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No matter where you know I'll protect you
Come on, meet me here when there's
a great anyone in the bottom line
I
It's easy when we try to move to a world where there could be nothing, maybe something
Keep your eyes on me, keep your eyes on me, keep your eyes on me, keep your eyes on me
And in time, you broke a butterfly
Your purpose, what you keep is secret
Let me come inside
When you run, you run again
But you could never find it
You can't bump into it when you're on it
If you give me a piece of your heart
It's easy when we are apart
If you want to take a deep breath
Maybe it's something
That you can trust me
To you
Give me a piece of your heart
You keep easy when we are
apart of two worlds
I
I hate it, can't play with my day now
Get that negativity out of my face now
In my city, I'm the man on my stage now
Yeah, I'm livin' life to the fullest
Baby girl, you talkin' to the brillies
Energy and joy, you can't steal it
Glove flies all the way
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
You
Hey, like hey, yeah, doing money fast, like hey.
You're my footer on the gas, like hey.
Young Rite, back again, don't know we going as a friend.
Getting these shows got a pack of me.
I'm in it, I'm gonna get back again.
These guys are going, bring on bad, it's fine.
We can take it to the back of beans.
Do it like you with the TV.
Camera on you like a backup, baby.
Shaking it for me, I'm loving the model, it's crazy.
You bad, yeah, I'm cool.
Cause you know I'm doing nothing in the throat
That's how the money was good
So come on with me and she got 24 on the Y
You don't know that's a lie
But she want us where I bought up
If I wanted I'mma get it
I just told you where I live
I got many plenty women
They don't want to ride even in the city
And now I'm so up in the ass
For money I'm made off the back
High end with the fat
She ain't outgoin' me
Fast, fast, got no money fast like me
Yeah, I'ma put up on it, yeah, it's like it
You're nothing, bring it back, like it
Yeah, I'm a needle, got the pad, like it
Yeah, like it
Yeah, like it
Yeah, I'ma go and run it fast, like it
Yeah, I'ma put up on it, yeah, it's like it
Well, leave it back in my check, whoa
BGS all on my neck, whoa
We talking about a mistake every blown on gas and I'm not as a Jedi
We talking free, no air, yeah
Break on body long hair, yeah
Everything a dude will wear, yeah
Came by one knee, bitch, yeah
I'm paid, I get paid now
I was in the streets and I ain't never do no playground
I just kept it real, stick with money, then I stay now
Man-
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
You
Let's take it up a notch
Let's take it up a notch
One time for your mind, get rockin'
One time for your mind, we poppin'
One time for your mind, no maybes
Just guess, you'll release the stress
Anybody's to be, we rhyme
Gettin' down on the mic, no crime
Hip hop, everybody know it's time
Yeah, it's gonna rock like this
Hey!
Hi Tom!
Our butter was looking for you by the way.
Really?
Yeah, you better get that quick.
Okay, I'll go check.
Hey!
Hi Tom!
Uh, Alberto was looking for you by the way.
Really?
Yeah, you better get that quick.
Okay, I'll go check.
Have a break.
Have a KitKat.
Tom, base.
You've had your fun.
Tom Bates.
You've had your fun.
It's my turn.
At Calming Cork, we demand the best.
This is what backs us up.
The Razor Iskrow V2 New Gym.
and more. Scan to subscribe.
I need to keep you around
Stay tight
Stay tight, tight to the ground
You don't know where to be found
I don't know why
You don't leave me alone
Don't know what to do unless you say
Don't know what to do unless you say
We are taking, we are taking, we are taking
Why do you feel my way?
You know my life is kicking away
It's kicking away, I'm gonna let you go
You know my life is kicking away
It's kicking away, I'm gonna let you go
That's it, when you lose, lose, either way you better
Got an attitude, I'm out the roof up in the air
It's fun, I make it count, yeah, I'm talking right now
I feel like a punk, that kid done a tiny spare
No, the looks go on, 23, 24
You know I win a lot, gotta win one more
On the high street, never gets old
Fold it with the ace, and my team won't go
I am not playing you with time
As it's ticking away, it's ticking away
I'll give it one more try
I don't know why
But I keep coming back every time
I want it born in my life
I don't know why
It feels so wrong to me
Why am I playing with fire?
Let's just take it away
Let's take it away
Let's go back
Let's go back
It's not a second away
Let's just take it away
Let's go back
the last day of stage one here
our champion and first seed heading into Masters London.
I'm your host, Ginny, and I'm joined by Fukuoka Astro and Felices.
This is going to be an incredible finals, Fukuoka.
I'm excited.
I'm going to have the fans behind us. Let's get to it.
I was going to say, you introduced us, but you forgot that we have a full house today.
It is an absolute pleasure to have you here.
And of course, we have any very intense final I predict ahead of us.
How about you guys?
I'm doing good. Thanks. I'm so excited for this final.
It's gonna be a good final. I hope that we're gonna use the fifth map
I mean, it's not gonna be the same three and all three one. I don't want I just want a great final
They they serve it. We're gonna go home late. You want to go OT all the way to five math
Yes, I like that gotta keep that energy up starting things off today though
However, we're gonna be looking at what Emiya does best and that is celebrating the wins with the entirety of our community
So let's have a look at our two
Oh my god, they've done it.
Oh my god, they've done it!
Holy sh**, they've done it, you guys!
Oh my god, shout out to my team!
That means I'm going to London!
Shout out to my team!
Hoping everyone.
HP.
Stick bullets.
Oh man, what a crazy game this was.
Aerotix.
Aerotix, I think it's in London.
Ooh, Benji's gonna be in London also for him, man.
He's in London!
He's in London!
Oh
I mean, I think that we can all agree the foot cleared the rest.
I think that the celebrations that we saw, especially in such intense games that we've been having going to the third map over times and whatnot.
So a lot to celebrate at this playoff.
And what would you be able to do without some tech issues?
Even the confetti doesn't want to go off properly.
Like, all right, but those were our co streamers.
You guys are here representing your regional broadcast as well.
So I'm going to start off with you.
representing your regional broadcast as well. So Appo, I'm going to start off with you. What
your favorite moment was in that French broadcast? I think you can all guess it. It was the moment
where Jean-Piedre just broke down in tears while they won against Fnatic. It was absolutely
amazing to see this because if you just take a step back about what happened to Vitality,
it was a difficult start for them at the beginning of the Stage 1. And after that,
they completely transformed during the playoff and they destroyed everyone. So yeah, it was
was so overwhelming.
Tastes of happiness made you happy,
and that's your favorite one.
I think it's absolutely fair.
The emotions have been so high here in EMEA.
But of course, heretics also qualify through Lee.
You have that Spanish broadcast, so what was your favorite?
There is plenty of moments I could pick,
but it's easier to just pick one player instead of playing
every single one of the games.
I'm not going to lie.
If I have to choose only one, it will be the moment
that is crucial and the differential
to qualify to Master London and it is only one person that couldn't do it.
He's always the same, he's always the same hero, he's always wearing his cloak and we
have to talk about Rience and this is the play where Rience did it.
Riems, again, do it.
He was the captain, even though they never gave him the title.
He opens up with everything and puts the 3K.
I tell you, I want to sing it.
They stay in a 3-pointer.
The American advantage has it.
He fails in the fourth corner, puts the first to the bow.
The important duel puts Riems.
I put him in 4K, 4K, 4K, 4K, 4K.
Hand to hand against Crassies.
The important duel is Sassow and...
Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Absolutely iconic from that moment of Rias, but also the casting that was insane 10 out of 10. Thank you so much
Love the energy you guys better bring that today as well. We will we will we will report it
Okay, what I'll just not promise. I hope we get to hear that I'm about to say don't as well
In week one however as well you cooked up something very special with the teams that we have competing here today
But the teams of the MIA in general in terms of who they wanted or thought was going to go to that global
Yeah, so as you're saying, during week one, I approached every single one of the teams and I asked them,
hey, what do you think are going to be the three teams making it to Masters London, and also to give me a dark horse?
Funny enough, most of the teams, as you can see, voted vitality to make it, and obviously fanatic as the second one.
We saw some guesses also for BBL.
There was only one team that predicted team inheritance to make it, and that was themselves.
I mean, it's funny enough, you see that Navia has zero votes, they didn't even vote for themselves, it's just a bit sad, but also you can see the same for foots, many teams, in fact they are the most selected for that dark course, but only themselves thought that they were going to make it easily.
Moral of the story, back yourself, and that's how you get to the top.
I'm probably wrong.
Exactly.
Perennix is going to be here today, but it's going to be in London as well, but we're all excited and ready to go here. I just want to check with Nat, who's standing right across the room. How's her leg feeling?
feeling. It is feeling so exciting right now. There's a lot of people filling out the fan zone. I know
you can see them behind me here as well. I'm also got a lot of people in the crowd. There's like two
teens playing right. So I want to see who's here for vitality. Pretty decent. What about heretics?
Yeah, they were crowd favorites yesterday.
They're crowd favorites again today.
But let's have a look back on our last two days
that we've had for our finals weekend.
It is our penultimate day for stage number one.
Which one of these teams will take up
the final ticket to go to London?
All right, it's a little bit of an awkward battle again
to start off the Cyanar.
And as always, the Cyanar showing the answer on point.
Esmer's slightly more blitz in the energy that just found one through this moment than a second back to each of us.
Whoa!
Energy to get through the energy!
Got a fire! Oh, it's neck heat all day!
Do you want to give him the ace?
Oh!
He's got it!
To seal the gear on a 9-3 yard!
No!
You guys need to get off of this f***ing pit.
I do not own metal as f***ing idiots win this game.
I'm f***ing stupid!
Go out there and f***ing win!
Yeah, I thought amazing. Thank you to the crowd, thank you. We put everything that we
the kids, um, who's this? And the armadillos.
Yeah, well, well.
Sorry to be dumb, sir, but we haven't had the chance.
You don't believe? He will yet join you on the race for the second and the third?
Oh my god! You're gonna get it again!
This is not real! This is not real!
For all boys and a bitchy, too fairy!
The interJ is a cut above the rest!
73.
How is it?
It's cosmetic.
It's cosmetic!
Stop it!
Did you know?
Not unless you stand up and f**k down what you do with it!
I should get you shot in one day, and you still live and fall!
Hell, the money's in the bank!
Oh my god.
This is shit, but you can't get to kill the ball team.
We've got another one!
They can't stop him!
Look at him!
Simple stop heretics again!
Zeus turns tension, looks towards the outside of the wall!
And there it is!
Simple stop for team heretics!
They made this look all too easy!
returning from Santiago with yet again no trophy the MEA stage one became ground
zero of another trial to foster the greatest our region has to offer 12
teams competed in the regular season but after heartbreak upset and glory only
eight advanced to playoffs bring with it the pressure that would either shape our
diamond in the rough or crumble the entire kingdom. What's a journey for team vitality?
From a hopeless group stage to making a new run and a complete different potential
now that we've hit the playoffs. We really are seeing all these players hit their true potential
and honestly it's crazy what happens when you stick to the plan.
And for the side of team Heritics, long were the days EMEA waited for Heritics back to the
in 2024 form and after a disastrous kickoff,
Los Niños has started stage one on an O2 deficit.
Know how big decisions is what we wanted from them
and Coach Maras was happy to spearhead that movement.
Over 550 rounds so far in the most challenging playoffs
that takes them to this grand finals
that could change everything for them
and maybe give them their first EMEA title.
They really went through that lower bracket round.
to keep things interesting.
Vitality, however, I don't say cruising through the upper bracket, but, you know, they didn't drop a match.
It didn't go through the lower.
Like I said, I feel as though we're finally getting to see that full potential of the roster,
that we were kind of promised at the very start of the year.
I think it's great to see them finally be able to hit that peak,
but I think that they have summarized it so well, too, when we think about Team Heretics' journey
that they've had through this lower bracket.
It has been crucial for them to be able to get to this point.
They dropped down on the first day.
first day yeah and we've had a lot of male biters three mappers series very
exciting playoffs especially for what we are as as EMEA and especially that
last week I feel like it was all to us we thought that maybe everybody was too
tired but the resilience that we've been seeing for the side of vitality also
going up against teams like liquid and fanatic to secure their spot
absolutely brilliant honestly it wouldn't have been EMEA without the
upsets without the heartbreak without the whole incredible storylines that we're
seeing unfold here today on the stage but a quick reminder for those of you
at home as well later today there is going to be a draw show hosted by I love draw shows I wish I
could do all of them. I will do it properly I promise you. Got a hold of it I promise. But either way
in terms of the expectations for today I mean the crowd has been for stage two sorry for stage two
of course the teams had their two teams playing today but everybody else including them want to
know what they're going to be doing for stage two. I think everybody wants to know what they're doing
I'm just going to touch upon just the energy and also the path that both of these teams have gone to.
Of course, both of them have had hardships at the start of this stage, so it's insane to see them turn everything around, especially for vitality, so quickly to come out on top.
Yeah. I think that I said on a desk previously, I think that we can really clearly see that the coaching staff had a stern word with the group to be able to turn things around.
Let's not forget, they got to playoffs because of Eternal Fire granting them that spot here in playoffs.
the team. I mean, it's a
lot easier in playoffs as much
as playoffs did look easier for
them this time around. I think
that you can really see that
the players have sort of bought
into that system that the
coaching staff wanted to
implement and that young. He's
I jelling as well, of course.
Yeah, I mean, the plan works.
That's that's all that. That's
going to be like a generational
quote. But for her, it excited
things as well like the
turbulence that they had in
this, which where you're bringing
that new player on that second
week. You have to change
everything around. I mean, we
They are here and there are so many crazy things that we've seen from players like Koshmara's the Odin and whatnot
We love to see that this honeymoon period for heretics is renewable
Exactly, and that's all from us over here
We have not standing by with an interview earlier today with Benji to see how everything is going at the heretics camp
Benji you guys have been going through the lower bracket gauntlet is this
Keach you guys powering up and is there still so much more to come in this grand final?
you know, we've gone so far now, I think it's kind of just one more one more step for us. Um, we're
gonna give everything that we've got left and yeah, I don't see us slowing down. What do you think is
the key in beating the second place curse for you guys today? Um, I think it's not believing that a
second place curse. I think, you know, we've learned a lot from getting second place before, and I hope
I hope we'll use those experiences today to lead us to a win every day. I love seeing the energy that you bring
Is it going to be extra today? Is it going to somehow hit an 11 even though we've been seeing 10 time and time again?
Um, I'll just give everything I have. I'll make sure by the end of the day. I've got nothing left
So yeah, I'm gonna give 110%
Good luck today. Thank you so much for joining me. Thank you
110% that's what we're being promised from Benji
But that's honestly what I want to see from everybody in the venue today.
Not just the players, not just the coaches, not just us, but also the fans.
Like everyone needs to turn it up because this is such an important moment of the stage.
Yeah, for sure. I think that we had Boo and Boo on the post-fant yesterday.
Really appreciative of having the fans here.
And just, yeah, I think it's a real moment of celebration as well,
especially when we consider the changes going into next year.
Who knows if we'll be back in Berlin?
Who knows if we'll have a stage-long finals ever again?
It's like a moment of celebration for all of the MA, I feel.
because of course at the end of stage two we will be going to Barcelona so we need to appreciate this moment at this stage and the stakes that we have here today for both of them for both of the teams it would mean so much as I was saying before for heretics
he became so close to securing a title in 2024 so many times but it was never there so yes okay they called the EWC but here back at home they still need to lift this trophy and whatnot and prove that they can do it back at home
but for the side of Vitality, I think that you put it perfectly, Billy.
This year already has been so complicated.
And if we look at the history of most of the players,
including the promise of Sayonara here,
that everybody was expecting coming into this year,
Vitality so much that they decided to play with it
with the sub for the beginning of the year,
being like, we are so sure that this is the right bet
we put all of our eggs in this basket.
Yeah, now it has to pay off, right?
Because you are in this final, you have a chance to lift the trophy
for these organizations for the first time,
regardless of how close they have gotten in the past.
But Heretic specifically is what I would like to start focusing on here,
because as we already touched upon, they may came through that lower bracket.
They wanted to make things complicated, or they wanted to get the reps in.
I don't really know what it was, but it gave us entertainment.
And especially when we're looking at individual players,
Kushmaras here has been phenomenal.
We've seen the judge, we've seen the Odin.
It really feels like Kushmaras can do everything for Team Heretics.
And what I was saying about the honeymoon period,
I think it's important for heretics and for any team.
That is something that you pray that you're going to get when you form a new team or when you get a new player.
That things are going to work out this way because the situation for team heretics was a bit disastrous.
Like the Kekob was incredibly underwhelming and Kushmaras has brought them a different light onto them.
I love the fact that he enhances the possibilities for every single one of the other players.
I'm seeing a woods that I had not seen since Shanghai in 2024
and that is the scary prospect for anybody that goes up against them.
And I know that the neon nerve is coming and whatnot,
but I honestly feel that this will be the next year for him,
and I want to see how he faces this.
Until then, keep exploring it. Keep abusing it.
No, but seriously, something that we need to take into consideration
when we think about Kush Mara says he was playing in tier three just six months ago,
playing in Beacons, which is crazy.
Now he's here on the stage, going to his first global event as well.
I think being able to get that experience in such a short amount of time,
all of the things that you've mentioned as well, Bea, about how he slots in so well to this roster,
it's crazy to think that we're seeing a heretics that might honestly top the 2024
heretics that we saw. Yeah, because when we speak about expectations and the vitality roster
for the side of Kush Mara, Boo, we had him also given us some words on like how he decided that
that is the players that they wanted to go to go with, because it is very surprising to have such
a high peak in such a short amount of time and having this type of performance. Yeah, when we're
And when we look at Heretics, of course, Krishmaras is someone that we're praising and highlighting.
And he's had his moment yesterday, he was very nonchalant about it, he's like, you just got to trust yourself.
And that goes back to Heretics, actually picking themselves as well for the teams that are going to be going to that global.
They're the only ones who back themselves, they trusted themselves.
And when we're looking at how that's played out for the entirety of the roster, yes, of course, we can talk about Krishmaras and how well he's been doing.
But Rienz has also had incredible moments. Every single one of Benji2, whoot, whoot, you.
there's not a single player on this roster that hasn't had a pop-up where you're like,
okay, yeah, like I can just sit back. I mean, it's not that the players sit back and relax, but
in theory, one or two players could make that difference. Yeah, I agree. This is why I'm comparing
like this team heretics roster to the 2024 one, because it quite literally feels like we are going
to potentially see their peak if they win the trophy today. That will be the most success, I guess,
regionally that they've been able to find. Especially after all the time that they've been grinding
in this playoffs. Initially, it looks like for us, it's been two weeks, but heretics have been
coming here every single day. They've been more in this place than I've been for the past two weeks.
They've played enough ballers for the year. They're like, yeah, yeah, yeah, but it's coming down to
like getting those reps in and just having fought and having that tenacity and having that resilience
is really impressive to be able to see a team do all of that and keep moving through that in terms
of what they're able to do. But as much as we're highlighting Koshmara's and as much as we're
highlighting heretics here, Koshmara is not the only player that has been playing out of his mind
because on the opposite camp in Vitality, Sayonara has been looking absolutely unstoppable.
Vitality decided to pick up the prodigy that is Sayonara despite the fact that he wasn't old
enough to play until stage one. Despite the high expectations, despite the difference in roles,
and despite the fact he's only just turned 18, this guy has been delivering the time and time
again and is currently the best player in my opinion in EMEA. Here I want to highlight some
some of his decision making his utility. Here we see him on the Sova, he sees his smoke,
he calls for Yamke's KO flash to combo in with a recon, and this supports his teammate
able to get a clean frag straight through the smoke there. In the advantage he pulls
back, plays with discipline, and then is able to use the advantage in the retake. All these
micro decisions here, little shock back there for some damage, peek here, great kill. Here
he could have confirmed the kill, instead uses his shock back for a safe kill, and here
just an aim display to finish out. And one thing to look out for today is his
drones. He's really good at reacting to information around the map. As soon as
Vitality lose space, he's going to be droning out space for his players at
Chronicle and Dirk to take that. And here the other really cool thing. He's got
Hunter's Fury here, is able to pull back into the deep under spawn, knows that
this is a win condition for the round and gets a reaction here off of the
chamber and is able to help his teammates here with some support if you
The thing that I love though is that he's not just on the supportive agents.
He's also on the entry here on the right, you see a clean double-satchel up, a nice little entry frag here.
And he's also on the Phoenix. He's able to use his decision-making utile, of course, but it's also his fragging mechanics.
And in all these clips, it's only like one, two or three Ks. It's no like big four Ks or five Ks.
And to me that is a great sign of a great player. He's getting impact in every single one of these rounds and it's putting up massive numbers.
I think that his consistency in both decision-making and mechanics is out of this world right now.
And here in the stats we can see in each of the rows he's doing the entry and the fragging on the
Jules, he's doing the supportive stuff on the server and the anchoring and bunkering on the
Vibra. He's able to do everything that Vitality needs right now which is super impressive for Rookie.
I think today Sianar should be feeling good going into this Grand Finals and let's see how Yampy
fills today too for his chances and vitalities.
Yeah, I mean, we are feeling great, you know,
it couldn't be better than asking for a grand final.
Hopefully there's going to be a big crowd today.
You know, it's been a really up and down stage once for us so far.
And yeah, it couldn't be a better ending than playing in the final day of the stage one.
Is it almost relief that you're living up to this expectation
people have of you guys being a super team?
I don't know if I would call it a relief. I'm just super proud of everyone because I think even when we were having tough times we had the potential.
Sometimes we're playing really good maps and then just absolutely trolling.
So I'm just happy that we got our stuff together, you know, that we're actually playing still to a certain level that we are capable, especially on the stage.
And what do you make of these heretics being able to do their little bracket run and meeting you guys in the grand finals?
Yeah, I'm actually super excited about the players' heretics. I know they haven't won, I think they have so many second places, so I know they want this trophy a lot.
But I'm definitely surprised by them. If I'm honest, I didn't expect them to do that big lower bracket run. But yeah, they've been improving week by week, just like us in my opinion.
They were 0-2 at the start of stage 1 and they got their stuff together also. So it's kind of two teams who have been just growing up together, so it should be an exciting one for sure.
So, thank you so much for being here.
Good luck today.
Thank you so much.
It should be an exciting one today.
For sure, because this is the finals.
And I already had the Spanish caster
and also Afo mentioning that we want this to go all the way
to five maps.
We want this all the way to OT.
So, are we agreeing with that statement?
You agreed, but are you on predictions or not?
No, I just want to actually see the map.
No, no.
Are you going into predictions territory at least?
I'd like to see the map, but in terms of the excitement
in terms of how long we want this to carry out.
I do think if it would only be a 3-0,
it would be like, that is exciting.
It's also, I feel, kind of bad for Heretics
because we have to consider the amount of rosters
that they've been playing.
If they have the stamina to be able to play out five maps,
fair play to them.
If they can close out and it goes all the way to five maps
and they win, then they're winning London.
Was that what Leeds did during kickoff?
Like, back to back.
Like, they've lost to BBL
and then they went on to win.
Yeah, they went through every single.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of valor at the beginning of this, yeah.
Is that a good Thorepsin, right, Mini?
Yeah, I think that this will be one of the most impressive final wins
if Heretic's able to do it, not only because of that lower bracket run,
but also the map veto today.
I tell that you obviously get the two map ban,
and I think that it's in matchup form,
like Heretic's get a lot of maps that they don't want to play, I think, today.
So I think that, honestly, I'll be super impressive if Heretic's able to close this one out.
What are looking at what would be the advantage from the side of Heretic's
of banning those maps?
I'm assuming this comes down to an individual player
that we see excel on certain agents rather than other.
So Durka has been a little bit on and off,
because Durka, when we're seeing him this stage,
what's happening?
The thing is, I think that the more he talks about
the fact that he doesn't like playing Neon,
or that he can't fare with the rest of the Neons,
he does best.
Because even though you can see here that in his stats,
the Neon is not the worst.
It's actually the race, I think,
that we can see that it is probably just the bat mat
from Durka that happens once in a new room.
Yeah, yeah, sample sample here, yeah, yeah.
Thank you very much.
With the jet, he's been finding so much value. In maps like Breeze, he's absolutely, he's the most important player to get those wins.
But even though, I think that if we are to prove the pound for pound between Kishmah and Derrick, we can actually agree that Kishmah should win that.
Yeah, I think the big decision here from Fatality is if they're going to veer away from the neon on some of the maps and they go to the jet,
I expect, especially on Ascent where we saw Derrick as neon and I would think they'll change the jet, they'll probably end up just banning it anyway.
So I think the bigger discussion there happens probably on that London London kind of group stage of playoffs rather than right now
I we expect to see dirt on neon today. Yeah, I mean there goes
Feelings around the neon Billy have also been aired out a little bit on the the internet in terms of yeah
He really likes playing by himself, which I think is fair
Which is why we were gonna show it, but I'm not mistaken
I think that he enjoyed playing the neon at the start of the stage and just felt like it was easy
I think he's a very like if he's going well, he's going to love it. And if he's like, yeah, it felt like he saw the rest of you, like, can I do that all the time?
Can I, can I, can I be the best? Can I dirt on them if I'm playing neon? And I think that you know that agents, it is possible.
I do think that with the new vitality that we're seeing and the one that we were getting in playoffs, everything is possible.
But I honestly do think that he has been theoretical for him to talk about it. Seriously.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, guys, I don't like this, I just cannot wait until it's gone.
And now, you know, that is way off his shoulders.
It feels like a very, like, love-hate kind of relationship where it's like...
At the end of the day, he's still there, you know?
He has been playing a lot of Neon, to be fair to him.
He has been playing a lot.
Hey, it's where Emmysaurus Khrushmaras, right?
He's been playing a lot of Neon as well.
Khrushmaras, I'm pretty sure.
He's been playing.
But I also want to discuss the stakes here, Billy, when it comes to the fact that,
yes, both of these teams are going to be going to that global.
they're going to London, but if you win this, you're going as that first seed, and you also get a nice trophy.
Yeah, I mean, you get to skip all of the Swiss stage when you go to London, you go straight into that play-offs if you get first seats here today,
which is great, it offers you that preparation time. We know some nerves and changes are coming into London, and I think as well we have to consider the neon,
we've seen so much of that, there's going to be changes to going into London, so it offers a lot of prep time to the coaches.
In many occasions we have seen that actually being a curse, you know, in the sense of you skip the group stage,
And yes, you've been seeing your opponents, but you've not been getting the reps.
I think that especially for these two teams, because of the situation that they're in,
they need the break.
They can use the break.
So I think that this is something that they want.
I think there's a lot on the line for both the teams, like on a personal level, to win today.
Heretic's obviously never winning a VCT trophy, and then Vitality wanting to prove that haters and fighters are wrong.
They were getting memed a lot at the start of this group.
So by people including me, I believe, and I think it's time to shut those people up.
I don't quite believe in the curse. I think that the first seed is a huge advantage going into London
And I would way prefer to be in that playoff stage if I was one of these teams
Yeah, I want to then bring it back to the map video in terms of the event
Yeah vitality has gotten coming to the stake or you touch upon a little bit the fact that we're probably gonna see certain maps taken out
Of the pool just in terms of comfortability. So with the map veto ready
Rabbit fracture. Wow. Goodbye. I mean not nothing crazy there
I do however want to go to that breeze because the breeze has been a good map for heretics as well. Yeah exceptionally good
I believe that throughout this stage they I don't think that their opponents have even touch or getting close to double digits
But there has to be a lot of preparation coming in from vitality if they really want to go on to be sure
Removing a sense. I think that is very smart a vitality likes losing it and heretics like
Yeah, like I said, I'm able to ban fracture with his heretics is great map
I'm being able to ban a cent another great map for heretics and then also the surprise to me is this breeze pig
I expected a pro pick straight off of the bat
But you know think that's smart to leave the one that you think is the strongest as your third?
I don't buy this whole theory like I know there's a new wave of coaches who will pick their best map third
And I believe you just want to start off strong on your best map possible and start the series strong best of five
Some I've already was asking to talk about fifth map being the best. No, just start trying to free nil
Well, we're going to see how that's going to play out because today EMEA will crown a new champion.
A title that will be a first in the history of both of these organizations.
Will the darlings of the league prevail in the heretic scam or has vitality transcended to full unstoppable super team form?
This stream contains fast flashing images that may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy and other photosensitivities.
Your discretion is advised.
I like to lift trophies, I saw the potential to do that here in Vitality.
I want to lift this trophy, before we conquer the other one in life.
If you want something, sometimes you have to take it from someone else.
I don't care who's on the other team.
It's just business.
It's never personal.
All it takes is just one match to start a legacy, and we're ready.
They're tired to you. You're not ready.
And the stage one trophy calls out for its champion.
So there we go.
Oh, dangerous!
We got this gun in the back, we've been on games for hours.
We've never slept in a cabin.
This is another life, it's hard to forget, it's my dream.
We've got to go talking right, we've got to go taking a nap.
We've got to go taking a nap.
We've never slept in a cabin.
This is another life, it's one of the best dreams.
I remember Brad's, the thing with confidence,
and even with the people I only remember, the renters.
Not the losers.
I
If you come to end the game, let it go!
The Vitality from the bottom to the top!
Eretix! Cleaning the final! Tickets are off the...
Alright, it's a little bit of an awkward battle again to start off with Sayonara.
Koshmuras is just...
All around for the man!
Mishon is a backer, but you get all the kills before Vitality till Bruce steps up to the plate!
What a way for things to finish.
Heretics.
And that's it, our final split from the stage.
The finals are ready to start, and although we already gave you guys a little bit of an appetizer when it comes to our map video,
we got it dissected a bit further.
Braves is the first one that we're going to be having a look at,
and that's also the one that I want to highlight the most over here, Billy,
because this is what to either break or make either one of these teams momentum.
If you win this first map, that could be a huge ticket to potentially keep things going.
For sure, I think we already highlighted that Vitality's thinking this almost came across
was perhaps a surprise.
I think for them, they need to recognise that the competition that they're going up against
specifically today.
We know that Booth plays that stage and last time we saw Vitality play Breeze, they were
playing so many retakes.
I think previously they had like a 16% win rate percentage when it came to those retakes.
I think they were able to boost that up.
38% which is a lot from these artists.
As much as they were able to boost that up, I want to see if they're continuing to play
this retake heavy defense sound.
We're then looking at Lourdes where she seems to be a map that is good for both of these teams and so it's just like so.
Maybe when you're looking at this map, Fido in general, is it any team that you think it favors a bit more?
I think given the fact that Vitality goes to farm both Factor and Ascent, which are great maps for heretics,
you're naturally going to fear towards Vitality here.
But there is a lot of depth in heretics' map pool right now,
and Lourdes is one of the maps that they have the strongest.
I think that's the biggest question that comes into the Latin map, right?
What happened with that split and that haven?
I mean that anything could happen in those two.
So to me, it's a matter of can you do it in the 3-0 fashion?
Could you be dominant in this last encounter?
And for this, I'm specifically looking at vitality.
Everything on your favor, you have that double ban.
You get to choose the first map and you get to condition heretics
into this entirety of the best of five after adding incredible tax
in a couple of weeks for them.
favor the opposite side for the map picks. Like on the map pick of Vitality the Breeze actually prefer
heretics there and when it comes to heretics pick on Lotus I vastly prefer Vitality's composition
and approaches. So I think that we could be in a very competitive start of this series. Some of the
later maps I think will be a little bit more like both teams being very good. I think early on it's
going to be a bit of a fiesta. And I think that's what we come down to as well. How much energy are
you able to conserve throughout the series. We know that Benji has been bringing so much energy.
We know on the opposite side, Yampi has been bringing so much energy. When you consider the
weeks that these two teams have had, we need to see how much stamina they really have if it is
going to go to each and every single map throughout the series. And we also know that Razor is bringing
the comfy chairs to make this final possible in general, the entirety of the stage. But I want to
continue the thread of looking at which team I guess the game is to lose here
because we're talking about the advantage that Vitality has had but if anything
heretics has proven to us that they have the stamina and that explodes
for how much can you stretch that one more day yeah one more day you put
everything into it but we've seen tears but for both of the teams we've seen a
lot put a stake mentally in and out of the server we've seen Benji given
absolutely everything wins with Crazy Place. The form that we are seeing Woods
in, even thinking about the first map being Breeze, thinking about Boo and how
long the weeks have actually been for him in leading this team. On the other side
I want to see the same kind of energy coming. I know we talked about Yampi, I
also want to keep seeing the profit that we're seeing here in playoffs. He stepped up.
Watch this man.
Massively from the stage and actually.
What?
Woo!
And that's amazing.
I love this guy.
He's got high pressure matches and he's the best.
Yeah and it's also in general when we're looking at the teams and we're looking at the fact
that every single one of these players has really grown into the best and most incredible
version of themselves really that we have seen so far.
So we should look at these compositions and they should reflect that growth over the last
couple of weeks. Yeah, for sure. I think one thing I want to touch on again there is the fact that team heretics are starting on this attack.
Something that we saw come up from Booth the other day against FOOT was having this operator on attack. Now, I don't know if that's a game playing going into today.
I think it's a great kind of game fun going against a team such as FOOT, but I think that Vitality definitely needs to keep an eye out for things like that.
I think Durka on this jet is the highlight for me. He gets to start. No one on the on-map. And last time he was on this jet against Fnatic,
He kicked them apart time and time again on this defense.
He was buying the Outlaw at all the time he was taking them apart.
It was looking wonderful here.
It absolutely destroys your economy if he can take advantage of that.
Also, as Billy, you were mentioning how hard they were working on those retakes
and how Fnatic couldn't see through them and couldn't adapt onto them.
Those, all of these things that were mentioned in here
should be things that Heritage knows to achieve
and have to be battled on up against right off the bat.
And this is the thing, Vitale,
they weren't playing an over-complicated defense.
a lot of the runs, it was a 3-1-1 and it didn't really change all that much. It was unfortunate
that Fnatic weren't able to figure it out, but I'm putting Team Heretics onto the pressure
here to be able to fawn back, have that prep type. We look at the coaching and how this
is going to have to be an overnight kind of prep on the side of Team Heretics.
Yeah, and also when we're looking at Heretics and the score lines that they had on this map,
it has been phenomenal, it has been dominant, so Vitality must have seen something here
that they know they can exploit, or at least looking forward to it. But either way, today
EMEA will be crowning a new champion.
Is Los Niños going to prevail as the darlings of the league,
or is Vitality finally too strong to be stopped in their tracks?
Haven is where this journey will start
with our casters, Mitch and Tom.
Well, Vitality never should have been here,
and for Heretics, you could almost say the same.
Both of these teams have really bloomed
towards the end of the stage.
I don't know what we're gonna see happen down
on that stage here today, Tom,
but one thing's for sure, we're going on an adventure.
Yeah, I think this is a really, really fun match.
If you've got that second place curse
that nobody wants to talk about,
that doesn't exist, of course.
And then I want to talk about the Superteam curse,
like teams that are built to win.
They are built to challenge international.
They are built to challenge for trophies.
And this is Vitality's chance to maybe prove
that that curse doesn't exist either,
while maybe ruining a few hate watches at the same time.
It is Vitality versus Heretics,
and our grand final is underway.
Now we start the story here on breeze today with a bit of defensive aggression coming
out of vitality already three players blitzing out on middle or more so slowly stepping out
containing that space for heretics.
We can see the goal is to move to the A site and so Durka that is had his ups and downs
times the neon doesn't look great but on the jet he's looked fantastic.
Kashmaras though has come through and put him in the dirt right away with a post plan
now for heretics. Different styles, different ideas, but the fact is for
heretics we saw their attack side yesterday and it was utterly dominant.
The momentum with them, they were devastating to play against and
Koshmara's up on this corner almost just gonna avoid the knife just to not give
his position away and already three kills at the pistol round for him. It leaves
just two standing, Profek and Chronicle. With that backside locked down, the wall
still standing no way through all of this additional utility. It feels like an
impossible task already. Although Chronicle will get one, it is all a
consolation, a pistol round for Heretics and a solid start to the game.
Kosh has had one hell of an uptake when he came in week two.
It was a shaky performance on the chamber, but things.
Hi, Cisco.
Things have turned around.
He's now looked like a beacon of hope for all the aspiring duelists out there.
And for heretics, one to zero start.
I think that comes off of his back.
Only one pickup for vitality in the first round.
It was chronicle finding that very late stage kill.
On the classics,
got a single investment into the bandit.
It's not likely that they'll be able to do anything to keep this economy of the
attackers modest.
Right now, big investment from the attack and an opportunity if Vitality can find
a
couple of kills to make it costly.
It could be fair, heretics are moving towards the numbers, towards the stack.
Oh, Darko, ready a little bit, chip damage.
See Profek trying to be cheeky around the edge of the cove.
Acer just trying to create angles for his team, and while you mentioned the bandit, it's already dissipated.
Here is that sneaky play with too many on the other side.
Slingardo has managed a quick double, an unlikely round,
and still unlikely with the weaponry in hand and opportunity for Chronicle, but nothing more.
Incredibly costly, the heretics are too high.
got two rifles and a pistol saved forward but like we said considering four
classics and a bandit was what they were facing off against it should be a much
more convincing round it's a good sign of life early on from vitality you
really didn't look too involved in the pistol round
yeah I want to watch that first of all though because last time he played this
map we're talking about a guy who went 26 and 8 I don't think the only player
that I can think of in recent times is Rienzu, also on this map went 22 and 6. So there are
some heavy hitters. Of course, what Rienzu's story is, he does it a lot against Foot, but
while considering the buy in this round, that's a huge early pick up from Benji.
And although there's a lot of vulnerabilities, Woot with that headhunter is still going to be careful.
You know, well, I'm down already in the form of Thurka.
Heretics are able to really pump the brakes on this one and take their time.
Massive value to be found in this round, as we're saying.
Sage rise online.
Any mistakes that are made can immediately be undone.
They move to the A side again, show a lot of preference for this side of the map.
With the early stages of these rounds trapped behind, and they're fully secured.
This is going to be a five-man blitz out with utility, already at least dealing with the
drone.
For Yambi and Pro-
Oh, okay.
For Yambi and Pro-Fag.
The hard work is about to begin.
Now Flash, Deaton, catch, but a double on the back of it!
Anyways, the swing out from these two defenders looked to give the rounds of vitality.
But how quickly that has fallen apart,
Benji Fischi with a triple kill, locks down that plant,
and now we're in a 3v1 post plant.
A crazy round for Heretics,
and if they can lock this one in,
a huge advantage in the early stages of their opponent's map pick.
That's chronicle.
Always good for big moments, big rounds,
but they're able to isolate angles again with that wall.
Viper screen as well,
making things awkward and they've already spotted him on the reposition first, not bad.
The instant trade out from Kostmaris keeps that streak going. And actually something I want to
talk about, it was mentioned, I was going to say on the desk, I guess it technically was on the stage,
by Mini, it's the value of, or sort of the double fan and going into the pits. And for Vitality,
I think it's clear that the third map in this series is their best. The thing that worries
me about this though? If there's probably one team, maybe other than Eternal Fire,
who I don't want to give momentum to, it is Team Heretics and this is a map that was already
mentioned, they won 13-1 against Foot, they've proven that they can be stellar especially getting
to start on this attack side. Sure, like you have a good map coming up as a third but I don't know,
if you end up going 2-0 down in this series, I don't know if Vitality will bring it back.
And it looks like heretics are already having fun.
You saw that wall go up from Boo Benji on top of it.
It's how he's able to find that is second kill in the round,
but his opening was disgusting on the walk up on mid.
And his closer, the quick adjustments
to drop Sayonara on the bridge.
It was a clean round from heretics,
but you have to give Benji his flowers for it.
And a 3-0 position now into pistols.
It's no surprise to see them taking this one slow.
You hope that vitality, you get impatient.
They push for information.
They walk into your rifles, and you get the advantage.
When that doesn't happen, all you can really do is lean on some blind hope.
We saw them push into the A site.
It was a stack that they ran into this time.
It looks like we'll have a bit of a fake play out.
You were going to send Woot and Benji towards the A site.
Viper wall should go up here, and that's going to draw the eye.
Will it draw the rotations though?
I mean, the knife's only seen two.
It might be enough, but you can see there's suspicious.
Chronicles sticking on B.
There's still four players here.
This is a problem and that's not gone well already the bandit finds one victim the bucky the other and now Reans needs to clear up
And he's just missed out on that spray time ticking away
And they have to chase down profit ten seconds left spike part not happening
But he's in the corner and actually he just waits bet you went through the bucky fights another victim and all he has to do
At this stage is survive and he will
Triple kill! A Rumble clutch! Perfect! With a bucky triple kill! And yes, bitch, it's already got weird.
And you can see the idea, right? Heretics have gone eight three rounds in a row.
That's been where they put the pressure. Now they've humped the brakes, late round, put the wall up, sent two players down, even get seen by the knife.
I mean, why wouldn't that look like another hit of the A-side until an defender?
But because it's a low buy, you can take those risks. Maybe start the rotate now. You're not gonna get there.
Let's go! Let's go for it, Lin! Let's go for it, Lin!
And maybe they even have a read of what's going on on the other side of the stage.
They blindly indeed run into that stack.
This time, Vitality, the ones able to claim victory from that chaos.
Is this the way back in for them?
It looked like a very strong start from Heretic's, but that round loss couldn't do it all.
Luckily, they've still got the credits to fight for this one.
Operator purchased up as well for Durka.
Now he is one of the only players that is vulnerable to the outlaw on the other side.
A couple of ultimates available for this attack as well, so they're not out of it just yet.
Swing in, that's already an instant pick up.
The other of the two players that actually did have the light shield was Yumpy, and from
the elation of winning a round off the back of a Bucky, to now being a man down once again.
openings have not been going Vitality's way? No, they haven't. It seems to be
across the board problem as well. Heretics are finding so much value.
Whether it be poking through that mid space, through that A space, but what has
happened in the late rounds is that Vitality had had the numbers in the
right spot. We're going on more than half the rounds with this one included.
And now the B site, three players in position, stacked up and ready, but the
Hunter's Fury, it deals damage to start at will. Take down Chronicle,
Kashmir is with another and a double to add this up.
It's Heretics with a plant out of this situation and Durka.
Well, if he's fed a kill here, could go very quickly wrong for Heretics.
But that wall up may just have forced the save out of Durka.
I think it should have. Yeah.
And he'll be saving this one through with again lights out start from Heretics.
They stumble a little bit in the previous, but they're back on track.
Yeah, I'd like it as well. We've seen that consistently from Benji just cycling through that Viper screen while they're getting through the plant.
And it just means that any player trying to get a cheeky pick has just seen absolutely nothing, and acting as that deterrent.
I also think as well that Rien's just somehow managing to target the one guy that could have basically torn that round apart with the flank coming through on the site.
Just picking him off with the Hunters Fury has saved him.
They've used those ults incredibly well. 4-1 up, a solid early start, ensure that operator goes into the next round, but you also have to bear in mind that those credits are not in a good spot whatsoever for the side-fied talent.
Yeah, it's not going to be a pretty buy around that operator. In fact, it might not even be a buy.
and like doing some random shit, you know?
Well, the timeout called, maybe he's onto something.
Panic in Vitality is certainly a alarm,
as they take a moment to reassass out things have gone so far.
And again, we're starting out as you highlighted Tom,
it's not like this is the D-map for Vitality.
There it is.
It's 2-3 right now.
It's just a big work today.
It was two kills of their considering how much time he is as a player
He has had so many high impactful crazy moments. I'm sure there's so many more to come
I'm very excited to see him on the London stage with his squad
And maybe even going there removing the VCT second place cars, which would be very nice
I know that they don't want to talk about it
They don't even think about the fact that that has been an issue from them in the past, but I
I think even if you just get rid of it regionally, that's going to be nice.
Without a doubt, yeah. Being able to win a Grand Final within VCT,
despite being in so many, it's invaded them, and I think
all you need is that one to kickstart it, to get the ball rolling, to prove that you can do it.
VCT so far, that hasn't been the case, but quite a statement
from Heretic starting out this map. Like you said, this is what I was going to touch on, the fact that
Breeze, it's not like this is where all the eggs are put into one basket for vitality.
They have Pearl coming up later, which we expect to be an even stronger map for many teams
Maybe it would have been the one that they picked first coming into this
But if itality's idea was to you know come in with
Less strong map and have a good performance really get the ball rolling. It hasn't worked so far
This is where that could change though up in the hands of Durka is the main hope of this round a rifle for
Profek and he was offered the fight early
But the jet of Durka not able to connect the shot and now they might be a bit more hesitant
I love to give him another fight with a cherry. In fact, no, they're not. They're running in.
No, no, the Flash caught so many they thought they were dead instead.
Oh, he made me fall blind. But it doesn't matter because Marus, he could sense his target.
Unfortunately, that leaves them out of the sight. Woot in quite an aggressive position.
They're sitting up front, and he's going to catch up profit.
Perfect, that's a gun onto the deck which, okay, maybe Chronicle can retrieve but they
are losing personnel to man those guns and almost hoping that Durkin could fly one on
the cross.
He's also going to start making the decision of, okay, if we're not going to win this round,
do I want an operator next round?
I think the answer is yes.
He's running for the hills or maybe specifically for the beach.
And now, Haritix maybe a little too far away to contest this further pistol to be dropped
But those two weapons will be saved over for the defensive side.
It is a small consolation prize, considering their opponents now sit on five.
This is a strong start indeed for heretics.
Where are Vitality and when will they show up?
Yeah, I think this was definitely the danger of picking this map.
Like we've seen two sides to the Vitality breeze.
The one that came down versus Fanatic, when Darko was utterly dominating.
I think the best individual performance, maybe from even anyone this stage, 392 ACS, 259 ART, it was insane.
But then there's the other side of the coin when they played against BBL, which was where we literally saw their coaching staff snap because of how badly it went.
So it's definitely not been dominant for them, whereas for Heretics, a 31 and a 13-4, this is a great...
You almost think they might have chosen this first if they had the choice?
Maybe they had veto advantage throw everything we know out the window playing mind games
Controlling vitality. I don't know how they've ended up here, but if you're a
Erotic's fine
You're certainly happy to see how things are playing out so far around seven right up across the board
Old songline as well one away from Vipers pit on Chronicle yumpy and sile already have theirs
This is a big turning point round for vitality or at least it has to be
With the off of Durkan
Unfortunately, that one kill is all he's gonna get.
Koshmarus has been on his case.
Yeah, I don't think the head-to-head
is gonna be particularly kind to Darker and that one.
Especially the manner in which Koshmarus
has just been taking space into sights.
And in this case, not so much, but...
Gonna res as well.
Did they hunter Fury off this side?
Sighnar is looking in the right direction.
This might be an immediate hunter's fury reaction,
and it looks like it is.
Tag gonna be found.
Oh, following up!
Build!
Just about missing!
Poot survives and the heal comes through. That's another old plan from Vitality.
Ah, that's gotta be so tilting. Like you just wasted it in a scenario where you think you've got a guaranteed kill.
And instead, you're now a man down. Good timing of the ult, though, coming out from Yumpy.
This has taken a lot of time. 15 seconds about to be coming in on the count, and they don't count any utility.
You can't even quickly move into space because Mars and they're being shot down because of it.
Leaving a couple at the back of the site. They need to carry umpy immediately and they have done but they didn't get the spike in time
A chronicle is going to win just sitting on the beach all the way back in spawn
No opportunity a red bull clutch and a tight round but a round and that's what vitality are looking for at this point
What it is very much so this could course correct them. I agree, but you look at heretics right now
How we've gotten here
It's been flashing a pattern in the rounds from Vitality.
And by no means repeatable ones.
Their margin for error has been so slow,
the margin by which they're winning these rounds so thin.
And on the other side, that's not been the case.
Heretics have come through and dominated that round's success.
In pretty much every round, even when they ran into the numbers.
So for Vitality, sure, it works, but here's the repeatable wins.
Operator was kept and already that's a huge start getting rid of kushmaras
of course in the last round he got wrecked by the null command no speed and
things become a little bit more difficult even still though they're into
the post plan no ultimates to play with Viper's pick could potentially be used
to try and pick up some space but the position that chronicles in
unlikely and this still is a very dangerous for vitality by a bit more
time as Yampi realized the trap is behind but look who's bypassed it. Durka and Chronicle went through the elbow
so they get to stab in the back. Blade Storm out and it's a clean kill for Durka! Three on the
board, four Vitality then got there in the end. Yeah that was a much much cleaner round. Firstly
getting the opener, playing off the site, expecting something a little bit more aggressive,
an in-zone flawless coming off the back of it as well with that retake coming in from behind.
That seemed much more set up by Vitality than a lot of the other rounds and maybe Reigns is sort of pointing at them panicking.
It's kind of now diminished, the pause making a difference, but even still they're care.
Good goal, brother.
We're currently sat on both teams' favourite sides.
Okay, the retakes actually look in GC.
Yeah, so do we think it's better than me?
Oh, you can't do that to us.
I thought we were getting some secrets.
to learn something now all I know is the retake looks juicy and I feel like I
could tell that on my own base change though operator in hand again to Durka
but so much pressure being put off him because Maris didn't see him up top that's
a nice free kill and attempt to trade it walk straight into Chronicle now what
do you do for heretics and they have to fight for this backside control but you're
running into it off of Durka and Chronicle finally out of ammo they helped me
caught off and of course there's players there to fill in the gaps. Vitality had gone from
picking up breadcrumbs to a feast on this defensive side. Four rounds now locked in.
They're just one behind after a very slow start. Maybe that head-to-head's starting
to turn a little bit. I think just a split second later and that would have been Durkening
revealed up top instead he was patient and you could see the trickle effect of
everybody coming back in time.
Well, 5-4. Already gonna be getting another pause coming out from the
heretic side of course. You've had this hot star 5-1 up. You're talking about a
team that has been in many finals but winning them has been a different
story within the VCT as you can see. It has always been the second places which hey if you're looking
to get to international events that's pretty good. I'm sure there are plenty of orgs within EMEA that
would see that and go I'll take that tomorrow for the rest of my life just to be able to go to these
events but it's always eluded them even regionally even in the year I think I thought 2024 where we
talk about them being probably by far the best team in EMEA. Never getting a victory even on a
regional scale, it's got to be tough, especially, you know, when the trophy is actually looking good.
You're going to be in a meeting after this one, but it is something that, you know, when you're
a team that feels like you haven't met your goals, it's always going to sit with you afterwards,
like after the event, weeks, months, and so on. It haunts a lot of players, and I think
that's just when you feel like you haven't met your goal. When you were in your grand final,
several Grand Finals that close to your goal and it slips through your grasp it
definitely does start to create a cloud that follows you very very gray one but
the Heretics have always done well with dealing with the mental side of the game
time to put more rounds up though five to one call it has been challenged
Koch-Marris even though he gets the opening Durka trades it a straight
Spam through the wall with the AWP and now we're back to a 4v4.
Benjy's gonna have to use that hit.
And then, you know, as soon as he does that, Durka's chance of impact plummets.
I am looking, though, at the bracketing online.
A chance to make things a lot more awkward for the players within.
At a drastic position from Woot.
Bucky's actually gonna be the one to get the kill.
I've seen far too many Bucky kills in this game already.
The rest of them all look easy.
heretics take a pause a direct hit and an immediate return to the scoreboard
lead will not be lost just yet. For such a tight game it's remarkable because
Marius is able to get away with as much as he is but he is finding so much value
in those early fights and often I'm thinking like this isn't that perfect
utility to set him up but I've seen a number of fights where he just runs
It's a high ball.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
And if it works, it works.
Six to four, two rounds left to play with Vitality,
bleeding close down to just one.
But, Gush Marys is down with it.
And that's the difference.
He's found success and they build on that success flawlessly.
But what about when there is a flaw?
Then all the screws start to come loose as Woot
now finds himself surrounded.
He goes to the throne and he is dead to rights,
even with the res.
That's more targets for Yumpy.
He's found another, and the advantage sits with the defense.
And, fortunately for Buu, all he's really done is ruin Kushmarus' KD.
They didn't see Syle.
Dying twice, Syonara in the corner, and okay! Buu is very well prepared for that one.
Leaves it back into a two versus two, Buu with another.
The IGL trying to take this over himself, leaving Chronicle to try and clutch.
And it seems like there's been opportunities there lining up,
He just can't get the kill over the line.
Heretics will cling to life in this round.
It seemed like Vitality had them, but not this time.
Well, after that five to one start,
it looked like they might not even lead at the half.
But one round left to play for,
and that lead is locked in.
14 Heretics now.
Luda's so well defined that player in the corner.
When the drone went out,
They saw two players back site, but neither of them were side-on, and he was there earlier on.
They add up the numbers, they find the right answer, and all of that flash does not quite go the way it's intended.
Now posted on the angle, it's Wu, it's Stan, and Durka still walks into it.
That's why you wanted the flash to push that man back, but given the time to readjust to reset up, you're not getting back out there.
It's another early advantage for Heretics.
Yeah, the fact is all that flash really did was tell Woot that there was definitely someone there.
So, what's going on then?
Otherwise that flash is mental.
Woot.
Posted on the angle. Two players already have rotated in towards this B site and it seems like
Yumpy on the other side of the map is already having ideas
of where this is going to be going.
Mainly because of how aggressive Profik has been able to get into A main. He's got eyes
that nobody's there.
Drone's spotting Cyanar in real trouble. They know exactly where he is. Revealed at the back
gives a further advantage, but this time Chris Maris has been shot down!
A critical! Just like that! Flipped the round!
A 2v2. They're going to know that there's one within the site, and the second still unknown.
Wootz's position hasn't been seen, hasn't been spotted,
and Booth's just going to try and get up close. In fact, he's playing right around the edge of the wall.
Here's that second flash, both now being used.
used that utility has faded away from the side of vitality but the reposition from
Profek that gives an opportunity that gives some time but actually his opponent is sat
within his own utility in fact both of them are they are just waiting within the
cover they check in every angle eventually but they faded turning it back
into a 1 vs 1 that covers eventually gonna fade away and he needs to find the
to try and get this kill instead.
Why are you trying to help me get in front of his eyes?
That's madness, your brother!
you
you
you
you
you
You
Move into position for venue to get a freebie and then just moments later
You're most yumpy and chronicle just finding them all around the site ring them around
round just to try and find anything they could better than they own come from
just push push elbow push elbow yeah that's good read good read that's
exactly what happened and that was a gap that vitality exploited from heretics
a lot on the defensive side two times I can remember they were able to walk
elbow and come up behind the chamber trip immediately identifying that that
was done to them early but luckily no cost to be paid for it vitality 7 to 6
one round away from their opponents and this is a very important round to keep
relatively clean. One player loss is so-so, two you can even deal with. It'll be a
sheriff and a stinger lost, in fact the sheriff probably picked up and carried
forward, but anything more than that would be pretty much. And for team
heretics with five players on this side of the map, a shot good in the hands of
Koshmarris and Woot hunting for heads. It's somehow booed and strikes the first blow.
He's walled them off trying to almost create a gap that they must be funneled through if anything
With Vitality here going back might be the plan but after getting a couple
I'm sure they're not going to want to it's aggressive from reinsert
It gets caught out by the utility even still the headhunter is still here you need to be careful
Oh wow, you mentioned how many guns you didn't want to lose they've at least lost one of the big ones
Yeah, it is gonna be a pretty costly round props to Woot
for putting that dent in the economy the question is will the butterfly effect
come through sooner or later for vitality they have a chance to fully
invest here right really roll the dice and try to crush heretics really are
Frigga, Frigga indeed yeah
oh my god on the other side they could play this is a low buy the two rivals
giving them good opportunity to battle and duel it was enough for the heretics
in the first time that's what they're gonna do I think it's the right call I
I like this idea flashed not that good as they dodged it, but Wootz still got dropped by Brawfak.
He's got to feel very unlucky with that one. I don't even see what happened.
And weaponry-wise, that's a real good opportunity.
Could not only pick up the one, but as they get onto the site,
potential for that little bit more.
Blue already under pressure, but he's able to stay alive even the underarm fragment.
Koshmars now rotating in to try and give a little bit of help to his Lithuanian friend.
And it's going relatively well.
Sionara had a bit of a quiet first half in this game.
He's seen so many incredible plays for him throughout this stage.
They'd need another one.
He's the only one that has a gun.
Snakebite down is going to make this awkward for Kosh as well.
creating some opportunities here, shock up close does damage. This is now looking doable, but Sylar has to win that fight!
With him falling!
Static in the dirt.
Heretics, and we'll find that round win, but you look at that HP, you can see just how thin the margin was.
Well, yeah, I think if they add everything up, it's gonna have done more than 150 because he healed himself up throughout the round, so
it's a little bit unlucky that if that was anybody else, they would have been dead.
One play by boot. I think you could see him sort of calculating
where would be the best place to put the wall, it gets aggressive over the top of it and then just
even hits the timing perfectly to clear out Sion R on the breakage. I think they lose that round
if not for their IGL and to be honest they might be losing this game. He's currently 16 and 9 at
the top of the board. The battle sage has returned but this is where Vitality now come in with a
a full buy. Young people won away as well from having that no come on which played a huge
part and at least one of the rounds they won on the first half. We'll see if that would
be the case again.
This is it. Credits put in for both teams. A little bit more to fall back on. They've
heard all this noise towards A-Name. Snakebite goes down. Should buy time. A-N-Gos Durkan
already taking that space and fighting around the back right into Benji Fishi.
Usually, that would be a mistake, but this time by Talon, he gets the better of him.
Durka gets the better of him.
Spannes through the smoke, Trader.
Lick or two of damage.
So that's all there is to it for now, waiting for those walls to go down.
You've got your Harbor, Viper, Neon, there's so much, but when they fall,
when you're out in the open, it's a different game altogether.
The knife perfect is going to slow down that Neon retake, but they're waiting.
The drone's on its way through, there's no need to rush just yet, and now your abilities are back online!
Kaush Marus will be thankful for that with a quick slide out, he gets another!
Durk is now down and Sionara's all that's left!
Rez available, but not even needed, you would think.
Still, they committed, giving him respect, knowing how clutch Sionara can be this Shockdor!
The tent that catches the wall!
And so the defuse comes through with ease for Team Hereticz.
Three alive in the end, Rez used,
But more importantly the lead extended. Yeah, I like how patient that was from heretics
I in a lot of those cases you could have seen because Mars run in while I'm not being able to pick up the case
I think also just I did there's a the kill he gets on the fire in the corner is purely off the bait from the dark
It just took away duck as anything to look to shoot the dog
And then it's going down
Solid stuff from them and now for Vitality, that is their economy in the bin.
A few stingers invested, Hunters fury potentially available to either disrupt or maybe hold a post plant, but they have to get there first.
Vitality's motto this year, the mountains are within reach, it's looking like they're getting a little further away, retreating onto the horizon at the moment as heretics continue that climb into the lead.
Now facing off against a very light buy, Akash Maris again, drawing first.
But it's been so impactful. Even at times he goes down, it feels like the trades have been there so quickly from Heretic's.
And a handful of rounds without being the case.
Now this move to the A site. Not much easier. The Shock Dart and the Spam make it even more so.
And now Sayonara. Yeah, you've got a hundreds fury to play with, but it's not being committed to this round.
Double digits locked in flawlessly as well.
All signs pointing to a 1-0 for Heretics.
Yeah, they definitely look like running away with this at times.
A lot of very clean rounds and in-zone flawless in this one.
I think as well, it's like maybe the plan was you get Chronicle to plant, you can have the Viper spirit.
They just get spammed out. He's trying to get the plant in, he dies, and then the rounds just gone.
Maybe if you have a Viper spirit and a Hunters fury, that can be enough to win a round.
be enough to win a round. You get everybody lower, they get hit by a tag or two.
And we can see things go the other way, but the second one of those alts is gone,
it's not worth trying to commit the second. Hold it through into the next round when
you are going to have that by after a conversation with the coaches as well,
and even from the very small amount we get from these little listen-ins at times,
You can tell that they're definitely like calculating what's going to be going on and that that's been a big part of this sort of season
I feel like looking back to the group phase
We had those three games in a row especially the BBL one
I feel like that was a moment for vitality of like, okay
We can't just be this these individuals that are good enough to outane everybody especially when you play against Turkish teams
From then onwards it looked like a kick up the backside. Okay, the victory versus Pacific
Nobody really cared too much about that one
But once they're going to the playoffs they have looked like a different beast
Is that beast gonna be shut down in the very last game of the stage?
Yeah, stopped at the very final hurdle locked out at the gate for now
That's been the case
Vitality about a couple of good rounds look like they found their motor towards the end but now
All that momentum is there for team heretics and as you said song the one team you don't want to give
Momentum to if we exclude eternal fire
Heretics be right at the tippity top of that list. Yeah, well if you didn't watch the game yesterday
You can watch the last few maps in probably about 15 minutes. So, you know during the break you can always do that
They absolutely slaughtered for
Once they had the momentum on their side and that's just something you cannot give
They spoke about the battle sage
Boo is currently the precipice of taking a
massive risk
Swing out on top of his wall and the drone is gonna force him back
It's he wanted to go he heard someone spamming it before utility went through it does make it costly for vitality in terms of
Yeah, that drone on the way through though. They're having to commit a lot just from the irritation
He's creating and he's been timing a lot of his slow so well. It's time that goes through again
No, look like he was gonna get the opener, but yumpy has dealt with him already kushmaris
And we're here on the cross, but young piece dealt with him as well.
A double for the leader.
And a post-pond will be through with a Viper's pit. That's going to make it difficult.
The only thing I will say is, Chronicle is very, very low.
He's tucked on the box as well. I mean, it's a very spammable spot.
Shocked off? Question mark?
It's being lined up, but it's going towards default.
Now here we go, the bounce around, that's dangerous.
Just spam so close in the knee, ends up catching Rude out.
He's the one to fall with Benji.
Crumbling down as well,
Reigns is all that's left in the shadowed road, back into this game.
Well, it's grown a little lighter for Vitality, a gap of two now.
Yeah, I think so I'll leave Brown for them.
Dealing with Buu has been a problem.
Once they get him out of the site, it becomes a lot easier to get into your postfond.
You can't claim that backside at the 78, literally threw them through the flash at him.
I'm not just a solid round for Yumpy and General, moving his way up the board.
They can get through this one with a couple of their superstars being a little bit quieter.
They are currently in the last match also, didn't have the best of days.
And this isn't even his neon map, you know, no excuses.
It gets to get out of neon jail. They'll be going back in if he keeps playing like this. Exactly.
You gotta earn your freedom, unfortunately.
There's the dash hit. Burka closing his face under Cury sent through, but Rienz just wraps around that side.
They're a little slow to follow it up, and now it's one by one.
Rienz just being offered free picks. Get out of jail. Free card. In goes the flash, and well...
Well, Syonar is not going to be caught on the wire.
I thought Rienz could get the jump on him, but evidently not.
Now, no rise for Buu, but the numbers will be spotty even because Yumpy swung with the spike into an off.
What was that?
Yeah, well, I know he's been having a battle with Buu, but that was definitely an audacious fight.
Don't do it, Syonar.
Wu's still just holding that angle, not giving anything away.
Of course, the worry for Sayonara is
if someone's going to have gone the other way,
but because Kronika was in such a deep position,
he doesn't really need to be peeking at all.
He's just waiting for his teammate to strike.
Budo has wrapped around the right way.
That one's for free.
However, Sayonara has fallen all the way back.
Just trying to play that post-plant,
trying to play the time.
And for Budo, the last place he was spotted
is on the site itself.
There's so many angles.
Still to find Sayonara.
Said he'd been a little bit quiet.
That's a better round.
Does make me nervous seeing him swing in like that
a little early, but catching him going to the sides
a lot better than having to push when the sage wall goes up
or something like that.
So a bit cautious, or even the slow in May.
Could have changed the game there,
but it's this from Syo.
That is the turning point.
Rienz had been a real thorn on the side.
He'd get them two kills for free.
And here it looked like he was going
to get the jump on him.
A little bit of patience.
His reward is there.
Four kills in this round.
and Vitality needed this.
They're a warm round behind now, many teams.
But how things have gone in the early hours,
what accounted themselves out?
Vitality, not that team.
It's time to jump in them and see how things are going
from Vitality's perspective.
We can just leave.
Wait, no, come, come, come, come, come.
It's right there alone on A.
We should just finish B, we should just finish B.
I still have full U2, boys.
I can just run after this call.
I'm running.
Am I back side?
Yeah, pillar one.
Could be close right one.
That's right, right side.
I'm revealing him.
Nice.
I'm rushing out.
Half wall, half wall.
Half wall.
Half wall.
I'm picking left side.
I tap on C, left.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
I'm moving.
Niggle, I'm picking him.
I'm reloading.
He's minus the F4.
Nice as well.
Nice.
Nice.
And he's minus 18.
Oh, do you see?
Minus 18.
Last one.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
Can't go elbow for the gun.
What elbow?
Yeah, I'm all off.
He's 1-9, 3K, 4-9.
Guys, you're both up to let's...
Yeah, I'm at the right.
They're a little top at last.
I don't know.
You guys are good like this.
Stay like this.
Yep.
You're super good.
Gerc can flick the sheet out of NCTV, he comes.
And I see the fight again.
Same, guys.
They're both against thrills, boys.
They fucking put them down.
Nice.
He's one knife away.
He does 70 HP now, apparently.
Some fifths being told on the server,
but double digits will be found.
Vitality fighting their way back into this game.
And again, you gotta give them props for it.
That's three in a row.
When all the momentum was there for the opposition, and even with Kosh coming in for the early trade, it's not enough.
It's a problem with a lot of the time you think about this round, Durka with his blade, so we didn't get a chance to use it.
Yeah, I like as well that they're looking at the positives. A lot of ults invested in that round from Eritix.
We need to tear a little bit more from them, you know. I've heard them speak too much. No.
It's one where you kind of look at this and go yeah, okay
It wasn't much invested in terms of the weaponry
But when you do have that hunter's fury overdrive
Tour de force all dissipating in a singular round and it doesn't come out with a victory
That's a good round for vitality to take now sure that they've only got a singular role of their own currently online
But a lot of the orders on this map do kind of favor
That attacking side unless we're gonna see something quite aggressive coming out from heretics and the fact is we haven't like a lot of what they've
been doing has been relying on Boo to hold on one side of the map and then
having a bit more of a stack up on the other and I think a lot of what Vitality
have had to do in this attack side is slowly figure out what their opponents
are doing. Okay can we deny Boo being able to put those slows into play or
putting the wall in an awkward position and if we can then we have A. If not how
do we put the pressure over on that B site instead?
All barriers about to go up once more.
What are we seeing here?
Spook gonna go for the boost.
The sage wall up as Woot then gets the AWP.
Oh yes, here we go.
It's a nasty angle.
It's a spot above the smoke,
but they managed to slip by Vitality.
They've evaded the trap completely
by simply running through it.
Now it's a 3D2, even with that pickback from Woot.
And he's walking right into Chronicle.
There's not feeling too forgiving the up retrieved and the battle sage of Bill will step into
the same angle the same way it is the same result.
Look at that, you still have a grudge.
You peek me again?
You always fail.
Like I forgive him.
He's allowed.
Like he looked at me and then he doesn't know I'm there but for Boo, I don't know.
That was a little bit disrespectful.
to our go along chronicle 22 and 15 right now.
Bro, I'm just destroying them.
11 to 10.
From the depths of defeat, from heretics looking like that,
we're going to run away with this map 3 in a row
in this second half to now being 2 away from taking
that initial choice.
And again, some weaker weaponry having
to be brought through into this round
for the side of heretics.
That mountain's now back over the horizon.
The mountain that was once distant now fills the sky as dark as in, right on the boo!
Chronicle following up in Vitality, giving no quarter!
Team Heretics, they'd have to fight their way back through a disadvantage that's now just a 4v3,
but still a Viper's pit to fight into as well.
Harborel to fall back on, I mean, there has to be a big play, an equalizer for Team Heretics to even try.
They look good in retakes, but this would have to be the best of them.
That's not a bad start, but the rest of the players within the pit
are going to be tough to beat.
Ultimate dodge, Profit pushing forward, and nothing.
Four Costa Maras sliding through at the end.
Again, an all-expended for Vitality, but they are not going to mind
making sure they get the wins versus the low buys.
And for Heretics, I'm not going to count them out.
I think at this stage, being at any form of deficit, doesn't mean they're out of the map.
But we do need to see something from them here.
You also got to think about the series as well. We heard it from the desk, you've been talking about it here as well.
The fact that Pearl is where things should change, for the better, for Vitality, you go into that map.
Even if it's 1-1, knowing that now you've got your best foot forward, that is a morale boost and a half.
for Vitality, one round left to lock this one in. Started with a 5-1 lead for
Heretics, I mean it looked like we were gonna get a non-compete grand final, but
Vitality as they did in the group stage, they started slow, they looked battered
and bruised, but they have made this climb back with bloodied hands, two
chances to close it and it starts with a double-op setup. It's worth
mentioning as well that if you're ever gonna ask whether or not tactical
pauses are impactful. Look at the two that Vitality have had, look at the turn around
they've had after both. Both halves having a bit of a shaky start, both halves having
a resurgence. Props given, but it does mean they don't have any more time to talk. A win
here for Heretics. There's no more opportunity to check in, and they are playing a lot more
passive. That does mean though that Durka has managed to take an awful lot of ground.
They should be aware.
This is small risk taken by Koshmarus, but his reposition is just in time.
Profit taken down, Hunter's Fury sent through an attempt to root him from
position, but Sayonara's not landing the shots.
He's just waiting.
He just wants someone to step in the darkest line, and there it is.
He finds his pick.
20 seconds.
Where does that go from here?
They have time to run, but they'd have to sprint now, and
there he is.
He's late.
Locked into this B site.
Indeed, it is too late.
Chronicle has to wrap up through me, and the wall's falling.
And Koshmarus wasn't ready.
Meritix they fought so well in those early rounds, but
As the timer hits zero the spike hits the floor and what could be the final round it seems like they have crumbled
Blue has a res had a res
You'll have it again in five seconds that kills for free though. That's at least something
Bringing back a teammate seems like it's gonna be impossible going on the angle weights Berger
That's been his whole rounds just waiting for someone to give him anything and now look at a try and take it himself
That's one out of time and so have heretics
It will be a 1-0 start for Vitality
Maybe shakier than they would have liked but they're not gonna care with the lead under their belt
On the mountain now well and truly within reach. It's under their feet
They have started the climb in this grand final
Before we move on to map 2 the break and everything to follow
Let's go down to the stage where Nath is standing by with Protocol.
And look, Protocol had an absolute performance. You individually pop it up there.
But we see heretics, the only team in playoffs picking up that Sage.
How frustrating is it to play against it on Breeze?
I think it's hard to adapt to it. You need to find out what's their patterns.
And after that, I think it goes easy, because you already know.
Like Sage she choose all this stuff. And after that, it's pretty good.
It's decent. It's decent.
Like you are gonna oversell it there. It's easy. It's decent. Then what can we expect when it comes to our second map?
Big stop
There we'll see if it happens. We're gonna go to a break. We come back break it down and see if that big stuff happens on that too
Wingman World, well, Wingman World, well wha...
Have a break. Have a Kit Kat.
Wingman World, well wanting a well one break.
Let's go!
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Come inside, when I run around the gamut
That I could live a planet, I keep on breathing when I run in
When I run around the gamut
That I could live a planet, I keep on breathing when I run in
Give you, give me a piece of your heart
Easy when we run through two worlds
It could be nothing, maybe jumping
Keep your eyes on me
Keep your eyes on me
Keep your eyes on me
We, we
Keep your eyes on me
Keep your eyes on me
We, we
Keep your eyes on me
Keep your eyes on me
Yeah
Keep your eyes on me
Keep your eyes on me
In the time you fuck a butterfly
Your purpose which keep us secret
Let me come inside
When you run, you run again
You could never find it
If we won't be doing you any
If you give me a piece of your heart, it'll keep
Easy when we are part of two worlds
If you give me a piece of your heart, it'll keep
Easy when we are part of two worlds
Take it to be nothing, baby, it's nothing
Keep your eyes on me
But I think, look, they've been very successful on Breeze.
I think it's not something that they would expect us to pick first straight away.
But I think they've been successful because they can't really counter a lot of the other
comps they've played against, which is different to ours.
So we looked at the comp matchup, we looked at our level of comfort, and we thought, yeah,
that's a good one to kick us off.
And it was a good one to kick things off with indeed, as they do come out on top and secure
that first map here, Mini.
We touched upon coming into this, how important winning this first map would be, considering
the journeys that both of these teams have to come into this finals and Vitality delivered.
Yeah and I think going forward from here they're actually in a really good spot after taking
that one. I think in the next two maps I'd actually favour them and they actually set
them up for like a potential three-nil in my opinion.
Oh okay. I mean yeah I think that I had some doubts and especially the way that the map
started and heretics getting the rounds, Vitality doing a couple of one of the fancies
like winning round four for example they showed good preparation and good adaptation
on how to work against the Sage and how to catch them off guard, but ultimately you can see it there
also clutches the profit round on the last round of the half that was also very very insane. I think
a key thing to highlight here is Vitality went on a spree at the end of this game. I think the
heretics were in complete control of this map and throw it through away at the end. A few melons
rounds early on like a couple of rounds that shouldn't have been lost and then they couldn't find
momentum at the end of the tour. It looked like they were scrambling more for ideas rather than
just being confident and composed and that is not a sign I like to see with heretics.
Yeah, something that you touched upon, Tuka, was the Sage specifically and the fact that
Vitality was able to deal with it. The Sage was a nuisance to put it bluntly.
Yeah, I think that Boo has proven why this agent can be so cool in a map like Breeze,
like we see so many different things. Yes, Chronicles said there in the interview that
at the end you kind of like are able to read into this, but you cannot deny that this is a nuisance
to go up time and time again.
Krishmaras getting the kill here.
I think that we have many examples of this.
Yeah, and here it blocks off the post-battle on the pistol.
Like the retaking team's going to have to break all of those walls.
And here we see another little, like, goofy one where he's able,
like, Benji's able to look through the Viper wall there,
get an easy frag, one more of the TikTok kind of style walls.
But yeah, a lot of rounds, even here, 2v3.
Using that wall to isolate some of the jewels off here,
was able to help them win this 2v3.
It's being used in both a battle-sage kind of way and also a good macro kind of way, allowing the team to support their execs and support getting the plant down, as you can see here.
On the B exec blocking Insignor, completely unable to run away completely, and here's the whole stage moment here, it's him just getting the kill, and then boo, usually you get traded here on that 30 HP, but he's able to sit behind the wall and just frag out, and it was a really good game for him.
So much utility that we're trying to use to get him out of there, like Yampi used his molly, so you know, I was also trying to use his shotguns, because you also cannot see what's on the other side of the wall, and if on top of that, you put that boot is feeling incredibly comfortable in the agent?
Yeah, I think Sage is one of the reasons why I thought they were in control of this map completely. On the flip side, on Vitality's side, I believe it was a player like Chronicle that was delivering in this game.
He's a player that steps up in these moments and was it had to think deep to get them out of the hole
They were in in that first half. Yeah
I mean he even said it in the check-in afterwards with Matt next map is going to be a complete stomp
So I'm looking forward to see how that is going to play out or if but yes
Chronicle was the player that really stepped up to the plate for this first map for vitality and has had a phenomenal performance
Individually when it comes to dealing with a lot of the things that bikes that Herades was throwing at them
I didn't actually check how many three case he had, but he honestly felt like every single round that my strategy was winning
At least he was good for two, but mostly for three
We spent a lot of time highlighting kushmaras and how annoying it is to play against him
It didn't feel like that for crown and we also heard the confidence in his words in the sideline interview
If he's having this kind of day because of the roles that he's playing clashes so much with the strengths that heretics bring on to the table
that maybe he might be right.
He might be, he might not be.
Because over at the Heirdex camp we also had a bit of a check-in with their coaches to see what happened here on this breeze and what we can expect on Lotus.
We're off to Lotus next for Vitality, I've been running Vyze. Is she a hard counter to Neon and what's the key to getting her into a stall?
Um, I mean, yeah, it's good against Neon. I wouldn't say it's like a hard, hard counter. There's a lot of variants that are really good against Neon.
say it's been one of them. It's definitely one of the more difficult agents to put against
as Neon, but we have answers for it and yeah, shouldn't be an issue, hopefully.
We have answers for it and it shouldn't be an issue. That's what I want to hear,
that's what I want to see as well, because again, I want this to go all the way to the
five maps and Lotus is that map that comes up next, which for Vitality is looking really good.
Yeah, it's looking pretty good and although I like the mentality, that is the mentality that
you hope to go into the map and honestly based on the showings that we've been seeing lately
especially with Wood and Krashmaras and how they've been performing on this map that is what I
want to see also they're going to be starting on the on the deep and so it's actually it's going
to be measuring how aggressive Vitality is going to be and if they actually can get into their heads
yeah I make no mistake like I really favor Vitality's composition on this map I keep
diving heretics they keep proving me wrong but I think that Vitality run the best composition
with the Viper and the Sentinel is something we're seeing very popular in America's right now.
And going to London, this is a big matchup to see if heretics can survive a lotus against a very
good cog that we're seeing globally right now. At the beginning of the day we were speaking
about Kushmaraslu, we were also speaking a lot about Sayonara and the fact that he can be incredibly
flexible, fitting into anything, fitting into all of the plants, especially if those compositions
take you to a place where you need an extra initiative, you need an extra Sentinel, you need
You need a Viper here and there.
That is the player that you can be happy to have on your roster
because he can comply with all of your needs.
Yeah, you did a whole segment on him,
you need yourself or your highlighting sign there as the player.
But I want to bring this back to the reddit side of things
because I do feel like this is the map that is going to be a testament
as to whether or not they'll be able to mentally reset
and come back into this race.
Yeah, for sure. I think our defensive loads us here.
I think it will be a struggle.
If I'm Vitaliy's coaching staff, I am abusing the C site.
Over and over again. There is no Viper on the map with no orb. It's down to Benji usually by himself to deal with the CXX
And even if I tell you don't want to do that
They have the Viper to go back towards A and re-clear with the wall and with the new Lotus map the route changes there
It's a lot easier for the Viper to get value. So I tell you you have a lot of options
Have we liked the Viper specifically coming off of Benji because we're seeing it more and more?
Yeah, but I don't think it's the is the win condition for for this map and speaking about win conditions
I think that Yampney had very very good reese on on breeze and he was using his utility very very well
That is something that also needs to happen here when he's on faith to put it in more blood terms
I don't think that would you this is very good on this map
I think you need a lot more anchoring tools and on the attack side specifically you need ways to
Re-clear out the map. Yeah, and I thought you this does not do that
You need the vibrate you need the sense normal opinion and it's a test for vitality to see if they can just win the map through
their agents select and if they can't then they're going to have to go back to the drawing board.
And for heretics aside, they're going to be playing a lot of this kind of style of composition
in London and so this is going to be a test for them to see if they're good enough.
I think you've put it perfectly but to get to London we first need to wrap up these finals
where so far Vitality is in the lead as they won that first map. Ken Heretics,
burning things around on Lotus. We'll find out with our casters, Richard Tom.
Vitality started there, sent to the top of EMEA with one map under their belt,
but it's a best of five. There is so much more left to play for for Vitality.
Safe port in this storm coming in on Pearl. But now we go to the home turf
of heretics. It's time to see how Lotus is going to shape up.
I think we've heard a lot of questions down on the analyst asking about what we're going to see in play here the
Chronicles vice against kosh maras on that neon do you expect to see kosh maras have a tough game here today?
He has a bit having a tough game with that often
I think especially with them getting the defensive side start
That's actually the thing that worries me more because they've been playing it so
Aggressively, but they are in your face almost the entirety of the game
And so it's more going to be how strong is vitality default can you quell what is an almost disrespectful defense and if not
Do you have ways to adapt to it?
The attack side from vitality minute 20 on the clock and a slow approach indeed there spotted some
presence be main
We get to take any real control of their own and where they're going towards you know most of the time
Especially in the early stages, you're gonna see that vice setup on C this time. It is deep on the A side
They'll get close and hear the wall fairly soon
But before that a battle and it's costumers to fight the first with a double from what this round is done
umpy
Recovers at least the sheriff. Some headshots, some ball bangs depending on where he is.
And some miracles need to happen here today for him to have any chance. Look at that setup as well.
They are three men stacked up ready with the firing squad when he emerges. And all he can do
is try to toy with his food like that. He go in, pop a shot, get out, hope that he can
not even make the numbers doable, but less unreasonable. And so far it's impossible.
I even have a pot flash on the other side of there. It will be absolutely nothing.
It's a fantastic mid-rounding from Heretics as well. They wait for that contact on V,
the second in comes through, they go, okay, Flare they likely to rotate. Let's go back towards A,
even with the setup on that side of the map. And they just set up like a firing squad, a mold them all down.
I'm impressed he hasn't lost his voice over the last few days, it is a streak of games
that of course led to him qualifying to London, a home event, and something else.
This was the defensive side fear, because you sort of mentioned that like, I think there's
gonna be issues at times maybe on the attack for Kosmaris but on the defense
he is the issue for everyone else yeah we were talking before the game it's like
this guy there's a lot in the early stages fighting towards a main he's now
on his way back there but caught off by a snake fight this fan doesn't get the
kill but we'll well and okay we're stabilized her just really don't want
to lose anyone else but I want to be caught in the wall with Tainara down and
Still not bad in the Aries.
He found a cosmetic.
Is he the exception?
The exception that proves the rule.
I mean, give me that at least.
I will give you that.
I genuinely think he's made the Aries look really good.
Almost every time, genuinely almost every time I've seen him buy it on this map.
And I really do take my hat off to him because it shows what a solid player he is
that he can make use of such a trash weapon.
But he's even more dangerous when he gets the Odin out, which will be pretty soon.
And I think for Heretics in general, that is the benefit of this guy.
of this guy, he gets an unbelievable amount of value out of those AMA's early fights.
And I think, Dealer, there's so much you can do from there, you can leave him tired and
just have the infield route there, or as they did here, play the early rotate and then just
make it a nightmare for anybody to cross to the site.
No matter what you do, it's a headache, that's for sure.
Well, he has gone for maybe a slight upgrade, at least for now.
the judge in hand again the defensive side of heretics can be suffocating to
play against big change-up as well and this is gonna be the big thing I think
for vitality on their defense as well it is changing this vice setup moving it
constantly to make it difficult to to read into exactly where it's coming to
thorns popped early they were about to go down to the main so it's expected by
look in the close corner, Kosh Marus, once that wall is toyed with, he's there to take the kill, but
he can't get out of there. The fast lane to the man advantage trading hands.
The thing for Vitality is they don't have a lot of space to work with.
Now back to the B site, it's looking real attractive.
That's the thing, everything just got cleared. We saw the defenders throw through a prowl on B
and a boom bot on A, so they knew they weren't there for now at least.
Benji's job has just been to slow them down as much as possible, but that's a nice shot.
Sayonara's head ripped off, there's another player waiting on the ankle, and Yumpy actually
just almost out for mail, swings off the back of the parallel that didn't even find a connection,
puts them back into an advantage, but this is of course a bonus round for Heretics.
How much damage can they do?
a doubt a difficult retake but like you say it comes down to damage still have
that paranoia to fight their way back through you can see the line being drawn
right now I think that's the line of the paranoia to come in there it is
firing off it walks into a beautiful pick up from move nice setup but now
without utility they still need to find those two kills yumpies looking to make
a move through the smoke in his timing! Stop line! Yumpy! Lux in the first round for
Vitality and that is unbelievable a second earlier. He was being watched and he chose his moment
Yeah, not bad way to get his first five kills of the game on the board
Filthy correction
That's the quietest he's ever been
genuinely
two to one a
Big round needed from young Pete
In a round where heretics hadn't invested too much sure it's a huge victory gets him a nightfall online
But of course for the side of heretics, it's not the end of the world showstopper available as well
And this time playing more aggressively on that sea side of the map
The wall instead has been placed on beat
They've left Koshmaras
At least for the moment it was a solo a defense, but now he has a friend
Nades got in cause has to run and there's no wall to hide behind any more big pickup
But wood answers back a deep show stopper sent through to trade out his teammate does damage as well
You can see Chronicle and Sionara wearing the scars of that last fight
Before their trouble they get rubble. That's it
Sionara
Hoping to catch an angle, but it's not the best gun for this fight
Boo and Rienz would be one hit, but the man he'll have to face seems to be woot
The deed woots the one to face him
Big pick but the three players on a
That means Benji's all alone, but that seems to be where he does his best work job
Yeah, they would have known this
His goal is always just to try and buy time lots of counter utility leaving him in a bit of an awkward position
Attempting to try and give them the space, but he has bought enough time for the rotation.
Yeah, but he's just getting spammed down!
Another from Woot!
We saw it ace in the last round, potential for one in this.
Woot has been on fire on this map.
In particular, 23 and 15 the last they played, but can he already look to get towards that once again?
He's 8-1 right now over the top.
Paranoia has left Dercret at awkward spot, but he does deal with Woot.
However, the trade is thick and fast and critical.
Cannot hold on with such low HP, it's a one and done for Vitality, and another hot start for Heretics.
It was such a nice play by Woodman, you saw the Nade go through as the plant was coming in,
it's a little bit down the stairs, so you have a choice.
Run through the Nade, not a good choice.
Or go to the corner where you're safe, and rain it out.
Take any port in the storm, but this man's waiting at the port, look at him!
Both of them are spanned.
All part of the plan.
Disgusting setup.
And so quick adaptations in the moment.
That's what gives them the upper hand.
That's what gives them the edge.
And with that edge they have made Vitality bleed.
After Yampy's fourth ace in VCT EMEA,
Vitality find themselves still on that starting block.
Still with one round under their belt where their leader did it all.
And it's put them in a very weird position economically.
Two players with pistols.
Profit will even be down to just 200 credits.
This is almost a full investment from them.
And the rest still having some rifles to play with.
I feel like they've done this because of the ults that they either have or almost have.
With a start like that, Rien's going down.
Those ults become more and more dangerous.
I think the economy's been a little bit shaky.
for a couple rounds. Now the outlaw has been very viable. We said it last round
it was what Riyans and Buu on the light shields and now well Riyans has
already fallen victim to it with Benji and Buu in that same boat. One shot
we'll take them down. A good time to pull it out and a reward already found.
Yes they've got the tools as well to bring this across the line. Nightfall
can be put into play. A showstopper can be directed as a result of that and well
there you go Benji's killed himself he's taking himself out with the thorns well
well Durka made a precision play moments ago but thank is clear maybe not
so much with the boom but don't think it's gonna matter though crazy round to
win yeah and that was just that's the thing it was almost a full investment
from Vitality but what they've able to do with it is all the more impressive
Benji becomes a target on this seaside. You mentioned the changing up of utility and maybe the presence of the wall shifts his A site hold in the early rounds but for the most part his domain is C and it's something that clearly Vitality have in mind for okay let's put the pressure on here and sure.
Sometimes the Neon is gonna struggle, but they don't have a Neon. They have Durka who can exploit that utility
He's been doing or attempting to destroy a lot of it with his Nade
And because of that it has put well Benjion enough pressure that he ends up killing himself
Yeah, I do think the nightfall
Along with the showstopper
It is the kind of thing that forces you to make some mistakes just a little
Unfortunate that when he gets hit by the nine ball, the maid had already put him low because the 1HP instantly
And while trying to dodge the shower stopper
It's a taking himself out of the game
It is just a nice loss from every angle
But it's also like you know that you put enough pressure on him on seed and he did that like the setup was perfect
He execute couldn't have went better and now heretics
One round in the lead. We still have those credits to put in.
Immediately you can see them now looking for more dominant control on C. You can't allow for that to continuously happen.
Although Vengi is down to 10 health. It's more the trap. The debate that's being thrown.
They know he's there already trapping him in position. This is not what you want with the season.
up top on the other side of the map. A little ring around the rosy. An opportunity for either side. There we go.
There's the- okay. Let's make it a little bit more awkward than it already was.
The problem though is they've already lost both players on the other side of the map. The early tag was enough
to ruin the day of Benji Fischi and the Jar Jar close was spotted immediately. Rianzo has done well. In fact, incredibly well.
Two quick kills, Yumpy was deeper than expected and now he will return the battle of the fades for who's winning this round.
And while now Boot has to face off against his fellow IGL, plus one.
He's got a little bit of backup there for Yumpy.
The battle sage, it's been a slow map to start with the lead there, but maybe not for long.
Vitality nipping at their heels, and Boo's gone into handy traffic.
Headshots traded, but two guns better than one.
Three to three.
Vitality have caught up again.
Yeah, they genuinely felt like both Riennes and Yumpy at different times in this round,
had one the round.
But this is a problem.
I think his prowler early, ends up catching out, Koshmarus, clearing him from that aggressive position.
Definitely a problem. Reads us incredibly well.
We can...
Yumpy just able to slip in there and then hit the reaction shot of the blue.
Turns it into a massive advantage.
The man is a beast.
As a wise man, one said to himself, was he quoting you?
Could have been, Tom.
Could have been.
While a timeout from Team Heretics pulled into effect,
going into round number seven, as we said, vitality.
They pick up the pace, pick up the steam, the momentum,
and now find themselves not just neck and neck,
but with the advantage when it comes to economy.
It has been a bit of a drop off, as we said, from Boo,
their battle sage from the previous,
but one man that's always putting up the numbers is Woo.
Yeah, I think especially when you look back
to their game yesterday on Lotus, he was incredible.
I think it was 23 and 15.
He was just dominating in a lot of very awkward positions.
I think outside of these, spinning around with the door
at times and managing to find multi-frags.
It's a map where Wu is clearly incredibly comfortable.
But the fact that, again, you've had that hot start,
you've had then a lower buy or a weaker buy
from Vitality that gets them the win,
and now they're right back, seemingly, in the driver's seat.
It is shaky, because, of course,
you have a huge disadvantage when you come in
from that lower bracket.
Not only have you played a best of five,
but you also have your opponents banning two maps
and they get first pick.
But this is the one map that you've got to keep.
If you lose this one, it really feels dangerous.
That is a nice shot, though.
It's a very good start from Team Heretic.
That's so dangerous.
Weaknesses.
And look, yeah, you're going to make those risky plays.
Does he all?
Expect to see the old popped.
I mean, if this was the advantage on its own, yeah.
Yeah, maybe.
Instead, take the weapon, fall back, and reset.
Maybe even stack.
Eretics are definitely gravitating towards the C site.
That's where Vitality's hits coming through.
And the pacing is going to be everything.
The longer they wait, the more players are going to be here.
This, they expected a wall.
Exodus of the right side of the map is almost complete.
There's three players here now.
Powered away to set through.
Chronicle dropping Lutho.
And that's the real wrench in the works.
This should have been Lutho's opportunity
to catch some off guard.
But instead, he's still cleared.
He's still checked.
And now a near impossible retake shaping up for heretics.
And even then, do they want to send everyone to this?
And she could just save the rifle.
And they've got the credits to buy in the next.
So I think with an opportunity, they're
going to risk it spotting the thorns.
That will at least allow them in, but all too easy for young
peas having a great game so far.
And they are just going to clean this up with ease.
Vitality.
Take the lead in this fact.
I'll be honest, that pit was the Viper's plural.
That's pretty fine.
It's very rare you get to see the fully pitted-up mask as well.
Props to you for that.
Also, that has a glowing backpack as well, when all the lights were off, cosplay looks
sick.
You gotta feel bad from there as well.
We swung into that fight up against a Chronicle that was hit by the near sight.
the paranoia landed and still it didn't matter. He hit a shot. I could have been
something. And perhaps it's all they have to do is keep giving themselves the chances.
What in the world was that? That's not an Odin. That is not an Odin. That's slightly
different than maybe what was expected on the other side. That looked too fast.
They looked too slick. Yes! Looked ahead at it. That's crazy. Well, okay. And again,
Kaushmaris, one of the big working points. Four team Heretics on that previous map
was the fact that he was consistently finding those opening fights, or at least the space
to be traded off of on the back of it, and a good sign to see him activated in this buy
round. The read is right again for parents except that the numbers here, they might not
need them. Benji seems to be enough all by his lonesome, and the tradeouts all but guaranteed
around. Yeah, maybe keeping him on the A site is the choice. Chronicle not gonna
win his first flight and he had three more to come after that even if he won
it. I like the change up a more aggressive stance on C. I think it was
something that Vitality were able to fall back into repeatedly is okay. We put
pressure on B, we put pressure on A. Let's go back towards this side of the
map. You get rid of Sionara. You kind of have to be a little bit quicker with it.
You can't go for those late rotations back using the Viper Screech. You need to
Hold on to what you have.
I think it important round for Benji because I said like that him on the seaside has mostly just been can I survive?
15 pieces of utility at once. Yeah, and the answer has been no
Send out cost to kill someone early. It's a lot less utility coming your way. They've already pushed the
That's a big mistake. Good brands didn't seem to think it possible
for a profit to already be rubble. It was a standard Omen TP across and they're just
looking the wrong way. He's been literally gifted the opening fight. And now Benji,
boo, Angkosh who hasn't up by the way, I mean could pop the ult. I think he's gonna just
walk through this. They're waiting. There's so much time. Why would Vitality over commit?
You know there's gonna be a rotation. They get another smoke back online in a couple of seconds.
The only thing that could it could catch a timing because perfect was the widest angle
That was one of the only ways that could have gone wrong and it did
rotation back from the operator
Maybe expecting this to be more of a C hit
Instead the B site is open for business
Crowler even got stuck in the wall
So it took them a little bit longer to get into the B site and allowing heretics to send out cost
He'll wrap around to come behind on B.
This could be huge.
Koshmarus has the world in his hand and all that the others need to do, Benji and Boo,
is take this one slowly, buy some time and hopefully draw their attention.
There's the ult.
That should, in their mind, send someone into the scope of Koshmarus.
That was so risky.
It doesn't, and Boo ran, I mean.
It's heped in.
I don't know about that one, thinking he could get space off the back of the ult, but the
win condition here seems clear.
Koshmarus needed to find something and now he needs to save.
Now he's got to run, because they're going to hunt him down right on his tail,
but he's made it away.
Oh, he's being so mad.
He's going back for more.
I think he thought maybe one had already made it through that seaside.
The madman felt like he was poxed in.
Maybe he wasn't.
Instead, he's going to go down.
He does have the credits to buy himself an operator,
but the rest of the team are going to be in a little bit more of an earthquake
spot. They have solid C's as well. I think that was the major part of it. It's just players
were stuck in the open because of the C's. This, yeah, this is mech. I guess I think
it's because Yumpy stays on the site with no gun, but I do think you're expecting them,
especially with the thorns down, to just give up the site completely. Maybe a bit of an
oversight.
is ambitious we'll say it that way as we like to do it. One round between them we
take a look at the economy for team heretics there is not a lot to work
with if they lose this one Vitality could find themselves with a lead
guaranteed at the half it's not even better. I like giving boot the operator
as well he's won away from the showstopper a single pick in his
direction. I love this play. They're so often fighting aggressively you just go in the tree.
He's stuck it as well. Now they have to worry about the player in behind. It's something that's
being thought about but it leaves Coach Maris to fight alone and he's done a lot of damage.
He hasn't been able to get the kill. Budo does clear profit. He's trying to join up with the rest
of his team. If anything, the heretics have kind of come out of this situation all right.
They lost a bucky. They still have everybody else alive but look at the HP and vitality.
Yeah, especially the Viper's pick, 7 HP, you put that down, you better have a very thick wall to hide behind.
As well as that, the push-up from Benji Fischi, a single step being made here by Chronicle, and his round is over.
Benji won't push for now, he'll contain, he needs to keep his utility up on the B site, so they have that little bit.
Oh, the backbomb too, it would spot the ball.
He's put it, he's got it.
Sino, the 7HP player, taken out by the Nade.
The blue bot sees someone close, and that's the showstopper's time to shine.
Six seconds as the showstopper lands, and now time jumps about.
He's got it, and they're covering him.
The blue ball.
Oh, it's a disaster.
The round could have been there.
And that split second decision has led heretics back to equal footing.
No faith.
No faith.
I understand it.
I hate the obviously you see him running at you and you go okay I've got to try and hit
the shot.
That's so unlucky for Cyanara.
It goes actually further than he would have expected as well.
And then he has it.
But Matt Pigsley lets go and Chronicle hit the shot immediately.
A bit of a very small window.
That will be enough.
Heretic's back level once again.
The Vitality, they still have the credits and in fact they come in with a better buy than their opponent.
Still having that Viper's available.
A lot of ult's expended throughout the last couple of rounds for the side of Heretic's.
Seems though that they've got a good read early on.
We're definitely starting to see the weight of the game adding up in some of these decisions.
Dirk knows full well that he should never. The second he comes off the plant, he realizes
I made a mistake. Been high pressure moments like that. That's where you force those kind
of errors. Dirk a turn away. Just as Wu was about to peek and then he pops his ult just
as Kaush does. Very unlucky round for him. There Kaush Mares can rest easy. They're
looking to deal with Yumpy. And they know exactly where he is. At least they suspect
the Nade is good and they're giving up no ground until he is gone. Now the retake can happen in a
5v3 and Sionara, that Viper's pit is maybe the last bastion of hope that they have.
Yeah, it is not the safest of positions to stand on. Snake bite through and he's been caught,
that leaves his teammates out in the open. They were able to hide within,
Prophet can only get one and Chronicle, a man of many miracles. This would have to be turning
wasn't to why there is no chance of survival.
Ernie Red will be his blood on the pavement.
That's going to be the lead take of the heretics,
a chance for a victory on the defensive side
that looked like he was sleeping away from them.
They had the lead, and it looked like they were going
to lock it in at the half, but now Vitality.
They have to fight to be neck and neck.
Nice!
Nice down!
What about NICE?
Oh, good cop, NICE, that's NICE.
Heretics again.
Finding their rhythm at just the right moment.
One round left to go in the half,
but Lee can still be theirs.
No ulti's to play with either, but Koshmarus
is running it down in their spawn.
The paranoia is being used about as deep as I've ever seen.
From the attacking side, using it in their own spawn,
and in fact, standing there waiting for further aggression.
But Heretics, they know something smells off.
They backed off already.
What a crazy early round.
Oh, the only damage was Profick taking a couple of shots to the knee,
but now he's been hit with a wall bang as well, so...
He is...
A little bit unlucky.
A bad luck, Brian, so to speak.
They are, again, looking to put this pressure once more.
I really like the switch up from Eroticz.
They realized that just our delay on this seaside was not working.
Benjy was getting overwhelmed, let's put him in a position where he can thrive and he has been.
And then for Vitality...
It seems like they have a vendetta against him because they are going back to that A site once again,
but with a pacey opportunity to go back to B,
they might still go the other way.
It's a tough game so far, at least gets out with one, I mean that was the pair, as he gets pushed down, Benji, Thorn's the delay, his Wude again, same spot and same result, Yumpy and Profekthal this time!
Big kills for Team Heretics and with Durkuk, the last man standing, putting up one hell of a fight, Spike rescues with six seconds, oh he hasn't got it!
got it now I thought he had it in his hands he thought he had it too but in the end it's
seven to five the team that looked set to trail walks into the next half of the lead yeah it is
going to be a victory just about but nonetheless we have a lot of amazing cosplayers in the arena
today. Nat is standing by with Sage and Chamber.
That is the joys of having such a full house right now, having so many people in the arena.
We also get some amazing cosplayers. We've got Sage, we've got Chamber here, and I have
you guys introduce yourself.
How long you've been cosplaying for?
Hi, my name is Casey, and I've been cosplaying for just over a year.
And yourself?
Hi, my name's Wes, I've been cosplaying for about three or four years now.
So there's a little bit of experience there, and you guys have come around watching a couple of games here,
and so I have to ask, is there a certain team you were cheering for
and the players that might not have made it to Grand Finals?
I mean, if we're talking about a certain team, I think the boys are not orange, fanatic.
A little bit of heartbreak there.
Yeah, one does fanatic play.
the game. Unfortunately, we'd
have to rewind time a little
with that, but we got vitality
in the heretics and of course,
Sage and chamber were played
in our previous match. How
happy were you to see those
agents? Oh, absolutely. Delighted
scribbling pocket sage of a
battle stage. You're going to
bring out stage all the time.
It is chamber. Your favorite
agent play. I thought it was
easy is, you know, very fast.
You very quick. You know, got
a lot of the money in front of
you know, it just it just makes
sense. And of course, final
or heretics lift that trophy.
Oh, I think both teams deserve it,
but I think it'll be lovely to see
heretics break that second place curse.
Stand up.
Can I see the boy Benji back home
bring that trophy as well?
There we go.
I would love the double whammy there.
But we'll see how our map to here closes out.
We head back to our casters.
Asian Benji go to London with a trophy already in tow.
It will be something special.
But for heretics, they start on the back foot in this series,
but not in this map.
leaving the first half with a seven to five score line.
And Tom, I'll ask you, Venus, Vitality win map one,
and map three is how did is their best map that they've saved.
Not for last, but, well, we'll see for the middle.
And I'll ask you afterwards,
because now I want to talk about the stage two finals in Barcelona,
while we've got it up.
Scan that QR code, get yourselves your tickets before they're gone.
We're going to be going on a road show to close out stage two,
but for stage one's finale, it's nothing but these rosters.
Already five rounds in the board top. You expect the defense to be easier for Vitality or harder?
Well, based off the time they played it maybe that little bit harder
I do think that them up against that neon is gonna be a test for Coach Maris
I didn't they have a good comp defensively, but heretics can be very very difficult to play over the pistol
Might just prove that. Well, it seems like Coach Maris might be fine. That's one hell of a way to start
It's a solid beginning, but the ending still to be written.
Team Heretic's could steam into the lead with just a few more kills and
Koshmara's is happy to oblige.
But the spike still needs to be picked back up and
with 50 seconds on the clock, they've got time.
The pressure's not on for the attackers and I think you can see that they're
sitting down waiting for someone of vitality to make that move.
But they know the spike's down, it's not gonna happen.
And so all three move to the tree, move through the door,
and that means that Chronicle might just,
he actually could get the jump from behind this box.
If Sionara could distract from it,
this crossfire could work out beautifully,
but now the wall up, this is their own wall,
a ruse that they want to sell.
The Chronicle isn't here.
The wall will soon fall, and then Sionara's
trying to strike by Tality, fighting their way,
clawing their way back into this one, seven to six.
perfect once they realized where those few players were that the interplay
between them not sure now's the time for that I'll be honest with you also a bit
offended you didn't ask for mine by the way what not to do I don't know it takes
skill to get this level of shine something that only someone like
chronicle in these moments can really show see I brought it back
wonderful and thanks for the six seven we love that anyway seven or six
It is still the lead help for now, but I feel like it's going to be evened up unless
Koshmara is hitting some more shots and that's the thing.
Three kills in the last round.
But despite being dropped, that ended up being a bit of a burden.
A few Bulldogs, SMGs, so a fair amount that can be lost in this round of Fatality.
Not playing any pistols, maybe a little bit wary that there could have been more investment
here.
We're taking quite a bit of damage in some of those rounds of Breeze, so I think maybe
it's playing it safe.
Not a bad time to show us an error of caution.
Vitality aren't quite pushed up here on A.I.
Again, this is the expected set-up of dangerous when you're against that low by Paranoia Lans,
but so do the right clicks for Koshma.
No!
No!
Man, advantage doesn't last long.
Heretic sir. He's too strong. I must take him out myself
They're looking to get a little bit more damage out of this one again, you know five before
Still not enough to make me believe that when but four before we go back damage is what we're looking for and okay
Every kill from this point is a bulldog left on the floor it is a costly blow
Chronicle
win many more clutches than he should have. Well now a big challenge 12 seconds though
that spike has to be planted on B unfortunately Chronicle is already thinking about the long
game he's wrapping around. It does mean he'll be in the spot that maybe won't be expected
at this point. You can see most are looking elsewhere it's only the ends that he's walking
into. And another foul but it's not enough. And a moda thrifty by Team Heretics and it
It starts with a small risk but the impact fell to the end.
He's already killing it!
He threw the bait off!
He's killing it!
That's toxic!
There's no way!
There could have been someone else there, Tom.
Oh yeah.
That's not some real...
But the advantage is just...
It felt like for a moment they were going to check that out.
Benji Voli, Voli Voli.
Oh, we didn't get him.
Okay, that's probably why.
The microphone's being replaced.
and then decided not to.
Oh no, it's a hugely damaging round for Vitality.
A chance to level up the scoreline, ends up giving a huge boost to the other side.
A poor dog retrieved, spare credits for the next,
and that's if they don't win this one super cleanly.
They could have even more in the bank.
They do have a stack on the right side of the map for now,
but you feel like heretics, maybe unlike freeze.
We'll check things thoroughly before walking into a site.
He would certainly expect so. Hope so.
Been leaving Benji to play this super late B-play.
He has to make a move now as the A-gaps are about to come into effect.
They'll meet up with the rest of the team, clear all this space out.
Nicely done.
No one from Vitality here, and that's been read, so now the planet comes through.
For Vitality, you know, I'm not even going to bother talking about what their objectives are here.
here I said heretics a we're hoping praying for a bit of damage in the
previous and they want it and you know pretty clean fashion all things
considered going down to the 3v1
who knows but this one is feeling a little less like this point yeah if
anything dying to your opponents here would be a bad thing crush Morris is
two away from all who is four away but if you run into it means a little much
with the angle. Oh, Koshmara's maybe sticking around a little bit more than I'd like, but
of course for Wu, it is only the SMG now, so he's going to try and just get one more
and even the death is going to bring him ever closer. At least not giving too much away
to the heretic side, but it's still going to come into the next round with full rifles
and a hell of a lot of credits in the bank. A little tiny note, but Koshmara's exiting
solo against an eco out through Hobbit was, it got me a little bit nervous for a moment
But it's okay as we know as it always happens to mini on the desk
It's like if it works then his opinions wrong so your opinions wrong. Yep. My bad
Always split up and look for clues exactly studied in those. That's what your shoes told me
That makes sense to no one else. That's that's
Mystery machine to be specific
the timeout from vitality and
definitely understandable. They came in winning the pistol here. Okay, well,
actually go back further. Closing out the previous half, there was a moment that
looked favorable to them, or if they win, they're then sat at at least a 7-5, if not
a 4-score at the half. Then they win the pistol here. You could easily be looking
at them on double digits at the moment, and instead, that feat is about to be
accomplished by Team Heretics with just one more round win while Vitality are
being left in the dust. And that's the question I wanted to touch on more so. Coming into
this map, if Vitality end up with 6 to 9 rounds, it's not damning really is it considering
the fact that they have Pearl up next. I think the only way I'd be really worried is if Heretics
completely rolled Vitality from this point forward.
Yeah, for sure. I think they're going to go into Pearl very confident, but nonetheless,
I think it's a map that hasn't looked particularly good for the side of Heretics. It will just
be one of those things you might think about a little bit where it's like, ah, we did have
opportunities there. We still do. Coming into the first fire round. The worry though
is that that double Jules has been on form. They've been really tough to beat. Both Koshmara's
and Wu have had a great map so far and although this setup should be more difficult for them
to break through, that hasn't proven to be the case thus far.
It won't be the first time we've seen Benji with one of those vine lineups.
There comes the Nade, sending one player back on the goalie, caught though.
He's down very, very low.
Caught in place by the Thorns, yet still drawing breath, has back up now.
Yumpy's caught two through the door, and a nice response by Buu.
The battle Buu is back in effect, and he's looking for a fight.
He looks for the battle, finds the first for victory.
evades him
9-7 a much needed round just about secured for Vitality.
Yeah, it is a bit worrying though that was so close.
Now you're in a position where you could have finally made a little bit in terms of the credits.
Of course your opponents have made so much over the last couple of rounds by winning the second and then having clean in the next.
Chronicle does incredible work though because the whole idea of that site is to target him.
You want to throw the nade, the seize, you kill him off, you get him low, and the fact that he survives and then gets a multi-frag is the whole reason that they're able to win that round.
Still though, well look at the buy, it talks more than anything else I could say.
You've got Yumpy who's down to a pistol after you win, I guess, your first buy round of the half, and then your opponents come in with plenty to spare.
Vitality still on that upward road on the lower side of it.
The climb needed that, Flash was perfect.
Unfortunately, I think it was there.
Yeah, it definitely was.
Look at who's coming.
Perfect.
And let's perfect throw one incredibly far.
I think that might have come from Poo.
Couldn't have went any better for the other team.
But unfortunate moment.
Even still though, a showstopper in the post-plot.
You might be looking at that steel garden and thinking, okay, that's going to take that weaponry away.
But it's not going to do too much.
That, however, is a bit of a nasty surprise to Flank.
But what wonders now down to Wichita and clear, and he can't get anything.
I expected, after the openers, that that could go all right for Vitality.
I did not expect it to be an In-Zone flawless.
Aaron takes the team that we talk about doing some of their greatest work when they've got that win in their sails,
when they've got momentum on both maps.
We've seen that momentum, but they haven't been able to win away not far enough every time vitality are catching back up
And now for heretics pressure is
He's
Seems like chronicle is having a great time
They may be around behind, but it seems like they are slowly climbing back into this one
Let's have a little listen into how things are going in the comms
He will keep you
One, not one.
I'm staying on the left.
I'm going with Kosh.
Okay, we will do it as well.
Benji, I drop, you can take it.
I'll take Wispy.
We'll cancel, yes.
One on the angle.
No one close.
I'll give you...
Batman, care.
I'll give you waterfall smoke as if it's Exo.
Can I peek?
One more on?
I'm on it with you.
Yeah, I can actually kill you guys on enemy.
Yeah, both side.
Can I break it?
Yes.
There is a wall or not?
I don't know.
He's close.
There's no wall.
There's no wall.
Let's find him.
We can't beat them.
Can I call?
No.
Actually, can we take aim with my TP here?
Time is kind of low. Let's go.
We will go around.
Guys, 30 seconds.
Okay, go ahead.
We will go away.
We will go away.
I think we start guys.
Okay, now we will go scamp.
Guys, the caution is ready.
Yeah.
Ready.
Let's pick one.
Pick one, two.
I'm on the left.
One left.
Go, go, go, please.
I'm on the right side.
I'm on the right side.
So, do I push somebody?
No.
I'm on the right side.
I'm on the right side.
So, do I push somebody?
No.
I'm on the right side.
Wait for somebody
Wait wait wait
Did you give the spike?
Okay
Last one, take me from behind
Yes, yes
I got it
I'm 1A speed
Yes, you got this
I got blue one
One is already blue
Did you give turn one?
We should take him on control
Okay, careful
I'm gonna end
Take this baited, I'm all here
I got it
I'm playing drop
I'm playing drop
Guys, I'm gonna open thorns too
I hope you throw ones now
No, we can't force them
You will double peek three when I tell you
Yes, I'm ready
Right
Right
What are you doing?
I'm doing it now.
I'm on?
Yes.
Nice, nice, nice, nice.
Come on, come on, come on, come on.
What the f*** are you doing?
What the f*** are you doing?
What the f*** are you doing?
What the f*** are you doing?
What the f*** are you doing?
That's Benji Fischi again.
A massive round from him.
And that was the chance for Vitality to put themselves up 9-9 to equalize, but that lead
is defended.
God, they do so well in what was such a light round execution.
When he gets down to the last 15 seconds,
a completely blind player within the site and then Benji from the heavens.
Ah! This one!
They're lead back.
And also they didn't have to expend too much to do it.
They've still got three ultimates coming into this round.
The ult economy firmly in their favor.
And what could push?
Vitality on a serious back foot. That's the problem.
I feel like they're losing a lot of the rounds that really could build the economy for vitality
And then because of that it just puts all of those credits into their opponent's hands
Think the side of the Haritix got boom-botted as Yambi gets rolled over at least getting the one Durka in with the same
But the pressure up close. It's not gonna be too much
much. The Thorns put into play as well, so Heritage will at least make it to the site,
but as they do, they find out that secondary weapons they can do almost as much in the
right spot. That's shorty. It felt like dealing the final blow, but that does come just moments
later. Nine to ten. Vitality not letting their opponents too far away.
It's the same corner, but they don't check it immediately from the last round.
Because where's his last round, we heard them say Fridge, Fridge, he's Fridge.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And then they got caught up by me and Fridge.
I think maybe because they had already made a move elsewhere, they were like,
okay, it's not going to be just someone else sat, but then the pressure put on.
Come on, boys.
Genius, man.
Clearly it was part of the plan.
But yeah, Durka being that little bit further back, having to read onto their opponents,
and now putting heretics back into an awkward position.
Again, economically it becomes awkward,
but Benji does have some spare credits,
so a huge individual previous round,
and it will mean they can come back into this one.
And I do wonder for heretics at this point
if this comes down to almost just the game
getting the better of them a little bit.
They've had opportunities to run away with this.
We said the same for Vitality.
Now they've had to slip up of their own.
And the fact that the coaches have now decided, OK,
this is the moment, I think they know it's crunch time.
Oh, without a doubt.
Now, maybe Weber's given one of his big speeches down there,
rallying the troops for what could be one final run
to the finish line.
But for Vitality, it has felt like this is a squad unwilling
to relent to let their foot off the gas
as they climb closer and closer to the summit that
seemed so so far away a month ago. Even a thought of them being here seemed
outlandish. And now they look like they belong. Vitality one round behind and
heretics put to pressure. The buy not pretty. Oh Durka good work. He'll get a
second. It looked like he'd stick around for more easy thinking about it. Back and
forth he goes yes forth is exactly where it goes oh don't go he'll get it forth
sensational play and with that they are neck and neck vitality not giving up
yet that might just be a backbreaker that's one that you come into a round
for Harry Tix sure maybe it wasn't the biggest applause you least want to try and
do some damage. Dirk in his first map. Definitely looked a little bit rougher, but if he's
starting to wake up, he's starting to get into the game. This might just be a vitality
2-0 with their best map coming up next. It has to be now for Heretics. And while Koshmarus
is making all the utility, I guess that's one positive. And Wu has managed to get alongside
him. That's the A site under their control. A plumb seemingly guaranteed, but Sion R tries
to get ahead. Durka flanking quickly. They've again got aggressive on the other side, but
at this point that would be expected. Yeah, heretics have turtled really nicely. Not only
with the vice utility and the flash off that as well with the rose up on the wall, but
the fact that they have nightfall to work with, the only danger is that showstopper that's
in play. Durka has it ready to roll. They found an opening pick as well. Now it seems foolish
not to throw it in. And of course that's exactly what he does. The boom bop first to find him
in the corner. Y'all be with another big blow! Vitality steal the lead! They got so tunnel-visioned
in. They were so certain that every player was coming from the same direction. Tree was the danger
And Yumpy was forgotten. That's the problem. The man who's 21 and 14 just wasn't a thought.
And Boo was so busy trying to escape the showstopper that, okay, sure, found a kill at the end, but was almost irrelevant.
Other than the fact it caused a distraction. Now Heretics are facing up against the gauntlet.
The Vitality team that has quickly gone from being out to being a villain, a team that
people almost want to lose at times because they've sent everybody's favorite team pack
in the air, getting closer to doing it to another.
11 to 10 and Barwut has managed to walk, oh no, they have a chance, they didn't expect
Is anybody still to be there? Another round of an IGO backstab? Will this one be enough?
A minute five to work with as well.
Heretics still don't have the weaponry to work with, but there's two rifles just sitting there, back-kitting them in.
Vitality are split as well exact opposite sides of the map you would be hard-pressed to find players further away from each other
And there's the advantage for heretics the numbers
But with 40 seconds, they're still in BMA. They still haven't made that move that they're so hesitant waiting
for the wrap around for the push behind but
30 on the clock, it's time to get that plan through. That's where maybe Vitality can do well, group together, nightfall in play, and have that wrap around.
But, Heretics won't just sit and wait on the site, you have to imagine, they'll look to take some ground, and Yumpy spotted them.
There's the input through, Cobblestone, Profek sprints now to the site. Yumpy could be caught with you too, though.
Well, it's disastrous. Those two players sure, Profit knows that they're locked in and he'll get an offer of a fight, but boo!
The battle booed back for those final two, 11-211.
It's just crazy. It's like he saw a young P last round and when I could do that, but better.
The bait of his team makes him running towards the seaside and you expect it's a low buy.
Okay, they're just gonna scurry away, try and take the advantage they found.
the ball. It might not be
right at the top of the board,
but that has to be the most
impactful round we've seen in
this game so far. Still an
opportunity. The first time
operator and the first time
Odin on Kush Maras. We've
talked about this all the way
through this game from the very
beginning, but it's Durka that
Durka that strikes first and he's taking out Booth.
The climb not over for Vitality, but one loose stone.
And they can come tumbling down, show stopper for damage.
Nae perfectly positioned as well.
Guppy under pressure, goes down. A Hail Mary attempt to get damage in.
And you know what? He's done enough!
Durka and Profek follow up on those kills.
And with Benji all alone, spotted.
the spike not even planted there just grouping up to take him down together.
A loss on this map for Heretics would be...
Oh, he's been isolated.
I want B1.
The start, and it's not looking pretty.
Vitality 12 to 11.
Stealing this map out would put them 2-0 up in a best of 5
with their best map coming up next.
Heretics have never been in this much trouble.
This almost feels like a death sentence if they lose, but
I'll be honest at this stage, I'm not sure they are going to lose. It's such a back and forth.
I'm pretty sure Benji in that moment probably thought there'd be way more players on the other side of that wall.
But once again they sit on a low buy. It's been a map to forget for Rian's who we've spoken about.
This guy and his peak performance, his game versus foot was one that many won't forget for a long time.
The same could be said when they played fanatic.
The fact is, so far in this map, we haven't seen that version, Durka.
He's not showing away.
Three players here now.
As push comes to shove, Heretic's push forward knowing that there's two, knowing they're on site and that is enough for them to go the other way.
The third player spotted as the Viper orb goes up. At least I thought that was enough.
Maybe they think they'll get some aggression out. The vitality with numbers here will eventually go pushing through that smoke that they can catch.
Yumpy, who pushed up on B before and found a double, but no. Vitality are sitting back. They are patient.
If that is going to stand to them in the late round, because heretics are desperately hoping
a mistake is made.
Let's just look at the control they have.
You've got deep positioning from Yumpin.
You've got a jump spot in Chronicle who has his full kit on that A site.
Perfect for delay.
He can also take away all of their weaponry if he so desires.
30 seconds left.
The read is slightly wrong and Sayonara has been dealt with, the patience paying off.
Profec in position though. He got here in time and he will catch two!
Weaponry not at the ready! He will eventually fall, but he might have just done enough to give them that 2-0 start.
Weaponry about to be removed, but it wasn't removed just yet.
Rihanna's also woken up with a perfect time, and now Yumpy is all that's left to save them from OT.
They know exactly where he is and the Heretics keep on fighting.
They've risen back with wings of shadow.
Vitality looked like they had this series on lockdown.
Just one play away from having three chances to close out this series starting on their
best map but instead, Heretics still draw breath though the air may get thin.
You know, it's all just games.
That's what I said.
I said it before this round.
Reans was having a stinker,
and the second they need him most,
this man appears.
If you're a scoreboard, Stephen,
and set a home after the game,
and you look at it, you're gonna go,
oh, Reans, they sucked this game,
but he has literally kept them in the map,
and everybody knows when she gets to O.T.,
you can look at every single stat on the board,
and it becomes completely irrelevant.
It's those little plays.
I think two rounds as well of just the squad in it. The 4k was sensational and
Four heretics every little bump that they put in that road for vitality has come back and paid off here
They get an overtime they get another shot at their map
that daylight slip in regulation and
For vitality
We've seen them deal with it in this series already, being behind, having the win taken
out of their sails.
They always seem to come back stronger.
See if that's the case, because they're going to have no shot of me attacking.
This now comes down to resilience more than anything else.
We'd mentioned it.
It's Vitality win this map, they're 2-0 up going into their best map.
If Hattrit takes win this map, this game off.
It's a completely different story.
You might be thinking, okay, you would have wanted to win this clean, but it's not.
There's also something about almost losing and then clutching it out from the jaws of defeat
They kind of like the fires within a roster
Of course is a an unbiased party. I want all five maps
But I don't know why I'm getting in these next few rounds it's impossible to predict
How even just a singular round can flow with the clutches we've had to
corners not clear than
A moment's grasped by either side.
Well, then it's back out for Kaushma or some of this defense.
It's not doing much on that wall, I'll tell you.
It's a thick old wall at that angle.
The vitality seemed to have a clear idea of where they want to take this one straight to the C site.
Setups here, Banshee and Boer.
Smoke went out. Oh, it's free!
Onto Profek caught in the TP.
Now as they move to the side I mean there's no pressure on heretics. They
don't need to force those fights. They'll sit back, they'll wait, and they'll get another
opportunity. Five versus three now. They look down and out of their map, but they
are still in contention. Reans and Woot showing that in Sayonara. A tough game for
him, but a 4k on offer. A 1 versus 4 clutch. For all he knows it's being
defused and now the top comes in again just to remind him 13 for teen heretics the lead
and now the map on offer
very well played that seaside had been a problem all the way through Benji had been caught out
in a lot of these seaside defense rounds being able to hold and hold in that fashion but also
not over-facing the late round they were waiting for any aggression,
whoop, catching them and again it's been a fantastic map from him. Lotus seems
like a comfort pick. Can they now convert it? Because that has been the
issue for either of these sides. Converting leads has been difficult. They're
just gonna go straight back to the bread and butter. It seems of high pressure,
pacy round in to see just like their opponents in the last round
There's a plan secured
Defense with one
Big danger lurking around the corner. You can see Benji fishie sitting outside be waiting for his moment
I look goes down. That's a big spam kill by Profek. Unfortunately. That's the go signal for Benji fishy
who's now walking up on B for free, cost as well, even delays with the stun.
Buying time and time is all they need! It's BOOM! With a clean shot and now the
wrap coming through! Asylum Profec! Find their kills, Benji! Finally strikes!
Chronicles got Kashmaris! Benji's the last alive! Craylon! 18 HP in those last fights!
one shot was all they needed but he still draws breath he keeps them alive I
don't know how he got away with that. I think this round just perfectly encapsulates
exactly what we're talking about. A free site and open up a profit and just a
swing back in the other direction moments later and then as you said like
it seemed like Benji had the timing just about right a low HP critical and he
He lads the instant headshot just as they round the corner.
13-13.
Both teams able to retake on that seaside.
And now we fall back into level again.
Everything else forgotten.
These next two rounds are everything.
You can see the caution in the early approach from Vitality.
Again, holding for that aggression.
But they'll play for the space.
And this is something that heretics on their attack
when they played this super slow t-round,
they weren't taking space.
They weren't fighting for the map control.
They were waiting for a burst.
But Vitality clearly want a bit more push and pull to it.
That spam is dangerous.
but not yet going to find the reward I was looking for.
The spike is now in tree.
Three players there as well.
Well, we still see Chronicle and Profec.
Still, this looks like a fake.
It should be a fake, but oh, it's beautiful.
All the utility sent into that back corner.
And now Durka sent out to the site.
Oh, there's no fake anymore.
Fully taking this A site.
Riennes has to be downed with, and he will eventually.
But Sionaris cut off from his buddy in there
the man disadvantage the plant needs to be found and time is ticking.
He's waiting for some support.
Profix backstab. It needs to be perfect.
And he's had to let go. That's the spike on the deck.
Now it leaves Profix.
And when you might have seen Reigns blind earlier from a paranoia,
it wasn't from Profix.
Boone tried to make his life a little bit more difficult.
For Profix, well, saving a gun here doesn't really hold any value at all.
an extra kill to the tally, but the round goes the way of heretics. I will say, some of Boo's
paranoias this game have been nice. That's he full blinded Rhea! And Rhea's still got two!
What does this feel like? It was it! Maybe it was like, let this distract them!
They won't think he's there, because why would I have blinded my own teammate? The alt of a ruse!
They didn't see it coming for good reason.
Did it, it re-ends!
One round for Heretics to forget all the issues they've had here on Lotus to bring us back
to what would be essentially a BO3, but a strong map to start for Vitality.
This game's been anything but predictable.
And on the defense, it does look like Vitality
have got a lot of control.
They've pushed up on A now, focusing their sights on B
where the wall gets straight.
Heretics are playing a game early in rounds of flying the wall.
They send one player over to C, jump, no wall.
OK, where do we go?
B, let's find the wall.
Just to try and, again, create that little bit of doubt.
Force players to rotate off their angles.
The problem with that is look at where Vitality are.
They have pushed all the way up on A, so they have so much information that they don't need to rotate anywhere near as much.
Paranoia is gonna go through, but those thorns are gonna get popped immediately, and Koshmarus is stuck now.
But still wins the fight?
Well, that's one way to garner an advantage. The site scares him.
Somehow he's still alive!
That was silky. I don't know how he gets up there, and eventually Xionar gets the kill he deserved.
The problem is he's alone.
Didn't have any support.
The run through is still risky, but Boots still managed to take one with him.
Got rid of Profek.
Benji Fischi on his last legs, he's got to be careful of the spams.
Left desperately low.
Two players still around this corner, the other swinging in from multiple.
Will be young people to three ends again, leaving just young Pete to try and save them.
Both players tagged.
Both players low enough that he has an opportunity and he's got the time and right.
But so does Benji Fischi.
Heretics were wounded, were kinked, were bruised once more, but they have won their map choice, no 3-0 today.
Climbing their way back into this game, they've shown that this grand final is going to be anything but quick and easy.
No easy passage down on that stage. Let's send it down to the sideline report where I heard it was Reans, but that looks like boo.
It is boot with me. I tried to get Riyans because I feel like after forcing over time
he had to remind everyone why you guys needed him so much here on the team.
But, boo, I'm getting you. When you're in a position as IGL and you're seeing these over
time, you're seeing such close maps. What are you instilling in the boys and how you're
reminding them that it is a best of five?
I mean, honestly what I'm saying now is like, I think we're all pissed at how we play. I
I think we make sure that we say to each other that it's in the open and that we make sure it's important to step up.
And at the same time we try to support each other as much as possible.
So, yeah, I don't know about best of five, but that's just how we play.
We make sure that, you know, we can elevate each other and be honest to each other.
Taking him map by map in that sense as well, and Pearl is going to be next for you guys.
I'd love to talk to you more about it, but unfortunately we've got to go to a break on the other side.
We'll see how it plays out and if they're able to prove the heat is wrong.
Let's go.
What's up?
You guys are.
Nice.
Nice.
You did.
What's up?
You do it.
Sit down.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
I'm so mad! Come on, guys, come on!
What do you say when you will be okay if you have to do yourself?
Wingman World, well, Wingman World, well, what?
Have a break, have a KitKat.
Wingman World while wanting a well-won break.
Let's go!
At Carmingport, we demand the best.
This is what backs us up.
The Razer Iscara V2 New Gen.
you
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I think it also just doesn't suit our team really, that's also fine.
So, yeah, yeah.
Alright, a lot of thoughts there from the heretics side of things.
Billy, thank you for joining as well as Lee.
Welcome to the both of you.
Joining me for this close-up where heretics managed to win the map.
Great.
Definitely, we won it.
Yeah, I think that we definitely saw a close-up match.
I think you can see the frustration coming in from the coaches just then as well.
Which is crazy.
Yeah, that was a bit of an awful comment from Weber,
but it's okay we take it. Yeah I think that it's interesting to see that the coaches are still
frustrated despite being able to close that map out because let's not forget we have three more
to go potentially. Yeah it's really that's put it into perspective in terms of the standards that
Heretics are setting for themselves as well because you just won the map you pushed it to OCD
you're able to close this one out and keep yourself in the race so it says a lot about what Heretics
is expecting of themselves. I mean eretics knows that this map was really important for them because
having the beat-off and in front of them knowing that they have two map beat-offs on vitality is
going to be a hard one if you're losing a lot of that's a map that you can never lose you have to
go for the win and we need it. They managed to win it but they suffered too much and they have to be
adaptation into every single move on the ability was to win. Yeah one of the thorns in their side
really in terms of what made them suffer the way that Uli just mentioned was Jatti. He was having
a bit of a moment. Yeah I feel like Yampi in the first half was the main character and then it kind
of just became that throughout the map, at least for Team Vitality here. The amount of rounds that
he was able to get for getting his fourth ace in BCT EMEA here as well was so impressive and I know
that we don't really like to throw around the fragging IGL narrative too much but I think the
performance that Yampi has throughout this stage and also even think back to kickoff when he was
playing the Yorra as well. I think that he has really come on leaps and bounds throughout joining
this team Vitality roster. Yeah, I think from the side of Vitality, the fact that they were able
to put forward this performance, especially Yampy individually is great. Also, something that Mini
was mentioning in the green room is, I highlighted Senara. Hi, babe, Christamann. But hopefully,
we see them turning online as well as we move forward. Because from the side of Heretics as
well, what we saw was, besides the fact, of course, that Yampy was a nuisance that they had to deal
with, we saw adaptations coming through from them as well when it comes to where they want to put
put some utility.
Yeah, actually, something important was that by utility and how to place it.
It's funny because webinar senior was talking about it, we're talking about that Viper wall.
They said, yeah, they copy Tannari, they're doing some things, they move our setup.
That's what I can see.
Benji have to move all his setup into A place.
Normally, he was playing it on C, it was default, but this Viper wall was annoying because
they didn't have any information.
Every time that the wall was in up, Coach Madagüez completely out of the match.
Then they move and place everything on A and they manage to start playing that kind
with a far-faited or even a flute, knowing that he could be holding A with no need of working on this information
and trying to raise this information on C side.
I think in this moment as well, a lot of the times that Benji was playing it on A,
it meant that Vitality were having to then pivot towards B, which you saw Derricka get caught up by that.
And I think it's funny that we mentioned the kind of moments on the C side where they were struggling to keep hold of the site
to the point where they were actually deciding to play in front of the vise set up in this round specifically.
And after that, like you mentioned earlier, the coaches come in with a timeout,
they kind of had that adaptation of moving Benji towards the A site,
and then onwards they were able to lead at the half.
Yeah, and that's what we want to see from Heretic's coming into this.
We said, okay, that first map happened, you need to come in,
fresh approach to the second map, we need to see adaptation, we need to see aggression,
and I do feel like we've got to see all of that from the Heretic side of things.
So I want to look forward towards the next map that we have specifically
on the Vitality Camp side of things,
In terms of what happens on Lotus, and what we can expect from them on par with them.
What went wrong at the end there on Lotus, and what's the key thing the team needs to focus on for the rest of the match?
It's simple, it's just composure. At the end of both hours we're playing a grand final, they're nervous, we're nervous.
Simple as that, just over-complicating things a little bit too much, and not paying attention to some of the small details.
That's all. On to the next one.
I think a really important point as well that we've seen from both sides of these coach confessions is that everyone's tired
It's already been a long playoff for all of them
And I think as well team Harris it's probably not wanting to that last map to go as long as it did
Obviously being able to close out doesn't mean that they have a bit of that momentum coming into this power
Yeah, this should be in the momentum and definitely is something that could be good for them
Also knowing that there is not going to be playing on a rise or jet
that he's going to need to play in on that Neon, is something maybe,
Pushmarus gonna step up and make a diff?
Oh, that's what you want to see. You want to see the very high of the Neon.
Yes, I want a diff.
You can be biased. We'll allow it.
Yes, a bit. Just a little time.
But in general, we have to have the discussion about Pearl as well.
When it comes to the Asians, you're already talking about the Neon,
what we could potentially be seeing coming out from Durka.
But also, we want to talk about the heretic side of things.
We've seen them on so many maps. We've seen them on so many different rounds.
I don't think any changes would be coming through here, Billy.
Yeah, I don't anticipate any changes.
But I think when I think of Team Heretics Pearl previously,
they were running that Double Chilis, right?
So we're expecting to see Boot jump onto that Phoenix.
And a lot of the times we are seeing teams just full send it on this map specifically in VCT AME at the moment.
And I'd love to see them play around and fight for those orbs to actually allow Boot to have his ultimate activated a lot more often.
Be able to play around that Phoenix all.
I think in the other side when we consider that though is we think of Vitality's defence on Pell
It was so so strong in terms of the extremities that they were able to keep a hold of we're talking about not only
Chronicle on the operator in the space that he's able to take but also the micro that we discussed a couple of weeks ago
When they were playing against Team Liquid looking at Yampi being able to set Dirk up with those flashes on the KO
But then also Sayonara doing his bit as well
We have to look at the fact that they have a double initiator composition here and how they can seek out that information early
Also one of the important things for these mob is going to be playing around champion.
Champion is the most important agent here. We think that they are playing with a chamber
and they have no priority in trying to focus on looking for information as you are playing with so far you are playing with fake.
Instead they will be making so many resist plays playing to place a chamber on defense
that has any information is going to be active information is the passive one and also trying to place dark and out position.
His utility is going to be one of the most important things. Last time we seen it.
She hit like 20 cents. I don't remember the number, but she was saying I think as well something that we need to highlight
I was just picking up the Phoenix from boot, but apparently we're gonna see a change here
And he is going to be moving on to that jet
I wonder if this is leading into the identity that they have throughout this playoff so far of having root on the operator
But then also offering Koshmaras as a threat
So at that point I tell you you're gonna need to try and scope out where this operator really does become a threat on the map because they
Have two players that are so proficient at using the snipers at the moment
Yeah, and we also do get the battle of the Neons in terms of Kimara and Urka, just as you expected, Uli.
When it comes to the compositions and the changes that we're actually seeing coming through from Protothraedics,
I mean, Vitalik is sticking to what they are comfortable with.
Is there any composition that you prefer more?
I'm not a Lalae, I like much more the Keju because that's you focusing on fighting and trying to get this information on Menei,
and also fighting him through Menebi.
There's gonna be half of them because he's yet to tower there.
Alright, we're going to see which one of these compositions is going to be coming out on top as we're ready to head into our third map of this best of five with our caster switch atop.
Well, now we go to more of a B03 form and it kind of fits. Starting the map out on your strongest for Vitality, they can be pretty happy with how this one's gone so far though Tom.
It's one to one, but that second map should have leaned much more towards a blowout or a dominant victory for heretics
Then what we ended up seeing which could have set vitality up to close the series here today
I think it's heretics that have that time back even though the score line seemed I didn't know
It's like you would go into the day thinking that like you'd look at this and go like okay
We this is exactly where we expect it to be it's one one. We have a third map. That's our choice
The manner it is what makes it different like you could have won
you could have taken that map over the line and it slipped out of your fingers because of some mistakes now
Can you reset back to a point where you're feeling good about it?
Or is it gonna be those clutch moments that bring heretics alive?
Only time will tell the barriers are up and the players are off be long already
Looking to pick up the pace five players on be long the only bit of information they have is a trap
And it's very rare to see that players doubling back, but they have pumped the brakes players hiding in every nook and cranny
Looking to swing together the element of surprise, but there's so many players from vitality here
Sionara's got himself a double but Durka and Profek are standing by as well
And that three man what was a four man hold of B has weathered the first hit
But the storm has not yet over. They're in the eye of it. The other
Yeah, Wayne is about to come around and hit them two players very low. It's still crunch time for vitality. That's the worry at the HP bars
Profit
And Sianara
But they still have the crossfire. They know they're locked in as well, so they don't need to move anywhere
They chipped a little bit away a boot eventually it's gonna come down to the time as well 25 seconds as they have to make a move
Profek needs something. He's dead immediately. First goes their way and they're running into each other on the back of the site
Maybe a bit more of a problem, but Chronicle might just have been there to save the day. The timing couldn't be better and for Benji
He's got to even try and get the plan eventually unless he's gonna kill everybody off in the next eight seconds
And instead Sayonara, sacked in the corner, will give Vitality the pistol.
Masterfully played and I think we are seeing the vitality in these early stages, this early stage that we want to
very well drilled fights are taken together advantages aren't thrown away
and even here where there is so much possibility for mistakes can be made with
two players on site desperately low they play it tight knowing the flank is
coming through I do think we've seen him
He is looking tired.
Yeah, I agree.
The time is really seeping in.
Lose a lot of that personality, what a shame.
But this is what we wanted to see, and I think that there's moments where Vitality have been that loose team.
Have played much more individually, especially in the group stages.
And it has a danger to for that ugly head to pop itself up to rear up right
When that pressure mounts in games like this
I think that's kind of what Pallin's coat we're saying the problem wasn't the previous and this mean easy
Close up, but Durkin lost in danger because he's up close against pistols
Because a good chance he proves to be the danger a stone to slow
But now the judge not on its best range with an up close with a pistol
I get the pistol from Sionar against nothing.
The Profak and Durka to clean this round up.
Yeah, a much cleaner second round as well.
Because even though they've had a pistol or two throughout this series,
the second rounds have definitely been a bit more questionable.
I think for either side at times,
being able to just shut this down from Profak's perspective
and then they're forced into the angle of Durka.
Good start.
Four vitality.
And to paint the picture, this is of course the map that I feel like has been a bit more of a struggle, a dominant defeat for Heretics vs. Eternal Fire, whereas Victories vs. Foot and Liquid.
This looks like the map that Vitality most wanted from this series.
A switch to jet, maybe even shows that the heretics are valuing that comfort over anything else.
That's one thing you have to be aware of. That Chronicle B main operator has been a big part of their defensive side of this map.
You can see why.
You can forgive them for not expecting it in round three, anticipating it to be a little bit...
I mean, you can just play the headhunter in this round, as a lot of people do, but the AWP and the pick on the Kaushumaris as well
carries so much value and then Kosh we talk about his early fights and you know
when you go back and look at the stats I think it's going to show a lot of
success on the defensive side and then a lot more defeats still participation but
a lot more defeats when it comes to the attack and that's because he's the one
to run in and be that sacrificial lamb now you lose that first leg to your
attack and how do you adapt to that well look at who is waiting on the B site as
while he just moments ago you would almost think this was a yoru TP the
way the Chronicle is now on the other side of the map it's leaving him as
that surprise back the once again while Buu has found the surprise he has got
double on Lithuanians and leaves the remainder tram fight back now Yumpy's a
little bit ahead of his own flash and leaves the crossfire that's not clean
from Syo either how they fall back into this there were three players left on
on this site, Chronicle's gonna be a little bit annoyed.
He finds two openers and now he's in a deficit
that he has to try and bring back.
And well, already another added to his tally.
He's getting close to needing an ace
and in fact he might have a round for heretics.
I can't believe they got that round.
You start with an off pick towards A
with Kaushma and tip of the spear completely blunted.
Then he moves to the B site, finds a pick there, and his trap reveals that it's not a B hit.
Which is where they were rotating the B into the meeting.
And again because of Cron they found out they didn't need to, they could stick around,
and he ends up with all the kills of the round. That's got to be a frustrating round to be
chronicle. You feel like you did it all and it still wasn't enough.
Surprise element, if there was one, it is now gone. You could see the amount of utility
that's been thrown through just to try and clear some of these aggressive angles. One
off, having an operator. Well there was some queries as to whether or not they'd take
on the other side but Wu is sat with an up on the attack and said a move away
from that Phoenix which I do think as well on the defensive side is going to
make him a different problem but you can have that operator you can have that
get out of jail with the dash and potential for an extra free weapon as
well also Turkish player jet just it's a good choice normally they've just spotted
two on mid team heretics know what they're facing off against the B side
seems easier but the rotate comes in quickly from Durka who's now standing by. In fact you can see
the same from Sayonara rounding into heaven now as Chronicle in fact they'll go to the stairs
and they'll already start this retake getting ahead of the issue as the spike hits the floor
so too does Woot! Durka seconds away from another in fact it's Yumpy and Sayonara to do the work.
The AWP of Rienz, the last man standing and he may want to stand as that spike is diffused
fleeing the site to carry the big gun forward, what a round for vitality. They wasted no time
retaking B. And I'll say as well, in the past this B site has always been a struggle for a lot of
teams. From the games I've watched on them on this map, on Pearl, I think they have some of the best
retakes specifically on B. Util clearing a lot of the corners that could have been made,
awkward forcing people into fights they don't necessarily want to take, also smoking off
that long angle so that people have to try and fight through just a masterclass when they go into
those retakes. It is why that round three on the A side I'm a little bit more surprised because
you had such a big advantage. I think it was young P plays way ahead of anyone else.
I was ahead of the flash.
And for no real reason at all. So that's kind of back to I guess regular programming and
for heretics not really what you want to be seeing.
I think they just got bored you know. Cron's taking fights on A, on B's get info and he's doing
everything. It's like I gotta gotta get involved. But yeah,
how come wasn't exactly what they wanted around three vitality
though, since then, it's been looking good, the three to one
score line. Team heretics have called the timeout, as you can
see down on the stage, taking a breather is this one. It's kind
of going as expected. I mean, for Pearl, we talked about it
for vitality, somewhere that they're very strong, they win
the pistol, they should have a lead early. So I guess the
problem is go deeper for team heretics in terms of what
they're trying to fix here. Maybe here's some calls that
like, maybe it's a synergy thing. The thing is, when I think about how the rounds have played out so far,
I'd be pointing much more towards Vitality going, oh, the synergy worried me about you guys,
so it's hard to tell what Heretic's want out of this very close.
I guess when you get into a post-blank like that though and you just get slaughtered,
you need to adapt, because otherwise that means even if you get into a 5v5 B post-blank,
you're gonna, what, get one kill? Like, something had to change. Maybe it's something that the coach
Coach is going to just go, actually, this was a glaring issue.
We need to get this on track, or we need to take space elsewhere.
We can't allow them to just force us out of angles
and get those more individual fights.
If you see those things early, you're
going to want to shut them down for Chronicle.
He's stuck around a little bit longer than maybe I was expecting,
down to 58 health.
A decent tag, and still with a gun or two
to play within this round, could be a nasty surprise.
I'm very happy to take a fight knowing that that outlaw should take down most of these players the credits
weren't
Very strong for them. I mean wound here
Taking a risk if one that doesn't pay off. Thanks to that flash as you said coming out of the young yet
The young piece gone now with the pistols and the rifle and Kaush Maris
And start to pose a threat the plant is not gonna be put through
They are looking to push into Profek and he has bailed at just the wrong moment, apparently.
Kaskos Maris has got another. Now three kills in this eco round.
There's a reason he's got the rifle, but he might give it away.
And Olten is back pocket and an advantage to work with.
And Rienz, oh no, he's looking the wrong way. It's a freebie.
It does get a little risky. Bring us to a 2v2.
Okay, I was gonna say, Turka had such a quick rotation around the back of the map that they might not have expected in Baboo.
It's diligent, takes his time, doesn't risk it for a biscuit, gets the information.
Now Bear in mind, he still just has a classic.
The only gun is still in the hands of the man who had it from the beginning and Coach Maras has been dealt with.
Now it's problems for Baboo.
It got dangerous, incredibly dangerous in fact for what was invested and what did the damage.
damage, but nonetheless, I can't, they are going to be able to get their fourth round
on that defensive side, their stronger side for sure. Although, if we're being honest,
we, in most games, haven't seen much of their attack because they've been so dominant on
the defense.
On track for it to be the same case here. I do understand the temptation to say, well,
we came out of a pause from Heretic's and they didn't win and say, oh, it's terrible.
But it, think about, when they went into that round with a lot of disadvantages, made it
incredibly close and you're a coin flip fight away from victory. They got to feel like they're on the
course that they want to be. The thing is this is where the real problems lie. This is where
heretics will have called the pause four. Last round was contact in A main, they found nothing there
and so this time the learnings are to explore elsewhere. Oh he didn't, yes. 4.4k and he's not
up on shields I guess he forgot I guess he was he picked up the operator and
just was like okay I'm not gonna buy them that that's definitely
they've been over side oversight and then this he's just fed up of getting
instant killed anyway and just was like all right I'm gonna save the cash I don't
think that's the case I might be terribly out of touch with the meta here Tom
but I believe that would be oversight yeah it's a pretty safe bet spams from
You can see heretics all five here. This is going to be a blitz into the A side of these
Dirk has got a challenge coming his way. Sian Ariddo pops under his fury. It's found a target.
One locked. One damaged. Dirk of those sent running backwards and so yucky. This likes to strike.
But now he's on the back side alone. He's surrounded. He doesn't even know it. His
whoop picks up a double. This has fallen into heretics favor. A plant and a cosmic divide.
Chronicle will get a little bit closer on the back of this. There's a gap. He could walk through this now
It would be a crazy risk and I think he might do it when Profek gets here
But they wait long enough that now that gap is gone. Ericss wait back on a main. He's checking up host plant
He has been checking every second or so, but it doesn't matter who is quicker on the trigger
And now leaves Profek and a scenario where with all of the host plant still available
He's not going to risk it, an operator retrieved once again, and another response coming through
from the heretic side.
Again, seemed like there were opportunities, but I think these are the reasons you see
Wu on this agent.
It's just the amount of confidence he has in these more aggressive moments, the additional
movement as well.
It's also a really good plan to not just send Kars that deep for the fight, but to have
The second that he takes that space, you're so conditioned to think that Neon is ahead of the pack
that you don't expect her to be a second element to die that quickly in position.
And from there, yeah, the round is done.
It fits more with Lotus because you have the same when he's on the raise.
He can be in at the same time.
And I think that's something they have to do on a map that you are in a deficit.
Sure, the Phoenix can work wonderfully, but if it doesn't work for you, go to something that does.
That is something that does.
I think the combo on the attack is going to give you...
If you want to play that way, if you want to play the deep knee on early...
I'll see you later.
That is incredibly unlucky.
But I do think the Jets are really good combo with it.
For that exact reason.
It's why we saw people trying the whaling.
But then when you removed that utility...
Exactly.
When you get stunned, it's not quite as impactful.
Getting stunned, get out all in the space of half a second.
It does become a bit more difficult. Cron Scott is a free opener. You never see it miss those
And now 5v3
This is where before we saw vitality just start to fire flashes and swing out for haymakers
I doubt we're gonna see that again. I think that's a mistake. You only really make once
While we're already seeing a pause called by the other side, but
They will have had some time to talk over their own issues and the problem for heretics here is they are down to 35 seconds
Yes, sure you spotted the trap, but
If anything, yeah shooting it has just held
Dirk into this side patients from Chronicle, but he is dealt with
Reans doing well and because of it Dirk it feels okay. I need to find something I need to get out
And it's swung back into their favor once again
Yeah, you say you won't see that mistake again, but we just did it's the same thing Chronicle going out for a kill that they
Absolutely didn't need the retake would have been fine
And now it will be tested with a thinner margin for error Kosh Mara's caught
They don't know that he's close right, but doesn't take a genius to guess that dealing with them could be a different story
Numbers equalize, but he goes out for more boom now has to deliver great angle from Sianara over the top
and a fifth round found for Vitality. Yeah, it got far closer than it ever
should have hit again. Those openers swing in their favor. This one just a
couple of bullets. Looked like it was gonna be easy and then Reans trading out
boo holding for anybody attempting to escape. Vitality still go marching on
these defensive rounds building up. A map that is probably the most favored to them
in the pool. They've also got the Alts coming along. A Bladestorm will give a little bit
extra of a top to nice reveal, but only one knife worth of time. And now they have to
to go.
Sakara runs into the Bucky.
That's an unfortunate meeting inside of Smoke, a story that we know exactly how it ends.
Yumpy's just, was that straight through the smoke?
Obviously, his ult gives him away here and there, and clearly they use it as tracers.
Benji wrapping around and getting the free kill onto a man looking the other way, and
now, no profit.
out with after one. The next ball on site is going till Durka wraps around, completely blindsided
in the end, around the scene set to be theirs, stolen.
I'm guessing as well, that's because Benji's utile was offline, because he was the one
to kill him. So that meant the trip after those moments was still up. You still see
that the trip is available and then he's already fully behind them because he's managed to
back around while he didn't realize. Again, a gap found, a gap spotted, and that's a couple
of times now that Durka has been able to exploit some positioning because of how quick he can get
in on the flank. Six to two. Seems like his Neon's actually been going all right. After,
what I will say, been some slightly quieter maps out of Durka, a man who spoke quite regularly
about his hatred, including this tweet, saying that it's going to force him.
He wasn't forced to play Neon in the last couple of maps, but I'll be honest, maybe
he should have been.
Yeah, maybe, and I'm going to hate to say this, but maybe Pal knows what he's doing.
Oh, no, no, that sounded wrong.
That sounded wrong.
I take it back.
So it's got some great ideas.
Well, as you said, he has definitely looked a bit more comfortable here.
There's something to the Neon.
Well, he's also doing things that you can only do on Neal, like he wouldn't have been there anywhere near as quick if he was playing any other agent.
So you know why it brings that value on the rotations and I think that's something that heretics desperately need to deal with.
It's like, okay, you need to be wary of those flanks because he's been doing it enough.
And I think we saw that even in the pistol round, Chronicle did it as well.
Like they have been caught out multiple times from players coming in behind.
6-2. The buys are only getting worse as well. The last one wasn't even a full one.
They had a Bladestorm that made it that little bit better, but now they come in
with very little to play with. And so this will be the round that they win.
Knowing team heretics. Deep on to Alibow. Profit somehow got that second before
going down. It did not look like it. That's a sneaky play by Rianzo.
We can catch the man further back. He'd be in with a real chance of winning the round, but Yampi has that on lockdown
7th to 2 the lead guaranteed at the half with plenty more rounds to play for
This really is the dominant map that Vitality hoped it would be yeah
This is kind of what we see
When coaches talk about that third map, especially if you've traded evenly obviously, it's a little bit different
I think if you could go to down
But now you get that huge boost after a defeat, you're going to put your opponent's mental
in the bin because you're going to have tried to adapt, try and come in with something new.
Knowing this map would be hard, but so far it's only been blips on the radar of vitality.
And then when you get into those middle maps, you're going to be the one with the advantage
and the potential momentum.
Heretics not wanting to allow that.
They are taking a pacey hip, a profit even while hit by the seas has been able to not
only survive but thrive.
Oh, well, Yampi gets the gun, gets your gun out!
Profax got him covered!
Now it's Boo-Lone with a judge to work with
on the opposite side of that cosmic divide, Durka.
Well, I think he just shot at him while jumping up there.
So he's definitely given the game away.
Wasn't with the judge, though.
He had it unlocked.
If Boo walked through, he was going
to be blasted in the backside now.
Well, it's not going to be much easier facing into Chronicles Operator in the open with
Sayonara and Durka ready to swing on the back of it.
Okay.
I like the idea.
They'll get a shot off.
Okay.
They'll even take down Sayonara.
Don't count Buu out.
He's had some big rounds so far.
The battle, Buu.
They're even going to secure the spike, but they've stepped through.
They've stepped in, but I think the Neomal blocked that shot almost.
It's giving Buu a way back in.
Even 1v1, but he doesn't expect Durkin to be playing so brazen.
That's what gets Vitality to round.
Yeah, he's always nasty with just creating opportunities for himself,
like a bit of an off-angle smoke that you then expect somebody to be holding.
This though is brilliant for Profek because that's his own cosmic divide.
So he placed that in the last second,
so while he's under all of that pressure, seized up in the corner,
he creates angles for himself to fight around.
And yeah, you saw the face from Yumpy there.
That was because he was jumping around with his knife out as they full-executed through the cosmic divide
Yeah, I'll be honest the first knife I thought that's a bit risky the second third fourth and fifth one a bridge too far each time
It's alright. He's got a super team of players to back it up
I might be one that
Many will consider a villain at this point
I'm sure some of the hate watchers have even closed the stream after seeing this scoreline.
Maybe they'll come back for map 3 and that's something that heretics might have to start
thinking about.
This has been so utterly dominant.
If anything, it's only been the mistakes they made themselves and O's have been fading as
the game goes on, squeaky clean, once again Boo left with a clutch, no spike and even
more players than last time.
You know, I do agree with Mini, I'm sorry we were to treat this like you're not going to win, but you're not going to win.
They get a little worried at the first time, the first time I went to the Luba. Just a little bit, I saw the HP and I saw it.
What were you saying before you started to believe?
I actually don't remember that, that completely.
Something about Mini.
Yeah, so Mini was saying that when it comes to the Vito process, leaving your third, leaving your best map for third at Vitality's position is not really what he'd like to do.
to do. His theory. I will, I will bro. What a team player bro. First last fight might be
my 360 nose scoff. That it is better sometimes to start with that. To start with your comfort.
But the benefit for Vitality here that midway through the series, they just get this weight
lifted off their shoulders. They look like the better team. Their synergy is there. And also
any issues we've seen in the early stages should now be fixed for map four, map five,
because they've gotten to really stick to the plan, stick to the system, and had a huge reward for it.
It puts heretics in this position where they have battled in close games, but now halfway through a series,
they're made to look like the worst team.
Has its own value.
Okay, and he goes 1-80. Probably maybe he should have got 3.
Like, tags 3 at the beginning.
So much damage dealt, and whatever plan they have coming into this final round of the hall,
has already been disrupted, already coming in bleeding.
Gruber at least five-one, but they're being picked apart.
The trades back, and just look at the HP
for these last couple of players.
The fragment, and then the frag to close out.
Vitality at ten-two defensive half
for the third time this stage.
That is what hell of a display from Vitality.
The third map in the series, looking like home turf.
With that, they're set up to take it in half, number two.
But before we go there, don't think it might happen.
For that, or the journey.
I want to show you the mic that we've had running alongside Akama all weekend.
Let's see how the fans in Berlin are feeling today.
To the mic.
Okay.
So I come from France.
I'm for Vitality, because Vitality is the best.
Come on, come on!
I'm sure all time favorite VCT memory, 2023 sub-hautologian 151, amazing comeback.
I came to support especially Krone and Durke because I'm a fanatic fan.
I think my all-time favorite VCT memory is the qualification game of Liquid against Fanatic from last year VCT EME A to Toronto.
Okay, my favorite DC team moment of all time is Fanatic Walkout at Masters Tokyo.
At first I came for Fanatic, but since they lost against Fanatic, now it has to be worth it for Fanatic.
So, let's go Fanatic, just win.
My hot take is that if Fanatic keeps playing like how they are now, they're easily going to come top 4 in Masters.
I'm here just for a T.H. I came here from Macedonia,
And I hope you guys win.
I genuinely hope it's 3-2 because I want to watch him more, but I'm here, I really hope you win.
Was that sliggie at the end?
Oh my goodness.
Well, 10-2 Vitality with a massive lead and all the heretics fans who've traveled far and wide.
You're a little bit nervous now.
It does get better when you go to the next round.
Yeah, well exactly they have to lose too for it to go through I don't think you want to see
But then you can get back to them winning again quicker
You lose because we get there nonetheless by Tati have been given a great time so far
So let's see if they're also having a party in the comms
Let's go to the street, I brought you a scam, yeah, David, smoke Art.
They're all three there.
All three?
Give me a bomb, give me a bomb, give me a bomb, and you can play it.
I didn't see Astro though.
Guys, I'm planting for a secret.
I'm gonna go back to the main.
I think they will come main, man.
Dirk, when you plant, go back to the main.
Dirk, can you take my CT?
Yeah, I'm one, I should be there.
What do you want to take?
Like, it's fine, it's fine.
They smoked out, we'll be walking out, boys.
We have to pull for the bomb, you don't need to play that guy, we have to pull for the bomb.
On site, on site.
On site, site for out.
We are gonna pull first, we're gonna pull first.
Pulling.
Nothing perfectly there on you.
I can stun after.
I can stun after.
Yeah.
Stun? Stun?
They smoked bomb.
Could be on.
Could be on.
Could be on.
Could be on.
Still could be on.
Oh, and C voice.
Oh
He's just like me for real that those are literally my
Well heretics winning out that pistol round is definitely a lifeline
Solid from them obviously a little
disjointed
Towards the end. I think the low HP definitely didn't help them out
Great work from Buu once again. I think his impact...
Oh, sweet, give me help, help, help, help, help, help!
There was two more as well. He was a little delayed, but...
Help, help! Just in case they forgot.
You know, at least he didn't panic.
I've never lost sight of what he wanted in that moment. Some goddamn help.
That's a nice early opening. Yumpy down. The judge has done so much damage to Chronicle from miles away.
This looks like an easy conversion. Now this smoke is making the danger, so it can get close, it can wrap through the spawn, but even as they do, there's no worry there from heretics, not for a while, not until that trap is broken.
A few teams you'll see put this in play for a long, long time.
Whoops.
At least that's removed, and I think that's going to have to be something that Vitality consider a lot. If you're not holding that double door space, and instead it's that deep,
You can go to break a trip, but look at RISKY.
Now, you know, I like to talk like these rounds don't matter,
because a lot of the time they shouldn't, but the headhunter's already claimed the victim.
Look at these wounds. He's here to put numbers back.
Convincingly, and Harry takes advantage of it.
Nicely done.
Got dangerous for a second, but with no spike plant,
and perfect a million miles away.
Quick scope to close.
Woot picking up four as well, getting ever closer to that Bladestorm.
something that could prove valuable over the next couple of rounds because they're going to need
some serious momentum. If they're going to have any chance of turning this map back around,
then three rounds needed for Vitality. In fact, if they have won the pistol,
we'd already be getting ready for the next map.
Well, the win here is going to really start to convince me that the drums are in the deep,
that the march is on for heretics to climb back into this one, but the fire
beneath the mountain needs to burn bright. They don't have any hope of
recovery. That is one hell of a shot. Now the judge has given an opportunity, one
that isn't converted to a kill, but with Chronicle on 14 HP. He's actually had a
worse run of it this time than in the previous. The judge has certainly sunk
It's teeth into a key member of vitality. This is a great start for heretics
They need to avoid giving opportunities away though, and I fear that's what caution is about
You just DC for a second. I just took completely still luckily he's gonna reinstant by
We'll take down
That opponent
Pressure still on Chronicle
Remember is desperately love
Ah, it's still a nice shot, Tsaiyanar is also cleared up, who was sat back watching the other direction.
What started is a round that could have picked up the pace in their comeback, might just be one where they trip and fall.
Once more vitality have just paused, you can see the doubt look at Woot starting to go back in the other direction,
weaponry being swapped as well, it lets them know that there's still a player at the back of the sign.
is healthy. He has a chance, timing's good, not the cleanest.
It's a charge for the second one is, and now leads it up to the man who is tagged to 14 by the judge.
There's nothing really he could do here. Holding onto the gun
is the right play and unless they make silly mistakes which they will not, it is going to be a heretics round.
A hero in Benji Fischi. And around them, never should have been.
Oh, this one's, it's starting to have a bit of a weight to it, Tom.
For Vitality, those little mistakes made there, not in sync, crossing to site.
Then the spike repushes back site 2v2 when your man's on long super low with 20 seconds
left.
That also, I'm not sure what that was.
I really and truly do not know what, I like it, if that was Boo, I'd be like he's setting
up a smoke or something, you know, but I don't know what my boy was doing.
until the worry is that Vitality again, we said this right,
they had this map to fix the system
to avoid those problems from appearing again.
And I do feel like in moments here
where they have the advantages,
that element of lock-in is just lost a little bit.
Yeah, I'll say though that look back
to that first map especially where we were on breeze,
they had slow starts to both halves.
Yes, if I want.
They take a pause and it changes.
And I think it is just at this point for Vitality,
the coach's job is, okay, in between match,
you're gonna set them up with what you want them to do
in terms of strategy, and then it's steadying the ship.
I think they have the pieces in play already
to get this over the line.
They just need someone to go like,
all right guys, that was a little bit silly.
We got a little bit ahead of ourselves.
Now go back to what you were doing before.
And I think for heretics, it's almost the polar opposite.
Like you're in a scenario where you're so far down
that you need to disrupt what your opponents are doing
until you get to the point where the game is closer
and then maybe you could fall back into some more default defensive side but
when you have a neon jet, there's not going to be much default about your defense.
It really has to be
confidence and aggression from the very start, the barrier is going up and indeed
that's exactly what we'll see. Koshmairas had a lot of value last time.
Same position in fact further back with the judge but now
tucked in the corner. That smoke is up. They should be cautious
of it and it's an opportunity if they can get the kill cleanly with these weaker
weapons they stand at good
Oh my goodness, Kost, what are we doing?
He's playing so risky, but he gets out of there.
I saw the sheriff come out.
I thought he was going to wide swing it.
But luckily, he bails on both that idea and this hold.
And they move back to A.
Yeah, I think especially in the sort of route it is,
it's a low buy, a hero rifle, saved from the previous round.
And nothing more.
Ultimates, if Sionar can get a plant.
Maybe he could cause a little bit of disarray.
But now though, with three players sat within this A site.
A very deep position as well from Woot, knowing that they're not coming towards B.
They have the trick and they also have Benji Fischi and Cosmaras in this corner.
But he hasn't managed to connect.
Decent trade from Chronicle, but Buu is there to save the day.
Two kills already, Rien's still standing a fragment, making things a little bit more awkward,
and the judge has been retrieved across from the site,
and they still managed to retrieve at least an additional rifle,
and Yumbi's found another.
He's gonna run surely.
Go to B for the plant, don't worry about that mid-push, haven't come through.
Boo, his third kill of the round's just been found, the spike picked up eight seconds.
No time if they can interrupt this plant, no time if they can interrupt it, and they will!
Boom, counting in his head, realizing that he didn't want to take that fight too early.
Now he cooks it just long enough, well handled by Heretics.
And now from a 10-2 score line, Tom, this is looking much more like a normal game.
And that's worrying.
You want to come in here and create the environment for your opponents to make mistakes.
You do that in the round, but you do it in the series by coming in halfway through a B05,
10-2ing them, and sending them off that stage in record time.
Then they know we have to fight back, and we just got stomped instead.
Heretics are starting to believe down there.
This is looking like the map isn't lost, and that's very dangerous to give them hope.
But yeah, I think as well.
Like, it's dangerous, but we need other players other than Buu.
Like, Buu has been someone that has saved them in many rounds throughout this series,
but that shouldn't have been around that they needed to be saved.
Sure.
Now, the fact he has, brilliant.
It's gonna light the fire you hear, the Koreans screaming, you hear them getting hyped up.
But there needs to be more.
Koshmara's getting caught a couple of times in silly scenarios.
It can't happen if you're going to streak this many rounds together.
How many more rounds before Riyans has his moment here?
Vitality are running out of time as Buu just keeps on delivering.
There is the Hunters fury landing for a tag and the kill.
Buu, the danger man has been removed but there's still so many more dangers lurking around
for Vitality.
18 HP can pop the ult and run on it and get Raz back up, but they'll need some
serious security on the site for that. And the problem, if they move towards B to
make that run down play, there's utility there. Pop the ult, you can run right
through the trap. If Cypher wasn't on the other side of the map, Benji is playing
so far away from his utility that they'll still run through that and then
they'll have to deal with Woot, who not only has the AWP for the first challenge,
But the Bladestorm back pocketed for any real danger.
I mean, they need a miracle to get back into this,
and they're running out of time to even attempt one.
Yeah, I like the idea.
Both groups.
Yumpy is just going to try and sell the Marus,
keep some players on that side of the map,
but this involves a whiffed shot from Wooten,
while in that tight of an angle,
I don't think there's any odds of that happening.
Yumpy too far away.
Profit is just going for broke.
You could have tried and stick this,
So there was no chance of him getting away with that.
Wu happy to risk his life to make sure that plant never goes down.
And he's still alive on the site waiting for
Young Pete to maybe try something here.
It's another round in the streak of Heretics.
His defense is really starting to build up now.
And there's the second pause.
Now Heretics know they've got them on the ropes.
Oh yeah, I mean the riding has been on the wall for
a couple rounds now that things were getting dangerous.
but this is going from back to worse round by round.
In fact, I think he would have gotten that point
if Wu didn't have the Bladestorm.
Anything but that.
Even the shorty might not have went for it.
Wouldn't have gotten it that quickly.
Profit had no chance the second that dash was taken.
The timeout, as you said, for Vitality.
This will be the final timeout of regulation,
but while Heretics used theirs while they were trailing
and managed to get themselves just about back into the game,
two rounds in the first half and a pistol
that sent them on a streak. Vitality have had to use theirs to stem the bleeding. Their
lead is being cut down to size. We talked about momentum and how dangerous it can be in heretics
hands. They haven't. I'll be honest with you. Vitality just need a combo breaker. You need
something that just goes, okay, we can win. Like after losing five rounds in a row like
that, like where Boo has a big individual moment, you try to take them to one side of
the map you succeed, Woots the only one there, he kills all of you, like those are things
where you just go like, okay, next round we're gonna have plenty of ults, the only one missing
will be the Hunters Fury as long as everybody dies, which they should, I know there's not
really any reason to save in this round, and then you can come in with basically everything
you've got just to try and break that combo, the fact is though heretics have also just
had the time to talk, the coaches will just be filling their players with further confidence
going okay you've managed to get two pauses out of them in the last five
rounds nice early destruction though the bot back in play or the boot
depending who you ask it's up to debate oh that's unfortunate if that trip
wasn't triggered they'd have a lot of players coming away instead profit up
Closer somehow got the double and now look how much danger Kaushma Harris is in.
Vitality man, how do they do it?
This is the round that ends up working out for them.
Heretics triple, push A long and the patient display on the defensive side had worked.
But after a timeout they decide to come in with something new and...
Well, what's no, my goodness, the timing as well.
That is just solving the wound.
The only thing new is the taste of defeat in this half between heretics.
Yeah.
And a mode of thrifty.
The feet seemingly out of absolute nothing.
I understand the thought process from heretics of like, yeah, as you said, we've played
very passively, played off the rotations.
Let's go for something hyper aggressive to just catch them off guard and slam them into
the dirt.
But it seemed like my talented warmers just waiting for it.
I think everything heard and called for.
You can push yourself, okay?
Let's peek. One, two.
There is FK, buddy.
Left.
Come to me.
No fight connector.
I'm holding your fucking art.
Double doors on the gap.
Now I'm just going to parallel this, okay?
Let's move forward.
Clear it?
I parallel again.
Could be on your right, guys.
No one. I will play defensive now guys, time.
Okay, we're running it. It's going to be air.
I can ult for you guys to block us, yeah?
I'm pulling for you now.
I pulled it.
Guys, fair match, 18.
I'm coming to you.
He's already found the round, it seems to re-end shows up, we ask how long before this
man finds his form again, how long will he be quiet?
Well he's already done so much, but so much more needed and Chronicle stacks the advantage
for Vitality with another map point for Vitality.
chances to close this out and a victory here means one of the next two maps is
all they need to lift that trophy.
I had something go back after they lost three games in a row during the the regular group stage
and that is not a sentence that anybody thought would be uttered but they've been building up
that momentum just as heretics were in this second half, but it sounded a little scrappy.
Trying to find out desperately what their opponents were doing, and by the time they
did it, it all seemed over. They've still got weaponry for this round. Doubling up, waiting
for this wing to come in, but it is not clean. The reins of last round is dead, and now he must
watch. Oh, that flash is nasty. Kosh doesn't stand a chance in vitality. Two kills away
from this map being theirs from a two to one score line. And although heretics, they had
that resurgence. They really put up a fight starting out this half, but the streak seems
to be put to bed. Chronicle with another and it's just a formality now. Woot in the 1v4.
get the first but going through that cosmic divide will be his end there it is 13-7 locked
in vitality stand on the shoulder of giants to make it to this grand final and they stand tall
going into the final two before we go to a break folks once again you know what time it is
Your sideline interview, ready as NAP stands by with Sayonara.
Sayonara debuting here at VCT right for this split.
You make it to the grand finals and now you're one map away from being able to lift that trophy.
How are you looking to close it out on Split? How are you ensuring that that's the last map for this best of five?
I mean, we take it game by game. Right now I'm playing, I'm not playing good, so I hope I will make up for it for the last three months.
Whereas it's just one map at a time, keep playing how we are.
We're in control and we keep being in control and the maps will come.
I love the approach you guys have there. Stay in control then.
Control your emotions as well as what's happening in the server side.
Thank you for joining me. We'll see if Split is going to be that final map just after this break.
I'm f***ing out of my thing now.
I will, I will, what a game player, proper.
Last drive, my thing, now 360, now stop.
To lose here on the edge
I'll forever hide
Forever, when I'm never flying
When you're all set to fight
When you're through your fire hour
Take this my superpower
Take this my superpower
I'm the way to shine
Can I stay with the desire
Take this my superpower
This world will never stop me coming
I'll keep you down and be born in life
No rules, no rules
Who the gods can judge me?
Who the gods can judge me?
Who the gods can judge me?
Who the gods can judge me?
If I never leave, I'll never stop me coming
My second eye
It's my super power
Take it's my super power
Keep my head up high
Run, do it in a shot
Can I skip it down the floor?
Take it's my super power
Take it's my super power
Take it's my super power
one map away from the Stage 1 trophy, what does the team need to focus on to close this
search. Stop giving us heart
attacks. Um, genuinely just stop
throwing. Um, it's it doesn't get
that more complex that much more
complicated. I think everyone can
see it. This is where no one's on
a day like this start to really
play into things just people.
Hey, let's go do this together
and then we end up doing things
completely separately. They
become themselves down embrace
them on that little bit rather
than being scared of it. Um,
and dare I say it stick to the
plan so far. It's been good
enough. The famous quote had to
get in there sticks to the plan. It's what's vitality has been kind of doing and it's working
out in the favor as they find themselves in the lead to one so far in this best of five.
Yeah, absolutely. We were speaking about choosing Pearl or leaving Pearl as that third map started
off a little bit and briefed and there I say after losing Lotus in such a close encounter,
this was probably exactly what they needed to bring the spirits up in the grand final.
Yeah, I didn't I was the biggest fan of leaving the map third. I prefer to get off to a better
start. I think they've given the fact that there are a bit of nerves being happening right now,
being able to be so dominant in that map. I know at the end it was a little bit shaky,
but honestly I think that was a very dominant performance by Vitality. Yeah, and in Juno for
Vitality this is a map that's their bread and butter. They are very comfortable on it, so of
course we expect them to be coming out of its swinging, and yes, Heretics may have given them
a little bit of a run for their money, but still they kept it on the wraps. I think it was the
the defense side that really impresses me from Vitality. They keep time and time again
showing the EMEA pro on the attack side is very weak right now and then one of the few
teams is able to exploit that in our region. Going to London it'll be very interesting
to see how we pan up against those teams. Yeah and we have to highlight some of the
retakes that we were seeing here from the defense on the side of Vitality. Incredibly
quick, a lot of very well combined utility as we were seeing Sayonara uses the Recon
it's going to be broken exactly but it creates a lot of space for their kit to come out and
create this kind of pressure on the alt-heretics.
But this is one of those things I'm talking about when
EMEA is attacked, not being the greatest.
Like, if the post-punt on this map is almost a freebie in my head,
like, if I'm losing this, I'm a mad heretics coach right now.
B is one of the hardest retakes in the game,
and they shouldn't be losing 5E5s and 3s in that game.
The thing is, like, this is something the heretics
was struggling with the last time that they played Pearl,
and something that they kept struggling with,
even without the seniors, even changing a little bit of the plan,
it's just something that doesn't work for them.
I don't know if it's going back to the drawing board or just thinking about the system up and you don't want to play.
There's a lot to go back to the drawing board for heretics on this map.
The defaults are all over the place. I think that it was clear that there are a massive disadvantage.
They need a massive whiteboard.
We need to get you on board. It was halftime.
There's some drawings.
Someone that we highlighted in that first map of the series already and that has been consistent throughout the entire stage there, I say, has been Kron.
He showed up on this map as well and again being the anchor and that spare or the driving force for vitality to be able to close out some of these
Insane rounds. I think it's about
Vitality's defense and he is the focal point of their game panel at the time
He's going to be on those extremities doing things with his operator
Traditionally not a gun. He's used very much
But he's the spearhead there and he's the one that they make all the game plans around and punishing these teams for not defaulting him out
Or defaulting these extremities
you know. To me, Kron is also one of it. There's two things about him today. One, he's shooting,
he is just clicking, it is a bad day to go up against Kron. But also, I think that this pearl,
and especially the Kron that we saw the last time that they play a pearl, and this time,
is very different. The positions that he was taken, the jewels that he was taken,
and I do think that these are the kind of reps that are actually working in favor of vitality.
I think that we also have to highlight something that Tom had been highlighting on the cast as
and it's the fact that the
timeouts for the side of
vitality and being super prolific,
like they're having very good
reads onto heretics and also
knowing how to combat vitality
down. Yeah, from the side of
vitality, everything is looking
great so far. But heretics had
a little bit of an up and down in
that last map. Do want to say,
though, being able to get those
seven rounds again, you just got
to reset and come back into the
next map moving forward because
they have what it takes. It's
just a matter of being able to
like really showcase me. We've
seen it yesterday. We just got
to see it again today. I think
It's pretty easy to shake this one off as a map that they know they're not so good at.
The vitality are very strong at.
I think it's a little bit easier when you have that now.
If it was a much closer kind of map then I think heretics right now would be a little
bit more shook but in all reality it wasn't that close and I think it's a yeah there
was Peril.
GG go next.
It do be like that sometimes.
However the next map coming up is do or die for heretics.
So let's check in with their coaches to see how they're feeling ahead of this one.
Let's do it, Diana. What are you telling the team to get locked in for split?
I mean, for me, peril was always going to be difficult.
So it's just believing in the prep that we've done and the next two maps are good for us.
So it's never over till it's over.
I think we almost just tried a little bit of a comeback there.
They're shaking.
So yeah, we're just going to focus on ourselves and see what happens.
But that's all it's going to be.
It's not over till it's over and that's exactly the mentality that we need them to have to
push us once that decided because split is the next map here, Kaduka, what are we expecting?
Well the thing that I am seeing right now is I remember back in the day when I was still
studying going through my week of exams and getting very little sleep and that is what
I'm seeing in the face of Neil right now, like they are tired, they are pushing through
and of course they have to do it for the boys but do not forget it's been an incredibly
intense couple of weeks for, I would say both of the teams were especially Heretics 6.
So, yeah, what would you do, Mini, if you were in their position?
I don't know.
I think it's just about digging deep and just reminding yourselves that you've been playing
this long and that's just that last little bit you need to push through.
They're going to regret it if they don't dig deep now and give it their all in these last
two hours potentially of gameplay.
Yeah, well, Heretics, however, did pick this map, so this is their opportunity to really dig deep and find a way to keep things pushing.
Earlier in the day, meaning you actually said that if we do manage to get to these last two maps, you have Heretics in a pretty favorable spot.
Would you still agree with that?
Split and Haven. Yeah, I like Heretics. Split, what we saw before with the flights, is a very interesting, again, America's inspired, I think, composition.
and something that they were very good at early on, but they veered away from it in their vetoes.
So to me, that's the thing with it, they're not really confident on it, but from what I saw,
it was very strong, and they have not given away much on their defense yet. So when we see them
switch over to their defense, by telling them to have almost no tape on it, and then he's going to
have some really interesting setups for us to see. But I think that that's the story for this map.
There's barely any tape on your opponents. It's not only the fact that Team Heroes have veered away
They started this play, or even banning this split, it was not a map that they wanted to see.
It is not a map that they are necessarily bad at.
I do think that we look at the usual suspects.
We need to see, especially Southern on the attack, Agut and Akashmaras that are ready to give it.
I know that on the previous map it wasn't working, but Akashmaras is doing exactly what he needs to do.
Like, he's sometimes taking too many risks, but putting team vitality in a situation of making a very quick decision.
The problem is that I do think that Sayonara is the highlight because of many reasons.
now he's moving on to the duelist and he's just going to keep giving it so the
matter isn't the initiator if it's in the Sentinel or the controller even on
the duelist he's going to be one of the biggest highlights and to me any map
or chronicle is on the Viper is an easy win. Yeah and on the heretic side they're not
gonna have that Viper on the attack and that means that the A control they're
not gonna have much of it so I'm looking here for Yampi to get continuous
information on that A site the map and maybe there'll be some good reads for
Vitality in the Stevens. Do we think her eggs can do this? Yes
Okay, yes, that's what I want to hear because it's do or die for heretics
This map is it however for vitality the same position build the other side of the point if they win this they get to
Lift the trophy will that happen. We'll find out with their captors ancient on
Well, I didn't lie Tom
We certainly have been on an adventure in these last few maps, but now this could be the final
We come in with the pressure mounting vitality one win away from locking in this Grand Finals.
From lifting the trophy and it can be either here on Split or the next map of Haven.
For Heretics, you heard it from Neil Zinho in the Coach Confession.
They started to build up some momentum. They started to come back a little bit too late.
Let's see if they can come swinging out of the gates on Split.
Yeah, their expectations might have been to be 2-1 down at this stage, depending on how Breeze had gone in their minds.
It was maybe not too much of a surprise, but also a journey back to another second place if they lose one of these next two maps.
That's a great start, though. An early pick for his raise.
Over on Lotus was impressive. They're going to hope for more of the same profit.
same prophet trying his best to survive on site has been dealt with. That double
jewel is swinging into action again. The retake, the tough one.
Cosh is primed to strike as well, Chronicle looking the other way. The wall
ends up saving him there. That could have been a little dicey otherwise. They
need every man they can get to fight their way back through for heretics. As you
said, fighting against the history of that second place that always claims them.
They will take the pistol. One in the zero with an in-zone flawless, we said let's see
if they can come in swinging right out of the gates and from barrier up there was no mercy.
That's exactly what you need. Sure you had that small boost at five round streak in the
last map ultimately it felt like you were always falling further and further behind.
Now back on the map where you're very comfortable, I think as well that attack side star, it's
a side of the map that both teams have looked very impressive on from what we've seen from
their split so far.
Think back to the 12-0 that Vitality had versus Pacific, but also their 9-3 versus foot which
they only ended up winning in overtime.
We know the attack could be where both teams dominate, but that pistol can make it all
the more dominant.
Of course I think in this series as well there's plenty of other factors, fatigue, most certainly
a factor for heretics.
Maybe not for Coach Maris.
He looks anything but tired.
Even if the Nade landing there as well, the stun behind, I mean, it's impossible.
He wants to go off the road.
He wants to go off.
He's got a judge.
What are they going to do retaking with a judge?
Why not bring it to them?
One shot left is a good reason not to.
So there we go, the reload comes into play, and now any step towards this area should be met with that,
but somehow Yumpy's able to take down Kosh, okay.
Damage comes back into question, and certainly possible, feasible.
Yumpy dealt with, it's only been made, but the question for Heretics is where did they exit?
You're probably going to suspect that these players are towards spawn, maybe Heaven as well.
But they have to take a risk somewhere.
With the wall not being tripped, you would assume that they're not.
But you're going to think that maybe they're the other way.
The Smokes definitely going to maybe play as a slight ruse,
but it might be the other way.
They're hoping to force it in the other direction.
An opportunity that Benji checks every angle.
Safety first, and a 2-0 star for Heretic.
A much needed one.
Very much so.
This map has to at least start with confidence,
or you can very well see Vitality running away with it.
As Heretic said, as Gilzino said, well, that's clear.
They were a little slow to start they had to rely on that late come back. It didn't come through but
The danger we highlighted was that second half streak it makes them feel like they they're back in the game
It makes heretics feel like that last map was a bump in the road what we're seeing here at least to start with
Seems to support that thesis for now a week by for paratix, but not one that is void of potential only a single real rifle
The first pick only sends a judge into the hands of Riennes.
Still those dangers lurking, but they are falling one by one.
Oh, okay, that's not pretty at all from Cyanara.
Here the pressure getting to him a little bit in this series, but luckily he's got tenured
players to back him up.
The trophy for Vitality still holds a lot of weight, sure, they got kicked off last year but Stage 1, Stage 2 have only ever been won by Fnatic and Liquid.
Today, one of these teams will change that, will put their name in history books and you only really remember the team that finishes first unless you're a team that constantly finishes second.
second. That's very true. Yeah. The pattern makes it memorable for vitality. Four players
still standing as the spike is being diffused. That is a very convincing return, especially
when heretics in a lot of these rounds, you'll see teams with like two pistols and stuff
like that. They had one pistol, which was upgraded right away after that first skill.
And all things considered, that was a pretty solid performance. The only real danger being
that fight from Sayonara. He is having a bit of a slow start. I don't expect that to last
for too much longer. Indeed, you can hear Yonbi calling for the spike in the end. He gets
the defuse. Now, one away from the nightfall, which coming into your opponent's first full
buy, that could be very valuable indeed.
Well, yeah, I feel like there almost has to be a challenge for this B side orb just because
you don't want to be allowing Woot to get the orb, because that showstopper will be available,
a complete game changer in this round, but it is going to be capitalized on, taken with
four players, no ground really battled for on the vitality side, sitting pretty, waiting
patiently, but even though no damage has been done, I feel like Heretics can be very happy
with the start of this round.
Definitely, the early fight, the orb will be main taken, prowler is being burned up just
confirm you're still there but the paranoia was a danger not one they're able to follow up on though.
Vitality just using that to delay to run that clock down the problem is when push comes to
shove for heretics they now have that showstopper to entry with. That's going to make things a whole
lot easier to make that clock. Not matter as much. Okay now I was about to say Profi could start
rotating towards the B site. He now sits passive with the showstopper at decent position for Cyanar.
He's just going to hold in the corner but now they know where he is. Showstopper not going to be
able to deal with him. They're gonna have to try and fight him and he can't quite correct.
Again, left on an island and unfortunately for him, the Piranhas caught him out in the
water. The trade's coming back thick and fast but keeping the advantage with heretics
for now. Still a late luck, but are those steps gonna be heard? Look at the position
of Young Peas. He definitely knows that Benji is coming in this direction. This could be
a freebie. It has to be. It should be and Benji is completely unaware. Having heard no steps
Now Yampi hand on Benji's shoulder follows him through. It's a near impossible round
Okay, give it a multi kill, but instead I'll take the nice style points for Yampi, but around that
Should be too far gone for him to even try and indeed. He is just backing out of there the right call
Originally the plan was okay. Let's see how much I can get from this the second is two teammates die. It's like, okay
at least I can add a little humiliation in
and maybe try and get in Benji's head a little bit,
but other than that, there's a very comfortable round
to the side of Heretic's, an immediate response.
Showstopper also not really playing much of a part
other than keeping some of the players
in more passive positions,
but Amm also is starting to get a little bit worried
because Sionara, especially looking back
to their last game of split,
I remember the sort of showstopper where he kills himself
and then the showstopper where he wins the game.
He ended up being the best player in that match.
If he goes missing here, that's a problem.
Without a doubt, yeah, and we've seen him
with some opportunities so far, squandered.
But the same can be said, yeah, sure, he's 0-4,
but Klon isn't having that kind of game
that we've seen from all season long.
They've been getting shut down and Durkin out,
missing the offshot, has to flee the site.
A has been taken but Yump be running down.
He's caught himself too.
I don't even know where the second one came from.
And with Benji traded out so quickly,
before the spike is even planted,
Heretics are facing a very successful retake.
Cushman, now he's done for it.
Yeah, we know it's a good one.
No way out.
And Rien's face is the one before.
It would be probably his play of the year
if he was to get this one across the line.
Rob, how worried are you about Sion now?
good response. It's exactly what you want to see. I think the alt positioning as well
from young Peter, it helps him out but it also helps out everybody else. They're able
to reclaim this space so quickly and even get a 2 for 1 deal while Benji just even gets
head showing. He's very, very unlucky. Then everything else is just clearing out those
angles and it comes to the building ground from Sayonara to give them their second onto
the board. Sure it's still going to be an investment of sorts but it's really not the
best from heretics they haven't been able to build up too many credits over these last
few rounds. What I will say though is they have a potential to level the playing field
with their ults. Well that's it saved up for a rainy day and that's a torrential down port.
In Vitality we were able to equalize and Chronicle has just been walked on site an hour
It gets away close. That's the showstopper converted and he is down to a sliver of HP profit barely
Now they get to escape and in fact Kosh Marus for a moment thought about
Continuing that aggression. It said they will wait the wall in play has to be baited out
For them to afford the retake moments from now and there it is
In fact, this is he's gonna stop them hunting down the back of it
But the steel garden buys so much time and with vines still online this round. Oh my god, Kosh Marus is going again
He doesn't stop!
Kosh Marus with a double on the bookie!
They waited out the ult!
They bied their time for that!
Ridiculous!
I mean, Koster Moore, of course, he does a greedy little goblin.
He'll be put to bed, but the round for heretics is more than enough of a trade-off.
Yeah, the goal now for Vitality is just try and make things costly.
Try and remove as many of those weapons as they can, but...
It's corner.
Okay, the safe space.
But I do love that from Kush Marus.
I normally talk about over-aggression, but the man had a bucky.
He knows that their weapons have been removed, the only thing they can have is pistols,
and he has the element of surprise what the rest of his teammates have managed to retrieve rifles.
It's basically just putting a spanner in the works.
And both players that were in spawn, which he didn't have that info at the time,
and a new attack, Profakabit.
The sign-out is also incredibly low.
So that bookie is the perfect weapon for that situation.
I made even better than the judge there.
The way he peeked in and out certainly seemed like it
for vitality.
You can see it in the reflection on the floor behind him.
It is going to be a timeout.
Again, the dumb mill as they find themselves trailing
by two, this map.
One of the two that could see them lift the trophy in EMEA.
what a journey it has been for them from the very depths of the group stage they were at the bottom
of the ladder and now they stand here a model of the mountains are within reach they're just one
map away from the summit yeah but it feels like ones that are very winnable for heretics by coming
into split and haven i'd say haven maybe they're they're poor form in recent times but you know
that historically that was one of heretics best maps and sure it hasn't
looked great recently but a close defeat to foot and losing to KC who were the
one-map team and that one map was haven. It doesn't make you doubt them if
they managed to take it there and would split again being more of that middle
ground. They can show this level of aggression. The first one I thought
getting easy, it was Koshmarus diving in alone, but the second one, a little bit
of luck that went a long way.
Nicos was tagged on the cross as well, so I agree that that first was incredibly
easy to second the decals.
Carpenter's running out of ammunition.
Forty left to work with a minute five on the clock and three opponents is no need to face.
Holding the offline is dark.
That's a tag.
Benchy and Rehens are both so easy to deal with now for anyone who doesn't have an operator.
The battle boom might be needed yet again.
The one thing is though, they've dragged a huge rotation to the B site and they're making
read now that there's enough presence here there's enough angles being covered
and enough noise made that the A site should be free should be easy but we've
just seen the rotation of Sionara and now the rotation of Durka and now the
rotation of Profak for a moment and then Heretic's try to go back to B but I
think this is a bit overcooked on the attacking side and we can see there's no
surprise here. They're trying to play with the rotation, but no rotations have been played with.
And there you know what? That's the reward for Ilya. The tag was hit, but now he gets the reward.
It is an in-zone flawless, a clean way to break back in for Vitality. And again,
we have to give credit where it's due. Every time they've taken a pause, the response has been
fantastic from this Vitality side. I'm not sure what Pal said to Profak to get that out of him, but
but just keep it tattooed on his wrist at this point.
Oh, I show it's that again.
But indeed, a three to four score line.
Oh, damn it!
But there goes the replay!
Back to back to laterals!
I mean, it's a low by round, right?
It's one for heretics that doesn't carry the most weight,
but jeez, you've got to feel a bit hard
by that especially when Rienz comes through with a pick in mid that pick means practically nothing.
Can we replay the oh nice derker from Chronicle from the last round so he doesn't need any new
voice calls because it's just exactly the same. That's crazy back to back rounds. Also closing
the last round opening this one. If you are not paying attention that will have seemed like we
just played the replay twice. In fact though he's going to end a couple of rounds all right.
I am seeing more and more of the bandit and
Seeing the in the patch notes or the next one coming up. They're gonna buff it. It has me a little bit nervous
I hope it's like a little buff. I'm gonna give Poo the respect of not continuing that conversation
I really do want to but
He's in a 1v3 and has picked up an off and now with the pistol in his hand
I had no faith but he's already baited out the snake bite
He's got stars to work with two more after that initial one and he is trying to bait a fight
I love how he's approaching this. It is the right play and he might be about to get a reward
They are
Smoking he's walking up close to it up. So this is about as bad as it could go for him with no information
Well, that could have been worse. I could have been a whole lot worse
It's just 12 seconds left. I'm just going to power an oil and dive but there's no need to let him get that plan through
Indeed just about left through pushing him in the end. He won't get out
with vitality
Now finding four neck and neck. They've been so good at fighting their way back in with these slow starts in the house
You have to dig in if they start putting up numbers early
It'll be a tough team to deal with
Every other kill doesn't seem quite as cool after that
That's actually what they said during the tactical pause. We've actually got back a replay that's what they said in the tag
Skut's making a goofy noise as he looks to see it.
That's what I was saying, he's turned into an old school cartoon for a second.
Well, that was, that one's going on the sound board for me.
That was beautiful, thank you Skut.
But for Vitality, as we said, they found their way to neck and neck.
Viper's hit one away, some ulti's online for them to work with,
but the same on the other side, and those orbs early on have been going to the attack side,
but this time Vitality pushed up to get some of their own full B main control already.
But, over on the A-sided side, it's Cyanarra that's in trouble.
The Nade will buy him time.
But the Nade might get him a kill.
He's there with a charity and he's missed.
But there's still a man up top.
Profek is waiting and taking a double.
Leaving Koshmarus desperately low as well.
But now they've detected Gumpy.
They know that he's here.
They'll try to take him down and will do so successfully.
But hold on.
There's another challenger.
That's Kromikos showing the fight.
He's come in from up top as the ult pop by Durkis.
sits inside the smoke and dies in just in time.
This is chaos with Moon.
Is the last man standing but the Spinger controls
the down twist.
18, HB, and Heretic's just about by the skin on their teeth.
They take the rails.
I want to know either side of the coaches
are still sat in their chairs.
Because what was that?
The name not getting anything.
It's crazy.
I don't know how Coach Vance wins that.
Then you have the perfect backstab from Chronicle.
And all I am now the final twist of the world.
It's a clutch coming out from blue.
5-4.
They are still in their chairs, just about.
The twists and turns continue.
In this map, pressure put on.
He's stuck himself a little bit.
Oh!
It's beaten the judge.
Profit now sat down there, moved.
Put a second player, Dirk are walking up, even if he just trips the wall.
He gets round at him. Things are going right now.
But now he's stuck on the other side of the map, that's ideal.
Luckily the player is already pushing up middle, maybe looking for the same again.
I don't think they'd expect it to go in the same fashion, because that was mental.
The side R is still alive.
alive. 23 HP Chronicle should be dead here. If he hits this headshot, I'm gonna lose it.
But that smoke is barfing time. In fact, they're looking at the way. It's beautiful.
Chronicle is able to easily get one of that nade. It's cursed. His name's a cursed.
It doesn't take Benji down. He somehow chest bumps it out of the way.
Lothar was right. A simple block of the... No, Kron, don't go through. 23 HP, he can't go through
that. And indeed, he will sit and wait now with no choice thanks to those thorns and a second set
primed and ready they haven't broken it either and oh is benji gonna wait for the paranoia yes
the thorns go up as soon as the paranoia is in and that delays the the retake leaves derker
trapped for a second the viper screen is bought from time benji desperately low but even still
he's taken one he's done what he can leads him down to the 1v1 and his boo once again
He's been phenomenal in these clutch moments!
Oh man, get me done!
That's not a miss!
Two in a row for Boo.
One V1s with Durka.
And one he had the ult.
And the other the advantage, swing it out.
I can't believe the battle, Boo.
That's so stupid.
Yeah, that is pure chaos here.
But honestly, the game that Boo was having...
Boo, bro, you're gapping Durka.
He is. He is gapping Durka.
Playing his day.
I don't know. He needs to start every series on a Sageman.
It just activates something in him.
And the battle Boo's found two now for Heretics.
That's six to four.
Yeah, dare I say, he has been their best player in this series.
He genuinely has.
Like, he has won so many unbelievable rounds.
and why anybody calling that at the beginning of the day probably has some
boo related pun they're probably in a psych ward at this point I was making a
joke about his family but you know you can you can go that way they're crazy
people but we need to use them to tell the future six to four lead extended
somehow. A showstopper available. Overdrive as well. A chance for an incredibly
pacey hit. Sionar is trying to be destructive. It's only going to be the one.
Profit, getting a shade off angle. So aggressive that they are denying that they
can't quite TP away and again, boo, combining with Woot. Both tagged desperately low.
But a post-plan will happen and the timing could be perfect. It seems like
young piece of where he knows the gaps that have been left he knows there's a
flank coming as well so he just needs to wait anyway looks away but I don't think
the gun was ready for whoo that's a problem it would have to be three in a
row for boo this one surely he has no chance of finally they have dealt with
the menace there's been causing the mischievous over the last couple of
rounds I think if we won that one we'd have to check he's not got someone team
year it in yeah all German player comes to money six to four team heretics with
that read that their IGL playing for them now under threat we could again be neck
and neck at the half which there is the furthest thing from what heretics want
but it's been a good attack side so far
5-0!
The major worry though for Heretics is the fact that as said at the beginning
we have seen both these teams do the majority of their damage on the attack side
and there hasn't been a whole lot of data
for Heretics on this map when you win 13-2 that happens quite often
and profit almost uses paranoia towards mid he's actually the one under pressure without
realizing it just yet some weaponry weaknesses of Reans and Benji with the low by weapons
have managed to win their opening fights in fact Wootz now added another to the death
toll this was looking like a week by but somehow heretics have found strength.
There's the show stopper easy kill on the Wootz he was low HP with no possibility of
surviving. The problem is the rest of his teammates not in that same boat
Sionaris. The wall drops. He's just missed a player slipping into his left
and that won't be the end of him. That's steel garden by time as the wrap
around comes in at the end. It's not needed. They've already got this one locked
down with the Viper's pit to work with. He will find it hard to get that foot
into play and indeed impossible. A seven to five score at the half for team
heretics, there is still some hope. Yeah for sure. They've got to try and make it work in that second half
otherwise this game will be going the way of vitality and there is someone down in the crowd standing by with
Nance who is a massive critical fan who I'm sure would love to see that happen.
It is so often that we talk about the supporting staff of the team and the players there with their
But of course, we also have to give a shout out to the supporting people around the players.
I've got Angelina, a critical wife here joining me.
How stressful is it right now to know that one map away from winning, but they're down at halftime?
I mean, it's very stressful. Not as stressful as Paris champs, but still stressful, you know.
It's hard to watch at moments. And in this stage for Vitality, he's been so up and down, and you've been there through all of it.
So what is Chronicle like as a player through those losses and not just the wins?
I mean he's very hard working and when things are not working out he's always working on them like I can
Sometimes I just gonna see him at home, you know
The grind never really stops. It's not just what you see on stage right? It's everything else. Yeah, it is
And then we're talking about it. They're the one map away
Obviously, you're not there in the coaching booth, but if you could just whisper in his ear right now
Give him a little bit of support. What would you say to get him that one step closer to lifting the trophy?
Oh, I think I would say like just believe in yourself here, but that's it
Hopefully you can hear you down there, but Angelina. Thank you so much for joining me
I hope and the vitality boys are able to come out on top for Angelina's sake. We're gonna head back to our cost
It's been out
Thanks Nat. Always good to hear from Angelina
7 to 5 right now vitality need that little bit of hope in the crowd
They're down by 2 but a map to the good the mistake here won't cost them the ground finally won't cost them that
trophy but the same can't be said for the team currently leading by two. Yeah I will say though
weirdly I feel like heretics need the pistol more. Like a pistol win putting Vitality level
on a map where they favor that attack side quite heavily, a map where they have some pretty nasty
setups surrounding the likes of Dirk or especially if they can get that nightfall online. Of course
make sure to check out the QR code if you are fancying coming down for Masters London.
It's gonna be a great show and you're gonna see both of these teams there.
It's gonna be a lie, we'll see how things go for vitality in half number two is
already it's a pretty successful start.
Missiles have invaded heaven where Koshmarus is as usual good for at least
his one he's really been a joy to watch grow as this season has gone on but he
has been left flattened in this round with Benji and Boo in a 2v3.
The thing is, Yumpy's incredibly low.
Last player staying down.
Well, it's always Boo.
Yeah, I guess if you don't see the man you're fighting,
turns out it's more difficult to kill them.
I said I thought this was an important pistol,
unless Benji has some heroics at chance,
but those shots just not landing.
Even the low HP Yumpy would still
be standing for everything he's fired off.
so far they're now trapped within the site finally he deals with one more
importantly for vitality that is the second pistol under their belt and the
start to their attack side they would have desired yeah and it's like you said
Tom was a solid attack side historically this is where you do start to get a bit
worried that pistol could have carried a lot of weight for team heretics and
their annotation coming into the next round is going to be vital do they make
If so, how much?
It should be a light investment.
This is Grand Finale, if ever I've seen it.
Should be next to Eco.
And indeed it looks like that's what we'll get. So a small investment on Akash Maris, no surprise.
These rounds have worked out in the past. And for Team Heretics, they now more than ever
need a solid start to a half. Vitality are back to comfort here on Split.
Expected to put up numbers.
Seeing things equalize, again we come to the question of damage in this round, not being very easy to obtain.
Like heretics, if they get two kills, grace.
That's a ghost and a sheriff gone, and actually it's probably just the light shields.
Those pistols will be carried forward.
So for them to find success here will be difficult.
Like, yeah, it almost feels like the goal from Boo is just to try and get as much info as possible, but already...
Great tag!
Tag onto Chronicle, but the team is going the other way, slowly clearing out angles.
It's all going to be heard by Boo, but it's how quickly the rest of the team can get there.
Koshmarus, very quickly. Everybody else, it's going to take them a moment, and with the postplank already in,
It may even just come down to dying to the spike.
I mean once Coach Mara is supposed to even do it, the risk taken and going into heaven here is huge with the Marsil.
He'll try it, of course. It's an eco.
It waits for his teammates to wrap through mid as well. So now they've covered all their bases.
They've seen that everything's clear here and he can start to look for fights.
This is the right way to play the round. Let the man with the rifle take some duels.
Try to help him best you can. Pick it up if he goes down.
Cost is what you're trying to slide to the other side and it's already a decent start.
One headshot and he gets a lot more that's done. It's caught a lot now. Here comes the horde running through its only classics
But there's so many of them the damage is actually being done. It's starting to get costly
Definitely got dangerous, but in the end vitality emerge victorious
They are definitely wearing a few battle scars. Yeah, they'll gain some albs, but what they lost was
three players going down
They are still gonna be able to comfortably
pull in a decent bite at this round.
But for a second I thought who was just gonna stick that under their nose.
He could have.
Not this one. Not like this.
He's talking to you.
Yeah, that's it.
The motivation for town.
Love to see it.
Go out in my game.
77.
Vitality.
I feel like they will now feel that they are in the driver's seat.
We can never count out heretics at any moment of any game.
They pulled off a reverse sweep before, but this one doesn't even need to be that.
Two maps needed, and they find themselves level.
I said we haven't seen much of their defensive side because of how dominant.
dominant. They were when playing against foot. We have seen a lot of the
Vitality attack side. Teams have struggled against it. The re-aggression has
been spotted. Blue recently placed but it's only gonna be one and in fact,
Blue gets nothing on the other side. They're even gonna throw the knife
or limb but it has been dodged. Reans. No, he steps back into it because of that.
Hello!
Koshmara is hoping for some miracle spam instead. He's actually caught.
We'll be allowed to survive at least for now.
What a round for Vitality. They've already sent heretics for the hills.
Secured the site. Secured the win. Secured the lead as well. This Vitality squad is looking undefeatable at times.
Again, we talk about the group stage, the fact that they shouldn't have been in play-offs,
let alone in the grand final running through that upper bracket, defeating, obviously Giants
was the start of their season, but speaking about the Giants of the region, your liquids,
your fanatics, they bested them with relative ease making it here, foot as well and we may
may be soon to add team heretics to that list at 3-1 on the horizon with victory for
Vitality and the economy pushed to the limits for team heretics.
I think the thing as well though is like those were not just the top teams of the region,
the teams that like you talk about a list of people that go to champions, it is normally
those maybe alongside Giant X as you mentioned at the beginning, those are the squads that
we normally send, but also their ones looking back for Yumpy, Profek, Pal, that they struggled
against last year, the ones that would stop them making it to those events.
Of course, a victory here.
It might be a small footnote in it, but we'll also garner them additional points towards
champions at the end of the year.
them a top 8 as well. Which will give them additional time and we've spoken about the
squad with that time to work. The heretics though, they would like to claim that for
themselves. This is a lot of by round but the Nades that you've been able to pick off
Sayonara, a good start, a couple of weapons that were kept through from the previous round.
Now a showstopper and players wall for boots, so there is some real danger.
The Vitality could get caught in a trap.
50 seconds on the clock.
It looked like uncertainty for a moment there.
Akash is going to rotate to the B site, maybe shouldn't the Turkish come down.
That's a big fight.
The showstopper is helping out the B site under threat and no longer, Booz got him through
through the wall, but he's running, he's running for the rifle, he's looking the wrong way,
Drew's being dealt with, but showstopper as you said, it's there, it's available, and
Wood's thinking about putting it through. Here's the stab, submits his moment, fired
out with great precision, and Chronicle, another huge punch needed, but denied this time. Team
Heretic's lost the lead, but not the will to fight.
That was a big round from Wood. Obviously helped out massively by Benji with the initial
tag to get his knee to kill, but then the showstopper had to be timed perfectly.
He goes too early, maybe doesn't catch somebody, goes too late and Chronicle
would have killed him, so he had to get that spot on. And then also just having that knee
towards the end, even the blast back just to reduce any fall damage. That's how you play that
ways. That's why you want to see him on this agent. And immediately evening up the scoreline,
putting their economy through the roof as well. They are right back in contention for this map.
Oh chronicles dealt with early by heretics now that a aggression coming out they are starting
to believe. Round 17 and the lead could be theirs yet again but vitality they've only lost chronicle.
Durka still waiting. That operator we're not even waiting pushing forward taking space
tripping the wall as well up towards Beheaven and all the while you can see
that vitality across the map have a very very slow plan waiting for aggression
in mid in vents and outside B but nothing is coming their way the only
aggression they waited for so the only aggression they got was when they were
waiting for outside A but got punished with 45 seconds left might have to go
blind into this site. Well, not quite blind, that'll help.
Oh, go swinging out. 35 seconds left though.
Still two players on this site. They control.
It's been challenged for. Look at the drives around them in.
They look to fight this together. They're still another player.
Reims gets dealt with though. Vitality on the entry of Dumbwell.
Wu already in fairly quick for that plant.
He's coming through. Kushmarus just running it down.
He doesn't even know. Dark is still in the corner.
some reaction shots coming out of the fin
and a back and forth continues
9-8 lead claim by Vitality
and once again heretics find themselves on the back burner
I'm really keen to see this replay of the final or second last kill
the last one Durkgaard, because I saw him holding Heaven with the AWP
and he just himself, look at that man
so fast to catch that knee on sliding through
And the game saw how the time has crashed up top.
SIT DOWN! SIT DOWN!
It's not just it.
Sit down all of you.
You guys are sitting.
9-8 for Vitality.
A big round in the last, but
it has been a pendulum swinging
in so many of these rounds.
For Heretic's investing fully.
Boo's on a bookie, interestingly.
Next sense, when you look at where he's holding.
Also, this would break them.
This is it, yeah, a loss here, and they are trailing by quite some.
This is the cliff's edge. They're standing real close of their own volition.
Pralas sent through.
Chronicle this time holding with an operator.
Second Prala.
Even committed.
Clearly some doubts that maybe they missed something outside of A,
And those doubts seemingly being confirmed as a rotation went back in the other direction.
Woo! Headed his way into the other side of the map. Utility being faded out though.
Happy to play this one slowly, but now Sionara goes in, but he's blinded!
Solid flash to help out Reans. An advantage taken and with 30 seconds if they're going to change the direction they're going in, it would need to be now.
A lot of that utility from Vice already dealt with. They're not wrong to still commit to this A site.
3 in the blink of an eye!
And no surprise, Chronicles running for the hills.
What was that?
The man motivated to play on home soil.
He removed his utility, but Benji was the real problem.
Just holding that back corner.
It's such a valuable position because as they come running out, he's able to hold the line,
the re-swing further to just mow them down.
9-9, the back and forth continues,
and this time it's enough of Vitality to take that pause.
We've spoken about it all the way through this game so far.
The commitment of the showstopper,
the repositioning to Heaven,
and all dealt with by one man.
And just when you think that Vitality have
that Golden Road all the way to a trophy,
a trophy, a top eight, a Masters London.
There's a couple of extra points.
It gets snatched out of their hand by the last remaining
Brit from EMEA that's making his way to London.
Sure, he's already made it. He will already be there.
But the fact is, for Heretics, this is far more than getting a trophy.
It is getting one and denying the existence of a curse.
Many will believe Israel. I think even when you see the interview with Benji earlier, where he is asked about it, it's not like it doesn't exist, it's a, well, you know...
We like to believe it doesn't exist. I think you said, like, you have to start by just ignoring it. That's not you saying it doesn't exist.
To clear that mental block before you even get to London would be nice. The fact is though, this game has been anything but clear.
Ultimates a couple, one for either side, Dirk is going to have to use his to pad the gap
of his weaponry, the classic as all he has alongside it and it makes me believe this
is going to have to be a pacey a hit, almost off rip.
Dirk has given all this space for free, heretics are playing so far back that they've left
this is a vacuum assuming perhaps Vitality would take it maybe even assuming the pace
would be as it is. Vitality now make it up to heaven congratulations Durka no ult anymore
he's down to a classic chronicle holding the office being given no peeks this is so patient
from heretics their reward now fights on their turns the flash from banji again it's causing
so many issues for Vitality and this may well be the last day hit we see for a
while they are being shut down on this side of the map yeah it feels like again
as you said they removed all of his utility they sent Durka through his
only goal was just to get rid of every single piece make it so that he was
almost left bare and barren on this backside but a singular flash and his
own swing was enough to end this round immediately and criticals right back to
the same as last round. Can I save an operator in towards the spawn? A lead that will now
be claimed by Team Heretics, a map of the utmost important map that would take them
to Haven, which again, you go back to last year, the year before, they'd be dreaming
of a last map on Haven. No one would even let them play it, let alone let it be the
final map in a series, and sure times have changed, their favourites were in fact banned
that's something that can't be understated. You come in and your opponent gets a 2-0 pass, a pick, you lose fracture, which has been very good for you and a perm lamp for your opponent, and then you lose a scent, which has looked great versus very tough opposition, and you still come in, you challenge in this series, you almost take away a map from your opponents at the very beginning as well.
sure you almost go 2-0 down but let's ignore that and now you sit 10-9 a
chance to take it to a third map and in all honesty you now look back towards
vitality again you've just taken a pause you've been absolutely obliterated by
exactly the same thing that caused you in the previous round and again you dealt
with all of his utility with no trouble you'd almost want another tactical
pause here but they don't really have that blessing that's the problem right
Like you look at how those rounds go down, like you said, you remove all of that utility.
That should be Benji stripped of any chance to really do anything, but that singular flash
and the timing of it as well, that's the key thing. They waited so long on the defensive side.
They didn't overpeak. There was an AWP waiting to catch them. There was Durka up in heaven already.
I'm talking for a good 40 seconds. You have Vitality stood there waiting.
And nobody from Heretic's Bites and the second Vitality say, okay, they're not going to do
something.
Go!
Heretic Strike.
We are the only region that celebrates a tech pause, aren't we?
I don't think anybody else does this.
Hey, it's their fault, man.
The stage does look good in red.
Hang on, we've got ourselves a tech pause sponsor.
We've got ourselves a tech pause charm.
There's only right to it.
We'll get hopefully a short one as the stage goes red.
But I also think that for vitality, genuinely,
this might be one of the worst times for this to come through.
It's been a back and forth.
You go on to your favorite side of the map.
You've now lost two rounds in a row
to a Benjamin Fish sat in a corner,
and the same corner as that.
And you now have to sit and almost stew in it.
Now I am seeing Chronicles sit up. Now that's normally a good sign.
If he was still lounging, that's where I'd be a little bit more concerned.
But he's locking in, so hopefully, that means we're not going to see too much red for too much longer.
Yeah, I believe we might be getting ready checks down on the stage if Kron's sat up.
Red E checks?
Red E checks. Very good, Tom, very good.
We can mute his mic if you want.
Double digits though for Team Harris.
In the ones?
In the ones, thanks Tom for reminding me of that one.
That was good times with you, brother.
That was good times with you.
I'm looking for 11 off and Han for Kaushumaris
and I think for Vitality, this is very much
the turning point against their favorite.
If Heretics win this one,
we go right back to map five in our heads.
We go right back to Haven as close as it's been
as much of a battle as Vitality have put up,
but the attack side, the main crux of it so far
is that a sign they need a solution to that something they will have been
thinking about during this time there's a question for that going red then there
was for it don't think we're at anymore yes as they're we are sick
individuals our priorities are well and truly in order and here we go one round
between them vitality as we said this is their opportunity to fight for this
map you lose this one and it really does feel like the past deepens round 20
Are they gonna go for it again?
Like it did well, but I've heard the phrase if at first you don't succeed try try again
But okay, it's they are selling the idea that they are gonna go there again
Mays thrown in to try and force people out of positions and break utility
Yeah, make it feel a little bit more awkward
Rotation hasn't been pulled though. They haven't moved
anyone to that side of the map just yet.
Well, there's two ways this works for you.
One is rotations and one is that someone wants info
and they go peeking AMA
and they go right into the hands of Chronicle
who's holding it with an AWP.
And we've seen you're either getting tagged
or taken down if that's the case.
The problem with it is, again,
this relies on the gamble that heretics will over face
and they have not done that.
Think about the last round, they were so patient.
And when they have an angle like this of their own,
why would they shot fired away as the wall went up
And it hasn't taken anybody down not even down low those players now flee making it look like this was all a plan to fake a go
B
But the wrap around is on its way the problem is they have not dragged rotations this a hit is still gonna have root there
It's still gonna have Benji and it's still gonna have that bloody flash
That's caused so many problems is it gonna be the same again can Benji fishy save them three rounds in a row
He's going to try and deny them the weaponry, but they are running out of time 12 seconds
They didn't they need to move and they need to move now the wall is blocked off
The remaining was that wall and it is ended their round
The big beautiful wall and it kept all the attackers out, Benji, Fischi.
His flash sweep, all would be the key piece, but it's mad.
The spike stuck on the other side and rumping.
You see him breathe deep.
But more this heaven, every rhyme, boys.
When that mistake will come back to cost them, they were corralled into heaven by the nade,
down lower and at a stake of timing, one man running ahead of the rest. They had to avoid the
steel garden as well. Either that or you run into an unknown flash and oh now they're trying to run
through smokes. This A site, again I feel like I'm going back to watching Eternal Fire on this map
where it's just like let's just keep hitting A over and over again and it's not working. They need
need to find something else because walking into the Benji fishy setup has
only been met with death or running out time but it has been three rounds off
Benji's utility three rounds they got the wall this time who were a flash one
was a wall I don't think it's been a long time since I've seen a wall went
around like that in DCT and I can't even remember it especially this deep in a
game, a game with stakes like this for Vitality. It's a gut punch, and I think
there's another one on the way. Kosh Marus now holding patiently up top.
That off, you'll miss the shot. Nice on Crouchpeak from Profek. Plays limbo, and
he's made it past this round, but no. Come on.
No, please. 30 seconds again though. That's what's taking. And he gets
Sion Aron instead. He misses one, but he doesn't miss from there.
Chronicles operators finally found a victim. It feels like he's been saving it for so many rounds and while he will not save it once again
Heretics were looking defeated
Desolate, but now they are fighting back four in a row and need just one to take us to map five
As we talked about vitality with a chance to make it to that summit
It seems heretics are standing in their path
I need it.
No!
Let's go, guys!
Quick, guys, amazing!
Nice entry.
Thanks to that man, when it comes to the A site,
the way is shut.
Vitality.
Three in a row needed now for Heretics.
That fifth and final map,
they can already taste it.
It's just around the corner.
A few picks away.
Well, that's the question. Where did they go now?
Operator has been bought up for the defense.
Woop, has one in hand, a spare gun to boot.
There.
They're making it so there is no safe angle to challenge.
Right there.
Mid, honestly at this point seems like the best option.
Try and claim some control.
The A site has been an utter nightmare.
Especially in the more direct approach.
The lead. It's an interesting one. The defensive side is fully rotated away, leaving, well,
the hero in the form of Benji Fischi. It seems like he's about to be challenged once again
in the spike. There has been somewhat isolated here, but we'll have to hold.
Challenging Benji, what could possibly go wrong? He will be stunned. He will be naded.
Surely he'll be dealt with as a result. And there it is. The span takes him down. The
plant found. They had to take a different route, but they got to their destination at
long last. A plant on the A site, but they can't let it slip from here. It seems some
aggression on the minds of Vitality's prospect,
wrapping around up top.
But he'll hold his horses, hold that position the same set
for Chronicle.
They're covering all their bases.
They mean that the risk at the moment for the walkup
with the advantage.
Oh, they just sit back and let heretics come to them.
Well handled to put Buu alone versus three.
And they're coming through that wall any moment now.
He's trying to use his U-Till once again, but there was no way out of that scenario.
Vitality have broken through.
They finally were able to deal with Benji, and it genuinely seemed like the whole mid-take,
the goal was just to make sure they could clear that man from the heavens.
Knowing where he'd be standing, predictable, but why wouldn't you be with the success that he's had?
I'll also say as well, something that I don't know if you saw in the moment, but would have angered you if you did,
Was the fact that Coach Maris did drop himself a bonus weapons and areas over there
I did I did see it. I did see it. I chose not to comment on it. I
Didn't work to your satisfaction. Yes, and get exactly what you deserve
Two more chances now to close out this map before overtime
Heretics they've already lost mid as a very quick take from Durkin. Oh only with a judge
I think it is, I mean if he gets close enough, right now we can see it's completely clear
the only man that could do anything about it is Woop, they've moved the wall.
This is a whole new setup for the side of Heretic, a more passive one, a lot of forms
are going to help out.
Here goes the showstopper, a chance for maybe more, but no, gets a little greedy.
Sianar was already on the other side and Woop not firing early, could be there undoing.
A chance now re-ends in the position that has been so dangerous for Cyanar waking up.
We've mentioned this young star on the raise.
A quiet start to the map, but a resurgence now sits him right near the top of the ball
for his team and a post-pump with a jaw-jump close once again.
He needs to be so careful though.
Stepping on the line here for Durk, it could give him the way back through the 3D3, but
instead again holding his ground.
rewarded again and again in this series. Three versus two. For Sianara a pick here. Even going
down as long as it's towards the end of the round. It's just fine. A little show stopper
for the next and final round. All he has to do is get involved and you know Sianara always
keen to 12 to 11. One last round in regulation. We are either haven bound or another overtime
to decide these teams' fate.
Again, thinking back to their last victory on this map versus foot,
it was him that took them over the line.
Some high-impact moments of showstopper
that ended up with a double kill.
And he's got one coming into this round.
But this was all about him.
Again, I like the ideas from Heretic, so you move your setup.
I think Woot just overcommits.
That's the mistake. He fires that showstopper earlier.
Maybe it gets a kill, maybe he doesn't.
But it's more that he walked into a danger zone and Cyanari just went well. I'm behind that wall
I'm gonna just disrespect. I'm gonna assume that you don't think I'm here and that turned around on his head
That was the game-changing moment and it was an unnecessary one for Wu to go that far forward
Now for heretics and their coaching staff. It's about steadying the ship. They can no longer afford to bring in an operator by the looks of it
Or maybe just choosing not to
And because of that, we'll see how that varies in their setup.
The A site had been solid, but the last couple of rounds, maybe once the pressure is on,
Vitality had found the gap, but their defences started to crumble.
It took a while to crack that code, but now it seems like they've had no, well, I wouldn't
say no issues, but certainly not anywhere close to the level we saw in the previous
A couple of rounds, a big streak from Heretic's, the five out of six.
Now we come to just one more needed, but it's been two in a row for Vitality.
Another will give them overtime, showstopper is the tip of the spear here, and that's danger
now, and he's gonna run, he drops down a bow, there for two, make it three, and that just
might be the play that Heretic's needed.
Kroppek surrounded in down-group,
and in their final hour, and in zone flawless,
answers the call.
Heretic's all the way to map five.
That's crazy.
Mr. Impact once again,
Boo steps up when they need him,
but we're going to be going over to that sideline.
One more time, this time with Reans.
I finally got my hands on him, Reans.
You've been putting our clutch out of the clutch, something you're knowin' for, but to be able to see it, come out in your team-mates as well, see it go to on map number five now to know that you're on the verge of breaking that second place curse.
How looked into you and what do you hope being Haven goes like to be able to lift back trophy so soon?
I mean obviously I hope Haven to go smooth and easy, but other than that, like individually right now I'm not shooting the best, but I'm trying to help my teammates, like whenever they need me, I'm there, you know?
So I'm trying to keep it up with clutches or like communication, you know
And yeah, I hope you win heaven and like normal second second place curse
Well, what are people are hoping for that as well and you have been so stable for your team
I'll let you go back and join them because just on the other side of this break
We get to see who is gonna be lifting that vitality or heretics
Let it go!
What?
You do it!
What the?
You do it!
Let's go!
Who?
Bro, you're getting dark, yeah?
He-he!
Say what you will, maybe it's okay
You have to do it yourself
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Cause that's all there'll be
Now there's only one thing I can do
Fight until the end like I promised to
Wishing there was something left to lose
This could be the day I'd die for you
What did you see before it's over?
Blinded and flashed, getting closer
Wasted eyes, something left to lose
This could be the day I die for you
This could be the day I die for you
This could be the day I die for you
I feel like there's nothing I can do
This could be the mood inside the truth
It's taken me my lifetime just to prove
This could be the day I'm done with you
Don't let it be the day
What do you see before it's all over?
Blinded by ashes taking close breaths
Sacrificing everything I knew
This could be the day I die for you
This could be the day I die for you
You
for me and the longer we go, the more sloppy it's going to maybe be, the strategy maybe
a little bit more, let's not go into it, maybe some of the micro isn't going to be as well.
Love it, it looks great, that's what you want to see, you want to see Slop, you want to see
ranked gameplay.
Not your ranked gameplay.
But either way, we do have to highlight 13-11, still a close affair from the side of Vitality,
but Heretics managed to find that momentum, they managed to find their swing into things,
anything they also had individual players really that really stood out in terms of coming through
with clutches and just making this possible. Yeah, I think the amount of clutches that
Heretics have found themselves in, have found themselves in throughout these playoffs have
been kind of crazy and I feel as though it's always been boo that kind of steps up in those
moments where it matters most. Yeah, but a lot of these rounds were back and forth,
chaotic rounds. I dropped all my analysis while people were watching that game. I was just
just enjoying it from the viewer's perspective of just the back and forth of Messiness and just...
What's her? So you've clocked off?
I think clocked off. I was just enjoying it for the...
You're clocking his fans!
For what it is, it's the fourth map in the best of five and that's where, you know,
people get a little bit more tired, the game fans start to drop a little bit and we see
who just really wants it comes out more and who's just shooting comes out.
Yeah, I think it definitely got sloppy and we can kind of see it in these runs that we're highlighting
here. I think that not that the brains start to switch off, but you see the aim starting
to get a little bit more messy and things like this as well. And I think we do have
to mention, you know, the fatigue coming into this. We're going all the way to that final
map. I had said that coming into today, my concern was team heretics finding themselves
in a fatigue position. But if anything, they seem to be the ones that are fired up at the
moment. I want to see some confidence coming up from Vitality and there's the rounds where
actually get to see vitality run into that by swollen. Yeah. Yeah.
Samana seems to be the name of the game here and it feels like heretics as much as they've gone through that low bracket and
highlighted the amount of rounds that they've had to play. It feels like they've built it up over time and they're just taking this as another day in the office for vitality.
We do see like things not necessarily sticking as you talk both touch upon as well. The fact that some of the valorant we're seeing is a couple of question marks.
So, Mini, looking at this, is there any of the teams that you do favour?
No, not at all. I think this is now a complete 50-50 game.
And I think that says a lot about how heretics have done extremely well in this series.
Something Tom was talking about a lot on the cast is heretics didn't have any map bans there.
If I tell you, you have that advantage.
So for them to pull through all the way that lower bracket,
pull through in this series, coming back into a fifth map,
that's a very strong sign for heretics.
But they don't want to just be the second place Kirstie.
They're now going to want to push that over the line.
Yeah, and that also put into perspective the stakes here, Billy, because, yes, it's the trophy, but it's also going to be that first seed in London as well.
Yeah, exactly. Getting that first seed in London would then mean that they get to skip all of the Swiss stage, which gives them extra pep time, and then, of course, they'll participate when it gets to the type of playoffs.
But I think it's more something that we need to highlight here is champs points. Our region is so close when we think about the teams that we sent to Santiago, the teams that are picking up the champs points this stage, especially when you consider these two guys' group stage performance as well.
Yeah, they didn't pick up as many points as they wanted to so I think being able to win out this series isn't just the trophy
It's the chance points where they want to separate themselves from the rest of the region
I'm the glory of being able to shut the haters maybe for both team second-face curse and then the super team
Failing at the start of this stage and bringing it back. So lots of stakes on the line for this map and
Of course what better map to do this on then Haven the one that's been around since literally day one
everything one of these players has had so many nerfs on this map specifically we
know as well what to be expecting from these teams when it comes to the
composition when it comes to the aggression and let's be completely
fair when it comes to that gunfighting mini. Yeah this map we haven't seen it
from heretics for a while. Yeah, why? I want to say something. No, no, they played against
actually recently in Koshmash drop 30 I believe I'm completely wrong I think the
map is one of those ones where it's a complete 50 50 both the teams have been
okay at the map I don't think either have been extremely strong and it's just
gonna be like we said it's gonna be who has just got that last bit of gas ready
to send it for this map five yeah definitely I think when we're considering
the approach for this one what we were expecting is of course having the
I think here, so we're gonna see sign our on that Phoenix and duck on the neon no changes for vitality
And on the opposite side as much as it seems like a miracle position you have wood being on that jet
So I think this is where we get to see the question of sign our has already admitted to you know
Not being able to put off the kind of best performance so far throughout this test if I could put it's not forget
He only just joins us this stage and this is his first first ever best if I put on this
I saw you, Koshmara.
Yeah, I agree, so was Koshmara.
I think it's time for Scythe to step up.
You can't get that way in a full glazed session before the game.
No, I agree, I agree.
Without him stepping up on this map, he's switching over to the Phoenix who played it
last time too, and Phoenix is an agent where you need to be on it.
You need to be fragging at it, you need to get in those warbs, and your ultimate needs
to get that value there.
So I'm looking at him in this series to be stepping up.
On the flip side, Heretic did lose the last time they played this, and Koshmara dropped
30, and he was insane on that attack side.
So, again, looking at him as the spearhead for this team, like we have all through this series.
For sure. I think it really is a reminder of the stakes for both teams.
Team Heretics being able to break that second place curse and finally win a trophy domestically,
and then for Vitality as well.
They came into this series being sure winners, considering the advantage that they had coming in from that upper bracket.
Now, just being one map away from finally Yampi being able to lift a trophy once again.
And the big strategic narrative I've had from Vitality is that
I was questioning their defenses all this stage.
They've stepped it up for a playoffs,
but Halem was also one of those maps where it was a bit iffy.
So this is the map to prove that defense is now good.
This is the map to prove that you are going to be the stage one EMEA winner
to lift the trophy, to be that first seed, to break the curses.
But before we head into the action,
let's have a temperature check with the crowd
because we got a full house today, Nat.
We do, I am not that far from you guys, but I can genuinely barely hear you, I can barely
hear myself because the crowd has turned up today.
This best of five has given us so much from knife kills, aces, everything you could want,
especially a map number five, but I've got to know who here is cheering for Vitality?
Now, it is a bit biased because I am standing on the heretic side, so I'm going to ask this
of the chance of going deaf. Who's cheering for Heretics?
Woo!
But more importantly, who's excited for Mount Five Haven?
Well, not I, certainly am. I think Tom might be as well. This is what we were hoping for
coming into today a five mapper but talk normally there's some stinkers along
the way 13-2 or 13-3. We almost have one.
We almost did that 10-2 half. I mean a little bit worried I'll be honest but now we come into the final map haven any expectation of a blowout here?
I hope not. I think all expectations go out the window. I think it was spoken about on the desk in great length that once you get to map number five the previous four don't map it.
You're in the middle ground, N'Hanna-Wall, unless one team severely messed up the veto.
You go on history, Haven was one of Heretic's best, you go on recency, Vitality should be taking this.
There truly is no better place to find as a middle ground.
One of these teams is taking that trophy home.
This is what an entire stage of play has come down to.
Yumpy, the one to draw first blood for Vitality.
And look how quickly Durka is pushing up behind.
He won't go any further with the traffic.
He's placed, but he'll contain them.
He'll keep this stack in play towards the side of Chronicle.
Prophet, Yumpy, all turn up!
A sea of scyat and an in-zone flawless for Vitality in round one.
Yeah, one hell of a clean start.
Of course the fact that Durga had them locked in allowed them to just stack up on this side of the map.
But that's exactly how you want this defence to go.
And he was talking about it on the desk that like the attack side...
So as I was saying, the attack side has been their favourite for sure.
But there's been talk throughout of what this means to both of these teams.
They're both qualified. Maybe there's some points.
But the fact is you see it in the players, this has been a slog.
No one wants to go home at the end of all of this after hours and hours of play empty-handed.
And for one of these teams, that will be a reality.
reality for the heretics of reality they have had to deal with many times
before but at the same time the expectation that was placed on vitality
shoulders I think even a second place will be enough for them to get memed a
super team that doesn't win I don't think you call that super team the most
importantly for them avoiding the chance to get grouped when you go over to
I was risky. That was scary. Boot took a lot of space at just the right moment. Got up real close. Real cozy. Nice shot.
Oh, it's actually a little bit too deep. Kaushmares is still sitting pretty. Now the pistols are close. I do get a bit worried.
And you can see why. Cyanari, the 21HP, he'll fall too. It's getting costly. And Kaushmares now with a recovered rifle.
Could be even more so but that wrap around from Thurker he's been wandering all
around but not all goes to wander around.
A red ball clutch he found the final man and the round for heretics, gold dust out of
nowhere.
Yeah take your worries about this being a flaw and throw them out the window.
We didn't even get to round three without having a back and forth.
Koshmaras, a man who didn't even get a full stage under his belt.
It's something heretics have talked about.
They have gone from a tier three to a tier one jump.
And let's just say he looks like he fits right in.
Yeah, he's, he's alright.
You know, you tell me on week two, I'm going to be looking at him with these kind of performances
consistently as well.
I will call you a fool and a madman.
scored it out if I could I don't think I have that power but as I said in the
previous or I think two maps ago watching him grow as a player or growing
comfort in this roster it's not like he suddenly become this good he was this
good when they scouted him I'm sure but definitely didn't deliver on the stage the
first time around change of roles neon jail and he has looked very comfortable
there oh yeah maybe he'll get if they all gonna move away from the deal a little
bit of extra time to practice might hold more weight than you think even still
for vitality if you're just joining us firstly where have you been but there
are no free rounds in this game there haven't been for a long long time maybe
go back to parl you can just about see it on your screen there was one or two
rounds that looked easy just as Durka trying to make it over the trip 30
It always seems to get tough.
Oh my goodness.
Gosh, Marist, the timing there was absolutely spectacular.
Ult online as well.
An insult to injury for Vitality.
The squad that started this one with a pistol round,
an in-zone flawless.
But now Heretics have returned to them just two rounds later.
The lead for Heretics as well.
I'm starting to get all ready seeing the reason to be scared of the one havens still
Yeah, it's even gonna
Steal away what was the the one weapon that was invested in to so he's upgraded his bulldog
Although with how he's just played the last two rounds of the bulldog. I don't even know if that is an upgrade two to one
Overdrive online for cause Mara's as if he wasn't scary enough already with six kills in the last two rounds
For the defenders, a couple of volts getting close.
Not quite online just yet, Durka. Tempted to try and challenge.
With a multitude of players and even an AWP picked up for Reans, they're just going to fade away from what was some initial skirmishing towards C.
Lost info on C with players possibly right behind that smoke on C long. Vitality, look for information.
Reveal, send up, paratix, only now making it to long have timed this perfectly.
They've avoided the first piece of initiator utility and they've got the good tag on the umpiosent falling back to the A side.
He also, I think he only saw one possibly two crossing there.
And with the drone being heard, I think that would be the second confirmed.
It seems like Vitality are going to gamble on this rotating over quite heavily already.
And that's not the right play.
We can see an immediate change of direction coming in from Heretics.
This is looking like the perfect outplay.
It's just going to come down to how long they take.
Coach Maris really selling this Ruse.
But in fact, there's the Ruse is already sold.
Even still vote.
He's going to find that opener.
to make this costly and just hold them into the site.
He's done his job, but Chronicle is still here.
He's managed to catch them on the cross.
This battle between him and Benji might be everything.
It didn't even look like he was peeking.
It looked like he was already back behind.
Positioning.
Duck has done well.
And Sianora is there to close.
It looked like Vitality had fallen for the Ruse hook,
Glein, and Sinka.
But Chronicle slowed them just enough.
Yeah, a crucial shot from Chronicle on the cross, and I think then you see some risks taken.
Frankly, I don't know how Benji hit the shot we're about to see from him.
Explain that to me. Explain how the human body can process what it's seen there.
Re-act. With that level of precision, it makes no sense.
Oh, two to two.
Every round's a big one at this point.
the last four maps, the last however many rounds you set after the first two it shrunk to a
best of three, well now we're a best of one, we all know how random those can be, fatigue,
doubt, and more mistakes, all but likely an aggressive pusher from Dirk already, he is
gonna be forced back just by the cam. A fairly deep position already claimed as
wall by Boo. They are now looking for this. I'll just go around to have that space
for free. He is gonna hear a lot of the steps around long. The drone, he's not
gonna be able to capitalize off Yumpy and actually that spot feels a lot more
important than it might seems. Forces them back in the other direction but that
B site matches relatively open it is but Sion hour can play through this smoke
He has the ult to work with and the flash if he just wants to go straight on in
And that's exactly what they'll do a hundred fury sent through but heretics
They have just so quickly sending it instead to the C site, but Chronicles still in position
He's gonna hold strong for the first and he's not the only man here
Prophex into smoke dodging the reveal to wrap around a little late
Come through but it gets you more. No, it only gets you one
Some have- What's happening?
Heretics have got the upper hand with Wude, striking in the back lines.
Kosh Maris on a sliver of help down the last man standing, and Vitality recovered.
But that was a chaotic round with so much opportunity.
Hey, team Heretics that just never got realized.
It's just crazy that the moment from Wude caught me off guard.
Like, where he's just somehow sacked behind them.
makes absolutely no sense he was able to get into that position but then the fact
that only get below the fact that koshmaras lives with this amount of time
yeah just look at it from this point of view it's maddening and the fact is
that's enough to give vitality to the lead
Please! Please step on!
One round to the good. Are the defensive side heretics now trailing seeing their lead slip? Let's check in with team heretics
I don't know what to do. There you go.
I'm watching your garage.
I don't know. Silly.
E-link still.
I'm coming. I'm coming.
I'm coming. I'm coming.
I'm coming. I'm coming. I'm coming.
I get the E-link and go out.
Can you go out?
Get the E-link.
Very good.
I'm anti. I'm anti.
I'm anti as well.
I'm blind.
I'm blind.
I'm see you dead.
Hold the E-link now. Hold the E-link.
Yes.
I'm anti.
Pick up me. Pick up me now. Pick up me.
Yes.
I'm blind.
I'm blind. I'm blind.
I'm blind.
Leave me. I'm soft.
Nice.
I'll just clutch, nevermind.
I'll run for you.
I'll just clutch, nevermind.
I'll run it, okay?
No!
Well, I thought we were listening in to them.
Their comms in a lost round.
It certainly looked like it, but
it really made that work from back-site.
Really nice stuff.
One thing I will say is that Benji is saying,
Alright, pick up me, pick up me.
in the open just challenging him.
Well, I think there's a moment where he literally goes like,
Alright, don't worry, I'll just clutch.
Like, that was it after that second kill.
And it's safe to say throughout this series,
there have been plenty of moments where Rienz has been missing.
He hasn't had the best of games,
but they're here and now,
and those are the moments that can define
heartbreak once again,
or finally,
An EMEA trophy.
Both teams battling tooth and nail.
A drone sent through, Kushmarus.
If he's going to play through this, it seems like a pretty hefty gamble.
There are a multitude of players here and they are walking into the band.
Woot makes it pass and that might just be enough.
He's still fighting on his own.
The other two players are really just making it there.
Benji has arrived finally, but he's now been dealt with.
Left into a clutch again.
Cyanar up top the flash leaves him completely blind and critical now in position to try and help low and the bucky from there
Now said during the intro to this map. We've seen everything. I think now we have
There's two things I've seen the blaze kill teammates before I've seen the blaze get kills when someone makes a silly mistake
It walks into it when they're low. I've never seen it used
He's in the corner. No worries. I'll native with my wall. This is beautiful man.
That's insane. He could have been half with it like, oh you won't see that.
A big way to end the round and that's coming tied up from Heretic's their first, the first time out of this final map used coming into round 8.
Yeah, I think after winning round two and round three to find yourself for three down
It's not where you want to be on the heretic side
We've spoken a lot about this map in recent times and
their defeat
Versus foot came even with the coach marriage dropping 30
So it kind of shows that even when this man is on sometimes that isn't enough
They've had their clutch moments themselves
the game. He's got a lot of
problems. But the fact is
who did everything he could
there was one of the first
players into the site holds
the line for three kills, and
it still slips away from the
people with that blaze skill
coming through at the end. See
if the tactical pause can make
the difference that they need.
But as we saw mentioned,
whenever there's been one for
vitality, there has been an
immediate response. And
Well, that's it. Yep, a moment to sit down and that we've seen it before where coaches have told us after the game
They called the pause right when I was going to
That helped us out gave us a third play store
Nice roots been having one hell of a series he's six and six right now
So it might seem kind of funny to say in this map, but you think about the rounds where he got those skills
and think about the previous as well
Definitely one of the highlights for Team Heretics and the rounds they've looked good in.
I did it 10 on the clock and this looks pretty direct from the attack side.
Yeah, this is such a weak buy as well. It's played some, a singular rifle and then classics on the rest.
That really shows how much weight this man is going to have to lift.
The flash is good from Cyanar, so is the second as well.
from the back side is able to drive Benji.
That singular rifle has come up big.
Durka's flank this time has been spotted
and the shot at the fading away wound.
The Chronicles already back in,
Blue drops him and leaves it onto Durka
and they knew where he was, but he's repositioned.
Now bear in mind, you might be looking at the sniper
and thinking that's a weakness,
but he still has his overdrive.
Both of these players just one hit.
He's got two barrels and two targets.
Not a man to count out, but the angle perfect for Moon again.
And Emota thrifty has given Team Heretics an equalizer.
What are we worried about today that there could be a blowout map, but my goodness,
it couldn't be further from the true peace teams.
So hard to separate.
Ah, there's so many rounds from Benji Bishi as well.
Boone's been in the mix, genuinely thinking you're the king for the culture of the day.
It's not an easy task.
Even just picking an MVP of the map, let alone of the entire stage, feels like an impossible task, thankfully.
Not my job.
You just missed the staff, that was the fourth Blaze kill, that's Phoenix's wall, in case you don't know,
that we have seen in VCT EMEA.
Did it say VCT overall? It might have been overall, I don't remember 4 in EMEA.
Remember a team kill it was just the emya just the emya, okay, I think one of those is a team kill from that mistake
It's a good time
It's also an agent that's been around for ages
Obviously the playwright right now is higher than it has been in quite a lot of occasions, but it shows the rarity
this festive five is
Really looking to show you everything but
The one thing it can't show you is both teams lifting that trophy now this round
where three wires absolutely sticks.
There's an all-or-two available, but it seems like
it might not be the right time to use it
with a post-plant already guaranteed.
And an incredibly tough retake,
unless Heretics makes some serious mistakes.
Yeah, definitely not the round,
but you want to see those pulled out in this.
Should be.
A clean closeout on the retake and it will be only Reans the follow.
I think it was already tagged up decently as well.
A round win and a lead for Team Heretics and it definitely feels like their sales full of win.
But the buyback from Vitality is on its way and that was an easy round.
But a good sign still that Heretics won it so clearly.
Yeah, I think as well that the fact that Vitality didn't gamble any of their ults in.
They didn't find the right time to use it, so they now come in with 4.
None available on the other side, although a couple pretty close.
That re-ends Hunter's Fury.
Always one to fear.
Are they just gonna pick up the pace, or is this just to get the challenge for the AWP?
They dated it out a couple of times, and this time it's way faster!
Chronicle!
Again, he's always been good for one on this side of the map,
but they are pressuring him, looking to surround him, he fights forward versus Benji!
Knew that he would be waiting on the other side,
And he has done an incredible job as the solo sight holder.
This is where sometimes we've seen Vitality play ahead of the pack.
A player making a mistake, step out of line.
That wasn't even it! They played together in the garage!
But shut down anyway still, only Rehens is left and in the end, the second leg of the retake.
He's left standing. Five to five.
Neck and neck again. Who's surprised?
And I honestly again just Chronicles decision-making was just perfect knows that he's gonna get surrounded
Here's the footsteps of wood coming and goes okay, Benji has been outside at this door every single time if I kill him
I have some space I can hold the ground and play retake which is perfect play
From the Sentinel vitality and someone that has been under serious pressure in this map with the amount of see hits we've been seeing
five to five
The victor of this half
very much still up in the air even a pistol didn't give them any sort of
advantage. Early mid-push from Vitality or at least some presence there you can
see we're on board with Durka you had Sionara waiting to flash out of the door
as well they see no contact and at 1.30 or so they call for that wrap to the A site.
The rotate around is gonna be a four man stack up I mean just a little bit of
early aggression and this is what it's got. A big numbers advantage when push comes to
show but they're already in already on the back site. Team Heretics have been
stopped and the rest of the crew Niles behind. Well also Dirk has been tagged
down to 5 HP Sionara as well like this might look even but one team came out
victorious. The Spams would be enough the shot definitely would but Dirk is
managing to dodge it all, still trying to find an angle to block what instead is
boost spamming the kills of Cyanar, even still Chronicles here again. Now they know
that both players are within this site but they're still pushing, they're still
going forward, the TP is a ruse and a nice shot for Rheant, just trying to fake
out the idea that he's gone to the other side of the map, but Chronicle hasn't
been. His read is that they're still here, he's tucked into the corner but Rheals will check it anyway!
another re-ends round and at least an even half the heretics that's so big
catching that kill on this side I think it's time now right it peaked back site
yeah look at that they saw the flash go through a boot just spams look at that
box is a lot of money I how did he see it how did he see it makes no sense he
You may well be to go six to five the attack side has the lead, but I'm expecting to be even at the half
Yeah, but an expite from vitality who knows at this point
trying to predict
This round
Feels like an impossibility profit got top though is cleared a great start from Kos Maris
Hunter's fury
It almost feels like you need to get something from it a tag on to whoo
The run to Rikos Maris is dealt with, bear in mind that Cyanar is incredibly low.
It's time his Blaze will just have to be USED FOR SOME HELL!
But Rihanna's caught him!
The Shogda eliminates!
And the plant now in.
Even still, Yumpy has managed a fairly important frag, not just for the Rambut for him.
That's a gun.
A gun and it may be a chance.
For this round, it's definitely not going to be a save.
Nothing left on the table here, but that took the position of Benji to first danger dealt with.
Chronicle now closes the distance.
Yumpy and him swing through together.
Two 1v1s essentially on offer.
Boo in the cage. It's perfect.
That allows him to stay taving from the reveal.
And a moment to strike onto Kron.
He's even seen Yumpy step towards the spike and catches him!
The battle boom back for two!
And it's a two-round lead at the half!
This man has just been clutching all the way through the game.
I said it would be difficult to predict who is going to have the clutch of the game.
Oh, it's been madness.
The fact is, though, Nats got a very special guest with me right now,
and he's here to cheer on his big brother.
It's someone you know named Mini.
Yeah, a lot of big cheers at the mention there, but I got many good with me.
You come in to cheer on your brother.
Hello.
How stressful is it feeling right now?
Because you are familiar with the emotions being a player yourself, but still to watch
him go through Grand Finals, be on map number five?
I mean, it's always been a whole new experience for me, like I'm really worried when I'm watching
the game.
I rather just watch the VLR score rather than watch the game because I get so stressful.
Obviously because of my brother, obviously the moments we lived together like before,
it's also, you know, I feel close to them.
So it's actually really hard to watch the games, you know, especially in the league.
Yeah, you hear it all the cheese go along with certain rounds there
But we're at half-time right now her tics are in the lead and if you were to get to say something to him
I'm sure he doesn't need that much advice being the lead right now, but what would you want to say to him?
That's a hard question
Just keep going keep doing what you're doing because they're in the lead. Yeah, so long back down and go for it
And how much do you think that this would mean to him as well because we hear from them?
He's such a stoic guy. Do you think it would mean a lot more than what he would let on?
Yeah, I think like the image of him he has like that it's not he doesn't care
what I think deep down he's really cares about and I was really like for him to win
this so in the end he could name himself champion of Europe you know yeah
getting getting that regional trophy crowning himself that as well a lot of
people in the crowd cheering for you as well but now let's head back to our
classes and see how Hayden finishes out this is the fun thing because I've
actually filmed a content piece with both him and his brother and I remember him telling me
Buu is the competitive one. Buu is the more competitive one obviously they're both competitive
but this guy has wanted the victory, wanted that trophy unsure and especially with obviously stage two
going to be in Barcelona it would be a perfect time to win in Berlin for team heretics of course
It is only the first half, there is still at least another half to play.
And I'm sure Vitality are not giving this one up just yet.
Yeah, better strap in for some overtimes.
If you're at home, this could be a long one.
It's been a tight game all the way through and now sitting at 7 to 5.
Oh, the first shot again goes to Yampi here in this pistol round.
The trades come in.
Woot! Woot! He's gone in!
Right behind them a second dash online and he is out!
Unbelievable!
The plan found moments ago and would have been with the man advantage,
but now it's with some pieces left to be picked up
and one of them they're looking for is Woot.
But he's gone. He's right back to his teammates.
Turkish jet, something we've talked about since the inception of this game.
Dealing with it is a whole different kettle of fish profit dipping back
To a safer position the paranoia has missed that means he gets one for free crush marks ahead of the rest the dips through its
Woot again, and now profit needs to try and save them
But there is no saving them from the hands of won't four kills in the pistol round
Well eventually
He's gonna get himself the diffuser as well. He was too busy celebrating but they had to wait
He ripped his in-ears out while he was standing up as well, that was... there he is fixing them!
HAHAHAHA!
He tried!
This is crazy though. This is utterly crazy.
But you can't even blame the players on the other side for not reacting.
Look at what critical zone!
It was like the flash!
Except he's holding the gas!
It's a neat wall step!
ROOOOOOOT!
Do you think it doesn't mean something to Neo's in-ear?
I think it might. I think it might mean something to Weber. He just did the the sup aura farm in the count as well
That's crazy eight to five
What a round as I said whoo he was like six and six at one point. It's like oh, he's had a crazy game
That seems stupid, but it is he just has these moments where he takes control of the game
They've invested into this round. So this has to be one where they do damage. They are risking it in
this
Which is normally an eco round a chance that could not only
Take heretics to nine
But can potentially give them ten as well putting them so far behind
Chronicles stepping up, but the trades are coming out
In the fifth map of a best of five
I'm surprised they're gambling it. I mean they got the plant I suppose and the idea being to
quickly correct the trajectory of this half, but
I do agree it's a bit of a ludicrous investment.
The chance for heretics to run away with this is massive.
Yampi's shown that he's still towards the sea site, but the A-plan is coming through.
They will have time to work with the one thing they won't have is a TP now for Profek.
He's just used his to get the site cautious that there could be someone here.
And that means, did he just use paranoia as well?
They're so worried about someone holding them from heaven or something that now they have
to do this without utility. It has to be dry. It has to be nothing but clean shots from Vitality
and Profect has landed the first. He's got damage on the next and it's damn close.
The boo always reliable for heretics, at least in this map, at least in this series.
They make it to nine as a result in losing that four-spy.
That's a real, real good punch for Vitality.
Yeah, they've made it, costly.
The question is, does this now start a domino?
Niiiice!
Do you do this again?
Because you've made it down to just one player.
Well, Weber certainly thinks they will.
Weber has just called it.
And I'll be honest with you, I'm looking at the ingame, he can't see that.
They are looking like they're gonna force it here.
Vitality taking a massive gamble once again.
A gamble on a gamble that again, could set them up.
And I'll be honest with you Mitch, I wanna hear what they're talking about in this risky round.
And I will just throw down the vehicle.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Little flash again.
Little flash.
Small garage.
Close left!
Close left!
I'm only leaving.
Close left.
Little low.
I'm gonna stay to Cipher.
For the case, he is leaving.
He's leaving.
I'm holding plat, I'll try to maybe kill the guy if he was close.
I just wanna slide and peek.
We're freezing him mid, I think.
Zyper minus 80.
Can I slide peeking?
Peaking me already.
Zyper one HP now.
Zyper one HP now.
Zyper just come garage with me.
Wait, I smoke window.
Three, two, one.
Left garage.
Left C.
Zyper stay keep garage, keep...
Or right keep.
Boxer.
Boxer, we're just.
Wait, I paranoia?
I'll keep the rocket from far away.
Blackway.
They're throwing in garage, they're throwing in garage.
They're in garage, in 16 I have smoke bro.
They will close up C-team.
I'm calling C-team.
Yeah, this is good.
Be careful, garage walk out.
Yeah, yeah, I'm just playing close bro.
This is good.
Garage one.
I'm calling garage.
Steep full, dashed out.
Three garage, three garage.
Cryptics.
I'm dead right now.
Black, Black, Black one.
They got this, I bet.
Shadow's traveling.
Black.
And he has come out.
And Shadow around, closes out with Wurt again, being the one to strike that final blow.
Team Heretic's double digits now, and for Vitality Gamble, after Gamble has not paid off,
They will call a timeout their first off this map as they trail by fire.
And they put themselves in this position, they force themselves to force.
And now they sit on the precipice, either having to triple down on their decision or
take an eco and well likely be six rounds behind.
They had the advantage.
They went into the last map, needing just one from two.
And now it feels like heretics.
Well, if anything, they've got a date with Destiny.
Those second places, VCT, be it at EMEA,
be it on the global stage,
they have suffered those defeats time and time again.
And as said, what will be the last time
We play our best of five in Berlin this year with Barcelona coming up later.
It would be the perfect moment to break that curse.
And after going through an era of partnership that's soon to change coming into next year,
after standing out on this stage and many others in this era, it has been an era of
second places and that can change here.
can finally write their name amongst the others. It's a short list. There might be
it is about to get a little bit longer be it their name or their opponents. Nice
little swap out from Banji there. Shockdart sent out for nothing when it
looked at the investment here. I wonder if this was the the main crux of the
decision to take a pause maybe to stem the bleeding who he has had some crazy
rounds already in this map it's looking like vintage who on Haven mini boo might
be sat in the crowd but he has seen this man
teams apart but this time it's only the one and that's a rifle into their hands
that trade was worth its weight in gold yeah it's the problem of taking a risk
like that that wound very regularly in this series getting away with it
Cyanar can only.
Drone good attack?
No, and Cyanar will run through off the back of the tag as well. Plenty of info to work with, but Rienz holds strong.
On the other side of the smoke, Rotate's come through. Now there's four players here. Vitality look to go forward.
No flashes to get out of the smoke. Instead of a deal for the back, but Cyanar, across that, Yuppie!
Everybody's here, but Solage got Mara's!
The judge has just slid in for a double in a 1v3.
This man makes the impossible possible as he dies down, swapping places with Profek.
But he's the one that needs to defuse the pressure.
His own Kosh Marus, he's the one that should be caught without a weapon in his hand.
Profek drops the smoke so that he can drop inside it, but waiting down below.
Oh, it's Kosh! One missed shot and that's all it took to give Vitality a chance.
I don't think I've ever seen a Kosh like that where one jumps out of the window and the other appears within it.
Literally trailing places.
But my god, did Kosh Maris make this one, Kosh?
This is insane.
I don't know how. Again, he gets away with stuff like this.
And you can see the reaction, it's Profec's I want to see, like that wasn't one of elation,
it was one of relief.
It looked like a man who just learned how to unclench.
Fair play to Profec, a big round and it could not have come at a more important time for
Vitality and even there, there was that spark from Kaushmaeris, there was that chance for
a one round to turn into a loss.
It's a stack.
It's a stack.
Great stun, in fact.
Already on that side is Durkin.
It's free as can be.
He's found a second before going down.
That is the job done.
Or so it should be.
The Bladestorm though.
He proves to be dead.
Bladie!
Is the rabbit!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
It's nothing that could be said.
Just watch this man play.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
That is the play of a man that wants this victory more
than anyone else.
A man that two years ago joined this team.
Do you remember when he joined?
I don't remember my name after watching that.
He was in stage one.
two years ago. He graced this stage for the first time and two years later he is still
pulling out. Absolute bullshit. In rounds the heretics have no right winning. I looked
at that and saw a stack, saw the first two openers and was like, ah, never mind. They
had the right read. But the fact is the only stack they needed was Woot with a Bladestorm
and a Classic.
Can we see that like five more times? Can we just cut all the replays for now? We're
After every ground that was one of the craziest things I've ever seen the fact that this guy has consistently
Indale on them out of situations the fact that he will go rounds without doing anything and then go over about to lose
No problem. Okay, I'll step up to the plate and after cost almost clutching out the previous one
He comes in with a blade storm. They have pistols. I think a single rifle
But they didn't need it. They didn't need it. They need one night. His name is
This wound, his name is seared into the memory of every Vitality fan now.
Two rounds for Team Heretics to finally lift a trophy in EMEA.
To finally break that curse.
And what a time to do it as they're set.
What is this?
Head to an international.
They've cleared this angle before, but
They've definitely not cleared it with a bloody odin.
Oh, they know he's there.
They're even gonna try and hunt the sphere.
Honestly, Valet!
Yeah, finish!
Yeah, do it!
He's caused you nightmares.
Maybe not as many as Woop will.
This is a response from Vitality.
Rian still gets one back.
And Woop is still alive.
Alive and kicking, it seems.
Sat at the back of the site,
and honestly, after seeing that cloudbush,
Yeah, go the other way.
Screw it.
Don't walk into Prime Woo.
Don't walk into a guy that has made everyone
on the international stage fear him at a time.
Playing a team with a stand and then finish second
at the international event.
Do not face that man.
Avoid him at all costs.
It does, however, mean that they're going into an A site
with boo within it.
It's going to be revealed, though.
They'll know exactly where he is.
And I don't know exactly where everyone is in fact.
Good work to start with that spam coming through.
Sparrow and device.
Having picked this up off the corpse of Kashmaris, it's come back to do some damage, but nothing damning.
Just yet, for Team Heretic's, I don't know the other hand, is certainly a blow.
Woop, the big man taken down, and now while fleeing is the only option for Boo, but even then,
Is it an option Durka could be on his tail so quickly, but Durka's already got his ult. It ain't worth it
Instead Yampi Stinger in hand sent to find this map who has to be silent
He wants to sneak his way out of this round, but they've heard they've heard the jump
And now Yampi is locked in on his position an easy kill on a rifle upgrade for Yampi. Big win for Vitality
Four rounds behind though one misstep
And the mountain they seek to summit will lead to Malaga. Yeah
normally I might question a solo all thrown in onto just one player but honestly how irritating
Coach Maris can be. I don't mind it. The heretics right back into the mud. A couple of rifles to
play with their double jewelers will be the ones picking it up. Early door spams which well
almost forced Benji to fall back but they have managed to claim a lot of space
this double duelist sat far forward but a much more default round from
Vitality now they had the advantage not wanting to take any risks
No surprise there's someone in that close-off corner but they haven't spotted
him just yet. And Wook steps out. They thought that they found the guy who pushed A-Long.
But there was two in the big swap positions because Mariusz up close, but he is the sacrificial
lan. Team Hereticz still had that rightful on mood and he is, for a moment, was looking
to get aggressive on A-Long, but instead he'll stay tucked in. It's not an easy position
to find value from, tucked in that corner. And the flash from side now goes the other
way. Wook's able to heal, he's able to step his way out of there, but the spam, well,
it easy for them to fire right back. Durka deals with Pooh, and now a 4v2. Pistols on the other side.
And, uh, Shopdurk does some decent damage. Profek is low. There's definitely some chances.
There's not really any chances anymore. 11-8. An expected round. I think the main thing for me
is that we talk about teams making mistakes, and in how, in moments, especially where things are
slipping away from you, it can go wrong, not in this round for Vitality.
I think the most important thing is that they check for Coach Marenz because he
actually had a rifle in that corner. That was a dangerous position and they countered
their rule of order. And they clear it.
Judilagin, most importantly narrowing the gap to just three.
Definitely looked like heretics already did the hard work in getting up to 11.
We said long ago that this seems to be a series with no easy passage.
Vitality that proved true in the previous map for heretics perhaps it will prove true
closing this one out. Remove with a minute ten, still that aggressive spot and this is something
vitality of being clear in every single round but not without its costs. If I'm not mistaken,
it's Yampi twice in a row getting picked off on that corner. It's an irritation but one that
hasn't been fatal. This is the problem. TP to the back of the sire. Okay, he left it to the last
second, but did cancel. We're just seeing how much they could get away with, but of course that was the spike. Maybe wanting to try and create some sort of nasty post-plant
Benji though, still within the corner, but you know where he is. Yeah, that's given the game away and now escaping might be difficult. Had to jump back,
Cyan Orange is running it down, TP denied, the Spam, Sublime, Shorty and Hamid is not going to work from that range.
Woop, close enough, Bybridge being spammed out, needs an immediate kill, and Durk can make sure there's no opportunity.
And of course, Boo was miles away. He was hoping to TP into that back corner, now all he can really do is just survive.
You see Woop in that position, surrounded by three on the site, they know he's there and something in the back of my head says he's gonna get a 3k.
He's about to pop off, but they've dealt with the danger.
They've sent Bouda save, and nine will be found.
This gap closing in bit by bit.
I can't even remember where we're at with timeouts.
If I'm not mistaken, I think both teams might have one left each.
Could be wrong on that, but I'm pretty sure heretics still have one.
And if they do, thank you, Jack.
Well, thank you, Jack.
Our producers always know that in game director, technically,
that it is heretics have won by Talty have none they've used theirs on the climb back in I do expect anyone's
The point of it is
Soon it should be the now or the next round as things are starting to spiral
The fact is though and it's something that we've spoken about quite a lot is the impact of the pauses from the other side again by
Talty start their climb back after the pause after their risky four-spy
Back and forth
That was where they found their footing
And while you said it would be soon, maybe it's sooner than you think, it is right now.
The final pause of regulation has been called for heretics.
Four of the last five, three in a row have gone in Vitality's favor.
And what was looking like the end to their second places is slowly slipping through their
fingers.
You can understand why this is maybe a moment once again for motivation.
Maybe a moment for that one strap you've been saving.
Most importantly is to make sure that you don't let all that fatigue, all that doubt,
all those questions that you have cloud the last few rounds of this game because that
may be what ends up with the trophy heading home with someone else.
Well, that's the end of the final pause. Vitality know that they're putting the pressure onto
team heretics as the barriers will go up any moment now. The defense, they don't stand
much of a chance. Obviously that Odin brought through, but the rest will just be pistols
He's calling the timeout here to give them a chance at taking this, but maybe even move towards info gathering.
Testing, and the test has failed towards a long and immediate shutdown from Durka.
And again, the brakes to be pumped by Vitality.
We expect nothing less from a round like this.
We'll also think back to when they're versus the low buy, it was that C-Sack aggro push, fast pace that ends up falling apart because they walk into a stack.
Being the slower, more methodical, more structured of the teams is exactly how they should be playing.
But the way that this started out wasn't quite like that.
But it seems once again that the second Vitality need to bounce back.
They have been. Now, unfortunately, for the side of heretics, they have gambled completely
wrong. Benji will be here in time, but look at his weaponry. It is not the gun to have
or maybe it is. If they're going to go running through his cages, maybe it is. But thankfully,
the other people will spam through and end any more danger.
In this round, I hate the push up from Chronicle. It's such a big risk and look how quickly
Heretic's trying to pounce on him, realizing there's a weapon to be picked up now.
That's going to make its way into the hands of Bu and a 2v3, he is far from unloosable.
Durka holding the right angle. He's got the right weapon as well.
That outlaw, one shot to the body for either of these players.
The smoke put down to make it uncomfortable for him to take a fight, but the same can be said over here.
Koshbara's dead to rights as is Bu. He's one HP.
looking not to go down to the spam. We might even make it out of here.
Profek's looking the wrong way. Okay, boo. He's managed to finesse his way to a
rifle at the next. You would think Profek, he found him in the end, hunted him down
10 to 11. That steep slope starting to level out, but the climb can often be
coolest near the top this next round if you think or break for vitality.
Yeah, perfect as well. Really got started to take this game into his own hands. 21 and 14.
The only man above him is of course Woot. As you mentioned, he might go missing for
a moment or two, but one away from a Bladestorm and operator in hand. Again, though, they're
being a little bit more aggressive on the other side.
Koshmara's being shot down early.
They've started to counter him,
started to deny him that ace face,
and Sionar is gonna go looking,
but he doesn't quite make it far enough.
A little bit of extra info,
Dirkus Mishot gives Buu a second lease of life.
But again, once they get that opener,
Vitality are more than happy
to just fade away into a default again.
Yeah, they've got control with the traps across the map,
and they know that there's two players on the ace side.
That's the benefit of Sayonara having ran it down with his ult.
At this point, the right play is to go elsewhere.
Worst case, you run into a two stack and some Sentinel utility.
Best case, you get free sight.
In this case, B, left open, left free for the attackers.
The movement to the C side is where the real danger lies,
and that's exactly what they're walking into.
Woot strikes again.
Now the blade storm that previously ended around the second.
It was popped, but Durka, the one to answer back.
Benji and Buu won't let this slip though!
A chronicle!
The late play through mid all the stands of this attack side.
They've got the credits for the next, but it's about something more than that.
Now, in regulation, all Vitality can do is survive!
It's Heretics with MAP, series, and grand final point!
These moments are the ones that might just be remembered although the celebrations cut short
to make sure they have the weaponry.
Boo might be bottomed but that play may have just stopped the bleeding four in a row.
achieved. Hunter's fury on either side.
That trophy is what awaits. If heretics can win one of the next two, the fact is
though it might need to be this one. Their economy is on its knees after the
last few rounds and a loss here might put them in a very awkward spot.
Always a bridesmaid, never the bride. That second place calls for Halitix again, but they don't seem keen.
To answer this time, nice tag, Koshmarus on the Durka as well as huge, Yumpy's tag low.
The spam so close for Rienz and the Shockdarts will do damage.
It's starting to slip away for Vitality and a hero as needed.
was needed. Prophet up top spotted Chronicle helping out, but somehow Prophet still unchecked.
It comes down to Wu, the man who's bailed them from so many bad situations now as a
chance to claim victory. To win that trophy for the squad, but Sianar has slipped into
the perfect position. One more for overtime, one more for Vitality to stay alive.
It really has been a marathon of a map and OT almost feels discerved after a five map
thriller.
A perfect spot on top, I don't know how he got away with this as much as he did but
even still it came down to Sayonara to close it.
the pressure put on the youngest man in the server.
With a bright future ahead, but a starker,
a seasoned veteran, a man with multiple trophies
already under his belt who will start this round off
and with many weaknesses, Heretic's need a hero once again.
That fucky.
They're scared of it on the other side,
Vitality immediately step away,
put some distance between them, but that sends them right back into the waiting arms of Rienz.
A man who has been a thorn in the side of every team he's faced, but
only the one this time when more was needed.
Closing in regulation for heretics means battling against the odds now.
Not only are they a man down, but on this site,
Buu is all alone and if Vitality all pushed through, they could find a free pick.
Blue almost got it. He's left Chronicle on 20 health.
That's a massive start to this fight, but oh, no, he didn't get up.
He's missed his TP. He's got a pale Shirley.
He's not going to stick on site. 26 bullets. 18.
Oh, the blunder could cost, but he's still standing his ground.
It's not going to come down to Benji Fishy. Otherwise, OT and all those bad memories might just be coming back.
a rifle at least, a gun found, but they are doubling up on his position and Yon P does not miss.
A three kill in the most important round in this best of five. It takes us two overtime.
Well any chance of a blowout left far far behind.
This series is delivered.
Math after math.
OT after OT and it's fitting that on Haven.
He said it was a 50-50.
It could have been more right.
Divide it right up the middle and that trophy yet to be claimed but for Heretics now, letting
that regulation with a slip in the back of their minds.
Second place.
It hasn't stopped calling.
The phone's still ringing, and they may be forced to pick up.
Vitality villains.
Some people say they shouldn't have made it out of groups.
Some people say they're lucky to be here.
But the greatest way to silence haters is to win.
And that is all they've been doing for the last couple of weeks.
a win versus liquid, a win versus fanatic, a win versus foot.
And now a trophy sits just a two rounds away,
to the number that has cursed their opponents,
but not one, they are letting define them.
Kushmarus is gonna find that opener once again.
Dirk are here with the operator,
but no shields of course in OT, he's gotta be careful.
And then Alps already rung out, the shot was fired, heretics know what they're up against.
Koshmarus is very close to that smoke, he got tagged on the way out.
Wook's just been tagged as well, some good damage done.
But the advantage still for heretics, the team that had a chance to close it, well they
might just have another Koshmarus even low.
He's not low enough.
Just two left to take down, and it's Birgi Birgi with both of the final blows and
in zone flawless. And another chance to break the curse and claim the trophy.
The next time we see him play, we'll be on a home stage, but the stage has felt like
home for the last couple of years to potentially end that run with a trophy in Berlin.
You've seen the passion from every player. I don't need to talk about it anymore. You've seen it,
but here we go once more. Kosmaris now sent to the other side of the map. Bear in mind he was
denied every single time the bench has been spammed out through the door. What an opening
from Chronicle. Wootz about to have the rest of the squad breathing down his neck. To get out of
here seems impossible and it is. Dirkus shuts him down.
All this talk about tiredness at the end of the day. I ain't seen it. Not when the rounds are won,
not when they're lost, and not when push comes to shove, when fights are happening across the map.
it seems this... not an ounce of energy missing. They don't know they've got a
free plant here, but we can see there is no contest for vitality. The plant will
be secured all the while. Heretic setup for the late round. The problem is that
they haven't taken down Chronicle. The trap is still in play towards the spawn
and as they break it, the steps are referred right away. Chronicle's got
the information too behind and the rest might even look as a paranoia in spawn.
they're looking to push forward two behind that means one ahead but a
paranoia of his own is bopu as secondly supplied a moment to breathe as
Rienz now starts to push to the site because Fouls though everybody falls on
heretics another overtime needed we are going the distance and then some it
really does feel terrifying to think that someone has to break this deadlock
eventually. One of them after one. Coming up to six hours. Will taste defeat and a 1313
heretics have decided. Let's take ourselves, pause. The wisest of words need to be found
in this moment. Words that may have escaped the heretics coaching staff in the past.
But it only matters now.
And although there's definitely some stress behind those eyes, both coaches looking calm.
That definitely, I mean, this is calmer than me.
The easiest and hardest part of the job. There's so much data there.
You've played so many rounds to keep reinventing yourself while sticking to your strengths. It is not easy.
You do what works in the first half, the first time around, will they probably are ready for that?
You do something new, something you haven't practiced before, and there's risks to it.
And it literally is an incredibly complicated game of chess.
Do you change too much and maybe fall into a trap?
Do you change nothing? And then your opponents have adapted. Or maybe they haven't. And you
get yourself the win. An early molly being set up. Potential for some damage off Rip,
but other than a little bit of chip damage, most of it has been avoided. Potentially,
Heretic's just gonna go for something a little bit more direct. They have given up the majority of the map and that has been spotted
Very early by Durka. Yeah, he has got so much control now
The thing is though that it's not like he is fully stacked up just yet
But now it definitely will be a flash fired back through Sainara not silly enough to swing wide on that
They were waiting
Now Heretic's they have to stop waiting. It's a minute on the clock
And they don't have any control other than what they just had and just gave away. So where do you go from here?
50 on the clock and it seems like straight up mid to B
But again, thanks to that position from Durka, there's numbers here and the drone up from Yumpy
They have the exact idea of where they will be going. There's no one outside C
I've drawn through a the only place left is in towards B
Paranoia are immediately sent through the spans, working our profit again on this side.
Sionara joins him, but Rienz, Koshmaris are trading effectively.
You might have an idea of what they're doing, but can you deal with it?
Still, one man stands in their way on the scene.
That's Durka, to even things up once again.
And with 15 seconds left, the only safe place is the PSYPAN.
Is it safe for Long?
Dropping one and the World Back to Bench and survives?
It seemed like he was dead to Wright's rifle, Retrieve!
And he still takes it home!
A red ball clutch for Benji Fishing!
That should have been impossible for Benji.
So low in that last fight.
And that round, that may have been what gave Vitality the win
going on to their attack side.
He almost got collated.
That would have been the thing. He could have been dead to rights.
Benji!
Benji!
Benji!
Benji!
He has kept them alive.
You can see the frustration there in the vitality.
Different slams.
That should be around the day when Benji Fischi stands as their savior.
Another chance to close this out.
I'm losing count of how many times Heretics could have lifted that trophy, but it only
He has to go right once and it started out with their best foot forward, Durka, deleted
through the wall, another taken down on the wall bang, a Sayonara is sent away, it looks
like Heretics are on the verge of victory.
Chronicles gonna walk in, Booz perfectly positioned, only two stand in their way to the cursive
number for Team Heretics. Finding that number one. And Yumpian Prophet are all that stands
in their way. Forty seconds and they could find themselves with a trophy in hand silencing
second place curse for eternity. It will be a thing of the past. It will be a
footnote in the history of their victory, but they still need those final two.
For Vitality, a few rounds ago the mountains really were within reach.
The Heretics have come through and buried the past of the Summit!
15 rounds! That's what it took!
Clutch after clutch, play after play and with an in zone flawless,
they will take the Grand Final!
Heretics, the best of our region, the best of EMEA!
From old and two in the group stage.
A three-win streak, an early defeat in playoffs, a lower bracket run that takes them all the way to the place they have looked for for two years.
We've talked about this squad as being the best in our region, but they have never been the best in our region.
Lifting that trophy has avoided them time and time again, but the fact is they are now
Categorically the winners of BCT EME a they take top eight at Masters London a home
But then he could see who had more than his fair share of impact in this game
But the fact is not a member on that stage now should feel disappointed even though for vitality
It will feel that way. That was a battle. That was a brawl. That was a war.
But the fact is, there can only be one victory.
We know that on their day, Vitality could have taken this series, but it is not today!
Las Menos finally break the curse and a trophy lift years in the making.
The battle boom, he's earned his right to say that they are the best to stand above the rest and to go to London as EMEA's champions.
It's got to be feeling pretty good for Reans.
A man of many moments, but as we've stated already,
there could be many, many more.
And because Maras, he came in and turned the tide of this team.
A team that was all but looking dead,
but the decisions made by these two on the stage
have turned their future into one of victory.
And we'll head to, well, a home event for them as well.
The two Brits of the coaching staff, they will be happy
to hold a trophy that has their names within it.
And for Benji, it's one thing to talk about home field advantage, but
stepping onto that home field knowing that you are the number one.
Extra time to prepare as well, but
What means more than anything for them is to finally avoid second place.
Yeah.
No longer one of the best, but the best.
And it's been a long, long time coming.
Yeah, I'm sure that question has been asked to them so many times.
What is it like to lose so many grand finals?
I'm going to I'm going to ruin the first question.
What is it like to finally win an EMEA, Benji? What is it like?
Yeah, did you hear him?
Yeah, it was pretty good.
Oh my God.
I'm coming honestly.
It is insane.
I'm going to say congratulations, Benji.
We're all the heretics out there.
You wouldn't have heard of Benji,
but I'm going to start in this overtime.
You clutched it up for your team.
The crowd was going crazy.
They were literally standing there chanting your name.
Did you feel like this is it?
Five, two, five, two, five, two, five, two, five, two.
There's no losing it from that moment.
Yeah. The crowd today, you guys were insane.
Thank you, appreciate you.
I hope I get to see some of you guys in London.
Um, yeah, we felt the energy.
But it was, it was amazing. We weren't sufferable, to be honest.
You threw throughout the whole lower bracket run, right?
Not just today where it felt like everyone was stepping up individually,
I mean, honestly, we just kept living. Now we stop living. We know that we are heretics and we have a style.
Also thanks to Kosh, like, he's actually like working really hard. I think people should like, you know, support him really much.
Like, it's like, he's just insane, honestly. Like, thanks to him.
Like, we are actually, we are actually, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are, we are.
action like back as five and we are actually a team that's the same thing
about course right you guys bring them in for week two and there's a lot of
questions about decision-making then even to saying you got to keep believing
in yourselves but something else you said Benji was you wanted to come into a
map into a series and kind of be not necessarily that top seed but you wanted
to be ahead for this about number five in Haven you guys got to half time in
your head and it still went back far like how tough was it to persevere and not succumb to that potential second place curse?
Well, I mean like when it gets really close especially on the last map like I think we did a really good job of controlling our emotions
I mean I keep saying it but I think our mentor is probably the strongest of any team
At least I know, obviously I don't know other teams but like our mentor is really strong
We're doing a lot of breathing because in those moments it's who reacts better under the pressure and in this moment
we just reacted, we were the ones that reacted better, so, yeah.
You have to be that extra step forward for there, and of course then I want to look even
further into the future of what could be for you guys, going to London, having globals,
and now you get to also be the first seed coming out of EMEA, so is that that little
extra cherry on top, when you look towards that performance of what you're hoping at
globals?
Honestly, I think we just are going to play our game, like we're going to keep what we're
doing right now, like we're going to improve on it, like we're going to work on it, and
And I don't know, like we will see in London, honestly, and we are excited to play as well,
in the international.
And I want to give you guys one last moment.
I know you've already said it, but give the flowers to the fans as well that showed up
today, but also those watching from home.
Yeah, thank you guys.
You guys are the best in the crowd.
I love you guys.
You guys are so good.
Thanks to anyone that supported us at home.
For the dollars, I'd like you, I guess.
Yeah, thank you everyone that carried on supporting us.
We feel it.
I completely agree. Thanks so much guys for the support and help. It helped a lot. Thanks so much. We won for you.
A big win for everyone out there that's supporting Heritage. I'll let you guys celebrate with your team for the rest of us though.
We're going to head on over to the stage, have a look at our draw show and get to see what's going to happen for stage 2.
Exactly, stage one might be over and for most of the teams it is time to look into the future.
Maybe even past Masters London.
So without further ado, hello everyone and welcome to the VCT EMEA stage two draw show.
As you can see the Alpha and Omega groups are about to be decided for the second stage
of the year with Barcelona on the finish line.
So as you can see here, the teams have been seated within their current groups, according
to the final standings of stage one.
So for this draw, the teams will be grouped into three separate pools.
First and second will go into one pool, third and fourth will go into another pool, and
then fifth and sixth will go into the last pool.
The way that this is going to work is that Junket here from competitive, from EMEA competitive
operations team will draw one ball from each of the pools and that ball will
contain one of the six seeds. So the seeds drawn will swap places between them.
So for example, and since we're going to be started from the 5 and 5th, if in that
pool we get 5th, sorry we draw seed number 5, that would mean that Navi and
Dianeks would stop places and that KC and Pacific would stay where they are.
So after we're done with all of the three pools, we would have a VCT EMEA Stage 2 group.
So without further ado, Junker, because it's already been a long day, let's start with the seats 5 and 6.
And the teams changing positions are going to be the seats seats.
So that means that KC and Pacific will be swapping.
And that would also mean that Navi and Giant X will stay in their positions.
Jacko, please, can you also open the second ball to make sure that we did put both of them in there?
And let's move on to three and four.
Gensimates, and that's a Team Liquid BDL.
It's too excited.
Okay, and the seeds changing places will be the fourth seeds.
That would mean that Team Liquid will swap with BDL.
My nails allow me to and I don't move the entire thing and team
the kid goes here, but I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here.
Well, of course, we see that the other one and the third seed and let's go on to
the last one to our top four of EMEA. So the team's changing positions for stage
stage 2 will be the first seats. Oh my god, group Omega. Good luck for yourself. And this
is how things are going to fit out to be. We see that the second one also contains the
second one. Thank you very much. So as you can see, take a very good picture of everybody
because Group Alpha for stage 2 VCT EMEA will be Vitality, Foot, Gentlemates, BBL, Navi and Pacific
and in Group Omega, Team Heretics, Eternal Fire, Fnatic, Team Liquid, GyanX and KC.
For the bottom two, best of luck in stage 2. But pay attention to our socials in the upcoming weeks
because there will be more news to be shared about stage two.
Thank you very much, Janke, for your help.
Thank you everyone at home and of course here at the studio
for enjoying the best ballerin action in EMEA with us for one more split.
We will meet you again soon enough in Masters London starting June 6th.
Until then, please take care and for the last time this split,
enjoy the racer and the day highlights.
What a journey for team vitality.
From a hopeless perp stage to making a new,
bleak-different potential, Valdez hit the playoffs.
And for the side of Team Heretic,
over 550 rounds so far,
it takes them to these grand finals
that could change everything for them.
It's about to begin.
That flash didn't catch,
but a double on the back of it anyways.
Three positions first.
No! Let's go! Nice! Nice! You see?
They get to start against the back,
Wait, it's going out, and it's a clean kill for Ducca!
Ah, it's Ducca!
Sigh, I'm not getting the call.
No, I'm okay!
No!
Ducca is next!
And he's walking behind in the chronicle!
The battle's aged, you're very close!
Not into the same angle!
I'm just destroying them!
F**k!
Just want someone to step in the darkest line, and there it is!
Has to wrap up through me, the walls falling!
And Kosmarus was a funny guy!
Of course!
Yuppie's coming to make a move.
Smokin' timing!
Stop!
Die!
Yuppie!
Huh?
They might not need...
NGC's to be enough!
All by as long as...
Die!
Okay, lads.
Listen to me now.
This is where we take our experience from our previous games.
We take the positives on you and we do use them up.
It's not through preparation.
It's through focusing on ourselves.
Okay, like, we need to now focus on ourselves.
I swear to f***, we can win this so easily.
Just f***ing clean the heritage way.
They know exactly where he is!
And they're gonna keep, keep on fighting!
It's called the time and right when someone is 15.
And they're gonna say,
AHHHHH!
It's not gonna lose their team,
but they're gonna ask a couple of players
to prank her, and then for prank.
I said, there it is!
13 to 7.
AHHHH!
BOSS!
But they're so ready to fight,
and now that he's actually being done,
let's go for it.
and his own flawless
heritage all the way to Mount Baal
he's got him!
he's got him!
he's got him!
the play store though proves to be dead
he's got him!
he's got him!
he's got him!
he's got him!
he's got him!
he takes us to all the cities
And he's now taking some punch through and
burying the pack to the summit.
15 rounds, that's what it took.
Clutch after clutch, play after play.
And with an end zone flawless, they will take the grand final.
They will take the grand final.
I feel like a champion Ain't nothing that can't be done
They told me I wouldn't be nothing Came on down second to none
I need me a trophy, I need me a ring I'm not with the blue, but keep it a beam
Know what it is, you know what I mean?
All I do is win, win, win, win, win
Hat haters wanna hate, they ain't made top ten
Double triple team what they need to defend
I took left and I'm gone with the wind
I'm gone with the wind
I feel like a champion
Ain't nothing that can't be done
Oh yeah
you
you
you
you
you