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The world I've been waiting for
It's all imaginable when you're touching me
It's like your bag of summer hot candy
To some a decade to the heart we seek
We can have it all
And we can have it all
And we can have it all
And we can have it all
We can't have it at all
It's all in fact, you're never touching me
It's like a brand new store, my heart can't beat
Cause I'm a stick to the hard way, see
And we can't have it out
We can have it all
And we can have it all
It's only magic when I touch any
It's like the red of soul, how can I be?
Cause I'm affected to the heart we see
And when you have it
So, you know, I might be talking to some of you guys later today as well.
One of my favourite parts of the job.
After our Chinese regional match-up, we also have PRX playing.
I can see some PRX jerseys over here.
I can see a line of PRX fans over there, so you're wearing a PRX jersey,
and you see someone else wearing one, and you've not met them before.
Make sure you say hi, because, Lan, we get to make friends with people
We've never met before from all around the world. It's amazing. So make sure you do that. Have we always got 18 vitality found in the house?
Every time I say a team there's always one team that gets some support.
Which I absolutely love so so make sure you save your voice slightly for later today
I've only got like 10 seconds left with you guys. So I just want to hear everyone
all at the same time okay use your feet, use your hands, use your voices and make some noise!
Thank you so much guys enjoy the matches today they're going to be absolute bangers.
This stream contains fast flashing images that may affect viewers who are susceptible
to photosensitive epilepsy and other photosensitivities, your discretion is advised.
Today everyone's fighting for a spot in the top three and to make it to the final weekend of competition truly anything can happen as we've already seen hello everyone and welcome to day nine great caster by the way of Masters London coming at you live from the copper box arena of course on Golden Boy here the bald man currently yelling at you we have me me and mini here today for the sake of it I'm going to say the guy who's coached a lot of great teams and a evil cat.
Yeah, I think we'll go with that right you're okay with that because it's like all your social media profiles
It's not legal name. It's your legal name. Isn't it calling Jake the evil cat is your name?
No one's called me Jake ever. No.
My parents don't even call me Jake. No. What do they call me? No way.
That was about to be shattered, bro. I wasn't ready for that one. In any case, so shout out to Minnie's parents.
Coming up though, we've got a regional showdown between Edward Gaming and XLG. Who would have thunk it?
Surely all the Chinese fans definitely did and then later on we have Paper X taking on vitality
But that brings us to our Mastercard fan poll question of the D.O.
We have a good one for you seeing fans out there. Edgy and XLG here two and two this year
So we got a rubber match or as I like to call it the salty run back
And who is gonna make top three scan that QR code you see on the screen right now cast your vote
We'd love to hear from you and make sure you use those hashtags VCT as well as Valorant Masters
Show your support get out there post the good stuff. You already know the spiel, but in any case though
Let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room
Shall we because I don't think anyone on this illustrious broadcast team saw this bracket coming
No one had the CN squads blocking in top three on their bingo card
And here's the thing folks. We have the receipts look at these this swine
Absolute terrible predicts look at that person a evil cat oh and to gaca basura garbage
Absolute buns. I mean I can't believe that you would even do you know me me? What do you have to say for yourself?
I have to say I'm sorry
Okay, to the sea and fence specifically to the sea and teams. I'm sorry and to XLG in particular. I'm sorry
I wasn't familiar with your game. I thought you were Lotus merchants. I thought you had one map you were good at. You couldn't play anything else
Just proved that yesterday. She's fix this a little bit like two other ones little too depressing. You look pretty good
There you go. I underrated the crowd buff London. Sorry
My bad. It's on me. Thank you guys who support him so well. Yeah, I think they'd perform off of that on you
That's on you and
Frankly, I didn't think happy way was just as good. Yeah. Yeah, finish it. I didn't believe it finish it put the outfit on
Embrace where you are embrace where you are exactly exactly. You know what so glad we got that out of the way
But there's still one more person that needs to be penalized mini
What do you have to say for yourself? I'm also deeply sorry to both. That's right. XRG and EDG. That's right
I have not known how to analyze Valorant for a long time
I was 20 23 am now an actual fraud. I have no idea what's going on. You are a rookie analyst to be fair
I'm very envious of daddy way's happy family life as a lonely loser
He's not loved at all. I took that out on my bias predictions. Your mom still calls you mini
Yeah
That's crazy and also as someone who's coached time and time again at champions
Not even getting close to that trophy
I am very jealous of EDG's Trump's trophy.
I took that on them.
I am here by respect.
Both G-Li Gaming and EDG going forward.
Wait, you gotta say the government.
The Edward Gaming.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Thank you.
Gotta address them properly.
I would not let them taint my analysis going forward.
I'm sorry.
I don't recognize the man.
I don't know anymore.
Give it up.
Give it up for these, you know, absolute humble kings and queens up here.
You'd love to see it, dear Godmini, learn how to put on some suspenders.
In any case, let's check in with Frankie on the floor.
She's with some super fans who always believe this.
Gibi, we had a reason.
No, you didn't have a reason.
You had a reason.
They didn't even look at this.
They didn't even look at this.
Itchan has got this stunning jet cosplay, but also is an EGG fan.
So I wanted to ask, why are you such a big EGG fan?
Yeah, the first I began to play this game from 2010 to 2013 with my friend.
Then I watched the Masters of the World Championship in 2024.
I know in that year, Kang Ho and EdG got there.
Got that trophy?
Yeah, got that champion.
And from that, I know Kang Ho and keep focus of him.
And why is he your favorite player?
Kang Ho.
Kang Ho, he must be your favorite player.
Yeah, Kang Ho is my favorite.
I think he is very outgoing and he is so powerful.
He is one of the best players in the world.
I want to ask about your cosplay as well.
How long did this take you to make?
You know, this cosplay, this cosplay, I bought it from 2024, I loved it for a very long time.
And I think this is a very very good opportunity for me to cosplay here.
Yeah totally!
And I know Jet is Kang Kang's favourite agent.
No, he plays Jet very very very good.
Perfect.
Yeah so hopefully we're going to see Kang Kang play Jet today.
Maybe.
He played Jet the day before yesterday and I'm here too.
I'm very, very excited that time and he, me, me.
Thank you, Skos. Thank you, Skos, the EDG.
Shout out to the fans who are coming out here
to support their favorite squads.
This is exactly what eSports is all about.
We thank you for that, seriously.
Now, of course, let's go ahead and jump in
to our 1v1 showdown skirmish sign select.
We got a duel here, very interesting one.
We got the EDG assistant coach.
Sign's gonna be taking on Happy Way.
So, you know, did a lot of hype around Happy Way.
So, excited to see this guy, many, getting into this matchup against EDG,
especially considering the history between these two teams.
Yeah, I think Happy Way for me is one of the best players right now in the world actually.
I think he's been consistent over the past two years,
and I don't have any doubts that he should be feeding an assistant coach in a skirmish.
Yeah, about that.
Wait, what is happening?
Looking pretty good. He's resigned on either side. He's already won away.
What is happening? Okay, maybe we get back into this one.
Oh, no.
And he's won it, five to three for an assistant coach.
His story, by the way, is crazy.
He was coaching back on to different teams early in Valorant,
mostly in Australia,
started coaching some lower tier Chinese teams.
And then he was making videos about EDG,
critiquing what to improve and doing some analysis.
And the fans were like,
you guys have to sign this guy, pick him up.
They went and actually did it.
And you can coincide when he joined the team
with EDG's turnaround
to finally win another trophy in China.
What the...
My guys are YouTuber out here,
You just beat happy way. Oh, oh XLG fans little concerning. I'm just throwing it out there
But in any case though, let's find out where our teams are gonna be playing here as we get ready for a match picks and bands
I guess someone come out
Hello and welcome today. We're gonna do edg vs. XLG map veto edg won the skirmish so they're picking their side
Yeah
Edg picks team B which means ex-LG is running the first map
Pearl is banned, and what is your map banned?
Reban, Austin.
Ascent it is, then first map for XLG.
Lotus.
Lotus is picked, and the site for Lotus please, LG.
Attack.
attack or right and your map pick please
if you please breeze or right and the site for breeze please XLG
attack
attack is picked we have fracture, haven and split left, XLG banning first
ban fracture
fracture is banned last two maps are haven and splits
we ban haven
haven is banned the side or split XLG is picking the side
defense
Alright, defense. Let me give you a quick recap. We start with Lotus, EDG attacks, then we have Breeze, XLG attacks, and if we go to the Scythermuffins, we split XLG defense. Everything correct?
Yes.
Alright, good luck, Ace.
Alright, well the stage has been set here, but one thing is for certain is that this crowd is going to be amazing for both of these teams.
And I would argue maybe a little bit by a score at Edward Gaming, EDG, because all that hype, all that history,
Kong Kong, what he has brought to the region as well, you know, with bringing him a trophy and all that stuff.
So, there's certainly going to be that factor in it, but it's like a six man out in the field, maybe so to speak.
Yeah, I agree, absolutely. Even there, we heard Kong Kong walking out, turning around, and everyone going wild.
I guess EDG guys are walking out like...
He is the player that I still get starstruck by.
Like he's such a humble, nice person, he's got that great mentality and I'm not surprised he's so successful, but yeah, still I see him a little bit...
I was conquered.
Yeah.
Yeah, I've been to every global event since 2022 CopaHacken.
And I think that foot match that EDG played was the first time that I've heard a crowd that loudly boo an opponent after they gave it to the other team.
Like these fans are so invested.
And I think more than any other team in this game, EDG massively feeds into that energy.
Yeah, the crowd also when I'm out and around in London sometimes get spotted and holding me accountable for some of my opinions on
How dare you sir? Yeah, how dare I? How dare you make analysis?
I'm changing my opinions. I think XOG obviously looking very strong right now. I look very confident. EDG
I actually did have some hope for here
I think that they look really good really good matter for them, but I'm hoping today
It's just a banger match between the two. Oh, yeah 100% here
But for more on this matchup list send it over to the one and only Genly who had an opportunity chat with Smoggy
Jn here with Smuggy of EDG. Smuggy, you guys have two straight wins against XLG recently, so how confident do you feel in this matchup?
I think they are a very strong team now, and I believe it's a very exciting and intense game, but I believe we will be stronger than them.
I think they are a pretty strong team, and I hope we can bring a great match to the audience today, but I believe that we are stronger than them today.
Okay, that's a good mindset. Thank you very much. Good luck today
And look smoggy has every reason to believe that because last time we saw these teams faced off in the stage one finals
It was EDG who hoisted that trophy over their heads and look
I think we can all be pretty pumped about the fact that no matter what happens
Especially after how Santiago went for the CN region coming into this one, right?
Mimi it does feel like you're no matter what you get in the top three
Cn team and on top of that you're getting these teams playing some of the best that they've been playing in a hot minute
Yeah, you certainly do these teams like you mentioned they've played four times this year
It's tied so far but in the big games the games in the arena with the largest crowds with the highest stakes
Those are the two matches that you do G of one
I think over the course this year XLG for me have looked better strategically
They've had better approaches to the meta overall
But in the big games when the pressure is on that's when you got a rise up and when they out perform a
a team that I think on paper is at a lower level than XLG for a lot of this year.
So I think my read on this is that EDG have that higher skill ceiling.
They have three players right now in Kong Kong, in Chichu and in Smoggy,
who can pop off at any moment, and maybe it is about the Bright Lights.
Maybe they are more of Bright Lights players, and I agree.
XLG, more of that structured EMEA twist on the CN region,
and it's a very interesting clash because it's can that structured approach
which just contain the EDG style, or EDG is going to do EDG things and just roll over this XLG today.
What made me feel a little better about XLG was the match that they played against G2,
because there, I think not only they showed that they can execute on their structure against strong opponents,
even though these are very different style teams against G2 and EDG,
but what they also showed to me was when that game got tense, when they went to map 3, they were rising to the occasion,
having much more confident individual plays.
My biggest critique of XLG has always been
that they're too passive
and they rely too much on the structure sometimes.
And I think we saw them break from that some
in their last game,
which gives me a bit more confidence in them today.
I think that, but the other thing is they don't necessarily
need to break from it against EDG.
I think that it is a strength playing against
other Chinese teams to use that slightly more structure style.
For me, it's about individuals.
I think that they have stepped up individually.
The confidence is flowing.
It's not just the happy way show right now.
Every single player was stepping up in the last match.
Yeah, no, of course.
I mean, look, there is a lot that can be said about this XLG lineup,
especially after what they have accomplished here.
But for more on XLG and this journey they've gone on,
let's talk to the statuette, Lysor, as always.
Here with Lysor of XLG, Lysor, do you feel like EDG have you all figured out?
And what extra gear do you have today to beat them this time?
I think in the few days we'll prepare new things and to gank EDG.
Actually, EDG is a really good team, and today is so exciting, so we'll fight them.
So you have new stuff prepared for EDG?
Yes, I have some new stuff that the coach prepared for it.
A little bit worse against them.
Alright, so Lysor is telling us that we're going to be seeing some new strategies coming in from XLG.
And let's not forget, this is going to be a squad that's coming off of one of the biggest upsets ever.
to their nemesis G2 taking them down,
what was it, a 2-1 fashion,
absolutely brilliant performance from them.
And let's not forget, that was after they lost on Lotus,
which was like, I mean, Mimi, you had accurately pointed out
that you thought that there were only a team
that could win on Lotus, and they proved us all wrong.
Yeah, I thought that was the one map
that was like truly at a global level,
but they proved differently in this one.
This match, though, I think they saw two things.
First, their very passive defensive sides
work excellently against G2 in this game, especially on Ascent.
I think G2 struggled to get past that whatsoever.
And then secondly, once we got towards the end of this match on Split,
that's when I started to see the individuals really rising up,
delivering the individual rounds that XLG have sometimes lacked
at previous global events.
The interesting thing for me was on Ascent,
no man was playing it off-call on the desk,
that they hadn't really played it too much.
That was the implication.
But I'm not so sure.
I think that they might have gone away and used that time
between the stages to really work on some of these maps.
They come out with new comps now and again,
Lotus not being one of them, of course.
But I certainly came up with something new
and they looked really good.
So that shows how good that coaching staff is
and that structure is with this team.
Yeah, I mean, continuing to focus the conversation
on the individuals though, right?
I do feel like we always talk about Kan-Kang
being the star of the region.
You heard from the young lady who we spoke with earlier,
she was talking about how that's her favorite player
and she's always been cheering him on.
And that, I would imagine, is the same for a lot
of the fans of the CN region.
But Happy Wei should also be in that conversation as well.
Mimi, this guy is nuts.
He's so talented.
Why is he not in that chat?
I think it's because he hasn't had those moments
globally yet.
Kung-Kung's done it at an international event.
He made top three in Bangkok.
He won a trophy in Seoul.
He's had that aura of doing it in the biggest matches.
But what Happy Wei has done for the most impressive to me
many is the consistency.
The last two years, I don't think
that there's a domestic tournament in China
event that they showed up to where he was not their strongest player, where he was not putting
up ridiculous numbers. He's been their best member for a very long time. Yeah, I think it's
the unfortunate thing where he has been performing at the highest levels, but he's not, I'll have
the opportunity to do so because his team just hasn't been in those games. Yeah. I have no doubt
in my mind you get this guy into a game like today, into a potential top three, like he is going to
perform. He is disgustingly good. It's just about how good are the players around him going to
going to perform with him today.
Yeah, no.
I mean, look, I think that it is safe to say that for Happy
Way, this game here could be a defining matchup for him.
If he has a big showing here against EDG on a global event,
yeah, sure, it's a regional matchup.
But you've got to think about the implications
of what's on the line here.
Top three.
Yeah, I would look back to China.
If this was a domestic group stage game,
I would predict XLG in this matchup.
I would trust their preparation, their strategy
to win out here.
but I think when it is a big stage like this,
this is by far the deepest XLG has ever ran in a tournament.
This is the first time they've been close to touching top three.
This is the match where they have to show
that the individuals can deliver in the big games
and that they can compete with an EDG
who we know steps up in these moments.
Yeah, I would even argue in that finals, domestically,
I think XLG should have won.
They didn't have that map-bound advantage.
EDG able to get rid of a cent and Lotus,
and yeah, an incredibly close split.
But I agree with you.
I think big light moments is going to be people like Kong Kong.
They can get a little bit boring.
It's not playing up to the crowd already.
I think coming to these events is where players like this shine.
They want to prove how good they are.
You know, playing at home is very different.
You get into a little bit of a routine, a little bit of rhythm.
Playing here is where it all matters.
Well, look here, folks, according to our master car fan, Paul, the fans said
EDG will pick up the win here today.
But many I got to ask you, is it, you know, like just the fandom?
Is there, are you sticking with that as well?
I mean, I know we talked about this,
but does that reflect how the fans view it?
You know what I mean?
This game is certainly not an 80-20.
Yeah, exactly.
That's what Mike Pupola and Woody would say,
that there's never an 80-20 game.
I think this is closer to maybe 60-40.
I think the EDG, for me, are favorites in this matchup,
but XLG have been extremely close in all their games,
and they are ramping up with confidence into this match.
Yeah, we also saw the map veto earlier today,
and what I thought was interesting about that
was that it is, yet again, every single game
that they've had the opportunity,
XLGs picked this Lotus.
And I think G2 showed a great answer
of how to deal with that composition,
especially on G2's defense, play flood retakes,
fight them before they get set up
in the post plan on the C hits.
It really ruined XLG's day.
And I think that's a strategy
that EDG could certainly employ here.
It just depends composition,
because G2 played very different compositions.
So the Double Juris might not be able to do that.
I think for me, it was the attack side
where G2 went A every single time,
maybe they just do that.
Yeah, it's going to be an absolute banger of a matchup.
Today, four teams are fighting for a slot in Friday's upper bracket final.
It's going to be a great one.
You don't want to miss it.
Day nine of Masters London starts right now.
I like to play the game.
I think I'm very much like the doctor,
I want to be the doctor,
I just like to play the game.
I've been on the mountain,
having the courage to come again.
This is how I used to be.
I was only a kid.
I think,
going down is a good.
I think XLG is a very talented team. Maybe they have more experience in the game.
And they'll chase me! They belong there! They've come a city of trains today!
Getting to do this gives us a lot of possibilities.
I really believe I can do my best in this event.
I want to win the gold. I will face all the opponents.
So who do you want to come?
Come, come. Thank you for your advice.
Let's have a great game.
It's a regional matchup not to be missed! Make some noise for EDT! Birthday! XRG!
This room is electric, the fans on their feet, as two shuggernauts from the CN region clash
on a global stage here in London.
This is going to be, as good old JR has said many times before, a slumber knocker unlike
anything else we've seen, because if there's anything that we know here is that she-like
Gaming have a great opportunity to cement themselves top three here in London.
It only happens with two other CN teams to make it to a top three.
One of them is on that stage, the only team from their region to ever lift an international trophy.
On the other side, XLG, the deepest thing ever been already, an opportunity to massively
Surpland's expectations by not only taking a massive upset in the first round,
but defeating the team that they could not beat in the big games at home.
Yeah, I think if they're playing with that confidence that they're building up towards,
it's going to be a banging game, jumping right into this Veto.
We got XLG going right onto Lotus. No surprises there.
It's been a little bit shaky this tournament.
Some teams have got some reach on them now.
They need some recipes for EDG to copy.
But EDG likes to play on double-julist,
and none of the teams that have been on this map have been playing the W Junis.
Ooh, that's actually a really good note there, but of course we have Breeze and if necessary, we make this flip.
This to me looks like a probable third mapper.
I think that Breeze looked pretty good for XLG when these teams played last time.
In particular on their attack side, they could not find answers to constantly losing control of the extremities.
I would have loved to see them playing more towards mid, slowing down their pace a little and playing the Reaker.
But they just didn't get it together in time.
It was an absolute stulk for EDG on that map.
Yeah, and all bangers end on Split, so that's where I'm seeing it too.
I think both of these teams have their favorite map here,
and then Split is where it's all gonna go down in the end of map.
I will say though that if you start to see, in my opinion, EDG really take it on Lotus XLG.
I think the complection of this game changes a little bit, because you have to bear in mind,
EDG, they've been on that stage before.
This crowd, they're going nuts for them.
They know that they have that on their side and that could be an easy tool to get into the heads of XLG
Yeah, I think starting on your opponent's map pick here is quite a good position to be in.
You can go up into the series a little bit and you could just go fire fire.
I think EDG's approach here is just going to be sending it at XLG.
They're not going to be running around and map-breaking all these walls and all these trips and all these fancy plays.
It is just going to be raw aggression.
One thing though, let's go back to that interview that Jen had with Lysor.
He talked about XLG maybe busting out some new strategies here to deal with EDG. That's quite fascinating
I'm curious to see how that breaks down. I think if that comes in it's most likely to be on breeze
They did change their comp when they played that map here at Masters
They'll use the double lows with the jet and the Phoenix, but I think this style EDG plays on that map ease counter stratable
That's where I'm really watching to see the coaching staff to see the prep from XLG. Yeah, I fully agree
I think EDG play a great composition on breeze. They play the harbor which I think America's has got locked down right now
But they're playing the Harvard to hard hold some of these sites in a way that doesn't make too much sense working regionally
I do think XLG have some things to look at there
XLG of course triple sense it all
Are we gonna get it again turns out yes, we are we're gonna get that triple sense
No, what's so devastating about this composition for people who probably didn't see it play the last time
I think the biggest struggle the teams have against this is XLG's attack side
They're gonna slam the seaside on you repeatedly
They have amazing utility to lock you down if you're not flooding and disrupting them before they said that you till you lose
But many the weakness of this comp for me is that defensive side
I think this is where EDG have a huge opportunity to even just send it on hits like you're saying and I think that can work
Despite on paper if feeling otherwise your triple sentence
Yeah, G2 in that last game kept going towards a slowly taking rubber patrol and then just hitting the A site
XLG's comp should be able to deal with them, but they were not dealing with that at all.
And EDG's comp is set up to play like that. They need to all in with this composition.
They don't have too much utility. It is an all-in double-jewelist approach, so I am
expected to see a lot of hard hits here.
Where XLG starts to hurt is if they get into the retakes on that defensive side, and EDG
that's playing close to the choke points, disrupting, makes this composition kind of
a challenge to retake with. The only time you're losing those close plants is if you're
off site and they can get that wall down.
All right, folks, this is it.
Can XLG take down the number one seed and make top three?
Or does EDG lock in another top three performance?
Let's find out.
Send it over to your casters for the action.
Here's Brent and Sideshow.
That's right.
We've got China versus China.
And possibly one of the biggest regional matchups
we've ever had at a global event in terms of the amount
of these two teams have played against each other.
Since XLG ascended in 2025, it's been seven times back
fourth in their region of China and now they clash at once more on the biggest
stage yet. And we get to see something new and something different because since
XLG have gone back to this triple sentinel comp, EDG have not had a chance to
challenge them and EDG themselves have swapped up their composition going in
here choosing to mirror teams like PaperX or even Leviathan going and putting
Kankang onto the jet.
They were during China running the Phoenix Rays on this map.
Then they swapped up to run the Neon Rays.
And now they're here.
Nobody on Sky.
Kankang on the jet looking to try to put some pressure
on XLG early.
Early opening over towards C.
Man, a bit of damage.
Chippin' down, no man.
Gonna commit the wall nice and early here,
but it looks like a trap ready to be sprung.
What's gonna be going on?
Well, I'm gonna net us.
Well, nobody's all, nobody's stuck.
Could we go for it?
The Navy is going to be slamming down, and we're already taking down a couple of these players, but they're just collateral down.
Top hold at the moment, notice there, the trap comes to full fruition.
And now they've got double walls separating Kangkong from the spike.
That deadlock wall got thrown over the top by Noh-Man.
Landed behind and trapped everybody in.
Yeah, how the hell did you get around this?
What a cool pistol round idea.
It is.
They're watching you after work around.
Kankai is going to have his work cut out for him, he's going to have to wait for the walls to expire.
Even then, it's going to be tough.
There's a great idea about XLG, they're going to be coming into this as well as a regional matchup where recently EDG were the ones to best them.
That was in the grand finals, went all five maps.
But of course Lotus not being one of those five because EDG had map vetoes to be able to expend.
And there it is, Raga, sharp form, taken down Kan-Kan.
Raga had some, I'm not going to say stern words, but honestly, there's a lot of respect, I think, mutual respect between these two teams.
They saw it in the teaser, but Raga talking about how much he really respects Kan-Kan, into helping him with his struggles mentally.
You couldn't get two players, I think, to have different mental approaches historically.
Raga's been a player that's certainly struggled with that mental side of the game.
And Kang Kang ever since he's first come onto the stage has an aura of self-belief about him
If there was a main character of valorant it is him. Yeah
protagonist
pioneering for China all around here and we can see a class once more towards Robola
From the right it's coming out but this is the kills going away BDG
Classics in hand and nothing more
I'll get used to more of this. If you've watched any BCT China, the economy be damned.
Hold on, that's given an open sideline. Nobody's taken out. He was none the wiser.
Cool idea, Ruggers. Used this one before. Yeah, it's a spike drop down. How many open
will have to be reclaimed, but happy way not with a gun in hand to do it.
Parallel is good, fight to be taken towards it, and Jenny, sharp shots with the Bulldog in hand, one to one.
And I saw a thrifty win to immediately answer back.
XLG getting instantly punished for going for the mound aggression again.
You don't really want to be taking risks like this when you're the team with better weaponry.
Early on though, XLG wants to showcase to EDG, you cannot just go and take C-mount control against us.
But it backfired enormously there, great little club burst and then a pop flash through it, Kangkang and nobody
putting a ton of pressure there on XLG's defense.
When we saw XLG lose on this map, it was because their passive A control was getting exploited.
But if they opt more into the mound fights, I could absolutely see EDG finding success in that avenue as well.
Weirdly enough, as mentioned in this triple sentinel comp is an attack-sided composition.
That's where they find the success, right? The desk was...
Nothing on about it.
There it is, target, it's Jenny!
Crazy with it, that is just flexing at this point.
One piece, one for the ace.
He could take the AWP here, or he could go in the huts.
That's all. That's green.
Give it up, home for the ace.
Jenny will earn tip the alt as soon as they can sniff out where Leo might be hiding.
Leo is on the entire other side of the map with a little smirk on his face.
Everybody knows what the minigame is here.
Jenny's getting escorted around by Smoggy.
And the drill blazes detected him.
There it is.
Target on his tail, old man.
He's got him on it.
He wants it.
Flashing the blind.
Spotted it out!
Got him and jokin'.
It's always the way to keep him.
Well, it was an ace 4k, even if he was to...
...to climb the ace.
Okay, he gets that stillgarten online anyway though.
The orb could go to a teammate.
And EDG played the autopilot very nicely.
Headin' into the next though.
XLG finally have guns back online.
Raga is opting into an Operator in this round, Khang Khang with an Outlaw on the other side
of the map.
Raga is actually on a really passive line at the moment, starts to make his way forwards
early but not deep yet.
Heavy emphasis placed over the wards, Seaman with a fight, Paranoia ready and waiting
in Lysor's hands.
Two players spotted over here. Jenny and Smoggy. One from the Haunt, one from the Boombot.
I think the GCNs have done their homework. Contacted all the way up over towards this A side of the map.
Yeah, this passive A setup is a big weakness for XLG on defense.
A lot of trips up. A bit of breakage already at that.
Roughly minute mark. A lot of times they're working a lot to play with.
Always be broken. No place in the home to be getting too much value there.
Just snubbed it and snubbed it as tracks.
Flash forwards once more, that's gonna be used to exchange that.
No man just looking to see if he can slow down the approach.
But this is where we're going to EDG.
Full throttle now, we're gonna take this one, but no man trying to defend it.
Still garden! Takes away the left one right.
And it is traded in time.
4v4.
Heal on squad.
Bring them down.
Sailed now from multiple directions, a flank that's waiting to be activated by Raga.
No ready yet.
But all players of EDG
posted up on site.
Waiting for the signs of life here, happy way.
Stealing sight.
It's a prime now with a Paranoia.
Attention to take a 5-4 with CA.
Open sight lines again, but it's covered by Rager.
Right there. Seekers being offloaded.
This is EDG.
Pack mentality.
Almost shoulder to shoulder.
Playing a recent now with the Operator.
That is a tough challenge.
Chichu with a Rager down into the grave.
Leo left alive as the last again.
And this one only barely more winnable than the prior.
He's just going to have to save in a spot like this.
and EDG have instantly put the pressure back on XLG's economy saving this gun is vital and Leo
just manages to do it can't come taken down by the spike of all things so everybody going down for
EDG but it doesn't really matter they still had the money to be able to go forwards that was almost
like a bonus round for them. EDG have got a lot of wealth to work with here and we're not just
We're just talking about those sails.
Look at this passive defence, they actually managed to set up, I think really nice positioning for the retake.
They had heaven control, they had a player going stairs, they cleared out Rubble.
Positionally, XLG actually played that quite nicely, but when it came time for the execution portion of the game, they fell short.
And I think that's a big difference between these two teams.
You have XLG have been in the shadow of EDG this entire time, but they've tried to play fundamentally good Valorant.
They refuse to get sucked into the chaos of China. They try to play, some people have compared it more to an EMEA style team,
but the execution, the micro, the talent on the roster sometimes falls a little short in this head-to-head matchup against EDG.
The Coinbase win condition sometimes is just, you guys have to be able to execute your micro, your teamwork, your shots a bit better.
better on a given day and they'll get overshadowed really by EDG the presence of them as a team
because everybody's looked up to them right in China as a region. They were the ones that
pioneered and set the pace of which the bar really that everybody else had to meet for
their region when EDG lifted that champ's trophy. They broke right through the prior
ceilings. Absolutely. And XLG have had to watch on a sideline sometimes and sometimes even
attend any events and falling short themselves bombing out in most recent events. Same with
the number one seed in Toronto and they bombed out of that tournament and instead the spotlight
got stolen by Wolves who did make a top three run so that both of these teams are fighting
for. Now all eyes are on XLG after having a much better performance in this tournament,
finally dispelling those narratives of being global tournament underperformers or chokers.
XLG seem like they've unlocked something within themselves but the pressure is on here and
They've only got one gun to work with.
It's going to be a weaker buy.
It's framed that EDG will walk into the potential of a trap.
There's a slow round here by EDG too.
They picked up that operator from earlier.
The one that Rago, I believe, invested into.
So they're going to put it in the hands of one of the most capable snipers they've got.
Kung-Kung just slowly.
Well, this is an investment as well.
All of the EDG players went down on a try-around.
Yeah, I didn't even say I mean cancun's put a pretty heavy investment there down to 550 credits
Right, it's gonna get snipped out there
I'm gonna play the anchor position is a heavy rotate already
Flood in the body he's actually gonna be committing. Oh, it's a knifeful now try push this one back
But this could be disastrous now committing also into a position like this getting picked apart cut to pieces
I saw last one left to matter picked up the rifle, but
Heavy committal by XLG, feeling like they could potentially win that.
And I don't know what gave them the idea that they could.
There was no pick.
I think this is one of the things I've been noticing about this defensive setup from XLG.
Wow!
They don't really have the tools to be able to fight you a rubble, and if you slow take A against them,
they don't have the best defensive setups on that site.
It's hard to play with a triple set Econ.
It's hard to play even set retake on A with a triple set Econ, but you see them try to flood in here.
Light weapons, they need every tool they can gain, rifle rounds, that's a waste from Leo.
It's almost too easy, Raga's gonna pick up the operator again.
This is the big tool that XLG are relying on to be able to push their defence over the line and get at least a few rounds here.
Their attack side should be good, but they need at least 3-4 rounds to give themselves a chance.
I see another clash over the wall, there's a C-Mount load and an A. Sailing up overhead, walking up for retreat.
retreat, holding his nerf, hank hank.
He'll be faced with a reaction time test here, but just straighten this up onto the shot,
but it's actually all the way forward to small, you look like you're on that space now.
Showstopper pulls out, Fu's going to be falling short here, but maybe he can find Leistor.
Yes, just as that smoke blooms, it does not obfuscate him in time.
Fast out, up onto the flank, Raga.
He's already going to be triggering that with the wall going up.
Position noted, but at this point, an unwinnable round forced to retreat, forced to play.
for another day. It's a tragic beginning for XLG and the more that they lose these kind of rounds, the more their confidence is just going to get chipped away at.
They've done such a good job in this tournament of building themselves up, of believing in themselves.
Raga making breakthroughs and crediting Kung-Kong for it, but there is an aura around EDG in these China vs China matchups.
There's so much respect on them for being that team that's always winning, always at the top.
You know what's funny about it is, EDG have only just returned to being at the top.
In recent tournaments, they have been bested in China, but they've kept that aura.
We've seen that in other regions. It is powerful stuff. Just...
...a blanket of accomplishments that, when you were sat at home looking at this squad,
seeing them achieve your dreams,
you start to get that out of your head when you're finally playing against them.
XLG's comp is also just tough to play in an aggressive manner like this.
They're trying to mix things up. They're trying to throw EDG off the game.
But they don't really have the best set-ups to be able to handle what EDG are throwing at them.
It's a very mobile, slippery comp that EDG have adjusted to.
Let's make them dance.
So far, dominating. Five and one, the only slipper being up pistol.
This is going to be a fast round. Chichu's been given the AWP.
Unleashing Kankan with a rifle.
On top of it, over the four wards of Tom.
I'm going to be looting this one with a bit of pace in their hearts, in their step.
Kind of crazy when you're on an anti-eco.
Yeah.
You don't know what's waiting for you.
It could potentially be a stack here, but there's already going to be use over use.
Once more, all comes out.
Look at the trailblazer, C's also going to be committed.
Lysotras with the Buckeys holding.
Type it out.
Look how well this pressure is baited out utility though.
That wall from No Man extinguished within the first 30 seconds of the round.
Yep.
I could always cancel here.
Sometimes I get a little bit worried.
I mean, it's been a lot of time.
Pulled a lot of utilite.
You don't have to commit here.
50 seconds remaining, ragged up.
They'll be watching the retreat if they choose to go all the way back.
That problem might have just given XLG the wrong read.
There's still four players over here towards A.
Still stacking up.
40 seconds left.
EDG have started.
Gotta start making decisions soon enough.
the door is going to be open and wide satchels in from Smoggy looking to leave this one for once.
And just touching the iron, most of this one's still a happy way.
Active and alive, towards the back of the side and this guy just have a say about it.
Side stepping, dodging the bullets,
topping up the corners of that high low, but the traitor immaculate here from EDG.
Flooding their way onto the site now, getting that plant down,
that leaks it once more into the hands of Raga, only with the operator.
He's never found himself in the right position at the right time early on in these rounds, Raga.
Never been able to use that res in his back pocket.
Another round where he's incentivized to save
His KD is looking good, but the scoreline at the top is slipping further and further away
Yeah, this is EDG coming out with a ton of preparation clearly
There's the risk when you have a map that you love playing the amount of footage you give away from it, Riga
Look to see if you can save this gun away
But even on this round EDG went into a four player stack on the A side. Yeah, and it still didn't work
And it still didn't work
This round should have been dangerous rounds like this are sometimes where you can see the team who's behind get back into things
Happy way picks off one, but it's his first in the map
And you need players like Raga with his op or happy way anchoring to have massive games
If you want to be able to swing upwards and take a win against EDG
The duck underneath that as well Rob's life store of his buggy kill and the trading is really nice if I'm just you
I think Chichu is such a good player.
He's taken over events before.
Okay.
Let's see if Raga can have an impact here.
Top of the wall already up.
There's gonna be a missed shot there.
Yeah, it's actually Leo who went for it.
Now swaps the gun back over to Raga.
I'm going to stay posted up just in case there is an extra player just hiding into the one
section of the wall.
That's not the case.
It's like a gap-tiniest of margins.
It would be a terrible idea for a defender to go peeking through that.
Yeah, really would, Leo, looking like, uh-oh, uh-oh, listening to that internal monologue
man and he might be going for it.
Let's take a listen in to see what EDG are planning.
If that's what it takes to stun the momentum, I guess they'll take it to be honest.
Happy way, just absolutely unleash it over the water seaside.
What a phenom. You know he's got it in him.
He's basically alone taking the fight.
Yeah, he was, completely, and he dominated them.
Bro, he was chasing them.
That's the show point.
He needs to be still going to make it.
Decent go, happy way up to four.
One more for the...
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Was it the Vita case?
Still, around on the board, it's going to stop and stun the momentum
for now of EDG that they were accruing, building towards.
And I like the changeup from XLG, it's a very different defensive setup.
Look at it here, he's so sharp.
He's running after me.
That Chichu got hunted down.
That's a matchup to keep an eye on throughout this series as well.
The two best Sentinel players in China for my money, happy way in Chichu.
Chichu here playing smokes on this map, but they are monstrously good.
S.L.G. need HappyWay to be playing like that.
It has been pretty much for the entirety of the tournament, hasn't stopped since it was staged.
The brand today ended up leading over all to site one score.
It's Raga getting the better of Kankang.
It's the first time we've seen Raga really be able to find that early pick with his operator.
operator yeah it's probably gonna squeeze edg into a c exec like souls
ready with a paranoia and happy ways ready with that vandal no man also
waiting the side nobody snifted out though yeah you did you don't want anything
through it he's calling can be really good in rounds like this I think they've
got such a nice read on how especially their team teammates in China like to
play and a compatriots right yeah these rivals that they play against all the
time. Nobody's attack side calling can be very stealthy, very difficult to get a
reader.
Raghav is going to get another chance here. Trouble he doesn't spot it out, it's a full
committal Chichu. He's going to be cutting this one up. It does apply a ton of pressure
here to Raghav, but he's got the awareness. There's one player we're cooking.
Thor's going to be opened up here. It's like gaps here, forwards again, but that's it.
Shona just goes wide shorty. Not enough to do the job, but that's going to be the
annihilation. Wrapping up one rule is pretty target. See if they can get that kill.
claim is broken up, but it matters not.
Happy way straight there.
Trying to add to the back and swinging straight through.
And that is good.
It's a tiger to slow 2v3.
17 seconds of what is your option.
EVG would have really run here.
The only option is towards a B site,
but you're going to be pounded, harassed at every twist.
Attorney seconds remaining.
Going to get a move on here.
Nobody has a spike.
You get a plant down, but he's worried.
Oh, just potentially the second style bleeding down.
But again to the post plan.
It's a paranoia.
sweeps his way through, blinds for just one moment,
sweep into the side, Jenny!
Four kills before finally brought down 1v1!
Nobody suggests a BDG!
Rounds like that, BDG's talent shines.
They just clutch things out of nowhere.
And what a match Jenny is having.
Rager's impact was also great.
Nice to see him be able to have a round of his own,
but they got themselves into a winnable position.
barely any time on the clock for the plant
Gianni with a 4k defending the back, allows the spike to go down
and EDG to get up a 7-2 lead
now Gianni on one today
of the up challenge again over here brang
Raga won it last time against Kan Kan but now he's been smoked off
how often is this war boost trick really gonna work
She spotted out, I believe, by the corner. She's just trying to bait the shot.
No one was cooking.
Raga in danger of being pre-fired here.
The Leaf can't even, maybe, already up on the line.
Watching him, no, just turned away.
A wrong moment.
Waiting for one of these players to step out, but...
Oh, there it is! That is perfectly played!
Dissolves the setup over to Orte.
Nobody was creeping up on the angle as well, right underneath the sage wall.
They would have had him dead to right side of the way.
No one is calling himself.
Nobody. No man, he's trapped himself in.
They're taking a fight straight to Jenny.
Dominating control of this one here.
Look at the wrist.
Misses.
G-tube.
Decapitate's Lysor.
Seekers need to be broken,
but they weren't expecting that.
Smoggy just from the sideline.
Taking his shots now.
Taking his time with it.
The rest of the squad making sure to defend it
as Plank goes down.
And now, just left down to Leo once more.
Not much you can do in a spot like this.
Crazy round from XLG.
Now, you can see that they're trying to mix things up.
I think this is part of what happens when you play against CDG.
You feel like you can't just stick to your own game.
You feel like you've got to make changes.
Gotta make plays.
Put yourself in uncomfortable positions.
Leo.
Trying to batter his way out of this one here.
Hold on! My God!
What's the time of the game?
Hold on. It's getting everybody's sprinting knife out.
And no running shot!
That might be the world's worst struggle of all time!
You've gotta be joking.
There are still four seconds on that!
And Energy have thrown their lives away!
Oh, Vazellas, it's the word for it.
Rounds like that, exactly what it tells you need to get back in.
This is a 4v1 where they're hunting him down, just in order to get the gun out of his hands.
Incredible shots!
But in no world should have this, this should never have ever been around outcome.
Nope.
I don't think I've ever seen that.
In a million years.
Was not expected that.
Never mind that. I've never seen that at tier one.
This is a fast takeover towards C-Mount now.
EDG are not messing around after that.
These are the delights that VCT China has to offer.
Who cares, isn't it? Showstopping.
Ah, what is that?
Half way, cause it's going to do backflips, Kang Kang, and Salih and everybody up top of the dash for the TV, the TV, the XL, the XL, the XL!
Two kills, the trades are coming through, all the way for XLG, nobody now left in that 1v3, barrel poking out, the trade by it.
That's a four-round added up now, XLG firmly back in the half.
Last round before the switch.
By Miracles and Divine Intervention, XLG have found their way back with four rounds.
EDG were absolutely dominating, what is that?
That's crazy. It's just unreal, it's just unreal.
I think he might be aiming at the trailblazer, no it's not!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I'm here.
These last two rounds, he's running backwards.
One enemy.
Our ludicrous.
What is that?
EDG need to take a deep breath and just keep punishing that A defence.
That was what was working for them early on.
The more frantic the game gets, these crazier moments are going the way of XLG.
He did you have to dig deeper to bottom of that pile,
he's been scraping together a bit of a bite.
Delayed wall up this time, Rager not playing on top of it.
He's nipped out prior.
Has he got a little headshot angle here?
He's watching for something.
Potentially for the jump spot.
And then walking all the way up steadily here.
Kangang doesn't have much to work with, just a marshall.
Jump spot again, he's missed his chance there, hold up.
There's a spot of information though from it.
It's going to have to be broken.
Minute remaining.
He's up and Jenny wants to send this one flying forwards.
It's one away from an ult of his own.
Steel Guard and paranoia.
Fords again, Sloth's now going to be sent flying out.
Smoggy's going to be, Sloth's going to be stunned again, stunned up and slow,
but Smoggy was primed on the angle already.
Ready for that repeat.
The net is going to get a connection here running all the way around here.
They are swarming, and a trance is just not there in time.
Happy weight goes down, still is going to be looking for it.
Had to really just force the issue, and the steel garden was unleashed.
And Rage is 2K from Kong Kong in the midst.
Lysort left to pick up the pieces, do whatever he can with it.
TV up towards the top.
Inclination that he knows where Chichu might be.
Dropping down though to 1v4, and it looks like
EDG is just going to be trying to take this fight together.
No more missteps, no more mischances.
A lot of damage being done, but Killed Clay in tier 8-4-1 for EDG.
They go back to what was working, testing that A-defence, and put a simple round on the board.
Taking all of that space. Paranoia pushes Raga off the line, they get up, look at this!
No scope headshot into exchanging for the Vandal.
And Kan-Klan kills two players, that could have been a problem.
In the end, getting that 8-4. Now we spoke with Kan-Kan following the win over Foots,
in his HyperX player moment.
Check it out.
and their determination to lose the match.
The performance of the match was also very impressive.
The next opponent is not important.
Thank you for your support.
I think the match will be very exciting.
But I think we can win the match.
Actually, in this big match, it's almost the same as anyone else's match.
Because if I take the champion, I will face all the opponents.
So whoever you are, just come.
Lotus, but realistically it has to be a must win map. Their Lotus is their bread
and butter. It's how they often get wins across the board and going up on to
Breeze next you've got to think EDG will be favored. If they manage to take it,
EDG potential, then just squill it away in two. I think XLG will have a large
focus on this pistol round for starters. If they allow EDG to get up to a 10-4
lead, even the best attack half in the world is gonna struggle to catch up with
a six-round gap like that. And EDG are gonna know what's coming. They haven't
had to showcase some kind of anti-strap for this composition yet, they've seen it
many times in the hands of XLG. This comp is deadly if you let them get into
post-plant situations. They have a C-exec with Rager on his wall, very difficult to
stop. A B post-plant with sensible utility littered around, running retake into that
A nightmare, EDG are going to want to get aggressive.
This country that playing is quite all in.
See it now.
Double prong set up here while they walk up towards the main.
There's two players lying away.
Nobody, now high low angles,
going to be taking contact.
Raga somehow decapitating.
She's just going to get that trade almost immediately.
Peeling back and away, but it's giving him away.
But the space that he absolutely capitalized
is going to be taking all of that space over the whole day.
now realising a callie with troops all the way back.
Really nice adjustment here from XLG.
Happy Ways lurk is fantastic.
And considering that they walked down B
and faked C earlier on, A should be the weak side.
And they're right.
Throwing net.
In the time of it, just in case they're hard,
the club lets the bodies and players over the walls
a bit of EDG, we can see them off of the flank, Kang Kang.
It's alone here, dash, proxed and primed,
looking for that first kill.
There it is, swings out, shots just going wide,
missing a mark and now blinded
by the paranoia swiftly dealt with tap your way the targets in the back there
that will go down at all opened up gives a little awareness here in a cause made
by XLG to want to try and fight towards his backside position Jenny Cheechu
how'd you get past that paranoia for the one the heaven bear air is gonna be
taken out Leo now gonna be missing brings it into that 2v2 still certainly
making a way around comes out with a first shot accuracy like saw like saw
Just dragging through the mud.
Dana kills in the end. Pistol round.
We said it was necessary for XLG, they've got it.
That's gonna turbo charge the chances of being able to make an attack half happen.
What a lurk up here from Happyway. He looks so sharp with his head.
And get it proactive enough with that one way,
with the Paranoia to be able to select that extra kill
and shut down the danger of Kan-Kan.
Dana kills in the end. Pistol round.
This is a team that is sick of living in the shadow of their big brother.
This is a great chance to showcase that they've got a unique strategy, a unique idea that
can run them through.
Nobody is just disrespecting that, stealing ult orbs out from underneath their nose.
That is crazy.
He's posturing like there's a lot of players here.
He's really trying to pop himself up, make himself look big.
Try and push.
Stack of players of XLG, over towards A.
It's where four of his players are lying in wait.
And he's a nutcase, isn't he?
He is.
Nobody is one of the most fun players to watch.
Canvine is placed out.
Spots a lot of contact there from all these players.
Can kind, Marshall.
Just missing the timing of that one.
Skipping straight past.
All's going to be opening up once more.
Nobody...
Invite or need of some help here.
50 seconds remaining.
Now look.
Broken by nobody again. Just trying to fake it out to make it feel like there are tons of players here to try and push them again
Back in a way delay by time and space a bit of damage done, but a healing site
Barghert we talked himself up here Leo going for the plant
No pushback and it's gonna be a little bit too late to the party
This is that classic CX second Raga always feels like you should be able to punish him
But he plays the position passively cautiously get around heads fairly poking up and over and there it is
That was a timing I was waiting for it still gonna get through a lot more than that
Chipping away the wall in hand, Rager's there watching over the water mountain angle, Guardian in play in the hands of Hapui
will make his sing, and that is beautiful round there from XLG, four players surviving
Keep that idea of the C exec in your mind as we go forwards in these rifle rounds
EDG were touched close to the wall, trying to punish Rager, seeing as they could get angles over the top of it
But it's so difficult to get an angle on this guy, he knows that he's attracting all of the attention.
And it's very difficult to play your normal anchor setups as well from site because you're getting faced Hilo into it.
I'm hungry now! You hungry hippo!
Let's see the bonus idea from XLG.
My potent, you see the flash through the door.
thought. Kankang, he wants to take the fight at the tail moment of it closing.
Kral is going to be seeing a couple of these players in a soundbite and running away.
Creeping forwards, because XLG, the ball of forced staircase here.
Raise the spotting 2, Kral is going to be connecting, nobody going to be trying to play towards the back of this site here,
but white face in the end to the right 4A, nobody getting 2 for his troubles, Kankang.
He's gonna swing out there but Rager's just gonna be taking him out 3v3, side control now 4 to him at a plant, should be going down swiftly.
Okay, just propped up here to ZDG, fully taking the retake.
All from heaven.
I think Abbey way wanted that to go a little deeper.
Yeah. Swaggy through Satchels.
We have to cut up these angles.
First one cleared, along with that Paranoia, so the Utah being bled out in this setup could be deadly, could be dangerous still.
dangerous still, because obfuscating it now on the trade is pretty good here. Leads it
into the hands of Lysor, the 1v2. If you cheat, swiftness for me now, it's time to be played.
Guardian! Lysor! He's only got a better again. Listen to that wall. He's had a couple moments
as he in post-ban situations on the A site. This one, he plays it really nicely again.
I feel like XLG's post-plants have been a little disconnected.
They are relying on individuals to get them past it.
They're not setting up crossfires, swing-off contact setups, but as long as they can come
out individually ahead of EDG, that is a massive win condition for them.
EDG looking to take a fire mount.
Yeah, they really are.
Sheraton, handy.
They're looking to explode out of all of these smokes.
Nobody's just holding that flash.
I'll try it for it, but what's actually across? What is that? Happy way!
My god!
Kling swarms out of the opposition.
Yeah.
Didn't even break a sweat doing it by the look of it.
He's got such a great control of it, too.
Throws down the trip, knows what's coming.
It's been maxing. Both orbs.
Vacuumed up.
I'm off for the other side, I'm off for being swiftly hunted down and out, 8-8, even up
here for XLG.
It's absolutely flawless.
Rocket controls, ganker, the flash, bit of a mistake from nobody, but a happy wave was
Incredibly aware. Incredibly ready for this.
The trip. A beautiful way of handling that kind of play.
He needs to have impact for XLG and he has been all tournament. Such a consistent player.
Another mouth fight. Again here for EDG. They do not want to allow XLG to just walk up and C-pop on them.
They're going to opt in all the way. The Horns are going to be broken.
Logi, he's gonna be on!
He's not playing fire straight through the smoke.
He's still gearing up for a little bit more.
He's got blood in the water, and the whole squad
are gonna back him up, Jenny by his side.
Spalvin' away, that's a spike completely cut up,
and a cheeky play by Lysol, just a one,
for his eventually top holes and fells.
Blink of an eye, happy wait.
I have to wonder what the hell has happened over there.
I guess you guys needed me, huh?
Left in a 1v4, EDG's game plan working perfectly.
High low setup, spike in their face.
Even Happyway shouldn't be able to recover this.
No, it's a high low. Surely you're going to see the precision on display.
And there it is, shots.
Finding the mark eventually here. Leed now taking back once more by EDG.
And this is why fighting round is so good against XLG's composition.
I mean, Smoggy should have been punished back at that.
Lit up by the haunt and somehow finds just fishing in a smoke a headshot onto Raja.
It is a bit unlucky, it really is.
but the game plan is still good.
You want to try to tackle this triple sentinel comp
that doesn't have too many tools to work with for map control
before they get into a position where they can just exit C and get into a diabolical post plan.
EDG are going to do this time and again.
And XLG got the adjustment.
It's time to soggy.
Trying not to get checked there by the horns.
It's a PC default. I like this. It's going to collapse this setup.
Yeah, potentially, but they look like they may not want to fight forwards for it.
Still smoggy. He's not leaving, not vacating.
He's been pressured from multiple avenues, but the hit coming through on XRG's side of things.
How do I pass this one way?
I mean, that's rough. If you open that door, you've got to be looking to try to actually take the fight.
I think they were expecting EDG to just give them respect.
Another one's looking to find it even a bit further to flash, but to keep this down smoggy.
They're not convincing the seekers, nothing was pointing towards the spawn area.
They've seen another paranoid, they've pushed them back.
50 seconds remaining, this is time that's getting bled off the clock, they're actually having no map control.
And now they're forced to go back into Kangkang.
She's holding this line.
Kangkang holding the line.
It's A site.
Looking much more deadly now.
Holding his nerve smoke up and that's not going to be cutting him out of the picture
not here not right now but a spam this definite level of awareness here the
horse is going to be disrespected and the shot just goes wide
fashion away to this engagement it goes to another one right at the apple why not
instant arrest and bring them back into the fray you can see this move up
towards his b side it's still going to deal with this one jiggling jostling your way back
into this side see if you can take it with just raw firepower XRG
The earlier time to get that plant down in the MG2, it's heavy damage.
Digging a couple of plays in the process, brings it into that 2v2 now up towards Heaven,
and a catapult into main Raker!
Spun down through the smoke.
Pinpoint accuracy, smoggy.
Just following it off the mini map, I believe.
Yeah, it's really good. Actually, from EDG there, I love that round.
The mound pressure. So difficult for XLG to ever be able to get through.
Kankang was holding this angle for so long. I think it's kind of a wild call by Leo to have his team go through A to B.
After you know that they've all been over on the suicide of the map for so long.
In theory, Kankang should be the only player holding A. Once you deal with him, you go A, but they didn't pivot it into B.
It's a better situation for them to hold in the post plan, but it's harder for them to actually get the spike down and you saw that in the moment.
I think it makes a lot of sense that Void would be wanting to talk to the troops here.
This is the second time out being used.
There's a very clear and strong game plan coming out from EDG.
They are not going to allow you to run that C-Exec.
All utility, all the fights are going to be over towards Mount.
No free avenues to the sites.
in the hands of Kankai to hold over all day.
And confidence that they can play retake into it.
Very clear game plan.
We need to see an adjustment from XLG here
because in our two rounds down,
you did well, round 13, converting it into the bonus
and beyond dragging it level.
But right now it's EDG that are in control of this map.
And this is where the mind games happen, right?
As both teams look for the Coinbase Week Foundation.
If XLG decide, well, they're leaving A very open,
Let's go A a bit more, our EDG one step ahead.
Can Autumn give them the ideas to pre-empt
what might be coming out of this tactical time-out
and change the defensive setup.
Previously, what we're expecting is Kang Kang Ho towards A,
the team-fighting mound.
Already, you're seeing that that's changed.
There's no adjustments.
Kang Kang's here, but also,
so is Smoggy with that showstopper.
Possibility of a re-fight here.
See how they play it.
Nobody could tuck.
Reflight with the Flash and the Alten, looks like he has to be trying to be as quiet as possible, breaking down the walls, four players now stacked up, happy way.
Very much alone, Cammer needs to be going to be broken, at some point they're going to pop the Paranoia and the Showstopper.
Just waiting for the contact, happy way's cages, crawler forwards and out of Showstopper to hear what I you tell, but everybody just disengaging.
Ready for the potential of that trap play and Troubles, they're not even catching onto it, the Slow Wolves are perfect!
The stunting and stalling this out, dissolves the trap play.
No casualties for XLG, but it's a really nice adjustment coming out of the tag timeout and in theory
They're reading into the idea that XLG would now react C. Cancun was already making his way over there now starts coming back
Towards it smoggy. It's all gonna be on your shoulders here
Prowler to be broken is gonna be showing a lot of respect here doesn't want to stick around and that
Bailey had a torch from it and hang on that dash. It's crying ready for the taking
He's gonna take Rager's life with it. Nobody pixel angle takes our happy way for the look potential
Chopping Kangang straight out of the sky, nobody's already clearing away, forward is the fight to be taken here and the traits are well-included now for EDG but unanticipated where Lysor is still.
Chopped out of the final second, this time not winning out that clutch.
The numbers advantage coming through so crucially there for EDG, they had an extra player on the retake and Chichi was required.
We're on for another LISO, 1v2 moment over on A.
It's another round where EDG have got a great read about what's happening.
Smoggy fumbles a little bit to give XLG an opening.
But I think EDG are all over them right now.
They've really got a good read of how XLG want to pilot their comp.
This is now three rounds in a row.
Last chance for XLG to be able to put together a goodbye.
Goodbye, otherwise this is going to snowball out of control.
I'll be lucky.
Ball's going to open up one small, gives an avenue to potentially take a fight,
but I'm kind of happy to just sit tight,
up to the corner.
Early in this half, he was burning his dash in that situation.
This time, stays tucked.
Yeah.
Doesn't look for the fight.
Bidens his time, nobody...
Stominated control of the smoke, ensuring that nobody can step in.
So what he is, backpedaling now,
warning shots, peppered and fired out,
But that dash active now doesn't see any signs of like that job is going to be broken. Oh my this is crazy
Taking the timing but watchful by Leo and now he's committed into the backline
come down
Far too deep behind enemy territory
They're doing a good job of shutting down kung-kong's impact in this game. The XLG need more
That's a deliberate or no effect. It's gonna be revealing all the play positions and now that plan is again perfect smoggy
Caught into the corner and I like she's gonna be sidestep for now, but the plant still goes down about too many problems
Sage wall over towards stairs, deadlock wall up towards Heaven.
Really difficult to try to get back in on this post plan.
Trip cover in the flank. This is where the triple Sentinel comp thrives.
In spots like this, it's just not even worth going for for EDG.
Especially on Jienian, Smoggy don't really have the money to work with.
Massive credit to XLG for putting Kangkang in these difficult spots.
He hasn't yet had one of those extraordinary rounds where he dominates.
Weapon here.
11 and 15, they're keeping him down, keeping him in check.
It's difficult to do, player of his caliber.
Just absolutely making sure that nobody's going to get that injured off.
So are an error earlier on from EDG.
XLG though, open A, take that space away.
And as long as they deal with that little piece of aggression from Conkran,
They can get into some good A-Pose-Plants scenarios here.
Taking like they could fight towards Mount.
Creating that weak side A and then ending M.
I think that can be a very strong idea.
Yeah.
Similar attacks, IT follows like that's where XLG are leaning towards.
And a reminder that XLG need this map.
This is their bread and butter. Top of the map, Paul.
EDG change up their comp you can't let them come away with this heading into breeze switch up
If I set up now gonna be sticking over towards this a site
There is reinforcements that okay. No since they hit our utile happy. We're just happy to evacuate all the way back
Let's listen into XLG see how they manage it
I'm watching them. I'm watching them.
Dead?
Dead.
I'm watching them.
I'm watching them.
Dead.
I'm watching them.
I see them.
I see them.
I see them.
Go up on them.
Hold up, guys.
Hold up.
Hold up.
Hold up.
Hold up for me.
Hold up for me.
One right up.
Good plan, guys.
Nice.
Good.
It's all for playing, guys.
I got up.
I got up.
I got up right here.
You got-
You get themselves into the post plan and all that.
You two set up.
They are putting up one hell of a defense now.
In control of the side, EDG are back pedaling.
They look like they want to save here.
in a 4v5 retake, but into all of the Sentinel utility, they just don't feel confident.
No, they don't have a choice really.
If the early fights don't work...
Man, the crowd cheering is all happy about it, aren't they?
Well, XLG have come out with a really nice idea, which is just go A.
I mean, EDG are so prepared for the B-Pop with all of that post-plant utility.
For the C-Exec, where Raga ults up, sorry, walls up, and you have that high-low setup.
XLG showcasing here that if you do leave a week as part of your anti-strat, they're happy to take it.
You heard No Man in the comms. Good plan, guys.
Yeah. Once we get into that spot, feeling good.
And what's so interesting about this matchup, too, from a comms perspective,
is that XLG have got that mixed style of communication.
Sometimes speaking English, sometimes speaking Chinese, depending on who's alive and their comfort levels.
It's forced the time out out of EDG.
First one they've taken in this map,
surprisingly enough, that's by how close it's been.
11-10 though, this is EDG, and it's been a back and forth affair
in terms of the way that the momentum has shifted,
but you can definitely say that XLG have got the right read.
Now, it's up to EDG to make the adjustments to see
they can close out this pivotal map lotus.
So damn important, XLG themselves.
They don't want to be going into breeze at a disadvantage.
that would be shooting yourself in the foot.
You heard Mini talk about it on the desk.
His perspective as a coach who's won trophies before
is that it's quite nice going into your opponent's map pick
on map one, because you get an opportunity to warm up.
If you're in great form, if your auntie's looking good,
maybe you even steal it away from them.
EDG, they've got a great chance here at stealing it away.
This is their first tactical time out that they've had to use.
They're under a little bit of pressure here
as XLG changed up the ideas.
But they've got a great chance of being able
So you steal a win here and get set up for a 2-0.
This matchup was insanely close when it was played in Chinese Grand Finals.
VCCCN went the full five.
It really did.
And that was with XLG having absolutely good for them, removed out of the pool.
Yeah.
There is absolutely no guarantee that if this goes to split,
that EDG would be favoured, even though a lot of us think of them as being the better team,
the more accomplished team over the long term.
So what the adjustment idea is, it looks like a deep walkout.
Can't, can't.
Ready to see if you can square up, take this fight all the way forward.
And that is nasty stuff!
Little two-piece and dash to get the hell away,
but looking like he almost wants to go for seconds.
Once more, pushing forwards,
and there was that fight out towards that seamount angle,
trying to put the squeeze slowly onto XLG.
The Spikes could have landed in no-man's arm.
Yeah, ensuring that they can't even get into the post plan in the first place.
And no-man himself is on the long wrap around.
Might try to put a little bit of pressure through Blue Room.
Sliders of Anglesea, Lysor just spotting signs of life from Kan-Kang.
With a round out as Cloudbursts gives that open access as it fades away.
Happy way, happy to rip the head clean off, getting a bit of a sprint on there.
Not accounting for no man, he's found signs of all of them.
Can't get a second kill, but he at least found the first.
Nobody's just running knife out and he's setting up defensive setups now.
Stuns, walls all around, B site.
Reinforcing it now for the future plant.
Shadows traveling.
They completely lost track of where they said he was.
No man's found some incredible opening here.
And he's going to get challenged.
Sonic's answer though is so tough.
Yeah, took to the corner. It's going to be pulling the attention away.
Surely at that. Triggered but a kill. Claimed once more into the hands of no man.
I can't quite get that one still.
Jobs off finished. 2v2. Now G2 making a lot of noise.
But a door opened up. Lysos once more, less in the clutch.
A 1v2. See if he can do it once more, but he smoked off away from all of its spam bullets.
Rattled and whistling straight over the head, a tap to see if he can pull out those reactions.
Now he's going to do his spam all the way.
They find the goods, they find the kill. EDG get to 12.
Wild round coming out of the attack timeout.
Kan Kan missed the timing of the first player to top.
And yeah, he's still so sharp with it.
First round where that early pressure from him has resulted in a massive advantage for EDG.
Especially with the Spikes just being dropped into their laps.
And an XLG coach is absolutely gutted they couldn't convert the post plan.
EDG go up to a mat point. They'll have two opportunities to close it.
the game. Operator in the hands
of Cancan once more. What is a
site? It's going to be opened
up. Why is very similar defensive
setup and default? I'm gonna
reveal too much. He's going to
be spotting at least no man.
Here to Prouler to so they know
that there's a lot of players
over the wards. Finding into a
going A in spots like this, when EDG are keeping weak side A in Kangkang with so much on his
shoulders, even if he goes one for one here, Raga's got the res. Hot shots, through the
wall, Orbs are being claimed, it's dark, that is a nasty shot, just for just a game in time.
But Jack's back away, but it just immediately is undone. Resurrect and a kill, it's flowing
forwards, nobody looking to see if he can do a little bit more damage. Chipping away
from the side. Kankank. Here.
So, Mrs. Timing got quite. He's very aware of this one.
Very aware. And that is the spike donated.
They saw. No ulti picked this one up.
They're gonna have to fight this one to a nail,
but this is EDG looking crime and ready to secure up Lotus,
set themselves up beautifully for the rest of the series.
It's 30 seconds.
It needs rohics.
Raghorn, happy way and nowhere near.
It needs more than that. It needs pure individual brilliance.
Nowhere near at all. 25 seconds left time is just running short and dry.
Kanghan, 20 seconds!
Chillin' for now, biding his time, waiting for it, because they know the emphasis is placed on the XLG.
Like so, 15 seconds Kanghan, already activating flash connects, and that's it!
Top hold, all the way, 13-10, EDG!
Take away that mad pick of XLG, and surely, surely ready for the slam dunk finish on Breeze.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, all of us!
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I've seen that open map going now, going to show you some of their moves, I hope you'll
give them all your love and support.
Make some noise for your dancers London!
Yes!
Okay then, you can vibe around.
I'm on, put your face in the middle please, let's bust the move!
Oh, I call that one the KitchenAid.
Oh, yes! Come on Megan! She's got the thunder stick. It's the loot. Oh, I can't, I'm proving
no longer with her. That's it, let's go! Robot 2.0! Come on Helen, yes! Oh no, no, no,
That's Moon with the XOG and Plexi.
Yes! Here we go. Come on, Paper X.
Go ahead, back right now.
We kept the Plexi.
Oh! Can I need you guys break dance?
No? Anyone in the building?
Okay. Listen, I would break dance, but I'm wearing a skirt, so I'll just give you a...
I'll just give you a...
Oh! Thank you so much to our dancers, everyone!
We're going to keep things going and we head into mat number 2.
Here with EDG's coach Autumn, Autumn wanted to miss rounds from EDG, almost snowballed
into XLG's favor, what will you be discussing before Breeze?
I think part of the reason why those two missed rounds happened was because I was telling them to go extra aggressive today.
maybe they were overwhelmed on the first map,
but I think it's important to kind of maintain
that type of aggression on the second map.
So I don't, I'm not going to talk too much
about those mistakes.
I think I'm going to encourage them for Breeze.
Thank you, Autumn.
And go encourage them.
Encouragement, but of course,
always a pleasure to hear from coach Autumn
as we get ready for map two.
It's EDG that managed to pull off the dub,
but it came after a lot of fightback from that XLG lineup.
But to kind of focus on what had happened there,
I mean, XLG, we were talking about those C fights
and how C was really gonna be a point of contention
on this map, and many kind of proved to be the case here.
And what you were getting was really just an EDG
that just was not allowing them to be able
to feel comfortable in these situations,
and XLG kind of just crumbling in those fights.
Yeah, exactly.
It seemed like a bit of a wrong read, I'd say, from XLG.
that mind and not being able to convert a lot of these rounds. I think they were at their best when they actually played a lot more passive on that
seaside and able to deny a lot of those plans with the composition they have. EDG just ran over them in a lot of these situations.
Yeah, I think the biggest issue the last time they played their Lotus on the defensive side was A, getting ran over when they went for passive holds.
And I think that that was the exact same issue again today. They did change how they were playing. They tried to lean into Rarga all-thing,
they're not playing the same
games, which is not a good
thing. Playing the sage
towards that a site more
often, but I think
fundamentally they could not
find a solution still to an
edg just took those a fights
their composition doesn't
really play super well into
forward fighting that space,
and I think you absolutely
abuse that to get a big
leading that for the irony
being the edg on their
defense side was doing mind
fights that went very well
against the opposing
composition. Lots of
interesting vice utility
to see those adjustments being introduced there but of course so you know there were some decent
moments for XLG we're able to make a comeback happen in that match up just take a look at that
hyperx reflex moment of the match as well maybe. Decent for XLG, criminal, they lose this round!
I could not believe what I was wanting though. Be careful Mimi you might have to do another clown
segment better be careful now. Oh it's just saying that he's gonna keep keep keep it calm
but keep encouraging them I would be a very different approach after a round like this I think
I think I'd be a lot like boys, like, you know, the look of knowing, unimpressed that,
but yeah, Leo did extremely well to capitalize on that.
That's that type of relaxation right there, Mini.
That type of relaxation.
It certainly is.
I think if there's something I'm walking away with, I'm pretty happy about for XLG, even
though they're in a good spot losing their map pick, going into freeze, it's that they
were going bar for bar with EDG, their multi kills, in the clutches.
My biggest concern was that they were going to face the aura of an EDG that they don't
beat in big games, that is proven in these big matches and that the individuals wouldn't
show up even if the reader was good and thankfully that didn't happen but the issue was the opposite
where I actually thought they had misreads and they couldn't adapt whereas EDG was having
all the right reads out of their timeout staying on top.
I think frankly the Lotus got a little bit stale.
Now one of the maps of the tournament they're losing the most.
I think that's now three losses to one win at this tournament.
DPConsult one over the composition like this the more you're going to get red
Yeah, and I was gonna ask that question right is it maybe Lotus
Takes a little bit of a backseat for now. This gives me shades of what happened to sensuals on split
Remember, I think was like Madrid or something like that one of the events where they were so good on split
But everyone had the case the case right when a team plays the same map over and over again
You need to find that depth but that has not existed many on the breeze for XLG when they played in China
this map looks absolutely tragic.
Lyser said they have some new ideas, new strategies.
What could that be?
I think like first to diagnose the problem,
the biggest issue for them was that EDG was constantly fighting
on defense, forward in the extremities
and having Kung-Kung locking down mid with the operator.
They couldn't find a solve to that.
They've already changed their comp.
I want to see an XLG that is heavily applying for mid on this attack site
and looking to split into sites with late re-clears and mains
instead of engaging in that early.
Well, XLG did play against GE and had a fantastic attack side there.
They were switching it between very EMEA style,
do nothing, defaults were recited back just waiting
and mixing in very fast aggressive strategies.
I think that that is probably going to be their approach for this attack side.
Just seeing what EDG are going to do.
I think that EDG don't play this hybrid necessarily as nicely as I want to see.
Like on the defense side, usually the hybrid is for floods and retakes,
but they're just fighting with it, which is to me, exploitable.
Yeah, there was a shutdown on Kong Kong on map 1.
XLG did a great job of removing his impact,
but this is one of his absolute best maps.
He's fighting for the third top three for this team.
Can EDG lock it in and get it to a win?
Listen to back over to your casters.
Brandon Sideshow for the call.
EDG XLG comes down to this, really.
If XLG can survive in this series,
they've got to get it done on the breeze of map work.
The Desk was just teeing it up.
They've been uming and aring at this one.
EDG are quite capable when it comes to the breeze themselves.
We were talking about how important that first load
is map is, but now XLG TAS was putting it behind them
in the back of their minds, not thinking about it,
and just setting their sights forwards here on the pistol.
Recon sees nothing.
A few shots though, that is a tremendous amount of damage.
Jenny almost just going down.
The shots in the chest there.
Happy wait.
Always happy to scrap.
EDG wanted to get a push out mid, see if they could get a flank retake going somewhere else around the map.
Nobody on Sova now, pushing through elbow.
As you see, EDG with this...
somewhat aggressive approach to A, they can get a lot more aggro than this actually, but it's Jenny...
with the Sheriff and a Nade up close, he backs up now though.
A little bit worried about this.
Two players towards the back of the side now, Jenny looking to see if they could anchor this one, but there's already...
like, ball up onto the one side, Harp always gonna be used...
Pretty early here, so you're just looking to see if you can push this back and away.
The parry is pretty picture-perfect at that though, and Recon's going to be revealing a whole tremendous amount of players.
Group jump though, it comes down to the trades! Oh my god, happy way!
She inserts herself between the pyramids, just please through the opposition once more.
Really nice pistol round to open from XLG.
They deal with what EDG were looking for, which was that mid-aggression.
A little bit of maybe what many would call a do nothing default, the style was a do nothing default.
See, you can just control EDG's productivity and then go back in towards A.
The idea for EDG when they played in China, a lot of the time, not literally every time, but a lot of the time has been fighting forwards in A main
with Smoggy using his Cove aggressively and Jenny supporting with those flashes. Jenny's already had an incredibly good map one.
Okay.
And he was arguably the most important player of that previous game.
Got a chance to do the same once rifles are in hand, but this is just a chance for XLG to start building up.
And I think especially for Raga to start building up.
If you're running a tag side Phoenix, you do want to be trying to take space and play for Orbs.
But without a harbour in the comp, these progression smokes are a bit more dangerous.
Raga's not feeling confident yet at fighting for these ult Orbs.
It's going to be used very early on here, just to try and stop them in their tracks.
But again, ankle goes back to the site, trying to force the fight into close quarters with
the pistols and immediately just swept away.
It's an onslaught occurring.
Trying to build up towards happy ways ultimately because he's already got so many kills early
on.
It's going to be three away from having a pit online.
Not something you can necessarily play around.
But a great advantage if you can get it down in a postman scenario at some point, especially
if it's in one of those eco-swing rounds early.
EDG haven't shown us too much yet.
This next round they're going to have their rifles online trying to fend off an XLG on
a bonus.
It could be a great opportunity to speed things up if you're XLG.
Put the pressure on immediately.
There it is, I mean, T2.
Hoping you can go down to the spike.
Always a tricky challenge.
When the plan's down to breeze on the A site is playing the life of happy way at least it might be going for a little bit
Pick to the weapon is you look into the night this one away from them
You might be able to pick it up in the midst of all of it. I don't think we're not they want it
Yeah, they don't want it. Yeah, we need to hear the guy in the hand
Play with a sting of us a little too far back
I agree with you though. I think XLG needs to turn up the tempo. We already heard from the EDG coaches from autumn
He wants them to be aggressive. He wants them to get into XLG's face.
That's been a bit of a problem so far in these first few rounds, but we'll see if XLG have similar ideas.
At the moment, looks like they're just set up to try to punish Kang Kang in mid again.
Some unique Viper Wars are coming out of Cheechoo. It's thrown it all over the map.
Different to the one on Prime when he was using it on the Eco. It's like the NRG Viper War that they use on their defense.
But here look at the sea if they can feign like they're sending it with a lot more pressure over towards B
And it's definitely pulling the attention away while the rest of XLG slowly make their way forwards double doors
There's now but taking nobody there without rightfully is going to be favored into that fight cancans never to coverage as well
But a stop it in his tracks the high ten is immediately going to be used
That's not going to be available for this one here up the gut through mid
XLG is just trying to see if they can carve apart for us to success the orb
Stopping them from now, but they're able to lower it on their own timings
XLG didn't commit to this one.
Oh my god, not committing at all.
Now they're potentially going to get picked apart.
Kankang has found potential timing.
Looking behind here, and yet Bax is going to be turned towards him.
Killer instinct just missing from XLG.
Yeah, they needed to take that timing to run into B and try to get a plant down.
G&E had already pushed through B main, trying to put himself in an uncomfortable spot.
It's all down to Lysor on the bonus.
He's got no health, and EDG pick off.
Frankly, quite an easy one.
Great comms from the B players, by the way.
by the way, we saw it from Smoggy's POV, he was thinking of throwing a smoke over towards B main
and he heard the comms from his B players, guys, there's no commitment on this.
They drone, they drone, but it's fake pressure.
And at that point, the A players on EDG rotate their attention towards double doors and pick off XLG on that timing.
Hap away now, getting up towards that pit.
So far actually quite a passive set up towards A main, EDG changing around the way that they played.
In the Grand Finals actually, EDG took a slightly less aggressive approach on this map, defensively.
But they often have to harbour take contact early on. Smoggy is the one holding double doors and I think that would be a red card for most teams.
Just a reverse from what we've seen in the Americas but China plays by different rulebook.
from rulebook.
The flash support though, even though it's smokey taking contact,
GNI's Util is so good for him.
Blind is going to be nice here.
Search the pull away and takes away from the drone
and the information they could otherwise gather from it.
Very slow going from XLG, multiple rounds now
where they're just looking to put the squeeze.
They're threatening Heaven as well.
And no one from EDG is pulling them away.
Just a contact repeat look over the information here.
It's lucky to be alive with his head wasn't taken clean off.
He's flying into the smokes now.
You want to go to Guardian to play with that?
Nate's coming through, but happy way straight there.
Through the main smoke.
He's going to be making him punish and pay for it.
If you chew nobody's smoggy, the last left alive here,
looking for a way forwards.
But there's only smoggy onto the side.
There's not a lot you can do from a spot like this.
Smoked off.
He's going to have to let this plant go down.
And as long as he's ended up using all of his utility,
he's not going to have a high tide to see if he can even
play the retake.
This slow approach from XLG is working really nicely.
It's a very nice post plan on top of it.
Gigi's wall isn't for retake now.
Smoggy doesn't have his.
Basically, I have to give it up.
It's crazy how often we've seen EDG safe in this series already.
They've got a lot of respect for XLG's post plan.
It makes sense on Lotus obviously,
because you play triple Sentinel,
but here they just want to keep it safe.
Cancun's the only player that wouldn't be able to buy in the next,
but EDG do not want their money to get into a difficult scenario.
It might be part of the strategy is to try and get the economy flush so they can get an operator in his hands at some point.
I am surprised that we heard from Autumn. I'm gonna tell my players to carry on playing aggressively.
I'm gonna encourage that from them and yet what we've actually seen is
They're lacking that information there. They feel worried about going and re-contesting into mid. There's no fight towards extremities. It's XLG are squeezing them out of the map. Yeah.
And respect to them. This is a map that XLG were not that great at. They changed up their composition here for London
And to be fair the VCTCN teams have actually done a great job with the time off. Yeah, they have a full usage of it
Most dominant of China has ever been collectively at a tournament
Obviously we've seen top finishes from EDG in the past but guaranteed top three this region with a collective 4-1 record
That is strong and it's never been done up until now for these two teams in China. Yeah for these two teams
We'll see them. XRG finding a potential gap over towards Elbow.
Actually walking up, this is...
Viper all being thrown by G-Truf does cut off this angle.
Makes it difficult to see if he can get through.
Cloudburst and a clearance as well. This is XRG just taking their sweet time of it.
Make sure they don't give away too much of the game.
That pressure mounts onto EDG, might be forcing a reaction out of them.
It's not these P4s double doors. They've been the only way that EDG have been looking to actually get aggressive.
Yeah, he's just swinging basically alone here. There's no utile to supplement that one and I've immediately gonna be broken.
Take it out. It's a Molly lure. It's gonna be thrown out. No man.
It's lucky there. Just gets out barely. Regen, I'm gonna be kicking in but he still will go down to basically a single full. Let's flash forwards.
They've got no information, EDG. They don't know if it's an A-split or a B-split. Left guessing. Completely. 40 seconds left.
XLG are still waiting Leo.
Of course, map with a dart now.
Looking to see if he can fix a bit of pressure,
but that's a high tide.
He cut his weight up, he threw mid.
Now the pressure's on.
Through this tunnel area, Cheechoo unleashes it.
Snakebyte's going to be stunting the play
over towards main, and now puts the pressure
onto these tunnel players.
You've got to see if they can carve a path forward.
And he's on a distraction, but right now it's EDG
to the ones battering their way forwards.
Finding the kills, flooding forwards now,
and still they have a presence onto the side.
It's 13 seconds left.
Going to get the plant down.
Well I saw, I've got a bit of a pocket but I know exactly where he is, the plant has to be committed inside the smoke.
Defense is there, no much straight at it but he's so low.
The earlier engagements, Swift Breeze will bring him down and all it takes is a single bullet of Kangkang.
It's a weird beginning here on Breeze, but it really is between these two teams.
EDG are playing almost scared on their defense side.
I'm willing to take any level of reflight into mid to try to get an understanding of what's happening.
The rotating players who came through archers there both got picked off.
And Kangkang's so late but XLG took it so slowly.
Both teams very tentative right now.
It's tension in the air despite the fact that this is an upper bracket game.
It won't spell doom and defeat.
I think you often see this in regional matchups.
Because these two teams have played against each other so many times,
you're trying to stay one step ahead.
You're not just sticking to your normal game.
your normal game, you're constantly trying to throw in curveballs.
It leads to moments like this here.
Group up once more.
You can see it's a very passive play again from XLG.
They're trying to stay out of range of the potential knife that could get thrown.
From Jenny, the spoiler party, hoping we'll only just tack onto Leo,
but he's the only one showing presence, making it feel like it's fake presence,
but now, what comes through?
This is XLG, looking to strike right where it hurts, while the iron is hot.
Big 2k from Raga. Chichu backpedaling, not confident taking the fight. Completely inaccurate.
And here comes Happy Ways Ultimate.
Built it so early on and this is going to secure things, EDG are going to have to save again.
If they don't have the information about where the pop is coming from,
they're not going to be fast enough on the flanks, they're not going to be set up for the retakes or the floods.
These players towards A are never going to be able to help Chichu and nobody if they keep running defensive setups like this.
They're seeing a lot of saves, and imagine if this keeps up, there needs to be some sort of interjection.
It's crazy that Genie hasn't used utility in the round.
Right, that's what I'm wondering. I mean, that's why XRG are playing so slow, right?
They're waiting out of range of the knife, trying to bait out some pieces of the utility.
And you're also expecting EDG to be flash-reclearing stuff, but it's not something they've gone for yet.
No. Smoggy is really the bravest of the bunch. She's the one just taking a fight over those double doors,
and I should go the wrong at a moment's notice.
This is gonna be a big two-kiss from Raga though. Genuinely.
These were his first two kills of the map so far. Look how...
Look how tippin' though. Chichu's fight is there. He's backpedaling moving the entire time. Doesn't want to stay on the angle.
It is strange.
I mean, my coinbase swing condition for EDG would be, guys, you're better. Go and fight them.
Yeah, do something.
Like, you are the main characters in VCTC head.
You are the team with the aura around you, you're the team that has lots of different setups with GNE setups to try to create pressure on the attackers.
I want to see the KO actually get some value. I don't care if it's smoky that you're flashing into position. We don't need to play perfect Valorant.
We just need a little bit more proactivity at a mid-round timing on defense.
Something to punish this slow pace of play from XLG.
Because even if you flash and you peek and you don't get the kill, you find information.
You see it, is there a player there?
Is there not a player there?
You don't necessarily have to do it straight off the barrier, replyable, the way that XRG
are playing, you can do it at a bit more of a funky timing.
Yep, you can do it even in the minute bar if you want it.
Sit passive for 40 seconds and you'll still be there ready to catch the hit.
Rager's went away from getting that first Phoenix ultimate online.
That could be something that they play for, but thus far they haven't really liked playing
around these ult orbs.
They've been trying to keep pretty far away from EDG in the extremities. It's not really a priority for them
Which is it's odd to see but I think it's just them trying to hide their intent
Well Jenny is looking to land a really big zero point here at the beginning of the round if he goes for it
drone far back position
Let's cancel out of so and it only tags onto the one player Leo good positioning from XLG
Yeah.
Drone going to be used by nobody here, clears most of the way, just spots the one.
Happy way doesn't really reveal too much in terms of it.
They already knew where the setup was lying roughly.
XLG have done a great job here at avoiding the information from the initiator utility.
Yeah.
They are making it incredibly difficult right now for EDG to figure out what's going on unless they peek stuff.
Here comes Raga with his ultimate.
Yep, there it is.
Erntup now. Angry players going to be heavily tested.
Smallers are going to be using that high tide nice and early.
The Dark are going to be sailing up overhead, and they do deal with the U2 in time.
Forwards again with the fight to be taken. That's a good blind.
It's somehow wrong. It still gets smoggy.
Reclaiming a weapon. Could have been really punishing there.
Nobody knows! Still claiming the lives of the shot in the Dark.
Comes alive. This is Kan-Kan.
Active. Jumping around out of sight.
Putting the pressure onto multiple avenues.
It's EDG with them surrounded now, post-players control, Diver XLG, they're gonna have to
punch a hole through the wall to see if they can get out of this one.
Kam Kang slowly works his way around chasing and choking a life out of them, but Leo is
still kicking this guy in a 1v1!
Shut down, shut down by Jenny.
They had a massive blunder on Lotus where they let this guy run over them.
Great work from Jenny being able to close that out.
He gets his Null command online, but nobody is the hero here for EDG.
I can't believe this.
Yeah.
It's kind of a big of a gun too.
The utility for Foggy is also really good though.
High tide, really stomped those XLG players being able to get into nice spots.
Stopped them swinging through together.
Storm search 2 to be able to set nobody up for the first kill and let him grab a Vandal.
The slow play though is still causing problems for EDG.
I think they felt a lot of relief there when they finally understood that XLG were on the APOP
Raga's ultimate was like a signal beam for them to go towards
Finally
Knowing the true intent of the round. What a contacting
Early on here flash onto the corner just in case Kang Kang was up onto that line
But now really the episode is going to be placed on the smog you to try and stop this one
Nobody supplementing cross the map with a hundred spirit as a big tag under two of the players even claiming a life of Lysor
but Kangkang takes his time with it.
Yeah, the peak, it comes over the goods.
Raghav is still firing forwards.
At last, Torsten, sharp as anything!
Raghav, just dominating, tastes control,
and a side entirely.
Here's now of his team to get into the post plant.
This is what he's capable of.
He has dominated VCTCN in the past.
Never been able to show it at a global,
always struggled with his mental.
This could be the game where he shines.
And Kangkang might be regretting the climb
the words that he gave him earlier but still, Jenny finds it, I don't know command.
It's his way forwards, no U2, no access to it at least as an opposed, where's that
lead going, just on all the way to the side, flashed on with the hand it, and Jenny's got
one more for their troubles, come running out of ammo but the flash is even
better, Tutschi with a stick all the way, all the way, it isn't be defended, and it is!
Jenny has been a hidden hero for EDG at this tournament.
The Flash is absolutely murdered XLG in AMA there.
What a pivot from Ragnar, though, to be able to set them up in an advantage to start with.
Here it's Jenny with some underhand Flashes.
U2 Tump.
Destration.
EDG's composition is going to be deadly on these retakes.
As long as Smoggy's alive or Chichu has a retake set up a pit in his hand
You see him with a retake ball on A now and implies that they're gonna play a little more aggressively
Kankang's even peeking actually in front of this. Yeah
It's more similar to the set that they were running in China. If nobody gets smoked off though
Kankang's got to be worried because now
They could path through elbow and behind him. They know the presence is there earlier
Just from the knife that was thrown out the dart. It doesn't reveal much spam going either way of it
Nobody's somehow unscathed.
One of the other downsides of EDG not playing aggressive is that usually Smoky charges up his ultimates really fast,
because he's always playing for this A orb, which is crazy to have the defenders playing for that, but that's what EDG have been doing in BCTCN.
That's how Papua is looking for reaction.
He's just hoping that they go for that Flash Reclear.
that flash re-clear. They'll have seen it tons of times in scrims, in VODs, but EDG
are changing things up. Completely. Three players stacked over towards B here looking
to put the defence on line. It's the right read. What timing. Yeah, knife. Tags on the
multiple of them. Massive demands of suppression and now it's a rumble here, base in the copper
box. It's a footstep start, a rumble towards Kang Kang here with the operator still good
for it. There it is, confident of a peek. Sightshot just about missing. CloudBose going to be
laid down now, but a high-tet again makes it even more difficult. Reasserting themselves into the
back of Sight. Time pressure on XLG. They're going to get this plant down. Shot forwards, just sales
over the shoulder. It allows Lyser to get this plant down. Hunters fury, the better. Smoggy can only
do so much. Sailed there by the Hunters fury. Model players quickly in this location. Still a 2v3 though.
XLG, the ones being pressed into a corner. Physicians now noted. They know where Lyser is,
and they're what a main player. This is well, EDG can just take this one together with a lot of discipline.
But surely with the right full ADX it rings out true, EDG with another
one round. Now taking a lead in this map. Saving some of this utility for the late round.
They're still not playing that aggro, but the zero point that hit all of those XLQ players towards B,
they just lost their faith, started barreling across the map as you said, straight into Khan Khan.
And ADG have got that tight spacing on the retake, despite the fact that the XLG planted
it in front of Chisha's retake wall.
Smoggy finally has his ult online.
It's another top round for XLG here.
Three retakes in a row, and some of them pretty big fumbles from XLG.
The coaching staff, they're all happy.
No timeout being hit.
They've also forced, look at the buy, it's kind of horrid.
It's all over the place, two Guardians, Raga does have it on to his own once more,
that another knife is going to be undoing potentially the drone here, Raga's just sending the ult anyway,
this is just right into the moor, safe right and the Molina, dash forwards from the moment,
it's immediately punished as well, anchoring setup, fully aligned here for EDG, slamming your head
against the brick wall is the equivalent, that's what XLG have been doing here, Phoenix
want to play your way forwards, Raga still forwards, they're getting sparked out on that,
It's beautiful U2 once more.
Blinded up, twisting and turning.
See if you can find where these players might be lying,
but it's all EDG again.
The utility being dumped into that choke point.
So impossible for XLG to make their way through.
Chichu steps forward to everyone,
getting aggressive, pushing up towards the choke,
locking XLG out.
And finally, the attackers are gonna have to take a timeout here,
because now this is four rounds in a row.
And they've got no money to work with either.
I mean, this half is just not even being close.
I mean, if you consider XLG, they want to pistol it when a follow-up.
It's just two rounds outside of that.
That's all they've got.
Which is crazy because they were the ones
putting pressure on EDG's defense.
It did look like it was a strategic problem
that EDG had to solve.
And with a combination of utility
to be able to figure out where the hit was ending,
And also just not worrying about mid as much.
EDG have found their way through it.
The pressure is on XLG.
Up to them to find that coin-based win condition now,
but they're not going to have the money to work with or play with in this upcoming round.
Great time to see if you can speed it up, to be honest.
Anything at all.
They've been playing this slow tempo the entire time, seeing if they can pull.
Do you tell that of EDG?
EDG have got some great anchor players as well. Nobody is fun to watch, he takes incredible
risks but one of the things you've got to give him credit for is that weirdly enough
he's really is a great anchor. If you put him in a 1 and done he's good for 2, which
is a wild thing to say about the guy. But you see him 12 and 6 right now in the spots
that he's playing, you won't catch a lot of other silver players in them. And G&E is
He's having a tournament. Great to see him back in the roster.
He's coming to play in the Util. Just a smug to block it off, smoggy.
He inserts himself in there with a shorty in hand.
That could be deadly, that could be dangerous players.
Nobody has just run forwards and taken the all-tour, but Bea.
And that's basically taken a completely happy way,
happy way, not a bullet to really do the job there.
Cut down.
What a round to decide to go aggressive. And here's a flash, recleared.
Yeah, there it is. This was their bread and butter.
It's the punish down to Leo, hell of a time to go aggressive against the Eco but
E-TG not punished for it. Yeah it's wild. Here are the footsteps now, and then in mark
they have pulled bits and pieces of U till Alpha XLG, they're still hunting
around for any opportunity to get back into a round like this but they don't
have the guns. Considering that nobody took that ult or he's now one away from
100 fury that's going to be an enormous tool in the final round of the half.
off. Yeah. Now, very set up to
get active here. Nobody,
god, the wraparound. They
at all. Weak as anything h
ha ha. Okay. Cheeky stuff
to see if they can take a
maybe potentially turn ar
it's all EDG in this upcom
half this has to be what the time I was for. Great map from the IGL of EDG. Look at the
playmaking that he's confident to go for. He's giving it a round as well, just disrespecting
completely. And now he's got 100 fury alongside Smoggy's ultimate. It just gets harder and
harder for XLG. Last chance for them to put a round on the board, bring it up to 5. We'll
be a respectable half.
We'll have to slowly take this one, though.
But a spam is, again, putting a bit of a pause in their step
here, forwards again, moving with the util.
Hunter's fury from no bait.
Really good bait.
Unleashed.
He's got the punish last time the ace
but it was coming through.
This time they're moving completely up the gut,
straight through mid, a jump spot.
You can spot the signs alive, Cheechew.
It's going to be tested here, anchoring in that spot,
but still just takes the peek all the way out.
Jenny, going to be taken out.
Immediately brought down and Hapuish
through that main angle.
Cheechew would know what to really run.
Decisive strategy from XLG. Love this one.
Smoggy's got to go for it.
This is not around to save. This is the final one of the half.
Smoggy's got the ult.
We're gonna be making a play for that. It's dangerous stuff.
Hakuwedo just barely escaping and now you see it ult.
Freddie and waiting to roll its way forward to get the blinds on line.
Oraga's dodged it.
Just as the drones have, Oraga has dodged it.
Sitting, tucked towards tunnel, waiting for the signs alive.
Now straight pass, a high tide they would, anticipating this one at all.
It's XLG.
Get themselves that fifth round
Competitive half of Valorant on breeze who are seeing still signs of life for this squad
They've managed to recover it with that final one five runs in a row the EDG put on the board and XLG looked down and out
Huge credit to the coaching staff to be able to find that adjustment laid on great round from the strap
Look absolutely that gets me seen as well
They can't take it all the way and decide if we will go to split to next LG's hands
I'm in the mood, someone show me this, I'm in the mood, someone, I'm in the mood, yo, yo,
I'm in the mood.
Jen here with XLG's Raga regional matchup again.
Does this give you confidence or sense of frustration?
I think every match what we win gives us confidence so now we play our game and we show the world we can do it.
Hey, chance to prove yourself.
the juice.
It's still going to be placed on to XLG here to see if they can win this pistol following
up.
Second half of Breeze coming up.
It's all central if they want to make it all the way to split.
EDG leading this series. Honestly, they didn't really have to do much in that half. They let the game come to them.
Almost throughout the entirety of our first half. Happy for it.
And I don't think Havoya will be particularly happy about XLG losing a couple of rounds that slipped out of their grasp in post-plants.
EDG with really tight spacing on those retakes.
And the player quality is always good.
You're right, the pressure is on XLG here.
And when you look at the success that EDG have had on this map, it's why Lotus was so important.
EDG are 5-0 in their region on Breeze with two of those wins coming fairly easily against XLG.
They are unbeatable inside China on Breeze.
And even that, to be honest, was not their most flashy half.
That was pretty standard stuff, really.
He did not really force it to get active, but now on the attack side, we might start to see that pace increase.
Deep wall and deep walk down mid, except she opened it as a gap here.
Seems to leave the elbow angle open, but she's just going to be spotting it, but he is hard committed, he's stuck.
For the one side of this one, how the hell do you get out? He could get pressured.
They choose to give it up.
Yeah, they hear the drone coming up mid. Worried that they might get pinched from the other avenue.
A flash. XLG wants to try and create a fight, but EDG are not giving it to them.
No. Very slow so far.
Holding the ground.
Now looking to re-clear over the space, over towards B.
This one might just come down to the shots.
Fight. XLG again, looking for...
Never go around.
Over towards the elbow angle, maybe, but...
certain themselves into mid, while EDG are grouping up now, ready for the pop.
Cloudburst forwards and the dash. Engage, kankank.
Okay, he's inserting himself now into that anchor smoke,
just making sure that he has a lot of that space,
but accounting for no man, he's right there with them.
Nobody towards the side, he's shots rattling out
of that classic, really doing so much here,
but EDG still might be able to clean this one up,
it's 3-3, that against the back wall,
cuts away the potential of that U-Till,
but again, only for the one player,
Snake bite, a little bit wider shot.
That doesn't, hello, that's a vulnerable kicking in.
Jenny taken out, now sidestep, happy wave.
The sidestep's his way into the fight.
That's a big pistol round win for XLG.
That is exactly what they needed in that spot.
Trying to get proactive,
the Jules holding hands around the map,
looking for that information,
and getting themselves into a position
where they're putting a lot of pressure
as the plant goes down.
That wasn't so much a set retake.
That was them doing a ton of damage
with that attempt at a snake bite shot combo.
As the spike is being driven into the ground,
much more of a higher tempo attempt there
from XLG on their defence side.
Pressure back on EDG.
And an opportunity for XLG to be building up towards some of their important ultimates.
We saw HappyWay get his pit online fairly early on.
I'm looking towards Raga, but it doesn't look like the game's coming towards him.
No, these ASI players can be feeling the heat momentarily, even if it is just the eco.
There's always danger when you anchor.
Look at how EDG are focusing on building up Smoggy's ultimates.
There's Cove, Julligan now with a flash and a dart.
Fords again, it's going to get that reveal.
Fords, and look at this, see if they can solve these players up,
but somehow, disengaging from the fight entirely.
Leo is going to walk about.
Lost in transit there, really,
and now we're going to reload and attempt to punish,
but it's covered in time, Lysor over the shoulder.
We see it, the Molly comes up already over towards it.
Smog is just trying to serve himself inside his own Cove,
but immediately taken out.
Four players living here for XLG,
a healthy bonus going to be waiting on the other side.
Yeah, well played from XLG, but EDG is still accomplishing one of the micro-goals here,
which is getting smoggy as close as possible to this Harbour Ultimate.
He was able to get an Ultor, able to get a plan, able to get a death.
And he's almost...
Got that online, he's won away, so I think XLG into the next pretty obvious game plan here
of trying to deny an Ultor.
Where's he gonna play for it?
The thing is with the Harbour and the composition, you really can go for the B-Orb too.
He's not guaranteed to play for A.
Yeah.
But it looks like A is the destination that both teams have in mind.
Are XLG gonna contest him for this?
Looks like it may be. There's potential there.
Yeah, Raga steps up.
Yeah.
Grouped up.
This Cove is gonna be immediately placed down.
Please.
It's not gonna deny this space.
Raga straight up in there.
And that's gonna be knife revealing.
That's uncertainty now on a separate EDG,
but they're gonna watch their eyes onto the Cove.
Kang Kang looking to play anti-flash.
Yeah, forwards again.
TP looking for the space and the information.
Oh, Gleis was lost!
What is going on there?
I thought he was on the other side of the cove there but he's just absolutely fed himself
into the moor.
Now we see it.
Open up, finally built up and earned.
That's going to be Cleveland forwards, partitioning and dissecting most of this side.
Ready for Kangai to see if he can take advantage of it forwards again.
Raghav's going to be traded.
Two players left to side against XLG.
Plant's going to go down for EDG.
There's no real pushback.
Happy way in, no man.
Going to do it all from a spot like this.
the weapons at hand for it though Bulldog with potential pocket the play in no man spotting
the signs of life we've seen you to get over aggressive in spots this time maybe a bit more
discipline here players are taking contact they take the fights together so one round
here for EDG one round lead you can see the XLG had a game plan but what a fumble in the
the execution. That is crazy. Complete fumble. It just gets lost. He just absolutely gets
lost there. Can't remember which way he turned when he came in, thinks he's backing out into
sight. It's GPS. That's absurd. There's no flash combo with that though. You know, maybe
they were setting up faking that teleport and then they were going to go back in with
Flashy clear, but that's a big opportunity squandered. No man picks up the operator
He's got a chance here
No heavy footsteps though heavy presence over the water already not messing around Jones Ford flash up and overhead
Popping out into the smoke as it deaths
Anchor positions here few damned Lysol's got a hell of a task once more
Can you pick up the pieces of white he's been good on the entry can't come? Yeah
Coming down the opposition, they reveal but the shot into the box just goes wide.
How did that miss? Not too sure, and you're not quite deep enough in terms of the shot, but...
It's come through again, still no damage, sailing around, it's a really difficult retake now.
Playing with the operator in your hands, you've got smokes on smokes, hiding this one.
Nobody's going to be the first player that they have to see if they can deal with, Leeus.
Someone's about to kill, no man, but on the side, they're jumping around, they're trying to avoid all of that fire.
all of that fire, nobody, pressure towards the back, he's taking out Raga, one man Army.
Steps towards, one small man, a snake bite forwards, anything to delay, the time, the fuse.
Already gonna be stuck here, Chi-Chu, monumental opportunity.
Time to start half of the fuse, barely there in time.
XLG dragging back up to eight.
Nice try from Chi-Chu, but these retakes are looking good from XLG.
It's very similar to Round 1, another snakebite-shocked-art combo that you can see there.
Takes down Jenny, and no man, the final player left of the tournament with these UK Ties,
picking up the AWP, finding the value, escorting his team onto angles.
And despite how good EDG look at being able to secure a main and pop into the site,
XLG have actually got some really nice ideas of how to put the pressure back on with a counter punch.
It's calling for caution now, DDG.
You don't want to rush into anything here but that's a big reveal with the paranoia on top of it.
Hell of a shot from Kangkang.
He needs that.
Yeah.
Completely dissipates the ult.
Lot of chunk damage being done over to nobody too.
He's one away from Honda's Fury.
Re-exploring.
Yeah, XLG are looking to grab that information
Didn't want to go aggressive again in a main get a little bit of a clear in mid. Don't find she shoot flash though
Surely gonna be heard EDG might look to speed this one up
Oh, we got a judge here. He's gonna get back close skill of buck though. No man
It's gonna operate it does adjusted in time with the judge running a gunning happy way is getting away to a bloody murder
That's unreal the trope point off limits
No access at all
Great shutdown as well from Nomad. He's got to step forwards there to buy happy way of the space as he comes back close with the judge.
The drone from nobody creating that pressure and XLG, they've actually got a pretty fundamentally good defense side here. Cook it.
They're putting a bit of pressure on early with the Phoenix ultimate. They're going and re-clearing towards mid and then they've got a shutdown on B.
And at the moment, they've got nobody playing to their tune.
That's going to have to be that save, isn't it?
Second step down, that's if you can even keep hold of these guns.
It's a key, but like they are really posturing for it.
Slowly approaching here, but this has been a very cautious game so far.
It has both teams too much all in it.
Feeling each other out for sure.
I think one reason is because XLG were expecting more aggression from EDG on the defence side.
So they were very tepid in their approach.
But I think one of the other reasons is that EDG don't actually have a great feel on how XLG are going to pilot this comp.
Remember that this is a new composition for XLG, the Jet Phoenix.
We hadn't seen them play very much of it.
They came into London running it on a couple of different maps, changing it around, Breeze being one of them.
And they've only showcased it once.
So I think part of this is EDG coaches and IGL trying to just get a read on what XLG are doing.
And the tactime I've been taking here, I think I'll be talking quite a bit about the proactivity that they're going for
and their desire to try to set up for the A retakes.
I think you can get into A if you're EDG.
You are being able to get the plant down on the A site.
But then what's the second step? Do you have to send the flank through double doors?
Do you have to be using Jenny's flashes to put pressure on XLG in back side?
There are extra layers here that neither of these teams have fully explored yet and this map hangs in the balance
We already saw a big upset on map one XLG in home territory
Getting taken down 1310
XLG
In control for now at about
money, flush with cash really, you can be able to buy for the next few rounds, see it's
EDG there, they'll be in pressure, we'll see if they take heed, I've got to imagine
that this is just a concoct round, yeah we'll see the nice pops, give him the blade storm,
give him a recon and a flashing, see if he can go crazy, I would have liked to see them
even do something fast off the rip here at AMA, very very worried, potential of something
here from XLG but if they main control perhaps but they it's not really in their
wheelhouse right now. Again it's so cautious from both teams. I have a
side willing to step into some link but now with a drone forward. This place with
the dash, Kang Kang's moving he's eventually able to salvage that one
moving forward but he's not into the backside control of flash though forwards.
That dog's in time XLG still fighting their mark. Rooftop at the spot here but not
expecting that not anticipating the smoggy. Gonna be able to see if we can get
That pinch on line.
Shockdarts sailing away.
It's decent shift damage, but at least the post-plant now
but to be played for EDG.
And a good spot here with the pit.
A draft not seeing any signs of life.
Jenny might have just missed this one.
Retreats back all the way to main.
I think that's a really nice reposition.
The Shockdarts, Moggy's been brought down.
She chews alone now.
It has to be the key player.
As long as he stays up, so does the pit.
Look at the fight for his life,
but all eyes up towards main.
Jenny going to be spotted out now.
In for the pit.
Cloudburst cuts it up.
They want to fight this one.
Oh, it's the right click. Go wide, Cheechoo.
Scammer's won for his mornies.
I said, I want V1, I want V2.
It's all Leo.
Time.
More than enough here to get the defuse online.
These retakes from XLG have worked time and again.
Funky idea from EDG, changing the pathing of where
Smokey was going for.
He gets a 2K with the Stinger, and then the pit
absolutely made it winnable.
But it's that tight spacing on retakes again.
Both teams being really good at it, putting a ton of pressure on to Jenny who had repositioned.
No man, selfless, jumps in, happy way trades.
And now a very different idea from EDG. As this map starts to crawl away from them,
Kangkang, the hero, the superstar picks up an attack-sided op.
Might be good to try to punish some of the aggressive plays that XLG have been making.
see that it's been very slow going that's a big reveal up towards that top
section of the mid but no man Taser Shard he was already trained on the perfect
line Raga was incredible bait there he really was forced to fight to just pull
entirely the opposition all the way out here it was like a wriggling worm on a
hook yeah they could not resist just like that punch and the star power the
potential of Kang Kang with that attack side up is just
dissipated
Well, but though maybe maybe you can rely on she too
No man's on it again already watching for the line to seize the peek and takes his time with a shot doesn't rush into things
Massive play advantage now here for XLG
Huge opportunity and the handle with the flash again no connection there onto a light Sony's looking to see if he can make a go at things
Oh my goodness right here forwards this guy's feeling it got a hot hand looking to take the fight straight to them to chip damage
Eventually lay it up and up there
That's a flawless round the XRG. It's gonna see fist bumps all around here up to 11 now
He's got a slow beginning on breeze but done a great job there. Did anyone have no man jet-diffing concon in this matchup?
Not something he's been playing in China
Nomad was playing a ton of the waylay, that kind of stuff.
Now coming out here on Kankang's signature character, signature agent,
and actually getting more impact.
It's been a little bit of a quiet day from Kankang.
They've done a good job at shutting him down.
DDG, not saving to drag it all the way to OT.
This is a full investment of force into it.
The big area that Kankang's been able to have impact is when entering into the A site with that flash, with that recon.
He's going to have to get past Nomad.
left guessing
About the potential of fights towards a main but that has never been the game plan outside of potentially the bonus of XLG
Well, the more that Leo holds on to his hand is fury the more you're worried about it. Yeah
I'm gonna see it here co-forces. You can play the team waterway in
Command
Section of the beams to know this fury unleashed on either side right now
maybe in the middle of all this chaos you can start to see and come up with the
goods EDG somehow still up to five players get the plan down in the midst of
all of it and that natives just found the feet of happy weight he's done take it
out and look at this flank from Chichu yeah this is the extra layer to be able
to stop the XLG retake this point XLG the real hope here they're on a timer
awareness no man hell of awareness the players are but it's counter spam that
That does solve that problem.
Lysol, stepping back in.
1v4 though, time already ticking away, so it's going to be pressured in that aspect of the game.
So EDG, they are still showing signs of life here of a round win.
It's a big one for them.
They're keeping it within 2.
EDG's best chances at winning this game are closing things out here on breeze.
They are undefeated in their region on this map.
Losing here and sending things over to Split where you've always got a chance at a disappearing
went to an OT last time these two teams played in the Grand Finals they're risking that top
three guaranteed that's what the winner is playing for here and a chance to continue
in the upper bracket with eyes on a trophy that's a potent reward being able to stay
in the upper bracket gives you many opportunities to see if you can look for trophy it's exactly
the same fashion. The EDG did their run in 2024. Look to that trophy. We're going to
see it. Multitude of Ultima is now being thrown out. Raga with that flash and a, oh my, Damoli
as well. Just barely missing the chance for the kill, but still the damage is done. But
through that main control, it's a hard commitment. As they realize that the double door angle
is lost, they have to commit to one of these sides. XLG though still might be in a bit
of trouble despite the player advantage they've got. You know, being pressured from multiple
directions but he did you just don't really have the manpower at this point
two players down, tag and reveal Jenny doesn't know which way to go yet still
Jenny! It's been a saving grace, a guiding light foot on him, he does it again, denying the
opportunity for XLG to get to 12 keeping his team into the round. Bit of an
overheat there though, they had that player advantage Jenny had done
brilliantly but he gives XLG a way back in and the read here is really nice
No man pivoting with the operator is going to be here in time and Smoky's used to Smoky elbow need to receive 30 seconds left
30 seconds left. No man is gonna be able to spot this presence shortly
Jumps fault goes, misses the shot, now the dash is active, misses the second one now quickly assailed
Chichu realizing it, gotta get a plant down
Best position you're gonna be in in a long while but Smoky looking up onto the angle
He's just revealed happy way
Announced himself all the way in for the back. It's getting scrappy, it's getting messy
CGGG2 for Mullins, barely at a drive!
His secondary side arm, but a Red Bull clutch.
How has he pulled that off with five health?
Havoy is distraught.
No man has ten opportunities this round.
I'm pretty sure the Regenama saved him.
It's also got to be the shorty nerf.
That's unbelievable.
What a range!
Listen, he's been pebbled!
I can't go over that frame by frame right here, but that is worth looking into.
I think he's barely survived by the regen.
An EDG up to 10.
There have been some unbelievably close rounds in the series already.
It's slow beginning to lots of these, but absolute carnage at the end of the rounds.
And that's what you're going to get when these teams, they know each other.
Played each other many a time.
Affamiliarity.
Sad to see more and more risks taken as they look to get a leg up.
No man's talked about having a short memory.
If you want to be a great player, you've got to shrug things like that.
Previous round, straight off, and he's still willing to take the risk,
still looking to take the fight into Chichu.
I prayed it, though, denied that angle just from this orbit.
Risky decision-making.
Thinking about who wants to go for the peak, but with the wall up as well.
He's going to be guessing in terms of these angles.
Taking up though, he does snap to it.
Good prediction, but now he's going to be swarmed!
Leo, this is best to try and help out.
again, kitchen sink. Oh, what are you going to be throwing back and forth here calling for a bit of a temperament into the round?
Lysor is on an island. He's just hoping that by tucking himself forward on bricks, the players at Double Doors would not spot him.
Alone here, but he's going to be hearing surely sound cues, the rotation.
Couple of footsteps holding tight towards the top here. The door's going to be opened up as well.
That's going to be heard in terms of sound cues. It's all on Lysor really, but he's caught the reinforcements already.
Walls preemptive, Jenny!
Reacts towards the top, trying to follow the traces,
and there's the punish, and Leo, EDG, they're not stopping now.
The momentum is behind them.
So is Raga.
He's gonna see if he can be playing,
spoiler to all of this one, but they have that level of awareness.
A bit of a flash over heat moment.
Trying to see if they can fight their way past this one.
Raga, trying to keep them pinned in,
but it's still a player disadvantage for XLG.
All now, offloaded.
We're gonna see if he can take the fight straight to them.
Anything, can see if he can even the fight
outside stepping, walking into it, somehow fighting the kills, happy way!
Time to come alive!
He owes himself the kills now, and I know what small he is.
Pressure on him stills, happy way!
With the happy feet, dodging and chuking the bullets, XLG find the 12th.
That old school core of XLG, happy way, Raga.
Sink up together.
One at the front and one at the back, the pressure was too much for EDG to overcome.
Jenny must be devastated because these rounds he keeps making them winnable.
He keeps creating the play to put his team in position to win.
Or at least to be able to pull the gap back.
Hesitancy there in terms of how to challenge Rager.
Cost sleep.
One more round is all it will take and XLG will send this all the way to split.
What a bang-a-mat that would be to finish off.
Already unexpected results were seen so far in this series.
The paranoia to refight this time.
It's going to be ready with the counts of play.
Utah goes both ways.
Dash is going to be wasted early here.
Shot that sailing.
Ricocheting into the back.
It's chipping down in the opposition.
EDG feeling flustered here.
Again, Lysor is the one playing alone, playing in front,
looking to try to win the round with a multi-kill.
It's kind of crazy.
He went the last time.
Jenny had a great response.
Sly-Saw backs up safely, reconnects with the rest of the team.
EDG cut noise.
They're looking either to punish some kind of re-clear,
or just look to dissolve the defensive setup,
hopefully spread them out around the map.
That's that noise as well.
Trying to keep Leo's attention pinned towards double doors.
Did Dart though?
You got to break that.
Oh, minor to reveal, into two.
Low sense moment.
That's not good.
Spoiled the surprise.
You're trying to pull the attention away.
This time XLG they can have all eyes really settled forwards.
They have one flash.
What's the circle down on the recon?
Right, it's back up though.
30 seconds left, it's all or nothing.
You need to survive in this map.
Tart and a flash up towards the top there.
Leistor finally conceding that space, but Leo's still there.
He's found his mark onto Kankai.
Moving forwards to Oseid.
Step right, guys on the ice skates here.
This guy just battering his way through and he's got the support of Leo.
Off from the side, a three piece already.
Time pressure, far too much.
XLG surely secured the win and with that they do split the beat of the CIDR.
Let's go! Let's go!
Hungry, bro!
I'm treating you guys though.
You hungry hippos?
I'm treating you guys though.
I thought so. Hungry, bro.
I'm waiting for my brain to fall Till the moment burns at home
Here with nobody of EDG, nobody, this is your fifth time playing against XLG this year, what did the preparation look like?
We saw the trophy and lost the game.
This time, I want to say that we didn't lose the game.
because in the past global accommodations,
we didn't lose to team from our region.
History may repeat itself on the global stage.
Welcome back one and all to VCT London as we get ready for our third matchup.
Sorry, our third map of this incredible series XLG managing to force it against EDG on their
pick of three.
We're going to split to settle the score.
It's going to be awesome.
But let's go ahead and jump into what we were seeing in that game because honestly, one
One of the things that stuck out immediately, we were seeing the composition choices here
from EDG.
We know that this was a map that XLG did not necessarily thrive in before.
This time around, they made some key changes.
What were those many?
Yeah, the key thing for me was how XLG were taking the center of the map like Mimi was
asking for and then splitting because EDG were playing far too passive.
Often playing 2B, 3A, nothing towards middle and I criticized our harbour uses before and
it was the same here.
They're not using the harbour to flood the site, they're not using it to retake, they're
using it to hard hold and that is not how you play the harbour.
You see the wall going out there and they're trying to hard hold against this ace flip
and look, there's just open lines everywhere for them to get picked apart there.
Yeah, it was really an excellent game plan from ExoG.
I think the only realms they started to lose on this attacking side was when they moved
away from their reed to constantly fight for mid control and they started to just try and
going to side execs and really play into that hard anchoring harbour, which I agree with you, is not the optimal way to play the agent.
But what I respect is that late in that half, XLG timeout, they returned to the hits, and now it's a difference maker in a very close game to exploit that weakness yet again and get it over the line.
XLG did win both pistols and that has been a theme. They've won all the pistols today, but I think they should have won this map much more given what you're saying.
Yeah, I mean, look, I'll be honest, I was on a TMV stream
and I saw that one round where they had all the ults
and kind of caved at that moment.
And then somehow Raga pulls off a 3K
and I thought it was a rat for XLG at that moment
because it felt like they had everything lined up
perfectly for them.
And that's actually one of the people in the squad
that actually was popping off a little bit.
I wasn't too crazy about the Phoenix,
but Raga made me a fan.
Yeah, and it's so important that Raga is flying like this.
You look at the historic global events
showing for this XLG laner and he's always the guy to underperform, he swapped in interviews
of guns down and out on himself critiquing his own life, very much in his own head and
that to me was one of the biggest reasons why this team could not deliver at global events
in the past.
But so far here in the playoffs, he has been good and he's crying as well as he was in
China in this game to help bring them to a turn.
Yeah and I think some of the key things for me that he was making some of those confident
proactive plays that we weren't seeing from EDG on the defensive defense side and to me having him
in confidence, I've been saying it all the time, aim them halfway together, outfiring, this squad
can do everything. Yeah, you really just can't be afraid to get your hands a little dirty in those
situations. That's exactly what Raga was aiming to do there and mission accomplished at the very
least four breeze but another big head-to-head though that, and I do want to address the elephant
in the room, poor Nelman, with the three op shots that did not connect her around the world but
Even then though was still a great series for him even with a couple of those stumbles and you're going up against con con
So you literally need to give your absolute best every single time guys
It has been a better day overall for nomin in my mind even with that round of everyone's remembering towards the end of breeze
Come on. He's been pretty well shut down in map one. It was good utility to get his off off the line here again
He was certain positions where he was constantly trying to hard anchor sites with that operator and the XOG trading was really good into it
Normally, he is the man who has the aura on these big events, he's running around in circles, he's performing in these matches.
But not only have XLG shut down their key player of their opponent, but their players are rising to that same stage.
Yeah, going into Split, I love that Hedley-Hedley, he's concoct going to be on that jet, that is where he shines the most.
But no matter in the last split game they played, that race, his entries were phenomenal.
I loved watching him play, and I think if both of them are doing the things that know they can do,
then it's going to be a Oobangers end-on-split moment.
Yes, and it should be.
If you're a fan of VCTC and you'll remember the final,
it was a five mapper, but the difference-maker was an overtime.
17-15 on-split.
That's why EDG have the trophy.
That's why they're the number one seed at this event.
So, for XLG, not only is it an opportunity to beat the team,
but they haven't been able to beat in the big game so far.
but a chance to do it on the map that lost them the final.
Well, you know, Manny, you've been in this situation as a coach plenty of times in your career
where you know he backs against the wall, you're the favorite,
but yet this lucky underdog team is finding ways to exploit your setups, your plans.
How do you bounce back, get ready for this map three and win on split?
I think it's just a normal team talk. Just remind, just remaining calm.
As the coach, if you're remaining calm, then the players are going to follow suit.
So I think about remaining calm maybe as plan of how to get Kong Kong activated. I don't know him
I don't know how he likes to be treated
But whatever it is they need to the coach needs a little bit of a chat with Kong Kong here and just be like look
It's your moment. Yeah, I'm just shine. Yeah, no, it's very true
I mean and on your end Mimi where how do you feel about?
XLG in this situation because you know that they have to be feeling it here like hey
We are one game away from lock-in top three highest placement for she like gaming could be a massive achievement
But I don't think they'll be feeling the pressure right now.
I think that's squarely with EDG.
You are supposed to beat up the rest of China.
They have for years. It's the first time that that has slipped between Bangkok and now.
But now they're back on top, trying to make it to their third top three in history.
That would be more than any other CN squad by far.
But across the stage for XLG, they can feel it.
They can feel that they're finally delivering.
Being the international this is they choked on the big stage so many times and now they're so damn close
Yeah, it really is fascinating to see this development of XLG over the course of their appearances at global events mini
And it only just feels natural that they would have gotten to this point as we get ready for the agent select
Yeah, I think the conference is key
I think we said when there was on the desk and he was saying that CN regionally they have to find out they have that confidence
But it doesn't always translate here and it's beautiful to see for both these teams
last time these teams played my favorite rounds for Sheila where their trap plays on defense with the way life
I think that is the biggest advantage that this omen or rather this really has over the jet on the other side
Edg like to call a lot of rounds where they're contacting kind of slowly having nobody trying to sell fakes on the other side
I think that's a weakness
But where she likes struggles is against the hard hits when Edg just started sending it on them in that final
I think for me it's about XLG getting the main information with the way that EDG play with a lot of four ones
I think they've XLG can just control that space or re-info that space
It's gonna get and give a lot of reads as to where EDG wants to finish
Pressure is on here. She like gaming here, right?
But as you'd mentioned EDG they are certainly gonna be reeling if they slip up in these first early rounds
Yeah, this is a return to the same narratives we've been talking about all day. This is home for EDG
This is the position they've been in many times before
They always beat this team in big games, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Xilin.
London! We're going to MAD 3!
Oh, come on, London! I said we're going to MAD 3!
Makes some noise as we get ready for the action!
Send it over to your casters once again, keep the energy up!
Brennan Sideshow, take it away.
That's right, it's MAP 3, split all bangas and on this one here,
between these two teams through Titans of China, one of them living in the shadow of the other,
but potentially a chance to upset that narrative entirely here as we watch them clash.
Which one of these teams is going to make the podium at minimum here
in London with champs at Shanghai on the horizon? To focus in on Split, EDG,
they are 4-1 on Split in VCTCN with two of those wins coming over XLG,
But it did go to OT in the grand finals as Mimi was talking about.
I've got another narrative for you, Brent.
Yeah, I said it.
XLG have never lost a map three at Globals.
They are 4-0, three of which came right here.
They either get blown out of games,
or they win in the important final map.
Might be the case here.
As you can see on your screens,
they got put it out of the game.
We're going to be starting it up again momentarily.
Shouldn't be long.
Well, let's talk about some of the players then and how they'll be feeling stewing before
Split gets online.
This game so far, if you look from a big picture, there's been happy way in Chishu battling
it out.
Who's the best out of these sensible players in China?
Kang Kang has not actually had a great game.
If you're looking to what's Kang Kang as being the player, the main character, the
protagonist, he's been underperforming.
He hasn't had his big moment.
This could be it here on Split as he comes out playing Jett again, instead it's been
people like Raga or Jenny who've been rewriting their narratives as being under-performance
in bigger moments. They've actually stepped up to the plate and delivered in crucial impact
rounds when it matters. Raga himself, he's talked about it, the mental
struggles that he's had in terms of performing and carrying that performance from China where
he dominates onto the global stage two, but Woods has been characterised from Kang Kang.
It's all lovely into the day between these two teams.
A lot of sportsmanship being shown between them.
It's the due list duo for EDG that I think the pressure is on.
They're starting on the attack side,
and both of these guys have got more to give.
Smoggy was the highest rated player
during that Grand Finals inside of China.
He went plus 29 across the V05 to beat XLG.
Kang Kang and Smoggy have got so much more
that they can give, and this attack side
should put them in great positions.
Well, here we go.
Jumping into the game here for the pistol round of split.
If that grand finals has anything to go off of this one,
should be going to distance,
and it should be an absolute bang.
Time ticking down.
Let's see what these teams have got now.
As we see it all kick off.
Opening up, it was slow going throughout
the entirety of Breeze.
Both of these teams are not willing to really make too much of a hasty move.
An XLG have won every pistol in the series so far.
Okay, see if the trend keeps going.
Oh man, slight jiggle there with an 8.
Lots of players out, he's going to send that one flying forwards.
Richeng is useful used on either side, but no hard committal from EDG.
EDG's great strength on Split is that both of their duellists are very confident
are being able to get in an entry.
Together, they can be unstoppable.
But in Rileside there's Kangkang, very happy to go and have a wander in mid.
That's a long doing it.
Dangerous tidings, yeah, Raghus is going to be taking him out.
More of the same, isn't it? Raghus getting the better end of Kangkang.
It really is, yeah.
Getting the timings, I think.
Kangkang just taking peek, trying to clear through sections of mid,
but maybe it could be evened out, nobody.
He could have put a little pot shot, but this is quite scared stuff really.
hard committal right now. How do I finally sweep in the lift to the happy way?
High ground on the perch. Hammering down.
Led onto the opposition here. Jenny softened up.
Barely alive. Has to limp away from this one, but 10 HP. You've got to make it go over things.
Flash forward doesn't connect, but you already know what a science of life is.
And time's already running far too short here. EDG have run out of options.
They have to find a way forwards here and now, but already...
Reinforcements arriving, XLG have got this entire site and a lock and key, they keep that trend moving.
Five out of five pistols going the way of XLG.
One got upset on Lotus, so things are not over just yet.
Mac, Raga, that pep talk?
Kankani is going to be regretting this.
That's what I'm saying.
Raga finally unleashed.
I don't...
Even watching at home myself included, I've been waiting for a time for Raga to really activate.
I've been waiting for XRG to activate for years.
It's one of my favourite teams that was on the come-up.
In China, it's taken them a long time to show it at Globals.
I remind you, the Pride of London, they only won a single series at a global event against Sentinels.
Now potent beginning here.
Oh, that's Neil Braga!
Quick, really, your actions.
Yeah, but the dash is way out of there, but Kang Kang's going to be hot onto the heel.
Still covered by Leo from the side.
on the left side, running into
any side step or most of this
one here with the spectre in
hand. It's a good weapon but a
job here because it can
dissipate potential danger of
the eco just like that.
Almost a fumble. XLG of one
every pistol but said it before
they let one slip afterwards
on Lotus. I thought we were
about to see the same again with
Raga caught out of position.
A cheese shoot, keeping his toes
in. He should have made a
shot. Don't think he's got much
chance of being able to convert
this one though.
Any damage, I suppose, would be decent, but it made them work for it.
Yeah.
This is going to be another opportunity for XLG to just think about what they want to do.
Normally, these rounds early on are pre-planned, especially when you have so much knowledge of what your opponents are up to.
I think that breeze was such a bizarre game, because both teams were incredibly familiar with each other.
Trying to get one step ahead constantly.
They were both anticipating a main aggression, wasn't really happening.
Setups will be in change across the board, they'll hit you exactly on the money with it.
The norm that you would expect from both of these teams in this half is that XLG normally play quite passively on defence, though they do look to re-clear over towards A-Ramp.
They don't re-clear B-Made very often, don't re-clear mid. And EDG normally go for a lot of double-dualist site pops.
Now, that's what they normally do, but so far in this series, because they're so comfortable with each other, they've always been trying to mix it up.
it up. Adjusting the game plans. That puts a lot of pressure on the IGLs, the coaches,
the players even. Just remember what the adjustment of the game plan is. Lean away from your
Scroom experience. We stack here from XLG in through mid. This is another thing though
that EDG like to rely on is nobody faking through mid as they go for APOPs. Can't move
a bit of a tell. Get a read ahead of it when you see that sent. Oh yeah, Rager just immediately
double dash away, over towards the A space. They're taken up rapidly by EDG, they just
dash straight into the fight, but in an anchor position holding tight, tucked to elbow, still
could be playing spoiler. It's real. Still there, he's only got a spectre for it, so
not going to be favoured when he takes that fight out. Cheechoo, Rippin is here clean
up, but here in that reload, pressing the advantage, there's no man, he's all the way
in there, Satchel, that's going to be broken, he's going to speckle in his hands, this is
all gone to port. Not ideal here for XLG, but for EDG they keep it cleaned, all of the
just losing the one. It's a scrambly round from XLG. With rifles back, we're gonna hope
that we don't see them lose their heads like that. They weren't expecting the regression.
No matter, absolutely didn't think that nobody was gonna swing with 13 HP. Can't predict
him. No, you really cannot predict what nobody is gonna do. Seen this for year on year, EDG
G set up to put pressure towards A, look at the pings on the mini-map, look at the way that Raga, Leo, holding towards this one.
Getting off radar.
Holding towards the flowerpot, so when he's to break this Utah form and he's primed ready to escape just in case, and there it is, flash.
In their face, upjacking the dash strip towards that heaven angle.
Nathan's also going to be sailing over Utah, so back off small G, he's in there like a rock hit!
Can't be stopped!
Just blitzing over the opposition, the site is entirely theirs, cracked, wide open, and the decision is made for XLG,
the remaining players like so no matter forces a step back try and hold on to the guns
That's the due list value. You've been hoping to see from edg unleashed here
Smoggy way faster than XLG were ready for on the
Double-dive intersight. Kan kan goes up towards heaven
Backhands a player there, too
These are two players that have yet to really have their impact in this match
They're going to be extremely happy that it ends on split.
Both players, that if they're in peak form, give EDG a great chance at running, not just
to a podium spot, but to a potential title.
By now, full well, pressure to bright lights doesn't really affect them that much.
If it did, they wouldn't have a champs trophy.
Exactly.
There's been many in a kind of iconic moment here on Split for EDG, for Kangkang specifically.
It's genuinely incredible that they've kept so much of their roster together over the years.
It really is.
And they're still performing at this current level.
Yeah.
You would expect a roster like this to either have made more changes, or to just slowly fade
out of relevance, but they've always been there.
Even when they were slumping in the Yoru meta, they were fighting, they were still turning up to events.
They still looked like they had players that were dangerous, and now it's comfort again.
A double Julius meta where you get Kangkang on Jett and Smoggy on Raze,
and no pressure on the B site here whatsoever. That's dangerous.
Nice situation here for them. They are walking all the way up. There's not a single piece of
utopia news. She's primed ready for the reaction and the contact being caught here, but with a
spectral, at least a stinger from range, not going to be doing too much here. The snake bite
to stop them in their tracks from really scaling a little bit deeper here. This fight's being
being squared up to across the map.
Quad 4 now with a disciplined double face from XLG,
looking to clear their way out,
to make sure that Cheechoo can't play the backstab.
No man's a player with a rifle and close to a showstopper.
If there was any chance for XLG, it might be in his hands.
Just waiting for the smokes to dissipate for now though.
Finally, taken away, smokey.
Smoke in his face, double dash, up towards it, over.
Not quite landing it, these players are aligned
all the way up, EDG, with a superior weaponry.
Look at those rifles, and they're able to at least
Black down on the opposition, XLG can only do so much in this spot, and I saw Shorley go down indeed.
Little aim towards the end of the spray down, but Jules is getting active, and I couldn't read by EDG, he's always alternating.
It's really nice, and it also shows you how good the coordination is between Kankang and Smoggy on this map.
The way that Kankang execs on top of this new stand, and then you create these high low setups,
in this spot, even with Jenny going back into that position after Kankang has fallen off of it.
They're always in positions where they can play off each other.
In terms of the team play, in terms of that micro,
I think that's one of the areas that is kept EDG on top.
A fight.
Ready for it.
Almost realizing that XRG might just try.
Busted himself.
Up that boomboard.
Hello, get broken.
Kind of hanging 7-8-3 to heal.
It's coming up and it's guys.
Blind as anything.
Jenny, luckily the savior.
Could have gone all too wrong there.
So he's gonna get broken, immense amount of faith that Kang Kang had in his team.
Yeah.
They let him fall with the boom block but they saved his life as Leo Pop flashed back in.
It's a bit of a race to the result as well.
No man, Smoggy, both won away.
Both looking to deny the opportunity for an Orban B main to get f***ed.
I think that's why there was such a brawl over it.
XLG don't normally fight in that area of the map but
No man wants to try to contest it as well if Smoggy goes for it.
I saw him looking in a different direction now entirely.
He was holding on to that mid-control.
They weren't proactive on A based on the B pressure,
so now they're lacking information, XLG.
It was a happy wait.
Look how passive they are.
Oh, they are walking all the way.
They're just gambling A.
Space gambling.
The 4v5.
It's a hell of a call to make, and it is the wrong read.
We've seen so many of these rounds from DRG and XLG on Split,
where they gamble A if they feel like they don't have enough information.
This is because they played the macro wrong about a minute ago.
They should have tried to take a step forwards on A ramp as EDG were creating that brawl and winning that brawl over towards B main.
I left guessing and probably playing a retake here.
Well, I don't think they're even going to play the retake. They normally just save in these spots.
I'm sorry to save, I should say.
But isn't that insane to be sitting in a 4v5 spot like this?
It's a hell of a gamble, isn't it? You just give a full map control.
And the thing is they always gamble A.
Any time they have a gamble round like this, it always leans A.
There are definitely still holes for XLG's defense.
Tendencies left to be punished and get real time.
And this is No Man without a death, even getting up to the result that he was won away with.
He's essentially been AFK in this round.
And now Smoggy's outpaced him.
Wonder fight.
Next round, he's going to be able to utilize that.
There's no time really for No Man unless he's able to get an exit kill.
It's only kind of like hunting gear, but yeah, he just doesn't want anything to do with it.
And he's got the money through a cloudburst album as a parting gift, and XLG gets to keep those four guns.
He'll be worried about giving the point to Nomad, I think.
Yeah.
Oh, that's it.
Absolutely tybalt or slow movery play.
They got the important kill, though.
This is just...
It's looking like a real ride.
All eyes on Smoggy here.
He won the race with Nomad to be able to get the showstopper on line early.
They have an anti-setup for it.
Jenny's put in... sorry.
Lysor put himself in a position where it should be a little bit difficult to kill him with this ult.
That's going to be immediately conceding though, that...
I can't space the flash in his face.
His teleport is going to have to be good.
It really is. I mean, this is going to be a truly trailblazer forwards.
Because he knows when I'm towards heaven they contact as much as they can possibly there now
I'm gonna be setting you with a paranoia. It's gonna get up blind but as a showstopper
That's gonna be gone and complete missed there not a dissimilar but still the weaponry and still the gunfire
Rain supreme for EDG
Stamper mark of authority upon this site now and once more the decision is made XLG
Cowering away no man still with no opportunity to build up to this alt
still not getting up to the showstopper here.
He's out of the round.
XLG have got to be feeling miserable about the way that these final two rounds have gone.
But they actually had a great chance of shutting that down.
Lysor didn't get targeted by the Raze Ultimate.
Instead, Smoggy turning his attention towards any play that might have tried to flood in.
It's a nice idea. It isolates him.
And the trades are just coming out so well.
This feels like XLG need to...
Need to wake up, need to bring the fight to EDG, need to remember that they are playing
to win in these rounds, need to remember how well they've done already at Masters London
and have some of that self-belief.
Right now it's only one side that believes that EDG playing like it, looking like prime
EDG in terms of the way that they're scaling, taking the fights together.
There they do.
And take a look at this in the replay.
Deleting Raga at top, but also just putting so much pressure on Lysor.
They know where LISOR is, and they just trap him in the back.
These rounds have not been it for XLG,
and I think the timeout is absolutely needed.
The Warriors got a tour to them.
Got to get them finding some ways of creating pressure.
The problem for XLG is,
they've never demonstrated in the games that I've watched
that they can go aggressive down mid,
go aggressive with a full push out A,
do something different that actually punishes this B-pop.
I think EDG can just stick to bread and butter stuff
they're double dualist and XLG are really gonna struggle.
Rager's slumped back.
He's got to find it within him to bring the fight forwards.
Time's going.
This next round is not going to be the time for it.
They've only got two weapons, despite going for saves.
They don't have the money.
Nothing to worry about, scraps really.
EDG should be gearing up to take a six round.
Only the pistol going away with XLG.
They've been consistent over the course of the series
We need more than just the pistols.
We've shown that even at this tournament, to be honest, with some of the play.
But EDG, a scary team with momentum behind them, especially with that self-confidence to belief.
It's just crazy how close all of XLG are to their ultimates.
And yet they haven't been able to get them because they've been saving so much.
Passive.
Far back set up.
He'll absorb any potential aggresson, goes their way, deep flash, no connection here,
so taking Ram controllers to be the name of the game for EDG, but then immediately pivoting.
Bit of a bait and switch here, it's an eight forwards, flash into the face of Cancun, we're
still getting active now, Cloudburst against it, preventing the re-swing, no man, no man,
this guy's head on a swivel, there's no which way to look, this is pure brilliance, and
Sublime execution into the side from EDG, it's going to take a lot, Braga.
Even his best efforts, can't even come up with a kill there.
Refracts back and surely he's going to be going,
Da, that's crazy!
Jenny winning that one out.
It looks so drilled, so beautifully coordinated from EDG.
I love the A-Ramp default as well, into XLG's defense.
I think that's such a good game plan.
Even if it's in a rifle v rifle round, I think that should work well.
And they know now that happy way is on the flag. They've just taken space everywhere else
Finally finally the odds come online for XLG this next round. It has to be now
So the time I was four you got to see that turn around right here right now a voice edg
Running away with a map what beautiful coordination here throwing that cloudburst to make it difficult for no matter peak
And then setting up a jump with the teleports really nice so that you guarantee the kill on the A side and say it's looking like
prime EDG. It is, yeah. It's feeling reminiscent. When he went on that run at
Champs in 2024, it was through the upper bracket and it was built at the back of
powerful fundamentals, individuals popping off, but also the anti-stratum
preparation. Well, this is finally the round where XLG have taken the attack
timeout, have got the ults, and EDG are mixing it up already with Kankanko for
the attack op. This is going to be a slower round. Looking to try to put the
pressure on Raga. This is something we've seen already. It can be a weakness.
Raga's left alone here a ton and as long as you save a trailblazer or a flash to deal with this
he's going to find it very difficult to hold the line. Yeah it's the benefit of the attack time
vibe wall it's not going to be cutting off the line here so you can sit for now but like you said
as soon as some utility is going to be used by nobody you will be forced to make a decision.
Just has to be patient here because the trailblazer is immediately getting out.
Doesn't want anything to do with that one. Seeker's going to be used as a response I mean XLG just
Just trying to guess where these players could be, but all three of them moving up towards Rafa Neymar.
Spells it out really.
Blind.
Getting hit down to nobody up towards that Heaven angle, but it is open. XLG.
Stackerbodies four ready to respond towards A, but still slow going for EDG.
With 38 seconds left, showstopping. Ow!
And a reclare.
Short that goes wide, along with the lock in the dash, and this engage is beautiful.
Peck next there, still. Happy Raider watching.
Seconds left.
On through mid.
Incredibly important kill, Brent, for happy way to be able to get,
because this Pivot's going back with barely any time.
There's only 20 seconds.
Can't go trying to juggle it up and a Vandal. I'll do Spock.
I'm not too sure what the hell the plan is here,
but there's only 60 seconds left,
and now you're going to make a move, a go of things.
You don't have heavy control.
We're ahead of this one now, but a paranoia.
Moving forwards, Convergent Pass is waiting for the DTP,
and he needs to get these players into the side of Lysor.
Lysor! Damage done from that side, and wants more!
A pure precision towards the end.
Raga even keeping the waylale in the bank. XLG save one of those incredibly important
ultimates and showcase they do have what it takes to shut down these slower rounds at
least from XLG. But if Habyway had not had his eyes on Smuggie here, Smuggie had been
able to pick up that lurt kill, the whole of the B defense collapses. Massively important
for Habyway to have that awareness, so there was going to be a lurt coming through somewhere
towards mid or deep. I'm credit to Leo too because his aggressive position over on A
heard all of the players retreating. Making the right adjustments here for XLG showing.
The fight hasn't left him yet. But I think it's a good idea if we can't kind of go back
to the Vandal. Yeah. The attack side off. You're just playing at the tempo that XLG
wants. It's the power of the double due list popping into the sights. That's been what's
winning rounds for you. You have the rifling behind it. XLG have not been able to hold
a candle against it. Now again, I saw it's going to be tested, but to him it can answer
all of this pressure coming his way. Now with a trailblazer, there's a paranoia that
sweeps forward again, but he's not looking to evacuate, help arriving, but happy way
is going to be blinded up and this is an awkward engagement still. Everybody watching it could
snap to the side. Smoky! Smoky! He's doing this all basically and now EDG, they follow
through on all that threat and the pressure that was created. They plant down and brings
Leo into this 1v2 1v3 excuse me it's a 1v2 on the site though because Chishu's
looking for him over towards Venn and Robes so he might have an opportunity
but he'd have to be given a free kill early on. Let's see, EDG look like they're not on a
move to really let the slip in terms of discipline and Maverick's the aim it's
being unreal form from Jenny right when his team required it but it looks like on
this map not really even necessarily the case the entries of Kanghanger's smoggy have
been obliterating them. Yeah, this map has been a concoct of smoggy show on the attack
side, but I really do think that there's a great argument to make that Jenny's been
their most important player in the run so far.
For the series and for the whole tournament.
Yeah, he's just been excellent. He really has. He's stepped up enormously. The growth
that he's gone on and the redemption tour that he's currently in after being taken out
of the team roster for a while and inserted back in. It's brilliant stuff. XLG still do
He still do not have an answer to what's going on towards B.
Lysos trying to fake this teleport right now to draw some pressure out of EDG.
They're gonna have to clear this, but they're just calling it a bluff.
So highly, man.
Contact constantly.
They didn't even use any utils to clear that.
They just didn't believe Lysos was there.
Walked all the way in.
There was nothing left behind it.
Now with a deep smoke layer down.
Ate sailing.
Lysos still holding onto some of his util.
It's the mid-lurk that you need to be paying attention to.
And here it is.
No, man.
It's gonna be spotting those signs alive now.
What a satisfying force.
Even to stop this, stem this one, all the way, can be thrown in through.
That's gonna be a deep dash all the way.
Happy way barely getting it.
And they control that with a right full spammer still leaping into the pit.
And even to see if they can cut this one out of action.
She too perfect time to activate all that sound pressure.
Heads will turn away.
Now plan down into the safety of the default position to be three XLG.
Gonna make a go of this.
I'll expended here.
Seekers reveal at least a positioning now.
rifle picked up, exchanged now Leo, there's a bit more threat to it, but still how do you get past this mechanical obstacle?
Rager's taking the long way around, he's going to use it now from the corner.
He'll be trying to catch and push his players out, but Leo just doesn't play off that pressure well enough.
Nice adjustment, side stepping with most of this one, but time is ticking and it's planted.
This is a position G2, wraps all the way to heaven, and a bullet to the dome is all in Rager there.
I've just got so many nice things to say about the way that EDG are playing this attack side.
They've been threatening Kangkang on a solo look through mid in a lot of these rounds.
He dashes into a smoke here, and then they don't expect tissue because they think it's the solo Kangkang look again in more of a 4-1 setup.
A double play where you get to play Kangkang, but he also becomes part of the twist, part of the pinch. It's beautiful stuff.
The prep work autumn deserves a lot of credit. I know that there were questions about him stepping into the coaching role for EDG
But they look immaculate here. It's looking really good
Double flashes while to push back the ramp aggression. I'm away
It's only got a share of the work of a spot like this and he's already disengaging
Bucks to the wall over towards his A site and it's going in a completely different direction here
Even I'm guessing but body blocks. I think by the dog
This is why I love the a ramp default and a heaven default from EDG look at how XLG are now just completely isolated
on the A site. It's inserted a wedge into the middle of the A heaven. How can anyone come to even help
Leo and Happy Way? I'll jump down inserting ourselves here smoggy with that judge.
And if you give him a kill, I'll show stuff you too. Yeah.
Hold on, you're hoping up into the sidelines.
You're spotting out at least. I don't think Kong Kong is there, but they're just stuck.
It would rely on some outrageous individual moment from Leo or Happy Way now.
Living to batter the way out of this corner. They have hang themselves into right now and went with a hand just to share a happy way
Once it's up one. He's still like a kicking some house. Well, you don't want to decide that
That's a showstopper. I want to cheat you for once. Oh my god tonight all sorts of space and more
EDG
Surely up tonight now lights or just with a spectre
And now it's sweet. Meet me made it up towards that heaven angle 9-3 for EDG
an absolutely fantastic attack-side round and calling over all on the half.
Considering that XLG won the pistol round and EDG haven't been able to find one, that was utter dominance.
That really is Jams' winning form from EDG.
Now looking to see if they can close this one out, secure at least the minimum podium finish.
We'll see how it's all decided after this.
I
We were talking about our champs winning 4-9, 3-1 half EDG, they're looking well-versed.
Prepared, I think, for everything that XLG were going to throw at them, but not just
that, the mechanical ability, the individuality on display, and that exec style, the double
dual is just bursting into the sides, XLG could not do a thing.
We told you that Kankang and Smoggy had much more to give.
We've seen it before, obviously.
But this half, they took over.
The game found the ideas.
All brilliant.
And our EDG, four rounds away.
But on the other side of a pistol that has been tricky for them.
Axl Dreaming, running the game in terms of the pistol round,
wins, but it's a sizable round lead.
It's still going to be an uphill struggle, even if they earn that.
They're going to need Raga to go bonkers on the attack.
The jewelers on the other side are now where the attention lies.
Steadily making their way forwards here, collapsing up towards mid, a ramp control.
Name it a game.
They're looking for the reflight. They're trying to bait it out from EDG,
hoping that they can draw a mistake.
Walls up though. It's going to be taking their time, of course,
but the boombot is very well timed out.
That's going to be a big reveal. Flash forwards.
They're going to be blinding up these players as they work towards mid.
We could put a bit of a crunch on in case there was somebody there,
but no one's home.
Kind of risky from Leo.
Yeah, he's the one with the spike.
And look at how much space nobody has taken in the meantime.
Off all of that A-Ramp pressure,
nobody is super confident to just walk forwards.
This is going to be hard if XLG commit to B.
It'll be hard to dig in out of that position.
Space still plays well.
Sander disappeared away.
Pulled away back.
Satchels are forwards now.
That's going to be spelling out the game.
XLG looking to see if they can make their mark up.
But what's this side?
There's a game of timings here with Jenny.
Right clickin' away.
I'm trying too much though.
Not a plan going down, about too much.
Pushback, still that B main position.
This is absurdity by nobody.
They're triple-reclear again.
Triple-reclear trying to find out where he is.
They still haven't found him.
Nope, he is stuck so damn tight.
What a hell of a read.
Raga, Raga.
Nyfowl, it's a Nesnobody.
Paladin is striking right where it hurts.
Hang, hang, walking his way all the way up onto the side.
Now the flash as well.
Monumental connection.
This XLG just being absolutely toppled, whittled away.
At this point, still half of the little fuse
gonna be earned up.
And these shots need to land.
Dive under Jenny, but he's still alive
and kicking it out of the fuse.
Oh, he's in the pistol, a balloon of them.
Couldn't be a worse time for XLG to finally end the streak.
A seven-round lead, what a brilliant play by nobody.
That's that level of defensive reaction
that you had to see in the first half from XLG.
But more than that, the fact that it takes P-Milk is great.
The fact that he continues going and tucks himself in that corner,
the perfect distance for Raga to stop thinking about it.
It's immaculate.
Look what it needs to come come!
An EDG are gonna force, of course they are, they have to!
Oh, oh nothing.
Rammateak, rapid as that.
Just with the stingers in their hands though, and they're priming a piece of the U till the late.
It's pretty perfect here from Smoggy.
Flizzed away, buys a bit of time for potentially Rotator to come in.
Kang-Kang's gonna be waiting on the sideline by the wings now.
Double Satchel forwards here, but the punish is a good paranoia, but the connection to the kills is all Kang-Kang and Smoggy wants more!
Hagrid positions on a counter four, and that is a fairing of a shudder!
And there with the coffin!
XLG with only three rounds, and last allow as they go through the force.
They've just got to buy in every round from here, and try to make some miracle happen.
But EDG have been too good today.
This split is absolute dominance.
11-3. No hope at all for the back end of that 4-6.
Of course, forced to do it again, working with the stingers.
No more breathing room.
Not many more chances to stay alive at this one here.
And that killer instinct from EDG.
You've seen it before.
They are not going to let their foot off their gas.
Moggy, charging hand.
He likes to play for this one here.
That's a brutal angle close quarters is where it thrives nobody now. I get his chance soon enough
You don't want to go into the hands
Nobody to target prioritization
Suffering up a couple of these targets back pedaling out peel away back and I guess hook's gonna be laid down to play in and around
Jenny though is surrounded it's warmed
Potentially you can do it. Yes
from XLG, Lysor, Nobun, but given a salvage this one still, Kankang forwards,
Kankang's balance size, get the most of this, Kankang, Kankang!
It's prime form!
It's Kankang's world, we're holding him in it!
A Red Bull crutch, he just knows he's gonna win this!
The decisiveness of the aggression, Kankang's the smoke of Lysor,
And he puts the pressure, the squeeze on No Man, fumbling with Util in hand.
This is the takeover game that you were waiting for from Kong Kong's jet.
17 and 6 on a dominant map so far, only 15 rounds played, it's unreal.
He's just absolutely captain towards the end here.
No Man was doing a great job in the previous two maps, keeping up.
They, in fact, were shutting down Cancan when he was going for plays, repeatedly on Lotus and Breeze.
But now he's been let off the leash. Not anymore, yeah.
And he's a scary, scary player, taken over.
And he imputes now the tipping point of the series.
EDG, feels like it's already set in stone. Nobody is so damn brave. Look at him.
Kicking fights alone. That's how confident they feel. All across the board, it's XLG.
He's been picked apart like a tapestry on a ravelled here, but they're still finding
a way forwards, but nobody knows.
He knows he has to fight aggressively, losing sight control, and that'll wrap around all
the way here.
Kang Kang has arrived once more.
They rebound, but there's a finishing throw!
It's 13-3!
The finalized split!
EDG and their team blinded by the lights, they feel empowered by it!
EDG turn XLG into a side character in their story.
The protagonist march on.
A minimum podium finish.
A great try today on those first two maps from XLG.
But they go outpace the aura of Kangan and Smoggy finally coming online on Split.
There is nothing but respect between these two teams.
What a performance at this tournament from both of them so far.
far. XLG will have more to give in the lowers I am sure of it. Absolutely. But EDG march on
with their eyes set firmly on another trophy.
A backstreet in the chairs, the roar of the crowd.
This is an EDG squad and the form is hitting when the time is right when the conditions are met.
You just know you have the belief we've seen them do it before.
the possibility, sitting at the back of our minds, can they go all the way once more?
The region was looked down on across these last two tournaments.
They failed, the compatriots failed to put China back on the map,
but here at London, in front of a crowd, wants them to go forwards, wants them to lift that trophy.
They're going to be alongside paper, it's one of the portable favourites.
Absolutely. That could be a potential match, one hell of a one.
We'll find out.
Still, another match to be played.
Later today, we'll decide quite a bit.
Yeah, Vitality are going to have something to say about that.
Yeah, absolutely.
I'm going to be trying to shut this one down entirely for EDG though.
Bask in the glory of the moment here.
Burn themselves, it's a significant spot as they move forwards in the uppers.
For now, we're going to sit down on the floor, Frankie, standing by for the Verizon post-match interview.
I've got nobody, the IGL of EDG, for an interview. First of all, nobody.
How different was it to play XLG today compared to when you beat them in the VCT China finals?
I think there is no big difference because they are the XLG that we are very familiar with.
And what was it like to play XLG in those pistol rounds today?
You managed to win the last one on split, but the other ones looked really hard.
I think the high level players never won the peace round.
I love the A-stuttle.
That was it, should we say nobody?
Final question, especially on Split, you look like you might be prime EDG again.
Making the top three, do you agree?
I think if we are the prime adward gaming today, we should won the map too and we should won the game.
Well, there's just two more games between you and the trophy here in London, so good luck nobody, thank you so much.
Guys watching around the world, stick around. Oh, brilliant, awesome pink thing.
Yeah, that's me. You're probably wondering how I ended up here. It all started when I
got to the FIFA World Cup and, wow, thousands of Verizon customers.
Have you got the free Verizon tickets too?
No, I'm with amazing seats.
I'm sorry.
OK.
And even pitch side-axis.
Are you?
David Beckham, Verizon customer.
This used to be for players, now it's for horizon customers.
No one gets you closer, only on Verizon.
In eSports, legendary moments demand speed, scale and soul.
Players and fans bring the heart.
Technology brings it to life.
Every frame, every stat, every decisive play.
in partnership with the Valorant Champions Tour.
We're driving digital innovation
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So players can focus on the game
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I
We've got another quick game for
you before we head into our next
matchup. So we've got Rishi.
Hello, Rishi. You've got some red
balls. What I want you to do is
try and hit the corresponding
color that your balls are. If
you hit the wrong color, they
don't count. So, uh, it's
the wrong color, they don't count. So, step a bit further back. There we go.
Where are Leo's standing? That's it. Lovely. Okay, in three, two, one. Tosher
balls. Yes, 30. Oh, okay. That is not bad. Josh. Step forward, please. Josh. Josh has
come as a witch. I have no idea why maybe this is a hint of who the next agent is
going to be. Josh, please, toss your balls.
I need to get out of there. Okay, no, that's yellow, that's not
free. Aim for the green. Oh, never mind, never mind, Josh. You
look very fetching in that hat though. You won the fashion
victory today. Okay, Edward.
I'm so sorry, London, I made myself kick a lot. I'm
terribly naughty. Okay, right, yellow balls. Oh, it's okay.
There's always one that doesn't quite stick. 60, that's not
It's on the line. I think, you know what? You've got a tidy 60 there, so I'm actually going to be really mean about this one, because everyone else hasn't done that well.
All right, there we go. Step back, please. Here we go. Okay, the blue ball, step back a tiny bit.
Welcome back everyone to Masters London our second upper bracket match of the day and
it's a good one.
It's Pacific's Paper Rex taking on EMEA's team vitality of course we're here alongside
with the M duo, the Mini Mimi duo.
Yeah.
The Mini Mimi duo.
I don't know.
I'm trying out here dog.
It's rough. It's rough. A evil cat and the coach of Paper X slash dramatic in any case.
Yeah. Oh, I say to the vision as well. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Got to respect Zeta's game.
But of course, folks, let's go ahead and talk about this matchup because safe to say that there
haven't been a lot of surprises out here in London. But Paper X has been as what we've come to expect
from the squad, predictably good mini. And it does feel like they're coming into this one as a
tournament favorites although I do think a lot of EDG fans might be contesting that.
Yeah I think they were clearly the favorites coming in and they've been delivering on that.
I think the map against Lev Ascent was the highlight to me. 13-1 against Lev on a map
where Lev was supposed to be like one of the best in the world on that map. It's a bit of a
shaking map for Paper Rex but they just show that they got that world-class dominance. It doesn't
matter what map they're on. If they're on fire, if they're in the mode, they're going to destroy
everyone. Yeah and I love the way they change the composition. They're playing there with that
double Sentinel look. They did such a good job of being incredibly active on their defense,
constantly creating new problems for left. Whenever they had good information, they were
putting down the Sentinel utility late on the other side and being super proactive with the
rotates. And while the second map was closer, this to me looked more like maybe some of the
games in the Pacific Final where it was a rough defense half and then a complete runaway on the
attack side with Paper X, with Jane, with the double duelist absolutely running it down and
displaying a bit more of the mechanical prowess in the strategic now you can
never cut them out of the game even if they're done and I'm up you just they
just have that world-class thing about them it doesn't matter that time
individual skill down in a map they've got it all they put the individual skill
they've got the right way to play this match of the explosivity it is just like
their year right now yeah and and also to what always stands out with me but
just paper X team is they don't just like go for the place like don't go for
some wild moments for sure, but there is a thought process behind it. Yes, we can always
say W gaming, you know, trying to make these plays happen, but they level those risks quite
well and often enough because of that individual gun skill, they shine.
They are the most intuitive and instinctive around understanding macro play. They might
not necessarily be able to break it down for you and tell you how to play strategic Valorant,
but they just have that feeling and they know when they should be pushing. They know when
It's incredible, like I've learned a lot working with this team as a coach.
And it's not just in the late rounds, the mechanics it builds, the team out of situations.
I think when you look across the world, they're one of the best teams at teamfighting
in some of the most weird and chaotic situations and having incredible innate synergy between the players.
I feel like they're able to react and swing together and navigate situations that are so rarely presented to a team
but to figure it out so quickly.
A lot of their server time when they're practicing,
they'd like to go in and do those little combos
and talk about how they're gonna fight for space.
And they've got so many reps doing it,
and that is what they are the best at in the world.
Yeah, they truly are phenomenal when it comes to that.
Of course, one player in particular
who's always phenomenal, one of my favorite players,
Forsaken, had an opportunity to catch up with Jen
ahead of the match.
Jen here with PaperX is Forsaken.
Jason with other top seats going home
and struggling at the moment.
You guys are playing a solid game, but who do you guys see as the tournament favourites?
For me, I would say EDG.
Because we screamed them a couple of times and I can see that.
I think they're coming back in form, like five of them.
They're really coming back in form, so I think for me, EDG.
Vitality is not up there in your perspective.
No.
OK, I respect it for taking out there,
throwing a little shade over at Vitality.
But of course, we're talking about a team of just absolute
professionals on the other side of the field.
Vitality exceeding expectations,
but they managed to take down regional rivals, team Heretics.
And it does feel like the boys are looking pretty good here.
And Mini, you've got a lot of experience with these boys.
They were just playing against him, playing with them, being a part of the systems that they have also created.
What can you tell me about this vitality team?
Well, I think that they're really underrated right now because of their grand final loss against Heretic.
Apart from that, in that playoffs, they were phenomenal.
They were amazing. They had switched around a lot of the way they played.
Before that, they were a little bit loose and they've gone with a structure that I think makes a lot of sense.
They're playing with protocols on the defense and that is how Derrick and Chronicle used to be in coach and used to be in play.
And that is how you get the most out of these players.
You let them have a little bit of a system,
and then when the fighting gets tough,
that is when they shine in these big moments
to make individual plays.
Yeah, in the group stage, I was quite critical
of some of their late rounds in particular,
how they were playing their micro,
the way they were team fighting.
I felt like it was too individualistic,
and they were opening themselves up
to get that exploited against other teams.
This first match they played in the playoffs
was against an underperforming heretics.
But I think not only did they look much better
the way they were playing together in their late rounds, but they came into this game with a really
good approach of how to play. On the attack sides in particular, knowing heretics relies a lot on
mid-round re-aggression. They were buying into the attack side. Off, they're playing a lot of
really good slow rounds. I was very impressed with the calling, with the poise from them,
to be able to deal with heretics in such dominant fashion. Very, very good.
I think I think irony of it though, is you're saying, ah, you know, vitality when they're doing
the individual things maybe not the best situation for them involve a paper x go out there fight your
ones live your best life but my point isn't that one of these teams can and other can't win out in
the chaos i think what matters isn't the mechanics but the micro of how they play around each other
in these late team fights that's what you were highlighting that paper x is excellent at and i
felt like vitality wasn't at that same level yeah i think vitality strength is their structure and
their kind of game planning and their protocol system yeah paper x i'm gonna have that they're
going to intuitively know what to do. I think this is a big challenge, the biggest challenge
that Vitality have ever had. It's not been punched in the face this hard before and it's
going to be extremely interesting to see how they try to contain Paper Rex. They contain
foot in the last game but Paper Rex is a completely different piece. I don't know, people can
contain Paper Rex. It's proven to be very, very challenging but if there's one individual
who has the ability to do just that, it's one of the greatest of all time. It's chronicle.
He had an opportunity to catch up with Gen earlier today.
Here a Chronicle of Vitality, Chronicle, what can Vitality do against PaperX that other teams couldn't do, maybe in the past, and maybe here in London?
I think that will be a secret, otherwise I'm gonna show my cards instantly, but that will let them be a little bit scared.
It's a secret though.
Gen just is not able to get blood from the stone there.
You know, good try, Jett, but you know what, though,
when you look at this team and we talk about the individuals,
and yes, they are great together,
but there is one person who, whenever I see him in those moments,
he can't clutch up, Durka.
You know, again, this team is loaded with goats.
Genuinely, just talent up the wazoo.
But Durka is going to be a guy that I'm certainly
keeping my eyes on in this matchup.
Yeah, I think it's about the fact that he seems somehow
it's underlooked time and time again,
despite the fact that every time he is
at a global event, he is frying. Like look at some of those stats. He is, in my opinion,
the best entry player of all time. I think that he is one of the best judists of all
time. Maybe sometimes when he goes to global events, maybe even for that ex-fightality,
they don't go as far as maybe in some of the tournaments, but every single time that
Derka is there, you go to that VLR page, he is up the top there every single time. Maybe
regionally, he wasn't as strong, but as soon as the bright lights hit, he is frying. And
I think this matters perfect for him with the jet and the race.
And he showed up massively in that opening game of the playoffs for Vitality, one of the most consistent players, like you're saying.
But if you're looking at Vitality, you focus on Dureka, you focus on Chronicle.
They're guys that are in the absolute conversation for the greatest individual player of all time.
But I feel like at this point, there's almost no contest that PaperX is the greatest team of all time.
Especially if they keep form in this event, can make it on another deep run.
Their consistency is incredible. They made more global events than anyone else.
This is some of Valorant's goat players against who is right now, the greatest team.
Yeah, I think this match and this tournament will mean a lot to these players' legacies.
You know, we've got Chronicle looking for his fourth, we've got Dirk there cementing the fact
that he could be the greatest Jules. His head-to-head is something who I think is the greatest
Jules at the modern era, and PaperX for sure the greatest team in this modern era, if not of all
time, depending how this tournament is. No matter what, tall task for team Vitality,
But let's hear from Sionara on Vitality, on the Vitality spot about this master's run in this HyperX player moment.
Hello guys, my name is Valeth Sionara.
It was really good, a really dominant win and a good moment to boost for us for the play of start.
And a sweet revenge for the Grand Final in EMEA.
I believe they played the same, and maybe a little bit worse individual wise, but I think they tried the same ideas.
Just I think we played a lot better and we adapted to what they were doing.
And we just got used to the stuff that they pull. Nothing much to say. It was a very straightforward game. We destroyed them and
We're looking forward to our next opponent
We should have been the number one seed, I agree with Profek, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter.
Number one seed, number two seed, we are going to play good no matter what and we are on fire right now.
We will give anyone the fight that they deserve and we will show that we are better and we are going to dominate no matter who we play.
We are going to give them a tough game and an entertaining game for the fans to watch.
Okay, so I want Sinar to basically motivate me in every aspect of my life.
Straight talk, keeping it real, a buck fifty, exactly what you want to hear.
Alright, let's jump into our scrimmage side selection, shall we?
As we have Paper Rex here, and, oh, who's this on the Paper Rex side here?
Oh, that's Tommy, their team manager.
There's a running jerky Paper Rex they like to send to everyone.
They've been trying to get Tommy in the scrimmage for a while.
I think there's a reason maybe why he hasn't been there before.
But he does manage to get Tommy.
You gotta kill.
Pop off, Tommy.
He got two kills.
Let's go.
Oh, no, come on.
Oh, it's OK.
Hey, I'll take two.
I can't even get one.
So I will give Tommy all the credit in the world there.
I mean, today we got to win for a coach, but not a manager.
That's so nice.
Shane.
Yeah, the manager's just the manager.
My god, all right.
Let's go ahead and jump into our map's picks and bans and see where we're playing.
Right, hello and welcome guys. Let's see the map veto for Pyrex vs Vitality.
Vitality won the skirmish so they're going to pick their side.
Hello, it's me and I'm gonna pick Team A.
Team A, alright. Which means you are banning first?
It's an Ascent.
Alright, Vitality bans Ascent and what Pyrex bans?
Yeah, banning Po.
Alright, Pearl is also banned, and White Alt is picking.
Today is a cold breeze again, so we picked Breeze.
Alright, and the site for Breeze, please.
We go defense.
Defense, and your map pick Pyrex.
We are picking split.
Alright, splits, and the site for split.
We start attack.
Okay, so we have Fracture, Haven and Lotus left, White Alt is banning first.
We ban Haven.
Haven is gone, we have Fracture and Lotus left.
We have any Lotus.
Alright, which means the Scyther is Fracture and Vytelta is Picking the Scyther.
This feels like a million years ago, but I think we pick Attack.
Okay, so quick recap. We start with Breeze, PRX defends, then we have Split, Vytelta attacks
and if we go to the Decider map, we just Fracture, Vytelta attacks. Everything correct?
It's time to set fire to the rain.
Good luck, guys.
How could you not love Vitality Bay?
These guys are characters, too.
I didn't enjoy the dad joke.
I love it, man.
I love it, man.
It's so good.
I mean, come on, look at me.
Obviously, I'm enjoying it, Benny.
And I'm easy to please.
You're the target audience.
I am, I am.
You know, not the youth that we're watching this show.
That being said, though, folks, I mean, we got our series.
We got our maps.
Let's talk about it.
We got Breeze, Split, and if necessary,
We've taken a trip over to Fracture.
Feeling maybe a three mapper today, Mimi?
I do think getting the breeze in here early
is good for vitality.
In terms of non-America's teams,
they have my favorite harbor of anyone here.
So I think this is a great place to start,
but it's going to really be a test.
Paper X at their best are a nightmare on this map.
This is where the individualism absolutely
shines with their double duelists.
All right, folks, this is it.
Let's go ahead and bring out your two teams
for this epic clash.
It's Vitality and Paper X.
I feel like I belong in the international stage.
Seeing the crowd when I walk out to the stage, I feel amazing.
I think one thing I learned in Santiago was how I switched my mindset to just feel it
and be in the moment.
I just let the moment be itself and enjoy every second.
We got a good momentum boost in groups.
We adapted to some new style.
Everything just clicked.
We adapted to some new style, everything just clicked, and we are on fire right now.
I think Vitality is a great team, but now we're going to be going up against them, and we feel very confident.
Chronicle and Dirty, they're very experienced, and the chemistry betoned us too.
You can see it there, and it's legit.
PRX players, they play with utmost confidence, they will get in your face.
This is something.
But I believe that our playstyles will match kinda well, we have the structure, they have the confidence and the aim, we will match quite well and we're gonna give a fair fight.
T Vitality, this might be your home region, but watch out.
The train has arrived.
TRX, I'm sorry to tell you, this is your last stop.
off against a team that is considered to be the greatest of all time. It's going to be a challenge no matter what, but an epic clash here for Pacific and EMEA.
For EMEA, it's that classic style, the structure, the preparation against a team that can always shut them down. One of the most chaotic, aggressive squads that this game has to offer.
And on the verge of yet another top three, if Payprex perform this event, I don't think
anyone can doubt anymore that they are the greatest team of all time.
Chance to make yet another finals weekend.
If this would be something new for a Vitality, they despite high expectations these last
two years, hasn't been able to deliver at the internationals.
What does it mean, Mini, for a Vitality team that can manage to get past the train of Payprex
And on top of that, Dusso, with a spot in the top three,
what does this mean to these guys?
Well, I think that they were able to win today.
I think they're the clear favorites for the tournament.
I think that they have that firepower, they have that experience,
they have the blend of a bit of hunger from their inexperienced players,
and they have the structure.
They have everything there.
It's just about whether it comes together today.
It's such a big moment, I think, as well, for Durka for Chronicle.
They were at the opposite top of the game when they were on Fnatic,
and then up leaving that team going down to Vitality Jerker, stepping over earlier.
And that's really a risk, right?
So step away from a team that has always had such success, that has always been on top.
RatchetCats haven't been able to live off, to return them to those lofty heights yet.
But there would be absolutely no better way to cement yourself,
not just as a member of a great team, but as singularly the greatest players to do it.
If you beat PaperX here, you send the tournament favorites to the lower bracket.
Yeah, I think this is a legacy defining matchup potentially we've got as we said paper rex they have the players
They have the achievements mentality as an organization
This is their time to shine now with the great players that they have
Oh, yeah prolific organization across all of these sports is vitality
But you guys of course bring a very important point here, which is that experience
I mean you look at what we saw in edg and xlg you had an edg team that was used to the bright lights of the big stage
And then you have XLG team that was not just punching above their weight class
But also showing that they too can match there, but they had to prove that both of these teams that ain't the case
They've both been in these situations before and they have the leadership to guide a minute
It's gonna be Sion our profit. We're looking at that
Through that narrative, but both of them have been great Sion are in particular has been shining the way he plays the game
So methodical it is so great to see that that methodical brain is just able to work
He doesn't get nervous in these moments. It seems right in the interviews. I mean my guy my guy's locked in
That guy is a very mature train of thought. It does not surprise me the way he plays
She given the way that he talks yeah by Tati deliver in their first match. It was a completely dominant win against
Team heretics in the playoffs, but things looked a little bit shaker in the groups
Things could have gone awry in those games some individual performances away from it being a completely different story
This is the match for me to cement which team vitality this is.
If it's the one that stomped heretics, if it's the one that can handle PaperX's aggression
and stay strong under that, or whether it's a completely different look.
Ancient Select here, it's a return to compositions for both teams, vitality,
bringing that harbor to bear against PaperX's double two list.
Yeah, and I think that, highlighting what you said before,
I think that vitality are the best harbor team in the world outside of the American teams.
I think that they really understand how to play in those post-past pushing forward with those
Harbor walls and on the defense they understand the flux in the retakes. It's beautiful to see.
But Paper X on this defense, there are times I've seen them so locked in, so in flow state that
they're in the opponent's spawn almost in the first 10 seconds of the round. It's criminal.
I could just see Paper X straight up just disrespecting the Harbor walls, not even giving a crap about it
if I'm being honest with you with the way they play me.
And they're good at fighting, at disrespecting you, pushing you into the back of your chairs.
But when I think about this breeze, what my eyes are going to is the two guys on Jett,
Durga, and something. The meta had moved away from both of them for a long time,
having to pick up different roles. But when you think about Valorant, these are two of the
pinnacle players on this agent on the best map for the Jett facing off today.
Yeah, I 100% echo your sentiments. They've been very rarely times where they've actually been
able to match up against each other and this is the perfect moment for that jetmatter.
Alright London, it's time to start the game! We got Vitality, we got PaperX and who better
to call the cat out of all the action and two of the greatest of all time, Hansy and Hypo.
Yeah, thank you and what a tantalizing prospect this one is, the miracle against the machine. I mean
by Tati, built to be a championship level team,
now facing arguably one of the greatest teams we have as they stand.
Yeah, there's always just a different test to come up against.
Pay for X, again, you can go back, you can watch Klotz,
but they are Klotz, you can take very little away from.
Yes.
For me though, for Tati, to be honest,
the person that gets tested the most here in this roster is Yampi today.
Again, Stylen of Breeze, again, loving what he's doing on the KO recently,
But he's going to be so crucial in some of these moments in the round, not mid-rounding, but where that second wave of pressure comes through, their ability to fight back.
I'm going to echo that even further. I'm looking at the coaching staff as well. It's one thing to think you're prepared for Paper X.
It's another to face them in the server. This team has X factors that people cannot contain.
And today, a new challenger. Vitality on the attacking side,
paper X on the defence, and let me set the tone for you already. Look at middle.
He's already postured up here. Agregs.
Eyes trained in the amp, people fall off rip.
There's plenty of time left on the clock here, but what tells you if you pick up the pace here on the back of that,
walker sent forwards, sheriff in hand.
He's going to find just yet a ping here, but a couple of fans, oh close to connecting.
Yeah, insanely close, but device still on the case.
Brilliant!
Drop the ball!
Ah!
The guy is unstoppable with four kills!
Oh, no!
Stealing!
Convincing.
Top paper X here.
Straight up the guts, they catch.
Yampy.
Just at that moment, they're looking to pivot towards A as well.
If I finding four, shuts this down before there's any hope.
If that's any sort of appetizer.
God, the main course.
Four in the first round and the fifth could have happened.
Welcome back to playing these boys, eh?
As said, some vitality know what it's like.
The rest are now getting a really brutal introduction.
Second, looking particularly concerned, but gets his head taken off. Chronicle, gonna find one back.
Not necessarily a scale-out aim, just yet.
The timing not gonna be there. Chronicle's got a second gear.
How has he got two? There's no right to get two there.
No, not found.
Not found.
And it's gotta be careful to not get isolated. The confidence is still in play in the young gun.
the new man to the stage. Now to be tested, something in Divy, two of the monstrous players
in the small glimpse of what we've seen from Paper X thus far here in London.
And Sionara having to find them both. Not to be, they're like safe pair of hands and a second round.
Pints of that disrespect showing already from Paper X, happy to take the fight forward.
forward, quite a few outrageous kills though. Very comfortable with this sort of matchup
as well, we've talked about the experience, it's not our first, not many players you put
in the bucket, the level of experienced versus a roster like Aprex, he is certainly one of
them. Let's buy around here, all vitality. And stack up on the other side here, Aprex
outside double doors and still bodies towards top-mid as well.
Spacey from the get-go.
Baaah, something!
Wind out the sails, but a quick trade there.
Nice from the young people.
The spacing is great from Paper X.
Not gonna get anything, really, go as-
Oh, no! Profit!
Meltzer of a shot.
This is just gonna be a bloodbath, isn't it, man?
You mean what?
Crankles taking the space here.
Spike, not to hand, though.
Gotta shut this down to prevent the bonus conversion.
He is sloppy.
For one, for one, Chronicle now 62 HP, Envy, way healthier.
He's read it correctly for the first couple of seconds, but just turns back in time.
Chronicles on today.
Yeah, he is.
And you need him to be.
You need your Dirkus, you need your Chronicles, your big boys to be able to step up to this.
Because it is going to be a bit of a welcome to the bright likes moment for the others.
Because everyone is hitting today.
Envy's firing, Devine's there.
I only have to look back at the previous game from something and see what a monster he is.
It's a scary scary one.
Certainly some of the other rounds here.
Going for a break, just happy to brawl out the early round.
It's certainly here though.
He's spread a little more thin.
I can't see if I've got something in motion.
He actually takes a tack here for the drive and forced back.
They're trying to strong arm the approach towards Aida. They've got plenty of bodies on the side. They haven't really tested much beyond that.
Again, it happened Chronicle being the one to swing things over, but in the again looking sharp, great control from Chronicle.
And of course they haven't actually planted just yet. They've kind of taken their time here.
They're concerning, that's the timing, potentially passing them.
MP trying to bait something out here, push.
They're close. They might just go for it.
Yeah, they're baiting it out, but here it comes and they're losing!
Vitality thought they may have had the upper hand.
The weapon's being recovered.
Jin is still on just that pistol, but there's plenty on the ground now.
He wants it, he's got the upgrade.
Profick's still just on that Guardian, you're looking at Chronicle to help out here,
But paper X have taken back this side of the map and they've got the spike there and he over peeks there
Well, it's not really an over peek with paper X
piece
To show off that capability and talent
I was gonna say had gone out maybe unnoted now certainly considered sharp on the first needs two more
Not gonna get to more jing
Posing down the account and paper X on a lighter purchase willing to fight for the space
Root forcing off these two pistols. It's not even to play in the rifle.
I mean, it's too easy to find one there with a pistol behind that.
Beautiful stuff.
I mean, a couple of these situations, once you've got a Tati, maybe shy away.
Bye-bye!
Wait, things out.
Woo!
Be a little more equipped to grief.
This aggression...
I mean, it's always unorthodox.
Gonna have your head on a swivel for short.
Chronicle perfect, early ultimates, the ASI on R1.
Thunder's fury.
And I have the weaponry here to really contest in round five.
Guys, rinse the repeat though, isn't it?
It's not seeing too much different in the way of this, but again the purchase, obviously
the big differential, but again this map not unfamiliar with Vitality either, playing
it throughout the majority of series, against Heretics and of course, in the first, the
fight already going to deal with Sionora, so easy stuff, going to get a plant, a sin,
Small silver lining. Any more would be surprising. Something in NB looking likely. This is clean work.
Paperweight's not looking fast or phased. They look absolutely spot on.
On the way with the flawless here.
Again, this old cycle going to be huge for Vitality Bear.
Needs to net a couple of rounds. Need to be through the terms of investment.
I'm going to start here, start off, and doesn't this certainly have a huge impact?
Well, an early time out here for Vitality, maybe just check in.
So, there are a couple of situations where they are just being caught off guard.
I mean, the one thing you can prepare for is kind of leaning into that sort of playstyle
paper.
I mean, they are begging you to fight them in some of these rounds, especially on the
buy rounds where there's a, we'll send somebody for his sake.
How often we criticise, oh you're peaking solo, there's nobody to trade off that, Payprex
love that.
But we'll send somebody for it, we'll solo swing something.
It never quite feels as coin flippy with them as well because they are so mechanically
good and they do have systems behind it, it's just a belief system with it as well and
the Coinbase win condition hopefully being kind of chewed through by Vitality's coaching
staff.
And I think this is what I was kind of alluding to at the start of this game as well.
It's very different facing Payprex in these environments and kind of coming into this.
It's going to be hard work for you and it's going to be hard work for the coaching staff.
I don't think many teams globally and historically have always had pay breaks as number.
It's you know a couple of teams have figured it out once in a while.
I mean on one hand the number of times we've had interviews it's like yeah pretty complicated
into this series.
Yeah we got quickly easier said than done.
So it is going to be a tough test and it's not just on the server obviously the visual
element is that these guys hit like a truck like every single one of them but it's the
prep behind it.
Can you dismantle that? Can you disrupt it?
So the old cycle, the lining here for Vitality,
but Paguex are stacked up as well, only missing four seconds.
They may be anticipating a set piece here.
It could be. And into this round with Vitality,
we are going to have a listen-in to see how things are developing on their side
and see how Yambi is handling it.
So let's actually check in with that right about now.
Well, I think we know the life comes right up.
Boys, can we just do a frantic beast between us?
We can hold the Stefan, do you have drones?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Guys, I cannot send the warp, I need to take it.
I'm not helping you anymore.
Don't do all that.
Just smoke the mid cross.
And can you see on double door?
I'm ready.
I smoke.
Wait, wait, wait.
I'm doing C.
I just understand.
Yeah.
Could be Elba now, boys.
Yeah, yeah, we will clear it.
We just do...
He's coming up David.
Let's go.
3, 2, 1.
I'm running from there.
I'm close, I'm clear.
He's coming in the last.
And I'm on 3.
The confidence on Defy to repeat that.
And then the push out as well.
Doubling down is not just a solo endeavor.
You can see where Jing is.
Willing to push for the forward.
He's good size behind them and same behind them.
Something is hunting them down.
Push through from A main.
Strangling them.
This is just complete and utter destruction.
Derker has no safety.
He does not know where he can step, where he can walk.
Something spots him.
It's a vintage battle, and something has his number.
Derker is just a split second off that glance into spawn
to catch this.
But even then, OP questions running,
and rings around the other back line of vitality here
as they're trying to set up desperately.
I didn't even get to a point where they can really put a plan into place to invest something
in terms of this whole cycle.
It's Invy and Hunter's Fury applying so much pressure, devising a 10 and 2 right now.
It's a brutal display so far, looking at the tempo of this.
I don't think it's going to stop.
You have to somewhat quell that aggression with Paper X.
That was the one, the vitality slowed down.
You want it to be a little more methodical.
I love that kind of re-hit though almost, that kind of re-aggress from PaperX.
Now they're gonna just actually do it themselves.
Chronicle, overwhelmed, Jin's got mid, Indy does get taken down.
So there could be an issue here, but Dubai holding the corner well.
Jin in support, it's all going their way.
It looks too easy!
Sayonara and Profek, completely out of sorts here.
Gonna try and get a plant.
You're hoping for miracles now.
This is a bit deeming, still from Sinar over the top.
They need a round here.
And this is the Younger Guns. Sinar has fallen. It is all on Profek.
A 1v3 against this squad would be something to remember, but they won this one back.
They won that board, kept clean.
And I think for safety's bloody angle, he's actually fallen, but the trade, instantaneous.
It looks so simple with these guys.
And something I'm going to start looking at as well, the vitality is, honestly, Dirk here.
Dirk in here. Again, roll your minds back historically.
Previous teams and previous performances, saying and quote,
lost my confidence.
They've been pushing everything and hitting everything.
And that still holds true.
This guy has had his work cut out
and had to deal with this roster time and time again.
And he's just not landing today.
Yeah.
One enemy remaining.
About this gamble, in the same way.
So with the Dark, they send down somebody,
shoots it, cool, full send.
That's the green light that PaperX
need to just execute onto the back line. Again, there's no contingency here to really bail
Chronicle out. Paper X just holding no punches whatsoever. Opening seven rounds. Okay, we're
going to pick the pace up a little bit. Catches Jing of Garb before taking on the other side.
That will go forwards. Tell me there's ever an upswing for vitality because it's instantly
backed by Paper X. They are so good at always evening things up and then taking the lead.
something in full control until they're headed.
Profek trying to keep the boys in this one.
The PaperX are on the move already.
And you know they're confident, you know they'll swing it,
you know they'll take a fight.
Durga gonna take their lifeboat.
Follow up found!
Have you spoken into existence?
But Envy in a 1v2.
And they're relatively split, but in complementary position.
So Envy has to try and divide and conquer.
He's managed to find...
Oh my God, he's here so early.
He is.
And he's completely unnoted, Profek.
Ice going down and now the 1v1 Sayonara. Barely stepping on the stage like this. Welcome to the big stages. This is Pay-Per-Rex's home.
Just catching Sayonara again. Just so confident to hold this peak.
speak. It's heartbreaking to see some of these situations again. Timeout called, I think
Pals probably hearing things of their outsorts and wants to check in once more. Second one,
the score line. This is the big lead though, isn't it, really?
And I think we were kind of talking about this as it is another timeout for Vitality.
We've seen them throughout this so far, what DRG foot and team heretics and they look pretty good
They look very good actually even compared to regional form. I think all of us like, okay
They've made a step forward. This is the first big boy. They're facing though
Yeah, it's always a different test as well. It's not like a hey how well that's it are you versus international teams?
You always put paperwork outside of that bracket, right? It's
Again, you can go and prepare for what do you do watch the last mods and
I hope you got them.
Yeah, exactly.
You have to have such faith in your ability to execute us.
And you just don't get the opportunities to do so.
You can see here, we're moving chronicle within the first 15 seconds
on the back of a dart being shot.
They are willing to just coin flip so many situations.
And they're so talented that they're not 50-50 coin flips.
They are not 50-50.
It's not a roll of the dice.
It isn't.
Because you can't say that by this point, right?
It's like, we've seen this consistently now.
It's 73.
Yeah, there are teams every so often.
It's like, yeah, you know, things have aligned for them.
There's a good matter for them.
But this approach, their ability to just embrace the chaos
is, I mean, stood the test of time.
It has.
It truly, truly has.
And it's something that I think is one heart's of minds
watching this team.
The faith behind each of them, the stand shoulder to shoulder,
and the purchase, obviously perfect with paper X.
They're happy where they stand.
On the other side, they're trying to scrape together
a couple of guardians, but the tempo's not really
relenting for sake and waiting.
gets out done instant trade I tell you count the seconds between the kills it
is all paper X every single time as vitality of being made to look amateur
today with only one round spam catch on to divide therefore similar deeper but
jing still very healthy here something now angle towards the spike being noted
earlier as well it's perfect has to be so careful in that paranoia building of
somebody else drifting outside of B will slow things down but plenty of time left on the clock
I'm going to sign I just haven't been able to get anything done here
nothing of real value either it's been kept behind utility cycling
and then you've got to take on arguably so nuttier same as on the other side as well
Jing has no reason to re-fall off this. Still very safe, and very confident.
It's Sky High! It always is!
Fine aura, at least going to get something back, but it is a 3v2 still.
Numbers sit with Paper X, the site now getting a slight bit of pressure, but that
shocked us. Dangerous, chip damage done, and chronicle feeling a little bit of that.
The Vi goes looking, loses his life, 10 seconds over running low on time, and they've got no one left to take the fight!
8-1. This is dominance from Paper X.
Absolutely brutal, but she just can't get themselves a solid grasp on some of these mid-rounds.
And again, Paper X just disrespecting it. I mean, DeVy even here, 9-8 speed, walking frontside.
Just to try and challenge.
Sign of 14-4 right now.
Oh, he's having a game.
Running away with this half.
I still think DeVyre is such a big stage player and I wouldn't even
seeing the way Vitality are playing, I don't know if I'll put him in it, but he is up to challenge man.
And every time you try and turn up the tempo, every time you try and maybe take a pause before it doesn't matter how you approach the game,
they're already pushing everywhere! Something making it hurt!
Prophet wants to punish and he's going to catch Forsaken in the heels.
At least get answer back and no instant trade, but Envy is still on this angle.
Flash out here could be everything.
It's big and it's got what they needed. Okay, that's a recoverable weapon step by step making an account at least in this round
Jamie, you see the information. It's over. It's looking at this man
Well, that's what I mean. Thank God, Dirk has actually holding that
It's a lesson. I feel like you have to learn in the server again. I know we talk about it, but still
Into the side we go. This is looking like the most likely round, but look who's still alive the two X factor players for me
who have been outstanding, ones that command attention, and for all the right reasons,
DeVy and something. DeVy on site. Sianar, all the way behind this as well.
Trying to clear as they go. Sianar, it should be the full stop to the round. It gets that dangerous.
Yampi's done well. Dysite 1 and Vitality. Parnished some of the aggression. It took a
a monster card prove to you to flip it and get a second.
Maintaining four alive here as well.
It's a great catch.
It's a from Durkan again. Nice little tech there. Protect the knife going in.
I guess it is just that's outrageous.
It's only a second. That's how hard they have to work for one.
again, but I feel like you can limit test when you're sitting at what was it eight to one prior to that round?
Why wouldn't you go for it?
You can always simmer it down a little bit and try to imply the same sort of approach here toying with this same utility in life.
It's a lovely idea.
It's only been in the server, but still it's now called in the action something on patrol.
Durka already up middle, though, and Forsaken probably aware of this.
Oh, that's a shot from Durka starting to figure things out.
I mean, yeah, getting absolutely spanked in the first few rounds, but now, actually...
On the brink of breaking even, but something...
Patience pays off for it.
Chronicle will fall down. Yerka, another kill.
Oh, it's pretty stuff happening here.
Seeing the best of them, but can they clear to Vi?
He doesn't know how close he was.
The pay is beautiful. The stats are way here.
But if he still put one back, and they're gonna note something,
so they know the last two players up against the three here, Spike is on site.
Oh my god, someone's going, he is getting closer, he's feeling this one.
Oh no, you can't!
Miss those shots, he gets it back in control eventually,
but takes a lot of damage for it and something left in a 1v3.
HB is not perfect, takes down one, two more targets,
into a site, and Durka's had a round!
Just about now, breaks, even goes positive after that start to the half, Durka.
Delivering some rounds here for Vitality.
He's been digging these players out of tough, tough angles.
The Jing is fantastic at this bait as well out of the pit.
Fantastic stuff.
Only missing Profex Ultimate here.
Vitality very well situated for this round 12.
Into the unknown.
The judge, no shield for Divyte.
Hunters Fury and a TP here for Jing.
something on the prowl once more.
The rotation and effect here on the back of the drone.
I mean, a site wide open right now.
How does he have a window of opportunity?
I guess those double doors that you got
forsaken nearby, that judge, I don't want to say
it's going to be tough for him, but it's...
Is everybody out of range?
Just about now.
Yeah, there we go.
I'm here to deny the attempt and actually finds a player.
Prophex fallen, that's a problem.
Now down a fall and barely even seen a pixel.
So Dirk, once again required, spots a player moving up
with Forsaken quick on his feet, making loses.
He's already on site here.
Forsaken looking to clear his chronicle to catch something.
Yamp, he's fallen.
Paper X back on the site now, looking dominant.
And they want more.
Dirk, I don't want to try and stab the ground.
He's got to go wild.
But he can't do it alone.
Chronicles so far away this might not be too late. I don't think you can get to see any part of this
I don't think it could stop
This is dominance might this is just an outclass again wide-open size contested by the hunters
You know that the plant isn't good for Chronicle to play this late. He's to make moves. What's all this is happening?
9 3 a dominant display though from paper X
Dirk is starting to get fired up and they need it. They need every single player on because Paper X is looking lethal today
93 a solid solid half
And you can see a man like you still don't want to let vitality waste up
However, Frankie is gonna be standing by and hanging out with some of the watch parties
So he she is gonna be having over
So kind of chatting away with them up of the booth with one of the co-strumers tenant
I've taken over Temet's stream everyone because Temet you've been a very naughty boy a couple of days ago
You baited the entire Valorant community. You said you were done playing Neon, but you're not are you I'm not done
No, so why did you tease us all?
I just want to see what people would react and if they actually believed me
I was horrified back ten seconds into the video
I realized you'd lied to me and I was even more horrified
I need to ask you though who is the best player of neon in the world right now
It's forsaken for sure. It's not you. No forsaken. It's forsaken and tell me about your love for PRX
Yeah, so I've been a fan for PRX over a year now. I've traveled all over. I went to Korea and watched them
I saw them in Japan and I'm here in London
And what was it about PRX that made you fall in love with them? Just the W gaming. I like running it down
That's my playstyle. So W gaming have you ever thought about maybe trying to be a pro neon player yourself?
Maybe a little bit maybe next year when the circuit opens up more
I could play you know have some fun with it try and you've actually been in Europe for a couple of weeks now
Testing out the European servers. So which is better North America or London?
Yeah, definitely. I think you server is definitely better and a lot harder than any ranks. Okay, finally
Before I let you get back to your stream. I just want to ask would you ever cheat on me?
Never I'm loyal. I'm loyal to Neil
I'm gonna corrupt him. Let's head back to the game
Well, not a bit of corruption off of the desk.
Shocking scenes.
Don't take long playing London Serbs to get corrupted.
That's true.
We're actually trying to go to Paris.
It's a mess.
Yeah.
Yeah, frankly.
9-3, though.
Paper expert on the show, man.
I think this is just one of those things.
You get pretty well on the fly, right?
Yeah, it's almost like you almost revert to damage control.
Don't let them style on us, man.
It's the worst thing.
Here, we're starting on Vitality's pick.
So that discussion sent me out the window already.
But very much.
Well, coming into this, though, we
are going to have a quick listening straight away
with the PaperXI during this pistol.
See how they handle Vitality going to be doing,
because Derker is going walkabouts.
Defy on the case.
Much steadfast in approach.
But it's Pacy here from PaperX.
So let's tune in and see how the site hit goes.
He's picked the right spot.
Oh, what a shot from something!
How did our headshots for free?
It's double digits instantly for Paper X.
Could be the beginning of the end here.
I mean, I'm...
I can't see if anybody considers anything to follow up here in round two.
And the Trace has come through so quickly.
The K-Flex here, the bar finder, two crucial kills in transition as well.
Fortunately, something that has so much time and space.
And I mean, he's lethal here in London as well.
He's absolutely on.
Valkyrie not investing into this one.
Only one upgraded pistol, and that's about it.
I think they really care that much if there's a stack there that's just actually more targets
and more opportunities. They just see old orbs.
Virtually. That's foul to put it that way but it actually seems a little bit accurate
after this so simply clearing up. There's vitality.
I'm gonna start feeling the reality of facing this side, but something...
Yeah, the look man! He's still going! He's not gonna back away!
Double dips and has it going in and does it get it? The chin does.
How has Dirk forgot that kill? Somehow.
But it is 11 on the board here.
Poor payprex.
Natality, I mean, everything right on this first buy round.
And then half the early progress, and I have kills going on.
See the bank on an ult to follow either, it needs to be clean, Chronicles coming in to this route, shield.
Do or die here, already in map 1.
Four Vitality.
Two over towards top mid here, might look to get a little aggressive, like a dirk up.
Spotted out here, kept being checked by Forsaken, so I know I'm going forward, so I want to challenge this.
I guess you have to back yourself in some of it, but PaperX have been sending them back to spawn every single time.
I'm willing to brawl. Let's see how the coin lands. Forsaken.
The damage already done though.
Yeah, I'm a bit concerned at Darker at Senara already. There's the next piece of contact swing.
Great read on position, but great trade.
Yampy on the counter-square!
He can't handle it on the stun.
Forsaken gives him a way out and gets the spike back in hand.
In my divide. Oh, no.
Right behind Profek. Oh, dearie me, look at the timing on this one.
Divide gets to be the bouncer of the A site.
He's got to be. Forsaken is low enough that it could be an issue.
It could just double wrap into Spawn.
Forsaken, 14 HP, they've got to consider
What the other unknown is, which is Chronicle.
Hopefully no Omen TPs to be concerned about at this point, but the plant is in.
And everything becomes an issue. There's no ease to this.
First player spotted, they're gonna note Divide, but they still don't quite know where Forsaken waits.
So Divide prepares himself, holds the angle and takes down a prophet.
He knows where Chronicle was and he is absolutely on the money today!
Just on our left alive and it's stunning, it's sensational, it's all Dubai!
It's just magical to watch. 21 and 8 here, the opening map of this series.
Couple of bailouts there, couple of assists.
He doesn't care about who he's facing off against.
Making us look like amateurs.
map point already here
No ultimate rear I mean derka the closest to a way to the bladestorm, but nothing to really rely on behind this
Might just have to overwhelm the A site here. Yeah, they're going
I don't think they're gonna be stopping for much now. I don't care they're noted pausing for just a moment
But the bulldozers are in on the site
Effect trying to hope for a shot in the dark and Yampy on the verge of something.
Oh, it's only one!
You thought he'd get more for India, get great positioning!
And it's just everything!
Everything goes right as Payprex just look at this team!
They are on the under the dive to break it here!
That narrative is dead and buried!
They are the team to beat!
Absolutely insane performance here by Tality. Left scratching their heads. 13-3 here on Breeze. Do not go anywhere. We will be back with Split right after this.
My Ace Bro! Yeah!
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.
Bra!
Bra!
Bra is my Ace Bro!
Alright, let's go boys!
It's time to write the next chapter to the esports history books.
It's finally here.
And he falls and he returns, yet again!
He steps up to the plate, and he can knock this one out of the pot!
And now they shot the engraved alongside the graved!
The EMEA turned every round into a chess match.
Is Brazil about to turn every map into ranked?
Will TUSA Ego peep every single angle?
The final event of the year is not to be missed.
Esports Nations Cup 2026.
See you in November.
Hi, my name is Blake, or Vauns.
I've competed semi-professionally for Valorant, and I work on the game analysis team, known
as GAT.
GAT consists of highly ranked players and ex-pros.
We work alongside game designers to help them validate their gameplay goals, from agents,
maps, to live balance changes, to even weapons and skins.
Our day consists of test planning, full custom games, and post-game analysis through feedback
and syncs.
The planning revolves around setting team comps, maps, and designing strategies to best
capture the gameplay goals we're trying to validate.
We play test every day, provide feedback for each piece of content.
From maps, we work to validate their unique goals,
moving from larger changes to finer details like how abilities interact with different spaces.
At the same time, we verify that the map has strategic depth and intuitive gunfight expectations.
I've worked on a myriad of recent content, like Gido and Neon.
My favorite map I've worked on.
This sunset, it let us address a key gameplay issue, players spamming from main into the site and close plant situations making them feel less dynamic.
Look into my eyes.
Here with PaperX's Alex, Coach Alex.
Alex, what is going on with DeVy and how did you guys manage to make everything go your
way?
Actually, this is one of the first times he's ever done like all the NT himself.
He put me and Ash out of a business because of a job because he did everything you can
see that he knew exactly what was going on so it was quite incredible.
Thank you so much, good luck and that was Alex with a big, big smile.
I tell you, you love to see Coach Alex smiling.
If you're the opponent, you don't want to see that.
That much is for certain there.
But Pay-per-rex, oh boy, managed to pick up a massive win.
And you also had some great clutch plays.
You heard Coach Alex talking about the vibe.
What that guy brings to the table here.
I mean, many, you're familiar with him,
with your experience working with the guy.
What's your perspective on him?
Because from what we're seeing on the stage,
my guy just took over.
Yeah, I mean, he's just an overlooked player.
Did you look at that roster and head to toe and just talent?
It's nice to see him MVPing in some of these games.
He did it in the first match where he was like,
he had like one death, one death in a time.
He is just delivering and delivering.
I think he's just a phenomenal anchor player,
but he knows when to big Tigers, so to speak.
He knows when to make those big plays.
Yeah, I think here it was the anchoring
that was really on this play for this divide.
What is so impressive about pay Brexit
is you could look at any different tournament
and I think you could make an argument
for pretty much any of their players to be the MVP.
So, good on him. He was absolutely top of this map.
I remember, I forget, it was just the one when we went forsaking at the MVP
and we were all just like back and forth on like, who the hell do we pick for this game?
I thought it was Jhin. You could have made a case for Divai.
It was like so much, the talent on this team is insane.
So much so, you saw it round after round.
That of course brings us to our Verizon high speed moment of the matchup.
Paper Rex, it just really, it felt, you know, we make the jokes.
They always talk about the train never stopping.
But like it is a thing that they do live up to man. It's pretty sure
I mean this game started when in the pod that pistol the bonus and rolling way after that
But what was really good was how proactive they were once they got this something off online
He did a really good job of early rounds getting into proactive positions like here in a main and many that fit at the rest
The team to be so active in the rest of the map fighting vitality pretty much wherever they want it
Yeah, absolutely get the strong side with what it's a weak side technically put strong side because it's something there with an
or you're going to run into one of these new strats they've got with trap plays, trap plays every time.
Omen on this map is a little bit uncommon, but the Paranoia traps here are working beautifully for them.
Literally a picture-poison situation.
Yeah, it's brutally the right. And this is really reminiscent of the map when they played against Leve as well, where they're...
It wasn't the all-pulling the extremities, but it was them fighting for space, leaving sentinel utility,
and then setting up trap plays and proactive looks on the other side.
very good at hiding that weak side and being extremely proactive on defense.
I think I have to give some credit to the new assistant coach, Wendler, this year.
I think that he's adding some of that structure and I wouldn't be surprised if some of those game
fans are coming from him. Usually, paper X likes to be very loose, but there's a little bit of
structure in there that I saw. Alright, well paper X, of course, should be feeling great
after that win, but let's see what's going on on the vitality side of things as we have the coach
standing by. We have Vitality's coach, Pal. Pal, what did you guys learn about handling
K-Prax? Because it seems like they were one step ahead of everybody. Yeah, you're gonna
have more fun than them, to be honest. No, I think they did very well with putting more
guns in our face than we had in theirs, and at the end of the day, that can make it incredibly
simple. So for us, it's just about looking to punish some of the aggression, not letting
them just have a lot of the space for free because they're brave enough to take it, and
then just making sure that when we are taking those fights, we've got more bodies there than
might do. Well it sounds like next map is going to be even more fun. Honestly I
respect it because that has been the bread and butter of Paper X for a
hot minute. They go up there they have fun they do what they do and they destroy
you in the process. Vitality need to find that within them but it's very hard
meaning to do that when you know the other teams like just beating the crap
out of you and then smiling the entire time it's quite tilting. Yeah this is
unprecedented paper-rexes form right now. I think this is the best form we've ever
seen from a team coming into a tournament and Vitality have never been
punched in the face this time. It's going to be down to the experience of the
individuals and down to the mentality here to bounce back. This is the battle of
the new versus the old in terms of some of the best jet players in the world.
This is the first ever time that Durka and something have faced in a match and
game one despite Durka warming up towards the end of that. I think you can
and squarely say that something was dominant in it.
Getting Durkett to keep that form,
you need even more from him for Vitality to get back in.
Yeah, and I think the key things here
from PaperX starring on this defense
is they love to fight those extremities.
We were talking about how they love to fight extremities
this time.
Middle is somewhere where Vitality can explore.
Go towards middle, do a 1-3-1,
and then decide later on how you want to commit.
PaperX are just gonna put two on one side,
three on the other.
They're gonna be fighting for A main,
fighting for B main.
Coach Powell had mentioned putting the guns
their face. How does vitality achieve that goal Mimi? I think it has to come down to
Sionar and Durka and going for the proactive plays with them, being willing to get aggressive.
But I also look at the weaker sides of vitality's play and that's what's chronicle. You're mentioning
this aggression on extremities. A lot of the time it's going to be Kron having to receive
that. I wasn't super impressed with him in game one, but he's a big game player. He's
normally excellent in these kind of positions and I think that pressure will be squarely
on him, but also very comfortable on him in this map. Yeah, I think it's going to be Dan's
He's going to be outside that AMN if he sees anything there immediately tell his teammates to speed up and go
Question on all of our minds is can we get a map 3 can vitality force the issue?
Let's find out send it over to your casters who's pansy and high back for the call yet again
And how are you meant to be confident coming into?
Yeah, it's 13 3 on that one and it wasn't close
I think for me as well here in power discuss that me one of things I said ahead of that map one
the crucial member of Vitality here is Jampi, and his ability to call when
Payfrix go aggressively, yeah of course you can bank on gambling right, there's
good free to at least agree some of the aggression but I mean you think back to
some of the listeners during stage one it's like when Vitality looked the
worst is when they were having to frantically discuss options right what
was going on in the mid-round so again for me sure Sionora and Durka but Jampi
has to coordinate it.
We'll be getting that game audio ready for you in a second.
Profit doesn't know what's in front of him here,
trying to serve the rest of the boys.
Flash comes in, he turns,
but he can't do anything about it.
Jin comes flying out.
They've set the bar of aggression high.
Sian-Ara trying to help the rest of the team,
but do they just scramble a rotation on this?
Yamp is going for a plant, and he's so along.
He's got Kron watching the cross,
but they don't believe that surely
they have an all-walk to be made.
They certainly did.
I'm beginning to get caught off guard here. Now a 2v4 for Chronicle and Durka
This will require a massive fumble from Paper X Chronicles disconnected from this
I just don't see them making mistakes of this caliber, but again Durka tried to stop
Denied the diffuse again. We've been here before this is simple stuff for Paper X
It's all too easy
They walk in they walk out and they get the first
the best. The situation is that you can't just sit back. Yes, it's two before but again,
this part just isn't something that's even a shred of certainty in the post.
I put aggressive here for the pistol and I told you maybe you can like move it. I mean,
Mini talking about on the desk, explore mid, sure, but you lose out like that on the extremity.
Again, it's not a guarantee. No, absolutely not. I'm profit put to what
just sit there and hope for the best at some points. It's incredibly hard. Again, paper
it's until you are going to force them to respect you. They will do these things. They
will take such liberties. It works out so often.
How is he alive? 10 HP on Sionora. Just to get the orb here.
I don't want to see him shy away. I'll say he can only burn the one smoke so he can cycle
through here now and that smoke almost implies a little bit of explorations.
Vitality probably gonna sit here and wait for somebody to creep forwards but
now backing away from this. I mean that sells a second player close to
B main. It certainly does and something that I think maybe goes unhighlighted
or uncomplimented is that PaperX aren't just the same old hold down WT.
look we see it we see it a lot but it's refined now it's refined chaos they still have discipline
they have composure they do out stay their welcome on that angle though something is going to get
traded on and there is an upgrade in hand for derka now to do much more it would be very surprising
the rotations are in you're down to one though just inside this the flash out is perfect though
Catch this conical!
Anything else down here?
No, nothing to catch just now, yeah.
Turka, just looking ahead for the hills, hide the weapon.
Can you sacrifice a weaker target? I still guess one on the way down, fair enough.
Not actually the worst outcome considering the round.
Two to zero, Paper X once again, not really looking face yet.
I just I just need vitality to show me if they can at least why usually what we discussed like oh, yeah come back around
Through but it's like you need like four or five rounds to start believing them
You know there isn't just gonna be
Statistically what the four out of five success rate the paper X have of just running forwards
It's it's bonus time right and the paper X. I don't have a massive purchase here
They're not gonna over invest
they don't feel like they need to, happy to kind of sit where they stand, and something.
Something anchoring A site with a pistol.
Time should be easy.
The... vitality.
Only a pistol.
And the rotations are pretty far away.
So unless he goes completely unchecked, there's the flash, so they'll know that he is close enough.
Buy it on your pistol, please! Vitality, you can't fall short on that front, because here comes the rest of paper.
That's a spike!
Oh god.
What are you meant to do?
Hey look, petrified.
Luckily enough, Prophex got the spike and he's got it back down towards site.
But that could have been a nightmare and that's where it starts!
Goodbye!
With a sheriff in the back,
particles fallen,
Prophex in Aura.
Good job, friend.
Hold on to this divide though.
The last standing player, the final boss.
The man in full form.
Looking towards site.
You've got to be on your A-game, you've got to fight this man.
Oh my God!
Oh, perfect, you are a brave boy going for that.
They aren't going to get away with it,
but that's what it takes to even just get a bonus round.
Just to get one on the board.
And Yampy caught completely off guard here on a call.
They're staring around.
I guess they're so proactive, but it's everywhere.
It's everywhere across the map.
You don't get any semblance of safety.
Something even a little tilted.
You can't get a second kill here.
Yeah.
It didn't feel like it was far off it.
No.
Like, legitimately could have actually happened.
But for now we go into the meter things, right?
This is where we start really paying attention.
Is there a reality that vitality can push this one?
Paper X have already set the standard on map one being a 13-3.
And now we wait.
I'm still scared of Divya even just with the shot.
Well, I mean, it's well, I'm just looking as well.
Something has an opportunity to punish three light shields.
So it's not necessarily a big advantage here on the buyback in poor vitality.
I can sign on one away from a showstopper.
Curious towards mid, but no progress made.
Yes, I'm confident on these are extremities.
Again, you look at the fact that it is just forsaken on B, I guess like posted.
And he's happily walking towards me main getting the orb kind of they are gonna crunch on me to it
Yeah, they absolutely are
Waiting for they seem to wear that's the gilky you need because Jing was right on the verge of getting a third
But now it's a 3v2, but don't forget about Forsaken. He's been waiting the whole time
But they should have heard his presence here earlier
They should know that he's around but it's one thing to know is it's another to try and deal debt towards him
and it's gonna need
Again, Miracles from the two classic players.
The last player should be considered.
There it is!
Qualicorn and Durka.
The two who know what it's like to face these boys
managed to drag it across the line.
You have some ultimates in hand now.
On the back of that, this is beautiful from Durka.
Oh, if Divide, I think I'm a sheriff.
Yeah, there's anything but a sheriff there.
Completely shut this down.
against the timing I mean vitality are ready for it for sure
looks like I said they're happy to roll the dice in certain situations
most jewelers stole the TP here for pot-fec, champion, chronicle, missing nez
it's Devain Jing to invest here I mean Jing does also have a showstopper to
consider here
You can see already that adjustment in the game plan from Vitality, very, very deep hold
here.
Really different.
And a late repair in the middle, put a dog through, heavily favouring towards Maelstrom,
up towards Heaven.
And the reaction coming in, Chronicles now got to be on Red Alert, got to be on Guard,
does get a challenge.
And, oh, I thought they could have been on the swing, yeah, and I mean they were considering
it too, but they aren't coming back this way. It's taken them a deep clear over towards
B-men. He's getting a lot of value, even though he's not necessarily getting kills here. Masses
of information allowing this three-play stack to hold position. There's the shot, duckers.
Dead.
Can go crazy here.
Oh my god, it actually might. Might in a jing. Right plays potentially. Right time as well.
Waiting for this one. When does he decide to go for this drive-out now? Doesn't even
go for it in the end vitality. Given access towards Heaven, leaving just two on the site
with 30 seconds to vitality continue forward. They want to try and face these
sheriffs, maybe they do. A little bit dangerous here. Still a lot of respect shown
but you got to be careful to not leave it too late 20 seconds. There's not much
room for error and something's still standing with two kills trying to get
his way out of dodge. He can't escape it. So the plant should be coming up and
Forsaken with the sheriff has to find three. They should be in good post.
It's gone upgrade. Can he find a way to clear at least one of these players quickly?
I don't know if he can.
I think he'll get a chance to here.
And Profek's not holding actively. Shouldering.
He's in nose position.
Zaynara, what are we doing here?
Out of the middle of the open. Did you forget who you're facing?
Chronicle again.
Closing out. These rounds are a couple of very safe plays from these guys.
They're keeping this one in check.
The only thing that gives you paranoia there is the clock.
Again, they don't have the confirmation on something.
Luckily, Profek still sends a paranoia in.
I'm not sure if maybe somebody had caught a glimpse.
quarter glimps, and again it's, it wouldn't be just a puff the chest here to almost play him in.
Come out on that with a ton of ultimates and operator in hand for something.
And I feel more importantly, in this timeout, it is a paper x called timeout, it at least feels
like you're doing something right, and Vitality can't check in for himself.
Yeah, absolutely, yeah, in terms of the mental game, it's like, hey guys, yeah, we've made him
that's perfect and you've got to make them look mortal in some way right because after I said map one and the run up to this point
Their form has been sky-high. I can't not sing their praises, but it just feels like they haven't really had a challenge yet here
If I'm completely honest with you, it's been quite simple for them. So at this point because what was it against levels?
13-1 at one point
Remember there was a 13-10 so credit to live for that but still this is the level of dominance
They're bringing this is an incredibly high level so for vitality to push a bit. This is a good indicator
Now we know the car coaching staff though for paper. It's is solid
They can come up with options
They can come up with plans and there are plenty of ults to play with and they have a good buy coming into this round
The other side of things we used to have the ults we discussed previously
for vitality and conical missing one
Ampere alongside that. It's a very good position to be in here for vitality
Papers have so many alts to invest here.
This would be a shoot.
Right over the top here.
Tell the paces and will catch something.
That's an explosive start, but device standing guard.
He can't pivot and watch a shot!
Beheading both as they desperately try and dive through those vents.
The spike left pretty far away.
That's a long way back for Crony.
He's on the off now.
Picking that one up.
They've got safety in A, but I'm pretty sure paperates will test this.
Yeah, look at MV. Excellent read already.
And Kron's cut off. He can't make it there in time now.
And Jing. Oh, it's a mess! And it's a death pass!
That's the spike!
They couldn't get there in time.
Oh, this is a fumble and a half with a key round for Paper X.
Profec, there's nothing to be said here. Instant reaction from Paper X.
I mean, Sine, I had not spotted by the Seekers there.
He wasn't moving, I'm not sure if I'm feeling the tech pause coming, but he was in a huge position to swing out of this smoke.
I mean, I've turned a pace here that completely catches the walk down, but in the adjustment.
A chronicle so close to landing it as well.
This is the pace at which Paypress can respond.
It's just overwhelming at times.
I do that a little, like you look there, but, yeah, it is going to be a tech,
probably because of what we were discussing, maybe something happening there.
Just going to obviously let the...
I mean, they look perfect as well. I mean, I didn't catch it exactly,
but the seekers went into the smoke and I don't think noted him on heaven,
or somebody else shot another one, but he was in a massive position here with the showstopper.
I don't envy league ops and the admins in this one on the refs really because again it feels like envy's impact was probably enough to swing around but probably is it good enough you know which way do we call the ruling on that again not my job thankfully but a great reaction for paper
I like what we were seeing there beyond that though. Does it feel the vitality release on the pulse in your mind?
Yeah, definitely. I mean, again, it's the right decision, right? You're typically coming out of a timeout.
It's like, oh, we anticipate a little bit of aggression. Derker just going forward, see it taking the initiative is a good sign, right?
The fact that they're still willing to make a play like that.
Again, you find the opening win and then for Embry to find two off the ropes is just, it shuts it down so quickly.
quickly. It really does. And then it's really hard to bang. That's the number of instances you can get into. Yeah, you can get into that situation and then say, cool.
Is it really sustainable? It never is versus MapleX. No. And again, they're one of the teams that, no matter the odds, they command our attention sort of things. Again, in previous events, we've always said, never tell me the odds with these boys because they can seem to go outside of that
I think it was what we were
discussing. So once we get an
update, obviously we'll let you
guys at home. No. Thank you for
your patience alongside us. And
for paper X. Is there any
concern here in your mind
because I think to me the lens
and again, forgive me for those
at home, potentially getting a
little frustrated because it is
being at least in my mind. Look
down to the lens of has
vitality even got what it takes
to challenge paper X. So I know
there's a lot to talk about
paper X being these underdogs
I mean, I come back to the same, the same discussion, which is paper X is just always a different test and it's form dependent, but I think many even said this is like the best they probably looked, which is just another wild statement to make about a team like paper X.
This actually takes nothing away from vitality in my eyes.
It's, it's just tough.
I mean, call a spade a spade.
Power was very open and honest.
It's like, yeah, I mean, they, they back to us.
They just had more people in the right place
and they won 90% of their gunfires.
And honestly, like I said, there's,
go back and watch as many bodges you like
and you can cook up certain strats and set pieces.
But set pieces do not work against paper X
when they just want to throw four out B main.
Yeah, yeah, like has that given you any look now just while we take a second here
The admins are reviewing the rounds just pause for a moment Mike. Is there any other team?
We're talking bigger picture now, so we are seeing a tech pause from what you've seen so far
Is anyone in the same class as paper X? No
Because I always had a bit of like a two-horse race ish, but I haven't seen it here in London. Yeah, you and me both
I thought EDG could have been in that conversation and maybe leaning that way a little but
Paper X just pound for pound right now are scary. They are hitting their stride.
So, as said while the admins are reviewing this, we are actually going to hear what Envy had to say about his Masters London debut in his HyperX player moment.
Hello, I'm Envy from Paper X. So, we went against Leviton. I think the match went very well for us.
I thought it would have been closer because they started off really hot in the first stage.
We managed to play like ourselves and how we usually play.
I think the Vitan is a very good team.
I feel like they're just lacking a lot of experience compared to Payprex.
It felt honestly incredible to be back on the master stage.
seeing all the fans in the crowd cheering for us every time we win,
every time we do something amazing, it just gives us motivation to win the match.
To all the fans around the world and to all the fans that came to support us in London,
I hope you guys keep supporting us no matter what the results are because we're gonna keep
trying our best and we're gonna hopefully win this trophy.
I've obviously been scrolling a little bit while waiting for this to be sorted out.
I've been, I've been, you know, having a look at Reddit on the socials, can't help myself.
Um, and I was kind of thinking of like MVP form.
Do you think DeVy is up in that? Because to me, DeVy right now is hitting MVP level form.
Yeah, I think he has a number of events. I mean, we obviously always take a vote here.
I know.
And I'm really calm and insane. I'm usually voting DeVy.
Same.
I think he's just one of those players that, for a long time, was underappreciated on this roster.
on this roster. I think you think back to kind of his life cycle through some of
the comp changes they've had and yeah some of them haven't looked great but I
mean you think back to some of the Sky games way way back and again it's just
always difficult to really shine on that role when you have the other
members here but I think device is always one of those players he's just you
can depend on him time and time again I think it's some of some of the peaks
that we've seen from pay prex he's been the hot prospect to be honest which is
which isn't the one you go to when you look at it.
I mean, even recency, right?
You look at how solid Envy's been.
And certainly, you think back to the previous event,
I mean, just an absolutely sensational player,
which with the sentiment coming in,
would have been fairly underrated.
Yeah, and it's quite interesting to see a team
who stuck together in relative form.
They've had some roster changes here and there,
but you could argue the core's been around for some time now.
There's been that established core to them.
And it's so wildly impressive to see them
maintain through various meta changes. We've seen so many other teams have these high highs
and it's completely full of the face of the earth. Their capability maybe through their
players and their versatility that they can have various MVPs has just allowed them so
much of that. Just a reminder, we were just talking about
what that feature was on. And again, big one for me coming in today is Yampy. You were
just asking who's actually beat PaperX before. We looked at it earlier. Yampy's best international
performance was actually eliminating PaperX 2.1. Really? Yeah, he was on the
chamber and it was like a bonkers performance. Okay. Which is when you were
like clutching a straws with EG, I was thinking, actually there was one that we
looked up earlier, but again for me it's like as an idea, how do you call versus
this team and obviously Power and Scott are very prep-oriented to an
extent, but that's all around kind of, I mean, the big transition through stage
one was what we discussed heavily in EMEA, which was, yeah, Cons taking things
away from this roundtable discussion and Yampy really being the one to crack the whip. Unfortunately,
I guess things like Payprex is going to require you, Durka, your sign art, to feel something in
a round, right, and not have to ask permission to do something. Yeah, it needs a little bit of that kind
of momentum and movement to it, and it's quite interesting. I was even going to this truck,
I'm like, what was the last time I saw Durka facing up against Payprex? There is only a little bit
more time left, so hopefully we can get back on the way. You can see him kind of get himself
prepared to thank you for sticking with us as we go through the motions. But again,
Durka, even historically, numerically has always struggled against this team. You've
seen his confidence, his previous roster's did. That's the caliber that is. It puts pressure
on your IGLs. It puts pressure on your superstars. There's been very few players, even individually,
who've been able to shine against this team. I mean, you're talking like Demon 1 in his prime?
And even then, I mean, I'm rolling back the clock. A fair way to really find people. Nice one, guys.
Nice one. Yeah, I see you. I thought we were doing a good thing.
No thumbs up for that.
I thought we were on for a clean day, but here we are.
Three to three that we feel are just tuning in.
So, Vitality getting as many crowns as they did in map one here already.
I say, yeah, yeah, yeah. Big improvement.
Big improvement. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I think we are just getting those ready checked.
So, we should...
Should...
Get back underway in just a moment's time.
I'm curious to see here, again, by time he'd come out of a little bit of a break here with the same sort of pace approach here.
I mean, keeping things at least level for the time being, string rounds found.
They still have ultimates to play with, seekers, showstopper and a pip.
Pay price, you can see it was a massive investment previously.
I was quite interested in going to identify that Forsaken had been on a bit of an island.
Now, I don't know whether this is indicative of that or if it's just a simple call because they're in a lighter purge
Just trying to make it work. Keep your eyes on the pressure coming in though
It's gonna be hot in this round Sionara on the case though fights forward takes away for sakin
Yaku with a one-two punch hold on my Tazzie coming in fired up
Sionara though, of course he has
Something the scope be shut down though
I'm a little impressed because you normally don't walk away with this without being bloodied
and broken and bruised at that point, but actually a relatively clean round and I was
complimenting the liberties that Forsaken was taking over towards B main.
I'm curious if this was identified during maybe some of those early rounds, just think
Prophetic was on the other side at some point.
Yeah, and this is one of those few examples where it's like now,
paperbacks actually do have to respect something, right?
I mean, if they're just going to hit B site again,
but the concern being is how good the adaptation look for paperbacks
and how well equipped our vitality, again,
look towards chronic when these saw the rounds,
is information gathering potentially on the other side of the map.
If there is a response here from paperbacks inside,
Alright. Great decision making from him.
I don't think it takes a lot of being to pull up your own number, right?
It's something that's quite hard against a team like this.
I mean, it's mostly quite hard against any team left at this point in the tournament as well,
but it does take a lot of self-confidence to be able to activate and push forward in this,
because you feel like if it goes wrong, I'll look silly.
But at this point, we see an adjustment quickly.
It's almost like they've forgotten the lesson that they had before.
You already see the adjustment from PaperX.
They put something over towards B just in case.
Maybe feeling that's enough, but a three-play stack in Qing.
I'm just gonna deny an easy springboard for Sionara.
So devised, impressed, beating of horses.
Why wouldn't he?
And he doesn't even get punished on a point of damage done on it.
Clear as to how it looks good, though.
Oh, it's just torn away here, and Durka will punish.
Time in felt.
Whoa, and are they gonna get me on Durka and have it
that they think they had more cover there?
Well, someone was watching it.
That feels like a mistake.
A rare one at that and a freeze from vitality.
I mean, they're desperately looking for Jing.
I've found him just yet.
Oh, he's found them.
And there's Forsaken, the one-two punch,
Paper X, starting to chip away at what vitality had.
This freeze didn't really work, and the problem is that
something is the ever-present slow, creeping, and dead Yampy.
Quick to business, gonna take away Jing.
Forsaken not shying away from the side there,
even though something isn't quite here yet.
He's tried to push drop a touch,
and the penny has not dropped yet that something could be behind.
That's it, a little bit of misinformation here off that flash because it catches in heaven.
30 seconds left.
See, we're almost expecting that rotation to come through that way.
Now Profek holding towards Main.
So you can already down on the side now.
He's gonna hear it. Profek has to back away.
They're gonna hear both players now surely.
Noting the operator shot.
Lans, Yampi holds the line.
There's something left in a 1v2.
This man is magic though, but today, nothing to bring out Rahat!
In this round, five for Vitality, and well recovered.
and well recovered after that moment or freeze.
Great composure on display.
Vitality able to convert this round.
Force another PaperX timeout as well.
Wow.
We talked about the mental game as well.
Forcing PaperX to adapt to what's going on here.
It's only training by two,
but both timeouts to be burned here.
In the first half is a big win.
That's a huge wrap.
Yeah, you haven't been desperately trying to rally behind that one.
It doesn't even look that flashy, really, but you think about it, that freeze initially didn't work out.
You saw the both players were able to fight back in, kind of clear a bit of pressure on heaven.
That flash that could have been a bit of an issue that maybe implied something.
But again, for them to hold on to that is a big confidence builder.
Now, I'm curious, though, what's the adjustments now?
Because it does feel like a pendulum has swung.
Well, it was the right move.
Again, they put something on the operator over towards B main.
main, there's a fake TP in from Forsaken, yeah cool, we'll greet them as three right on a site but
it's one of those situations where Vitality actually, I mean whether or not that is kind of
some crucial mid-rounding or somebody overstepping the mark ever so slightly, the fact that Jin gets
away with another kill there, you think it's going to come apart as seems for Vitality but
it's that crucial moment again, Divy, unfortunately overstepping the wall ever so slightly, he's
Like you said, we've got about Durka all together.
Okay, it's a step-by-step game now though.
You're never out of the woods, never.
It's going to take a lot of confidence building to start feeling like Vitality have a chance in this.
This is still PaperX's map choice, but they burn both of those time-outs,
makes it feel like you're doing something right.
Speaking of, back on patrol, on ramp,
and heavy emphasis, heavy stack in middle divide,
is ahead of this, by a long way, Yampy, looking vulnerable but gets a gun out in time.
And so he connects the challenge, turns around, sprays there for vitality, stands, Yampy.
Dampens all of that aggression in middle.
They went for a wild play, that's fair enough, he was around, but they invested Sheriff's Inon.
But something tasked with a heavy burden now.
He's got the infarct.
He's got the knives.
There's anyone else this would be filth
You need to equal his current kills in this round
Tancy taking all the space towards spawn as well don't want to leave this one up to chance like that
Can like to go too far there's the flash to no detent
Something on the corner
Can't get one, can't get a second, just spacing and notifying the threats.
What should have been quite a comfortable round.
Great call from Anthony here, again to just hold on.
I'm sure they're here to greet this aggression as we discuss.
Great turn actually, turning almost, passing him by.
The chance here on the back of the pass again, I think almost expecting this to be popped
a little shorter, but it goes all the way into vents.
It could have been her death sentence for vitality
Pit available seekers here. Durka one away from the bladestorm good position to be in entering round ten
On the other side as well divide lock down mid for the time being
Investing a lot more utility at least to play on these extremities
Something's angry bad
Cut off by the wall. They're just
Between a rock and a hard place and he's actually caught this time by cron with an operator
Feel what
Precious for tires my home
second
Okay, but still it's it's just a man advantage here still appear in middle
We're still trying to figure out what's going on. Where are these players? What are they doing?
Sionara has to be eyes wide open. I mean, ping on the wall there, yeah. Maybe just catching that info.
So, DeVy's still pretty posted towards us. Yeah, considering giving up the pit here to actually
put an extra body towards Envy. I mean, Envy has had some sensational rounds anchoring this A site.
I've got your trail
He's trying to play ahead of this now now he's in trouble three players look at his way paint shells in now
He's cleared it in Dubai actually
You're gonna touch a damage on that they're already gonna be on the site here and look at Durka now
You don't see this one often. He's behind both players Durka
Stemious you're gonna find one and now come full off this doesn't need to do too much
He's a nuisance heaven doesn't feel so safe anymore
I'm going to give this up, yeah. Second to Divine now, considering their approach to
Herka already, looking to hunt down rightfully, so we've got a bit of a cushion here in terms
of the economy. I'm quite impressed, quite impressed, like it's...
Very impressed. And it just feels like I'm waiting for it to all go wrong for Vitality,
but they are finding the answers they need to. Is this where we look at Yampi to be one
on those IGLs who's got a bit of a finger on the pulse here.
Satan would like that weapon.
Yeah, I mean, Dirk has already wrapped all the way on to B site.
I feel like just a matter of time.
Like I said, they've got the cushion here.
They can go for this.
There we go. We'll find it.
I'm my confidence on display here.
Now this time round 11.
So stop it here for Jink.
a TP for Forsaken, but
I think Rexel is a little flustered in terms of his initial rotation once the pit is given up
it's a point to make
I think that's probably directed at Envy, again, you could see the point where device considering giving up the pit
but he actually steps back into it, then there's two rotating out of heaven on B site
I
Very very
frustrating round for Alex to watch for sure
We're going up again. This week is just unraveled that entirely. Oh, completely. He's looking to play spoiler on what one kill
Maybe a little bit of a misread on that and we were waiting for the I guess confidence to come crashing down a little bit, right?
And I think these are the rounds you're gonna start seeing it
Maybe those over peaks won't happen. Maybe I'm being ambitious saying that about paper X
But they haven't worked out for them in the last couple of rounds. So
Already, Vitality have done the slow and steady job, right?
It's not flashy Valorant, it's not going to set your world on fire, but it's...
That's what's necessary.
This is how you get a lead on PaperX.
It's how you put them back into a position they have to work in from.
Or is it Or?
It's a long, long game for them to figure out.
Adjustment made, we haven't seen much of these splits through Heaven here,
but something on this side of the map,
Gimstrum work through flash, unaffecting. So now there's a chance. Sion are a great shot on that, but for Saken playing it forward, this is lovely.
This looks like his strong suit as well, and he gets to play like that. But Chronicle! Fantastic pick!
They've got side control now.
Let's hope it comes through here. Post it on. We'll find the ampoule.
Good range!
It's fantastic from Profek.
Oh, that timing.
In the left now Guardian in hand a 1v3
Do not fancy as odds here has to wait out the smoke as well
You have to be so methodical in these games right to deal with that
But Profic you could not have picked better timing to him there. That is a great round
For the young man who joined is probably the least known player on that roster really you looked at all the others catching the eye
But he's done exceptionally well there look at credit where it's due and
And PaperX have been shut out of this map!
Yeah, a string of five rounds now. Beautiful.
From Vitality.
And still decent position to be in here.
I missed this.
I missed.
Because when PaperX win, like, yes, he'll do it sometimes, but this is...
He's still tilted with the win in.
Yeah, of course. But now I get the extra... extra source on top.
Chronicle and Dirk are reading this perfectly as well.
Plenty of opportunities to punish it in terms of the finances and misdirection here with the TP.
Again, it's just quick check.
Vitality don't do anything in the meantime, so necessarily capitalise off that pressure.
Oh, it's testing the patience as well, isn't it?
You look how deep vitality you're holding.
They are so aware that Payprex would love to get involved, love to get that first pick, but they've had to start respecting it.
Jing, Al, for say, can somewhat chomping at the bit towards B main, but...
As long as Vitality don't leave that clock too late, they should still be fine.
One of the few situations you're asking for somebody from Payprex to just do something, give you a round.
Yeah, yeah, you need next factor, right? We had it in droves on map one.
Yeah, I mean, they're getting outclassed in these slower burn rounds.
We hadn't really seen Vitality depend on this too much, regionally at least, so again, seeing that they have this as a gear shift, quite interesting, but 30 seconds now.
Okay, this is a three-play stack on B, this is not the two from before, B main is firmly still in Pay-Break's control, so the site will not feel safe just yet.
Something's got a critical, that's backline broken, B main's theirs, and now Vitality is surrounded.
Composure on this play from Pay-Break for divide, individual but still gets his fight, he's down a derker, he's down a TV!
Oh my word! He's gone for it again, but this time gets punished.
Yampi in a 1v3, this would be simply legendary.
He's got one. There's no trade. What's going on here?
Jinx got him! Dexterites though!
Just about maintaining a scoreline here.
Together, fourth year, Payprex an honest shot of things
since Vitality dominated this first half, Lauren.
And needing a couple of these individuals from Payprex
to start delivering here to try and piece together a comeback.
It's impressive to see Vitality push them this far, but do not think it's over yet.
On the side switch things can always change. Do not go too far.
Okay, eight to four.
Vitality in the lead, after what was a disastrous first map, and their pick as well.
Putting it in context though, they had the right approach to PaperX.
Things can change pretty quickly with this team.
Again, always opportunity for PaperX to really dictate the tempo.
Now coming onto the attacking side, and Vitality have to display some confidence here.
to kick things off in the second half.
They said they were being outclassed in terms of some of these
small rounds on display from Yampi and the rest of Vitality.
Derker delivering near top of the board for them.
And they get a really, really good display considering the bigger
picture for Vitality.
Yes, newer names, inexperienced names on the international stage.
Holding their nerve, playing their part.
Michael, have you seen the minimap?
Yes.
Everyone, attention to the top left of your screen, please.
This might be a bloodbath from the word go.
In about two seconds, we find out.
All the paper acts here.
Oh, my word, Darker, they're heading for free.
The Sake is fallen.
Now he's up for more.
He's back away dividing something right back to it.
This is now going to be difficult for Vitality, having to slip back a little bit deeper, you can see them trying to stabilize, but Yuppie digs in further, hammered by something and they don't stop.
Dirkuk, we'll find another here, something will fall.
Still in Chronicle left, Chronicle creeping through mid now.
Spike still to hand, Dirkuk, you don't want to see him overstep the mark here, but the fireman to challenge here.
Big tag, Dirkuk down to 49 now.
89 now. So quick to he's feeling a bit confident about this. It looks like with his timing.
I could say, Paul, fair shout. Chronicles now getting closer, but look at the wrap as well.
Potentially. Does DeVy go heaven on this? Big confirmation though that Chronicles not coming back.
Oh, he's out. Durka! He'd already slipped. I thought he was still a bit more towards heaven,
but DeVy's position is a little bit naughty. But, oh, and then, by the way, finishing with
that is a terrifying looking man right now what a pistol round from Derker the
one to open the account and close said the vibe makes all the right moves here
Oh, fantastic shot, it blows.
I can't play it after pressure, but I can't play it.
That's very consistent, yes.
I didn't even hear the second half of that.
No, I think the first sentence is enough.
Maybe we just...
He's just joking, it's just that.
I mean, Dirk said we need to have more fun than Paper X.
He might be right now, to be fair.
The fun have a little vitality.
forward once more. In between the
wickets there. We're gonna
second opportunity here, though.
Because Big Breaks are going
forward towards the smoke.
They're already out on main,
Dirk. Are you going to be really careful?
So do you, Profek. You can see them
flying into their faces. Profek's
left. They're swarmed. Yawdy goes
sharp, short, and from Dirk, though,
Sionara makes over in time.
again though that's a lot to ask for but Forsaken they're right with you 2v2 he's
always easy man he gets cleared nice try from Forsaken it's all on Dubai 22 HP
and now we said he might be an MVP in the making this one might do a little
something for that two players him relatively pretty look at the fear he
command. Look at the respect this man commands. 22 HP and a sheriff. They're
pausing. I'm worried about the angle on to Sionora.
30 seconds left. He's done enough to this point. Slowly constrict towards the
site. Getting closer now. Can he find one for f***ing penny? Just dropping there.
That's difficult as now they can create a nice crossfire
Time is going to be the factor in the XINARA there hopefully positioned in the end nice
Diligence just to check back in time double digits found here for vitality
Big opener for him
Star this second half
You have to write this purchase through as well
the shields on the other side already forcing that what I would call an
adjustment here for paper X at least and there's no timeout right for paper X
this is this is how it's a paper show me what you got I've been iron you up as
the favorites by a country mile and here you've looked solid quiet well done and
I'm not used to that. Look at Sionara taking liberties.
And that judge could do some work.
Depending on who it is and when it comes because there is a pinch here from Ben's
timing.
Come on.
He's helping us get away with his life.
Could have slowed down the role.
Maybe make it a little bit harder to scale towards site safely.
Prophex prowling.
He's still behind you.
They might have an idea that someone's on site, but they're trying to work this out together.
Trying to navigate it at the right time, he continues to fight looking and he's got him as Jing in the Indefined Prophec.
4v4 here still, a really tense side of the map, it's free for Sionara!
Starting on the 4-up as well!
Devying Jing, trying to 9-11th round.
Plants in play.
The way we got a very off to the races, Derker leads the pack.
Jing trying to do damage, goal!
It's gotta be an ace!
And if anyone could do it, it would be this man!
We're with 20 HP and now a little lower than before it's going to have to be absolutely legendary
Simply unfathomable in this situation
That is one of the most insane rounds you will ever see.
The mid air headshot to catch the second is just insanity.
Did you forget who that man is?
I wouldn't blame you, it's been a quiet map, but man, you remember now.
Now can they keep their composure? Yes, Vitality strike back hard, cut to the core, leaving
just three standing. The Jing is one of them.
Dirk are running away with the space as well. Going to hear this, something nice out. It's
caught as well. Payprex still struggling to piece together the puzzle here. A 2v5 now.
Now, that's ahead of the minute mark as well.
I'm going to wait for an overstep here.
Somebody to get curious on the side of Vitality.
I was going to say, after a round like that, you need a mental check-in.
Huge bonus to effectively win those opening engagements now.
Stabilize, calm themselves.
You're discipline here from Vitality.
Nobody wants to give anything away.
Yeah, did you not learn your lesson for the last round?
Got a lot of you buttoned up here.
And it is good to be a pure freeze.
30 seconds left.
That's about as much movement as you're going to get right now.
Yes, yeah.
Yeah, if you're just smiling, waiting this one out.
It's got to be a feel-good moment for him.
Even after having to recover from a jing round like that.
I've done what was needed.
Gun here.
10 seconds left.
Come out of this, Bladestorm.
Not too far away from Seekers or Showstopper as well.
The other side, I mean, it's something divine forsaken, the closest.
You don't mention the Showstopper being invested.
Okay.
Extension of play from obviously what Jing did, but vitality right back to business.
The buy is abysmal.
obviously something I mean you need to to be able to offset that slightly so
goodbye gonna be on a sheriff might just all in towards a here
cyan are and yampi okay
Dirk is on the other side of the map so at least they're not gonna be going to
the team if you're gonna try and avoid the headhunter as it stands
They're not doing anything early, there it is. It's simplistic in approach, it's direct for paper X.
Hawkeye, the rotation as well, so Chronicle is here. Yampee, Doubtlip, Jane just flying above.
Sight secured. One should be next on the cards.
Something not able to get the ball rolling yet, so not got those knives to depend upon potentially in this post-plot.
Talbot needs to be clean on the way back in here though.
Well that's nice though, that was certainly hell pal, trying to play back towards Elbow like it was yours all day.
Darker! Goes right back in, it is looking like it's 12 for Vitality!
Paper Rex!
Things shut down here on Split.
They've gone quiet!
Yeah, they record this year since the Wotswelvern 2.
Vitality overcoming the odds here.
A seven round lead.
My, my.
I guess we're going to start thinking about the third map fracture.
Jerk will read the economy here, and Pay Per X puts together a couple of rounds.
It feels tangible now, doesn't it? It feels like you might have made Pay Per X look a little human.
Now that can change quickly. We've learned that. We've had to have learned that the hard way,
way but by all rights vitality have done it here can they close it down
Durka on duty bareheaded Jane again digging deep this time and looking to
open up on that B site but slowed down by utility
Sainara's got to be careful my house says welcome they've won middle
it's a play there from Sainara doesn't challenge back on here at the right again
then looking depressed toward that position Sainara actually making his
way back through spawn here it's a double hold towards B main for vitality
the paper X call of freeze
good progress in towards heaven though when they are out in no man's land yeah
completely it's a risk high risk high reward for Chronicle but the loss of
profit the site now under scrutiny you saw it you saw the intention holding on
3 of them make it through and an extension of play again as the score line will be held at 12.
Take a couple more of those to chip away at the cushion that Vitality have.
We're still showing grit and determination here.
Take them when you get them.
a ton of old sting already close to another showstopper just missing two here
Durka operator in hand now in plenty of old swing best here for vitality to
close I've got your trail he's got him he's
got jing down he's been cracking open these sites but something's deep on this
He's got on here so quickly. I don't know if they've got even any idea.
They have no clue.
And you're not gonna think about that for a moment's time.
Plans coming in. I think Dirkle's still considering it. Good.
Really, that's how early this is.
The fine divide.
Three players put to dealing with him.
Pain shots, passing forward. Handle.
Beautiful.
And then it's real. Something has been tagged up!
Dirkle's so late, he didn't expect it!
The Chronicle Clearinghouse!
This has defined all expectations!
Vitality waking up in map 2.
What a performance here.
We're talking about the form of Payprex.
They have been outclassed here on slip by Vitality.
I almost can't believe that's just happened, Lauren.
You and me both.
I'm a little stunned by this one.
And we will pause the thought tied up in one piece.
Going to map 3.
i can't play under pressure
i can't play for an nr accidents
i guess you are my teacher
yeah
can u meow for me?
yeah
you remember last year?
i was like i want to forget one
다빛 was meowing Harry Potter
meow meow meow meow!
meow meow meow meow!
meow meow meow meow meow!
meow meow meow meow!
Junkie here with something of paper rags, something
Who would be the X-sector from Vitality?
I think it's gonna be Profit, and I'm gonna explain you why.
The guy has a lot of experience since 2020, 21 I think.
He played with Buster also, he won two international trophies in a row, so he's actually in the same player.
Kai, so you did your research. You know what is important? No die enemy!
The Bikers and the fans are getting louder.
Remember what I always say when I'm up here.
The teams need their fans to get behind them for this last map because whoever wins this
one is going to be guaranteeing themselves top three.
will be too much in the way from lifting the trophy on Championship Sunday. This is an opportunity that
neither of these teams wants to miss out on. No one wants to go down into the lower bracket today.
They don't have to. They're worthy of being here, remaining at the top. The PRX fans, if you believe,
Make some noise!
And Vitality fans, if you think that EMEA can do it, make some noise!
Enjoy the game.
to
believe in your boys because
they managed to pick up a massive
dub to force map three
genuinely after looking not that
great in map one. So for
vitality a massive
massive moment as you see
young people going around telling the boys
good job and now the real challenge
challenge begins here, Mimi, because we're going into map 3.
And this is truly anyone's game here,
but you know Vitality have to be feeling good about that one.
They have to.
I think their game plan, the execution,
all of it ended up being absolutely perfect on this map,
on their attack side.
In particular, they gave nothing to paper
X playing this very slow style, punishing them
whatever they went for aggressive fights,
and looking amazing at the execution on their hits as well.
Yeah, it was almost hilarious.
If you just pause the map sometimes,
It was just two players almost sitting in school
and Vitality just waiting for something
whilst the other three were defaulting around.
And I think that the fundamentals were so good.
Once they started grouping up, once they started scaling
into sites, the traits were there,
the back and forth was there, the entries were there.
It was a very good game to contain paper.
Part of that, though, was because, oh, my ball brother
from another mother.
You got to talk about Durka because my guy was absolutely
frying out there.
Now, it's a poor note that we were
He started to see Dirk a minute, really come online toward the end of map one.
His start was a little dreadful, then he started to heat up,
but you can see that momentum clearly carrying forward here to split.
Yeah, he was so important in some of these scannings, like I was saying,
that he was even here, he was like nerking one round.
I think that he is just one of those players that his aim just looks so good.
There's something just so clinical about the way he plays,
and again, he has the most amount of first kills of all time of anyone at a global event,
and he's continuing that kind of stuff here.
Those sheriff shots were crispy, by the way, crispy shots.
But we haven't seen him at a global event, despite that history, since all the way back
at Bangkok.
That was a year ago now, over at this point.
And Durka, after making this step away from being the franchise player for Fnatic, for
their entire history, to take this opportunity with vitality, to have it not work out whatsoever
initially.
They're finally here.
They're finally delivering at the global level.
He's playing just as well as he ever has in these big games.
His consistency, Biddy, is just astounding to see.
Yeah, and I love to see his development over the years.
The start with Fnatic, he had to be the only player going at
and carrying games by himself.
Maybe towards 2023, we saw a little bit of a more relaxed balance,
Durka, and right now that's the same Durka.
But when the team needs him to go back to that 2021
carrying Fnatic kind of mode, he's doing it.
Yeah, it feels like he's in his final Digi evolution.
You know, he's getting closer.
That's a shout out for the Digimon fans out there.
You know who you are.
But we could not, we would be remiss if we did not talk about the ace from Jing.
You kind of got to address it.
Now, something that I do think is important note is regardless of how good this play was,
it was Heroics.
And that's the thing, PaperX were leaning on those Heroics, but my God, give this man a comic book.
This was their anti-eco, by the way.
It came down to this, in a row.
That shot, that is insane.
I had to take a bath after that one good thing we have one in the green to win this to be one
Well, he needs himself here just a little bit doesn't need 20 HP 13's enough for him
He also ate a couple of
Strapnel or paint shells right yeah a little bit too. So that brought him down to 13. That's just silly
He's shot though. It's just unbelievable for them
That's just stupid
This is crazy because he played so damn well
Yeah, dropping over 20 kills in what was a pretty brutal loss for paper X to this point
He had 11
Naps in a row on raise that he had won that was the brunt of stage one for paper X with the turnaround on James
Raise him being in the best form ever and that still helped true
But they were dismantled regardless on this matter the joke I had before the event was that you just need to ban the raise
from Paper Rex but unfortunately there's too many in this pool and another one is
going to be that fracture wedging undoubtedly is going to be on that raise
once again. Hey man, you know if you want to beat a man you got to beat the man
right? You got to beat the man on his map on his agent that's how you got to do
it against Paper Rex. You got to give him no quarter because they will give you no
quarter but let's set the tone here for fracture because we're going into map
three this is it pressure is on many we saw Vitality play a little bit of
fracture earlier on, but wasn't it enough to give you confidence that they could pull off the victory?
Well, they played against a foot who were pushing them a lot, and they did a lot of containing playing
red passive and they were able to absorb that pressure. Obviously, paper X are a different beast.
I think the narrative for me here is our paper X is going to run the same composition, running a
fade-less, sky-less composition, no drones with just a breach. I hope to see a comp switch here,
and there is a little bit of a comp switch. Very strange. No double-julist, a breach in a sky together.
Yeah, I think the bridge can be quite telegraph. We've seen a ton of teams move away from him this patch
He's been one of the lowest win rate agents, but paper exists to their guns
It does play well to their style of liking to go for a lot of defensive aggression
They have great tools to set jing up
But something on the broomstone having to swap him over there with the move away from the double duelists as well
It's always an interesting one as my tally on the other side go back into this Phoenix and this race cop that they've already shown
once this event. Yeah, I'm glad to see this guy coming out for paper X. I'm not
the biggest fan of breach. I think it's going to be vitality that's going to need
to they have us done and not get trapped. I say it all the time. Yeah, if you could
just pay us done 60 seconds has nothing left in the round for that breach.
It feels easier said than done, though, you know, especially against paper X if
they have the hot hand to kick things off. Absolutely. Paper X walked into this
event with the discussion surrounding them sounding like a coronation. This
was the most favorite team people were saying that team that you absolutely
dominate and win this trophy. But now they're facing up against some of the
best players on a super team that has finally put it together and made it to a
late stage in a global event. This is where paper X have to prove why their
favorites prove why they're expected to lift a trophy. Yeah folks this is it. It
all falls down to this. Top three is on the line. Paper X have an opportunity to
push forward, but can vitality shock the world?
Let's go ahead and send it back over to your casters.
Here's Panty and Hypoq one last time.
Which way do you think this one now goes?
We've seen the best of both sides.
Map one was an absolute masterclass from PaperX.
They looked untouchable.
And then Split, Durka rolled back the years, and then some.
Looking better than ever.
But Map three, I feel like we're a little in the dark now
between this.
Yeah, I think we're almost in limbo to be honest. This is one of those ones where unfortunately on one side
We are asking Vitality to prove once again. Why are you the super team to watch and for pay Brexit?
Come change here could really
really throw that off balance for Vitality
But do you like the calm?
Yeah, I mean certainly here there's one of the few
situations you could talk about that the application of reaching all innings some
of these set pieces early on it does suit them to an extent and it's how
well vitality can really mitigate that risk
well so far very quick rotation here actually on both sides I mean paperx
have taken the space over to the north and it feels like an exchange right the
safety of the site and the plant but then you get the full five for the retake
So it's not the end of the world. We look at the utility almost here, Profek being part of that conversation and Forsaken close.
Now Profek prepared though, takes away Forsaken and gives them a man to the good, controlling some of this map space as well.
Allows all eyes to be trained, the flash comes in but it's unaffected. To the extent they'd like Profek.
Oh no! Relenting! Holding that smoke again! Heaven's his!
We get away here as well, something will catch him, but we can't put him down just yet in
the beat and swing out fine.
Once something will respond as well, 1v2 now.
It's a great start from Vitality.
We know that the pistol rounds didn't sit well with them during their regular run up
to this.
They're qualifying up to this.
But there's a key option to pick up to try and maybe carry on from map too.
a huge opportunity here early on to take control here, they're actually looking very proactive.
It's ultimately what you want to see to make this breach work, particularly on the defence.
Despite not committed either way just yet, but how is he well equipped to deal with anything?
I'll take care of that south side once this time.
So, an early tester on Durka, but he's not really fancying it.
He's going to fall away, and you've got to be careful. He does have a Vandal here.
So if he gets overwhelmed, that could fall into their hands quite nicely.
They've had the help from Profek, so they know what's happening now.
But there is still a man on the B side.
Devine going to be over here.
And they are now just a race against...
It's time, Devine!
Plucks the head off the shoulders of Durka.
Profek could have missed the first, and some of that tempo and pace is looking lethal.
by Dante Poldo to fight itself though, Sionora with the spray trying to slow them down, keeps the security back and a lot of roosting paper X on the retreat.
Something, it's a classic and no much else, maybe able to get all the more than just a pistol upgrade.
Okay, Sionora is low, and you can see Sionora is going to go looking for the vandal. He's found it, we're not how he wanted it.
for the ult as well to be honest. A couple of kills here. Something can find further
damage but maybe quite the prized possession. I was going to say considering actually taking
the zip across but we'll just hold on to it for the time being. Big round from Sionore
you can see actually even coming out of the pistol no progress towards the ult at all.
It's a massive tool for vitality to have available now for round three.
Dirk, this is sitting comfortably 2,200, so I know it's 2,100, so...
Yep.
I mean, well rounded here with three left standing.
If you're looking at silver lining, nice way to get at least the rifle away,
or one of the rifles invested, so you...
You're not going to get out unscathed against paper,
especially at the pace they were coming back in on.
They were hunting Dirk down. They had a singular mindset.
Another very good indicator though is how quickly they look to flood through arcade, overwhelmed divine
That's a right up there
That's a yellow. I don't know what they've done wrong, but it's already on the yellow card for sure
Now let's look at the bonus though again
There was that costly effect of losing out on the vandal so they aren't going to use two pistols in play a Guardian as well
But they do have the phantoms in hammered Dirt with Sionara, ult's there too gonna be used early on tries to atleast secure a pathway up through sand
Just yet for the swing out guarded by Profek
Yeah, yeah try and let Sionara in on that, but the flash is actually pretty good a bit here just gets turned paper X very on cue with that
Now I mean Profek get the upgrade here
I could feel out towards the spawn as well, but he doesn't actually check deep enough here.
The clearance is good though, don't just go swing it.
Just shut down the... now just yamp it.
Nice try, but still that pack of players hunting on the southern side, so valuable.
I thought if the timing was a little bit better in the Synergy between Kron and maybe Sionara,
you could have had a bit more there.
If they find you by there, they have a real chance to take their heels in.
Our base don't really want to play safe.
One enemy.
The product which is overwhelmed here, a pistol in hand is not really much you could do about that.
Paper X, respond here, we'll find there first.
Lovely.
And Jin, great, progress towards the showstopper.
Anybody else?
Halfway something, not too far away.
Nothing available for vitality after Sionora's investment.
Just give my own cron and him getting a shield.
You did bait me earlier. Yep. And he's done it again. So, Light Shield's there. PaperX
once again on the prowl. You've got to get used to this tempo. Jing instantly takes
out Dirk. If this could be the pound for pound battle between the two of them. I've
noted this, I'm reading them. Oh my god, yeah. It's beautiful. And that pick comes control.
They become so early and so deep that they actually don't catch that information.
Paper X continuing to pressure.
And they don't really stop, even with a two-man advantage,
they make it move over towards Dish.
They want to really eliminate any available space of vitality.
Eugene will have the info here.
Pretty good understanding of where this hits coming.
I mean, Invy already guarding the walkout as well.
And this is a tough one for us to try and make, you know, ambitious at the best of times,
but right now, Paper X are just exuding confidence, exerting control.
Profek, not going to go down without a fight.
30 seconds left.
This would need a great deal more to become a reality.
I think he knows those options are pretty minimal with 20 seconds remaining.
Something we're already looking for this with a judge, so once an upgrade, if you can get it.
Well, I was curious there, if Poffert was going to catch somebody over towards RK, but it's only now Divy.
He's already got a little harm bot down here to guard.
I'm not the upgrade is going to be there. Yeah, he's got it. So happy enough for something to get himself on the Phantom. And again, you look at how paper it's going. They've really again kind of established how they want to approach this map. That is in play now. It's confident. It's aggressive. It's taking a lot of space.
now. It's a beautiful shot from
Jane. Ask really if I tell us he
have any way of really addressing
this. Concerned previously.
All smiles, especially after
these last two rounds and the
two rounds and the buy is looking shambolic for vitality.
They don't have really anything to offset that either.
It's perfect and Durka.
They potentially have a say here, but much slower approach now.
Paperworks actually not on the aggressive initially here,
but they're drifted out of dish.
Still, what about?
Tart just getting taken down there.
Pushing down, trying to get the
back of the team.
I'm not seeing it. Yeah, but
the spike looking where it is
has other issues because
already pay prex pushed out
towards stairs. There's an
exchange of space everywhere
they go. It's not without a
cost on some time. But
something we'll be brought
back here. Yambi's been able to
drop up, but he's been hunted
down by him. Filling the void
instantly in front of the
pressure paper X. There's the
team we're waiting to see.
Beautiful read of the situation, well handled, anti-eco.
Ultimate starting to come online now.
Envy's missing one.
Before taking something available here on the other side, it's Yambi and Chronicle.
So it's by around crucial for Vitality to keep this within touching distance.
And the default being really tested here by Vitality, but that's going to stack up now.
I wonder when that penny drops how it sounds. We will be hearing from paperx this round to all
We just go see this.
Uh, come here, boys.
Okay.
Oh, they go, they go, they go.
Okay, nothing.
Yeah.
Let's go, Elia.
You got it.
Yeah, something's still standing.
Jutifleet, Godful on this site.
It's gonna be incredibly hard for Vitality to scale through here.
The rotation's already in.
You could hear them discussing how they wanted to approach this to support the site.
Really, the options.
Looking rough, Edgy.
Ooh, how'd you get out, dumbass?
Fuck back!
Who's gonna follow up?
And he's dead to right here, but still took a couple with him
Open the window as well. I mean amputee are 20 yhp. Chronicle tagged up as well. He's got all as well though
That's something you can't forget in this
They're looking to go further
It's
Rescue sure and that almost sells it a little bit does he get one? No, you'd love to have grabbed one just before they got
Do it, but it's in v1 v2 and the HP is low. It's possible
they give it a spike. They want him to explore all this space.
Great play here between Yampi and Chronicle. Beautiful calling.
And it feels quite brave to do it in these scenarios going around the world.
It's a real gamble.
But it's a brilliant call because you've not heard that tap yet.
And I think Indy knows that he's been slightly out positioned on this
and the door somewhat shut.
Sat, lovely work, lay around for these guys.
Again, perfect, setting up a lot of that, making it even a reality.
The PaperX finally feeling some resistance after a brilliant run of rounds.
That's what I said, mentality needed to win this one out to keep it within touch and distance.
I mean PaperX got a run away in the next few, considering the ult.
God, these shots.
The ult's ready.
This is after a big winout towards Tree as well for PaperX.
I mean remaining.
You see it's only the mid and late round, but really,
they're left baffled, they're still flashing into main.
So this turn the tide or they get right back to business paper X have the opportunity here to greet it with a smile
They're in the right place for it up for a bit and up for a fight towards dish
Go on to follow Jim not noted. There's still the freedom to play in stun there. There's problems
Chronicles suffers for it. They go back. They don't have to go too far. They've once again got the opener
Well now these open until time and time again, we'll shut down
Just a mechanically gifted man and now south to go further in this series, but
Yampi, can I quote any further aggression on that side at least? Can they
navigate another disadvantage situation?
I'm still curious, I mean reading that a rotation, it happened on the back of that
but there is you two here to notify. Look at the control well swear.
Yeah, Forsaken's just gonna be posted.
And it's so much info for PaperX.
With the alarm bot in mind, and then you add in Forsaken.
They have half the maps basically there. It's why they can have a lot of faith.
They're coming this way.
Yeah, the fake smoke actually might draw a rotation, but I don't think...
30 seconds left.
The fire's gonna be close enough to know exactly where that is.
Well, it seems like Invy should be over that way,
but now with contact, they can kind of get back to this, right?
20 seconds, just trying to shift up.
We hope to catch him on a ways.
I don't think you're going to get that sort of gift here, something sharp.
14 seconds, Payprex in such control here.
Yampy's on for a left.
Oh!
Fairly nothing's free today.
Payprex instantly answering back,
and the score line staying on their side.
Snappy from something to close out here, Yampy.
Thought he had a sit-up.
Off your feet!
You can hear it.
Nice.
We got some shooters in the server today, but again, it does feel like this is now as
much of the scoreline may look pretty close the way these rounds have gone once they go
into the buys and how paperix are playing Vitality haven't had a full answer.
So looking at this here, good time for a timeout, Vitality needs solutions and again it looks
obviously to us to agree, but the aggression is landing so well.
Jing's taking liberties everywhere.
They've got great control over towards steps.
They're just working the map perfectly.
As well for me.
Sionora needs to get a little more active in the early round.
Again, Dirk is sitting 0-7.
Come on, really faulted in the way he's getting shut down.
Another chance here, though, with an ultimate for Sionora.
I certainly see it considering the finances, but...
of the game. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
They are your key stakeholders
for vitality for sure. Let's see
that comes back to that same
discussion we had earlier.
Hey, Brexit happy to send one
or two people out. It's like.
We're fine with that. Yep. They
tend to have the odds on their
side. But from the not the way
they play, it works perfectly.
Good synergies there. As you
said, the fact that Durka has
not really gone off the
starting blocks. And I don't
even want to call it his
So you have to look at the others to maybe find a bit of space for them to play into and you have to be so diligent from the word go
Let's look where that intention is for paper X here an early show of force towards stairs
But clear of the utility that arcade where the majority of vitality reside
Ready though just out of aiming
Something will catch cyanora move free. Yeah, it's so free
for these guys. They aren't overly sticking towards sight, they're giving up just amount
of space, they want to play safe because they've got these three on the hunt. Again, the rhythm
that PaperX are getting in Mike is just perfect.
Can't well come through here. It certainly doesn't feel like a safe post.
And I'm off.
I'm sure to open things up here at a showstopper. No secrets about this on the way in.
Once again, Durka down. There's nothing he can do. He's getting no look into these
rounds. And also the follow-up chain is operating on a mad level! Perfect. You're not meant to get
to there, man. And now as you've started, I don't think one can do anything, so this round is
going to fizzle out, but pay for it to a little bit of a reminder, but overall everything coming up
perfectly for them. The flotality when I hit those sort of rounds on the bike needs to be a little
further commitment in my eyes. Do I have some ults? I'm going to set the cynaurus to consider.
Okay, Ashley pick up an operator here show stop it in the back pocket
There has to be more of a
Mentality approach of how to handle this paper x team and I know it's easy to say it's hard to do it
But it's not aligning now
This was hopefully what the timeout was for right because we have that timeout prior to them being on those lighter investments
And really paper x haven't changed too much here
There.
Again, even just showing their face forces Chronicle to rotate.
Now everybody over on the north side.
They're forced into a situation where they have to force the issue to arcade.
The flash is not enough to force them off these angles.
So if they were looking to commit further towards that, which fortunately if they're not,
but the tempo very changed.
having to cross the T's and dot the I's at such a early level and look at this
they're gonna hit this course they will three players ready
line up squad you're lucky to be breathing and he's had a couple of
good rounds but the tempo read from paper it's just something gorgeous to
witness.
Natality just left and tatters again.
Perfect 59 HP.
Some time on the clock, but.
Oh, 30 seconds left.
He doesn't need help.
He doesn't need any more help.
It feels good even when he got guns out.
It's three.
And again, Mike, that re-hit, that timing.
Yeah, I mean, it was great.
You can see here the question around the breach.
This is still 20 seconds left on the second stunt
to come through.
Hey, Prex.
I'm capitalising in that downtime where usually the breach would struggle, right?
It's the perfect recipe.
World Drills are committing early after utility in every single round.
Mr Mid-Round will he continue to excel?
Three rounds now, unanswered.
I'm trying to turn up, boys.
Starting to feel like you're getting battered here.
Divider's going down, but it's a trade-out.
Profek on the full-up, good spacing,
and it's simplistic in its stance and approach.
You gotta be careful with something, though.
Still around.
We'll just hear Yampi approaching towards site.
I guess something done here held in place
by this Molly for the time being.
3v4.
Lovely positioning to pressure Profek as well.
One of the players who has utility that could make this post-pond very, very comfortable.
He's going to actually invest it down on this side,
reading the majority of healers he's not wrong with,
but it just forces something forward.
They've cleared it.
And now by Tatioboxed in on the site,
it's Cron to bail him out slightly,
overtaking towards that CT space,
giving a little bit of a cubby for Sionora to play from.
Got to give this one up.
And then they've got a way back in here.
Sionora, I'm going to come forwards.
Checkmate.
Uh, okay.
Whoa! Not okay! Not okay!
No time left, but...
It's fine, but it's not fine at the same time.
It's a swishy line, isn't it?
There's an extra couple of rifles here that come in very handy.
I don't think it's going to have too much of an effect here, maybe some gaps.
I mean, I've already seen the Amp set up for a Guardian.
Light shields are plenty
They work still doing damage in a situation. They have no right to be in that is so scary
You just don't get to miss a bullet. You just don't
Jingle every angle basically the blip though, it's uh, that's the only one they can stabilize off
Look at the freedom on some of these orbs early.
Yeah, Northside pretty much.
I don't want to say clear because they haven't gone fully deep towards it,
but they've done the early work at least.
Foul to regroup tier towards three,
but Forsaken will sniff that out very quickly.
One of the seekers for him.
Lockdown and orbital strike here available.
That's a nice flash.
I think they can put a bit more faith that
on to north side so all eyes you see in here or any considerate of rotation yeah
it's just rather vitality get a lucky bit of timing
that kind of banking on site is going to be clear I don't know if that's even
a reach it does okay so Forsaken gonna be noted the rotations this time are
actually further away but Forsaken is not particularly deterred from going
forward still holding towards tower still went to fight on this space flash
Bit of force profit on the re-swing and these two are a bit of a battle now, fighting forward, takes a lot, but it doesn't least force the ulti to come down.
That's a decent amount invested and speaking of ulti everywhere, Jing on fire!
Absolutely tearing up a part, and he can even get another Yampi is just in the corner, desperate to stay alive.
Chronicle trying to hunt him down for sake exact, Chronicle got Jing, but the defuse has happened! Paper X, a cut above on this side.
But how's he's don't get a chance to breathe here in the post it just gets smothered by paper X once again
It's so chaotic. I mean, where do you back off to this is held by three players towards dream
Jean opens it up with a showstopper
follows up with a headshot
Ha
Breaking rounds to be losing
But I tell you just desperate to call their way back in yeah
I look at the round 12 bite.
The paper X have looked better.
There's only so many ways we can cut it here.
Vitality have done well to hold on to a respectable scoreline.
The way paper X are playing is just lovely to witness.
First time by Vitality,
a little bit more freedom to play out in a simplistic manner.
But quickly paper X are on the case.
The sign, all right, get away with this one even.
Envy's considering it.
He wants it, fancies it.
going for it. Playing safer, but here we go. Lockdown comes in, and something is escorting
out two players in the blink of an eye. Messi from Derker. You rarely see him, but you can
imagine the pressure he's under. Perfect. Trying to find a second to play with him.
It's not there for him, and a 1v3, a necessity to come out with five. Perfect. Up close.
personal and buried Paper X making it up to eight in what fell like almost ease.
Yeah uphill struggle here for Vitality there's only four rounds.
I mean they need to overcome the odds once more in this second half Paper X setting the tone
for pace to carry through here onto their attacking sideline this is a tough tough come back ahead of them.
Good job, man.
It's one thing to challenge and even win one map against PaperX.
another to win a series. These guys have capability. They have experience and they've been here before but at eight to four
Vitality looking like they're crumbling a little here on that three. Yeah, I mean still for me this series has been so
polarizing that there's a chance of Vitality can really put up a good fight here in the second half, but
very few positives
to pin any sort of faith to
I think that's it for me as well. It's the nature in which pay breaks dominate this opening half a fracture.
I don't think, you know, that they're put off the gas here.
See, already stacked up here to take this space towards Dish with Sionora and Chronicle potentially on the chopping line here.
Durkett currently seeing a 2-12, he's been through a hell of a half year, but has to come online now.
Mark of a good player to be able to pick it up after a very difficult situation.
What a stark contrast in approach already.
Paper X as 4, looking to crunch towards A.
There's the impotence of it.
So you know they're coming, and you're going to stop them vitality, because that's not worked.
And that's not what a timer! Paper X with the keys to the castle! They've got it all!
Death ball in here, paint show with a ramper.
I'm planted.
I'm going to convert. I'm going to plant either. I'm saving grace here for vitality initially.
And we've got to fight back in with a frenzy as well.
I don't expect anybody to be swinging out here from Payprex.
This one's coming.
All but wrapped up already.
And they're even re-fighting just to ensure it.
Perfect!
The Valiant Attempts go from start to end.
Payprex just perfected approach.
Not the worst it could possibly go for Cron and Sayonara.
A real chance of signing off a farm from inside this smoke.
She's just missing the first gear and what?
I didn't even notice for sake of the call.
Now what, otherwise, one of the initial players, but...
You need to fight back here.
Oh, where you are!
Karaoke later, I guess.
Yep.
Got a couple of days probably to chill now.
I mean, it's not even a light
investment. It's barely there.
Vitality. This is a rude
awakening, right? It's that you
get your hopes up on that too.
And you're brought back down to
reality.
Stack.
And a little bit of something
made.
Does it change the approach now?
I think that the space device
got. No.
But coming back.
Actually here, I mean, Chronicle is not even called back yet.
I'm exploring outside Dish, I'm just going to be for free, no resistance here.
Durka has got the upgrade though.
They're all in the timing.
Two kills, all he's sat on so far, make it three, perhaps four.
Okay, overall big round for the man.
They've got a fine forsaken and something though.
The last few players with some real power to them.
And the weaponry there, but Durka!
Finally, finding his footing.
There's something to break some hearts here.
Not on the spike yet.
Not able to get to business.
Still got a molly, but four bullets.
They'd have to be pretty much one for every single player.
And I think he knows he won't be able to get back to this
as the diffuse comes in.
Vitality!
All right, it's a thrifty.
We'll do more than that.
That'd be the catalyst for Durka.
Pines around here, flipping around to Vitality, a lifeline delivered for them.
Again, hey, Greg, this was totally free in terms of the plan.
There's one of those refights that didn't play out in their favour.
A couple more of those and I might be paying attention.
Now, this one you'd imagine they'd really need to convert.
We will be listening to Vitality.
They're coming for something that kept our attention during that regular run up to this point.
I wonder how that sounds now, because PRX doesn't matter the buy, they are always gonna be a problem.
Copy.
Copy, alt.
Alt, maybe.
Yeah, alt, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop.
Copy, copy.
Yes, one more.
Copy, man.
Broke, broke, broke, broke.
Arch.
Car, one more, please.
Don't push, don't push, don't push.
Hey, push, push, push.
1HP, killjoy.
All pink over there.
Could be CT.
Yep.
Yeah, I can see you.
I reloaded in close here.
Kill time 1, I speed.
They have no smokes though, they have no smokes.
Nice kill.
So I hookshot back here though.
One having a big performance here, the other trying to rebuild.
Denied on the first attempt, still has paint shop.
Right, right, right.
This is a pancake fruit.
It takes a lick of damage, though.
And something gets to reposition.
He's got the time on his side.
Tarka, getting closer.
And something posted.
This has to be perfect for the man.
Something really misses!
Magic for the man and Paper X pushing up to 10
Another for the heartbreaker telly here
Paper X respond immediately
It's just you can hear it as well just how caught of guard they are in the comms so confused baffled by what's going on
And you've got to chop that one up as a tilt, a timeout to follow that immediately.
Maybe just want to cast their breath, honestly.
X is one of those rounds that feels like it could have been a ladder-building moment for them to get the scoreline feeling a bit better.
But I don't think they need reminders of what PaperX can do, regardless of the buy.
But if anything, it should be a stark recollection of what we've seen when PaperX are at their strength.
So timeout for Vitality, and they've got a problem solved quickly.
It feels like a trying to get Dirk on line here, but it's not necessarily as much as you'd need and on the other side
Just about everyone is on point
Dirk are sitting in the operator here
Not necessarily an answer here in terms of the pacing
Coinbase wind condition for vitality certainly going to be pinned around that
in the by
up in the air
See we'll be a force to come through but it's chronic when yamping
Left scraping together what they've got.
Perfect, Durka, decent progress already towards this first ult cycle.
And the other side is forsaken with the Seekers.
Divide just too off a lockdown.
Inflammable.
Influential.
The Killjoy ult can be on the attacking side.
It's not quite a cool...
I'm probably the only one who's still...
Where are the bunters I saw?
You kind of know it's coming, right?
How do you stop it?
Yes, apparently! What? How are they helping the group?
How is one still controlling this corner?
He's finally blind though, finally falls, but they made something out of it!
Divine forsaken, but after the challenge and...
He's caught off guard in sport again!
I thought he was on for something and actually the Seek is providing full information
where these two final players are, playing with confidence and diligence, paper X and
fall control, mistakes being made by vitality and players making mistakes that you don't
expect to be seeing, fumbling in that.
Cycle the operator away as well.
Good shout, Yampy's only on the sheriff.
Get the ult here, Yampy actually missing, upgrade, could be crucial.
They've split for this, maybe indicate both playing back through the side of a shallow
prowler to try and...
Got the capridge though.
I'm going to find Divy, but it's going to be a point that's much forsaken, and Sayonara,
you just hoping they're not re-peaking?
I guess you are.
Okay.
Top of the spike, no reaction.
They've already repositioned.
Sayonara is really hoping they're going to swing this like normal.
Get out of the battle, Sayonara!
1v1, you've got time against you though!
Very little left, DeVy getting closer.
Ooh, good.
Don't make this happen right about...
No, DeVy!
DeVy's it again and paperwrecks!
Making Vitality look lost!
Another situation to get it.
It's the information being relayed.
Maybe not quick enough, maybe just missed in the comms, but paperwrecks.
Flipping this round on its head.
You know he's got it. Yeah. Yeah. If he wasn't tilted before, that's the one that does it.
No, he's been outdone. Well, 11 to 5. You're talking about PaperX, fair enough. Can they
recover anything? A little bit of dignity at the end of the game, perhaps. As PaperX
are looking to just go on a victory lap, it feels like the way they are informed right
right now is just magic to watch, jing, straight on in, no fear, that's what you're seeing
is zero fear from Paper X.
Sorry, I know I hear it.
Bulldog in hand, by watching for the rotation will catch him.
You need stuff jing to double down.
Showstopper here for Durka, but you don't want to send this in without something.
They've got nothing.
They've got nothing to work with.
No gateway in, no confidence, no un-standing, Durka, you can back away maybe, that's the
best you're going to get, maybe catch them all the way out, and that's all it will be.
Paper X, just a cut above the rest here, 12-5, full domination.
Old to be here, full vitality, Durka considering an operator, but again you just want to see
go forwards. Unfortunately in terms of the timing, in terms of the expectation of some of these rounds,
I don't think the understanding is there for them to really feel confident about that.
Only missing Yampies. On the other side, everything but the Seekers for Payprex to
convert here, close out the series. Old Scott, gonna find one but Jin's on your heels. Run,
If you can, well, Durka can be able to hide.
Profec does find Qing.
Durka finds nothing, however, on the other side.
The vine.
Closer, he's found room to work.
He's in sport again.
Gossie is!
I told you, they don't care who you are.
They are finding fights.
They get that spike on the site now, Durka.
This could be magic for the man, he needs it.
Big work, doesn't outstay his welcome either.
Paint shell good, but something repositioning.
Durka does it!
There he is! Little spark of that magic!
He'll need a whole lot more though.
Yeah, 4 left standing, a chance to maybe offset a couple more purchases but there's no margin for error.
Nice little camera over the top.
Showstopper investment here, change is desperate to find the opener.
The opener well handled, a battalty across the board, but look what it cost, off kilter
with all of their ults.
Still an upper hand here for paperex.
Did you think they were going to slow down?
Red flag to the ball, but Profek!
And a catch towards Jake!
An hour on the corner, gets handled, control of put to bed, something divide powering forward.
A site looking like it's theirs.
The lock down here for the guy as well, he can be a real nuisance.
Getting ahead of this, something will find back who is well.
This could be it.
It looks like it just might be yamping in Chronicle to try and step bravely forward
but divide, removing Olivia and all to the captain, the ball and
Bear has a new silhouette here in London and it's paper X.
These boys look so much better.
It's a fair show to say usually control things up as an easy loss to Bayfrux but
brutality here the researchers in map 2 certainly are positive.
Unfortunately, hacking a little bit here in the side of a myosary profit I'm going to
stand out performance here individually.
But, yeah, Amidurka and Sionora,
they're the ones that really you need to deliver here
on this factor, it tells you the approach from Paper X.
And I feel like it's one of those things
you only learn how to deal with Paper X
by playing against them in these environments,
and it's never easy.
That's it, it's why they are so damn good,
and still the team to be here in my mind.
Yes, split, looked out of sorts,
But beyond that, it was exceptionally clean.
Really was vitality.
Again, you can come away from this series
and say you have a lot to work on or chalk it up to.
What do we do differently next time?
It's certainly, for me, split display to remember from them.
Hey, Brex.
On top today, locking champions here with this victory.
Massive for them, bigger picture, obviously.
Champions now in the sights for them.
Well, there you go, I've got a couple more games to play here too.
However, you want to hear from the players,
so let's send it to Frankie down the stage,
who's standing by with Indy for the Rise of the Post match interview.
Alright then, let me find my target, Indy,
the newest member of PaperX.
I'm going to grab him right now.
There's so many fans who want to meet him,
but Indy, I'd love to chat to you if that's okay.
How are you feeling?
I feel really good.
Yeah, you've got to feel good.
top three, you made it to top two in Santiago. How would you compare the form of Paper X
right now to that last event?
I think we're a lot more prepared. We've warmed up. I think in Santiago we were just
warming up as a team and now we, I think we've found our form and our identity as a team
so we're going to keep going forward with this.
I mean you went so forward, pressing W on breeze 13-3, an incredible map. We've split,
Vitality decided on their attack side to hold back.
Why do you think you weren't able to get the better of them there?
I think in split, we kind of just didn't play as a team.
We were also not playing our own game.
We were a bit hesitant.
We were making a lot of not really good decisions.
And coming into fracture, we kind of just had
like a Goldfish memory and we just reset
and play their own game like we usually do.
I've heard about this Gold Fridge memory
that you guys like to employ.
I just want to ask you another question though,
because Wendler, your assistant coach is just over there.
What kind of structure has he been bringing into the team?
Because I think we're seeing a lot of it on stage here.
I think Wendler brings a lot like his anti strats,
all of the prep against enemy teams.
He's been doing really well with the anti strats thing
and also like guiding us with like team work
and all the fundamentals.
So it's very nice.
All right, Vin Vin, you played very nice today.
No more goldfish memory though,
because I think you can see yourself raising the trophy
on that stage.
Thank you so much.
Congratulations.
Go meet the fans.
And for you guys, we'll see you back at this stage tomorrow.
Oh, boy, Paper Rex managed to pick up the win.
And we're joined now by one of my favorite players.
It's for sake in here, brother.
Good to see you, man.
Congratulations on the victory.
Want to get some quick thoughts on this Vitality roster?
Obviously, that map, too, you know,
took you guys to the challenge there.
What do you think of the team and coming out of it?
How do you feel about your team now?
Yeah, I mean, I think overall,
I think I feel really great about the results.
We've been against faculty to one,
but I'm not really happy about the second map
because I think we should have won,
but our energy, everything is just went wrong.
Was that what is?
Was it just like a feeling issue,
or was it something in the server?
I think more like our energy, I would say like it's not like same like first mate. Yeah. Oh, I think yeah
So you just need the crowd to cheer more. Yeah, I need the crowd to cheer more, you know
You guys say that you gotta cheer more, but we're shaking and the boys in paper X. Come on guys
There you go. Step it up. Step it up. Give way no. No, of course though
Yeah, I mean you're making top three a lot of people have come into this tournament kind of
coordinating you guys as the heavy favorites do you feel that as well or
you just don't really care for me I don't really care I just want to enjoy
playing with my team yeah my boys yeah yeah that's right do you think this is
the best form that you guys have been in I would say right now I'm confident
confident say I think we're in the best form right now yeah so you're winning in
the trophy yeah where do you guys where do you see the potential set
Back's probably emerging right because you talked about the mood and the atmosphere and the feeling in that game
Not really being where you wanted to in that too
So how do you ensure that you guys don't get into that rut again?
Especially as the competition gets even harder from here on out
Yeah, I mean for us we realize because we play like a lot of in
International yeah for us if you're like didn't really think about it like didn't really think about trophy
We just play like from the bottom, you know like we play like from lower bracket
We make sure like we have that feeling you know like yeah, we're like hungry all the time
You know yeah, even though like last time maybe we need a little bit but somehow we like can't bounce back
You know so yeah, we will have that mindset at the time I think yeah, I believe it
You're playing sky of fracture, which is new who's that there was that do you enjoy it?
It was my idea because I'm not sure about neon anymore on that map. I kind of like
Struggling on the opinion so I decided to change the how many agents is that now bro
How do you know?
This is what I play, Mix, right?
We've heard about your accent from in the league.
I was about to play it, what?
I don't know, like, I asked Wender and Alex, like, just let me play it, bro.
I think we're gonna like this.
No.
I'm like, confident.
I can rate them with this 80, you know?
You feel it?
You feel it?
This guy.
It's not happening, you know?
Unbelievable.
Did it surprise you just the amount of PaperX fans that are out here in London?
Because it genuinely blows my mind seeing the sea of blue jerseys out here and the folks supporting you.
I think it was crazy that a lot of fans cheering us here.
I didn't really expect that a lot of people cheering us.
But I'm really grateful, you know,
that they come to watch our match and have fun.
Yeah.
That's awesome, brother.
Hey, lots of cheer for you guys.
We're easily cheerable team and congratulations on the win
again as well.
Let's take a look though at the bracket.
See where we are because we've got six squads and tomorrow
we're unfortunately going to lose two more.
So your matches are going to be first up is important to know
your first match will be XLG versus Leviathan,
and then Vitality goes up against Foot in a regional battle.
Oh man, that's gonna be a rough one for Sake,
can give us some predictions, my man.
Who do you think's winning match one and two?
Oh, for me, on XLG left,
I think it's gonna be a bit tough on left,
because since they're like new in international,
I think they're like first in the special,
and then there's this squad, yeah.
They have a lot of young people,
So I think for me, I think XLG.
Oh, I like that.
Maybe 2-1 XLG, because I think they're really experienced.
Yeah, yeah.
What about for the EMEA battle?
You just play Vitality.
You know about foot thoughts?
This is going to be tough, because for me,
I think foot, I can see that they're a little bit like us.
And I think they're really sharp in terms of like individual play.
Especially Jute and Sob.
I think they're really shine.
But for me, I think it's more like experience, more I think we'll get the game.
So I think that's what about EDG paper X.
It's going to be in the same match.
I would say because EDG, you know, have tanked.
He has a lot of aura blow.
It's like since last time, their team is like that guys.
I am saying I get starstruck by him still.
Do you ever get? No, it's what you don't know.
You just see him still like just conquer.
He sees this match as just an obstacle.
I mean, I really like KangTang.
I think KangTang and Smoke, I think KangTang, for me,
even though they're down and stuff,
but KangTang and still have the energy.
They're all about to bounce back.
So I think for me, I mean, I'm really
going to be the beat of my team, but it's still, for me,
I didn't expect anything.
So I just want to enjoy the match now with EDG.
Next.
Brother, let me tell you, we're going to enjoy that match.
It's going to be fun.
I think one of you guys, he's going to be a good one, right?
We got a small group here.
All right, I respect it. All right. Love to see it folks.
So that is going to do it for us here today.
Congratulations to Paper X. They make top three here at Masters London.
And we, of course, are going to catch you tomorrow.
Big matchups. You don't want to miss it. We're sending two teams home.
Who's it going to be? Only one way to find out.
Tune in. We'll see you then.
One, two, three, four.
I
He took the kill, he's burning along!
He's not safe!
I
I
I said passive, the race is over, we are back, finish, I said passive, finish, finish, finish.
Look into my eyes.
P-9, Hamdi, Stanker, Dando
Robot blame on the G to the G to the robot blame on the G to the N