⚠️ VOD is unavailable.
eslcsb VODs on twitchBroadcasts 30+ hours are truncated. View the Raw Transcript VTT for the full version.
I don't think that's a problem, I don't think you see it
And I'm not the one that loves to leave
I don't think that's a problem, I don't see it
Draw me
Take my hand
Call me
Call me
When it's hard to believe
Call me, call me
When it's hard to believe
Call me, call me
When it's hard to believe
I
Thank you for watching.
It's stuck in my beard, we're going to have to do that again.
Counter-Strike Combine 2025 Dallas, Texas. Come and direct hot and into your living
rooms around the globe. We're going to have the best Counter-Strike players in the world
put through a bunch of tests, trials and tribulations. Do you have what it takes to win in Texas?
We've had our best man on the job, Rushley A. Rushlison, defining and coming up with
a couple of new techniques on what Counter-Strike players should be bringing to the server.
Let's find out if they've got what it takes.
Obviously, are you ready? I am ready. On the sound of the whistle your time will commence
That's unusual techniques in a chair adjusted for a mandatory part of the setup here
We don't have to rush. How is the honor match day? He's fine. He's first usually so he looks like he's not in a hurry right now
I should be
This is a time trial.
That's it, that's it.
As long as he gets headshots.
If you do a table height, we haven't seen this before.
This could be very problematic.
What's problematic?
He's now under the table.
Do you feel confident in beating this timer?
100%.
I don't fucking see it.
The USB has to twist it. Is it all plugged in?
Of course.
Stop the clock. That's the time of a minute and five seconds.
Plug in that mouse and the keyboard.
And a giver and straighten them on it. Oh wait. It's also chair. It's also table
But we will give extra points. He did you know takes them
He didn't he does not part of the test those guys are not professional. Nico. Are you ready? Yes on the sound of the whistle begin
Look at that. He's got he's not doing chair
But he's not doing it perfectly not it's set up should be perfect not you don't have to hurry
You're not going to hurry.
How you are going to hurry?
Oh, it's teamwork.
No, I want the bomb flying.
This is looking speedy.
Rushley's happy with that.
It's on the clock.
Oh, 33 seconds.
Absolutely trounced your time.
Pleasure.
Whistle.
You want a whistle?
Of course.
Reaction time test, monocie.
He's gone ahead of the whistle there.
That's a false start.
Note that down.
Oh, here we go.
Whistle.
Oof, 160 out the gate.
143, ooh!
Yeah, that's that one.
He's double-clicked there.
138.
It is stronger.
It's going to be hard to beat.
165.
150 average.
152 mS average for Montessy.
You happy with that?
Fine.
I'm not actually not that.
I'm not.
I don't know what's the post very fast, you know?
I don't know.
150.
That's the ranks.
I think I've got a ton of luck.
All right, you feeling comfortable?
Yes.
On the whistle.
I think 130 out was most his lowest.
146.
Getting better.
Oh, he...
Oh, he can't believe it on his feet now.
164.
That's good.
It's good.
Your team is younger.
I'm fucking...
The score is 11-11.
11 you've died first you've given away the opening kill you're you're you're
thinking fuck I've just given away 12 kicks and pulls off a miraculous 3k
and right now you're up to 12 first map 5 you're about to win the grand final
how loud would you nice be you can't just yell anything like you can't just
yell bleat or something we need we need nice nice 114 is it just one take
Okay, just one.
That was great.
That was great.
You're fired up on your Glocker.
Of course not.
I'm fired up.
Now it's 12-12.
Geeks of Prime is going to clutch one-on-one.
Nice!
Ooh, 128.
That's 14 decibels louder.
I remember times I shout and I stand up and my fucking head is spinning.
Bottle of water's here.
Your hand or mouse and keyboard.
You need to grab the water bottle, take the lid off,
off, take a sip, put the water bottle lid back on and put the water bottle back down.
It's got two bottles open, doesn't want to spill a drop here, consider it on the sip
and bottle back down, stop the top, nine seconds.
No, I just want to put a drink on this.
This is yours now.
Now this is a man who knows how to stay hydrated.
I'm like, you're gonna spill it on the piece of a cucumber.
Please put the bottle back down with lid on in transition, that's a technique that you
love to see.
What's it, Nick?
Your keyboard will stop working if you will spill everything.
What we're going to do right now is we're going to test how strong you are.
You're going to shake Nico's hand, you're going to shake my hand, and then you're going
to grab this and you're going to squeeze.
Thank you, what's up?
Cold or hot?
It was a 400 there, that's the highest point.
Oh, 40, sorry, not 400.
Okay.
40, please.
I swear, I just...
Are you happy with that?
It's fine.
Good job, guys!
Oh, good.
Yeah.
57?
Oh my god, whoa.
You're gonna get the gym, mate.
We're gonna give you a page number.
Okay.
You have to flick through, find the page number,
and read what it says on the page.
Page 76.
Oh, he's going straight to the back.
I'm knowing how many pages in the Strapbook he's going to.
All five run A with minimal utility.
What, Machu, it's 77, blyat.
Go with the weight, I will molly window push
when you hear the molly land the goal.
Go camera tempo, do the smoke, they haven't control plant.
A, take A main.
But I have a question.
Who brings back 100 pages on...
I only want 10 pages and he says six.
Well, this is to be vitality.
That's to be vitality?
Right, boss, yeah.
All right, that is going to be 18 seconds.
I'm on freestyle like this.
Set in a free.
So, wait, it's page 13.
There is a maze.
It's a 67.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
It's got a straw book, right?
Insane.
OK, me goes to the American Strat Book.
68.
Fuck.
I look at the pages here.
Milk, eggs, bread, chicken breast, rice, apples,
broccoli, cheese.
12 seconds.
Look at that.
Man, I have like strats here.
Milk, eggs, broccoli, sandwich.
What's their coordinate for strats?
How do you feel about peeling and taking a bite of a banana?
Where are they here?
Which part?
It's the following.
I need to eat the whole banana to take a bite.
I don't have to open one.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
I don't understand this.
Just peel the banana, take a bite.
Okay?
What am I doing?
Whee!
Strong peeling technique that in the mouth, chewing now.
He actually opened the mouth.
11 seconds.
That's not bad time.
I'm taking his banana.
I will not chew it, I'll just swallow it.
All right, read it.
You're not doing it, you need to chew it.
Why don't you chew it?
Don't chew it, all right?
All right.
Oh, he's not happy with the bite size.
That's just a nibble.
It's a small bite.
It's a small bite.
It's a plus one second.
Okay, plus one.
So he's giving it a referee.
What's plus one?
But you're going to take it up with the tournament management.
Well, look at what I'm trying to bite.
Yeah, look, it's not fair in life.
See, for the size of bite, he's taking one second off your time.
And give it to me one second later.
Let's bring it on next, Tarsq, how are you with the utility?
Very good.
Alright, we get three shots.
Let me imagine you're in accuracy, not time.
We saw a lot of them all day.
Just one.
It's very sporty, isn't it?
Oh, it's returned!
Okay.
Okay.
He's spent through the shots there, nothing lands, but I would like to give one point
for the return on deflection.
Hey, that's not fair.
Hit the board, came back.
Let's hit the net.
Oh!
No, that was a bad throw.
With 1-1, yeah?
Well, I'd look.
I think, turn this into a 0.5.
Is this only worth 1?
Then the bounce back is only worth a 0.5.
No way, Nico wins.
Mine is always like this, against me.
Everyone against me.
Are you happy with the results of today?
Yes.
Do you guys feel ready for Texas?
Yes.
Insane, really.
Here is the title.
All right.
We will eat bananas, drink water, and play basketball.
Perfect.
That's exactly what we need to make Counter Strike great.
Alright, thank you gentlemen.
Rafa, really making history. Absolutely from number one.
And Ace is the champion of the Intel X-ray master.
One final shot.
Storm still not primed on AC. He is going to take this fight for three seconds left.
One of two rounds. Our match is going to start in one thing or two.
And this is a massive new business, but he's not content with just the Nexus kill.
He's going to take it down.
She's going to take it down.
And it's all done. I'm trolling quick.
Unbelievable run with a 4-0 victory over Clash's.
And they did it again in the black bag.
It's the end!
Give it up for your Hendo Extreme Masters World Champion!
The Intel Extreme Masters Crack-On 2026 brought to you by ESL in partnership with Intel,
Acer Predator, DHL, Zalva, Chex, and City of Fertile.
The very first playoff bracket of IEM Crackout is almost complete.
Four teams are guaranteed to walk into the Toron arena, but four teams will have to
be eliminated today to find out those final two spots.
It is the final day of the group stage here.
I am Cracko.
Welcome to the B Stream.
I'm five, joined by Colt, extra McHenry.
You're in Group B, a couple teams having to run the remainder of the gauntlet, while some
teams are also going to find themselves a semi-final spot.
All that and more today here on our lovely February 3rd, 2026.
Yeah, looking forward to it. It's going to be some exciting action.
As you said, we're still looking to finish the picture of playoffs here today,
and that'll be determined by the end of today, seeing how things will shape up.
As you can see in our Group A upper bracket, you got G2 taking on Spirit,
two teams that have already locked themselves in playoff positions,
but are looking to find themselves in better seating here, if possible.
Then, of course, the all-important Group A matchup going on as well,
with Furia and Astralis, trying to lock themselves in a spot.
Big opportunity for Furia after a little bit of a rocky start.
Being able to course correct quickly, that is a huge statement for them
versus Astralis who, in a similar boat there, having to make the gauntlet of that lower bracket.
Yeah, and now taking it through Group B, we had Aurora kickoff with a big upset over Team Falcons
and then locked themselves into the Toron with a 2-0 win over Maus, impressing Stas,
Stuff from the Turkish side. They will face off against Team Vitality to see if they can find
another upset and find themselves in the semis. But the gauntlet here in the lower bracket.
Foul can start off their journey with a bit of a tough series versus huge underdog NRG.
They take on another underdog in the form of 3D Max to try and find their way to the Toron and
Mouses versus FaZe Clan, a Budapest rematch.
That one is going to be very exciting as both those teams
definitely want a spot in front of the stage.
Yeah, again, I have to go through the count as well.
Multiple best of threes in that lower bracket
going to be required.
As you can see from that TBD versus TBD,
that will likely be the qualification
match of the last team to lock themselves
in a playoff opportunity right there on the A-stream.
So keep that in mind as we look at the B-stream schedule,
we're opening things up with that 3D Max Falcons matchup. Looking forward to seeing how things shape
up in that department. They got fire on Falcons. That's going to be some fun stuff there. And of
course, Astralosferia, going to be an opportunity to play out the position and then that upper bracket,
you know, seating position as well for the last best of three of the day.
Yeah, addressing the elephant in the room early there, Col. Aren't we now as here we go. 3D Max
arriving here at the Krakow studio. A big chance for them as well. They're trying to break
into the elite level of teams here in Counter-Strike, this is where they frequently find themselves in
an opportunity versus a top-level team in a group stage, and this would be a typical time where 3D
maps would get eliminated in a hopeless position. And here are your favorites, it is the Falcons.
Showing up, Bonacete said there will be no upset yesterday as he destroyed NRG on Dust2,
helped out there by Nico of course the duo was firing on all cylinders today just got a deal with
3d max and a little bit more later down the line they want to find themselves in the playoffs
and as you said you know looking at this 3d max squad this is usually where their their runs and
tournaments come to an end when they have to deal with the level of firepower of the top five teams
that's usually where they struggle the most and so you've got a big point to prove heading into
this year, we talked about what's going to change here for this 3D Max roster,
getting to be able to push past the point of a team like Falcons here in an elimination matchup
is going to be oh so crucial to their campaign throughout the year and so
trying to course correct here, trying to right the ship. You can see from this last head-to-head
here kind of a similar position here, close matchup 3D Max trying to fight for victory over this
Falcon squad over in Perleague season 22 but couldn't quite push it across the finish line there
And you know again, not all that surprising but things have changed since then and most importantly that map of Anubis
Yeah, and 3d max have definitely gravitated towards it as well
So that could be a potential pickup here for 3d max and an edge
They have over Falcons especially as 3d max also perma ban out Mirage
So Falcons best map the pool not be available for this particular head-to-head
head. So that's always a scary sign. Also for 3D Max, they've talked about how in this
tournament they've begun to adapt their style, normally known for their very grouped and
explosive counter strike all through last year. But that wasn't enough to take on the
top teams and especially an explosive grouped up level of game is going to be difficult
when you're taking on Niko.
Welcome back to my situation here in Krakow, Nico.
How'd you wake up today? How'd you find today?
I woke up good. It's a good day. I'm feeling good.
It's going to be a long day, hopefully.
I had some experiences before at IEMs with these games, so looking forward to the day.
Let's just roll it back before this stage two started, before you guys showed up into the building.
What did you guys learn from that loss to ParaVision at Bounty?
Well, it's a bit of a different situation because we had a stand-in back then, of course,
so it was... we played a bit differently, which is understandable.
I would say what we learned, I think it's mostly how to play versus parry vision, what
to expect from them.
I don't think there's much we can take away and kind of translate it into these games
we're going to be playing here, so yeah.
Well, that translation took you right into playing Aurora.
And then Aurora gave you guys but a 2-1 there in the opener.
What about that game? Did you take more from that game last season?
Yeah, I mean, that game was a difficult one.
It started badly in Obis, obviously. We know that they were really good in Obis,
but I still thought we would show a better face.
So it was a rough start for us, and we managed to bring it back on Mirage,
garage and then Inferno was weird, I would say. I think we had Abraham at some point.
I think we were playing decent, but not the way we usually play. I think that cost us
the game. I think there were some nerves in that opening game, maybe, you know, with
Maxim coming in, Denny as well, a bit of wanting to prove everyone again who we are.
So it was, I think there was a bit of tension during that game. I think this is what we
learned from that game and I think even though the energy game was very close, we still managed
to play very calm and collected I would say. We had a lot of confidence throughout the
whole game and yeah.
Well that's great because I wanted to ask about that energy game within the confines
of ancient and your tea sides. Left a little bit to be desired or what happened, how did
it unfold on the tea sides of ancient yesterday versus energy?
Yeah, I mean, I think it's pretty simple.
We thought we had kind of good game plan versus what they were going to do.
We know that they're very aggressive on this map.
We thought that these things that we had discussed, it didn't work out,
and that's pretty much it.
I think they had some good team rounds, some good reflex around the middle,
and it was just kind of hard to get going because we were losing a lot of defaults.
It was hard to change the pace.
They were the ones that were dictating the whole pace,
but even though we won two rounds, we're still confident we can bring it back on the city side,
which we almost did. So, yeah, I mean, Ancient is definitely not in the place where it used to be
for us last year. It's something that we have to really look at and try to improve on. Today,
there's no Ancient, so that's good, I guess. But yeah, there are definitely some lessons that we
We have to take away from the tension game.
And just generally, we have been struggling a little bit in officials, not so much in practice.
So it's something that definitely deserves a bit more attention.
Nico, thank you for your time and good luck today.
Thank you.
Let's head back over to those casters.
Yeah, there's definitely been some pressure put onto the Falcons.
That's for certain aggressive styles have gotten the better of them.
And this is another one coming their way in the form of 3D Maxi or cool.
What is the way that they could possibly take out Falcons in the incredible
reality that could be possible?
Maybe.
Yeah.
I mean, you know, I can give you the answer that you're looking for.
And it's the Falcons kind of the pressure that we talk about in terms of the
expectations.
They kind of hinted at it with Aurora, you know, falling victim to, you know,
you're just getting back in with your full roster.
you want to prove that you're the same old Falcons that was able to make it to the grand finals
over there in bounty, so trying to replicate some of that success. I think the pressure was on them again
as it so often is, but you know another answer is also the veto, the map pool here right now for 3D
maps being adjusted here, having Anubis at your availability for an opening pick is such a statement
start for them. I'm wondering if they're gonna try and pounce on that opportunity here in the veto.
I think if they can capitalize on that, we're gonna get a quick answer and there it is a new bus coming through out of the gates
Not a big surprise for me
Yeah dust you going through for the Falcons and you guys the decider not super surprising in that regards still
Falcons have a lot to show in this tournament. It has been shaky is the way to frame it obviously a lot of game plans that just
having quite panned out, especially the Inferno versus Aurora, extremely winnable.
In a lot of circumstances, but small tactical misplays cost them a couple of critical rounds.
The mistakes have to end here for Falcons. They've got to do it all today. A two best of three
gauntlet if they want to walk in front of the arena for the first ever IEM crack out. Here we go.
It's 3D Max versus Team Falcons.
You need to start things off on Anubis here.
I just don't know how much time, you know, given some of the stand-in situations, given
some of the preparation that they've had to start out the year.
They've really been able to set focus on this map of Anubis, and it's shown in some of the
T sides where Falcons have not been able to really lift off their defenses, have required
firepower to get much rounds going, so we'll see what they have in store with a little
bit more time to play.
Lucky you're looking to collapse in on the flank, not so clean on the kill, but we'll
complete the frag eventually and set up for a little 4v5 and the post might
taking map control in towards CT now. There's C's just trying to keep them
contained, trying to keep this threat available. Tessus wants this isolated
fight and now a pot flash from Monopsy could be very powerful.
Kizuke first at bat there's a second and now it's just gravity. No kit, no armor
and two players want to see a Niko and that will be the pistol round for Falcons. Strong start here on Anubis.
Let's try to set the tempo right there.
Identify the right bombsite. Great follow-up utility coming through as well towards camera, denying that position.
Being able to establish a great foothold in that post point by dealing with that A main flank.
seen a little bit of 3d max early on this map really like to utilize the the new
window position in towards middle especially in the early early game here
trying to catch teams off guard I'm gonna do so again flying out to the mixers
gravity trying to fly into the frags and towards canals and it will be mowed
down Nico and Monacee have it handled it's gonna be Macha left standing here
does a little bit of damage but will fall clean and easy for Falcons on the
2 and 0 the guns will be coming out swiftly obviously it is the Anubis the
new window and 3d max have loved getting aggressive through that it's been
generally the meta is to always drop down into canals and take an early fight
but 3d max initially they were actually the very first Anubis official at this
tournament and showcased some really nice set strategies on the CT side versus foot.
And we're able to pull back a 12-5 deficit.
So they know their stuff on this map.
And I'm excited.
We're going to see some new stuff from 3D Max.
A team that has definitely been renowned for their tactics, even back in 2025.
I think the best part about them was their explosive set plays that you
Kind of highlighted that they might be looking to move a little bit away from
But it's still could be so you look at this position from luck
It's something go over like they trucking clear it kicks it goes wide and eventually the trade is available here that you angle from
Hey, it's okay to transfer out of him as well
Punishing mid completely and taking control of the server great flash set up here
He's on a tear and XCC is trying to run away can't escape the grass. Okay, you suitcase
it's just gonna be body left standing here and an
An absolute rampage through middle here for Falcons.
It's gonna get them a nice and easy 3-0.
That's what he's here for.
People are making fun of him for the 0.37 rating that he posted versus Aurora on this map.
That will not be the same. He was 6-17 in that matchup here.
matchup here. Last time he played Anubis, he is currently 6-1. I feel like his ace
will elude him sadly, but a much more devastating look at a Falcons this
far at this game. For 3D Max's playstyle, I feel like Falcons could be the
direct counter. 3D Max really want to get in your face in terms of the
Counter-Strike that they play.
The Falcons' high firepower will stop any sort of individualism like this.
Oh my goodness.
I mean sometimes you can even stop the coordination, but we're seeing right there that backs up the great frags from Kaisuke.
The excellent flashes that allow him to scale through middle, that allow him to then take the fight in towards A.
The trade on the kicks and all these details being nailed down and that's what I want to see out of Falcons today.
on a new bus with a little bit more time to nail things down and figure out these T sides.
You know, this is a team that we expect to have good T sides on a new bus, but haven't
shown in the limited officials that they've been able to play.
I get back on track here.
It's like crashing through a main.
We go one from one there with Kaisuke consistently finding impact.
Other round where he's able to line up some trades and frags.
Exorcise?
No, you can't grab the AK trying to find it on the floor.
won't be able to snag it and body with the rifle spotted out towards middle
Wow life does not get easier. Body just eats a grenade
This is a terrifying looking falcons moment
I have some lethal rifle here at least.
Hold on, TSS is in trouble but sees both players that's going to be an acceleration over into
that A site and probably a save for these remaining 3 to max players, the Frenchman.
Take a breather.
And now 8 kills.
You see you guys already broken the barrier set by the previous matchup.
That would be a breath of fresh air.
It does feel like right now we're seeing a team that's just trying to get him lifted off early
by how he's positioned in these rounds here, backing up and finding effective trades,
sequencing these big multi-kills.
And I think that's a very smart game time for Falcons here. If you're having a little bit of, you know, a tough map in the previous
and you want, you know, your star players to get active and succeed so that they can be impacting it throughout the entire map, entire series for that matter.
That is a great way to get your stars to shine.
should have been a top 20 player in some people's opinions even though he only played half
the season he was hard carrying.
I'm gonna try to half a year play a full season.
the
policy not
a perfect connection but to damage
the unsatisfied with
the higher the line of the lining up the pin of the smoke as this one go
looking like a be executed but this is going to be a fake
You can see the bomb is slowly working its way towards A main. How much of a rotation can they get off this?
There's that utility being tossed in.
Trying to bait out the reaction.
But not a lot of budging coming through because Maka's got this deep A main control here, avoiding the crosshair for now.
Looking for a deadly swing. It's a collateral out of Maka's up.
The big statement, shutting this play down and forcing Falcons to rethink their decision here kicks in, cutting off a mid-flank here.
But spotting another monosy,
Striking true as well, and now the B site is knocked wide open here. Can they make it in time? Can they beat exorcist to the punch?
So Cease is not really running the race at the moment. He doesn't want to risk his life
Forward now smoked out spam. Okay, let us see that quickly traded. Maka as well. Cannot hit the flick
sideline there by Tess S
the heroic duo
Stepping up in the 2v2, can they stop the clutch? Lucky.
Moving forward, round the pillar, but both players will...
Get ready to trade each other. They've fallen back into the E-box, but Lucky realizes that.
Sestage is the grenade, fake on the DT's.
Four lucky, swinging clear, and kickstands got the headshot as it's 5-0 for Falcons.
What a phenomenal recovery right there, all started by a skewer from Maka.
able to find a multi other one op shop but the quick adjustment and the contingency plans
as we know 3d max like to press the issue looking for preparedness
of this falcons camp to punish that here so if you try and react you get caught in canals with
the follow-up flash coming through on the gravity as well as incredible i think they just threw that
running away and you're able to deal with the flank all the while 3d max out of 5v3 that crumbles
in front of them and a little bit of frustration for this squad now as they're feeling the full force
of this falcon's firepower.
Also, a very interesting way to use the window or the T side, if you have that doors control,
you can cut off all of those E-box flanks and then use that to turn it into your own
rotation.
The window not just CT favored all the time
And then monocy picks up the off and just puts it to work Maka
Desperately going for an opener
And body will scoop up the off
Sting angle here and he does find a kill boosted up in a little bit of a passive angle
able to connect on another frag there. I'm honestly finding a multi for himself and
body. Taking down Tessus. That is the ops squad to have to imagine speed up the
decision here for Falcons away from that side of the map and you can see that in
motion. Bomb has to be scooped up. Got a bit of a rotation cut off here and the
form of kicks in in middle. Any side is wide open for the taking here. We'll see
How much more interest this 3d max camp has in going for this but as they head in towards t-spawn get a miss on it
And on any chances to flank kicks in
So Falcons should be good
Move forward to six and zero
This one should be a save
And monosie sequences yesterday absolutely save Falcons
On Dust2, in round 11, he was a 3 vs 5, he finds 4 consecutive kills, and oh my god that?
That was the kill he found?
They boosted up on the back side of the angle right there, and it just gives him a headshot
peek down scoping in towards the middle.
The beans.
Oh, I just hypnotized there for a moment.
My Vulcan's given a 3D Max the beans here.
Yeah.
Oh, the first Nicaelia has been heard as...
It only took six rounds.
Not quite record-paced, but we'll take it.
I mean, deserved, obviously, those kills insane.
Yesterday, again, saving Falcons and keeping that game under wraps.
They were down three to seven when Monoski finds his highlight moment.
And there shouldn't just be round swing as this, like, new rating 3.0 statistic.
There gotta be map swing in terms of these map defining moments.
There's an A rush on the cards.
Once again, Niko Kiyosuke advancing.
There is no Makka collateral to meet them this time, though.
Just some decent utility here on the gates, getting around that corner there being able
to escape the up for now.
Those like Falcons never out of these rounds even when things start off right for 3D Max
and that is a suffocating position to find yourself in versus a team like Falcons.
You know their confidence coming through here.
Something you want to avoid as much as possible here.
Maka, get in position passive on A but the aggression is going to work out nicely.
nicely folded here.
Heaven smoke though, so that's an easy opener for Maka, not even flying at all.
Flank develops for gravity.
Still three players moving in.
Behind the smoke.
Kixen gets a Molly into Heaven.
Lucky.
Trying to be an auto-rack.
Kixen finds it.
Patient.
On the play.
Lossy has the bomb is the problem though.
Try and punch in the digits, but his teammates are teaching space control and the kiyosuke is wide-swinged the offer of a mucka
Oh shot kicks man getting a highlight, but not enough
Running out of bullets could not get the finishing kill on the round 3d max will get on the board
Dude almost pulled that went through kicks and shown a little bit of flash
Out of his rifle again, but not enough to complete the mission right there 3d max escape with a win
and you know a little bit of heat but body making the move to trade things out
and pressure through that camera side. I have to imagine that that smoke missed
into it. You can see a smoke on the back of the cake right there and I have to
imagine that is disfined for Heaven instead. It's so hard for an opera to ever
have that level of impact scoped in through Heaven and there's this
opportunity for monosy just on zooms at the wrong time. Lucky Pierce's head around
the corner. You won't be able to claim an opening pick here. Not just yet at least here. Gonna
have to work a little bit harder for it. See if there's more bush shenanigans towards middle.
These two get fully focused on this new window that 3D Max love to abuse.
I see them finally attack this B-bomb site.
We've seen so many targets towards A, towards middle.
We've seen a late reaction for a B-play that ended up working for Falcons, but an off-spawn
executed something we haven't really seen.
This is like a decisive move, lining up here.
Oh, it's out of the office.
That's their seat speed for a forward, a head-to-head.
He does not want Kyosuke in on the play.
Smoke deployed, but Kyosuke's going through that,
made to it, but he's seeing Tessus.
He's got the entry.
Kyosuke needs to step up in the clutch now.
He clears out Lucky easily with the quickness.
1v1 versus Makka.
B smoke into temple having to navigate this maca with pistol out
Stick on the plant maca will he go through he does with the pistol not enough to beat kiyosuke his aim is sharp today
Another triple kill plus round for him
Guess planning so much impact here man, and it's nothing you can do if you 3d max
He's been set up from the very get-go. He's finding instant trades when required and stepping up in a 1v2 clutch like that
Perfect time to come through
And punch right back here another close around that comes down to the wire, but this time 3d max not in a position
To seal things up. So body save them in the round prior
Not gonna get away with that consistently up against this Falcon squad
Now we see them go back to this threat of canals control here trying to do some of the smoke for Nico
And slowly working the way now kicks in a little prefire action
Trying to turn the bend of mid and Tessus in charge of punishing this aggressive has helped with monies off tries for a fast flick
But gets punished here. Tessus gonna fall here
The smoke going down to try and allow monosy creep back into the angle
H e to blow open the smoke and body staying confident is gonna give them another 5v3 advantage
Hold on.
It's not done yet. Kaizuka can always pull things back
Stepping forward trying to buy some space for Niko. I like the idea making footsteps hoping that an A player overreacts
But in a 3 versus 5 3k max you'd handle on it and falcons had a little bit of panic because the bomb got left in spawn
That's why you saw Bonacy go for the play that he did
That's some nice on-the-fly thinking from 3d max to quickly call for a smoke break
And I don't
makes through this flank develops second CT side around here for 3d max you see the flicks from
maca he's got those two i'm not gonna go out quietly or the frenchman obviously the t side of
anubis i think i think this map is still quite t favored even with some of the changes what do
you think yeah yeah i mean i kind of mentioned this last time we saw 3d max playing but that
That B side is still very hard to hold on the defense.
I don't think a lot of the changes have shifted that up a lot.
There's positioning to cover not as effective.
And we can see some of the best crossfires on that B bomb site.
Get broken down.
But it allows you more opportunities, at least
on this defense, to create opening picks for yourself
with that mid window and a little bit of E-box spam rate
that's all the damage done.
And you see, okay, he's not hearing the resistance here, but a flashbang that also catches kicks in.
I don't know if that was a team flash or if it was a solo flash there.
Honestly, misses in middle.
So this thing, crumbling at the seams here for Falcons slowly getting plucked apart in 3D Max now, dictating the pace of play here.
Getting aggressive through middle and a couple of these rounds, in course B as well, and not allowing anything for Falcons to go their way.
No comfortable duels for them.
Then a little bit of frustration and giving themselves a foundation on the CT side.
Just a couple of individual mistakes and Kiyosuke could go down to 6 HP off the start of the round.
Thanks to life are really difficult.
I have that team flash. I'm wondering if that was kick-sand zone flash or...
I think he just went for himself, and maybe peaked a little early.
I don't know.
What would have been a double kill if he finds gravity? Lucky was full blind.
And we can see that Kixon's playing sharp on the rifle as well.
Like he's been hitting the transfers. He's quick enough to land those.
Missed today and missed opportunity for sure.
I'm getting loud just yet. I think both teams really feeling the tension Nico is talking about it in the interview
The pre-match
There's been a lot of tension in these games
There crack out
What an expectation
Obviously Falcons not making any roster changes in the off-season and still believing in this
We can also set an interview as a bit of a relief not having to go through changes and continue to
Work on this current lineup
And I think there's still plenty more to grow
I mean because you see Kate is just an incredible player and that core
And absolutely take you to new heights as it can develop so
U2K, Niko, and Monosie, perhaps a trio we'll be talking about for a long time.
I hope so.
Like in the build, even though it hasn't edited them as much success as it would have liked
just yet, it feels like they're bound to get there at some point here.
Niko's life, those facts are turned into more canals aggression, just throwing a little
frustrating jab there for body and is able to escape around the corner but
guess who's helping him out in that escape here it's Makka posted up with
the op so trade attempt comes through another frag offered up here Miko
investing into the hero rifle but so far no targets revealing themselves it's
been backs turned for 3d max in these last couple of rounds and catching your
opponent off guard in these little hints of aggression wanted a more
Decisive play towards that A side by getting met by that canals aggression disrupts the game plan. It drops crucial utility
Now you're gonna think on the fly or rely on the firepower of Niko
If you can have his moment
Actually not bad in terms of the space
Gravity does waste his HE there's no smoke break proper, but now four players
3D Max have rotated into their headshot. No. No space gain. Tess S with just a P250.
And the eco goes nowhere for Falcons, despite a little bit of space being handed over by the French.
And four rounds on the defense is not bad already for 3D Max, despite the absolutely flying start we
saw. Kiyosuke finding a triple kill, a quad kill, and Monosie having his own sequence.
But as slowed down, there's been some great moments of 3D Max gameplay. This is just pure
individualism, running forward, first headshot taken by gravity.
Yeah, I feel like at some point there they're going to continue this aggression and
XCC's doing a lot of damage.
But they just go back to what is so familiar, so comfortable for them that not as non-stop intensity. 3D max are pressed in every extremity possible here.
Gravity gonna avoid the spam and stay posted on pizza. I'm looking to find the follow-up frags.
Might be overlooked and Maka is pushing with an op, but his 5-7 is what he's gonna lead this charge with, calling mid clear.
starting to get good information on where this play is heading and the B side is stacked accordingly.
Dawkins constantly left suffocated here. Maka gonna be gonna be a part of this B defense at some
point is that main smoke fades away. Everyone tucks back into the cubby, tries to find safety here.
Multiple mollies tossed in to start this thing off here. Blaster coming through as well,
Okay, so two frags a headshot to follow it up as well
And now it is just maca somehow the site crumbles and a miss shot from maca might cost him his life here another miss
He can't finish off the frag nothing out of his AWP and kicks it in another clutch opportunity
Could net Falcons eight here if he can pull through with one more kill lucky has been holding strong for 3d max
But he will be finished up by a shot and somehow the site hold
crumbles to the floor, Falcons gonna claim an A.
3v5's, but how about winning them as Kiyosuke with the spray transfer and
Somehow kicks and pulls up clutch to get eight rounds for Falcons on the T side of Anubis
Obviously, it's not all done. We know what kind of map Anubis is
But Falcons are right hot on the most important day of the group stage
No question about it, man. Kiyosuke showing some serious
level here in this matchup as well, helping out in multiple 3v5s now and
looking to shoot them up a pistol while they're at it. But as you said, I'm not
finished just yet. This T side from 3D Max is a lethal.
Starting things off with the pistol would be a luxury gravity. Putting some
pressure on middle and walking into a bit of a limited defense on this B side.
Gearing up for much more of a retake-centric approach in that direction. Kicks him with the kit and a smoke, playing very passive.
The bomb will be planted free of charge. No opening duals just yet with gravity tucked in for a late lurk here. Will he be cleared? Niko is going to overlook this. Doesn't look likely.
He's going to give him a good swing here and finish off the frag. So opening advantage now for Falcons.
There's a kit available on Kixxan Body Stepping Forward. Critically, we'll not find a kill.
Kiyosuke will actually collect it, and Kixxan Stepping Forward. Great headshot for one,
gets exorcist. It doesn't even need to use the smoke. And Tessus will clean up Lucky Pistol
Round for Falcons, and are well on their way to taking this map.
We've seen a big step up today here for Kixin as well, eager to prove his form, he definitely
had a tough go of it yesterday versus NRG, but coming through here and finding some crucial
rounds not only ending off that last half, but with a smoke and a kit being able to find
himself a couple of frags to make that retake all the easier, now completing both pistols
here and the job for 3D Max just gets much more tricky now just to be the bread
and butter this maps offer up a lot of confidence for them Falcons are showing
what they're made of here give themselves a great T side and winning that
pistol could do even more here this is a tough job for Kaisuke though flashbang
through the smoke AC prepared for this not at all full spamming though and
nearly gets multiple anyways still comes down to kicks and eco also playing
forward and what goes down critically now everyone's coming in for e-box it
could be a crucial crossfire between kicks and and Nico as they will begin
their run already getting past the angle Tara frags for the Falcons kicks and
will make it more and tests on the SMG it is 10 to 4 now for Falcons as they
and vanquish the four-spy.
I mean, consistently finding impact
on another big multi-kilota kicks in,
shoring up that B bomb site.
Little bit of help getting where he needs to be in time,
finding that spray through the smoke as well,
so it becomes a one-pronged approach
through E-Box for four players.
That is tricky to make work there for 380 Max,
and we see the result.
Eagles and Tech 9 from the Nigs here.
380 Max, I'm sure have a little bit of confidence
in their ability to come back from pretty steep deficits,
but this is a different roster, a much different team,
jam-packed with firepower and experience to back it up.
These aren't the rookies of foot.
(*gunshots*)
Kixxan having a pop-off game,
and Kixxan's just taking liberties.
He would like to practice his aim,
test this medal versus the Deagle.
That's another trickle for Kiyosuke, racking up the ADR, and just losing confidence right
now are Falcons.
That's just what you want to see.
Sometimes, they let the pressure get to them, they start caving in, they start playing passive,
they start thinking too much about their fights, but Kiyosuke knows he's locked in, he knows
he's the best player in the server right now and he'll take any swing
no doubt about it here. The body for that E-Box control is integral to this
defense for Falcons and I don't think you're gonna get away with these aggressive moves
it's fantastic work from them. Trying to play around the molly to his body and
Monosy will instantly dismiss that here sticking around for middle and he's
Looking to find some follow-up frags there. No multi out of him. Niko also forced slowly off the line
Trying to find some more impact gravity
Trying to punch through here
Again this B site
You look that by lucky
Smoke going down towards main here. I'm not gonna making a move
Pass the camera smoke
Trying to inch his way through into temple and apply some extra pressure on B
They're gonna give up the site and focus their efforts on middle. This isn't a bad idea from Falcons
Or from kicks in quick train from Kyosuke and now has to turn back and run
Help out that B site and he goes down instantly. Lucky was holding that gets the headshot
Bomb to be planted Molly the e-box
Sure is here to stop these you even try for this
That says wants in
I need forward, but no easy kills come his way.
And Falcons will have to save.
I like the idea from Falcons, obviously your 4v4, the map is getting closed in upon, you
don't have mid control, no B main, nothing, they try to fight backwards.
And Baka has a nice swing in him too.
I'm honestly guessing AWP. This round is effectively the bonus.
For those B players, I think it's so important that you at least are able to set your focus in on one prong of that attack as opposed to trying to set up a crossfire to deal with multiples.
Especially when temple control is a little bit of a vulnerability in the defense.
Good reaction coming through there, but gravity able to punish in a big way with that frag alone.
Still even Maka around in the late lurk as well.
As you said, bonus coming through there will be bested by 3D Max, but now we do have that monosy up into the mix.
He's on the line towards A main.
And Max being able to punch back is just what they need to see here.
It's a connection out of monosy as well, Niko follows it up and another fragment of monosy.
Two kills rolling through from his AWP and 3D max trying to sneak a fast one onto Falcons.
The big reality check there is the monosy up is fully in play.
That was almost devastating though because Tessus just pulled out grenades and stepped
in front of monosy scope at the same time that there are so many ways that could have gone wrong
but it's monosy so it didn't i don't think that smoke land did it no debt it did actually towards
temple it's really interesting utility right there we've seen a lot of good smokes from
3d max already in that position
and threw it in the uh...
No, no, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I was like, there's no way that went correctly, right?
I'm like, pretty sure that went into the stratosphere,
but well, that's pretty obvious.
Well, it's not enough.
We're not gonna find a kill.
So, this is a situation 3D Max have been in before.
5-12.
Again, this is a much different story now.
Versus players like Monosy, Niko, Taisuke.
While we know that that foot squad was jammed back with firepower, this is elevated that
much more and right now Kixon also popping off again with a point to prove
the step up for his team he has been available at almost every step of the
way but this is what I'm talking about here where I think you could have gotten
away with that versus a lot of different oppers you were mentioning that's a
tough shot to hit for monosy shooting around the shoulder of Thessus
but he is so precise he's gonna get away with that when you're down this bad
versus a team like Falcons.
It only takes one round
out of someone on this team to lift off and close things out now.
Yeah, I'm honestly he's been putting in good sequences.
All throughout this map as well.
Only one particular miss that I can remember other than that. It has been short shots and clean doubles.
That's just what you want out of your opera.
You don't need a monosy 4k or an insane clutch every round.
Just consistency.
That's what he has brought to the table.
And a great push.
Well timed, but the execution a little off there for kicks in.
Where a monosy has got the backup though here, but does just barely miss.
Body lucky to be alive.
Now mid pressure from 3D Max might have to be amplified now as body does drop on the second try
B site under threat as 3D Max getting a CT spawn
The bomb is gonna be removed though. It is positioned towards B main kaisuke aware of the vulnerabilities
Of this attack here gravity though routing this one the long way around spotted out by monosy
And there's another multi kill out of his op another one looking to peer on the corner 15 seconds left
How you suke gonna get traded out here?
They hear the flank, but they can't finish it and Monosik just needs to connect this last upshot double zoomed a little bit too much vision
And exorcise a chance to buy a little bit of life Nico chasing him down won't allow him to get off the bomb
And it's gonna be Falcons finishing the job. They're clean a dominant performance on the new bus to open us up
Yeah, once again, clean sequences for Monosy.
A little miss towards the end, but you see the flicks are there.
The flash is in the server.
P.S.
Tsuke, 20 kills deep in that game as well.
Absolute beast with 100 plus ADR, and even Kicksand stepping up.
Falcons have every element in their favor, the X-Vactor, and more to continue pushing
the series forward.
The best part about it here is we're seeing Falcons determine how they want to start off
this game.
Instead of getting Pellius UK 4-6 deaths out of the gates and being able to leverage that
throughout the rest of the series.
Now he's confident, he's hitting shots, he's finding frags.
You got Kixen winning crucial clutches for his squad, finding massive multi-kills.
You've got a full team effort that's showing up to play.
Everyone on Falcons is buying in here.
How they want to close off Anugis.
This is a team like 3D Max. We knew this was going to be a big challenge for them.
We didn't think, you know, Nubis was going to be easy.
I was kind of putting this as 3D Max's win condition in this series.
As we know, this is a team that 3D Max historically struggle with.
This sort of firepower that this roster possesses is something we should expect 3D Max to lose to.
But to see it flare up like this on a Nubis, you know, kind of a concern here for them out of the gates.
That's definitely a big gut punch here for 3D Max, who again are just trying to break
out of this narrative, just being the gatekeepers of tier one, right?
They can beat every team lower ranked than them.
But when it comes to punching up against the elite, they struggle and the struggles might
continue here as we're going to dust two.
It's the pick of the Falcons.
3D Max play a lot of dust two, but they don't win it a lot.
We're going to need to have a big performance to stay here in this series, to stay in IEM
Cracko and continue a dream run into the Toron.
Hi, this is Basement Dweller's first advertisement.
And our second drop is, it's up, actually, if you're seeing this, it's up, it's available
on the ESL shop.
We had our first go at a jacket and we really gathered it.
I've always had an interest in clothes,
but you know, seeing behind the scenes
how the sausage is made has been a lot of fun.
And if you like the clothes, tell me,
if you hate the clothes, tell me,
but try them before you slag them off.
I think they're really comfy.
So yeah, that's my advert.
I'm gonna try again.
I'm gonna record another one.
It starts with a dream, with a team you barely know,
and an amateur official that feels like the grand final,
where practice becomes progress.
in every loss feels like a lesson.
When will your journey begin?
The exception open to slink behind the smokes and ooh, a miss shot from the off. How many
chances are you going to get? Jacob needed another. Awkward, very awkward. Broke his
up off to spank sure, but it's Twist that's trying to be the difference maker. A bullet
into Jimmy, a 2-1-2 with that bomb again planted.
Brian's going to have a head-to-head duel here with Karriken on the CT side.
Twist unable to lend a hand, it is just a head-to-head duel in a favours Brawland clean headshot from the Swedish captain.
Twist turned a clutch.
It is Twist's turn. Karriken did it in the previous, this one feels a whole lot harder.
Both healthy and a healthy crossfire as well.
Brawland last seen CT, no smoke, it really is hard mode for Twist.
He's not getting the fights he was hoping for.
I'm going to give it a fake hope to catch Jimmy swinging and does do so.
Now got to run at him.
No chance for this one.
Hoping he can force the findies to get on immediately.
He does hit the head shot.
Not going to have the time.
So a 12th found.
Not too long into this second half before Maus 2 finally breaks through.
What was that?
The fifth consecutive plant.
Yeah, that's it.
They're getting into the side every time.
This is why it's so difficult.
But Maus is making some noise.
Carrogan with a bit of smack dog.
It's just one more round now and the buyer is going to be brittle because of the state of the nation.
Those rounds being so close, they haven't been able to build a bank.
And this is tough for Twister up because he knows the bronze spawn.
And then in terms of Jimmy, you could be anywhere.
Good. It's good. They need to show some attitude.
I would like it even if mouse became the bad guys.
Right. They need some form of a personality.
I would like if they became the bad guys. I mean,
I'm actually already thinking like a dr. Evil skier rebrand. Yeah get exertion with like a count is lap
Okay, meet again. Mr. Anderson
To do goals a famos an MP9 and an m4 walking around number 18 sounds like a joke or at least the start of one
Was he who laughing
Certainly not looking great for phases map pick in this one
But as you said, you know come into this one phaser trying to work out what their map pool is
Now seem pretty certain about this and you heard from the interview trace gave with exertion
They're happy with the video no matter what very happy with the beats and no matter what
Definitely more depth in their map pool flashed lightly off the HG. Okay, so frozen. Oh
Thought he'd be favored there important find from twists
stops it from spiraling, but look at this. This is quicker than maybe two or
three, four seconds into that murder hole and he's the one doing the murdering.
Caragin on B, they're coming his way and he only has a deagle. So these
need to be abs- oh, I can never mind. He only had a deagle. That's a lot better than the
Desert Eagle for a multi-kill spray down. He's gonna need to provide. Ricky and
Jacob are both playing in the A ramp smoke right now. Caragin's worried
about his flank as well, so this is brutal. He's looking for exertion.
the ball. Oh, he's in so much
trouble. He is in so much
trouble. Surely Mirage ends
here. Jimmy has secured the
site and now is looking very
good to convert their first
map of this. What could be
double best of three day lose,
of course, goes home. Both
mouths and Falcons wanting to
avoid their worst placements in
a while. Now is their worst
placement of 2025 was a
Yeah, the MP9 could find exertion, but they're not gonna get much more just like that
Wow, that's a dominant star phases map big and they've got five rounds to post mouse looking confident
Could be a long day in the office for them back to back best of threes if they can convert and it's their map inferno up next
New year? New Niko?
I mean I didn't decide any new resolutions, you know.
What, like 1280, 960, do you see that?
No, no, I'm the same one from the last year.
Hopefully better.
Have you got a hunger?
Of course.
It's always the...
Going, you know.
Yeah, and it must be nice to have Maxime for the start of the tournament as well.
Yes, definitely. It was...
Shout out to Nucleons though, right?
He played amazing. He really did amazing.
And we had fun. It was nice, but...
I know a lot of people think that we, you know, maybe wouldn't play as good with Maxime,
but I'm pretty sure if he had Maxime at that event we would have won.
We felt in a good shape before that, so...
Yeah, but shout out to Nucleons. He did very well.
And Saks, we couldn't close it out in the end.
Yeah, it would have been cool to start your year with the dub.
the dub. Paravizion though, they're in the set in the next stage and that was a tough
team. It looks like it's going to be a team we talk about a lot this year, what do you
reckon?
They are definitely a very strong team right now, I think their confidence is really high,
I think everyone is praising them, so I think for them it's probably very enjoyable to play
and they should enjoy it. But I think they deserve the credit they're getting, they started
from scratch, especially the game, you know, he had a rough path for the past year and
half or something so a lot of respect for him and the kids around him but yeah
I mean James has always been tough opponent even you know when he was in VP
it was always it was really annoying to play against and I think you know I
kind of forgot how to play against him a bit because he wasn't around for one
year but I think next time should be a bit different. Is there like a specific style
of play you have to adopt. They definitely have a different approach than most of the
teams. I think he still plays differently than what he did in VP, but it's still somehow
hard in a way to go up against it. I'm curious, last question is, you know, the
James style of play, it's obviously not a system you've ever played within, but how
would you, would it ever work? Like, could you play that style of Counter-Strike? Would
Does that not mesh with who you are as a player? Just out of curiosity.
Like, it's different.
Yeah, I mean, I never really thought about it.
It's a lot of nothing, and then it's a lot of something.
It's a unique playstyle. I think there's a lot of good things that they're doing as well.
I think there are some rounds that we definitely could use, especially on the city side,
the way they kind of gamble in a way that...
It's a calculated gamble. Like, they would be strong on one side,
and then two guys would lean over, but they would kind of know that...
They're very calculated all the time.
I'm not sure if it would work for every team, probably not.
I think if it would, we would have probably seen it a bit more.
But I guess Jame found a way how it shoots him and his teams and his way of calling.
I think when it comes to that kind of playstyle,
I think it requires a lot of trust in that system,
and I think they all trust and believe in Jame and Dustin,
So I think that helps.
I just wanted to talk a little bit about Bounty and Review with Stendon.
Are you taking anything away from that tournament
or is this kind of going to feel like your first tournament of the year with the 4-5?
Well, I think we should definitely take some things from the tournament
because even though it was a Stendon, we still played a lot of games.
I mean, the online stage we played with Maxim, so it was not completely with Stendon.
But I think we did some good things until the final
and we can definitely take some things with us.
Coming into this one with the 4-5, I'm curious as to how much is your time off?
Could you turn your brain off? Or are you sitting there going new strategy number?
We could do that, we could try this. Anubis added to the map, Paul, could you turn your brain off?
Or were you just cooking? I mean, during the player break, we took some break.
After time off? Yes, but after we started with the bootcamp and then last online, then last plan,
then we had like two days at home and now we're here so after we started the
bootcamp I haven't had we haven't had too much time off so it's been a lot of
work and as you know this being in the middle of the tournament it's another
thing to fix so yeah
Falcons at the most important day of IEM Crackout for them, they need to win two best of threes
to enter into the Toron and they're halfway through their first step, Anubis, a dominant
victory for them with them showing off their firepower.
They are red hot right now, just two coming up, 3D Max, in a tough spot.
I think that map of Anubis is everything you'd come to expect with the Falcons line up here.
I mean, we saw some really good sacrificial plays to set up Kyosuke for success there,
and to be able to capitalize with his firepower, with his explosive nature.
We got some consistency out of monosy.
We got Kixen offering up massive clutches when called upon.
I just don't think there was a single missing piece there.
That's kind of what you hope to highlight when we look at this Falcons roster.
And it doesn't necessarily always come into fruition, but in that last map it certainly did.
And it didn't leave 3D Max a chance.
Now we hop into this map of Dust2 here and map it.
Let's kind of haunt the 3D Max for Falcons used at the closeout yesterday.
We'll see if they can keep up the success story.
I'd like to try and lock themselves an opportunity at playoffs.
Just around all the way. Already a long push at a minute thirty.
Excercees surprises. Tess says he was holding for it just a little bit, but the discipline
not perfect. And now a mid to B smoke launch. Look at this.
Excercees is already in suey right now. I'm not talking about the player.
Already gonna have some backs turned, but cleared who's instantly and dealt with Kiyosuke is just so sharp and a lair
He's trying to take a passive approach down that angle and he just gets blasted now aggression queuing up
And the bomb dropped in towards upper tunnels
So this puts a wrench in the system here glues around the corner and gravity gonna find a follow-up
Well, should be able to be shut down from this point.
They're up, can't walk, they're up towards the top of mid.
USPs in the hands of Niko, gotta be careful about how many chances you give them.
And a long flank, a kid coming through from Maka, continued pressure applied for 3D Max.
And there's the energy much needed out of the Frenchman.
Yeah, I'm sure that was a talk in between the maps as well, because the energy was just
flat from 3D Max.
We had no shouting. We had no excitement.
Or felt like they were going through the motions as Kyosuke and Monosuke picked them apart.
So that's a different story.
Try to get some momentum flowing as pistols are going to be running out long.
Dead or Eagle for Kyosuke, but off angle for Maka.
So well.
Monosuke next at bat.
But nothing gives.
Max already showing a really like annoying playstyle that we kind of talk about.
You just keep pushing.
He saw that flank from X or C's and then 30 seconds later, Maka runs all the way through
the A site and flanks.
It's just a very 3D Max type of play.
you see there. Consistently collapsed. That was what they looked at best on the Nubis by far.
I'm just going to highlight that. The frustrating play that they were able to bring together on
that defense for the four rounds that they were able to collapse on. It was aggression on top of
aggression all over the extremities. It was testing the default here, seeing what Falcons could
put together, and it was catching them off guard. And while, you know, there were certain occurrences
there where Falcons were still able to pull things back and it's credit to Kaiusuke and his
rightfully for the most part remax at least from the very pistol showing that they're
willing to continue that game plan. It has to be a discussion as they head into the CT side of Dust
2. How do we continue to find these defensive rounds? What worked well for Son of Nubis?
There was a lot of intensity in finding those pressure points on the Falcons default.
full.
Long push this round, particular but this committed position from Lucky.
CT player always defines the defense on this map and where he decides to lead and lucky
choosing the B site.
I wonder what the tell is here for 3D backs.
Maybe it's just a gamble.
Whatever the case they have three players here amid to be a favorite setup for the French.
Oh, guys you get still breaking through there's a flash that is trying to get collapsing in
on them.
with another entry and the trio on B all fall there's a rifling prowess coming
through there making light work of that defense and forcing gravity and
exorcise to save and towards the long but a phenomenal collapse coming through
and even more impact out of the gates here for the hot hand of Kaiyusuke
I got Tessus set up in towards long doors I don't think they'll go peering
around that corner too far just gonna set X or C set for a boost you know should
be well end off this round with a couple right what a sequence coming through
again out of them they're still flexing there as well for mock unfortunately and
it doesn't allow for them to collapse in on middle there's great coverage so the
window peeking lost 3d max wanted to set their focus in towards middle you
talked about it kind of that extra player there when it gets blown up
Instantly, it shifts the tone of that defense.
That's a very frustrating thing.
It's 3D Max with the right read, and I feel like they're always very good at positioning,
but they don't have that X factor that pushes them through.
Lucky normally is that player and has been that player.
And to see him go missing at a time like this could be critical,
as it will be a fast long take for Falcons. A lot of flashes, no kills, 3D max are out
of there. And this is also just a half buy from the French, just one singular round loss
puts them on eco. Because they want to get out that AWP as soon as possible for Maka.
Just gonna lean in on the rifles that they save and now we're back up to pressing on different parts of the map here.
Getting aggressive towards top mid-dry, peek around the corner.
Lucky trying to scoop up the rifle, can't get it whipped out in time and a trade needed and found.
Okay, Yasuke.
So Falcons able to punch back at the aggression towards the top of middle.
They dropped the two rifles.
We're usually going to make their life easier because of it.
No ticking them all even for the 5-7 of Maka.
A trade is though.
Quickly around the corner.
And body, going to be pressing through tunnels.
The A bomb site fully clear.
Maybe trying to find a rifle to hold on to for the next.
Not a bad round on 3D Max, but...
Once again, the execution...
Not perfect the train was not clean because
Yes, okay again with the double kill
I use staying interested
It's just for
Some extra damage he will have a buy that extra end regardless so
I'm gonna be super concerned
So, uh, after these performances, performances from Kiyosuke, was he robbed of the top 20?
I mean, it's always tough when a player comes through halfway through the season.
Because there's just less opportunities, less results.
I don't know about robbed, given that fact, but, you know, we're very likely going to see him now
in that conversation this year right and coming through with a point to prove
a little bit of a unfortunate start with not being able to show up to the
opening bounty land that they were able to make it through but trying to get them
as many opportunities to add that making it into the playoffs will definitely
start that conversation for him nicely. Micah, aggressive, missing a shot though
in the follow-up swing and getting scammed through the smoke there, Tessus,
to the sharp shot there to deny the escape and Makka so desperately
searching for these frags will already sideline the AWP that they waited so
patiently for. The KSU guy knows this is CS2, he knows that AWP is holding him so
So the solution is just to swing faster.
Exo sees down and takes attack through the doors.
Tess also clearing long and Falcons using their extra player wisely to figure out the
setup.
It's a lot nicer if Tessus had a set of utility here.
Doesn't have that luxury in Niko.
He'll get pushed off here.
HG gonna stay all past him, but he's still boxed in.
Throwing a lurksmove to try and get himself out,
but Lucky gonna queue up for some aggression.
Flashbang around the corner, Lucky pressing the issue
and clears out tunnels completely,
but this is gonna queue up for Tessus to strike now.
Gravity with his back turned towards long.
He doesn't expect for the activity,
but a huge whiff from Tessus.
too much, they're still scaling up catwalk at least. Sight should be claimed. Numbers
should be punched in, but a retake is on. Nobody likes to watch that. Nobody likes to
see that. Even the strongest hater. Reverses four, post plank. He is up top, not ready for
X or Cs. He only has 24 HP though, holding for monosy, but monosy has the quick scope.
Flashbang is perfect on the body, but Kicksand doesn't want to take it to the house.
Monacy will put together the finishing sequence as some yikes, but never even matters, because Kiyosuke is him.
We saw the nice practices right there in the pregame to this series.
And right there, that's where Tessus lets out his loudest nice.
Know when that you could have cost his teammates a little bit more there
But with the trust
They're able to trade things out and still complete the post plate such a strong advantage
And your test was the one that netted them that opening pick
straight through the smoke
Some quick redemption from Falcons
Gonna take them a lead
I mean for 3D backs again another golden opportunity to take around but it's hard to execute versus
the Falcon seems like it's just so sharp that's the opener from test-ass perfect smoke spam.
We get to see the lowlights.
That's why they're called highlights.
We see the best of Tassus there.
We see the best of Falcons.
Show up consistently today. That can be their ticket.
Right now everyone coming through
Firing on all cylinders kaizu guy trying to challenge these USPs as a confidence continues to be built here for him
You can see the concern here out of Falcons as well for the aggression
You go maybe trying to line up a smoke at some point the blade activator in this round
We'll see that utility start to come through eventually.
There's not a lot of counter units.
A single flashbang for these USPs to maybe get around that corner, but you're right.
Smoke is blocked, so...
Horse in the second one out of Kyosuke.
Oh my god!
Alright, that's a start.
Flashbang in.
XRC's getting antsy around the smoke, and a missed shot from Monocy.
Texas will salvage, but there's another deagle headshot up through the smoke.
are you kidding? One more makes alert play. No way. No way. There's another body and our
gravity comes through. There's a back step, a full eco victory from 3D Max. Giving on
the cards, Modesty can't connect. 1v3 in 15 seconds. This is impossible. 3D Max, pull
off and it's just a crazy route. Unbelievable. I mean, just blind fire rattling off through
the smoke right there. It's going to leave Falcons infuriated.
Well, should have been good setup, good follow-up utility, but too much chaos
caused out of that, the blocked utility that you highlight early. And this blind
fire, fly spring stuff follow-up to try and allow them to cross with the first
bullet out of his deagle while blind is a connection to the smoke. A ridiculous
sign of the kill feed and a big round for 3d max to win limiting the economy here and setting up body or some aggression
Deagle out here for test this gets finished off in a follow-up for body nailing these frags a
man advantage
Still gonna be manufactured by body and a speed up from Kaisuke trying to chase down through the catwalk sees a shoulder
But lucky falls out extra season to spawn. He's in suicide right now looking for the follow-up flanks and more frustration
3d max carrying forward some of that momentum off a miracle round. It's just kaiizuke without the bomb
It's on the other side of the map unidentified
You're gonna need to find a lot more than just one here and he finds another Maka next to back with the op
He's looking to cut him off here. He won't allow him to slide through 3d max gonna deny the heroics
And falcons gonna be left shattered in the economy
And then there's the execution from 3D Max.
Obviously a team who on paper lack the firepower, body with a clean double in top mid, is a great way to start.
And then again, just these 3D Max plays where they continue pressing forward, taking space, playing in your face with yet another long flank from X or Cs.
Mouth plays here, Q2K running through the incendiary open for a 1-deague.
Now TSS next to swing with just a glock, just walk to the deagle and not enough.
For that, XRC's will take his double and allow Maka to take over.
And 3D Max we're going to start extending a lead on Dust2.
Oh, and a block.
Seasaw swing line by.
Damn, it's pretty good.
Yeah.
That pesky head armor.
Not giving him a kill here.
Goes down to 1 HP.
Niko, of course, expecting for 3D Max to follow up on the aggression.
He's riding, expecting it.
The base is covering out, focus in on the footsteps, and the radio max with a flawless
round there, timeout called from Falcons.
The person starts to rise on this T side, radio max building momentum with every shout,
with every push in the map.
Those are the defensive rounds that this team needs to live on.
Very pesky team to deal with.
And this happened similarly in the NRG game.
This kind of back and forth.
Falcons lost the force by war versus NRG.
And it took a bonus-y moment to claw back a 7-2 deficit.
There's just five to three.
Now's the better time to have her as you and Makka are getting some laughs out of the pendulum
swing back and forth.
Retaining some aggression already.
Here comes the nade.
Does...
Is Maki gonna flash body through the smoke?
The cat player's incoming as well.
This is gonna be an explosive round.
Rakyusuke deals with the aggression.
Body down early.
And a quick advantage here for Falcons.
Rakyusuke gives it back up, jumping up on the catwalk, spots two players, and with Maka
also holding that green box, honestly, could be in trouble.
That flyspring landed on top of Xbox instead of blinding up those players on Cat, so no
more visual giving here, but Falcons getting called over towards that B site.
The only defense is on the outside of those doors.
Gravity playing in the passive position and looking to take charge while also backing
up his oper towards middle.
Getting a little bit inquisitive, but in the meantime kicks and starting to clear things out get some good information
Eventually that utility gonna start to land to your no kills of the gravity just yet
They escaped his crosshair for now
Wanna continue to force the issue now met by multiple mollies. That is no longer an option monosy
Midler avoiding the op here, but getting charged down by three players
He's tapping him out with the rifle instead here three headshots right off for monosy
complete destruction on the rotate 3d max now to look to bail out your gravity
who is trying to keep him at bay here is going to get dropped in on by monosie
he's looking for a 4k trying to complete this one through elimination and
gravity is stuck behind the wall of these b doors will be finished off
eventually that's a big sequence for monosie though with the rifle just three
individual duals three individual victories that is monosie's firepower
in a nutshell. Like this not really swinging together to your disconnected
enemy's off-shot from Maka, woefully punished. A lack of coordination and some
depressing bases, but that's a great shot Maka. Diff's monosy in this round, and
even taking some extra steps forward into the lower tunnels.
I'm sure on the B site for Falcons, but not much they can do but the smoke in their face.
This is a good start for the French.
Any man in advantage, you can manufacture.
We know what that means here for 3D Max.
It doesn't mean hit the brakes, that's for sure.
So often, gonna be continued with follow up aggression.
And against this Falcons team, that always feels like a scary move, but it's worked out
for them for the most part. Trying to consistently punch holes in this attack
here. Big gaps are over towards that B site if they wanted to press that
extremity here. They're here in the footsteps, rattle off towards catwalks.
She tossed in. Kind of chip away at some more damage here, forcing them to fall
away. He'd go caught by some flashes in middle and he misses a shot there. Maka
Looking for the second frag and won't be able to find it now long aggression looking for the trade here for Kixson
And he'll go down exorcise keeping things stable bomb is dropped on the floor of long doors
And the slow creep up towards the catwalk
It's gonna lead lucky into some difficulties flashbang has to be ducked out by Kyosuke
And that's gonna set lucky up nicely on the swing
Just Mika left standing and getting flanked down here gravity
offering up the finishing blow
And a nice recovery for 3d max
Capitalizing on the man advantage that Maka brings to the table
Yeah, Xerces
He's a medal for that long hold
Because if he falls lucky is screwed the whole round goes wrong 3d max were actually out of position for this very a split
Saved in that moment Xerces has been playing some solid counter strike right now on the CT side
And I'll get a corner smoke toss at him, but
Not budget so you can see 3d max basically have four players on the B side of the map
Oh
There's a little bit of information one player spamming off the flashbang must have just been the wind, huh?
And I don't think there's anyone enough for tunnels
It's just Nika we swear
only him lurking about there you don't have to overreact guys now with the
mid smoke here as you said still have you lean out right each start off this
defense you're careful about how you play out this smoke cuz he started to
get spammed gravity in between the lurk smoke and the puns now helped out by
body and his spam damage as well and these HP bars continue to dwindle it
is a limp force around the corner Nico finally offered up a head shot but lucky
a 3 to bounce back there and shut things down and a perfect defense on that B site.
It's gonna give 3D Max even more stance on the CT side. Another B stack here for
3D Max helped out by Maka who was just holding on the long. They threw a long
corner smoke but it missed so Maka felt no threat in that round. They had two
players close middle. Didn't hear any presence so okay I guess we're gonna
back 3b and for those wondering there's like a 1% win rate on that three man
beat hole now out long they finally test exorcise on a real long take with
just the pistols exorcise has to reload though and will fall lucky leaving
him out to try in a secondary AWP
okay just a good tossing and what you literally totally have left to grab
himself an AK. I'll say that's well worth it for what he's been pulling together today.
AK in his hands and half his HP. But again, there is no round where 3D max led off the gas,
and that's going to remain true. Gravity pushing up towards the top of middle,
and a longer aggression coming through here. But in the meantime, B side is vulnerable,
and they've already gotten past the crosshairs. Longs called clear. Now you've got to rush the
rotate in body and towards this B bomb site it's gonna be a foot race one that
Falcons don't know they're in.
The contact point is B bomb site, one smoke in as well.
And the body got in his smoke just a little late and Kyosuke breaks through.
Lucky on this secondary up there, it's a gap in the course though he'll get damaged too.
But now off angle taken there by Niko is dangerous though. That
that Tonsmok about to fade as gravity walking through it is already into the site.
Miko tucking away currently, Han Karni needs to help his teammates desperately because
gravity has just rooted out the B site.
3D Max come through with the comeback and they have a lead here, 8-4 at the half.
I
And I need a clue
Now I know you and I
And I
I want to see through you
Now I know you and I
Need a clue
And I need a clue
You are the one who's singing
You, you, you
Now I see through you
Now I know you and I
And I need a clue
And I need a clue
Can I meet you?
How are you, my girl?
How are you, boo?
How are you, boo?
I
10 bazillion dollars or some French guys well fellas the French guys are winning it is 8
to 4 right now and breaking the microphone are 3D backs as they're going off man they're
finding new ways to win rounds every time. I mean, starting off with those
deagle headshots through the smoke and then flanks on flanks on flanks. Well
played here by 3D Max so far and we could be seeing ancient if this continues.
See that takes place here. CT side still trying to collapse in and that's a nice
start exorcist opening up on the pistol 3d max a little bit of leverage
towards the long side Nico is out in the open he still heads shut their clothes
lines exorcist while blind but eventually the breakthrough kill coming in
and a deep smoke in towards CT is gonna allow for that bomb to cross or be
tossed on over instead retaking order here out of the trio monosy
He's 2k'ing, kicks in.
See if they can recover a bit of an awkward smoke. That might allow them to bypass it. Headshots need to be rattled off in monesty with the dual bred as that range is still firing up here.
More targets handed over to this trio. It's just body left in the back of the lines and he gets finished off as well.
Falcons somehow instantly recover there. The headshots to lift it off was a tone-setter for monesty and the rest of his team backs him up.
Oh my god, and that's just
Falcons in a nutshell they are in any round
And especially the pistols because everyone's got insane aim on this team
The credits gotta go to kick sand though have one kill
in the first half, but he was
instrumental in breaking through there
Looks like hi a suitcase
Again, just another monster performance so far from him.
Incredible recovery for them as well.
Needed something to go right in this second half and having a retake like that to formulate
is a huge relief.
This is a forced buy here for the Falcons camp, it's not.
They've got some investment.
got some utility they don't have the armor to back it up here body can appear
on that corner shadow gonna give him up initially and you're gonna take a kill
free of charge because you get trying to peer down through middle making sure to
help out that B site first with a smoke and one flashbang
Where do they want to set their focus in on 3D Max walking out towards the B site?
Not looking like it'll be so easy.
That name's gonna hurt.
Just a little B site execute.
We have kickstand in the corner.
Make your money here, fellas.
$600 pocket in and a comeback.
Could be an order here for Falcons.
a great start for them. Maybe even an off-drop over to Monosy if Kicksand feels like it.
Got a game. 3D Max not out of the woods yet. They played excellently on that CT side.
That's some great tactics.
But now having to find new ways to win against this firepower from Falcons, Kiyosuke again
at back aggressive in mid, turns the flash, but the spray's not great.
Not what we're used to so far in this game, but not punished for it, so it's all good.
So much precision of the Kaizuki watching him miss like that is, it just feels so wrong.
As you said, not punished and being able to apply a little bit of pressure and still remaining
confident in this stance.
Boosting up a player as well, so I really feel like they've got a good sign of light.
Where's that Cowork?
No one's there.
Look at this call coming through here.
A lot of faith placed in Tessus, alone and long, flashbangs through the doors will catch him perfectly in body.
And able to explode on that play.
Tessus, taken down, and this A site is incredibly vulnerable, double up through the aggression of Tons and sides our turn.
Niko doesn't get finished off and will complete the kill.
So an equalizer found, but that A site is lost.
I had two players seen so you see three units accelerate, but they haven't gotten the bomb
planted yet, which allows for some disruption from Modesty specifically.
That's the bomb down.
Luckily, it didn't fall on the CT spawn.
Kyosuke in front of the smoke.
Just on the edge of it.
It's not a favorable fight for him.
If you see his shoulder, the spam coming through.
Kyosuke will live.
Niko will not.
Still, who is going to plant that bomb in 15 seconds of the clock and the flank developing as well for Kixin?
Time on the clock, easy kill for the first, then the follow-up, Kixin needing a lot of the sprays, no good.
Time low, 5 seconds, and Boddy won't be able to pick it up and plant.
8 to 7 as Falcons continue the roll.
This messy, it's crappy, but Falcons gonna get another one on the board.
Big sigh of relief right there.
As they somehow manage to find victory, there's so many timings that could have worked against them that Niko
double up on the aggression through tons
Should have gotten punished right there getting caught in this blank exercise going down to one HP
But then they have kicks in in the back lines ready to strike as well
Falcons
Stay afloat in that last round
Now they look to soar in this one to tie things up
The vulnerability of this piece I definitely known
On the Falcons camp.
Take a fake dip.
In those rounds it's largely why this team has struggled so much on this map of Dust 2
and now activating early before those smokes are fully informed.
And an HE to blow it open, Niko trying to create a little extra help there.
Gravity at least gets tucked in.
And Olaf for a slow peek coming through from body.
Smoke fade away towards tunnels and it's a multi from Kixson.
Keeping this round in safe hands.
his body left alone in his mid-play.
Your test is gonna play the slope,
made a missed out, oh, the Odyssey.
Bombs down on B, kicks in, and a clutch again.
Looking to save Falcons here.
This is a 1v4 attempt right now for body.
Kicks hand can pick any angle he wants in this site though.
And he'll take the head shot angle at the back of the site.
HP, basically null and void.
Hoping that kicks hand over thinks this.
body he could make a read he knows kicks in is low he knows those technides got
the damage in and as he starts moving between each different angle he starts
to Isley makes a footstep though kicks in on notice where could he be body making
no secretive kicks and doesn't want to wait for it though he will take the head
shot and stop the calamity and another crucial clutch coming through from
kicks in. I know this second map has not been the best one but first map
treated them kindly with multiple massive victories pulled together and what
we talked about so often in Stalkins and what feels like it possible rounds a
1v4 at hand for body and it was one bullet away from completing it but
kicks and bales everybody out right there and now we're tied up at 8s here
just as quick as to be. Off shot doesn't run a lot there in middle with the boost.
Long duel doesn't pan out either. Early plays from 3D Max. Not as easy in the
second half just yet.
A bunch of nade breaks in the middle but don't give it up. People doubt kicks in.
Kickstand, whatever you want to call him.
But honestly, it feels like he's learned a little bit playing alongside these superstars
because he starts to swing with superstar mentality right there in the clutch.
Not the kicks in, I remember, from days gone by, 19 HP, knows where his opponent is.
Sometimes he'd let the pressure and the tension get to you, especially as an in-game leader
who doesn't have the confidence in his aim, but Kixan is one of those in-game leaders who can frag.
He really wanted to back himself on this one too, standing in front of his own smoke.
Smoke spam could be very devastating though, but no one is going to go for it. They're going to try
and walk this again. As monosy opens up, smoke about to fade. Kixan with the many targets first,
Not quite the second, but then that's that's up, Montesey.
Underhand, flashbang forward, Mock will run away.
Ten seconds on the clock with the bomb,
and you're not planting here on the B site.
Falcons are gonna take the lead.
Blocking them out on the very inbound right there.
Montesey with a lovely multi being able to handle the pressure towards middle
and backing up Kixon on the B stand as well.
Montesey helping out this Falcon squad taking a lead.
Falcons now at 9 are looking to take over control. Another 3D Max timeout, the game plan being left limited.
And for T side, throughout last year that's been full of these aggressive plays, these off-spawn calls that always feel like such a risk.
But that's what 3D Max have lived on. They are letting the timer draw out and that's a little bit tricky up against this Falcon squad
that has so much firepower, you get disrupted a little bit on your play, one kill in, and
that's gonna change the tides of a late round contact play.
He kicks and provides the right amount of aggression, clean on that smoke fade, monosuit
with a blind shot, certainly doesn't hurt either.
Oh, he's like, what?
He just adjusted like full blind.
I know, it's ridiculous.
It's just not fair.
I
Can't see nothing cross right now. Are they gonna speed it up B that would be a bold and ambitious call
No free picks that's what Falcons are saying right now
Okay, jumping around the corner right there
Now they know an option play, which means 3D Max have very low utility.
Got a bunch of smokes, limited flashbangs, they're gonna try and bully Tess S here at
long.
This time they'll be playing a much safer angle than the previous time they went his
way.
Flashbang 4, lucky, tucked away in the corner, not seen critically.
And now, stepping forward himself, is an unknown entity in this round.
It does come down to Tessus, and he's holding!
Clean double headshot, can't trap the Mach 10, but that could be playing enough,
but Mako's found Kiyosuke on the rotate.
Biko in an awkward spot right now.
That's not a deer at long, but we'll drop the bomb.
And that should be round. Mako 1v3 at 30 seconds, bomb other side of the map.
And Falcons were down 8-4. The haters start to believe just a little bit.
And then it all goes wrong from there.
Honestly, it locked in. Falcons beginning to dominate and it sticks in a row.
That's taken over on the CT side everyone, having the moments test this another example
who hasn't been called upon for much in this map, able to do his job nicely when it comes
down to being able to hold that long pressure in such a profiting angle for monosy.
him a little bit too much shoulder this guy play is a tree
I'm off for mocking this round as well 3D max I'm gonna play without that key
tool and now Nico can afford stance you're caught a little bit by surprise at
least walks away with his life for now and needing help from honesty if I
Finally a miss out of his op scope now another one missing here a connection through the wall
But they start to take charge here and Maka jumping into the fray
He's gonna find the flag break through here Maka finished off as well the numbers getting punched him
But still a chance on this retake
You know when he crosses on the smoke
He's okay was ready for it just a moment still as a chance, but
Oh, quite. Tess S, possible situation here from long. Some of these rounds coming close.
There will have to be guns dropped over. So very important that he holds on to this M4
at the moment. 3D Max want to take this from him. They need to be a bit... Tess S will
go ahead and force a team kill. He's putting a little bit of the hurt onto 3D Max, but
The bunny will be a little awkward for Falcons, as we're going down the late stretch of Dust 2.
3D Max not dead yet.
I'll just get here, finally a breakthrough round. Being able to catch Falcons off guard, the conditioning of 3D Max has been really late drawn out rounds here so far on this map of Dust 2.
And that you're probably not all that used to if you're Falcons playing up against this squad.
They pick up the pace a little bit, they catch an equal off guard on Cat.
They'll leave them limited.
Surely going down range here.
Tess is playing up close and personal in case there's any of those late long pops that are
so common.
For some of the band damage I can actually through the smoke there from Tessus.
A nice little opening pick is a treat to start off this round for him.
But it's going to queue up for this B-side attack.
Three players, and a conga line out towards this B-side kicks in with the MP9 from the
top rope.
You're souped in for the spray down and he'll find all three tons getting mowed down and Maka
left alone
Falcons looking for the resurgence after one big swing from 3d max
Make it met with it big punch back here and just try to keep his go deal alive to not give them any access here
Well, Monty's position is known right now, don't miss this.
He won't.
No overflicks from Monty, and a good hodlosh from Zodic right there.
Deserved.
Full spray down.
down. Okay, it's okay. That's why he's here. That opener from Tessus, mean and this nasty.
Two rounds away here from locking it in for Falcons advancing through the slower bracket.
This would be the first best of three Falcons play today if they win it. We need a second
as well and Tessus trying to expedite that easy kill in the body. Easy fallback. Man advantage.
It's just dodge the deagles.
Tessus wants more.
Really wants to go through the smoke with the flashbang,
and everyone is black.
Tessus looking for the ace,
and he's gonna get it.
All headshots for him.
And it's a serious point for Falcons
to eliminate 3D Max.
Running up on this CT side, it's Tessus,
with a couple of crucial long holds here.
And another example of what he can bring to the table.
3D Max finally testing him.
He passes with flying colors set up with the flashes and continuing Falcons
campaign in the comeback obviously complete now just a step away from
closing things down and putting themselves one best of three away from
locking in these playoff opportunities after what was a scrappy day a day full
of fear one that kicks and said he was happy to survive versus NRG the fact
that they're still alive here and fighting so much harder than yesterday.
Not too far sooner.
Gee, taking as a reality check and coming in that much stronger versus
a 3D Max squad.
Everyone ready for their highlight moment here on Falcons.
Everyone can have a highlight on Falcons.
Someone will have a moment three series points awkward angle though test has seen but doesn't expose his head
so Xercese doesn't fight get the kill would be baited into the swing no mod is he waiting to punish
You would love to allow XCCs to give that a go.
Gonna wait for the utility first thing first.
Very high arc on that smoke to land.
I'm honestly playing through it.
As opposed to behind at Kaisuke.
Also looking to pressure through tunnels.
Timing not working out in his favour.
He still nets a single kill somehow.
And Niko strikes as well.
A two for one trade before 3D Max are prepared.
And now their only option is to head into the monosy op.
There's the flashbang, goes high, Monosy not blinding, it's a team kill for Mota, it's
a team kill collateral, Exorcise saves Monosy with his head.
Monosy scoped up, two kills away from a limiting 3D max, but it won't come easy, gravity though
will lose the bomb to the smoke spam, it's gotta be a 1v3 for Mota to stay here in Krakow
As Falcons will continue their advance through the lower bracket, their first series done, now one best of three away from walking into the Toron Arena, an upset from Aurora that sent them down here.
Now they are following up, heating up through the tournament, and on the most important day, at the most important moment.
Everyone coming to play on the most important day for them here so far and being able to
strike like this here, having full team effort, seeing highlights out of Kixin, seeing clutches
out of him over and over again, watching Kite of the 2K, just rampage through the server,
he was so much confidence, monosy connecting, you have impact out of every individual and
that's what Topkins need to see here for a day as important as this.
one best of three from walking in playoffs. On the other end of the server here for 3d max it's
another wall hit another good performance here in stage two where they had a team that topped the
charge in stage one having to deal with the firepower of the top dogs so always a challenge
and that team gonna continue here and crack out. Yeah it's kind of the story of 3d max as well play
versus the elite, who's versus the elite and beat everybody else. It's a constant barrier that they
They will have to overcome. I mean, hey, it's not like a disappointing tournament.
You're elimination is at the hands of T by Talon and Falcons.
You couldn't have been handed a more difficult draw for the Frenchman.
And they still showed up and impressed.
They still made this game very competitive and exciting, mind you.
But Falcons playing that dream counter strike, where you just have every individual
able to have a moment ace from Texas, straight out from Kiyosuke.
And even just monosy sequences left, right and center.
It's a wonderful day in the office there for Falcons, but it ends 2-0 as 3D Max will have to exit
Yeah, and again, you know Falcons now just a best of three away from locking themselves an opportunity in those playoffs here
They're gonna be eager to take it into that department. It's an exciting form
But the pressure is gonna be amplified for that final best of three
That's for sure got past the you know the victory versus the scrappy Frenchman that the team that has been able to do so much damage already
But obviously that means we do say goodbye to 3d max. We do have gravity waiting on the sidelines ready to say
There's 3d max in the Falcons and in this instance it is 3d max
You're gonna be going home from the Intel Extreme Masters and crack out a new best map one kaiosuke running all over you guys
We can we can leave that one there. Let's talk a little bit about dust who what happened here in your own words
I don't know we fucked up a bit in this area to be honest. I need to watch again the game but
I guess the call was not good, where they wanted us to go, so we had an issue on that,
and I don't know, the things didn't go on our way, sorry.
Yeah, on that tea side, it was rough. Does it come down to comms? Is there anything in your
immediate mind that you can attribute it to? Is there anything that you can attribute it to,
or say like, yeah, this was the cause of maybe some of the lackluster tea side of dust too?
No, no idea. Sometimes I think we had the group call, but we didn't close the run, let's
say. We get the advantage, we have the space on the map, but I don't know, we just couldn't
finish the run, I guess.
You've got Clouche, you've got ESL Pro League coming up, you're also looking at Aria. So
3D Max, you leave Cracow, where do you go, what do you do?
We go back home in France, maybe one or two days of practice, and then go back to tournament
and play again, play, play, play, and play, and that sets.
All kind of strike all the time.
You want to speak in French?
Tell them people back home?
Thank you very much. Thank you
And 3d max and amicable run here at I am crack out
Thinking down foot taking down phase clan that was a dominant series as well got to show their stuff
But they played against the super elite teams. You can't really blame them too much
but it also is just kind of a familiar exit for 3d max as
Constantly they find themselves in this kind of 9th to 12th place limbo
constantly constantly and we'll see if any other tournaments they can kind of
break that barrier. Yeah I know for them it's gonna feel like the same old I
know they wanted to make a big breakthrough moment here versus a team
like Falcons probably felt like they had some opportunities to do so can't
quite capture it and you know that's the challenge here of a team that's working
you know in you know one region as well you've got to make sure that you're
bringing in the firepower here bringing in the energy for every matchup and
playing up against the top dogs these these super teams that are being
established. It is a tricky task here for them. Still have high expectations for them. As you said,
they showed a little bit of energy in that first half of Dust 2. They're going to look to carry
it forward and I know this is a team that's going to be putting in some hard work there as well.
Yeah, and Falcons will be playing against the winners of Maus vs. FaZe. It's looking pretty
good for Maus over there on the A stream. But here on the B stream coming up, we have an exciting
a game, a playoff qualifying match between Fiora and Astralis, you got to get ready for that one.
Hi, this is Basement Dweller's first advertisement.
And our second drop is up, actually.
If you're seeing this, it's up.
It's available on the ESL shop.
Had a first go at a jacket, I'm really proud of it.
I've always had an interest in clothes,
but seeing behind the scenes how the sausage is made
has been a lot of fun.
And if you like the clothes, tell me.
If you hate the clothes, tell me,
but try them before you slag them off.
I think they're really comfy.
So yeah, that's my advert.
I'm gonna try again.
I'm gonna record another one.
That's a very frustrating opening death for Jacob to stomach might be the last opening death
He concedes here in Krakow looking like the phase exits imminent
Karrigan gonna be looking to be the entry instead beats flash flame and bullets still frozen is not giving up
Not ready for another are they though not ready for spanks that Joker at the back of the site a second required
He can't quite finish off twist a dink hit despite towards his opening. They'll phase have the advantage
Oh, the hell, nice wall-bang connection, so everybody's low.
The Glock could do bits, it's not even a Glock.
Wait, holy moly, that's a 5-7, that could really hurt,
especially with Jimmy already removing twins.
And just like that, FaZe Clan eliminated
with a hands-and-mouse, keeping it easy, keeping it smooth.
And not having to put too much energy into your first
of what has to be two, best of threes.
Yeah, pack your bags, we'll see you in the lobby phase.
This has been a trip to Krakow, sure,
but not one to remember.
I think that's the end of the Polish representation here
in Poland.
Just starting off the IAM Winter Championship,
but Maus looking pristine.
That's a 13 to 5, 13 to 6, 2-0 absolute slamming
against Faze, a team that, once upon a time,
they had issues with.
For recent history, it tells a different story.
Sure, you lost the major, but right now,
you have just bludgeoned them.
There are some real issues for Faze.
Back to the drawing board, conversations to be had.
The future for this team is it really? Oh, we show up at majors, but that's it for miles on the other hand.
Remember there in pursuit of yet another playoffs, the Spinks edition throughout 2025.
They were going deep. They were showing good CS, but as the trophies that eluded them.
I'm stealing, oh, oh, oh, I'm feeling
Turnin' loose and I'm all gone, I'm stealing
Come on, get together
Tonight's the night
And even if you're feeling blue
It won't be all right
We are troubles behind
And have no doubt
And don't care about what we're gonna pay
We're paying all the work
Oh, oh, oh, what a feeling
We're sitting in a group of men, we're feeling
Oh, oh, oh, what a feeling
To lose and walk on to it
At the break of dawn
A brand new day
Every fear will be brighter
In a true kind of way
But the night forgets
About that time
Tonight we're lost and we're fine
No matter how long the night
All the more the feeling
Taking the proof of this, I'm stealing it
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, feeling what it is
Turn it loose and all gone, stealing it
I think you can feel it
that this is a magical moment
and not every moment can be precious like this
so come on, here's something you don't want to miss
I don't feel the fire and sun
Your love is like a wildfire
Your love is like a wildfire
A foster king that takes me high
My heart is on fire as I hold you close You touch this electric, beautiful whole world
I'm addicted to the way we move and sway
Lost in the river by the same red lanes
Your love is like a watchpoint
I
I know I've fallen
I know I've fallen
I know I've fallen
Lost in the moment we caught in the flight
But all of it's like a wildfire, it's never the same
Even when my heart is open
Even when my heart is open
I found the dark side of your silhouette
But then your tables took so
Place my bet
to unfurl
never chase the post
never chase the post
gonna sing with you all
gonna sing with you all
desire
higher
desire
fall
love the choir
lose the desire
can you hear from power
Desire, higher, lower, lower, quieter
Who's that inside the postage player?
Even the night is open
Even the night is open
Even the night is open
I can't see a better man than you.
I can't see a better man than you.
I
You
I know you and I are really missing, just come with me and stop it, kissin'
I know it's getting hard to hear you, still all your clues to me
Oh baby, all I want is you to find for me
I'm just gonna push it
Yeah
Rock rock rock rock rock
I've been so funny when I'm with you
I'm trying to get you standing out to teach you
Got to get out of here
Got to get out
Got to get out
Got to get out
Got to get out of here
I got to get out
I feel it here inside of me
But you know what just occurred to me, baby
I just can't wait to see what it's like to be the same as what it used to be.
If there's time, I'll just keep on walking and I won't stop no, I just can't wait, stop talking.
I've got to get out of here, yeah, and that's what I'll say, I'll do.
Got to get through, got to get through the game.
Got to get out, come on, got to get out, got to get out.
Got to get out of here, got to see what's up with me.
Obviously no matter where I go, where I be.
Come on, I can't help but find my own beat
Yeah, no, as long as I'm gonna gotta be out of here
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
I just keep pouring, pouring
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
There's got to be a real place
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It's got to get out of here
Oh, oh, oh
So you can't hold me back
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Got to get up, got to get up
Got to get up, got to get up
Got to get up, got to get out of here
Got to get up
Yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, got to get out of here
You can hold me back, Lord, oh, no
Got to get out
Come on, got to get out, got to get out
Gotta get outta here
Got to see what's up in my mind
Call out about to me, call out about to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
All I want to be, all I want to be
Can't get it
Can't get it
Can't get it
All I want to be
I wanna dance with you
I wanna dance with you
I wanna dance with you
I
way too close to you
If I was myself I would still
leave me out of this one
The Intel Extreme Masters Crack-Op in the 26 brought to you by ESL in partnership with
Intel
Acer Predator
DHL
Zowee
Jax
and CDF
One last chance to get into the arena, the new arena here in Krakow. Excited to see
who is going to make it there. We've got Stralis and we've got Furia arriving to the venue.
I mean, Furia would have been one of the teams you would have guaranteed would be heading
into the playoffs with their form at the end of 2025. But a rough start, an upset loss
versus footy sports, and they've had to battle their way through the lower bracket while
they find themselves up against Stralis today. And Furia came in his favourites.
Yeah, slow start for a bunch of teams and Fury is now kind of reaping the difficulty of overcoming that now.
It's going to be a tough matchup. Astralis have looked pretty decent, but that's the thing.
You'd still kind of come into this and say, Fury, heavy favorites, but with what we've seen out of them so far,
there's questions now raised. There's the potential it feels like for a light game from Fury,
an off-game from Fury, and an Astralis who can slide in and steal it.
That's the exciting thing, I think, coming into this.
Astralis were playing at a level that I didn't expect from them.
I think they looked very good, very early on, and a big part of that is obviously Fuzi.
He's just really come into his own as a player, we've got to see that wild card, now he's got a good opportunity here on Astralis.
And Hoax has been able to create this structure on a couple of really solid maps so far.
Well, I mean, you want to talk about that a little bit.
Fuzzi is the highest rated player for Astralis so far in Krakow, and is in the Stage 2 phase.
And what we saw yesterday in their matchup was actually a lot of play calling specifically for Fuzzi on the T side to be able to overcome.
So, it's been fun to see him get incorporated into the team.
Group B lower bracket. We saw Malz versus Team Falcons.
Yeah, this has just been the way this is all played out. BC game had that matchup against FaZe.
They got eliminated. Malz took down FaZe clan a little bit earlier on today, so that was actually a brutal series.
So yeah, the last chance of the playoffs there for Malz and Falcons. That's an exciting game.
One of those teams going out and groups one of them heading into the Crackle arena.
We've got Fury on Astralis going to be taking each other on here as well.
That's here on the B stream only one can progress the other eliminated and the the quarter finals away
And I'm looking forward to seeing this series
I do have fury as heavy favorites coming into it because yes
They started slow, but they started to warm up a little bit now into the competition
But this is the schedule we've got down here on the B stream
We see Falcons handled at 3d max earlier today
We'll have a straws versus fury as the matchup coming your way right now
And then we'll round the things out with vitality versus Aurora, which is a game who decides?
Who goes in the semis or who goes in the quarterfinals?
Yeah, right at the end of the bracket to see which one you're going to be placed in.
And if you can skip a day of games as well, get that extra day of preparation.
So yeah, it's all coming down to it at endcrack.
We've got a good playoff set up so far, it feels like.
Here's these two teams. We're going to figure out which one of them is able to survive.
Fury, this is the history they had fished for Playground 2. Nice little dominant win.
Yeah, well, a long time ago in terms of the roster for Astralis,
a completely different team now, but that was the event Fury went on to win.
So that best of five against Mongols is a great game in that final
But here's the map pool of the last three months hard to really read into too much for Astralis
So we've seen the maps that they're capable of playing overpass unfortunately for Astralis is their good map and
Going up against Feroz like it's a matchup that
Unfortunately, they have the underdogs even on that map even on their home ground
Yeah, we talked about that just briefly before going live is just how unfortunate is that you have to kind of walk into the
Lion's Den just the map that you want to play on it that you've shown some proficiency on so
So yeah, really, really tall task.
I'd say, though, to be a positive sign for Astralis coming into overpasses their map
pick against Furia, you'd look at that and almost say, you know, watch the game they
played against ParaVision, how well they played there.
Yeah, that's true.
I'm excited to see how this all goes down.
Fuzzi and Yabi, two players that we talked about, their elevation and performance, in
particular for Yabi, who gets to come into this team, a new project, a new breath of
life, hopefully, for Yabi, and he's been performing very well.
Yeah, resurgent.
He's rolling back the years back to the when he was on the top teams in heroic and how well he was playing for that squad
We've seen a lot of that version of Yabi at this event. He was incredibly clutch yesterday
He's being very impactful and such a such a menace on the extremities of the maps yet again
So he's getting back to that kind of old playstyle. That's just being absolutely
Absolutely tough to deal with for his opponents. Yeah, looking forward to hearing from Astralis ahead of this one though
We got a chance to catch up with Rugga
It's been a long road for Astralis here at I am Krakow and now they've got the chance to make to the playoffs by
playing Furia. I'm here with our coach, Vrugga. First off, how are you feeling about everything?
It's been ups and downs, but then again you keep winning the important matches.
Oh, it's been great. I think the boys are getting to know each other a bit more every single day
and with the officials. So yeah, not too bad coming all the way here on Elimination Day and
pushing it to the limit. Absolutely so. I saw something interesting yesterday. It is not often
that we see the coach meddling in the screaming to the other team so can you tell me a little bit
about screaming hey it's Hoeksee that's shooting you like that was pretty intense I think it was
it was a shouting game they started hard on Mirage like trying to get into our heads and
as they lost momentum we picked it up a little bit and yeah when we were snowballing we also had
some fun with it but we could see that they were also smiling and having a laugh at it so yeah it
Yeah, it was just good banter.
It was indeed.
Now, of course, this is a very important match with a lot of pressure, so I wanted to ask
you about some of the new guns.
Let's start with Raiu, who has been very good in this line environment.
Yeah, he's been really good.
Obviously, we could feel from the beginning, getting both of them in, also, specifically,
like coming in high-skilled anchor.
It's just like the trend of the game right now, that people have superstars in almost
any role, so we're happy to bring him in, and he's showing like he can shoot hard.
Our quality also on the upper, Nafuzi is up against Molotov in this one, and Molotov of
course is one of the most renowned operas we have at this minute.
So how's that matchup going to play out?
I think it's going to be a great matchup.
I think Lava has been playing really, really good here.
Also showed that he can do a lot of different things, which he probably hasn't done so much
in his career, but at least we're trying to give him the podium also to showcase himself
here.
That's amazing.
Good luck.
Yeah, Rugby talking about the new additions to his team and how they've been implemented
into this roster and exciting young talents, say, Infuzi and Raiu.
Yeah, Raiu seemed to get warmed up into the event as well.
We saw yesterday he was having some very impactful rounds.
Yeah, first time I've seen him, really, it feel like he put his mark on a game like that.
So very impressive stuff from Raiu in that match.
We'll see if he can replicate it here today.
They could use it.
They're going to need all five players.
Absolutely.
Raiu definitely struggled in his opening games, though.
You know, here at Crackove, and that's to be expected of a player of rookie status.
level of play also a new team and hooks you kind of taking charge and as we heard from different
people talking about Astralis establishing a new system a new structure of doing things so yeah
it's a lot of moving pieces for a guy stepping up to this level for the first time. Well we've been
talking about Fuzi's performances etc but let's talk about Yukindar in particular. Let's talk about
Yukindar because we talk when you use the word resurgence we were touching on a small resurgence
from Yabbi I mean this this guy's had a huge resurgence in his career Jason and now he's back.
One of the most exciting stories of 2025 was Yeki finding his game again and we all see what
but made him such an exciting prospect and player coming out of the online era during
Covid of just like, oh god, like look what he can actually do, he's still got it, he's
found it again.
So he's the number one player for Furia ranked 7th overall statistically for the tournament
and just been a beast and obviously when you have someone with his playstyle having this
kind of an impact in the tournament, it's surprising to see Furia still kind of struggling
behind it.
You know what I mean?
Yes.
If you're kind of having this level of a performance as your entryman, as your playmaker, as kind
of the initial guy, he should be opening up plenty of opportunities for you.
So it is a headscratcher of being like, wow, I'm surprised Fury hasn't been able to get
through this cleaner with this kind of a performance in this role specifically.
Well, it's great to see you kind of performing well because someone who isn't necessarily
performing to their usual level is Molledoy, right?
And so when he's having a quieter tournament, who do we look to for this team?
And obviously, Kesterotto is always in that conversation.
But great to see you kind of leading the way.
Kesterotto is the second hash-fired player for Fury.
But Molledoy is only sitting at like a 1.05 rating right now at this event.
Yeah, he's one of those rookies that because his rookie year was so good, obviously, rookie
of the year and one of the best players in the world last year, like you take for granted
that he is still so young and inexperienced and there are probably going to be a couple
of events where he slides off, but I don't think you're going to be able to keep him
down through the entire thing.
This is the sort of game where the stars show up.
This is the kind of game where you need your Mollandoy performances.
We'll see where we go.
Here we talked about overpass likely to come in for Astralis and it does.
The issue with this is Fury are very comfortable playing overpass, so it's a tough game ahead
of Astralis to kick things off with their map pick.
Mirage could be the selection here, Fury, which we also know is a real struggle for Astralis.
We've seen them get found out yesterday by Footy Sports, especially that T-Sci was lacking.
So this is going to be a very tough series for Astralis, and it all lives and dies on that first map of Overpass.
Yeah, I think that's going to be a huge one for them to see if they can match up against Fury.
Fallen, obviously, all throughout his career has loved playing Overpass, has loved calling it.
So you can imagine they're going to be well prepared. Tough prospect for Astralis, but you know what?
On some level with this new over roster this early on I don't even mind kind of them saying you know what we don't care
That this is a strong map for you. This is the best map that we have this is the map
We feel the most comfortable and we're gonna test ourselves and see what we got absolutely
And I think the CT sides of our passive look great their T sides have been a little bit lacking
There's definitely moments where you're wondering, okay
Is the straws gonna concede just on this T side lack of performances lack of round wins
I think we're gonna see a lot more depth from fury across both sides on overpass
which is very worrying, but when you go to Mirage, Furia should be taking that.
If it somehow goes to Nuke, Astralis have a shot in the series,
but Furia certainly have a favourites to take that last spot in the playoffs
out of their group. We'll see how it goes down here in Krakow.
Astralis versus Furia, last chance in the groups.
Let's get it on. Overpass.
Defensive start for Furia. They've got the Doolies on K Serato,
plenty of utility, two smokes, flashbangs as well to handle any kind of a play.
on the T side for Astralis as they begin attacking into things.
P250 on Fuzi.
P250 on Ryu as well.
The kinder is going to be aggressive.
Listening for sound cues, just listening for a pace.
With no footsteps, going to back off.
So most of this defense aligned towards the B.
Bombsite, as we can see on the minimap,
with the kinder just spawning for information,
he'll back off and call teammates over.
And a very standard default opening for Astralis
on the pistol, spread around the map, moving slow,
making sure there's not going to be any pushes, being very cautious of advanced
position. So wanting these P250s to dual, we're gonna see Ryu, this is kind of a
deja vu to the pistol run they ran on overpass yesterday was giving Ryu this
freedom to challenge up into the bomb site and with the bomb still centralized
with control the middle of the map they can move around and go wherever they
want based off what they see. Now Ryu seeing the jumping play on the back of
guys box. I can't do too much about it though.
Bolton is going to be shifting into a B finish at the moment on the back of Hoopsy.
It's got to feel weird for Fury. You haven't really had any information at all throughout
this round and it's just been quiet.
Well luckily Kassarotto is in a position at short to pick up early info once that connector
door opens.
It's all done at the timing of Molladoi's smoke. If he can put that in place at the perfect
moment, you might as well do it now. 35 seconds and you missed it.
Yeah, missed the chance and in fact, Yabby will not miss anything. So Kassarotto has
the backtrack as teammates are gone so no support for him.
Guest Lotto also taking heavy licks of damage as teammates fallen gone and just not a great
defense here from Furia whatsoever.
Yabi's got a 3k starting strong here on Overpass.
Yeah, I think that was a very ugly little flash and hold.
I don't know why the logic of not just dropping that smoke at a certain point 35 seconds left
in the clock, just throw it down there and make that even weirder for them to have to
execute through.
Mollitoy just gets dropped quick and overrun at that B bomb site.
The silence on the map works.
Great to see Astralis pick up the pistol though.
The problem yesterday for them was the inability
to convert pistol round wins though
into the second round.
That's right, yeah.
Phil was able to kind of reverse on him
every single time they won one.
We'll see if they've gotten over that.
Probably had a deep conversation.
Good news for Astralis though.
Yabby starts the pistol with a triple kill.
Lovely opening very quick and then builds upon it as well.
Fearing out the back of the bomb site.
Good hot start for Yabby who was a force yesterday
in their series.
Another great point is Astralis
need to make sure that they pick up some early rounds in this T-side at Buffer
because we were talking about how their T-side can be a little bit weak on
overpass. We've seen it so far they've had some quieter halves in that
department and you don't want to let Fury just get the ball rolling and rack up
all these CT rounds and force you to have to come back into the game. So let's see
if the Shawls can convert this pistol round victory. The lack of kills from
Fury doesn't give them the best force by but 3-5-7 is a scouting an MP9. You're
We're still gonna be pretty happy with that, especially if Molotov can get some tags here.
Yeah, especially if Astralis is gonna play another slow round on the T side.
If he starts getting some of those tags, they're just creeping into control.
And all of a sudden those 5-7s can go to work without damaging them.
Now, plenty of utility as well if they can put it in place.
The pistol round trying to be a little bit too cute, trying to have like too perfect of timing of counter utility.
So, monster smoked off for the moment.
Astralis beginning to take control over towards bathrooms.
Yeah, drifting back to the B-bomb site.
Could be an early finish on this B site. The resistance
on the B-bomb site is falling. He's just re-smoked B-monster again.
They'll play within the tunnel hoping if Astralis do feel like they want to come
through that smoke, the 5-7 can have a bit of success.
Turnes in the flash. The second one as well. Clint works with falling.
Speed of reactions 5-7 lines up a couple more could have been a couple of kills that for a fall in just the damage though
Yeah, very fortunate Astralis that he couldn't connect another headshot
And there was no one else kind of sliding over for that support as well reinforcements were a long way away
Maladoy's gonna try and create something try and make a little bit of magic happen
He's got the shot easy clean up on the stair Ra you as well as low
Fury I could commit to this and go for the retake if they'd like one more cheeky kill would be beautiful before it begins
The Molotoy just see the trajectory of the nades. Just down below he knows for sure now he's that.
Gonna move now Fury up. No kits.
And it's not worked out here for the retake attempt. So Molotoy will retreat.
I'm sure no one's hunting and chasing after him. I hope he can grab another exit.
But Astralis do convert the pistol round. Two rounds in a row now on this T side.
I'll tell you what though, now this Fury is gonna be starting out in a little bit of a whole economic advantage over to Astralis.
Astralis we'll see how much of a lead they can build based on this and this
entire in a large context Furia is out here trying to avoid kind of the fate
of some of their some of the other teams in their position of just a
disappointing group stage if I am crack out to start 2026 you know you look at a
team like Navi who's gonna be really disappointed that they got eliminated by
Furia as well. Paravision after the winning the trophy disappointing early
exit at the hands of Astralis. Mongols yeah they made a roster change but I
think still would have liked to have gone a little bit further in the group
stage. There's a slew of teams who are having disappointing starts of the year at IA's back
off. Faze is getting eliminated earlier. Inferior just desperately want to avoid being in that
category, that conversation when the dust settles on this event. Absolutely. I think the teams
will be most happy, or the team that will be most happy is Aurora. The turnaround and their
performance and how strong they look in the group stage is very impressive. Yeah, it seems like
they haven't really missed a step with Soulfly joining the roster and useless is back.
I don't know, so one of the top players in the event, which is crazy. Great one from him at the biggest tournament he's played so far.
Lot of reasons for a roller to be happy.
Let's see if they're even happier with the win versus Vitality Litter today. They'll get into the semifinals if they can somehow pull that off.
Yeah, we'll be casting that one. That'll be the second or the third and final series of the day on the B stream.
So we'll be taking you guys through that one. Semifinals or quarterfinals on the line indeed.
First, we gotta get through this.
Fury up down zero to three, but the guns are coming out now, so we'll see if they're able to put a stop to it as the first gun round begins.
Well, Molodoy Alp has come out pretty early, and we really got to see him take over in 2025 in particular on Overpass.
Cool moves, especially with some of the moves he's able to get put up on, and Connector is just off limits.
From the T side when he's got that crawling over at B.
Fuzi's job at least in this round to think about the Connector, but he's left in reposition as they're going to be early.
Now they know that Molotov is off here, and I wonder if that...
There's a little bit of panic here for Astralis. They're trying to get through and put the pressure on him, and they will!
They will, Yabbi again, have the impact on this B bomb site.
Two kills picked up, fallen at Molotoy, both gone.
Keserado can't piece it together, just a single frag.
And that's Astralis just walking in.
You can't do much on the flank at all.
And Furious Defense immediately falls apart.
Yeah, that's a nice hit from Astralis.
Beautifully done.
A little bit of a smoke at the corner.
Molotoy was very much isolated because of it.
Man, that's a very, very strong hit,
especially considering Molotoy shaves off the initial thrust.
Ryu turns the corner a little bit early before the flash,
Mollador is able to get an easy kill,
but the floodgates open up.
Once again, the name we can point at, Yabi with a double kill.
Critically, triple kill on the pistol,
attacking the P-Bomb site.
Now he's got two of the trade on Mollador
and finding Fallen through the smoke.
And Yabi in particular was so good on the CT side.
It's so amazing to see him perform like this on T-Side early,
up six and two, just the impact frags
he's getting for his teammates
into his P-Bomb site.
Astralis loving the start they've got here overpass.
Talk about how important Overpass is for them in this series.
They're going to try and ride this wave as long as they possibly can.
Yeah, early time out. Slow start from Furia, shaking off the cobwebs, just waking up, whatever it is.
Now looking at 0 and 4 very early on on your CT side, Overpass. Money not looking good.
Have you kinder with the save dem 4? What kind of buy you want to go with here?
You want to go for one of those old school Brazilian buys? Pick up the MP9, get a little bit crazy,
bit crazy, just do the pistols in some utility, or do you want to, you know, go full in?
Upgrading to M4s and Formos at this point would be a little bit too much, so they'll sit back.
Hooksies really starting to make this B bombsite feel like a pain point for Fury,
doing a really good job, just that initial default of clearing out, you know,
Blue Door stairs, connector, that front of bathrooms, and then just being able to split
into the B bomb site at will
three i have to take the hit go down to weaker weapons again
straw also be conservative try to figure out
what they're up against here
now uh... we're not sitting around like this but previously yesterday against
what we saw that kind of deep-sea tea smoke initially towards playgrounds
saustral student a lot of boost with fuzi over the top of the two periods how
they like to get some uh... to force back any sort of aggression so inferior
bring that out if they watch the demo they'll have to be very very cautious
about that
and likely be the job of the kinder
or moledoy to prevent themselves from that
here's the footsteps attention taken away nice little sound bait
And that's going to speed things up on the other side of the map, as Hoocsi says,
alright, they've just aggressed, they've just found information.
Now they know we're not positioned outside the B bomb, so we've got to take some real estate here.
Utility being put in place for the A finish.
Smoke's running towards Bank and Stairs, now Molodoy.
Hoping he can't get some close work done with the eagle.
Hope is not enough.
And our strollers are into the site, it's-
Oh my god, Yuri!
That is special on the 5-7!
Hooksie and Boozy both gone and all of a sudden a chance for Furita to win the round.
Raul you put in the clutch and we've talked about his performances, how he's really starting to step up.
This would be a massive clutch to keep Astralis going.
You don't want to concede a round like this but unfortunately such a tough angle but he gets back to it anyway.
And he knows exactly where Uri is.
Uri's gone to the AWP.
Raul to the back of the dice box, gambles with his life into the peak and Uri will drop him.
What a round! Out of the 5-7 into the AWP for the close.
Builds that round right back out for Furia.
Yeah, the casual swipe into the face of Fuzi was something special.
He saves the day.
Communication seemed to be slow to get across to Hooksy though.
I don't think he really heard or was able to click in, fighting two other players.
Hooksy did a great job getting multi-kills on the entry,
but never really got the calms it feels that Furia was making this play.
Never reacted to it, but that third swipe.
Dude, the 5-7 is just so god tier, isn't it?
It really is.
This is so ridiculous, some of the rounds you can get without thing,
But smoke missed here for Fury towards Molster.
New Strahls looked to try and punish that and I think they've realized it, so they'd block it with utility.
Well, I don't know if Fury are really... Yeah, they do know that, you're correct.
There's the Flash. I'm surprised that Strahls maybe didn't try and aggress upon it a little bit earlier.
But now they will, they just delay it and be a stunner step and they break it again.
Yabby with another early fill on the thrust.
Yeah, very frustrating stuff here for Fury, but once again it is Fury pulling it back.
This time, in combination with Molotoy's success and the AWP.
Stairs low on HP, 17. As they move into the site, a moment to breathe here for Ashaul as well, smoke's erupt.
And stairs on a lurk elsewhere on the map.
Oh, an important fight to be won here for hooks as he backtracks. Not only is that a kill on Ykindaw, but it's the exit path back to the A site.
As stair races forward to get the information in the space.
Yeah, but this is kind of weird. Fury, I know this is happening because it made all that noise. The bomb, not committed, now I'm going to start moving up.
So you're putting a lot of faith in a low HP stare to hold onto this part of the map
and protect you as you come in.
Meanwhile, Fuzi's nowhere close to the fight, so this is a two on two.
Fury, if they realized it, they'd probably press the issue here a little bit more.
Almost like they called for a boost, called it off, made the noise, and then decided it's
not worth going for.
So now they just need to preserve these weapons, although Fuzzi on this hunt, they might have
heard that scope, Yuri, on the other side of the wall.
Not a lot.
Really impressive beginning of this game here for Astralis.
Great falling from Hoaxi.
I don't see helping out that he's got a lot of players that are feeling pretty hot right
now.
You know, Yabi is stepping up, but it's not just Yabi, you know, you look across the board,
absolutely.
She is impressive individually, Ryus has some great rounds, everyone's just having their
moments at this point for Astralis.
So good.
You're able to bring this level of intensity to the server right away for Astralis.
Yeah, this is really impressive.
Continuing some of the great calling and you're also, again, we've mentioned, it feels like
there's just that opportunity where maybe a cold game, a flat game for Furia and Astralis
has been playing well enough to take advantage of it, that's exactly what's happening here.
One kill on K-Sorado, one kill on Fallen.
Two kills on Ykinder, who as we mentioned, the highest rated player is having a great
crack up so far.
And now it's hacked through the wall just to make matters worse.
And you're an all big fan of that.
Down to 30 HP.
Fantastic first flawless to make sure that that 5-7 roam doesn't just allow Fury to
to sprinkle themselves back into the first half here.
Suffocating them immediately.
Taking over the connector.
The Kindar.
Don't just stroll on down to the bottom of the stairs.
Ryu and Hooksy both together.
Can you Kindar get anything out of this?
No. Absolutely deleted by Ryu.
Oh, they're reading the follow-up as well.
Hooksy looked for it but missed the timing although K-Serrano and Fallen fall back.
And still just cautious and patient on the map, spread it.
Astralis looking for the reaction, 45 seconds for Hooksy to play with,
Bonn has worked its way up the stairs,
and here's Yabi applying that pressure to the extremity, but may be an ill-advised peek from Stair.
Gets a haircut, back into a four on four, now Fuzi's in trouble, but handles it well.
Yeah, great reaction from Fuzi.
K-Serrano stays close to this MP9, got Molotov, backing him up from in behind.
And they're trying to block this bathroom attack here from Ashralist, 20 seconds on the clock, being delayed by Moledoy's AWP, but Kessarada's gone and Moledoy, great reactions, under pressure, backs himself into the corner and fights his way out.
Finally removed by Yabi, but the time is the problem. He must commit to the plant soon or just buy some time as he taps and tries to pull Fallen into the fight, but he won't go for it.
Fallen runs him down in the second attack, realizing Yabbi had no choice but to commit to that plant.
Fallen runs him down and collects the victory for Furia.
Yeah, the Wiley veteran scraps together the 1v1, but it's Maladoy who puts him in the position to win it.
That's a great sequence with the AWP and even keeps himself alive in that final fight to even get a crack at Yabbi with one shot jumping.
What a scrappy defense, but finally Furia can come out on top. Still, it hurts.
It's a lot of players gone down. You salvage the AWP after Fallen diffuses the bomb,
But you still gotta read by four weapons, so economy's still not pretty for Furia,
and Astralis not too bummed about that loss because of the impact of the kills.
And look, it's gonna be frustrating, I think, for pretty much every individual who swung
on Molotoy to try and trade off his shot, and wasn't able to manage it, but he's gonna
get those rounds from time to time.
Know how fast this is?
Astralis already swarming the site, just wrapping around it.
Uri's done well with the first catch, and Rota also coming in, and that quicker play
from Astralis has met a quick end.
You know, I don't even mind the philosophy though, trying to go for the uppercut and
a round, you know that might be limited on utility, but great heads up from Fury, likely
somebody mentioned something, watch for the rush, watch for the change of pace.
So the uppercut actually doesn't land whatsoever.
I feel like Fury, I do that rush just chuck like four flashbangs straight up into the
sky, and it all works.
Still, if you're a Strahlus, I know the money's hurting and it's not gonna be a great buy
in the next round, but you're still thinking kills are so valuable to limit the growth
from Fury to limit their ability to recover in terms of economy.
And you might, might just lose track of this position of Yabi as he crossed over.
It's been quiet for so long, no movement.
And now you can see the didn't pull in.
Fuzi outpatients is you kinder.
If that's a word, you may, you can make it.
I'm not sure we got 35 seconds and Yabi alongside Fuzi walking into
to be shot. Ball must spill to the middle of the floor. Yeah, we're going to get ever closer.
22 seconds. Here we go, Yaby. Can you get a multi-tilt boost forward? Okay, they lined up
and nearly give them a shot at that, but Mulladoy and Kassarado confirm a third round victory for
Furia. It's starting to feel like they're finally getting some momentum going. Yeah, I mean, actually
Yaby had a great chance to double up down there, and then that got really weird. Right. Yeah,
Almost almost a cool recovery, but well struck well held from fury who just had to kind of stand their ground
Tough hit this stop, but they were prepared for it
So two in a row for fury and that has to be the moment where they get back into this game and they're locked in that has to
Be the recovery moment where we get the fury we've been hoping for today
Oh, I hope they might hit you, Dark.
This is where the gap only becomes one round.
I just felt like it's too awesome, indomitating them, but the fact that the gap can shrink
this quickly. It's gonna feel pretty good at least for Fury up. Hard to imagine that
Stross was ever gonna like run up the scoreboard and just steamroll this team.
Building momentum has been nice and this is basically the kind of
advantage you see when a T-side wins the pistol, converts it, you know, this is where
you get those first five rounds of a buffer where you have kind of the advantage.
Now Fury can finally kind of set their feet, claw back into this. That
only a great time for them to reset in terms of the half and in terms of the
map but also in terms of the money with the flawless round, right? Grow that up
Where that's been a pain point for you that's been something hooksies tried to exploit an uppercut when you might be low in utility
Now you have all the bells and whistles now you got five smokes five Molotovs four kits you can play post plants
You can play early rounds. Whatever you want
First time I'll use for Astralis no cause for panic just yet
I think they're gonna be very pleased with how they're sitting right now in this half five to four with plenty of time to add
a few more rounds on top of it and we get back into things. Furia down a single round
full by for both squads. This is the lower bracket final. Winner, a spot in the quarterfinals.
The losing team is eliminated oh so close to that stage in Krakow.
Yeah, something we were talking about coming into the start of the series is that Mollenoise
can have an acquired or competition right, but he's actually showing up now. A couple
stylish moments in this first half. Let's see if that continues. He's gonna be
mollied away. Can't stay aggressive in the bathroom this time. And we'll retreat.
We've got Casarotto on a boost checking down at the con, that smoke break.
Not all that effective.
Oh, it just comes off the angle. It has a straw list and a couple of players up the
connector stairway
under minute on the clock
straws clearing out the bathrooms, molodoy
lying in wait
how many times
We've seen a T side encroach upon the A site and Molotov get a multi-kill starting from this kind of position
Lurksmok is gonna take away his vision probably make him a little bit nervous
So you can see on the minimap Yuri starting to cheat back was playing graffiti now gonna hustle over and wrap around because that smoke
Really makes them feel the potential of the hit kind of encroaching onto the bombsite closer than they'd like a lot of forces coming out
Towards long split with two and you still see Yabi harassing the people on site while all this goes on
Get dark retreating backing behind truck. Moledoy was left in an island. His teammates know where to be seen
And they just get melted as well as the straws arrived to the site so a 2v1 setup has fallen
It's not a bit of a quiet start onto the map. He's hoping he can get a clutch going for it
Yeah, but I mean look at the impact he had he had that lurker over towards short sandbags got one kill on the rotator
He bombsite fallen down to 32. It's an easy cleanup with that HP as he traverses over just a well constructed round
Where hooks he's like perfect. I get everything I get all the bathrooms
Nobody's here to challenge me. I get all of long nobody's here to harass me or spot this out
Just walk up to your point
Hit the mark in utility and lovely trading and scaling
Three rounds left in this half and a straw as you're loving 16 rounds already
Overpass feels like a must win in the series
on some pressure towards the beast on the map early enough
shortly be approaching through water
fallen deeper smoke thrown out
yeah be looking to try and move to the side of that maybe you just want a little bit too deep
the fallen he's going to watch that gap aware that yeah be
Could slide it in.
Yeah, not that super please, a little too much mustard on that hot dog perhaps.
It's still a very patient round thus far.
I mean even just on notice because you know and you've seen in some of the film and the
tape you've watched leading up into this match, how proactive Yabbi has been in these parts
and you've already experienced in this map as well.
Yabbi just kind of not only getting entries but just harassing you as you try and rotate.
So Fallon's going to have to be on notice throughout this entire round.
Hooksy yet again, another piece of utility.
This time, Ykinder's playing in front of it, though.
So he's at least going to keep the information for his team.
But at the moment, Astralis and Hooksy calling basically the same structure of the last round.
It's going to feel very similar to Fury.
The big difference is Ykinder having the information in front of the smoke,
which allows them to keep three players at this B bomb site in the defense in the right spot.
B finished for Astralis. Final 20 seconds. They're trying to get themselves the 7th round,
once again pummeling this B bomb site. It is Yabbi who's been so good on these B entries.
Time and time again, but this time gets nothing. Yuri Kessarato, a couple of frags here for
the CT side, slowing down this Astralis attack, but the plant is coming in right now and will
be committed to. Who's he taking damage? And then we'll be finished off as Yuri comes through,
Hooksy sending a shot back. A 2v3 is Astralis trying to hunt her down in the site.
Made, would have taken Kassarado out, but not landing in the right spot.
So it all falls to Fuzi to try 1v3 this. He's all the way out short, but looking like it's going to be a fifth round here for Furia.
You know where Fuzi is, and Moladorite will take him down upon the repeat, so a fifth round secured.
Yeah, it's up around. I mean, yet again, you can see when Yabi's not getting these openings at the B bomb site,
Fury of defense is able to hold strong, passive behind the bomb site, swinging double over
towards the ramp when Yabbi's making his move.
There's a Miss Molotov as well, which might have slowed the scaling in the entry attempt
to just bounce off a wall during the initial push.
But yet again, another very tough hold at the B bomb site for Fury of defense stays strong.
It's been cool though, I mean outside of that little stretch where Fury 1-2 in a row took
money away from Astralis for one round, this has felt a lot of this half has been like Astralis
supplying a lot of pressure on this T side which as we mentioned seemed to be a
weakness at different points throughout this room. Today it's cooking, today it's
looking great. You're gonna be happy with six rounds already but you have a chance
to squeeze it out of seven if they go heavy towards B again. Yeah, Furious just
been barely hanging on. They have to try and do it one more time. I don't even
think that Strauss is gonna care about this monster smoke. Yeah, take nice flying forward, blinded.
Will be successful on the first but can't get in the second. It's stare with a great
Double off and as strong as half the advantage is just be moving to the site.
Oh, low HP on stair though, wants to say a little bit behind that pillar.
Nate comes in, he hasn't moved just yet.
There's all the counter utility stair, just holding strong with that low HP.
Smokes in place is going to allow Hooksy to move into the bomb site,
but equally going to allow Yukinder to scale up behind it close.
Oh, he is going to slip forward, isn't he?
Right on top of the default boxes.
Plant is in.
E4 retake here and make it a 3v3.
Great shot for Yukinder, that's exactly what he was hoping for.
Waited for the sound cue as soon as he heard hooks he leaving the mom side. He's strong. Oh my god nice shot for Molotov
He sees a pixel and sees his chance
It's foosie God and now we've got yabby and stare and stare is so low in HP
He stuck at the pillar yabby is behind the snook and short
So don't go from stairs. He looks out to the left side of Molotov going back in barrels fight is there as well
That is stare with a 4k. Is it enough to close it out?
Can yabby shut down your kinder time ticking on the fuse and you kinder he's got to get to it right now
Now, the time is gone, it's not on his side, and Astralis will edge out a 7th T-Round here
on Overpass.
It's a must win in this series, and Astralis lead the way.
Welcome back to the Intel Extreme Masters crack-off. It's the last day here at the group stages and the last chance to get into the playoffs.
Furia vs. Astralis, we said Furia favorites coming into this series, but Astralis, they've decided to pick Overpass.
We talked about how that feels uncomfortable because Furia are actually so good on this map, but Astralis have shown us the level they can get to on this T side.
It is so impressive to see the success they're having as this new roster.
Incredible, it's due the underdogs are playing better counter strike and look better in the server at the moment
So if you're is gonna have to change that in this second half if they want to take over pass
Strauss would love to have this map
We said it's a lot of pressure that this is one map in this series
They have to have if they want to have to I mean otherwise it feels like a 2-0 is so likely for Furia
So looking to close this out on the CT side
They've done everything they had to in the first half to put them in a great place to do just that
Charles would love another pistol-run buffer just to get this CT side going because we've seen in this tournament so far
That when a straws a CT momentum is rolling it can put up at just a wall
Especially Gabby on that B bomb side has been so impressive. Who's he getting me off out as well a little bit later on will be impactful
Yeah, yeah, he feels like he's really comfortable to fight to the B bomb site today
Just based off that first half performance you kinder and Yuri gonna be the the opening duo to push forward and start scaling through bathrooms off angle for
Yabby, well they don't slide into it just yet. Similar pistol on really to what
Astralis ran, which was that slow kind of peek from Ryu with the P250, Maladoy
spots one. Oh, he lined that up. That's the difference though, isn't it? That is the
difference. Maladoy getting the shot out towards the inside of the map and
opening kill on a foosie. Trader's there though by Yabby. Oh, you kinder hasn't been
able to get going too much in this game so far. Maybe on the T side he can open
things up, but it's not gonna be the pistol as Yabby puts him down. Astralis
rotating over, they know where it's coming.
Yeah, Joe Brody is going for the Swing.
Chester Otto is finding more success here for Fury.
They try and flood into the B-Pomp site.
Everybody is here for Astralis.
They've rotated early, but it might not matter at all
because all the kills are going in the way.
Oh, Fury up.
Stare it now.
Left alone, and he's got himself a couple more shots.
He's dodging, ducking, and weaving those bullets.
But in the end, there's too much to handle.
And Fury finds success in the second half pistol.
Yeah, rotated over, but couldn't stem the tide of that Fury attack.
Once they're able to start swinging wide
and really jumping over the bomb site, it's all over from there.
You just got no chance and not enough bullets in those USPs to handle the Glock push.
So pistol for Furia to get them started.
Astralis had the same benefit in that first half, managed to convert the second.
Furia will get that with relative ease as it's going to be a third round buy for Astralis.
They decide not to go for upgraded pistols.
I've seen this from them a number of times already.
Just stylistically prefer buying in the third round.
So we're going to have a tight game, 7-7.
Topping very quickly.
Well, maybe not, you've seen some 5 USP rounds of Surveyor.
Yeah, this is not for these, but you know, they're not playing against it anymore.
We see a couple.
It's kind of ridiculous how many we have seen.
They got a flashbang too, Diko.
That's the key.
That is the key?
Okay.
Maybe you'll get a kill.
It is the great thing you always have to do no matter what you buy, no matter how little
you invest in a round, you always have to have one flashbang around like this.
Yeah, it gives you an option.
Just for something. Just to have a plan so that people aren't running around like headless chickens.
Coming around as a group.
Now getting towards bathrooms. It's the right side of the map to be in.
If they hear the sound, oh no, they're too close. They're going to turn the corner before anything's down.
Stairs already chucked it out. Stairs dead. Yep. Okay.
Will they be one of those USP rounds?
No, it's not. And Fury are going to be happy about that.
So, we'll finally get off the scoreline of 6-7 and then we'll move into a tight game.
I'm a boy to balls.
Alright, well, Glyll and Ann for Astralis if they want to try and save it.
Not the strongest weapon, obviously, but every little bit of money helps in my book.
Specifically your book.
Specifically, not everyone agrees with that, truthfully.
Some people are just like, throw the Glyll away, who wants it?
I'm like, I don't know man, that extra cash is not spending on M4 is quite nice.
The little scope too, gotta say.
It's not really the FAMAS, but it's okay.
It's way better than that, you're out.
Okay, well, we'll get into the Byron now.
This is what Astros was saving for.
Will they start finding success immediately on the CT side?
Let's find out.
Hop at the hands of Fuzi to open things up.
That'll be nice to get them started as quickly as possible.
He's gone glass cannon though, no armor on Fusey, so nades are gonna be painful if he tries to get too aggressive and eats a pre-nade.
Four players start on defense, for Astralis at the P-Bomb site.
They're getting caught off by rushes this early on in the half. Yuri and Fallon gonna slowly work their way, gonna pass Blue Door, broken open as well.
Yeah, be with an angle over to it's short. Now we saw him execute some mid-round pushes here yesterday from Astralis, they had him flash-activated and do a peek, was able to get a number of kills. Fuzzi's gonna challenge, he's got his opening.
Fuzzi's going back again.
It's not gonna dissuade Furia from the A bomb site either.
Nope, but they're still gonna have to try and get around Fuzzi, who is going deeper and deeper into this peek.
Let's see if Fusey can get another one.
Missed shot. Now gets a little bit worried because he has to get back to safety.
Luckily his teammate just smoked out in front of the bathrooms and he can drop back to a safer angle.
And then Miss Molotov means no one from Fury can actually scale on him. They dropped the Molotov in their own path.
So it's missed its mark initially.
Molotov gonna try and make it his play. No opt for him. Fusey's got him zoned in at the moment.
Molotov in marching. Come through long. He's gonna clear the corner. Yes he will, but it doesn't matter because Sterak just stepped out and he caught himself.
Step down, he got himself a second try out of it.
Yabbi and Hooksy put up the wall and Astralis don't lose a single player.
Yeah, Molotov saw the barrel of the M4 as he scaled, but he didn't expect the swing really well struck from Stare,
who's had a couple of very nice rounds in this game, and obviously the transition over, fighting the second player in the Molotov.
I think that was an Astralis defensive Molotov in it.
Probably disjointed and messed up with the timing for someone to trade Molotov's swing out towards Long.
This is how it opened up, Fruzzy with that initial kill.
As you can see, Fallen's clear into the right, running into the Molotov and can't turn in time to handle stairs.
Second time out from Furia.
You know, Furia's had some stretches where they've looked good and they've had a couple rounds strung together,
and it looks like they're getting things going, but Astralis has done a very good job of always staying top of them.
Never letting that like extend to anything they can't handle.
Never letting that momentum build up into any critical mass.
They're able to to slow them down and just maintain this lead. They'd like eat it back out again
Once again nursing that one round. Yeah, they're gonna extend to this wall
I mean look at the situation over here for furia. There's not much money to speak of or so ever
I mean furia really have not come into crack or playing a very high level compared to what they're used to right
This is definitely seen a dip in form. They still get to the last day of the group stages
But it's a very worrying start into the map, isn't it?
Yeah, you've at least got Mollardoy activated where we kind of touched on this was a more quiet event out of him that we
We saw him down sitting down at just statistically at a 1.05 rating.
So you got him performing back well again.
Just not everyone having the impact that you need in different moments.
And Astralis, again, just playing a very good game as the underdog,
I think is the big credit you got to give.
Yeah, I think the strength that we were talking about last year for Fury, it was the fact that,
yeah, you've got Molo-Doy, your Kindar, and Kassarado all playing well.
Right now, you're getting either your Kindar playing really well,
but Casarado just a little bit behind her, now he's going to follow along and he's going to auto-quiet
He's not getting everybody online right now for Fury up
Clousey, handling business with the USP eventually going down, he was just caught in the open
and Casarado peppers in with Glock bullets, but really the only chance is if Starr was to repeat into the open to get a follow-up kill
and that just isn't going to happen on one HP
I agree with everything about Furia. I think you're spot on.
I'm so impressed with the Stralis right now that my brain's focused more on how well they're playing than thinking this is a disappointment from Furia.
When you have Hooks, he had such a great start and obviously in the fragging department as the game has gone on, he's remained a little bit quiet.
a little bit quiet, but phenomenal calling on the T side, CT side team well-prepared,
Fuzi's having impact with the AWP, Yabi's been a beast. Phil, you're getting a lot of
pieces of this Astralis team working exactly the way they're supposed to as well.
Yeah, it's been incredible so far. Fuckin' is for fuel yet. Stole, he's coming to a buy
and he's still got two tech 9s, two AKs and a glial.
I know, it's ugly, isn't it?
Just getting better and better here for Astralis.
Stair, feeling good about pushing down long?
He's going to find a lot of information. He's going to get the reward under this risk.
He's going to say, hey, fountain's clear, playground's clear.
I'm now over in party, and I see nobody scaling up bathrooms or lane whatsoever
So you have to get ready now for a B finish. Yeah, Fuzia's just shifted over
I mean stare this is an impossible part of the map to really clear out if you want to come back if her plan B
To the A bombsite is Furia. You're kind of stuck into this hit
committing
Into the B site first layer defense successful. She came on catch Radocon. Okay big ol shut down
and now we've got Urea Moledoy left alone, Urea 12 HP, there's nothing Fury can do here.
It's another round comfortably falling in favor of Astralis.
Flashbang is perfect to take the defense off the angle, but the counter HE grenade at the corner
is even better. Just drops at the feet and lines up an easy double on shell shock players that
cannot possibly react. Double digits for Astralis, extending the lead to three, forcing Fury away
from even attempting the round.
Hooksy was the answer all along.
He was.
I also...
I'll show all this, you know, moving away from full damage roster, Jason.
It's kind of working out for them, huh?
And Hooksy had the most success, speaking English.
Just saying. G2.
That's where we're going to go with that.
That's what it is, you know?
Yeah.
Alright.
International Team Roots.
Perfect.
Alright, well short. Molotov is extinguished.
K-Syrato and Yikindor eat tons of damage from an HE grenade, and once again a Molotov
coming in.
They wanted to execute it fast.
It feels like they want to challenge us a little bit.
Just have K-Syrato and Yikindor see if you can grab you a kill.
But here's Astralis setting up this play yet again from Yabbi.
Yabbi, yeah, just the one for one this time.
Casarota an important trade early doors here for fury up. You're gonna have a couple of plays up through short now. Hooxy
That was peeking from the side of the pillar in the middle of the site making sure he's got short control
I like it though. It's a good play one for one for yabby
Sure, he goes down
But you got a little bit of information because he kind of slid the defense over and reaction to that information and now that you feel
Them shifting away and the pressure subsiding you go for an aggressive push for all the information you could have
So Stare needs to hustle back to the A bomb site because Fuzi's on his own and with an AWP he has to play behind the smoke
That's a good block to give him a chance to just grab one quick kill
Under a minute on the clock and look at the position of Fuzi
Sorry to the smoke, kills the way of Transorado and goes forward another one from Fuzi
That is what we're talking about Hoocsi coming in with Rio at the end and they're able to shut them down
Nice all clean up there from Astralis. Look at the way the proactivity comes together
information off Yabbi's play, then you execute the follow-up push through monster and you double it up when you have a sense of
what's happening on the map and what that part of the map looks like and then they get a fast flank as Fusey is
stalling out this hit by killing the first player, killing the first space-taker and then grabbing the second one and then it tees up
the last two players for that flank earlier. That's a beautiful comprehensive defensive round from Astralis.
I may have no answers, Astralis even calling the timeout, letting them stew in it.
I like the way Fuzi plays.
I like what he's feeling, Call of Duty.
He just started to smoke, gets aggressive, you know, takes the more advanced peek instead
of falling back and I love it.
I mean dude, that's the kind of play, that's the kind of play that made him so exciting
in Wildcard that opened everyone's eyes back at the Shanghai Major, we're like, okay, he's
He's got some game and look at what he's done now.
I found himself in a great position here in Astralis to try and reinvigorate this legendary
organization that has been years without too much success to speak of, but finally it feels
like this lineup is moving somewhere to bring them back.
And we thought overpass could be a real challenge for Astralis, but so far they haven't allowed
Fiora into the game.
It never, I mean we talked about in the first half, Astralis were in the pistol, Converter
in the second, we're like alright now they get the five round buffer of economic advantage
so they can build up a little bit of a lead and be comfy with the rounds from there.
Furyah had that same opportunity, lost the first gun round, and you could just see the difference.
The defense gets activated and gets settled so much quicker, and look at the confidence now.
Yeah, Stara aggressive again, clear party.
Furyah haven't been able to control the map whatsoever.
Scrawl is about to get...
You just get all that information, you know what the B-hit's coming.
Spam comes down, they're actually too short, they actually made it in, but it doesn't matter.
Hoopsy again with a double kill.
Nice of his team mate, step it up alongside of him, and Hoaxy's individual skills really rising as well.
Yeah, playing a very good game individually on top of the excellent calling.
This is one thing we noticed in their initial match here in Stage 2 against ParaVision,
it was just like, wow, the game plan that Hoaxy brought into this, he seems very comfortable.
I mean, that was overpass as well, so we're seeing it.
And remember, the way we positioned this at the start of it too, was like, okay, well,
Astralis is like, their best map is a very good map for Fury here in Overpass,
so it kind of sucks you have to go under the lines then and challenge a very strong team on the map.
But man, look at the confidence it's going to give you moving forward.
They're wearing the lion's skin right now, man.
Hooks is walking around with that.
And the beautiful thing is it's going to establish this as a map in your pool
for the future in the future series that you're going to be flying.
Now people have to respect the Overpass as well.
Really impressive what we've just been able to do.
This is Trollus roster so quickly.
Castorado, drop the opening frag.
The Spirits have the advantage, but can Astralis convert a 4v5 into a map victory?
A 3v5 now as Molodoy's followed up.
Stare gets spotted as well, so now his life is not going to be long.
Okay, well that's for the sloppy round, I just kind of falls apart, spam down through
Smoke Ryu and then obviously just crumbling.
The Alpha Molodoy, Stare getting spotted before he's ready for the fight.
We'll write this one off before Astralis, we don't want to give too many more of these,
don't want to give the easy rounds as Fury will try and execute this 5 round comeback,
4 when all is said and done here in round 20.
Looks like he's being hunted.
And spotted by Yuri.
So bomb is picked up, it was left way far back which is why we're getting this extended kind of close of the rounds.
Fury is just being cautious and making sure there wasn't going to be any kind of stupid shenanigans to prevent them from getting the bomb over to the A bomb site.
They'll be just fine. 12 to 8.
I
Hooksie just hanging out no one around it's kind of a lonely
Life he's got here. I know I
Mean, you know, I kind of understand it too like it's kind of been a weird odd close to the round
Just because it's been so quiet for so long you can understand if you look at the money from fury of theirs
They don't want to hunt. They don't lose any weapons. Don't work this question
I guess the gigachat look at what money he's got. That's true, man. It is the gigachat
He's got plenty of money. Look at that laser focus as well
Locked in. All right. Well, time out. Well, this is interesting. This is the third time out that Astralis is using
They use the second one after a round win a couple back to talk things over
So, you know, it'd be nice to have one down at the end, but whatever double-op setup
That's been brought to the table here for Astralis.
Fuzzi and Stair.
So I wonder if they want to set something up like having Stair over on the other side
of the map from Fuzzi take a shot or Fuzzi take a different side of the map for kind
of force someone into a swing where they won't expect the AWP to be there.
I've seen that a number of times.
See where these guys set it up.
Now, it's an expensive strategy to switch into, but thankfully off this five round streak
that Astralis's hat they all got so rich I mean what Hooksy had like 14k before
before they bought into this round so plenty of money to sustain the double
off even being left over after the fact. Yeah well let's see if this is the
winning recipe for Astralis to close this one out 13 to 8. Astralis's map
coming into this elimination game looking like they can handle business very
comfortably versus Furia. Fuzi using that boost against Furia. Stairs got his
out towards long as well however nobody from fury was nearby to take the initial swing
the kinders moving in that direction now so that reaction didn't come as fast as Astralis
probably would have liked so i'm not going to say stairs now stuck using the weapon but
you know he's it's no longer the kind of initial flight he wanted well we've seen this play work
out for a couple of teams on the ct son of overpass with the offerings out of b then you see the
long peak and oh the timing on that unscope from stair man i think he even swore just as that swing
came in. Yeah, we've seen paravision running that earlier in the competition. The great
effect. Bummer for Stare, opportunity was there. But you know, it's interesting it came
that late because they're obviously looking for the reaction to be a little bit faster.
There's plenty of time for Fuzi to actually shift back towards Long, maybe not in that
exact position.
Alright, so now you've got to work this defense with two AWPs. Stare still has is. Fuzi is
as ever at the B bomb sites, at different sides of the map. But you've got to go up against
one of the best offers in the world.
Now, Stare, good luck.
Ooh, he actually comes out on top.
Yep, and Naked goes in as well.
Mulledoy taking more damage.
And Stare shows him how it's done.
Hugs him down, gets the kill.
And Astralis looking to close things out.
But then Stare was kind of huffing his own gas
a little bit too much and moved a little bit too far forward.
So he's out of there.
It's still a 4v3 with such a limited time.
20 seconds on the clock here for Furia.
No counternades for the Astralis defense.
And a couple of Molotovs are going
to start raining in. Great flashbang
to take Fusey off the line, but he still gets the kill.
Kasteran is gone, Fuzi and Hooksy combining together and now just fallen.
He's got a tough individual back here, he's at down and out and it will be Astralis to draw first blood.
Overpass goes their way. We thought it would be a challenge. We thought it would certainly be harder than this,
but Astralis shows a strong T side and a beautiful CT finish to round out a comfortable win on Overpass.
Yeah, I can't say enough about how good Astralis looked in that.
I love the calling from Hooksy, a well-constructed T-side, and yet again seems to be a trend coming into Overpasses.
They've just got a great game plan a great foundation on the defense this map and able to kind of work it against all the different opposition
We've seen them go up against here in crack up on the map
So I mean awesome to see them challenge fury on one of their strong maps and win it so emphatically
Oh, we're gonna move on to Mirage shortly
But yeah, we've talked about how it draws and we struggled there. We've seen that against footy sports, right?
The T side was running dry. Yeah, it wasn't a lot of options for them
There's such a new roster and they've had such a short amount of time to develop this map for coming into an event of this scale
And now you're playing against one of the best teams on the second half of last year
Well, they are not bringing their a game and overpass is now gone against them
They better be able to bounce back during the life. Otherwise, they're going home
Yeah, it's a wake-up conversation between maps for fury that'll be that'll be the combo that they have so tough one to bounce back from
But we know they can do it furious still looking for that 20 25 magic
We'll see if they find it in the 10 minute break. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it because I think when you're looking at a second
have a play, Jason. It's going to have to be a big turn step up in performance from Astralis
as well from what we've seen so far from learning what they've made mistakes on in the previous
games, but I don't know if they're going to be able to have that much of a quick turn
around on Mirage, so I do feel like we're going to go to Nuke, but based on the way Astralis
have played on Nuke before, I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series. It's all
to or die here at Intel Extreme Masters, Crack-Off, Astralis versus Furia. Only one can stay in
in the competition.
It starts with a dream, with a team you barely know, in an amateur official that feels like
the grand final, where practice becomes progress, and every loss feels like a lesson.
When will your journey begin?
I
I
I
I
I
Can you hear what I'm saying?
I wanted to ask you a little bit about last year, you know, you've had time to reflect
now and I'm interested to hear your summary. How do you see, how do you frame if your
parents said how was 2025 for you, how would you describe your year?
I would say good but of course you want to meet more trophies but for me it's first
year and I would say it's good for me for my good experience and for my next step maybe.
And what does how is 2026 going to be different more trophies and how to work or what's 26
got for us?
I'll say we will see.
That's a safe answer.
It's a safe answer.
Good boy.
Yeah, he's learning.
He's learning.
You've been media training him?
Well, I think he's more shy than MediaTrend, but...
It's true, okay, it's true.
No one loves a camera in their face. That's something you get used to.
I don't like, but I don't like to say.
Well, dude, I mean, the fans love you. Your gameplay speaks for itself.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the new year has in store for us.
Keep setting up, I'm sorry for distracting you, man.
Year in reflection from last year.
Some trophies fury were truly you know contenders
World number two or the peaking world number one, right? I think you had a moment there. Yeah
So, I mean, it's got to be in reflection a good year. Definitely. Definitely. I see was amazing
That's half of the year. We were able to win four tournaments almost in a row from the five we played and
Didn't end up with a bank on the major we lost in the quarters
But regardless was a good run. So yeah looking forward to a little bit more of the same this year
So yeah, the major obviously not ideal fellow. You could have gone further coming into to bounty another kind of
Would be a difficult loss. I suppose just the way in which it went down
Yeah, I mean, that's okay
Paravision though. I feel like you're gonna that's gonna be a matchup and a team you're gonna be talking and playing against a lot this year
How was that game for you from your perspective?
you know
Having played against James resistance for a while now even Malek has been there all their times and they're very smart when they
They play CS, they play close to perfection, they're very smart what they do.
It's just the first term of the year, they're playing a lot of cohesion together.
They're hitting their shots and they have some individual things going on their way as well, winning clutches and retakes.
So it was very difficult to play them, but it was a good wake-up call, you know.
If they felt like against things like this, the game is not going to solve by itself.
And you've got to have the last answer for the equation, otherwise you're not going to get there.
How much of a time off did you take? Did you take the full 3-4 weeks off or did you give yourselves a warm-in to balance you?
Or did you just say we'll use that tournament, we'll start there and then we'll come straight into crack off hot?
As soon as the major ended we had almost a month of vacation and that's basically the only time we can actually chill during the year.
So it's very necessary. And then we came back to the practice. We were practicing quite early so we had some time to prepare.
But I would say we started a little bit slow, not going to lie, but it's good.
It's like a wake-up call on some points that we think as a team we can get better, even
reinforcing some behaviors that we think made us go well last year.
And then on this year, like, okay, we're missing this in Dallas, make sure those things are
happening.
So, it was normal, I would say, and I think we just got a wake-up from that call.
Yeah, right.
I mean, suppose that the results like that or the, you know, slow starts can just feel
like cold water on the face, you know, wake you up in the morning, get you ready for a
a good year. Looking forward to seeing you boys play.
Welcome back to Intox, Dream Masters crack-off 20-26 is the last day of the group stages here and last chance for
Furia and Astralis. Astralis one map up and coming into Mirage. I'm hoping we get to see a little bit more under
Kassurado, right? This is applied to how to move a quieter game going over there on that first map and
intentionally towards the end of the second half they really could have used the Kassurado performance.
So hoping that on Mirage we can see a big showing from Kassurado when they need it most.
I think overall you just need everyone's going to have to perform a little bit better, right?
Following on the anchoring positions, I think more than anything as a team, right?
Like you saw the level that Astralis brought out in terms of team cohesion and in terms of having
a thought on the strategy of a tactic you're executing across an entire round, able to piece
different tactics together, Astralis need to be able to match that. If Astralis is playing
that game and that's how the communication and teamwork is working for them today, if
you can't meet that as a team, the individuals aren't going to matter nearly as much and
that's where they need to step up.
Well, here we go. Second map, Mirage, underweight. We're going to see Fiora start on the T side
and Astralis on the CT side of Mirage here. Smoke going to go out towards connector and
window straight away. If you were going to move with three players towards top mid.
Yeah, I have a little bit of control, but Astralis, you can see them kind of crunching for this triangle peek off short.
Oh, first, Gush is from Fallen on a yabby. Couldn't get that fast enough.
Lovely shot from Fallen. Your kinder swaps out to the USP and they pick up the pace towards the B-Bomb site.
Yeah, Hooksy wedding up in the apartments. Kassarado gonna bring Hooksy down.
Gush out to the USP. A good start here for Fury as they fly into the B-Bomb site.
There's really no resistance from Astralis from this point onwards.
It's not gonna see a retake, be all that successful.
And so Fury will find the first round of play.
Let's find a way to lose this round, and everyone peeks everything, it shouldn't really be an issue.
I don't think there's going to be any standing to get back in.
Fuzzi, as you mentioned, already brought low, so I think the Astralis player is going to just kind of prioritize the armor
and Raiju and Stair back away with some cheap upgrades in the future.
And a nice pistol round from Curia.
Alright, well they got it on overpass as well on their T side, but we're not able to capitalize and build into the half with it.
I know we've got you stays alive with the dual Barrettas and the Kevlar all the way back at T spawn.
Come on father, come on!
Come on!
I'm gonna start to come out swinging here if you're a fury up.
Come on!
I'm gonna get some conversation about bringing some energy to the server.
Knowing they've got Astralis on the map, they're not hugely comfortable on.
There's that third and final map of Nuke will be very exciting.
Both things are giving us a good show in there.
There should be a 2-0 lead here for fury up.
Follow us with no investment.
I'm sorry, little boy.
Just have to save from Raios, got into a helmet.
That's it.
Everybody on Fury electing it for rifles.
Yeah, just be very patient with it.
Looking for any kind of a play from the CT side, any kind of a push, not gonna happen.
So, it's Rals 1 to left, kind of Fury just have the map.
Gonna be an easy one to get up to, nothing.
I don't know, this is, we'll see how good of a start this can be.
Maladoy falling, Kcerado with kills in the pistol, we're looking for them to come alive.
Yikinder with someone who I feel like we talked about him at the start of the series was the best player for Fyria.
That overpass map, I feel like he just got a couple unlucky timings.
I feel like it's still there, but he kind of got a few unfortunate moves that they were made
and like the timing of them just don't pan out in his favor whatsoever.
But a force like him on Mirage, especially if he can start, you know, controlling towards
Khan and just being a nuisance in the middle of the map from the T side, you kind of can
have a huge impact on this map.
Nothing interdisruptive in a round like this?
No, not at all.
Nothing you can do.
Well, winner advances into the quarter finals, loser eliminated, that's the status of this
game and you know when you're looking at Astralis getting into form quickly enough to be challenging
for a spot in the playoffs at the introduction master's track off like it's really impressive that
they've got to this point so quickly. It happened fast right and whenever this kind of turn comes
it's always fun to see and it always feels like there's a great indication but remember too there's
the other aspect of this is the first time for a lot of these teams going up against this Astralis
right like it's it's one thing to watch the film watch the tape and watch the demo and then a
completely other thing to actually experience the timings inside the server and the kind of styles
and decisions that the players make within this lineup.
So, yeah, there's an adjustment period for the opposition as well.
And then comes the question of, is great from Astralis,
but we've seen this like little short-term early honeymoon bump
in the past, the previous lineup that had device in it as well
when Hooksy joined.
Right, went to the final of Astana and Fischer.
Is this the team that can actually take that bump
and actually carry it and then just make that the default level
we play at?
Well, we'll have to find out.
I think the exciting part is there's a lot of upside
to the new players as well.
a room for development. Hooksie, he's gonna head and got himself the opening
kill here in Casarotto. Yuri answering immediately and in fact the Molotov
actually catches Hooksie a little bit later on. So Yuri's got two kills out of
that and that's gonna put Furia into the player advantage. Yeah not the kind of
trade that Astralis was looking for in the position. It's also gonna keep
Stair firmly placed over towards the B bomb site. So and in three versus four
they're gonna have to take a risk somewhere. I think what you'll most
likely see is Stair shift towards short. You have two players playing Khan
right now from the A bomb site. You just have this kind of centralized
risk that can react to the extremities pretty quickly and most of furious forces attacking
towards the B bomb site bomb will be recovered in fact vacating mid entirely away from this
stack can Astralis read it at what point do they make a move to get information
well they're gonna just get that information with utility flying over into the B bomb site
Starr rapidly calling to his teammates. Guys, they're coming B and I'm really alone right now.
Gotta step up and Starr does exactly that.
Two quick jails falling and you kick our gosh and low HP.
Well that third target, he couldn't connect to the bullet and then he goes back and nails Molotoy.
Starr's done absolutely everything and now his teammates have arrived.
There's absolutely no way Yuri could do a thing about this.
What a hold from Starr.
He was on his own the whole time.
And Starr steps up to a level you just couldn't think was possible.
Yeah, I think I think maybe missed priority of how you're going to entry into the bomb site if you're fury the low HP
player coming third if he jumps out first and just gets that clean kill the high HP can react to it keeps their lockdown
In this situation that double kill is something special
But that third player coming in with red health is never gonna be able to turn around
Grabs fallen before he's set and able to fight grabs your kinder out of the sky perfect timing on his peak
And then just controls the situation for Astralis a three versus four conversion off the back of stair
Two houses got away with that. How has he got away with that?
Why are you coming in for the MP7 kill at the end? He's got F4 down to play with. Look at the damage
It's done to fury of three AKs and two pistols
And this is what makes this Astralis team pretty pretty awesome to watch at the moment very cool
It's because stairs, you know been so good for this organization for how long since he's basically joined it playing multiple different roles
Had to earn more responsibility and more priority within the team and he's running with it still
That's not an easy job defending that B site on his own. He made it look easy, started this round though, he's dead first.
That's alright, you get one. After the round you had, you're fine.
Yeah, you're alright.
We'll let you have that.
Hooksy now holding the B bomb, so there's going to be a lot of pressure coming out of the can.
Let's see if Hooksy can do his best stare impression.
No counter-nades though is the problem. He's got no Molotov to slow this down, no smokes to give himself some space to work with,
with and he's all alone at the edge. Oh my god you can actually lost that fight. Yeah,
Hooks are getting it cleared though. A single kill from that B bomb site defense and now
the round feels very difficult here for Astralis even though you're up against two Pistols
through Riforce. Furious they committed to that B bomb site. I like this though. Fallen
calling, sensing a weakness at that B bomb site and calling themselves back to it. We're
like okay I know we got destroyed that round but we still felt like we had the ability to
take that over so it goes back. This time it works out perfectly. Perhaps you even have
more confidence knowing that you've killed stare at the start of the round.
Yeah, and for Fallen as well, it gives you something to call with moving into the future.
Now you've actually sort of established that you can take that B bomb site, that's going
to be something that Astralis is nervous about moving into the future, and Fallen's looking
to match the excellent T-side called by Hooksy on the previous map of Overpass, and he's
looking to do it on Mirage, got his team out to a good start, up three to one.
Hasn't completely obliterated the economy of Astralis' defense, but it's going to start
They're gonna start having to scrape a few things together, start missing a few things here or there.
Calm and poised from the professor, no signs of panic whatsoever, down the line of fury up.
Well, the guy is back here for Astralis, no issues in terms of getting all the rifles out.
Gonna be missing the next round though.
If they lose this round.
Yeah, that's an important qualifier.
I'm switching things up as well.
Bomb has dropped right outside the A ramp.
Still going through standard basic mid control.
Yakinder's still with his presence there, showing that they want to take it.
Everything looking pretty standard with how every round is played out so far.
But the finishing move is gonna be different.
So, you kinder just has to protect his position behind these boxes.
He's gonna be a distraction later to throw some mid-round utility to take some attention towards middle.
There it is for the window, there it is for TopCon coming in.
And they wanna suck this Astralis defense towards mid.
Open up the avenue of attack to the A-bomb site, it's exactly what's happening.
Stare clear in the top middle, no one home, because Fury up, gonna go for a full commitment
to A with alert of Fallen elsewhere on the map.
Confusy all the way back at CT, let's just spotted that Palace push out from Uri, Stare
getting the flank going quite quickly here, 30 seconds on that clock is the bomb, still
yet to go down.
It's taken a long time for Fury to execute this tactic, which is giving that flank so
much that they still don't have the bomb plant.
All the nades have faded away, all the smokes are gone, Astrology know in position with
3 plays a CT spawn and a flank coming through Palace.
This is looking very good for the straw's retake.
In fact, it doesn't even have to become a retake
because Fuzzi's denied the bomb plant from happening.
Now, Follin's in an awkward fight, he's taking a dink on board,
they're going for the plant again, and now Starr pops out of Palace
and Furia have no level of comfort inside of the A bomb site.
It will be a straw that's finding victory in a second round win on the CT side.
Why did that take so long?
I have no idea.
There was nobody at the bomb site even challenging him.
There was nobody even showing presence.
They just kind of lollygagged their way in for that plant.
very very late once the utility had faded. So much time for Astralis to clear middle,
get the flank, rotate over. No urgency from Fury whatsoever.
Awkward way to lose a round. Three to two now as Astralis come back into things and
importantly we just kind of set up the money of Astralis looking so poor and so gross. That
was a great chance to really punish him and regain a lot of control in this half.
Oh, the furia is still able to play with old rifles, too there may be a galeel, but that's
what I'm saying, it's going to be enough for the furia to keep the pressure up, not breaking
the money, not resetting a shrawless.
The new smoke, top mid smoke thrown out here for furia.
I haven't taken a huge amount of mid control, they've got no player in the underpass yet
Kessarotto is making his way down the stairway now.
Look at this, his tralls are going to get proactive, they're going to go in towards ramp.
Clem some space, climb some information, the bomb is slowly but surely making its way towards
They're still being buried quiet.
Stare looking for a bit of information, shooting open the smoke.
Still no indication yet where Fury is going to attack, lining up behind the smoke in Con.
Three players, they want to burst through. Fuzzi's going to have a tough task.
They control A ramp aggressively and deep.
Nobody's applied for Yuri, he's going to be important.
He's going down. Yuri just stepped up, but Yabbi in a strong position, makes the most out of his limited bullets.
That is beautiful stuff from Yabi. So composed under pressure and walks away with three.
Astralis just walking over Fiora right now in this defense. I mean the multi-kill ability of the
Astralis players right now. That's so impressive from Yabi with that smaller magazine
Just being so economic with the bullets gets this and help with no one clearing a ramp on that stuff
Couldn't see who that was but nobody checked this corner whatsoever.
Attention was being taken away trying to get into it to help the portion of the attack coming from Khan
but Yabbi just gets free reign to line up a triple.
Well, you can problem with the eagle now at the ramp.
It's really the only weapon worth talking about
in this round for Furia.
And actually, I think that's sold what Furia wanna do.
Ryu and Sarah were crossing over to Khan
to be aggressive towards middle.
Ryu spotted the stance of Yakindor
and then kinda hesitated and said,
okay, well, it looks like they sorta wanna
challenge at ramp, so they're gonna stick around
and be a little bit more cautious about this A bomb site.
Now playing retake back at ticket, good position to be in.
No utility for Furia, so this is kind of a step forward,
sort of run to your death unless your Kinder's Deagle gives you something special.
Just keeping the distance between them and Furior Astralis, they've got the range,
they've got the advantages, there's no utility coming to block their
U-Path either so they can hold that long range fight
and take all the advantages on their side.
Stab, clean stuff for the first three.
Fallen, how has he got away with a second Glock kill?
Nice little flick out to Ryuu as well, and a bomb plant being secured because of that.
Can they actually pull anything off here?
You know, you came to us God and following you really are two kills in the glocks
We're not asking too much more from you
I think as all might have even got a third kill out of the block ball plant to kills
I'm one of the best case scenarios. You could have gone out of that round
Yeah, it could have been better for us
But no reason to be too upset with how that turned out two deaths is as unfortunate
But and so is the bomb plant, but you take the win you're gonna be fine with it
Fury are very happy with how that all turned out extra money for the plant
So get to go back into the gun rounds and despite the fact the last two rounds have looked a little bit a little bit flat from fury
There's still plenty of time for them in this half.
It's gonna be 4-3 in the favor of Astralis.
AK-47's back in the hands of Furia.
Window smoke thrown out straight away here for Furia.
Short smoke too.
Someone mid-aggression coming up here from Stare. Look at it, confident and aggressive.
It's a quick play out towards this A side through the ramp just flooding in falling at the front of it clearing out under the wood
Oh
Target towards jungle the flash comes up and saves herp see just in time. Rai you also getting a kill here for us trawling
Single kill on the defensive players. It's yabby gone that bomb plan gonna be secure here on default hustling to reposition is the defense as well
Right as Rallis just showed two people fighting from jungle getting a couple of kills now
They all reconvene over to take over CT stairs with some utility Rai you sets up the flash bang
They want to turn the corner. It's Yuri as the initial defender and behind him is Fallen
Yes, now stepping into the fight fallen very low in his piece seven health to his name Yuri gone and
Really does become difficult to see a world in which fury are gonna pull this off case around his mate could do work
Oh, yeah, it's fallens out of that though. That's why you out of that
And so you can't are now 1v3 sitting just outside of the ramp to get a swing and peek him and Fuzi comes out on top of
The jewel Astralis on the retake up to 5 3
Okay, looking really good on the retake and again the proactivity the quick calls
He's got the sense though nicely done
Yeah, I just like the way Astralis is playing right now on the CT side
It's it's nothing no one's no one's being lazy about things you get these two kills
I whoever's calling them
Imagine hooks he's doing a lot of the a lot of the communication calling them back from jungle to rotate back around towards CT
Just such a good way when Furia kind of lines up their post-plant defense to worry about jungle and all of a sudden
They're in a completely different position that you expect lovely trading to get that stance and
Astralis showing again that they're a step ahead five to three now the CT side really feels like it's taking control
Another buy with the plant though, so Furia not out of the fight
Well, Molotow is keeping some money in the bank out of this force by 1500 behind him.
Signal, pure signal, he wants to get the AWP out.
It hasn't added too much, it feels on this T side.
One for one, trade over in middle.
Pressure on the B bomb site now.
Oh, Lucy, back it up.
Oh, missed shot.
Under a lot of pressure, fury afflating.
And there we go.
All the kills are quiet there for Furia to get into the site.
He sensed the way Furia has picked up the pace though these last few rounds.
All the reactions I think fall in saying, okay, we're getting beat tactically on this map
when Astralis has been given time to kind of adjust to what we're doing.
So let's pick up the pace so everything that they have to work with is our final play.
They no longer get to move around the map and be a step ahead because we're just dictating
what the finish is going to be right out of the gate.
Once again going back to that beat bombsite weakness that felt like he was trying to lean
on in the early going of this half.
he comes back to it and it's still there.
So five to four,
plenty of money for Astralis to reinvest though
in the next round.
So both teams have money to play with.
I'm not finding out a whole lot of success
towards the A bomb site here.
The lion on all faithful, that B attack.
It was nice because it felt like he was establishing
that early as a weakness so they could go to the A bomb site
and say, okay, now you have to kind of be,
you have to kind of respect our B hit,
Maybe have an extra player here not going to be able to stack the a bombsite all that much
But Astralis has done a good job just being confident in the reads and and the retakes have been very good as well
So if you're having been able to finish up the a bombsite and falls like all right screw the setup
Let's just go back to what was working
Yeah, who's he?
Not happy about losing that round at all
Frustrated I think with a first miss shot which you would have given him an opportunity to play that a little bit differently after the facts
Well, Molledoy
He set up for a boost on that ramp not gonna get the chances the smoke comes up and blocks his vision off
This Kassarotto is turned to move through the underpass.
Okay, so Fury are going back to A. So let's see if it works out this time.
The Lord could Kassarotto over B. Contact Blight again through ramp.
And if you go contact you're not going to want to drop them all A. So not contact, they chuck the utility.
Rai you know?
Oh, clear.
Rats, look at that path thing.
Really solid that for me, Kindar.
Right, you're going to be taken down, and now you can start moving towards his next target, towards CT's quad.
Miss shot again from Fuzi, more frustration now, I'm sure, and that is Furia finding more and more success.
Back to back rounds with convincing victories.
Yeah, that'll be a warranted death slam after two rounds where you have a shot where you probably feel like that could have changed the nature of things.
Well, maybe this one was particularly too far gone.
Starr just drew in his best to maybe grab a kill and give himself some safety to try and survive, but he's boxed in.
One kill is his, out of bullets. Good dink from the USP.
And that was an important gun to keep alive of Astralis wanted to fight back in the next round because now the money's gonna be a true issue
Yeah, something that worries me about Astralis on this map is the fact that they haven't got a huge amount of rounds in the CT side
Yes moving to that T side that's we're gonna have to do the brunt of the heavy lifting and we just haven't seen enough
Getting into a strong position now to really make us think about new yeah, just
Just for some context there yesterday against foot in the series that Astralis won
They lost the map of Mirage in that bested three to foot and they only got one round on their t-side
So not having a buffer makes you a little bit concerned if we see another t-side come in a little lost and flat and not having impact
That this could just be a quick second half
So yeah, it's a bummer because I think if you're a strahler you have to come into this and say okay
We have to get as many rounds as possible on the cct side
You're gonna force up here
Op is picked up by Fusy although that hasn't been having great impact in the last few times. We've seen it
Well, important to this draw is to try and squeak out a few extra rounds here.
Moosey's able to keep the AWP, they've got a good amount of utility, obviously some weaknesses,
SMG's having to come out across the board.
But now I'm interested, because Paul has created the mentality of you can be successful
in the A bomb, so I am B now, where does he take this fight?
Oh smoke is going out into middle and it's not going to be a direct hit like we've seen
in the last couple of rounds here, more of the default spread from Fury.
Some of those have been reactions as well, so a lot of it dictates too, like you know
when Fury sees Astralis pushing mid, they're like okay well they've got two to three players
of resources in middle so let's hit that A bomb site quick, so this round in the spread
The default is not really the chance to spring off those protocols whatsoever.
Strahlus, I want to get aggressive towards Palace it looks.
Ryu and Yabi lining up for a late mid-round push, get some information.
Shrink the map a little bit, it's a great safety net for late round for an A Defender.
Got the Palace push, and then you also have this crossfire and connector in short right now.
I was looking strong for Strahlus' defense so far.
Although that connector crossfire is now broken up as
Puzzi decides to backtrack into the side door, continue to allow
Raiju to push forward. Yeah, it's delayed tactics now that Raiju's gotten to this position so that he
has time to either wrap around through middle or clear out a ramp.
A decision that he's gonna have to make, flashbang in through the con smoke.
Puzzi starts about to get the fight and he's won it against Fallen.
He gets back around that corner. Not without damage, he actually went back in for a second peek
and he kind of had the bomb. He leans towards him. Bomb spills through the floor
And Molotov has to fight for control of it again!
He hit that shot, just not enough damage as it clipped through the side of the wall, so Yabbi keeps his health.
Hoopsy does a good job on this B bomb site with an MP9, and Kansarotto ravages Ryu.
So we've now got a 3v2 bomb, now picked up, and Molotov racing back to the A site with Kansarotto's kill on Yabbi.
They're running into the bomb site, and Fuzi's trying to race back to get there in time.
Oh, he's there, he's there. Molotov's gonna walk into it, good kill, easy kill, and now he can press the bomb platter.
Case Serrano, he's got to go for the fight. Rads done. Either way, Fuzzi ends it.
Yeah, sticky hands there. Got stuck in the bomb. Looked like he wanted to pull the rifle out a little bit quicker.
Throw him off slightly. Fuzzi, that's the aggressive move we were talking about.
We brought this up on overpass. The fact that instead of taking that kill and then staying pass,
if he runs it, he tries to pressure the bomb planter straight away.
I think it helps too. I think Molledoy under that situation thinks he's beat the timing of Fuzzi
and wants to kind of step forward to make sure he's got protection.
Interesting note as well. In that 2-on-2, one player from Astralis wanted to go short
to kind of defend against that and try and catch them in transition, but against the AWP
he thought maybe it's too much of a risk with Molodoy being posted up.
Well, Strauss have the lead now, 6-5 up.
Could be a 7-5 half for the CT side.
We talked about the weaknesses on T side, and extra round the play-loves would be massive
for Strauss.
And now you do want to kind of line up over in middle.
You could see three players, one con, one short, one window ready to react to any presence
middle from fury, any aggression whatsoever. Equally you have two players from fury on that A ramp
if they do sense a mid push. They can try and take advantage of that on the extremity,
in position to push forward and go for a challenge.
Fallen and Molotoy are going to take mid. Got a whole lot of resources they swing to the top boxes.
Now you have window smoke, a defensive comm smoke as well, and Molotoy is going to step up with the
up caution to the wind about catwalk oh blinded although I move off the angle
gonna send some of his own utility of it's the same side foosie blinded by
a leg shot connects and foosie has to drop off the top of ticket he actually
got the kill on your kindar great reactions here for foosie staying cool
under pressure and finding impact now right you ready as they come in towards
him gets the one kill important trip from Kessarotto final 30 seconds off this
half, will Astralis lead, or the entire game, and Fuzzi wants to lead. He's fighting for
a case to want to do what he can, but he's down, so it's all Mordor and Starr will deny that.
As 7-5 lead for Astralis going into the second half of Mirage, they lead one map as well in
this elimination game. It's time for Furia to bounce back, or they're heading home.
Here we are one of the best teams in the world to round out 2025.
The start of the 2026 season has left a lot of questions to be answered now.
They could be getting eliminated by this new look of Stralis in the group stages of IEM
Crackle.
Yeah, they're very well could be.
It's all up to this second half and whether we can actually see them put a stop to this.
The offense didn't get cooking nearly as much as I would have liked to see from Fury.
I'd like to send for a few more rounds on the board, but again, Astral is just playing
very, very well today.
So two-round lead that can disappear oh so quickly or extend so far ahead after this
pistol.
Cacer Otto's got his duallys.
Smoke flash on Hooksy, so light on utility for this T-side.
Probably a one-move play in Finisher.
You've got Yabi lurking up in Palace, and it almost looks like what, three to four players
coming through Con eventually after they take mid control.
up with Yabi.
Oh, getting Ryu off of the window, no play on the ledge, some utility dropping in towards
the bottom of the connector.
Your Kindar knows what's up, they come flying by, good move, but also good in terms of the
AIM department.
Fuzzi's going to catch him.
Your Kindar going down first, so Astralis have the opening kill, now making their intentions
known towards the A bomb site as the bomb shifts into position.
Yeah, they have all the space in the world.
They even clear out deep into CT, although all alone.
How does he still win that?
Moxie turns and grabs one, but the kill's coming out for Furia.
And bomb is down.
That took a long time to get planted as well for Astralis.
So into the bomb site, but Fuzzi and Yabi
don't have a whole lot of room to work with.
They're feeling so suffocated.
Yeah, they're going to make a move.
And Yabi is going aggressive for CT.
Fuzzi's going to join him.
Not all the way.
He wants to stay committed.
This first fight, and he went out and immediately dies.
So it's all on Yabi.
Tough to see him win this 1v3 here.
If anyone were going to do it right now for Astralis,
would be yabby guys going to clutch all event long it is planning for him
it's planning for CT it's just the issue of multiple targets running around
that corner too much for yabby to handle great shots and fallen pulling the
back into that pistol round fear of needed that pistol win they've got it
yeah I'm there they seem to prioritize this role as clearing CT so far rather
than getting the bomb planted and getting into position like the bomb being
kind of dropped out in the open by ticket they had control of the bomb site so
maybe felt uncomfortable somehow.
Gave Fury plenty of time to recover,
couple of kills, readjusted over towards jungle.
I mean, this fell firmly in control of Astralis
until this sequence, a great trading at stairs.
Well, maybe it's thrown him off a little bit
because if going for a timeout,
straight away here Astralis to kick off the second half.
I think they were just stuck between two mines.
I think they kind of called out maybe like,
take control of stairs and let's have the position.
And then there was the bomb planner, you know,
who realized he had the bomb.
And then when the fight begins,
he comes back to help out.
So I think they just kind of got stuck between two different ideas of what to do.
Well, they've also got a bomb plant, which allows for a solid force by coming into the next round.
You can see some AKs being brought out here for Astralis already.
We talked about some of the weaknesses of the T side.
If you don't win the pistol and you don't win the second round force,
then all that hard work needs to be done in the gun rounds.
Well, it's both pistols for Furia, so that helps massively in the second round
if they want to extend this series.
Both pistols and still behind.
So what does that tell you right now?
Yeah, both are still behind, but getting started on the right foot here in the second half, and you get an op-out on Moldodoy at the very least.
That could be a key here in the second half, if you can get going with that. Pulling it out straight away.
Second round of the second half.
Moldodoy taking AWP for a spin.
So, they should also throw mid-smokes, but they're gonna be going heavy B.
And Moldodoy's op is here. Two defenders with rifles. Moldodoy's playing in-market.
No, he's leaning in this direction for exactly this eventuality.
It's landing on Astralis, softening him up.
He'll through you on that lurch, but Molotov is off.
Striking first, fallen also.
Financing some success with it for mass.
Damn, dude.
That's right, you and Yabby gone.
It just cancels out any hope that Astralis is getting out towards the site.
Yeah, finding some success is an understatement.
We mentioned fallen was going to...
We wanted to see a little bit better of the anchor working, what we saw on Overpass.
Well, he just gave you something there with that double kill.
Nicely done.
done snapping up inside the Molotov as well.
You have a pivot point in the middle of the map in Fuzi,
but there's no way.
For him to have the impact you need to change this round,
he would have to be aggressive, and just
just being watched and pinned down.
Fury are not missing any details here in round 14.
So they'll tie things up.
Probably the leaders, so all right.
There's not going to be a whole lot going for a shot
in this next round, especially if they lose this AK-47.
Good turnaround of individual performance from Fallen,
who really struggled on Overpass.
A couple of impactful moments. Already in the second half,
and with that pissed around, and now in the second round of play.
Kindar hoping he can have a turnaround in the second half.
We're talking about he's the seventh highest-rated player at the entire event.
He's really struggling here in this series.
Hooksy goes down without a fight, and now Fuzzi's stuck.
Just a deagle getting caught by Molotoy.
So not a single player going down here against the force by from Furia.
They can build up a lot of money here as they know they've got a free runway in this next round as well
Yeah, it's a feel-good moment for them to grab control
But we had one of these in the first half we had one of these in overpass where it's like this is the moment now
That fury has this is where they should be taking over
Let's see if they can they can actually capitalize on this one and get it get a grip on this map in a way that
Astralis can't get it back looks like hope sees having some passionate speech going on there and be calm
right now for Astralis.
He's feeling the intensity, right?
Like after a day where you just put one round on the T side
on the board against foot on this map,
like you leave a match like that as an IGL,
and you feel like that's your responsibility.
Like, wow, I called a bad half.
His whole last 24 hours have been him thinking about,
you know, this next matchup, how he's going to call it
differently.
I do have known, I think, with a weakness that's
displayed, with the kind of win rates
that you have on the map, that Fury was going to head it
in this direction, so Furia's, I mean, Ximmi Hooksy's likely been preparing for this all day.
Could kill from Yabby, and actually that's the entire defense at the A-bomb site.
So the bomb shifts it over. Gonna get a plant out of this.
Yeah, and if you're Furia, I like this, like, be calm, be patient about it. Like,
they're gonna be buying next round no matter what, so the bonus money the plant
is in the biggest deal in the world. Don't overreact and lose an extra player early,
because there's still danger in this round. One more awkward, deagle shot, and it's on.
Look at all the utility fury you have to play with as well.
So conversation right now as they slide in is where utility is going to be placed.
Clock's going to get run low though.
Oh, good shot.
Stare.
And it's Molodoy out of there and you get onto the defuse.
Oh my god, they get another kill of the eagle.
A little bit of chaos going on right now with that defuse stuck in. They're gonna hold it all the way and just
Securing it gets a little scary there for a moment considering what is Charles brought to the table
That's what I mean one more like we're a little weird deal shot from stare if he's able to survive a little bit longer
But man, I one more deal shot and I get strange very very close much closer than it probably felt that fury come out on top
Eight to seven elite again
So it buys in here for Stralis. First look at what this gun round is going to look like.
They don't have the ult for Fusey, he's going to be playing full AKs.
Window smoke out. Connector smoke tossed through as well.
A lot of utility being thrown out from Stralis early into this round and quick moves from Stralis.
Look at that, just barreling through the utility, wanting to get involved in this connector jewel.
which he loses. He got the fight he was hoping for, now Fallen put under pressure.
He's got Molozoy out short to assist him with the AWP, but it just feels like Fury have the perfect dispense to deal with the threat that's coming at him.
But Molozoy kept going for those repakes. He lost the fight and then Fallen also losing his engagement.
So as Shrulles get a little dirty in these engagements on the B-bomb set and they've come out on top of the engagements, he's out.
The Stairplay in particular, it's a little chaotic running through all the nades, but he couldn't get comfortable with the fight.
However, a gap over on Shortcase. Serato takes a damage, Fuzi. Does he want to peek into the angle?
teammate is coming up and holster for the moment. Fuzi's alone.
Going into the peak. It's a confident play from Fuzi and it's worked out for us.
So now he always left one detail and Fuzi just turns and fights him as well.
That's a big turnaround from Astralis.
He gets brawly on that B bomb side and they come out on top.
Yeah, four versus five.
And you know, Hootsy's tried to try to run something like that a couple of times
in this half fall and was able to stop it earlier, but not this time.
Hootsy's able to get the boys popping through off stairs, death in middle.
Great double kill from Fuzi to close things out in the 2v2.
It's a clutch, but Astralis keep it things close eight to eight not letting fury or run out to any kind of a lead
Whatsoever fury are really in this series saying the two maps haven't been able to play from the front a whole lot at all
This has mostly been recovery
And a swing round for fury at the very least as they buy up
Running out of money after this investment if Astralis can string this second round together
together break the economy of furia early then you really have them in a
pain point for the rest of the map
we're shooting here from foosie see this final one perspective and you're
as he stepped back into the site and you can just see that damage as you were
mentioned Jason just across the board phones gotta go to 570 seat some
weaknesses in the utile department they are an absolute breaking point here
furia. You gotta take this opportunity if you're a straw to get rid of the money to
reset your opponent. Molotoy strolling ever closer to that short fight. Starr is just
running at them again. He did this in the last round 300 fast. Now he's out to a sandwich
but he's awkward. He's blinded. He's stuck in sandwich but he's still alive. And Yabby
is doing a lot of work here for a strawless. A second kill for him in the round.
Raiu is gonna get a kill any moment it feels. This position he's waiting for the Molotoy
push but it's the AWP so Molotoy hasn't committed quite yet. His teammates haven't done enough
Oh no!
No, the miss-com, it wasn't cleared, it wasn't cleared and they thought it was, and that's
the round.
Oh, that's so frustrating, that first stroll is, they were all coming together beautifully.
Yes it was, yes it was, that one detail missed.
Oh, they've missed out on their opportunity as well to reset the money there of fury to
send them down to weaker weapons.
And no way to know whose responsibility that is, is the plant there supposed to know that
that's not clear, is there supposed to be a smoke in place, is Raayu supposed to have
grab that angle earlier, whose fault was it? They figured out later, but the
consequence is devastating in the moment. That's got to feel like a missed
round for Gabby as well, who does so well to get those first two kills, and you
pointed out Ryu was in a position of power, right? He should have been able to
get something done there, but... You're waiting for that play. You're
hoping the a-hit is so strong and so powerful initially that the short
players and the B players feel like they have to rotate over quickly and
restively, right? They throw a little bit of caution to the win, and then Ryu can
pick one off, but because it's the AWP, Molotov is happy to just hold the angle deep.
And that's what I wonder, is that supposed to be more clear?
Is there supposed to be a smoke down?
Was it always designed for the plant to go in that spot, or is that an individual decision from the planter?
Hey man, I came into this map, said I wanted to see Kessarotto really step up.
Well, we got that 22 and 8 at the moment, like really massive turn around from what we were seeing over on Overpass.
Yeah, the important part to play in that previous round as well.
Got Moldoi breaking the smoke, planting the top right side of it.
Encerado.
A pivotal point in the map here in the connector.
Money's still not great for Furious, so they're not out of it just yet, but they got one more buy to last through.
After this, Astralis is going to have to go to a save themselves.
Winner of this round grabs an advantage.
moving forward into the future all important round 18 and Astralis is
heavily tagged up already yeah right the damage falling in favor of Fioria
Astralis have got two players up in the window though shifted a different style
as well these past two rounds we've seen Stairby in a madman and Astralis
trying to pounce off of the chaos his aggression causes now we don't have that
Mollidoi picks off one Raiyu trying to make the cross but that sets up Yabi to
make the follow-up lurk. I'll give him the time.
You're re-defending on your Kindar with him that's three quick kills for Furia.
You highlight how important this round is for the swing of momentum and the
advantages will now fall in favor of Furia. Well as much as we've talked
about too the the kind of struggles we've seen from Astralis on the T-Slam this
map as well. Capitalizing on one of these rounds where you can break the economy of
The defense is even more important for a team that has a weaker T-Side as well.
You want those easier rounds, you want them softened up and missing a few things.
And Astralis hasn't been able to give themselves that benefit.
Still stuck on just one round yet again on this T-Side of Mirage.
A no-scope from Fuzzi, and then the P comes in from Yuri to make sure that one doesn't get out of hand.
Double figures for Furia at just the right time of the game here.
and money gone for Astralis, and without a bomb plant now, with a losing bonus kinda getting reset with a win earlier,
it's not looking pretty for this closeout of the map for Astralis. They're playing from way, way far behind here on out.
No timeout call, I believe Astralis have one left in the tank. Might be waiting for the next gun round to come in,
that all-important one to keep Fury off 12, but for now, tech mines and deagles.
Fusey's saving all of his money for not moving forward.
That was when they ran into issues yesterday against Foote.
Fusey was kind of like the release valve for the pressure.
That was when Hooksy started kind of putting an AWP in his hand as much as possible on
the T side and kind of structuring the T rounds of saying, Fusey, you get as much time to find
us a pick.
Oh, if you connect to your Kessarotto, it gets domed, actually, to lead you by the
D of staff.
Uh-oh.
Follow up from Yabby.
I should have had advantages here, Fury, but with the pistols, they're cracking you up in this early on.
Maybe, just maybe, there's a way back into the round here for Astralis.
Stare with that picked up rifle, the spoil of war coming into play.
Another go into the site, but it's a molotoy, slipping out with just the USP, executing Hoocsi from behind.
That's the bomb down as well.
Now they have to step into the open to recover it. They have no utility, and they've got to be very concerned about the AWP,
which is going to give Fallen a lot of freedom to play.
Now, Starr is on low HP, so he's given the responsibility to ride you with the rifle.
Starr will start stepping forward, realizing the recovery mission needs to begin soon to
get that bomb back.
Man, 30 seconds on the clock.
There's the fight.
Good damage done.
Maldoroy steps up.
And...
Oh!
Not able to connect.
You did that kill. Excellent round from Astralis. They put some fear and fury at who outlasted.
Yeah, that's Molo-Doy making a difference in that round, isn't it? Just pushing out of jungle, willing to take a risk, pulling the USP and getting the pick that drops the bomb.
Yeah, nice as well with the USP, I mean, saying like, you know, stepping through the smoke without the AWP is obvious, but knowing again, you're up again and around against pistols.
Not going to be head armor. Maybe someone doesn't have armor whatsoever, so use the perfect tool for the job.
Three round lead and two rounds away from bringing us to Nuke is Furia.
You want to get crazy? I'll sit on the other side of the smoke. Have fun.
He's in our... underneath the wood and he's got Yavi and Ryu. No problem.
Now you're boozy, getting cut down at his straws. Just don't have enough here in the garage.
Yeah, you can tell, I think they know it as well, that's the first round that gave me the indication that that idea has sunk into their minds as well.
That's just kind of going for something simple, trying to be shocking rather than tactical, trying to catch them by surprise.
There's a sign that at the tail end, the playbook isn't there yet on Mirage for this new Astralis roster.
So, Furia, avoiding elimination in a two-mapper, forcing us to nuke as the third and deciding map.
Unless unless well it takes something absolutely special to come back into the map here, but we've got Yuri plund all the way back towards CT spawn
There's no one actually in the site towards a and that's exactly what we're sauce are going to be heading
I don't think they've had enough success for any misdirection to really play out.
No fake is going to have an impact, so let's see how Hooksy plays this.
Meanwhile, you already have Molledoy kind of investigating the map with an AWP as crazy
that sounds but he's gonna do it. Pulled two defenders, Molodoy is wrapping around through
T spawn so whoever fast flanked this fake isn't gonna do anything to fool him.
If you find Yuri quickly and efficiently you can have a chance. But Molodoy's coming in fast.
Oh, takes a while but Yuri gets to kill. It will be traded out Molodoy as you mentioned is on that
flank already at the ramp on the backside with the AWP just in time as well to be effective.
It goes into the second P but Ryos killing everybody. That's three kills for him in the round so far
I can't so I'm also gonna go down. It's not a connector and the straws have a little bit of life left in them yet
Okay. All right, I might have spoken too soon nice round from Astralis
Although in that flight probably would have liked to have any weapon except for the AWP in that kind of a scenario
I was shocked to see how aggressively who's pushing for that info and flank up middle
But he got exactly what he wanted
12-9, Astralis fight back for their second round.
Three more to force over time.
And money's actually quite a concern for Furia.
Not in the prettiest place in the world.
Good job from Ryu training off the kill, that was the one they needed to secure the bomb
plant and the bomb site.
shot under Fallon and just delivering kills all the way through this trade on
Molledoy the critical one to take away the flank. Alright so let's also have it
again. That chance to break the money. They need a win here and that might be
the best way they have to close the gap and actually try and challenge for an
OT. Looking like out of the gate out of spawn Hooksies called for a split the A
bombsite. Three players to reverse down the mid ramp. Good opening kill! Oh my
god! Who needs a split? That's just strut up bulldozing your way into the
site just don't lose it here don't lose it here now they want to get this gun out
just in time falling going down a short wow okay 12 to 10 that changes
everything that's not just 12 to 10 it's the reset of the money here as well
right it puts fury in a tough spot economically saving this AWP would be a
big one no no you send everyone at this if you're if you're a straw right so
how many weapons you lose take the off away well it's gonna be a all a
A mullidoy to see if he can hold on to this somehow there's an escape route in the middle that nobody's got covered at the moment
They still think he's inside the bomb site. He's moved towards short. They actually might miss the opportunity to take this
I think the best chance might be okay. He's just gonna hide in ladder room mullidoy's found the escape route. I believe
These final few seconds of the bomb feel like forever
Okay, hasn't found it hasn't found it at all
They said if you're not the B bombsite likely ladder room double-nade never saw it coming
Oh my god, I'm actually about to get down to the next one with the AWP.
Suddenly two grenades appear, bang, you're out of there.
And no mercy, Tepuria.
And suddenly, Astralis have some life here on the T-Side of Mirage.
Yeah, where did this come from?
It's been a struggle for us the whole way through.
Now they've taken away all the weapons, all the money.
Four USPs and a P2K.
They might have just found a way, going into this final round of regulation, I think Astralis
is going to be playing this without an AWP on the Furious side, so Maldor has been able
to have tons of impact with it.
Not going to have that in the next round depending on kills.
Okay.
Oh, first kill goes the way of Fallen, then Caserado.
Okay, thanks.
I saw one drop out the window behind him and I'm like, oh, this is this is horrifying all good
Recovered last round of regulation
Okay, everyone take a breath
12 to 10
Final round final timeout called by fury to discuss what they can scrape together with the economy that they're working with
4850 400 on case or on Yuri, excuse me
And I don't want to do math on air, but I think you can drop that over and get light armor and AWP over
So they're gonna have plenty of m4s
maybe missing a few nades but now you have to figure out exactly how you want
to stop this and hooks he's been given you a bunch of different looks you've
had those pace changey kind of punchy rounds where he's trying to like do some
misdirection and react off of it very very quickly based off what he sees
he's had some slower pace default rounds mid control splits towards both bomb
sites looks he has done a good job of switching things up so I don't think
fury is gonna have an easy decision of what they're gonna go up against in this
final round so for them it's all about to be dictating what they can do with
What they bring in
There's a tech issue. Yeah, I saw this Rallis are riding the high
Your Astralis you really don't want this pause. I think it was south. I think it was a big attest
I got it looks like it was just kind of Sid's Mike wasn't working during the initial timeout
So they're giving him the 30 seconds now seems like it's fixed up
So, fist bumps all around, not much of a delay whatsoever. We're getting back into things.
Can Astralis force this into overtime? As a reminder, Astralis are one map up in this series.
Anyone overpass 13-8? Or here on Fury's map pick?
Alright, you've dropped the AWP over, Molladoi trades in for an M4, Yuri can miss nades to
get that ADVP out, but well worth it when it's in Molladoi's hands.
Let's see if that is the key to a Walter map mix over here for Furia.
Furia's got to play the last four rounds without the pressure of elimination because
they've gotten to 12.
If Astralis force overtime, that pressure comes rushing back.
on the map, nobody wanting to get caught off by anything cheeky, any cheese aggression.
Both teams can attempt to play standard default rounds.
Enfuria is bringing forces towards middle, setting up a trap.
Ladder room in short, connector in window room.
Four players around this section of the map ready to react.
There, get into the side of the connector, smoke, here he goes, into the fight at jungle,
Caster auto will first kill, you're on the follow up, but Astralis back and forth, they
go, Molotov, make any difference, and getting that all about isn't enough right now to put
them in a powerful position to close out this map, and Astralis fight hard down to the final
round of regulation, but it looks like Molotov has just done enough off the back of the triple
box. Fuzzi would have to pull off a 1v3 and they know where he is. He's going to be peaked
from so many angles here. And Molladoy is the man to close out Mirage. It will have
to go to 3. It goes to Nuke to decide who is staying alive here in Krakow and who is
heading home.
Yeah, you love that fight out of Furia. You love that response after dropping Overpass
in the fashion that they did. The late thrust from Astralis. That last breath that they
have to get back into this. And Furia outlasts all of it. Putting hands in the rookie of
of the year, one of the best offers of 2025, and Molo doi delivers to keep you alive here
in the tournament.
Absolutely.
Now for Astralis, it still is a map you can feel comfortable on going into Nuke, right?
They showed more of a fight than we were expecting here on Mirage.
We know with the way they're playing today, that this third map is going to be a real
draw.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
I have complete faith that Astralis is going to look good.
I remember they looked good on it yesterday.
This is a map they dominated, put on to close out this series.
So you have a map like that yesterday on Nuke.
Now you come into it as another decider, and you're just going to try and ride that
same wave remember all those things you went through how you fight against
foot just previously 24 hours so Astralis gonna come into it with a lot
of confidence despite the fact that there's no way they have posted a
depth of fury. Yeah positives here for Furia, Kessarotta really showing up in a
big way, closes out in 26 frags, we see Molotov right at the end stepping up.
Still room for improvement though for Furia, we can see you can go against some
of the form he's had here in Krakow so far so we'll see if that's gonna be the
Kessar of Furia moving into the next one but for Astralis this is so impressive
They've got to this point, but they've got to make sure they don't miss out on this opportunity coming into the third
Yeah, I think they're gonna come into this looking good
I think towards the end of mirage when we started talking about it feels like they got to the end of their playbooks
They're had a bunch of rounds where it feels like his life was just sort of thrown away
He got a lot of the scrappy chaotic battles. It's just someone saying I'm just gonna try and be the opener
So he's like going into disadvantages and I think you got him out of his game a little bit
He's gonna come back on nuke. Well looking forward to getting into nuke
That's the map that's coming up next nuke will decide who is heading to the playoffs here in crack-off and who is eliminated in the group stages
Hi, this is Basement Dwellers first advertisement. And our second trumpet is up actually. If
you're seeing this, it's up. It's available on the ESL shop. You had to first go at a
jacket and really tell the bit. I've always had interesting clothes, but you know, seeing
behind the scenes how the sausage is made has been a lot of fun. And if you'd like the
clothes, tell me, if you hate the clothes, tell me, but try them before you slag them off. I think
they're really comfy. So yeah, that's my advert. I'm gonna try again. I'm gonna record another one.
It starts with a dream, with a team you barely know, and an amateur official that feels like the
grand final, where practice becomes progress, and every loss feels like a lesson. When will your
journey begin.
Just aim in peace. This is gonna be a tough way to do it and it will have to be dark over towards a getting smappled on that rifle or
In his dust too
And this is tough right the AWP peaking into this you've got magic from the jiggle as he goes back
So Pius gets the info of magics in the open that smoke block telling you completely different rounds
You two found themselves
because the bias is found himself.
That's McClough!
Push!
Straight through the monster pipes,
on ticks, down and out.
I love it.
They've come to play on Overpass after Anubis.
The Convert had to have been one of hate.
It's a free crack.
Let's give it a go.
Let's get in.
Let's start taking some fights.
It was very slow, very tempered on Anubis.
Overpass plays that way traditionally,
but Mabz has been great, seven and two in openings.
Oh, he gets another one today. He walks into the scope.
It's magic's trading.
Still with a bad advantage on G2.
Amalbs is on the wall path, heading in towards this head-to-head of magics.
They're just walking into them. Important from Donk, but heavy god keeps him down.
Has to be a Shiro, I guess.
Has to be a Shiro clutch, or we will see three.
Dust 2 awaits. G2.
Making this overbars look comfortable.
Spirit picking, chair clutching, we have the chance, but Mattis denies, we do need 3 maps.
What a turnaround in form, individually sound, impressive from Malbs, and Donk, an uncharacteristic
performance, he ends the map 9 and 18.
He had a bit of a slow one here today, giving away opening kills and just really not getting
up to usual Donk antics, but again, have to give a bit of a tip of the hat there to Malbs
who has been in the crosshairs recently. It's a very strong performance. They came in, they
were willing to put it on the line and we are going to dust too. Let's throw this one down to the desk.
All right
I feel so bad, I don't understand
There's a lot of lies, there's a lot of lies
Please don't tell me that I'm mad
You're the mind, you don't know
White spray, I don't pretend this is a lie, lie, lie
You know, white spray, I don't pretend this is a lie, lie, lie
You can have a little faith it never killed nobody what you're waiting for
We're getting closer by the step feels like it's just getting started
I
You can have a little face, it never killed nobody, what you waiting for?
Getting closer by the step feels like it's just getting started
I
You can have a little faith in it, never kill nobody, what you waiting for?
We're getting closer by the step, feels like it's just getting started.
I'm not the one you need to trust
You come around
My head is spinning now
Don't want my love to be in it
I just wanna feel whole again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
When you come around
My heart is bursting out
I don't wanna be strangers anymore
Cause make life a seamless dream
I swear I saw the light
I pushed the body
Flying saucer in outer space
Only love can bring me face to face with you
I swear I saw your eyes
All that had come
And you were full that I could taste
Only love can bring me face to face with you
I swear I saw the sun and you rise
Last chance here in Crack Hall for Furia and Astralis.
We're heading into the final map of Nuke and it's so hard to call because both teams
giving us a good show there on Mirage, right down to the final round of regulation.
Fury warming up, we're getting to see Casarotto get to the top of the scoreboard.
Molodoy had his moment to close out the map, so really we're getting everything we could want going into Nuke,
and I'm just excited to see them really fight for that final spot in the playoffs.
Yeah, only question you really ask is what level can Astralis bring out with this new roster together.
Only played one map of Nuke here in 2026.
That was yesterday against Foot at 13-2 victory, so yeah.
looked great, coming in confident, but I always saw this new lineup ran out of ideas on Mirage.
It's possible it can happen here too, especially because Fury's going to give you way more resistance
than putted yesterday. You got into the bomb site, the upper bomb site, whenever you wanted it
yesterday from Astralis. You have to know this one isn't going to be that easy. Fury are going to
be starting on the CT side. Deulies on Maldodoy and Yuri, and for Astralis yet again a little bit
light on utility. Smoke flash is what they're bringing into play with. Heading outside, heavy
numbers in fact all of us trawlers on the charge outside p250 on foosie yes
have a little search long range knock detecting any challenge from furia he'll
start taking more ground up towards the red box his teammates will filter in
behind him they use that one smoke now foosie to the garage flyers are
actually sprinting past some breakable it's gonna be foosie with the opening
kill, but Casarado trading right back.
Yabbi hunting him down though,
not allowing him to get away safely.
Yeah, you've got actually a really good,
a really good piece of leverage here
with Yabbi jumping up and wrapping around.
Fallen still inside Lockers.
Stare's gonna have to be cautious about that one
and looks like he's gonna be heads up to clear it.
Oh, yep, he spotted him.
Okay, I know, they communicated.
Fallen's hiding in the Lockers, guys.
He thinks he's there secretly.
Look at all this effort he's putting into
silent dropping.
Oh my God, he's still gonna kill.
How is he, look at Stare Raging of all that.
He can understand that because, oh my goodness,
he was tracking full the entire time.
That's such a hard fight to slide into,
work your way through the window,
all the meanwhile, follow, can't be moving.
Still, it's all good.
That piece of information was very, very helpful.
And a three on one,
where Yuri is playing with a,
completely out of position over in the ramp room.
So bomb will go down, Yabi, Ryu, and Fuzi.
A very simple task of making sure Yuri
cannot diffuse the bomb.
Yeah.
It's a lot easier now.
Know exactly where he is.
Nothing for Yuri to do.
So, Pistoron, first Stralis.
Getting started on the T side and again, if you have that question, if you have that in
your mind of like, can a Stralis actually do this on Nuke, Pistoron, on the T side is
a great start.
And as we saw on the first map of Overpass, if they're able to build it out to like a
5-0 lead and get that start, then you get to play this entire half without a whole lot
of pressure.
You've got the rounds you need, you've got the rounds you're comfortable with, everything
after that is gravy.
Let's see if they can roll with this, Astralis.
Continue a good start into Nuke.
Hooksie does call this Astralis team into the playoffs with Krakow over Furia.
I mean, it shows another string to his bow, right?
I mean, you're talking about Hooksie as an in-game leader
who's won some of the biggest trophies in Counter-Strike.
Without the game for such a long time,
he goes back into Astralis.
He gets him into the final in the first two tournaments he plays in.
Obviously a dip in performance, but how quickly he's getting this team into order
is really impressive.
I think what's all about it is, you know, he's, oh, hold the phone.
We'll get into that conversation a little later,
because it looks like we're about to execute this hit.
Yavi, Chucks, his smoke out before it's gone.
They're going to run right through the Molotov after the exchanges.
They're still blind now.
Actually, okay.
Advantage Fury after the initial exchange.
That's Darryl running in.
Good kill here in the Matt 10.
Molotov is going to be cast aside.
But how will Fury have found themselves
in a better situation here?
You've got your kid on an AK-47, and Darryl is so low.
This is panic stations for each other,
because the bomb isn't in their possession.
they'd go walk out into that site. It is so hard now to see a way in which
Astralis win this round all of a sudden. I think the only benefit they have is
that there was no investment from Furia. That's weird as that is to say, but
there's no armor on any of the Furia players. So yeah, you've recovered an
AK-47. That can be dangerous. You've recovered a Mac 10, but if you get tagged
first, it's gonna be hard to control that aim and able to find the kill. And
that's at the moment what Astralis is hoping for. However, I think because they
gave up their positions after the trading, they're now playing without
information. I think they've actually put themselves on the back foot by not
trying to keep the pressure up in that moment. Sure, Fury you know you're gonna
challenge, but at least you know where they are as well. Now you've given them
the time to explore the map and Fallen can have a knife kill.
Look at this Fallen. Right around the back, that's gonna be Sterak, he doesn't take the knife, he wants the kill guaranteed.
So he takes it, and yeah, he gets dinked, and that is a really rough round to lose if you're
Astralis. I'd have to see that all over again, maybe in third TV, but it felt like
I can't like I don't think period brought like a whole lot of nades in right like there were a straws players blind
I think that is just a poorly timed hit that probably hasn't been dry run very often probably hasn't been practiced probably hasn't had a whole lot of reps
I think they kind of beat themselves with their own utility in a way
Well, they're gonna have to go down to a weaker by themselves
We will have an AK 47 you have a scout out for foosie a D go on to an attack nine here for Hoocsi
What a turn of events though, without a whole lot of investment in that second round for
Fury to win it, Yikinder's now got an AK-47 and 4000, Molo-Doy's now got an AWP and 3400,
so Stralis, that second round loss has made this game much, much harder than you would
ever want it to be.
Molo-Doy with the opening kill, Yikinder to be traded out.
And a Molotov connecting, but has to go back for a second shot to confront the amount of
damage required to actually remove Hooksy from the server.
He can't Serato holding on, good double kill.
So this high back from the Trollus does nothing, and despite losing the Pisseron, it is Furia
who aren't going to end up getting a better start here.
Man, it's going to be so hard to play this half when Molotov has an up and money starting
in the third round.
Yeah.
see how this half plays out. But Astralis, if you can't take the money away from Fury
and you just play in Molotoy with an AWP each and every round of this half, that's the stuff
of nightmares. So we'll sit back on Glocks, but I mean, I think they're further back than
two to one or even three to one would suggest, just based off of Molotoy having this kind
of economy. That USP win for Fury, it just works wonders CT side nuke.
He's gonna open.
Charge your rod.
In.
Okay, Kassarotto.
Don't give me a stab.
Yeah, deny that.
You're really up from heaven.
Make sure he kills one of those kills.
Kassarotto not able to get the ace.
Not enough bullets left, but really quick shot down that.
At least the Shruller's giving us a luxury of not having to sit and watch them stroll
around the glocks.
That's true.
They were kind about it.
Merciful to us as viewers.
This little moe down from Cacerota looking good with the one Mac, hooks it making sure
he can't complete the ace.
Three to one.
Seven kills for Astralis Total, five of which came in the pistol round, so two since then.
And that's why you see so much money built up already for Furia.
He's gonna line his team up for this upper hit.
They've just been quiet on the map now walking through the smoke at sweet door. What a risk, but there's nobody home
All the fear outside
Yeah, so straws have the ground and then suddenly yours. Oh, they're all in this night. Okay. He's gonna communicate that to everyone guys
They just they're all in the A bomb site. We can't we can't win this round anymore. This is why I love counter strike
I feel like I still see some new things that I how often do you see a team just walk through a smoke at sweet door with four players and
Nobody's home in the upper bomb site into five on five
And you can't you can't go for this as trawlers. You're just like well that couldn't have gone better
This actually well actually this isn't the worst of are they gonna go for it?
They're gonna come in late
You're more than us just gonna be nice. I think he's gonna be a yeah, absolutely
Well, I'm not sure I
Yeah, yeah, all right. Well, yeah admirable. I've heard he's got plenty of money to throw away in that in that attempt all good
Yo, that's kinda, yeah, that's crazy.
Hooks is like, okay, we're gonna walk four players through Squeaky Door, and no one's home.
It's actually not like the craziest, it's not like the worst thing in the world for
Fury, right?
With all that money making a save call, you lose, you lose Molledoy going for the ninja,
so you lose two players out of it, but you know, if you're Astralis, those wins on some
level, you're gonna take them, and you're happy to have that win, but you want them
to also be punishing the money that's now built up so much, right?
You want that you want that round that you get all five kills so everyone's got a rebuy
So still doesn't really do much in the long term. It's a nice short term round to get on the board
But long term they're still facing the same problems they have
Fallen
That day is blowing open and yep, that's a double target taking
Gabby and Ryu both take it away stare to respond with two of his own headshots right back in
And we've got Yuri making his way into the lobby.
He cuts through Fuzzi, and going again.
It's Yuri on the follow-up, leaving Stare in a 1v3,
backtracking all the way.
So Stralis have just been cut open pretty much
at the start of the round.
That's a good look for Furia as well.
I mean, that's what I'm saying.
We're going to take some educated risks.
And those are things we didn't really see on Overpass.
Didn't really see too much on Mirage,
maybe coming into this map.
They found their game a little bit more, found that attitude.
But Yuri coming through the smoke when he realizes,
Fallen's got an engagement.
He's got two kills.
There's at least one more player there.
risk comes out on top. It's there an impossible situation to be in.
Oh, yeah. Quiet, quiet, then a little louder. So that's a...
All right, so some loud calls coming through here. That's what I'm saying,
the coach standing behind him, but time off here for Astralis.
Things have stalled out.
Yeah, it really has. We mentioned it's not going to be as easy to get into that upper
bomb site today so we've seen one bus kind of go awry really just kind of this whole
half it feels like or at least like the next like three rounds it feels like it's all gonna
be about Astralis they're still trying to recover from that second run loss they're
still trying to recover from losing to those usp's that's what this entire half is if
they can't do that if Yuri is just gonna run away with it maybe you trickle in an extra
round here or there this is crazy that Fallen's able to get a double kill here considering
It's Astralis who chose to break the smoke.
Astralis planned and called on breaking the smoke, and people weren't ready for that fight.
Polandoy is looking down through the squeaky door. He's gonna catch Hooksy, just jump it around.
And immediately, even though you're trying to get up towards this upper bomb site,
there's only got three players up if you're Astralis and none of them connecting any of these kills.
Oh my god.
It's over. And so, this is what you were talking about, Jesse.
Astralis might be over after that.
Yesterday Astralis were walking into the site like that, right?
And they were just winning against Furt.
They're trying against Furtia, they're just getting blocked before they even start their attack.
And that's what's scary, because now you have the additional problem of Furtia starting to really disrespect you
and getting disruptive.
If you've had that round where Yuri just pushed through the smoke and Hut and kind of backstabbed you in lobby,
Maybe now you have Molledoy in your face over a squeak door.
You can't execute the rush out hot ones, however.
Fury is going to be this erupted for a team that just doesn't have enough experience together,
which is why I like seeing Fury bring this kind of philosophy out.
Like what are you going to do if you're a Stralis?
You don't have the experience together to overcome this.
I was just going to be picked apart.
He starts the round at least for Stare to get a kill, but as you mentioned, once Molotov
gets this all up on the prowl outside, it's going to be almost impossible with a lack
of utility to deal with him.
He's just going to take you down every time you peek, and he's having a field day against
the pistols out here.
Just going for every fight.
He landed up on top of me as well.
So one of those things we're watching and it's like, don't do this at home, kids.
Yeah, don't.
This isn't, you know, by the board camera strike right here.
It's not textbook, it's not fundamentally sound,
but you get away with things when you're molodoying.
Obviously, a huge advantage is being able to pop up at a headshot angle.
Deagle's not landing the shot, so he just gets free reign to have a good time at deathmatch outside.
6-2, a 4-round lead and Furious show and no signs of slowing.
I actually really like that we're seeing Molotov just go for those fights though, because it just shows infuriating with some attitude now and some confidence again.
Getting full control of Nuke at this point. 6-2 up. It comes to buy again for Astralis.
Last buy round ended within the first couple of seconds.
Yeah, the aggression from Fury pretty much told us exactly where that round was going to head, and indeed it did.
Molotov this time going over to Ramp Room with the AWP, going to drop some utility.
Let's get the aggressive stance with the off-corner around the Molotov and slip behind it.
Yeah, Molotov. Moving up, confident, aggressive.
Opening kill goes away for Stralis in Fuzi's hands.
Molotov, ooh, does he clear the tight angle?
Oh, he gets it! Kill, but he can't get away. Yabbi was tucked into the spot.
Rhea's gonna be a little bit disappointed there, obviously, but a 4v3 for Stralis to play with.
Let's see if he can get a third round away.
Oh, is Yabbi gonna pressure this? Nope, just dropping the flashbang, hoping to blind somebody on the other side.
Backs away from ramp room. Outside we go as there's some map control with Stair and Secret.
And Astralis gonna be patient with the man advantage.
Looking for the reaction, looking for the move from Furia's defense,
but K. Sorado is never gonna move from this position so strong if they ever want to head towards Mini.
Biggest problem for Astralis, or excuse me, for Furia is not having knowledge of the lower pumps.
Oh, oh, get right. It's just a good little tap of Hoaxy.
Come up another one at range, I'm falling.
Drops into 60 HP and Hoaxy's gonna back away.
One hell of a way to get your first kill.
This is where it all goes right.
From here on out?
Hoaxy turns around, becomes the giga-chat now.
Come back begins for Astralis.
Although the third round is here.
We'll see what Yuri and Fallen can do.
Can they unravel it in any way?
Because that Heaven Peed comes up and if Fallen gets his eyes, two Whippeties lost his teammate.
And now Fallen's going to deal with the Throne. Oh my god, he was killing everybody, wasn't he? Fallen nearly gets to it.
Oh my god, a Syrah, a leaf for a Shrawl has fallen, nearly gives him the business.
Yeah, they really does, just back and forth, man, and they came right at him as well.
Came to the stack, you even had a little bit of information.
Great sequence from Fallen, showing things off. Two different fronts to the fight, always looking for the follow-up peek,
and they almost sell that round 6-3.
And that's the kind of round you will, you know what, I'm not going to say that.
I was going to say that's the kind of round you want from Astralis in terms of taking all five players out,
but you lose so many at the end of it.
It was looking like the round they wanted up until falling down the vault,
and now Mollidoi's picking one off as well.
Yeah, right back to an opening kill here for Fury up.
Too many ideas, I think, on the CT side to open up these rounds from Fury.
Astralis can't handle all of it.
Outside smokes deployed.
Molotov can see over the top of them.
If you cross red, which you should not do with these smokes, and they know that, so
they're going to be making their way towards garage a little bit closer to those smokes,
then Molotov realizes that gap, so he's not watching for it.
They'll stare, get a favorable timing.
Looks like it.
Molotov has been pulled away because Yavi's making contact with the gap, which frees up
And he's going to move through the back lines perfect work from Estralis across the board that yeah great piece of teamwork on other
Sides of the map way to work in tandem in two different locations Mollinoys to hold the line though Fuzzi
Or excuse me hooks
He's not going to be able to slide into and be fast enough four on three man advantage and look at the utility for Estralis
45 seconds left
This is due to the fall on three kills that they don't have the resources to have a closing play for this round
Because once again furious not going to sit back on their heels case Seroto's already got a fast flight coming and you got to take
your time without utility downstairs. Yeah, the killer is arriving. Creeping. Silently
in behind them. Spotted his first target. He'll take his kill. He doesn't go around the corner.
It doesn't offer up to trade potential here for a stroll. So you now have to sit uncomfortably
in a 4v2. I guess you're going to try and go up the vent and join up with Yappy, but
he has a clear top hunt. So now Raiju's like, oh, I have nowhere to go. Nowhere is safe.
another round for Furia, a four-round lead.
Well, we have profalcons, such coaching lines, such as nice Ilya, nice Maxime,
and for Furia we have our Rado.
I think both are solid.
Both are very solid.
Yeah, good selections.
There's more base and punch, I think, to six.
Yeah.
A little bit.
But you can put a lot of different emphasis on nice Ilya, you know?
You could change that up.
The emphasis can be in different places.
True.
You can be sarcastic when you make some mistake, right?
Try Ilya.
You mess that one up, you know?
There's a lot of ways you can take that, too.
Really go to coaching in terms of those lines.
We've got Ykin Don on the hunt outside.
He's found Hoaxie.
Boosie's only got a knife in his hands.
Now he's got the eagle is looking for it
Feel like we've seen this round play out a number of times where it's like Maldoy's like yeah, I'll I'll play outside. It's like
Yeah, give me these kids as many kills as I can get it's like duck on it's like shooting. Okay, maybe not all the way
through the with the eagle
Led to the head
And Molo-Doy's dad, Yabi's turn, and Kandar and Ketsurata with some successfully-infucy
on the red box, and he's gonna be taken down at range, no issue whatsoever.
Well, final round of this first half.
Furia just, uh, dominant as they've scaled up throughout this series.
It's ruled out as a fantastic following from Xt and from Fantasy's play from Yabi.
Uh, yeah, if you don't rock, come out on top right at the tail end.
Here, I'm gonna get so fucked, making sure Astralis never gets started.
All right, well here we are a 3 minute and 20 seconds left in the clock
Molotoy has the pick he's wrapped all the way around on the silo outside
And hooks he's now under a lot of chaos and this round is done
This half is basically over unless through as you can create something but Molotoy's just never gonna let that happen
Suffocating 12 rounds in a row fury. I'd never let Astralis into this third map
We're off to the break and it looks like fury has an easy route into the playoffs
Spawn the playoffs out of this group into the crack-off tower on arena the first time we've been to the crack-off arena
I'm looking forward to seeing it
But unfortunately for Astralis it's not looking like they're gonna see the playoffs Jason
No, unfortunately not for how good they've looked it
I just run into an opposition that I think there's too much to overcome across the series
And I mean, you know, it shouldn't surprise anyone this new roster for Astralis coming together not a whole lot of time yet under their
belts looked good with what they've been able to prepare but map map pool is always gonna be a weakness and how deep they could go in it
Nuke and Mirage obviously maps, I think, at the moment against the best teams.
Too far away from Astralis for them to have true impact.
But let's see, it's CC side nuke, anything could happen.
If you get one individual popping off early, getting you out to a good start,
you can work this into something.
Who's he?
Oh, dad.
That's for a big old swing, there's a nice build up to it,
but you can't know how to make sure it doesn't go anywhere.
Chasarotto will extend upon the advantages that Fury will have.
And now they charge in to be up for bomb side, flashes are great.
Yabbi doing pretty well actually to recover a single kill from that, but unfortunately for Astralis
Just not enough being done until Rio decides to show us something on the jewel barrettas. It hasn't dropped down from heavy
So Yuri comes out and takes that fight
Astralis trying to remain positive, but they realized with a pistol rod lost that feels like the death sentence
Yeah, it really does especially when you consider they won the pistol in the first half lost that second round
They didn't really ever get started in the first half you add this into it and just the way it looks the way
We've seen new playing out. Yeah, if Yuri is gonna have way more answers than you're able to stop
Nice pistol on great trade in case Serato again having impact
10 to 3
But I think I think at some point, you know, it's good to look at what astralis is established, right?
They they have a team where it feels like everyone seems very comfortable in the roles
I think you've established that that yabby's finding some of his zero top tier form again
So he can be start working his way back into being a world-class player
Stairs still delivering for you and still doing the scrappy kind of blue collar jobs
Very impactful netfuzi with the op has shown some very good things
I think you're gonna be happy and he's gonna end up with right now. He's shown hold the phone
Can we have another back-to-back to us feature right back around? Okay, there's the end two on two
There's no way there's no way none at all with that smoke down
Okay, yep
No Hoopsie 5-7. We know it's a great gun. Let's see if Hoopsie can make it work
Can they give him a small chance with Molo do I make sure the fury can sit back and breathe?
Yeah, nice nice job from fury not letting that one slip away
But yeah, there's all those positives for Astralis. I think all these also establishing overpasses a very good map in your pool
That you can have a map that like not too many other teams have established that their world beaters on in any sense
So I think there's I think there's some cool things for this Astralis lemt to build upon after Krakow
Absolutely, they're at stage one of the building process and the fact that you're here at one point you're one map away
or still are one map away from the playoffs in Crack Off just seems like that's a very long way off.
You know, positives to take away absolutely and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of Astralis for this year.
I mean, would you consider that Deed Foote who's another promising up-and-coming team on the rise,
MeraVision who just won a trophy, it's not a bad event which we'll remember whatsoever.
Good kills outside, stare with a double, and Fusey adding one through the smoke means that Astralis is serving to me. That Furia attack goes nowhere.
Yeah, so you have to sit back here a little bit longer, Tesserato, and Fallen.
Oh, Fallen getting dinked as well. On the way down towards Secrets, they're very low HP on Fallen.
Or to his name. I guess in this kind of scenario you know you're not going to win the round if you're Furia, but how many players from Astralis can you take down with you?
Too much damage you can do, how many rebies you can force.
Oh, okay, alright, well there's the crossfire, hopefully he shuts that down before it begins,
follow up kill as well.
Okay, fourth round.
Got something to work with.
The last hurrah we call this.
The last hurrah, I'll see how much of a hurrah it really is.
And a timeout for Furia, and their first time out.
No surprises. It hasn't been tough at any point here on you. No money's just a little bit busted
Which is what they'll talk over. I don't think you really have in a you know an opportunity to buy up a hero a k-47
So I think the conversation is to be forced by here
Do we play with the lead and wait for another very strong by they're gonna go for the force up tech nines coming in?
Plenty of utility so just fall in want to do something fast
Do they want to kind of hit a hit an odd timing do a little stutter step at the timing wait for that first round of utility and then attack a
couple different options but it's gonna be fast and aggressive whenever it does
come out whenever they pull the trigger
stair pretty much one in the round the gate go at the start your secret
and hooksy handling the final two but the way fury I have been playing on this
final map around like this you count them out with tech 9 so they could about
of utility they're gonna try and be a little quick on the pounce with the
initial wave of utility towards the upper bombsite but holding on for that
second layer to come through so flashes through the skylights and fury get
pinned against the wall so Astralis handle that quicker play through the
a bombsite there'll be a fifth round okay we're gonna close the gap a little bit
11-5 and then fury goes for a full save it's good standing to get up to 11-6
before the next buy round comes in from fury one more gun round win for
Astralis and they're kind of right back into things right back into the swing
things still far back so a long way to go but that's a nice solid round where
you don't lose a whole lot either so you could build up some money and some
confidence behind you same round I believe called by the Astraliside
nothing fancy just the anti-eco setup
I'm gonna go for Moledoy, get him to go, see what he can find outside, you know, they've
got the buy coming back in the next, we'll see what Fallen is cooking, yeah, Casarota
going away first, yeah this this round will be Fallen not even really paying attention
to the counter strike right, he's thinking in his brain what he wants to call for the
next one, how he wants to get this team into a win, let's see if they can cross the line,
Stare shuts down the first two and the rest pounces.
So 11 to six is the score in the favor of Furious still,
but Astralis is coming in hot, closing the gap.
One more gun round win.
I think you start feeling like Astralis
is gonna be believing.
And then if you could add on top of that,
perhaps the op of Fuzi getting going,
then all of a sudden you have something to work with.
So trying to make this comeback happen
right at the end of this series,
when it felt like they were most down and out,
Five rounds away from FURIA's lead.
Four AKs, one Goliath, four FURIA.
Molotov having to play with the Goliath.
Cross mode thrown out.
That's the only smoke going outside for FURIA right now.
towards ramp room we go with furia no one's outside but they want to set up
the cross smokes regardless stair takes a peek behind a flashbang seems nothing
yakinder's just gonna be alert a very slow lurk while his teammate works
towards ramp room and holds on towards lobby defense hasn't shifted much yet
it's Ryu on the defense yeah I'm really just gonna hold on great double oh they
all lined up emuls furia as they try to get out of the ramp room but that is a
massive overperformance from the young man. He's had a quiet map here as well.
That's gonna feel good as it puts Molotoy on 21 HP alone in the 1v4.
Yeah, what's he gonna do now?
Fuzzi, shotgun faded out. Molotoy presses the issue. 21 HP going up against this
counterpart with the AWP and Fuzzi's got a new angle. Good move.
All set up by the rookie of Astralis with a triple kill, almost quad kill,
and another dominant round for Astralis and now all of a sudden looks like
Fury is hitting a brick wall I'm really composed holding on to the ramp room that
okay Tec-9's out, Fury having to taste that sting of having to go to lower tier
weapons again very likely we see Astralis go up to eight rounds and that
cap is closing rapidly. He is here as well. Fusi's got that open plate. Starr is
confident. He's all over the show. You know, started a secret in the last round.
Y'all are just peeking out of me. You know, the big box here, they come from the corner,
shooting towards him. Lines up the first couple. He's that pushing towards hell
He's got the 5-7 out, whoops that pistol in the shade.
Tecnines keep the pressure up on Yabi, and AK-47 now in the hands of Fallen.
He's so low on HP, 11 health, 26 for Yuri.
And that bomb dropped in the ramp room.
Yeah, but the Phyrrhus still just locked out of anything, any option.
Man, I like this tenacity out of Astralis that we see it, obviously, closing the gap.
It's now going to be five in a row for the Astralis defense.
No chance for a bomb plant, and I mean, while Furious is waiting patiently, they're saying
the only way to get back in the round is if Astralis make a mistake and come hunting
for him.
They know it's not going to happen.
Now you just got to make your move.
seconds shadow shows easy kill we're gonna be sitting out of 11 to 8 and I
think now when you start seeing these timeouts from here you're coming in
which I would imagine is gonna come in before the next gun round their time
outs of like oh we kind of got to find a solution we kind of got to find it right
now 11 to 3 at one point now 11 to 8
Astralis not going out without a fight.
Burning another time out here, Furia.
Everybody on an AK.
No wallpile for Molo-Doy.
Alright, so heavy comms for Molo-Doy as well.
Perhaps the AWPer calling his play, how he wants to approach this situation.
Fiora, it's been a long time since they've had success trying to end this streak at 5,
trying to prevent this comeback, but there's money behind it as well.
Astralis now have the confidence of a 5 round streak, 4 players over $10,000, 3 players,
excuse me, want to just bot late.
Fuzzi's got an angle with the AWP.
Oh, Molodoy! Quite the clearance there, Fuzi. Not gonna be happy about that. It wasn't
like he's in the AWP comes out just as they leave and spawn and you can see the difference
that makes when Molodoy gets into his hands.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's what he was calling when we saw his lips moving. It's boost me
up on the box. I'm just gonna clear credit for you. Nice opening pick and Molodoy still
remaining aggressive and proactive with the AWP, looking for a follow-up peek out of the
defense. Astralis, it started to feel like a comeback, but playing a man down equalized
by stairs.
Here's Hooksy. Had shown, but Kessarotto rips it off. Just a pixel shown, and Kessarotto
takes that kill.
Very slow, slow peek from Hooksy. Not activated by a flashbang whatsoever, so Kessarotto given
the time to adjust. And now, with that kill, with the man advantage brought back into their
favor, they're going to vacate the outer yard.
Reeves already rotated it down to the lower bomb site.
feels like they've gone secret, right? And the Abbey is going to have to piece this together,
and he's not even really all that motivated to peek for too much information. Nobody home
at the upper bombsite. Astralis, at a point in this round where they feel like it's not
the smartest play to move and push forward for information, but they have nothing to
tell them what bombsite they need to defend. With all this money, you don't even really
need the gamble stack, they just can't pick the right bombsite with no information, so
So, round's done.
Fury's gonna get a plant.
I feel like with this cash you should go for this.
But you have nobody close by to make a real attempt at this.
Yeah, it's not coordinated.
Too far off here for us to really make a good effort of this.
Now we've lost Yabby.
It's all come crashing down as Fury about to grab Ciri's point.
They've called it off. Stay went up the ladder.
realized we just don't have the time yeah I mean they're saying the AK-47s are
more valuable which I can't really argue with in a situation where all you really
have is to hope and pray that fury or forget that the bomb is sticking down you
know you can see right you're trying to come in late for that for that defuse and
now case I was like you know what I'll go down with the bomb I don't give a shit
we're not winning the round exactly we just it's met serious point who cares at
that point so there we go for fury at 12 to 8 up obviously so much money's been
built up for us roster still able to get a really good buy but they do flawless
now just to get this one into overtime.
Ajaavu back to Mirage, a similar situation. Fury up on 12 and Astralis having to make, I believe, a five-round comeback on this, on that map.
They brought it back to 12-11. Got to do something similar here on Nuke.
12-8.
Quick from Fury outside, on with everyone.
Just a kid not getting involved in the fights, he's already up at Red.
Looks like Fuzi's taking a little bit of damage here as Fuzi moves into position.
No, not dissuaded after the previous round getting picked off by Mollador, he doesn't
care.
Full confidence goes back into another aggressive stance over in Lobby, good information with
that deep angle.
Fury has already progressed across the smoke while one player holding on to the secret stairs
Their tactic their strategy coming to fruition, but with the angle with the with the position in door room
Astralis have a ton more information this time. So you're seeing the early shift downstairs
of Ryu and Yabi
Go silent for now
Fury out, getting ever closer to the first layer of defense here, but they're going to dodge it for now.
Okay, Serato, backtrack, he's gonna continue to walk down these stairs. Here comes that first fight.
The rear step, but oh, he gets both kills out of it somehow. Another moment, another multi-kill,
shredding Fury away. Molotov said one shot back. We've got Yabi coming down the stairway,
round the back of Molotoy and Astralis will continue. It's another big moment for the
young man here at Astralis.
That's a couple sequences at the rookie that he's delivered triple kills and the other
one over towards ramp to start this campaign of a comeback. Fury is doing the benefit of
really one by one, no flashbang that time, they wanted to be contact, wanted to be sneaky
the whole way instead of chucking the flash and far back. And he's been able to get multiple
triple kills with ease as they swing into his position. Third and final from Fury, a
out taken. That loss sends their money back to just the tech 9 territory. So now not wanting to
risk everything, willing to play with this three round league, have a dangerous round with tech
9s, get another full buy in the next one and see what happens from there. Actually if you
know what, fair play, I take back that analysis. Those two guys sung pretty darn well together,
That's just great for me.
That's just great.
Yeah.
Okay, Galil for Casualto.
Tech ninth.
This is what Furia have to play with.
Astralis are favorite to get 10 rounds here,
and then the cap's only two for overtime.
The fight for the crack hole playoff spot is back on.
And here come Furia trying to get up towards the upper site.
You can't do it coming out first.
Tech ninth's in.
Yeah, he has to turn.
Oh, no.
There we go.
You can't do it with the double.
The Tech ninth might just rip the heart out of Astralis.
It's your kindle with some brilliant shooting and molotoy to catch the descent down Ryu falls to his death and
Astralis looking like they're gonna crumble here the comeback was there
But fury a fine success bursting through that a bombsite
They will move into the Intel Street Masters crack-hole playoffs. It was a tough fight the whole way through the group stages for fury
They're not playing the right game. They're not in the form we seen in 2025
But regardless they make it and the frustration from Astralis on display. It was so close
And what they've done in such a short amount of time is impressive
But this has got to hurt right now. I like the frustration though
I like seeing it out of guys like Hootsy and Yabby who had that feeling that they were there that that was competitive
Like that was a doable one and they're not wrong
This was a comeback that they actually made very very believable
So the frustration is that it falls short
But you can see this Astralis is working with something actually building towards what feels like it can be a competitive lineup
Very cool display from them in crack-off even without making the playoffs or win here against jury would have been very very nice to have
But admirable performance from the Astralis side for Furia. Yeah struggled a little bit
But one of the best teams in the world
They still managed to make it through even without playing their best game and now they've got time to reset before the quarterfinals begin this weekend
Yeah, they need quite a step up though going into those playoffs, you know whether the other teams in the competition that are already in the arena
We know Fury can get into that for one, but they just haven't necessarily shown it yet here in Crack-Off.
Yeah, they haven't. I mean, the nice thing, you mentioned it as well.
Wanted to see a little bit more of a caseurato in this series. You got that after Overpass.
He showed up on maps 2 and 3. Molledoy here on Nuke was an absolute monster as well.
So in that third and deciding map, you had your two biggest star players show up and deliver for you.
Top-fragging, getting you opening kills, and delivering impact.
Yeah, absolutely. Now, you know, when you look at the strengths of Fury,
of furious. The fact that today, you know, it wasn't necessarily everyone showing up all at the same time, but you had the Molotoway at certain points.
The Mirage, he was the man to close it. He had you kindred on the earlier stages of the competition.
You know, Casarato shows up on Mirage as well. There's a lot of depth to this team,
and they weren't necessarily all firing at the same time, but it's the fact that you have so many players to go to,
even though you're not playing your best game, you should have someone that can pull you out of these holes.
I think one thing too is like, I think one thing that Theo might want to just kind of look back on is, you know,
They got worked on overpass for a map. That's supposed to be a very strong one for them
I think seeing we see an Astralis, you know work them on it in such a fashion, especially hooks these T side calling
That makes me a little bit nervous
So I think in these days off this might be a chance for a fewer to go back and look at some of the structure and fundamentals in
Each of the map and tweak a few things here or there. Yeah again for Astralis
I also like seeing just how frustrated they were about losing now because that's gotta feel like it
Aging is missed out. They were all their way back, especially when you lose to a tech nine upper bus
Yeah, that's a classic way that things end when you're trying to have a comeback
But for sure that is going to be frustrating for these guys just like off all the rounds to lose the tech nines
It's the most painful but they were trying to fight themselves out of a hole
And it was that guy it's the it's your kindar right? It's the only gets that round in their favor
Not exactly the greatest series in your kindar today
But he has been playing very well in the competition
Just trying to get back to that form that he had earlier in the group stages heading into the playoffs now
Yeah, that a rule naturally is always gonna have some swings to it
but yeah, he helped get them through stage one
with his incredible performance there.
And yeah, stage two, now you're seeing some other guys
step up and take some of that attention,
some of that star power, some of that light away from him.
But all good, as long as he's gonna deliver like he did,
where it's like, okay, here's your moment.
You have your round, you have this tech nine rush,
he gives you two kills, worth your weight in gold.
Yeah, moving forward though,
we'll see how a few are performed in the playoffs.
I think we've got all the teams we really could want
for the inaugural crack-off event.
Yeah, it's shaping up to be nice.
Let me just pull it up as we speak here,
as Astralis says, you can see, get eliminated.
This is their run through the playoffs as well.
Yeah, I mean, obviously, the spirit loss understandable.
The win against Paravision was solid with Paravision
just having won a trophy out in Malta,
then defeated Foote who were a team
and were given a lot of teams, a lot of trouble.
In particular, Fiora, that was the most impressive result
that Foote sports got was the 2-0 win over Fiora.
Yeah, it was a nice one from them as well.
So got G2, Spira gonna be playing in the upper bracket
final of both those teams in the playoffs.
Fiora has made it over Astralis.
Vitality, Aurora has made it into the playoffs
and then Maus Falcons playing for a final spot.
That's that's very cool got a great teams in the playoffs. Yeah, absolutely a lot of great teams in the playoffs
So our next game is gonna be vitality Aurora, which is coming up in a little bit excited for that game
Yeah, to see how that one is shaping up
We're gonna have apex imagine going tip for taxi who is going to go to the semi-finals
Who's going to the quarterfinals? It's time to find out vitality versus Aurora is our next series
Hi, this is Basement Rollers first at the
advertisement. And our second drop is it's up actually. If you're seeing this it's up. It's available on the ESL shop.
Had a first go at a jacket and I'm really proud of it.
I've always had an interest in clothes, but you know seeing behind the scenes how the sausage is made has been a lot of fun.
And if you like the clothes, tell me, if you hate the clothes, tell me, but try them before you slag them off.
I think they're really comfy. So yeah, that's my advert. I'm gonna try again. I'm gonna record another one.
Please, beam!
No chance, all done!
Don't break back here and you know it's only a good book!
And a full-length book, watch it all!
Well, okay, that's it.
FAKE.
Sontix calls the bluff.
Heavy God has no idea he won't be able to believe this.
And now he just has the ANGLE!
Heavy God don't have the time, don't have the time!
Sontix has played you!
Beautiful!
Solid close! What hell of a brawl on Dust2 we've got here!
That's the most out of the box clutch where it felt like you had extremely limited potential to try and win the round if he just started to refuse.
I guess not he's thinking, well, I have the all, at least Shiro gets that for free, but
ah, but also how often in a 1v1 is someone sticking that first time?
He's just calculated, gamble, unorthodox for short, and all of that for naught, for Mattis.
This is going to be one that they feel they've given away their G2.
Yes.
So once the Pires goes down, if he gets traded, no harm, no foul, but the fact that they lose
two in that exchange, door now open.
Yeah, you do feel silly when Donk just hits those two and suddenly a team of thrusts into such a forced fight.
Last chance for Halley.
Yeah, so both coaches have expended all tactical timers. We'll not see them again until we get to overtime and that's if we need to get there.
Money on the line 4G2.
Same can't really be said for spirit. They're 2900s, the lost bonus into the next. So if they do get the bomb down, it will put them in by territory.
G2 have brought out double arms, one on heavy god, one on sympias.
But if we reflect on how we got here, they had to give them those fights.
So G2 are just operating with a little bit more of a standard round.
The exception being heavy-god equipped with a sniper yeah makes them less
utile dependent their biggest concern would be a lurk smoke on B doesn't look
like that's gonna be deployed it's not ticked it's the one dealing with the
tunnels pushing doesn't have a smoke so
It's gone through the motions. No contact of an hour at the minute mark.
Turtle it up on BIG2 and looking to return it late through long will be spirit.
Must hear a shot for the sniper.
The Intel Extreme Masters Crack-Out 2026 brought to you by ESL in partnership with Intel,
Bacer Predator, DHL, Zowler, Jax, and City of Criminal.
Well, it's time for Vitality versus Aurora. Two teams have been playing very well in
this competition. Vitality keeping up their elite level. Coming into 20-26, they've got
their eyes set on another championship level trophy here in Krakow. We'll see if they get
into the semi-finals, or will it be a quarter-final start in the playoffs for Vitality?
And Aurora, I mean, the return of Anubis has been a massive part of their success,
but it's also SoulFly, he's just playing really well.
Yeah, he's come in, and he's looked great for this team.
And a lot of eyes on Aurora, a team who had that, you know, kind of a weird 2025,
where it was massively successful in the sense of making it to tons of playoffs,
but not able to actually win a lot of the playoff games they got themselves to,
making a roster change at the end of the year,
when it was clear that things were going in the wrong direction.
So, yeah, everyone just kind of cares who is going to be the one going out.
Now Seoul flies in and delivering for this team.
So again, they brought in a new player who's actually having massive impact for them.
And yeah, you added new perspective to the pool.
And Aurora have got to be feeling the best they've felt in a long time.
You know, Joy was a great player and obviously helped raise the ceiling of them last year.
But there's got to be a certain point where we're looking at that Aurora camp last year.
And it was a point where it just felt so frustrated.
Yeah.
Everybody was bottling up their emotions.
Sure.
They were getting tilted.
It was frustrating results.
Even when they lifted a trophy towards the end of the year in Bucharest,
it just felt more like relief than celebration.
And so I think changing out one player, hopefully Ananuba's coming in,
probably feels like a nice little reset for a role of like,
okay, we're restarting new year, new team,
Apple's changed in our paper, so let's get going again.
Let's get Rocket and Roland.
This is the Group B bracket as we've seen it play out.
As obviously we're going to be touching on this game in the Group B upper bracket final.
Winner going to the semifinals, loser going to the quarterfinals.
So nobody getting eliminated here in this matchup.
Head to head in the map pool as well.
We're going to see where things go and what's the veto gets underway.
But pretty even on a lot of maps.
And then there's Mirage there heavily in the favor of Vitaliy.
But there's some places that Aurora can go with this.
Yeah, where are they?
There's places, Jason. Where do we go?
Anubis would be one.
Yeah, absolutely. Anubis is the place they go to.
All right, so I rule without the Vitaliy jersey on.
Looks different.
It looks very different.
How does Robson look with just a hoodie on?
What about Flamesy?
Do these guys look weird without jerseys on?
Kinda. It's like, yo, the normal people chasing them, they don't understand.
Oh, my goodness, everyone's wearing normal clothing!
Oh, that's what happens. You come in in your street clothes, you get set up,
and then you go into the phone booth, switch into your superhero outfit,
and you come back in and you play the game.
Alright, Superman.
Alright, speaking of Superman, we've got Flames, Donk, and Zaiwu, top ten players.
We've got Flames at the top. That's surprising.
Shout-out to Flames, having himself won hell of a tournament.
Zaiwu's in the up there as well, in this matchup.
Soulfly number five overall at the event.
Number one, obviously, for the Aurora guys,
Robs is in there.
We know Vitality how deep this roster can go.
So many players performing so well individually
inside of an incredible team structure as well.
Hard to beat.
You gotta say, I was really enjoying the interview
I was reading earlier with Robs,
who was saying that we wanna make sure
that we come in with the elite mentality again
because if this team breaks up in a year or two,
you wanna make sure that we leave with no regrets.
Well, I think they also had that experience of last year
of winning everything in the first half of the year
and then so much of the conversation being like,
what is the new measure of success for a team
that's won like 99% of the tournaments they play
and what's the new measure of success
when you've won a major, an ESL Grand Slam,
when you've won all these various things,
seven tournaments in a row,
eight tournaments where you're undefeated,
like where is the new measure?
So part of that interview too was him kind of saying,
we know we can rack up a large volume of trophies,
but if we set that as the goal and fail it,
then it's hard, then the mentality gets ruined.
So not setting a goal of trying to rack up trophies,
just going at this point they're like we're just gonna go one by one dude so
all good regardless we get a hero from the players as well we got some
interviews ready before the matchup begins it's vitality versus Aurora for
a spot in a semi-finally might be wondering why I grabbed apex and
measure well it's the unction it is because they have played against each
other for so long and my first question is do you guys remember the first time
that you played against each other on HLTV I saw it to turn 13 we saw it like
do a french website share it so yeah we know you remember the specifics of that
match not the specific but I remember that I play against him yeah I can tell
you you won okay Matt Matt Matt was playing with us yes all times we are
all now we are all together we were not ideal back then we were just young
young stars yeah exactly well it's great to see that you're playing versus each
other in such an important match now again and I wanted to take this as a
moment for you to maybe talk about how you inspired each other. So Majer, how
has Apex inspired you as an IGL? Well I think it's someone I really like, I
really love to be honest. I respect him also, I think he's the best in game
leader in the game right now since two years maybe, so a lot of respects.
Well, this guy has a different path. He went and he played with the Turkish, tried to come
on Valorant, came back on CS. But he's been always fighting. He has a lot of problems
with his organization, not paying, not giving enough money, etc. But he fought a lot to
be here. And I think thanks to him, the Turkish community and the Turkish scene is here. Otherwise,
without IGL, even though they are really talented guys, they will not be here.
So, yeah, I really, I mean, same as him, we really like each other and I respect also him a lot.
Oh, that's lovely.
Yeah, oh, that's very cute.
But none of that, because I also read on that same post, someone said that maybe you took
learning the trash talk from him back in the day, so I need, no, the other way around?
My old leader, like, Rostraker, was really trash talking a lot, and one day also online,
He shows us like on land. So it's kind of trash talk, you know, and I don't know if you learn from him
But no, I don't think so. Did you know?
Okay, well give each other a fist bump then for all time's sake and good luck
Well, I think the the real impressive part of that was sharks handling the back and forth and all the cue cars in the hand
You guys were reminiscing about the good old days
Trying to catch them, but yeah great to hear manager in apex talking about you know the history and how long
They go back but also I good cool to see apex
I think you know given given some defensive words over to his boy who's under a lot of fire throughout 2025
And definitely towards the end of last year even among the Turkish community without that the results just weren't weren't enough and
But a lot of that blame on major and apex is out there sitting in front of his boy taking some shots
So that's cool to see as well. Well, there's the V don't let's get into the action then shall we who is heading to the quarter finals?
Who's got a semi spot here in Cracow? Well, we're about to find out vitality versus Aurora to the best performing teams
we've got so far in this competition. Yeah, and one of the things I flew under the radar a little
bit with that head-to-head graphic between Apex and Major is the individual level of Major.
You know, he's got his team in the playoffs, he's got them vying for a spot in the semifinals,
and individually looking pretty damn sharp. Yeah, well, let's see if that continues with the
step-up in competition. Vitality is certainly going to be favorite to come into this game,
as they are with pretty much every match they go into.
Yeah, no surprises there.
A lot of footsteps towards the B bomb site forces a lot of defensive utility from vitality,
but that's just a pump fake.
This is the bomb though.
Nature's going to show the fake really early, and actually he's well exposed, Flashbang
comes in, Messi hasn't peeked yet.
Now, realize this, okay?
Well, the bomb's here, guys.
We call teammate's back, Messi can't get a kill out of it though, and two frags go in
favor of Aurora.
Well constructed hit.
Oh, good kill from Zantares.
All right, individuals winning their duels across the map
and vitality back foot in this pistol.
Two versus five, Zywou's gonna come back
and try and recover with the Jules.
See if you create the chance to steal the round.
And as Zywou diving out,
Joe Barretta is ready to rattle off onto Zantares
behind the big box.
He's gonna be mad just sending one bullet back
towards Zywou and that's the round.
Aurora have found the pace around.
I like me doing that round.
I like that.
Let's watch him kind of duel around that box.
That's messy, he's going up against.
It was one of the strongest anchors we had last year.
incredible performances for vitality one anchor of the year as well so I mean
like you know you just stand and tall and taking that fight 1v1 that's a nice
one to come out on top of to open up the pistol 1-0 for Aurora second rounds
we're getting investment from Zywoo it's late into the freeze time so everyone
buying up right at the tail end DGOL 5-7s MP9 alright so an obstacle the way of
Aurora early on here but interesting Anubis isn't going to be in the series
here so an ancient overpass and dust to the maps in play so that's just something
that's a little bit sad about in this matchup that
vitality won't be letting it happen yeah it would have been nice wouldn't it
we're gonna have to take it to ancient a chance for an upset here a map that
vitality not super comfortable with. I had to pick and choose between ancient or
anubis which poison do you want to play on and I think this is the right call I
get to team a team like like a roar obviously.
Zanzaris will be the opener, rops the first victim that a bomb site now has no
defenders they were stacking over towards B.
Imagine if they made their right play through the window flanking from the back of flames.
So, round is done, Aurora will get themselves a 2-0 lead.
For Vitality, there's no point throwing these weapons away and ending with nothing.
Let's touch on this map, Vito, because it was something I kind of glossed over during the build-up into this game,
just talking about something else, so apologies for that.
I saw a question in the Twitch chat of why Vitality planned their perma-band.
Anubis has come back into the pool replacing Train.
train. Anubis, a map that Aurora has loved in previous iterations and previous organizations.
Anubis was kind of felt like one of the main reasons this was a top team because they were
so dominant on the map. So Vitality, not having played much Anubis, decided to ban that one,
take away a strength and being willing to play a map that's weaker for both teams.
And you'd also be okay experimenting in a game like this, although there's huge ramifications.
Essentially in this format, I feel like this game is a quarterfinal in a weird way because
Obviously, the prize of winning this game is the semi-final spot and the playoffs of a championship event, but you have already qualified to the playoffs, so if you're willing to test out ancient in the pool a little bit, it could be a match you feel comfortable to do so.
It's also a great angle to take with Aurora overall, considering some of the issues you've seen from them last year was like a team that felt like they were really kind of collapsing under pressure when they found themselves in these moments, when they actually earned these spots.
So yeah, you kind of play I like I like how you phrase it
It's almost like a pseudo quarterfinal because you get the reward of winning a quarterfinal
But you get to do it without the pressure of you know, elimination of the playoffs of the stage
So a chance for Aurora to kind of flex with this new edition of soulfly and see what
He can do to change the nature of this head to head matchup
It's all about limiting casualties here for Aurora, you can see a few players who don't
have much residual cash left over, matches left with $100, $300 for SoulFly, that's gonna
feel good for Zone Zaurus.
Deuces.
Also good for Zywoo though.
No, really unfortunate for Zywoo.
Not a fun round.
Apex.
You get into the danger zone as well.
Time to spam back, but Aurora, shifting into what is going to be an A finish.
Yeah, being very quiet, nothing against the weaker weapons, not wanting to try and be too aggressive and overextend themselves.
So being slow moving around the map and making sure that Vitality can never get a good sense of what attack is going to come to have a stack in place.
Actually now challenging both extremities of the map, walking into the A bomb site, walking into the B bomb site as Soulfly, just as a solo player.
easy find on two rocks, less easy on two flames, but they do eventually take them down and that is going to be a third round for Aurora's back.
Yeah, 3-0 lead coming out on ancient, got to feel good about that.
And let's see how much they can continue on this T side.
And the buy round will come through here for Vitality.
Alright, let's crank it up a notch, see what we're working with.
Yeah, fun clips on a map, we don't normally get to see these two teams play a whole lot of.
Or any of.
In that way it's a fun experiment.
Still sad train's gone though Jason.
I am very sad train's gone.
I was enjoying that.
Should have been inferno man.
All flanks committed to the cubby in mid.
Gonna move on out.
Make sure no one's walked through that.
Oh a little bit awkward though.
It's called by Flash over the top from Woxic, and Zantara is loving the Flash assist.
I'm going to kill here for Aurora.
Yeah, great start for Aurora.
On the map overall, 3-0.
Now in this round, the first gun round, 5-on-4 advantage.
Soulfly going to drop down, do the utility, but he's got that protection to the smoke back up.
Doubled up in donut is this Vitality defense, but it's getting spread thin around the map,
and Aurora is going to start challenging individually.
Wakadia sliding in, going to go up against Robs over in the donut hall.
Oh yeah, he's lovin' that. Rob's just sliding right back into a free kill here for Aurora.
But Vitality know it's comin', they've shifted everyone over way earlier than Aurora expects.
Yeah, but isn't 3v5 going to be enough?
Gonna help back by Utility as well, Mezzy.
Getting this kill certainly helped and tapped it away.
Desperately trying to fight on to trade out the numbers,
but Soulfly comes in late to catch Cyborg with a donut.
Apex slips down to the side of the tent wall.
The 2v3 is very doable, especially now that it's a 2v2.
Apex may have taken significant damage on board, but Nezzy's still fragging and all of a sudden, it's Woxic alone with no bomb plant yet, and Nezzy, stepping up with a 3k.
Nezzy and Apex combining to get a round back that looked like it was going to Rourous way.
It was so beautiful for so long and once we hit the 5, actually once we hit the 4 on 2, 5 on 2, it just kind of got sloppy after that.
Apex is allowed to survive. There's a lot of numbers, a lot of bodies, the advantage going to Roura, but nobody doubling up on fights and making retrade.
Nobody keeping apex pin down throughout all of this he finds the timing while we're caught he is chucking an eight out
So many things had to go wrong for Aurora and they all did to force them to lose that round first one on the board for vitality
And right back into things major with a Mac 10
They have mid control, no one from Vitality fighting for it.
Zahruz all taken away in the previous round.
They're not quite gonna make it around the corner.
Malozov forces Zantara into the swing, but he crosses into safety first.
Oh, soul flight.
A little bit of damage being felt towards him.
He's down to 60 HP, but I like the boost idea.
And Zantara has walked away with Apex.
Another opening kill with a favor of Aurora, Zywoo fighting for it as Xantar just runs through that smoke, hoping he could get a follow-up kill.
Yeah, that's a nice slide into position from Zywoo off the presence that Apex was throwing out all that time.
Aurora thought it was only one player.
Look at Robs making his move. He's pushed through a man. He's going to be a delbo.
And... could be. Oh, perfect timing here for Robs. Oh my goodness, he gets away with both.
Indeed, perfect timing as the second player is coming through that smoke.
So Soulflat had no chance to react in time, no vision with which to do it.
Now you've got to make the mad dash over to the 8 bombsite. Flames have spotted everything and can even slow down and harass Woxic trying to cross over.
Oh, tons of damage on Woxic. Does win the fight, but I'm not playing it yet. Mejir wanted to thin the herd and now all of a sudden a 1v3.
Impressive science here from Vitality. The fact that his two rounds now back to back where they've lost significant openers going against them, right?
They had a 3v5 that they turned back into their favorite health, 4v5.
So Vitality is showing that they are still able to win rounds even when they're losing these opening kills.
I was just looking up, while we have this time, it's going to be a little bit of a lighter round
and a good job, a good string from Vitality.
I've won these teams last played, ancients.
These cores of their teams, I should say, last played ancients.
For the Turkish side, it was a turn of fire back in 2024.
For Vitality, this core last played it, I mean, Chengdu in 2025, so back in November, but that's the only one.
That was the best of one, right?
Yeah, so not a lot of experience on the map for both of these teams, a fun little glimpse that we've got.
And interesting as well with Anubis coming back into the pool,
teams having to make a decision if you want to play Anubis or whatever your permaban was at the time,
and Vitality too have that decision to make.
Oh...
Okay, trading.
Let's go kill again from Santaris.
It's very rare that you come into a competition where you say Aurora playing well,
And Zhentaris isn't an atoperated player.
So, like, stepping up beyond expectations.
But as you get into the more important games, when you really raise up the stakes against the likes of Vitality, and then when you move into the arena, you are going to be looking at the light.
Well, you're going to be looking at Zhentaris to be the star of the show.
Oh, for sure.
Well, Nage is definitely going to try and split this map in half.
Kill could do it, misses the shot, lands a body on Flamesey, but can't get anything else to connect in deadly fashion.
So, Wikati steps up to the play dex, the softened up Flamesey might be an ideal target.
And he does in fact win that. Now can salvage an AK-47. Where's the next kill to find?
Apex is the only defender at the B bomb site, so we can't be aggressive here. You've got to back away, but he's given the kill over.
Okay, Zaiwu taking away Zantara, so it puts all the pressure on Wukandia to try to win out this 1v2.
He's going to put that bomb down in the middle of the site, rotation arriving, he's going
to be sandwiched by Zyowen Rops.
They're going to come in from different sides and it doesn't really matter anyway.
He gets caught, hands busy, Rops able to clean them up.
So if I tell you it's far hard to bring it back, it's three to three now all tied up.
Yeah, three kills though and the bomb plan is going to be pleased with that one if you're
Aurora.
Maybe frustrated if your Apex haven't given up that death to open up the avenue.
Even putting your team in a rough place where it could have got even weirder.
I shoot him from Santaros and I shoot him from Wakadia with the Deagle as well.
We didn't catch the skill on Apex, ooh that's brutal.
Apex didn't even really give him that clean of a look,
just a nice timing in the gap and we're tied at three.
Look at Flakes running through the fire,
gets himself into the corner at Elbow.
I'll just make sure they maintain control of this for as long as possible for any early
engagement in mid.
It goes in favor of vitality, but they re-smoke out the elbow.
They'll maintain control here, and Apex is the one to climb up towards Heaven.
This is the point that gets awkward for Apex.
He doesn't want to get caught from an elbow push.
walks up, takes that kill and drops off back. So, Vitality gonna be happy with the advantage.
Matchers play towards the B-Bombs, that's been stopped by Zywu. And Vitality now at 5B3.
Defense looking like it's really getting settled nicely.
Not even really any pressure. They haven't been forced to move a whole lot.
Information on Zontaro's tracking the movement of Aurora.
They just hit a play standard rounds, still maintaining presence inside the B bomb site
so nothing easy for Aurora to try and come back into this.
If they get this kill on a pushing mezi, they might open up opportunities.
And indeed they will.
Shows a little bit of lag first before turning the corner.
Three on two at this B bomb site is the defense, not budging.
Flamesy gonna just start, but he's gotta be cautious about middle.
Zayu?
Hey, shouldn't be waiting until Zahra appears on his crosshair.
Zayu then goes back out to the ramp and on the cleanup.
He's run out of bullets to really go again and he'll drop in towards the cave for a
more comfortable spot, more defensive to close out the round.
You rely upon his rifle to make sure the job is done.
I've got to say, it's fun watching Vitality Plantations.
Yeah, so far so good.
Uh, yeah.
I mean, you have to imagine with that kind of change up in the map pool, yeah, it'd
be interesting to see I guess that'd be a question for after the series ends of
where they want to go with the product out we'd get a good answer out of apex
for you want to keep this is kind of a wild card secret don't yeah I want to
bust it out in the playoffs when you get there might be a match if you're something
they spent the entire Christmas break just grinding grinding ancient gods when
they show up tough times for Aurora as they've lost now four in a row that
little advantage off the pistol long disappeared. Out of the time out trying to work together
a bye with what they can scrape things together at least a hero AK-47 it looks like is going
to be in the mix. They've sold back the AK on the Aurora side of things. Work out he
has a Galil instead. Other than that, Mac10 on Zantara's tech nines. So potentially something
aggressive something punchy looks like we're headed towards that be bomb sight
insta window smoke instant cave smoke as well
or Jaguar smoke I should say
Apex retreating further back into the cave
Oh, he's out of position. He just pulled a grenade in his hand as well.
So yeah, he gave him what he wanted here if you're a roar.
B site is taken, smoke's a rough, plant should be coming in shortly.
Gonna have to do a retake scenario, but one push is through, the smoke's on Taurus, gives it up way way too early.
Wanted to deliver a really powerful punch to this retake, and it's not gonna happen.
He's had a couple of moments like that so far, and really unfortunate, the roar lose their player advances.
They go to fight for it, and Woxic, he does get two on a Tec-9.
Yeah, I'm surprised how long it took Vitality to be the ones to turn the corner.
That flash never came from any of the supports to actually activate Mezzie around the corner, dropped.
I'm actually giving it up back in the way.
Yeah, I don't want to risk the AWP, so well done for Marora.
Uh, little, I mean, look, you did it off the mistake of Apex, right?
Sticking around a little bit too long, snoozing, pulls a Nade out as well,
gave up his position, tries to come back to it when he didn't have it.
Everything kind of just goes wrong there for Apex.
Two players go down with a bomb, but Aurora all smiles and happiness as they balance back
with another round with.
There's Apex sitting caught.
And then Woxic doing what he does best with that little tech knife.
Yeah, I was just waiting.
It flames at mezzy.
We're at that corner ready to turn it.
I was waiting for a long time for a flash to come out from the vitality side.
never came so they were just kind of sitting ducks when it was Aurora were
the ones to be the proactive squad in that situation
no money problems for vitality in terms of getting a really good pie out here
still got that AWP and AK for rops
got three rifles on the rest
soft light early damage nothing against them 64 and 62 health respectively
Sofly's moved in towards Jag. A strong position to get here is vitality. You're
setting up a boost on the other side.
Zairu just waiting patiently. He knows they've they've attacked this part of
the map a number of times. They've enjoyed having presence here and he's gonna deny
access in round nine. That's a major going down for free. Sofly the next to
But he's got a stack to work with
There's the push out from soul flight in cars one out
But not gonna be enough to feel super comfortable here if you're a Rory
I'm still gonna deal with the throat of messy or it looks like oh
They're climbing themselves for his entire is not looking the right spot though
But a really important trade from walk stick and even better from a gaudia clearing out the cave
So apex is gone the damage has been done to the two remaining Aurora players. Oh
Oh, that wasn't too far off.
No, if he was just committed to that, he might have had a freebie.
Robs, that'll be ready for this fight.
Wakadia standing his ground against the wall.
Now Robs, no swings, good kill.
And it's the low HP, Woxic against two.
He's going to wrap around and try and follow Robs up.
I like to play from Woxic.
He's low HP.
Oh, Robs didn't spot him.
He goes back to check it and then Woxic's going to get knocked over.
So he's sitting together, realizes if Woxic's not showing anywhere else,
then he's got to be on that flank.
Let me just block B ramp and I'll just check this real quick
the fire is burning. Good job from Rops, good job from Vitality.
All right, Mezzy and Flayne's just talking over. Look, you know, we talked about this,
not a lot of experience on this map, so we're going to see some
miscoordination, some disorganization from time to time, and obviously cool to see Vitality
in real time, trying to talk through some of the issues that they're finding on a map they're
they're not super familiar with it
it's quick for aurora and direct towards the site
and only one player here in the pool of rocks but I say only
and I mean it because uh... he's just been wrecked
well he's not alone anymore
you know
well actually kind of is he's going to be dead
Flamesy, Molotov comes in, the namesake falls back, goes down, but Apex with a trade and Zairu's arrived to cause some chaos, and boy is he double kill inside the site.
Yeah, Cat is clear. Oh my goodness, he's got another one! Okay, Zairu, he got the ATVP out, spotted the head there of Zhentar, as he rips him, gets on a defuse, and Zairu, I mean, there's a reason they call him the game, Jayce, there's just little moments like that, and you're like, okay, we're actually doing really well, he just comes and takes it away.
Yeah, it's all feeling good. We got the entry, very clean, nice and easy. We got the bomb planted as well.
We got some good... Oh, no, we don't know. They're all gone.
But a round from Zywoo.
Stoing it in to recover the A bomb site.
I've roared now two rounds back at six to four.
Hey, Zywoo doesn't look uncomfortable on ancient, you're saying?
I, you know, I haven't seen too many games where Zywoo looks uncomfortable.
Nope.
Especially not in recent memory. Maybe early on.
Can't really remember.
Hey, Rops has pulled out the secondary off.
Oh, we like that.
He's like, all right, I've had enough.
I don't want to be caught with that.
You coming to me like that ever again?
I got you.
Just retaking with an AWP.
You know, it looks so easy.
It helps.
I mean, look, he's got a lot of teammates going in with him
and fighting as well.
So it helps that you have a lot of people creating chaos
at a lot of different points
so the AWP gets some time to work with.
Two rounds left in this half, a couple of different looks from this Aurora theme.
It's a beautiful look though, straight down onto Flames of the Elbow, Zhentar is firing
over from B-Lake.
The only Flames you'd expect of that gap to be around the edge of the smoke, Zhentar is
is able to work himself into a very nice peak.
As in Zywoo, the stack in cave.
Zywoo scoped down below.
As his rifle up above.
Should be instant bath for Zantara.
It's the set up designed to deal with that thratch.
As Zywoo goes out into the site.
Oh my god.
One shot, he's not missing much though as he goes back out again and gets a double kill.
Take it away, Aurora's advantages as they now sit in a 2v3 and they're separated.
You see, well Katie is trying to get information in space towards the A site
and that bomb is slowly making its way back over to...
Oh, but actually Vitality has overrotated everyone.
I think at this point you're going to want somebody to peek towards the red room
but they couldn't have the angle so I was just holding it with the AWP.
They're still not confirmed yet if the finishing play is going to be the A bomb site
if they're in the right location.
But that confirmation will come in time.
Major gonna start planning the bomb.
Sound cue is gonna be there, so everyone's comfortable.
Robs is up over in temple.
And swing out from Apex and send utility under the donut.
Oh, they go forward though.
Magic on for the fight.
Oh, nearly getting himself that second opportunity.
Xayu will continue to bombard the donut with Utah,
keeping Wakadia under pressure.
But he moves forward,
he gets out of the depths of the fire.
And he goes into the lineup and gets damaged to both.
They celebrate across the way letting Aurora know that's around the gutter ways from them.
Yeah, so many, so many different pieces of utility to flush out the donut player.
And Aurora still cannot get a good grip on how to finish these rounds.
And they still can't get a good grip on how to handle Zywoo sliding into bombsites.
First the A bombsite in the previous round.
Now this last one is him at the B bombsite coming into the default boxes and just working ya.
This is now an opened, a 5 on 4 unable to be converted.
but Zairu behind the smoke is being such a danger.
Incredible round in sequence put together.
Zairu's just having a gig.
14 and 3.
Flames running his way down. He's going to catch the opening on soul flight.
We've got rops.
They'll be tested.
He's got AWP this time.
And he's taking the first kill on Wakadia.
Is there a reaction from Aurora?
Rops instead of falling back, goes more aggressive, takes the more advanced stance, gets caught
but a flashbang but he stayed hidden away and he goes into the second kill.
Zantara nails the trade but it's already a 2v4.
He touched an area to be in as this half will round out.
Because Zantara's left, trying to clutch up, you'll do what he can't here.
Aurora had a good run in Krakow, struggling here on ancient DeVito.
Perhaps surprising them.
I think you had an idea what's gonna go this way.
You had to have an inkling, not really much you can do about it, right?
Yeah, this is there in front of you.
Sintaras, how much you can do in this scenario either?
He's trying to piece it together.
Vitality of no reason to make mistakes, no reason to push and giving chances.
And then the double peek comes in for the close.
Aurora getting a taste of the world's best squads' vitality.
Vitality vs Aurora here on ancient.
The stakes of this game is semi-finals at the Intel Extreme Masters Crack-off 2026.
Currently Vitality showing their class in a really comfortable spot right now versus
Aurora.
Yeah, very comfortable spot.
I mean it obviously helps vitality will not experience on the map this team is just gonna play so well together great
Coms and and then you have a zaiwu which is which is a huge benefit in a situation like this
No scoreline is 8 to 4 Aurora won the first three rounds of the game. So I'll say that they want a single round Jason
Yeah, yeah, obviously 8 to 1 run to close out that first half
It's not gonna have anyone under roar feeling super happy or positive and just getting just getting destroyed it
Even when they take over bombsite still being re-turt by vitality
So let's see how this second half starts CT side for Aurora stacked towards the B bomb site wrong side of the map as it
Looks like we're gonna be finishing over towards a
Yes, that cross smoke comes out
Double or triple kill to scare them away. He's already on 9 HP. So yeah rough here for soul flying
He's done well to go. Oh my god. Okay. He's got a double. He's got a double. What can you get it on the bomb is dropped
Okay, it didn't look like it was gonna happen
But somehow some way on 9 HP getting two kills out of it
Then we're Katie coming in as well to get involved in Aurora Lou in this pistol. That's insane great work from soul flight
And then tolerance and I thought I was back. Yeah soul flight is like, okay
I somehow I somehow pulled that off. I feel like it no business doing that after getting gushed immediately
The fact he grabbed he actually grabs a double what a sequence pop and then on the other side
We go almost even a chance on the third
But those two kill by the time for that third player to shift over drop the bomb and donut and rounds done
So both pistols now for Aurora
At p7 here for walk stick an MP9 from adjur
So those are the two SMG supply. Everybody else is a premium M4 in hand
So they just want no mess around no funny business Aurora need to get going here
So that's both pistol runs collected here for Aurora
I mean yeah coming into this if that's how you would have drawn it up, right both pistols
Now you just need a second round conversion, which you're likely to get against Glox and PT-50 on Robson Apex.
That'll be a third round buy for the Vitality Attack.
They're looking to milk some extra utility out of the Aurora defense, have them chuck a few more smokes to delay things before they commit and eventually
end up losing the round before moving on to the gun rounds.
Well, first victim, Zayu from the MP7, KD has turned to get a nice line up, he always
enjoys farming those E-Kills, and Zhentaris comes in for the final kill.
So the gap now, two routes.
Trying to remain positive for Aurora.
Well, trying to remain positive, like, you know, best way to do that is to get something positive going.
You know, Soulfly is one of those guys who got something going on the pistol round to make you feel happy to get you started in the right place.
Now you need maybe a Zhantar or some kind of a sequence to get these gun rounds started and make you feel comfortable as early as humanly possible.
Well, AKs are out for vitality. Everybody's got one. Everybody also going towards A. Simple call for vitality out of spot.
out of spot. Yeah, Lakadia has a deep angle though, so he'll get a little bit of information.
They're going to slow walk it with all five players.
Robs lining up utility far back. Lakadia's not going to get much of a spot as they wrap
around close to him. So, drop of the Molotov and he'll have to back away quick. It comes
now. Here's the utility. Here's the execute and the defense has got to get lined up.
As I will with Flames taking heavy links, especially Flames who's now finished off.
Apex MediShort trade comes in here for vitality as they try and fight
and we're robed away into the A-bomb site, but Soulfly once again
resurrecting Aurora's chances on this A-bomb site.
He'll stay behind the default boxes.
And we get a lull in the action.
Things go quiet for just a moment as Apex starts to slowly get closer and closer to the site.
How does Maidra get involved in this round though?
MP9 and Donut long range fights.
That's not going to be fun for him whatsoever.
So he's gonna have to buy this time over in donut and so fly just you can't die here
You can't die here
You take a risk playing to smoke fade and that's put major in a basically impossible scenario
Yeah group movement from a thanks to take up that space within his back is turned to donut
So that's how magic gets involved the issue is he's against rops and he'll send the bullet back into the donut
Fist bumps came in his vitality had to really work for that one getting into the A site
They did and major even almost makes that work in the 1v2 with an MP9 apex at his back turn
but yeah, up against Robs, you just have no options of that range.
Tough hit, self-flight comes in with the recovery.
If that initial defense and hold is a little bit stronger,
that recovery might actually win a row or the round.
So once again, you win the pistol, you convert the second round,
not able to build anything off of it.
The first gun round for Vitality goes in their favor.
9-6, and now this turns into a must-win situation.
Without any money behind this investment in round 16.
Just peeked out immediately a flash pops in his face, and he's very happy nobody was scaling when he got his vision back
And vitality that's spreading around the map not taking mid control not pressuring anywhere else all five players just waiting
Waiting for the moment. They're looking for after that initial kill on soulfly
They sense the weakness at this bomb site with one of the defenders down and want to re-attack into it with utility
But the office come over in the hands of walks
It's really going to work, gets the one pick, then goes into the opening to get a further
kill and ends up getting caught by Apex in flames.
So now you've got Wickedia and Zhentaris having to come back into this round and Zhentaris
certainly takes the right step in the right direction and then that helps straight through
the smoke, but you're up against Rops in the clutch.
We know how comfortable he is in these scenarios.
He moves off to default.
Never going to be easy trying to get rid of Rops in the clutch.
He's so cool in these situations.
Forward into an instant Tetris on Torres, but a great trade from Ocadia. Yeah, brilliant
Goodbye as well. All right. You're talking a little smack already. I like that. We're getting into it. Nope. He looks angry
He's not happy about losing that. Yeah, nice. It's up to the clutch not about reposition as well to default boxes
But one for one trade on the retake nicely done from Ocadia
So Aurora is not out of it. They survived that all important round
But they've lost four players in the process
So Rebis is going to keep the money in a really precarious position and vitality is still going to have knowledge of that weakness
With the four kills with the plant you expect vitality to keep the pressure on
As best they can with what they can scrape together, but money's just does not look like a lot of pressure
It's actually horrible. Yeah, they came for Zaiwood. There's always a shot with that
But yeah, I don't look in great for vitality or a really solid opportunity here for Aurora to not only get one step closer
But really tie up the game. Yeah, and just build up some money. There's a safety net behind you
So you can have another buy moving forward. So this this has to be clean. It feels like for Aurora
I want to capitalize on this situation you're in
Once again grouped up bit of a death ball going on rops the office
the off-map player over towards
Elbow and a bomb site looking for pushes other than that four players from vitality gonna play the trade game in through Jaguar and cave
for a shredding leaf was I would have just blocked out cave with a smoke
really can't do much that
lots of footsteps may try to dodge the damage of the mall it's off
information passed over to a roar they have to have a great idea of what's coming
Oh no, you just turned your back. Now you're going to press the issue, measure with a double kill, make it three, and you can even add more on top of the chaos.
Yeah, he's just swiping around, trying to figure out what they are. He's got four kills somehow.
Blimey, but the smoke is all catchy. Apex is running out of it.
It's now rops left on half HP with a tecton, bottom of the ramp.
So Gaudi is going to take away the ace opportunity, but yeah, how'd you feel on that?
Let's go get the bounce back here.
Let's look it around for someone to hype him up.
Guys, anybody see? I just got a 4k, guys.
I got a quad kill, somebody say something.
Bro, he's against pistols though.
Yeah, I mean really well done, obviously a lot of luck involved.
Just blind spraying through the smoke to a certain extent, but we take that.
Stuff's the attack after the opening kill comes the way onto Soulfly.
9-8, Aurora keeping this close and one round away from tying it up.
Still a little bit of a busted buy from Vitality missing utility.
Couple players descending down to Galil, so not full strength quite yet for the offense.
Then there's busted cash for vitality.
It's been the story of the early going here in the second half.
Walks it can walk around with no rival.
The AWP department.
got the full b-lane on lock. Oh, a miss shot from Woxic. So they now know about the AWP,
they know where it's last spotted, he's gonna have to retreat, change up his position,
try and become a little bit more unpredictable.
Well done on the initial defense and vitality with those deaths taken don't want to commit
quite yet.
Look at it, Badger as well, look at this push through a mate, it would be a brilliant
play before we get into behind Robs.
Robs getting flanked out, doesn't happen that often but there he is.
flanked by Madger. 4v2 now for Aurora as they are about to tie things up. It's going to take a
really solid effort here from Zywu and Flanks to even make this one competitive.
I thought it was going to get planted but Zywu, oh, sending shots through the smoke. Santaris has
been caught and Zywu is allowed to leave this default position. Oh my god, Zywu's got another one
and all of a sudden this 4v2 is a 2v2 and now he's got the hot hand. He wants to keep pressing forward.
Yeah, keep moving looking for that next fight. Zywu is searching. Oh, he's got the right for it.
Oh my god!
Zywu is freakishly good at this game again and again!
It's Zywu pulling off ridiculous things!
He just rips the heart out of the Turkish team!
Zywu just eradicating that retake attempt!
That's so unreal.
I love the way he gets that second kill.
He's like, you know what? Screw it. I'm hitting everything.
Let me go find one more.
Just swiping him to the side like they need nothing to him.
Dude, he's just reading it perfectly.
everything is so precise move it around just chopping them up oh my goodness that is the
difference isn't it so often for vitality they've got a zai roof
well that's uh that's that's quite a dagger to have to try and survive
There's no I might just bleed out if they don't win this round. That's that's like a scalpel of a clutch
It's just so precise exactly what needed to be done 20 kills eight gasses off as I will have one of those maps
I want to see more of him on ancient. I want to see this coming to the pool a little bit more often if this is what we're gonna see
You might get it
I think his number is gonna be called again a very similar round what we've seen vitality in apex run a number of times
You know rops is the off player for players outside be just kind of wait just sit and chill and eventually
utility will run out and you can see Aurora knows it as well. I mean it's it's an interesting conversation
we can have a little bit later because this is it looks like it's about to come in.
Four defenders here. Aurora have already got a sense that this is what they're going up against
constantly so one more time Majors pushed out A and he's got a huge jump on the on the flank.
Flanks goes in. Walks a good double and then Zywin Apex get a couple of kills right back so
So 3v3 off the old engagements.
30 seconds, there's the flight.
Oh, missed the task.
He still recovers.
He stabilizes at least one kill out of that scenario.
But the hunt is there, and Mads was cleaning up.
The reason he didn't get everything there was because he rounded the bullets.
Yeah, not the prettiest execution of that flank, but he gets the job done.
Double kill and throws chaos into the mix, and now Apex doesn't have any good places to go.
Sound cues as well made.
Zontaras will hear this.
Call it out to Akadia.
Who's going to be in position when Apex turns the corner?
to get the gun out in time, but a great response coming in here from Aurora. There's a world
in which one of those clutches really just set you, you know, kick you off your game
and you can't really get back into it and you just watch yourself lose the map. But
Aurora stay in it, they bounce back immediately.
Yeah, now all of a sudden it hasn't just spiraled out of control entirely. You're exactly
correct 10 to 9 Aurora staying in this back and forth we go and it's vitality
who run out of fun so back to pistols great chance for Aurora even things up
on the scoreboard what I wanted to touch on earlier was because neither of these
teams have you really played this maps too much I wonder how much of this is
kind of like there is a certain feeling of like vitality running this sort of
like 4-1 with four players out so like are you just you kind of like using this
as like a sort of way to test this sort of this sort of break gate reps in
Essentially
Well the secret to us at least the vitality are about to send five players into the B bomb site passive for aurora detecting
But they're up against a weaker bite
I don't want to get any close quarters engagements, but that's what comes a little bit too late,
so Vitality is just going to flood in with it.
Xayah always got the kill, but the rest of the cleanup is here for Aurora, and a tight
game we've got.
So Aurora is staying in here on the opening map.
Yeah, so far this time only the one kill does a good amount of damage and allows the follow-up
to be an easy mop-up.
No real issues there for Aurora, so timeout called from Vitality, Xayah is going to talk
things through.
He's the most vocal at the moment for the Vitality team as Apex listens on.
Trying to get this team coordinated and lined up to close this out. T-side has been a little bit rough for vitality, not able to find the solutions sitting one round back.
Saibu with 21 kills, Apex with 15.
For the Aurora side of things, it is a much more team effort, 19 on Wakadia, 15 on Major
and 14 on Zontar.
So these are going well for the Aurora defects.
Looking really good as they just haven't let Vitality get going.
Despite some of the great wins, despite some of the great moments, that's all it's really
been for Vitality. It's really cool seeing Aurora outlast all those moments though.
The clutch from Zywoo, that dominant first half, the 8-1 run that vitality went on Aurora, had a couple of moments where they could have capitulated and just faded out of the server.
But still here, still fighting back. A chance for Wakadia to have impact. MP9 boosted up.
And they're heading in his direction at A main. He's got support in the form of Major back at the bomb site.
But that's it. Everyone else has just shifted to the other side of the map.
And the other first two, pretty worked for the MP9, so I would have tried it out.
He's down to 43 HP though, and so Vitality feel wounded, they're going to start falling back away from AMA.
Yeah, the double kill from Wakati, it means that timing is ruined as well.
If they turn that corner, even with busted HP on Zywoo, there's going to be a few more players here
than they would like to face off against, so they're going to try and find a new position to attack into on the map.
And that position is middle.
Going to turn, you would imagine, towards Donut with the position of Mezi at AMA,
but it's a double up defense with Woksik and Majur.
Oh ho ho, great shot from Ajax. Walks external, step up and clean shooting.
Not a walk-safe, holds the donut well.
Manzi now walking his way out of a main into the site.
20 seconds, I think he's just gonna back off and save the weapon. It's the only one they'll have for the next round.
So wanting to hero AK-47, wanting a one piece of weapon.
Aurora have taken the lead.
11 to 10 CT side lockdown from the Turkish team
Beautiful stuff on the defense and they've even survived, you know, one of those rounds
that could just be back breaking had a lot thrown at them
That's just really impressive about it and it took some time for the kind of mood in
this game it feels like to switch because of how dominant the first half was for Vitaliy
including that 8-1 run, but now when I look at it and think about it now, it's like, man,
actually, the defense has actually been winning this game strategically, winning most of these
engagements. The moments that we're looking at from Vitality are things like that Zywoo clutch
to get them around. Haven't seen Vitality's offense able to kind of take this over yet.
AK-47 on Zywoo, Galil on Robs, Tech-9's upgraded pistols, they're going to put some pressure yet
again at this B bombsite, but can they break it this time? I mean, this is it. There's no money
left over in the bank. This is Vitality's T-side for the rest of the map. It feels like Aurora
are about to close things out.
This is Aurora's map to lose at this point.
Zontara's and Soulfly getting ready to go down the B ramp, clearing out the close corner.
Seeing no one's in the cubby. Mezzy spotting and detecting the attack into Worsham.
Soulfly coming away with one crit response here from Mezzy on the eagle and that'll stabilize.
For the moment, Zhontar is going to give up the angle. They were playing aggressively at the top of it, but don't want to stick to that.
So Zhontar's plays along the boards in the corner.
Vitality at least want to take this cave position.
Smoke down as it is at the moment.
And Rops is still kind of that release valve. That Plan B on the other side of the map.
Waiting at Elbow now going to help work and tend them to help clear middle.
And they'll start shifting on the map.
Not a lot of resources or utility no smokes for vitality to use to cover this cross
So all of this is just contact fights and yet again
It's one sole defender deep in the eight bombsite walks are gonna be called upon and what can walks it do here
Can he give his team? Oh a better chance at winning this round. He detects. What's coming this way?
I guess staying alive is
All that you can do there so he gets back into the temple the bomb is planted and it comes down to a retake for Aurora
Yeah, I don't think Aurora piece this together quick enough
This is gonna be very very difficult to retake even without the utility on vitality
Plenty of time for them to be set up and play off each other when we send Zontara's forward first
Sharp is tools on the server and he'll
Slice away flames to that post plan position going into the donut fight next this rops and messy with some success
But Zontara is still moving forward for Aurora time taking tap on the deeps
He's trying to pull the next plate into his crossings here, but the time is too far gone
Zontara's will back away and vitality find a way to tie up the game again
Yeah, Vitality win the low-bye with the tech nines with the galil in the AK-47 a desperate scenario and they've got it again
The team is just so hard to put away
And Aurora just slow on the take a little bit three defenders taking around at that B bomb safe for just way too long
Not able to get into position to have an effective retake
Timeout called, this one from Aurora, their third and final, talking things over, 11-11.
Plenty of money for them to rebuy into things, so the AWP is in the hands of
Likadia, and actually a double off setup as Woxic has one.
So a change in the look they want to give
the attacking vitality right at the tail end of the map. First map
in this series. Nobody's going home today if you're just turning in, this is for a spot in the
semi-finals of I am Krakow for the winner.
For the loser dropping down and playing in the quarterfinals, but both teams will be in the playoffs and playing on this stage.
A double-op setup for the side of Aurora. Wauksic and Wakadia hoping this is the key to unlock the win here on Anshin.
They've got one up in position at the A bomb site.
This is what Wakadia picked it up for so they could actually leave him alone and let him
get one kill, play or survive.
You get freedom to work mid and clear middle, but Wakadia has to hit this shot.
We've seen Rob choosing it in the first half.
Wakadia's turning, sees the shadow.
Now he knows his opponent's there.
Great shot.
Smoke comes in.
Wakadia stays alive in the temples.
The turret's pulled in next.
Oh, great shots out of Aurora.
Exactly what they needed.
They are fighting forward to grab map point here on ancient.
They have earned a lot of high-fives here for Zontara's great work on the defense of that A-bomb side.
Man, that's Zontara's. He just looks so calm after that one, just a slight smirk on his face, just deleting people on that hit.
Vitality, man, you could tell they haven't- this map isn't in their real house, you could tell it's usually their perma-bana.
I just think the T side hasn't had a whole lot of options, a whole lot of different looks to it, and Aurora's feeling very comfortable.
But one round left. I mean, all that being said, Vitality's still in this.
Overtime or Aurora with the first map in this series, air selection.
Yeah, two AKs, one for Zywa, one for Robs, the rest on pistols or a MAC-10.
And it's quicker here for Vitality to try and get into cave.
They've got Jagged Control.
Sofly is in cave, does he decide to keep going forward?
Just get a little spam, a little look like, hey, us, you do not have cave control right now.
Well, this time it's the Vitality opening that as we've seen a number of times,
ends towards the B bomb site. At least when it gives Zawoo some chances to peek in. They'd
love to be able to get kind of a cheeky early kill. Nades are lacking on the vitality side.
Not a whole lot to work the map, so you're hoping you can kind of force an early peek and maybe
grab a sneaky kill before committing to anything.
But to do that, you got to spend some utility to force the peeks.
four defenders on this side of the map and as this half has gone on it's felt
more and more like Aurora know exactly what's coming their direction
I
Will decide who
Shots towards Woxic and the span through the wall as well connected off the match it set up as you move it
Good opening here from as the two mad ten kills and they move into the B site
Well, Cardi as entars and Woxic can they hold on to stop this and going into overtime not looking like it right now
as I was arrived with Claudia racing in the flames has got the job done and vitality never give up
They get it into overtime. Yeah, I'll tell you this
I'm as he gets those double that double entry with the Mac 10 over in cave
But you got to give so much credit over to sign woofer setting that up because he's such a menace on he bullies them so hard
There's four defenders here
He scares three of them out of their position challenges the offer forces walks it to tuck down
Drops down gets the scam over towards cave breaks up the stack major stays committed
So fly leaves causes the panic and that's that's messy up for the double kill. We got overtime 1212
And all the money issues disappear for the moment double upset up for Aurora
It's major with the secondary off now not with Katia. So switch your things up all over the place
Nice.
Zatara's stopping flames from successfully climbing up Heaven.
They towards the back of Donut.
Molly to follow.
Oh god, you're not forced into the open.
Apex knows at least he's still pinned there.
Now the Molly spreads.
The Nade will finish him off. Oh, Godia has a horrible round here.
And then Rops just walks out straight into his entire,
it's an important kill to return here from Woxic.
Oh yeah, but look at the challenge for this.
Toe fly drop on the flashbang.
Blotting himself can't find the safety.
Well, it just came in a little bit late
and Zairu has the angle as well.
Aurora missed every time he hear down the stretch.
So 12-13 as this bomb gets planted.
Major can't really do much about this with the AWP.
In fact, you might want to save that and just drop it over to Woxic
in the next round to prevent any kind of economic disaster in the last round of overtime CT.
Well that's exactly what he's doing, backing away, hanging on to it, but vitality, it has
been a rarity watching them win rounds on the T side, eventually they really struggled
to get things going, but finding the first round of overtime on the T side is going to
be a huge sigh of relief.
Xio, 26 and 13 in the moment, searching for a 30 bomb.
Well, Coddy, is that great, man? I've passed him 8.23 kills.
Yeah, yeah, he's been excellent.
Just haven't been able to get over the finish line in a row.
And the more time I think you give this team, I think one of the dangers now in overtime
is when you're vitality and you come into this and you don't have this deep playbook,
then, I mean, you probably quickly start leaning more towards individuals.
So you see someone like Robs making that play to kind of challenge into the A-bomb site from AMA.
We hadn't really seen that a whole lot in regulation.
If you start giving some individuals a little bit more initiative, you might be able to make it through this map.
And a lovely opportunity taken from Robs.
Still a double-op setup for Aurora, back in the hands of Wakadia over towards the A-bomb site.
The response from Flames, gonna climb up towards Heaven.
You got Soulfly and Majer in here.
Game 2, playoff, Majer's contacting Soulfly, Flames walks in.
Oh my god, important trade, give it up for Soulfly.
That was a great shot from Flames, very quick to the kill.
Maybe 3 because of it though.
but now he vacates the position over in caves.
Aowoo steps in with the AWP.
If anyone kind of jiggle peaks that or goes back
to get some information, Aowoo's gonna put him down.
And they're gonna buy time for Robs
to make his move up the middle of the map.
Remember I said, individual initiative might be able
to be what wins vitality this map.
And Robs is starting to take a lot of liberties
now that he's feeling some freedom to scale
into different positions.
A long time for a rower to have to play
without information, being nervous.
So my timing there for Zywoo, flips this back, Soulfly just peeks at that time.
Zywoo losing his life in 40 seconds remaining in the round Vitality down to just two players.
It's okay though because you still have no idea about Rops.
He said all the time in the world.
So Bomb going to go back to A, Rops is going to find Zyms on Tarzan.
Such a long run though.
The timing is everything.
Zyms is staying put at the big box and now Rops has the kill he wants.
It's just about hold your trigger until your teammate gets close by and then you take it.
You give as little of a warning over to Aurora as humanly possible.
Now what?
Good timing.
That up for Robs.
Just waits patiently.
Zhentaris is taken down.
Now Robs marches back over.
Well, Connie's already rotated in.
He's all the way at CT.
And so he realizes Robs couldn't have gone out of the temple so fast.
There's actually one of you won't fight here against the planter.
He hasn't got the opportunity to take him down though.
Now the Utah comes in, keeping Aurora away from this retake for the time being.
And both retakers are going to be in one-on-one fights.
Yeah.
getting into the temple. Robs is in a close spot. Really tough to clear this one.
Robs moves off though, and Soulfly does win the duel, so it's now all on Mezzi.
Now 1v2, Soulfly with a great round here, but he's gone now, so it's Mezzi into the clutch
against Wakadia. Really good job, Tom. Wakadia keeps Aurora going here, a hard fought retake,
and Wakadia keeps a good game on top. Yeah, so does Soulfly. Let's keep, let's mention him as
well, the newest addition to the Aurora team. That's an all-important critical kill on Robs,
to clear out that avenue to retake into the bomb site.
Give yourself a 2-1-1 and you set your teammate up to win an easy,
with an easy shot on the AWP.
Another team going away without a fight.
13-13, Aurora responds in a long, grindy round.
Sofly playing very well for his new team.
And Major's loving it.
I really have to fight for these rounds.
This is a great game.
It's between Aurora and Vitality at the moment.
So I will curve the opening pick at the bottom of the B-Ramp
We've got Major about to come through the side of that smoke at Jack.
He's in the mix of it right now, but in the meantime, it's going to be a Vitality to walk up the B-Ramp.
He walks, he's waiting for it.
All will strike, but not going to be good enough.
It's Mezzi to rip his head off, and that's the space created for Vitality to move in.
With a bomb on the back, they've got five players up for the time being,
and they extend their advantage to a 5v3.
Yeah, still fly dark trying desperately to be a presence that Vitality have to consider,
but smoking off that Molotov and then being smoked out by Vitality,
He's neutralized for the moment. So is major
So is Santaris this has vitality written all over it five on three and the retake can't begin until the bomb is already well ticked
Another bullets off to a soft flight no get it away with that one robson flames or close out this first half of overtime with
Vitality in the lead the T side is where they struggled in regulation
But they will come out on top of it and now they move to the more favorite side
It's looking good for vitality once again. Yeah looking really good for vitality in prime position at the moment
You love that 26 kills on Zai Wu now they get a switch over to the CT side where remember the gun rounds were just so dominant in regulation
Aurora had won the pistol run and their offensive half the ensuing two
But then it was an eight to one run once vitality got settled into the half
So if it goes back to that this could be quick gun rounds weren't pretty for Aurora measures gonna have to change that
Mid control for Flames, he wants to fight.
Spam down, it's going to be Flames with the first soul flight to respond.
So one for one, sure the wipe.
And a pause after that.
Bon, it's drifting back over to be here for Aurora.
Still pretty comfortable though for Vitality considering the middle of the map is well controlled. They have information.
Zairu gonna hold a very narrow angle, but with Apex backing off, he needs to back off Cave from Jaguar as well.
It's a defensive smoke, he's the only defender at this B bomb site, and it looks like Aurora's gonna work their way up the ramp.
I should know, Zairu. What's coming from this position? They should have an idea.
Here's the plant.
I'm gonna be able to get into position 2 tonight, though.
So, Vitality realized it's a retake required.
Zairu hunted down and traded out.
No cave falls in favor of Aurora.
Oh, I like the play from Wakadia though, getting out of cave. He already has a teammate there, so they don't want to be doubled up.
Oh, good shot out for Robs, but even better for Maddox, we can't get up.
We now have Apex and Robs moving back in, trying to get into the site.
Softlight fights forward, another one kill, will it be enough to match her, the battle
of the IGLs, and he comes out on top of it versus Apex?
Yeah, I talked about in the pre-game interview, first matchup, they played against each other
back in 2013, well, Major's got a nice clutch win over him, 13 years later.
Beautiful stuff, and giving them the advantage in overtime as well.
I'll bark it out orders, no time to celebrate.
Comes on both sides,
slowing real fast at the moment
with the pressure of the match in OT.
Well, failed on boost.
Vitality fumble a little bit in middle,
but there was no fight coming that way.
That's Aurora again, heavy start towards B.
Zontar sees the shadow. This is the fight he's looking for. He swings for it. Jiggle. He's got apex frozen in the open.
Deleted. That really good shot here for Roy to get into the bomb side today.
Robs trying to make sure there's some resistance towards A main. He's gone in for that first kill.
Well, how committed are we now to this play towards the A bomb side today? What do I call it off? 45 seconds?
Decisions to be made. A little bit of time left to consider their options.
You've got Flames back in the donut, Rops is just repositioned towards CT looking for
that cross but he's blinded and one player does get across towards the temple.
Flames wedding as Zantara's now arrives, oh shadow and doesn't expect Flames to be in
the donut as soon as Zantara's life is gone.
It delays the plant as well, delays the plant, there's going to be one more lurker coming
in mid, that's major but I think it's too much as already happened at the other side
of the map that he can't really recover.
Oh, Zairu's found Wox because he can focus on Matcher coming in.
Doesn't matter though, Matcher still wins the fight.
It's still a lot to do though.
And Vitality are gonna grab Map Point first.
Really fighting for it.
Robs really stalls things out there with that one kill towards A-Man
and just maintaining presence in that position.
He's so annoying to play against.
He just always seems to be in the right spot
with the right idea of what needs to be done to win the round
or at least make it the most difficult for you to win the round.
just so impactful with this fight selection and a timeout the overtime
timeout afforded to Aurora is burned in this final round as they need it to keep
this map going otherwise Vitality will take their map pick. It's been so back
and forth but second overtime feels like a real possibility here for Aurora. You
see one more good idea coming out of magic here. One more good idea one more
One more great entry kill from Sontaras, one more multi-kill sequence from Sontaras.
He'll take anything at this point.
Round 30.
Can Aurora do it?
Can they force it into another overtime?
Oh well, Vitality.
Find Aurora's map, Pink, and head to Overpass.
Miss Smoke back in CT spawn.
Not a great sign for Vitality right out of the gate, but they haven't been punished by
at all. Now they're coming out through elbow with no smoke in place to hold it back so they get
that mid control without too much of a fight. Tarr is going to join up on the ledge.
AWP is coming in late from Rocks over towards Donut and they can already have the angle.
So he slid in. Oh and the spam from Zontar is on the apex. Now last time Zontar is
got caught off guard by a second player doubled up. That was Zawoo as well. Will it happen again?
This time the AWP and indeed Zontar's peeks right into it gives up the advantage.
So if like trying to fight for it again on the bottom of the ramp had an opportunity that that bomb is shifting back for a B finish
The map either ends here or we go again. Well, you got Zairu in this position
You have rops and flames pushing down middle right now for a fast flank
There's a timer on how effective this hit can be and if Aurora wait too long vitality is gonna be able to stuff it
Flames climbing up heaven getting the information but loses his life
43 seconds left on this clock. Aurora now have to play her advantage in the going up
against a double AWP setup. Zywu and Ropp still wielding the snipers. Ropp's is coming
in mid-late. Zywu is still committed on default. He can't really get away with this one so
he's gone and so is Ropp's racing back but he's got an AWP for a 1v3 retake. It's over
time written all over it again. He takes the dink on board, the spam was not far off but
But not enough bullets to continually lay down spray.
This is how all the utilities got, sending everything into the site.
The utility dump is wild.
Yeah, he's on the op again, but it isn't going to help him much here.
Aurora have fought so hard on this map.
Going to be dragging us, kicking and screaming into another overtime.
Just staying pinned, giving raps of respect, but it doesn't matter.
Aurora, keep this one going again.
Yeah, that's well done.
I mean just patient waiting outside the B bombsite for the execute to come and getting a couple picks along the way
It's actually vitality whose patients broke first flames going for the
Investigating peek up at the jump up after that the B defenders trying to step in front of the utility just getting wrecked
So Aurora keeping this one going
Double overtime 15 15
Keeping the double off setup going again here for vitality
Rolf's gonna play over towards Donut. This time the mid-utility is good from Vitality.
Zantars, look at this. All the way up the B ramp. Look how much space he's got.
Sorry, we're looking to block that gap now. He's been smoked out.
He didn't see the one player step up already. Zantars might just have a free kill coming through this smoke.
This smoke might have two free kills. Oh, it's so tense. Here's the footstep spotting his time waiting for his moment to strike
Oh, that's ours. Does he get the better of Zywoo here?
Hey, Pat, she's going to way master. Sometimes they decided not to go forward instead stays in the site goes for fights towards cave
Hasn't come out on top of those unfortunately and again
It drops in Zywoo a 2v2, but the bomb is not planted this time
Zywoo's watching that cross. Oh, that's gonna be a kill for Zywoo separates them into 1v1 fights
And now Soulfly is left 1v2 on 22 HP
He hasn't got the bomb planted that's not in his favor at all
No, I mean even the bomb plant at some extent doesn't really matter
He'd love to get one kill before he commits to putting the bomb down
In fact, he's even thinking about falling all the way back to the other side of the map
But Zaiwuz cut him off
Cut him off at the pass the opposite's perch over in red room
Staring for this play for the adjustment from Soulfly
Zai was put himself in the perfect position and he will nail his opportunity.
Stabilizing the chaos once again, it's Zai Wu.
Yeah, he's in hard carry mode as well right now.
34 kills, excuse me.
Four Zai Wu, 16 deaths, 90 ADR.
Just putting in an unbelievable performance.
A couple incredible sequences throughout regulation that kept Vitality fighting and
gave them leads that made it feel like Vitality might just steal it away.
Now and over time he's keeping up that level of play.
Loosen up Woxic.
We're gonna see if they can get their all up involved.
Flash Zywoo away from the angle, which gives Woxic superiority in this department, but then flashes himself and then Zywoo goes for the piece.
Yeah, narrow miss as well. Almost took someone's face off.
No vision for Woxic with that smoke in place who can't really do too much with it. It's gonna be broken. What's the peak? Nobody home
Zairu apex and messy at this B bomb site
Zairu shifting off as middle is wide open. He's got a teammate and donut keeping information now
Zantara's picks up this pace do they feel like this is the final move? Oh good fine apex caught snooze and unaware of the potential angle
Mezzie to step in the plate. Mezzie taking a little bit of damage here. He's going to back in behind that smoke again.
Smoke for the short cross.
Now, it took a long time for Aurora. They never got it down in the previous round, despite having to troll the bomb site.
I think this time a lot quicker they're going to commit into the bomb site. That's major putting it down, punching the numbers.
Still, we will have an attempted retake from Vitality, but Mezzie's already been brought low. Apex is already out of the fight and they've got two ops.
An unlikely retake.
I mean this has got to have been the philosophy for Aurora's. Try and get into the site, force these two ops into a retake.
It's just been a little bit awkward each and every time they try to get that bomb planted, but this time a lot more comfortable in the post plant.
They move in now, but they line up and flames just eradicate them. They're just gone.
Disappearing within seconds and Santaris now has to clutch up and all of a sudden we're back.
Back into it again, his message's on the stick, the thief is all the way, but Zontara steals it, he wins it here for Aurora.
The shining light, the Turkish Terminator, comes in to step up.
Alright, well you got those moments out of Zairu where the star of Vitality was going to be the one to deliver them rounds that kept them alive.
Zontara's now doing it for Aurora, going blow to blow.
And I mean, look, Flamesy activates everything, that retake felt so winnable, and they just couldn't find Zontara's, and by the time they did they're lined up.
Dude, how back and forth it says we have that 6-3k coming from Flens, then suddenly
it does some Taurus line up into the last second denial of the defuse.
This is exactly what we wanted when we had Vitality and Aurora juking it out for a semi-final
spot if the Intel Extreme Masters crack off.
Two strong teams, put them on a map, neither of them playing, you get some final hits.
You get mistakes, you get openings, you get individuals making the difference here.
Oh, you thought, I thought Flens had won the round here from Vitality.
That's so hard to coordinate at the tail end of the bomb when you've had that kind of a retake and you're getting excited
Triple kill in a row. It's so hard to coordinate that swing on the last player and they just fall prey to the position
Again, the double-op setup for Vitality.
Rops really wanting to keep it, and it might just pay off, because they're truly in the
Aurora camp, they're going to get rid of it now, surely they won't keep the double-op
again, so they're going into the A setup, they're going to be walking into Rops, he's
got this closed-angle ready to peel away.
He's searching for it, and he's destroyed!
Soulfly wins it on the rifle!
Okay, now you got one more to get past Flancy.
Oh, Soulfly, great utility.
Okay, Aurora crack in.
Have access to this A bomb site,
but Zawoo's gonna try and close the door.
Almost a double.
Oh, it was a shot to come back into it here
with that bomb not planted.
Apex nearly getting the lineup of multiple players,
but Soulfly and Zhentar is coming in with kills,
and Aurora should never let this one go now.
Yeah, Vitality's put so much pressure on them
As the bomb gets planted, really cool seeing Aurora just follow their positions, not rush the bomb plant,
stay and wait to see what the peeks are going to come from Vitality.
You said that Zywoo was in hard carry mode, now is Antares is going into hard carry mode going into overtime.
Really stepping up, that big clutch, this round is one important frags coming in.
That's exactly what you want to see.
Kind of like a little bit of a two out of dragon for Aurora, is Antares, yeah.
He seems to be in a huge carry mode with some impactful rounds, obviously that clutch in the previous.
29 kills for his Antares. Wakati is right up there with him at 29.
For Vitality, it's pretty lonely up at the top.
35 for Zaihu. Next closest is Rops with 21 frags.
We switch sides and over time, 17-16 in the favor of Aurora.
Two rounds of their own defensive side, which is the stronger side for them in regulation.
And they're off to map two with a lead in the series.
Your Aurora goes to the double-op setup as well.
And remember, there's that big picture at the end of the day.
Winter goes to the semi-finals, loser goes to the quarter-finals.
Nobody's eliminated, but if you're Aurora and you're looking at last year,
so much trouble winning those quarter-final games that you earned for yourself.
So much trouble winning those games in the playoffs.
So getting to skip to a semi-final is a great thing to have.
Especially over vitality, it gives you a lot of confidence too.
And Aurora grabbed map point, had to fight to come back into a double overtime.
Now they could be put in themselves in a position where they're on map point here on ancient.
And so back and forth, so hard to call.
But it's the individual moments that are making this so exciting, Walksix.
Close to that flick up, at least he's given the mercy of getting away with his life.
Yeah, but I think if you step inside Walksix's brain for a moment, at this exact moment,
I think he's thinking that he's had way too many shots that he feels like he should've
hit that have just gone a little bit of rye he feels like he's probably been in
position have way more impact and not able to land anything at the moment
the rollers off are feeling cold
four defenders here at the B bomb site trusting Wakadia all on his lonesome at
A there's no eyes on middle no eyes in doughnut now shifting to recover that
still largely ignoring the A bomb site.
Wakadia just playing the safety of donut, but vitality is going to get a lot of freedom
to move in and get in good positions and plant this bomb especially now that Wakadia's gone
down.
Dry peek from Apex in middle.
Good luck on this retake four versus five.
That plant is locked in now. Oh, well good, but I don't really know what to say about that.
I'm not even really worth going for it anymore.
That's just fair enough, Zai Wu.
Hello, I'd like to play the game, please.
Well, they didn't really even get to attempt the retake without that kind of shot coming in, so...
It wasn't going to go well that again, was it?
Uh, true. Decision made for them. And a tight scoreline again.
Bold call, I mean Aurora, I just must have, must have been so confident, and I mean I guess to a certain extent you can understand why we've seen so much on the T side vitality of running this 4-1 with four players towards the B bomb site pretty much quiet until utility fades, but
very bold and double overtime to just call an entire round specifically for that and give up the entire other bomb site.
They get punished for it here.
I trust this here, what Apex keeps calling here, as the game gets later and later, losing
a lot of health almost immediately.
down to 27. Look at that! And Wax has got the open kill on Zywoo. This has gone exactly to plan for Aurora.
What a decisive point of the game, and Aurora taking huge strides to get into map point here.
Oh, Apex turns the corner, spraying, forcing them back, but they can't find anything. Yeah,
Aurora. Strong, strong position now. Five on three. Apex and Flamesee both brought very low,
so Rops trying to be the point man to create an opportunity. They're going to attack right up the
the gut, right in towards Red Room.
Zontaris has fallen back to CT spawn to keep an eye on.
Look at the push as well from Wakadia.
Apex might never be able to join up with this attack.
He's everything.
The pre-imper.
Wakadia still wins it out.
Man, 2v5 just isn't happening here, especially with walks
expositioning.
Just watching that Red Room push.
Aurora going to be getting themselves
map point to the on vitality to fight back
to a third overtime.
They get by the gaze of the scope.
Then they walk in as Antares. They're taking him down.
It is a great shot. 30 seconds left.
Now they have to clear Wakadia off the site.
He has low HP.
Similar health to that of Flames, but they haven't found him.
And so he moves off into the fight.
Wakadia denies that bomb plant, and now rops 1v4.
They're swarming him to put pressure on him,
dropping his health, burning him towards CT.
He's got everything thrown at him.
at him and there's no way rops will walk away from this one alive so we're
looking at 18 to 17 map point secured for Aurora. Alright can you get that final
one though? Can you actually close it out? Need one more for Aurora this over
time on CT side has been spotless it's looked great as well not even a whole
lot of pressure applied so it feels likely but vitality they haven't gone
out easy good shot from Woxic chiming in at the end with Cardia making sure Apex
can't get involved and shutting things down at the end of the day. Map one victory for
Aurora or we've got triple overtime.
And what the way this game has been going out of love with triple overtime just to keep
all of these moments coming.
Apex moving out into mid.
Got a double push ready to go down to the bottom of the ramp here.
Mezi looking to fend it off.
Ooh, Mezi wants to peek out with the flames he's getting in that fight.
Wanted to actually take advantage of the situation, but the defense is going to give it up.
They'll call stalemate.
No, we don't want to commit to that, actually.
Santar is going to be tasked with holding on to any play Apex wants to make.
fake towards the B bombsite does kind of lures on Tarzan to a lean in the wrong direction
Mccardia just comes out of temple spores him now coming towards the Dota bombs in a main
though so even if they could even if they don't play works you still have to get
Zaru in there you still need to get a pass the shadows spotted with Claudia
scoped up rated utility to make things hot and heavy it's a miss shot from
with Claudia and Flames is coming on Zantara's it's now 5v4 on a 7 vitality
half the player advances to try to edge this one into a triple overtime and kill
back through the smoke, numbers once again even.
Mccarty wanted to make a play but he's gotten off so he can't swing out and go for any kind of a
fight willy-nilly. And you're also missing utility, aren't you? There's no flashbangs actually left
over for Aurora. How do you get this retake going? One on major.
Yeah, one flash for major, still ready to go. Sands it out, here they go, rushing in,
trying to get back into the fight, into the side. It's Apex, Messi inside with combining,
walks it with everything to do. It'll be a 1v3 if he's able to pull this off. Otherwise,
Vitality have secured another overtime here three OTs between Vitality and Aurora where they keep this game going
We wonder what ancient had in store for us and it has so many rounds a counter strike
And we have got even more ladies and gentlemen the semi-final spot here in Krakow will be fought hard for
That a bombsite yet again a fact just comes right back to it this time with a little bit of default a little bit of lean first
towards middle to apply some pressure and make some presence known and again you
keep finding this is I mean so many times the Roars played this kind of
retaker we're caught you there alone with an AWP and that's kind of the initial
defense and you know I think I think Vitality and Apex are just like we'll
take that that's that's what we'll go challenge it to you we'll take that
risk. Hands out yet again for Vitality 18-0. Triple overtime now as we reset
things. What happens if you get into a third overtime on a map? Both of you don't play.
I feel like the playbook ran out in like round six for both of these two, and now we're just
going off intuition. Well, you got the individual showing up here for vitalities. I were with
one, Messi with one, Flames chimes in as well. Five on two. This happened very quick. Just
running at them, Vitality taking the first three kills of the round.
Woxic and Madge immediately handled, or handed rather, an impossible task to try to pull this one back.
Utah effective in dropping the low HP of Mezzi.
Woxic did not detect a window player.
Follow up play from Flamzy though, just gonna wrap around the AWPer.
Oh, missed the chance. It looked like that was a clean shot, but couldn't land him.
I think Flamzy might have hurt both players.
Just biting his time, Woxic eventually going to have to walk back in towards him in Flames.
Well, the time in favor of him, it will.
Cross there in the right spot, Woxic topples, and now Imagine walks to his death in the way he arms his eye with.
Yeah, unfortunate for Woxic, he kind of had to make that play to help out Major.
Had to do something to try and get that round under control, so had to go look for a disadvantaged fight against Flames.
1918, one round lead now for Vitality. Just a route where they just kind of blitz Aurora right out of the gate.
Three kills very, very fast and an easy mop up at the end of the day.
Now moving away from that double lot setup in this overtime for Aurora, just Woxick wielding his.
Look at the amount of utility they've bombarded the B lane with.
A little bit of damage done to Apex and Mezi, but nothing too significant.
That's significant! Ah, Centaur is being forced out of the cubby.
Flames just catches him.
And that's a great opening kill again here for Vitality.
Removing the man that was making...
...the life very difficult.
Badger's turned out.
Waiting in Jag. Mezi coming up to the mark.
What a tough game here, Mezi.
19 kills.
Challenge against a mad dream he's gonna win it
Vitality extend their advantages to two
All right, so fly you're up next stepping in gonna try and recover this good shot finds apex
But his position is now known. He's brought down to let half HP vitality weren't positioned yet to slide all the way up the ramp
They're gonna let ropes play first
They slipped out but walks a
Aware of that possibility. It's his course on the right spot and ropes has gone and we're right back to a 3v3
I was gonna say five on three and vitality is given it right back with some individual fights apex
got pushed upon but Rop slides into the off and now Aurora know what the finishing move is.
I know what it is, but can they deal with it?
Still got a piece of utility late into the round.
Wakadia on the flank around, walking down Belay.
Here comes IWU to address that problem, but will he be looking in the right spot?
Hoho, it's all about reacting quick enough, Miss Shot from IWU!
Great work from Wakadia, it's all on flames, the clutch ahead of him.
He knows where his two remaining targets are, but can he piece it together?
Can he isolate them into 1v1 fights? Yes, he can!
There's the first gal, walks it gone, and Flames backs away into the cave.
He's got so much health to play with, and he's queued up for the 4k.
Mikadia on the stick, he's gonna hold it, Flames is gonna go,
and he comes off the deep ears to the kill, and Mikadia keeps this game going,
keeps his stellar performance on the server,
and that is exactly the kind of individual moments that are keeping Aurora in this fight.
Yeah, Wakadia delivering its spades, getting off that diffuse flame,
he's trying to hold it right till the very end before making his move,
and Wakadia reads it.
Man, for all the individual efforts on the vitality side,
Aurora's maybe doing it even better.
Wakadia's on Taurus, Soulfly has had some great sequences as well.
I took the danger's wall through the wood.
Damn, the wave too.
Ice cold.
Staying mentally in this, staying individually in this, this is a great game from both squads.
Another timeout activated here for Aurora. They've played enough Overtimes, they've got another one available to them.
Yeah, it's every other Overtime, I believe. We don't get to see it too often. That little mechanic come into play.
But every other Overtime, you get that extra timeout to talk things over.
Aurora just burns theirs now as they tie things up.
One more round before we switch times and switch sides in OT3.
I may have been saying goodbye, but it's more like see you later with the amount of times we have to keep coming into this.
The amount of times we have to keep going into overtime.
Huge from Wakadia yet again!
He's overtaken on Taras. 33 kills now for Wakadia.
There's Robs. Catch it up, Matt. Good opening. Again, response to Soul Flies. He pushes out
of the cave. It's Mezzi and Robs, both knocked over. And it is Aurora, a 4v3 to play with.
The majority of the route is still available to Vitality, but not many options. They have
to go to the Z-Play.
Aurora seemed to have such a good sense that Vitality wanted to bully themselves out in
middle. I mean, they brought forces over and just said, we're just going to re-aggress
right into you as soon as the utility comes in. So Woxic's got a deep angle but they're
boosting up past it. Got to be careful stepping in, looks for the exact play. Flames goes
down, 4 on 2 and now you have the defense all shifting over knowing exactly what's happening.
Now what's home in donut? 3 going to be CT and this one big flank from Wakadia.
Yes another big moment for him around the back. Searching for Zywoo, 40 kills. He won't
get an extra one in this round. He's knocked over. Apex now having to be pulled between
so many different angles. Aurora with yet another round going to the lead of the game.
Okay, 22 is the magic number. Aurora just two away from closing out this first map if they can do it.
40 kills as you said on Zairu, 27 on Flames. It's 33 on Wakadia, 31 on Soulfly, 31 on Zaltars as well.
Fragging for the Turkish side has never been the issue.
Good to see Wauksic nailing some important shots as well down the stretch after a quiet regulation.
Could be the difference maker.
Cave smoke, donut smoke, rut smoke, all the smokes out here early for Aurora.
They don't have the bomb though Jason. I'm gonna keep eyes on that. It's all the way back at spawn so although they aren't
Majority of these players in fact are towards B. They still have to think about getting that bomb back if they want to accelerate
Something really a problem a fan of committing to the B bombsite, right?
Like if they're gonna if they just want to take control this to get the presence and work their way towards middle
Someone could fall back through T spawn to grab it, but that doesn't look to be the indication at the moment
The walks are holding the line with the native UP to watch for any P ramp pushes, so he's
not going to vacate that to pick up the bomb, it's Wakati coming back from A, who's going
to snag it, just as this last smoke defensively at the ramp pops, and then when that fades,
the roe is ready to go.
Yeah, look at this cave setup though, the entire team gets the information, these two
players in there are pulling the peak without losing his life, but how are they going to
block it with a smoke of their own?
some time here we're just at the 52nd mark in the round and Aurora they're
fully committed outside of B for the time being though they want to stuff this
attack there at the top of ramp because they know they have cave smoked off for
the moment is Aurora gonna wait for that smoke to start fading a long time for
them to be lined up here good shot for Mucadia yeah great shot a really
important opening can they carve out this site can they force the defenders
away? Mezzi holding a good chance for that first kill and he will get it to
least point one back but he's getting spammed down through the walls but Mezzi
under pressure still frying fighting impacts still fragging out with a
second kill, and now ZywOo's turn. He won't miss that shot. No way, but SoulFly
hunts him down, doesn't finish off his food. He goes back again with a clock
instead, and leaves Robs in a 1v2. Robs has got the U-Til. We haven't had a big
Robs clutch. This would be one. Walking up through the ramp, he's got the health
advantage as far as his turn right towards him, but now it's Robs up against
SoulFly. The new kid on the block here for the Aurora squad. He's had a great
competition but this would be a massive moment to increase the scoreline of Aurora to win a clutch
against Robs but he will not be denied. Robs with the 1v2 keeps Vitality back and forth
and we are still no closer to seeing who is going to win ancient. No one could extend this lead in
overtime whatsoever a nice attempt from Robs but good to see Soulfly stepping up still. He's putting
together a complete map, including all these over times. A wild show from Soulfly who's
delivered in so many scenarios throughout this map. An attempted hold from Mezzi, spammed
down as the follow up fights come in, still delivers.
Flames, look at that, running right through them, all the way to the B-Land, has a low
peak down, doesn't see a target, and Flames, because of the damage he sustained from that
utility, he ends up getting blasted away by a grenade thrown over by Zhentaris.
Yeah, Apex and Rops though, they want to hold on to middle for as long as they possibly can,
just re-smoking over an elbow.
Now, Zywu, he's going to be perched here with the AWP.
and it's gonna buy the time for Robs to hustle back to donut and be involved in this apex can push forward and have a fast flank
Defense not entirely out of position, but I would need to deliver
Oh, I was in a tough spot though on the tall box needs to be huge here with it
I repeat stumps off just a single kill continued to be peppered down by Wakadia
It was looking for a full-on fright here. You'll get exactly that
Riccadio is showing up to a level we don't often see from him, but this is beautiful stuff
He is unstoppable and he hypes himself up as a squad of Aurora move again to map point 38 kills for
Wakadia now a triple kill in the round absolutely mental
He's going toe-to-toe with Zayu who's currently at 41 kills. Wakadia just a little bit behind him
But he's had clutch moments. He's been good this whole map as well
Vitality force to take their time out and have X-Tas get on the mic
I
Forgotten how many chances of Roars actually had to close out this map, but obviously one big one
There's another one take it double off set up switch into for Robson's I will we've seen them get past this set up
Earlier in the overtime zone so when vitality has switched into it
It is the perfect time to have a timeout right you have one opportunity
Left to try and get it into another overtime to get into a fourth OT and you get x-tars
you've been sitting there behind them, piecing it together and coming up with some sort of
solution here to just get one round to get it into another overtime.
Back to that double AWP, back to that Rop Zywu combo.
Singer the Toe.
Yeah, but this is a different timing, right?
Yeah, this is nothing fancy, this is just hit it.
They're all coming up, hit it, and get it right now for Aurora.
As they try and get into the site, it's Mezzi, coming out with a quick one.
Tadeus, Gonsetara's out of their sight, we will second kill this time from the Flames, and a hold to Aurora back.
It's a ballsy call to go for a full commitment, and around like this to the B bomb site, but it is ended in defeat, and we will go again.
Four overtime required, at least, here between Vitality and Aurora.
Hold the phone, so flies here.
Burden, he's gonna be first forward. Yeah, he's gone down.
He's trying to give him something after that shot, but quad overtime.
Fourth overtime between these two teams, we just can't find the winner on Ancient.
No, we cannot. This is insane stuff.
Vitality and Aurora, they are both already in the playoffs, ladies and gentlemen, but this is for a semi-final.
The loser goes to the quarters, but they are fighting like they're already in that tower on Arena.
That's crazy, man. I feel like with that miss shot from Zairu, Aurora had it.
They had the step, but no one could actually gain any room over at that B-Bumpside. Nobody could step forward.
Nobody progressed past the ramp.
21-21.
Deep utility in middle exchange.
Take away any fast play of the vitality.
Defense, and any fast play of the Aurora offense as well.
The APEX is going to be forced back.
Santar is going to be the first victim stepping into the cave.
He's died there a couple of times, he's tried to get through there throughout regulation
over time as well.
He's been trying to get in towards that cave and force that fight point of view, but he's
down this time.
And Matt, neither team has a ton of experience on or in fourth overtime as well.
Everyone's seen everything, everything, everyone's done everything now.
It's just about kind of reading in the moment.
Some things are going to look silly this late in the game when people are trying to surprise
their oppositions after this many rounds.
Good shot from Zywoo.
And this time Aurora can't get out to any kind of fast-paced lead in OT.
gonna try and do it solo or middle but he's got the bomb as well and now it hits
the deck and that's the round. Much more control this time from Vitality.
The question is when does one team just break? When do they just run out?
It feels like no one's run dry at any point throughout this game but eventually
it's going to happen. Oh okay. Oh my god they just brought it right back. Yeah they did.
It's just not a right back in the blink of an eye, but Soulfly's gonna burn.
Rops is gonna finish him off with Wokadia!
Oh my god, he nearly got that as well!
With the kind of game he's having, you can't count him out of absolutely anything.
That round looked shut. It looked over.
Vitality, it's such a great start, and then all of a sudden, the kills come back,
and Wokadia has a shot at winning that.
I mean, that's a 2v5 with the bomb dropped in middle.
I guess you should have never gotten that close.
Never ever. So Vitality, that's one of those rounds where you're like,
I'm glad this happened now to tell to like remind us that we can't just be giving these situations up
We still got to play them perfectly and it happens that around you win
So you don't get punished for it and we're gonna nae rush right at Robs
And he actually goes aggressive with the up pins one to the wall has all the information
And now he's got to call his teammates over but flames gets caught
Sairus here with a trade issues all across the show isn't he so but Robs then I would out walks it back and forth
I would with another one has put vitality in a player position or power
They've got the advantage for now and that plant is in so it's down to a 2v3
Vitality have to come back in on this retake and they've got plenty of utility for the job. Oh good. So so scrappy
Retake is gonna be slow paced you have apex coming in on the flank
Says I was just gonna try and gather some information before he arrives, but taken down by major and
Now the retake is very far off and we're deep into the bomb
Yeah, time is really ticking, but Apex has just arrived, SoulFlight removed from the site,
so Madra won't be too time-taking on the fuse, Madra's looking for the CT fight,
he picked it up, goes into it again, and Madra this time, stepping up,
celebrate to cross the other side of the screen, and it's Madra stepping up deep into this game.
Every single individual on Aurora has been there when called upon in a moment of need.
What a clutch. Madra knows he's got the one-on-one. If he stops the CT player, it's all over,
And because that retake took so long, he had the bomb as an ally, he had the clock as an ally,
and there's no other decision that Apex can make other than try and stick the defuse.
Alright, 22 to 22. First team to reach 25 rounds.
There's the winner here on ancient, but to be honest, maybe just go again.
We can go to another overtime, so we'll find a place, blow for blow, straight away at the start of this round.
Awww, Zywoo, looking to give a haircut out on Tars, just slides past the crosshair, utility in hand instead, Zywoo steps forward once the shot he's got it, of course.
He's looking for 50 kills, Jason, he's on 49 right now, he's stepping in the open, Woxic is gone, and the bomb has now arrived through Akkadia.
Alright, plant going down, they've got a little bit of time to breathe, not any longer, Zywoo's found that there's 50 through the smoke, doesn't even see him to get it done.
50 kills from Zywoo and plenty more in play. We've got Wakadia just out to that right side
And bomb is planted but Zywoo unstoppable
This is a Zywoo round picked up by Flames right at the end
Zywoo making the difference here and the individual is back and forth
He's have a little chuckle to himself as he breaks the 50 barrier
I mean, this is the stage of the game where everyone's going a little bit crazy. Everyone's like I can't believe we're still an ancient
I can't believe we're still playing this map. Can we please change what it looks like?
This is map one guys. We have we have possibly two more maps of this game still to go
23 22 for vitality off the back of the Zywoo performance
We switch sides apex another chance to lead his team to come up some creative ideas creative ways
Zywoo has as many kills as Robson Apex have together. This is just insane right now. We have to see this attack comming. Zywoo, already up to the B lane.
Sending the AWP into harm's way could be battered down by utility even further, but he hasn't taken a huge amount of damage to kick things off.
He's being very vocal at the moment calling things out. Mezzie looking to see what they're working with at the top of the ramp.
There's going to be a push, some aggression from this Aurora defense. Zywoo ready and waiting, hold the line.
I could turn again, another one from Zywood, Manzi's come into play here.
You don't want to start falling flat now if you're Aurora.
A 3v5.
From what we've seen, Aurora have earned the respect, they're not counting the amount
of any round, but this is certainly going to be difficult, especially with the amount
of space they've now lost towards A as well.
Well, they don't realize they've lost this round just yet, but they have lost this round.
As long as nothing like super crazy happens, it's not for sure, I should say that, but
with the position of Robs over on CT spawn, he's going to cut off anyone falling back.
The only real way that Aurora at the moment can lose this is if Zantara slides over to
the donut like right now and just gets two kills.
Which doesn't look like it's going to happen.
A nice fake throne over at the B bombsite by Vizai Wu, replenishes that short smoke,
keeps everyone frozen there, and now they have to rotate back into the arms of Rops
who's just been waiting this entire time.
3 gap on the map covered.
And Zywa going out, can't believe he's missed that shot Jaycee, come on, he's not enough
time to warm up.
We'll give him one.
Just incredible stuff, but now how many times have we seen Aurora get to map point, how
many times have we seen them be the ones to lead at the end of overtime and Vitality
have to come back, now it's Vitality leading the way, Vitality have a chance to round out
ancient aurora have to fight back not just one round but two to force out another overtime most of these over times have been
Back and forth as well where they're you know two one score lines
You only have to win that one round to force the next OT now aurora is got to do it twice
Tough prospect that they're looking up against so they burn that extra time out
We get back into the action and this could be the end of a very very long affair
46 rounds of play thus far
That's all it rocks with a lovely little way the escape escape route provided over to his team with that move into the eight bombsite that slide into the position to give them the free bombsite on the other side away from the danger.
Vitality one round away from winning ancient taking us to overpass.
past.
Can Aurora somehow pull it back again?
The tenacity of the Turkish.
I need to go on display again.
They've overtaken middle.
Zywoo brought down to 48 HP.
That's a shot he probably should have hit.
That's a huge gift over to Aurora.
He did not have to play this one and zero-buttled.
A nice nade dropped right on his face.
Not to have to play against Zywoo in this round is a big benefit for Aurora.
5v4, they still occupy middle.
Centaur is seeing the target of Apex, but not able to see it through.
As Apex and Flames took a couple of kills and now Vitality all of a sudden
A player advantage and a step in the direction of closing out this map.
A monstrous first map of Counter-Strike here in this best of three.
But the marathon looks like it's going to come to a close in Vitality's favor
unless we'll call it a Woxick and Soulfly.
Can piece together a way back into this.
Yeah, well how many times have we seen Soulfly and Woxick in particular?
Those two piece together and come up with something incredible.
Woxick has heated up as this game has gone on.
S.O.F.L.I.E goes in. Oh, they have had busy!
S.O.F.L.I.E rips them apart, reaps their souls inside of Jaguar, now rops his dead at the top of the ramp, and Flames is 1v3, Aurora not dead yet, but Flames could change that fact.
That's the kind of shot that'll make you nervous.
Goes into the cave, hunts down the low HP player, and now Flames could dream of closing this map.
He'll never expect Woxic to follow it up, though.
Woxic from the same position, from the cave as well.
Does Flames even consider it...
No, it's got to be a reaction. It's just got to be a straight-up reaction
Close
It's the individual heroics and flames that finally bring this map to an end
But we wonder what it should would provide and it is beautiful round after round over time after over time
And a heartbreaking defeat for Aurora on the opening map any more cinematic way to end that
Game with a one tap from flames. You know one beat three plus unbelievable place from just so many players
across that entire server. We had Zantares with Clutches with Cardi as Iwu,
Rops even have one in now. Matter everyone stepping on everyone just playing Counter-Strike
to the top level today. Beautiful to see and that's only map one of this series
ladies and gentlemen. We have plenty more Counter-Strike coming your way and I'm
just hoping that somehow the second map is somewhat close to this.
No!
No!
No!
It starts with a dream, with a team you barely know, and an amateur official that feels like
the grand final, where practice becomes progress, and every lost feels like a lesson.
When will your journey begin?
I
I
I
We touched him.
That's a song, sir.
That's a song.
Touching towards the capital.
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen to the Intalk Stream Masters Crack-Off.
What a game we just had over on H. We're hoping for the same coming into map 2 here
But it's hard to believe that both of these teams don't play that map Jason because they give us a real good fun show
Counter-Strike now. Well, you know what?
I think that part of the reason why the show was so fun was maybe because neither of the team played that map right?
He just had a battering against each other seeing who breaks first
I don't even know if I would say that or a broke whatsoever in that that was hard earned and flames even happened to win a
a 1v3 at the end to actually close it out. So wild, crazy first map, long and extended,
had there been an exhausting affair, what? They played enough rounds and basically be two maps
and you have to come into this out of a loss if you're Aurora and recover on Overpass,
which is Vitality's map pick. Yeah, that's the worst part, isn't it? You fall so hard over there
on that first map if you're Aurora and you don't get the job done. Now I moved to Overpass,
a very comfortable affair here for Vitality. Aurora, no slouches on it, they're going to have
a level of comfort coming into the second map, but it's not going to be quite as comfortable
as Vitality in this scenario.
Well, no, and who delivered you the performance on Ancient that might drop off here as well,
right?
Like, are you really going to get that kind of performance out of Wakadia, out of Soulfly
that kind of matched the production on the other side of the server out as, you know,
I shouldn't say matched, I will, because you had 153 kills at the end of the day?
Right, yeah, it was about 53, yeah.
It's hard to keep track, but it was just insane how many cracks he was able to pick
We got throughout that entire game, but just individual moments across the server from both teams today.
And now we get into the second map of play.
Decide to see who is going to be moving into the semi-finals.
Wolf Vitality do it in two, and we'll roll a bounce back and force us into a Dust 2 finish.
Or to decide who's going to the quarters, who's going to the semis here in Crack Off.
We kick off the action again, a short amount of time for the players to catch their breath,
get some refreshments, use the bathroom.
Maybe Wolf down a meal.
Yeah, Wolf down whatever food they've got around and get ready to go back into play.
Okay, well, there's the jump a little bit of information gathered by Zayu with the movement sees on Tars with an aggressive stance and
That little spot from Zayu is gonna force on Tars back because he doesn't know if they're sitting up a pop flash peek or any kind of a bum
Rush into his position. So you force back any information gathering that Aurora wanted early on however doesn't change their defense
They have not budged from this stack at the B bomb site
That's gonna be ready and waiting as they come in to turn the corner through monster
Well, they're getting ready now to pop out.
The Utah flies to the sky, smoke up towards heaven.
And now Wakadia keeps his head pinned down in behind the carol.
Flames is blinded, but still running, taking space.
And there we go.
Flames straight away to a couple of openers, and he just keeps on going.
So a 3K to close the previous map, a 3K to open up this one.
Zantara's left coming back clutching the straws here, a 1v4, and just isn't going to be happening
here for Zantara.
Vitality run into the B bomb site and flames of fine success and we were talking about it flames
Just being the top rated player coming into the tournament for vitality looking really really strong
There's a there's a there's a lot of there's a lot of people on this vitality team that could overshadow you really easily
So whenever you see someone who's like not named
I feel like I saw who were robs kind of being like a popping off and being the guy leading for this team like what a
Luxury to have where you have four players who can essentially be your top player to any any particular event
We've seen mezzie do it in the past
Here in Krakow it's flames with some heavy impact and it's cool seeing it because I mean apex talks about that all the time
I mean that's kind of basically the mindset he instills across the team and probably part of the reason why there's such a strong team is
He's sitting there. He's a guy's I've been around the block
I've been around forever you very rarely get to play in a team that is this good and this successful and plays this well together
So let's capitalize on this moment because it's not gonna last forever and once it's gone
You're really gonna wish you had the magic again because he's had to work his way back into this
He's had to spend a lot of years grinding in teams that couldn't succeed and put himself in this kind of a situation
So everyone within this vitality roster ready to have find success and apex is gonna farm them up
Yeah, I'm looking to make some money with this Mac 10 just the two kills
He was overwhelmed eventually by the USP but they concede only Mac 10
So don't worry about that for vitality as they take a two to zero lead hero overpass
Yeah, take the Mac 10 you can have it I don't even want it
I thought it was great to see as well there. You highlighted it towards the end of overtime,
which was just Woxic actually making some opportunities and great shots and stepping up on the defense.
He's got a really important here on the CT side of Overpass with his ult.
It would be great to have him out of the gate too, I think is the big wish from Aurora.
He's like, let's not have that lead in time. Let's get you firing like you were at the end of the map.
Well, everyone's had enough time to warm up.
Yeah, true.
Enough rounds to warm up into this.
Now Aurora's played this map twice in 2026 so far, back at the blast bounty, a 13-5 win over Hatsu, and I am Krakow stage 2 I believe, let me double-check this just to be sure, they took down Payne on the map.
Yeah well Payne didn't do too well so he'll be stage 1.
Nope, that was stage 1, yeah.
A lot of counter-strike action over the last week or so, and this is the last stage of
the group stages, and then we move into the arena, into the tower on arena and crack
off for the first time.
Looks good, it's another rounded arena.
It's another sort of space-like arena, look at all the Spodak.
It's like Spodak-S.
Uh-huh.
You know, we kind of still have that cool arena to move into, just much bigger, more
And obviously it's always fun going into a new house and creating new memories.
So looking forward to ESL and the Intel Extreme Masters finding a new location to have some fun for the next few years.
Both these teams would love to be in the inaugural grand finals and the winner of this gets that extra step towards it with a semifinal birth.
Loser goes down to the quarter-finals so nobody getting sent home. Both these teams in the playoffs.
Very slow round from Vitality as they're just now progressing across the map.
Sitting at the fighter, here comes the utility.
Yeah, flying through the sky.
Zantara's a drop of defensive smoke here, no play inside of it, they're actually on
top of his head.
They're actually on top of Zantara's head.
Apex eventually getting rid of him.
Mardra walks it with some success here for the CT side and it's kept the roar ahead in
the final 40 seconds of play.
Robson's gonna search for that equalizer, he'll grab it no problem and realizes that
Fyre is still there, so has to pause her just a moment.
They haven't found Linger yet, they haven't found him, now they know, now they know he couldn't get the kill.
Stillfly adds one, traded off, and now another clutch for the young player.
On Aurora, steps forward, traded by Si Wu.
3-0 start as Vitality, nabbed the first gun round.
Getting crazy.
I mean, that's hard if you're Aurora's defense to really follow that up, right?
The utility comes, you drop your counter utility, and that initial thrust is like Mact 10s.
You spend a lot of life, a lot of resources to get those kills,
and then things kind of settle up in the exec.
And what comes next is the AKs.
I mean, lovely shot from Rops.
Outdoor it's long, but yeah.
And then you all of a sudden you're bruised up,
you're out of utility, out of resources,
and it's the AKs that step in to clean up what the MAK-10s began.
Or the weaker weapons.
So, I'm very worried that we might see Vitality just grab full control of this game in the
first half, though.
It's a real possibility.
Yeah, especially how, I mean, look, that's a long map of Counter Strike that we just
played on Ancient, and to be the loser at the end of all that, very, very deflating.
Then you don't get the good start, you don't win the pistol.
You're getting melted.
It looks very comfortable to kick things off here for Vitality.
Yeah, well, I mean, that's that's the other conversation point that we touched on enough
But I mean it's kind of hard to put it into words what it's gonna look like in practice
But ancient a map that you know, it's generally a permaband not not played that often
So yeah, it's not gonna be as clean everything's gonna look a little bit more disorganized a little bit sketchy or here on here
On overpass where they're gonna be well-drilled and well experienced together. It's very possible this vitality team just says you were actually just too much for you
Too much overall
Well, I'll find out you got the MP9 here in Soulfly close to monster
Very good, a single kill looks like it was about to be two, and Mezzi barely standing on 6 HP.
The door will open will be the sound cue that Vitality needed. The flank is a point of danger, but nobody's open it just yet.
Vitality taking their time sliding into the bomb site smoke into the site.
Low HP on Mezzi as he plants the bomb at a good peak from Zywoo.
Rikati is going to wrap around and just try and grab a weapon as the bomb goes off. Just wants an AK-47 for the next round.
It's a similar start though on Ancient where Vitality dominated the first half of play and
we all had to come back into it.
Difference is if you have a really good half on T side of Overpass your life just becomes
a lot easier if you're Vitality.
True.
Your four rounds buffer already. Yeah, you win this next gun round. We're sorry at that point where it's
There's a little bit too much being done right now from this tea side
Same conversation any map that feels like it can be very tea-sided in different moments is you know if you can get up that early
Lead in that early advantage and take control of it. I mean, yeah, sit in at four rounds now
You're like, okay no matter what happens two more throughout the rest of the half and we're sitting pretty
So great advantage a great leg up for vitality over Aurora here to start the second map of the series
Guns are back out for Aurora. They have the AWP in the hands of Woxig.
That'll be positioned over towards Divider.
They're not being slow about this. They might hit this timing very, very fast.
Woxig is going to take down Mezi very fast, and we've got Zaewoo left on 53 HP.
So Roar, I'm going to be happy with a start to this round, opening kill and damage.
And that walks, it's been able to get away.
Bomb and Robs, still over at the B bombsite out of monster.
You have Apex and Flames at the top of the stairs trying to apply a little bit of pressure
to the A bombsite, trying to keep a couple players here in this position.
Flames is actually going to work his way all the way around towards Long, so it seems like
they want to have, they have a little bit more, it looks like there's a little bit more
of an idea of what they want to do at the A bomb site to ensure that the B bomb site
is going to be a weakened defense when they eventually pull the trigger. He wants flames
in position to activate. With so much silence on the map, I think Aurora after the smoke
fades towards the front of bathrooms are going to start getting a little curious about what
the map looks like such a limited time for this finish and Aurora have plenty of
players waiting 15 seconds
plays McCarty is sent forward down into the first nearly the second kill as
well there but the end the rest of his teammates will step up and vitality get
No way with this. It's not the least time before the time.
Not exactly what Vitality were hoping for, and Aurora catching the break now.
So Vitality don't have enough to have a good bike on in the next round.
And this is the time where Aurora can actually start to build something.
Yeah, I think that run a little bit too telegraphed.
You know, if you're going to attack that A bomb site,
there's like a whole lot of steps on the progression up of flashbangs and utility you have to throw.
And Aurora never sensed those, never heard those, never got the cues that was happening.
I thought flames might be more aggressive in bathrooms to truly sell some presence,
To sell the idea an attack is imminent
Wasn't the case and you could see by the time vitality is ready to hit through monster
Aurora's already thrown nades before they even taken their first step
Vitality's out of money though after that round went for Aurora so a good chance for them
To knock them off kilter early and for Aurora's defense to be able to settle those settle themselves for the rest of this half round six
I could like the first fight might be with Zhentaras here.
One of the bathrooms and takes that fight with flames, he'll drop him to 73 and then he'll have retreat.
That's a real spam battle right now, isn't it?
Yeah, no one wanted to commit to anything and vitality still spread on the map.
But it's starting to get a few pieces of what they want, right?
Using flames to take that space out towards Long.
He's got a Mach 10, so it's not a huge risk.
losing an AK-47 if he goes down alone, but he's got tons of information for you,
and he's in a pretty decent position along the left wall where they won't be able to see,
so he can, I mean, he could scale up pretty quickly. Once the set piece comes in,
once Molotovs and flashbangs are running into the bomb site, easy to lose track of that long
player. Apex has a kill. Oh, he can add another one as well, out in the open. There it is,
there's both of them, but 20 seconds left. Are they gonna fall back or go forward? They don't
have the time to meet up with Apex. As far as trying to get the drop done here, but he ends up
getting overrun the tech 9 keeps flooding in and eventually flashes back 10 rings out into that kill feed
an apex poison himself as it looks over and that is around you really need to win if you're Aurora
it's reminds me i'm a lone bee it's just me you guys still both got destroyed letting them know
40 year old talent i'm still got it time out here for Aurora oh that that's got to feel frustrating
You see a little smile on the faces on towers, but they realize that's a big opportunity going
I was actually kind of scared for vitality there when apex gets those kills and like oh
You don't have the time to fall back and actually go to the free bombsite. You still gotta you guys still got to work hard for this one
Great trades on the way in some weaker weapons as well mac 10 tech nines in there
A good opportunity for a roars to break the economy and get going on the CT side early in the half, but they miss it
So reinvest everything they've got, shove their chips all in, and it's them who are on the breaking point now.
This round could turn this half into an absolute disaster for Aurora if they can't win it.
Nice timing. Stolfo is just about to get activated.
Lakati had to come back for the fight, but didn't exactly have the great location of where Apex was.
And just a well-struck round from Flames and Mezzi with the weaker weapons at the A-bomb.
A-bombside, 5-1, 4-round lead. One map up in the series. Creeping closer to the semifinals
is vitality. Creeping closer to the A-bombside quite quickly
here as well. Running out long. We've got players up on the generator. A little bit of a look
around. No one in the close corner here for play, so we can comfortably make that long
control. Jump spot for a manager, just trying to see how deep Vitality are up alongside.
We're trying to block them as Vitality go for an execution. A couple of msnades there
on the execute into the site. Well, that cost Vitality will find out. His match is blinding
and held back. It's going to be Robson Messi just claiming them out regardless, making
it look really easy. And that walks it without the support of his teammates in terms of slowing
likeality down. He just can't really do anything now as the AWP.
So congratulations, you've dodged the first three flashes. There are six more coming.
Yeah, there were just a lot more flashes where they came from.
Good luck.
Well, for Aurora, the worst case scenario is kind of happening now.
It's happened, yeah. It's come to fruition.
And we're looking at 6-1 for team vitality and not a whole lot of money left for Doris.
So if Fly's gonna give it a go, he'll run, he's got a smoke, I like the attempts, you
know?
The idea, but there was never gonna happen.
Yeah, okay.
I mean, look, I like the idea.
I like it, he's still trying to win the round, but you're making that kind of a run for an
inch, guys.
It's not all that sneaky.
They're brazen, Ninja.
They're brazen ninja.
Yeah, you're not really catching anyone off guard.
Well, it just keeps getting worse here for Laura.
Because you know you look at this by, and again, you don't have that safe weapon from
Soulfly.
He just ran away and gave it up.
So, you know, in MP9s and 3 players, you've got Scout here from Wox, take one rifle in
the hands of Wakadia.
We're very likely now a 7-1 lead for Vitality.
All right, Wakadia, let's get it back.
Give us some of that ancient Wakadia.
We should get it towards short.
At least it has information that really nobody's home outside the B bomb site.
So defense there can kind of chill for a minute.
Puts the A defenders on notice.
There's Majer, nice peek up, Apex gonna drop him down, rops to follow up with a headshot
as we're caught here, the victim of the rifle, and now a two-man advantage as the round begins
as well for Vitality, could tag at least from Woxic.
Second tag of the round, but you're running out of resources to clean up those softened
up players, scout swings wide, another tag, a third one on the Zywoo, now it gets interesting
Well the two SMGs are also in bathrooms right? Depending on the way in which vitality fall back
Yeah, there's one. So fly cleans up one
Zontaris is still here undetected over unfortunately because they got the kill on Wakadia earlier at the B bomb site
Robson's feeling like he doesn't have a whole lot of pressure or resistance on this side of the map
So he's cleared things out and vitality have found the escape route
That's all good. It looked like it could have gotten dangerous at a certain point due to all the tags from Waxxscout
But vitality have put themselves in a very strong positions
Bomb has been blasted.
And after an epic quadruple overtime first map, we have a 13-1!
Yeah, it does feel like that's coming, doesn't it, Jason?
Sadly, that is the reality. We're probably gonna be living in.
Unless?
Unless.
Unless Aurora has something up their sleeve.
Right, maybe they locked back in.
That first map was good though, we'll always have that first map. Yeah, let's check out the a-stream. How's that going Jason?
It's over I think
I'm pretty sure it's done
Yeah, really only one script, hang on that might be the other the other different game. Now it's still going on
It's on map two. It's having close to being done. I just hadn't refreshed my HLTV page yet
Okay, well map two kicking off the paintbalking Zimels
And you know what, you have a very much stow-load going.
When you have a four-over-time game, you just kind of assume that everything's finished up on the other stream.
Sure.
Well, Walk6 got the AWP back out. You've got an AK for Zantara's.
You do have an AK for Zantara's.
Always a chance for that sentence.
They can do some nasty things.
and we like nasty we love it nasty
he's chilling right now out towards long planet you got all the falcons hate
watchers excited Jason yeah yeah falcons are done no my bad guys but at
least you still get some more hate watching to dig into you know you guys
Confused
No, I defensive smoke deployed
Doesn't do much but hold rops back so during this timing gonna start making our moves towards bathrooms small job is in lockstick
That's a good shot
Takes a ton of damage running back through the flames, but it's all good happy with the opening kill five on four given over to Aurora
Vitality ready to go for the P execution finish. Yeah, that's a beefy grenade
So fly down to 25 HP and his life just keeps getting worse doesn't it?
There's a Molotov landing towards him as well
All three players play in the same position. They kind of got to get out of there. Alright, there's the push. Good job for major awareness that they were all kind of huddled up and way too close needed to spread out three players behind the bombsite.
Rops has a wide angle and vitality in this three verse five going to try and make things work.
So we're running into the site caps and then we're gonna as easy
Knife attempt coming out he's actually got the knife
So we're caught he has made that happen just slicing his way through the site now messy into the clutch now the problem
Is they've just crossed past? Oh my god. No idea. There's a player right behind him
And he actually got the dean cop on the second as well. We're gonna love and he got that knife kill going on
We've got smiles on the faces of his teammates.
Yeah, what what mezzys say after that, but he's always like, sorry, bro.
I didn't mean to let you get let you get punctured like that.
Yeah, just sorry.
Maybe still explaining himself.
I yeah, well, we've seen over time with this vitality team.
It feels like mezzys kind of like the secondary voice stepping up within this team, right?
Like you're going to have some ideas across everyone.
But you know, Apex need in that second voice.
Mezzys, the guy who's kind of slid into that role, then grateful for the mentality
from Raoul, we've seen him and heard him, a number of listen-ins kind of hyping the
boys up and keeping the guys focused during tough stretches during games.
So not only delivering as a player inside the server, but a leadership figure for vitality
as well.
Zywoo, opening things up or at least having a chance, you thought that was going to be
a shot he connected, but he wasn't able to make the most of it.
He got away with one there, Aurora.
Who was that?
Was that what Caudia?
He must be thanking his lucky start.
Just jumped and weaved around the shell.
You're not often go toe-to-toe with Zahru like that.
Stare him in the eyes and live to tell the tale.
Oh, a chance to recover this half for Aurora.
Pull it back to five.
Ah, this slide is protected flames.
Ended the live for now.
Nice damage dealt.
That'll be softened up.
Can clean him up later.
One minute left, and they have the entirety of this half
of the map to reverse.
Well, the cleanup came earlier than I expected.
Zantara's does find flames.
And now we back off, but Apex doesn't want to let it happen, almost.
Alright, Rob's calling out through his team.
They just did utility, they just did flash cleared monster to make sure nobody's peeking.
Two players cross over to the side.
Wakadia, he stepped through. Easy pickings for Zywoo.
35 seconds as well, such limited time.
Walsh makes his play forward.
Catching Madro, hands busy, had utility out for his teammate.
Thought the gap was short, wouldn't be punished and pushed, but it is.
And then Zywu comes in with a kill of his own.
It's Apex and Zywu with a French connection trying to win this one out in a 2v2.
Alright, walks are coming over but he's giving up heaven.
So it's gonna be smoked off but not gonna matter because nobody's coming in that direction.
Zywu wants to get, okay, aggressive.
Question mark?
Good utility.
Molotov gonna take away that stack.
Burning!
Oh my god!
Barbecued.
Oh, that is so rough.
And Apex just stands up and laughs across the other side because that is one way to close out a 2v2, isn't it?
Oh, that's gonna be so frustrating, just trapped in the fire!
And all they could do is really laugh at it.
And Nade, Molotov, dropping on their head and couldn't get away from the flames.
8-2 with 6-round lead.
It's good we could have a fun moment like that. Remember, the stakes are a little bit different in this matchup.
No one's getting eliminated, so nobody's completely devastated by a loss.
Winner goes to the semis, loser goes to the quarterfinals.
Both teams have a spot in the playoffs, so easy to laugh off a situation like that.
If this is an elimination game, someone's breaking the table.
Yeah, exactly.
At least you know you're already in the playoffs.
Looking likely now it's going to be a quarterfinal.
Everything just seems to be going right for Vitality.
That was the that was the winning move for the clutch. That's that was it really
That's a nice a cool one
You put that one in the fridge. You'll see that one often. Yes. All right. Well round 11 titality
looking for nine rounds here
With this pretty likely to get double figures in the half
Eight rounds on T side already is
Very comfy going into that second half. I know they've just been they've just been running over Aurora
Just working this map everything's everything's going well overcoming 4v5s
Walksix provided a couple good example and a couple good rounds and good advantages, but vitality is bringing it back each time
So I'm Towers with the off angle towards bathrooms a good dink on the flames
Took the leg shot from walks into the previous round as well
So his initial contact in these last two rounds is not gone as you'd like it to
Such as the life
Lining up utility.
Lining up a shot through the smoke to clear a corner.
I mean, I think vitality is going to be more than happy to use that position as a staging ground for this next hit.
Loxicons on Taras close up with M4s to be disruptive, to stop the attack at its point.
Loxicons.
Just waiting. Side for the Batz. Right going up to the peak. Here comes the flight matcher.
How much can he get? And it's two.
So Taras also stepped it up with two of his own, putting side with a 1v3 with 10 seconds, no bomb possession.
And it is job done here.
And the round is Aurora, squeeze out a third.
Yeah, I mean Vitality took a long time getting that round underway.
Okay, you're going to lose that weapon as well, as I was taking that as Soul Flies hands now.
So that hurts a couple of buys for this final round.
Zandars can drop an AK-47, but they really kind of couldn't afford to lose that last player.
Good to see Aurora put together that round.
Be able to flank P-Bomb site, not feeling pressure.
Get an early wrap around before the hit begins.
Attack when they're at their weakest.
Eight to three. Final round of this first half.
Vitality beginning to swarm V at the moment.
I think I got a couple of players already pretty advanced.
You got ropes all the way down in water as I was waiting for the jump spot.
always going to be a finish at the B bomb site.
Question is, do Vitality want to weigh down any of the monster smokes, or do they just want to break it and head on through?
Giving time for Zaiwu to clear things out.
Dangerous as a solo player with the AWP over and Khan Apex spamming, but they've been here and rops through that all throughout the half, so nothing changes.
Zontara is still calling off any rotation to the A bomb site, still saying, I hear nothing,
I feel nothing, I see nothing, now to be executed.
Strudence was in flames on the walk up, but it's matchup with a triple kill.
That's two rounds in a row, matchups have big impact, and it's going to close this half
round with a fourth round to play with.
Aurora can celebrate that, still a lot of work to be done, but they look like they've
just stripped together enough to make you believe.
They're going to be claiming that semi-final spot here in Krakow, a lot of work to be done
for Roar to pull this one back.
They're able to pull back the second half over on Ancient, and we see what happened after
that.
We'll have to wait here, they can do the same here.
Yeah, we will.
I mean, a little bit of life right at the end of the half to scrape you together, but I mean,
There's nothing to be super excited about, nothing to like build this up as if, you know,
Roura did enough to give themselves a great chance.
Second half still gonna be tough on the T side, especially if you don't win the pistol.
So, ice peeled on this round.
Dooley's on rups.
2 HE grenades, smoke and double flashes for the defense.
And it looks like Roura's calling a very fast play towards the B bombsite.
Flames already has some information.
I already saw one player headed in this direction, but the attack is mostly gonna come from short,
from sandbags.
Rikadia, Soulfly and Zontara's lineup.
Line it up, get ready to kill.
Here comes the utility.
There goes Flames.
Soulfly with the first kill and the second, just charging in
is exactly what Flames did to Aurora in that first half.
Soulfly gives them the same response.
Yeah, I mean good beefy nade from apex to start that out
But there's nothing to send the tighter to lay that that push through great flashbangs thrown by major as well during the execute
So fly an easy triple kill couple those players completely blinded
So nice and simple Aurora
That's exactly what they needed if you wanted to give them a fighter's chance of bringing this back
So eight to five is going to be the scoreline when all of a sudden done as long as they can convert the next round
We're looking good
I don't see what the T side can actually bring in mustard I
Nice shot from Zywoo from up above, taking a scalp on the way out. Every little bit of cash you can make helps.
Alright, step one here for the side of a roar, coming in the second half here.
We'll see what vitality you decide to do in this next one.
Yeah, do they want to go for the second run by?
I'm going to go for a second round save, go for a third round buy, and let's see if Strah is trying to get that under way.
More focusing on the third round buys from the CT side, so a decision for Vitali.
I imagine they would invest here, and they will.
Fumas on Robs, Fumas on Zywoo, MP9, Deagle and 5-7, all across the board.
A whole lot of nades in the utility, so we're not going to see them play like kind of a slow style of trying to stall out a hit towards a certain bombsite funnel at elsewhere.
We're going to be looking for some kills as this round goes on.
It's Aurora who are going to be sat back on their heels a little bit to start this round
and just to avoid any kind of shenanigans of aggressive pushes.
So Rops playing inside bathrooms, going to his work,
his jump to the other side of the smoke just before it clears.
He had Apex rotate over to take his position at the long previously.
You also have Zai Wu and Flames joining up at this A bombsite just in case the hit is forthcoming.
With this presence here, you imagine they start getting a little aggressive.
There's a flashbang to activate a peek.
They want to know what's coming, but a roar is still being so quiet.
Alright, it's walking out and catching rops.
Let's go back up all the space for the side of the roar to move on in.
So they're just gonna engage and play full winch.
Okay, Pax actually got away with that somehow and drops back to the back
So two players double up in the back and a roar now into a 3v4 so a world in which vitality can still win this round
Oh, yeah, well, God is this is a dangerous game
He's he's given away his position and actually blocks it once to help him
He's got a step forward and put himself in danger
So a little bit dicey that smoke makes things a lot easier they can breathe
But we're caught he hasn't gotten out of danger traded off three on two plenty of time for the diffuse even without a kid
He walks and just steps forward into the fights and it's worked out for him.
Matt will also make it work, but it falls to Mezzi.
No kid on his back.
He'll throw that smoke out onto the defuse, but there's just no time for Mezzi to win
this, so he's going to fall away.
We'll see Aurora still collect the round victory, but a lot of damage being done here from Vitality.
Yeah, but it's not the biggest deal in the world because they invested as well, and without
that round win, next one's going to have to be a...
I mean, you'd imagine it would be a save.
If they forced by here, though, that'd be a little...
saw that who did that was that earlier today or was that yesterday we had like a
third or fourth round forced by I think that was foot maybe almost a minute I
think it was yesterday with foot on nuke perhaps they went for like an early buy
because they had a similar situation and it just kind of wrecks the flow of
their economy for the rest of the half so I think vitality is concerned with the
86 lead and the confidence in themselves to say we don't need to force this up
here we don't need to cause this reset immediately let's just wait for the
gun rounds get things underway standard
And I just go for that conservative approach, which means Aurora is going to shrink this
gap to just one round.
You know Vitality are eventually going to get going on the CT side.
Aurora making the most of a good start.
They're going to have a round, and what you're hoping for is to see the response immediately
from Aurora, right?
It's not, you know, you're not going to stop them 100%, but you want to prevent them from
building up momentum and constantly have like the AWP, the strong buys, all the
utility. I want to make sure vitality still feels some pressure and closing the
gap on the scoreboard is a nice way of doing that.
Robs a little bit of a trap behind this Divider Walls on Tarra's far ahead,
spacing-wise, far ahead of his teammates.
Good clearance. Better push of Apex, AK up for it in two and damage done on that
That second player wasn't able to finish him off, Zywoo's Deagle goes out for a spin.
This is going to be hard for Aurora though, brought down very low.
Zywoo's got another shot in the Deagle, Grenade goes over the top and look how low
Solflay is.
Good thing he didn't step a little bit further forward, but now Panic Stations for Aurora.
This should have been an easy round, but they're both so low and Zywoo's still in the prowl
with the Deagle.
Here's the plant coming in on Dicebox, waiting for Messi to come back over.
They're going to move on though, Vitality do not have a kit, they do not have utility.
You want to capitalize on their chance as I will walk out to his desk and we'll
caught you make sure this round doesn't go against Aurora but the damage in this
round really does matter. Oh man yeah it really did that helps a lot yeah the
the economy of Aurora has never gotten going. I mean Vitaly's at least
prevented that engine from getting started. A lot of damage in this round
very sketchy they had a great chance of actually winning that both players at the
end brought very very low by the 5-7 and Deagle. Good job from Zywoo so Vitaly
have teed themselves up. You talk about getting your feet planted on the CT side, they teed
themselves up to be able to do it with just one round win. Usually it's like a round
win and then you gotta break them in the next one, but with the money being this low, they
have huge advantages if you're vitality just off of one.
Drops, good swing. Zintaz ends up getting blinded there as well, so Rops.
I see, mate.
Yeah. I'm gonna get an easy kill. Flames all go forward up through short and immediately
the Aurora without the three players.
That's what I was talking about,
as soon as the guns come out.
I tell you, you have a lot more staffing power.
And it's so depressing as well.
If you're on the Aurora side of things,
like if you put yourself in these players' shoes right now
where like you've kind of brought this back to 7-8,
you're getting this half started,
you're getting into the first corner,
and you have a plan, you have an idea,
and then within the first 30 seconds,
you're down two players.
You're just like, oh, that kind of sucks.
We can't do anything now.
Yep.
Now you're just clutching the straws,
trying to figure out, is there any way into this round?
We'll give it a go.
trying to get long. Very likely Rob gets at least one kill here. Then you down to a 2v4.
There's the one. I don't even be traded, which is the worst part.
It's hard because now they know that there's two players here. So a major like realizes
like, okay, well they have, they know I'm here, but there's nothing I can do except
when a heads up fight I have to let Woxic play first. 38 seconds. They might just choose
to save this because of that damage done over the last two rounds. Even though Vitality
They don't win either of those rounds.
They do so much damage that makes it impossible to lose your weapons here for Aurora.
So you have to carry the AK and all over it.
Thomas, you don't have enough money and the rest of the players, but the losing bonus
is going to be won.
So, Lakati is going to get the $37.50 is like the most money you'll have on anyone else.
No extra money for Major and Woxy to drop anything over.
So, you can't even really supplement these two saved weapons with a strong buy.
Technines are always reliable, though, aren't they?
Yeah.
I can almost pull that.
two players with pistols.
That's the best case scenario in the next round, too, for Aurora.
Obviously, we'll lose this round.
We're going all in again.
It's going to allow that breathing room for Vitality.
Yeah, this is what the damage, the economic damage Vitality did in those two rounds that they lost.
It's like you set it up to make Aurora make a really, really tough decision.
Earlier in the half, then they'd like to.
You kind of feel like you have to, because the losing bonus has been reset as forced by
forced by around these rifles.
But if you lose that, you're out of money,
and then Vitality's at, you know, 10-7,
and then you have an eco round.
Yeah, you're just, there's a great chance here
that Vitality extend this lead to a point
that you can't recover from.
Two tech nines, two AK-47s, and then all.
Nade stack over in middle, three HEs choked out
by a roar towards the position of Robson Zawoo.
They don't eat nearly as much as you would've thought
with three Nades.
We're able to evacuate the damage before it,
before it's sunk in.
Moxick is going to cover his teammate as they scale towards the stairs.
That's a sad thing to appear on your screen.
Yeah, especially in a round like this, where you have the best weapon to play, you don't want to be down to 56 HP in a round just beginning.
They might need to shift one of the A players over to this B bomb site now. I don't know how many players they spotted on that jump, I think two, but now they'll know. Now you need to get there. Another player sent to his death, Mezzy's doing everything he can to delay, but the hit's gonna begin and there's nothing he can do to stop it.
Here to stop it, trust him a video, better positions.
Zantara spamming down, not catching Mezzy.
Zywu's arrived in time, and the AWP strikes true.
Mezzy also getting involved in the defensive effort here.
Vitality, and Zywu, another kill added to the tally
for this AWP.
He moves forward, Zantara swings,
but Zywu quicker, the reaction is going for the no scope
in the air.
If he had landed that, it would have been ridiculous,
but it still is.
Zywu with some highlight potential, again, delivery on it.
Zywu is just unstoppable today.
He's going for some highlight clips, going for the jump and shot as well, trying to go up and over.
He pulls the Aurora player into the open for his teammate, but that is a nasty shot down for the final kill.
He's just so good today, man. Just so good in general. He's just 14.
He's just frying it out like the way he comes into that.
Oh, I just let you get the one pick. Every single chance given to him, and he just nails it.
He came in with like the simple attitude today. He was just like, it's not enough for me to win.
I want to look awesome doing it as well.
If he had hit that one fly through the sky.
Right, yeah.
He was 14 and I saw that.
Ends at 18 and nine.
Really sharp with some moments to date from Zywoo.
He broke the 50 barrier in the previous map.
He's still going here on Overpass.
Sometimes Zywoo's just having a really good day.
And it's put Aurora into that nightmare eventuality
of just not enough money for any kind of a great buy.
Galil on Wakadia, Maktan on Zantara's 2-Tec 9,
Stolf-Lies saved entirely with a Glock.
Busted money.
And up against one of the all-time greats,
Zaiwuz AWP is here at the A-Bomb site as well.
Robs looking for this walkthrough to smoke.
Ooh, a rare miss on the firsts for Robs.
Hey, Zaiwuz up next up.
He's taking one kill on Madger.
He's gonna go out for the repeat.
It takes his time, so composed, just stressed out once.
However, and even then, even when he can't see the target,
Xayu would still connect.
Lovely, great defense.
Even with Rops missing that initial shot,
back in a ways, I will grab in one a retreating battle.
We know the Oppers love that hero and overpass,
and just standing his ground at a certain point
at the truck, delivering death.
No answers for Aurora, although that round
with weaker weapons, light on utility, makes sense.
This is maybe their final thrust,
their final challenge for vitality on overpass 7 to 11.
Buying up everything you possibly can,
three AK-47s at Galilla Tech 9 on Wakadia.
Yeah, Waxa taking his time to power up.
And maybe gain some of his wings
so we can attempt some of those flying maneuvers
as I was going for.
We've now got vitality 11 to 7.
Up.
That was the shot from Zywoo.
All right, well, fair enough.
Um, right.
Didn't see that one the first time around.
Okay, Zawoo.
Okay, well, that's what they're up against.
Zerora, gotta feel bad for them.
They've got a Mk10 here for Wakadia.
They've got Leo for Woxic. They've had to take some hits.
One semi-final.
Luke's destined to go vitality's way.
And with the way they're playing, the trophy almost feels like it's destined at this point.
We're calling it now, huh?
Now I think obviously when they come in this kind of tournament you get that vibe about vitality early in competitions
And the way if I was able to keep this up with the air quality that bad and crack off then nothing can stop it man
Tuesday February 3rd mark your calendars. That's what I didn't go called vitality winning crack of
I mean, it's not the boldest prediction in the world. So it's not it up
It's all we just got 50 53 kills the last map Jason
I just want to build it up to that degree. Oh good off angle from Rob's major doesn't clear to his left
Nice boost up, on Tsar, he's getting tagged from up in Heaven, so he's got to give up the angle.
What a bit of kill, what a bit of equalizer, and Vitality negate the play.
57 seconds left on the clock.
Flans going into the peak, Soulfly being claimed.
I'll show off in Zywoo. Another victim, by AWP. This time Centaur is finally getting rid of him, putting an end to his reign of terror.
Look how much confidence he's got, just like hard swinging into ankles without any really thought to it. He's just like, you know what, I'm killing everything. I'm going to go for it.
Apex wins the duel in open space. 12 rounds now. 5 chances for Vitality to get out of this series. They outlasted Aurora on that epic 4 overtime ancient game in the first map.
Coming here into Overpass, it's been all vitality right from the start.
Three backtamps, two Galils, that's what Aurora have got.
Gonna try and start this comeback from this.
Just doesn't seem all that realistic.
70 plus kills in the series for Zywoo.
Two maps.
That's not bad.
So it's a good day in the office.
And another kill for Zywoo.
He's got the opener.
That's on Tarra's removed.
76 kills now.
0 for 80.
Somehow.
You need a roller to win a round.
You need a roller to win a round.
Or you getting ace one of the other
That's a crazy a bunch of kills for two maps. Yeah
Like three maps and do that for over time. We have to remember that fact
Absolutely, thanks for that apex shooting the legs of master
into the site, A will go, soul flight, cutting right through flames.
That's a practice out of four that rings down into the kill feed.
The match room walks in, now the last two remaining players just match your left between
Vitality and a semi-final here in Krakow.
The first time we'll be heading into that tower on Arena and Vitality have eyes on the
Intel Extreme Masters trophy yet again, they are leveling up.
with Zywoo playing in this form for another year. Vitality could just win every trophy
coming their way again. This is just such a scary team and we hear Robs talking about
them wanting to leave this team in their future with no regrets. Right now they are playing
brilliant Counter-Strike and they dispatch of Aurora in a 2-0 fashion.
That scary team with a scary mentality for sure. So let's do what their playoff run is
going to be looking like. They get to skip ahead to the semifinals, get to skip a day
a play. Aurora is going to have to, you know, log into the clock in on Friday, play the
quarterfinals, see where they go up against. But I think for Aurora, you know, yeah, again,
the stakes being note without elimination, you're going to be frustrated if you're Aurora,
but this is a good first test for SoFly coming into this lineup and just saying, all right,
let's see what we got early on with this new roster. And now you have plenty of days to
kind of review the tape, review the film and figure out where you want to go from here.
Yeah, you're going to be leaving this game frustrated, but not devastated if you're
obviously a crazy first map of ancient got to test out a new map now and it
was exciting that a lot of cars like over there just got all class of
vitality's map pick of overpass but they get a quarterfinal showing and I mean
ran into a day was I was just just on one to you know you had that into the
mix yeah what are you supposed to do CT side overpass any time you saw Zai Wu in
your screen he got one probably ended up getting two kills in the round so I
have no effort from Aurora a fun little map of ancient we'll see for either of
these teams, I can't imagine it would be for Aurora, but maybe we might be able to do it.
I would like to see that. That would be cool. Maybe we can hear from them if that's going to be
something. I'm sure they want to admit it. I know that's what I'm saying. I know that's a
cool question for an interview, but there's no way we get a straight answer out of that one.
It could be a little wild card by TauDi might throw in when the time comes, but showing that
Zaiwu at least is very comfortable over on ancient. We've seen some great games across the day,
across this competition, but the group stages are done here on the B-stream. That's by TauDi
in the semi-final spot Aurora in the quarterfalls both teams bringing some
great counter strike to this event and we're set up for a very good looking
playoffs. Yeah we are set up for very nice playoffs I'm excited for it it's
gonna be cool to see what those games have in store for us in early on in
2026 as well. There's a lot of teams that disappointingly that didn't make it to
the playoffs obviously FaZe being a big one, Navi being another big one not
making it down there's a few more but you know seeing some of these teams and
how they're gonna start this year is gonna be awesome to watch. Yeah I'm
forward to it. We're going to go down to the sidelines in just a little bit. We got a chance to talk to
this team on the sidelines down a crack off. Vitality has made it to the semi-finals after a
grueling match versus Aurora. And the most important thing maybe, no not really, but interestingly is
that you have had to go to the bathroom since before ancient was done and you didn't go. Yep,
it's the goat thing that you ought to do. So does it say go, hold in the power, you know, hold in
the reaction time it keeps you fully focused on the game so right now it's
definitely pushing I really would need to go but it's fine it's fine. So you're saying if I
keep you here long I've heard of the James Tratt I haven't heard of the the
toilet Tratt. Anyway seriously though what a grueling match but I want to talk
a lot about ancient because obviously from a band sometimes you float it you
hadn't actually won it so why did you and do you have a lot of confidence
knowing that it went like quadruple over time still.
Yeah, I mean it was definitely a bit messy, but compared to the last time there was a
lot less mishandles at least.
But I think, yeah, we've been putting in our work on this map as well, just in case this
ever happens.
We're not that stupid to just leave it open and not have our things down.
So, yeah, we're happy to play it when needed.
We've done our preparation and yeah, it was a messy game, but I mean that's kind of what
happens when you're not so, you don't have so many officials on it, but yeah, we're happy
to play it. Okay, yeah, it was very fun to watch for us for sure. Also, when your upper
drops like 53 kills, do you just feel terribly inadequate? Yeah, I mean, I was enjoying spectating
for a lot of this game. I mean, when I'm dead, just watching this guy just sometimes with
the or sometimes not just with an AK just headshotting people. It's, I mean, if we would
have lost this one, I would have felt very bad for him. But it's, I think I would just
showed like, just his overall skill with with the or without the or play. I think everyone
already knows but I think he showed it here just full kind of face it around
just peaking people and enjoying the game. Yeah he had to remind people but
you were great as well. I'm gonna let you go after this last question because I
know it's high tide. Yeah what can we expect? Are you in championship form?
What's vitality? Yeah I mean I think like every other tournament last year I
think we we grow with each game and I think we're it's getting tough for each
game but we're also leveling up each time and it's the same it's the same for
when we get to the playoffs it's a different beast and especially in a new arena for us
we know it's going to be a great atmosphere so we're looking forward to it.
Will you decide?
Do I tweet Gigi easy and all the other fans hate me?
Yes, go for it.
Gigi, yeah I can do it live.
It's going to be a Hebrew and a little clear tweet.
Oh my god so much hatred.
I'm going to get so much hatred.
taking on the Turkish community I think. I'm not part of this bro. I would do all caps maybe.
Oh my god. Easy, easy, thank you.
That? Sure. Okay.
Yeah. Keep me safe. Keep me safe guys. Are you gonna win the playoffs? We don't know yet.
Okay, back to you
Well, you know
She did great. She's
Yeah, I mean obviously vitality gonna be riding a high end of the semi finals
Yeah, they really are we had a lot of people asking about these chairs throughout the week
Well, we've been casting
These are these are pig chairs. We got pigs. Yeah, we got pigs. Look at those. That's all we got
These are the these are the yeah, these are the seats that I don't want going on yourself and answers
Yeah, probably but I like the pigs too. They're cute. Yeah, yeah, it's comfortable. Anyway, I'm gonna miss these chairs Jason
I believe it man. I'm gonna miss these chairs
Maybe we'll be back here someday ready to sit in these chairs again, but that's it for the V stream
Great showings from the mall teams here at the event. I do have vitality as favorites based on all the action
I've seen yeah, but let's check it look at the take a look rather at the bracket and see
If there's any other favorite you could pick out of sub bracket.
Uh, no, no, I'd say spirit.
Okay, now we can see you got another one.
Okay, yeah, spirit, spirit vitality.
Are we excited for that?
So, spirit's gonna advance to the semi-final.
GC are gonna go down to the quarter-finals.
You can see how the upper bracket played out over in Group A with some excellent matches, lower bracket matches.
Uh, Furia eliminating Navi.
Mentioned about one of the disappointing teams, uh, to not being able to move on.
Paravision was eliminated really early on.
So are the Mongols.
Furia won out earlier today over Astralis.
eliminating Astralis and Furia making it to the quarterfinals.
Yes indeed. Furia not on the best run right now. Certainly wouldn't call them a
favor at this point. Vitality handling business versus Aurora after that
marathon and ancient overpass look very comfortable for Vitality so they make it
through. Here's down the other side of things like opposed to what you said
Jayce. Here we go. We still got team Falcons and Malus still going. You said it was over a long time ago but Malus versus team Falcons.
a match up to decide who is going to the quarterfinals that I would start delirious coming out of the quadruple overtime game
I just I didn't know it was happening. So yeah, that was still going on
So we're gonna finish up here, but you guys don't turn anything off just go to the other stream
These are the teams in the playoffs and as we mentioned with the ongoing game Falcons or mouths is gonna occupy that last spot
So what are you doing here on the B stream? Go watch Falcons mouths? Yeah, absolutely. That's what I'm gonna do
So yeah, anything else you want to say Jason? No
Schedule a schedule a
There's the playoffs. Okay, look at that. We got fury aurora g2 to beat us. Oh, yeah tbd in there
I like that. That could be a falcons g2
Yeah, that could be another one
That was the elimination game at the major as well for major playoffs or bus. Okay, so that could be
Yeah, it could be some spice or mouse or mouse or mouse in the mix, but that's it really so I had a good time
I hope you guys did too, but thank you very much for joining us at the Intel Extreme Masters crack-off the first time
We've gone to Krakow. We didn't go but you guys can.
It's a nice day to fly out to Krakow for the playoffs.
Have a good time there and enjoy the rest of the action.
See ya.
It's future level up, like a champion in my cup
Life is not an interrupt, and my facade is dream
A preservation in my mind is contaminate
Deeper confidence combined with opportunity
Wakes it up with unity
Soon to be the greatest of my generation
Operation Victory
By the fly, we will stay
To the perils we dare not to stray
Spot the match, like the flame
I
The Intel Extreme Masters Krakow 2026 brought to you by ESL in partnership with Intel,
Acer Predator, DHL, Zowee, Chex, and City of Frontal.
We just a nexus kill.
He will catch up.
She's taking it.
And it's all done.
I'm falling quick.
Unbelievable rune with a four-shadow victory over classes.
And they did it again.
In the final.
It's not over.
Giving up for your end-to-extreme master's world champion.
The
middles clear. You think exertion was the only guy on this mid offensive. The Spinks
wrapping all the way through the tunnels now stands to rob this one out from underneath
the Falcons. They're ready in themselves up in the window. Space is playing it forward
and he's got the right where he wants them.
There's the close.
Spinks, lides them up, knocks them down,
and Maus take that first in OT.
2v5, 3v5, back to back.
I know it's quick trade instantly,
but those mini-maps are still coming in.
Those screenshots for Maus in impossible rounds.
Falcons.
this was meant to be theirs.
There go to map pick in this
series against a mouse that
haven't played dust two in six
months. And right now they have
the round lead in overtime. Can't
just can't praise them enough
either. Spinks has been such an
impressive force throughout the
entire series. We've talked a
lot about exertion and the
recovery you went on after that
It's the boulder that's always chasing you. You're always looking over your shoulder wondering where he's gonna pop up next
It's a huge step towards the toron for mouse
Didn't need a couple more like that before they put the Falcons to rest here on dust to
Another double orb
Another reach for the stars
Miss for monosy, no punish for mowls.
Lot of noise made on the catwalk.
whatever they can out of the Falcons trying to extract info and put pressure on and they have split this defense and
There's all be a line drawn through the center of the map these guys on a don't get to be involved if the b-site
Can't withstand this hit that's coming its way this round is over for the Falcons
Kids that is spanked to open it up and again it spanks to do it
It's besides just been abused all game wrong for miles and they're gonna go back into it
But the only change today is Monosy is here, but he is alone.
We're not talking, you know, pretend lines through the map anymore.
There's a very real one.
Those smokes cut them up in half.
Monosy doesn't know where to look.
They're coming for him through middle.
They're coming for him through the tunnels everywhere.
The Monosy goes, leads to the same end, and it's death inside of B.
Falcons are out of this round.
They are out of the picture.
3B5 required.
It would have to start right now with this kill on exertion.
And even then, it's still a huge uphill battle.
Damn near vertical.
Exertion makes matters worse.
Impossible here for Falcons.
They have to try, but even then,
they know it's not going to come through.
They walk away.
Because they've been leaning on the double orbs,
if they want to have them going forward,
if they want to have that as a fixture of this CT half,
they have to save here.
The option to retake, the option to try isn't even available.
So that it would make any damn difference.
This is back-to-back rounds into overtime for Maus.
This is for straight.
Nico will get his orb and they take it away.
This could damn well be a flawless T side from now spearheaded by Spinks and exertion who are on the wall path.
If Toshi was the hype man, if Toshi was the guy keeping them going on Inferno, well he's
now handed that baton over to exertion.
you
you
you
you