well dropping in though
So, Jux does go down, this might commit the CTs into it, but in the back, they've lost the op now, but they've committed it into the site.
Good shot there from gravity, all in preventing, they know precisely where he is.
Time pressure, not much time, but he can't stop the defuse, and it's going to have plenty of space left to be completed.
3D Max picking up that clutch, and that is an incredibly impactful one.
The way these rounds develop is utterly crazy.
I mean, the bomb did go down, so that will give some extra money for foot, but it doesn't look good.
I mean, there's a couple of golels. There's not a single AK, a couple of Eagles.
They have enough utility. Kind of suggests to me that maybe they want to play for like a cat plant or something like that.
I think they did well to set themselves up in the first place over towards B after losing their first player foot.
just forcing the issue of using the numbers game and what was a difficult
situation only to lose it like that see if they can keep their focus for round
23 must survive scenario now approaching the smoke Masuta isn't a good
spot to deal with this absolutely sending it there's the entry the right
corner but great turn from jugs getting both entries at three versus three guns
to be collected. Another 3v3 retake on to be.
Smokes and HEs. They can take some choke points away, but as we see new smokes from the side
of Ferts, this may be a taller order. Surely they'll be hyper focused on a retake attempt
here from 3D Max, who still surround the bomb sites. Looking to be given something again.
It's just one man with the diffuse kit, but I can't see them going in this time. That
late smoke is such a killer for the team. Gravity drops on the exit, but again, it's
lucky the man was a kid, so there won't be a turnaround here. They will make it costly
as foot exits. Oh, this is well run as well, man. I'll see if he's okay. Either way, that's
one test survived four foot, but they leave with nothing. All the energy handed.
That's not good. James, they don't have money. They can get some A-case. They can't replace
They're going to be light on utility.
That's really impactful.
Firstly, they're just kind of not ready.
In the doorstep, it's taken up easily.
And then the remaining two players dying, it's painful.
Krebbeny and Xflav started this round of 3,500 after those kills.
So you're fighting against Game Point with a Maktan and a Scouts.
Just because of the exit frags.
Impressive stuff.
This is a good adjustment though.
3D Max, they've seen a couple of B-Pops.
pops, they decide to start with more players towards B, so that it does mean long's a little
bit more open. Although it looks like they've pulled their foot off the pedal. I thought
they were going to charge into the long position, try to outpace the CTs, but playing a slow
round, which does allow time for the CTs to adjust their setup. They have a presence mid,
outside mid, and they've also got presence on Catwalk. So that gives 3D Max good time
to figure out what's happening and to rotate in front of it.
Symmetry gets into the pit.
He could be quite a nuisance here.
If he's able to tag some players,
that could have a lot to do with the rest of the round.
That opening kill though may start things
a little faster than football may be intending.
Symmetry posted up in the pit with that scout.
More players closing in on the bomb site.
We still have a lurker in the halls
as well to try cut off rotation.
We'll see how that develops.
The Mac 10 of course, that could be really annoying.
Looking to secure the bomb plant then.
will be dealt with on Long actually.
The scout's been dispatched off,
and now X-Cloud's the last one standing.
He needs a miracle if Foot has to survive on Dust2,
but it won't be the case.
3D Max able to secure it.
Some really tense rounds towards the end,
but they will take their pick of Dust2.
Yeah, incredible performance from them.
I mean, just holding steady in these very tumultuous rounds.
Foot though looking pretty dangerous
as he moved into their territory next.
foot certainly leveled up on their dust two, but it's still not enough to overcome 3d max and their tried and tested performance on it
It got close. It got crazy a good battle back from foot into the halves
You know after starting so badly at the very beginning
But I think that's where we should start with this room because 2d max at the start
They look like they were just gonna dominate the whole map
Yeah, I mean a lot of that is off the back of Masuda having I think he'd forked on pistol round
He three hit on the second round.
He was the dominant force in the first five, six rounds of this half,
but then he started to cool off and you saw it was,
it was almost one of those NACS moments.
We're so back. We're so dead. We're so bad.
There was multiple moments.
It felt like foot was just going to dominate this game.
They had all of the momentum going for them,
but three maps at the end of the day managed to close it up
because I think they're just the better dust two team,
you know, regardless of how this, this game broke down individually.
really. When we're saying
that a better Dust 2 team as well, right?
They even managed to get both pistols, but it got this close.
Is that something that you would say is a lot of
worrying? So they got both pistols. They got what?
Five in the right beginning on T side and then the
follow up two for CT. Like this should give you
so much momentum and confidence to work with.
But obviously, do shoot heart.
Yeah, I mean, that is
somewhat concerning, but at the same time
you've played this team. This is now the third time
you've played on Dust 2. I think it's almost cliche
at this point to say that
you've won the game. It's
harder for you to rematch on
the same map. The other team
has lots of things to learn
off of. You know, they've lost
the things to build off of and
3D Max have a pretty like they
have a pretty set style. You
know, they play a certain way
on this map. So to see them
close it out, I think it's
really all that matters at the
end of the day. But at the end
of the day, we're very hyped
on Curse you right after that
magic performance. This time
not so much. This is where we
have to obviously we're
learning. He's very new to the
series, but to see, you know, where he is at his best and where his normal level is and
where he's at his worst. Yeah, if I'm going to be completely honest,
when I saw Kersi have that game at this event, I went and took a look and I said, surely
that's a one off. That's a spirit, which after the foes again, that's a that's a life
game. It wasn't. He's actually had several series at a very similar level to the one
that he, he showcased at this tournament. So to see him underperform and they still
managed to push it over the line. I think it's really important for this 3D max team.
I mean, when it comes down to it, rifle to rifle, I think it was very clear for most
of that game, you know, you had some people coming up at the end of the game and performing
quite well for three max, I think for the majority of that game foot had the clearly
better rifler. So the fact that they managed to push it over the line, you know, this currency
performance is one of the reasons I'm not too concerned about it. I mean, they won both
pistols. It gets a little close for comfort, but you won the game. Just win the game and
move on to the next one. That's what matters, right? Exactly, right? Just getting the score.
It doesn't matter what it is. That's what players always say. But there is certainly
a difference, right in the mid rounding we see here, right? And the ability between the
two teams understanding of it. Yeah, when I say that 3D Max have a pretty clear style,
this is what they like to do. You know, foot doesn't do a whole lot of this. It's the timing
of that. They catch them as they're pushing forward in mid. You catch the players unaware.
And even though it goes one for one, Kersi falls, you have this foot, they take long.
You still have 3D Max, they have three players on A if it's an A hit.
Then watch the activity, the pro activity, as that smoke comes down they retake long
A and even though the B hit comes out fairly quickly from foots POV, there's a second
player making his way over just in time.
Lucky we'll get here because of this delay from Asuda.
You drop the Nade down, he's got the delay here, he'll get a second one and then the
rotate was there to actually put some damage out.
Now you have the 3D2 rather and X-Floud is just getting, he's taken down from all different
direction. So it's the pro
activity from 3D max that I
really like. It's the fact
that they're not just pushing
up in middle. When you saw
foot in the first half, they
were going for the aggressive
plays. They were trying to get
an off pick. Lots of teams do
that, right? You're trying to
peak down in the lower. It's
catching foot as they're
advancing when they're got
nowhere to hide when they're
in the middle of the open.
That's what 3D Max does so
well, and they've done it now
multiple times against this
foot roster.
What we also are seeing a bit
of spacing problems there.
Right. The first guy into
went fully out the rest of the team wasn't there. Yeah. Yeah. I think you got delayed
by some sort of name and then you have you have a bit of a struggle. But then we see
this round here. This is another you could call a spacing issue if you pause here. Glock
no armor. James you watch the game. What happens here? A easiest retake ever be 3D
match disaster class. How does this one go wrong? This shouldn't happen right. Not in
a million years. I know like he can isolate one fight, but he had a Glock, bro. He had
a Glock and he still has no armor. And he's just, he's getting all these 1v1s his favor.
Days would be proud. Days would be proud of their ability to lose the Glock to a man.
It's a Glock. I think they're actually kind of caught off guard by the fact that Sanatrix
doesn't plant the bomb. I mean, they caught it on the cast too. You're expecting Glock,
no armor. Don't be a loser, plant the bomb, get the secure money. But we're showing something
sometimes that fundamental get the money. You're probably not going to sometimes you
just win that run. If, if, if foot had come back in that one, it would have been based
on that. I mean, they lose that run. It's 11, it's 11, eight. They're losing the game.
That was a huge round that ultimately didn't end up matter.
No, but it's a crazy thing that we don't see all too often to be able to pull off something
like that. But we are going to talk positively still about some of these four players we
had in here because the individuals are that good, right? We see Krebbeni doing very well
X-Floud at the same time.
X-Floud's continuing in that good form,
but for many he's an in-game leader
that we've been quite hyped about as well, right?
At the same time.
And the reason is,
it's because he gets the most out of his players,
and X-Floud was selling us that right
when we did the first game of how he wants to be used
better than it was in his erotic times.
Yeah, I don't think he was ultimately used correctly
in his previous games,
maybe because they didn't have the space for him, right?
Sometimes the reality is you have other great players
that's hard to make that space for someone like X-Floud,
But he's slotting into, launched his role here,
launched with giving lots of space on this team.
So he is, and he is performing
how several people at least predicted.
You know, I thought he was gonna do great.
I know Maui's really high on X-Floud.
You're seeing him perform the way that you were advertised.
I mean, in the past, we were talking about X-Floud
as like this up-and-coming star.
We never necessarily saw it to the level
that we were expecting.
This is where I think he's gonna come into his own.
Despite a loss that was X-Floud playing incredibly well
and we have for Benny as well. I mean, he he's he's lights out. You know, you know, he's
going to be in any given game for the most part against the rifling IGL, at least he's
going to be the better, fragging IGL on the server.
And obviously we spoke to coolio in the winners into you when folk of the first game, right?
He was saying they have been putting some focus on that dust too. Would you be fair
to say that like we actually saw that come in now?
Yeah, I think it was it was better and you saw them go for at least later in the half
when they had their comeback, they were going for some aggressive kind of off timing plays
part of the problem. Hate to say it. Cemetery in the first two or three gun rounds got picked
first, right? He, it's hard to play from a four V five on dust. You need to be able to
find those openings, but I like the way they changed up. They do look better on dust too
than, than they have in the past. And I am hopeful for their dust too, but you know,
we're not, we're going to have to wait to the next series if they win this one to see it again.
Well, it is all about ancient and that's what's coming up next. It's foot's pick and it's been
a map that they've always been so comfortable and calm on. This is where we should see them at
They're very best, but I'll tell you this last time three maxed it with it
So if you want to find out what happens join us after the break
We are going into ancient next, which is the comfort in every single way you can imagine.
imagine four foot, but what I'm going to do right now to you, Vue, is take you out of your comfort zone.
I'm going to make you play higher and lower with IC market once again, because last time I had so much fun and I got to enjoy it, but you, you didn't have a good time because you don't really understand what's going on here.
So I'm going to let you try and start off again. Give me a higher and lower on this. Let's see if your knowledge has improved.
I can't hear him.
I don't think my knowledge has improved even a little bit, but I'm saying it's going lower.
Give us the lower.
Yes.
Oh, baby.
It's a weeb skin.
James, it's got to be higher.
Yep.
It's got to be higher.
There's no other chance.
Hell yeah.
Okay.
You're doing good.
It's ugly, but I know that everyone has this skin.
It's got to be cheap, right?
It's got to be lower.
Is it lower?
Yeah.
Everyone's got it.
Sticker capsule two, it's gotta be higher.
This has gotta be like a hundred bucks, right?
Not really.
Not even close.
Not even close.
The bronze, the bronze.
This eagle looks terrible.
I think it's awful, so it's probably higher.
I bet there's a whole bunch of people that love this skin.
Oh, I'm on a roll.
I'm still fire, lower.
Yes.
Oh, this is easy. This is easy.
43 cents Shanghai. It's got to be higher more than 43 cents contenders. Oh
Higher higher it's higher. It's gonna be higher James. You can't help me. Okay, you're
You're the acid fade I had the crazy thing is I had one of these I should know how much this is worth higher
I don't know. I think it's it. No, it's lower. It's lower shit. It's a bit. It's lower
It's lower
Yes, I had one. Okay, James, you take you take the wheel you take the wheel
The hollow Lynn vision Copenhagen 2024 the Chinese market should be good, but I'm gonna give it a higher
There we go, there we go all right field test is lower
number six. We are. We got
going up a lot. Yeah, I feel
this. I felt it. I just
some I guess people really like
this one. It's kind of school.
There we go. Thank you very
much. I see market. We do
enjoy this higher and lower. I
let Vue run away this time. And
then I failed us at the final
hurdle. The question is, Will
3D Max fail not at the final
hurdle, but the second hurdle
which they have one before Vue
What do you think? I think
this is going footway.
were they were terrible up until it was 12 nine down. It was it was it was magic forgetting
how to play the game. They were better like they had many problems. They were better.
But they're losing this one. We're going up three. We're going map three. At least that's
what food says part of a D.D.K. Do you agree? Well, I think it's a little difficult on this
particular one because three max off familiar with Ferts on ancient. They've beaten them
more recently than they've lost to them. It's kind of 50 50 in that regard. And I think
are really reasonable numbers
between the two squads here.
I think it's the perfect storm
for foot to fight for a third
map, but for 3D Max to potentially
take it in two. So there's a form
of foot, which is 88% of eight
maps played on ancient and then
there's the vacuum of these teams
against each other on ancient
where they are one for one. I'm
going in with no expectations,
you know, because I feel like I
a little bit sketchy, a little bit sus.
And there was some sus stuff on Dust2 as well.
I feel like the sus will continue.
That's my only expectation.
However, 3D Max will be on the CT side,
and they're gonna be receiving a big ol' B push
coming out from foot right now.
They're gonna get the site with no problem.
Charging through, trying to avoid the headshots,
but that is not easy to do on a pistol round.
3D Max getting the better of it as far as terms of fragging,
but that bomb has been planted.
to go, but as they do that,
the numbers are dwindling. The
CT is charging through, but
Johnson's done great work
running out of bullets, though.
It's found to ex flounder before
I can finish talking. He will
finish the round. Pretty good
start for those man over there.
Yeah, yeah, that's that's really
awesome. You know, in the chaos,
the Glocks doing what they do
and uh and now you know for
us as the experienced ancient
team, the absolute most comfortable
after them. Now they get to kind
to kind of set the pace. Take over the game. Show us the business.
Ooh, that's a release. Crikey. Almost fell out of his chair.
Yes, big. It's huge.
And maybe that is knowing that this is not a given versus 3D Max.
History will certainly say that.
to be able to do that, but
you know, the USP is looking
to cause problems and cause
problems. They will in that
mid position. Very quick
start to these rounds and his
opportunity, at least for some
extra money to be made by 3D
Max. Yeah, definitely. Okay.
Let's say they're going to
choose to are you going to choose
the safe. I mean, saving the
little definitely in. I can see
that being a lot of value there.
farming. Well, it's like, you know, you might go farming. They all have helmets
though, so it will be challenging to get much with it.
Gotta try and farm with the maximum and the
or invite them to die. I think symmetry will be okay, though.
So difficult to to judge, you know, people, myself included, would make
videos on different spots. You
can survive a bomb plant and
how much damage you take from
each spot. But it's a brave new
world now. Imagine doing that
now. Anybody got time for that.
That would be like an hour long
per map. Yeah, I mean, you know,
still games evolving. It is
indeed. Excellent has a 1.54
or T side rating on ancient this year, crikey.
61% opening success rates,
from 33% attempts.
Comforts, maybe, for X-Cloud.
We'll see if you can deliver that today.
Great time to do it.
Yeah, CT's given up mid completely,
so that's gonna be free for it
if they want to try to take that late into this round.
Getting that cave control going as well.
really just just looks like to us they're going to be hitting that's a B bomb site
but will anything
quite get thrown away a 3D max.
Charged here from X-Floud, see that opening jewel ring right now.
Oh, he gets caught. He angles a bit better for the CT.
The CETA takes him down and it does look like footwear which actually kind of looking to fake
the B bomb site to return on potentially but that's kind of spoiled their plan and now they're
have to reconsider here, James.
I've got no Max on the floor, so establish.
Great pick by Lucky, especially with
three men over towards that A-bomb site,
Demon trying to thin the numbers out.
Four, three, D-Max on one, but still a 3D4, four on foot.
35 seconds on the block, Demon drops.
Krabeni's got opportunity though.
Catches Maka, Gravity's gone as well.
Two on two, 30 seconds to plant that bomb.
And they don't have to urgently go for that plant.
on the bomb plants will be lost, though. And Masuta is there to secure the run. What a back and forth affair.
Masuta found a fantastic off angle towards a really perfect positioning to catch the tease, trying to clear area.
And again, on paper with three plays towards a didn't look like the best position and maybe lucky knowing that there's urgency required they down around finding a pick.
So keeping two players fairly close to the main spot, they would have that deep control.
And we're not going to see anybody on that position from the foot side of things.
We're going just for a B-pop here instead.
So what gravity can do is kind of learn at the moment, going to go back into the cave.
Doesn't let me look at that one.
This is going to be up there.
Whoa! Okay, two quick headshots with the famas.
Over delivery!
And a half there.
Oh, that's just ridiculous and ace is now a possibility. Swaps out from the
grill. Final player coming out of the K position and secures all five. That is a
mega 2K at the beginning with the FAMAS. Beautiful transfer. I always feel like
the CT's gonna, if he makes just gave him a little room to have a few seconds to
secure that ace. That 2K is crazy. I thought he was done for here. He couldn't be more blind
in that situation. He's like too is like great in that spot because he's so isolated and exposed
yes he can't fall back so like just too is insane. Wow okay.
Premax back at it again.
Looking very good here. Lucky he's getting a little aggressive but obviously the pistols not too
two minutes in. Yeah, this is by no means a guarantee for
foot. But they're definitely strong enough to take it even
with a bumpy road at the beginning of this. I do think
it's got all the good ingredients for an entertaining game of
ancient with the history between these players with the the
wider map win rate for foot. It's possible it's doable. 3D
max on the rise for trying to slow that down yeah I think individually you know
the 3d max players are really nasty so there's always potential for spots like
we saw gravity in there where it then individual just has to put on a display
and it can it can just they have the capacity to do stuff like that so you
know every situation is pretty dangerous you know open with the classic
mid control from the CTs. It's a delayed retaker, they're in charge. The red challenge comes off through, they pass each other in the smoke.
There's the spray, but the challenge from the CT is good for the trade. Cursy gets burned alive, and suddenly we're in a 3 vs 3.
A bomb site is open for business. Lucky rotating to CT. It's really about trying to get a good spot for a post-plot scenario.
Not everybody's rotated over just yet.
They're not 100% sure on a scenario at present.
Gravity slowly rotating off towards B.
There are the beeps.
No one's covering the temple.
Mesita and Lucky are going to really wipe out the numbers.
They found a hole in the defenses.
is the numbers on the CT side for 3D Max of late are terrible on this map. 36.5% CT
round win. Again, that's like really, really rough, but they do have a reasonable history
versus foots.
I mean, so far just, you know, in terms of the eye test, the thing is we're seeing the
individuals delivering right now from 3d max and you know I think I think that 5k from gravity that on the B site was so
ridiculous that's a gun around he's easy
he's essentially with a panace and so
for him to be able to do that it's just so it's just such an over delivery such an unexpected performance
And it just swung the game completely into 3d max's
And now but you know they run another eco after the off the back of that one that last round
It was largely lots of players kind of moving across the map, you know lots of individual battles and 3D max are just really solid there right now
That's a question for the for our CF2 staffs department
About the fan mass, but we'll hold that for a second because this is a fast-moving round
Tech lines are charging through, Krabaddy's got an AT as well
Shugs causing more damage
I'm going to go to the left.
And a bomb plant. You have here
going through smoke message
of rock cemetery, but they will
continue to trade. And now
Curse is the last man standing
for the squad. Has he been
hurt? He hasn't fired a shot
just yet. Could he be coming
from anywhere? Too many
choke points for all these
players to cover. They've cut
noise, though, and he's going
through the smoke. It looks
like hasn't to that bomb carry
just yet, but crab Benny has
keep the score close. That's a very expensive one for 3D Max.
Yeah, that's a really nice pick up there from Ferd.
Everyone in a key position, keeping that pace.
And more of a normal, but typically difficult spot to hold
on the defense side, just one as a spring out of the B ramp spot.
So 3D Max in a spot where they're going to have to spend
pretty much everything in this round.
I was wondering, how many aces have there ever been with a Famas in CS2?
Yeah, well, there's only three kills, technically, you know, there's like three...
Oh, I see.
...Famas, one with the USP, one with the Galilsa.
I suppose.
So it's not a pure...
Party pooper.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But, yeah, interesting game already, you know, it's a really scrappy game in terms of just all of the fighting that we're seeing,
from both squads, and so...
I think it makes for some great counter strike obviously because it's all dynamic situations was well mid-rounding or just like these are chaotic
Yes, I attack some retakes
Cemetery, you know with the AWP maca is gonna plot the AWP. This is three maxes last buy
You know if they lose this round they won't have the capacity to buy again
So the momentum will truly be over at that point see if they can you know hang on to the leader
and I think that's a good thing.
Fighting around the B area as well.
Like he making sure that he's
can't pinch his teammates in mid.
So slower start from foot in this
one.
After he makes that the fall back
to the initial smoke so gone.
So that was for to get some cheaper
control of mid.
I wonder if 3D Max will feel a little nervous with what utility they have left.
Will they feel the itch to make an aggressive play?
You can see them closing in on the entrance to A.
There's a boost there for the CTs.
Score the setup. Not too bad, but that's it, done enough.
Another 3v3 here.
Big pressure at the bomb, having to make his way through a main, the AWP is on the other side.
But at the same time, you've got that run now through spawn, coming in from demon.
Lucky on the way to join his teammate.
I can continue to be a problem. His movement with the AWP has been really nice.
Is he going to need a reload at some point?
I've got two shots in the magazine.
Never mind now, cemetery ready for Lucky as well.
Cavalry coming through the smoke there.
I love that he's running through. I think that's so awesome.
Looking at the history for Foot.
Again, we mentioned there, 18% on Ancient.
Looking at the nature of their victories.
13-4-3.
against sinners quite recently of course beating miles 13 to 11 at the major same
for baits 13 to 11 g2 twice 13 6 13 4 so they've got good wretches against
difficult opposition and they've put 3d max on the pistols again much better
around when percentage on that
CT side. 54% for foot. Got a
good spot to. Keep 3D Max in the
low single digits as we close
out this half as well. We've
seen block rounds one. Yeah,
he's in a position to either
spray him down or give up the
AK AK's gone. It's very given
up and that's a little
disastrous. Now what do they
Or they could try to go for some more kills or exit kills as options here for damage
They're sending the we're trying to send the deagles forward. I mean it's very hard to push through these smokes
Yeah, I think it's about
Copenny do you want this smoke right now?
I
Know you just leave that's what I'm saying. Do you really want this you only got pistols you really want to go in there?
Really trying to invite players to expire to that box
I mean I get it I try to keep the bomb but huge pickup. I mean two AKs and it's several frags
I thought that's a great result there for 3D Max.
Yeah, that's mega helpful on paper.
Well, it's mega helpful for stop.
Question if they can get them going.
Big fights.
Love the urgency.
That's one thing I like about ancient.
Just demand such urgency around B towards mid.
Lots of utility being thrown.
Many firefights.
Up on both sides now.
Have a look at me ascending it straight into B,
but Macca is ready to connect to gravity.
Was looking comfortable for a time,
but the numbers game will prevail eventually.
Macca still posted up at the back of the site.
Tried to counter and opening towards mid.
They've opened the gates, but can they hold post plant?
Oh, it's going to be harder now.
X-Flight gets blown off.
I've got the bomb down at least.
gives him a chance, Krebreny, with the defense there against Cave.
But he has so many different angles to look at.
Quick pop flash, which will help to solve that problem
so he can reposition, but backs into Kersi.
Now in cemetery alone, nice swing there from Masuta.
And that's going to be another round for 3D Max.
Tying things up five to five, really action packed off so far.
And we're going right down to the final rounds,
and we're looking super even.
Yeah, good flurry of rounds earlier on from 3D Max,
keeping it close now.
With a diffuse in this one.
Space program for X-Floud.
Not quite leaving the ozone layer though.
This is an entertaining game of ancient. Very close so far.
3D Max.
Maybe with a better performance score wise on their CT side than they have had in the past, in the recent past.
But what is left for them in this half?
Plenty of firepower from both teams in round 11.
Makka posted up with the AWP once again.
He's been very successful with this and continues to be so.
Gravity drops, but that's not going to send it in.
Look how aggressive Makka is.
He was great with this to watch A earlier on,
and he's not shy to do the same on B.
4 vs 4 has lost a ton of playwords,
But it looks like foot really are intent on the B side at the moment. No position anywhere else on the map
So that does commit them somewhat
And you've got some mid investigation coming in from the 3d max team looking to see you know
Is there any rotation here? What's going on? They also can set up a flank here and keep the foot side honest if they are to push in
Through cave and they're trying to fake the presence through cave and go back into mid but straight into the CTs
He makes first contact. That's a problem.
Maka on the line, takes down one as well.
In trade, he's gone as well.
And in comes the suitor with a timely push
to give advantage now to 3D Max.
Super timely. He was pushed through B through A the whole time.
Could be caught by Symmetry, who still has time.
And as it's quiet on A, 3D Max will stay focused
and not push too far.
Symmetry needs to plant the bomb.
that will give three max of
fresh information. Playing it
real carefully. But cemetery
has got a good chance at a one
V one. Oh my word. Never mind.
Great utility by Masuta. Again
while there was so much action
towards B, he was just waiting
through a just in case there was
a lurker or something rotating
round to mid at the right time
to help his teammates. And again,
plenty of action from Maca with
the AWP very present in many
you know, you know, you know
the opponents for throwing the
plant of the bomb is going to be
walking. You've got CT side
covered so he can only go towards
donut or towards a man. He's
probably more likely to go to
more so not. So you're just like
a very, very common is it?
That one worked out and pretty
max taking the advantage here
and playing really well. Push out
into mid the way that they were
able to have the play ahead
It was really awesome to see from 3D Max.
Good spirits in the camp.
Last round in the first half.
A mixed bag, four-foot.
They've done more with less.
Will they gravitate towards B?
We have the initial challenge and grenades once more.
A question of where is Makar?
So he's going to be very present.
This time he's in donut, unable to help his teammate.
It's because he's dropped in mid. It could be an extra rifle for foot.
To Dennis, there you go.
And completely abandoned a bombsite, but that's, I think, you know, it's not by design because you're kind of alone in M'suda's position there.
So taking that forward position on a main is a good way to kind of hold space, create some retake ability for your side.
your side. Where that bomb is. That's so key. That's so so key from demon. Maybe cognizant of
Masuta's presence in mid in that last round because he was heading straight for a clash
with Cemetery and the bomb. That makes all the difference now. That's really,
Max, have to go for this one. Closing in on towards A. Very carefully.
The clock is ticking. Everybody holding their kits. Lucky in first. Pop flash doesn't hit
Shugs and now he knows where. One of the last two players is Gravity forced open. Forced
into the open and Shugs will deal with him as well.
What do you, what's dude? What do you do in this situation?
does that serve their stats?
That's like the highest value
you think you're too right now.
That's like you will do exactly
that improved improved stats
that accepts the impossibility
of the scenario. Screezes one
in for HRTV towards the end of
the half, but we are all tied
up. We'll see you on the other
side.
Here on the sun-drenched streets of Mirage we spot some of nature's most fascinating
creatures.
Counter-strike players in their natural habitat.
Despite the plentiful environments these fellows could inhabit, they seem to always
swarm towards the comfort and safety of this shining paradise.
As the sun rises over the stone architecture, in typical fashion we see this species squabble
over their preferred position.
Let us discover where they shall end up.
Firstly we have the so called A anchor.
This fellow is often seen fighting for his life without a lick of support.
The window player.
An arrogant and egotistical creature.
They can often be seen in the pregame chat claiming their position in the blink of an eye.
Not all are so luckiest to get their desired position.
The B anchor, often times the run to the litter, designated to hold this empty site and ward off predators.
Forced to survive on scraps, he can often be found at the bottom of the scoreboard.
Here we see the signature characteristic of this off-forgotten fellow, a key adaptation
over millennia.
This creature's legs propel them tirelessly and repeatedly to spot any potential foe.
As this defensive tribe scramble to defend their territory, they realize... they are
not alone.
Barrage can hold up to as many as nine foes at a single time.
As we move across its deserted expanse, we arrive at another group of remarkable characters.
However, these bloodthirsty devils do not look as amicable as our aforementioned defenders.
Their eyes locked on the objective.
These players scurry from their spawn with the exception of one.
Without moving a muscle, we observe one of the players launching a gray metallic canister
skyward.
The desired outcome seems not to have been achieved with a regrettable mistake.
With the new weapon acquired, our CT favors a more aggressive approach.
Meanwhile, with the anticipation in the air, a coordinated attack is incoming.
A breakneck flurry of utility flies overhead attempting to disrupt the defenders.
The stakes could not be higher.
And with nothing he can do, the A anchor is flash banged like a deer in headlights.
He decides his best bet is to retreat. No matter how much he cries out for help,
support is nowhere to be found. However, the restless hunter has found its prey.
It's one shot, one kill. Such is the life of the opera, precise and deadly.
all tied up here 3d max against foot e-sports as we go into the second half of map 2 in this series
3d max winning the first map and now finding themselves on foot's territory however
they're perhaps performing better than expected and are threatening a 2-0 and as foot can get
themselves ahead here off the bat of this pistol
Knackers in a troubling position.
Let's not forget he had an AWP and full armour in round two in the first map without a knife
kill.
Yeah, that's true.
Very busy.
Oh, he's been spotted.
He's been hunted.
He's been predated upon.
And now he's dead.
Speaking of knife kills.
Who knows what his intentions were.
they were Dan they were really bad they were nasty they were menace they were
malicious. Sidious.
Now if you only just date this do you think so do you think so really well
the CTs the error of the dualies but that's a good start there for foot the
again the favorites this is their comfort pick this is their pick for this
series. 7-6 here as we'll see you quick.
start with the tech always actually found that the timing there opportunities that because he's shut down now the
Who's position is not going to yield too much in the way results it
Can have to sort of hold on it does have health here from jugs
So looking kind of good now holding the line with those rifles and it's not looking all that great there for 3d max
So we'll clean up the eco eight to six up and we're into the buy now for 3d max and now things can get interesting
So really good dodges there from Ferts. If they lose that duel around doughnut, then who knows what happens?
Yeah, I love the support after I mean, they put a lot of flashes on defaults here.
They're coming through as his teammate starts to run low on the magazine, which is maybe what the the teams were looking for.
So really crossed the T's and dotted the I's and that scenario did Ferts.
that's
Gravity's first-class ace was just a 7-7 CS 2 8 at one of the history where the majority of kills have gone with the Famas
Thank you stats people screw you dad
You can get in that bin
Well, it makes sense, you know French gun and all that
Yeah, I was new and improved
Ooh, he's done some damage
Demons got a dent in his head
The Maka Masita. I'm not looking all that good right now in this position. TV3, a 2 on 2 on the B bomb site.
I really need this opening kill. Oh wow, Krebbeni, replacing the position of his teammate and laying down the damage.
Now the quick run over towards the A site here for Maka, maybe a better chance, but actually there's a lot of time here.
So, as he made noise, I think he's made noise, James.
Elephant steps.
And that will be free for Cemetery,
who is ready and waiting.
I'm just thinking of the most obscure,
hard to find time consuming stats I can think of.
That's a request like,
how many kills have we had by a collision
with a grenade at blast bounties?
I don't know if it would be even possible
to find the answer to that.
the game. It's going to be
impossible. Anyway, we've got
the big guns out now. The big
guns for both squads round 16
through the max. Have worked to
do if they want to do this into
for the very promising starts
in this one through the smoke.
They will be very into who
does his favor? There's only
five people alive. Yeah, very
quickly. We're into a three V
two in favor of three D
Yeah, very quickly, we're into a 3v2 in favour of 3D Max. Very important for them to take full advantage.
And they're going to be able to do so. There's nothing here on A for them to have to worry about.
They're going to be in a post plant falling. No, it's still though wanting to throw all the utility.
You know, they don't know that it's completely clean.
And, no, actually making their way across into donuts. So, it could be problematic actually.
The CT goes down and they're throwing all the utile, actually costing quite a bit of time and suddenly
Can they get the bomb down? It's becoming a question
Okay, they're gonna kill the time here James. They could wait a very long time to try to suggest rotation
I don't think the CT's move here. I don't think it makes sense. I agree
just hold position, stay
together. If it's be it's be.
But I don't think any rotation
makes sense here. I love the
odd double peak, though. We're
going to three to one. Okay.
Three two one. Oh, it's got the
wrong way. Swampy one one V
ones, and it's lucky that takes
it down. 3D Max to win an
because the money is not that great for foot. They're going to be able to offer a vibe, but 3D Max, you know, they were able to
potentially take the mental weight. They come back this next one. So kind of a ridiculous opening. Everyone dying in mid-nulls like this.
Yeah, I love those fights. Again, it's really important for the CTs to hold that area as the...
If you're playing aggressive down mid, then that can be really compromising to your mid players.
3D Max and Foot, no strangers to each other on this map.
That's a very promising start for Foot.
Things are getting a little tense in terms of money, but Lucky is able to respawn four
on four.
Yeah, he's going for the hunts there, it really pays off.
And that pressure on Donut is really worrying right now, because essentially space has been
opened up between both the B boss and 8, although it depends on the cave control.
right now cave control is with the foot side, Krabeni's in that position. So if they can
get rid of Krabeni, force him back with the donut control, it becomes extraordinarily
uncomfortable for foot. They're kind of gambling on the B. In fact, it could go for an info
player on the smoke. Okay, absolutely unfortunate. They have a dehumanised, perfect position for
the ball. You know, it's a
safe passage for that bomb. But
either way, the money is
diabolical on the side of
foot at presence. Yeah, just
such a situation. Good catch
there onto jugs. Lucky was, you
know, after he got that
don't position you sat there
the whole round. He didn't have
to really do so much more in a
waiting to punish a rotation
and eventually rotation comes.
He punishes and you know, you've
There's Lucky's first kill. I mean, this is the kind of, I mean, it's definitely, you know, can go wrong.
It's not bad, you know, they need information. They do need to be active on the map.
So it's just a hard spot for Furt as we said, because they've lost donut control.
They had to figure out what's going on some way.
Can the USB deliver again, James? That's the question.
I assume nothing with what I've seen so far
Well, they're all here
They had a party looking for the cocktail sticks and sausages
And two rifles picked up, you know, this seems like somewhat consistent for either side
and whoever has the vessels with blocks of USBs,
we seem to reliably be getting two rifles picked up.
And maybe this is a reasonable exchange
that they can all be happy with.
An AK and an M4, very useful for foot
with a destabilized economy, a stimulus package, if you will.
I don't think I'll be interested in pursuing
too much more in this round
because it really is more important that they hold these,
especially as we get into the meat and potatoes.
Yeah, it makes a huge difference being able to...
Because normally, if you lose two players when you went around as a CT side,
you can keep buying, but getting like two extra rifles and now means that
it gives you a lot more capacity to sustain losses later.
So that said, are they hunting?
I mean, they're trying to be safer, actually.
They're trying to be very safe.
And the T economy is in a decent place, you know, probably averaging across everybody around 5,000, maybe a little over 5,000 dollars, so...
9-9 with... We're all tied up here, James, and 3D Max have momentum.
It's so uncertain in the best way.
Yeah.
Both teams know they're capable against each other on this map.
I wonder if it will go for more of a shutdown in mids, because 3D Max tends to get a lot
of value out of mid, honestly, after the initial exchange, but actually, sometimes when foot
have challenged mid, it's just an absolute flurry of kills going both ways, which you
don't know which way it's going to go.
It's pretty sketchy, so it's kind of hard to say, I guess, but foot could also do delayed
made a retakes. That's also an option. You know, they could go in a harder into some
of the case setups that there are definitely options for them to be more active.
Deciding map of Nuke. Both teams have lost all their maps of Nuke of late. Footlooting
two to Vitality. A charge into A then. A very quick charge indeed. How quickly can you get
bomb planted. Buzz shucks, there go through the smoke. Four on four. CTs bunched together
in CT. Authorised utility for this. That smoke will be a nuisance. High risk scenario. Really
tough spot for foot actually. Yeah, this is a really tough spot. They're going to go for
for it. Initial trade, for a game space outside of the temple. Some good kills coming in,
but a close Miseda could cause problems. Great headshot there found. And no way to get rid
of him at this point. You've got to get out. Jugs going to try to save this weapon. Not
going to happen. Miseda will take him out and it's so difficult, James. It's one of
the situations where it's totally okay if you just save the four rifles, but it's so
hard to make the call.
It is really, really, really hard to make that call.
Especially when the new smoke goes down in CT.
Look at that hole. You're trying to get your team through.
You're trying to win the fights for.
It's a brave person with the temerity to make a call like that.
I think a lot of teams are having a stab at it, but my word,
it's just not supposed to work.
You're all in CT, it smokes up again.
Yep.
Can't blame them for going through, I don't think.
Well, it's interesting too, as we get a time out, actually,
from 3D Max, not from Fertstein and 3D Max,
just winning the round.
And so, again, your teams sometimes do this
just to make sure that everyone stays disciplined,
everyone stays on the same page.
You know, you're ahead here, you're at advantage.
You want to make sure that you stay in a good place,
a disciplined place, have a plan.
again 88% win rate 4 foot on this map
yep
a very challenging scenario they find themselves in
I'm just thinking about
making the call in that making the call in that last round right it's just one
of those maybe because you're just so close to the bomb site like how can I possibly say
let's say with rifles but if you say full you have a close to a full buy here.
Yeah I mean 3D Max went with a gamble they went for an APOP and you know one of the things
I was mentioning earlier is for foot maybe they should be considering being active in
mid being active in cave you know maybe 3D Max are kind of thinking the same thing we
think it's really likely that foot are going to put a lot of players towards you know one
of those locations if we just do a pop really fast we haven't really been showing that.
We could just get just an instant plant and that's exactly what happened. So from then
great call. Again it's always gambling to do pops but if you condition your opponent
into expecting certain things you reduce the possibility that the gamble goes against you.
So, if you cut loose in that previous round, you have your buy again at 9.10, rather.
Your eco at 9.11, buy at 9.12.
But again, no finger pointing.
It's a tough spot to be in, very tough and hard to have the clarity in the moment.
That's no wrong decision there.
That's a great tap from Kersi and not despite that foot we're looking for.
No, we've only got to make up for that.
Try to get some value here.
Some good utility damage onto the 3D Max players.
The 3D Max, you know, they're closer sending a French team here to Malta.
Would be awesome for the French scene.
Now, in the things coming back, we see a void from 3D Max.
You're falling back out of those four positions,
looking to, it seems like they want to maybe send a,
they're trying to fake some nays over towards B.
Hit the bomb, kind of moving between A and B
at the moment going back towards B.
So it looks like they might be trying to finish
on that B side of the map.
Three players there from third.
That's where they've decided to gamble stack,
and it looks like it could work out here for them.
holding position for now looking for an info trap they're trying to punish a
push but it's not coming
now what do they do if they're a lurker because if they want an option to
rotate that bomb plus we have to make a play here 27 seconds showing a lot of
and he's got a lot of skin
towards be. Rattling cans and
so on that rotation will be
heard, though, and now jugs in
this donut position will even
be checked for. He won't be. He
collects to his teammates
rotating through to see T. There
is a chance it for first. Yeah,
two versus three. Can they make
it happen here? Human going
aggressive trying to find these
opening doors, but it just
doesn't work out for him. Now
everything on Krebbenny's
shoulders coming in from
I love that move, James. Just like the thunderstepping out from B across to donut. That is such a smart move from 3d max and now they are on a match point
They could just feel that something
Wasn't right on that bomb site
That's a big 2k
But ultimately not enough
The vision of Malta slipping away from foot it's fading in the distance now
That's 3D Max, find themselves in the driving seats, SMG's 4th foot,
lights on the utility with a minute 40x cloud caught in the open.
Yes, a tough one. Again, foot there in the same position as he went last round.
What did he do in a 45, but the Red Room push from Gravity to enforce the play
Curse, he takes down Grabeni through a smoke and everything is fading now for
a very little left in this round. Two versus four.
Great control across the whole map for 3D Max, which secures that last frag as they secure their place at finals in Malta.
A huge win for 3D Max once again, taking down third. Big smiles on the players' faces and I would have them as well.
a really cutthroat, difficult Dust2 to fight in.
And then you go into Ancient,
and yes, we can look at the past result
and say they won it that time around.
But this is Foots' wheelhouse, right?
This is where Foots feels the most comfortable.
We're expecting a harder fight for 3D Max here,
and we're thinking maybe they were shaky on Dust2,
but this is going to inspire a lot of confidence.
And by the way, they desperately need
to be getting to Landvue because of the VRS
and just where they're at as a team right now.
Yeah. I hate you. I hate you
perfectly. Okay, I'll just
continue while we try and fix
you. My mic was made it there.
I think it's okay. I was expecting
more than a hard fight. I was
expecting foot to dominate them
on what is foot's home map,
right? This is their most
comfortable map by far. This is
the map that you expect they
should be dominant on. They've
got what we saw an 88% win rate
on this map, I think, but 3D
I think they've improved their ancient a lot over the last few weeks, probably over the last little bit of practice.
I think they've really evolved the map. They've got much more of a complete playstyle.
And it's very interesting to see them actually compete again, you know, get to a LAN.
As you're saying, for the VRS, incredibly important.
Yeah, incredibly important where, like, we were starting to think that their recovery wasn't going to be possible.
We were kind of hoping enough that our first map that is on Curz,
But this is now more of a team fight that's working in their way, right?
And that's a positive sign because I mean, that's what you were saying on the first day
We saw 3d max like that is what their bread and butter is right the team needs to play well together
They don't have one player they can just rely on
Yeah
I think so much in the the last few months that 3d max has leaned back on their execs and their their tactics because their players are
They've been struggling. They've been unable to hold map control when they take it
They've just been getting picked apart and to see them have confidence in their players again to see them
Capable of going for a standard mid control into you know holding a bit of map control
They're always going to be a tactical team. They're gonna have the execs
They're gonna have the little fake B run through donut back to a those little little cutesy plays that it's always gonna be there for them
But they need to be more well-rounded to beat a team like this and I think that's what we see
they are picking up a more well rounded play style. They're more confident in their players.
And although Curzio didn't, you know, pop off the page this time, I think that that
has to be part of it.
The suit has suddenly popped off the page though, right? He had great performance from
the very beginning of Dust 2 to here on ancient as well. He looked very confident and very
comfortable within this, even when footwork trying to challenge him as best they could.
I would say that was the biggest factor in their ability to actually overcome this one
because, you know, Footward taking a lot of straight up duels.
They're relying on a lot of trades
and the way they take bomb sites.
They bring two, three players.
But Masuda was consistently, when they went his direction,
he was getting one.
He was getting the entry.
And he was oftentimes picking up a second as well.
If he rotated in, he was hitting the shots consistently.
And we saw on Dust2, it was a little bit hot and cold.
You know, he had a very strong start
and, you know, mellowed out a little bit
in the middle of the map.
I think we see here he was consistent throughout the game.
He managed to really give them that ability because I think when you look at it foot on a normal day
You're expecting them to just frag 3d max off the server on an ancient. They're just they are
Typically just a better ancient team. Well, let's find out if a shooter agrees
I think you could have heard your last bit of rambling going off there
Masuda you thinking foot on a normal day would be able to outfrag you guys on the server
I don't know, I'm just saying that you heard what Vue said.
Oh yeah, I did, I did.
Gotta love our online CS.
But it's a bit laggy, I can't hear the full sentence, it's a bit weird, but it's okay.
So you had a very impressive game here against Furt.
I want to just ask about the game plan you guys have against Furt.
You beat them last time online at EPL as well.
What makes them a good team for you to go up against?
against?
Honestly, we just followed the plan that the coaching staff had as well.
Last time we played them, as you said that it was very comfortable for us, like the Veto
and the MAPs were feeling a bit comfy.
I guess they maybe thought that we will pick Cash, but we went to the opposite side and
picked those two.
So they probably got surprised by that.
I don't know but we always had this good map pool that we didn't show yet on the official
because it's like not going all the way but we're getting slowly better and that's the
most important so everyone is feeling better.
I wanted to ask about your playstyle.
I was watching a lot of 3D Max demos heading into both of these series and it felt like
in the last few months your team has been leaning really heavily into executes.
it feels you can't go for a default without, you know, losing a player in the middle of
the map.
But we're seeing here in this season, you guys are leaning more into defaults here.
It feels you're much more confident.
Have you like evolved your playstyle as a team, do you think?
I think yes.
I mean, maybe we're doing everything.
You can't really, we don't have like one way to play like we always like try to change
and do and surprise everything.
Of course we have plans when we play different teams, but we always change the way we play.
And, you know, trying to surprise and just not doing like always the same thing.
I think it's important.
And, yeah, as well as you could, but that depends like, I can't say everything.
Yeah, I was going to ask about your performance this season as well.
I feel like you've leveled up as a player.
Have you done anything different that you think has contributed to that?
Yeah, of course, I mean, I changed a lot of roles during my last years as well.
I didn't play always the same position and now I'm feeling like more comfortable.
And I have the worlds I always wanted, so it's of course I'm feeling very confident
about the way I play right now.
I know everyone is trusting me and the process we have with the team.
So yeah, I'm happy with like,
oh, it's going from yet individually, of course,
but it's not the most important.
The most important is like,
that we have to perform as a team.
And looking at you guys trying to perform as a team, right?
To get 3D Max back to where it was before.
Can you tell me a bit about just how Wazink
and how MBK is helping you guys and like,
the time it's taking to get you back to where 3D Max was,
maybe before you joined a year ago or so?
What is he doing in MBK as well?
How he is working with MBK, how you guys are trying to improve and get back to where 3DMax
was in the past?
Everything is different, they changed the coach as well and of course we are the same
analyst and I wasn't there when he was there but no, it's mostly the coaching stack, like
The analysis, the coach and the IGL are working together and we just also do a lot of anti-strat
together with the team and always change the plan.
But the rest is mostly the coaching staff doing the stuff and we trust the plan and
we change also by the way we play.
Okay.
And just for you guys, given where you are at with VRS right now, how important is being
able to get to Malta, go to land for you.
Oh, this one is very important.
Like this one we just did, it was very important for us for the various points.
Obviously we're like going so down and it feels good that this to get this one and have like
and hopefully do a very good visit to this blessed event so we are back in business.
Well, hopefully that'll be the case.
Thank you very much for Cedar for your time.
You are hopefully going to be back in business when we see you again.
Congratulations on the win. Thank you so much.
I would be like this.
And there we have it. Another one bites the dust foot.
A team that we would have probably put of having a great chance of making it towards
the land and kind of get a map within this series.
Are we that worried when it comes to foot though?
I'm not particularly worried about foot based off of just this result.
I still think they're ancient a great map for them.
I think this is just the 3d max that came in and was incredibly impressive. I think they they're more well-rounded
He was talking about you know, they have lots of different looks lots of different play styles lots of different anti-stradding
I think they're more well-rounded than we saw for them in the last several months
And he's got some words about the coaching staff and how much time they spend together as a team
I think that all contributes to it. Yeah, I know we were having some difficulties with him hearing us, right?
But I think I can understand where 3d max's whole way of doing things has changed so much right?
He mentioned obviously gravity was I gel then it's Maca now you've got MBK in you've got was it trying to do the stuff
I'm like they're all gonna have input and they probably have to drastically change so much that
Even with cursey coming in just a month ago
It's all gonna take more time than maybe what we would think for them to actually get to where they want to be
I can really roll it back for a second James
I mean, this is a team. They were down 12, nine on, on ancient about to lose the series
to Oh and go, go home. I was going to say it, but they're online. Stay home. They managed
to come into the second series. They managed to two O foot. Like that's an even just inside
of this event. I feel like that's an incredibly impressive improvement in the way they're playing
cause when I looked at that magic game, I watched it back. I was thinking there's no
way these guys are going to beat foot based on that performance. And then they do this.
this is, this is so such a good look for 3D backs for the future for them.
I'm talking a bit about foot though, right? Obviously X-Flight comes in highly positive
in the first game. You're still positive about what he showed on dust two as well. Do you
look at it right now where it's just going to be some growing pains for foot and still
the pieces they have that synergy, right? It's still going to carry them through the
rest of the season anyway. I think the problem I saw with foot is I feel that they've stagnated
a little bit. You know, they were there were a massive rise up team and then you start to
to kind of realize maybe they do have a peak
and this long X-flout thing feels like a side grade.
But I agree with you that I think it's gonna take a little
time for it to be truly an upgrade.
I think over time we're gonna see that X-flout
is a more well-rounded player.
I think he's a fantastic player
and they just have to slot him in correctly.
The problem they do and always have had
is they haven't had a second voice to the level
that they want and they've talked about that now.
They've talked about bringing that in.
So I think for that reason, not just X-flouts,
which I think is already doing quite well.
Slotting in a second voice, I think takes a little time.
Yeah. And also like it's an input that they're maybe not used to when they're running it through right the whole time.
Yeah. I mean, this is, this is a foot team that they just need a little bit more.
They need a little bit more time, unfortunately.
And they've struggled, I think with the, the ob situation I had, there was rumors around that they've had, they've had their, their problems.
but I do have high hopes for this foot team over the rest of the season.
Oh, yes, we certainly should.
And what we're trying to get someone from the foot lineup to come join us.
We've got X-File here. It's obviously his first couple of games with the team.
Hello, X-File. First of all, commiserations on the loss.
I know it's not what you would have wanted in there.
Can you maybe just give me your perspective, the team's perspective,
on some of the things that went wrong here?
Because I know in the past you guys have struggled with us too.
Obviously, you are brand new to the team, but they have in general as a team,
but they showed a better performance like you're able to fight them a bit more.
But then on ancient, which we almost think is like, yeah, foot can get this every time, it didn't work out.
Yeah, I mean, I think today we were either for the enemy, we had a good preparation for them,
but I think communication-wise we were not on the top, like we were misunderstanding each other a lot,
or maybe we were not communicating in some points when we needed or maybe there's some
dead talks trying to help, but we were in different pace in a lot of scenarios I think.
Can I ask, when it comes to communication, the interviews we've had with Foot before,
they've talked about maybe needing a second voice and maybe you can add that to the team,
is that something you feel that you're able to do?
I mean Krabbeny is talking most of the time in the rounds like he likes to micro people a lot
I think so because of that most of the time in the team I don't need to do second calling
You know, but some like what I'm doing right now is maybe adding different perspective in the rounds
Or maybe before the game before the like practice. I'm trying to look we had this you can do this
we can do this I'm trying to give ideas and for now it's like to know everyone likes the ideas
but also in game maybe on CT there's some positions I'm getting some responsibility
but I think here people are talking a lot like every player that I was expecting so everyone
had idea so I think I will be more on like maybe helping about like second calling when pressure
is high but yeah as I said Krabben is talking a lot and he likes to control the game and he's
doing pretty fine about that, you know. So I thought the team is not needed a lot of second
voice, but a guy who can call when needed, you know. Okay, maybe I can ask about your individual
form, you know, you've come into this team, different call or different style. You've performed,
I think, quite well so far. Do you think you're still slotting in? You're going to level up even
further? I mean, I think first game, I played pretty well. I feel good. And as a team, we played
good but today I was a bit down also individually but also I did what I
supposed to do in the team so I didn't over peak or go for kills a lot you know
if I digle I will go first I will not beat my guy in there wherever so but
today I was a bit down individually and it's causing also like I'm not adapted
the team yet like the combs the voices the rounds we play the reactions we
take is fully different than what I had in my previous teams you know so
Sometimes maybe we are losing some timings or maybe even some rounds because of me.
So I think in future I will be performing better and I think it will impact the results also, inshallah.
There we go.
Well, hopefully that is the case.
X-File, thank you very much for joining us.
I know it's not easy after taking a loss as well, but good luck for the rest of the season and I'll see you soon.
Thank you. See you guys.
the game. All right, some words
there to get the load out of
what was happening inside foot
for that one, and it will be
these kind of growing pains we
were talking about, but we need
to get out of here. We need to
change things over again because
Mongols are going up against
Wildcard. Like I said earlier
when we did the pre show if
Wildcard is win this game, then
all of the guys must have just
unplugged their keyboards and
their mice from Mongols to make
that was it tell me how does it feel to be playing for a team as amazing as mongols
it's feeling amazing the playing tier one is actually amazing I'm doing my best
What's the big difference between Mongols Academy and the full Mongols tier 1 team?
Mongols Academy, I was doing their all IGL. It's very hard to play with 4 kids with me.
It's very hard to play with the academy team. Now I'm good with Mongols min roster.
You were IGL on Academy, are you still IGLing on Mongols or just a play, you're following Blitz?
No, yeah, just following Blitz.
Okay, do you still shot call some rounds or is this fully hands off and you're just learning from all of Mongols?
Yeah, I'm just full of learning of Mongols.
I need to learn so many things of this team and thank you one is so hard and I'm still learning
Do you feel that there's expectations placed on you to be you know, like the next Senzu or not really
I think I should build for next professional players like
maybe Senzu or
Makatze like yeah
Maybe I'll do it my best. Maybe I was
Maybe I was one day maybe one star maybe
Look he didn't sound too confident and Maui
But I feel like I'm gonna choke that one up to not so confident in his English because he's definitely a confident player
It showed last time we saw Mongols
And this is the first time that you and I are actually gonna get to talk about them a little bit more in-depth
really get to break down exactly what has happened to what feels like one of those tier one teams that has done such a significant roster change over the player break.
Obviously the Mongols are coming in with drastic changes, but that didn't actually dissuade them from taking down a European team that many, including myself, are quite excited for.
So we already see that Mara is up to his usual ways,
finding just players from God knows where Mongolia
and turning them into players that are likely
gonna be playing at a major and changing their own lives.
Yeah, and he cleared it up as well
because we did hear from Techno
in one of their post games after beating Heroic
that Darkmaster was IGL-ing
and it sounded like maybe he could have still been doing
a little bit of shot calling in the team,
just something that's carried
over. But Doc was like, no,
I'm simply following blitz.
That's all that's happened here.
I've just come in as essentially
an extra utensil for him to
using the kitchen.
And they're trying to make him
feel comfortable.
Even position wise, the slots
that he's filling are kind of
star spots.
They're giving him some really
good roles.
They're giving him some good
positions.
He definitely paid that back to
them.
So, yeah, once he's freed from
the burden of being an in-game
leader where he didn't really
have the greatest stats or even
the largest sample size when
he was on the academy team.
Looks like they've once again
struggle. I don't know how they
keep doing it. Okay. It's just
what it was. It was just one
map of dust to. Yeah, but yeah,
there's a chance that we're going
to get to see more of it as well
and see if that was just one of
those in the tanks. Warm up
thing. There is still a lot more
because when we look at the head
to head that's happened between
these two teams, they've met
once already this year. Now this
was a wildcard lineup before
60 joined, but it was massively favored towards Mongols, so both of them having undergone pretty notable roster changes since that previous matchup at PGL progressed.
Well, I would say that this is the one aspect of the matchup that would probably play into Wildcard's favor, because you would, and I would make the case easily, that the Mongols have worsened since then, given the fact that they lost Mizzinho.
and I would say that wild card have drastically improved because the player they were working with peeping is maybe one day going to be on the stages for the North American side, but at this tournament he was one of the worst players by far and he was very bad in this game.
So to even go with 1311 on one of the maps is probably there is actually hope. Let's just put it like that for wild card.
hard. Well, I don't mean to like squash the hope, but I did want to go back and have a
look at, you know, what 60 personally has like had to go through when it comes to Mongols.
He's going up against them three times in the past. Do you want to take a guess at his
win rate over the last year? I would be shocked if he's won a map against them. He has not.
Yeah. He lost at Melbourne inclusion ESL challenges today with the three instances in the last
year and a half, in which he personally had gone up against them, and it was a 0% win rate, unfortunately, but it's a new roster, you know, it's a whole new, new sort of system that they're working under that they could get going for themselves.
But I keep in the conversation a little bit more on Mongols here. Not only is it new pieces that are moving in for them, but it's also pieces really standing out, 9-10 being one of those, Maui.
the top 20 players in the
past. However, in 20 25 on
their list, he was the 27th
ranked player, so he's always
been a very solid offer for
the team. But it's now because
of the burden which he has
been on the list. So he's
always been a very solid
offer for the team. But it's
now because of the burden
which he has been on the list
of the top 20 players this
because of the burden which he has to carry with Senzu's absence that he's he's taken a step up.
He's a bit more aggressive now. I would say that he tries to dictate the actions very frequently
on the CT side, always looking for ways to be involved. And I would say that his shot hitting
consistency in the past was always really good. Maybe it just came down to the opportunities
that he didn't always find or present himself because yeah, I mean, it's hard to sometimes
slot in when Senzu's taking all of his own fights. So now that 9-10 is just being a bit more active
of rotating more frequently, he's just letting those
that high accuracy rate shine.
And I'm hoping that stays consistent
when their two new players potentially feel
a little bit more comfortable,
where the system starts to feel like more
of a well-oiled machine for the side of Mongols.
If 9-10 can keep that up, then I feel like, again,
they're gonna put those doubts to rest.
They're gonna say there shouldn't be any more of those.
And it's enough focusing on the flip side of Wildcard.
We've talked about it.
They have had a roster change
since they lost them up against Mongols this year,
6B being one of them, but Nemanja being the other one,
Maui, that is sort of slotted in.
Nemanja has totally changed the face of Wildcard, especially.
And the come up that he had with Ill Will,
the come up that he had with Zero Tenacity,
this guy, I have a hard time finding the parallel
for who we would be, but it's almost kind of like
what Blame F has been sort of doing with teams,
where you could just slot him on a team,
like he was on fanatic before more recently on big and he's going to get you to a baseline level
not going to say he's as good as blame F, but he might be a better caller. That's kind of the
aspect of this that I actually kind of like that things can get a little bit trickier with
the money. I think that the defense has gotten way more active. That's one thing that I think
always kind of came out in doses of North American CT sides, but the money I think is fully
embraced it. He can be a little bit more of an X factor player himself. And I'd also think that
the, what I'm just, when I'm watching this wildcard team in their recent match versus
alliance, which I thought alliance was going to win, I was utterly shocked at how frequently
wildcard we're willing to just kind of peek little corners here and there. Go for a little
flash play to set a guy up so they can get a little bit of information. They're never trying
to stay completely in the dark so that they can either rotate quicker or even get a fight on their
own terms. Again, another team that I think just needed to have that little bit of extra time for
themselves once they did get that final piece of 60 joining them a couple of months ago to really
get it going for themselves. Alliance though, maybe not necessarily the team that has tested them
to the full potential so far in Blast Bounty but coming up against Mongols will be the truest
test here. We did see Dust2 getting picked up by Wildcard there, Inferno is the response that
Mongols give and Mirage is going to be our leftover map if we end up getting to a decider.
Yeah.
The pick from Wildcard is expected actually.
I think this is a, I mean, they just like Dust2 in general.
And then for Mongols, I am a little surprised to see them go for the Inferno pick there.
I mean, their first and only matchup with this lineup, they went for a catch pick.
It worked out well for them as they picked out Heroic.
But Inferno sort of became their go-to map at the tail end of last season when they stopped
trying out Mirage and then they just realized, hey, we have a duo in Blitz and Techno that
have been playing with each other for upwards of five years and they take banana together.
So let's just let that chemistry that's been built over half a decade continue to shine.
Now, you're not going to wait, unfortunately, to get Inferno, that is map number two.
And you know, Mongols just try to throw every map out there.
So we have all of the stats we possibly can for them.
But right now we're going to see them go back to dust, to Wildcard's pick here, as we head
I mean, you know, it's been a good week for North American counter strike in the fact that wild card are still fighting for it
That liquid have looked as good as they have and qualified for top eight that twist is leading phase clan also to the playoffs
So what about this upset Mohan?
Where do you have the likelihood of this one kind of pinned as we go into this best of three?
Well like my ape analysis essentially is that wild card played good and Mongols played bad
Yeah, and like that's the only thing that yes
Ah, Wildcard play good.
And in terms of recent form, sometimes that is the most important thing.
Because when we watched the Mongols play Heroic, let's be honest, they were both trying to lose that game.
Yeah.
I mean, in fact, Mongols were trying harder to lose and they still managed to win.
So, it's just kind of funny because that was Heroic.
Like, they were the team in the first draft to get a chance to play the Mongols.
Everyone wanted to pick them first.
They got the Mongols, then they lost.
Now, Wildcard are going to try that again.
They picked the Mongols here.
this time around, not a bad team to pick, and I think it's even reinforced by the fact that
heroic showed they could be beaten. Now, we did have a really good opening series from Darkmeister.
It was in a prolonged like an OT game obviously where he ended up dropping 30, but
they have an excellent track record of onboarding. True, that's for sure. And I think it's funny
when you see people doubt it every time.
Because like, I did it for like the first five times.
But then, we're known like eight.
Just keep doubting.
And they just keep, it's just fine every single time.
We, if they survive Control-S into the major.
Yeah, that's true.
I mean like, you gotta just believe at some point,
they really are just a position.
They can take any player and make them very solid very quickly.
Yeah, Control-S to major playoffs.
To major playoffs, and then they cut him.
Yeah, they did instantly.
So, Mara's just got secrets that the rest of us aren't allowed to know about.
How he does it, I'm not quite sure, but it's all about the onboarding process.
It's a good realm of Counter-Strike as well, I think, to have that onboarding process.
You know, you're not having to get through, say, three stages of a major.
It's just a couple of online best of threes.
Sure, it is single elimination, but you know what?
It's kind of hip right now to get eliminated from bounty.
All the coolest teams are doing it.
Probably the best.
All the cool teams.
Out the window!
Just kidding.
We've still got FaZe in Liquid.
And a whole other bunch of unexpected heroes.
What's gonna happen once they get to Malta?
Pfft, your guess is good as mine.
Two slots left in top eight for the first event of the second half of 2026.
Let's get it last.
Bounty...
powered by Pauli Market.
Let's go!
Darkmeister, quick to the top middle play.
We got wild card sending out a bit of a feeler towards this A site no bomb over here a lot of response out of the Mongols already
They'll come through with two clean kills. It's already wild card kind of in the dumps three versus five
Sure, you get your bomb plant
But you've got a whole lot of Mongols coming your way four of them through middle one late through the t-spawn wrap
They try to make the doors contact happen and now the numbers are evened out just like that
that. Namanya, 16, both with a kill of pop. And now Namanya takes man advantage into the
hands of Wildcard. So this was damn well worth it. Sure, you lose two players at the A site,
but it looks like putting that bomb down, sinking your feet into the sands of Dust 2.
Wildcard, immovable in that post plant. Not one additional player dies. Fantastic. I mean,
Muggle's trying to go quickly because they have that flank coming in. It's just like,
very clear they're just rushing to try to retake this and you might forget that
there's a potential someone could be slow flanking I see why they tried it
also when they dealt with the situation on a they know where the bomb planer is
they said probably someone big box like these are expected positions but they
just kind of needed one kill to start flooding in and they couldn't get that
first kill and they fought for the end to get it. Insta tag on Blitz who was
I was hoping to use one of these two scouts to the Mongols' benefits.
There's a nice little tag.
Scythe's gonna try to jump ya.
Tykuak holds his own momentarily.
Good trade by Wreck to make sure that he can't escape.
We watch as the AKs have the advantage versus the pistols, but the scout in 9-10's hands?
This is a potential lethal defender here on A site.
was getting real veteran energy out of 9-10 when they played against Heroic, but then
also some frustration when he was kind of the reason they'd set up rounds and then also
lose them, wasn't perfect in that game, but definitely was making plenty of plays and
I think, it's like Techno is now the one guy, Techno and Blitz, I guess it's Blitz and
then Techno and then 9-10 came in after, right on this team, but for a while it fell like
Tecna910 was a new guy that he was still always fresh, but
If things move quickly and counter-tracking move even more quickly on the Mongols. Yep
So you got to keep up the speed
Tecno good hit in lower tunnel it is wrecked to once again be the guy to try to keep this round moving 910s found his
Nemanja dropped on long the bomb carrier doesn't want a full commit just yet
They're gonna try to redirect it 20 seconds smoking CT spawn will cut off the majority
Oh, 9-10 still lands the shot. Just finds the timing on it.
And HL caught wind of you behind the boxes.
Oh, it works. Mongol's forced by in the second round, pans out to perfection.
Simple thing, but at the end of the day, if, you know, 6-0's got this Mack 10 running out long,
you can't just lose to a 5-7 falling back.
I think the way they felt was, okay, we'll still be good, you know, if we get through this round, but...
I'm not surprised off that 5v4 Mongols can take it
but one of those carnival games
Yeah, rigged.
9-10 taking damage here from the one and only Galil of Wildcard.
Nemanja actually had a bunch of players preoccupied, but he'll lose the duel to Darkmeister.
Pistols punctured into the b-site.
That's kind of a good b-play.
If you're wild round to win, CT smoke pops in front of the door, they're just going
to try to play through this.
Darkmeister presses into a P250.
Ah, Blitz is going to surpass his teammate.
Take over the position, Tick-A-Wack here to help out.
And no bomb plant, but here comes 60 in the tech dive.
1v3.
Two kills to the window side.
He knows where the last man's at.
Huge health advantage for Blitz.
Sixy gets out through the door to grab the guns.
Oh, he's made noise.
Oh, he wanted to get the carry with so close.
Wow, what a 1v3.
That would have been.
Blitz is brave.
Presses through at the same time as his teammate
and just died to that P250, gets car control,
and it winds up winning the round.
But that's snapped back to the window here.
Yeah, crazy.
Sit you down.
I want to say Sixie got a little unlucky with how
he was picking up the weapons or something.
It seemed like he.
Oh, OK.
Nemanja.
That's shot.
I love that movie.
Lion King?
No, Nemanja.
Featuring Robin Williams?
Nemanja?
Yeah.
It's a bit of a stretch.
Fast set play to the B side of the exact same time as Techno gets the mid-kill.
Honestly, Wildcard making the most of the distractions that have been happening in middle,
but they get caught off guard by the fast push from Darkmeister.
And man advantage held on to as the tech nines at this distance aren't mixed in as hard as they have been.
Woods falls into the back site, beautiful control of the AK and that one.
Okay, and that one mongles to keep four players alive, and finally somebody stabilizing the start to this Dust2 game.
I do just agree though. Best time to start a retake is before it begins, in some of the sites.
Okay.
The same thing for ancient A site. You'll see people push through CT spawn, get behind that default box, and just...
You don't even see that jeep like Navi did. See that doesn't end already, but...
Sometimes a full, respectful patient retake isn't actually the easiest solution.
the old one damaged grenade crazy finally gets a tag at the end
but blitz pushing forward off the catwalk
feels like there's a bit of disrespect already coming out from the mongo squad
I like it. Confident moves here in a round where they most certainly have the advantage.
Can't be afraid of wild card. Although maybe you should be afraid of just the scouts because
there's been a lot of output between Nemanja and HL now.
This mid-door's been a bit of a shooting gallery for wild card, but down they go. Another quadruple
survivor situation for the Mongols starting to find a comfort zone here in this game. There's
There's a ton of cash behind them.
We're looking at something like $25,000 in surplus after this rebuy on one.
They just quit now.
They could put their money together, get a nice car.
Drive off into the sunset.
Just one car for the five of them.
Nice big old SUV.
Again, hey?
Tags have been real for Wild Card.
Tags are one thing, but I'm already looking at this half and going,
ooh, they could have won, they could have won, they could have won.
Or those the easy ones.
The second op on the map in the back of the site doesn't shoot great refrag
Ready to pop out here, how ready is Ticklewack?
It's mental because they're hearing someone run back.
Yeah, not good.
Ticklewack.
Oh, him in 9-10.
Lay down the lock.
Lay down lead on the attempted entry up the catwalk.
But I mean, that flashbang in front of him?
Nothing.
And he's like, he's scaling up Cat when 9-10's running back through C2 to the site,
and that's the only thing they're thinking.
They run out of that smoke looking, oh, let's just catch him right now.
They don't think we'll run through.
The old bait and switch.
So unprepared for that forward position and he most certainly makes the most of it.
All three headshot frags at the end of it.
I don't think they found out about the second op either in this round.
This game very quickly starting to get away from wildcard as they are back relegated to pistols once more.
9-10 in anticipation of the Cat push has Tick-A-Wack to work with him again.
These two players the ones that shut down last round happy to do it once more. They did take damage here.
The Mongols players. Blitz included now stuck in the depths of pit.
Yeah, jumping Glock's gonna get him because he only had that what 5 HP?
Tick-A-Wack under pressure from Hext's Cat push. The re-aggression.
9-10 unfortunately kind of lets his teammate get caught off, but he'll make up for it with two more kills collected.
It's a triple kill for 9-10 and a 6-1 Mongols lead kind of just flying through this situation
X was looking pretty animated a couple rounds ago
Yeah, I feel like those are just some really good chances
It was the really fast to beat tunnels flank when they when they retook before the bomb plant
Mm-hmm. That was the one that got hex a little frantic
But he survived a plane crash, so he should be good under pressure for the rest of his life.
Like I said, it...
It didn't crash.
Well, I mean, it slid off the runway.
Because it would count, I guess.
The airplane landed.
It's terrifying.
It was driving down the runway perfectly fine.
It turned off, and then just kind of Tokyo drifted into the grass.
Is that a plane crash?
The plane crashed.
I feel like if you have to, like, you know, break the glass of the cockpit and jump out
of the front of it, then you're in a plane crash.
Sure.
Okay, okay.
Yeah, if they're still serving drinks after the crash, it didn't really crash.
9-10, quick kill out in the middle.
Again, just the confidence of Mongols in these...
If you landed at home.
Did you crash?
Flashes for 9-10.
The follow-up gets him.
Missed no scope.
The second top, though, right there to take it back.
You're right, dude.
Everything about the Mongols, really,
it can just be anybody.
Even the double hops that, you know,
they tapped into classically.
You know, remember, CobraZera was picking it up,
and we made that joke, but it's like,
hey, look, Senzu's replacement can actually opt better.
Well, now Darkmeister's doing it.
Yeah, and they did the interview that said,
hey, do you like hopping sometimes?
So, yeah, all right, you can be CobraZera.
Is it okay? Never done it before, no problem.
Jamanya, that was a chance. Mike, goodness, he's still got a kill.
This is his first shot. Luckily, Wreckle hit the headshot.
Man, advantage maintained for the Mongols.
It's going to be another retake, but they've been quite successful in these retakes.
Ooh, nice interruption here from Hex, catching Blitz on the approach, so numbers get evened out.
Hexed anticipating another cat player's got wrecked to tether off of
Slowly techno approaching here. He'll get his one and it's a good thing wreck came and joined hex for the trade frag
Bomb at the halfway point tickle back on the retake
Already up the ramp has a smoke grenade. Yeah, I could block off the bomb. See how he uses it
He'll drop it right on top of it and just hope that this spray for wreck is a miss
Yeah, nice headshot here for wreck to clutch out
He'll go 1v2 in the moment and let wild card at least win a second
It's gonna be very disappointed in wreck if you couldn't find that one. So not not many options there to quack
He gets a shot in
Here's that off-diving to a second off appearing off of cat, but the one round they really find out about it
They actually still win
Good team play that post plant between wreck and hex, flash to get hex to kill on Blitz
and then the reposition to come trade him out to the second cap retaker.
I'd like to see some good fundamentals on this play.
They've been getting into B. Yep, that they have.
But did they miss their easy chances?
goes for the backplat reposition. They are already on top of him. They've been getting
into this B site and this round looks to be another moment where they can do so. Techno
is hoping that no Nade comes his way and there isn't a frag to actually clear him out of
that corner. 9-10? What? Okay, 6-0 jumps through the flames on his screen. No reaction. They
know that he's still going to be back here. They're going to fight him with a 9-0.
Oh, he's got a kill of 53. You're kidding. And what's his flanking now? This round is
It's ridiculous.
He didn't plant yet.
He gets another kill.
The best retake is before the bomb goes down, you said, and Hex survives the spray.
Oh, no way!
Oh, my God!
This one is nuts.
Hex has 100 HP.
59 on the chase, and Wildcard come out on top of it.
If we could only...
Let's replay that round from a top-down POV and put some clown music over top of it.
Please, and thank you.
Stato will have a K-Sharp that whole time.
The guy came at him with a knife and he's still about to kill.
What happened?
A lot.
What did?
What didn't happen?
Yeah.
I can't believe any of this.
This is like a Dunkirk condensed.
Sure.
Going in with a knife only to get blasted out of the smoke by Techno.
Also, 9-10 not reacting to the Mac 10 guy burning in a Molotov?
4-3.
What about your audio?
You hear the guy jumping through fire to your right?
Trust me, everyone's yelling.
Yeah, that's fair.
Both teams in that moment.
So back to the single lot for the Mongols and, hey, Wildcard are creating a chance to try
and tie up this half.
The end of the next three rounds,
I don't think Wildcat will care how it looked.
No, not at all.
And you know that when you play against models,
it'll always be messy.
Just rack up some rounds.
Because you missed a couple of early chances,
and there's still room to make up for that.
Ooh, Blitz just barely misses the smoke spam.
of
hope this is blocked a smoke buddies also part of this alien
Let's see the adjustment here, 9-10 can stay on this angle forever though, cat control.
Just want to take the first peek and then dive for cover.
You'll grab one.
Nice trade by pneumonia, but still, numbers advantage earned by the Mongols.
Takuak, thinking about going through flits, that's crazy.
So crazy.
He's attacked up in the smoke, suddenly wild card of the ones back with the edge.
Dink for hexes is half to stomach, he's not going to get away from that.
I was hoping he could just crouch his way back into cover, Darkmeister won't allow it.
And then he instantly falls back around into middle while Techno goes for the long flank.
But a long flank with an MP7, he's going to hope the element of surprise helps out.
Because he's at a gun disadvantage.
And HL just checked it.
But he could miss the timing here.
Oh, shot to the cap play.
Nice lock down from Wildcard now stringing rounds together at the end of this half.
They are on a three round streak after having not even planted the bomb in the six rounds
Mongols won.
Blitz is a crazy, crazy guy.
That's, I mean to think you could get away with that.
long okay let me grab the op sometimes I feel like blitz just thinks his
opponents are total noobs sometimes he's right when you play fast sometimes you
can make people look silly because they're like why would you even do that
right now it's a valid question reaching for the op when you had an m4 and
there was a smoke on site for the long push anyways I don't know
I'm no chess master.
So I'll just watch and learn.
Right back to his antics with this top mid push. Oh, check long. He just might get cleared back.
Here's the run over. Oper totally unprepared, but not ready for Wreck to be behind him. So not the sequence Blitz was hoping for.
You could really milk that if you wanted to. Very humble. That's a good gun they can't get
back now. And a little fake from the Manya, so the CT stay here. Living kind of hard though.
I don't think he really necessarily needs to already through into v
Techno drops hex at least the bombs in
The tag missed and no utility for this retake mongols
They're gonna go right on in just like that six each answers back with three kills once again from inside site a quad kill
The 60 and wild cards recovery of this half now very commendable
Mongols have not a single time set up for like a normal retake not once no
I mean for better for worse even in their last game like how many four spies that they play unlike that
I believe is the T side of nuclear that is just
It's sometimes so hard to read them even with all the information as the casters let alone being inside the server against them
So I can only imagine what it's like for wild card
I think that's why hex is kind of like frustrated by the time one store watch window. Yes, it's like guys
We're playing the Mongols. Yeah, I'm with you. I think he'd made that exact calm
But now it's getting into that weird time where it's like what does it start to become expected when it is so constantly?
Totally that's where I can see wild card, you know
Maybe they don't have the same stature as the Mongols, but they just have a team that
Wow, that was like three
Headshots, wasn't it?
Alliance did not play well in their game versus Wildcard.
Wildcard did play very well, and I think the thing that still
has so many players are playing well at the same time.
All talking in front of Darkmeister.
Should have just dropped both of those mollies at once.
Bob jumps the gun, Darkmeister pops up, slays one, but wrecks the guy to double down and
Blitz just keeping his head tucked because he's stuck on that 17 HP.
He's not a B player.
Oh, if he's early.
He still gets the headshot.
Crazy.
And he's still somehow alive.
Bob's plan's gonna go down, he's just gonna gun NHL out of the double doors.
Blitz gets way more value than he's ever supposed to get from that position.
Now Mongols actually have to come forward for the defuse.
6th he's been a beast inside this bomb site and he almost pulls off another clutch
But Tikuwak will win out a great half from one of the new pieces of the Mongols
13 and 8 with that one versus one and the fact that Blitz with 17 HP pops up and gets a 2k
So the Mongols maintain a slight edge a 7 5 CT side here on dust 2
Orp is used a gun that nobody else uses. It's the biggest resource in the game. It's
a one-shot gun, so it's bound to have high impact. Top Orp is get the credit they do
because not anyone can do it.
A top AWP is the player you're going to remember because they're going to get the best highlights.
They're going to be really, really fast.
You need your AWP to perform if you're going to be putting his resources into the AWP every
single game.
I think the role has evolved in a few ways.
When you go all the way back to the start of CSGO, we had super combat AWP.
KennyS is the best example because he was so mobile with the AWP.
You all got nerfed as a result, mainly a player like Kennyette, who was so aggressive, who
were always pushing, always in your face.
In the game, that got nerfed and we saw Alper's D-more ecstatic for a while.
Devices are a great example of that.
Some of you would pick their spot and stay in it and be like a turret almost.
This guy never missed a shot.
He was the most reliable player of all time, really.
I think all by gelling is not easy.
You give him space, he'll figure it out every time.
There are very few cases of players who have made that work at the top level.
There's a few factors, I think, that play into this.
When you're AWPing, you've got to be focused on your crosshair, as basic as that sounds.
I think you have to have a lot more trust for your team in order to actually be capable to AWP.
It's interesting to see James still be able to do it, considering the whole narrative around his team
is how he has very inexperienced players that he needs to put in the right place.
But he's someone who is so passive on the AWP that he's still going to be alive in those late rounds.
He's more so playing for the clutch while his team open up the round.
You typically just see an in-game leader be the first guy in.
I think if you're all-pink, it's hard to be as involved, feels easier said than done.
But then you have also Flashy Orcas are a lot of fun to watch people at Monosly, extremely
exciting player in your face, pushing through utility, and of course, simple, doing the
same thing.
absolutely able to take over games with high-risk plays and thus on the simplest best moments.
Dropping in from heaven, getting two no-scope kills with the craziest stuff, and you got away with it time after time.
When you're a top-up as well, you're getting studied, you're getting game planned for.
The fact that I was able to find as much impact as he does is impressive considering there are whole
analyst teams trying to figure out how to not let this guy pop on.
A guy that never makes mistakes, a guy that is extremely hard to punish.
There's different levels of all things, whether they're flashy, whether they're reliable,
they have to perform in the highest impact moment, and there is no room for error.
If you miss a shot on the orb, you're going to die, you're always going to take attention,
because there is no room for error.
Mongos playing some zany CS throughout this Dust2 game so far.
wildcard feeling like they kind of got a their finger on the pulse of this energy
Mongols have brought to the server but we do get a clutch for the road and the
seven five half secured so always tough to play versus the Mongols they keep the
pedal to the metal constantly sometimes for better or for worse in this
instance it was a great streak of rounds wildcard kind of adjusted to the
tempo of the game and now we'll switch over to the Mongols attack to see what
they want to do when they're allowed to set the entire terms.
Top mid run out, Hext is here to try to stop it, almost dropped the player with the Util
in the background.
That would have been a bit of a disaster had Blitz's nades been wasted.
Long duel and a 1v1, this one totally untradable so it's important and Tikuak will pick it
up for the favor of the Mongols.
CT's drop a smoke to Catwalk but there's a gap here.
Wouldn't be surprised to see them try to test that box.
plays within it and Mongols hit the pause button it's a little uncomfortable that
gap now crossing back blitz on this angle position for a free kill doesn't
grab it but there's a trade really well done wild card playing into that pack
of Mongols players on the catwalk let's see what Tikuak can do is he is tasked
to clutch again he's got 40 seconds to do this they have his bomb however it's
Time to get Tick-A-Wacky.
As I just ruined the clutch.
Well, he'd have to hold up his end of the bargain and they're ready to swing.
Sixies gonna make sure it goes down smooth for Wildcard, cutting the lead to one,
giving themselves a real chance to tie this up.
And again, a nice moment here where it feels like Wildcard in the middle of a slowed down moment,
take control of the game.
And that's not always easy versus Mongols.
But you see this crunch, great fly-through actually from JRaz to really highlight the timing of it all.
Just so synergistic was wildcard in that crunch.
Yeah, I was like watching that old boy fight scene.
It was a film.
I was thinking like 1917 that movie that's like what happened that year um a lot that
whole movie's like 20 scenes spliced together with only a single hard cut great film they
can't win with just these pistols no not now that's her damn sure nice nade placement
Good output, real chance of tying out.
This was a 6-1 lead for the Mongols.
And it was going by so quickly that I was scared Wildcard were never going to get a chance to fight back in this game.
So props to them, sitting comfortably right now,
willing to assume they win this round as Wreck falls off of the boxes,
collecting two kills with his SMG, the other three belong to MHL,
and we are indeed tied at seven rounds all.
I also want to believe that it was maybe Hex that thought them back in order.
It was just like, wait for our chances.
We actually could have won all these rounds, and then I was wondering, did they miss their
easy rounds?
No, they actually did bring them back a little bit too.
I think they were pretty patient with themselves.
I'm looking at 60 scoreline.
He had so many good kills.
Three small chances.
Two, I mean, he had a close of 1v3, but couldn't get that one kill.
There's a 1-mack, 10 kill, and long you couldn't grab.
And just looking back, those are all rounds as well, very close to those all being round us off of it.
But they're patient with themselves.
Rec will trade one. Techno, one HP off of this.
Dark Lancers walk up, the Catwalk gets killed, NHL fighting two's the nail to maintain control of this A site.
Nemanja's got a tough duel with that headshot angle and E4 fits it at half HP.
Crazy, Techno got that kill, one HP gets another with a Molly.
And the Manga's got a whole snake line of smoke here to walk through.
Oh, the Hex gets picked off.
Oh, both of them heads torn.
Clean off by the Mongols who will go right back to the lead.
That 2K from Techno, the 1HP Molotov frag,
just kind of making a bit of a difference.
Nice push up through the catwalk, really took over space,
and the Mongols right back to an aggressive stance.
I want to call it a hockey, but it's also wrecked with an MP9.
Feel like he's lucky to get 99 more damage in the first place
Well, I don't help in her that's way fast 145 got an off kill top mid
The money though he dies by himself on long. They're really not prepared for any kind of long play again. It's this tempo from the Mongols
Take some teams, a few outings to get a feel for it.
Hex would be somebody that could try to get them in tune with it,
but Nemanja just totally blindsided,
and now we get this full pullback from the Mongols.
It's a good sign that Wildcard, it's like, he gets that kill,
like out of nowhere, walking out mid,
but there's already a push happening for Wildcard,
and right now, there's already a lower push on time
to meet maybe the third guy here on this Tunnels play.
We'll see who watches it.
Trying to fight fire with fire.
The Tecno is so ready for the MHL walkup, that man advantage is earned by the Mongols.
Should've just been more patient on the cross for a second.
And they've got the utility to secure the site.
Full set of utility here for 60, but so unlikely.
Especially now with Wreck tagged beyond half HP.
The Mongols are assuming there's no chance they even try this.
Yeah, pop gets stolen.
For the hill brother. I think it's been very impressive to watch sixies return to European counter strike again not the
Not to the player that could have asked you know from his life
Yeah, we really could have seen him. I think like not get a chance to exit NA again
Cool that wild bar wild card picking back up and then also cool that his individual level here has been rock solid
Yes, they played alliance and we didn't get the best of alliance in their opening game
Sixty and Hex are the two highest rated players at this event right now, coming into this map.
And if, you know, Hex falls off like he has, 6 and 12 at the moment,
I think you're gonna expect to see a bit of a drop in the rating.
There's just a plain crash at some point.
Sorry, you're right.
But Sixty holding his own again, and this time versus the Mongols,
who love to play this kind of like aggressive tempo that could certainly catch you off.
Hey.
Welcome back.
But it is starting to get away from them again, right?
Now it's the Mongols on the T side with some nice adjustments with a quick fallback and
a redirection that the Wild Card squad they're trying to keep up to, you know, singing the
praise of MHL, walking up through tunnels, but they're just missing that perfect moment.
And that's why Mongols lead once more.
I still see all these rounds being so close, though, in Wild Card.
I'd still rather be them on CT side, so I think mentally they just need to not put themselves out because Mongols are never going to give up on flying a little faster.
And that's just going to create some opportunities while their fucking players integrate. Two upshots get missed.
No real investment here for wildcards, just their saved guns.
This is the kind of round for Mongols.
I mean, if they want to play everything perfectly, they just want to convince Wildcard to save
because you would do that easily.
Take the AWP in an X, AK in an X.
Forget about it.
But they haven't been playing perfect.
And now they give you some chances.
Ooh, what a blasted.
Man advantage reclaimed, back to the 4v4 we go, three members of the Mongols working
up Catwalk in a readying cat though.
60 pushing in with the P250, has little to lose in that position.
They might walk into this.
Oh!
Oh!
Collateral!
MHL though goes wide into the angle and Tykuak takes his head off.
This is a 1v3, instantly clawed back to the 1v1 and he runs away with bomb.
And Hex, or sorry, Wreck has half armor with his AK, but he's not making the fast rotation.
It really makes perfect sense for Tukwats to go here.
And I think he believes that Wreck might be nearby.
No fake plant.
Straight to the point.
Tunnels flank heard.
Well, no.
He'll get a chance.
No, it wouldn't have been heard.
Ticklewack off-site.
Now he hears it. Loud step on arrival. Oh, man.
It's just the way he turned to tunnels. I thought it was while he sprinted, but no.
He was kind of still playing unknown until that step at the edge of the site.
And that's all he needed to lock in for the headshot.
So 1v3 recovery here as MHL goes that wide.
This is such an important chance because 6A actually makes the most important play.
He has a P250 and he's pushing Cat as if there's no one there behind him.
Right, I had two teammates set up to I don't think you cared if you got a kill or not and they full committed right into that collat
But they can't catch the round win it just that just ultimately what matters the most add it to the pile of close calls that could have been
Wild card back on guns. I mean that's the other thing with pistols getting that close to a round win
Tough pill to swallow once more for wild card
They'll try to get their hands on a cat approach, but Mongols kept their heads tucked.
Now, MHL poses with the flashbang.
They got one playing inti.
Sending 6E in, he swings, insta headshot on Darkmeister.
Very nice kill.
Blitz is in front of the CT smoke, dropping his nades.
He'll respond with one of his own.
Rec sticks around and the AWP can't see anything, but the bomb sits right in front of Rec here.
Now he's stuck in because of the Molotov behind him.
If you wanted to leave, you can.
Tied by the plane to hear him on close proximity.
They'll send bullets through and find him.
It's kind of while the speed of the morning B is moving,
even though they could technically put extra pressure
on this mid-play.
The 9-10 has been waiting for the challenge.
And on the gap of the doors, Namanya fed to the op.
Mongol's back with man advantage knows that a second player
threw that flash.
So Hext is over here somewhere.
And NHL was spamming away on Catwalk.
So you'd think Mongols have a clear idea of what they've got left to get through, and that duel,
won by the AWPer, really puts Wildcard in a rough spot now.
Another moment that could go either way comes up the Mongols.
Maybe easier just for us to see, but like, instead of crossing mid,
where they would definitely be waiting for the cat play to sort of resolve.
If they had a double upper tunnels push, kind of cleared out upper tunnels whether or not they saw anything,
that might have been a good idea.
They would have probably thought that space for free. Mongols are definitely going to be preoccupied with making sure they get the bomb back.
They saw how many players would be on cat in this situation.
We can call that another good chance it goes to the wayside.
Yeah.
I think it was a great map so far, 20 and 11.
It's could wind up being one of those maps where the score doesn't really tell you how close it was. Yeah
But that is assuming that wildcard don't bounce back into this it feels safer of an assumption with this double scout
By they have in the 19th round unfortunately for wildcard. It feels so much like that heroic game. Yep like no does it ever
Rec trying to be the hero out towards long
5-7 kill is not a bad place to start, but you've got all of the Mongols here together.
They double up the smoke in CT.
Really trying to get this party moving to the B bomb site and hexed.
Little to lose, he's going to try to run through with the 5-7, or no, just the standard pistol,
but as he doubles back, all the Mongols have taken over the B site in the meantime.
9-10 sends one through the boxes, almost clipping another kill out towards mid.
has been able to grab a gun, both him and Wreck now on the AKs.
But what are they going to do about it?
There's a couple of low players for the next round to stave off victory.
So I can see a world where you want to save.
A toy with the idea, but no kit.
And now no chance.
Hex cut down to size, and that's going to be the Mongols securing five map points.
I'm looking a little too stable at sometimes, and then picking up all the chaotic situations.
The Mongols, they did it their way, this game.
and come out alright I'm still for mhl and I really felt like he's had his
presence oh no way fast move from dark myster gets the headshot on hacks a
little late crossing six damage headshot we're so fixated in on the offer
holding the cross, so we don't see Darkmeister going for that fast duel to find it, so man
advantage earned instantly.
And the Mongols keeping this pressure on Wildcard for the entire game.
They've like unapologetically remained true to themselves.
Even as Wildcard, we're starting to rebound in that first half, but they've switched
over to the attack.
Sure Wildcard, take the pistol, take the conversion, we're on a five round Mongol streak right
now.
to put this in the bag.
Oh, you gotta get those.
Wreck misses his chance.
Tick-a-wack up to 22 kills.
Another fantastic showing for the newcomer on the Mongols.
And he's got teammates behind him
if he just wants to become the support
in that three-player push.
Techno caught off by 6, he's getting aggressive.
Darkmeister's there to trade back,
but MHL 4 goes his control.
He's got a ton of utile,
So because of the cap threat, it just keeps that off up and it's worth it.
Cutting players off one by one.
Nemanja feeling like he's got an opening, but he'll go up into the AWP's angle.
And so, MHL tasked for the 1v3 clutch.
The Mongols put that squeeze onto an A bomb site.
Total control of the T side from the moment they had guns.
And MHL trying to flush them out of position.
What's he got left to do here?
30 HP versus two AK-47s.
dumps the Nates to try to get the retake going, players in the site play off their cover, and let's let Ticklewack have it.
23 kills on a Dust2 game that goes 20 rounds.
Turns out the Mongols can do it with anyone.
It might have slowed down, looked a little bit oaring for the Mongols there, midway through Dust2, especially considering it was Wildcard's map pick.
A little bit more was expected for them there, but Mongols have played it already in boss
bounty, looked fantastic on it here in Maui and looked even better this time around and it feels
like an revenge whilst it didn't happen on their map pick for wildcard, it could potentially still
happen. That was the the risk if you're wildcard going into this that unfortunately your favorite
map to pick is also something that Mongols have already shown and been battle tested on
versus heroic where they were able to find an overtime victory in an upset fashion.
So yeah, no, this is a great victory once again for the Mongols to show off some of what the
new guys are capable of. It really like rings true to what you would say yesterday that sometimes
when you get a rematch or almost like necessarily a redo right in this case, the Mongols on a map
that wasn't necessarily clean for you, there's so much room for improvement. It is theoretically
only going to get better. And that is what happened. It felt like everyone really showed up.
Someone that was showing up in their last series was 9-10. He showed up again this time around.
Darkmaster, maybe not as strong as what we would have hoped, but still showed up. And of course,
Tickle Act 2 still, still putting up numbers no one could expect from such a new player.
And I would say that all of that was well orchestrated in the game planning, especially on
the T side for the Mongols. I really liked their approach through many of the rounds. I think that
that they conditioned Wildcard to really just focus on one side of the map.
And I think that when it that that's kind of what you get with the Mongol system,
you actually do see a team that is elevating beyond just the pieces.
Because I think I think the heroic game was a little bit more individually
powered, where they got it over the line because people like Darkmeister
were just dropping multi kills anytime they were tested.
But this time around, they actually they definitely outplayed them.
that they surely outplayed wild card and they had them guessing a couple of times in these rounds.
Yeah, well, let's go back to the earlier portion of this one where we saw Mongols off to that really strong start.
It was round six where you were incredibly impressed with this outplaying factor that Mongols were able to bring to the cards.
Yeah, early on in the game, we just see how it's, I would say, the early utility just put so much pressure, actually,
on the wild card to feel like that there was actually a really strong longhold here.
They used a double molly in order to take that space away.
And what was kind of tricky about this round is that even though there's a little bit of a skirmish at short,
even though Mongols spent like, I think, four grenades, or maybe even more at long,
their long anchor is behind the smokey cat.
Like, this is not what you expected, and this looks really dumb from wild card.
A lot of people probably watch this and said,
LOL, NA strats, whatever.
I don't blame you.
I don't blame you.
In the moment, this looked really stupid.
Maybe it even was stupid for them to go right into it.
But I think that's what's gonna happen
when Mongols feign that they're getting
all of this space at long,
that they might even be pressuring long doors itself.
And then, lo and behold, there's a guy running in CT,
the long anchor is right behind that smoke,
and you just got tactically outplayed.
I mean, that's what makes such a good team, right?
you can make your opponent almost essentially look stupid, which maybe that is what people
were thinking there when they saw Wild Cards play, but to explain it that way, yeah, Mongols
doing so much to be able to get room for themselves in that regard, and that was just on the CT
side. When we saw them flip over to the T side, it wasn't necessarily that strong start
in the same way that we saw for the first half, but once the ball got rolling for them
now, it looked fantastic.
I would say that the gun rounds is where you never really look back if you're Mongols
in this. The first couple of gun rounds included some really just just really strong long takes
that caught off people like 60. I think it caught off I think it was MHL another time as well.
Yeah just very very decisive early round action from the Mongols and that really kind of kind of
messed up the the rotations of Wild Card. You can see here that they're just popping the early
smoke and they're just flashing right through the Molotov-Made combo and then they just get
completely crunched on the bomb site and look at what the time is on the clock.
A minute 30? You guys already at elbow? I mean that's the ferocity that Wildcard did not expect
going into this where you probably think they're going to take their time with some of these and
then once again I mean round 16 they just immediately they just get into the action so so quickly but
yeah this caught off in the mania even actually so so yeah this was kind of where Mongols I think
just kind of conditioned Wildcard in these opening rounds with the all of this ridiculously
high pressure long action that sort of kept somebody there like like mild card for the
rest of the half they had to burn a lot of utility along just to stop those kinds of plays
and then it made the rotations a little bit worse it made the retake potential more difficult
it kind of just everything falls into place when you take some map control as easily and consistently
as mongols did and another you're explaining is essentially that mongols have been able to have
wildcard played that game but apotomy is wondering where did the wildcard that so strongly toured
alliance go. I'm not saying that Mongols is on the same level as Alliance, but it feels like Wildcard isn't on the same level as when they went up against Alliance.
I would say that part of that is, well, one of the Mongols are better in a lot of ways. And I think that the sometimes the individual player quality from Wildcard sadly led them astray.
I think I thought rec had a really great 1v2 in this one
He even had some good trade frags, but sometimes I there was the moment at short where he
Backed up into a Molotov just because he wasn't aware of it then get spammed down and those those like very slim margins
That I think also were catching people like hexed off yet a couple times where just just barely doesn't quite get the kill
Or even get slightly outplayed by the utility that Mongols throws that those kinds of moments really hurt the wildcards chances because
you did see a couple of the guys just pop off. I think even though a lot of the strength from the
Mongols was shown in kind of the macro game, there were instances where I wanted maybe one more kill
here or there in a trade frag situation or just not a misstep from wildcard players.
Yeah, I feel like just falling ever so slightly short for the side of wildcard,
which is a shame because again that was their map pick there, but it's hard when you're going up
up against the individual
especially in 9 10. You h
into this series. He hea
he said, I'll give you an
you want to keep talking
just been so, so great fo
instead of send zoo and i
I mean, we saw this one t
through smoke really hel
this half off that it's g
wild card. He had some re
around the A bomb site in general.
And yeah, no, I think that on a bigger picture level,
it's really, really great to see
that there was probably more to 9-10
than the Mongols even allowed when Senzu was on this team,
because Senzu was so great at being active
in mid-round defenses to just shave off
one player here and there.
And 9-10 has fully, fully embraced that role now.
He's so good at just getting and finding a little bit
of action to make sure that
it's impressive by cost. A
he's out shining anyone t
it's clearly the best. You
team might not be living u
as well. They're not reall
same front. It is like 9
beyond and then even if y
his shoulder, there's the
all lined up for their, t
highlights as well. And s
and so fresh that we would
about is to clock. He rea
9 10 is almost leading the charge on how to play as an individual, but to work reminds you. Yeah,
I'm still here on this roster as well, right? Like I'm a new player and you should be focusing on me.
It's funny that actually now both of the Mongols rookies have taken turns at just imposing themselves
against whatever opposition they face. It was last time it was darkmeister who had a great map
versus heroic on dust two. His mid to be holds were great, but now take a walk who's tested a
a little bit more towards that A side was able to stand up. And again, I think Tick-A-Walk
was completely solid in this game, but I also think that he really benefited from the Mongol
system. And that's why it's still just so impressive that they actually are still able
to set these guys up with little tricks, with conditioning, just tricky plays in general.
that's not to say that his 23 kills and 100 plus ADR weren't special in their own right,
but it is it is not unusual to see random player not random, but any of the players on the Mongols
step up because game plans favor different people on the teams map to map. It isn't just stepping
up. It's all who can outshine the other one. You know, they don't want to have that turn that
and I mean, they're giving it to each other. They're having so much fun. Still,
really got a little bit messy
for the side of mongols there.
We saw wildcard show why the
reason why they wanted to pick
us to why they thought they
were going to be able to get
that advantage of a map win
against mongols, but
unfortunately it didn't go
that way. There's still
chances for them now. It's the
best of three for a reason, so
they're not out of blast bounty
by any means, but blast
bounty has been a lot of fun.
If you want to keep the funny
going, then we can head on over
to Polymarket and have a look
at some of the predictions
they're putting out there
because this one is an interesting one.
Will any player end the event with a 1.3 plus rating?
And it's sitting at above 90% there, Maui.
Does this count for people that have already been eliminated
because, or they just mean the finals?
I think they just mean the finals, right?
I would have to look at this,
but I mean, there's already people that are eliminated
with above a 1.30 rating.
So I think they've already satisfied this,
but if it means actually the finals,
you would be foolish to not just think donk will. Yeah, I think it's like going through the whole event, you know. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. If it's if it's like if it's through the land portion as well, then I don't know the last time donk hasn't even satisfied this condition in any tournament that did involve snap tap.
Well, I mean, don't also has to make it to the Lenny has to make it to the end.
That's not guaranteed.
I'm just I'm not saying anything.
I'm just saying that they still has to play as best to three to be able to go to
Mulder.
I don't want coming up later because we're still focusing on Mongols up
against wildcard Mongols right now, one map above.
But we're going to see how wildcard fair against Mongols on
in front of just after the Sprite.
It's our penultimate best of three here for the second round off Blast Bounty just before
we're heading off to the land portion of it in Malta Maui and one of these two teams
are going to be joining us right now.
It's looking more likely to be Mongols with the fact that they won Dust2 Wild Cards map
choice there and we're going to be going on to Inferno which is their map pick.
It's a map that they weren't really favoring at the beginning of this year.
They lost it a few times, but I feel like when they're playing with youngsters, Blitz,
Mara, Techno, they don't want to trust the youngsters to map control.
So that's why they go for Inferno.
That's why they started really liking it.
They had a nice little streak where they won seven out of eight in a row last season.
And I feel like they're going back to the well.
They realized that this is a map that they are the tandem duo between Techno and Blitz
They were dating all the way back to the days when they were playing on checkmate.
That might have been in the late 2010s.
I mean, they were a rising duo in the space.
And so letting that chemistry speak for itself that that half decade that they've been working together,
as opposed to seeing, hey, new guys, can you take bracket against another professional team
who you've never played against at this level?
They don't want to let there be any sort of guesswork here.
Well, it is also interesting because whilst there is that potential advantage for Mongols,
the only maps we've seen Wildcard play so far is Dust2 and Inferno.
That was their map pool up against Alliance and whilst they're down on Dust2, there's
a chance that we're going to be able to see them recreate that magic in Inferno as we
head on over to Scrony and Laundice.
A pill battle when the Mongols now have a good ounce of disrespect for the Wildcard
squad I feel like when you you know our prediction market partner would like to
believe that Mongols are gonna win this series Mohan and well wild card had
reason I think to upend that throughout certain rounds but people ever been wrong
if you miss yeah yeah all week long actually if you miss as many chances as
wild card did throughout that Dust2 game I wonder where you're at
Frustration-wise because there's so many moments that could have been but all of those moments seemed to slip through their hands
So you kind of got to get over it get over it. It's all up here
Yeah, you know because you play against the Mongols you will lose rounds like that just get over it and you will also
Be given more exact same chances in the future. Oh, you're gonna crash
Get over it
It was kind of a playing crash on Dust 2 for wild card with the amount of ways they could have won for sure
But the Mongols, just because they made mistakes and then still won the rounds previously, doesn't mean they're not going to make mistakes again in the future.
In fact, they will.
Yeah, that's fair.
So you just have to wait for your next chance.
That's fair.
Your next chance.
Your next chance.
They can't lose.
I mean, I've seen it happen.
I feel like if it's a feature of pain games that they lose their map pick all the time, it's a feature of Mongols games.
They stop one map and get stopped the next one for no reason.
But it really does come down to, as you can see in Hexed Expression, let's just watch
for pushes.
Yeah, let's look out.
Let's just catch our kills, right?
Let's catch the kills.
They're going to send to us a little faster than some of the other teams we play against.
You know who's catching kills right now?
It's Picklewack.
Picklewack, big guy.
That guy was an animal back on Dust2, so nice to see him hitting the ground running.
You know, you think of like new rosters coming into this season, at least as far as bounty
is concerned. Mongols are starting to kind of put themselves into that mouse territory
where it's like, you're watching all these other teams, bigger names fail around you,
but Mongols one foot in front of the next, they're about to qualify for a playoffs and
then what happens? You know, they fly out to Malt, it's quite a journey for the Mongols,
but they'll get there, and then I think that's when-
Where are they?
Mongolia, I'm actually not sure, they've got to be in Europe somewhere.
Where are they? Make it a ride by horseback.
in Serbia. I'm telling you, Belgrade, the savior of eSports, the sinisher of Counter
Strike. Can we look at Rex's camera real quick? I took a fence to something in the background.
You seeing what I'm seeing? Yeah, I think it takes a fence to you too.
My emotions, they're so deeply offended.
Who do you think you are, buddy? You really want to sit in front of that all day?
A big middle finger? A big middle finger, yeah.
Well, I just think it's hilarious because the coach is over your shoulder watching, so every time he looks that way, it's his PC, isn't it?
Um, I don't think so. Surely somebody's sat there.
Hey, Rec, could you move your head, please?
Trying to analyze your backdrop.
No? Alright.
Screw you, buddy.
Heh heh.
I guess you've got a game to focus on.
Game models changing it up, bringing it in for an help.
Nobody knows. And that is the other thing, you can be ready for them fundamentally, but
really knows how these two new guys are going to play. What they're going to change, how
they're going to be now. Nobody knows what the Mongols are up to, except for Mara. Nobody
really knows. You find out when the game goes live, and then you've got to try to hold
on for dear life. Mongol's already barreling their way up the arch side. We've got this
fast rotation from the wild card players. Two members in CT spawn. One goes library
and that's where Rek drops to Kikouak. Techno gets the rebuttal back. We get three kills
instantly out of the Mongol squad and now they're looking to sink their teeth into this
A site where poor Hexes is just waiting for a chance to use his Berettos but hasn't had
anybody to shoot at. That's kind of crazy. Techno's this far out. Oh and he still wins
This is dual. Now they can just do whatever they want, right?
Yeah, they're gonna figure out where Hex is.
The bomb could have left, can still leave.
We'll do exactly that.
Hex actually cuts down Techno.
Are they overcooking? Cause Blitz is actually behind Hex.
Hex turns around.
Three kills into this one before.
Oh, it's calm now.
Darkmeister in a one-on-one. Hex could actually make this happen.
The only issue for him is he really didn't get the memo.
gets planted and now Darkmeister could be anywhere. He won't be able to cut him off at all, but
he'll still get one chance to get a solid shot in, no matter how this is played. Just
has to read it correctly.
He's got a stomp though the entire time for a 10-second defuse.
Yeah, he'll get one tap, he'll look at Banana. Let's see.
So world he does this, just hit the headshot. Oh, yeah.
Concerned about back sight, T knows it's not a real deep view, swings out unexpectedly,
Darkmeister takes it, and that is a hell of an effort from Hext.
Respect.
They tried to squeeze him from all these different directions, one by one, and the Mongols almost
threw away a 4v1 advantage.
Just another one of those situations, like, target another one.
He's easy, but just don't get the one, get one more kill.
It's like, so we're trying to hammer home how close those rounds were on Dust2.
We start the second map and it's another one that just barely escapes Hex's grasp.
And I'm looking at some of those duels, like the one in CT, the flank on Techno, that could
have been the one.
Right after you see what Hex does at the end of the round, they have chances in the middle
of these situations to just get one more important kill, but they're also coming up a little
short.
Inferno was one of the strong maps for Wildcard in their series versus Alliance, where we
didn't expect him to play that well and it was like MHL on top, Tex on top, having a
great game. It was really really even strength. Oh man.
Good spot.
Just suddenly becoming national superstars, of course, as every player of the Mongols is.
Yeah, like are they also Olympians now?
They've gotta be.
Surely.
They all signed that thing together where they're like national athletes.
Yep.
Can I just go for every substitute?
We are just rock stars now.
910 is the second best opera on T-side Inferno this year.
1.34 rating only behind Zywoo.
Well, B-Traps it seems like everyone's the best at T-side right now.
Apparently
Yeah, but he's going 910 it's built a super team on T side at Virto
The Brazilian Mongolian fusion that's the one nobody's ready for yet. Oh, you know that food would taste good
Oh, I'll go to child with horse
The time will come
M I B R 2028
I mean the fact that you got MZ no going to BC game like anything's possible
Of all the great things about our scene, I think the number one best thing
Every fantasy roster we can think of has either happened or well
Sure, every single one
Anything is possible.
Kerrigan just want to major with Niko in 2026.
Wow!
I saw that with my own eyes.
Still, sometimes can't believe it.
Big swing off the flash, very nicely timed here by Wildcard for the first kill, and eventually
they'll get a second one for their efforts.
Drop bomb in the middle of all that, his 9-10 just still remains far back, cautious, and
using that Molotov to close the gap, worried somebody else will swing him and he's got
a reason to be concerned.
That has to be treads to check on his multi-kill stats because maybe if that's one way to distill
what's happened on Dust2, and you know, is it that Mongols are just getting more two-for-one
trades than Wildcard, or are they really just missing those one-kill moments?
This one was never meant to be close, but Wildcard, if he had set a spot to win it, missed
Desert Eagle shots, it would have been a spell disaster, it would have loved to have gotten
an insta-kill, and then gotten into cover, could have opened a door for Rex Flank to
have caught them off guard, but instead all goes good.
It's the Mongols, up 3-0.
So 9-10 really is going to be as highly rated as he is on Inferno.
Let's see what else he's got in store for us.
To be fair, very impressive stats for an offer.
He's excited for an O of all maps.
Missed chance on the banana opening kill.
Mania tucks into cover.
Now knows there's an AWP out there on the hunt for him.
Well time reposition there for Nemanja.
One healthy survive with.
That Nade would have hit him had he not just changed positions.
So now he's got a health advantage and Rex going to hone in on techno for the 5v4.
NHL locks down one kill towards this A site.
We'll see if the Mongols decide to just try to slam their way home on this bomb site but
They're surrounded towards CT spawn, and now they know that.
Wreck fires off, lets them know about his presence,
but made all the more comfortable thanks to Hext.
Shortside could still be compromised.
And of course, in unknowingness about Banana,
the wildcard seemed content to just stick around on A for the time being.
He's only going to announce the intentions.
Blitz with the wallbang into pit.
Oh, it's getting interesting.
CT's try to sprint in with fire in front of them.
9-10 on the AK, seeks the headshot.
Should not be interesting at all.
Shouldn't be, but the Mongols will keep it that way.
That's a second.
Nemanja collects, splits, 10 HP, starts running for the hills.
No chance at this round.
But the fact that they alley-ooped themselves
with that frag grenade into wallbang,
cool stuff for the Mongols to keep the success
that much lower, but it is still wild cards first.
CT round win.
They grab it.
It'll cost them three players.
They barely get through it.
Hex's reaction says it all.
Even with such a, you know, done position right there, it can come a little close.
will play the best when you play scared.
Techno trying to get ahead of this engagement.
There's a good amount of value out of the utility while Kart got off Banana last round.
We'll see if they can tap into that again.
But by the time Namanya gets behind the sandbags, we've already got Longo's inching closer towards Brackets.
It's bomb doubles back to be a part of this B approach and it's 5v4 to Wildcard.
Almost con on that jump back over, but 9-10 missing a couple of opportunities towards
Banana.
So it looks like the Mongols are in step, hoping that Tykuat could have served as an entry
on A site.
Not the case.
Wildcard 5v3 and the Mongols have options and a minute, the things starting to feel like
they're drying up in front of them.
The double man advantage not an easy thing to overcome
90 inches in will collect the frag to MHL two more on this side as the bomb over on archers not meeting resistance
But this off angle from sixies gonna catch off the Mongols techno trades that back
You instantly and then wreck dies running around through the CT spawn bombing no there's one in pit
It's only a faunus here from hexed
Back into the cover. Oh, they're gonna put some pressure on him right now
Oh, they kind of run by. This is crazy. Just to get the bomb plant on, it works.
Oh, and they catch the kill on the other side of the map, so now it's Hexed from the pit in a 1v2.
He's got two separate duels at the moment. He's concerned about the short peek.
He would have never thought that the teammate would wrap back around Modo, and I'm surprised he has.
Tecno inside of the fading smoke. Oh, the position's meant to catch you off.
What in the world?
But they fail to frag out on Hexed, and so Wildcard wins a second.
That was a crazy reposition at a techno. I mean to be fair if Hexen a move as fast as he did
That wouldn't have been possible. How'd he get that kill right then?
I'm kind of shocked techno didn't read the peak on the left side of default in the end, but
Either way, it's a really good move from Hexen. That's one of the situations where the close call goes their way
Yeah, Mongos finally having to stomach a taste of their own medicine.
So the CT side making moves.
Scary to bank on that 1v2 from Hex, but hey, he delivers.
There's another key moment here.
Got to put the mines on an auto shotgun.
CT's spending a lot of money.
Four Gats.
Long goes still with an arsenal of their own though. Sure, limited. In some regards, that's
why it's so important. It's just like all your efforts could just be upended if you
just mess up this easier round. We got a jumping auto-shotty kill though. Well, the solution
Wildcard, just don't lose it.
Molotov on Nemanja, puts it out, shawty up front.
Oh, Techno just wins the dual point.
Blank it in, doubles down.
Wrecking gets slammed.
Third piece has been spotted.
Not a comfortable place for Wildcard.
A 6 he has to mag jump and just dive back.
Mongols will chase him through the smoke at least.
He's got a fresh magazine, but loses the dual to the Mongols'
IGL.
9-10 with the old jumping auto shawty CT smoke
Spam a classic.
Could get this kill.
Next will, trying to secure exit routes
because this is the Mongols barreling down into a B site
and robbing a round away.
They've done it again.
Now they did it again.
Four kills in the last round, and then now they win.
At least the two Saves are here.
It looks like they'll be able to keep these guns.
That does change the story a touch.
But I, yeah, I don't know. It's kind of awkward. You get a bomb plant, there's still three alive. Do you want to try to reinvest?
Because you have the op, you have the M4.
It's a great swing.
You just can't get here.
of
the
I got a mag 7, MP9, I mean it's not looking terrible, plus the AWP like that's the main
reason I don't think if they had that, if they hadn't saved that they wouldn't even try.
They'll send NHL to an early banana angle.
It's not too dangerous as he sits in front of the frag grenades.
Yeah, nicely done NHL, out blind auto shoddy to the mag 7 swap.
They're already trying to rinse and repeat, there's an AK to grab right in front of him.
Obviously under stress.
It's also about the bomb, that's a hell of a gift.
This player should get caught.
I mean I don't think they talk to you in respect of you watching this with the bomb in their
vision.
Hex is gonna set bullets through and from that one off-shot MHL getting the bomb down in front of him
Everybody's been able to sit on top of it and wild card again. We're gonna go back and forth here
They are making the Mongols T side all the more difficult
But that was a blind off-shot opening
To give wild card everything they ultimately needed to win this round
respect that they go ahead and do it with less like you said if not for the
saved op who knows if they even would have bought around it so the purchase
gives the sniper confidence mhl collects his third kill of the map but that third
kill wins the round and wildcard cut into the lead
The silver lining here, of course.
The Mongols not losing their entire buy mean, so we're just going to go right back to it.
This entire series has been such a kind of round by round basis.
So many what ifs and close calls, and the opening attempt here from Wildcard is going
to be another one of those.
Demania flush into the fight. Techno finds it through smoke.
Just a headshot slams it down for Mondo's man advantage.
Here's a ball coming.
Maybe not sound like they're about to stop.
But is this spam diving into a stack?
The crossfire is holding.
Rex got a multi-kill in the hecticness of all of this.
Bomb scooped up, barely getting away from the MHL sniper.
This call is so absurd. I mean, they were ready to run through absolutely everything.
I'm doing it in a pretty sloppy fashion. Cost them bodies.
Smoking a couple flashes for the wildcard retake, but still remaining smoked off until now.
CT smoke fades. They deny any banana play, but it's this coffin and dark setup for the Mongols.
Then Tick-A-Wack hits the instant headshot and 9-10 tethers nicely. Mongols shut them down in the 2v2.
What a Hail Mary rush through what was looking like a potential crossfire hold. Wildcard come up short, but god damn, the Mongols willing to run risks.
Yeah, I mean, to get this kill there's still two players here. I genuinely feel like if you were in like a sprint in North America, you'd get flamed for making a call like this.
like this, and if they still win.
But like the entire time Rex there, he can hear, like very clearly, like four pairs of feet all running up to the top of a banana,
fully behind a smoke, he's not even panicked to have to fall back, doesn't have to throw any extra utility, they just have to watch it.
But because of the Mongols, you know they're actually going to continue.
Maybe they just thought there was only one there after that first film, not entirely sure, but...
Didn't matter.
Oof, and the Manya sees him hopping around.
Trying to just drop Util on the fallback.
He is most certainly outnumbered,
and the CT cross smoke comes out for the Mongols,
but this time they don't dive through.
Feeling a little too sketchy perhaps
after how close that stack got last round.
To be honest, I feel like after the last round,
going through the smoke was a no-brainer.
I'm not sure if they're going to walk up to the end of the falls right now.
Really is just totally contrasting rounds, right?
Last time they barreled through the smoke with three players there.
This time they go all the way back through apartments.
It's almost like the fake is mental.
They're almost faking that they're never going to do something that would take this
much effort.
Right.
Walk up towards the balconies will be perfect for the setup as brackets push from the side of wildcards three members strong
Sixie cuts down blitz, but again if you can't stop the bout kit then this A site will be overwhelmed
Dropping fire bombs from the short side. Sixie slides into the action great headshot on to techno
And he catches the player jumping out of the pit, but it's only damage versus darkmeister while 9-10 goes for the plant in sight
That's bomb down versus three remaining wildcard members
the apartments player has to hit the pause button and they don't have a kit.
Not anywhere on the field either.
Darkmeister keeping his head tucked down.
Modo contact inbound.
It's the kill for Wreck.
9-10 sees you up on Bulk, but they'll swarm with numbers,
and Wildcard played the trade out efficiently,
wrapping back around through the apartments.
Balcony becomes a problem,
and Wildcard yet again pull off a nail-biter moment,
keeping that lead within one.
Really important they get the first trade inside of mid with their setup because they know they're a little weaker watching the back of halls without
actually watching it from pit, but it's a
Fair play they have everything ready inside of brackets to catch this they have a way to trade it and they also do immediately turn around
in case it is this
unlikely move for
Mongols who clearly had five players on banana to have made to the end of falls
Of course the Mongols force, two rifles included, just trying to play with the gusto towards
middle, fast tempo, take a whack, cut down off-balk, and two players left in the apartments
for the Mongols, they actually redirect, met by that smoke grenade on the exit, nobody
else wants to try to charge through, so they've already got a bit of a glimpse here onto
library and Darkmeister is going to catch the headshot from the player peeking off-site,
but there's also Wreck and still 6e back behind him. The trades go back and forth,
it's man advantage, maintain wild card, short side where that bomb slides forward. Hext into
the pit has been playing well. 10 and 4 on the half, two kills this round already, and obviously
they know that he's here. Just trying to pin him from both of these directions, but he's got a good
spot. Mollying into the dual. Okay, blind him as well in the process. Nice
nape from 6-E to catch Blitz, still up towards BALC. Nobody's worried considering
the push. They're actually not up on lane already and 9-10's not even concerned
about it. Will the peek come out early? Surely. Yep. Okay, just like that.
Nemanja walks it around, catching 9-10 off guard.
That's some weird moments throughout this game. It still just feels like...
It feels to you as well, like Mongols just don't quite have a read on Wildcard.
I think they're actually making it up as they go.
Okay.
Alright, that's... Yup. That makes sense too.
I just think that the reason it works is because like...
Because they believe in it.
Like they do all follow the call.
They actually make some good, like, getting hex out of pit.
Molly with that flash combo was pretty perfect.
I think from a calling perspective though,
they're really just seeing what sticks this game.
Like, there's nothing about this, that's how they used to play.
Really detailed defaults that are trying to take advantage of the way Wildfire
are setting up on the map, like that.
That's gonna be four spies to the very end.
On brand for the Mongols.
Unfortunately for them it's a 5v3.
They're gonna have to stop it here on out.
And Nemanja's not gonna stop.
Gets bomb possession, bottom.
T-Rap.
Darkmeister jumps up into his demise and wildcard pull ahead.
Six rounds secured by the CT side.
And a real chance at a 7-5 CT half, considering that again, it's just the Mongols to have
to force by these final three rounds.
A lot of times I look at the map from Wildcard and like, you tilt in the right spot, the
amount of players they have is good, the info they have is good, they fought for power
control like the majority of these rounds.
A lot of the times where it's gone A, they've actually had four players nearly rotated entirely.
That's too rough by us here for the Mongols to run in on.
And that was a choice.
Very least they'll have a 5v4 to start at this one.
They could see that.
It's just a golden ticket and a chance in, dropping a smoke behind them, hitting the
pause button.
Yeah, it felt like they tried to extinguish a molly, but they did it really late.
It's just a certain franticness about the Mongols so far this series.
It feels like the game plan is more psychological.
Oh, they're going to overreact here, or...
They're not going to expect us to be as aggressive, whatever the case may be.
Not much they've gotten to play with.
So that initial run-up banana just to get some Util out.
Let them think about the thought that it could be the A site.
They've actually got three rotations that way. Just 60 alone.
Not a great place to be without a molly or anything.
Did the molly get Util, no. Just come back with his AK.
So it's just this 60 flashbang, it's already pin-pulled.
CT smoked three mollies.
Nemanja lets him know where he's at, tries to go back in, and it's Darkmeister to pummel
through the smoke, Hex is on arrival and he'll catch a headshot.
They have...
No, okay, I was gonna say forgotten about back-site.
I'm all ate everything else.
Darkmeister goes through the clear eventually, a little delayed, but so be it.
It's still a bomb plant uninterrupted, and hand-forced here by Wildcard into the 2v4
retake, final round of this half.
So it's going to be a tough go, no more utility here for Wildcard.
The banana players have allowed Hex to slide forward into the site,
but by killing one player, Dark, they get caught off by the second.
Element of surprise, catching MHL from all directions,
and they're just going to gun them down.
The Mongols sensed an opening charged down towards that B site,
and because they had the pistol and the 3-0 start,
it's at least still a six-round half from the Mongols on the attack.
and it remains posted now no support and with the deep information if they
don't disrespect this or if they come forward
well it's actually come to the point now where his smoke can take over he doesn't
have to put himself in jeopardy they're running through this oh my god
they're actually going to come yeah
oh no way double no scope collage
easy pickup for Navi I mean they lapped in the face of this attack fifth player
ends the only one that gets a kill he'll double down monasy but he's already down to a quarter hp
but old habit old habits die hard it looks like that's three man but he only has three health
left that should be the end of him there's only two guys yeah he's gonna use the smoker day to
cut off a lexie could they mess this up 25 seconds and monasy is seeing red he wants to make it happen
Oh my god. Oh, no, wait, dude. This is a one versus five straight up and you can read it get bomb
He's he should have this red with another smoke. Oh
My monasy one fake the maid doesn't come through now
He's got enough space to commit to this monasy a pure one V five and his email tries to get out through that smoke
Monacee's just dodging all these bullets. It's terrified. Ema's looking behind him for a push through
Times ticking away. I mean, how could you not be horrified?
But Monacee, the prodigy, his piece together four frags in this 1v5 ace clutch, and Ima is on a silver platter!
A miracle from the magnificent Monacee!
The flames in Dexter, I think his bomb down is scary.
Flames is taking real estate, but ends up getting punished.
Liquid hold, and they win these fights.
Just Dexter left to get past, but he's an iron wall at the back of the site!
site moving around kill number three and you've got JL and wonderful it's this
fight JL and one part fame excuse me very key fame slips up getting ever
closer JL thinking about going to help as wonderful puts that off over to the
corner that could come back to haunt him tough spot to get the multi-frag but
The CT's sitting and waiting for a little longer.
Molotov goes to Cape.
If him waits this long, this might come back to bite him.
He's got the kit, and that kit could be so key.
You got to go, VP.
He needs to move.
Bucks ball!
Oh, Blond!
Oh!
Oh, welcome to Wonderland!
They lock down that post plant like it's nothing.
...
Tough to keep your finger on the pulse
pulse of this game I think as a viewer and I think as all the players in the
server at the moment the Mongols kind of crazy and sometimes in great ways
ultimately a six-round T side on their map pick it's of course the Mongols up
a map already having gotten away with a lot of those close moments back on dust
two this time I feel like wildcard started to pick some of those mid-round
moments up a little more frequently but still a tough ask just what they were
more locked in individually right you know just a little bit more that's
10% and they would have gotten all the kills they needed
But Mongol still individually. There's just so like there's so much confidence
There's a bit of a fall-off in Tick-A-Wack's individual level between maps this series Tick-A-Wack you just got here, man
It's like a cool Tick-A-Wack true, but it was on dust too right now
It's been techno is the highest performing player speak of the devil Tick-A-Wack is dead
The mania trying to catch him off with that flash, but it's gonna be the bomb now moving
into the A site, right?
With the apartments kill.
Yeah, they're gonna try to run this forward.
It's a fast two player banana flank, but both defenders on the A site have crumbled with
no kills to show for it.
Okay, techno jumping Beretta headshot because why the hell not?
And if he can do that, then he can do anything.
Hold your horses, wild card.
It's not done yet.
trying to rip through, need to reload before they can full commit, there's no
kit here for the Mongols so they're gonna have to get it going but they'll
throw that flash out towards the pit player, cross into the bomb site, Darkmeister
drops one, Techno slides through and as he whips the attention back towards the pit
they will pull off the retake. They just get the kills and everyone knows
where everyone is in that position but at Mongols they just get the extra kill.
They get the one more kill, they get the next kill, they get more trades.
And it starts with a whole load of baloney.
What is that jumping Beretta headshot?
Bam!
See you, Wreck.
You stink.
I can't think of the guy beside me instantly died, but they get theirs before they die.
Mm-hmm.
Story of the match.
But if Wildcard can't beat that, they ain't gonna win this event.
That is true.
That is true.
You gotta bring it every single day.
Bounty is single elimination.
Oh, having a rough day?
Get out! Get out! Get out!
We don't want you here.
Do or die. Every single day.
Put up or shut up.
Sink or swim. Here's Bounty.
Big execute comes out from Wildcard.
Hoping that Util was gonna stave off the whole Dine 10.
Three and a half kills on him and him alone.
MHL a little bit late to the parties got nobody else to work with so that one was convincing
You know you said Tick-A-Wax the new guy shouldn't be him
Well, it is the old dogs in techno and 910 holding up there end of the bargain now
It's a sick multi-kill for 910 denying the force by entry of wild card and
Giving the Mongols a real chance to pull ahead early on the CT side
You still thinking about this MHL
Get the bomb get out.
They're not even watching.
Never mind.
That's two! Halfway there.
MP9 scooped up, the Darkmeister's got you locked in from the short side.
It's a good bit of damage for the Mongols to have to stomach,
but ultimately, round win is a round win.
And again, those close calls, the Mongols have been stomaching them all series long.
They have iron guts.
Titanium in test dimes a high pain tolerance
Diamond doodads
Galil for a cold ball into that guy knows no I was leading it up to your imagination, okay
I'm glad you got there
I call them hangers.
We would call them koi.
Dei koi.
Dei zas tiga koi.
Okay, that's enough of that.
Sorry.
Okay.
Getting a little crazy.
I've been watching the Mongols for two maps now.
It's so much like the heroic game.
I just feel like I'm back there.
But you can feel the Mongols like finding their groove, you know, it's like this is their comfort zone
No wild card or like trying to play their game like yeah, they got two new players
You know and they have to replace and you know and cobra's era. Yeah, that's it's huge shoes to fill
We've been watching the Mongols in this awkward flux
Since the Senzu departure trying to you know recover again
It kind of parallels to to mouse in some ways and it's nice that both these teams are well well mouse are already top eight
Mongols on the brink of doing so
Four rounds that's all that's left between them and Malta
Yeah, if that happens too late, oh, okay, somehow that shot goes high
But that's crazy and that's sometimes what you need to be at least for the one kill to 910 darkmeister bested with nothing
And then ticker lag slides into the trades look good here for wild card
They finally come out on top with the edge and send techno 4k into the 1v2 clutch hot on their heels up middle
Walks just in time
And we'll see how he can somehow slice between this crossfire
It's a little pit and back site. Yeah, it's a little bit. I mean you could
MHL gets the timing wild card come out on top of another zany moment
I mean when you're running through Molotov's arch side to just try to catch the Mongols off guard and it works
I give you extra credit and also it's it's their zany moment now
No, it's not the Mongols any moment that they survive.
They're the ones who are a little faster, a little more aggressive than Mongols could expect.
And that was kind of nice to see that it works and they could operate smoothly in that chaos.
That'll feel good. I feel like they've unlocked something there.
I think a round like that reminds you that, you know, we said it's Wild Cards any moment,
but if you start winning those, then when the Mongols throw those nutty decisions your direction,
Hopefully Wildcard can start to build a bit of comfort in that chaos.
Because it feels like they're going to need to to remain competitive in this game.
You know how mongols are Horteno vs. Majority Dutch American team?
Why? I'll tell you in a second because this round's about to get your name.
There's the swing.
Blitz turns from the flash but it's the T to actually eat it.
He's got the bomb in front of him.
This could get away from Wildcard if they're not careful.
They're not careful.
Blitz being given support from the flashbang inside site.
Wreck on the chase now.
But there's more than one player here,
still four of the Mongols.
Nice dodge of the off-shot by Darkmeister in anticipation.
They chuck that frag grenade, and Wildcard just
want to get the hell out of here.
But as they turn, they almost lose another body.
But with that peek all the way down,
Benem, 9-10's got to make his way hurriedly across the site,
because it is just an MP9 here to hold.
Drop the incendiary, no?
Tick-a-wack doesn't use the nade.
He'll just get the headshot.
And 9-10 on arrival, slides out, takes the edge back into his hands,
palm drop once more, 9-10's adjustments are slick.
And MHL, three targets to somehow topple.
He's going to know one's up close, reads that one well,
into the cover, into the peak.
It's a team kill from 9-10.
Oh, disastrous!
MHL comes up on the 1v3 at the helping hands of 9-10.
What is the chance of that through the sliver of library?
Only in this game does it make sense
that something that ridiculous happens.
Absolutely not.
Absolutely not.
What an insane moment.
That goes Wild Cards way, it mongles after that.
That really just caps off.
To be honest, they should have not even gotten close to winning that.
No.
Not for 9-10 shots in the first place.
So Wild Cards really dodge a bullet there, but wow, what a bullet.
I'm a great example of just how bonkers this game has been.
447 damage from your friend.
Right to the back of the head.
Oh, hello.
I've never seen that boost work with two people.
Usually it's like everyone, right?
Yeah, just two guys.
Just feels like half the team didn't get the memo.
That hexabow barreling through the apartments finds the sneaky tic-a-wack.
So the reason that the Mongols are 10-0 versus the majority of North American teams, yep.
And the reason that we cheer for them, every time they're in North American Sadie, everyone's just like, oh, it's ironic.
It's because the Mongols are everything that we want to be in Counter-Strike in terms of the way that they play.
Whenever we played like that, we'd been scolded, flamed, and we can't get away with it versus
good competition.
But somehow the Mongols have made it work.
I actually like that reasoning.
We try playing like the Mongols, Europe laps at us.
Yeah, because we lose.
But then they watch the Mongols do it, and they go, wow.
Astralis
We say they're like a straw as a veja
Yeah
It does help when it works. It's inspiring to watch because you know that
Wildcard keep on trying to go tip for tat in this one
It's three rounds in a row for wildcard on this attack
That's actually something that the Mongols on their offense couldn't do except for with the pistols.
So this actually bodes quite nicely for Wildcard's hopes of robbing away the Mongols' map pick.
This is one of those moments of Wildcard, they just got to get that one extra kill.
It's a very heavy set up in mid, it can be one here by the T side, but...
It's good for Darkmeister, he'll get his double and back's turn to blitz.
It's a double kill from each of the new pieces of the Mongols.
Four members of the CT side layered on mid.
Look at that radar.
Look how tightly knit those deaths are.
Wildcard players fell into waves and then Blitz will just walk this in.
A 10-9 lead secured.
It's just the perfect setup for the perfect moment as Wildcard walked into their deaths.
just the right call even though they didn't know exactly what wildcard we're gonna do this round
they're ready on a crossfire
even with the flashes if wildcard could see the map like us they wouldn't have tried to
pop like that so it's just a great call and the setup out of the mongols exactly what the doctor
ordered
still money here for wildcard
All it's all extinguished, so there's a bit of space there for Nemanja, but...
There's my sir, oh, him and Tick-A-Wack again, putting their name on this bomb site, that's
the bomb dropped on balcony.
We get a bit of a rebuttal from Wreck and Nemanja, aw, he gets caught, even though he
had the element of surprise, catches the rotation, go wide, and Wreck slams shut as the Mongols
Just pull ahead on the T side ever closer to victory in this best of three.
Does that just win the game?
We as now it's 2K apiece on everyone here for wild card.
They have to decide they're going to play for overtime or it's helped force down.
Games just gotten so crisp for the Mongols in these last couple of rounds.
time to kill have wild cards hopes lessened they will go for the save and
try to play for overtime here facing elimination
hex has just been barreling through the apartments with those Mac 10s so no
No surprise to see him hit by the frag grenade in anticipation.
More nades queued up by Banana.
And obviously here the blocks ringing out, so Mongols know they've got them dead to
rights here in round 21.
Three masked match playoff points for the Mongols.
with that save a very healthy buy. No WAP, just one Galeel. The only concession here for
6E. But I think it feels like the Maldives are chilling right now. They can buy all three
of these rounds. If they play their cards right.
They've really ramped up towards the end of this game.
Muggles, check out that artillery barrage, bottom banana early.
There's some damage. You till scoop back up and Blitz is going to try to find it.
Not one a little bit better, but still not disastrous for Wildcard's approach.
Oh, smoke the half wall. Makes it awkward for Wildcard to keep trying to press through.
That'll be a cause to pause. Another name for Blitz. This one gets wrecked down to half.
Just quietly disrupting their plans every time they might want to set up for some mutil.
This has really slowed this round down, it's already down to 45 seconds.
You've got to be kind of careful with how far apart they are from each other, it looks
like they're trying to set up some kind of fake or split, but they're going to need every
second on the clock.
Into a single smoke and a flashbang here, our wild card, so they chuck it out, but they
gotta go now.
9-10 tucked into the bomb site, two pit players, and it's a slaughter on the approach.
Ticklewack and Darkmeister again show their value through the CT side.
A very back and forth affair in the middle portion of this second map.
card actually trying to compete alongside the Mongols. But boy, oh boy, they hit their groove
towards the end and ultimately collect a bunch of convincing rounds to secure top eight at Bounty.
They will feature in a playoffs that continues to feel open for the taking. The Mongols,
two new pieces, still they'll find success.
Seen as one of the more vulnerable Rusters sitting there in our top tier of CS. And so that's why
so many people pick them as their opponent in Blast Bounty Wildcard falling for that trap here
because it's a 2-0 pretty clean for Mongols and Inferna was no different of a story,
Maui, than what we saw in Dust2. And it played out actually very much so like I sort of predicted.
The e-hits for the Mongols went very well with the tandem of Blitz and Techno. Techno got off to
an excellent start in this one. And unfortunately for Wildcard, yeah, they couldn't quite withstand
and a lot of that pressure.
Hey guys, they probably wish they could get
a little bit more involved in that action
because they did all right on wild card,
but just still not enough as Mongols.
Prove once again that two guys from Mongolia
are better than some of North America's finest.
That's the thing, it's like this talent,
you just don't know when it's gonna crop up.
You know it's there, but to be able to essentially
pluck it out the way that they do on the side of Mongols
and really let them thrive.
that's the one thing that I think has been so impressive is, yeah, you have two new plays
that you can say are good, but to essentially instill this much trust in them now, to let
them shine the way that they have, and for them to be able to, you know, meet the calling
that's been put out there for them.
I will say, I think Dust2 definitely had more involvement from the youngsters. I think we've
seen now in consecutive matches or maps of D2 for Tick-A-Wock and Darkmaster. They take
turns practically being the star player. Inferno is a little bit more of the old story where the
old guard holds things up where I mean I will have to say like Techno gets a lot of blame
on this Mongol scene when they're failing against say elite competition like he doesn't always stand
up to the spirits or the vitalities of the world but when he's facing off against tier two,
tier 1.5 teams you would think just via the eye test alone that he can be a star.
Yeah, you're saying that taking it in turns Doc master and Ticuac of being the star in the matz world
They're taking it turns in our interviews as well. We had Doc master earlier, but we got Ticuac joining us here Ticuac
Congratulations on making the land at Malta. How excited are you to be to be coming and seeing us there in Malta?
Yeah, like I'm very excited because I really I for me like I really didn't think that I was
we were going to be able to qualify because I kind of thought it was going to be hard.
But after we played with the Heroic, I gained some confidence and after that match, I knew
that we were going to qualify.
Yeah, man.
You're really impressed today.
Also, just kind of more along the side of the feeling, this would be your first LAN
in Europe, if I'm not mistaken.
judging by what I've seen on HLTV, most of it's in Asia, you know, in general, not actually
on European soil. So is this just actually out of curiosity? Is this your first time
even going to Europe? Yeah, actually, it is. It is my first time.
Okay, cool. I guess that that should be really exciting. I mean, what do you think led to
to you succeeding in the fashion that you did today?
I think it's because I gained some confidence, I think,
because of yesterday's match.
And yeah, I started playing like I usually do.
I wanna ask then, you know,
you're gaining confidence was the thing
that you're like, we're definitely gonna make playoffs.
You know, as soon as you beat heroic,
knew you were going to make playoffs. How far is this confidence going to take you?
Are you going to be there to lift the trophy for Blast Bounty Season 2?
For us, I think I really think it's possible because most of the top names are eliminated
and there are only like one or two names. I think Spirit, Maus, I think. And yeah, if we
managed to get rid of them. Yeah, I think we definitely see us lifting that trophy.
Also, we'll take it back. We'll let you go. All right. Thank you so much for joining us.
Congratulations. I'm excited to see you in Malta. Okay, thank you.
Now you're gonna have to put like a short list together for him if he gets any off days or
What he has to do while he's in Malta his first time in Europe. Yeah, the must do the musties
We did film that content piece
Launders scrawny and myself for gaming Malta about what the perfect day looks like so
Probably gonna draw inspiration from that one
Well, we'll have to go back and watch that one
Oh, you guys have to say seated because we still have to decide or see who is gonna be our last team making it to Malta
it's going to be either a hundred thieves or spirit, right? One of those two, I feel like
there isn't necessarily a clear favorite, but there was someone that stood out in our last
series and I got to speak to him. It was Device. I've been following a hundred thieves content
quite closely and I saw Gizmy talk about being an ex-Astralis hater. What did you take of him
admitting to that? I think it's good he admits it at least, but to be fair it's a long time since
Because we had our period of greatness, so it doesn't bother me too much.
Well, yeah, I was going to follow up and say, you know, does it make it more difficult to
take direction from him as an IGL?
I'll definitely not, no, actually he is good at giving directions and of course, like,
it's just about, he's the boss now, so just following his way.
How would you compare Gizmi to some of the past IGLs you've had, whether that's play style or call style or anything like that?
I would say Jack is already up there as one of the bettering him leaders that I played with for sure.
I think he is very up to date with Meta. He is very smart.
I think he's playing in his native language, which is helping him a lot with doing directions really quickly,
which is something that I think that international teams at least, where I've been on, has always been a little bit harder.
But yeah, he's really good as a player as well, which is important in this measure,
that you just don't get run over with having one individual that can follow along as well.
Um, yeah, no bad things to say yet.
Who knows?
Yeah, no bad things to say.
Just yeah, I feel like, you know, devises been through so many teams,
so many iterations, so many stages in his career.
He knows that at any point the tables can turn and I'm not saying that is going to happen.
He's just a well-prepared man with a lot of experience.
And I appreciate how open and honest he was and positive to about gives me it felt like, you know
It's getting maybe a little bit of any bias for you now, but it seems like no it's it's well-founded
Just cuz I'm from America
England
1700s now, okay, like
I don't know if it's just to be English speaking, you know, ideals.
Anyone out there that's getting dunked on, you're like, no, I'm going to defend them.
Yeah, this isn't the 13 colonies or anything like that, right?
I'm just hoping you win with us.
Yeah, sure, sure.
I think that I'm actually really happy to hear that both rain and device, despite the fact that they've worked with legends of the game like Glaive and Kerrigan,
that he's been playing in the
last few weeks. And the
teams that are already have
praise to heap upon gizmy
because that just checks out
completely with the eye test.
That's exactly what was so
special about gizmy in the
previous season with how the
speed of his mid round, calling
the variety ideas and how he
legitimately has faked some of
the best teams in the world
out of their shoes on various
rounds. Now hundreds is one of
is going on for them as well. And so we see them have that success of beating Falcons and we go,
this team has what it takes to get to the next level. But as with everything online,
it has its downfalls too. When they're playing as other qualifiers, they ended up losing to NIP
and nuclear Tigers. So I am wondering, is this just one of those things that you chalk it up to what
they're all saying? It's online early season still, or are they actually potentially just an
consistent delivering tape. I feel like when it I think 100 thieves have
actually swapped up their veto a couple of times in these games. One thing that
I think actually is a double-edged sword is that gives me has brought in a seven
map pool to a team that is now working with a brand new in-game leader and
that's what he did for Monty but I feel like it also means that your your
strengths are a little bit more spread out. Maybe you can trick teams a little
a little bit more, but I think that this is probably a growing pain for him and the team that they're going to probably just have to move it around a little bit more like like for example, they've been banning out a new bus and cash in various games.
I don't actually even really know with certainty what their permaban is, and I think they have to make one. I think that's something that like gives me how to do this because I had a really underpowered roster in the past, but now you have some pretty good pieces.
just make sure that you have a
map that you can go to that you
know what your weaknesses are
and find out that hierarchy.
Yeah, I mean, hopefully that
does essentially get ironed out
for them along the path and
their journey for the season
because they do have such, you
know, a veteran of a coach with
glave joining them as well. So
I feel like it is one of those
things when they get a bit more
time together, they're going to
figure it out. But let's have a
look at our veto because that's
going to be something that
answers your question. Is it
still all over the place? Are
they kind of honing in a little
Cash that they want to have more is that permanent ban? I
Think this would be the second time at least that they banned it maybe actually maybe third
I think it's the third time that they've they've banned it because yeah, two of the games thus far
Thankfully they Falcons removed it for him in the matchup there. So maybe it is cash
Maybe it actually is cash and they just knew they could get away with this
But yeah, that's that's kind of a they've going back though to the well with with the newbis. I
I we obviously saw them defeat Falcons off the back of an insane T side. So I would just
say for spirit, don't count out 100 thieves or think that it's all wrapped up if you have
your own really strong T side, because we know that 100 thieves can punch back with
theirs. Oh yeah, 100 thieves are just swinging like absolutely not stopping. And I'm hoping
it's the same sort of aggression, a similar sort of momentum that we're going to be able
to see there on a new bus. But for spirit, it was a shaky start. They said the energy
levels were pretty low coming back from a player break they felt a little bit rusty as well and
so I am wondering Maui if this is a team that you go yeah these aren't actually excuses that is a
genuine concern for them they're kind of lucky that they made it through for OG and now it should
be that strong dominant showing. I fully expect that all of the established tier one teams will
stabilize as the season progresses. I think that Spirit was fortunate that they had a transcendent
player in Donk who could just actually carry them through some really rocky and rough situations,
whereas some of those other elite teams that we saw fall like Vitality, Falcons, they got
their guys weren't quite there for them, and they probably had a little bit too long of
that player break.
But that's that's the difference with Donk.
I mean, this is why this guy is just built from something that we haven't seen before
where he is so hungry and he doesn't rest on his laurels.
He knows that the race to number one is totally on this year.
I know that people think that it's maybe wrapped up because of some amount of MVPs and EVPs,
but Spirit are in a position where they can catch up and I think we're going to see such
a strong three way race, not only for the best team, but the best player.
He knows that he needs to get every single advance that he can get in it.
Yeah, you want to stay in a tournament like this, not only just because you are a team
that's being looked at as the favorites.
team that has, you know, high expectations for yourself and from the
thing that we could also pivot to as well is the fact that to near needs to
be secondary star for this team. I feel like that is something that really,
really needs to be actually sorted out for him and the rest of this team
because it's it's definitely is this just me? Am I by myself? What's going on here?
No, you're fine now. You're fine. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. All right. Okay. Um, there's just a long pause there. Okay. Uh, no, it's, no, no, no, I also think that something that we could also talk about is the, is to near. I think that he showed a lot towards the tail end of last season. And I need him to just kind of pick up where he left off because the, the og game wasn't quite as convincing for me as I would have wanted from a guy that just, he just really needs to be a top 20 player of spirit.
want to be consistently in those talks of are they a top three contender team?
Is he the only player that you're looking towards and needs to step up a little bit
more? Because I know you're saying like Donk was a whole different human,
not even human at that point, right?
Then the rating he was putting up, the way that he was almost able to push
through what OG was throwing at him.
You want to need to step up, but are there some of those other players
within the roster that also need to shine in their roles?
Or were you pretty satisfied in their OG showing that they're at least
that he's doing the bad minimum.
Well, Magix knows that the calling has to be a little bit sharper, a little bit better on Dust2.
He definitely has found a bit of a home ground. However, they actually still lost that versus OG,
but I don't think that the calling was really always the problem there.
They lost that game based off of their defense.
So I know that he is really hard on himself, despite the fact that he comes across as this jovial, fun guy.
like Yakuza posters and in the background, he's actually talking to exactly. I mean,
he knows that he needs to just be a little bit sharper in understanding and where the
next part of the round needs to go. I ask this almost every time we talk about spirit
because they do bring this up a lot in interviews and it feels like I haven't gotten a definitive
answer. But whenever they talk about energy, it always feels like the energy is too low.
When we saw them at Open Rotodam, that was their issue.
Their energy was too low.
They really needed to have someone that was going to be that person.
It felt like it was T'Nia.
Now I'm wondering, is there almost like too much emphasis on this team that are surrounding
energy?
Are you on the same page as them that that is such an important aspect for a team to
be able to just show up on the server?
is actually really curious to bring up because I think that the effect that Holly has on
this team can actually be to their own deficit. I feel like he just judging from the vlogs
and everything, he does seem to really demand perfection. And I think that it leads to certain
players on the team, maybe not playing as freely as they did or looked when they played
with soft, like a reminder that was kind of the subplot narrative of spirit in the most
recent season is the Holly versus soft thick. And now we are seeing Holly back as the coach
of spirit, despite the fact that in the three events that Holly wasn't with them, they got
second place at Rio, which was extremely impressive because they just, I mean, they, they lost
to vitality in the grand final. So you couldn't blame them too much. They won Astana over
Falcons. And they look better than ever. Like I test wise, it was the best I've ever seen
I think that's something that
we're going to see play out more
this season because Holly is the
live coach with them in this
environment. It feels like a
very critical eye is being turned
towards Holly then and I do
wonder if they have this
combination of three of those
coaches. I mean, I think that
is a really important thing.
I think that's something that
we're going to see play out more
this season because Holly is the
live coach with them in this
that. Yeah, I mean, it's a
combination of three of those
coaches rather because Tania
still has Yav Yavich behind
obviously, Holly being able to
join remotely. I love how you
love that he has his own personal
coach in Yav Yavich. Um but
then you're of course being able
to have that coach and the
secondary coach online at any
point to be able to. Kind of
pinpoint these things and help
it like it feels like this
coaches as well. There has to be so much onus being placed on. How do you make sure that
you're not requiring overtime as well, Maui, when we do look towards our first map of Anubis?
Well, I feel like one thing that was a little bit striking about the game that Spirit played
already with OG is that I feel like you just let the game roll a little bit more if you're
Holly. I saw him call the timeout after they won a round against OG, and then it just kind of
made the team look super flat and limp for the next one or two rounds,
one of which was a gun round, a very important one.
And so I kind of want him to just take his foot off the gas a little bit
in trying to put his fingerprints all over this team
and let these players actually do what they do best,
which is read the game live and just make sure.
And if they're winning, I'd say this,
be a little bit more results oriented this time around with Holly,
because you don't want to clog up what these guys are doing.
Well, 100 thieves had a fire stoked underneath them before.
We'll see if the Coles is still hot,
if they're able to take it to Spirit on a nervous as we
had on over this Gronian Laundice.
Everybody hoping that 100 Thieves have a good day,
because we've seen them in the online realm of Counter Strike
be hit or miss on a day-to-day basis.
So what'll happen today?
They've already got Falcons head on one pole.
Now it's a chance to swing at Spirit.
The polymarket prediction is that Spirit will win this,
qualify for top eight.
And I think if you could just extend the bigger picture,
most people would even just say,
Spirit are gonna win this event still.
So, Hundred Thieves is their last opposition
between them and the land.
We'll see which version of Hundred Thieves
and in many ways, which version of Spirit as well
we get tonight.
Agreed, I think you have to look at both
because like Hundred Thieves,
I mean, you might expect based on results,
Hundred Thieves will rise to the challenge a little bit
and at least give Spirit a test.
And based on past results, Spirit,
we have no idea if they won't get up at all.
Cause like, they had that whole last match
to get it together. It took until overtime on ancient to really start seeing some good calls.
They really didn't use any tactics in their last series. They nearly lost because of it to OG.
And that was already hard to explain. So it's kind of hard to see why it would just suddenly be okay now, but...
Alright, you shut down Donk in the pistol round. Your odds shift that much better, surely.
Device kills Tenir and Zontix, and they really can't get this guy off the jail position.
I mean, Boyd is still alive. Just hanging on to that one spot that Donk was trying to get the first kill from every single body stacked high, and that is 100 thieves with the pistol.
It was amazing to see how high Rain could step up when they needed him throughout an entire T half, not even just one big round.
Yep.
for them to grab their win, but you know, it's kind of all that happened again.
It's like what people are just assuming will not, and that's fair, like Spirit, obviously.
All their best days of this game wouldn't be close.
That kind of, we understand that.
One of five.
Device is part of the only five-man lineup Donka's face in CS2 against which, what?
Oh, okay.
So like all the opponents Donk has, he like dominates them, so.
Okay.
Okay.
Oh.
That's good for them.
We'll also assume that changes today,
but they'll be determined.
Got to exceed the numbers, 100 thieves.
What was it? Rain had lost to Kerrigan. His record was like 1 in 15.
Something...bananas.
Ahead of that Falcon's upset. They upended those numbers.
Donk's Desert Eagle. Just don't get eagle.
Four Glocks.
All Spirit has. I think Rain guns them down every day of the week. Alongside Disney and Device.
Looking to deny the bomb blast, also to deny any kills.
They will stomach the rain loss, swap that MP9 out for his M4, so very little loss here
for 100 thieves as they convert it.
Speaking of Astralis, very funny podcast by 100 thieves where they had Gizmion explaining
that he was a long time Astralis hater, and deep into 2023 they found a discord message
where he said praying on Astralis is downfall every day to which Glaive said
but we were already in the ground in 2023
just legendary hate watch levels from gizmy now playing next to device and
the big blade behind him yeah
ain't life funny watch Astralis to laugh watch gizmy to learn
and sign him to win.
That's the 100 Thieves hope.
One of the hot prospects of the offseason.
100 Thieves benefit from the fact that Luminosity had already signed an in-game leader before they snatched the Monty IV.
Excuse me, dead to Donk at the beginning of this one.
Tries to pop out through that bridge smoke and just pays the price.
Does spot a lot of bodies at least, but what's the reaction here in the 4v5?
100 thieves just smoke off middle. Sierra trying to play around within camera.
And as they look to expose him in that fallback, there's not actually anybody really keeping a close eye on that mid-play.
It's really this B rotation coming out from Spirit.
And device setting up just a molly here.
Bit defensive.
Makes perfect sense.
Well, this is the smoke, but then you've got two players peeking from the gap in that
smoke, really trying to pelt to near.
He hangs on to his position.
Doc collects a third kill in the round.
Those are the kinds of headshots you expect when it comes to Doc.
It's someone threw that flash.
And they actually have forgot about that.
Oh, Doc's dead.
Bum Planker comes off of the plant attempt. They're lucky they still have time. They'll get back into this sketchy.
Look at that flash cave. I don't know, bro.
It's raining flash bags.
Well, there we have it. Donk shows us his ability.
Quick triple kill.
And an even quicker reminder that you can live trade this game on Poly Market.
So it takes them three rounds to find their first and it's all Donk with the triple kill shut down gives me quick move over to the B site
They were so adamant, huh about getting that player out of the cubby
But then it really just opened the door for Donk to exploit that smoke gap was really liking all the util that they
Had hundred thieves used just it's actually the one flash that goes too far and the big irony of it is like no one swings at the flashes
isn't there, but if the flash goes too far, then you swing in the worst way possible.
You go wide, you definitely die.
So, gotta be careful with that.
Raine was monstrous in the Falcons' upset once they switched sides.
He had a huge turnaround.
I'll be keeping an eye on whether or not he can replicate that this evening.
I was really feeling like vintage rain.
I think that was kind of the conversation that we were all having.
But Maui Snake really cementing that, you know, rain sometimes can step up to the level
of his opposition.
And that versus Falcons, he really did that.
It's the biggest result, 400 thieves since their return to Counter-Strike.
Smoked off at the moment, IS RAINED for that in question.
It was boosted up, Zontik's just gonna mow down both players up in Heaven,
and so this one goes swimmingly for Spirit.
They'll lose Shiro on the approach, but one loss, no tragedy.
This is gonna be a nice slice through the A-Sites,
in a round where 100 thieves had only one rifle you can't expect too much.
The good first spirit last time was actually dunk was just okay.
And then Cheryl was extremely good.
Oh, he showed awesome stuff on on cash and just throughout the series.
Sonic's had a very poor ancient.
But again, together towards the end, and to near did not like cash.
No, he didn't definitely didn't like cash.
No, was not having fun.
Even though he was kind of racking up a kill every once in a while,
I just had so many players running at him, like we were shocked
by the number of kills he had, because he could have had that much more.
For me, it was really shero and ancient that left me kind of flabbergasted like such a pillar in the decider when the heat was really on him
You're also struck it on on dust to and then yeah got it got a better CT side, but
Just a lot of kind of like cotton cold throughout the spirit squad
It's just so interesting because hundred thieves didn't pick spirit
Specifically because they heard they were practicing more during the break, right?
So we're more worried about their form now
But in that last game, it felt like they hadn't played any games since Cologne, essentially.
That's why officials can't really be replaced by scrim practice.
It was, it almost, if you had told me that like they had spent the whole time practicing just cash as the new map,
that's actually what I would have believed through.
Because they did feel really well-versed on cash.
Maybe they did.
I mean, maybe they just played cash a lot.
Because everything after cash was like what map is this boys?
Where's your T side? You know where your strategies where your tactics? Yeah, and I guess in the postgame
You know magics did also just say like oh, that's something. I'm always worried about getting back into the groove of the season
Well, this is game two. You've got to be better today
I think also knowing hundred thieves capabilities in the Falcons upset means you should be extra prepared for this
You know you can if your spirit you can point and laugh at Falcons
But not if you also fall victim to hundred thieves tonight totally
Here at the one
Top dog that was just one round away from getting eliminated and avoided it
That's gonna have been Katie and versus device
The world would have imploded
So hundred thieves bounce back with guns here in round five looking to get back to their winning ways
Spirit of all has already shown us this kind of back and forth between the bomb sites when they had the weapons advantage
And they just tease and toy with the thought of this a threat
They actually decided to go back through the smoke they left and come back
What have been sketchy had gizmy pushed further in but don't get that insta kill dog is looking sharp
Follows another headshot into the bomb site
He is just off the leash on these entries at the moment, and with him kind of killing the bomb sites as quickly as he is, there's no real chance for Hunter Thieves to even erect a defense.
I guess they had a smoke back there, but since they hadn't cleared it out on their first check, they could have snuck someone in and then punished Spirit for walking back through the smoke, but instead waited until the last like five seconds of the smoke, then came back to it.
And even then not fully.
They were not allowed to be holding there.
Like, you could zoom out and look at the timing in that round and pinpoint the moment where Gizmy could have probably gotten away with the smoke hold, but they missed it.
You start missing those minute timings.
I think all of a sudden this game's gonna get away from you. When Donk is already six and three,
his time to kill has looked fantastic, except for in the pistol.
But he ate a flashbang in the first duel.
Multiple, multi-kill entries, both bomb sites.
And Zontik's also looks a lot better.
Yeah.
It feels like Team Spirit have sharpened their spears coming into this best of three.
Dolph is expressed as disdain to this pattern.
But he's still not good at it, so it doesn't matter.
That was actually 1v3.
Give him the extra credit.
Pistols for the majority here, those hundred thieves.
Try to stave off spirit streak.
Does Sira get active?
He's thinking about it.
He'll pull back instead.
I kind of want to do something, but I don't just care for a kill.
Kind of like tiptoeing on the edge of making moves.
Sira does pounce the back end of the E-box play,
and Doc is actually very wounded now.
Working with 9 HP, certainly not comfortable.
Bomb cross is into the site.
Nade's trying to expose that planter,
but the grenade doesn't go deep enough to clear Doc out of this deep corner.
Deep corner, gives me almost, he will, finds Taneer in the smoke, grabs his gun, he got
his rifles on all 100 thieves, and it all falls onto Shiro!
He's gonna miss what could have been a critical shot, recovers it on the device, they're gonna
push, and he misses it!
How do they pull that off?
I mean, gives me, I guess.
I blew that smoke open on the cross, he got scared, wasn't ready to go, came through the
smoke instead.
The fact that he gets a med kill and walks out.
The Nier doesn't even start shooting.
He's like, eventually this problem will go away.
Oh, the Nier didn't have his gun out.
He's coming off with a bomb plant with a knife in hand.
He's thinking, who's gonna try to walk up and stab me?
What a play, Gizmy.
Also, Fox, you know, Sierra, who I was worried was gonna make his move too soon, actually drops in nicely on the timing.
Device has a 1.22 rating in the last three months, up from 1.05 the three month period before that.
He traps Loft's device.
We are improving.
And by we, I mean...
Device.
Poi flashed into canal with the window drop at the same time, so Hunter Thief's trying to play active early.
Nice quick headshots out of Sierra and Poi.
5v3 taking back by Donk, looking for his second in the round.
He's got the E-Box player tucked to the right side.
They're dropping utility to just prevent any kind of a bomb plant.
Where's this third piece? That was Zontix. He drops into his demise.
They gotta go clear this out.
Rain trying to help out this E-Box player with the cover, with the flashbang.
Donk's gonna get there. It gives me 10.
Shiro tries to peek deep, and Donk is now gonna have to do everything himself this round.
One minute walk back to long as he just uses this to cut off the e-box player
He's hoping hundred thieves over step
How could don't possibly get back this is how taps device out of it and he knows he knows
And as he tries to just keep it accurate
It's a hell of an attempt to kill device there, but it's hundred thieves to take the lead off of again in opening move
You know hundred thieves making active decisions dropping into canals taking fights to spirit
And now taking the lead by one.
They heard that flash in the e-box and thought,
OK, they're going to retake it now.
She has a time to explode out.
But Hunter Thieves, they had more answers.
It wasn't just two guys working on that.
They were attacking for the contact explode.
This is tough, because he has six bullets after the kill, doesn't reload, and then you
can see him trying to tap out rain on that duel.
Point caneers the third worst-rated anubis player in the top 30 this year only
Ahead of snacks and keregan. Oh sweat off the brow, damn
Yo, be chance just pumping them out tonight. It's like a fun fact every round. Let's go
Let's get in the smoke next
See, that's a little bit better, right?
Last time, they were kind of too timid to do something like that.
This round, Rain pops in off the utility, establishes a 5v4,
and as they try to flash their way back through,
Donk is going to answer, but now the off is in position.
Magix gets caught, almost getting away with that mid-play,
but Gizmy holds him back.
Donk on the hunt, device right there, ready for this fight,
but he misses his shot, and you miss one shot versus Donk.
He's coming back with a vengeance, trying to get him off this position.
Device is going to get squeezed out of here eventually, and it's the headshot for Donk.
Heaven player smoked out, and that's vision lost, but a two-player flank coming through.
Shirou catching it!
BAM!
It's boy, Ansira splattered, and all on the 12 health Gizmi from here on out.
It was looking like a situation that was stalled out again, taking too long to actually deal with the threats in front of him.
Potentially going to get flanked and that'd be a problem.
And you can see Donk like, I've got a pin on this guy, like let's get him out of this spot.
And if it wasn't dealt with right there, the flank definitely would have been an issue.
But it's fast enough and Donk's on 12 and 5 now.
From a 45 position after rain skill.
I'm sorry.
It kind of feels like they want to rinse and repeat a little bit.
A site has been falling.
It's time to inside of middle.
Oh, Gizmy just blocks off the camera play.
This is Hunter Thieves dropping utility on both entrances to the A site, but look at Spirit, still just disrespected. I mean, Magix is about to walk through camera.
All while Reigns getting preoccupied, he'll drop his smoke grenade, has to forego long control.
Two sets of eyes on it, Zontik strikes Reign down, and you've already got teased through the camera.
The device tries to open that smoke to strike them down, but he's trying to escape here
as Tenir collects the kill on Poi, turns it back on Asira as well.
The two young pieces of 100 thieves have been slammed out of these A site retakes, right?
They get held off on the long flank last time there was a duel on this bomb site, and now
on arrival to the camera it's just too quick to near headshots.
Nice 3k from him this round, all three of his kills so far on Anubis in a good sequence
that secures Spirit's fifth before.
Actually, very cleanly done,
and yeah, they're having a lot of trouble holding on A main,
and it also feels like mentally,
they're sort of stalling at us to like what to do.
They kind of knew, Spirit,
we're gonna try that all over again.
Device is in a spot to try to help out.
I don't think they put enough pressure on the split
early enough.
And I think Spirit are just collecting
just the right amount of math control,
them by that point and their mindsaw were too late for 100 thieves.
It was a good battle. Nice back and forth.
But yeah, money bought them out.
I think he said he played, um, um, unofficial, but just scrims.
He kind of implied that he played them, like, them and Falcons a lot in scrims.
Oh, right, right, right.
And it also sort of steered his decision.
Which kind of implied that he didn't have as much fun in the scrims versus Spirit.
Mmm.
Yeah, and then, you know, you purposely selected Falcons to avoid Spirit,
but then in the second round of the draft show, it's the only opposition left and 100 thieves were last pick.
It's not a surprise that nobody picked spirit.
So it kind of falls on Gizmy and friends to try and slay the dragon.
But there's no hiccup out of Donk tonight at all.
You know, it feels like he's just had his hands on so many rounds already.
12 and 60 side.
It's the kind of performance that's like, oh, you're not going to win tonight.
That's like how it feels reactively.
There's still a world where 100 thieves can adjust and maybe slow them down, but Donk
is not going to make it easy for you.
To be fair, it's a decent CT side so far, if this isn't the last round that they can
get. It does hinge a little bit on that pistol, you know, the two rounds to start.
Six and two in rounds after that, since the guns have started flowing. But two AKs saved on this
This one, plenty of money for round 11.
Gives me drops. We've seen these active moves into the canals pay off, but now it's just
no contact. And he's like, oh damn, I've just given over mid control. Obviously they know
exactly what he got off to, so it's gonna be tough to plug this gap now. Responsibility
He sort of falls on device and he's got three players barreling his way almost exposed by the frag
He'll drop a native his own is this pack of spirit players keeps up the threat, but actually decide not to follow forward
That is a real problem of this map though that playing there as a CT just feels like so risky
This feels like T naser so much better than yours
I mean, they heard the flash retake, right? So, you know, Poi's getting cleared.
Just a small thing that works out for him. And if he has a way out, yes, they've got to actually support.
There's a good pickup here in the dying moments of this CT side.
Real chance now to improve beyond four.
Shiro getting out of middle, looking to go join forces, but it's all about this Xantik's weapon.
Shiro getting out of middle looking to go join forces but it's all about this
Zontics walk in timing and he just gets the clean frag on terrain. A quick push
down through that camera smoke is it's soon to fade. Sira's got a big
responsibility and he finds that instant headshot plus finishing off magic. Seven
seconds to the clock and they will just flood down into the site. They stop
Spirit in their tracks turn him back around and will improve from the four
rounds. Another active moment early from Gizmy and I was worried that when he drops out of middle
that that pocket was going to be taken over by Spirit, but good on device to slow it all down.
And then as well here, Sira with the critical 2k in the most hectic part of the round.
That's similar rotation in from device in that previous round. So if they didn't pin him on
the tall box, he didn't peek at all and put up a really important 2k because I actually think
Bomb goes down, post plants. Spirit favorite if he gets that kill.
And of all the rounds to win on the A-holds, it's the one where they're actually not protecting a main at all.
So yeah, it does feel like they're extremely vulnerable in some respects, but they're still
keeping up.
Going for the boost and Donk from the bottom of the totem pole.
Covers off Poise push.
A hundred of these got a lot out of those aggressive pushes when they played against
Falcons.
Yep
Funnily enough, I want to say liquid did the same thing to vitality CT pushes getting value so yeah
He's a lot kind of a good driving force for a couple of the big upsets
Again, it's like CT options on this map, you know, it's always been a big problem
He's gonna play in front of it, his teammate behind can get separated, we'll see how this
here goes.
Ah, magic's traded back.
Fire it to near's feet, almost flushing him wide.
This Sierra's still sticking around in the middle.
Spirit announced their intentions with this utility for the approach.
to free up for the Rotate over though. We've already got device towards the CT spawn.
T's smoke off Temple and they're gonna go for the 4v2 squeeze down into the site.
Syrah just got wind of it. Goes wide. Good trade from Xontix.
Device thinking about pushing his luck here with the Desert Eagle on the flank.
And they don't know where Rain has gotten off to.
The bomb gets by.
He's gonna strike. Bomb gets dropped in camera at 15 seconds.
Spirit are gonna have to scramble to try to save this and it's the final round of the half.
They flash up into the heaven, rain holds his, shiro6hp, that device desert evil flank goes wide, and sure enough it'll be 100 thieves to secure the last two rounds of the half.
Here on the Sundrench streets of Mirage, we spot some of nature's most fascinating creatures.
Counter-strike players in their natural habitat.
Despite the plenipal environments these fellows could inhabit, they seem to always form towards
the comfort and safety of this shining paradise.
As the sun rises over the stone architecture, in typical fashion we see this species squabble
over their preferred position.
Let us discover where they shall end up.
A breakneck flurry of utility flies overhead attempting to disrupt the defenders.
Stakes could not be higher.
And with nothing he can do, the A anchor is flash banged like a deer in headlights.
He decides his best bet is to retreat.
No matter how much he cries out for help, support is nowhere to be found.
However, the restless hunter has found his prey.
It's one shot, one kill.
Such is the life of the opera, precise and deadly.
On the opposite side of the erupting battlefield, our Biancher is as cool as a cucumber.
Having the time of his life with a spring in his step, returning to the chaos, this perfectly
executed attack has a problem.
A noob.
Fresh accounts and less than 20 hours played, duoing this season with a veteran.
Blinded by one of their own.
It seems as if their fate is sealed.
The hunter is now the hunted.
Revenge is a dish best served with a carambin.
Huddled like penguins, their plan has failed.
Now it's only a matter of time before they are spotted and the round is over.
Through all of this havoc and turmoil, our bee anchor continues the kangaroo jump.
Finally, after many hops, they hear a faint cry in the distance.
He decides to abandon his post and regroup with the herd to claim what little glory
may still be available.
But he is not alone.
The tees are nothing if not sneaky.
This tees patience has been rewarded.
The unfortunate anchor never stood a chance, and to make matters worse, the A attack was
a ruse.
A player's defense was a waste of time.
The alarm sounded, the CTs must now migrate to the B site.
This one stalking predator is now the prey.
As a final solution, the CT has one last trick in its arsenal.
The smoke defuse.
And as the famous saying goes to the native people of Mirage,
Pros do not fake.
All has been confused.
Counter terrorists win.
100 thieves finding a bit of respite at the very tail end of that one.
Surviving what was a strong looking donk out of the gate,
but they found their solutions.
They won enough rounds and they will take to the T side
and try to give Spirit something to think about.
I feel like almost a little too good where spirit might be a touch uncomfortable now
Numerically got to be happy about six
And this is where a hundred thieves turned it up versus Falcons. Yeah, let's see
This is where he's actually having a great game, too.
And that was the thing, is Devices, or excuse me, Rain's first half back versus Falcons.
Like, it wasn't anything to blow your mind to switch to the attack and went nuts.
Now he's already having a better game, so can he tap back into what was definitely a driving force to the Falcons' upset?
They're taking a look at this B site. It's only Zontik's home.
Quick move down from the CTs through camera.
They find a gush on Shiro through the smoke spam.
A lot of free real estate here for 100 thieves.
They're thinking about going into storage,
but there's four players here.
Shiro gets there in the end.
Him and Gizmy combining for at least the one frag,
but they see all of those bodies on the approach.
There's a very late mid alert being set up by Poi.
Camera player starts to get into the action.
Two members of 100 thieves down in the site,
and Poi's flank successful in dropping one.
But now that they know about it,
Ten years just going to set his sights on the bomb site falls on magics 1v3
100 thieves will have a lead
7 6 earned off the pistol
That's a lead man. They got they got back into that half
They won the first pistol and when the second pistol sort of no matter how they do it
Even if they had that like a vulnerability spirit exploited
I'd really rather take the team that have both pistols already shown us a very good anubis
I'm gonna get more and more worried about the way that, spirit they make look a little bit better than they did
Pretty good match, but still not at 100% clearly
It's on six had a lot of time to win that duel couldn't get it
I think what made me convinced us that spirit we're gonna play better tonight was just how strong donks started
and a lot of those good multi-kill entries and whatnot, but
What they're not getting out of the spirit squad this time is kind of shiro's big impact
We'll see who gets online for the CT half of Spirit.
Spirit that decides to come into the force by but really can't afford too much.
And it'd be nice if it was more tactics and opening strategies that caught them kills
Instead of just like, oh, help, help, but shero this game, or I don't this game.
Rain trying to get right back to what did defeat Falcons.
He was a beast on the entries.
All while Gizmy made the right calls, and with Gizmy and CT spawn, he's got good amounts of information to make said call.
You'll have everybody else on A site pause.
He feels like he's gone unnoticed and he is correct.
Just on holiday at the beach.
He's got Donk up in heaven who's sure to be the unexpected victim.
Knife Donk.
Walking up on him.
Lasts him away.
That's gonna activate the long side.
Magic's it's just the one and done.
And Gizmy's flank works out to perfection here for 100 thieves.
That's gonna keep all their weapons up for the most part.
and give them a chance to comfortably sail forward at the start of this T-side.
Two more for Rain gives me finding a lot of space. It's looking good, bro.
Spirit is struggling down.
the
Spirit play the waiting game for primaries and
You know a little confidence could go a long way and around like this one where you're working with so little
Is that an F1 thing?
What?
Primaries
Primaries are primary weapons?
Oh, I see
Primaries, that's right
It does kind of sound motor sportsy
Mew
I'm just going to take a look at the game and see if it's going to work out for me.
Rain here's that nade usage, so I'm just going to figure out your positioning and you've
given him so much space that he's just going to inch this closer and closer and his whole
team was ready for the execute so, again, meant to be an easy round for 100 feeds barring
the gun advantage.
Another round where you'd like to see with this little torque with, like, something interesting.
Yeah, get crazy. You know, Mongols got crazy all series long.
Mm-hmm.
Your spirit.
You know, I thought that was an interesting conversation piece that Maui was kind of having with Nat
before this game went live about, like, just trying to get spirit back to being results-oriented,
oriented when sometimes it feels like with Halley behind them they're trying to play like the perfect game
I'm not seeing that either to be honest. So I don't really get that
No, but I just don't know what it is because it's not the spirit that got second in Rio. It's not the spirit that stomped Astana
Yeah, that was a little bit
In other examples, but like this start of the season thing. I'm not really seeing it's like, oh, you know Halley's like controlling them
I'm not really seeing I'm just seeing not try anything really
because what have they tried?
What's something that we've talked about with Spirit that didn't have to do with just one
player doing well in the game?
You want to see Spirit finally start to play well?
Watch the overtime on Ancient at the end of the series versus OG.
Right, when they start going for double boosts, they're first to have any ideas.
Yep.
So...
I'll poke him with a big sharp stick or something.
Spirit better snap out of this lul that has started since Hundred Thieves took to the
attack.
First round with guns, Shiro's AWP in hand, and we've said Gizmy has game plans.
That much was very obvious versus Falcons.
Numbers strong on the bridge cross, no resistance met.
Just chucking the Nade off the wall in response to their approach.
It does get a decent amount of damage done.
But you still have to follow that up with some firepower and its device to clip Tenir's
wings.
It catches them trying to get aggressive outside of the B site.
That's Spirit trying to get a bit of info and instead they lose a player.
Although it was just their SMG but still.
Man advantage earned by 100 thieves and they have all that mid control that they also established early.
So you look at the map and you go, where are the winning chances now here for Spirit?
Already shoved back to the perimeter.
Under of that.
Xontix walks into the sniper and it's Spirit off to the save.
As 100 Thieves catches you getting curious outside of the B site and everybody was ready to just pounce on this A site from the get-go
So catching a B flying just made 100 Thieves all the more confident and it winds up just being Zontik's tiptoeing into a scope
to near
same deal
So also I get the sentiment but there isn't really obviously a perfect encounter strike. It's uh, you know when we talk about oh
aggressive play. Sometimes that's the correct play. There needs to be, I think, a delineation
between aggressive and overly aggressive, I think, is the difference. You know what I
mean? Like, you play passive, that can oftentimes just be a negative, but, you know, that might
be closer to, quote unquote, perfect in delay for time, but it's not really improving your
of winning the round at any point so doesn't really sort of even make sense in in CS and at the moment
you know closer to perfection is more map control it's better chances at 5v4s playing with a clock
gear advantage it's being offline before the op is not seeing a lot of that
I'm trying to get Shiro into the opening move, but miss-chance, now Device is going to be
primed and ready for the duel that comes next.
Oof, the jump over gets Device to show his hands.
So Shiro won't fall victim to the counter-pick.
And even here, you know, if you go to a good team, you get an opening play, if that fails,
you can't just leave with no map control.
That's only a minute twenty. There still has to be more moves and more layers.
Gonna leave bomb outside B for the time being.
And also players that are this good, they need information.
You can be excellent, they have no information and there's no way you're gonna be in the right place.
Right now, Spirit stacked the right side accordingly, two players on plat.
Donk tasked with the E-Box.
Feels like they're gonna try to send him out.
Donk on the pillar, as that contacts confirmed, he turns his attention to Long.
They're gonna smoke out the site, E-Box taken over here by Syrah, Taneer, and Magix with a kill.
They hold it back and with enough pieces in position ready for that execute out of 100 thieves
It's an execute that doesn't quite make spirit uncomfortable
And they just deliver on individual levels to near with the double kill Matt one just cut down
Hundred thieves can't find any footing on that B bomb site with spirits players there
Definitely don't mind that out of 100 thieves in terms of like going towards being getting the split setup they I
Don't make spirit actually knew for sure that it was gonna be the B site
in that spot they had just a lean going on like it wasn't a full stack I'll
play good spots hit their shots and everything but 100 thieves at that
point did have to make a decision so a little bit of pressure at the beginning
around at a spirit and even though they don't kick off with a 5v4 it's enough
Boy taking an early look to B finds a donkey duel that he won't be able to win.
Donk's sitting comfortably on this site.
Back into the E-Box play and Device, although he watches Windo, won't find Shiro over there.
He is here instead, reveals himself and tags Rain low.
If they were banking on Ranges catching an entry at the A site, it's going to be made
difficult now with his 20 HP.
A couple of opening points of contact that both go to Spirit's favor.
Now they're actually playing off something. They got them juggled a little bit.
Forces the team as four to move a bit quicker.
Full main control for a second.
I think they feel much more comfortable to play 3 out here.
Knowing Rain's also tagged.
This will trade out effectively three players of spirit stand tall and they hold off another
execute attempt from the 100 thieves.
Sleep bloomers aren't they?
It's a much better looking round out of spirit that's for sure.
only really device who could get a full buy out of this round must be quite an
asset to have clay here as a coach behind you as well.
A roster move that one, Astralis all their majors.
I want to talk about Fraggy Magile's Glaive as a top 10 player in 2018.
Well, it gives me his honest way up.
What a hell of a road ahead.
Sira down to 1 HP, so these hopeful desert eagles as they spread across the map.
It's going to start to feel real unlikely.
Natal finish off with the shiro shot started.
And spirit suddenly gonna be within arm's reach of this hundred thieves teeside
Saw a sliver here nice three Desert Eagle shots through the wall tag magics
Spirits make a mincemeat of 100 Thieves Desert Eagle attempt and all gets shut down.
No early kills for Donk.
That's fine.
Everybody else will pick up theirs and we go back to the 100 Thieves buy and this next
one is Spirit on the brink of tying at 10.
Let's see how close this game can get.
Two of Spirit's players besides Donk finally cracked 10 kills with that run.
It's been awkwardly top heavy for spirit in that regard.
It's chance for Shiro. This is going to be a faster tempo, 100-piece charge. Look down!
Shiro gives me a headshot apiece. Fast reaction, demanding spirit now.
Donk's thinking about swinging out into middle.
Who's going to be your savior spirit?
There had been this just kind of slower pace, this lull.
The spirit kind of get bogged down into it.
100 thieves out of nowhere, crack the whip out mid.
And the smoke will come out first.
Donk has no vision.
And so they will happily move through.
But it's a late bomb carrier out mid.
That's the bomb still.
Donk duels with the bomb.
And this is going to cause the camera player to come back.
But boy just goes right in for the swing and it will be five deaths on the side of spirit a tempo change up
Yeah, all by gizmy that pans out perfectly
You kind of like that after a few slow burn rounds where now they see spirit actually starting to play well and go for opening moves
It's the first fast one to happen out of a hundred thieves
Lovely change up
Hugging along completely blind
100 D's just take the game by the Reigns, reminds Spirit that they're on the brink of
defeat within Anubis, and now Device goes for the E-Box duel, but Donk's gonna win it.
Reign caught off by this forward press, and Spirit rebound quickly, trying to make that
one electric mid-take be nothing more than a one-off.
Answer back with their own fast play.
Could have been a kill from the device to keep this an even looking map, but right now just 5v3.
Don't takes ran through that molly early, knew he was gonna get a free kill.
Totally blind side's range approach.
Gives me blinded as Magix takes a peek and we'll wallbang him out of this one.
Finally, Util setting up some peeks too.
Who would have thought Spirit looked better with team play?
Sira will catch the temple push and that's where the CT inside the camera. Great read!
Sira starting to pull back this 2v5. Only one man the difference in 35 seconds to try to make it happen.
Now we're gonna get this walk out from the boy towards B. At least that was their intention.
Doc going back towards Bridge loses that duel, confirms Syrah's position.
Go for the ace.
He's gonna drop down into the E-Box challenge and you have Taneer just tucking into the corner.
Syrah! Oh, he's got the quad kill! No way he does this!
This is for 12, actually, if he gets it. He just has to read the rotation.
Ice forward on Temple. Furo coming in slowly from behind.
And he's taking the risk of pushing forward once he clears this out. He knows he knows he's gonna get a free peek
He wishes he had an AK. Here's the approach smoke goes long
Sierra's looking to keep it clean on two HP
All about the headshot
And he goes for it, but shiro denies the massive health advantage makes the difference needed to be instantaneous
sends a shockwave through spirit squad but comes up one kill shy and that's a
10-second stick if Sierra Eves even has enough HP to survive one peek
I could have been around for the career.
Oh, double digits earned off that one.
Really saved the best for last though.
Shiro in the 1v1.
Oh yeah.
Shiro having a great game.
17 and 10.
We've got his late game moments, doesn't he?
Oh, they want to keep this one light.
Could be the call.
Bonk has been good, though, when these duels have come his way, but he's not ready.
Still tracks.
Kiss me.
Won't be able to get the multi-frag.
It's too near to trade back, and he will double down.
Just disengages back through smoke.
Four goats control the site, but still he can't escape it.
Device and rain recovering.
A 2v4 now, and inspired by Cira's efforts, this one remains winnable for 12.
One more smart move will do it. They have a Molly as well.
They put it down in front of the temple player, just making sure that Magix can't get into it.
Almost on the brink of that fight, deep towards the cave.
Rang just tucks back in.
Wealth of experience here for 100 thieves. Device sees the approach.
Both players confirm now as Magix goes for the reload.
It's going to be Zontics to push up in front of him and device off of the site.
Season crossing to the plot side, Rain called into the action.
And they just toy with them, but it's going to cost them device.
Falls on Rain with the bomb at the halfway point.
They have a Molly.
Smoke on top of it, Rain, miss chance, spirit to tie at 11 rounds all.
Ooh, they're getting their chances.
You can see just the experience coming in, trying to play it very calm.
Nearly pulling back that two before.
One hell of an effort, but now the score is all tied up.
11 to 11.
Doc in a hectic moment with players already beyond him. He was back inside of EBOX throwing utility when the call is made that they're inside site already.
A 2 versus 5 in the last round that comes down to a 1v1, a 2v4,
that also has a chance at happening.
All they needed was one kill out of those two, and now they can just both talk.
Spirit surviving some sketchy spots have put themselves into a huge advantage.
It is Tech 9s across the board barring Syrah's AK.
And so 100 thieves looked to keep it simple.
Numbers stacked outside of the B site.
Spirit here early with three.
The few nades they have chucked in meant to make Donk comfortable.
He's fined by the challenge. Two kills collected.
Tech 9 and Reintan's good only for the one.
And as Teneir's on the scene,
Magix finds the lineup through that smoke.
100 thieves, valiant efforts,
round after round, meant to come up short.
Spirit take their time to get the CT side online,
but they have secured a map point.
Goes to round 24, and Spirit have just barely got there first.
Overtime locked in, another light and fast exec.
But not the most coming into it for a hundred thieves.
They already knew after that if they didn't pull off that two before.
They would almost certainly lose now.
They're waiting for this chance to buy.
They've got to do this the hard way.
Unlike all the other Titans cut down in the first round of Bounty,
it was Spirit that survived with a single round in their opening challenge.
Here they are again, staving off an upset in the first map of this best of three.
A chance to close out after foregoing both pistols, conversions at the beginning of each halves.
Hundred thieves have had the formula for victory on Anubis, but yet it alludes them.
They've kind of played well the whole time where a spirit took forever to wake up,
God, but as soon as they do, obviously, I've been kind of unstoppable.
It's like 10-6 on the comeback.
And Donk doing his part, 8-1 on opening duels.
Kind of numb to that, though.
Don't even know if that's good for him.
Spirit's floor slowly rising as all other members beyond Donk find their moments in these hectic moments.
Now Rain flashed and just takes a quick glance, but there's nobody up close.
He has been challenged that far forward before, but not here in round 24.
Grenades fall down onto the B site to try to guide as if there's actually an effort there,
but 100 thieves fixate in on mid control smoking off magics from camera
That's going to call teneur into the action wrapping back around from temple
Oh, Sira wins the spam through smoke just the galeel to magics his chest clean kill back out of teneur
Can get in and get out doesn't see the bomb in this spot
But they know what's on 100 thieves minds
Down to 30 seconds, clocks going to start to play pressure in the back of 100 thieves minds
Rainchucks at the Molotov, but there's nobody actually unfounded.
It's going to be a quick adjustment back to the B site, and the only person home is Donk.
Plays from behind site.
Smoke to his right.
He will pick up a position here on platform.
Plays in the open ground, and the flashbang from Teneir helps out perfectly!
Shiro on the scene, and they recover a CT side that looked like it would be 100 thieves there for the taking.
An early streak of victory for the challengers.
cut shy once spirit find their footing don't delivers that is an insane way for spirit
to get a new versus Ivy yet they were slow to wake up and we knew that once they would
now it would be great showing for them but to get it closed out that way to get to witness
what just happened in that final round from don't kind of get reminded again it's not
just about those stats, how it
always looks so good for him,
but really what he's about to
do when it comes to the time to
deliver.
It's just another Sunday for
Donk.
It's hard not to stay impressed
by how easy he makes rifling
look in these 10 situations.
But when they went towards him,
that's when I think spirit
we're winning.
They had a lot of great side
hits, 100 Thieves that is on
to Donk's positions, but
continuously was able to find
multi-frags. A couple times, the 100 Thieves players were able to fight back this spite.
The opening blows that Don kept delivering, but not quite enough, and the firepower of Spirit
really, really shown through. Yeah, I mean, look at that. Literally the last round that he could
possibly show up more than he had already been showing up, and he does it that way. So even
if you want to try and take on a duel first, Don, you know, yeah, he's winning those opening
pickups but at the same time you can throw three buddies towards him and he
that's what they'll be buddies at the end of the day when they're done with
don't. I you know what I could go through this segment and just talk about how
donks great but I honestly I think spirit need to play a lot better if they
want to secure the show yeah as a team I think they got to play a lot better as
a team because I feel like I'm once again in the new season sort of rattling
off a similar story to what most of the the spirit narrative has been for
over for a year because I thought in a lot of ways they were actually outplayed by 100 thieves. A lot of the situations looked incredibly favorable. And if it weren't for Donk going supernova, especially on some of these V side hit holds, then they would have lost this map. 100 thieves would be walking away with a 1-0.
coming into the series. That is pretty much what you said. You needed specifically
Magics to call a little bit better be a bit more clean on that and you also wanted to near to step up and kind of be that
Resemblance of what he was towards the tail end of last season and you feel like that still hasn't necessarily gotten better since their OG series
Even though this has only been one map
So I know that spirit is gonna play themselves into shape on particular tournaments
But I would just like to see a full season of them actually delivering on that and especially doing it against teams of 100 Thieves caliber, which are not, but no means don't get it confused.
This 100 Thieves team is way better than the last iteration already.
That much is clear, but this could have been, this victory was kind of marred by the fact that Spirit were playing themselves out of a lot of bad situations, as opposed to many rounds being one because they've tactically outpositioned their opponents
or cause some kind of rotation that they benefited from. In fact, they were the ones that you're usually
just getting swarmed, but then you would see a single player get two, three kills, usually
with the name of Donk. I feel like I know one of the rounds you're talking about, it's round eight,
right? That's the one where we see the flank coming out from 100 thieves, most notably,
and Shira was able to stop it. Again, that sort of situation where it's down to an individual
to get multi-kills. The way this, yeah, exactly. The way that this one goes is actually a really
nice opener from 100 thieves. They use a little molly flash combo to set rain up to get this kill
on tazontics and spirit get the kill in return. They take that space back, but I just don't I never
really like how spirit they just get so they get so halted in these kinds of moments and it becomes
so abundantly clear what's going to happen if they're in a three on four situation 100 thieves
is flanking them. They're already being flanked. The guys on the bomb site are doing a decent job
up at least delaying it. Eventually device does go down of course, but if it weren't for just Shiro
watching the flank, getting a double kill, and the 100 thieves not being in great trading position,
this round to me felt like it was 100 thieves written all over it, given the positions. If you
took a radar screenshot, you say who wins this round, it's really the only thing that would
shift you to think it's the T's there is the name plates. So I would like to just see a little bit
that was a little bit more a
little bit more going on, I
guess for first beer instead
of them just sort of pile
driving their way through a
bomb site that was actually
well defended. Yeah, I mean
when you win a map 13 and 11
that is literally that round
right there is the difference
between them having to go over
time between them winning a
map between them losing a map
you're really just sitting
there and you're hoping that
there's going to be something
coming out from an individual
there and then the flip side
we have to sing the praises of
100 thieves. We didn't know if
this was going to kind of be
they're going to be able to
get that win over Falcons in
a three map series and that's
going to be it. We're not
going to see them hit that sort
of level again, but it felt
like the level was still there.
It felt like 100 thieves are
just ever growing and getting
better. I actually liked a lot
of the rounds from 100 thieves.
They were able to play
themselves into positions that
I did quite expect. Some of
that was down to the
individuals. I also think that
they even chose good bomb sites
on their T sides, but even when
they had really good execs onto
when they had really good execs onto Donk and some of the guys at the B site in particular,
they just were able to multi frag their ways out of the situation.
This game really kind of shifted once Spirit played a style on Anubis that I personally
wouldn't recommend, which is I felt like they started turtling a lot more and just kind
of daring 100 thieves to beat them on site hit executes because I think 100 thieves maybe
We just don't quite have the
best always spacing or entry
fraggers that are going to get
them into those kinds of
situations. They just got one
clean kill on a bomb site anchor.
One more time under thieves.
Totally different story.
Well, I thought we were going to
get to see that right because in
that series against Falcons,
Rain was the real stand out.
He was the player that a lot of
people were looking towards.
And the way that he started
Anubis was actually better than
how we saw him in that previous
series that they had won.
And so I thought it was going to
you over into the seat, into the T side. It did a little bit, but you're right.
It wasn't to the extent where they could have the strong openers to be able to
have a dominant round where they were having the significant, significant
closeouts. I feel like that was, uh, they didn't allow rain or anybody really
on 100th use to activate, uh, other than in really big five on five situations
or really just whatever the bomb site it was. Um, there was an early round in
the second half where Tanir just gets caught by devices.
He's trying to solo walk push the main.
And I think from, and they ended up losing that 4v5 spirit.
I think from that point on, they just said,
don't give him anything easy.
Don't let Rang get alert killed towards,
towards a main ball too much.
Don't let them actually pick you
as you're trying to prod for info.
Either get like venues just started seeing the radar
sort of shrivel up.
And whereas I did think 100 Thieves would make use
of that middle control a little bit better.
They just kind of fell into this trap of going for these side
hits because they were allotted all of the space.
And yeah, despite the great game from Rain,
it just wasn't quite enough, even though they were so close
to pulling off that 2v4 with him in devise.
Again, another round where it could have been the difference
between losing or overtime or winning.
And now I do beg the question towards you,
Malli, is out of these two teams,
for what we've seen, which team do you think
is better at pivoting and making adjustments during a map.
And which team is more sitting on the side of,
they actually need to close out a map,
like, you know, have a map finished
and look towards the next one to see improvement.
That's a great question
because I actually do have to tip my hat to Spirit then
because of how they played the first CT gun round,
failed and then shifted their defense drastically to,
again, one that I don't really, really recommend
from round number one,
like turning on Anubis is generally a very bad strategy
because site execs are so potent, but it was effective.
And so I have to give them credit for it.
I can't stand here and act like,
in theory, this shouldn't work because it did.
And they also understood that when the site hits come
that 100 thieves might not actually have always
that perfect flash that's gonna get donk off the angle
or that the spirit players are capable enough,
even when there is a full site exec coming at them
that they can withstand that utility pressure.
Well, the other question then that I have is what map has more angles to hold?
Anubis or Mirage?
Hmm, gotta be Mirage.
Mirage is always a new angle you can get peeked from, it seems like.
Well, I'm glad that's the answer because I know that if you guys want to work on your
angles, if you want to work on your crossfire, you can head on over to refry.
Mirage is going to be our next map that feels quite typical of Maui, that we're looking
out what you're able to do in this in this training mode over on refrag. Yeah, I tried
this one out actually myself. Again, I'm not getting a lot of cash reps because no one's
playing the map. But one map that I know is going to keep getting played in North America
Pugs is going to be Mirage. And so why not warm it up on refrag? I mean, they're partnered
here with Blast. You can get in on the action and you can use what is just by and large
the best training tool that is in Counter Strike at present. The fact that there's actually
realistic peeks from the bots is just it's just huge. Okay, instead of just going through a map and clicking
bots standing still or whatever, like these guys are crouch peeking you. They're sometimes running
across your screen with wide swings. It's everything you can expect in a in a plug that would probably
make you rage, but instead you're doing it against bots. So if you're raging at this point against
bots, that's a you problem. That's on you. Okay, so center yourself and just clear them. Okay, just
just frag out. Yeah, and you can also see there as well. You don't have to just play
it solo. You can play it in duo. And now if you and I were doing in this crossfire, who
do you think would have more kills? Me as a bot or the actual bots? I don't think for
your sake, I should even give an answer. The bots. The bot's not. The bots would probably
get more kills. They do shoot back. Bruce actually going for me right now on broadcast
I saw myself up in that one. It's a lot of fun. Head over to refrag. Whether you want to do it with Maui or not,
I feel like I might have a slot open off to this one, but we're gonna go to a break on the other side.
We'll see how strong our two teams are gonna face off on Mirage.
I don't know what to do with it.
You muted, mother bugger.
So I do wonder now, moving into what is not the map pick, Maui, what can we look towards
are some of the positives to potentially get a map three out of this to potentially get
a hundred thieves we can believe it?
Well I feel like Sira is actually a guy that I'm keeping my eye on playing around the A
side.
I mean, just kind of looking back at some of the other hundred thieves stuff before this,
the way that he was able to beat nuclear tigers, just playing such a variety of positions.
I feel like so many A site players are just sort of one note where they get really hard
stuck either under balcony or at CT spawn, but yeah, he was pretty mobile.
I think that they're interesting him with a lot of responsibility because that is just
historically Reign's position.
And again, it's kind of crazy to me that Reign is the one that is getting the short end of
the stick on a lot of different spots for this team where that gives me taking a spot,
he was getting phased out in
some ways, but now he's just
jump spotting B. So it's really
interesting to see how this
legendary historic player is
actually embracing some of the
more supportive responsibilities.
I was going to say you see
getting the short end of the
stick, but he's putting up
numbers. You know, I really
wonder if this was the short
end of the stick and
positioning them. What would he
be doing if he was in a
different sort of spot? Well,
Well, I mean if he was it I he said himself that things have kind of changed. He was kind of a little bit
Well, how did he put it? You know, he was
Just a little like he didn't like some of the fights anymore
Like when he was talking about how on nuke how he doesn't play outside yard anymore. He's just like it's not fun anymore or whatever
Yeah, yeah that being said, I think he I did see it was kind of weird in there
the game versus. So I think
they're they're they're they're
game versus nuclear Tigers,
though, where it's like some he
did play a maybe a couple once
or twice, but I think there's
just being a little more bit
more mobile, actually, so you
might actually get to see rain
playing a couple different spots
in this in this very matchup,
and I kind of hope we do.
Okay, I'll be keeping my eyes
on right. In fact, I'm just
going to be keeping my eyes on
this match as it is because of
100% win rate on this map for
on into Mirage and see what action is in store for us. Yes, thank you Nat and Maui. And Moe,
we've got the numbers telling us that it's going to be a spirit victory. 100% win rate on Mirage.
Our polymarket prediction gang have spirit very much painted as able to close out this series.
Now will Sierra be able to remain so active and will we get this kind of like, you know,
multiverse of rain positions? We're going to find out. But on an individual level, you know,
It did start to feel to me like Spirit were finding their game back on a new bus
Yeah, just right at the end right at the end and like Mirage is they just don't lose
I mean it's rush on this map feeling rock solid
You got tested by like in G2 playing insane bringing it to overtime still closed it
But these stats are sort of like before the break. So we just have to see if it
I mean, this is just like there's gonna be one map
That they didn't have to practice. Hopefully it's Mirage
For under Thief's sake, of course. Hopefully the opposite is true and they still continue to struggle.
We could see a really good game play in the last map. Couldn't keep up. Aspiric got better.
Let's see if momentum is real.
Rain's got the tap on Donk.
Donk's been killed as the first player in multiple pistols, and Poi's going to shut Xantix down off of the cross.
They go 3v3, a lot of bodies flying out through connector and that's where they're gonna draw a line in the sand
It's a hundred thieves with every pistol so far in this series. That's how you eventually win
They have also converted all of them to zero start back on Anubis the three zero start in the second half
Here's another one. They've also just been winning the pistol so easily. It's like no plans. Both T for pistols. Yeah, good point. So
So no plant means no force by only donk on a Desert Eagle
Magics actually picks up some utility late. So smoke flash flash
The spirit in game leader and well, that's what $700 can get you
Bang and now they're instantly like, okay, how do we win this round and the dirt is gone
They just say it and gives me voice or I did bang and the ditch is gone
The Brits know what I'm talking about
That one's for them.
Ooh, Rain, you're getting curious.
Good gun, he got curious.
Yes.
Yo, Donk's gonna get a second.
Poise Phamis could go unnoticed.
Just gonna tuck down in van.
Hopeback's turned to him.
He'll finish off Donk, catch Shiro in the process.
Nice triple kill for Poise that sets up device for the cleanup.
So sure, it's costly, but being able to just tuck that Phamis into the middle of the Spirit
Of course when they kill rain, they're gonna go all in on the site throw caution to the wind and look for a plant
Not a bad single deagle round, but here we go spirits guns pop up in the third round of play
Yeah, it's overall kind of a decent round for both of them
And I couldn't remember if they had three like m4s and that or if they just picked two that they brought in
So I'll think it'll be too bad for them. Yeah, I saw pharmacist MP9
Just some junk.
Now to the 5M4s in spirit.
Looking to keep things simple.
It's going to be the full-blown A execute.
We got Sira up close.
We got Gizmy towards the stairs and the window player worried that somebody's trying to climb
up.
It stays a bit further from the site.
up and over, it's full blown, including the ticket smoke.
It's scary here for Syrah.
Cross smoke, miss?
No, they're fine.
Syrah, tough spot.
Magix has been turned away.
That's an easy one for Device, as Magix
was still forced to try to entry.
Syrah's position shapes Sonic's option, Alice.
Now it's only the ramp players to get out,
and they only get out to their demise.
Rock solid stuff from 100 Thieves
versus Spirit's first gun round.
Yeah, it was a little messy for a first exec.
Funny that, Magix almost got out, canceled the run out, tried it again, died instantly,
but he had to be the tip of the spear, only Maktag.
That'll always be the folly of right side smoke, so there ain't so much counterplay for the CTs.
You know, from the CS2, being able to blow them open, being able to spam through them at the same time.
Even getting vision when you're spamming through makes it difficult to scale.
There's default molleys now.
They're not interrupted on their approach to middle.
The smokes go up, 100 Thieves gonna be a little more curious about what exactly is on the other side, so they'll pop one open from the caster, nice team play.
To get device on the first blood and catching T'Nier up into the window sill, that's a nice big sire relief for 100 Thieves.
Comfortable now from the 5 vs 3 onwards.
They really didn't want to put themselves out there to get these kills.
Did it from the safety of their own sights.
Still always going to be a little concerned while Donk is out there on the field and Chiro's still giving us something to think about, but if it's only two casualties when Donk and Chiro are alive, you'll take that.
100 thieves still flawless thus far.
I feel like just the existence of Donk on the other side just would make you play so well all the time.
Just in case you face the guy that if you miss one bullet you're dead.
You have to remember like every 4v2 is loosable if Donk's a part of the two, he's just one of those players.
Kind of guy that keeps us all glued to the screen.
He does put butts in seats.
He's been opening fire for sure.
As the fire lands on top of him.
Chance at a recovery kill there for Gizmy.
Forgives me try to sign up for the fight, but he ends up finding Donk on the other side of the smoke and that's not who he was hoping for
Sierra clips Zontik's deep inside of the apartments. Yeah, that's quite nice
He's up to a six and zero start Sierra and yet a
Excellent map of Anubis and I like that. He takes his chance pressing out through ramp as well
Little awkward as he goes for the climb up and magics gets the better of him
And that's just going to express this spirit attack straight into the A bomb site.
Poi is already here on arrival and he'll catch the magics headshot.
He'll ring with the players over bricks as Tenir kills reign and it's all on Poi.
And that's not what they had hoped for.
Three players survive.
Ultimately, his spirit find their first round win.
I think there's a part of them that thought, okay, we got this palace kill.
Maybe they won't try A if they do, it'll be a lot slower.
And Spirit did walk the entire way back to a ramp, but they almost would have preferred
an escape route there for Zero or a way to get the damage without full commitment.
At the very least he got info early, but they just didn't have the players left over after
that.
matter for 100 thieves they already won four rounds they still have a buy
the
end of having fun of the cell
Oh
Oh my goodness
Why was that so funny?
Ouch
This is like how much, you know, does he derive from even beating a team like 100 Thieves?
And then also
They almost lost
Good smile being out of the map, I think.
Man, it's a nervous smile.
1311.
Hundred thieves certainly had a chance.
These are the giant slayers.
Falcons in their opening round.
Certainly not ideal.
But they get the group going towards this A site, met by Smoke on arrival.
We'll see how stubborn Spirit want to be about trying to puncture through this.
Foy's gonna play up close. They're gonna pop it open with a flashbang as well.
And that gets him to just pick up position down beneath BALC.
Device kills Magix, who's really not had a good time getting close to this bomb site.
Over top at Tetris, they'll spot Foy, but it's Sira to come line.
It's still going.
Great from his headshots. Further damage dealt, and it's all on Sira now, V3.
Again, Sira is the solution to any problems towards this A site.
It's great to see him playing this well because again, they picked up that Falcons win really almost without him
Like just a one good round at the end of the game
But this has been such a better showing of his ability
Then he was do two bullets away from just straight up acing spirit in that 2v5 attempt earlier
Can now branch hero
Really a testament to his ability tonight
Yeah, if he's gonna give us back to back strong performances, then that's gonna be a cool level of consistency
From a hundredth of squad that's looking to punch upwards
You know, we had such damning stats coming into this game with spirits win streak on mirage
But I think you put it very well. It's like all the numbers we can discuss that lead you to believe spirit win right here
It's all before the player break
Magix has said he's very aware of their struggles
kind of getting the season going.
It's like that's not the most fun thing to have to bring up.
But it is just true.
If you look at all their games, you'd normally be able to be like Mirage.
That's an ace in the hole.
Yep. I mean, you go back to the Cologne Major.
They start in stage two, 13-5, 13-1, 13-3.
We were laughing at the way that they separated themselves from that tier of competition
That was the strongest single stage with anybody at a major from Dong in history and all their best of ones were Mirage
You throw a hundred thieves at that stage two of the major same place and you'd think of course
This is just gonna be another sucker on the side of spirits
map stats, but
five one
Halfway through this teeside, and spirit struggles apparent.
And it's these smokes in middle feigning a bit of presence as it's actually this emphasis
on apartments.
Made damage dodged, but you tiptoe into device.
Magic's approach, a bit sloppy, and device strikes down a second.
That's Doc dead, and the player to get up through the window is executed by Rain.
Another attempt, totally turned around by what is turning out to be a rock solid,
100 Thieves CT side so far.
Really no notes for a hundred thieves. They play their crossfires perfectly and they went
inside the middle early. I think that helps out obviously a lot. I mean, I think just
even getting spirit to the point of going for like, regular Schmegale execs, you know?
Sorry, regular what? Regular Schmegale. Just, oh, let's just go be the old fashioned way.
You know, let's run up the A ramp.
Just so regular Schmagula, see?
There's nothing fancy here.
I think normally Spirit would want to be just winning inside of mid control, getting a 2
or 3v2 and then walking up Connector or something.
Oh, right now looking like a bunch of average Joes.
John does in the way that the T side lacks identity
The D-roll up missing
Zontics is first kill of the map
The old Juan Dic into the ticket player
Gives me may have a tough job here called into connector a lot of players on the other side of this smoke
Gizmy has a degree, he'll be fine.
Perfect, let poi take contact, activates Gizmy in with the double kill.
A degree in ass-woven.
Spirit.
Looking like a bunch of chumps throughout this T-side, can't get anything going.
Now this round of course, weapon limited, but still no bomb possession for Taneer.
Um, somebody want to let Spirit know this game's already eight rounds deep and they've only got one round win.
If 100 Thieves win both pistols and don't win a map, yikes.
That would be a problem, so we're definitely projecting the 100 Thieves bringing this one home, almost.
I mean, still a bit of time to get some T rounds together here for Spirit, but unfortunately we're just seeing more of the same.
the same like not good enough not to their level totally it's almost exhausting because
you're like you know by the events games are going to show us stuff sure but you also know
they're not going to show it now and like it's time for show and tell
maybe they should have played cash yeah cash looked great they spend all the time practicing
at all these tactics for cash, actually.
It really looked great.
They had a ton of sad stuff on cash.
Dude, remember when Donk was standing on the very edge of vent just to avoid the Molotov?
They had so much to show us.
So much stuff on cash, yeah.
They had cash out the wazoo.
Looking like oil barons.
It's never over till it's over, but you can't tell me it's inspiring.
This is going to clip Donk's wings top mid-donk at 5 and 8.
The device is getting some nice openers.
Yes sir.
Flexing that op as it remains mobile in middle.
Another opening kill to 100 thieves.
There's 800 dinks.
He gives me still dizzy.
For the record, actually couldn't have picked cash because it was 100 thieves first ban.
Oh true.
But, in jest.
Maybe they would have been.
Hell, maybe because 100 Thieves is paying attention.
Yeah, they saw that cash the other night and they went,
Yeah, no.
Heh heh.
No, thank you.
But again, just not giving away these easy kills.
Not letting Spirit get that mid-contact.
It's a near-will, cash play off guard, but still Rain holds the line over towards the catwalk.
Good for Spirit that they want this A site instead, but Syrah over and over.
Another double.
Just immovable within this defense.
Here's the drop-off from Syro, B players scrambling over.
Syro could still pull this off as he goes for the default plant, Molotov, a little late,
burns him down to 30, and he's stuck in the corner.
Now be careful with that.
Rait's gonna go over top of the steps, get a second kill within this round, it is him and Device to both survive it, 100 thieves, 8 rounds, to 1.
Oh, wasn't that a touch risk, yeah, that rane.
But it's all about Sira, I mean honestly, in almost all of these rounds, it's really Device getting a huge opening.
And then Sira getting a 2K on it, I mean...
Denies that second peek so easily.
And that's Sira cutting down numbers regardless of the entry point, right?
We've seen him lock down Palace, the Ramp players, this time Con.
Just showing a real level of comfort, despite constantly being this anchor, you can find
him in the same spot almost every single round, but nobody can get him off of it.
That's true too.
It's not like he's changing it up every time, you know what I mean?
It's not like he's not revolutionizing his defense, he is just shooting straight.
Magics will do so at the start of this round, opening kill for Spirit.
These have been hard to come by for Spirit's T-side, so don't let it be wasted.
He's got an op on his back. The device gonna get in the corner?
Tech 9 in hand.
I mean, this can't be good for device, sure.
Oh, well, if Tenir looks away from the smoke as it fades,
device is stuck here.
No smoke if they set him on fire.
Frag made miss.
No damage.
They're going to try to boost up into him,
and that's where Donk will catch the frag back,
looking to link up with the two players ramp.
That's where the bomb's coming through.
But for the first time ever, Cira's not on default.
And they molly both of his spots here.
How they might know?
They're not considering it.
No one's spotting it.
Nobody watches.
Sira goes Palace for the first time ever.
Strikes Shirou off the post plant.
Collects him with another double.
He finally does something different.
At the perfect moment to sprinkle this in
and gives the edge back over to 100 Thieves retake.
They're gonna go one player coming in from connector.
One ticket, one Palace.
Deep jungle position for Zontics with the instant headshot on Rain.
That bodes well now for Spirit.
Sira in with a throw and he has done it again
He is a maestro for the beat a side defense as hundred thieves go up nine to one
Sira a driving force of this success
What can you say about Sierra right now?
I mean this is just like a natural masterclass on the A site every angle played at two perfection all his time
These are super good, and he's being nice and active too. It's not just sitting inside a palace
Even on the last round, he wasn't actually on default. He was off to the right of it.
Took his jewel out in the open, a nice off angle, trusting himself.
Massive impact, and it's even though device getting that with a tech nine inside a window where he probably should have died.
It's another opening from him.
Another multi from Sierra. It's a good formula.
Just gonna try to overrun the B site, rain it back.
Play with Nades out, Reign hangs on for the time being and the grenade softens up a couple.
Stuffed on the approach, totally shut down.
These T-Sides from Spirit have some explaining to do. It has been a struggle and a hack throughout this bounty so far on the attack.
10-1, we said that eventually we get to a point where Spirit are going to show us what they've got on this map.
They may not have the margin of error once they take to the CT side.
I should have studied nuclear tigers to figure out how to win this game.
Insanely consistent impact out of the device in this house.
Hundred thieves in the process of embarrassing team spirit.
And if they've been able to just win a couple more rounds back on Anubis, this would be
a hell of a 2-0.
So great rebound from 100 Dives from the tough loss into a stomp so far.
But a man advantage earned by Spirit, they'll get Sierra empty handed and if he dies with
nothing for once, leave it to the VICE, missed shot but the Desert Eagle headshot connects.
Good spam back at a Taneer.
It'll double their rounds in the final round of the half.
Although Rain is tasked with a clutch attempt.
Nothing to lose.
A 1v3 for the road.
He's got the kit to work with, and AK procured.
First kill steps right into him.
And Tenir will do no damage to Rain.
Yeah, utility on the dock.
Frags great flames, perfectly placed.
This is his chance, but he's got more and more utility to go.
And he could still pull this off, dying seconds of the clutch attempt.
Bomb is so far gone, and it's a back turn to Shiro, so there we go.
Final hurdle, too much to mount.
A second round from Spirit, but what an incredibly flat T-side again.
In 20-26 so far, one team that is really close to becoming a really strong team is, I would say, FUDD.
Thus far, I think it might be FUDD.
I think...
Fish puncher.
Fish puncher.
Boy, if you do this...
Mr. Fish Puncher, you're out of game.
I don't want to bully too much, but fish puncher is not an issue.
Move, move, move!
Oh my God!
I killed you there!
But...
Ahead of us, we have Inhuman Reactions by Hiko.
You remember this well, don't you?
I do remember it. I can't escape it in some sense.
It's become part of my life.
I saw all the 5 of his members of the R2Z in the same name, representing the relation between them.
Apex is not included, because bees have short life spans and don't usually live in the village.
They had been delayed like for media days and stuff, and then I didn't have, like,
jerseys and stuff with me, so I have to use the same jersey for like six days, and it
becomes a pretty nasty thing, and so...
Ah, bro, this new generation, I can't.
Back in my days, you stop, and then you shoot.
Not like now.
Now?
That time?
I have those teenagers fucking Mercedes peaking me out.
Here's the view from section 111 on the day before.
And this is what it looks like day one.
I'm blowing up a T, fellas. I think we all get one ravioli each. You know what? I'm grabbing two.
Usually at the start of the round, you want to pay attention to the spawns.
That's because only the best spawn for the CTs gets past this corner before the best T spawn peeks.
So the best use of the spawn is to try to get a mall talk down at the doors right away to stop a potential rush.
This is the incredible electricity in the air.
Can you let me hear you roar?
They had to.
What are you supposed to do with this?
Buckle up.
This is going to be very hard to see what's happening inside.
Some say years of practice are required.
They're wrong.
I will teach you good habits, such as smoking, flashing,
And, of course, win it.
Christ.
Bro, how can I play with this game thing?
What did he ask?
Just advice, emotional support at chatGPT, has it helped?
What's the point in having Jack up for once, coaching me on chatGPT?
But I think he did a great job with Flamesy.
That's kind of scary. I don't know about that.
My question for you now is, bro, are you shim?
him. Every time when I see him everywhere, he's shouting to me. You are him, you are
him and I mean he's so funny but I don't know, maybe, maybe not.
A little lackluster at a team spirit in their attempts to close out on a map pick that they
currently hold a 100% win rate with on a map that was a driving force in their domination
of the Cologne Major Stage 2 outing. A map that had become synonymous with Donk.
And yet now, losing to 100 thieves tend to.
100 thieves showed up hard. You know what they say, kids? Don't take a player break.
Yeah. You never know when the drop-down's coming.
Look at those score lines. Gizby's gotta be so proud. Everyone contributing last map?
Yeah, I hope it's the last half.
And even though everybody contributed and Sira was really a monster towards that A site,
it was actually a real pleasure watching devices op.
Yeah.
That was kind of my favorite part of it all.
This would be the first pistol that Spirit win in the series.
So that's also a stat that doesn't bode quite well for their chances of clawing this back.
But they're so good at trading dog on these pistols.
Yep.
I think Donka's died first.
I know for a fact he's died first, at least three out of the four pistols.
This would be four out of four
No, this would be the third I think oh that's what I meant
But hey looks like they've done it
Yeah, they can be done team spirit win a pistol did they set it up just to claw back a massive CT side?
Well, you're gonna have to sit there and watch and wait
But at least that one's convincing of all the pistol rounds they were going to lose this this is key one
Yeah, this was the one that it's like, well, come on guys, it's Mirage.
It's their CT side of Mirage.
Yes.
It's a pistol that does make it a lot scarier for 100 thieves than they also.
It's like everyone's pistols, which is basically 100 thieves winning all the pistols.
Yeah.
No one's planting.
True.
They have denied all the conversions because no one's getting a bomb planted forcing up.
It's just been clean starts.
That means clean start for spirit.
Little worried for 100 Thieves, I mean we saw a good T-Side in some rounds on a Nubis
but also had a pistol and then towards the end it just felt like Spirit had them sort
of figured out.
Yeah.
I mean 100 Thieves T-Side consisted of to highlight what they were doing well I think
with the tempo changes.
The roundup they came in fast were actually really good.
I feel you know like ideas that came close, but the problem is they're slower paced rounds.
I feel like they just, they could not trick spirit.
And in the slower rounds as well, I feel like spirit didn't give away any opening deaths.
Yeah.
It didn't let rain catch those lurks.
Now we really identified that as one of the reasons that spirit just kind of survived long enough to lock down their sights,
banked on their individuals.
Yeah, good spidey sense here from Tiniur.
And obviously you're gonna find Donk from the top of the staircase just letting lead
fly.
That's where he was just at the top of mid.
He was.
If there's any human who can...
No port.
Yep, it will be Donk.
Instant transmission.
So yay, I get to play CT Mirage, where I get to play it like a T.
You know, and some people would think, ah, it's so far gone, 100 thieves, surely they'll
win this, but I would just ask, where were you when Big destroyed North America?
When Big destroyed, what was that reference?
NRG?
Big NRG?
Oh, I see what you mean.
You know, remember that historic moment?
12 of them.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, just that you know, yeah, right
Just that absolute soul crushing experience we all had to go through but guys. Yep. That's the thing
You know we said that one of the
Elements of surviving 100 thieves was not giving away these opening kills
But don't signs up for a duel because you know he's gonna be feeling antsy after that lashing of the first half
Well now donks dead and you've got a 4v5 to hang on to
Obviously spirit rely on their 5v4s
I feel like magics you got to tell your team to do something interesting here.
But they haven't really done anything interesting.
No, they're not, they've not been feeling very interesting today.
It's part of the problem.
Let's say this event.
Very good, actually. That helps.
And Shiro's coming over.
Yeah, I think that Nade could actually have made a difference.
It's very well placed.
Soffin'ed up three.
They hear the stop now.
Zanzik's spotted on the dropout, but he's only able to collect the one.
Shiro, oh nothing!
Rain comes wide with the headshot,
and that's a 4v2 secured by 100 thieves.
They will plant their bomb, uncontested, and an MP9 duel there for Magix.
Always gonna be unlikely. Gizmy's gonna chase him down.
Easy cleanup here for 100 thieves. They will secure the 11-4 lead.
Off a nice simple B hit.
And choose through Xontix and Shiro. Only one kill between those two defenders after Donka died as the first casualty.
Nice little triple here for Poi and suddenly he's gonna be somebody that we talk about by the end of Mirage
He's also quietly just playing well throughout that first half as well
They were kind of in a great situation to get a lot of kills on this whole because
100 thieves used almost all the utility came down to one Molly when it was time to exact no one was blind
So even though it was just two CTs there that HE with their M4s
No flashes to worry about getting one kill is
That's pretty weak.
That looks like I really gotta do everything, huh?
Oh, that gets away from Sierra. You hear the drop-off from Doc and everything. Good dink, though, at least, forgives me.
He'll survive it. Pick up the duel over Zontics.
Yeah, it feels like Donk always willing to die on his sword.
He gets cut down last round as the first casualty goes right back to a similar spot at the start of this one.
Simply sharper than Sira.
Smoke grenade over top.
Molotov to the top of the stairs.
Rain goes wide for the entry.
Good on Shiro to bring it back somewhat, Donk's headhunting, fast push from Poi, catching him on the reload, and it's Poi again!
A double kill up through connector.
Just trying to be the hero in a series of trade frags that made it seem like Spirit's defense was going to stand tall.
Poi's arrival makes a world of difference.
It's amazing what Hunters these are doing. I mean, two good halves here.
They're ready to bring this home.
Magic's not in a position to win this without far back
they're playing.
It's kind of perfect.
Also hasn't picked up a kid in the middle of all this
and only has five bullets.
So he might just lose his last fight.
Doesn't even get a chance to shoot back.
Boy with a triple.
Absolutely going to destroy their mirage statistics here.
Every almost every single game they've won single digits
for their opponents.
Here they are getting their food, eight.
Oh, well, well.
Who could have thought?
Spirit absolutely flopping on Mirage.
12-4 without the second pistol yep a 10 round CT side where they only even had to
diffuse two bombs for round wins that was not a good I mean it is it's been
rough to watch the attacks of spirit this week and in this case they don't do
enough. Device gonna cut down Zontics, open Catwalk Avenue, another smoke for
connector if they really want to follow suit, letting the apartments player get
closer.
100 thieves know the opportunity that lies at hand so they're just gonna keep
going through the protocols. Nice slow play here, smoke grenades gonna pop in
front of Gizmy, he will still push through Khan, bomb carriers behind him,
picks up the kill to Tideer and this one's over. Throw in the towel. Team Spirit get absolutely
trounced on Mirage. 100% win rate coming into this. An absolute main feature of their run back
on Cologne and it is stellar stuff from 100 Thieves. All of a sudden this elimination series
made interesting take a bow gives me you have made spirit look like jumps an
outstanding performance from a hundred thieves to think now we could be in a
situation where we could have been seeing a hundred these two oh I know a
new best was so long ago I know I shouldn't be talking about it in that
regard but just the way that they showed up on Mirage really makes you wonder
What could have been when you know that this is what is happening right now?
The truth is that they would have won Anubis if Poi just shot as well as he did on
Mirage on Anubis that the way that he was able to turn some of the rounds on their head and
I would say even this the flatness of spirit in their calling all amounted to 100 thieves
I'll classing them in terms of tactics for sure and even in player versus player
I can't even get that high on Donk this time
Well, that's the thing right well
You said at the end of the day there were things spirit detected
Tactically well to adjust to what was happening on Anubis
But it was also very heavily the donk show and when we see him now putting up the stats of 1415
Where it still felt like the majority of those kills were in the second half of Mirage
You really wonder what are they gonna fall back on if donk has a similar sort of story in that the side amount?
that. Well, what they fell
back on were strats that were
half baked that look like it
was. There's like Babby's
first time calling Mirage. Okay.
It was honestly really sort of
pretty hard to watch for this
because you would have thought
that spirit would have gone
back to the drawing boards and
they would have figured out
what their wind conditions
were on Mirage, but it felt
like they just went through
every single strata in their
playbook. The clear weakness. It
felt like after their first
you get a lot of pressure
from the team. You get a
lot of pressure on a dog. You
get shiro on a T side mid fight
and then you get to let them do
what they do best, which is
take duels, try to exert
pressure from multiple
positions. But so many of the
hits from spirit just ended
up being really one note. Very
flat. Maybe you would leave
like Magix in middle by
himself or something. It
wasn't enough. Um and 100
thieves on their pure bomb
first half there. We want to
have a look at the rounds there
because you get a little bit of
evidence backing up what you're
talking about, right? The spirit
weren't really able to take
control of anything. It wasn't
like they were actually going at
any sort of strategy whole
heartedly. It was like, oh, a
little bit here, a little bit
there, sometimes leaving
themselves open like they did
in round three. The way that
spirit called this round just
set me up for disappointment
for the rest of the half.
You're calling an A exec on your
first gun round at a minute 30.
I honestly just I had to close
of my eyes. It's like we're playing like 2013 Counter Strike here. I mean, this can't
be the way that you, Spirit, who's supposed to have just better players, you know, like
this is just so vanilla, so cookie cutter that 100thies have the perfect reaction.
Sierra navigating around the default bombsite perfectly. The fact that Gizmy and Device
were both spamming the Stairsmoke perfectly to try to dissuade any sort of palace pressure.
set up sira on the bomb site perfectly he was able to hold his own and he bought so much time for
the rotations and i felt like that was kind of the story throughout this half that that bomb site
anchors got way more mileage than they ever should because angles weren't taken away from them and
there really wasn't any sort of external pressure uh well let's talk about sira a bit right we range
had his moment of glory and yeah he still delivered a lot on this map as well device had his too but
sira really was just on another level in mirage it felt like he had unlocked himself
that. I mean, it's a little bit
of a bit also played with quite
a lot of confidence to. I mean,
at one point in the cast, Ronnie
was talking about that that
Syrah was just in the same
position, succeeding. I'm gonna
but actually him. It was around
the A site. It was taught. It
was under balcony. It was around
default. It was pushed a little
bit towards around. It's the same
probably like 20 or maybe maybe
of just angles that he's taking, as he's just moving around
the best cover around that A site.
I do like how he positions himself, Sira.
I do like the way that he understands
what his teammates are covering.
I got a lot to enjoy here.
And that was kind of one of my narratives coming into it.
I mean, you took away Reign's A anchor spot.
I mean, that's where he's been playing for nearly a decade.
I don't, I legit remember watching demos of Reign
in 2016 playing a anchor and learning from him.
I even think Sean Gehr has made a video
of rain anchoring rain on that spot,
like telling us how he was all broken down.
Now he's in the front offices of 100 Thieves
watching as a new guy is now writing the new book
on how to anchor that spot.
So a huge props to Sira,
because that was an impressive performance.
Maybe that was like the actual tryout process.
had to sit down and watch that video. And if you could emulate it on your first go, then that's it.
You're in the 100 thieves team. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. If you can make Sean think that he saw
something new there, that isn't just the same old rain, but also a little bit of critic does go to
rain. I think that he had a couple of very serviceable holes on the B side when it was once again,
Spirit just kind of going for those one note B exec approaches. I think again, like Magic's
He's a great, great striker
coming up short one time and
he's got immediately deleted
and ranges held on and that's
what he needs to do. So both
of the bomb site anchors really,
really performed well for 100
thieves, both both rain, both
Sierra and yeah, I think this
was actually all across the
board. I liked almost everything
I saw from the players. I said
the only downside to 100 thieves
doing so well in the first half
on their CT side was that we
didn't get to see more of that
tea side because what we did get
to see was still a treat. It
the biggest rounds was round 16.
And what I loved so much about it was the aggression
and how eager they were to push through spokes,
most notably Poi, in the position that he was at.
Poi, to me, is the guy with the most potential
on this 100 Thieves roster.
You have some tenure names, you have Gizmy as a leader.
Maybe you could argue you have potential there,
but yeah, no, the way that Poi is able to just explode
in these situations is what we missed on Anubis.
And if it were there, if he got a couple of these moments,
they would have changed everything
because we see that the def
really fairly strong for f
are going their way. But p
double up to find Chiro t
position because he was j
bullets from stairs and t
things up there. It was,
was a must win moment coo
to four. But the fact tha
himself alive, just his m
kinds of situations. And
where the target is, it's
powerful of a tool. That'
sword of having a map as strong as mirages for spirit is everyone knows what works for you.
When you've never really lost on it, when maybe there's been small cracks in the armor, maybe
some small weaknesses exposed at the end of the day, a lot of success information is given out there
and Gizmy's shown it time and time again what he's been able to do as IGL, but having glavers,
their coach as well, someone who's able to look at those demos, work with someone like Gizmy,
break it down. It's like this is what the combo that we hadn't seen before is able to deliver for
themselves on what should have been such a strong showing for spirit.
But I'm really interested in hearing more about as we talk more to 100
thieves as the season progresses is what's the give and take between
Gizmy and Glaive, because the way that Gizmy used to construct his rounds,
Vito's team, he would do it all on his own.
He had cock a foo working with him on that Monty team.
But the word on the street was that Gizmy was actually really doing the entire
veto and all of the game planning to anti-strat opponent.
But now that he has such a legendary voice like Glaive behind him, how they're working
in tandem, because you would think that, if Gizmy was already punching well above his
team's weight with his last roster, that he would be able to collaborate.
But yeah, I'm just curious about the little push and pull between those two guys, because
it's probably a lot to manage for them as they're figuring out what works and what doesn't.
I didn't get to speak to Glaive specifically and ask him about those things.
But while I was speaking to Device before this series, I did obviously ask about what
Glaive is like as a coach.
You know, speaking of your ex-IGLs, you had Glaive for so long as your IGL and now having
him as coach, does his personality differ a lot or what does he bring differently as
a coach compared to an IGL?
I think his personality shows the same way.
Of course, it's going to be harder when he's not able to be as vocal as he's been the last
season and this one as well.
We're playing some tournaments where the coach can help more than the tier one tournaments.
I also think he needs to learn to get used to that when we get to that stage.
But yeah, he's calm, he's good at handling situations that need to be handled and not
letting anything go under the carpet for instance and yeah just talking about
stuff and keeping people searching for improvement like you're not allowed to
be lazy anything like that when he is leading the ship. Do you feel that
sometimes he's a little bit you know more harsh with you because you guys know
each other so well or it doesn't feel like that is all at all in the team? I
I mean, not necessarily no. I think that we've known each other since we were 12, so I made
his name up when we were 13, so we've known each other for a long time and we can say
anything to each other. We know when it's work related or when it's as friends and
those things can be separate things and of course she needs to be hard on me and that
is how it is like being in a professional environment you need to be direct otherwise it's just a lot of
unnecessary back and forth and I always feel like he's been fair when he's doing these things and
that's for me the most important thing is like doing it with fairness and respect and then
it's easy to go back to being you know friendly afterwards if that's the case.
Well we're going to be seeing them coming up against Spirit here on Dust2. That is at the
the fact that they were able to win each other's math picks and go back on common ground Maui because we have seen 100 thieves play up against falcons and their best of through that they won spirit did not win dust to though when they went up against OG so it feels like it.
It isn't it isn't even footing it's just one of those ones that looking at how they're performing today I actually really don't know who I do favor for a map like this.
you know, the best. They're
meeting in the middle. Both
spirit and 100 thieves 100
thieves. Maybe you're punching
up right now. Spirit are
losing a little bit of their
grip on the map, and I mean,
to speak on the you want the
good or the bad first, Matt?
Do you want to hear why spirit
failed or you want to hear why
100 thieves were good? I want
the bad into the good. Okay.
All right, the bad. All right.
So biggest flaw for me when
watching spirit play. Oh, G was
how once again similar to
their marriage. They were so
just so obvious they were doing that.
And so the OG players were very adept to the situation,
understanding, okay, we lose space here,
we should actually take space somewhere else.
And there were flanks going on for the side of OG.
I remember the duo towards B was pushing through B holes
regularly because they just didn't,
they wanted to test, either test his antics
or just knew that they should go for a flank.
And all of that worked out way too well.
And Spirit's T-side just fell so flat
because they were constantly getting red.
Yeah, this was the map where I remember us
coming back, talking about it.
It's like they played so slow.
It was one of those ones that, yeah,
maximum amount of rounds were played,
but it felt almost, not double,
but it felt almost double the amount of time
that that many rounds would actually take to play out
because of just how slow and almost uninspiring spirit
wanted to be around it.
I'm ready for the good, by the way, at any point.
Yeah, okay, all right, let's move on to that
because we can dwell on that,
And I'm sure we will if Spear dropped the series,
but in terms of the good,
I will say something that happened
in the 100 Thieves series versus Falcons
was maybe a bit unsustainable.
The CT side, which they got, by the way,
eight rounds on despite losing pistol,
that was a lot of it predicated on really choice
multi-frags from individuals.
I don't know if that's something that's gonna happen again.
Like the Vice got a collat, Rain was unsupported on B,
he got a double kill, Poi rotated in B one time,
he got a triple kill by himself.
like these are no nades, no flashes,
just individuals hitting shots.
So I don't know if you can always rely on that
against spirit.
That's my one concern.
It wasn't as active or proactive as of a defense
that OG, for example, showed against spirit.
It was just the guys in those 100 Thieves jerseys
hitting every bullet they possibly were presented.
Well, I feel like if you mix that with the fact
that Gizmy and Glaive have shown
what they're able to do research-wise, prep-wise,
for their opponents, I feel like maybe
edge then is slightly a little bit towards a hundred thieves, but we did see the nafta
side that they're going on and it's going to be a hundred thieves starting on CT side
as well. So almost like a run back of barrage, which should give us a bit more confidence
right now. I, well, I think this is perfect for a hundred thieves because there will always
be a nice bag of tricks for gives me once he swaps over that T side. But I do think
that one hundred thieves at present are just feeling really comfortable and confident given
how this played out for them recently versus Falcons.
Well, then a nice little set up for them
and it is going to be spirit again, having to be significantly more aggressive
from the get go. They're not necessarily going to have a map.
The whole half to warm up for themselves
if they get in a position where they're down eight rounds.
So what are you hoping spirit is doing to not get into that hole?
They don't necessarily need to be coming out on top on their T side,
but they need to not be falling down the rabbit hole for it.
Just a little bit of misdirection spirit.
Throw some corridor smokes in middle through the left. You know the left right ones the one at the bottom of B
Ramp the one in CT spawn make 100 thieves guest then actually hit something else as they try to rotate and snuff out
What's going on if they could do that if they could have one two rounds where it's not just the bulk of 100 thieves players
Guarding the position that spirit are attacking then you might actually get them off kilter enough
But I feel like if it's just what I've been seeing from spirit thus far in this season, which is
very, very obvious telegraphed in fact attacks,
then I actually think 100 Thieves have a chance to stand their ground.
That is strong reasoning to keep your faith going in 100 Thieves.
We don't know though just exactly how scared I've been able to adjust for that dust too either,
but all I know is whoever wins this map, we will be seeing in Multa.
That's right, it all boils down to this final map of Counter Strike
and Spirit are very suddenly kind of on the chopping block.
Again, not the best outing in their last Dust 2 game.
We've been talking about this, like, statistical drop-off of Donk,
even though his stats are still crazy on this map.
It is a drop-off.
It is a downwards trajectory.
And, uh, well, still hanging on to the polymarket prediction,
but it is as close as it's gotten all series.
And that is, I think, because 100 Thieves just showed us on Back on Mirage.
They could not just beat Spirit,
but blow them out of the water in the way they did that on Mirage.
I mean, on an individual level,
100 thieves have brought their best game that we've seen yet.
And if they are to qualify for the playoffs of Bounty,
off of the back of eliminating both Falcons and Spirit,
then I think it is going to be cemented that this pickup of Gizmy in the off-season
is one of the best possible moves this organization could have made.
I tweeted when they made this team that I think took a map off of Spirit.
I'd give away a knife, so I have to do that now.
Okay, yep. What happens if they eliminate Spirit?
Give away one of pimp's knives. Ah classic. I was worried you're gonna give me away
Don't do that for free somebody take this idiot
No more joking matter though, this is the real deal towards the a site bill go don't
Not the first guy to die in a pistol for once and if he's alive
So are the hopes of spirit now getting the pinch into the bomb site poise arrival starts to clock back
Gizmy's got a double but you didn't kill Donk and if you don't kill Donk you've got problems clearly
You can go and scoop up bomb
Device on the crawl up catwalk doesn't feel like donk is considering this just yet
But he's got so much time to play, you know device if donkers are wide enough
Damn that was
What in the world was that?
This guy has died first in three of the last four pistol rounds.
I'm afraid if you don't kill him right away, that's what happens.
And he gets a 4k when you don't put him down.
Well then, Spirit gonna kick off the T side with a Donk moment.
And for their sake, they'll be hoping that there's plenty more of those to come.
Oh, what a tap.
What a tap uninspiring spirit have a 40% t-side win rate this tournament
only ahead of eliminated teams I like to win I like that last point because it
makes it feel like they deserve to be eliminated but they're the next team to
He'll eliminate me and it will be it will be them if they do that again these t-sides. Yeah
This is a
Cystals help it's a spirit that lost to og on this very map
For spice good for the dog frag
No way chief of this one. Oh, there it is. There it is
But they've been through a second smoke.
Ooh, a little awkward.
Gizmy doesn't get the vision, but he's still going to try to press his luck and push through.
Ranges killed Zoxxix on the tunnels, Zexy.
Gizmy sees you in the coming!
But the Deagle betrays him.
Man advantage back for Spirit, and they will clear up that B site.
God, that got sketchy for a second.
It did.
I mean, that one more kill definitely makes things interesting.
But now T'Nyr, who's still alive, is still bragging.
Brink of a 4k.
Yes, sir, that is some clean shooting out of T'Nyr.
cheeky quad kill after dog but that's what we're working for us working with so
far for spirit to for case the coach wasn't there last map
there he is
something about a man in overalls you know yeah yeah I think he's been running
and Saddlesons. Yeah, not my best work. Or maybe my best. Tough tilt to swallow here,
round three for 100 thieves features three Desert Eagles. It's one of the better starts.
Now, just for the record, it was 100 thieves to win the knife round and choose CT side.
That kind of makes perfect sense.
Yep.
There's a very CT side of map.
Just letting the people know.
And you've been thinking about kind of how lackluster the attacks have been from Spirit
as well. It feels like the perfect way to set up the decider win.
Maybe a second coach in the server will make the difference here for Spirit.
But it's not the start. The defense would have wanted 3-0, secure to Spirit, just
skate by into the open A site, smoke off this cat flank.
Gonna wait for that bomb to pop to secure it.
Looking good to punish some exits with this setup.
Did they run into that?
Yeah.
Yeah.
There we go.
Getting costly.
And they're at a point where they can actually go grab these guns, perhaps.
Donkeys, never mind, gonna just own you a weapon.
Okay.
Point keeps the cost up.
Donkeys on the brink of an ace.
And he gets it.
Okay.
for Donk so now you've cleared out every single gun at least so very much worth their efforts
hundred thieves but that is 4k 4k ace so far from spirit 4k 4k ace no okay including can
yours 4k yeah yeah 14 kills for Donkington year one for the rest of the team please share
I think, honestly, just do whatever works.
If Spirit decided to have a hero, now's the kind of moment to do exactly that.
You can wake up on land right now and just don't get eliminated by the thieves.
I don't know if you got a love about the thieves, especially on the last map, because like, you know, the wind versus falcons, falcons actually didn't look that bad or anything, like 100 thieves played well, they played not as good as normal, but still pretty well.
This one, however, is definitely Spirit's clearly problems, clearly not themselves.
But, for a hundred keys at least, it was like, you could give credit to every single player.
Yes, sir.
On that last map for sure.
He opens it up, but he also gave them a smoke to play through.
Gizmy, he's gonna test this, and he gets away with the Shiro kill, but then they catch Poi awkwardly.
Don't stop wasting bullets now.
Oh my goodness.
Yeah.
Another multi-frag for Donk.
Looking to get back to those absolutely astronomical stats that he tends to deliver on Dust2.
That was an F1 peek.
Holy.
Sure, there has been a decline in Donk's Dust2 performances, but he's on the brink
of sending those numbers back to the stratosphere.
Those were some rain-esque entries.
There was an awkward one, I believe it was Poi, right?
They get caught kind of falling off of the boxes.
I think because the kill gives me info is, it's not late, but it's too late in that
situation.
They're already scaled.
It takes two seconds to get to the doorway.
No time to corroborate what they found.
Let's give this a walk out.
So by the time they get this killed and already here, it's like, damn, that's crazy.
But you waited for what are you waiting for?
And that kind of that's that's where I thought like, well, maybe Holly was
telling them not to go fat.
You know, that that was where I was kind of scratching my head is so like,
what is the reasoning here?
What is that?
What is that purpose of waiting so long and achieving nothing in the off time?
But genuinely, no one's talking.
Yeah, it's just always low communication, right?
Like.
If there are no ideas, it's because no one's talking.
Well, it feels like Spirit have...
Magic did say that, by the way, so the energy is just terrible.
Yeah.
And I think that's another thing, that if it was online, that'd be one of the easiest
things to get together.
Yeah, from the get-go.
Everyone could just hide behind their mics online, so...
Yeah.
Like, even 100 feet are over there in person.
Which it was their choice to play this way, so.
Thought for themselves maybe it would be easier.
Seeing as they probably thought nobody would pick them, and so it would always just be versus
kind of the lower seeds.
Calling them the lower seeds, it just makes them feel subhuman.
Yeah, I just feel I don't feels okay. It feels rude
How about the loser seeds? Oh, yeah, that's better
Another smoke in the middle of the long approach
Sierra's been real good tonight
Question is can you keep it up for a third map when the pressure is mounting not a lot of support for him here?
No, donk Scott is numbered as donk is clearly the best player in the server
I don't think there's much to be in.
Donk finds another headshot.
That's device blasted out of this one.
Donk is absolutely going to gotten you down.
I mean, force.
What a monster in terms of the multi-kill so far this map.
We're five rounds into this.
4k, an ace, a 2k, a 3k.
He's doing it all.
I do think that the CT setup on this round
Invited something like that to happen
Because you really just want to keep it 5v5 as you can
He did have donuts last 12 dust you maps have been rated 1.55 or better
Oh, really? So you just had some low lows actually sitting on the 1.42. Yep
That's why calling it a danger that yeah, it's a calling it a decline feels wrong there was a couple of stinkers
Looking to get back to it
14 and 2, and we repeat that, 14 kills, two deaths, five rounds into the game.
241 ADR.
And it's just insta-kills at the moment. It's gonna shoot laser beams.
Headshot after headshot. You can just see the confidence boiling over,
and so it's gonna be tough to kind of dig yourself out of this stuff so far.
Look at that off the frickin charts
241 ADR. Yep, it's early though
It could get worse
Sheerow burned off the angle not able to post that opening kill
Not even an opening attempt in fact hymnzontics and magics
STILL only have one kill.
You just want to see a real quieted down map like that with 100 thieves and then
Sierra's playing car. Like they're probably long.
Sierra knows it too. But there's no way to get him out.
There's no way to peek off of his...peak off of his contact.
So again, just an infighting tragedy.
but just way faster this time around for spirit on dust too
well placed Nade some early damage on magics could help out this defense to
near the solo walkout middle.
Oh, Gizmy keeps trying to test these waters,
but Teneer getting away with it, traded back by point.
Long contact, drops, zero down to 40.
Good on device to hold his nerve and collect one.
But that's Poy also now killed,
and so this round could still go either direction.
Donk has surpassed Device's line.
Oh, this is gonna spell disaster for Device, you'd think.
So I'm gonna be worried about falling back.
He still wants to stay active.
Nice adjustment, Chiro clipping rain off
for the Xbox. Climb up.
Sira's push around through the long doors, though.
Catches Shiro totally unprepared.
That's not even happening.
Devices down to 20 HP, so that's
going to invite Doc to go for the duel.
And now it just falls on this catwalk retake,
which they're not even going to attempt, right?
Sira, you don't have a kit.
Bomb at the halfway point.
6-0, the Team Spirit T-Side start.
Just a tiny bit of pressure on Cat, instant attack.
They don't need a Donk Malti to win this one. Just one good kill.
This Donk actually just straight up playing for the win when he just crouches, keeps himself under Devices scope.
They plant bomb and don't look in the rear view.
That is probably, this is Devices most iconic position probably.
Respect the legend.
Not that I'm disagreeing, but what about uh, what about overpass?
What about it?
Overpass bathrooms or A-Sites stuff like that?
Bathrooms?
No.
But that's every opera, right?
Sure, sure.
I just feel like I'm such hero in overpass.
Yeah, okay.
I'm just trying to stir up a debate.
Hit the people going
Ooh
There you go
Actually, I think device's most iconic spot is spool on B site train that USP kill that should have been a graffiti
Because there was nothing to memorialize it. I could have been a really damn graffiti. They should have adds jars of sauce or something
Finally, Donkos down with nothing, Sira trying to kick it up a notch after a slower start
to this map than the other two.
Yeah, run boost.
It's a well-earned man advantage, but nobody's actually locking you in on long, so you can
start to work that bomb forward.
They have a smoke for the cross.
They have lots of them.
of utility to try to make this come.
Oh, he steps, poi not ready for somebody that close, gets pounced on,
Magix dies to the smoke, op shot.
Okay, headshot.
Nicely done, device.
That's gonna force Shiro's hand to come and try to reclaim this op.
Zontik's walking up through the mid-doors, gets the better of reign.
This one could still go either way.
Shiro might want us to stay hidden for a second,
because now there's actually a chance this goes around.
That's so nice.
The device returns the favor, but Shiro didn't go for the plant.
He goes wide for the frag instead, and now Shiro's also going to give us something to talk about.
A nice triple kill sequence for a player that's been a critical piece in decider maps of Spirit's series so far at Bounty.
This is his name stamped on round number seven. Still a flawless T-side for Spirit.
very small time makes here that kind of kill but it was pretty good how you know
spirit made those opportunities happen walking up long that entire time they
really just didn't have vision they didn't know they were that close
decent chip damage on these grenades but they're gonna hear the cat push
What's that one guy gonna do by the time that A site's falling?
We've always tried to soften him up for his scout, but it's a magics headshot to end him
and Doc does seem wary.
Oh, actually he'll get clear.
So sit down kid.
Poppa Reigns coming through.
Yeah.
Says sit down kid.
Poppa Reigns coming through.
So um...
Yeah.
This map's looking better than Mirage for Spirit.
Suddenly it's a good T side for Spirit.
These guys are good at T side.
almost like you were about to get eliminated embarrassingly alongside all the other top
organizations in the space.
Nope, nothing to be concerned about here.
Not today.
Just goes to show that IGLing itself is something that needs to be warmed up.
I don't think Spirit need wings, Red Bull.
They're already flying through this map.
Oh no, they can fly.
Yeah.
They're kind of feeling out of 100 thieves' reach already.
There's been a pretty nasty tempo to this game as well.
like donkeys just kind of had enough.
Hey guys, I'm sick of sucking.
Let me show you how it's done.
I just hope that the people who were here for Spirits Last Dust 2 are also watching this game.
Because again, like you mentioned earlier on in this half, it just looks so much better.
much better so much slicker well oiled I mean yeah these games won't really
exist at the end of the year but they do right now though they do right now
I'm already thinking about you know you ever heard of make the top 20 less than
the year the first thing I do is put on the land filter you just never heard of
being I won't even see these dads gotta be in the present man that's crazy
It literally won't exist.
That's crazy.
Is it though?
Or is it right?
Unfortunate miss shot by device.
Now your CT spawns compromised.
That player's going to link up with the bomb
and a third member of Spirit walking it towards the B site.
Rain's got support from car.
He gets blasted out of the bomb site, though,
and Teneir also clears out Poi.
So bomb down on for the 9-0 T side
Although it is a little HP for the majority of spirits
And where that strange point of the game where if you're 100 thieves you're just gonna go for this you need rounds
Fragrant it goes to car where it will have no impact
We're getting this slow burn wrapped by zontics to just deny them any saves. Oh, you think you're gonna save
Not on zontics is watch on
Zero trying to use Util to get out of here. Run, brother. Run for your life.
What's that opp say?
Couldn't see.
Big dick device. Oh, okay. Fair enough.
And an MLG Columbus for good measure. Love it.
That was before he was on top.
Hey, remember back on Mirage when a hundred thieves looked invincible?
Life comes at you fast.
Yeah, so does Donk.
At least in his best form.
That's what's happening.
Yeah.
4 now I think. Hard to draw a narrative in a match like this, but if you know you know
and you definitely know that spirit, this is what they should have looked like. Especially
on Mirage. And also just knowing that LAN is around the corner, right? Four rounds from
it. Like you said, it's the easiest way to kind of get that energy injected. It probably
had a great player break and... hey. Even if they lost that Mirage game just to turn around
in 13-0 this last map, they can also just kind of point to multiple other teams and go,
well, we're not those guys. Yeah, a failure to qualify from a lot of the top organizations.
Most of the top organizations, in fact. It's feeling like Maus and Spirit are really the
The only two teams you'd expect to have qualified for playoffs that have kept up their end of the bargain.
Shout out Mongols, cause two players of a roster change.
Big moves made it feel like maybe they would also sink.
They held it up.
Donk's gonna blow up in your smoke so that your cover's gone.
And kill ya. Like it's nothing.
I mean, he just runs you down like you are a speed bump.
And he hits it with speed on purpose.
gets a little air because he's just looking for excitement at this point.
He's looking for somebody to try to hold him back.
They are running rampant across this T side.
It is double digits, 10 rounds straight out of Team Spirit.
And if you only tuned in for this decider,
you would have never known that 100 Thieves actually just
embarrassed Spirit on Mirage.
I swear.
I promise you, that is what happened.
They were embarrassed on the second map of this series.
But they really poked a bear, didn't they?
Yeah, they did.
Yeah, oh yeah, they did.
I mean, Donk just opening up that ramp smoke and not even-
He didn't even look at the smoke when the name called.
He still just kept running for an extra half-second.
I'm going wider before I even think about shooting.
So I'll ask again.
Do you think Donk's having fun?
I think he'll crack a smile after this.
A hundred things gonna get around?
Forgot about that.
after all they've given us I mean odds are though when the next pistol
that if we're playing the numbers game
there you go it's their best chance it feels like at this rate but are those
the odds now
I don't know it might just randomly be this run
He's got to kill Donk first.
Here's the approach.
Reigns 5-7 versus 3 and it's empty handed.
Sontik's tagged low.
They'll wait for the door smoke, but Magic's already activating out middle.
He tries to give Poyr a distraction.
He might still play through the window again, we're at that point where it's critical.
There, it's very little to lose, so try to be the hero, why don't you?
11-0 team spirit lead
20 kills in one half
That is mind-numbing here for doc and the half's not even over yet
What's this rating gonna look like?
Yeah, it's gonna be a lot
But it won't exist
You know, I'm happy to see Spirit returning to form.
It's nice to get some consistency from what you'd expect out of this team, but the real
shame is that it's going to cost us the 100th Thieves squad, because I would have loved
to watch these guys.
Really tough route for a team that's actually played this well.
And I think, like, you know, in a world where some more popular orgs that have kind of like,
they kind of needed a good run, the phase clans, the liquids.
At least they got the attention that I think is good for them, like that, their respect
a little bit and they showed themselves something.
But man, it would have been nice to have an event like bounty with phase clan, 100 thieves
and liquid in the playoffs.
Very true.
It would have been nice.
No, it's true.
I mean arguably the hardest road of any roster and still it's a commendable effort
Why is that again? Why did they get such a hard they just like they had the most they have the unluckiest seed
Yeah, they had what a second to last pick in the first draft show and last pick in the second draft show
Bounty's kind of ruthless if you're right on the cusp
right
Kind of ruthless I supposed to win an event you've got to be able to beat anybody
But you know what, I bet they wouldn't have it any other way.
Sure.
Going into VICE.
Yeah.
I think this is why we got to see the
best of rain we did.
Yeah.
Back versus Falcons.
I mean, that T side of Anubis was so fun to watch.
And again, you can objectively say that 100 thieves have had
a more successful start to this season than Vitality, Furia,
and Falcons.
That is an objective truth.
Nobody can take that from them, even if Team Spirit
have stomped them into the ground, like a cigarette butt.
These guys just got smoked.
I gotta win a round, though, otherwise, unfortunately.
Well, it would be a sad way to send them off.
I'll tell you that much.
Donk forgot to react.
He's looking at his radar.
Donk looks at his radar?
I still don't believe it.
Two players left over in the CT side.
100 feeds is a hard-fought battle up against a 20 and 6
Donk.
This third map is just an anomaly in the series.
Go ahead, device, give it to us.
12-0 for Team Spirit.
The mirage whooping that 100 thieves dished out,
it just got upended.
Hell of a third map so far.
Zwei is going to be burned out.
Do the library players swing to help him?
Zywoo's got a second still, 76 health to play with.
And that off is right in front of him if he ever wants to switch over.
Ready for some kind of a peek.
And with Short not being able to be pushed.
They're gonna take a second here and throw Zyllo over to this side.
He gets behind the tall box, looking to cut down Library.
Zywoo's three kills into this.
No! Kill! One be five!
If he can, and he always can!
The best! The absolute best!
K. Serrano trying to keep himself slim by the pillar.
Oh, K. Dude, he's had some-
Oh!
Ah!
No way!
What are you doing?!
Surgical precision on these shots.
That was Zanteris on Royce.
This isn't even a teammate just yet, and this is-
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Zywoo is an animal with a shot like this.
It's another KW flick.
He's not even on his screen!
Oh my goodness!
What is this?
Get in the tank!
Well, it may not be a long one, but it was a fun one, 12-0 Team Spirit, absolutely dismantling 100 thieves on Dust 2, so, um...
I think you have the ability to do the most funny thing.
Look, you didn't stick around because this game was competitive, you stuck around because you wanted to see if it would be a 13-0.
Let's find out together.
1% chance.
So you're saying there's a chance.
One hundred thieves have been really good in pistol rounds.
Donkas died at first in three of the five pistol rounds.
And if he's the first guy that dies, one hundred thieves have won the pistol one hundred percent
of those times.
The last time I didn't kill him, he got a 4k with a clutch.
See?
I could drop the stats too.
That was twelve rounds ago.
Donk is 20 and 6.
100 thieves just don't want to get 13-0ed,
because they're actually all sat side by side.
They are next to each other.
It's one thing to look your teammates in the eyes
after you get 13-0ed.
They call it getting egged.
The old goose egg.
Sat there at the top of the screen.
I mean, I feel like a B-split.
It's got to be the one. It's got to be the way.
Who's over on that B-site?
You've got Zontics and Shiro.
Shiro's got Beretta's, Zontec has a smoke.
Shiro doesn't like the quietness of this situation.
He's going to go for a push.
Uh-oh, Tunnels control now for Spirit.
Now they open up big ball.
Smoke onto the door.
Beretta's come back.
Shiro, what's up, buddy?
Two kills to your name.
Yeah, it gets the third.
Oh, Gizmy.
Poor Gizmy.
One versus four, he's halfway through it to avoid the 13-0.
Oh, he got him wait a second gizmy kills today or 15 seconds to the clock gizmy could be your hero
And he's just got a push into this bomb site and figure out where she runs out right there
It's 13 zero
Country thieves eliminated from the bounty after shocking the world with the falcons upset
It's a commendable run because they had the toughest opposition
But Spirit will recover in a monstrous way from being embarrassed back on Mirage to a 13-0 stomp your tournament favorites
qualifying for Malta
We knew it was expected that Spirit would qualify to Malta
I just didn't think he was going to be in this fashion now
I didn't think it was gonna be a 13-0 on Dust 2 for them
I didn't think it was gonna come down to the hope of gives me in a 1v1 where he just misses out
the game was so one note and
then the final round happened
and that was the biggest roller
coaster of the day for me where
I was rooting for the spirit
13 Oh, but then when I saw it was
gives me with a chance to
prevent it, I actually wanted
him to win that clutch.
Unfortunately not going to
happen this time and spirit
they do satisfy that 13 Oh and
I think a lot of people are
very pleased with how they
showed up here. Yeah, I mean,
how they showed up here.
Yeah, I mean, if you're a spirit then this is going to be the best feeling after it happened
on Mirage, their map pick.
You're like, this isn't the spirit I know.
This isn't how you want to start your season.
This shouldn't be what you want going into a LAN playoffs.
And of course, the 13 and O though, that is the perfect way that you want to enter a
playoffs.
That's exactly how you want to enter a LAN after what has been such a hard fought qualifier
in round one and round two of Blast Bounty for Spirit.
Yeah, unfortunately for the 100 th side. Yeah, they just they just didn't quite match how great spirit looked on that map
Not gonna say they reinvented the wheel necessarily, but they executed it with a precision that really is reserved for elite teams
So good on them to get the job done. Glad that we're gonna have them
It would have felt a little empty in Malta
I won't lie if we were missing Falcons vitality, furia, and then spirit
So at least we have one of the favorites that survived in offseason
It would have kind of been crazy to be sitting here and as you know like a no joke
It would have been a liquid or a mouse if spirit didn't make it
But they do and they do it in a way that reminds you just who they are they could wear at the top for a reason
We had that $60,000 bounty on us for a reason and yeah, they struggled against OG
They struggled in a novice and mirage but to seek confidence rebuilt industry
That's what's really good after that being the only map that they lost against OG in Round 1.
The only concern again I have is how much of that was just Don going absolutely nuclear.
But you can't catch him sleeping two maps in a row.
That's what 100 Thieves learned today.
They got there on Mirage.
They actually were able to outplay him in a handful of situations, but not on Dust.
That is really...
Well, I would have said Mirage is one of Don's playgrounds,
but Dust2 is even more so.
Yeah, 100%.
We're gonna have one of our winners joining us here.
We spoke to him before.
He's gonna be Magic's joining us for a women's interview.
Magic, congratulations.
Did it feel easier to come up against 100 Thieves
compared to OG or just as difficult?
I feel like that we have been...
I mean...
I feel like that the way that they're playing is very different from what they had with train IGL
and gives me definitely brought a lot of ideas and a lot of, you know, different situations for them to play with.
So sometimes, you know, it's tricky to play against them.
And if you're not like on your a or at least the B plus game, it's it might be catching
What do you think has led to this and you could be honest if it's on if it's on the favorites
Then you could say so feel free
But I mean we saw so many of the top teams at this tournament just get upset
You know, obviously vitality Falcons Furia you guys actually almost got upset in a way twice
But yeah, is that is that actually the the underdog teams playing super well or you guys also not at a hundred I
Feel like that if you when you're playing tier one competition
Everyone is playing you know pretty pretty much the same counter strike and you're getting used to it
While against your thing against top 40 top 30 or even lower act teams
They have their own fresh ideas.
And if you are not ready, imagine if you are playing against one particular exact scenario
which you expect, you are being owned by some different one.
Okay, that makes total sense.
Yeah, okay.
How about, what do you think about the fact that the playing field looks like it is, though,
you're going to be going to Malta and you don't have any of the other elite teams at the event.
It kind of, in a way, I'm not trying to put too much pressure on you guys, but this kind of feels
like it's now Spirit's trophy for the taking. What do you see it as?
I mean, almost every tournament that we are playing, and if the question is about us winning or
losing it, it's mostly coming down to us how we play it, how we perform and how we communicate
because you know it's a late game again and this is kind of tough to maintain the energy
level you know just imagine if you're used to play practice matches an example from 11 a.m
you know you play some and then you're not practicing like in the evening even if you're
you're playing a deathmatch, it's not a 5v5, even if you're playing face-to-face, you're
playing grief and against plumbers without keyboards, you know, it's a big difference,
you know?
So, yeah, like if we are capable of, you know, keeping ourselves, you know, in control
of motions and keeping the communication level good, we can play much better.
I do want to have you sort of talk to me about the difference in what happened on Mirage and the way that you were able to flip it around and get a 13-0 on Dust2.
I would like to begin with the comms were bad again, it was kind of similar to what we have had against OG.
We had kind of, I feel like, shaky map, the map one.
On the second map, it was like the energy level and communications between each other, you know,
when players are playing in a setup or, you know, we're left in a clash scenario and communications between two live players, it was poor.
There was not so many ideas and, you know, this, like this mirage was kind of a slab on the face, like, which has kind of reignited us.
And going into the dust, I feel like that we have been communicating way better, like, few scenarios, like, we were kind of impressive, like, some clutches, some situations, which some people who were remaining in the clutch, they managed to pull off, that was kind of impressive.
you. Nice for Magix. Thank you
so much for joining us. I look
forward to seeing you in
Maltern. Congratulations again
on the win. Thank you. Congrats.
Magix is always one of those
plays. It feel like you're
never going to know if you're
going to be given all the
information in the world or if
he's going to troll you a
little bit, but it felt like
he gave us the best of both
He's very tapped into the memes.
Okay, that's one thing.
He'll find a way to always sprinkle that in here and there.
I like, I do think that the interviews we've actually gotten from Magix have been extremely genuine though at this event thus far, which a year ago or more, he was a bit of a troll.
I think he still is a troll, but you get him on the right day and he's focused, then he'll really give you some details.
Yeah, I always appreciate what Magix is willing to share with us there.
Yeah, talking about again the late game the energy aspect of it
But also diving really into the communication how hectic it was what was happening if you they were left in a 2v3
2v2 sort of situation and that those alive players weren't really putting it in and also most notably I have to say Maui
That they were kind of running out of ideas
No new ideas are being brought to it and that's a massive props again to a hundred thieves what they were able to do on Mirage
But they were able to do on a new bus the two maps that felt so competitive and again
What gives me and glaive have been able to do so far with this roster I?
Have already liked a lot of the aspects from from watching hundred thieves
It's unfortunate. I guess that they weren't able to start off and kick off this early season by just
Qualifying for a couple lands to see what this is capable of
But it's going to take a little bit more as you could even hear it from from
Magix that the way that they played in the past versus how they're playing with
Gizmy, it's trickier. It's harder for teams to follow so it can actually get
the better of teams even like Spirit. But it's it's also a learning process for
some of the players like I think Poy looked especially uncomfortable on a
Nubis for example in some of the early round fights that he was supposed to
take. So I think that some guys might get it right away, some might take a little
longer and I think the proper assessment of 100 Thieves will happen more around the two or three
months time. Well 100 Thieves have already given us so much from an upset against Falcons as well
as that display against Spirit here today. They're going to give us a little bit more because Glaive
is going to join us here to have a chat about what has happened on their run in Blast Bounty Glaive.
Unfortunately it doesn't hear from you guys but my goodness what a week you've had. How proud are
you of the boys and what you've been able to achieve in such a short time in a short amount of
best of threes? I mean, we knew that it was going to be a very tough week because we only
had like one week of practice after the vacation and bring in Jack, so we knew it would be
very hard, but I'm really proud of them. We have been working extremely hard to be able
to be ready for all these games, but as you can also see, sometimes we're just lacking
of a bit of place and just figuring out exactly what playstyle we want. We have been focusing
a lot on the T side, theory-wise and prep-wise, and we're missing a little bit on CT, so it's
a little bit up and down on our CT side right now, and I think that's just because we didn't
have enough time to put in the work yet.
It makes total sense, I feel like that's how most new IGLs are going to have to approach
a team, but I do want to ask, I mean, I would still say that you're a strong contender
if not still greatest in game leader, Counterstrike's ever seen, you're looking at Gizmy,
one of the guys that I'm sure wants to reach up to your heights one day,
but what do you see of the good stuff for Gizmy? What's he bringing to the table?
I mean, he's bringing a lot of identity, I would say, like for his T-Sites especially. He is also
actually good on the CT side, I would say. We're putting him in positions where he's able to kind
of control the map a bit more on CC side. I think this was also something that we needed a bit
last season. So what he is good at like it's like you can really feel that this guy has been like
he was good in school he has been to universities actually still going to university because this
guy has everything planned from like the first day I met him to be honest like I gave him a lot
of freedom but I would also say that he really took it in a good way because he's trying to
bring his system and I'm kind of letting him do that because I think he's doing a really good
job with it so if I didn't feel like he was doing a good job then I would try to interfere more
but here in the beginning I think it's important as the IGL that I'm just trying to let him do
his thing and support him and try to help him with whatever is missing and yeah that's what
What has been done right now?
So are the game plans and the Vitos all up to him?
I know he had a huge voice, if not the entire voice,
on his last team, but are you going back and forth
with him on those kinds of decisions?
It's a little bit, I mean, I think we're still trying
to figure out because the way we had it before
is so much different from what we had it now,
from what we have it now.
Like before me and the assistant coach was like,
really the two biggest voices in everything and now we have like brought in a guy that really
wants to be in the decision making of a lot of stuff so it's for us it's about finding the balance
like who is deciding what who is responsible for what like he is a he's a hardworking guy so I
will say he's really good at finding the weakness of the opponents but for sure we have to find
some balance, especially if we had, example, the first day where we played against NIP and Falcons,
where we had two best of frees a day, it's also really hard for him to be in control of everything.
So sometimes it's also for him about letting go of some control, and it's also a new thing for
me and the assistant coach to give some control away, so kind of finding the balance at the moment.
Thanks, really thorough answer.
Clay, thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate you taking time and everything,
and I'm excited for what a hundred thieves has instilled for themselves this season.
Thank you very much. See you around.
See ya. Unfortunately, it's not going to be in Malta that we get to see the 100 Thieves roster.
It almost was Maui. It almost happened on a new visit. It was almost a 2-0, but unfortunately,
Dust2 was just something... I mean, he said it there and sells from Glaive that their CT sides
right now are up and down. That is what we saw very heavy handedly on Dust2, unfortunately.
that was my concern going into
it in the pregame that a lot of their dust to win over Falcons was just off the back of really individuals hitting a lot of great shots and I just don't always know if that's going to be a recipe for success when you're against one of the highest skill teams in the world again.
You could do it once versus Falcons but doing it twice in a row.
I was a bit too much for anybody on 100 thieves to ask of themselves and so you'll you'll see that part build out
But I do want to say before moving away from them
Just the tea sides it it actually made you believe that there's something to run with with this hundred thieves team that the
The tea sides really started sputtering out after maybe two months of rain beating in game leader
But now it gives me you just see a lot more
Channels being explored in the rounds a lot more
that we're going to see. We
are going to see a lot of
players that are going to be
doing more ideas and mid
rounding and actually
literally going to bomb sites
that less people are on or
that there's nobody on. So
that winning rounds with
tactics will just give you a
couple more that you can
expect per offense. And
hopefully that's what we see
more of as 100 Thieves try to
make it into the VRS invites.
Yeah, I mean, we see this CT
sides get anywhere there is
half as good as that T sides
and I feel like we've got a
whole new 100 Thieves, you
know, that we'll be talking
the journey for blast bounty season 2 presented by playing market is going to be over, but
we're going to have a look at what has been such a joy of our final day here before we
do head to Malta because we've got our qualified teams now. We've got our top eight. We had
four teams yesterday qualifying for themselves, but today it started off with NIP up against
paint gaming. We saw paint gaming get a nice two oh, I thought again this was going to
be a matchup where we could have been seeing it go the distance and whilst and over time
was needed a mirage at the end of the day.
Pain Gaming had so many answers to whatever NIP
wanted to bring out for themselves in the server.
A lot of that in the form of Safe, who again,
I do have faith that this guy can regain some of the form
that he first had on Pain.
I feel like he lost his way a bit on Furia
and his following team, but now he's back in action
and I'm just loving it because they have a,
another offer after NQZ that can really deliver.
They get scary.
the second series was 3D max
qualifying up against foot.
That was another tour.
It felt like the morning series,
they were just so heavily one
sided really favored when you
look at this 1911 13 and nine
that 3D max again, having all
the answers that they needed.
I think a lot of people are
going to look at this foot loss
and think, wow, what a downgrade.
They made a mistake by losing
longs and foot loss to 3D max
twice last season.
season. Okay, one of those
as well. So it wasn't rea
of possibility foot not qu
as people may have assumed
wildcard revenge was not
them. They were hoping to
the Mongols, but it was a
there, but that's to an i
really favored Mongols a
in darkmeister into guac.
frustrating as you can s
I don't know what's going on
in the game. I don't know
what's going on in the game,
but I can't really understand
how Mongolia just keeps on
getting players that show this
much potential. I don't know
what's like these land cafes
must be just insane, just
pure insanity. I mean, I think
people are working harder than
there than anywhere else. It's
really, really impressive what
they're able to do. Yeah, you
that's how they get no that down out of Moncali but like I said we have our top eight we have our 18s qualified to
Malturn in case you didn't catch all the action of the last two days well you can check it out right here because we do
know that we are going to be having Maus, Mongols, Astralis, 3D Max, Liquid, Payne and FaZe along with Spirit who just
won their series they're all qualifying so only two of the bounty hunters this time around now being able to get wins for
themselves in 3d max and liquid. What's nice is that we I mean we're
already touched on 3d max but the signs that liquid is showing already.
It's hard not to get excited to see a team that actually looks cohesive to see a leash
firing at that level and it's it's funny you look at some of the orgs also that make it liquid
and phase. I don't know if I would have really predicted them to make it through to the land
portion of this event. But here they are actually picking up the pieces after some pretty rough
seasons behind themselves. And most notably Liquid doing it with two 2-0s. They did not drop a single
map across round one and round two of Bloss Bounty to be able to make it to land. That is the other
thing that adds just that little bit extra hope or at least maybe just a little bit more faith in
that hope there right now. Easy to argue also that they had the toughest road to beat Vitality into
to G to two teams that made it to the major playoffs.
I don't even think I have to look this up,
but I'm pretty sure nobody else accomplished anything
like that.
This is, so it's a lot to look forward to.
And Liquid kind of as their mascot of the organization
is saying, playing themselves into the dark horse
of the tournament.
It feels like there is just volumes of evidence
as to why Liquid is doing so well,
why we are believing in them
and why we're hyping them up the way that we are.
But we don't know our matchups, what's going to happen in that land portion when our teams do get to Malta.
So on Wednesday, make sure you guys tune in. We will be doing our draft show.
That's when we're going to know which teams are going up against two.
You know, they're going to be picking in order of their seed as well.
So you're going to be sitting tight, seeing what that last team decided is going to be for the last seed.
But it's been a lot of fun, Maui. I want you to outside of Liquid, because I know that the dark horse,
I want to know one team that you're looking forward to the most when I see you in a couple days at Malta.
I mean, I feel like I'm still really, really curious about what this new mouse lineup has in store for us.
I really just can't believe that exertion has been as sustainable of a fragging in-game leader as he has been.
And I think, like I said, I just don't think that there is really any other team right now,
even amongst some of the elite squads that have a unit 1 through 5 that can shoot as hard as mouse.
more so talking about the average amongst those players,
because you know there's some IGLs
that are always gonna bottom frag every single time,
but I just think that gives them a little X factor.
Well, it feels like there is just so much
that we get to look forward to.
Don't forget that draft show on Wednesday.
For now, it's gonna be a couple days of break
and we're gonna have all the acts resumed
when we do get to MOLTA.
Welcome to the bounty,
a new bold counter-strike format
where every round raises the stakes.
Here's how it works.
The prize pool isn't just this at the end, it's distributed as bounties.
Each team starts with a bounty based on their seed.
Lower seeds begin with zero, but can still strike it big by hunting bounties from higher
ranked teams.
Win a match and you secure 50% of your opponent's bounty as a guaranteed payout.
The other 50%?
It carries forward, growing the stakes for the next round.
After each round, the lower seeded teams pick their opponents from the higher seeded pool.
This happens during the live draft shows, taking place before the tournament first begins and after each round of play, bounty hunters can choose from the most wanted teams, deciding if they want to choose their opponent based on strategy, past history, or simply going for the biggest prize available.
This is Counter Strike like never before. Are you ready to go bounty hunting?