PGL
[A] FURIA vs. Gentle Mates - PGL Astana 2026 - Group Stage: Round 4 High Match (2-1)
05-13-2026 · 8h 10m
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I'm not sure if you can hear me or not, but I'm not sure if you can hear me or not, but I'm not sure if you can hear me or not.
some of the other maps hello that's a knife for a party like that he takes it
Alex just gets mobbed up straight away as he rounds the corner this is an Aurora
around, deep use attempted, JL with the cover!
They line up and it's on!
Not again.
Spinks backstab goes and accounted for.
Zantara's dead, both players left out here in the hot, they're gonna try to swing him together.
SPRING!
LIGHT UP!
KNOCKS HIM DOWN!
Army to face out here in middle, three players.
Both gunning for these early fights.
The monosy trade keeps things in Falcon's favor.
Walk into monosy.
Three kills deep into this round.
He's getting boxed in, surrounded here on all sides.
Monosy will seal the deal with a stellar 4K that AWP sings.
Ugly spray for Tessus, one more where that K-Suke, but is it too late?
Apparently not. 2v5 brewing, they've got the site.
Kiyosuke's kept the dream alive, but now a chance of that plant.
Monosie's got it.
Kiyosuke just staying gun-on to lay plant for Monosie.
Easily done, the double-aught post-plant.
2v5, 4k from Kiyosuke.
Well sure enough the body's in position but Molotov is going to clip, Mopaz the rebuke
comes through.
Keisarotto's dead again with nothing this time.
Usually good for the one.
So much damage racked up but Alex is here to be the difference.
It is a quad kill for the road.
He will establish.
That crossover just now catches him off.
Abel to catch the kill.
Smoke for the cross guarantees the bomb plant at the very least.
Throws it preemptively.
onto the bomb, and it's gonna spread wide enough.
Davi G tries to stretch out, oh, now he's on it.
But Follin's gonna go wide,
trying to deal with the fountain player.
It's a long deep use, he just gotta get soft,
so he will, he pushes, 1v3.
Follin sticks the landing.
With Daimlin towards B, Hengar comes in, got the spot of Nilo, just gotta think off and
eventually get the kill as X-Files finds one of our Nilo, looking for more, he's finding
so many, Nilo shuts down the B-pop, he can be the insurance policy, Tenzi spayed
eight kills a piece, it's now all on Tenzi, time is ticking here though, five seconds
he's gonna get this kill, it's taking two, oh my god heroic, how do you let
that slip?
We'll lose another bomb recovered and just about once and it's awfully close, you know?
So it's looking to get across the pier and they line up for him!
Yeah, set of points, they really didn't have a chance of the white hit.
Oh, nice shot!
Here comes it out, gives me four spins of the fight. Oh, and a head shot!
Any of us to begin with but now he's down to just seven and that throw goes down.
Two primary rifle stones get to play with and Rainmaker on 14, chip with a shot spray
is good and the nice bomb defuses well.
They sway and fell sharp as their young players made it out in hard time, with the heavy gun not struggling whatsoever.
You'll feel like you should've done better. Now heavy gun is gonna be activated one more time!
How do they stop this defuse and coming through? They're all on top, they're blocking each other so that they can't be wall banged down, but that might be the worst!
Hello!
He finds two more damage coming through, but a second's away from the defuse!
It's the final day of the group stages here at PGL Astana, three spots remaining in our
playoffs and only three teams can make it through. We'll find out who those teams are
going to be as the day continues. My name is Sam, I'll be giving you company alongside
Blair and Dust for this first game. Let's get into obviously the big news yesterday.
Paravision out and the reason this is big news is Dustin made it very clear
This is his this is his country
He wanted to be in the playoffs, but also I think we spent the last few months leading up to the major hyping
Paravision up as this sort of like team to watch and a team that could contest with the big dogs
I myself have made jokes on the desk about how maybe James could be the the Kingslayer and eventually take vitality down
That narrative changed very fast here in Astana. Yeah, I think the cracks have been kind of forming for a bit
I mean, we even saw them struggle whenever we were working together at Bucharest.
So that was a big step down from, you know, a team that had made multiple grand finals and won a big trophy.
It's a situation where I think the system has served them well to make the team better than the some of their parts.
But now they've gotten to a point where that system has been figured out and they lack the consistent firepower,
I think, to be able to get them through some of these tougher games they've been in.
I think it's just a weight of expectations, kind of crushing some of these players, right?
They look so good initially and look, I still feel like they have some pretty good game plans
and pretty good ideas how to approach games and rounds and whatnot but yeah the individuals you can't
you're going to make so many mistakes the best late plans will crumble and I think that's what's
happened I think the expectations of them having to perform because in book rest they were the
favorites they still made playoffs right they still had a pretty decent run but here is a
complete capitulation I feel like yeah gonna be a couple of heads on a chopping block
my favorite thing when we're traveling around the world is hotel breakfast because you can
always have a little sweet treat at the end of your breakfast maybe it's a waffle
Maybe it's like a little chocolate chip muffin, maybe it's a pancake, but it's a nice way to start the day, right?
I'm sure you had waffles this morning, Dust.
Yeah, I did. Thank you for exposing me to the world.
Well, you had a little chewy sweets, I saw earlier. Everyone likes a little sweet treat with breakfast.
So we have a little sweet treat for you now. It's an exit interview from Dust. Let's see what he had to say.
Losses at tournaments are never easy, but it's very special when it's your home country
and the chance of playing in front of your home crowd.
There's not many chances we get like that in Esports.
I know for Dastan, this probably hurts more.
I don't want to just talk about the team first,
but I want to talk about for you personally,
how much does this hurt like?
How much does this feel bad for you?
Actually, before today's game,
I was already ready to take the weekend lost,
and I was a bit adopted my inner situation inside me.
You like to prepare for him?
We prepare, we play sometimes good, but some of my players can't understand and I can't do it.
It's like next year, once, yes, it's always good. We need always good decisions.
We make good decisions sometimes and sometimes it's very frustrated. That's the reality.
And I just, it was good, three teams, which we lost, they are good.
It was like, not like, not every map was close, but today was better.
But it's still not enough.
But otherwise, because it's like hometown tournament, I'm still good.
I will, I think I will be in Astana and I will be, it's, there is a like big prize nick.
Okay, big prize nickname of the tournament.
We're a happy moment for Kazakhstan citizens.
I will enjoy playoffs.
I will try to think about next tournament and be ready for major.
What else I can do?
I don't want to say something bad because I already said a lot of bad things.
We're losing.
dying looking at that right you said you said a lot of bad things I don't want
to push you into any more drama or clickbait stuff but what I want to ask
you is do you think personally when you're looking maybe your approach in
like the pressure put on the players from some of the things you said do you
think that has hurt the team as well I don't after last two tournaments I
I didn't even talk in a bad way, but sometimes mistakes are too hard, it's like newbie mistakes.
And I don't talk in that way, it's mistakes after mistakes after mistakes and maybe I don't know.
We will just play and we will see what will bring us next.
When you're saying these mistakes, are these mistakes you have spoken about,
You have already showed them they've gone over it and it just keeps on repeating.
Is that why you are feeling this way?
Because it's more than one year with some of my players, I didn't feel that they're developing.
And I'm telling that you are just waiting for kick, that's all.
You can read on every news and it's your choice.
You can't play if not, it's not your level, that's all.
So how I'm understanding it is like what you would want is for them to
See it, listen to your advice, listen to what James is saying, and show the improvement.
But some of the level of CS is like, you need to play good naturally, sometimes...
Without thinking, just do it, yeah.
He just needs to understand unique situations naturally, but it's hard for some...
If you see some clutches today, he was in good position, but with swings inside.
But he didn't do, he doesn't need to, because when he's on his angle, he can shoot and still
laugh and Jay will come to window, but he doesn't understand, because he thinks that they don't
expect him, but it's still one, if Beltrano pushing, they might expect.
And we should even do that too, closer, easier, every map goes hard, that's all.
What would you say is the biggest difference between Paravision that won, Blast Bounty
and this amazing moment you showed, and to what we're seeing now then?
Because like you said, it's getting worse.
Okay, on Blast when we come, it's first events of tier 1 and we're like, it's
small distance and we don't play scared we just play no pressure but when time is coming
you can see our statistics of our play it's not one tournament five tournaments decreasing
I don't know what to do maybe we will I will try different approach right now goal is major
try to do our best that's all and statistics are less than one three of five players
I will do. I am trying. You don't think that I'm only telling bad things to them. We're making everything for the grow.
They need to grow every month because it's hard life and because you travel.
Yes, yes, yes.
What? Okay, we lost, but generally first five tournaments before was pretty good.
We were on playoffs, losing sometimes final, and here we lost.
That's okay.
Looking at this right, so Blast Bounty was huge, inclusion of poker, finals against Vitality,
then it's like 5th to 8th from Bucharest with weaker teams.
This is not your worst placing, this will be 12th to 14th, but your worst was Krakow.
We understood why because you guys were tired. You've got CAC next. Lesser teams there as well
What what can you fix in a short amount of time before CAC and what result do you need to see from this team?
First of all, I will tell to
Maybe we will have one or two days break. Then we will just play and I need to my guys kill
Maybe less theory
Just play, forget about everything, let's play for Major, winning VRS, it's our real level, from 10 to 15 right now, that's the reality, and just try to do our best, that's all what we can do, after Major we will sit and think, what we can take, who will be kicked or not, that's, I will not fake.
Okay, okay
As you're saying you weren't fake someone sent me a screenshot of the fact that you liked the comment that said kicking notar
Is this someone under fire? Is this someone you're focusing on like it was on a telegram comment or something?
This was not anything serious questions for not a bilch on a seal or dropping level
But as I said, it's waiting sale we bought him them a bit earlier. Yeah, and
It's more questions to be thrown again. Okay
That's it. And lastly, because we are going to show this, right, and you've got the Kazakh crowd going to be there, we will see you in the arena at least to enjoy that moment.
What would you like to say to all the fans out there, to all the Kazakh-style guys as well?
Thank you to all who watched and who came. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to get through the playoffs, and it's a shame that we showed such a level here.
But in general, okay, life doesn't end. I will be in Astana, we can see each other. We are cheering for the young, for the young, for the Monasi, and I think there will be a cool playoffs.
In general, let's have fun from the tournament. Life goes on.
Life does continue, that's a really nice way to end it and for everyone that sees that that's done interviews or thinks maybe oh
It's too much or it's too harsh
It is a unique way of doing things but we should appreciate the honesty we get in these interviews and he wants no no you don't fake
That's good. I like that. I can't I can't say all good my but then kick what?
Yeah, it is what it is right. That's what other teams do so I like that we get this and it is a reality
It's a sport and they want to be at the top and they want to stay in that good position
So we're lucky we get this honesty and I look forward to seeing in the arena
We'll see how the rest of it goes a paravision across the rest of the season. I
Love that he gives as much insight as he does while still protecting the the core of the team
Which I think he does and I think what a lot of teams maybe should take note of is
There is a love for this coach now that exists with the fans people are invested in Paravision's journey
because he's given us more insights into what is happening in this team.
Because I know I'm more invested because of how he's speaking and understanding the emotions
that come with that.
And I think maybe professional Counter-Strike players and coaches can take a page out of
his book and see how easy it is even when losing to kind of garner their crowd.
I just want to say, if Darson ever leaves Counter-Strike, he could become a live coach.
That was the deep shit he was dropping right there.
No, I love this interviews.
The famous or infamous model log in Bookeress
comes to mind, obviously, that's over there with him.
And here, just about how realistic his expectations are,
even when banks ask him, like,
what are you gonna be fixing?
What are you gonna be changing?
And I was like, maybe I'm just gonna put less pressure.
Maybe ask him to think less and shoot more, right?
So very realistic, just, yeah, just a downward guy.
What I do wanna touch on is the smart move
ParaVision's made.
And I don't know who's responsible for this,
but they are going straight to CAC.
And the reason I say that's smart is because it impacts
VRS in a big way.
This is something that no one's talking about,
because we're so focused on the Cologne Major.
But a lot of these tournaments, PGL, Astana, CAC,
and the Major will determine where you sit
in the second half of the year.
Now, one of the things that has come out is,
Dust, with ParaVision playing CAC,
they have saved themselves a little bit of a headache.
Because had they have not played CAC,
they would have had to do a deep run in the Major
to get into that top 12 bracket
to guarantee themselves embots.
The likes of G2 and Aurora today, if they don't win those matches, are putting immense
pressure on themselves for the Major because they don't have a CAC to fall back on, which
means no deep run, falling out of the top 12 bracket, those invites fall away.
And this is something that maybe as fans we don't often think about, but Dust for
teams, this is something you have to start constantly keeping in your head.
Yes, Cologne is the goal now, but you also need to set yourself up nicely for
for the second half of the season,
no matter how that major run goes.
Yeah, absolutely.
First of all, around the banks in the chat
for a fantastic interview that he conducted there
and definitely a more, I don't know how I would say it,
like matured, wise version of what we got from him
at the last tournament interview.
And you're absolutely right.
You know, for ParaVision, I do think
he kind of got that from him in his interview answer
where maybe this team did kind of catapult
a little bit faster than he thought they would
and put themselves in a position
that they weren't yet prepared for
in the sense that they probably didn't anticipate
They could win bounty over the likes of the Vitality and like some of these other school
Falcons and these other teams that were at that turn of it.
And so when they did win that trophy, all of a sudden everything changed.
All of a sudden this steady incremental incline that they were probably planning on doing
or that that was the goal, all of a sudden they had this rapid accelerant thrown at
them that's put them now in the spotlight, pressure on with a bunch of inexperienced
players who were not yet prepared to handle that burden.
And I think that that is something that now we're getting a little bit of regression
of the mean and they need to find a way to idle in a place that keeps them
internationally relevant keeps them in this VRS window you're referring to and
allows them to still be a consistent contender without S had the expectations
that we should be winning trophies like some of these other teams do that have
been around for years and we do expect them to win trophies so there's a
difference there I think the other thing is something we all relate to
that he said it's like you can only micromanage so much you can only
coach so much you can only provide so much guidance at the end of the
day the frustration was always going to build a people keep making the same
areas that you feel like you've already tried to correct and I think that's
something we can all relate to in life with any you know leadership figure or
something along those lines so yeah definitely kind of solemn but I'm hoping
for the best for them. Wow that was like a deep life lesson from Dust as well.
What does Dustin dance all of us? I don't know. I haven't had my coffee yet so
these guys are happy. I do want to touch on one small thing like a little
tidbit which I was able to glean from that interview like you know when he
pointed out how I think it was Noto or Belcher I think it was Noto who
You know who peaked in the tunnels and trying to you know get those fights when he didn't have to take those fights
It's kind of reminiscent if you think about it about you know, imagine you're like this small little
Baseball team or something, you know any of your kids and the coaches like listen, you're struggling right now
I just need you to follow the game plan and the kids like I want to show how good I can be
I want to show how
Extra I can perform and you got to remember these are not just
Inexperienced players. They are young kids overall but a context of how things are called them kids
They are kids and what kids do sometimes is in order to prove that they're really good
with their coach and their parents or whatever, they try to go above and beyond when they don't
need to go above and beyond.
So it's not like, I feel like they're trying too hard to just be to stand out and maybe
not be criticised or not get kicked or whatnot and it's becoming the self-fulfilling prophecy
and I feel like that seems to be what's affecting these guys.
It'll be curious to see how CAC plays out and then of course the Major but we
We now move on, because we need to focus on who is going through to those PGL Astana
playoffs.
Let's take a look at your schedule for today.
Like I mentioned, three spots, six teams, or any three of them, can go through Aurora,
G2 in the back of their minds.
Those VRS rankings are going to be playing a big part of the issue here for them.
I must say that last game, Blair Mongols, Aurora, that's a scary one for me, because
I think it could swing either way, and both those teams desperately need this one.
They've played each other so many times, it's like the L Classico of these two particular teams.
And here's the thing, Mongols have always had Aurora's numbers until the last time these two teams played,
where Aurora actually dismantled the Mongols.
So anything can happen, honestly, and for me that is the game of the day.
For sure. And I do think that G2-Monty game may be interesting.
We've hyped up Monty a lot.
I don't think they've delivered at this tournament by any stretch of the imagination,
but they do have that one last game left. Maybe they can do it.
Yeah, they said they're welcome to the league moment where you've now stepped up into a tier one tournament
You've done very well in tier two. They won obviously a smaller event coming into this
They have a couple players who definitely show you some potential
But now they're up against the big dogs
They struggle to perform against them and G2 on the other hand and hey look
I mean that's a team that we all feel like on paper have a lot of potential to do all nerds
You'd be not even this coach saw where he's played his best counter strike hundred developing more as an IGL
Have you got being that consistent pillar one of the best anchors in the world?
You have a lot of pieces that should get you good results
but they haven't quite met those expectations yet,
and they need this playoff appearance
to really kind of keep that momentum going
in the right direction.
So now I feel like I'm going back to my tier two days
where I used to host this,
and I know that sounds mean, but just bear with me.
Gansel mates up against Magic.
That is not a matchup I thought I'd be speaking about
for a play of spot at PGL Astana.
And I can't be alone here thinking maybe,
I mean, I honestly, we all do this
at the start of the tournament, we look at the teams, we make our lists, neither of these
two are on my lists.
We have a deeper...
It's also, I mean it's obviously because a couple of the teams have floundered, right?
The Paravision, obviously the obvious one.
And then you have certain teams who have risen and gone above and beyond like 9-Z.
Not a lot of people, apart from you of course, had 9-Z going into the way.
Oh, you had to throw that in it.
You had to get that in the swan.
You were like, let me just mention that I guess that 9-Z had a deeper...
I guess, I guess.
You didn't say it earlier.
You didn't say it earlier.
And the thing is, look, again, like you had a couple of big upsets happening right there
and that's the thing, like when these things happen, you have the opportunity for one of
these teams to make it through.
And listen, for both, I guess more for Magic, obviously, but if you look at these two lineups,
at least in recent past, this is the biggest opportunity for both these guys to make it
to an arena playoff, 20,000 people.
It's gonna mean so much for both the teams.
For Magic, it's gonna be the first time for any of these players.
For the side of the gentleman, it's the last time you saw some of the names.
like Martinez, like Alex in the arena and for thousands of cheering fans, right?
So it means a lot for both the two teams.
And again, VRS, it sets them up so well after the Major,
like, and gets them in a position where they can start the next season
in a good spot at good events.
So a lot on the line for both of these teams.
But now I'm curious how you think they mash up in the server dust.
Yeah, I mean, these are two teams that have already played each other
a couple of times and, you know, it has gone to a mate's way,
you know, particularly for even an event when but when you look at things for
gentlemates, they're the team that comes in that have more experience in the
off-line environment. The issue is they're not really getting very many places
with them. I mean, we obviously were working with them at Massive Deep Press
last year, they missed a playoff, that was disappointing and really just
threw a lot of these tier two events that they've played. They have been
losing the teams you wouldn't expect them to be getting eliminated earlier
than you would anticipate and then the one bigger event they did play
out in Rio, you know, they got knocked out by Red Canids. It's just
like what is going on. Like this is a squad that's, you know, ranked in
Somewhere in the top 30, you know, and they're losing to teams that are ranked below them on a pretty consistent
But then they come here and they beat teams on paper. They really shouldn't be beating there. I mean the less period
They only bit heroic right like and also like that thing that kind of real I didn't expect that to happen if I
Was Cassatt I would have said it's the jersey. It's because it's pink. That's why they're struggling right now
I am not so I'm just gonna say I feel like I'm checked out with the Siberian team like this
these different iterations, right?
So back in the day when Artea came out,
when Alex was calling and everything,
we had these moments where like,
is this gonna be the time of, you know,
Spanish, you know,
Iberian counter-strike to finally raise this level
and be a threat.
But over the years, it just feels like to me
that this is the level.
That's it.
They're gonna fluctuate up and down a little bit,
but they're not gonna be much better.
They're not gonna be much worse either.
But as time elapses,
your opportunities is gonna dwindle
and it's just gonna be relegated forever.
It feels like a tier two scene.
So for me, I feel like this season, maybe the next couple of months after that is like the
last gasp for at least this iteration to make something, to make me believe and make a lot
of other fans believe that they are a team that you could reckon with against, let's
say a top 10 team, right?
But for now, I'm kind of checked out honestly.
On the other side, we have Magic, obviously.
I do want to talk about the jerseys real quick.
Let's do fashion please.
I like the pink general mates.
I love the basketball vibe we're going as well.
We're moving away from today.
Is that Lakers?
I like that we're adding a little bit of funky style to the mix because I was getting a little bit sick of the all black
We should do a tier list of all the jerseys of all the teams
Shout out Donna from Bees Up Eddie, she's done that before, that was a shameless puns but I'm here for it
So coming into it like you obviously kind of told the story of Gentlemates where it's a team that's been around for a while
around for a while they haven't done much.
Magics on the opposite of the spectrum.
They're a team that's just finally getting their opportunities.
Outside of K-27, this was one of the youngest rosters
that was at this tournament.
Obviously had, you know, a couple of rough goes,
you know, playing against, you know, Mongols and Monty,
you know, going into the O2 pool rather rapidly,
with little land experience before they came to this event.
Yet they were able to take care of business against K-27
and they did beat Heroic 2-1 in their own right
to have an opportunity to make the biggest playoff they
will have ever played.
You know, AW obviously did play a major with ParaVision,
So he has a little bit of experience in that regard, but the rest of the squad, you know, this is really really new to them
You know, and what an opportunity it would be for some of these young guys to have a chance to play in the big stadium
Oh, absolutely, and I feel like, you know, despite maybe critical of Gentleman's a reason and despite the results being kind of like
50-50 in the recent past reason why I'm going to be
Swinging the way of Gentleman's swaying the way rather is mainly because again the pressure factor right for the side of magic
This is the biggest opportunity they've had so far.
Well, Gentlemates, some of the players there
have had their time in the sun,
have had their time in the limelight.
And also if you look at the results we've had so far
in this tournament, probably you can get that graphic up,
they've both been the two same teams, Heroic and K27.
They played against a pretty rough opposition.
For Gentlemates, it was Furia and Maus
where they took a map off each of these two teams,
which is very impressive considering the level
of those guys.
And then for the side of Magic,
they're going against Monty and Mongols,
couple of close maps, but they kind of got banged out.
So I feel like General Maid, they're able to punch way harder.
So what do you have to say about this, but I feel like General Maid should really have this one.
Yeah, they say they've got a maps off of Mouse and Fury, right?
So I mean, they definitely...
Convincingly as well, by the way.
Yeah, so they've been more competitive in that regard, and they just have their reps, right?
I mean, when you look at Magic, you compare them to General Maids.
I mean, most of these games, they have like less than five maps played on land, on some of the things that are going to be in this pool.
Whereas you haven't seen like two teammates where, yeah, they've had a lot of disappointing results where they're not getting playoff appearances,
But they do have that experience that's gonna help guide them. I am always scared of young CIS talents
Just saying even when they are considered average CIS talent, I'd be scared. This guy's could be the future
Maybe you know does on sticking around just watching them play like hmm. Alright, I mean he's already got rid of one of them
Well, maybe some other guy looking at a video said nothing too surprising
Magic magic is very much like Mongols
They even picked it against the Mongols if I'm not mistaken, which isn't saying to do so they're gonna go with
Mirage, the gentleman's probably gonna be going with Inferno because Nuka's been banned out.
It's not that he usually go with this slider. Shaking has an ancient, maybe?
Yeah, I think ancient should probably be the third map of the situation.
Okay, so no one's no one surprised. Magic could have maybe picked ancient sort of Mirage.
They have done that before, but other than that, this is pretty standard.
Stop standard right there.
There we go, like pretty much one of the most, yeah, easiest of viewers to kind of predict you.
And I don't even know if it's gonna go to ancient dust.
I just feel like you feel very confident that general mates is making it. I'm not super confident
But I'm like I have to believe in them at least pulling this one off
I'm not confident of them against the G2s against the Mongols against auroras
But against magic they should have this one in the bag because if they don't either lose or make it even for super close
Again, I told you my belief for them is very low right now
It's going to be in the bin often. I like your comparison though. You mentioned gentle mates
They've played more on land right whereas maybe a little bit tier 2 tier 3 online merchants
It's a very different vibe when you have to leave the comfort of your bedroom where your mom's bringing you a cup of coffee in between games
Yeah, it's very true like I mean obviously they're kind of getting it slowly
But surely they've already been to a couple of smaller events
They've been able to play more of a studio environment throughout this group stage
So they're not going to be impacted by the bright lights just yet
But sure they would love to have that opportunity
So Sam pretty sure the thought of the bright lights will impact them
Especially for Moon, right? He's Kazakhstan-y
Yeah, right and imagine for in just to have the opportunity like we had Molodoy last year as well
Right just to have the opportunity to be in front of his home grand and then suddenly you're like holy hell
There's 20,000 people cheering for us
Like it's an experience
You know who gets all the cheers when we leave the venue because obviously a lot of the fans
I already know that the English forecast. No, it is in fact Hugo who's with us now and Harry
Wow, I love that. That's true. That is. It actually is. Is that true? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They love you here. Really? Yeah. Aw. Haven't you noticed? Yeah, okay. You've had some cheers,
I have. Nope. Yeah, you've had, I think, a round of applause. I fly right under the radar,
right where I belong. It's nice. But Hugo, look, man, we have a good game in front of us,
an interesting game. Some fresh faces in the playoffs potentially. And yeah,
had the desk which is touching on moon would be cool to have another Kazakh in
the in the arena in front of the home crowd. Pretty interesting game as far as
it goes. Magic, that's what I'm saying and touching upon it kind of this been
been used to farming online but actually showing up under the pressure
of lamb which is nice to see some legit winds in here as well and we all
remember day one when they took the Mongols to that crazy overtime game
on this very map so what better place to start this series if you play counter strike if you've
watched counter strike you know not to underestimate an upcoming cis squad i think that much is clear
so gentlemen it's kind of fun to do so today even though they are more proven online we've seen
this team and really players of it achieve success but to make a tier one arena playoff
Well, that's a different beast. One of the teams will be doing that today.
So, writing a new chapter in their story, will it be the more proven gentlemates or will it be
an upcoming squad coming back from 0-2? I think that's the most impressive part for me so far,
from Magic. It's not bad that they're here. It's that they lost those two opening games
alongside many teams and they are still fighting on the final day.
I also just think like when you look at their results, I think it would have been so easy
to feel deflated right it was a close series versus Monty nearly taking a map off of the Mongols
you had what felt like two massive opportunities they both get away from you and yet still you're
able to get to this position now in it to the final day of group play here's a BXA magic
heading over towards B AW can't quite get his bearings on Mopos the utol blows them down but
but in comes Massfowl with a crazy dink downrange.
And now the rest of the gang come barreling out of the apartments.
Gentlemen are here, and trying to get ahead of this before the bombs planted.
That's a decision they might live to regret.
Reads put them down, and Martinez left in a 1v3.
They're ready to swing.
Contact made, fade, spots him, but they actually don't overplay it here.
magic just say hey you get in the site you give it a go we are not giving this
round up fight together more damage done and it was a matter of time before
magic whittle him down as fade with three I don't know if it's a mistake or
on purpose but that backside smoke that's presumably lent a mentor land
in the market window that was really annoying for the CTs trying to come
through we kept seeing them come through gray screen couldn't really get
back side very well so despite a good block on B for gentle mates of the molly
Magic do a great job of dancing their way out of that round important pistol did
kick off the series and their map pick. Gentle mates come in with a force.
It's been a good chunk of time talking about magic to open this up of the
Gentlemates as well, let's not forget. They were the squad that kind of had what felt like the ticket to the major
They were so close to making it months ago. I think that it was like 82% chance. It was locked in
But then the way the VRS came I guess building up for other squads as they tried to kind of camp their position
Stop playing in some events came back to haunt them
They miss out on the major they had Rio where they didn't necessarily wow us
But here, chance to get to the playoffs.
These next couple of events at the end of the season,
and now culminating in Astana.
And it is their major, so they would love this chance
to round it out with a playoff appearance.
Here on this force fight,
this could get interesting as Magic
go into the stack.
Sorsal 5-7 really does complicate matters.
This guy's called them back though.
He's got a lot of room towards jungle.
If this bomb can get past Shorts,
then Magic are cooking.
Almost as well as scary, them crossing window, they might check him here, he's gonna completely
get out of there, it's a good move, not giving away the number advantage, they are ready
to fight back tens, Galil excels, pushing top middle, not ready for that angle, can't
blame Sorsal.
I should be the round, locked in, good escape from Magic, Svade giving them a way out.
And for the Major, I mean, you know, this has been a team and players who have just come so close so many times, right?
Missing out, not quite making it.
You know, there's a couple of major attendees on this team.
Sorsal and even Martinez, shockingly,
No majors even attended across their career.
For the amount of time they've been around, and for some of the heights we've seen,
it plays like Martinez's reach as an individual.
It's quite a surprise, but yeah, that makes events like these all the more important.
For Magic, it's about having, you know, somewhat of a home crowd advantage, depending on who they draw.
But the gentlemate is getting a chance to play on one of the biggest stages.
You don't need more motivation.
Also, now I'm seeing it be kind of crazy to see AW make it to playoffs while paravision
full short.
Yeah, that's...
Made it to stage 3 with them at Budapest.
was the guy cut to make way for his way and you can't really argue with the cut right?
No, can't argue with it, I mean that's what happened and this is what might be about to happen so...
It's a crazy turn of events and it's a nice bit of salt in the wound on the way out for a parodition.
Look at this flood right now, I was just gone in the site for smoke comes down, blocking those CT players.
And Magic are in no hurry, right? They've played a thousand mirages.
They are happy to sit back and wait, let Gentlemates walk in with these pistols.
Just seeing Magic look very comfortable in these first three rounds, right?
Even though their timings have been kind of broken up by Gentlemates,
the Mollion B, the Escape in the second round.
Now here, they're just like very comfortable in every position.
Gentlemates are not making them panic.
And so for a team that's already come back from 0-2, and has T1 Arena playoffs to play for,
it's reassuring to see them look as calm as they are in these first few rounds, not getting ahead of themselves.
That would be a huge mistake for gentlemates to underrate, even magic right now.
you right now I mean this is a even a game we've had a couple of times play
off some smaller events one the gentlemates went on to win and then the
last time they lost it online so I know what they're up against
I don't think it hurts for gentlemates is they've had really tough draws this
event right they pulled the new mouths as their first matchup it took on
furia yesterday and they even got a map. But at the end of the day, when you saw the
draw, you can't fit two scams. Given what was available.
I mean, these two squads have both beat the exact same two teams to get to this position.
Ah, it's a perfect match.
Yeah. And their most recent played event, their most recent played games leading into
this event was versus each other. So you like that, at least for the gentlemates.
Oh, there's history here. In that series, Magic were able to win it to an O.
Revenge will be sweet, especially with what's on the line.
Magic 4v5, let's see what they do. Back to this A hit, we got Svay coming in,
connector late, Martinez will get his eyes drawn to A.
Always like the Martinez AWP, they bought it out early.
So let's see if he can put it to work.
Best time to strike is now is, don't have to worry about an AWP for the other side.
You've already got this 5v4, so if you're able to just get one as they try to explode out through the ramp,
you've put your team on the fast track to success in this first rifle round.
Happy G up close.
Using this smoke well, they're gonna break it.
There we go, break, they flashed through instead.
DamiG trades places with them, but there is that Martina's AWP dealing with that first man out.
Moon turns around.
It's really davey, aggressive on the ramp.
I can nowhere here.
Magic is stuck.
Peek over the stairs, that should be enough in states 2 Bates, or is he?
Rhymes on that backstab, but time just so low, AW's not gained enough ground.
And no one's here, gonna charge him down, so Gentlemates bring out the guns, Martinez on that AWP, instantly putting it to work.
They made the best of a bad situation, but that was so late in the round, Gentlemates were just full, willing to gamble there off of that ramp push.
Nobody on Middles, Fade was really scared of a short player, a window player, just gets traded from Jungle.
So like he needed that double to give them some control.
But no post-partner allowed, gentlemen. It's back on the board, first round of this series.
And Martinez Orp, well, I'm truly here.
Definitely one of the more exciting Orps on his good days.
Can just be very flashy, very in your face.
Our other Spanish AWPer here also playing today against Monty in the next match.
Magic getting all their ducks in a row here.
still lurking. A bit more active this time.
This ramp smoke is well timed. Just jiggling.
This one doesn't give it up.
I just want to run him down!
Martinez getting asked for again on this AWP to stand and deliver.
But besides conceded, Alex tries to play back in.
Gets aggressive, gets shut down.
And so now Martinez really going to have
to do some heavy lifting.
The only presence they've got out towards CT
gets caught on that push.
Mopas can't win this.
1v3 has made the sides not to punish.
So he will get out with this gun.
It's a save for the gentlemaids. Magic, in with a swift response.
Yeah, Martina is just going for the blind shot.
It didn't have a teammate to back him up there, so just risky at all, really.
They just swing him off of that random bullet.
Oh, dear. Moppo spotted as well.
And they do, you can aid this, so he's out of position right now.
Magic, coming through this garden, and they should find it.
Four rounds on this T side.
Fantastic start to Mirage right now for the young team.
Average age of 21.
Mostly players you've probably never heard of.
None of that getting in the way right now.
Yeah, I mean, when AWP is probably your most well-known player, I think that says a lot.
Yeah.
Hey, more mages than Martinez.
Which is, uh, one.
Wild to think about.
But yeah, it's, well, gentlemen, it's time out early in this game, and fair enough, because
just getting abused on this A-Side right now.
That's such an insane stat for me, man.
to think
two players in this gentleman's roster
never touched the major
it's kind of like i mean it's the iberian scene right it's kind of
for the longest time it was the portuguese you know it was the
materialism of the world
always so close
never quiet and for gentlemate it's been a couple of major cycles
they've just been within reach
aggressive in this sixth round, Gentlemaids pushing down the ramp, but
magic here all of this and there's no risk right now, Mazval all the way back
in Palace, meanwhile middle is taken. Svay doesn't want to commit there, they
have to top it at the same time so very slight heavy our Gentlemaids right now.
Magic should know that. Just SMGs and pistols.
I'm gonna lock down middle.
What is problem?
I'm barely living.
Bit of a punish, but be so lost, or is it?
Magic's got it, you'd think. 15 seconds, guys gotta get that bomb down. Alex could try to deny they cover the spawn site good trade.
Very good trade, because without that, that round was falling to time, there's an AK at a save, will source will be tempted, or does he want to give this an honest attempt?
Kind of a cursory glance through connector, see if anyone's out in the open, nothing there, and so, Magic 5.1 really building upon this lead.
Just a great beginning to the game again, stressful situations, I feel like Magic may
be almost overcooked, trying to lock both bomb sites, Conn player going alone through
his own smoke, a desperate rush through Conn, but at the end of the day they got the info
they were looking for with just enough time to put that bomb down.
Scary, but around nonetheless,
gentlemates have a fall by and they absolutely need to get kicking here on this city-side of Mirage.
Okay, good shutdown to open this one up.
Alex and Sorsall both come through with entries.
This is a gap.
Martinez is watching from spawn.
If he tries to come back into the window,
I mean, all the time,
spotted under the door.
And that's a flick for spade got to worry about CT as well. He's got a lot on his plate right now
We failed them out from this 3v5. So why not give it a try ten and two on spade
The 3v3 ensues
Gentle mates want to go for information they could find the bomb creeping out
Here and no reason to look down in front of him far as he's concerned
Someone called it
No!
Oh my goodness! Someone called that it looked like.
Spade's efforts have just been eclipsed by Moon's whiff.
Now he's throwing into a one on three, now they don't know where he's gotten to in the midst of all this chaos,
but they've got the bomb to play around.
Gabby G waiting for the convict.
He had the time to set that up to breathe and to get that shot perfect,
And he just misses by a hair.
Oh, dearie me.
Oh, you're not going to forget about that one.
Yeah, that hurts. That was a free kill right there.
And look what it's done to the magic money.
Moon will still get nore.
Looking for a bit of redemption here.
But that is not ideal.
Pro's Whiff too.
Jiggle with big info here.
Magic deep down middle, strong position for Mopos in this round.
And Mopos, he's been, he's number 14 highest-rated player in this event, he's top of the server,
he's had a great tournament so far.
Some high moments here for Gentleman to win required, so can he deliver to break Magic's
money completely?
Oh wow. Alright, that's nice.
That's a good way.
Tensi both get theirs, and again, this A site is the problem.
The bomb is in T spawn. There's 30 seconds. Yo, this could go wrong.
This could go really, really wrong. Oh dear. I don't know how you get this in time,
especially not with Sosal pushing up. You might want the kills right now.
Magic of panicking. No, they can't fumble back to back
They're going to try and run the bomb or two spawn. They're going to get away
This is going to be real close. Let's hope they've got their timings down. My pause is dead
You'd like to think oh no almost with but maybe turn around and take this fight eight seconds. They got time
They got time. They got time. They got time. They did it. Oh my goodness boys. Let's all calm down
Shall we magic?
Income source all but he's not winning this
Dude, that would it to go from the moon with into losing the bomb to time.
Now that's choked right there, served the old fashioned way.
The magic recover in a risky move back through Teespawn.
Magic left spirit for this.
Oh dear.
No, I mean, look, I didn't know what it freaked you out a lot if you lose that round of the
time. I think at that point, the pressure is getting here, but at least they recover it.
No, now you can point it out as a silly mistake, kind of laugh it off and let's say, boys,
it's not ever do that again. Yeah, someone take the bomb. It was very late to not have
the bomb, but I think a lot of it just came because they've got that entry on. Yeah,
no, it's like, they're so successful after the entry had taken all the space wasn't
necessarily the plan from the get-go yo shout out whoever looked to the
mini-man round and said guys bomb now because they won the round with a second
despair how are gentle mates still finding these buy-arounds I will can't
tell you
they've invested well
Oh, it's getting...involved.
Taking one with him, but Moon is ready.
Svay died to the bomb last round, so they lost the orb.
If anything, the rifle is the right gun for the job right there.
Put the magic back in a 4v4.
You know they want this A-Site, come on.
It's been there, bread and butter.
And look at Davie G, he's the SMG jumping ticket right now.
What's going to come to him?
It's been early for what magic is trying to do, and there's no orb in position.
Gentlemates don't believe they would go back to A, but it's all magic have done
in this T-Side.
Ramps out of could be nice though. Tensy.
Smoke, Alex dead, are they ready for Davi G close on this SMG?
It's the palace drop that gives him concern and gets him looking the wrong way.
It's also feeling like a hero plays gotta be made tries to barrel on through that smoke is put down straight away
Yeah, it's fair enough 15 seconds is trying again just punish the bomb
But that's anything who goes through the ramp smoke with the bomb when his teammates are drawing that player in and again magic a
Brutal hit. Yeah, and dude, you know, I mean if the if the same crops keeps yielding a good harvest
Why would you plant anything else you go? That's just keep going back to these a plays
And all gentlemates can smell as manure.
They see decide exactly that.
Seven to two here.
Considering magic are also against themselves,
gentlemates need to do a little bit more here.
It's a kind of head to head where
where you expect three maps I think right two specialist maps coming in
Mirage's Magics go to of course it's their grind map along with Dusty which is
Gentlemate's Insta-Van. We've got to wait for that at least and Inferno Magic's
least played is up next.
And you were talking about this kind of feeling of for a couple of players
for a couple of the gentle mates individuals and now even for the whole team it's always been this feeling
of so close to where they want to be but then it getting away from them even thinking back to before
the VRS which was when this squad missed out on the major it was often the the swiss system that
would haunt them thinking about martinez back when he was in 9z multiple two three runs in swiss
to get to the major it was Shanghai I think where they were two and oh up and then ended up
Throwing it all away to go two, three, same in Copenhagen where he tried to turn it around.
TRS1 is just kind of the most recent insult to injury for this squad.
And I think it could happen again today in Astana.
And the gentleman needs to wake up in this series because right now Magic are dominating them.
Yeah, they're just disrespecting this ace like again and again.
Bombs coming in late so they told him to flank while he re-smokes middle. They miss the ramp smoke, not ideal
That's good for the T's they get to lurk out on Tetris right now
Gavigy does not have the gun for the job and trapped in front of that moron on his blockbox
They do clear out with the nade but double trade back from magic puts him in position
Alex desperately running back behind the site
Like time's always been low in these hits, but he does not survive. That doesn't say wall bang now
Wow! How's that not a wall bang?
It was Moon!
Explain that to me Harry!
Maybe there is tiny gap, just big enough for Moon bullet.
That is the only explanation, that doesn't make sense.
You fall wall banged him.
Hey I'm happy for you I guess.
Game deficit maybe?
The magic in it!
Crazy good position. And I think like they could just keep sweetening the deal.
If they get out of this with a 10-2 half, we can start thinking about map 2 already.
The worst win. Just a dominant half.
No signs of it stopping. And it's not been a game that's come down to like, you know,
hard mid control and gentlemates can't get a read on it and they're losing some awkward
early fights. Like we're saying magic just run XX in 5v5s and run over gentlemates
right now.
Absolutely love that, you know, so it hasn't over complicated things in that regard, you
know, like, I think what with some of the earlier rounds we have where things are a little bit
jittery, they're nearly running out of time with the bomb, the moon whiff, clear they're
feeling a bit of pressure, the idea that the arena is one game away, but keeping
the calling very simple and stripped back, you know, just going to keep doing the
same thing until they figure out how to fix it.
I think it would be very easy to to overthink this situation.
They've not done that.
Finally a bit of a change here for magic.
No presence over the water ramp.
Mid take with a...
That's a net! That's a flash!
That's not a smoke, Mopozz.
That's a flash!
What?!
Boys!
Martinez 2 and 8 on the orb.
It's all going wrong. The shape of a pear, Harry.
And I guess some people don't like pears.
Dude, you flashed them all in.
They're cooked. They are fully cooked.
And now a bee here.
You don't laugh, you'll cry. So you gotta laugh.
I don't know, there's still room for a cry.
Magic, cheer, I can- everything!
Bomb going down, and that is 90.
Bomb has been planted.
Moon, don't miss that one!
Yeah, I feel bad now.
Dude, I feel bad for gentlemen.
And of course, Magic are so switched on,
switched on their laser focus they got over the weird rounds early and they
have just been lights out past that point yeah like moon very good job man
appreciate it I keep it up oh dude I mean it is the kind of game where it's you
know it's nice to have an ex Amcal player in I think yes Amcal brought us
the best bit of good little pipeline to get some gems out of yeah diamonds
from the rough indeed they also bought us one of the best games of all time well
that's kind of what I was referencing but also molodoy yeah you get occasional
gems yeah they've done well the Kazakh all-per pipeline right now looking
pretty strong magic 9-2 up and you've got to feel for gentlemates because you
can feel the... I don't even want to call it tilt, but like just disappointment
we're seeing the death slams, we're seeing some awkward whips, they've not
exactly made any of these rounds close. No I think it's also just this idea
you know you can kind of stomach like coming close being in this position
And if you show up and play good CS, but the other team is just better, you know
It's like at least you played to a good level and I think they know right now
This hasn't been a good level some really uncharacteristic mistakes
Make a one more round to try and salvage here
And a game that magic have been in full control of yeah
And as I said, you know, this is still a series if you go off of numbers, you go off of like expectations.
Gentleman should be able to show up on their map pick. It's a map that Magic don't play a lot.
It's in Barna. It's a great map for Gentleman.
I think the fear is if you get blown out on map 1, can you keep it together?
So, for Gentleman right now, I say Mirage is about keeping it together.
Got a B hit coming in, Magic with a man or two and apps and flash, I'm sure, into this setup.
There's also second door delivers.
He's getting pincid though.
Missed the timing on moon and sweet selling a fake on moon.
Will spot him.
And a 2v2 fast rotate from Alex arrives market side.
And I think they've both missed the timing on this note.
Spot must have been in from the apartment's player still.
They lose moon and now Mastfal's going to do it in a 1v2.
up here on the line Alex moving in and so gentle mates one solitary round right
at the end of the half sees them through to three rounds on this CT side at least
they get something at the end of the half right I was getting scary with Alex
walking into the 1v1 leaving his opera in the back but it all works out here
for gentle mates to find a third but magic are not going to be complaining
dominant T side on Mirage their best map in the pool and getting shown
right now up against the gentle mates
magic gunning for those playoffs this is our final day of group play at PJL
Astana folks three BO3s three eliminated teams and three more into that
playoff arena this all to play for it is do and die all day and well hey if moon
isn't feeling well today he's still playing a pretty good game right take
away that with he's had some integral shots on this all
Oh, he's looked sick in more ways than one.
Yeah.
Svade, 15 and 6.
Solid game out of magic.
Let's see what gentlemen have got to show in a pistol round over on that B bomb site.
Got Jules from Asvall in position.
Oh, Insta-Dick, good luck.
Even one would be nice here.
Hey, whoa!
Hey, close.
Clearly gets out with them all.
Put down after the first it's played out into the site really ahead of the rest of his team
He did that something to show for it a long rotate on the cards for moon as he drops lower
Oh, he's living for moon. I
Don't know he's sneaking this this is gonna take a lot of time
She is no he's on Martinez and in a position to stop someone playing out of the apartments
will be spotting it actively still if Moone sneaks the whole way.
Time's just going to be, whoop, Moone okay!
Getting interested now.
The time decides it.
I think the fear that someone is apps is the reason you want to do that,
but he's too far away when he starts the shift.
He does it all the way from middle, under, back up, into B.
Yeah, it's too slow considering his teammate walks into the site and has time to leave would like to see moon
Just run that as well
Hoping for a miracle here
But gentle mates all be rushing the pistol put some back in the game
And my 12 closes up quick. Oh, yeah, so you can forgive the three-round half
I think for me we're going to be looking very interesting, very interestingly, is that
a word?
At the first rifle round.
That really does kind of decide the ebb and flow of this game and if general mates are
able to make it competitive they should have this one in the bag pending any imminent
disaster.
Well, wouldn't the imminent...
It's pending.
It's not imminent or pending.
They're saving me.
Bye.
Thanks for coming.
As far with the bee pushes all the way up in Palace.
Hello?
Good damage! Three kills off the USP round.
And so, full buy coming in now.
Moon could get an orb with Kevlar.
I think he should. CT side mirage.
Not much of a spawn, but could go B, or window.
So let's see if we can find this open, and Jeff's mate's going straight for the A-hits.
Alright, gonna try and give him a taste of their own medicine.
Svade is here.
He's been playing a great game.
The next captain has had hot hands.
Now the support of his team arrived and Svay just remains tucked in.
Svay has gone a bit of a creep up close, but as Svay decimates the back line of General
Mates you need Svay to get that trade.
He will secure it.
Still you're a man down.
I want to get that bomb planted while the smokes are still up because they start
fading and source all caught in the open
Not today, that's a convincing shutdown about all you could have asked for spade with a really nice double
teammates move in and money sent to the
Absolute doldrums for gentle mates in that first gun round just a great early setup by magic not playing for me
They put two in the bomb site gents mates get that entry and they just think hey, we've got a they've run in
out of Palace. That's multiple kills for Svade. From default, an AWM comes through the smoke
to assist. Magic then just gets Haitian in a 3v2 and let Gentlemates walk into them. No
chance to plant there. Dolphins indeed, but they buy nonetheless. Gentlemates putting
in money. We've got two guns. This is desperate right now. B is completely open. It's just
Mazval watching, so he needs to put some pressure on, try and pick them on the cross.
I flash behind, I'll make it in for backside patients.
They're looking to pay all the spray!
Mazval triple kill, looking to finish the job.
He's still out, up and over.
Mazval hiding in plain sight and they can't flush him out.
They can't get rid of him right now.
He's just wasting their time while magic moves in.
Fourth kill, off the USP!
No helmet, no head!
Wow!
That was insane!
Wow!
That transfer!
We've seen some sick individual moments from this team.
Yeah!
At this event, Tenzy in a similar position with a beautiful transfer.
Look at this!
Woo!
And of course the AK has no helmet to make matters worse.
They're forcing again, this is done.
I still can't get over that, that 3K, that was so beautiful.
Oh, Massfalt, dude, you've got to be feeling good right now if you're magic.
Oh, look at Esfalt as well, he's walking behind them, he might just go for it.
I think just take your timing here, catch them throwing nades, insult to injury.
injury. What an exciting squad.
Magic of proven to be here in Astana.
No, he just checked it.
Svay might never know.
He needs to hear these nades.
Will he check?
No, he's missed this A-play.
Someone's got a cool A-smokes right now.
He's gone to his spawn.
They're out ramp.
He's lost to the wolves.
You can't have to set up to play
retake here, but magic about this realization very very quickly.
It's fate is going to recommit to the flank on ramp.
I guess it's good timing.
Where's the A anchor?
All right, hit some beaks or you're done.
John makes a really feeling like this is weird.
They were aware of flank was coming in right when there's no sign of the
retakes showing up, you know they're waiting for something.
Low HP there on spade with the backstab,
Moon's got the cover, they can't find the diffuser.
Dabby G dead down in the connector,
and it's just heroic multi-kill,
after heroic multi-kill right now for Magic.
Make no mistake, that's not necessarily an easy round.
Sure, it's pistols, they let you down at range,
try to get them off the bomb, but that was a 3v5,
and Gents may get two kills,
and the clock is down to 15 seconds.
Magic swing in and save the day and they look to sweep this first map of the series
Third round in a row on the CT side
Moons back on the AWP
Gentle mates are back on a force
What a game out of magic they have just never let them in
this way this shop
And so this is Magic looking to come through with a statement win to start this series
that could send them into the playoffs.
Bunch of new faces to this type of environment.
I'm hoping to take their first step onto the stage today.
Swing out from Spade.
The captain.
He has been lights out all throughout this starting map.
And I love how he's conducting himself when he's in these positions out towards A, left
as the anchor, having to just waste time if something magic have really excelled at.
They don't give gentlemates the chance to fight.
Sveta's not moving a muscle, he's putting faith in his teammates to come in and seal
the deal on this round and that they will do magic.
What a way to open up a series that could give them the playoff birth.
This was so one-sided, they dominate the gentlemates who now have to try and collect themselves
and turn things around on Inferno.
Okay boys, I mean let's be honest, Gentlemates didn't even pitch up for that series, Blaine's
got something to say so let's go finish it.
In 2018 I was doing this event in Mumbai, near Seoul, in the event and I was put up
I don't know how to tell by myself, basically just by myself, and then I go in there and
it turns out there was someone else who was saying to me, and I'm like, I don't even know
who this person is.
There's just random people in other person's room?
Yeah, but I mean, working could be a bet, right?
Yeah.
And there was one big bet, just one bet, we had a shared bet.
There were cockroaches coming out from the AC.
The bathroom was non-functional, and I thought, you know what, I'm just
going to go out, give myself a nice dinner, or just try to just ignore everything
like I went out, had a couple of drinks, had sushi at 3am in a place.
in a place I really should have had sushi.
That's what I said.
Based on where you were staying, maybe sushi was a bad idea?
Yeah, and then I came back, and then I had violent diarrhea in that bath.
You were really about to pay the situation to what Gentlemates was going through.
And that was still better than what I saw from Gentlemates.
I had a better time there than I did with what Gentlemates put up on this map.
This was some of the most abysmal display counter-strike I've seen on this.
And I want to think back to the fact they beat Mouse 13 and 4.
Even more pissed off at miles because how do you lose to this? This was absolute garbage from gentlemen
I don't want to take anything away from magic. I think they have their moments as well
But holy hell guys wake up. I think the most important question is do you eat sushi since that experience?
Actually, I haven't had much sushi. I was whether normally it did break that breaks you know more sushi or salmon fair enough
Sam I watch someone try to extinguish them all top of the flash bang
That's the level of absolute dog shit kind of strike I had a lot of that game bro.
I couldn't believe it.
I'm like this guy stuck in the corner, a Molotov comes into the window and he threw a flashbang
at it and then proceeded to die.
And there's a lot of negativity coming along.
We still got a few more minutes in this segment.
We're trying to stretch for time.
We're trying to stretch for time.
You lost 35 to a team where the AWPer had half an hour to scope in and get the
And he missed and you still lost you still lost
What are we watching? Okay, so now so now let's let's go ahead and let's let's get to the magic lazy
All right, yeah, yeah
He's been doing it all tournament long and I'll tell you this like he was one of the guys in the online environment
When they were kind of coming up in tier 2 and they won because remember they came from the qualifier
They beat several, you know solid, you know tier 2 European teams to find themselves in this tournament
And as fate 8 as the in-game leader of this team also an entry fragger for the squad
You can see it right there on the heat now this guy clients openings this guy does frag a very high level for a leader
And he's also quite young. I think everybody on this team. It's like like 22 or younger
so very very young squad very inexperienced and
Yeah, he's delivering in a moment where the pressure is on of having an opportunity to play in front of a huge stadium
Which none of these guys have ever gotten to do except for a w playing in a major
None of these guys have ever tasted anything like this before so yeah
He played phenomenal
Miles Vaughn had one of the best clips of the tournament in that round when he had that crazy 4k on the B bomb site
And the second half to close out the game. That was ludicrous aim
You know, so yeah, they really did just come out all guns blazing other than moonsop shot
It just you know, I think they played great. I think that the calling was super simple
They knew what the exact one would do just the the amount of circus moments like clown shows
We saw was just at one point. That's now just laughing and rolling in there and it was the flashbang extinguishing
Can we have a bigger picture conversation because I think with VRS and what it's allowed
is we see a lot of these tier 2, tier 3 teams get these breaks at these big events, right?
And for me, and this is what I'm throwing out to you as a question, it feels like there's
such a big divide between tier 1 and the top of tier 2 at the moment.
And I wonder how we close that gap.
has happened right now by these teams getting opportunities
like this one.
I mean, we saw on the Caterpie team
turn into a title winner with Foot.
Foot, yep.
We've seen other teams have opportunities.
Even ParaVision, last year they weren't anywhere
near the position they were at.
I know that we kind of had the rain on their parade
in this once they did so poorly, but they went from
not being able to make the playoffs as a major
to winning a title against the best teams in the world.
So anytime that you get an opportunity like this one,
you're able to come through a qualifier,
whatever the case may be,
that allows you to get to an event like this,
That is your moment to capitalize on VRS.
That is your moment to try to get as many points as possible
to get you into that tier one circuit,
which is then going to become that cycle
if you can continue to play well enough.
Just look at 3D Max.
They somehow just barely freaking hang on
to the VRS window just locked up to keep you from it.
You don't have to bring it to me about it all the time.
I don't know why I'm throwing random strays
at them really quickly.
But I'm just saying, if you can just get into the window
and just be idle there,
it gives you so many opportunities.
And for this Magic Squad, that is a lot.
And I think the really cool thing is,
look, I came into this entire thing
talking about how, you know, gentlemates,
they have the experience they have,
all of that going for them.
They should be kind of the favorites in this matchup.
But like I said, I know what their ceiling is.
I think everyone knows what their ceiling is
and today we didn't even get anywhere close to that.
But for Magic, the fact, the way they played today,
and a couple of the, you know,
how close some of the maps have been
against some of the better teams,
it's like, I feel like we're figuring out
where their ceiling is gonna be
or, you know, how much higher they can raise themselves.
So from that perspective, it is kind of cool.
It could be a foot story,
maybe a few months down the line.
I do also think that what we see with a lot of these teams
who come into these sort of S tier events
and they come in from tier two, tier three
is that they do play better against better opposition.
We've spoken about this with Paravizion so many times
where you kind of, the level that you're producing
is so superior when you're playing a mouse.
Like, and folks, Gentlemates is a good example here.
So they play mouse, they look so much better,
but now when they meet opposition
who is technically on the same level as them,
They kind of fall off and I wonder if that's also a little bit of the mental game coming into play.
It's a mental game and also a style. It's a difference between teams.
I mean, a team like Magic is going to probably throw you some or not about scrappy, kind of pushy plays
that maybe you just don't anticipate or maybe you don't necessarily have to deal with when you're playing into their teams
because of that unpredictability, I guess you could say, with a team like Magic.
But it's also a situation where they should be aware.
They've played this team twice already in recent times, you know?
I really do feel like for the side of Alex and his men, we're trying to kind of play
a little disrespectful CS over there, like when you know it's a hit coming and you have
guys just pushing in through smokes, not together by the way, it's one-on-one.
So maybe that was a game plan, we're going to play a disrespectful counter-strike and
we're going to just catch them off guard, we're going to shut down whatever they're
doing on the T side.
Unfortunately, when you go for these sort of plays, you want to do it together,
would you tilt in, what not?
No, this is just them playing dumb CS, like as if they're going up against a face
He said five mad stack or something and I feel that was a game plan and it fell kind of flat.
So we're moving on to Inferno. This is obviously Gentleman's map pick. It should go better for them.
It should. We're going to have to see a lot more on a Mopaz. I mean, this is a guy that's so important for them on Banana on both sides of the map and really needs to come out swinging on this one.
But the really cool thing that I want to point out about Magic really quick, since we have a little time, is Tensy is a very unique player.
He is actually their A anchor defensively as you can see here. But he's also their apartments player, but he's an entry fragger.
It is very interesting how they use this guy differently than most apartments players will, so this is going to be like a little tricky thing as we were kind of discussing with, oh, you're up against unorthodox stuff.
This is one of those like little wild card factors that Magic has on this map that's kind of cool.
And I feel for Gell and Mates like, you know, just trying to wake the, wake the F up like, like we've been speaking about Martinez coming to this event, like how the one silver lining for this team is he's been super consistent, super good with the AWP, then we have Mopas having a hell of a tournament so far, and they were just completely absent, not even absent.
Like, they were making so many unforced errors, mistakes, which you don't expect to see from these individuals.
And yes, despite the fact that Inferno is a map pick, it should be their map, at least on paper.
They should take it to map number three.
Having watched that first map, I just have no belief.
And I personally feel, you know, for the side of magic, you have them against their ropes.
You just go in for the kill.
Last time they played, I do believe magic won in overtime.
They're one-on-one. They've trained again.
Yeah, it was a very, very close map affair after all.
If I'm magic right now, you're just going in for the kill.
The throat crush it close it out. It was a very one-sided affair on the first map
It's a very one-sided affair here on the desk. I'm not a lot of faith left in gentle mates
Let's see if it can be restored off to this
She said she loves you, but she can't love me, but I love you
I
Won't play window anymore
The human body was built to move, not crowded at desk in one singular posture for twelve
hours a day. It's time your chair evolved. This is Secret Lab Titan Evo.
Ergonomically engineered for you. Gamers. Hybrid workers. Artists.
And I gave you every move.
going through the big tournament, he's playing for Magic, you're the IGL of the team, it's your
first big event as well, we were just talking off-camera, right? You're trying to enjoy the moment,
you're trying to feel it all, right? What is it like when you come to this event, you see these
players, the elite teams and stuff like that? I just met with many players before, because
Because like Moniz, it's very good friend, it's very good my friend, and AV as well.
So we are connecting with many PRS or tier 1 players before, so it's not like in first
time for us.
It feels more normal.
Yeah, it feels more normal.
And looking what's interesting here, right, I'm looking at just magic as a team,
grind and the growth. It's not been like you guys had a quick skyrocket, you know, you've been
slowly grinding through events, working hard. What does that progress look like? Like, how have you
guys done it from bootcamps to tournaments to having the right players? How did we get to this
point today? Yes, we have many online experience before, like in other teams. When we come
To the Astana before, it would be like many works about the structure.
Many times work about the structure, not about individual plays or something like that.
It's just only structure and talking about the game like everything in this game.
And getting that qualification, going to have now this position in Astana,
do you feel like you have a point to prove that the gap is not so big between you guys?
If we look at rankings, you don't play at this level, you can play at a higher level.
Yes, yes, yes. I think when we started to play, it was not difficult for us.
We have many problems with map pool and disqualification, because it was not good, so I wanted to be.
So it was more on the individual and trying to make our system like we play in the system,
but more individual moves like my boys can take the opportunities from their eyes.
What they see, what they want to do.
Yes, you can do that, to help each other, to make a play.
Let that communication flow decide what to do.
So how confident do you feel on the LAN environment with the LAN experience?
Because obviously you've had a bit of that LAN play now, but obviously this is a way different level.
It's a way different level, but we as well growing up after this LAN in Belgrade,
We don't wait for anything, we just want to play and show yourself and prove yourself in this match.
So I think it's a good goal for us to not be so nervous or mad and take our experience on this high tier run.
So learn from the event, take the experience as well.
Yes, and like you said at the beginning of the interview, enjoy the moment.
Yes, yes.
So what would you say is a good position for you guys in this event?
What is going to be good in your eyes?
In my eyes I think and in my opinion like
to make good opposite to tier one teams because we
I think we know how to do it or we need to make like good game plan
like think everything about like 2-0, 3-0, lose 2-0, win 2-0, make good game plan or something like that
and after this if we make like 2-3 or 3-2 to mount playoff it's very good for us so I think something like that
Well good luck with it all thank you very much for a lot of details a lot of insight in it
and enjoy it. This is the greatest thing you can do because it's an experience and you can take that
like you said you leveled up from HLC you can level up again here so let's see what you can do man.
Yes thank you very much. Thank you.
Well it was a beatdown of the General Nades on map one the questions around them were can they
they get switched on in time, will they be able to go back and reset ahead of their map
pig of Inferno? Because we're in these 2-2 games, the dreaded 2-2 position, where it's
all or nothing. You are a game away from the playoffs or the game away from heartbreak.
And Gentlemates, they're the ones with a lot of pressure on them now to try and
recover. For Magic, a bunch of kind of fresh faces to this type of a level, looking
to take their first steps onto a playoff stage. And I mean, what a statement they made in
map one. We absolutely love what they were giving us, right? Looking super dialed in.
They got some awkward rounds out of the way early on, thinking back to when they nearly
run out of time. And past that point, they went on to absolutely dominate the game. Hugo,
ahead of Inferno, what's kind of the vibe check here? What's the temperature check
on General Maids and their ability to turn this around?
It's difficult to say because on a normal day, I would say, hey, gentlemen to hear the reset
they're going up against magical and at least play map is gentlemen's home map is where
they should show their best game.
I think what may get in the way was how dominant and how out of control gentlemen's wearing
that first map and it is really a true test of the mental, their ability to reset.
Well, that is one way to start off right and one tap up middle for Martinez drops
the orper on magic and gives gentle mates that leg up in this pistol. But yeah, I don't
think magic are going to be caught not believing anymore. I think he's going to seize this opportunity
even on inferno.
Some we did to bear in mind is obviously this is a big deal for magic. I'll hold this
store because they're about to get one hell of a scrap out towards top banana.
You know, this guy's got the flex in him. And that's a quick hat trick.
Bratt is now going to chance to play the fate and switch for AW and the opener might have gone the way.
Gentlemates, everything else comes up magic.
I love that. They don't even waver from that setup.
Triple B, just stay in position despite that one tap and a Gentlemate's walk right into it.
Dude, I'm really curious if they're feeling nerves, right?
It doesn't look like it.
That's what I was going to say.
Like, the expectation is the idea that this would be like a huge achievement.
You know, you imagine you're someone like Moon, this is probably the last thing you expected.
Getting to go play in front of your home crowd.
Hell, if you're the rest of them, a squad that's been...
grinding smaller lands.
Online tournaments.
But right now they actually look laser-focused.
Oh my goodness.
Hello!
Oh, he hit it!
No!
He gets a second, he switches off his gun.
No way!
Yeah, I can tell you who's feeling nerves and it ain't magic right now.
No! Which is mad!
That took way too many shots, man.
They think about the amount of times you kind of seem like these fresh-faced rosters come close, but then the pressure gets to them.
Yeah, it's usually they go 2-0 like they're on a high, they're feeling a bit more than they choke.
Yeah.
But even the flips I can happen when you go 0-2, you're playing with nothing to lose.
You pull it back, you go 2-2, and then suddenly it feels real in this game.
It feels real you realize oh wait we could actually do it and that's when you see the crumble
I'm just not seeing any signs of a crumble here from magic. These are some confident young players
They are playing their heart out right now
So let's see they can close out against the pistols as a bit of a spawn walk and magic already
Yeah, mass files one step ahead of this
Now didn't hold on long enough to spot that source all had also gone the same way
and so we should be keeping an eye on him because I
I don't know, he could be up to some tricks here.
They're watching it though.
They're letting it in.
Easily done. Needs Deags.
Not to be. And Mazaval closes again.
Mazaval looking so good.
Yeah.
Esfade, I love the enemies.
Listen to them man, they're feeling good right now.
Just keeps hyping up his team because they are winning some ridiculous rounds across the series.
Dodging, danger.
and gentlemates, I mean there's still going to be more experience and more tenure on this map,
they're gonna have surely some good t-side gun rounds to to look at but again starting from
zero three down, gonna make things very difficult. And I'm all for the idea of a young, unproven
squad getting a chance in an arena. You know because last year the story was, hey this
this Molotoy guy, this ex-amcal player, Kazak,
playing in an arena in his home country,
his first event, and that was with a top squad, right?
An already notable team of Furia,
where you could say, hey, you played great
in that tournament, but at the same time,
it makes sense to see him in the playoffs
under a team like that.
This is a different beast, right?
We have another Kazak over coming through,
and you can't say you expected
matchup in playoffs, that's crazy.
I mean, I think, like, also, it's always teams like this that really capture your attention.
Because, you know, we all know squads thinking to kind of like the, I don't know, the, the
mouses, how long it took them to get accustomed to playoffs.
But even if you go down the ladder, guys like squads like bait, for example, who have
always been kind of close, but like struggle to, to actually cross the line, compare them
to like a team such as Foot for example who are super exciting the idea that they
instantly found this degree of comfort in high pressure matches. If magic can go
on and kind of be a team a bit like that they're always the ones that get a lot
of fanfare, get a lot of hype around them and I think they always end up
kind of playing a very exciting brand of counter strikes to go with it.
Triple B again! They are saying come get us!
I'm just hoping for a scrap. Smoke goes down and Gentlemates still in their early defaults.
It'll be good to boost it up.
Double boost, love it!
Gonna go over any smoke the Gentlemates throw.
Oh, gentlemen, it's going to that stack though, they're still getting re-smoked to B. If Masvelle
goes down here, that's a way in. Oh, dear teammate! That was a break of the smoke, he
got dinked and the nade kills him. That's so unlucky, smoke is weak anyway, so both
players can see as they cross into the bomb site. Alex will go back to check, good
check and a spam on the bottom of the smoke finds both players here for magic is the round
surely nothing for me to look for that.
It's a cool little like gimmick for magic to pull in and I think that's the whole reason
you see the clear from asphalt in the first place right the idea that well even if I
die if anything that just brings them into our setup it kind of entices them to go
go and play over the Ward's Beast.
That's where General Nates have a very well-placed flash to thank.
And a good check for Alex. Get them on the board early.
Alright, it's never too late in Counter-Strike, so let's see what Gents can do now they have
guns in their hands.
Talking down on the bugs, to be honest, they had to give us the reason to talk them up.
In this series, now could be that very time.
Heavy beer setups here in the CT side, Magic's just continues to spray.
Need to push down Banana, with a rifle no less, Mazwell here.
Just made some no hurry.
Well they use a Molotov to clear this position.
My god, this is a gamble.
You never see a player bottom B without a re-smoke and 4A.
This is against the norm and if he gets mollied, trouble here for magic.
Svade starts to move back.
He is considered a mob, plus he's walking in drive on his own.
Ashes, poor.
And that's a free kill.
Rotate's already here.
He takes one with him, and the B site's not exactly open for business.
Ah, Svade's playing aggressive too.
That's a bridge too far.
That smoke was a bit too early, I think.
Gives it away, like why would he smoke it when we're bottom B?
A.W. can't die, he's on 20.
A.W. sadly, you know, they don't really know what to expect from this round, they hear the
ult firing off over towards B, and even that's freaked them out somewhat. A.W. should just
fall here, and so it will get recovered for gentlemates.
Imagine right now we're doing a bit too much, everything is trying to be some big trick,
and you see the idea behind all of the moves they're making.
Yeah, I would have just like to see Svade just drop his get Molly
H. He could have just lived on be they could have played 3a 3 1 and
Gentlemates would have had very low time. Yeah, actually make that B play happen
You know instead he yeah, it's he gets cheeky
But gentlemen don't fall for it and then they panic rotate and a W plays aggressive in middle on 20 health
Like it's just cascading issues in that round if he plays it safer. I think magic when
I think Gentsamates go into the stack.
I like a big 3K, getting the trade and banana and clearing out the captain.
So Gentsamates are here to play. Better late than never.
you know we've been enamored with the kind of wildness of some of the magic
rounds I think in this one you're gonna need to show a bit more restraint as to
when you bring those those moments into the fold because you're not on Mirage
anymore you know like attempting these kind of the handful of times they had
to claw back some 3d5 or whatever these are rounds you don't even attempt on
and inferno.
Yes!
That's a move.
Damagee quick to second mid. They got a lot of damage off with Nate and with Spam, but
it goes back the other way. Damagee catches the captain in front of the smoke.
We're trying his hand.
He does catch Alex.
He's alone.
And again, the gamble. AW, the flash ready. Gonna call for it. It's a great flash, but no
killer allowed. He has to go back. The orb might just rotate as well.
Okay, they're rotating everyone out of B, but it's fine.
They are all over the place right now, but bomb is in banana.
It can't go back. That's the thing, there's this double apartments lurk, so options are still open to the gentlemakes.
They're not really committed to either bomb site yet.
Gonna start to link back up with these players in the apartments, as that leaves all the pressure on moon.
He has three positions to watch.
And he's not in the spot for any of them now, going back to long.
I'm gonna get the lurk in middle, but bomb is coming out of out.
Nice kill. Now this is a retakeable round.
I've already dropped into the pit and he's not aware of that, so might just die to this pit player.
Oh, he forced into the molly.
Oh my god, they nearly did nip the gun.
That was half a second.
All right, three on three retake.
The W is very far away as he begins this lurk through the apartments and he's sneaking.
We've seen magic get let down by lending too much time to the lurk before, trying to
do it quietly.
You won't even want to face him in the apartments.
So while he clears a post plant position, time expires.
You can make this round expensive at least.
You ain't winning it.
Yeah, nice kills, honestly.
Ooh, yeah.
I think we'll have some pits, perhaps better option
than too late to make that call.
And the bomb is planted on the cold box anyway.
So, Gentlemates convert to another post plant.
They lose everyone.
But that only matters if Magic can follow up
a round here on this CT side.
And nice try for Moon, but
yeah, no support there
in what was A1V4 on A.
I took again a gamble gone wrong
Doing a lot of gambling in the CT side right now
Just like we said earlier just doing too much in general, you know
I think maybe that comes from the inexperience on this map
Maybe not trusting your sight holds knowing that gentemates gonna have solid executes and you'd rather, you know roll the dice and
Try and
catch them off guard
This is a great move, gents mate's walking into spawn now.
And I wonder if Svade's calling this his likely or not while he's about to find out.
It's also found on the long side.
Now the G were better timing, but this orb needs to consider the flank.
It's the one weapon Magic have in this round.
They're going to be anywhere.
Oh, it's pulling back, though.
Let's recommit it.
Oh, no!
Blink, you missed it.
Next thing on bananas, the bomb.
They need to try and chase this down.
They're getting wrapped on the spawn,
but they can really complicate that
as if they find Alex.
They take a little bit of time
getting through that smoke on bananas,
so the bomb will get out of there.
Good cover for Sosul, a very important kill.
So the bomb given, safe passage.
AW won't be able to complicate this.
That is a huge round out of Sosul.
Yeah, two kills on long, the cut rotations off,
and then allows the bomb to escape on very low health for Alex.
That was terrifying for a gentlemate, to be honest.
I thought that flank would get away with a lot more.
Moon and AWM make that round interesting on low guns, magic almost fine in upsets.
Instead, gentlemates, keep trucking along on this T-side.
Fast now, gentlemates with a bit of pace behind this T-side, rushing into top of that great flash that you commit to the spray!
triple kill mow down in banana that is how it's done
he's even still sticking around get on that smoke fade yeah you'd like to think
He's done enough lose on be now
Why this is what do I would you go back like he survived you have two teammates on a go back
Like you've done the hard bit you got out
He lived and you did all this in a standard two three setup
You don't have to do this much. They're gonna fight reclimate. That's fine. They do it together this time
It's not a crazy solo move
This should be okay here for magic.
Backstab timed well, just missing those players, but as they're not committing, just holding
on right now.
And so Svayd has better timing than anyone could imagine, and there should be two shots,
one, two.
Magic and breed easy for now
Whoo
Great round from a WS side of that, you know like what a spread the fact that we were even nervous really ain't down to him
Beautiful sequence the commitment is you're very thirsty
But it doesn't come to matter
And we are seeing more uncomfortability, shall we say, on this map?
Well, also, you know, we were talking about those nerves.
I think the idea that you didn't want gentlemates to wake up, like the last thing you want,
if you're magic, is for gentlemates to start believing again.
And then you just start to get worried, like, oh, no, you know, like we're not that,
we're not super well versed on this map.
they are they love a bit of inferno
but it's in these like slower more standard moments that magic have looked good
so i don't get too caught up in the moment
Janssen has started to get more banana control as the game goes on but
good damage on that spam
great damage from spade and they triple double needed banana as well so they found
Mopos and Alex also. That's a painful beginning to the round here for gentlemates. It's not
ideal.
And so magic. Done a lot with little. This is, again, a risky position. Just get spammed.
Oh, they're baiting for him with the smoke.
That is good!
Flash is great, AW.
He is a monster in banana right now.
Len is less than from the last time, right?
Just falls back, plays the advantage.
Five on three.
Jobs are good.
Yeah, it's great position now.
High flash ready for this entry.
AW and Mazval in position awaiting this execute.
I think that's maybe the even better move yeah I like that you're also making
Gensu-Mate SKUF. Yeah right everyone else is broke. So lost bonus denied and maybe
the kills as well. Sweet in the deal after time. Okay, Sorsal's got the cover.
Safe pair of hands is Sorsal right now. Yeah he's one guy performing on this
T side. Alex had a good round earlier. Sorsal with a big 4k and here's just
two guns safe for Gensu-Mate. Magic continue to build back into this
game. It was four rounds in a row. Magic has broken that. And B is looking pretty closed
right now with the rounds AW is giving us. I haven't seen much of a test on this A site.
You'll notice the enemy is forced around these safes.
Hey, Dalby, you want to ask what position you want to play CT side of Inferno?
He said, T ramp, but he's going to go ahead and leave after that smoke.
Magic have certainly calmed down, and they're looking better for it.
Okay, don't count him out.
He's had a great set up every time from this Mazval flash.
And he is just connected every time.
A little early on this one.
He got a few, comes a knock in, four players around that corner though and that's an AK gifted to the gentlemates.
No smoke left to block, remember they used both of them down at bottom B's so Mazval just has to get this done with the rifle.
A shot will connect, but they're scaling up, they're scaling over right into the Mazval
meat grinder. Income the reinforcements and Spade's going to catch them back turned on
that smoke push. He comes in with the AWP. And Magic being a bit more considerate about
the aggression, they're pulling ahead on the CT side. A chance now to win out the
half as the money is broken for Gentlemates. Perhaps that second flash got Gentlemates.
I didn't quite catch it, but I think the trading was so weak that the first player drops in oranges
Where's the where's the rest of the team? They're nowhere to be seen
You know, there was one missed flash when Madsville swings out early, but he's still got away with a kill
But magic and just playing off each other really really well, I do like the moon pushes through the smoke there
He's been very passive on this A site
waiting for his time to strike, and that is a great time.
These A site players are having a very different game to the fellas over on B.
Yeah.
AWM has about 24 kills.
Guys on the A site sitting on 13.
Well it's their time to play.
Can't see his pistols.
Oh, Svage just moves away from it.
Almost quarter whiff.
Magica, right there to peak banana as well, so they know they have all the info.
They know Gentlemate are probably the cusp of this A site, but hearing a second smoke
seems to have tempted them back to be.
W's gonna get the early info here.
On top of the half wall and another light out.
He just keeps doing it.
And while paravision get grouped, their ex-player from the Major looking to make it to playoffs
here and carrying his team on that journey.
Just a mad dog bro, they let him off the leash on banana and time and time again, it's these
multi-kill spray transfers.
He's 5-0 on opening kills, he has 5 multi-kill rounds, he has 149 ADRs.
What a story for AW.
What a redemption. This is...
Yeah, and you said it earlier. Magic of calm down.
Well, actually, not anymore.
They're gonna throw themselves at gentlemen, so I don't blame them.
Going back to the chaos now that you're kind of feeling the flow of the game a bit more?
I'm not against it.
I think they've heard something though.
Look at this setup on T's coming in from the swing,
and Sorcel covered as well.
Are they ready for more?
Oh man, abandoned ship.
And so Tenty is still here and they did not expect the ghoul to do that.
The audacity.
Martinez needs this trade right now.
Shit happened.
Can't buy the sneak round, man.
It's just got smoke shot by the orb.
That man's hunting this bomb.
He isn't running away.
He can tell his teammate, don't rush him just yet.
But maybe you should.
Okay, the channel needs to know what they're up against at least.
Okay, so we're playing like this, huh?
They're just gonna push us, we'll sit back, we'll wait.
Alright, they're split up now.
Two top performers of magic.
What do they got?
AW is gonna pad out the A site first time being there, so Massfowl
gonna have to batten down the hatches, need a big multi-kill from him,
but that's been the specialty of these B players.
This is crazy though, right?
You would expect a good flash and a trade from gentlemades.
Anything less is a mistake.
Because they started so passively too, they still have all their U2 left here, so that's going to come out now.
That's about caught by the flash.
Nully is going to give this one a go, it's the last of the half.
Don't count them out of this.
They know he's CT, they clip an honour.
Kit, and an AK.
And a top performing player in a 1v3.
gentlemen to play this last round by the book. Break this four round streak. There it
is. Swing together is just what the doctor ordered. Gentle mates are not out of this
yet. Five rounds on the T side of Inferno. Magic may be gunning for playoffs. Gentle
have other ideas.
Just as we saw the difficulties at the start of the first half for magic,
You do wonder what their T-Sides got in store. Gentimates are pretty clear about their game plan.
Very aggressive, on B, lots of banana takes. Not necessarily the best executes in banana.
As AW constantly from different positions found multi-kills. A half wall car and sandbags.
So let's see what magic have up their sleeve.
For magic this has been a CT-sided map by the numbers.
You can remove a lot of pressure by winning this pistol round, a threat of the comeback
that's looming.
Versus an undoubtedly more comfortable Gentlemaids.
Surprisingly quiet starts in the pistol for magic.
That first duel taking place out in the apartments.
Here's the usual chaos.
Out in a short, heavy G.
Couple of clean taps.
W is known about on the long side,
side so they're going to go back and deal with him. It's three players swinging him from short.
Moon can't do a thing and so Gentlemates get the pistol. This one is going to flip on round.
Gentlemates, about to tie up this game. Yeah, that's a game changer right now for Gentlemates.
Inspiring round win. A pistol that they absolutely require with how this game has been going.
just to give them any advantage back in this second half that's their first
pistol of the series could not have come at a better time. Hatchet's still forced
by. Confident or crazy. What's up there? What's the call rather for Svade?
I have something to break this top mids mode. Team are playing pretty default though.
There's no banana control.
It's going to risk it.
Go right through, they got a high flash.
Get him up there at least.
Okay.
I'm putting the fear in Gentlemates right now.
That's one way to take banana back.
They're definitely nervous Gentlemates, I mean.
I still want to trust in their B bombsite.
Also I think just if one thing is clear, they really don't know what to expect in a lot
of these rounds, because magic seemingly always picked the craziest available option, so
it just feels like nothing's off the cards.
To be honest, I feel like B would have been the best choice, obviously they don't know
just triple B. You can hop off on two kills, you've got no nades left on this site.
They're going to go for the A attack, bit of range here.
Geez, looked good.
Start in the pistol.
Down here in the pit, it's a strong position.
His teammate's doing a lot of heavy lifting.
He's not even really required to step up.
So he's shut down.
Yeah, I guess they're expecting a triple rotate there
because of the pace they took on on the back,
but Gentimates trusted their hold
and the two M4s were on the A site.
So, just what they need to hold down against a force by, suddenly the lead is lost.
Suddenly it's a very different game here.
Gonna see pistols for magic.
A bunch of deagles.
We'll try to make it give you the chance to use them.
with a swing and a line up there convincing shut down five alive round flawless for gentle
maids to see them be confident for maybe the first time this series flexing an anti-eco
everyone getting in and so yeah this is now certainly a difficult game for magic the
The map is ancient.
It's the Martinez-Orp that proves to be an issue.
Steals that advantage back for the gentlemates.
Magic are trying to follow through with this, walking a player up through short bomb, coming in to join them.
Pressure on for Tenzi to try and create the space. Smoke is nice to break apart this crossfire.
Now you can focus your attention down into the pit. That's exactly what he does.
does knows that Martinez is here on that all this all kind of thoughts to miss
you tell making things awkward disappear into the smoke teammates on the
way out of the photo style moon what have you just done
the smoke connect to moon shining bright a crazy jump shot to find Martinez
Look at this!
In the air, falling off the box, and the second kill just appears out of nowhere for him.
They are a lot of fun to watch.
And that smoke timing was there for Alex, but the smoke hitting him, they immediately turn.
Oh, that hurts, Vigental Mates. Great smoke for Tenzi to let them isolate.
Moon goes on a tear.
That was a really good situation for Gents, Mates.
Must hurt to lose it.
I love how chaotic magic are.
It is absolute madness.
Mopos has three kills on this B-Site.
I wonder if we see Magic try and exploit a slow start from him.
Said this was the top rated player coming into this game of the event.
Here a 2-2.
Magic. They might just be going B-Lades. Taking back mid-control. Keeping a threatening
presence on A and Moppos is alone. They are stimming right now, man.
They know how close they are. They don't want this to go to ancient.
Careful, Monpoise. He did spot them there.
Got a smoke to block. Maybe more in spawn as well. We'll see.
Try as much time as possible here. Picks up some nades. 30 seconds back to A.
Four man hold.
Yeah, the stack here for General Mates. It would be one hell of a feat if Madge would be able to break through this.
The ball from the line and Martinez doesn't miss that opener. Now one player
just slipped by Martinez still keeps his wits about him and at this point just
swinging for the fences those looking for the hatchery gets traded it's a pick up
for moon. Through short they're gonna be real quick here and this is where the
stack is a big problem just chewed up by this double-pick crossfire.
Yeah Martinez it's just peeking and peeking and peeking but screw it it
way so much time for magic. They don't get any long control. They can't deal with those
double pit setups. Nice stack for Gentlemates not moving. Trusting in Mopos to use that
util correctly and not overplay his hand on B. He is the bottom of the server and throwing
all the nades while Gentlemates lie in wait in that setup. Huge draft for Gentlemates
And now Magic cannot get ahead of themselves on this T-side.
...
I'm crossed into a very difficult position now.
And it doesn't really seem like they trust their B-hits, they've been avoiding it.
But I feel like it's the best route to win for an inexperienced team.
Because here's the crazy thing, they're getting banana.
It's not a threat.
Gensu mates are not playing Triple B, they are not fighting for banana.
You can exit via any point in this game if you really want to.
So okay, Triple Molly's down in banana to take that space.
But here's that third player finally, because it's been too much success on it.
And now, Magic rather have used everything.
They have two smokes left.
Oh, what?
Well, who's getting caught by the aggression now?
Mastfal double entry.
Are they ready?
I'll pause.
Third piece over towards his B site.
Slides in wait.
Martinez coming in with his supportive flash.
He's gonna go huge.
One will not cut it.
AWD first.
teammates on their way, but still a little ways away from helping it out.
Mastfal gives chase for his hatchery.
Three kills in the round.
Should it seal the deal on this?
They're going back A with a bomb.
What? That's crazy.
You are absolutely mental.
Are Jets made saving, do you think, or have they realized?
Well, they think they're saving.
I don't know. I think now they realize.
Like, it's too quiet. There's no bomb down.
It has gone down now, but the M4 is on B.
Moon's got an AK.
Svay can't play just yet, and he's not.
He is calling it perfectly.
this team. Oh the timing. Even when they go B they go A. They've only got A this game.
Oh god, okay. That's just a save though. You are out of position. I can't believe it's
already hunting through B back to A. That's that's scary. You've left two tech minds in
the site, but gentlemen's don't know that. And so yeah, let's go take this orb says
moon. Oh, I want them in the playoffs so bad.
This is the balls to rotate out there.
They had to be.
The craziest.
They literally had to be.
Okay, saves are good.
One AK, two AKs picked up.
My God, what a game we are getting.
Magic make the craziest rotation because they had no smokes left
So turns he cuts him off completely and here we go an eco win from magic Martinez is a very unique
Method of keeping his hands warm. Yeah, not unique personally. I've seen it before but what's he doing? Yeah, you'll see
When the axe crops up on screen, you'll see.
High nine.
Tie game.
Pressure on for gentlemates.
Almost caught a lot of guard there, but there's a guy behind the wall that's got a line that can swing out.
My boss got naded, lost all sound, and as I'll find him as well.
All the money on the line for gentlemates, and so after...
I mean, it's money on the line for both teams.
But after feeling like they can come back on their map, Martinez, this provides you an
opening by B4.
I think that was an AWP.
He's made running into it.
AWP burning alive, careful, but now Martinez has put that up on B.
Back to way! And you know what? This time it's the right call. Double pitside though.
The boss is rotating, soon the magic go the better.
My boss can get very helpful flashes here.
Oh, these blocks. I'll pause now on default. Magic. Not an easy round to win. And there's
the flank. Wait, wait, wait. Oh, oh, oh, oh, Alex hit the blinder. And they're coming
back to face him on Alex gets it done on his lonesome and there's no time to win
this anymore for magic and lose the bomb to the Alex flak a flak they knew all
about
yeah there's you see the inexperience right sure gentlemen start some good
util they block short at a great timing they get more pause on rotation they
repush beaver magic so delayed there they just sat in top middle for about
30 seconds, no progress made, didn't get any player out D-paps, needed some more movement in that T-side
And to be honest, if AW kills Alex on the flank there, they'd probably just run back to B
But a huge double kill from Alex
Agree with you, Tully, you said they would go V
I don't believe they even know that site exists
Oh, true, true
They've only gone A all game
Which is weird, because they're not... they're not... they're not winning any.
They're struggling to get on default.
Now, I don't think it's just getting banana, but... I feel like...
Magic haven't threatened banana enough in this tea-side. The best rounds have been a banana.
No idea how Tenzi is the one to win that.
Pretty sure the smoke he's been hitting, so they had the info.
He's gonna offload this AK.
Once the other armored player AW, that's the free gun.
I can paravision he was always the guy dropping the rifle.
Now he's the guy getting them.
Fair enough.
I mean, you slow down on this T-Sci for sure, it's 17 and 7 and round 11.
So, one and seven since that point.
Now would be a time to do it. Alex is running away from a Glock right now.
And it's forced another rotation, so how apps they go?
The AK to step up here on AW because his teammate's die all around him.
Mopoz steals himself away.
Even Rotates are on their way over and he's got this short support at his source source, so no worries here.
Yeah, it's really well played. Just tucks in low health, refuses to give them a kill, and his teammate has his cross covered.
Look, if magic loses game, I feel like it's just come down to their incessant A site hits, no matter what happens.
Look how much space they're getting in B.
Like, they don't know, but also they do know, because they're getting Banana for free every single time they go for it.
Maybe they're expecting better setups in B, but it's been Moppa's that most of the game on his own.
Does feel like a wasted opportunity here for Magic. Are they gonna remedy it at the end of this half?
Oh, careful, Tenzi.
Galovia
Good though, but he runs in backwards. Source will brigh- a blind spray.
And where do you think magic is gonna go?
It's very hands off the mouse, talking it over.
The uncertainty of magic as they look again for an APOP.
Long is open, covered by Davi Geo but awards the Speedway.
Only holding onto the Archcross.
Martinez or half one here.
No, Mas Valle hits an absolute blinder coming around the corner in the apartments.
This is big.
Hear the rotates.
It's fade.
Those players heading into the library,
knows those rotations and now arriving.
Good cover from AW, Mass Val with his second!
Site grabbed.
Okay, he finds AW and suddenly this retake might be on.
Mass Val has had a great round, but it's not done yet.
Mopo's making his way up through short and if he dies, retake ends.
Must win fight and Mass Val takes it.
Alex, just going to walk on out of there, losing his teammate.
Besides the outcome of this round,
the magic will get within striking distance of gentlemates.
Just insane entries for Maswell.
Finding that AWP on that line in a Parmans,
Martinez has been locked in on this CT side.
He's had a hell of a redemption across the series.
And Maswell just absolutely knocks him out cold.
Huge triple.
Great space taken by Svade, even though he doesn't get the kill, he gets a lot of info, two players crossing libraries
And so Magic play off that info really well
Their best A hit yet, but I gotta say, it comes down to the fact that Magic, going into their two-man setup for once
Gentlemates, we're in the wrong position
First... round of that case
Of that type
Gentlemates called their last time out
I still have the lead for now.
Thanks to the saves as well. Thanks to some cleaner rounds down the stretch.
They're not in this dreaded situation where they could suddenly get leapfrogged onto that point.
If saves come through, even if they lose this one, you know, they're still going to have guns.
So that at least alleviates a bit of the pressure here.
They also are in with the chance to just break magic straight up and if they do that at this scoreline the maps over don't run through the mid smoke
Yeah, our tears has gone for the same pick every round of this. Oh my god. They're gonna run in here
No
Smoke comes down Molly to block and they call it off
But hey, that's one way to take quick make control. My boss is deep down banana
All the way on to the logs
They're just gonna try and go for another up tempo a right
Hey, NZC, the UTIL goes for the chase.
And there's Mast Fowl coming in with the cover
into the site.
Martinez bought down low.
You've got to save.
Magic, they're only going A.
Call it the magic roundabout.
That's where they keep finding themselves,
going round and round in circles.
But it's working, 11-all.
Finally breaking through.
And yeah, you said these saves are integral.
They definitely are deep banana control, you can quite catch them off guard, Martinez in strong position.
Dude, it's a full hunt, there's no one even playing bomb.
All three players come looking for these saving players.
You need your guns at a certain point, Moppa's just got a free upgrade from an MP9, Martinez will hold his AWP.
And the right call here for Magic is to let them get away with it.
Just take it, you've got the round.
Hey, the pace change is nice and magic.
You're not seeing anything like that, even though it's AAA.
They catch player on apps throwing utility.
The trades are good. The spacing's nice.
That's more like it for magic.
The way they peeked out of the apartments was legit.
You know, like, 10C clearing close right after seeing the util
and then MassFalc coming in behind him.
SoulFocused is just to deal with the site players, right?
Putting the trust in 10C to get that apartment player.
So early in the round, the gentlemen aren't even starting in the pitch, right?
Yeah, they're not in their crossfires yet.
Yeah, they're not ready for a hit like that.
Sure, it's a cheeky pocket round, but would magic do it?
Again, probably not.
You feel safe saying that?
I don't.
I feel safe in saying they should go B,
but they probably won't.
And gentlemates feel the same.
DaviG hangs around for a second,
but Banana gets taken by Mopos.
Oh, they don't know.
They can clear this.
It's about trading right now.
Okay, I called off by that smoke.
Alex has one more on B.
Alex has two more.
And so this site can be blocked forever.
As far as the way this round looks,
Magic are not going to get B without it being smoked.
Oh my god, are they gonna get beat for the very first time?
This is not the round to do it, the proper style of the utility, but hey, he is alone for now.
Magic kicking up Dust on A and Harry, I think he might be on to something.
That's our bomb, Dabby G here.
That's now spotted on the long side, it's only gonna keep four players at A for the gentlemates.
Early U2, we still got a smoke and a molly.
They're going to have to go through it. They can't do anything else.
Made on Tensi to break this open.
Oh, here it gets forced in those steps out.
I mean that should already be a huge red flag for gentlemates. You've not heard nor seen
anyone in Banana and it's so late in the round. Those rotates have to get a move on.
It's only Mopos here. Ten seconds.
You tell us missed. Mopos dead after one. Davi G smoked. Oh, I'm bullet.
Doesn't quite finish it and so the plot will come down.
Magic get that bomb planted find their way in a 3v4 post plant first time at this B site
Let's see how they fare. Okay, it's a difficult round. Tensy very low if he plays in the open
This is a hard position to lock down. It's on moon with the orb and he falls first
I'm HP for tensy three players about to swing and face him a double. He's got to do this all alone
A lot of times kicked off this bomb planted for him over towards the banana
It holds first for that AWP swing, needed the line up and it doesn't come through.
Gentlemates get on a map point first.
It felt like the game was slipping through their fingers for these last few rounds,
but finally, Gentlemates lock in that guarantee of overtime.
A very scary game here.
Magic giving them a hell of a run, but the post-point comes crumbling down too costly in a hit.
Mopos from bottom of the server has recovered with some important kills in this CT side.
And Gentlemates thank him for it.
Alone on that B-Bomb site it is enough.
And Magic maybe feel like they have to go back to the only thing that's worked.
Redemption for Gentlemates.
Third map is Ancient. It puts Gentlemates as the favourites.
For magic, will it just be a case of so close, but not quite?
They can give themselves another chance hearing this round.
I never saw them, so he can't be certain.
Alex is on rotation.
Magic is just going to explode on his B site.
They have nothing to work with.
One smoke.
One flash.
I still have Tenzi lurking over the Ward's Ape.
They're going.
They're just going to walk through.
Just calm down.
My bash.
Weird smoke.
Everything's there.
All the makings of a magic round.
They took deep CT and then ran away.
Alex fab.
Doesn't find a thing.
And so they will get out with a bomb plant.
But 4V now, 3V5 in this post.
They struggled in the post plant last time.
They got picked off by the AWP
as it rotated in through the spawn.
This time going to be a little more considered.
These are not strong crossfires.
No one crossing towards the back of the site.
It's pit and banana. That's what you've got to work with in this post.
Full ruins retake.
One man still floating around over towards CT.
Well, coming to play a little bit later.
Magic scrapping to hold on.
Good for that first spade.
Oh!
Stop a double as he goes overlooked.
And Moon now has the bomb to play with.
Swings on out, the D-Fuse will not be there in time! We're going to O.T.
How are they winning these rounds? The postplot of dreams, the Mach 10 lineup, and as they flood out CT, they get turned to mulch.
Gentlemates in a 5v3 against pistols and SMGs, and Moon saves them.
The Kazakh on home soil, with a clutch to force overtime to give magic that extra chance.
Starting to figure out Inferno after all. Find this weak spot on the B site.
And they have pushed their finger right through.
Second chance. Take a breather.
Gentle mates hanging on.
This is their map.
It's the more experienced team time to show us why.
You know what? They like how this B-site feels.
Here we go.
could open up for Alex my pause just lies in way and we'll get overlooked you know
now where two players are but this is that's the rotate start streaming in for
the gentlemates no issue there a clean sweep on the B defense idea was nice
but we saw how poor that coffins Molly was in reality Alex swings behind it
you can see banana and he doesn't even take a tick of damage so it's a free
kill there for gentlemades molly would have been far better on the site on the
new box or even on the oranges
gentlemades a solid hold and very quick to find that third rotation
What's he has?
Oh, Decius is having laughs off the miss shots.
His fate is seen very, very quickly.
He always is.
He's going to be ahead of them if they do try and peek back in the middle.
He's ahead of everything right now.
Flash play in through the apartment, but you're just not ready for this.
Oh, I needed something from that forward position.
Instead, it's just a good chunk of damage, but he goes down anyway.
That's Vals also crept all the way up through short and we'll be looking for the Martina Zorb out on moto
This is a good spot to park up in
Kills will come your way and Nazlar takes them both
Oh Molly burns him in an awkward position
Forced him to commit to a fight he wasn't looking for
Her cross
It's also crossing out of the pit magic you're gonna waste a lot of time clearing what is essentially a dead angle here
It's misdirection on that reposition, AW looks in towards the site, still paranoid about a pit player, somewhere in play.
That's not the case, Sosul crossed out earlier.
And so they are chasing Ghost right now, they'll learn about Sosul.
Swing throughout on Mo-Oh, AW steals himself away, prepares for the coming double, he's got-
AHHHHH! That's the line-up of a lifetime for AW!
That patience pays off, they thought he was out, goes back into the building and as they
swing to fight him they line up AW, he calls off, that is a heater of a round, keeping
magic neck-and-neck on this T-side. T-S is just trying to get this kill every round of
the CT side, he might just have it here. They smoke him off. Definitely. For the past.
For the best.
I pause the load again, they've never seen him in this position.
It's because they keep blocking.
Gentle mates with a re-smoke, I pause the load one more.
He wants to back out, now's the time.
That's Fade from a carry on Mirage, the struggle to replicate that individually. He's been making a lot of opening moves.
That's Fade's been dealing with them well.
Hey, coming out.
That's Fade throwing everything he's got.
Martínez can try and strike first with this AWP, can swarm with his back turned, and even
here's the player up close, Masfail able to punish.
Good chase.
While this is going on, Espeyter's selling the fake in towards B, and what if it's going
to fake?
The bomb's coming back to join him.
He knows he can't afford to die.
If he dies rounds in jeopardy, Masfail's closing in from the archside.
There's no easy route out of this for Mopos.
He's going to fight every step of the way with AWK and the Rotate Swapboss falls.
This is magic.
Look at a win out on the T side.
A clutch ahead of Sorsall who has been the safe pair of hands for the gentlemates.
Molly won't be too in front of him.
It's a Mastfowl AWP.
Moon trading off with him.
This Mastfowl doesn't have the health.
For Utilby, you don't want to get caught pulling nades here.
He just remains scoped in.
And Moon can make it hard round easy with a well timed swing, but doesn't like to go for it.
Miss shot now from the orb, Sosul, tap on that bomb.
Moon calls his bluff, no peek from CT.
Out of all the times they choose now not to fight you, Sosul dead.
And Magic go on to win out on this T side.
How the hell is he calling the bluff with the pressure on like that?
that is such a hard decision to make to not peak to just leave it to luck. And it is the
perfect call for moon. That is two clutches at high impact rounds as a moon one v two
at 12 11 and a moon one v one where he outbrains gentle mates. Incredible resilience on display
from Magic on a map they don't play and they lead the half on the T side.
Not only are they here, they're now back in control.
Their T side was a lock on this T side.
Dude, this is like an old school just pure action movie, right?
Who cares about dialogue?
Who cares about story line?
No time for that.
Let's blow some stuff up.
It's very much the style that Magic have looked to impose across this game.
Sound of AWP spamming, striking fear.
Because he has been the standout player of this second map.
I'm gonna try and tussle with him, committed alone, ahead of the smoke.
That's nothing new for AWP, this time he falls.
Sound of his rotation.
Magic expecting pace have burned all of their utility ever smoke and a molotov left
Gentle mates are coming their way
Kenzie crazy double now they have made it up on the long side
Martinez trying to reel in this flank get all punished by tens of you just on a tear
Two players make it in but this bomb is dropped in the top of middle
And so gentlemates have a tall task in front of them a 2v3 to go and collect this bomb moon on the line with his orb
He's got his teammates here to back him up even as that shot misses far from the end of the world
You think that smoke's gonna stop magic coming through
No way it's only Davidee
Miss shot from the orb again, but he's not able to punish and with 10 seconds left
They're saying mate you can have the bomb you ain't winning this didn't get it
it. Round done and magic around
away from the playoffs in
Astana. They can't believe it.
Espade is thanking 10 Z for that
round triple kill out of nowhere
on short a player that has been
quiet in this series in this
playoff qualification match and
10 Z has just shut them all
away for a team with an age of 21 across the board on their third LAN as a roster,
they're looking to make tier one playoffs right now.
And gentlemates are crushed.
They had the 5v4 into the weak bomb site.
And now you've got to sit in it tech pause silence
It's not just that you know you've ended up in this position if you're gentlemen it's how it's happened
You know you get steamrolled map one you move into inferno meant to be a comfort map
This is meant to be a tactical map
Rounds are meant to take the full length of the clock you meant to sit behind smokes wait around magic
Don't subscribe to any of that
You've lost in the most chaotic and outlandish fashion possible.
Magic seemingly have limitless potential on individuals
to do crazy things at any given moment.
That triple cover in CS for a very long time.
You go, whatever you've ever seen in a photo game, play like this.
Oh, it's magic of playing with balls.
I'll give you that.
They are very confident right now for a team that looked scared on their T-side earlier.
It's a very different magic. You've given them the chance to wake up.
And now they are just swinging for this win.
Triple B, running down banana.
Crash is good, but no one here to punish AW just mag dumps of smoke.
What comes in?
Dude, don't you dare!
Flash into T-Rap! They're fighting them in sport, man!
AW!
Dispeckable.
There are some fights that you just don't end up taking on Inferno, and that's one of them.
No one's had to be ready for that, ever.
And now for A, they just leave AW, they say you're the Terminator, you're the final boss.
You've got B, but he's got it deep, so this is still a dangerous position.
And if Gentlemates come his way, they shouldn't expect him still here.
He swings in!
Big problem!
B is open.
Do Gentlemates realize that?
Magic are calling the bluff.
That might be a bridge too far.
They have to be aggressive in middle to make this one work.
Rotate coming in, but Gentlemates are scared.
They're uncertain.
They are slowly approaching this B site.
I just don't have a read on around like this.
A.W. just died on his own, but like,
why would he be on his own if he's that deep down banana?
You're telling yourselves that this is part of some greater plans and big conspiracy from Magic.
And in reality, you're playing right into their hands.
And now you actually might because of that slowdown.
Now the fast flanking from the captain.
There's 15 seconds left here for the gentlemates.
They don't have the time. They don't have the room.
S-Fades closing in with the backstop.
Magic! The playoffs are right here.
And they are going to rip them from the gentlemates.
Take it to the stage.
Welcome to this fresh face squad, this new bunch of players
taking to the stage for the very first time.
They do so from 0-2 down, battling back
with their backs against the wall the whole damn time.
What an exciting series to see them through to the playoffs.
The third LAN together as a roster.
They took all the rules of Inferno.
They ripped up that book and tossed it over their shoulder.
Indeed they did.
And some people are connoisseurs of fine wine, some people like a nice 15-year-old aged whiskey.
But sometimes you just want to have some nice with the boys.
You know what I'm saying?
These guys were doing, bro.
They were having an absolute party on Inferno, man.
Just the way that they brought the tempo, the way that they were just doing these crazy,
crazy antics.
You just don't ever see.
It was kind of magical to watch this plucky young underdog all of a sudden, you know,
in their third, they have a team.
some of these players have never played more than like four lands their entire life are now going to be in an arena
Against one of the best teams of all that is incredible. I just feel I just had five shots of vodka
Which is what that came right? It was some of the most unhinged counter strike I've ever seen on inferno
I think Hugo said it best is luck as well
He's like we've casted hundreds maybe thousands of inferno maps and we've never seen anything like this and a hundred percent agree
If you're gentle mates, you're wondering what the hell are they even doing?
I don't even think magic knew what they were doing
But at the end of the day it was super fun a fun game and they got the dub
They were able to get the dub like you said. I mean I have some question marks
I have some concerns about what happens when they go up against more experienced teams
But all of that can wait because they've just made the playoffs. That's what's really important
Two days at a time we can discuss some of the issues
Yeah, the point is they were able to take general mates down on their map pick how they did it doesn't matter
They didn't yeah, let's talk about the stories here for one
You got moon who went from playing only local events in this country
Yeah, it's now getting the represent his country inside one of their biggest stadiums. That's incredible
You got a W who's sitting there looking across the ballot as the whole team pair of vision realized that he's made the playoffs
And they have not yeah pretty cool
Look at the other three players on this team
They have not played any other lands other than the three big played this year
It may be one other small local land at best and now all of a sudden
They're going up against potentially the likes of the Fury, a spirit, a mouse board.
Some of the best falcons, some of the best squads in the world are going to be housed
in the same place that they will be soon in just a couple of days.
That is a really cool story for this team.
And also, Ken, you kind of forget the fact that with Moon on that stage, they're going
to be having, they're going to be on a lot of the, they're going to be fighting
a lot of fans.
Yeah.
A lot of the guys coming, 20,000 people in the arena.
We saw it last year as when it's super packed, super loud.
And when they're like, wait a minute, we got another guy.
We can stand in the arena.
I think it's just a very cool storyline.
Now, I want to get into the campus right again.
Before we do that though,
I do want to talk about getting on that stage,
because if we remember, like you said last year,
Molodoys first time in an arena walking on that stage
and how that crowd got behind him,
now they have Molodoys and they have Moon.
You can expect a very similar reception,
and I think that is such an exciting moment for any player
to be able to play in front of their home crowd like that.
It's going to be very special.
Yeah, for sure, absolutely.
I mean obviously there are, it is very different
as to how, for a few years though,
it was, you know, you have fallen,
you have case around and whatnot.
This team, I really don't expect them to really get a win,
you know, even on a map over there.
But for them, I'm happy for them where
you can get a level of experience
where normally it would take them at least a year
for them to even get to that level, right?
So, listen guys, have a good time.
That's all I'm gonna say.
But more importantly, and I spoke about this
in the pre-show, we have to bring it up.
And I know it's annoying for a lot of people
because they don't understand how VRS works,
but it is something that as a team,
especially a team fighting through online counter-strike
in tier two has to keep in the back of your head.
This is huge.
Just Playoffs alone is gonna set you up so nicely
for after the major.
From the online qualifier to the top eight at least.
That is just really cool.
Again, for a guy like AW,
you think about how he's probably been feeling
this whole time as he got cut for his way
on paravision after playing
at the Starlight of Budapest major
and seeing that team go on and win a trophy
and B in event playoffs time and time again.
Now he gets his opportunity to do the same thing coming
into this team as one of the more experienced players.
Moon just joined the squad a few months ago.
They were playing with a different player back in February
when they played against this team the first time, right?
And they lost.
And then they come in and they obviously
had the game against them in a recent event
where they actually beat them in a couple of over times.
That was back in April.
And then you come into this situation
where now they're going to get to play in the stadium.
That's just a cool story, honestly.
AW was so instrumental here on Inferno though. Some of the stuff he was doing was crazy.
The spring up he was getting at Banana was unbelievable. Look at the heat map. He was dictating the entire time.
Some of the plays he made were fucking crazy.
No, they were insane. They were cancelled.
You're left alone. You saw the round in overtime where he's left alone banana towards Logs.
Firstly, he sprayed his entire magazine. The tea's nowhere he is. It's a deep smoke.
And then even the tea should be ready for him and it throw a flash and he gets a kill.
And after that, like, and now for that, just like peeking on white crazy stuff.
But hey, gentlemen isn't expected and they lost.
And they lost. Now we've spoken a lot about Moon.
The fact that he's going to be walking on to the stage here in his home country,
banks is with him right now.
Thank you very much, Sam. Magic is certainly living by the name for this whole team.
As they went 0-2 to now qualify for the arena here at Astana Moon.
It's your country, it's your home.
How much does that mean to you, especially with how things started for you guys?
That means a lot for me. Right now I'm just feeling, I don't know, it's amazing, crazy.
From 0-2 to 3-2, it's amazing. I'm playing in my country, like in Arena, and I have a lot of support,
and I think we just show our best, that's it. We didn't think that we bring playoffs,
we just play, we wanted to win just one or two games, I think, and we just bring the playoffs.
I don't know what's going on right now.
Well, I think what's going on is some crazy players, like we saw in that map against
General Maid is just there and some impressive individual performances, but can you maybe try and explain to me what changed after the first two games, right?
Because it was both Mongols and Monty, you lost 0-2-2, and we're thinking, okay, this magic is not showing up. So what clicked?
For first two games, I was playing in monitor like 200 HD, because I'm playing first time on this ASUS monitor, and I didn't realize that I'm playing on 200 HD.
And after the two games, my team might say they were playing on 200HG and I said, what the fuck, bro.
And after this, like, third, fourth and fifth game, I'm feeling right now good.
But I'm a little bit sick, but it's okay.
Yeah, okay, so you're learning, right? It's not the same settings at home.
You have to change things up here.
What has this experience just been like for you and the team, though, coming to your first big S tier event
and being able to play against some of these teams?
Anything from, like, going to the hotel, you know, coming to here, just the experience overall?
Yeah, it's for us a lot of experience because it's, of course, first event like TRS and
we are just, when we come here, we just wanted to win a little bit games.
So we didn't think that we bring players and now we are here, we are in Arena and I'm playing in my country.
That's a beautiful thing to see, but I'm very happy for where I can feel the good energy coming from it.
I also want to ask a little bit about some of the calls that Esfaid makes and how you guys play,
because again, gentlemates, it was kind of wild. There was rounds where you had a few seconds left
and you're running from B to A, you're pushing down mid and taking, where are these calls coming from?
Is it based on the information you guys have or like who's deciding all of this?
Well these guys, I don't know, he's crazy. He's sleeping like 30 minutes and he's,
I don't know, he's just, every day he's only training, training and training. I don't know,
he's not sleeping, for real. He might not be human. Maybe yes.
All right, lastly, anything you want to say to all the fans out there,
the Kazakh people that are going to be waiting to see you guys in the arena?
Thank you very much for your time and for your time.
A beautiful storyline here at Astana.
Magic are making it through to the playoffs.
So great to see that obviously Moon one showcasing very obviously the lack of experience
not adjusting the settings on your monitor.
These are things that yes pro players know but when you come here for the first time
Maybe you don't and then also obviously talking about how and I love this
He said as a team they came out with the goal of maybe one or two wins sure playoffs was not on their cards much
Like I sitting here saying well, they don't really they shouldn't really be in playoffs
They were feeling the same way
So this is really exciting and I think scary because one of the things I think any CS fan knows is a team with no
Pressure can be very dangerous in a playoff situation on a stage also playing with those types of antics
I mean, yeah, you can sit there and watch film and prepare for all this team likes to play kind of while
But you still don't know when it's gonna happen where it's gonna happen at exactly what time
It's gonna take place and they have some guys with some good mechanics
We saw a lot of really cool individual plays
You know, I think of the the the Mars ball, you know
A four case right down on on Mirage or the AW sprays that we saw
You know on the B mom side or even when he came out and had that clutch apartment site
They have mechanics and they're able to play a very fearless in your face
You know style that can overwhelms people sometimes and throw a curve ball and things
So I mean they could do some damage actually in the state as long as they don't let the nerves get to them
I don't think it's gonna happen honestly
They can get some rounds next anything maybe a couple of rounds here
But listen the first time you get on always I always remember the the gamut youngsters lineup
I would naffinic thing this in a major for the first time like the first time in Stockholm
PGL first big Evan event ever is like I don't feel the nerves absolutely got crushed by right there
And it's a common thread when people come in saying yeah
I'm not gonna feel the pressure at all
But when it's 20,000 people when it's when it desks literally reverberating from the crowd
There's a whole different ballgame all together. No one's gonna prepare you for that
But that is ain't up like I said great job from them to make it all the way through the playoffs
Just so get it you know have a good time even if it's gonna be fury or a mouse
You're gonna be going up again. Yeah, but all those feelings that you're describing that can maybe make someone nervous
Maybe make them not play their best. That's the feelings that you want to feel man
We will we will see how this plays out very quickly. I don't want explanations
I don't want long soliloquies. Who else is joining them the two teams?
So oh Mongols Mongols. Yeah, and
There we go, you heard it from these two let's find out if they're right Richard will be in this chair to determine that right after this
He said she loves you, but she can't love me, but I love you
I won't play Windu anymore.
What's going on?
Play your role, when it's back.
The human body was built to move, knocked you out of the desk in one singular posture
for 12 hours a day.
It's time your chair evolved.
This is Secret Lab Titan Evil.
Ergonomically engineered for you,
gamers, hybrid workers,
artists,
backing your every move.
Corn here with me from Fisher College, Nila from Huroic.
Gentlemates Martinez with me here.
We're going to be looking at Overpass.
Okay, okay, okay.
I love the react.
I think on barrels, barrels with the barrels, barrels.
I feel like the barrels are missing on the left side.
Really? I can't see.
Okay, think about walls.
I'm not sure the painting is usually there. A monster.
Ah, it's wrong. That graffiti is wrong.
Is it the decal on the back on the wall?
You mean the monster one, right?
The other monster one?
Yes.
Monsters on the entrance to monster, not just in the side.
Okay, that one you nailed.
That box is not there, between the sandbags.
Nope, the box is there.
Okay.
Sure, there is a door there, so that shouldn't be it, I know.
No, the door is there.
Okay.
The door is there.
On the bomb side.
Really?
The decal pillar.
I have to give up I think.
Yeah, alright let's show him the final one.
Oh yeah.
No idea?
No.
Let me show you.
On the pillar.
Really?
Is that an overpass?
That's an overpass bro.
I like to play on pillar.
I know you didn't notice.
Hey, your zoomed in, you don't see?
Yeah.
I know, I know you didn't notice.
Hey, you're zoomed in, you know what I'm saying?
Yeah, I think I do.
Really?
Oh, it's so wet.
I
Greetings TannisRite fans and welcome back to PGL Astana where we're going to be taking
over the rest of Judgement Day.
I'm your host Richard Lewis.
Joining me on the panel, we've got some absolute banger games so we've got some banger analysts.
Why not?
We've got Maui Snake.
You know him from co-streaming usually but we thought we'd bring him in for an actual
test.
That's my most famous contribution of the space now.
Yep.
See how he did.
We're just testing you out.
and of course also testing the waters. Prof, usually a man sits at home updating the numbers,
updating the stats on HLTV, we've given him a microphone for some reason but he's been doing
alright. Yeah, I'm also in a square oftentimes in the podcast but now I'm in a square, it's wide.
I just want to say thank you for going into the the mainframe and editing monies numbers
every single time you need the buffs. Thank you. I mean you've seen me being here,
house to go to stats look I mean exactly plus one monosie has a zero in his name yes
and that's how many tournaments Falcons have one since he joined just the ratings
but the trophies you can't we've got the obligatory Falcons bird is out of the way so why do we
start to the series that we're actually going to be covering which is you can see on the
screen is G2 versus Monty I just want to start by talking about G2 historically for me
I think of them as the Fallen Giants.
For so many years, they were ubiquitous with success.
I always used to see them challenging across a multitude of eSports, not just Counter-Strike.
And I really feel now they're in this strange spot where it's like, they're good, but not good enough.
That's definitely a strong characterization of where this iteration of G2 is.
Obviously, in the last couple months, they went for the player swap with Liquid to bring in Nertz,
and they won one tier two, dare I say tier three LAN in Europe, but other than that,
it hasn't really needed the best results thus far.
I still feel like there's a lot of growing pains with this team.
I feel like even though you got to see Nertz reunite with Saw and Sunpius,
trying to relive the glory of the end stays,
It just hasn't really actually looked as great on paper.
I mean, I think that you would look at the players here,
and even though Nertz was supposed to be the star of this team coming into it,
I just never really, I don't really think I can say that Nertz can be the guy pun intended with his first name, of course.
Because it just, it just not really,
he's not a superstar by any means when it comes to aggressive rifling.
The team in general, I don't think they really have that, that first punch player, like a donk,
even a guy like Stara has been doing first straws.
I don't think anybody's really matching that level.
Yeah, I mean, it's a tricky situation obviously.
I love a lot of things about this team.
The individual players, the style that they're trying to bring,
being a bit aggressive, proactive, CT side, T side,
going in these little packs.
It just always feels like something is happening on the map.
They're a bit more risk-prone.
They like to go for the risk, they're not risk averse,
like a James side, for example.
Since they made the whole move of selling off Niko, Monosy, and then building a new lineup,
that's more balanced, right?
As you kind of characterize, there is no one superstar, if anything, heavy God for his
role is that guy.
But because of the nature of his role, he's also not going to be able to dictate and give
them that consistency game in, game out.
It is about like a team effort and about how the team play works, and in some games
they just feel outmatched.
We don't have the same fire power that the other teams have and in this game will it matter that that's also a big question
I'm because Monty on the other side is like a weaker version and of what G2 is in many ways
Yeah, well, it is an interesting comparison
I think prof because you know on the one hand you've got the fallen giant maybe some names that could be somewhere else or been
You know like kind of percolating under the surface as being potential breakouts and then over here on Monty
You've got the perennial rejects.
These are the guys that ultimately,
they've been in the tier one system,
they've been on big teams,
and then ultimately for whatever reason,
it hasn't worked out,
and they've come together like a voltron of mediocrity.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But ultimately Monty is,
and always has been by the way,
greater than the sum of its parts.
It's what's fun to watch and root for it
when you watch Monty,
that you aren't really looking for one single player here
to be the hard carry. I would even say in my eyes, the carry of the team is their in-game
leader. I have really liked Gizmy. I think that this guy should be on a tier one team
relatively soon in the upcoming season. If anybody is going to go for some kind of IGL
swap because they don't like what their current IGL is going for, why not him? And
I would even say this is actually a prime team where he would fit because I personally
haven't really liked what Hunter has been providing as a caller for G2. I feel
like he's had long enough now it's been about nine months or so maybe even ten
months with him at the helm and yes the London performance and trophy that they
captured there was excellent but I'm not really seeing any sort of reasonable
growth or upward tick in his ability to mid-round. Unfortunately the blast
tournament is the definition of a honeymoon period like you cannot
describe it as anything else because the results have not been closed I don't
even know if they reached a grand final I don't think of any tier one
tournament since then and obviously that's great you know you win a
tournament you're making some playoffs on a regular basis but I've been saying
you know kick-sign since he's been based on Falcons when that whole
discussion is like where could this guy go maybe mouse I was also mentioning G2
I'm not saying right now but after the major is definitely some someone that
they should have on their radar to look at as a potential replacement in that
role just rebuild heroic yeah I mean that's also the thing right please
no yeah I mean they're there also it might be better than what G2 is now
though rich uh... you know i don't think so i i think i think they got a
steel with no sorry i'm not the videos coming in and we're talking but
i think they're gonna still with that i think that is a very good at all the
same pieces from that she got that heroic but a couple of them would be
still a strong core and heavy god there is uh... great to upgrade uh... whatever
her work was before
i just looking at the veto ancient i guess for g2 the picture right there
for sure not a big surprise uh... new command
You thought something interesting here though, Prof.
Okay, they didn't happen, they didn't happen.
Because there was a debate to be had here that you're probably going to get Dust2 as the decider here if you're Monty.
If you let it through, you could go for a more of a punish pick and something like Anubis.
But the thing is that it kind of hurts to say this, Prof, but like teams just don't always target their opponents as much as they could.
No one is doing it. Like the more I'm at these deaths and like looking at the vitals, it never happens.
Maybe at the highest highest tier, where people have a really deep map pool across the board,
but multiplayer 7 maps, and this also pisses me off because I think it's just a waste of time,
is like, okay, you have a 7 map pool and you play Anubis and G2 play it very rarely and bad,
but you're still not picking it. So what's the point of the 7 map pool? And then your
Overpass also sucks a button, so you need to ban it anyway also because G2 is on a worse
I would have said you were crazy, but the veto, there's so many tools you can use to potentially
punish your opponent and we never really see it.
But Monty literally picked the map that G2 picked.
I know.
Exactly.
You're the underdog.
So how are we really seeing this, where's the upside, where's the upside?
It's just such a lame way to end your, I'm not saying they're out necessarily yet,
You can still win, but to potentially lose your tournament life on just going with the most cookie cutter veto
Which plays right into g2 strengths?
I wanted to see them go for it profit to pick an anubis because to me that's how you upset the balance here
Yeah, that otherwise lean so heavily in g2's favor. So let's start setting a pension then obviously g2's pick
We know they love this map
What are the key things we're likely to see from them if they take a month here?
Honestly, I think some pass is good on this map.
For some reason, I feel like on the up,
you can find really decent impact on B,
holding these annoying little angles,
picking off one or two people, going into the bomb site.
I think that's one of the reasons why on the CT side,
they're pretty good on the T side.
Obviously, it's just going to be throwing flashes
for the most part, setting up nerds and Mathis as well.
Mathis likes to go for some little gambling plays
up lane or up towards B on timings quite often.
I also like that G2 has what I've seen lately from their T-sides on Ancient.
They're willing to mix things up a little bit more.
Nerds isn't the kind of guy that you want them to just brawl every single round in middle.
You want them to pick his timings a little bit more, and Saw knows how to play into that.
I feel like the game plans that they've constructed are a little bit more about choosing their timings,
not just in the first 10 seconds, sending him out middle with as many flashbangs as humanly possible.
They'll come in later sometimes. They'll let the CTs take mid, try to retake it as well.
So a lot of different looks at Monty you're gonna have to prepare. Yeah, I just want to mention from from Monty side Rainmaker
Is the is the only guy I think from the team
That's has really kept his level like a higher level that he brought from tier two into into this tier one tournament
The rest of the the key aspects are like Afro and Azul also. He's not even that good, but he's even worse here
So that's that that's a big problem when you're opera and like main rotator isn't is not really on form
Well, a tall order for Monty. Now, there is nothing ancient about the fresh vocal stylings of our commentators, Scronny and Launders.
That's right. The gray hairs are coming in, though, actually. They were just counting them the other day.
Slowly, but surely not. We're aging like a fine wine, and we would have hoped that Monty were able to walk into this one and impress.
But unfortunately, that's just put it aptly. They're not able to tap into the height that they had coming into the event.
Prof put it kind of bluntly. He's not always that good and he's not even that good here
Yeah, so best of luck to Monty as they will take down a or attempt to take down a G2
That is looking to get themselves back into playoffs
You know this is a roster that we have high expectations for one that we look to come together now that you know
Sunpias has rejoined Nurtz first. Yeah, Nurtz has rejoined Sunpias and saw and we just want to get back into the old
timey G2 core so best of luck to Monty. You got to be inspired by what magic just
pulled off. B-Mass has gone through on the smoke and Gizmy has got first blood.
Takes an extra second but G2 start to answer only one kill so far they will
eventually find that B-Mass push through and Mattis there's a little
cover there other than the smokes so luckily CTs give that space over.
Oh! Caught by surprise!
The chance.
Both players caught off.
You'd love for Afro to be a part of this retake,
and the CTs still wait for him to get that kill.
Now start to make that move forward.
It's an early Nertz clutch attempt.
1v3, bomb in the back site, gives me off the defuse.
Nertz draws one in, goes for the second.
Oh, and he can get away.
Afro's on the bomb site, taps it.
Nertz not gonna bite immediately,
sees him at the entrance of the cave,
and just turns his back, draws him towards it,
Make sure that time will decide this one nerds triple kill in the pistol a 1v3 clutch to give g2's t-side a pistol win start
I absolutely love the move out of nerds turning around it looks like he got a little bit frantic
But really he just wanted to make sure he doesn't get hit in the head didn't actually look down was a funny part
But to be honest, I think what is head hitting the ceiling like he couldn't even aim at it
with the lip of that sort of door frame inside a cave.
So, very nicely done out of the nerds, it's a massive clutch,
and it's kind of like a round where it feels like
G2 are actually in control, and if heavy God
doesn't get unlucky on that timing,
he probably gets a free frag,
and that round's not even close.
I think the way to win that round,
which gives me sticks the defuse,
and Afro, who's now on site,
goes wide on obelisk to be the second player
to stop cave.
Yeah, they kind of, they kind of milked it for like, you know, to get that D2's and just a blade with the two players, but...
Shots were good for Nerts. Nice and quick.
They already Nerts inside of Donut, looking to take a bit of a glance towards A site.
We get this A main stack by the vanilla pistols of Monty.
Dual Berettas and Kevlar from Afro, of course, but it's not going to be a part of this engagement.
A site stack with the four USPs has been disassembled body by body.
Heavy God's surviving that as well.
This could bode real well for G2 if they manage to keep all five up.
And it looks like they may.
Of course, we do have this Zeus on Gizmy.
Ah, I found out it's part of his hill.
He slides behind big box, maybe he gets away with said Zeus, but no sir, that's five up.
G2 take the pistol, off the 1v3, convert with five alive, and now we'll get the first gun
round out of Monty, three rounds into the play.
Pretty excited about G2 overall, I think, between Saw and getting Nerds back.
I think that there's a lot of reasons to be kind of high on them.
I think Punter also just kind of, he does just get incrementally better as an
IGL.
In terms of aim and awareness, like they're so Tier 1, I feel like they can hang with everyone.
They of course can still make some mistakes, they don't have the same talent as some of the big, sort of, Tier 1 Superstar pack teams, but...
they are very strong.
Ooh, Gizmy gets blasted by Hunter.
Ooh, maybe an in-game leader, but can still rip heads off shoulders.
Oh, Nerd's gonna have a game, huh?
Taste of that early, Nerd's quickly threw the donut, already looking to just open up the A site wide.
Site-wide as Hunter continues to just pop heads on the players looking to peek in the back of this now Rainwaker's boost up onto green
Hopefully distracted by that a zoo move a sure enough fighting one towards main
But the trades are looking very slick from g2 so far in this game
And that's I think where Monty will get outclassed if all of g2 can kind of play there
Even I would say like B plus game on an individual fragging level. Yeah, I'm with you. I think Monty can't touch that
I think so too. I think they're just like a little bit better in almost every way and
Yeah, Monty haven't lived up to the hype. I just truly have not been that impressed so far, but
Still time to get better especially as we get deeper into the event
But also at the same time the pressure rises. We'll have to see how they deal with that
G2 are used to, I think, being underrated having their back up against the wall and having to grind out matches.
They don't make feel, just like, given favorites in any one match, which, I assume, helps.
Deagle here to stop the ramp. I like the confidence of G2, knowing that they've got Monty wounded in this round with the low-bye.
And so you're gonna see I think a certain bit of swagger in G2 if this game continues to go as swimmingly as it is started
It's a team where
They sense blood in the water. Yeah, they will not let you kind of catch your footing in any way
So we would call like a good momentum team, right?
It's fine it's kind of like what I feel like
Fioria has sort of been missing, like the ability, but just not bringing up the aggression
without their day are.
Even watching Gentlemates lose that last match, you know, to talk about Fioria and just how
much effort it took from Fioria to close that game out, it really showed how much
Which I feel like they've been leaving on the table, but Playoffs is shaping up interestingly
with Magic getting in.
And with 9-Z looking like the best team in Astana?
Seriously, yeah.
Right now I feel like G2 doing a good job of looking great going into Playoffs, I mean
we're four rounds into this decider, as in the 2-2 game.
Yeah, nothing guaranteed so far, but we'll need to see.
You know, Monty are gonna have to show us why we should believe in them.
Because so far, they just haven't had that great of a run.
Just hasn't clicked here, that's the thing.
You know, everything pointed to the right direction.
Coming here to Astana, unfortunately, it's just not online.
Excellent.
On land.
Nertz is gonna be right back to this mid-play.
Oh.
Just perfect to get that offer off.
I mean, couldn't have done a better job of just stopping at that perfect moment to make it awkward for the opposite.
Do who exposed and on top of that gives me I believe is kind of shown his hand by firing through the edge of that smoke
So with the kills that have happened to be sight we're gonna get this commitment from G2 mid players
I'll scramble back to try to support this but G2 go again. They've got an advantage here
Gizmy inside smoke tries to make a play happen in a Hail Mary type situation
But G2 won't skip a beat and you'll be lucky to save this off Afro
This looks like a stylistic nightmare right now for Monty is every smoke that they push G2 are already ahead of it and waiting
They are aiming really well at nerds is doing a
Running peak that looks like a shoulder peak from the off perspective because of how sharp he is at stopping
Right on the angle. He's just very in tune with what's happening. So that's a scary prospect as well
And again G2 they know how to just you know
Capitalized on a day they're feeling good like this to just make it hurt as hard as possible. That's kind of what's happening to Monty
Do we have a term for peaks like that?
Where it looks like it's just gonna be like a wide swing, but then it stops on a just I gotta know I
Don't have something for that. I think because
From again from the off perspective. It's like a totally different story for the off perspective
It's like, wait, how did he shoulder peak where he must have, like,
Julie in this angle up until this point, but he got there so fast?
And for nerds, it's like, you're almost never doing something like this
because you don't know what angle the op is holding.
But he does it so perfectly that that's just not something that works all the time.
It works really well when you're feeling it like this.
An e-brake peak.
An e-brake peak.
Okay, sure.
Yeah, that sounds actually really good.
Sub-Pias is going to keep damage off the Nade as he plays with this M4.
The Afro AWP and Rain Waker A1S, saved from the previous round.
It's all about positioning it correctly and we can see this heavy lean out of Monty at this B site.
Flashbang goes over for the Red Room Peaks and Rain Waker sees nothing over towards middle.
This is what they need, right? Something to come of the two guns they have.
And then we put a question mark around G2's mid-round calling.
Let's see what Hunter can get up to, as he wants to test Cave on his own here.
His teammates just still kind of lingering in the swamp.
They've created a lot of uncertainty, but at the cost of a lot of utility.
Like, they're going to come into this exact with no flashes.
They have smokes to cause problems, but there's still a good chance for Afro to really answer back.
Pistols are the only thing left here though.
Yeah.
That one's actually in this op as an over-nb.
Really worried about a walkout timing if they try to spread the map too much like right now
They have rain waker who's about to donut cross. They could just try to stack instead
I wouldn't be surprised to see G2 just try to slam their way through this. They kind of have to use their smokes
Yeah, so
Eagle the only one of the three in position so
Leaving with the op for afro to go take middle and that m4 never even getting a chance to get into the action
has just led G2 to a potential 6-0 start, but it is low health on 3. We'll keep an eye on this.
Yeah, I don't know. It's just because the AWP doesn't have support to get in. They don't have the
utility. It's there's no mistake that's going to be made here for G2. So it's a great call.
Again, no flashes. So running out both sides of the smoke, just coordinating it properly was,
you know, what was imperative there for G2 and they pulled it off.
And to be fair, Monty, they threw a counter smoke, but they didn't really have anything else either.
They had a pistol on the other side of it.
It's really flying through these rounds now.
It is a lovely game for G2 thus far.
You know, this is, I think, like the best advantage Monty have had in any round so far with that opening 5v4 off the AWP pick and what happens.
G2 just, again, kind of keep things shrouded for a second, go join Hunter, all in something
that it kind of, again, takes a bit of swagger and confidence to just pop through that smoke
like that.
But everybody from G2's side, barring the Gizmi, Deagle kill, wins their duel.
And if G2 have an identity, it is to be able to do that.
They have always been a very explosive team, and it feels that sort of player agnostic,
whether it was back with Monosian Niko, you know, that's how they won Dallas,
just having a super strong entry pack and being fearless on their entries but like look at Nerf
right it's 173 ADR. Jesus. He has a 1v3. There's nothing left on the table it's just pure dominance
That's by G2 right now.
Three multi-kill rounds from Nertz.
Monty has had three successful opening duels and oh look at the change up.
Good play.
Yeah.
They've done a lot of mid takes so no surprise Monty are trying to respond to that but this
is so slow.
You need to have someone to develop a donut.
Ready for this.
Oh.
Big pickup.
Break this open.
By D4 again.
Rain Waker has to bail out of the position he had withheld.
Now the bomb did get dropped actually, so this slows things down.
There's a chance for potential retake, even though he can't necessarily stop this.
Ham's no longer busy on the G2 side, Hunter goes through with 40 health, and he's able to get one!
On top of that, it's a bit further damage, but now this 2v4 post plant's got to hold on.
He's got weakened players coming in from CT spawn.
This is one of those moments where Heavy God could go massive, but he's got 12 bullets in that magazine.
So good thing these players are low.
Nernst is gonna play this headshot position, collects his,
because he has just barely missed these chances,
but it will fall down to heavy god.
Fresh mags in, low health is Zulu,
and the coverage out of D-Mass is good.
You can see HP left over, but that's the clutch.
Four Monsi closing out on site.
And genuinely the difference right here
is because the offshot dropped the bomb planner.
It took about 10 seconds to get that bomb planted.
That thing would have gone off for sure,
if he didn't get that.
So nice smoke break when they're trying to retake.
That's a nightmare situation, you play no players A.
The stylistic call there from Hunter is perfect after all the mid control they've tried.
And it's Afro's own HE which makes it that much sweeter.
That move from Hunter could have been disastrous for Monty.
Hunter goes through with 40 health, so it's a wild spray, I think he's thinking he's time limited.
And Suntpias just gets stuffed on the attempt to push that off through the mid smoke.
He'll be down to 10 HP this round, and I'll be aggressive.
This comes barreling out through the cave.
It will get taken though.
Hunter's just gonna go for the switch with Gizmy.
That's a trade off for map control.
We'll see the bomb being called into the B site.
Nazoo is not ready for this kind of test, but Hunter goes wide.
You give him an inch, he'll take the mile and sprints his way into the deep lane
position.
Sumpias just preoccupied with hanging on to elbow. This round is a wrap.
The amount of times that even just...
Oh!
Sucka!
Yeah, it's visceral at the moment. Like, they're going off of their intuitions.
The amount of time that Gizmi has just walked out, and that was his own smoke that he's walking back through,
should be totally safe. And just no matter what, someone from G2 is on the other side, ready to kill him.
And then the change up in the pace right like Hunter walking through it to catch gives me by surprise
But then a zoo was in that B site just felt like he didn't ever anticipate that happening
Yeah, should he have probably I mean I don't even think you need a calm right there to be ready for it
But the fact is like their G2 so comfortable to skip steps. He kills give gives me at the end of cave
He immediately runs down to taking the B site. It's like not even a question and his team is already
Yeah, entering at the same time. It's so hard
to have good enough communication to keep up with this when a team is this confident.
Even if Afro stops it with an upshot right there, he's got another teammate in the site
ready to swing. There's no way for Afro to escape, so rounds over because of Hunter.
Should be happy about that one. G2 had to kind of take a step back in the middle of this season
because of that injury Hunter had. I believe it was going to Rio with the stand-in.
You know, he tried to put all this work and emphasis and training into a new roster
getting nerds back in. This would really be the chance for Hunter now back at the
helm to kind of springboard with G2 to prove to us that they're gonna be a
competitor. Come Cologne. There's a lot of eyes set on finishing this season with
a good major performance. G2 to head into playoffs at Astana with a victory over
Monty of this caliber of this confidence. That's a new threat emerging I think here in
Cause it stands Matt is yet again is the tip of the fears
I'm gonna tap into the head shots that simply do not stop rolling through this is nuts
I just love how loud the map is at all times like man if you feel it he comes through it just must be so confusing for Monty
Every time it feels like there's no they're trying to establish little a map control
No, there's like a full idea at play to fully end the round
I'm not jealous of what they have to go through
It's like Monty's kind of been in the dojo, training, reading textbooks and theory crafting,
how to get to tier one counter strike, they put in all the hard work, they find a bit of
consistency coming to Astana, which is a big chance for them, and after kind of fighting
your way to the 2-2 game, G2 just slap you upside the head like it's nothing.
This is like a little brother situation, and uh, well, G2-8-1 T-Side.
Yeah, they're getting a little broed a bit.
Welcome to the big leagues.
They come into this match and you go, oh, G2, you're gonna play fast.
All you have to do is shut down that opening frag and then Hunter starts off, or sorry,
Nerf starts off with a game like this.
Nerf's dies, Hunter gets a 3K instantly.
It's everything that G2 are looking forward to
and expecting to be able to do in this game,
sort of their dream match so far
and the exact opposite for Monty.
Not to play favorites,
but I really do hope that this G2
finds a new level in 2026.
I look at this roster top to bottom, and including Coach Saw behind them.
This is a team I find very easy to cheer for.
Dude, I mean, now the same with Nerts, like, again.
Like, your own liquid is, listen.
It's not a good representation of like, who you were before or after the team and,
and like, look at Nerts go.
Liquid is somehow just this void.
Oh, hi, man.
It's like 20 bullets into that spray, snaps it over into Gizmi.
Another man advantage for G2 in the 10th round of this T-side.
And ready to set the execute as the smoke goes towards Longside, Molotov on site.
And that is a Zulu to forfeit his position while Nerds is just going to test the waters
over here towards A. Wins the duel straight up, B-Mass doesn't get a bullet on him.
They go rotate over to him. It's just gonna be a B, exactly. They don't even have to change up. They already have the site.
This is already Monty scared that they can't even save before the rounds even over. No bomb site has been taken. Like, no bomb plant is in.
Someone's gonna tell Sunpaius that he has the bomb.
Nerds are just going to keep it up there.
14 and 4.
So, uh...
What are your thoughts on Dust 2?
Because it's coming.
It's coming faster than you'd expect.
You can play it just like Ancient.
This is the scary part for Monty.
And I think that was why, you know,
Maui's saying kind of had that very valid criticism
of just the way this veto went down
and allowing kind of G2 to have their comfort zone
when Monty already said that claims a play seven maps
or tried their best to do so.
It's like, well, one of the strengths of that
is you're supposed to be able to throw these curve balls out.
And I think G2 is a team that could genuinely be susceptible to a shaky veto, but you gave them what they wanted, and now they're getting what they want from you.
We've seen multiple opening duels go the way of Monty. They have five successful 5v4s so far this half, and only one round to show for them.
Yeah, you did pick the three most, like, aim-heavy maps that are just, that's your whole veto, so...
Like, mentally, you don't even have anything to look forward to.
You don't switch to a more tactical style when you get onto dust, too.
No, you've just got to deal with the same problem that you're failing to deal with right now.
A lot can change map to map, but, uh, I think it's C2, we're excited.
Nernstwaite's just long enough for the CTs to fall back into donut.
It's a solo forward A setup with one donut, one main, but the donut player already starts
to peel away in anticipation of some kind of B commitment here, but it's very quiet at
the B site, right?
We've seen early utile from G2 there, that's not one of the moments this round where
they get that.
And so mid is going to be susceptible, and if BMAS thinks that this passive 5-7
Red Room angle is going to save him from the three potentially four players coming his way. Yeah, they can just use doughnut
I feel like they know there's no op on the board. They have you know, most of the split ready to go
Beautiful beautiful. I think this one's just a little bit too obvious now
But I do feel for Monty at this point like you just don't probably are scared no matter where you're standing
There's a flash coming your way. There's two guys swinging at full speed. Yeah
Excellent sequence comes out
Gives me some for we'll be given a chance to peek but
A chance is maybe not the right word because versus G2 right now
You don't get a chance to shoot back. It's all false confidence
Well, this has just been an outstanding half for nerds
From where I'm standing
This has been a fun game of Counter-Strike very fun. Yeah, I'll make Monty nor their fans will be feeling the same at the moment, but
But hey, some games are just totally hopeless.
This feels like one of them.
I do think it does expose that.
You know, Monti are just, there are too many plays
they rely on being able to like walk their smokes
and stuff like that.
It's just like they're getting totally countered
on that front and that's just a very gimmicky style
in the first place.
You can be extremely tactical, but sometimes you've got to stand in the Sistine Chapel
and smell it yourself, you know, to be able to figure out what you're really supposed
to do.
One defuse round in the middle of all this. 10 to 1.
One more time for Nerds to just try to take over middle.
They've got him blind at least, but he's gonna pop up behind this box as heavy God takes attention on the side of the smoke,
and there's nobody left by the time Nerds does emerge.
So he's now on the hunt.
B-Mass, Deep Donut, will be his next victim.
Or at least challenger.
As Beemass gets away from the duel, the 16 and 5 nerds on the T side of Ancients just wants to keep adding these stats.
Gives me some getting aggressive, coming through the-
NOOOOOO!
Ay-ay-ay-ay!
Coming through the smoke, and now you get the flank, and you still die.
That's beyond brutal.
You're right though, eh? They tried again, just a test to be slow, and he's even doing it all week.
Which, in this one, you had your chance, but if you're gonna find a back turn versus Mattis, you better kill him.
Yeah
Kind of robotic with some of its maps now a little patience goes a long way for G2 of the 5v4
You can see a zoo in an act of desperation
Monty really in an act of desperation trying to retake some portion of the map bomb disengages from cage rain waker gets his opening
And a second with that here's the challenge. It's a triple for rain waker the best individual moment
We've gotten out of a member of Monty
Is it enough because Nurtz is still alive and working the body final piece of Monty and aphros got the up still switches over and will
Finish off that round at least it's a second for the road as the t-side of Monty's got a lot of work to do
Yeah big time. I'll switch over to t-side and that's not gonna be fun. That's not gonna be easy. I
I don't think G2 care for 1 second that they lose a clutch at the end of the half based
on how that went.
That was 10 out of 10.
They don't really have anything to say.
I think they just want to skip the whole halftime break and just start
All while saw uses this time to make sure things go well and well
See what hunters cooked up
Loves calling pistol rounds this guy rain waker sequence triple kill here through middle
There's some nice separated 1v1
So it's a little bit of a delay there from the hunter trade attempts in mid
And that, I think, is what really opens the door for Rain Waker to get the triple.
So be it, double-digit T-side here on Ancient.
Making quick work of the challenger that is Monty in this 2-2 game.
There's a lot of footsteps heard, nerds, gets one, and the trade comes through based on
sheer numbers.
Heavy God's Beretta's at a distance here towards spawn.
It's gonna leave one player up close as Heavy God, he's got him blind, but he doesn't
clear it.
Turn over though.
Oh, it doesn't matter.
Afro's gotta get those, bomb is now back at Kona, they wanna leave, and Heavy
God's gonna chase you down kill by kill Sunpai is tooling towards a main has given one back over so it's a single man advantage
And a scrambling Monty. I'm sure how that happened, but they they had the whole site for a second now
They'll have to just go for a regular beat take but 2v3
G2 getting wind of this scrambled to the other side
They've already got this short tool and a zoo moves steps into it whittled down to 35 health the bomb spotted uh-huh
CT on long side took a glimpse towards top ramp. Didn't see this walk up from Gizmy just yet.
That's gonna confirm both bodies on the site. Miss chances and frags. It's gonna cost them this time.
Monty with afro recovering vision and CT spawn could have killed heavy god who otherwise then goes on
to get that double kill and flush them away from the A site that they truly wanted.
And the first dimension of the game is just aim and they can't even keep up on that front.
So, chances to get kills.
Can argue about their position and what they could have done more.
You gotta hit shots like this.
Man.
That's also gross. Heavy God finding the man as they need to see him in the smoke,
just shoots through because he knows he left.
And it's not like you shoot through a smoke and hit him in the, you know,
the back for 20 damage.
You just blow his brains out.
Monty forced to take a knee here in round 14.
We'll have nothing but glocks across the board.
The Nade shots is like so perfect.
Oh boy.
The G2 expecting a force by here as they come in with the triple Faumus.
I mean, with respect for saving here Monty, at least they're playing for the win.
But also maybe just force because mentally playing against 12, I just think that down
two to eleven saving for the one gun round you might get
not one flashbang five blocks
and you go alright let's spread map control guys
maybe if it was
like vitality would be like okay
they have a plan to win this game but
pick it up on you don't you just want to get this over with
make it so you make it a reset for dust two just
uh... i don't mean to be rude but
let's see if this works out
All right guys, we've waited long enough, now they're scared.
We play our cards right, and Earths can get a kill record this game.
18 and 7.
And then the moment you get here, you get hit by a smoke.
They try to walk it through with blocks.
Bomb is gonna blow down two and a third, Mattis.
Last couple of bullets out of that thing, collects a frag.
So if it's all about the bomb plant, well...
What happened?
It's a bomb. I mean that's the you just get the bomb plant. No, yeah, I
You don't get anything for free in this game at all. It's just about the bomb plant
Can't even have that
So two kills with Glock's Monty
Respectfully try to bring this back with guns will have five clashnikovs in around 15 every grenade
They could hope for in this one as well
The question just is, can they even step up to the pedigree of G2 in the headshot department?
Because the aim has been so crisp, the likes of Gertz, from Hunter, and Heavy God, using the CT side to rack up some late game impact with that pistol multi-kill.
Fall off of middle with those flashbangs popping.
Rain Waker looking for the climb up as bomb starts to work its way towards B.
And remember, bit of liability here with the double-faunus.
MP9.
See, BMAS go for that walk-up.
Donut players might try to come chase this, as now it's just going to be indicative of them positioning outside B.
Have you got it going to drop this smoke in front of them, and then he can press the MP9 into the pack that'll try to take over this ramp?
So the rotation's in place already. G2 seemingly getting a good idea as to what's to come.
Ooh, getting a lot of players up in cave.
Oh my blast it. M4 is going to drop, the ramp execute comes through, Monty at least will be given that space.
This time bomb goes down. Retake queued up, we get this double wrap around towards the base of ramp.
I mean, all Hunter wants to do is just chill for a bit, his team is like all rotating it from the other side.
He's just to punish them for pushing to his space.
Take his sweet time, the cave smoke now fades, which means Heavy God will be responsible for the cave retake.
Madis will serve as the tip of the spear for ramp with nerds right behind him.
That's a lot of firepower. This bomb is about to go dry.
Hunter now starting to activate late, looking to flush out what's left of this.
Bomb's got 12 seconds on it.
And the final piece in Afros revealed themselves.
But if you can't get the diffuser, then this one's wrapped.
G2 with a 13-2 dismantling of Monty.
Dismantled indeed.
And we sort of expected this to be a one-sided affair.
We know G2 very good on this map,
but even in our wildest dreams,
probably not that one-sided the way we imagined it.
I don't know how people put themselves
through watching tier two tournaments
when everything was shaping up for Monty
to have a really sick run at this event.
I've got my hopes up.
I watched Trav and Tech Girl on the desk at that event.
And I was thinking, man, yeah, there's Spinnin'.
This Monty team is great, and then I watched them play tier 1 teams, and they just get BODY, man.
They just get blown out of the server.
It's frustrating because they showed so many good signs leading into this, but G2 were on a completely other level.
I mean, it just doesn't matter what you do at the end of the day, if you walk in.
I mean, Rainmaker, this sequence, really good, but we have seen nothing else from Monty's individuals anywhere near that level.
Actually we saw quite the opposite, we saw Gizmy there having a 180, being 180 on, same happened to Afro right here.
It was just like, what else? Like if you're not getting those kills, like, Counter-Strike is a game of shooting people in the head at the end of the day.
Actually at the start of the day, that's mainly what this game is about, and there, I guess, being like G2 just outlawed.
Yeah, and you can see from the highlight reel here, I mean even the rounds where there was things to work with for Monty,
G2 just were able to outclass them.
I mean across the board, you know, utility usage,
raw rain, you know, just G2 were just the...
The only guy with single digit kills on G2
and Sunpai is getting six.
It's cause anywhere he went on T side,
they're already dead bodies just strewn out.
It's like he's getting onto the battlefield
after to clean up things.
I mean, yeah, I know everybody from G2 was popping off.
Heavy God towards A main was getting some kills.
Nurtain middle, I mean,
they showed so many different looks.
Oh, but one round in the first...
This is what I was talking about when I said G2 got a steal with this guy.
Obviously Liquid wanted to change region and try and do some VRS chicanery.
But Nerts for mobs, I think, just as a raw transfer swapout, I like it.
Absolutely the better player, I would say.
Is it the perfect fit for the roles?
This is something we were talking about earlier in the green room.
It's like, maybe there's still a bit of overlap between these players
And you'd kind of want not nerds to be always the point man because feels like he has more qualities also in the mid round late round
Where he can also be very useful
But how they're using it here and I mean on this map it was just the early round
That's all that was being played early round T side go out kill and the brown
That's it with zero doubt
Does nerds deserve the bulk of credit for their mid control?
But also referring back to some of the game plans that I was prefacing they use him in so many different looks
I think the very first gun round they had him fly out pretty much immediately second one
They delayed it where they let all of the CTs just kind of sit in middle then they flash through the smoke
Even other rounds. He's just kind of like biting his time finding a time to strike a middle
I mean it was a masterclass and that's why he just painted the heat map like I don't think there's any bit where else he could have
Literally got a kill other than every spot. He did on this map today. Yeah, I mean
I don't know. I mean we still have some maps to be played obviously going to Dust2 where we spoke about it before
This is G2's pick usually Monty picked it now
So far didn't really see all of this
What all of the hype about Monty is is for they played a good game against Falcons. No, bro. Trust me. Trust me
That's CCT global finals. I'm still holding on to that like it's all the stuff
I see on Twitter. It's like after a screenshot. Look at him. He's far
I mean, you see what kind of airlift like gives me out of this team.
I am.
I am.
And also said Monty will still be in the playoffs.
She said that on day one.
I put, but I put P2 and Monty in my playoff predictions.
And now they have to face each other.
Okay, we called that a wrong prediction.
We got a lot of bad analysts.
No, I mean, you can still airlift.
You can airlift gives me out of Monty.
I know he's still in school.
Maybe, you know, he can find a career in like, BitTech finance or something like
that.
Who knows?
I don't know, joke.
career I'm not saying just based on this one game and one thing that I maybe
kind of liked maybe didn't like I'm not really sure about it is like that last
last half is like they lose the pistol full eco of glocks like we're gonna play
our real round guys I don't care that I'm gonna 100% lose this game we're gonna
have one round and we're gonna do our fucking default we're gonna execute on
the bomb site they did that still lost yeah I mean look no chance it was
This is ancient and G2, I think, they're going to be the superior team on that map.
The problem is now, what should happen in a regular Vito is we now go to a map that
Monty is really, really good on.
So good that their opponent should be struggling on that map.
And instead, we're going to Dust2 and G2 picked Dust2.
That's definitely the biggest flaw we were saying when the Vito came up with this
series.
I mean going into this Monty had a zero percent pick percentage for new bus
But they had above an 80% win rate and G2 it was one of their worst maps
I think it is their worst map that they play statistically speaking and so to see the battleground go to dust is
Monty's favorite pick they like to go for this
however
When G2 like to play it when they have a lot of great reactions when they are setting up Sunpais on this map even to
to pick players through middle
doors with with grenades that
are stockpiled then how are you
supposed to even try to flex
that map pool which I've seen
which I've appreciated which I
thought they were which I would
hope that they would bring into
the series but unfortunately I
think Monty maybe need another
voice because gives me is the
guy that comes up with all of
their plans. He is really good
too far into his comforts, and that's why I think this is going to be where the series ends.
Yeah, I mean, G2, just the CT side feels like every round they have a different play that they're pulling off,
you know, taking lower tunnels. Nerds is on top mid practically more than anyone anywhere else on this map.
I feel like he's never behind mid doors. He's never behind mid. He's always in front of mid doors going for a fight.
And as I said, sometimes getting picks all over the place. I think it's rough.
and you look at the trio that's taking map control gives me a zoo and Afro going against these guys.
I, I, nothing I saw from them gives me faith that they can win, win out that early round and allow some like tactical game to be played.
Not the fairest fight. That's how I would really characterize that 3v3.
I mean on the plus side we've seen some decent performances from, you know, Afro, right? At this event I, I feel like having an AWPer that's capable of a pop-off
game going on this too. That's good. I would say something. I mean, the extremity players
are actually two that I find myself liking the most also for Monty. We haven't talked
about Rain Waker, Bemis all that much. I find that they can, on CT side more so than
T sides, can really lock down their positions. Afro coming into this tournament look like
one of the best Tier 2 operas out there. Yeah. Shout out to him for making his
first major at the age of 26. I think that's something that not many people get
to do. But I don't want to just celebrate a redemption arc for these guys because a lot
of them are obviously looking to make amends in their career after having their first stint
on tier one teams fall apart. I would like to see them actually take the fight to G2 and
Afro, he's had good ratings in the last three months. This one, not quite the heights that
he normally reaches when he plays the heroics and big clans of the world.
Yeah, true. It's a big step up. But you know G2, they do have their flaws and foibles
in the way that they play out. I don't think they're over the line just yet.
Yeah, I mean there are some situations where you can see them kind of losing track of what's
going on in the map. They do like being proactive but that productivity, I mean this is why I
think Gizmy is picking this map. It's like okay I've watched these guys play so much.
I know what they're going to be doing and I'm going to be setting up my guys
to counter that. I just don't think it's going to pan out like that in the server.
That's kind of where I'm hoping to see some upsides for Monty as in knowing all of these tendencies from the big teams.
To take something into this game about Gizmy's calling is that he is one of the few tier 2 IGLs that isn't just running a play that is basically outlining start to finish.
We're doing A and we're finishing in a way that's B. He actually can pause in the middle of the round.
He can tell people to use their lurking position to try to meet up with something else that the other guys are doing.
He allows Rain Waker off the leash sometimes if he wants to get frisky on his side of the map.
And putting the pieces together with a team that can be a little bit more variable individually is tough.
And that's why I commend him.
But I feel like G2 is just going to be a little bit more ready than a lot of the teams in Tier 2 that are a bit more static.
Alright guys, well, Monty had hopes of making the playoffs when they came here to Wistana.
We're about to see if those hopes turn to dust after this break.
She said she loves you, but she can't love me, but I love you
I won't play window anymore
Welcome to the next one.
The human body was built to move, not directed at test, get one singular posture for 12 hours
a day.
It's time your chair evolved.
This is Secret Lab Titan Evo.
ergonomically engineered for you.
Gamers.
Hybrid workers.
Artists.
Back in your every move.
I
G2 are coming into Astana as one of our elite and top teams.
I got Hunter with me leading this way through all of this.
I just want to ask you, right, because I haven't got to speak to you for a little while.
obviously you had your foot thing you went in one event out one event you came
back to it how are you like how's life how is it all going be in the idea I'm
going through this I mean it's been a bit tough period especially when I fucked
up my leg let's say that way it was really painful at the beginning and I
felt bad skipping this year in bed because I felt we were in a good shape
in a good mood overall to just play more especially with nerds and yeah but
I mean, this is how it is. I'm recovering still. It's not the best, but it's getting better.
I'm able to play it as the most important, and I'm just looking forward to play more.
In Dallas, we didn't do what we wanted to do.
I think we had some better chances to go until the end.
But yeah, I hope this event will be better, and that's what we'll try to do.
Talk to me right now just about where you feel the team is at,
where some of the peaks I see in G2, it looks good.
But in some of the games you almost have in your hands
falls away. What discussion is G2 having around what it could be?
Like what are you noticing in the game that maybe we don't see on the cameras?
Because people will just say, oh, they threw the round.
But what is it from your perspective?
Like that?
You just found it.
I think overall we are playing good.
When people watch us, I think they are happy with the way we are playing
and we are happy most of the time.
You know some small details, one or two kills, one or two rounds overall
especially when you play against top teams.
I mean MRTL if you lose one or two crucial rounds by making a mistake or they are getting lucky because against us people are getting so much luck
I don't know why what's wrong with us, but I hope it will stop soon
But yeah overall it's just if you play against top teams
You need to be focused at every moment every kilometers and that's what we need to to work on because I think individually
And as a team we can play anyone and we can be showed it already
There are some small details that we need to fix and I hope that will be even that will fix and then
and for the major to be for full ready.
Now someone who is not missing at all at the moment,
it's Sumpiast, this is,
he seems to be in better form right now.
What have you guys been doing to enable that?
What has changed?
Nothing really special has changed overall
in like how we deal with the game together as a team
and how we are playing,
it's just about him deciding to do some adjustments
for himself that will make me more comfortable
and that will make team more comfortable.
Of course we talk as a team
to make everybody comfortable in the team and confident and of course if you
want to be top team if you want to be consistent team you need opera who is
consistent and that's what we are getting lately and I'm really happy because of
that because he's he's the guy who really deserves that that that stats I
would say that he has lately because since he joined G2 he had tough time but
he was working really hard he was helping everyone in the team he's
always trying to lift up the mood overall and we are all happy to
have him in a team I just hope that he will continue this way and if he
continue that way, it will be easier for me and for all of us.
When you say it will be easier for you, does it also give you some more options as an idea
how you want to play around the call around knowing that you can rely on him some more?
Definitely, especially because he improved a lot playing clutches overall and it doesn't
matter what is happening that you know that you're all playing clutch.
For example, that's why Monace is one of the best and he can win some unwinnable
situations, not some, but a lot of them.
So yeah, that's Zywoo as well, that's what makes the difference because you
You need to support some rounds and if you stay at the end of the round obviously 1v2 or 2v3 or 2v4
that you are able to clutch those rounds because those rounds are making big difference mentally for us and for opponent.
Do you see yourselves as title contenders, as a team that can challenge for that?
Could this be where we see the good performance from G2, the one that you can be happy and proud of?
I mean we didn't discuss too much about the goal of this event, like where we want to go.
Of course if we get a chance to go until the end we will take the chance definitely
But our goal is just to try to improve now with NERTS, this is like the second tier one event for me and NERTS together in the team, I didn't play Rio.
So yeah, our goal is just to be better every day to try to improve and then to be 100% ready and real G2 for the major.
Real G2 for the major. OK, you've got the plan, you've got the vision, you know what it's going to be.
So let's see if you beat your expectations and go further than what's ever possible when it comes to this Astana.
Hopefully.
Hunter, thank you very much and good luck going into the tournament, my man.
Thank you, James.
Second event between Nerds and Hunter and it's starting to pay off now.
The confidence spilling over throughout Ancient absolutely played their own game and not just
any game, they're A game.
That's the kind of Jitsu that Monty simply cannot keep up with.
They have two rounds back on Ancient, one of which is this man's clutch, Afro posting
the best performance of any of the Monty pieces.
party rolls over to Dust2 and a lot of what we saw on map 1 could roll over onto this map as well
stylistically for that reason I've got concerns for Monty Mohan. They certainly may have made a
mistake by allowing such a frag-heavy map pool and it would have all been fine if they just came
in today and their aim was like A1 and they kept up but they absolutely did not prove that.
They're gonna have I feel like a lot of confidence issues coming into this. A break
can do wonders, but it won't solve everything. And I think as it stands, sometimes games are
one of the veto. You know, less often in games like Counter Strike, more often in games like Dota
where a draft can really be damning, but in Counter Strike where maps definitely do offer you a lot
of different playbook advantages, maybe Gizmy's thinking, oh, I wish I had a tactical way to get
back into this match. I don't know if we're really going to see that. And this might just be a nightmare
matchup for Monty, I feel like G2. Just the fact that they're so fast to catch them every time they
come through a smoke, that's just something that we can't see right now. There's going to be any hope for them.
It's a Monty teeside start, G2 with early looks through the middoors, and Gizmy with
a second smoke grenade to throw out after he chucks this one toward the door's top.
Who'd a door's top?
I don't know what that was, sorry.
CapPik comes out, opening up the smoke grenade to try to get a challenge, and Hunter actually takes damage in response for that.
All he wanted to do was have a little look, see?
A peek out through mid that costs him almost all his health.
Heavy God right now, we could get swarmed on B, but there's still a bit of hesitation in the Monty Squad.
Freed up to go for this stack, dual Beretta's depressed into it.
into it. We've still got a smoke grenade for Hunter.
There's the flash first. Nerds peeks, sees that there's a lot of bodies inbound,
and Hunter has his head rocked.
Tough space for Nerds, but he gets the fadeaways. He dives back into the CT, losing teammates all around him.
This has been an effective way for Monty to put the slow squeeze onto the A site.
By God, a pistol here would probably try to kickstart a little bit of confidence.
They were never in that game back on Ancient.
They'll be given a bit of free real estate here at the start of Dust2 off of the back
of this pistol victory.
It's a great start and you know Rainwaker had the main highlight for Monty back on
Ancient.
Nice to see him get this pistol 2k to kick off the map.
And it looks like the break did do a little bit for him.
and confidence is there. The conviction in their attack was there.
It's going to be the smallest sigh of relief out of the Monty Squad, just knowing that
This map will surely have a little bit more to show us.
I think the side comes after this next round, though.
I think no G2 are going to buy no matter what.
Just got to get through this.
Just get through this, because if they lose this round,
it will feel like they lost the pistol as well.
And then we're right back on ancient mentally.
Yeah, and then it's just, OK, they just
think they're way better than us,
and we're never going to be able to take that from them.
So let's see if they can survive this anti-force up.
Scout scours the field, no contact, and gives me his Mach 10, just running around haphazardly
up into the tunnels just to make sure nobody's snuck by.
That you didn't miss any sort of a crazy timing.
In a round where you know they're gonna come in with a force, it would make sense.
For G2, I've tried to slip the net.
Utility set up for a Zulu, he'll peek and see nothing up that catwalk.
They're still banking on clipping wings in this climb up towards middle.
And there's damage on Gizmi to kick this off.
Further damage on Afro.
That's good output for Sunpius.
You weaken up the two who is responsible for the cleanup.
Man, they're gonna mid-B.
They're gonna be ready for this after seeing the scout.
They think they can just run out.
Two players tagged, nerds on high alert.
Here it comes.
And the swing out of the MP9.
Oh, that gun is so strong.
Heavy God had full HP to deal with on a Zewoo.
So swimmingly bomb drawn back towards tunnels as hunters gonna press off catwalk confirming that there's four players
Trying to join up for this tunnels B site commitment. He's got a chance to throw utility out or even smoke off
Some portion of the site they go through before the flash pies and that is where rain waker is gonna best you
You wait an extra second to maybe you get more a little more bloodlaker
That's what you need a good sequence out of somebody on Monty
We had a few individual moments back on ancient Rainwaker was one of the driving forces in the 12th round of the first half with that
3k out mid his second 3k of this series
And it's yet again for one of the few rounds Monty wins another liquid alumni popping off on a new roster. Shout out to Rainwaker
Definitely the weirdest iteration of liquid when it happened
But he was he was so inexperienced at the time not surprised to see some of that potential finally start to show
Was he on the same liquid as Patsy?
Yeah.
That was a weird version of liquid.
Yeah, that's when we realized Maui was a fraud when he tried to give us Patsy.
I'll give him credit.
He's been right about many things.
But if you ever want to make Maui Snake squirm, that's the one to bring up.
But what about Patsy?
Where is Patsy?
Where is Axyle, Maui?
And his fists clench like...
Arthur.
I said he COULD be a top three entry!
I know, yeah, Rain Waker is aiming for the head now, more.
Is he?
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
I swear he is!
It's got 35 bullets. It can be a bit of a trap.
See ya.
Did he just have... I just had a USP.
Nothing to give away.
What's inside a smoker, Nade?
Smoke.
You know, but like what?
What do you... Charcoal?
Charcoal. You have a barbecue.
Smoker Nade typically contains 250 to 350 grams of a pyrotechnic composition consisting
of an oxidizer, like potassium chloride,
fuel, such as lactose or sugar, and a specialized
colored dye. You're telling me there's milk in a Smoker Nade? That's what I'm saying.
sk-
w-w-w-w-w-w
Just fermented horse milk
This mixture creates dense smoke, which is released through E-mission holes
Oh
Now we're all a little wiser
That's a big tag
Oh yeah, from both. Okay, nerds goes down low, but Sampias gets the first kill
Look how fast they are, just trying to snowball out long on that eh?
Not much more to work with for Monty, and you've already foregone mid control.
You can see G2 smoking on tunnels at the same time.
Sunpias freed up to go for that second duel.
Smoke out the fire!
Oh no!
A Zool who also had the bomb launders.
That is the bomb stuck behind the taxi out the long doors.
They still just want to deal with Sunpias, damn it!
Oh, he just loves to smoke, doesn't he?
He's sitting in there, sucking up all that lactose.
Well, this is funny.
Luckily, in 4G2, Hunter's able to get that trade back.
Bombs still sitting outside of long doors means B-Mass is really not going to be able to get anything going.
He's favoring the push towards the CTs straight up, and they just got to peel back further away from him.
It's going to be a long save, but I understand why G2 are cautious considering half their team's nearly dead already.
They let Heavy God take contact, he's going to pop up when the mid-player spots this.
Unnerving moment for BMass as...
Now he's probably thinking there's a flank ready to kill him.
You might feel like he actually has to go forward into a fight.
Now they all activate, he goes down.
Op will get recovered for Sun Pius, who did a fantastic job just playing by himself, pushing out Agro, and taking two players from Monty.
And I'm just not a big fan of it, because me, the amount of times he's just in a smoke somewhere.
Too much of the game plan, I think revolves around that.
Oh, head on fire.
Yeah, see ya.
Okay, it's only burning quite a bit.
They're very worried there was more behind that, but it's not the case.
Still this majority tunnel set up for Monty.
Trying to pop it open at the right moment.
The Sewer's got now middle unnoticed, but we do have CTs on the other side of the CT smoke.
Window peek, just perfectly timed out a heavy god, doesn't waste a moment with the headshot to a zoo-woo, and Afro playing catch-up out mid now has to deal with this fading smoke.
Maybe it opts up. Oh, well, Ashzer. So good.
I mean, you could just see the system for G2 thriving in a game like this one.
like this one. Super tactical. It's a lot of really well-supported peaks, so it all
moves quickly, but it's also not just dry.
Let's continue to the 5 death round here.
Then V-Mass has to worry about time. There's an issue.
Majority of lives still for G2 to make some cash, some pious is upheld onto.
It's just such a good system in place, you know, I do we give saw credit for that putting like all the protocols in place
Oh, I hope so. Yeah, if I found out saw was a fraud. I wouldn't have any more opinions about any coaches ever again
He's our beacon of hope. I think so. Yeah, I
Feel good about these couple guys I feel good about you know feel good about blade feel good about saw but
It's always so hard to say
It's already hard to say for sure how good an IGL is we don't like it's all about the comms and we just don't have any of that with the
With the coaches we just get like the you know the Yelp reviews from former teammates and stuff like that
Nurtz versus rain waker down in lower tunnels
This is gonna be gut wrenching for Monty and around they have little hopes in already losing tunnels
Just gonna allow the MP7 to get freed up to deal with mid, and those players towards top barrels have died instantly.
Hunter gonna make a quick work of this one. Game tied, six rounds in.
It's a massive amount of momentum just built off these last three rounds.
They killed five players, two rounds in a row, both full buys into a clean anti-eco, not losing anybody.
Yeah, I mean, winning the pistol and then converting for the 3-0 start.
Like, I didn't mean to say it tongue-in-cheek, but when they won that pistol,
said like oh well at least you get a little runway well I was hoping little
meant more than just three rounds yeah but with the way G2 have these protocols
in place and like actions oh my goodness did he shot his shot of the ball off
yeah oh that one was right in the chest up G2 are in no way whatsoever
concerned about Monty's individual levels they shout out to Sunpias for
these two case Sunpapi and now they're just walking in dying everywhere
Don't fall for this one.
Can you still see through that?
They need to get...
Oh man, I want to say they need to get kills.
I don't know how you're going to do that.
for free in a 2v5, but...
They need to get kills and save, or this is just gonna get so out of hand.
Ha ha ha!
Perfect play from Mattis to counter that flash.
And that's just another sacrifice to G2.
This rain waker now frantically roams around looking for either an opportunity to get a kill easily, or oh my goodness.
Maybe try to save that won't happen another five alive round. It's literally the best possible come back from a 30 start
You could have
And like they're so the small things but also, you know
Zulu having that car angle of the previous long take and failing to
Get the kill. I was like that's like so guaranteed and he's zero in five
You're not you're just not winning today with that kind of whiff
You know, I said at the start of the series that even a G2 that played to like their B-plus game would kind of be untouchable for the likes of Monty and everybody's able to tap into it.
This is the best version of G2 we've seen at the event, I believe.
Yeah, and you know, it's been fun for Monty in that sense.
You look at the teams that they lose on their journey here to this 2-2 game, it's a loss to Maus and a loss to the Mongols that G2 have had to stomach.
squeeze out a victory versus paravision and obviously started off with a
onage of Fisher College so G2 have ramped up accordingly as this event has
gone on and to stomp out Monty in such a blowout fashion is gonna give them a
little bit of confidence and I think and just some much needed motion the
fact that they haven't had this nerds and hunter combo and all the events
of 2026 but they're starting to kind of gel as time has gone on and everybody steps
up like this under a 16k what's it gonna buy you'd buy a car daddy wants diamonds they
all they all have over 10,000 when's the last time you've seen that after buying
G2 haven't had this much money since before they bought monosy.
Since they sold monosy.
Look at all that cash.
No free handouts.
So I hate to break it to you, Monty.
Doesn't feel like this one's gonna get any easier.
They're just like, thank goodness we got that pistol.
This is brutal.
And yet I can't look away.
Dodgy 2 putting on a show, they're good winners like they're really fun to watch.
Zulu with a cautious enough approach to keep himself alive, still on the hunt for his first kill.
In this second map.
Quick look through the mid doors, we go for the CT smoke and the lurk smoke at the end
of the tunnels at the same time, so Monty trying to threaten this mid to B, trying to
take a look towards Catwalk in some pious position to deal with Gizmy dead first again.
Poor guy.
Things continue to go from bad to worse and with Catwalk feeling shut down off
that op kill, now you go for your mid walkout, but you've already thrown out your smoke.
So it's going to have to be B-mass to try to put down another smoke on CT spawn.
The last smoke they have to work with, the fact that B-site gets open does bode well
for Monty, but there's still just a bit too much of a hesitation, and when they
try to go back around through tunnels because of that entry from Rainwaker, well, you've
got Nurtz now already in position to deal with this.
So once again, the protocols for any man lost on the G2 squad just goes to perfection.
plugs the hole inside that piece site no more water taken on board and it is
instead Monty drowning in G2's six round CT side. Excellent I guess here is like
another super solid round with all the trade-fragging great positions and
awareness. Yeah again infinite money glitch here for G2. The best comeback
mechanic modding that as they can, they can't make more than 16k.
playoffs is gonna be hot yeah some big games yeah this weekend it's really what
I'm looking to sell you know G2 kind of hitting this groove right before it
starts then a couple curveballs like magic already in the playoffs and that's
It's not magic, it's not magic, magic, the team.
Hunter with a nade out, Tech 9 hits the ground, and Monty's just gonna try to swell forward off the catwalk into the site itself.
But again, the tethering's so nice between each and every individual, B-Mass has sprinkled in a team kill,
because that's what Monty need right now.
Oh, it's a good wallbang.
And he is gone, back behind those smokes.
with the bomb at least but versus four and what has felt like an impenetrable CT
side. That really only makes him a more attractive target. It's been decent of
getting these exit frags but that's just about it. They're going in for the hunt.
The boost to get the kill. Totem pole up at mid and another solid hold versus a
slightly new idea. The full on cap play and the flashes actually looked
pretty good in terms of to help them scale but
not the equipment necessary to really bring that home
i mean
i'd be at a loss for words about the coach i just be figuring out how to make
it feel better about this since as opposed to here's how we win because i
don't even know what their
what their win cons are right now
have three rounds and this already is like a stronger man
an ancient for G2 somehow I think yet another just testament and reminder to
what Maui snake said about the veto you let G2 have their comfort zone yeah and
G2 are playing as if they are as comfortable as they need to be this is
this is fun yeah like that get a nice rewarded that's for your effort this is
the kind of moment in the game where you've got to pull out stops like that
We'll see what kind of answer G2 can offer back because in response to a man lost G2 have played excellently. Yeah
How could they have forgotten
But surely they knew he was there unless they thought that originally they spotted hunter and then hunter gets those kills from the ramp
So they thought it was the same guy. I don't know
My goodness, I don't know
I got such a great tactic to get that first kill and in the positions they're in, there
is a chance.
Check still there.
Perfect.
Another four versus five and not just a 4v5 that they squeeze out in a clutch.
No, it's a four versus five that turns into this 3v1 for G2.
They recover so nicely throughout this series.
This is the last time they got 3 kills in a round.
I can go take a look.
I'm gonna say they have it, actually.
One kill. This is their first 3 round.
Two kills round 10.
Two kills round 9.
No kills round 8.
No kills round 7.
No kills round 6.
Two kills round 5.
One kill round 4.
4 kills in round 3.
They won the first 3 rounds, that's it.
Yes, 8 rounds streak that G2 have gotten. They've never lost more than 2 players.
Nor has there been a bomb plant.
This is one of those matchups that you remember, and for Monty it's a rude awakening.
There are levels to counter strike.
Another opening kill this time gives me, tip of the spear towards long, and Hunter ready
for the wide swing looks like they want to set this one up quickly
this is a great spot oh no just slightly nice timing great shot here for
rain waker that's two best position so far
this will be the first time since round three they get more than two kills
falling back out of this there's the you know small fear that eventually
Oh, that AWP gets spotted, but when they see that there's no action, they AWP walking down mid.
They might be thinking about how do we rotate over? Great kill, and that's an open site.
Progress!
Here we go.
Battle of the AWPers?
Yeah, it's okay.
Afro with a second. It's been a long time coming, but it's one round for the road.
A four round T side for Monty secured.
It's always round 12, isn't it?
G2 just kind of let off the pedal
Actually, no, that's good kills. That's gonna say that's too
This is indeed
Monty working very hard to pull off a fourth round
It's pistols three zero conversion and the twelfth round of the half that is all Monty will have to work with switching over facing
Elimination here in Astana
It was high hopes when they rolled out of bed the thought of making a top eight S tier event had motivated them to take
a big swing at G2, but G2 with a dose of reality, that's a tough pill to swallow.
Four rounds and Azu has no kills.
Ouch.
Yeah.
Well, luckily.
But also pretty good for not having any there.
Luckily for him, this one's not done yet.
You know, what's wildest, this is currently the, you know, what you're witnessing today.
If you guys have been tuned in watching this matchup hoping for Monty or just wanting to
see what G2's form would look like on the journey to playoffs, this is just a reminder
again.
If you think these two teams are of completely different caliber, this is world ranking 12
in G2 versus world ranking 19 in Monty.
That's the gap from top 20 to top 10, essentially.
On a good day, again, G2 maybe if they have, because we've seen some inconsistencies.
Oh, right.
But those 10 teams' difference make G2 look like they're from a different planet.
And then there's Vitality, world number one, that are really just arbiters of the entire
universe.
Besides, Bat Boom.
Oh, right.
current reigning champion of the world. Until further notice. Until vitality start
practicing again. That's true. Heavy God hangs on to the long flank. These flashbangs could
go down if Heavy God's not careful, but now B-Mass just wants to survive as he gets whittled
down to 55 health. But these flashes are intended to deal with Rain Waker's deep mid-angle.
Here they come to set up the three-layer mid-push.
Smoke to CT side.
It's a fresh tool for Gizmi.
Oh, he's got to get him, but it's tough.
USP, the back of the head, great.
So good.
Gwynce all the way through.
So it's a good thing Heavy God didn't die towards long
or else they don't get that decisive utility that clearly
just takes the B site by storm.
5B3 for G2 and the second pistol.
We know what the first pistol meant.
Oh, heavy God.
It was 75% of their rounds one off that first pistol
conversion you will not be given that privilege here in the second half.
They were so tricky about how they got up and close to that door through that
flash perfectly to have Rainwager eat it, chase his ass all the way down back to
the B site and as they jumped across I mean it's not easy if you're
gives me trying to shoot two guys who aren't looking at you but it just
needed to happen because you were not going to slow down G2 scaling towards
B otherwise.
Yeah, felt that.
Call them what you want, be self aware.
Yeah.
That's just maybe where it goes back to the video, but...
You do have to believe in your own players and your own gameplay.
And on a better day, I'm sure they could keep up more.
I don't know, worst day for G2, maybe this game would be a bit closer, but like...
But you know, there's I think a duality to that because you just said it you've got to still believe in your players and the game plan
But this is a team that you regularly tries to play seven maps
So if you truly believed in it wouldn't this be one of those games to try to shake things up for ya
Just to play devils at me in a seven map pool if you're not in in like tier one
It's kind of a meme. I feel like I
agree
You try to bring it to the table
I think Matt is clearing out long. Not today. Not this round. G2 on the fast track to playoffs.
Haven't broken a sweat as this series has gone on.
It's like it wouldn't be a meme if they just looked unbelievable on every map that they play.
Yeah.
And then there was like one you don't see very often and they can bring that out.
But if that's not the case, then if you can, because we all have a certain...
It's really hard to... It is so hard, even not just for Gizmy to come up with the plans,
but for everybody to remember every Nade, every strat, every idea,
and then get enough practice to keep it all afloat.
So if it does mean that you could be better on six,
like you would take that every day of the week.
You can mostly see those six maps anyways.
Yeah, considering you've played Overpass, would you have a 0% win rate on it?
Yeah.
Maybe just make that your ban.
Yeah.
Just could be the greatest bluff, I guess.
To be fair, it was their first veto in this series.
You don't want to take us there.
Monty, have been all about trying to make those few rifle rounds stick.
That's kind of what we saw in their approach back in the second half of ancient.
Is that one felt just as done as this does?
So once again, USPs...
Once again, saving up the funds for a rainy day.
Oh, it's his first kill.
Oh no, he just turned the flag.
Okay.
He's not gonna go zero. Kills the whole game, is he?
It's very unlikely.
But
There will not be any freebies in G2 right now
You don't even if you're flanking them if you don't incident kill them they're gonna turn around
smoke you
Five alive for G2 as they are on the highway to victory lane in this 11-4 dust to score line
Again, if it wasn't for the first pistol of 3-0 start, we could be looking at a 13-1 already
But just to let them stew in it a little longer, soak up the experience.
G2, they're giving Monty a privilege.
You're in Astana for the extra 10 minutes.
I jest.
Difficult place to be.
Sunpius finds the Rainwaker mid-cross in the first gun round and maybe the only gun
round.
Monty gets a play.
Waker gets sat on his ass in middle and Mattis just absolutely taking over the space that comes with a mid pick
You know that the numbers are weaker. Well, there's one cutoff here for a zoo. Great position now for him a little scary
But it'll work out. Oh my goodness. The zoo was still without a frag
That's unreal at least Monty have won that one duel towards middle right that sets things up
We see utility from g2 in the tunnels just in case there's another player there nerds is thinking about going wide
It's thinking about it.
It's a player out here watching him.
Aphro's low health.
He doesn't bounce immediately.
Oh, he got him.
He got him.
He got him.
Oh.
15 and 3, Nertz is getting the graphic today.
After an unbelievable ancient.
Somehow matched his previous performance.
Nertz's rating is going to be insane this series.
He was 2.36 with 132 ADR back on ancient.
Okay.
Damn.
I think that's why a lot of people were excited when this roster got announced that the player swap between malbs and nerfs was going to occur.
Because it is just this rejoining of forces between nerfs and sumpias from the good old end stays.
On top of that saw, obviously, captain of that project or coach of that project too.
And I think a lot of people were upset that, you know, that ENCE Core kind of got sold out
to Falcons at the time, because ENCE was a team that everybody kind of, you know, there
were like that plucky underdog that worked their way to the very top, it was easy to
cheer for a guy like Snappy with as much wealth of experience and Counter-Strike, a
legend of the game leading that roster.
And then it was kind of robbed from us by Falcons as they tried to buy out a
winning core.
And now we start to see those pieces put back together.
Nature is healing.
Zulu has 1780R.
Why do I have to keep talking about it?
There's just something about...
Because you're sick.
Yeah.
You're a sick twisted freak, aren't you?
I'm also talking about Nurtz being unbelievable.
Yes, so I guess it's you know, it's the
It's the it's the heal of clay that makes the gold of the image precious as I like to say duality of man
Some days your nerds and some days your a zoo
It's not even a zoo who is always this a zoo who know
That's something prof mentioned right before this game went live that you know, he's been
Not careful with this.
He said he's normally not good and now he's even worse, is what he said.
But I'd rather be not good than worse.
Okay, this round he's getting a kill, now I'm just cheering for it.
One for the road.
He's on the other side of the map, then this five-man commitment from G2.
No resistance on the catwalk.
G2 gonna storm their way around the side to athrow into one and done.
Gizmi's got a lot to do here and he's taking damage through the smoke.
Damn near lines it up.
Is it enough for BMAS to clean house on the two players' tag?
Hi, Gizmi.
B players rotate over and nobody...
Nobody able to clean that up.
The utility, trying to soften them further or just get it done to the Zulu,
looking for his first kill of map 2 will finish with none.
G2 Esports just do not waste a moment
and powering up for playoffs in a whole new level that should send a shiver down the spine
of the other playoff teams. This is a challenger.
It is, I will say guys. I've had sandwiches that lasted longer than that series.
Good, just a really one-sided affair. No doubt when we're breaking it down we'll go back to the
veto. But for now, let's just talk about the good rather than the bads. G2 are back.
Yeah, I mean that looked so good like every moment from the G2 guys, heavy guard on B,
just like mowing down people through smokes, flash, doesn't matter what situation is going
on, the nerds was getting his, Mathis was vibing, I don't think they even did that many pushes,
I think they felt very comfortable, you know, getting some picks on the default and then
just sitting back and killing people as they went into the bomb site and looked fantastic,
amazing, fast.
Yeah, the only way I feel like G2 was going to make this one hard on themselves is if they overthink it,
but given that they do have quality players, quality protocols, I mean, anytime also, Montier trying to breach a bomb site,
there's a guy with a flashbang that's going to help out the site defender on top of that.
All of those kinds of moments just played out exactly as they wanted to.
Obviously, he gave a shout out to Heavy God there.
I feel like we saw a great series from Nertz overall.
Mattis came, I'd say he had a couple good moments too for himself in this one.
So yeah, I mean I can't really poke any holes in it and neither can Monty
Sometimes finish with ten kills but six opening kills out of that impact impact. That's what you want from your offer
What to say completely?
dismantled
Outlast Monty in this series like I couldn't have even imagined in my wildest dream that this would be so one side
I thought I thought it really was gonna be a lot more competitive and I feel like I'm I'm the fraud at the end of this
Yeah, I mean that goes without saying.
It's okay.
But no, I mean, let's start picking apart some of the problems that Monty had.
I mean, first of all, I don't ever enjoy doing this, particularly with young and developing players and all that stuff,
but you know, the Izoo is a problem that you have.
I mean, that was the second time on Dust2.
Yeah, second time on this side.
Second time that he finished a T side on Dust2 with Zero kills in this tournament
who is also against Hawkins, fortunately he finished the whole map this time with Zero kills.
So he won Bumbumbuna in a way?
He went up himself.
Yeah, I mean it's not looking good for him obviously.
I mean we had it before he does play a lot of important positions and positions where the rating is expected to be higher.
Like these are some positions that even if an IGL is playing them,
He'll be like, yeah, he's an ideal, but he's playing, you know, in the pack, he's playing rotation spots and
That's why he has a higher rating and that he's not the ideal
There's not really any excuse for what what this what he's delivering and if Monty wants to be competitive
I I don't see how this can move going forward people call them the uk peeping on the forums
Yeah, I feel like I'm just like
Whenever I come to a pg l event there has to be one player like this one peeping per event
Yeah, IPPE.
Letting his team down.
I'll say, obviously, you know, just stay off socials for a couple of days.
Don't watch this.
Don't watch this.
Don't listen to the panel for a couple of days either.
I mean, look, it's not just all about him.
At the end of the day, they just ran into a much better team.
This guy has had a monster series.
He's wasting no time in settling into G2.
And that's what I mean.
I think when G2 they might need to make one more roster move to get the roles all sorted out fair enough
But I think once they do and I'm not saying they do need to do that
I'm saying once they get the role the roles are sorted out. I think you two are gonna be a very good team
To me
They just need a guy that's more of the forward entry player than nerds because nerds is even though he had a great day at
The office today. That's something that I would say in the long run
He's just not that balls to the wall entry always gonna run in regardless the utility
I thought Mattis was going to do a little bit more of that, but they've kind of relegated him to the sides of the maps too frequently for me.
It to me seems like the rawest aimer in terms of just like we could send this guy out on a mission.
They even did that before in the earlier iteration of this team.
So I'm I am a little bit curious about that.
Maybe that's a conversation for another time because I think at this point to themselves, they're saying
we just got this new five-man lineup. Let's see how it plays out and then we'll make some corrections.
Well, you don't need to make any corrections to this man's game, Nurtz is with Banks right now.
That is very true, Richard. I wouldn't be changing anything with his game or his confidence right now, at least what we saw in this game.
Nurtz, this was almost like a skill difference, a complete domination from you guys in it.
Did it feel like maybe it was your A game or it was just a very comfortable and easy game?
I think we, with our shots, we had confidence because it was a good start for us.
And yeah, I feel like they are playing really good when we prep against them, we saw that they have everything.
Looking at just your route here though, right? You've had some near misses, you've had some good games,
I would even say like the mouse game was quite a positive one, but yesterday it almost all came crashing down
despite you having a lead on the last map against Paris.
Can you explain to me why you think these G2 games can go this way?
Like the throwing rounds, the losing advantage situations, letting maps slip away,
because it seems like the beginning part of the game plan is so good.
I think it's also lack of practice because we are playing a lot of tournaments
and nowadays we don't have much to practice.
We can only talk about it off the server and sometimes it's really hard to implement it.
In the official, this is the first thing.
Second, in my opinion at least, we are still in some map trying to figure it out
what we can do better, how we can change and we are kind of forcing it.
I would say and this is something that maybe this is the reason behind it and
In like when we will have time to practice we will have bootcamp
Before the major I feel like we will see less this kind of situation
So right now what you explained to me, right?
You're just trying to kind of fix it but can't really put it into practice can't make it work
And then trying to see what you can do at the back of it
But overall looking at the fact you've now had a couple of playoffs with this G2
You're starting to make at least better performances even though some games can slip away
Are you happy with the progress you're seeing even with this schedule even with what you're telling me about?
Of course, of course for for me like making playoffs again, right now we start off too with Hunter
I'm super happy about it. I just for me now the goal is to show how
How can we be in the playoffs and this is something that will again right now?
I'm happy, but it's not a I'm not satisfied yet
And let's talk about that hunger because you had a time on liquid where it was it was bad man
There was nothing pretty about that, but now you're actually on a team where you feel like you can contend for trophies
You can have these deep runs and playoffs
We also have a g2 like for me, I really believe in every player
I feel like they all give a place to to saw the coach is
Understanding of the game is pretty high. We have a really a good prep every time and for me
This is something that it's help us a lot in the official and
this is something that I
I know that every team are doing, but in my opinion, at least we are doing it in very high selling.
And with that, what you're saying about So, is that how we can see the better version of you?
Because if I look at your best days, it was under him before. Is that how we get there again?
100%. Because he knows me, he knows how I'm playing, what I'm getting annoyed of,
and there's some things that he understands, like each player of us, and this is something he also bought.
Of course, he's good at the game, but this is something that for if you want to be a coach in CS,
you will also understand your players, not only about in-game. So this is something that
it's helped me a lot.
And do you think that that understanding now for the whole of G2, do you feel like you
guys are making good development steps there in this version?
I don't understand, even though like we didn't have time to practice, I would say we are
honestly trying to change the, it's not the whole playbook, but we are trying
to adjust a lot of the things even though sometimes it's hard, but this is something
that we are 100% doing.
you let me in with a little secret what is the biggest thing you would say is
missing right now for you guys to actually have that success and do what
G2 wants get some trophies I think it's the it's about us honestly like it's not
a in my opinion we can beat anything but a lot of the times when we are
struggling this is like we we are the problem not the other team I like that
that's a good way of ending it but you made it through to the arena big
Congratulations to you. I know the job's not done just yet.
Anything you want to say to all the fans out there?
Thank you for watching guys. I appreciate it and I hope we will do the best in playoff.
Let's see if they do. Richard, back to you.
Yeah, he's playing it down, cards close to his chest, but he had that little grin at the end.
You know, he knows that he's absolutely balled out of control in that series.
Good for him as well as I said. I mean, I wrote an article about it when the move happened
And I just said I can't think of a time I've ever seen a more blatantly
You know like we take the worst player we give you the good player like it's one of the most mismatched
bungled transfers you get a major
You get a major maybe hopefully I guess so yeah
Nuts was never the problem of liquid and I'm glad he found a good home because he's an unbelievable
He looks so much better like some of the last liquid games that I saw him
I was like, why is he so lost?
It feels like he's lost, but it must be things
within the team, the communication or whatever
that not filling in the gaps.
If he would get caught off guard by some basic situations,
I was just like, it's not the nurse
that we know and love, right?
But he also mentioned something in the interview
about not having practice time and all of that.
And it is, their schedule has been quite crazy.
I was looking before this event,
they played like 78 landmaps in the last three months
and out of the top teams, that is by far the most
because they went to like two smaller lands
and then they also went to Rio and they went to Fort Worth.
So they're constantly busy
and they also have to implement their standing.
So they're practicing with the stand-in
for a while before Rio.
So it does make sense.
It does check out what he's saying
that they didn't really have enough time to implement things
but their practice is the officials
which honestly is sometimes better.
I also think that the time,
it seems like it actually might have been a blessing
in disguise what happened at Rio
because Hunter also touched upon the aspect
that he got to listen to all the comms,
he got to kind of weigh out, okay,
who can I trust a little bit more in these mid rounds
based off of what they're saying
and what transpired in the server at that time?
It's nice to know that as an in-game leader
that as opposed to working through the live rounds
with somebody who maybe is back-seeding
or actually giving good ideas,
now you can just step away from it,
completely remove yourself and then objectively view
what the lay of the land is
in terms of what the comms hierarchy should be.
Yeah, also forced other people to step up, right?
Because Hunter wasn't calling.
He was more on some pious who took over for that event,
but also everyone else to be like, OK, I see this.
We can do this.
And not rely on daddy Hunter to come in with the whole idea
of a solution every time.
Yeah, I mean, look, I think there's still
a work in progress for sure.
And obviously it is only Monty to beat today.
So we can't get ahead of ourselves.
But what do you make of them in terms
of the playoff picture?
I mean, it really depends on who they face.
I don't think any team is completely off the cars that they can't beat someone.
What we saw from Fjord, what we saw from Spirit Falcons, these are the top three teams in my
books, but they didn't look super impressive, super clean at any point.
They just have really good individuals, each of them.
They have one that is popping off consistently and is making them win these games.
What if one of these doesn't show up?
don't get sick like he did in previous Enrio, right? And then he's not posting a 1.7, but
only a 1.3, you know? That's kind of the issue for most of these big teams.
In terms of just openers between some of those teams that qualified for the playoffs, I'm
not going to sit here and say outright that the first 30 seconds of the round aren't
G2s for the taking versus Spirit, Falcons, or Furia. I think that the way that G2
who carried themselves through some of Dust2 Ancient today,
especially was testament to the fact
that they have so many different ideas for the starters.
And even though, yeah, that they haven't really practiced
as much, I saw a variety of looks today
that helped, or that kept Monty completely
out of contention in this one.
Yeah, and you can see from the Swiss,
obviously we've got these teams
that have qualified already.
You know, and then these are the additional ones
over here. We're going to find out our last one in just a moment. But for me, you're
right. I think all of these teams have been essentially like the walking wounded. They
are limping into the playoffs a lot of them. The only one that's really convinced me
is 9-Z. Even though Spirit did go 3-0, it wasn't a comfortable 3-0. It was a lot more
combative than they would have liked.
Not at all, I think it's the same issue that we saw before Ryo, and we don't really see
much out of anyone except Donk.
Taneer that we saw activate in Ryo seems to be tamed again, Shiro is getting his kills
but the impact of them is always questionable.
And then the other two guys, Zontics had some stinkers, magics, obviously he always has
like one map where he pops off, other than that you don't really even expect him to
do that.
I think it's mostly about Taneer and Shiro that they're in the position to shine.
But they're not really taking advantage of that.
I just see the playoff bracket as fairly open right now.
There are, to me, favorites.
But I would never, with this lineup of teams, say that there's a clear definitive S tier.
Anytime Vitality is in an event, you know that they're going to be in the Grand Finals
minimum.
With this one, I could see a lot of matchups going the way of what we would perceive
as the underdog.
Spirit versus Falcons for example. I'm not saying even though Spirit are my number one at this team
It's not with considerable distance between themselves and 2a2b anybody else and that's been a bad matchup for spirits historically
Right, they actually last time around but usually they would don't lose us to Niko and honesty regardless of what jersey they have
It's the Rock Paper Scissors the it's it's Spirit versus Niko, but Niko versus majors
That's pretty good. We also had Magic as well earlier today and I want to say we were watching
that game backstage. Harry and Hugo came in after that game. I'm sure when they got given
that one they were like, well, Gentlemates vs. Magic probably not going to be in class.
They were absolutely buzzing after that one. They were like, that was an insane game
account. It's really cool story for Magic. The rejects from within their scene, you
you know, A-A-A-W's bad when, you know, part of it's not.
I would, I mean, to, to magic, I feel like they are just willing for any individual to
call their own number in a round. I don't always see that some like set flash that's
going to help re-clear some space or anything like that. They are, there's a lot of rounds
for them where guys will poke and prod their position. They don't see anything
for 15 seconds. They start looking for a flank. That kind of stuff will catch anybody
off guard so they're kind of a tough team to game plan against if you know
that anybody could be an x-factor in a round. And it's like a new team on this
all right no one really played and we played a bunch online they play some
CIS Russian lands but other than that no one really saw them at the
international tournaments actually they went to that HLC phase last last
last chance major qualifier and that's that's their biggest
international experience and now they're here playing playing some
Well guys, I did mention AW and how he's going to be in the playoffs and Paravision aren't
and earlier today we did broadcast a fantastic exit interview with Dastan who's always forthcoming
with his thoughts.
Some would argue a bit too much.
We've got an extended break coming up after this but we thought why not air it again
in case you didn't get up bright and early and you missed it because it is an absolute
bang.
So check this out.
tournaments are never easy but it's very special when it's your home country
and a chance to play in front of your home crowd there's not many chances we
get like that in esports I know for Dastan this probably hurts more I don't
want to just talk about the team first but I want to talk about for you
personally how much does this hurt like how much does this feel bad for you
actually before today's game I was already ready to weekend lost and I
I was a bit adopted my inner situation inside me.
What are you prepared for?
We prepare, we play sometimes good but some of my players can't understand and I can do it.
It's like next year, once a year, it's always good.
We need always good decisions.
We make good decisions sometimes and sometimes it's very frustrated.
And I just, it was good, three teams which we lost, they are good.
It was like, not like, not every map was close, but today was better.
But it's still not enough.
But otherwise, because it's like hometown tournament, I'm still good.
I will, I think I will be in Astana.
And I will be... there is a big prize nickname.
Okay, big prize nickname of this tournament.
A very happy moment for Kazakhstan citizens.
I will enjoy playoffs.
I will try to think about next tournament and be ready for major.
What else I can do?
That's all.
I don't want to say something bad because I already said a lot of bad things, we're losing, we are dying.
Looking at that, right? You said a lot of bad things, I don't want to push you into any more drama or clickbait stuff,
but what I want to ask you is, do you think personally when you're looking, maybe your approach in like the pressure put on the players
from some of the things you said, do you think that has hurt the team as well?
I don't after last two tournaments I didn't even talk in bad way but sometimes
mistakes are too hard just like to go like newbie mistakes and I I don't talk
in that way it's mistakes after mistakes after mistake and maybe I don't
know it we just we will just play and we will see what will bring us next when
you're saying these mistakes are these mistakes you have spoken about you have
already to show them they've gone over it and it just keeps on repeating is that
why you are feeling this way because it's happened more than one year with
some of my players I didn't feel that they developing and I'm telling that
DJ you are just waiting for kick that's all you can like read on every news and
it's it's your choice you can play if not it's not your level that's all so
how I'm understanding it is like what you would want is for them to see it, listen to
your advice, listen to what James is saying and show the improvement.
But some of the levels of CS is like you need to play good naturally, sometimes without
thinking just do it.
He just need to understand unique situations naturally, but it's hard for some if you
We see some clutches today, you will see that sometimes we play good, but this situation is hard.
You need years to be Vitality players, it's years of experience and talent.
There's one moment in the G2 game I wanted to ask you about. You won the second map, right?
So it's a positive moment, but you were still talking to Nota about something like pointing out.
It was 3B and one guy was pushing the tunnel and after that he was on good position but
he swings inside.
But he didn't do, he doesn't need to because when he's on his angle he can shoot and still
laugh and Jay will come to the window but he doesn't understand because he thinks
that they don't expect him, but it's tier one, if Beltrano pushing, they might expect.
Yeah, and we should even thus too, closer, easier. Every map goes hard. That's all.
What would you say is the biggest difference between paravision that won Blast Bounty
in this amazing moment you showed and to what we're seeing now then? Because,
like you said, it's getting worse.
Okay, I'm blessed when we come, it's first events of tier one and we like, it's small distance and we don't play scare, we just play no pressure, but when time's coming, you can see our statistics of our play, it's not one tournament, five tournaments decreasing, I don't know what to do, maybe I will try a different approach.
Right now goal is major, try to do our best, that's all.
And statistics are less than one, three of five players.
I am trying, you don't think that I'm only telling
bad things to them.
I will be making everything for the grow.
They need to grow every month because it's hard life
and because you travel, travel.
Top TCS?
Yes, yes, yes.
But generally, the first five tournaments before was pretty good.
We were on playoffs, losing sometimes final, and here we lost, that's okay.
Looking at this right, so Blast Bounty was huge, Clujnopoka finals against Vitality,
then it's like 5th to 8th from Bucharest with weaker teams.
This is not your worst placing, this will be 12th to 14th, but your worst was Krakow.
understood why because you guys were tired. You've got CAC next. Lesser teams there as
well. What can you fix in a short amount of time before CAC? And what result do you need
to see from this team? First of all, I will tell to, maybe we
will have one or two days break. Then we will just play and I need to my guys kill.
less theory just play forget about everything let's play for let's play
for major we knew whereas don't it's our real level from 10 to 15 right now
it's that's the reality and just try to do our best that's all what we can do
after major we will sit and think what we can take who will be kicked or not
that's I will not fake okay okay as you're saying you weren't fake someone
sent me a screenshot of the fact that you liked the comment that said kicking
Nota is this someone under fire is this someone you're focusing on like it was on
a telegram comment or something this was not anything serious question for not a
bilch on a solo dropping level but as I said it's very in sale we both in them
a bit earlier yeah and it's more questions to bilch on it and not okay
that's and lastly because we are gonna show this right and you've got the
Kazakh crowd gonna be there we'll see you in the arena at least to enjoy
that moment what would you like to say to all the fans out there to all the Kazakhstan guys as well
It's a great tournament.
good position so we're lucky we get this honesty and I look forward to seeing you
in the arena we'll see how the rest of it goes with Paravigio across the rest of
the season she said she loves you but she can't love me but I love you
I won't play window anymore.
What's going on?
Play your role, one expect.
The human body was built to move, not trapped at death in one singular posture for 12 hours
a day. It's time your chair evolved. This is Secret Lab Titan Evil. Ergonomically
engineered for you. Gamers. Hybrid workers. Artists. Back in your every move.
I
I
I
guys thank you very much for taking the time out of the tournament I know it's
very busy schedule and everything like that, but I am truly honoured to be a part of this
very special moment for you all. One ex-bet asked me to personally present this to you.
Last season you guys made history and moments like these they deserve to be remembered, to
be celebrated, so these, they're for you.
These are not just rings, they're not just gifts.
This is a reminder for you all of who you are when you are at your best, the best version
of the Mongols.
It's kind of pressure for us.
Yeah, yeah.
A great memory as well.
Yes, the Mongols there back in happier times when they were the number one team in the
world and you know getting some rings to commemorate it guys on the panel a very
different order for the day today and not a lot to celebrate if they don't make it
to playoffs no only rings they'll be getting onion rings at McDonald's or
something I don't know there's no McDonald's probably in this country
McDonald's across the street
it is pretty interesting that we have this game and the rings coming up
because EWC final Aurora versus Mongols.
Mongols win, and that actually propels them to number one in the VRS.
And hey, they play again.
They play all the time.
Why not?
23rd game, I believe, between these two.
That's not real.
No, I probably made that up.
It is the 13th series since 2024, 9-4 for Mongols.
I mean, I know that's where I was going to start.
I mean, I know these guys have played each other a lot.
Of course, it's always worth mentioning.
You know, it's, yeah, there's been some little tweaks and changes.
Yeah, that record is obviously including when Senzu was on the Mongols,
when Aurora had Jota instead.
I would say that Aurora looked a little bit better with Soulfly
and instead Mongols looked a little bit worse with Cobra's Era.
So, in my opinion, they're meeting in the middle.
Obviously, the last time they faced off against each other,
it was Aurora that came out on top in Rotterdam.
Yeah, well, okay, let's do it then.
Let's talk about the Mongols and obviously the Cobra zero era of what they've been doing and I'm
I'm in a very weird position. I think I think I'm the only person in the world who thinks actually they don't miss sense of all that much
Yeah
All right, I think I think there's still difference. That's about the disparity is huge
I would like to an outside will
El take El take rich. No, I mean that's why you're the host. It's fine. Yeah, no
She's sparing discussion. Let me let me qualify it. Okay. I did myself out of the hole
It's more about first of all, I always thought sense. It was kind of a bit overrated
I'm just gonna put that out there, right like when he was in the top 20s that I was like
I don't know about that. Not for me.
And then, on top of that...
No, Mike, top 20.
I think Mongols, it wasn't like they were a powerhouse that was winning trophies all of the time when he was there anyway.
And I think commensurate to the level they're always at, you know, they're always good for a player friend.
They're always like a gatekeeper, but never a trophy winner.
That hasn't changed.
Yeah, I mean, they're sure.
I think there's something there.
Yeah, I mean, there it is, there it is.
But the way I would compare it is this that Senzu is like the Mongolian Kyosuke where the eye test in the group stages is insane
Right playoffs every time he was dropping off. I was gonna get to that massive playoff joke
Okay, but he did right some of those wrongs
He actually did show up in a handful of the playoffs in the last year
That was a narrative more from his first year of his career whereas Cobra's era
I don't even know what I want to make the comparison anything. I would say is probably a little bit mean
I'd probably be digging in like Kai for Furia. No, it's not that bad necessarily
But it's definitely a huge downgrade where you're there's a failure to launch now with Mongols with Cobra Zera as opposed to
Okay, we have this one problem
Playoffs like I would want to be in the playoffs first though. Yeah, I think honestly the drop-off
I would expect based on Cobra Zera to Senzu is bigger than it is like I would expect them to have been struggling to
make playoffs but most of the times they're still there and that's why I kind of agree
with your point.
It's not like they have dropped off the face of Earth but I do believe a lot of it is down
to 9-10.
9-10 has stepped up so much and he is like game in game out their best player which
last year and previously he was like oh he was sometimes there but sense of was mainly
the guy they can rely on then it'll be 9-10 then Muzinho, Blitz would have his
games and stuff like that.
Now it's like 9-10 is so consistent every game he is performing for them.
I'm just a generational hater and also let me say probably Cobra Zero does
interviews and he's lovely and polite. Okay, so that's just your bias, okay? Yeah,
okay, all right, well we'll take that into account but this what the server is
saying is a little bit of a different story. I like that you bring up the 910
point for me this year he's been kind of flirting with being in my top 20 at
any given time obviously at this event he's been fantastic I know that you
wanted to say something though Prof about the difference here. Yeah I mean
This is this kind of worrying trend for at this tournament because I was looking at the stats
It's like, okay, we Katie up top of the board is on tires there
It's the usual suspects and then just see like soul fly is stirred by by rating in the tournament
And then walk six is not even positive and the major is just behind I was like, okay
This this is this is not good that I was looking through the games
And he definitely he had like two good games one of it was an anubis game
Kind of doesn't count because they just smash the best of that and another one was against Huns
Okay, that also kind of doesn't count so he actually didn't really have any of those woxic performances throughout this tournament so far
I mean I'm very surprised if you want to switch the conversation to Aurora
You know, I'm very surprised that we're seeing what we're seeing because it really felt like that teams on the precipice breaking apart
At the end of that last season, you know, I saw them. It was back in Bucharest
We were remarking about it on the desk where it was like they they wouldn't they were losing
They weren't even responding, the fist bumps were going ignored, and towards the end,
Zantares was just Joker laughing.
Like, he just lost his mind.
Like, someone was going to put a straight jacket on him, you know?
It was like, because he was carrying, but everyone else was dying.
And I thought Madge, for sure, was gone.
I thought they were going to move Zantares to IGL.
That's the rumor behind the scene.
But they didn't.
They stuck it out for another season.
I think this might be Madge's, you know, last life.
I feel like that's just due to the circumstance in Turkey that there's really no replacement
in-game leader and Xantara is probably at this point doesn't want to yet join the ranks
of in-game leaders who have their fragging capabilities fall off.
But the reality with Aurora is actually pretty starkly different than what I feel like
the public perception of them is that in the last four tournaments, the last four
S tier tournaments they played, the only teams they've been taken out by are
just Vitality and Navi.
All four were just losing to either one of those two, and in a tournament that's kind
of the best of the rest, which this Astana is, they should be looking to try to win this
whole thing, which is why even being in the 2-2 match is, I'd say, a far cry from the
position they probably sought for themselves joining it.
Yeah, I mean, they're also kind of trying different things.
There's a few tournaments ago, I remember I was talking about his match prep change,
and for me it was super confusing that they haven't done this all the time.
he was like, yeah, now I actually tell the players
what the game plan is before we do a cool briefing
and then I'm not just calling in the game.
And I was just like, shouldn't that be a root of pantry?
Like, then again, I do think like the players he has,
I think there's some, he's adapting to what they want
and how they like to play.
And maybe they didn't want to be overwhelmed
by too much information and get lost
in the sauce of a game.
And just be like playing on the feeling,
playing our defaults as they do, playing defaults,
and then just finish around.
But that really limits how much how you can play CS and I don't feel like any of the top teams play like that at the same time
I find the interesting you're telling me this and the fact that walk sick is also gonna had this tip
Yeah, I followed walk six career all the way through right now. I love this guy. I think I'll razors
Yeah, and all the way back when he was to carry on hell raises and we would just like this guy so phenomenal
for me though
He is a he is a vibes guy every time he's put in a position where it's prep heavy
This happens and I remember you know if you remember the the Colossus
9 yeah, the cloud 9 closest and how that imploded one of one of the issues was woxic was I mean first of all
He was a disadvantage because that was the online era
He was playing on higher ping than everybody else
But also the prep the minutia the the protocol flowchart that almost every player has to follow now these days
To do perfect counter strike not for him
Yeah, not for him at all and and and I think if you put him in a position where you've got to overload his brain
Like he just needs to get on the server get three kills early and then he'll drop 25 kills
Yeah, he that that's kind of the that's kind of how I see him as well, especially from from the early days
I mean the stories from that team were special. I think Kerrigan extracted a lot of value out of him in the mouse port day
And that's kind of the type of ideal Kerrigan is you know you and that's why I think a major gets a lot of flak
I mean you Mali I think you criticize him a lot of it
I did a lot of it I did barely but I do really think that the pieces that he has
Kind of force him in this direction and and it is limited how good they can be as an all Turkish lineup
And this is also where the rumors are maybe they won't be in the future
Well, one thing I've liked about Aurora in the last couple of tournaments is that they have actually expanded their playbook slightly,
where as last year I would have characterized them as like a death ball team.
They're going to basically default for about 20 seconds, unironically, 20.
And then they'll just group up for a bombsite hit at 50 seconds left.
Now they play the rounds out. Now they actually allow a couple of their guys to lurk a little bit more.
I've seen Madger put the pieces together in complex and confusing situations,
where he lets individuals like Wikipedia call their own number and that sort of diversification
and improvement has led me to believe Aurora is a bit better than it was last year and I
maybe don't need to be quite as hard and I've kind of laid off on the criticism of
Madger in the last few months because I've been noticing these trends so I'm not, I'm
not as down on him and turns out you could, could teach a dog or an old dog new tricks.
Yeah.
I mean look, put it this way, Madger is entering the, the twilight of his career.
We know that.
I've always felt a little bit sorry for him in that these all-Turkish line-ups, they've
been super hampered down the years.
I mean, keep in mind, there was a period of time where Voxikin's Antares just wouldn't
play with each other when they were at their peaks, you know?
And then people turn around and go, come on, Madge, why haven't you got the Turkish
super team win all these trophies yet?
He's trying.
You know, he's always faced challenges.
I mean, it took a while, really, a long time for him to even put this team together.
And this is the best Turkish team.
we ever had, I even remember back in the Space Soldiers days,
that's, you know, when, when Wauksic was on HellRaisers,
they are getting like 300 euros a month.
Like they were going to tournaments,
they couldn't afford anything.
Like you literally can't afford a cab to go out.
You, what you have at a tournament, that, that's it.
And they're just like grinding through all of that
and took forever to even get to this position
where they are decently paid.
But I also think for where they ranked in the,
in the world, in the last like 18 months,
I think they're probably one of the cheapest teams.
Yeah.
That is out there.
Compare that to where Falcons, like their results in Falcons
are probably the same.
Both of them and Mongols are one of the best bang for buck
teams.
I mean, we saw Mongols' vlogs where
they're sleeping in bunk beds.
It's crazy.
So in a way, both of these are underdog stories
compared to so many of the blockbusters.
Actually, with DUS, we have arranged something.
That's for me and him to know, though.
I'm not going to reveal more on broadcast.
I mean, you're right.
So Mongols, another min-max team that are like,
if you're geographically limited because they do want to keep it all Mongolian.
One of the things I thought was super interesting actually, when they were in for the PGL event
in the Bucharest studio, Senzu was with passion, they were competing at Dracula down the road.
And a lot of people have assumed maybe there's some bad blood behind the scenes, but the
Mongols players went to stand behind Senzu at that land.
And there's rumors circulating, maybe the return of the king and all that stuff.
We still really don't know what happened or why Senzu left, like there's a lot of rumors,
a lot of different things, but ultimately the situation with Mongols and why I kind of,
they annoy me is it feels like they have a lot of potential that they're not fulfilling.
I just think, I wanted to say there's this quote, but realistically it's just the
Instagram reel that I saw.
He just said if you can you have to and this is I really vibe with this this idea that like this is a team that
out of nowhere they have this potential they're going to play off they're reaching major finals they have really good
players that they're challenging the best they're beating the best they just aren't winning tournaments consistently and then instead of like
pushing that to the absolute maximum, like trying your hardest, it feels like they just took a
step back and are really comfortable at where they are. And just before this tournament, they're like,
okay, yeah, we practiced for like 10 days, but in Mongolia against Asian teams. And then they go
into like a crack hour Katowice and they're like, oh, we didn't really practice. And then they
warm up through the tournament. It's like, why is this happening? You could be, I know vitality
is winning everything. But you could like make history in a different way that that you you know
you'll look back two years from now and be like oh well that was kind of I got chewed up for this
if you thought the sense you take was bad right I got chewed up for this when I said this before
and it was just I think they're super complacent yeah they are they just live like rock stars
back in Mongolia man it is actually crazy you know you went to Lambert are you you saw it
it's it's it's there on billboards there everywhere everyone knows about them and then
CS is on TVs and casual bars where in Croatia there will be football and literally nothing
else. Counter-strike on TV in a bar? Yeah, not gonna fly.
Yeah. Well, and like I said, so obviously you get your distractions. It can be very
hard to stay locked in, but I agree with you. I think for me, one of the frustrations
I've always had with the Mongols is you really should have more trophies. I mean, like
you were really there. You were the number one team in the world and it never really
I feel like the Mongols already being as competitive on the world stage as they are to me is playing with house money a little bit more
I get that we've seen some of the highs for this team
But to expect them to keep it up as consistently as they have is to me
I think it's like them not practicing
I get it but their floor at a lot of elite events has been good enough for me that I haven't been that
Disappointed personally so I take a different stance on this
I think that I don't I didn't think that they were gonna come in and win this tournament anyways
And I want players in all teams to try their hardest to practice the most they should but I think they've also accepted some of their fate as well
Maybe it's also a sign of the fact that they're not practicing cuz they know with Cobra that the sky is not the limit for them
Yeah, I was just looking at the maps overpass came in that's kind of a surprise that is a surprise
That's a big travel what needed to check like who picked it was Aurora and then after that
Mirage and Ferno were the two that were played last time Aurora did win those
both but the fact that Aurora picked overpass they're not complacent they're
trying new things out all right they certainly are and so we're talking about
Aurora's I'll now throw you over to two blinding brilliant dazzling bright stars
in the form of london's and scrawny keep it coming Richard I was like what's
he gonna do with this one he speaks more kindly of me than my own mother
at times. Really? No. No, my mom's my number one fan. Nice person in the world. Shout out Sharon one time.
But thank you Richard, you're always so kind and thank you Maui Snake and Pro for being elegant
in your analysis. Mo, we jump into Overpass, a little curveball. So clearly Aurora trying to like
look different, play different, shake things up a little at this event. And in Overpass for the
Mongols, I wonder if they're actually prepared for this game now? I mean, I guess if you
If you want to be like Vitality, you've got to have the same swagger.
So they come in with no practice, a little practice.
I mean, they aren't always just honest about where they're at.
I think it will affect their gameplay overall.
And we get ups and downs within rounds, within maps, within series from the Mongols, the
best plays, and some pretty bad fumbles.
But obviously, we always know that the potential is there.
And this matchup is just kind of a classic now.
So both these teams, I feel like they are on the side jockeying for a position to be
firm contenders for grand finals and stuff like that, but there's just all these new
prospects and teams that we're looking at.
And so it's about time for one of them to just become more established, consistently
beat the team that's underneath them and some of the rivalries like the one we have
in front of us.
But it's obviously not that easy.
I expect that this should be the three-map series of the day.
It felt like every series could go three maps today,
but this will not be a series without mistakes.
And I think it will also be a series that
has a lot of great rounds.
I just don't think there's going to be anything consistent
right now.
You said that this has kind of become a classic matchup.
We go back to 2025.
These teams locked horns six times throughout the year,
and the Mongols won in five of those games.
The only time that Aurora actually
picked it up funnily enough was PGL Astana 2025. Now we've had it happen twice so far
this year, once at ESL Pro League in Stage 2, and then recently at Blast Rotterdam, the
teams are actually split 1-1. There's so much mirage, dust, too, and inferno in this
head-to-head that, yeah, we've come to expect these teams when they clash, and we've
come to expect those exact same maps. So Overpass really is just kind of out of
nowhere with this one. I'm going through it. I don't see a single Overpass between
these teams ever, despite having all of the matches in this head-to-head that they do.
So we've got something fresh for you guys in the final game of the group stage of PGL Eston
of 2026.
Seven of the eight playoff teams set to get this arena roaring.
The Mongols not too far from home will be looking to put themselves in that list and
a curveball from Aurora will set the tone of this best of three.
Buckle up.
The game begins now.
Aurora have had some spotty performances on overpass, but at their best are the best honestly on this map
I think this is where you know where if you have any doubts about Madras calling
I feel like sometimes their overpass games are the most well-prepared and most interesting. I love the choice to bring it in
It is kind of a punish. It can be at least obviously models have a spirit win on the map
But you can come down to rounds just like this and they walk right by techno
Oh, wait. Oh, he doesn't come away with even one kill.
Yikes.
Draws them down into MZeno though, so now the two sets of brettas that are in here look
to roar through Aurora.
There we go.
Good recovery from Techno.
That gets very sketchy for a second.
But about only one second.
Neighbor to effort out of Woxic means he's going to get dropped.
Triple kill for MZeno here in the pistol, and the Mongols will be looking to tap
into a strong CT start.
Santerres, separated jewel, can't get there either, so a little shakiness in some of the individuals here for Aurora to start and the Mongols will capitalize with that, trying to dominate this first half as much as they can.
I'm sure, I wonder if they're surprised that Overpass hasn't come up before. I would imagine actually this would be one of the outside maps in a veto that happened so often where they would have thought,
Eventually Aurora are going to want to take this versus us.
We are never going to be the ones to take it, but you know, the prep has to go deeper than the three maps that you expect to play just in case.
So we'll actually see how much of a surprise it'll actually be.
Yeah, I'd expect the rate to be like once every three or four matches. Overpass would have come through.
Maybe if Aurora is just, you know, and I guess I especially a surprise because there are periods of time where Aurora have way better numbers on the map overall.
But again, they know it. They love it.
Right now, the Mongols find themselves in this 2-2 matchup, but there are two losses at this event, or versus Spirit and Falcons.
I'll shame them that.
And honestly, the Falcons is a match that they could have just legitimately won.
Yeah, they did throw that one away a little bit.
Shoulda coulda woulda.
We'll be seeing whether the Mongols can just kind of rebound immediately and really set a gap between them and Aurora today
Ro is trembling
He's tensing every muscle and body to float there great core strikes
Mark of a good climber and golf player very true all the important sports
Smoke pops from the bathrooms at 35 seconds and Aurora still haven't really made anything happen.
Wikipedia's Desert Eagle will not even get a chance to sing.
This one just absolutely fizzles out across the map.
That'd be very disturbing to start with, uh, the T-pistol.
Boring! Long activation gets denied and it's five strong for the Mongols at the end of the round.
So converting the pistol as cleanly as you'd hope.
Mongols, Mongols.
This is probably what this is the closest event they've got to Mongolia.
I'm just thinking geographically would be here or China.
But I think we're closer right now in Astana.
What was that Ulaanbaatar event?
Oh my God, I forgot that happened.
That's true.
There wasn't a very inside of it.
That's true.
But did an event really happen if nobody gets paid?
Fortunately, yes.
Unfortunately, yes.
First gun round here for Aurora in round three. It's AKs across the board. Versus a couple MP9s.
We get this Cobra Zera push off the B site to start.
It's been a very slow pace in that last round for Aurora when they just hoped somebody overstepped into a deagle.
Gonna have to show us a little more friskiness than that, I think, to convince us this T-side could take over.
Ocadia's, for the last years, been my favorite guy on Aurora in terms of
smarts and decision-making, but
there is no doubting that Xanterus is still the workforce for the team and
They rely on carries that he can't deliver.
That was a nice tether between Soulfly and the connector distraction.
You saw the MP9 of CobraZera kind of up two mines.
Well, they're both gonna boost it.
Speaking of two mines...
Think alike.
Ooh, can't quite finish off what he started.
Amzinho on the retreat with 16 health, pulls his smoke grenade out.
If that blocks off short, 30 seconds.
Aurora is gonna be uncomfortable for the moment,
But still, number is strong, and not everybody that's left for the Mongols is even down here towards this B site.
It's gonna be B, Techno has top bathrooms, and he hasn't seen anything, so...
Here comes 9-10.
Yeah. Oh, here comes B.
There's another frag grenade as well on 9-10. You can throw it into short right now.
Ebzenio's got his, despite low HP.
Now, it's actually a number's advantage for the Mongols.
Blitz remains passive, plays left and right on the pillar.
Finally!
No time.
Opening the site, and the map finally isn't fast enough.
Now you can die after time if you're not careful, Techno's walking up to this, but he's not ready to swing.
That smoke, the nades, that really slowed down Aurora.
They took a lot of time to make a decision that after a 5v4 as well...
...and yeah, it was just a very clutch smoke to come in at that time, I think that's the one thing they were not prepared for.
Could you imagine Xanteris as the IGL of this team? That seems like the worst idea possible.
I agree.
Wait, we've seen him and even when they win he has like the worst mood I feel like doesn't make any sense.
But that was like a rumor because it's like not.
Should do some yoga.
Good for the core strength.
And the mental health.
Soulfly thinking he was hiding but thick as he crouched down towards Monster Pipe it's an easy pick off for the op of Mongols to start this round.
A likely 4-0 kickoff, barring something fantastic between Madger and Zanterrez.
You're working with these two AKs still.
And all of this movement's being heard by Zanterrez.
You may be closer than the Mongols realize at the moment.
MZeno's gonna have to do a MZeno off to a 7-1 start.
And then that monster pipe walked out.
It's gonna get totally stuffed by a comfortable co-poserra.
Shadow Advantage for Techno is not enough to best Mag'er, but he'll just be looking to save this AK most likely.
This is a 50 second save for Aurora.
This T-Side not finding
the sprint it would like to begin with.
It's not insane if they...
Still try this? Just because there's only 2 in B right now, they did have a little bit of, yeah, now it's...
A little fresh smoke for you. That's...
Just when you think about going in you're met by that.
That'll be the best thing that happens to Aurora to...
dissuade them from going for that but yeah I don't look for a raw duel if it
might make a mistake
oh he's insane right now he's real good whoa it is looking real good in the
fire department fire department firepower departments looking good with
emzeno at the helm
He was on the pole
Has anybody explained to us why Mzino's player photo this event has him wearing sunglasses
Yeah, I don't know what's up with that. We're just gonna we're just gonna act like that's normal. He's just very cool
That is true
Watch the accuracy of this as he re-peeks into Xanterras, makes that one look easy.
Oof, instant!
On Magyr.
And then just slides to the other side of the pillar.
We talked about, uh, momentum teams and Mongols just like G2 are the same way.
They know how to turn confidence into faster and faster wins.
The same could be said for Aurora, actually, which is what makes him such a cool head-to-head.
Oh, chance at a little peek-ski here.
Oh, that's just wide enough.
And that should also be a chance at a kill if he popped up.
I'm just throwing in with both hands, I don't know where that came from.
You overstep, blitz into the scope of Woxic,
Mzeno blocking off Monster, very much stuck behind this pillar still,
and he'll go wide! Just every duel he takes, he comes out on top of him.
He just doesn't believe he's going to die, and so far they haven't proved they could kill him.
9-10 enters this match as the highest rated Mongols player at the event,
so he won't miss his chance to strike down Madger.
On the retreat, and then all of a sudden, this is going to be Wukadia to try to just crank the dial
towards a split the two CTs that are looking to move up here but it's still a
long time until the bomb arrives. These extra seconds has afforded 9-10 space
to come back but a flash from Soulfly sets up this post plant 2v3 wonderfully.
Another duel coming forward for Aurora. Five rounds into the game and it's that
space taken by Wicadia that could put it on the board. Yeah let's see if Mzino
today has enough power to actually pull off a retake like this. He is teaming
with confidence right now, but already running quickly at a time.
This is the one-kit on the bomb site, so he'll have to push towards bank.
What bodes well for Mzinho is there's a tee in there, so he may have to pick it up on
his route towards the push.
Long player spotted and Sulfi wins out.
Clean two versus four situation there for Aurora, taking over that A site, sensing
the opening in a scrambled situation, and really the solution, avoid Mzinho.
And it was just, it was a decision that 9-10 made of like scaling the entire way up long,
even though they just knew that he was in top bathrooms.
And that's a moment where I guess sometimes the confidence can actually bite back a bit.
And if he had played a little farther off, a little bit more passive, held long so
they can't post plant there, and even maybe cut off the bank line, that would have been
enough to deliver value for his team to go for a retake.
But they did a great job of, yeah, I mean, two players getting info, use a flash
to kill them. This is also very nice.
It was two kills down on B, so a two versus three, excuse me.
We're getting that kill on 9-10. It was a well-placed flashbang.
It made that all the easier.
If 9-10 actually just decides to keep long control and wait for that rotate up,
you know, you would have had a dumpster player.
You would have had 9-10 on long. You would have had that eventual MZeno flank.
You think the retake may have come together, but you know the Mongols,
they'll try to play a step ahead.
And Aurora, read that with a well-placed flashbang to take over control of round five.
Look at the sense of fly fishing here, they've got a flash.
And a little bit of a lurksmoke at the end of Monster, some nades come out.
This lurksmoke is so annoying to deal with.
It looks like they've done an adequate job.
Now it's just kind of about the A-timing that appears as CTs try to go back and get the information,
But they've done that very swiftly
Movement within this B site again. Yeah, it's dangerous to think you want to try to go to Ward's emz no again good spam
Nate over top is techno presses against the bathroom's wall it's still opping
Crazy, if he takes this timing, his smoke goes on the outside of bathrooms as well.
Centera's hoping that he oversteps that dicebox peek one more time.
Blitz is in the open. Yeah, nice headshot from Centera's.
But it is still going to be this activation towards B. Cobra's down.
They know about that. Ports the monster side.
Utility kind of gives it away.
That's a sweet round out of Aurora.
Across the board.
Very quick and decisive call, like a four-player pack ready to pop that easily after the presence they made it was strong.
The entries are looking solid.
It's that freed up playstyle that Hugo was talking about.
As great as Mzinho has looked out of the gate, pure on overpass, if he can't keep that up or if they simply avoid him and nobody else steps up to the same pedigree,
could definitely see a way for Aurora to get into this teeside.
Santerras did not waste a bullet killing Blitz.
Well, they're swinging long, so it's possible he dies here if he doesn't hit the flick.
Oh, and nope.
He will also live.
He would try to charge him down, but he's got it.
Two alive for the Mongols as they forfeit a second consecutive round over to Aurora.
See if they can afford it.
I mean, they probably won't be investing behind this.
See, teams?
No way.
You've got 2,000 on MZeno.
Well, the entire team's got two grand, so...
If it was three guns, you'd think maybe, but...
There is still a chance for them with an off-and-play.
So far so good here for Aurora. They stood up to the big bad MZeno.
And not just throwing haymakers as well. We're doing a good job working the map.
They're sending Techno up on the push and actually CobraZero the USP is way in the back so they're looking for that.
Post one minute timing to wrap around bathrooms or just assume it's a and stack it and it's the right risk actually Aurora
Starting to walk back or mongols. Excuse me up to a that op is inbound now
Fast on the rotation is 910 trying to get ahead of this just in time two guns on site for the mongols awkward though
910 just gets deleted
Why is that you came by himself just the USP?
They still don't know about that M4!
Xenyo grabbed a gun!
It is not the 910 AWP, it is not the Techno M4,
but a CobraZera 2K from a USP
is going to thrust Madger into the clutch,
and Cobra, that is massive!
That's unbelievable.
Like...
There's something like if it's a 2K without a flank or something like that,
but this is just straight firepower with a USP,
and then Xenyo's second kill is also ridiculous.
what I know that's crazy so they don't even need the investment that's the
first time I've that's a brand-new zanterra's reaction and justified
because when's the last time a double USP kill costs you around like that it's
It's insane that just happened.
What?
Oh, he's been watching for this.
What?
What?
That's a good one.
We're going to get mileage out of that one.
Yep, yep, yep, yep.
What?
It's a headscratcher.
Because it was Xantera's the second player that died to that USP.
Flash doesn't do anything there.
Gotta be careful trusting those are so far away that even if they hit on, it's less than
a second of blindness.
It's like somebody on a ramp dust 2 and the flash is coming through, it's just, yeah range
man, flashes really fall off.
Great up close, phenomenal even, but.
Alright, another 3v4 situation.
Almost know they're not safe.
Bomb towards T spawn as we get this AWP walk towards Scythe.
It's a rough start to the game for Woxic, 1 and 6.
This really hasn't been his event.
They'll need him especially if we switch over.
So that CC's side, and, well, okay, that's a big find. I mean, head-to-head with the
AWPer. Now with 3v3, and the rotation is a little bit, oh, it does it. Dude, MZeno, it's
on another tip right now. Like, this is crazy the duels that he's taking.
I mean, we are eight rounds into this half. Another few multi-frags. He's trying to keep up
to Luchov's record from earlier this event.
And it's always in this scramble and just versus players who are looking at him
It was a crazy opportunity for Aurora
He's literally jumping away throwing a flash for his A players
Hehehe.
Oh!
Oxy-colding for the jump, and instead it's just the inch out from Blitz.
He's 15 and 3 on round 9, he's out doing nerds.
In the stomp of the day.
Who could have seen that coming?
Now you just wait for mistakes, or for the time to expire Aurora, it's your move.
KD not giving a target.
Do they need that smoke?
It looks like they might.
Not yet.
Far gone.
Soulfly toppled nothing just yet.
5v3 for the Mongols in 30 seconds.
And Terrace on the recovery.
But it's just all of what I'm done.
As 910 collects back to back.
Hop-shot and another USP kill.
Wikipedia gunned down as the last piece of that one.
You've got four up for the Mongols as they establish this five round lead.
What a sequence from 9-10.
Run it back as fast as you can, gets that shot on Majer,
and denies any entry into that A site for Aurora.
156 ADR here for MZeno.
Just carrying the server.
9-10 didn't have to do anything special in that spot with his teammates alive, just avoided
getting opts and delaying for time, and maybe that smoke would have made a difference, so
this half is getting away from Aurora.
We have seen actually some good approaches.
The two rounds they won were super solid calls, but a lot of firepower on the other
side and just a solid CT side to try to make them regret the surprise map pick.
10 terrace on the hero 8k.
site before mongos realize it's possible this is already a retake and um great calls here oh careful
time 10 gets wind of it with that peak ct's trying to fly up they've got no control of dumpster because
there's nobody here walks it's gone deep blitz is going to get blindsided by it cobra's trying to
fight his way up and now already just extending over but then they line up and emzino's on for
the retake he's gonna have to do everything here that is a well-placed molotov and then
Oh, he could actually 1v5.
Don't you dare.
Three kills in, bomb is at 15 seconds.
Wow, he's actually, you're not even going to attempt, I just feel like because of the potential for a 1v5.
But, uh, yep.
He showed him his strength, but Aurora get away with this one because...
Good call, Madger.
...Mongol, so yeah, that's another solid one.
They are super obsessed with being...
I'm not even exactly sure why.
But ultimately it's Damali to push 9-10 off of the info position on Divider that wins this round
Yeah, it's felt like they were really gonna bank on 9-10 getting early indication of players coming his way
But the Molotov just makes him move with no info, and I guess that's why where the Molotov comes from they start to think
This isn't gonna be an A-play I like that next round
Great example of doing more with less. One Molotov gets the Mongols to misposition for the round, but now we get Blitz pressing off the B site.
Aw, instant headshot and a soulfly and a man advantage for Aurora as they're trying to fight for a commendable amount of rounds here.
9-10's just gonna offer up a bunch of health by just running back towards bathrooms supported by this rifle
and not a fast enough challenge out of Aurora to keep him at bay.
So numbers even doubt that the health advantage clearly Aurora's.
That was an expensive decision to get out of there, but they at least retain him on the AWP as HP might not matter that much.
The CTs use mobile teleports a lot, but it's not a good spot to cause a stutter.
Frag doesn't really go far enough, very awkward, Techno one kill in the middle of this, but
it's soul fly for three this round.
Oh my goodness, what's he gonna do?
Mine tends down to 13 health as he takes further util damage, still clips the wings of one.
Oh, he's not going for a reload.
Bomb's still on the ground as well here.
Woxic is three bullets.
Woxic hasn't picked it up.
Woxic's gonna find the kill now.
Three bullets!
Back to the USP!
Yeah, too much of an ask.
Not this time around.
Woo!
Never reloaded in the middle of that.
Didn't get any real damage out of his nade that popped over top of the truck.
There was a ton of utility damage this round for Aurora's favor.
And now a potential five-round T-side is definitely enough.
Totally, yeah. It turns a bad half into a good half here.
I'm really good to talk about how Aurora have made some great calls and executions.
This one's up for grabs. Two MP9s coming in for Mongols.
No kits.
of the
death of
the
death of
the
death of the
It just gives it up
All right. Well, it's emzinho here which counts as like three players right now. So that's why he's alone. Yeah
Now they got the info they want on a now the problem is they're far far away from the rotation
Like ask of emzinho again
Connect your control from the Mongols, and Xenia looking for headshots, finds one, drops bomb, and then that's all he gets this time.
Oh, Zanterres! Nice sequence with his double.
Yeah, plant stops though, so there is a chance for Blitz to pull off a retake.
Met by Smoke. He's gonna walk wide on that, and they're not watching this.
Ooh, getting away from the site. He fires off, and that gives Woxix.
The notice he needs, Zanteres tucked in behind the sandbags, ready to end this round,
but it's dead blitz still with legs to stand on.
He gets hopped out of this one and so a nice multi-frag for both Zanteres and Woxic.
And Woxic, I think there's a great recovery within that half.
I kind of threw him under the bus at one point.
He'll end 8-8 with a 2K close.
And Aurora get through, right?
The big notice is that the Mongols have MZinho at the top of the board
and then some, but there is a gap between him and most of his teammates.
I mean, yeah. He's 19 and 5, so I'll be happy to have him in this form right now, but...
Now, Aurora, that's not what they wanted coming into this, because otherwise it looks like they would've got a few more rounds without those MZeno holds.
The Mongols have to be just happy with the fact that they got 7 out of this.
That's two 1DX clutch wins from Waxx, sprinkled into this 5 round half.
So I think Aurora know they could have gotten more but also a little x-factor from them here as well for
Zanterres as the map went on
There we go nice what?
Voss
Now on the other side no one's cracked ten kills, but they still kept up
up as a unit I think that's what you need to get through a T side on overpass
second one with a positive KD on the other side we've got a chance to change
that now that they're on the CT side of things heavy B stack Aurora out of the
gate with just the Santere solo a floats but nobody heading B that much is
clear for the Mongols
of
the
the
Made in the pack, long player contacts, got damaged.
Rikadia though with Beretta's lines up too, they get away from him however.
They think he would have gotten more damage than that, but it's a triple kill, MZeno.
We thought one man wouldn't be enough, he's got other ideas.
22 frags off of this pistol.
Kind of awkward spots, but the jump away's to the perfect position.
He's going to know about Cobra.
Goldfly finds the kill on that one. Optimus player found out, Emzino's come through. Quad kill for Emzino.
May need to ace. Sure enough, it's all five or bust, and Woxic taps that bomb first, elicits the wide swing off the dice.
It's a duel for the win, and Woxic takes it.
Ooh, denies the ace, gets the defuse as well. A massive moment here for him and Aurora.
And he could have actually delayed for time on the other side of that box.
That was a huge moment to be had, I mean every kill was necessary from him.
No frills about it.
Add it to the pile.
Third successful clutch from Woxic in this first map.
Ro is 23 and 6.
and they're still on the brink of losing their lead.
I mean, you have the op on the inside of bathrooms while long as being taken.
This can definitely... man, I feel like Aurora have the wrong idea right now.
They're really starting to vacate, but they all will come in and it's a shot. Very hard shot, necessary.
It's the guy who was shooting at him.
That could definitely be the difference here between a hold and a sight take for Aurora.
Senteris takes position behind Dice, lets them get a little closer.
We know the danger of Tech 9's on A site, long drop ports, long second kill collected
as Woxic burnt out thanks to the 9-10 assist, but Madger leaning back behind this smoke
finds at least the equalizing frag.
Soulfly's gone unnoticed, nearly held as he emerges through the bank.
It's MZeniel, clutch, and too much of an ask.
Soulfly delivers this time.
This is very impressive for Marora, man. A lot of these rounds are definitely
Loseable positions very scary net all these maltese are necessary
And now you've got a couple of new stories two players coming up into the positive KD territory
Woxic recovering from his one and six score line
Longleys have nothing to say about this round with just these pistols.
So Aurora taking over in the CT side, still yet to lose a round.
Since the second half has started, pistol, conversion, this one, 3-0, and a lead off
the back of it.
Question of damage and at the moment, nothing.
A toxic point blank scope to shoot down MZeno and that is official Aurora taking control
of their surprise map pick.
Looks like they're going to need a little more than MZeno and I mean obviously now that
it's deep into this T side, kicking off a first rifle.
It's gonna be a real test.
They have split pistols in this game.
Very close to upsetting to kick this half off.
Oh, and this is what Majer's the best at.
The reason I really like Aurora CT side,
they use the verticality a lot.
He's pretty much best in class when it comes to those spams.
right into the nade, right guy to hit.
Shut down comfortably, MP9, easy.
And then MZeno tries to keep the trade train rolling, but Madger's the only player to double down here for Aurora, and it gets the edge back.
One HP is never going to be enough.
Rock solid 3k for Madger in the middle of a trade train.
He breaks it up and keeps that lead growing.
And his spam damage, his util damage, all helped to make sure they got those trades right away.
Really crushed before the exec started on short and had all the players in position.
Look at this triangulation on the short.
They're just attacked from all angles.
This could be a walk-off victory from Aurora all of a sudden.
Yeah, run away with the CT side.
I mean, we know the difficult part of taking overpass as a map pick can be the grueling start on an attack.
Add to that this MZeno overperformance, and you'd think there's a world where you could crumble,
but they fight back into it.
Secure the last three rounds of that T-side.
And now Aurora just don't want to loosen their grip on this game.
Mongos trying to slip away with a robbery, but with upgraded pistols.
We'll see if they can do it.
Aurora, we've sat across the board, you know, it's not this total top carry.
Wasik is starting to take over as the highest performing player, which is commendable considering
his start to this map and also this event.
This was going to end up being his lowest rated event in 2026, going into this game.
Clearly turning that around.
Soulfly's got a broad duel versus Tecno, takes more damage than he would've liked, but luckily
with that smoke still on short and teammates in the bomb site, it's not like he's gonna
be overwhelmed.
He nearly finishes that off, but now with him and Madger, both low, there's a world
where they break through.
19 health is looking for support and Santeres sprinting to the scene
But he will confidently take that duel and a second kill again for Madger blitz sent to the other site
For HP and a bomb has low hope of actually finishing this off
But maybe some money for his efforts. Yeah, he assumes they're already here
So now there's really no chance he gets the plant they can easily stand this right? Okay
Santeres reads the push and Aurora are just so secure about the way they set up for B
It's absolutely no problem for them, despite some pretty crazy entries once again out of the Mongols.
Surprise map pick working out well.
only bomb plant we've seen from the Mongols throughout this tea side so far came in the
pistol.
Rora simply keeping them off of the bomb sites.
Moxix got room to stretch his legs on long.
Doesn't have to worry about that bathroom's pop either so long as Xanterra continues to
float.
He walks it ready to offer a man advantage.
Flash is good though.
Gets him off his line, puts a little pressure on Xanterra's to either get out of here or
do something.
And he will lose the duel that Cobra steps forward into.
Bit of frustration for Xanterra's as Mongols make a man advantage happen.
Yeah, crosshair placement was a little high for that.
And more imaginary utility on the right guy again.
There's a total shift from the Mongols away from that A-Site.
That three-player unit works its way towards Monster instead, but met by a smoke, they decided to divert into Short again.
They want to try that again, eh?
We've seen it get stuff previously. At 30 seconds, a smoke goes down in front of Short just like this.
It is timed 10 seconds ahead of which...
They're missing utility, but there's only one guy here.
I don't believe it. Soulfly's gonna have to be the hero. Clean first kill on Cobra.
Five!
No way you got that!
You think that's too much of an ask!
For him to get a second's great, Wacadia damage into the site and Major's got it one out from heaven!
Techno barely stands, same for 9-10, flushed off the site at 15 seconds!
He burns further!
And they may not have a nade, but they'll go for the boost!
Spotted, down in the mud!
Wacadia knows that both positions for this retake and 9-10's off, heals back,
OHP, clips, walks six wings!
Would Kadia trying to dodge that off?
Oh!
9-10 goes head hunting!
Oh, they were too scared of that off, but they needed to scale on that guy in the pit, and Techno with low HP was able to stay alive.
Great cover out of 9-10.
The Mongols, they make what looks like a desperate call.
They ignore all the conditioning, all the rounds that have been won on the B-holds, and they decide to run right through it.
Sofly still manages to get two absolutely insane kills.
But that's not enough.
We're back to Turkish.
This guy's tilting via poem while Madr's still trying to call sat next to him.
Opening death from TopCon thanks to Cobra over Zanterres.
Two players, still the single digit kill count.
They finally break through this defense.
Six rounds, in to the half.
Mongols find their first.
Woxic off Dicebox, looks 9-10,
hit the head victory.
Yeah, confident, but it's just a leg shot.
Cobra given a gift of a second chance.
Nades come soaring in, smoke towards front bathrooms
to stave off the commitment,
and still Woxic feeling free enough
to continue this pressure by a peak.
Bomb immediately goes down to short,
but it still feels like they're postured for the A hit.
Another smoke at 45 seconds.
Number is strong for Aurora down towards B.
And we'll see if the Mongols can get away with this
before Aurora move pieces back up to this A site.
Might start to get worried that it's a B play.
Utility spotted.
30 seconds, here it is.
Good incendiary to block off.
half wall that could flood them towards Zantares instead.
Another op duo that Woxic just missed timing on.
Cobra, he gets an inch on Woxic,
and now Zantares looking to be the hero.
Players from bathrooms emerge, that's a second low health bar,
and now Mzeno back to where he belongs in the kill feed.
Soul flight to the clutch versus three,
stops the bomb plant, but again they'll get away
with two players low health.
The Mongols hanging on in this T side.
by the finest of margins. I mean, Cobra picking up the AWP and finding...
He had to line up a wall bang on Watchin'. You can see his scope and his barrel sticking out.
This is the shot that makes the difference. Then they know that there's a close rifle or half of the utility that came out.
So I'm not surprised that clear came down, but this is a full tilt moment for Aurora, especially if this costs them.
Money's gone after two mistakes.
Both rounds they know they could have won, to be honest.
Almost every one of these last 10 rounds, both teams were so close to winning.
So head to head that certainly brewed up a rivalry, and so to lose rounds of this nature,
tough to stomach.
Acadia's 5-7, double kill in connector.
Grabs an AK for his efforts,
but right now the rest of the Mongols
are just gonna put a pinch on the other two players
of Aurora and they'll find them, hunt them down,
and go sprinting towards that vacant A site.
Let's see if Acadia can move fast enough
to get ahead of this bomb.
A double 5-7 kill and a 3-V-5 sets this up.
He gets in front of Duster, dodges utility,
dangerously close to this commitment out for Mongols
and they don't seem to know, but Blitz will win it.
Mongols majority alive as they cut into that lead.
Ten all again.
That's ludicrous how close this game actually is.
The fact that Mongols can even make any kind of comeback
after giving up some of those close early situations.
And Emsinho is still frying.
He's at 29 frags.
Jesus.
Well, they saw the oppas there so they decided to go free towards Long.
That AWP quick to fall back, plays outside bathrooms.
Looks like the novelty of those short B-takes is worn off in their mind, and I think good, because Aurora were...
most of the time, great at dealing with it.
Yeah, Madger in the center of all that, multi-kill after multi-kill.
Hasn't really had a chance to leave his mark on these recent rounds.
Woxic on the sign, smokes off bathrooms, goes back to his angle, outside of it, as supportive
pieces for Aurora have managed to get into this site.
The Madger's still of two mines.
Xanterra is its gun out, and a lot of bodies inbound, Utility confirms it, he tries to
throw Utile out, but they're ahead of that, and it's Madger AND Xanterra's dead to
Cobra.
Woxic looking to be the hero, pepper through the smoke as the threats come over top
and a flawless round now for the Mongols.
They are powering up as this T-side goes on.
And going to A and just their A plays looked so much more just well organized, to be honest.
And I was looking at Xanteris' spot, I'm like,
Man, he's really risking this, but when he moved and started throwing utility, it was all too late.
Those trades became way too easy for the Mongols.
It didn't seem like Aurora knew exactly what to do to guarantee their position.
Even with that jump spot info, that walks it gone.
Mongols have got a lead back in this game
And if once again cost Aurora everything
Sulflight goes down
Last player dealt with five up for the Mongols
They're broke
They are in the comfort zone to try to close out Overpass now
I'm out needed.
God, this money got absolutely screwed by this comeback.
Santerra's trying to throw utility to block off the long commitment,
but the Mongols were already starting to roll through with momentum.
Madge are the first victims.
Santerra's scrambling to do anything about it.
Both those A defenders dead with nothing to show for it.
An Emsinho hits 30 frags.
Damn.
The money's gone here for Aurora as well, so we'll get some Kevlar sprinkled in, a couple upgraded pistols, but clearly Aurora now playing for overtime.
Off of the timeout, better have a plan.
There was an 8 round streak in the middle of this game for Aurora.
Aurora, three to finish the T side, the pistol, and the five rounds that come with it at the beginning of this defense, but it has been the Mongols in the spotlight four rounds in a row.
What should be five when you consider the buy, Aurora are given in this one.
And they have just permanently forgotten about B now.
When's the last time Madger had a fight down here?
P2000, spots the fountain presence.
I mean, they're hoping they can juggle them out of B, but to be honest, an A-stack is
just...
I don't think it's that scary if the bongos with the amount of money they have, the amount
of space they have to do a full-on exact, it's...
will make it uncomfortable they're not in bathrooms there's no one there's no one in
short it gets a little crowded up there they haven't had to expand any of their
utility to take over connector or bathrooms yet so there's plenty of
flames and they can spot and get information but it's not really changing
the shape of the round here for the Mongols this just comes down to mollies
rural want this fight on their bomb site they're gonna get it but how many
players flushed out of position before the attack comes through.
Smoke in their face makes it awkward.
5-7 collects, with a push through for Waxing denied.
Still time, as now the bathroom's players emerge looking to puncture through with what's left.
Madger running up, as SoulFly's now got a gun.
A deadly rifle behind the dice box, that's what they needed!
Because now the last two players still remain blocked off.
He could do it on his own!
It's an arrival now for Madger!
They've wrapped it all around!
Blitz hit from both sides and Aurora tied!
Pistols in that A-site!
What a complete steal here.
Softly getting the upgrade into the instant second shot.
It's fantastic, CS.
A long list of reasons to believe
that that A-site would have been flushed away.
And Woxic pushed through the smoke.
It looked like it was over.
They got so many of those pistols down all at once.
But I didn't even realize they had one more smoke
to block over at A. It looked like Madger was juggling all the utility that they had on the other side of the map.
Perfectly timed.
Easiest chance to lock in over time. Now they'll have to do it the hard way.
Actually, oh wow, KZ, terrorist turns around at the perfect moment.
Blitz is on a recovery mission now and he's gonna have to do this alone.
with this push though. This should be the end of the game. I mean, Soulfly obviously has
to make a choice.
Oh, so awkward Cobra running back and forward and Soulfly doesn't know where to look.
This time he knows though, this is no trick, this is Soulfly chasing a player he know has
departed and will be blindsided.
9-10 bomb pushed towards the B site.
Listen, you kill Woxic in this head to head, that bomb is going down unstoppable.
However, patient on the angle, Aurora lock in 12.
a way to come back into this game with their money absolutely destroyed they
win off of the pistols and they go right back to where they started at the
beginning of this half solid versus full buys
there've been two standout rounds this game where Aurora with pistols have
Just made that perfect call on the attack with the Molotov that snuck their pistols up connector into a and now one round
Here late in the defense as well stacked on that bomb site flushed forward were the Mongols
And across the board it is a delivery from Aurora's individuals so fly to the top of the list trying to counteract the
performance from emzino
22 kills to his name and a driving force in holding that dice box two rounds ago
He's got 130 ADR in round 24. That's one of his best performances ever, and it still might not be enough.
There's Aurora who once signed up to play for overtime. Unlikely pistol victory.
And now instead, a chance to close out this unorthodox map pick in a head-to-head we've come to know and love.
Santerra's softened up earlier into this round, flees the scene towards Long, and this stack
from Aurora as they believe something's coming towards the B site, but there has just been
this total vacancy out of the Mongols in this direction lately.
I think he is trying to give them a little bit of vision when they jump spot.
He just wants to keep them occupied with a thought that it might be another B take,
And the bomb is coming actually back in this direction.
They walk directly into the stack.
And will Madrick get the final laugh? Flash to support the push, they'll see one.
I know there's presence now, confirm it.
45 to that clock, there's been a couple of times where the Mongols...
Oh, a smoke in both, both points.
Is that smoke too wide? No, surely not.
Acadia looking for the fresh mag at 30 seconds, Nade comes over top,
I've seen a lot of presence here, but there is still a world with the Mongols 180 this.
If they sense danger in the waters of B, they will sprint towards A unnoticed.
Madger's gonna reapply pressure, confirms this.
They are no longer here.
High alert are the A players ready for this Mongols rotation.
The execute is coming over.
Insta kill for Xamterrez.
24 rounds of play, a lights out performance from Emezinho,
but Aurora catch them off with this stack back at the A site.
It is conviction.
As Aurora just put the Mongols hope up in smoke!
What a close!
I mean, yes, Sarbut Sparrow fought for Amzini. This is crazy.
Um, really thought Mongols were gonna do it on the back nine there.
And Aurora, they managed to hold it down.
But yeah, man, I can't remember the last time I've seen someone play that well and be on the losing side.
Riveting game, regardless of how you play it.
Yeah, it's deliberate.
Great, great back and forth to close things out.
I mean, Mizuno at times was just an unkillable turret,
even when he pressed forward towards D.
I mean, he was doing Cod's work for Mongols
in that first half, but whereas I want to prop him up,
I think Aurora as a team played really well.
I give credit to Matcher, especially in that T side.
Great reads.
Some of the rounds he put together were sick, actually.
The way Xantars would lurk up towards A,
but he would get that single kill,
kind of unravel the defense from the Mongols,
then they pivot over.
I mean, that's what I've been seeing
a little bit more of this year from Aurora,
and it's a sight that I am actually enjoying.
Yeah, I mean, 7-2 down, right?
Didn't look that hot.
Mazzino, I think, 18-4 at that moment,
and a force buy, not a force buy,
but like a slight investment.
Just take 9s and walking up to A,
we also saw that someone's taking presents towards B,
but also giving that Molly into connector,
into bathrooms, right?
And then that person fell back,
And they just found this perfect timing to get into the A bomb site and get the round off of almost nothing, right?
And after that, I think seven in a row, four in a row, to completely turn around the whole game.
And despite all this, even in the pistol, you see four kills, double swing with Blitz, but you don't get the kill.
You win that 2v1 and you win the game, or the map right there.
You can see it on his face. I mean, it's so frustrating to be in his position.
The Mongols though on their own t-side actually put forward a surprisingly good effort
I thought they were gonna run out of gas right there off the back of those round victories from Aurora as they started to pick up that momentum
But Aurora we're able to bite back
I mean the pistol stack in the second the last round kind of creep life back into this game
Yeah, so that all credit to Aurora for making a lot of choice calls in
Multiple parts of this one. Yeah, I mean then obviously I don't know like what
I don't know what to say for a femzennial. That is
Berserk. Yeah, I mean souls. I also on the city side had a few really good holes on B
Like in difficult situations one also prop up walks it three clutches including that one in the pistol
Oh, yeah, the pistol was a gimme, but he still clutched it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah
So obviously I mean as close as a map can get so each of these rounds were pivotal
I do think Zhentaris was having kind of a rough going on the defense.
In the last round he did show up, but I think him and Major were together in some of these rounds
and he wasn't getting that one kill necessary on the defense.
That allows every piece of utility, the rotation to come in and to have a strong hold.
So he was struggling for most of the game, but we saw some of the facecams as well,
the classic Zhentaris, maniacal laughter of disappointment.
I'm kind of getting to him, but yeah, pulling it together and soul-fighting.
Once they were at that stage, I think it was there, it was 10-8 or something like that.
My son, Santar, is sitting at the table.
I was like, okay, they're cooked.
Yeah.
It's over.
But I mean, maybe this is something Aurora can do a little bit more of this year, which
is marshal those emotions.
You know, when we were getting towards the end of 25, the thing that we would say
is they were the most brittle and like kind of psychologically fragile team.
It would be easiest to rattle and, you know, they were rattle there, but they've closed out the map.
I felt like it would bleed over.
When Xantars would get frustrated in his own performance or what the team's doing, then they would all capitulate.
But now it feels like even though we see it on the cams, it does feel like it's more internalized.
Like he just kind of localizes the failure to himself and everybody else can still just keep pressing on for it.
Because despite that moment, still had great moments from Soulfly, moments from Woxic.
I'd say that it's actually impressive for Aurora in this one, that some of the wins and big
rounds were off the back of the guys that have been more supportive elements, and not
as much so the usual Xantara's Wikipedia show.
And Prof, I've got to ask you, a bit of a weird reaction from Mongols at the end there?
Yeah, I was looking at that.
They're still on their PCs.
The game's over, guys.
You can walk away, have a little breather.
They're just stuck there in that moment.
Mara needs to you know rally the troops it looked like they're I mean if your if
your guy does this and you lose definitely frustrations on the on the
table there blitz didn't say anything no one said anything just sat in silence
trying to recuperate for four marazas coming up I guess do we know why the
sunglasses are there do we ever get that ad nazino I mean he's hiding his
tears. After that match he's just like, why did y'all help me? Honestly I'm stunned.
For the first time in my professional career, I'm actually speechless. I can't believe it.
I cannot believe you play like that and still lose.
You still think that CobraZero, it's the same team?
I never said CobraZero and Sensor is the same. I said they don't miss Sensor.
Do you think that right now? Yeah. No
Come on if sensei was playing a instead of techno in that final or that CT side would have probably cleaned up two more rounds
It leaves this is a high pressure game
So he'd be absent to be missed those playoffs my pressure. He was fine in group stages the pressure
We came here we go. Here we go. Can we get the comparison Cobra Zera versus fictional Senzu on this map?
Not on the fly, okay, okay, we've called it before.
Okay, we'll invent a fictional-sensual comparison chart
if they go to the playoffs.
I mean, look, in CTV, he struggled, he did so.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, they got faked out
of their shoes on some of the rounds.
I mean, that's what I'm saying when I'm praising Aurora.
I feel like, I think the second round that they won,
maybe it was round six or so,
they create this play to take all of this space
and overpasses a map where it's really difficult
not just telegraph exactly what you're doing. But they were actually doing a great job of
disguising what's happening on one side of the map while taking space on the other. And
then Mongols were caught in rotations more than once. So I'm really worried about the
Mongols in this one. They really had a chance. I think they definitely can bounce back to
our Mirage. Oh, sure. And let's set that up. We'll take a break from roasting old
Richie bad opinions and we'll talk about Mirage. I love Mongols and Mirage still
I love the way they approach this map conceptually and just how aggressive they play it, you know
So I I think we're going the distance in this series. I mean the thing is I see Mongols as the more clutch late-round
Team out of the two even though it didn't really pan out to be like that and on the first map
I do I think a part of it is just
Overpass is not really where Mongols are super comfortable or they're a map that they're super familiar with
On Mirage, it's a different case even though
Statistically you could look at the win rate and say this is better for Aurora than for Mongols
Even recent results for Mongols aren't that great
But this is just a map that they play so much and they know so deeply and you know the core of this team has been together
Forever that in the late rounds. They know exactly what the other guys doing
They don't even need to communicate sometimes.
I feel like the whole Mongol style that Richard likes is also just how willing any player is
to step up at any given moment, whereas Blitz and Cobra are going to be the agents of chaos in middle,
try to always make sure that things are difficult for the CTs to figure out what's going on.
Like Mazzinho is his killer instinct towards A on his lurks is just crazy.
You got to be so prepared for him to just swing out palace or ramp.
If he gets the calm, we're seeing three guys in the middle, he's taking that 1v1 all the time of the day, so I love watching his play.
But that last map, he's going to feel like it was a bit of a wasted performance.
Yeah, I just hope he's not too tilted going into this one.
Meanwhile, over on the side of Aurora, I'll ask you, a stats guy on TV, how do they do on Mirage?
I mean, generally not too bad.
But I think Wikipedia and Zhentaris are the main two that are going to be fighting short connector, CT side, map control or Wikipedia more on the sides.
Usually I think those two are the main points.
Wikipedia I'm pretty comfortable in him, map to map, forward.
I think he's been solid, not always topping the charts, but I don't think he really had any really bad performances so far.
I'm actually surprised by the Mirage numbers. I mean, other than, you know, nice.
But the Mongols, that's, I'm surprised it's...
It's not the same when you don't have Senzu, Rich.
Oh!
Okay, let's see.
Going back there, Ari.
It's all full circle.
It is, it is.
I feel like this is...
Even though I think that Mongols are the favorites on Mirage, it's only slight.
And I think that Aurora have already done a great job by taking their map pick in a surprise veto here.
So I think Mongols will even up the series here, but more like 55-45. It's pretty close. What do you think?
Yeah, I'm gonna give it I'm gonna give it to Aurora. I think we're gonna we're gonna have a tour here
Okay, damn love that. That's pretty brutal. All right. Well, look the series has delivered already
We hope that continues after the break
She said she loves you but she can't love me, but I love you
I won't play window anymore.
What's going on?
Play your role, one expert.
On to the next.
The
Human body was built to move.
Not trapped at a desk in one singular posture for 12 hours a day.
It's time your chair evolved.
This is Secret Lab Titan Evil.
Ergonomically engineered for you, gamers, hybrid workers, artists,
and that gave you every move.
I
Got dunked with me here from team spirit you kind of with me from furia's way from paravision with me
We're gonna be looking at a new bus okay three things on here that have changed
What the hell? Okay. Okay B is today. The B is actually an A. Not your side. It's a side, definitely. It's not B side. It's not B side. That's correct.
Ah, wait. Like the ladder is not on the side, no? Like it should be behind it, no? Which produce do you mean?
or the scaffolding yes yes no that's you're in the you're in the right area
where you are looking is correct I see that something is wrong here
but I don't understand what so why wait the ladder like the underhound is
but you're in the way to get the stairs the stairs yes the heaven is
wrong there's a break so I don't think there's the steps under heaven
That's under heaven is correct
Boom, it's a ramp
I'm not gonna I didn't even know it's a ramp. I thought I thought there was like just a rock that you need to jump all I drop
Yeah, yeah, but it's actually crazy that I got it
It is a small detail like all right
Hmm
Okay, and the third one is probably against something something not so easy, huh?
And the...
It's terrible.
Maybe the sign under this box?
Is there a sign on the A?
The sign?
I don't know. What is the sign under the box?
The sign under the box? Let's take a look.
Yeah.
Bro, three for three.
All correct.
Happy there was no Inferno.
And now we're going to Inshara.
No, we're done.
Oh, yeah, I'm happy.
You did it 100% correct dog.
Yeah, that's it.
That's it, man.
No Inshara, no. Yeah.
out of the park and Zeno has led this series to Mirage. Now Moe, this is a
this is a weird one for Aurora because it's back to what we come to expect. So
with them having a map in their back pockets, is this just where Mongols
step it up and kind of squeeze out a third decider in this matchup? This 2-2
elimination slash playoffs game? Still so many questions for a series we've
become very familiar with. They've got that kind of Christmas tree history on
on Mirage where they win and they lose. It's actually Aurora. I think it's a little bit
more of a solid map for them right now. Last three of Mongols' games have been overtime
maps on Mirage. I don't think there's any guarantees for them here. I also think it
would be pretty unlikely you see like a MZeno come forward with another carry, even if
it's going to be on a map that he can do it on. That was one of his best performances
ever. It was insane. He did it just as well on CT side as he had dropped 180 on T side as well.
And even with that, they lost. So I definitely have my reservations at this point for the Mongols.
But they also have, whenever I see overtime games and overtime losses, I really think that that is
the best practice over even any amount of scrims you do. Overtimes in officials is where you
really just get through every sort of emotion, every strat, and I think that'll only benefit
them.
So, we'll see if they can break the curse of their overtime games on Mirage, or they
continue with their pattern of losing and then winning.
Cool.
Matcher starts.
The beast is slain for the first round of Mirage.
No MZeno multi-frag this time.
out through the apartments bomb still cut off is remaining at arch he's worried
that it'll get challenged on the crossover but Cobra Sarah has given the
space to put this bomb down making sure the cat push doesn't come out but it's
really Aurora number strong towards market awkward time for the reload there
for Cobra Sarah just as they start to emerge and now they're already close
on the bomb site pushing beyond the perimeter it is techno to catch the
next headshot a little bit labored at the moment here for Aurora they just
I just want to push these last two frags over the line, TECO, to make the difference!
Whoa, the full house between them and it's an amazing hold.
I actually can't believe they pulled that off. That's full on two before, isn't it?
Yes, sir.
After these two kills, and it's also, yeah...
3v5 with...
Look like the end of the round by Badger. Nice attempt.
Oh hell yeah, techno.
More players outmarket.
Not one trade between those four.
Well, they're a pattern of overtime games.
Every little bit is going to count.
The
train comes in for Cobra.
Sights wide open for the taking.
Looks like an easy plant.
I can avoid all MP9s.
It really felt like Soulfly was the difference.
Last game, nothing could outshine the performance for MZeno, but the trades that he got, kind
of, were all indispensable.
He became the difference, I mean particularly, let me just go back to, was it round 23, round 22, that dice box, 5-7 into the AK, the half-bi that Aurora pulled off, it was brood by Magyr, but executed by Soulfly.
That was overpass, when things were going better, Mongols kick off with four players surviving after this pistol win.
Obviously, moving that bonus round forward here, our Aurora.
You forfeit a B site with one death.
You can stomach that, no problem.
Rinse and repeat.
And hopefully this time, you don't lose that B site in a matter of seconds.
of
the
That's a little unnerving, because you know those MP9s still exist.
And the madder sees something. That's enough to just chill.
Man, Techno doesn't walk into this, does he?
Ooh.
So, instead of betting on Black twice and going for that same A-stack, they've shifted
over.
See if the Mongols will be repetitive and they will.
Now, it is a full B-stack, which you know I'm never that scared of.
It's mp9s. It's a scout in a perfect spot
It's also just a proven entity for Aurora in this series that these kinds of rounds with these kinds of gambles have worked another tag
Time to know chucking out you tell we'll see if the corners clear
And the bomb yep back off everything
Everything four players still alive at the end a major triple these kinds of buys with these kinds of gambles for Aurora
have been worth their weight in gold so far this series.
Yeah, Medr's calling has been great to be honest.
Let's fight back in the first half of Overpass,
the setups that they used to convert these egos
that should have never been possible.
That's enough, that's enough, that's enough.
Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright.
Great call, great execution.
And a great opening here in Round Floor.
We can't even go further!
This is a full fight!
Absolutely eviscerated before 140.
Completely smoked.
It's a good-looking Aurora.
And when you consider that the Mongols were really just kind of hanging on in that last game
because of the absolute lights-out performance of MZeno,
You know, Woxic is the only player back on Overpass to have won clutches, sprinkles three of them into the game, and that was enough to kind of survive Mzinho's show-stopping play originally, before the calls worked out, 2v5 to come together towards the B site right now.
Now, Wikipedia, second piece here, has got support in Bound and Zanterrez.
From Market versus Emzinho, he's doing it again.
That's his second.
You've got Wikipedia flustered, trying to deal with the other side.
Emzinho, that's the triple.
It's Wikipedia to bring it back, an ace needed for Emzinho.
He's going to give himself the flash to play off of, goes wide, CT's could line up,
Woxic's got that cover.
And Emzinho, on an individual level, is lights out, but this time, not enough.
Last time wasn't enough either, actually.
Didn't get that ace, didn't win over pass.
The ace would have done it, actually.
Hate to put it that way, because what more could you ask for from one guy?
And it's already amazing that he's still just in that perfect form.
So, at least they do some economic damage, because that round started up badly
and they won't be able to do much now.
That was very tricky about how he took space up in upper B last time, I wonder if he's
He's got more tricks like that for the future of this half.
Confirmation players leaked out top middle.
Santeras leans back in response to it.
Here comes the kid.
Eagle in hand versus Woxxx op on ticket.
The kind of day where he just hits this shot.
Yep.
Both miss.
Down he goes.
The hands of Xantera's very capable hands.
Made softens up the pack.
And Xantera's on for the anti-heco ace.
That's four.
And...aww.
Cut shy.
We're getting here to close it.
Aurora off to the races now.
Three rounds in a row.
back on overpass they didn't really need Xanteris to close that he didn't have
that many kills until those last couple rounds and that's actually another
scary prospect that Mongols have to go up against because here on Mirage he
will get frags that much I can promise you
Oh, exposed.
Could have been the line.
Gadia and Adger, damn near line up there for Cobra's kill.
9-10 wants to chase through.
Gadia invites it with the smoke spam and 9-10's going to keep this quiet.
Woxic's been blown apart by Blitz.
Man advantage here for Aurora.
Keep off Conn.
He's going to equalize that one.
And right now it's a heavy beadly.
Wow.
It looked like it would hold strong.
9-10, long range tap.
And this round reopened.
Completely. That was so scary. Acadia said, you can have me.
But if they can fight this connector player and stop the cat push, there's still a world where Aurora dual for this stoppage.
Bomb is getting further and further. Techno's going to look to lock this in. Soulfly clears him.
And now over towards the catwalk, Blitz could have been exposed. He's worried about trying to round the bricks.
bricks and he has the bomb actually so it's a little bit tough I mean there's
been a lot of time no one's peak so far there they go they don't know how to get
out of this they're kind of glued into the spot but they've already shown their
hands so unless they actually move why would the Mongols go a
this round is already lost I mean oh actually no they both have kits a
A molly for Soulfly.
Looks like the HP is so low.
They're gonna start out the retake
with half the time of the bomb gone.
Good blindside.
Soulfly 17 health versus 2.
So the Mongols put in a squeeze this round
but they emerge victorious.
That bomb nearly getting caught on cat
could have been a way back in
but Aurora don't know about it.
None the wiser,
but just how close they could have ended cutting it off.
Oh, that's an incredible second kill for nine tanks.
After an opening duel, one for Aurora at the top of mid.
Every single player on the Mongols has three kills.
Do that on an international lineup.
Very little resistance this round in contrast to the aurora peaks that have been coming
through from middle previously.
That actually could have been worse.
No, it takes a quarter of his health to the nape, but here comes that slow-cook towards Cat again.
Xenio to serve as your entry, Wikadia dropping another smoke in front of this one apartment's player
who's looking at him, it's about coming through. Wikadia's been spotted. Hangs on!
Somehow still alive!
Emsinho getting there eventually, but his teammates dropped all around him in the meantime.
It's him and Blitz. 2v4 again, queued up.
Oper gets popped.
Backdoor push comes through for Zanterres.
40 HP, all he's got left.
And Emsinho tries to track him down.
Oh, he stands up to the test.
Zanterres versus Blitz now inside of the site to close out.
A damn near chance at another 2v4, but it's Aurora to prevail this time.
I was dancing around that pillar so well, Emsinho just trying to get that fight as quickly as he could.
That was so nice for Xanteris, and how often?
I don't think I've ever seen someone fight that B-Apps smoke like this.
From between the first and second window on the right side?
And then the fact that he takes bullets but stays alive, they're so confused to see him there.
He's having his hands ripped off.
Fingers mauled, but just need the one on the trigger clearly.
It's enough to put the economy back under question here for the Mongols.
We've got that one hero, AK, makes absolute sense to find it in MZinho's hands.
Weird timing with this underpass smoke push.
We'll see how worried Santerras is once it starts to fade,
but you've got a T inside connector.
Off, never really given a chance.
Over to the T's, he will-
Whoa!
Wait what?
You're just killed by a katia.
What?
Yo wait!
Hold on, hold on.
Blizzard's gonna come and push this.
Oh. There's actually a chance.
Don't you lose this.
He has a..
...lasen shoot.
Not shooting is insane.
I don't-
I feel like just take a kill.
If they have pushed apartments like they have-
Yes he can.
This one's done for.
He can always go back.
He can just go back and get the knife now.
I'm looking at back.
Oh. I'm good.
I guess I would have been too hard to get that ankle.
Uh..
Ooh!
Okay.
He's styling on him. Can't get that bomb though.
Um, what happened?
I don't know.
Was it, was Wukati jumping in front of him in the window or something?
He was asking for it.
I agree.
It's like when Woxy comes on, he walks like that.
Woxy had it.
Yeah, like he was good.
Get out of my way.
There was even Xanterras, I believe, down still underneath him, right?
So it's like, did, did, brother, I'm doing something here.
Yeah, what are you doing jumping around in the window?
The hell out of my way.
Maybe we get to see how that unfolded, maybe it'll remain a mystery, you never know.
But this one's gonna fizzle out with Blitz hanging on to the AWP.
Presumably.
We'll see if Xanterras actually comes this way with 10 seconds left.
Oh god, if he dies after time here...
I'd rather- Oh, yee-
Oh, no, we've lived!
It's alright, everybody's alive, don't worry about it!
They both had no health.
He's laughing, but I mean, you could have just denied an op.
Yeah.
Yeah, they have to deal with that now.
There's no way that the Mongols could have otherwise afforded this, so if 9-10 has a moment
in this round with that very AWP, denying that save would have been massive.
That's before you consider how much money Blitz would have lost out on.
the
the
the
the
i'd rather watch aurora laugh than cry
freed up the mid-doules again here comes that nine ten off
what lovely stuff just an a k
lovely stuff
for aurora i mean the fact that you know you let them save that off and you're
still comfortable just going for the window duals
but was that a missed window smoke we saw in that middle of that or is that a
ct smoke that they had underhanded out i'm not sure it was a missed window
smoke says J-Raz. Well to be honest like it should have really helped us. You know,
I should have been like an optimal free. Yeah you missed the window smoke so now
the AWPer can just hold it and instead Xanterras peeks out and destroys you.
He's got it on with 30 bullets. He's 12 and 5 now Moe. Yeah he's gonna get
frags on Mirage. That was always coming. Land like that as well. Cobra Zera
down to sub-20 HP.
It doesn't matter.
Cobra still gets a kill somehow.
Man, advantage Aurora.
Bomb inbound towards the apartments.
They're concerned about the cat split, and they've missed timing on holding this.
Nice tracking, Wikipedia.
And now Woxix second off,
as the main off has shown itself as well.
So double-wok transition for Aurora.
Funny enough, right?
Right that in around where you know your opponents have saved an AWP you decide to pull out the double AWP and neither of those off
Deal or duel in window, but the Santerra's head shot comes through instead
Well, Katie has like a floating hand while he's on his keyboard and
And I think so does Blitz when he does that yeah like pianists like he's counting money or something
Yeah.
Pianists.
It's a risky broadcast word.
Those that play the piano.
So we're gonna simplify things here, Mongols, but...
Yeah, Santerra's still standing in the sandwich flames, burned eventually,
Soulfly Off Triple's got the double, and with it, it's a 4v2.
So it's not gonna be that easy, but if he zanterra's his rifles but grab that's a little bit more of a chance for blitz to get
Some damage is the deagle of 910's bested and nothing beyond that one frag
I killed that's really given over with the zanterra's commitment to the fire
But he's a devilish guy not so that is his comfort zone
I like that he doesn't even just swing out like he dies a little early
Then they can start to change targets or whatever maybe has a chance to get an extra bullet in he knows
he's dead anyways and
and Aurora 7-3 Aurora farming
Now there's two ops in the window one of them is supposed to have made that
Window jump, but here we go through the latter room instead is the new route for wikadia
A little awkward if they had pushed up fast and you do see presence lower mid
Wox expots one side of it.
Octadia will wait for the jump up onto Bench.
Certainly an interesting new problem for the Mongols who have liked walking up cat.
And they're willing to go for pushes.
Yeah, I think Aurora is brimming over with caution and so far
and not being able to capitalize on Overpass with MZeno's performance there could come back
to be a haunting reality for the Mongols now.
Yeah, certainly is already.
It is looking kind of nice on this part time up.
Oh, there's two laser sharp guys on either side of mid.
Freakin' lasers.
Xantera's hangs on.
See ya later.
Aurora, this is beautiful CT stuff.
This is a pistol.
Some of the best Aurora we've ever seen.
Yes, it's a pistol, a conversion, and a one round sprinkled in.
These are the three rounds that the Mongols have on this T-side.
a bomb plant beyond those three rounds.
And Mongols won the pistol.
2v4.
Right.
Fox its energy today.
Final round of the CT side for Aurora.
Looking to finish this with a 6th round streak.
This double-op is yet to lose a round for Aurora.
Peace.
Damage on Techno to have to stomach.
Blitz has slipped the net up through Kong.
There's no one in window.
Let's see how this round gets weird now.
I mean, think that...
But they know this early, right?
They know he could have boosted anyways.
Yeah, exactly.
So now we'll see Madra come back.
We'll see if the timing can catch him off, but you can already see he's concerned about this potential.
It's too long of a window. They have to be watching it.
He'll lose an apartment player. That draws an after-back.
Oh, he's missed a spray.
They've exchanged damage, but there's pressure on Wikadia now. Four players coming towards him.
One's already on the ground. Misses his shot.
And that damage on Hager's gonna make this one all the more likely for the Mongols to pick up a single round for the road.
A fourth on the T side.
It's not bad knowing the CT half awaits you, Mzinho.
Not even shooting at that.
Yeah, right, that's funny.
It's an easy kill.
Woxic pops up into the same place, looks to go unnoticed, but he'll be swarmed and the
Mongols do indeed close with five players up in that last round.
But the Aurora double-op catches them multiple times and makes that all the easier.
So if there's good T rounds to come, it feels like Aurora on the brink of making
playoffs. It's a very successful half. I mean it's they maybe would have even
wanted to get a couple extra knowing they gave up a pistol and barely gave that
pistol up as well but they've still got to be happy with what they've put up
here. So much pressure on the Mongols to win a pistol, another one themselves just
to tie this up. It was pretty crazy that they made their T side overpass
come back, but a little less crazy when they had Emsinho getting as many kills as he did.
We see flashes of it this game, but obviously it's not the same.
the best of luck to you mongols four rounds down here on your map choice and
a ct-5 side to look forward to we've got two pairs of dualies almost everyone
half armored up. Let's drop in both of those.
Ready to get it going. Technos recovered. That was a lot of pressure in terms of numbers.
Woxic just the one. And so stuffed by Dual Berettas is the result of this one. Aurora,
Gonna have to dig deeper, gonna pistol and conversion to start off the T side, Zanterres, swept away.
Big moment here for Techno 4K to give Mongols a chance to catch their breath early days.
It's a bit better of a situation again. The rounds don't care at the end, like how you get them.
So they needed both pistols just to equalize this game. They still have to stand up to just a ferocity that Aurora have shown so far in the series.
They're comforting these rifle rounds, whether it's the first half of the second.
Just a straight-up pistol duel on a ramp.
They've pulled off a lot of pistol rounds, but five Glocks.
Oh, that's it. OK.
Stop that. Stop it.
Can't let's pushing a ramp with doolies and then dying to a Glock is like kind of comedy.
I think it's the kind of comedy a guy like Blitz would appreciate as well.
See, might even crack a smile.
Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
We'll get crazy now, Mohan.
Looking for the bomb plant.
Second piece scrambles back.
She didn't get nothing.
Yeah, I'm not going to have to now since Harrison just got rushed down if he tried
it, so a second kill maybe?
No, sir.
Cobra hangs on with 5 HP and a singular frag is all the glocks should get.
If they should get anything at all
First buy for Aurora right now
Still leading by two on this T side
I think Molladoy will join the Mongols one day because Molladoy is on a Brazilian team
and they have CobraZera and Mzinho.
You keep working on that fanfiction over there.
Someone clip this for me.
When the day comes.
January 1st, 2027.
But where's Patsy?
I didn't promise you Patsy.
This lean starts to head towards A site.
Got two jungle players rotating over with frags in their hands.
It's blasted away by Soulfly.
Here comes that first frag, but there's no over commitment out of Soulfly from Palace.
There's still ample time for Aurora to have options.
Wall of Smokes goes up, rejects vision, and Xenio suddenly finds himself alone, but he regains vision off that flash and stuffs the power's push.
Won't be able to get the multi-kill going.
Frag- Oh! He tracks it! Walks example to catch- PLAN! A double back!
Cobra spams through, and Wikadius recovered it with a headshot of his own.
Halfway through this 1v2, he'll plant on the opposite side.
He went to check the window. That's gonna be sort of a false flag, I wonder.
It's right there!
Ready for it.
And as he sits on 85 health, it's back to the stairs cover for TECTO, who's going to use
that cover.
They hang on for dear life.
Those smoke spams going both directions keeps this round on a racer's edge.
I feel like Wackadia participated in a bad duel right there.
He saw the Nade coming, didn't want to eat it, tried to take it early, but obviously
Tech Bell was going to go for the stairs and provide himself a headshot angle.
Cobra's 2K.
Drills right through to the bomb planner.
What the hell of a burst?
That's a 1v1, it's pretty expensive, but more expensive for Aurora.
There's the wheels here, but they're getting out of A very easily.
Up.
Rotation's coming over, but that wall's already up, and this time MCDO's empty-handed.
He was fighting, he was fighting, but he had a rotation there.
He popped that open a bit too late, can't stop the bomb from crossing, could set it
on fire.
As we get Techno positioning towards Ticket, he's just locked into the garbage, and they
might clear this.
Sofly does it, costs him all for it!
Yeah, right!
Tecto's multi-kill to make the difference, this time Palace control being taken over.
Mistop shots got 9-10 on notice.
What?
Santerra's got him locked in, but again, this late arrival for Blitz, you'd think, should have backs turned to him.
Sure enough, strikes one down, and it is watching to fall.
Tecto 4k!
I mean, he snuck up in the CT, no flash, nothing to announce him.
I thought the one kill off the barrels was what he was going to take if he wasn't going to let them walk by, but did not let anybody trade.
Aurora were right to go back to that A site to do it with the tempo that they did.
Oh, not clearing this is a disaster. These last two rounds for Aurora so close.
It's crazy how close both these teams play, but with that bomb plant, this by even stronger
than the last, more AKs.
For a team that wins 72% of pistols on this map, they've lost both versus the Mongols
tonight.
They'll come through with another buy, but this one much lighter on the youth's ill.
Looking to work underpass in round 17.
They've done a lot of supportive elements for the Mongols towards jungle.
They want to try to deal with that.
Techno collects off the ramp kill these players meant to deal with the support back through bench. They'll come
Locks it looking to cut off that market rotate. How are you gonna deal with techno?
And do you get a chance?
Mzino and Cobra collect their kills
And techno has surpassed Mzino as the top performer here on map 2
We thought in Mzino's absence that maybe Aurora would get away with a second map win
but now techno off to the races and
and the Mongols will take the lead.
Hopefully it's not a bad omen for them taking turns going for carries.
Unlikely situations.
But so far, so good. Sit straight for the Mongols.
And it's Aurora trying to dress up the save play a little bit differently with the connector presence
It looks okay, honestly, but if the spray from Techno towards the ramp just shuts down half the split, tells him it's A, drops a bomb.
Totally ruins the chances of them carrying that forward.
But no matter for Aurora, they buy it again.
Blocks, it's like, when do I get an op, though? Oh no, they have some players saving.
Peeked the underpass for first blood.
I just feel like they weren't totally ready for a second player coming out of underpass.
That one pick off was so clean, no one shot back.
Bombs on a position to go for an egg-zack, and Acadia's like,
hey man, speed it up, I can't stay in the side of Connector here forever.
But there's CTs all over the place.
Oh, op-starting to take risks.
9-10, I'll lock this one down.
Stuck in sandwich though, Tech 9's gonna give you a dry pie.
Oh, hold on. Reopened.
Good amount of damage on Zanterras, but he's still alive.
And they get the cat peak.
Oh, what?!
He got damaged. Oh, and the follow-up.
At least you get the better of him.
9-10, second kill.
He didn't see the gun.
That's the top stairs held.
Wikidia's gonna...
Yeah, now get spotted out.
CobraZera's not gonna make that same mistake.
He's gonna inch his way in.
Zanterra's got his frag.
Two health, and that's it!
The wide swing with the glill to rub around back,
And that's the first of this T-side to break through!
That was a total haymaker out of Xanteras.
He had no health, no business being able to win that.
What a sequence!
I know, I- like, losing sight of the stairs player,
walking in that shot, him getting the first kill
at the perfect moment as that duel's getting taken.
This whole series has had crazy rounds.
Yes.
And wild moments within them.
this is ridiculous so good oh give it up for zanteris to HP
Hey, it's only one round.
True.
They've bought every round.
True.
They somehow pulled it off.
True.
They've secured a lot of bomb plants, made a lot of A-plays.
Yeah, they've almost been very stubborn about ending on A every time.
They've tried it from different angles.
It's really that underpass connector one that never really got a chance to go forward because of the techno double ramp hold.
I'm curious to see if we get back to that at some point, but right now bomb floats middle with these three pieces of Aurora already challenging past midbox.
In anticipation of the cat push, Woxic would look to punish. We've got a battle of the AWPers queued up here.
I promise 9-10's got multiple things to watch so he can step in.
Obviously, he knows these angles.
Either he takes the peek or he comes away.
And Woxic doesn't have the patience to hang on to it any longer.
Here's that jump now, 9-10 on high alert for this approach.
That's the opt to try to skewer one on A and he gets away with it.
And he's still keeping tabs on the thought there could be an opera over here. He gets back on the line and at some point
It's 9 10 who now has to make a move
Gives it up a second time Zanterrez
Caught with a grenade in hand Blitz wants to peel back from connector with Katie is up through the window
I'm jumping though made awkward as techno will take that kill with for health to spare
I know one of the B players been pulled out spokes gonna deny 9 10
He's got teammates scrambling back over through the market awkward though. They're stuck on the doorway
Bomb gets jumbled up. Madger wins the duel.
You've got more damage here for Soulfly to have to stomach.
Incendiary could be lethal. 9-10 back to the other side of site.
It's got a teammate right here to work with.
Blitz inches in. Soulfly dealt.
He wobbled back. They get a kill apiece.
And so 9-10 known to be out here has got a couple of players.
Do they not know? Now they will.
He collects quickly to Xanterra's battle of the operas again.
Again, Wauksic's getting wrapped around and 9-10 nails the lander!
You're kidding, he would win on time anyways.
The guy who was the only one in the site in the first place ends up being the last alive
to clutch.
That is an incredibly messy take out of Aurora.
They're lucky it even got that close.
I cannot believe that shot from Xanteris.
We didn't see it from his perspective, but an incredible flick.
That just gets drawn out so long.
They couldn't get out of the window.
A smoke was, you know, good obviously with the op-on cap, which they had a read on from
the beginning.
But it's also a smoke that they can't figure out how to jump through.
Oh, no!
Careful.
Careful, Techno's blind tries to recover, Cobra, he's got the one, Techno's still up, surrounded.
Somehow, got him.
Get anything you can in that moment and he will find Woxix head at least.
They've got guns to be drafts and a position where they're still very retakeable.
Oh my goodness.
Technine press into the marketplace off of the flashbang.
Emsinho peppering the smoke.
It's an invitation for Soulfly to try to chase him down.
Blitz quietly working his way up, Kat.
looks to join forces with an emzeno who's definitely announced himself now no
way so fly a triple tech nine moment and aurora refused to go down without a fight
this game is an absolute battle it's incredible the rounds that they're both
able to take over top of each other it's switched now swiftly from constant
A takes over towards B. It's got Mongols thinking.
It's got the Mongols broke.
This next round is going to have its limitations.
I'm seeing two M9s.
We have the late game Soulfly frags now,
like we had on Overpass.
He sure as hell picks his moments, doesn't he?
Fast move by the Mongols into Underpass.
It's going to be Santerras ready to hold this back.
Two players inching in.
Oh, he gives it the jump spot! Good caution!
Now they want to get out of here! Does he try to take a risk?
I mean, they have mid control, so it's actually dangerous for these CTs.
They could just kind of torment them down here...
and play containment.
And if Acadia can keep them locked into that, you know these CTs can't really escape.
Acadia sees the fallback a little bit jumbled up in connector,
but at least they're able to disengage from what could have been their coffin in underpass.
Let's see, as long as you know which way they exit, with two down there.
Santerras takes it over, this MP9's not safe.
Oh, I mean, you might want to take the bomb around a B, right?
You've just seen two exit towards connector.
He's got info they don't know he has.
Feels like that's exactly what's starting to come together, but he wants to take over Khan.
Oh.
He just missed this, slightly still gets to kill.
Good challenge from CobraZera.
It's coming up.
Crap.
It's an MP9 trade, damage done as well.
Bomb on Woxic, stalled out because he's just looking for the line towards site.
We get this move now for the Mongols towards B.
MP9 inside of the site, 9-10's hands.
Woxic holds the cross, collects Cobra.
9-10 swings, catch it!
Woxic!
Response is so fast!
We've got Soulfly with the headshot over top and that's enough.
Aurora find 11 first.
Bam Woxic, go off with that shot.
Not looking in the right direction makes it even more impressive.
That's an unreal flick to the site.
Crazy levels we've got from him across both maps.
And Aurora somehow get a lead after the huge start
in the second half from the Mongols.
Five consecutive CT rounds for the Mongols.
But they've been adamant about going for these buys,
so it's not just an 11th round here with Aurora.
It's a real question mark as to what Mongols can do in the next round.
Look at that.
They're still broke.
Less than $3,000 across the board for all of the Mongols.
You'd think that Aurora have squeezed out another guaranteed overtime.
Just like overpass.
But it was almost the wrong play to make it up.
Kat, they didn't even have a connector smoke to go with this.
And there's everyone on A ready to fight.
How much money are they putting behind this M4?
Will they even see an AWP in this game now?
It's in question.
To be honest, 9-10, his best round was that AK round at the end of the first half.
He has not had a good map so far.
A lot of impact in the few kills he's got, but it is a lot of done rounds.
Right back to this A-hit.
We want to make it work.
in position though. 9-10 good for the first.
Mac 10 drive by, utility, throne out.
Woxic's got Mzinho down four and now that MP9 trying to stretch forward is Blitz and he's
not able to get his pause on it.
Those were his places.
He's had lights out moments inside of this A site but with that 5-7 limitation and
a position that he has already gotten big value from previously, damage found through
through the smoke by Kroot, Kodra yet again, but not this time, Techno.
They have no reason to give you this kill.
This is shaping up into a fantastic performance overall for Marora going up against that MZinho
Supernova carry from map 1 defeating that and even in this map, having to make a comeback
and doing it on their weaker side after giving up both pistols in this game.
It is tragically top-heavy back-to-back maps for the Mongols, though, between MZeno and now Tecno.
...
No denying that the Mongols have had their chances to now win both these maps, but instead they face two elimination points.
And look at the buy again. I mean, Cobra bought an MP9 last round. How much was invested there?
They all spent too much money, it feels like. They're gonna have nothing.
Now, we see what both of these Seroasters can do on buys like this, but it's not what you're
counting on.
Cobra somehow manages an M4, they've got one kid on Techno, oh, and that M4 is already
in jeopardy.
They don't have the resources to really support his escape, I mean he has to take a risk
here towards BN, luckily for him they haven't pushed this far up.
Katia waiting back to see the rotation, Cobra makes noise and now he's dead.
And now he's dead with the M4.
And nothing to show for it other than knowing a single player. It's not even like you spot the ball.
I think Cobra has missed that cat jump. I don't know if he tried it this time, but every round he's attempted.
To make this rotate to B would be to make the call off of one death and one known player in what Katia this direction.
Techno's MP9 doesn't go unchecked. Yes, two backs turn, but he's not able to get the better of Zanterres.
And that is ahead of the rotation here for the Mongols in active desperation as they just try to throw themselves towards the B site.
2025 had bad blood between these teams, and the Mongols came out on top almost every single time.
And instead today Aurora starting to tilt the scales back in their favor
They will take to the stage in Astana again as all four players line up for the play
And Hatcher will lead them to victory in a nail biter series that the Mongols can't keep up in
What a great series guys. It really delivered
super fine margins and realistically we're just gonna have to say what everyone
agrees with and that is that the Mongols they just miss Enzu. I mean after this
map Cobra definitely was was lacking in not one not two I would say three or four
rounds where he just wasn't wasn't making the difference this last round was
the epitome of that going into underpass and then just giving away the
the freest kill with the most valuable weapon you have on the round and after that everything
was quite easy for Aurora, but the second half was anything but easy.
This was an insane game, back and forth, techno put in work, similarly to Mazzini on the
first map, like some of these back to back rounds that he pulled out out of a hat, like
a rabbit just insane, insane.
And no one likes to see this obviously as the handshakes come in, you can see Mongols.
Just like after the first map, not a lot of consolation for anyone that might have had a bad game, not a lot of communication coming out and probably a lot of thoughts.
I mean, look, at the start of this tournament, I'm pretty sure everyone had Mongols go on a playoffs.
Are they all?
Actually, no, Prof didn't.
I didn't.
I didn't put them in my predictions.
That's pretty pogged.
I don't know if it's 50% to believe, 50% hope that they wouldn't make it, and this is not like...
10% will.
Yeah, that's a good name.
Yeah, shout out one time.
I just, I just, I was hoping for something like this to happen for them to have a bit of a wake up call.
So in some ways, it's not like I'm happy for them to lose or not for them to not be in the playoffs.
I just think they need to step it up that that that is there, that position from a Zinho.
There were just a lot of moments where you could see the Mongols just I felt like they weren't in the right headspace for this game.
And I think that's what happens when you don't practice significantly before entering a tournament like this one where you should feel like you're a competitor
I don't know if it got to them it back at the
Last PGL Bucharest event where they were definitely supposed to be vying for that trophy
Yeah, along with Astralis in foot and then just accepted their fate that they're not actually the best of the rest because
There's so many lapses of judgment in this match itself their T side could have been so much better
But then they're just missing basic utility or really not throwing it
That's my biggest complaint is that sometimes the way that they were progressing through map control where they have
Multiple name Molly flash multiple utility and then you go up con without mauling or flashing con and then just get shot
In the back
It's just kind of crazy to me that they all they probably assumed that somebody was going to do it
But that's what happens when you don't practice you just skip steps. You play you're trying to play yourself into shape in a format like this
I mean, you had all the time to get better from series one to series five, but Aurora
were absolutely the better team today.
So I take my hats off to them because they looked like they had ironed out a lot of how
they wanted to move through the map.
I thought the overpass game plan from Madger was actually really, really solid.
So that's the price pick definitely paid off.
And a lot of the individuals, including Xantar, as we didn't have a great overpass,
he stepped up here.
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, it tells its own story what's on the screen right now.
We genuinely believe we're gonna see a different Aurora now for the rest of 2026 to what we've seen before because
We've been there before with them, you know, they get to playoffs and you go, oh wow
This team's really really good and they get a bit sometimes they get the final. Yeah, and you go, okay
This is it. It's never been it. I think there's a there's a small boost
I'm giving them like a small increase in their odds and their chances for for titles or for
Winning against certain teams to be like, oh, yeah
They're going to be winning Gastana now.
I think that's a bit ridiculous to put in that expectation.
Of course, there's an outside chance,
but I think they're still just a challenger,
an underdog, maybe a dark horse.
I think they're good for at least one upset
in the playoffs, because if I want to look at the teams
before the tournament started in, say,
Falcons, Furious, Spirits,
I think Aurora should probably be in the mix there,
not in the top three,
but I think based off of what I saw on the group stage
from Fury and Falcons, this Aurora team in some ways feels more ironed out.
Right, we can get a temperature check on how Aurora are feeling because Woxic is with Banks.
Well I can tell you the temperature check is very hot right now for Aurora, rightly so after this performance.
But Woxic, you hate Wacadier, you didn't want to take any kills at any point on Mirage,
you had to just shoot him in the head as well, you just hit everything.
I mean, he did his best, like everyone tried to do his their own best,
But you know, Mizzinho was too strong actually for today.
I'm talking about Mirage where you just held Winder and then you just decided to kick off Vakadia as well.
Yes, because he just decided to run in front of me for some reason with the nades inside of him.
And I tagged double with him, with head and also the opponent as well.
So I don't know why he did that and I'm not responding for what the fuck are you doing?
But you know, I'm sorry, but he's not responding anything, you know, he's mad, you know, in that sector.
But yeah, this is what it is. Don't just come cross by in front of my aim when I'm holding somewhere, you know?
You got the fast rolls and you were hitting very well on this mirage.
But I've got to talk about this overpass because it was the first time you played overpass against the Mongols in here.
But it started off really badly. What did it take and how did you guys manage to come back into it?
Especially like you mentioned, Mzina was dominating.
It was like a little domination at the start.
and yeah we just said in TeamSpeak as well when we had a pause it's like a
T side boys it's overpass and they're worst map when we go to CT we can we can
do the same like let's not step down and I think in the end the three rounds we
made it it ended at 7-5 I think and I think that's helped us and also I
clutched in the pistol round to the next one so because of the clutches
actually three four times or five times we got the clutches four by me
you take that credit you deserve that I'm not that type of guy I'm I'm more I'm
more like people gonna you know applause for you like not not myself but
yeah in the end after the collage is and after like winning the pistol as well
in the second and we're starting great in the city side but we had a like a
little the I think they won four or five rounds in a row in tea it was like
a little bit confused about the analyzed thing. It's like there is this landing and this one
when it comes, they go B and we stack B but the ending on A so it was like a bit nah, these
things didn't work, they changed up, switched up, you know. So that's why we lost a couple
of rounds, we became eco but in the end I'm happy that we managed to finish on our
way, otherwise it was for example over time maybe we could have been lost the game
and maybe we'll play the Mirage in a bad mood and everything and maybe we're
about to be out you know like everything is like so important in this game
nowadays. Looking at that though right in the way you're able to win Overpass how
much was that helpful for the mentality of the team because we saw Zontaris had
a terrible Overpass but he came alive after you actually dragged him into
that Mirage. Yeah I think everyone just yeah the
rounds were like so close that we were throwing away and that was like
almost winning the round but there there are one more guy just
coming like when we having a side for example there is one more guy after we kill three
there is one more guy and he kills two c4 on the ground and chaotic the other one running
and underground coming up from behind like if this was not even happened we could have been like
win more easily for overpass but this is the how it overpass the like teams are playing
it's always hard to play on t-side but i think if you win like five six rounds or
something you can win easily on CT if you have a really great CT side and I think our CT side is
great against them. Actually, I think the worst map was the Overpass. They were always choosing the
ban Overpass. I think in the last 20-22 maps they chose the first ban 18 times or something
Overpass. So if we would have been lost this, I think it's going to be like a mental issue
because of you know their worst map and they beat us guys like you know but as I said God wanted this way
it did work this way for you guys but I want to talk about you saying mental issue for you guys
you actually have a woman with you now who's helping with the psychology side of things
this is a new thing for a rider you you experimented with it a bit last year but now you've got
someone else in here so how is that helping with the team how much has you been working with
So can you give me and the viewers the home some insight?
It has been like we have been working with her like for three or four days, I think.
But she had only a couple of persons to talk individually and stuff.
But she is around us all the time listening and trying to like see the problems and everything.
And how the people are talking to each other and stuff.
So she just, why I'm saying he's always.
Which I used to say it.
Yeah, I used to say it.
And also we had like he before as well.
So, I think now from now on that she got the all-infos, now she's gonna take everyone one by one and just gonna keep talking to them.
And we'll see, this is the first time that we are working with her as well.
How important is this for your team? Because we have seen the mental struggles for sure.
It's not just on stages, it's like in the middle of games.
Yeah, actually our main issue that we don't have any problems outside the game.
the game everyone like a good friends to each other but when the game starts when the mental
headshots comes to our heads something popping off sometimes so I think we need to make it balance
and we need to be like more stay stable and calm and maybe she can make us to do that you know
we'll see I'm not sure we'll see we will see in the future for sure but the future is going
to come quickly as you're going to now head to the arena you just about made it there right
But I would say your thoughts on overall looking at your performance where overall is that right now because we expect you to be in playoffs
But how far can you go when there is no vitality here?
Like what we showed in the group stage
It wasn't satisfying actually as a team and also personally also individually like everybody wasn't in a great shape as also me
Like people are like working every day daily on their individual skills and everything
But you know the update meta everything is changing and people are like basically shooting much faster now
We need to everyone need to be on the same shape and catch them
So we are doing our best to we can go as so far as we can and it's like it's not
Yeah, it's still a tactic game, but it's like a more like I feel like more like an individual
Part individual part of the game is like a 60. I think 40 tactics right now. Maybe maybe 70, you know even
Yeah, I think it's changed on this way, so if you are, whatever you do, if you not kill the guy, it's not going to work, you know, like basically, for me, it doesn't matter about vitality or something, but we didn't show great, satisfied results, especially against Maus, we called that one that game as well, it was like 13-11, 13-11 or 9 or something.
Yeah, yeah, like over time and it's, you know, when, but I'm glad that after we're losing that way, you know,
you know when the game is in our hands and you're losing that you are feeling like mentally so broke down and you're like one two and now, I mean, two two,
like you can eliminate from the tournament right now because you were about to qualify but now you can't.
But I'm glad that people managed to come back from it and didn't think about yesterday and more focused on today.
And that's why we made it, you know. Otherwise, if you were stuck in the previous day, we could have been out right now and you were about to talk with Mizzinho.
Hey, you got that prediction right. I was going to talk with Mizzinho there once. So, you know the future as well.
Let's see what the future holds for you when you get into the arena. But thank you very much for all that thoughts and insight.
Richard, let's go back to you for one last time.
Hopefully not forever, but no one last time for today. I'll say great in the view
I mean, you know as a lifelong fan of Woxic people also don't know he's got that in his locker
He loves to talk and he's very forthright and honest
He doesn't really keep his cards close to his chest and one of the things he was talking about there was exactly
What we were talking about the most mentally bristle team in all of Counter-Strike and finally
finally they're addressing it they're bringing in some staff to give them
support which most of the modern teams have these days and I do wonder now if
the second half of 2026 could really see them elevate and kick on I mean this was
great just how they fought out of the hole that they were in the second second
half the Zantara's clutch and there's that streak of rounds three in a row
where techno had a one-way one clutch then he had a 3k in the middle of
around and then he had like a double entry kill. That might have been a four later, yeah,
to close out the round. He just owned them so hard that the CT side looked like it was
going to be a non-starter, but they clawed their way back out of it and Tars had that
1v1 against Cobra's air that we were looking at.
Pivotal.
Pivotal.
Yeah, that was the one from Cobra that he couldn't let slip.
The one that got away, but unfortunately he's been having a lot of ones that get
way in too many rounds. I, yeah, no, I love, I love Woxix mentality there. I like the fact
that they've brought more staff. It feels like with Aurora as their organization, instead
of EF, they're getting a little bit more backing. That's always going to be beneficial
to teams and-
They took a lot of heat for the move as well, if I remember correctly. A lot of eternal
fire funds felt, you know, betrayed a bit.
Same guys though. Same guys. Except for one, obviously.
Yeah, it was, it was two weeks. Two weeks of fire and then after that just, you
know-
They're still supporting them. Yeah, which is good. I didn't need it. But yeah
I mean the happen to be think we've seen a contender in Aurora here
I'm gonna bring up what I said in the pregame
I mean Aurora's runs in the last four tournaments been stopped only by Vitality and Navi. They're not in attendance
This team even though we've seen the flaws throughout this year thus far. They should be they should definitely be a contender
I think that they actually look like a more stable foundation of a team than
whatever weird shape Fury is in, then what Falcons is putting together on the fly,
the only team that I feel like has shown me consistency or an uptick that is,
is probably Spirit. But I guess you would probably say with Falcons Firepower they
always have a puncher's chance, but if I'm just talking about pure game plans
and strategies, I think Aurora are kind of, they're a little bit of a plucky,
not a dark horse, but they should be contenders. I mean I called them a
dark horse unlike the first segment that I had here at the tournament.
I put them in the playoffs called the color 2-0. I'm gonna self-glaze myself just a bit
I have not in those trousers
I have some belief
Let's zoom in zoom in okay on my trousers. Yeah, you like Aurora
You've liked them so far you had them in the predictions. Yeah, I mean, you know look the teams that they beat early on
I I mean with everything that we've learned about pyromission and everything
It's like I don't know how legit or how strong the run actually is. I do know what I just saw against Mongols
That that that team can definitely go to the final. Yeah, I mean the
Final semi-final for depends on the if they meet like when do they meet?
It's the only team that I would say I would take spirit guaranteed
We'll see the brackets very soon and then
Yeah, let's do it. It's a moment of truth. Yeah, yeah, let's bring up the bracket. Let's see what we got. Oh
And there it is. Oh semi-finals then for Aurora for me. Yeah, I think that's nice. He match. Oh wow
No, deserve
So hang on hang on let's work it all out right 9z. Oh
Furious Falcons. Oh, that's such a crazy quarterfinal. Oh
Oh my gosh. Damn, we got box office in the quarterfinals.
That's great. I love it. Last one of the day too.
Yeah.
Crime time.
Yeah, I mean, that's quite actually.
So, I mean, and you know, remember as well,
all of those games on the same day.
This is what the schedule looks like.
Remember as well, guys, it's worth remembering.
Point this out. We'll be in the arena for real,
for realty realties.
So, I mean, the first two matchups,
the last match up excellent this is bracket is broken down really well with
having a lot of the contenders here third match
what the hell's a polar bear doing in a stonokosk ston
and very good as a wild playoff game not gonna lie yeah one of those two going
to the semis that's gonna be ninety it'll be ninety ninety nine eight
ninety for sure they're gonna earn it too yeah that that's gonna be their
best
the best result of the whole year for sure yeah well there
i mean obviously before we wrap up the show uh... and the final thoughts
i mean i'm i'm really disappointed to wrap up the mongol's conversation free
i'm super disappointed in the way that they played here i thought they were
gonna come in with a little bit more i guess upon learning that the the lack
of practice
right there prior to this i mean that that kind of hurt me
because i thought
i just thought that they would look at their season so far and say we got a
iron out this this this
corpus area to do these things better
and i would just say this was a regression for him
i i i think this is probably the worst cobras era tournament i've seen as he
has gone to the mongols jersey
yeah i just hope they uh... go to european bootcamp before the major
that's that's uh... minimum minimum ten days needed for this team
uh... in the top top tier competition not not in asia not in
south america not in australia or wherever they
uh... feel like most comfortable where the food is is nice i heard they
have a chef now traveling with them
This is the latest. Must be nice. Yeah, I mean, whoever likes that, they can get some Mongolian food internationally wherever they want.
So, you know, go down anywhere in Europe you want to go, 10 days hard grind, 10 hours a day, and let's see you have to make it.
That's what we need from now. Well, let's hope so. Anyway, been a lot of fun hanging out.
It is time to close the show. Before I do, I just want to say it's a special day for a member of the PGL crew.
A chap I've known since the entirety of his career in eSports, someone who has worked tirelessly
to give us so much great content down the years and continues to do so here
despite having a recent addition to his family.
So if you love Counter-Strike, do show James Banks some love.
He truly has done it all across his long career.
Ask him, he'll tell you.
But all joking aside, do show him some love on social media.
It's going to be awesome to have him in the arena.
And we're going to take a day off, recoup, right?
maybe have some birthday drinks, not too many of course, and we will see you all on Friday
for a feast of Counter-Strike here at P. Jellistana. Until then, take care.
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