Casual routine like this. Remember how I smashed you in the final? Make a joke.
Matt is not like that. All the players were saying this. You know, daddy.
Old times saying, this guy remember 2007 and then Matt was the guy who was going to be
like, no, don't do it, don't do it.
And do some up. I don't remember do some up. Maybe it was in fellow bit this time.
What about now?
Actually, I got one through, but that was in Astralis of all teams with...
That was content. I mean, you guys have no idea what content is before you were in that team.
It means that Zybel, we can analyse what is his problem, why he is so good.
Yeah, that's a good prime and a half.
It's for sure his problem.
All right, here with coaching royalty, three gentlemen right now who have all won multiple
majors as coaches.
You've got five tier name, I'll name them all.
Are you ready?
Yeah.
Are you sure?
If you can name them.
Yeah.
You think I can?
Yeah, of course you can.
Okay.
All right, well then I won't.
Now it's Atlanta first.
Yes.
Then London.
Yeah.
Then Calibre to then Berlin.
Yes.
Okay.
And Paris.
Yeah.
I wanted to leave the Paris one on psychosis with a different team.
Yeah, it was.
And you got to your name, the most recent two.
Yeah.
Yeah, so obviously Austin and then Budapest.
So, gentlemen, thank you for joining me.
I want to start with a little bit more windy.
We were just talking about, you know, traveling.
You've landed this morning.
You had a nap.
How are you feeling?
I feel good.
Yeah?
I feel good.
Ready to go?
Yeah, I slept like seven hours in the plane, so it was good.
I was hoping that we could catch you a little bit sleep deprived
so I could get all of Blade's coaching knowledge.
You know, you may be not putting up such a guard today.
Maybe you could get, because boys, you guys don't know this.
I brought you all here because I'm actually going to become a coach next year.
So I want all the information out of all your brains and we won't air this.
Uh, look, I don't have a team just yet.
We got to work that out.
Well, who should I coach?
Where should I start?
So the low level maybe?
Or good idea.
Probably.
Yes.
But I just was having a chat outside and you were talking to your manager about
where the jacket or can it be the jersey or, you know what?
Yeah, come boys, how come we're not rocking suits?
Why are we in the jerseys and jackets as coaches, has anyone ever, have you ever gone, I want to wear a suit to work?
No, because it's not something I usually wear.
Okay, but there?
Yeah, in sports it's true. People do this, I remember Peter was doing this.
Yeah? Yeah, okay, that's a throwback right there. Have you guys ever considered it though, like the coach were inside different?
I actually did it, not a suit, but I actually did wear non-team branding clothes. In the beginning I was wireless.
far less. I had like a shirt inside and then with something outside that was a little bit
more casual, but on the good side. But then at one point I think sponsors kicks in.
That's it. They are the right sponsors there. Okay, so let's do a little bit of history,
I suppose. Now, obviously there's different parts of everybody's careers back when they
were playing or doing broadcast or things like that. But let's just focus in on the coaching,
because I think that you guys have got probably the most knowledge with all
people we could throw together to talk about Counter-Strike and coaching so
you started coaching first out of everybody at the table if I'm doing
my maths correctly yeah yeah I think so how'd you get into it how did it start so
yeah I was in 15 I saw a device on this you know good morning UK good morning
them like these these national TV shows talking about in 2015 yes okay and maybe
it was in 2014 I can't remember yeah but he was part of CSM he was making a lot
of money it was set and I said to my wife then because I knew this game was
gonna be big and I was not part of that back then when I was playing we were
lucky if we got 1000 euros and salary so I was doing my my master's degree and
And then I was like, I'm going to try and come back.
So I got all my, the whole gang back and we tried to play a bit, took 14 days.
And then we found out there's no way 14 days.
Yes. Okay.
And then I was like, I'm going to try to pursue a little bit, you know,
coaching a source.
Starex, I think was one of the first ones.
Yes. And then I was like, maybe there's something I just wanted to get back in.
It was not for the money.
It was just to because I knew this game was going to be big.
Also bigger than 1.6, just referring to my tweets back in the days and yeah, I was doing
my master's degree and at one point Karrigan contacted me talking about this new Danish
project.
Back then salaries was not stable or secured, but I was told that it was going to be part
of a Danish company with daily salary and you know our taxes, you know, we want this
to be in check.
And then I was like, okay, I'm gonna do it.
And I had just started my master's degree.
My wife was pregnant.
I had a student job where they offered me a position full time.
So as soon as I was done, it was close to home.
So everything was good.
But then I said, I'm gonna quit that.
I'm gonna remain in my master's degree and do that
on this underside.
But I'm gonna start out this project.
She was super pissed in the beginning.
But yeah, eventually she was okay.
This is your passion, you want to do it, then go for it.
And then we joined in, first I was in Diggins.
Not a lot of people know that.
I was there for five, six months.
This was with the MSL, Kaby, AC,
and Pimp as well.
Lineup, but I was only there for five months.
And then I joined.
Our question mark, who became a Strylus right after.
All right, okay.
Who was next?
You were still playing back then in 2014, 2015,
because I was playing against you.
So you were definitely still going.
Yes. What year did you transition to coaching?
Because it wasn't with Navi originally, right? It was with Gambit.
Yeah, I actually recalled when Danny was speaking that
Matt was playing with WCG in 2007 versus him in the Grand Final.
And we lost. That's right. I remember watching that.
And then they both was in the same team by Talit.
He was an analyst for him.
Yeah, that's great. Yeah, okay.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, look.
Imagine the casual routine like this.
Remember how I smashed you in the final?
Making jokes.
Matt is not like that.
All the players were saying this.
All the time saying, ah, this guy, remember 2007?
And then Matt was the guy who was going to be like, no, don't do it.
Yeah.
He's too emotional.
So yeah, I was, it was Flipside team.
Yes.
And then we were not doing so great.
I think like electronic left-to-navy.
We were always searching for new talents,
for new kids, like new names.
I remember that we was testing Exile, Norbert,
like the moment when I was about to create new lineup
and then I switched to coaching.
And I think then somebody offered me like Gambit.
Gambit offered me a coach position and I think this is where they already won Major.
So it's like very elite players.
They won Krakow.
Yes, that's what 2017.
Yes, and then I was like, for me it's like, I was thinking about this before to become a coach.
And now I was weighing up like what is better to do, like to keep playing in flipside without good lineup,
like stacking the same positions, stagnating or like switching now finally to coaching and at the same time I
Was not super like sharp individually at that moment
I was kind of a angel who was trying to control everything, you know
And it was it was like wrong approach, obviously and hard to play at the same time
If you are trying to control like every movement of your teammates and yeah, that's like was it kind of a little bit downgrade
Like, confidence wise, like, can I be the same good player in IGL, like, what is my future?
And on the other hand, Gambit offered me.
And also after that, Na'Vi approached me.
And yeah, basically this is how the switch happened.
First Gambit, without IGL.
We have no IGL in Gambit.
This was funny.
They took me like in the team and said like, okay, let's go, but one problem we don't have a jail
What was the roster?
The roster was Hobbit, Moe, who is here, as we know, Dossia
Still Adren was there, still Adren and
Zeus had left, right?
Somebody fifths
No, Fitch for sure, no
For sure no. It was somebody fifths.
I don't remember who actually.
I don't remember either.
It wasn't Fitch.
No, for sure it wasn't Fitch.
Then I'm struggling.
Because that's like, that's an old guard of players there, right?
Especially with Adran and...
So I didn't hope it for sure,
because this was the players who wanted to left to leave.
And yeah, Mo Dostya and somebody else was...
That's the round. We'll look at that after the fact.
And they all tried already to be IGLs,
And they said, no, it was very hard for them like to be agile on something like nobody's listening to you for two months, three months, big ego.
And you say, okay, if you want, I will not be agile anymore.
Like if you don't want to be listening to me, like so there, that was tough, tough life for them, tough, this task that they didn't maybe expect to, to be, to be the agile in the past.
And that's why they didn't commit fully, you know, because you need to commit fully and be ready for this ups and downs and
Have bad moods like argue
Argus argues yeah arguing with the players are going to play constantly and
It should be normal and they didn't was not ready for this as soon as some little
Toughness is coming like there was like no, no, I don't want this. I don't want this and show it in my the friction
Yeah, and then it's right like a system
where the system is out of AGL, where I was testing if it was possible for AGL, because
I was in AGL, who was trying to control everything, to play without AGL, just out of system, out
of default, then this player can say something, this player can say something, he basically
can move the whole team to his spot if he sees a gap.
It was something where I tested this and obviously with a lot of gaps, like how to fix all this stuff,
but it was an interesting experience in Gambit without IGL.
The first time catching, yeah.
Yeah, we even won some. I was positive about this because we were winning a lot of teams with IGLs, right?
Yeah.
Kind of good teams, let's say like in CES.
Was it the event in Malta that you guys won?
At that point we already removed Adren and Hobbit, they wanted to go to elite teams.
Hobbit went to HellRaisers, I think, and Adren went to FaZe or something.
He was sitting waiting for opportunities, and then there was Bondi, Exile, then we brought Exile.
But this was the moment when I saw that it can work, because as soon as he sees a round,
In this round, there is no clear guy who is speaking the whole round,
and you still win the round, one more round.
Even one or two rounds, which are fair enough, if you see very good composed rounds,
there is no random effect, not random result.
You can understand that it can work.
And then game by game, I saw that we corrected a little bit here and there.
Obviously, I was giving instructions like from the beginning of the game, like guys, let's start from this and this and
Yeah, this was how the switch happened for me
I tested something in Gambit and then they offered me in Navi. It was perfect
This Gambit transition was perfect because without this it can be tough to go to such as
Elite steam. Yeah. Yeah, so simple electronic. Yeah, a lot of big names there. Okay curious interesting
Does anyone remember when the time-out change happened, or was it two minutes?
The thing about the same.
When did that change?
There was a moment when you could speak constantly.
You know it was the Starix time.
That was earlier, no?
Yeah.
Because I remember in 2016, 2017, we had these, this was where I took the time against Fnatic.
We had these one two minutes.
There were two minutes.
There were the whole two minutes.
Would it just be in one block?
You don't want to take one time-out.
Yeah.
It's a huge advantage, right, when you can constantly speak.
Well, yeah, but that's why they stopped.
Valve didn't want that.
Yeah.
I'm curious now, who was the coaches?
Back then, yeah.
Well, Starix, definitely.
There wasn't too many.
Uh, when that was allowed.
I had a good question.
When it was allowed, maybe Devil Walk.
What was the name of the SK?
I don't know.
Even back, but back in those early days, I'm not sure like 2014, 2015, if coaches
could talk in freestyle like that, because coaches were still so new back then.
Yeah.
Like, you didn't have many coaches, right?
You were one of very few.
So for Dreamhack at least, because even in 2019, Dreamhack we did Dreamhack Malmo I think and Dreamhack Taras.
2019? How late was that?
It was major.
You could talk during the freestyle.
Wow, here reminded me like there was a major when I was coaching for Hellraisers.
I was still flipside and we didn't qualify for major.
I think it was 2014, winter.
Okay.
So it was young dropping.
I remember Dreamhack was a bit different with the others until 2019.
Okay, interesting.
All right, look, I was there during all this stuff, but I don't remember.
I'm getting older, I'm losing.
I don't remember either.
So when they asked me, like, basically,
Philipsa didn't qualify, they asked,
Herces asked me to coach them for one event,
and we went to playoffs, top eight, I think.
And I now remember, he said, that I could speak the whole time.
Crazy.
That's, yes.
Yeah, okay, well, hey, imagine that.
You wouldn't need any game leaders. That's for sure. You give you yeah, well actually you certainly something to call me around
Okay, we're gonna get to you. What did you get into coaching?
Me so I come from contract source basically
After all these go I tried with the sub-tropical story, you know to coach a little bit just to see if something can happen
But then I was French Shaman for his cell phones. Yeah, I two fears. Yeah, it's mad actually. Yeah, it's crazy
Yeah, it's crazy. Then I remember in 2018, so Vitality started the roster as they were
at the studio, the SF1s for the bootcamp. And I think it was the IM Chicago actually,
the tournament. And so NBK wanted to talk to me, we went outside, he asked me, okay,
we're gonna remove the coach. He was faculty, from 1.6 as well, and he told me, how do you
you see the vision of coach tomorrow, etc.
For me, it was like, I needed to reflect a bit
because it was a mess, French scene, 2017, 2018, etc.
Oh, with the 3DVC scene in the front of it,
and I get to watch the game.
It was a mess, basically,
players tried to decide absolutely everything, etc.
So I explained to NBK, if I come,
I want to change a lot of things.
To stop, basically, trying to change a lot of stuff
one fail, one bad tournament etc. Also, we had a big issue. I don't know why but every
French player wanted to be a captain and then gave me a...
It feels like a good problem to have something.
No, it wasn't actually because if you know the story of 2019, we had some issues because
N.D.K. wanted to be a captain, Alex wanted to be a captain. It's not like, is it just
wanted to make decisions, not like thinking about the roster, how you need to build the
process just to be a captain. I think we had some good success in the past with
career, career had existence etc. We were really good and I think they wanted to be
a captain. But just because they know a bit more the games, they have more
experience they think they can be a captain. It was the case for shocks as
well and I think it was a bad idea. That's also why I put up X later and not
shocks as a game leader. Because you need to have some skills, social skills,
some reflect and it was basically I needed to build something from scratch
in my opinion you know and it was a bit special for them at the beginning I
needed time I needed also experience it was my first experience I insta with
some such good players like NBK or as I was young so it was easy to deal with him
but heplex, etc. So, yeah. I started on a series, not the hardest role as a coach,
but it was a good experience to learn really fast, at least.
Okay. All right. Well, there's something I want to dive into, you know, talking about a captain.
Do you think that in-game leader and captain are two separate things,
or should the in-game leader also be like the captain of the team?
And so, you know, I mean it from like the guys doing the interviews and the face of the team,
He's the one getting the boys all cheered up, and then to be the in-game leader, because you mentioned Alex.
We all saw Alex today, which blew all of our minds. I don't know about you guys, but I saw him, I thought we're in a different time zone.
He's an agent, no?
Yeah, apparently so.
But he always struck me as the type of guy who was a good mind for Counter-Strike.
He was a good in-game leader, he could call good rounds, but he didn't strike me as like a leader of men, like a captain.
Yeah, for sure.
So, but whereas like Apex, for example, he's both, right?
Do you think that an in-game leader has to be both, like the captain and the tactician?
No, I think it depends on the process, what you think as a coach, etc.
Because, for example, Alex is a good example. He wanted to be a captain, but as you said, he was not ready for it.
Because it's also tough to have some responsibilities, you know, to make the right decision.
For me in-game leader, yeah, you need to be a good in-game leader, but captain, it depends on your coach, of your process.
or your players, you know, if you have a perfect fit, you can work with those players. So no,
I don't think so. Like, it's different per team per, per mixture of players. Yeah, I think so.
Okay, because that's, that's one of the things with Counter Strike, right? We're dealing with five
guys plus a coach, then depending on your staff, right, and how deep that goes, maybe you're traveling
with eight to 10 people. But really, it's the coach plus the five players in the server. And
that's a pretty intimate group, right? That's, that's, you know, you'd will each other all the
all the time. You're talking to each other all the time. And if it doesn't click, it
doesn't click. And I think we've all been in a team or seen when it isn't working.
So I wanted to, there's a few, there's lots of areas I want to go, but let's jump in with
this one first.
Blair, let's go with you. Who's been your favourite player over your entire time as
a coach to coach? Has someone just been like more coachable or receptive or, because you
Do you have to deal with players like Stimple?
I think Bit.
Bit with your foot, yeah?
Yeah, because it's always easier to coach younger players.
And this is what, for example, Kulio is showing now, right?
That people will listen to you, you can take a lot of good players and build something from this,
and there will be no lot of resistance.
that can resist your opinion a lot, like trying to go different direction, so yeah, I think
we in that case, we can say for sure, before he was electronic, okay, when he was in flip
side, also was amazing experience, because the way how he was making decisions in the
game was unbelievable.
I mean, when he moved to Navi, like this was his prime, basically.
Yeah, I think this was by coaching us, because you cannot coach a lot.
Simple, for example, he already like, um, unique Claire, he, you can only maybe
direct a little bit, like try to, um, imagine he has an energy, you can only
like try to control it a little bit, like right, left side, right side, or, or, or
and so on, you cannot change it completely.
Okay.
And yeah, something like that.
I remember you said in Gambit there was a mirror.
And it was also a good experience to coach him.
Okay.
He was always listening, always trying to connect with you, like to respond in the same
direction.
You know, like you feel the connection basically.
You just said that simple is like an energy you have to just kind of direct as opposed
to change.
Zaiwou is obviously a comparison to a simple and you both coach Zaiwou.
Is it the same?
Is he more coachable?
Can you change his energy?
What's the go with Matthew?
Who wants to go first?
I mean, I can go first because I had him a little bit earlier.
I think he has also developed a little bit since.
But for me, Matu, Saibu, in terms of how great he is, it's easy to coach, but he is also
extremely stubborn.
When he has his opinions, it's tough to change it.
When I had him in 22, I got a bit frustrated with him because we were not doing that well.
It was the first time any of us tried an international roster and I will have to also say when I
And I joined by telling him, this is probably one of the best decisions I've ever done
as a coach.
I was told before, do you want to keep the assistant coach mad?
And I said yes, because I wanted someone on the French side, because now we're going
to be Danes in French.
I needed to understand the culture, the way do they respond, and I kept mad.
But going back to Saewoo in 22, I felt that he was the only one, you know, obviously with
who really put in the hours, every time we lost, he was sitting in the practice room playing,
this is fine, but every time we lost, he was, it's fine guys, we're going to win the next time.
And then I was complaining to, for example, a magician, an entrepreneur saying,
we have to play more, and they were like, you've been our coach for six years,
we are playing fine, we don't have to do that.
And I knew that as soon as Saibu would go out and say,
guys, come on, I'm wasting the best years of my career, step up.
Then that would be challenging.
And like that would be challenging the other players
and they would instantly listen to him.
And so I remember at the end of 22, we had a meeting where I told him
that you're wasting your career.
I need you to be harsher.
I need you to be more, you know, a little bit more like Sasha.
I need you to be a little bit, I wanted him to have that, if I ask him about the competition
with him and Sasha, he was like, no, I don't care, just want to win.
I wanted that individual mindset of, hey, I'm going to beat this guy.
I'm going to be the best player of all time.
So I needed that, you know, he was a little bit, not lazy, but he just, he was just, he
reminds me a bit about, I don't know if you follow soccer, but Ronaldinho in football,
he was just enjoying the game, he was smiling all the time.
If he lost, it's fine, it's fine, you're all good, we're going to win next time.
No, I wanted more passion from him.
And so yes, I think he's, he's easier than some of the other star players out there,
but he don't underestimate his, he could be something a lot.
Okay, all right. Is that similar to your experience?
Exactly the same.
Yes, as I said, it's easier, but you would like him to have some opinions, you know?
He doesn't act as a star player.
And of course, it's not easy to deal with star players, but him is a star player, right?
But he doesn't act at all, you know?
Like, you ask him if you're fine to change different things on the server, et cetera.
Yeah, why not?
I can only answer, you know?
Sometimes he says, ah, it was tough for you lately, can we talk?
He says, no, it's okay, I feel good.
Yeah, exactly.
That's my life right now.
And then, but also, at least when you talk with him, he will reflect a bit.
And then after, he can give some words on what's going on.
But otherwise, for example, you know, about what he said lately, about Bernhardt a bit.
We, of course, we saw something was wrong, and we tried to talk to him, but he said nothing.
I was like, I don't know, it's just a bit harder, that's it.
And after that he thought about, okay, but why I'm like that right now?
And now it's better, but yeah, you would like sometimes to say,
guys, I need a bit more.
It can happen sometimes, honestly, some tournaments,
so I will basically take the role and say, guys, no, we will do like that,
like that, just follow me.
But it's like 10, 20% of the time.
It's not something big.
I remember in also in vitality with him and Dupreeh, Dupreeh was going first and then I remember this when they come catwalk on Amiraj and they have to swing and you can be seen from both and short.
You know, I want Dupreeh to go first and then Saibu second, he can instantly trade and then I would see Saibu just going.
And then I would be mixed, one day I'll be like Dupreeh why not going first, you cannot let him go first.
Yeah, but then he comes out of the complaints, but at the end, I was also, I had to say to Saibou,
why you keep going first? Let the other one go.
Like, don't.
For him, if, for example, something is wrong, and for him, okay, we are too slow, he will go first.
He will not say anything, you know? And then maybe sometime he can complain about the game,
it's only like, really, yeah, but oh, I had to go first. He'd say something.
You can, but he doesn't hope.
Yeah, okay.
Keep playing and see what happens.
When I say we're in Atlanta, Georgia, that's because, well, we're here for the Intellect Stream Masters, believe it or not.
Is this thing recording?
We're trying to find out the video games.
Watch out man, cameraman about to get himself hurt out here.
It's just about time to find out the final people here that Atlanta may be able to tell me about Counter-Strike.
Dude, it's been a long day. It's hot as heck out here.
Someone out here will absolutely know about Counter-Strike.
What's up? You play video games?
Yeah, same. People play video games against one another as a team or maybe even a solo
component sometimes. It's weird. I know that it's not all the time you get filmed doing
your job, but I'm just going to have to ask you, what do you know about Counter-Strike?
What does Atlanta know about Counter-Strike?
I'm not as tapped in as I once was with Counter-Strike, but I have a lot of fond memories of playing
in high school. We used to stay up all night on school nights just playing Counter-Strike,
me and my three best friends.
have a big tournament this week here in Atlanta. You know what I'm saying? It's over the Georgia
World Congress. They're stream hacking the Intellect Stream Masters, right? Come check
it out. You know, I've been all over the world, but then they said we're going to Atlanta.
I'm really excited, because you know, I know it. What do y'all recommend? I just say the
best wings right? Best wings, you know it. Best wings, you know the game. I appreciate y'all, have a good night.
I am at Lancer, or should I say, Intel Extreme Masters Aurora. All right,
we haven't been giving this team the love they deserve in our trailers, everyone.
I understand it's a tough one. We've got lots of complaints, the phone's ringing off the hook.
We need to remedy that right here, right now. I want in-game cutscenes, I need hero shots,
I need the highlights of all of these players at the very top.
We need to push this to a new degree for the Turkish fans.
I'm Chad Aurora Antonin Lancer.
Oh, uh, let's just proceed as normal, then?
Go!
I
Yeah
We are live from the Peach State as we welcome you to the Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta 2026.
Playoffs 16 teams started their journey here but now only six remain.
Some of the favorites they did indeed make it through but you mean not exactly in the fashion of the bracket we were expecting.
We were expecting smooth sailings from Vitality and Navi.
we're talking about Vitality taking breaks, they were stunned and shocked as we all were
to lose to a boomage-led bet boom with a stand-in. So, yeah, Vitality clearly made their road
a little bit more difficult, but they've actually now put Navi in a very precarious spot because
they also didn't secure that semi-finals position out of their group.
And it really makes the other side of the bracket quite open, right? When you have the
likes of Vitali and Navi going head-to-head later on today in our second quarter final,
I'm very curious. What's your prediction for who's going to make it to the grand final on the other side of the bracket?
I've been very very impressed with legacy. I have liked what art has brought to the table
He's made them a little bit more tactically sound and it's not just brawling and brutalizing their way through
There's a certain finesse that arts learned over time. Well, it's time to see exactly how it's going to be going down
It's time to go off the Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta 2026
3 seconds left.
One of two rounds.
I don't know if it's going to start.
He's going to free his seat.
This is the maximum resistance of the game.
He's not good yet.
We're just a nexus kill.
He's going to go back up.
She may be eliminated.
And it's all done.
I'm falling for it.
Unbelievable run.
Winning 4-0 victory.
Overclass it.
I'm a dude in debt.
In the back of my head.
It's not a move.
Give it up for your hands up, Extreme Master!
The Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta 2026 is brought to you by ESL in partnership with
Welcome to Atlanta, we're here at the Dreamhack Atlanta Festival on the floor for the Intel
Extreme Masters Atlanta Counter-Strike tournament obviously at the Intel booth. I'm joined by Yanko. I'm joined by sponge
We're gonna be talking a little bit about the Counter-Strike. How we bow how we doing today, bro
It's a trip down memory lane to an extent. We're coming in, you know
It's base hunter don't up lasting on the speaker. It's like wow. That's a that's a throwback
This is a really take us back in time there, right?
We had the games go on lots upon the time definitely black curtains up
So the 16 year olds in Germany couldn't see the counter strike going on. I remember the first DreamHack
I went to was like y'all shipping. Well, I was like in the main stage. I'm trying to compete for a spot in the major
There's DJs blaring. We can't hear each other. There's no comms live it like right now
So let's make sure we really project our voices here. It's noisy. There's a lot going on
There's people everywhere and no noise cancelling headsets back there
You just have to deal with it. Everyone's running around. You can't hear anything. You have to sucker through it all
Yeah, it's gonna be a fun day. Obviously a very loud very active day here on the floor
Let's hear right into the counter strike. We got some things going on around the scene
I know Chad you had a big point with the conflict right now
We have a PGL a sauna going on I am Atlanta going on these schedule clashes are gonna be coming more and more relevant
Conflicts eventually way to frame it. I was thinking options of choice for the people are right?
Obviously we're in the second year of the VRS and this is gonna happen more next year
I think the viewers are getting accustomed to the fact that we've got a stana going on with top teams
There's only a couple of big names here in Atlanta. There's also an event going on in Asia right now
Where you got the likes to fly quest Lynn vision tyloo small major. That's not talk about that down under don't let's talk about them
They're doing all right, but this is gonna be more common next year, right?
And it's a bit strange for people to have to think oh, why is it split or these guys touching these guys?
It's interesting when you have two top events like a starter at Atlanta going on because we're seeing the pool
invites going down to the 32nd best team, right? Obviously there are some qualifiers,
bits and bobs like that, but for the main part we're getting to go deeper into the
VRS and we're seeing more names in the lead up to the Major, which more data the
better I think, right? We're trying to work out who's going to be able to challenge Vitality.
It's also great to see more opportunities for these teams, right? I mean,
someone like Senors here who had to grind to make it into the Major, getting
some tier one experience, some reps. In Astana you have Magic who just made it into top four.
You're going to have to Google who plays for that team, I know.
Some of the Amkal players, good for them.
It seems like it was the org, not the players.
And also talking about tournaments overlapping, this is the one that's actually easy for the viewers.
Because the games don't overlap, you actually get to watch CS for like 18 hours straight if that's what you're into.
into but next year we get like tournaments overlapping in the same time so we're going to have to pick and choose.
I think it's cool too you want to talk about opportunities a team like FaZe that hit the
rock hey like a rock bottom period they kind of mentioned you know they're here for BRS points
that's their goal right now for the second season well over the past two events at Fort Worth and
now here here in Atlanta they've gone from like 40th in the BRS and now like 20 seconds so they're
all right so well yeah so like those because they haven't won any game so any game they win
in the land, like boost their ranking along.
Yeah, yeah, they had that Furio win back and forward,
that cranked them up.
So like those opportunities of a team trying to recover
and set themselves up for the future,
that's nice for them to come to the event
that has the weaker field, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Look, when we're breaking this down,
one question comes to mind, is this good or bad?
And I think you can take it from a bunch
of different standpoints, right?
Yeah.
There's a viewer standpoint,
you've got it from the standpoint of the players
and the teams getting more VRS points.
You've got it from the standpoint of people like us.
You know, there's more events,
there's more options, there's more choice.
It's not a static good or bad, it's going to shift depending on your point of view of
where you are in the industry.
But what do you reckon?
Like, don't take it from Moses to commentator standpoint, take it from you looking at the
scene holistically.
What do you think?
Overall health?
I think it's, I think it's, you know, I actually, I would say before this kind of clicked in,
I would have said it was a bad thing and I think I actually argued that I think this
was going to be a rough thing with these kind of overlapping events.
Now that we're kind of in it, my opinion is kind of shifting because I do like the opportunity
for a team like FaZe, opportunity for a team like Magic, the options to be able to pick
and choose.
teams going like the dual America's event tour where they're out for a worth
last week for BLAST now they're here in Atlanta for ESL so I think a lot of
those there's there's all good things more opportunities and more competition
among the scene to help grow it and help motivate you know everyone to improve
what they're putting out. I think it's great and competition is the key word
competition always leads to better quality right of everything tournaments
broadcasts counter strikes so I think it's a big win for the viewers for the
players they get more opportunities right like more teams get to play at the same
time so yeah I think W is all around. This is adjacent to this kind of
topic not adjacent. So what is kind of happening at the same time though is
the post-major cutoff right so we have a bunch of teams at this event I think it
was 13 out of the 16 teams they all work the major anyway right but for names
like FaZe or your passions they obviously won those VRS points but we know
We know the vitality is here, not practising.
We know that Navi stayed not getting the best practice.
So being able to measure the feel
and what are expectations of that quality of counter-sign,
that's where it becomes harder for everybody, right?
Yes.
As a team, Tony Counter-Sign, another team,
but us, they're trying to decide who you think
to win the major, who's the best quality out there.
Even with the Starna 2, Magic Bidding 19,
19 had a great group. Well, what about them now, right?
They struggled on the stage.
So it's so hard to gauge at the moment.
There's a lot of counter-sign for us to watch
Yeah, I know. You got to pick it all off for an Asana, yeah.
But how we meant to measure this has to come by half.
What does it all mean? It's so tough to be able to put a cap on it.
Well, it's interesting too, because a lot of teams right now outside of Vitality,
like, I feel like the gap between one and the rest of the field
has almost never been bigger in a way.
I feel like there's a lot of up and down right now
where there's an event where I'm like,
this team has showed really cool things,
and you see them go to the net like,
Furia, you know, I've been disappointed in them.
They go and get a top forward, Rio,
and now we'll see what they end up doing at Astana.
But I feel like there's a lot of up and down from teams
we expect to be contenders and that's also making it difficult.
I think at this particular tournament, I feel like this is the last chance for Navi to beat Vitality.
I think if they don't beat them here, they become the mouths of this year, right?
They're a very good team that's beating everyone else,
but they just can't get it done versus Vitality, right?
Like we chat mentioned, they haven't practiced, they're not looking the sharpest,
like everything's going your way really in that sense,
that now is the time to take them down right and outside of that it's for some
of these other teams that maybe we haven't seen as much in tier one the likes
of gamer legion right who also played some of these tier two regional lands and
whatnot they played really good counter strike here they only lost a couple of
maps other than that they've been pretty dominant so that was a bit surprising
to see and you know maybe gives you a glimpse into what they could be capable
of at the major itself yeah it would be it's gonna be it's really very cool to
see how things plan out down this stretch.
And we're starting to see some teams actually,
I feel like there's a couple of teams right now
throwing a few spanners in the works leading into the major
two.
I guess one of them would be a team like Legacy who
is having a good run here.
We are like, oh my god, like, where did this, like, they're back.
It's crazy to think that a year ago they weren't even
supposed to be at the Austin Major.
Yeah.
They go there, they have a deep run that propels them
in the rankings.
So they start playing more tier one tournaments.
Yes.
And yeah, they dropped the ball in Budapest.
But now with the addition of ours,
they look a little bit rejuvenated, right?
It seems like they have found their mojo again, making it straight into the semis here, taking down Navi in that seeding game, right?
So it'll be interesting to see. That's the easiest part, easier part of the bracket.
Obviously, they'll play the winner of Gamer Legion Payne, but, you know, how they'll perform on stage is going to be a big talking point.
I feel like for everyone on that side of the bracket, it's going to be a big talking point for how they perform on stage.
Gamer Legion look cool, like showing some really good things, Payne as well.
I know it's not like all these little pop-offs have been how we get to see put them to the test and the more pressure runs
Where are the NA teams Jason? Where are the NA teams?
I guess that's a good topic to go into the NA event without any NA representation. It's dark times man
I don't know. I don't have a good answer that you knew no one was going to be you know like there wasn't even a realistic chance
To expect an NA team. I don't know. I feel like I knew that
I feel like there was a little bit of hope for a lot of NA fans because they've seen some cool things, right?
the Grimm move to go join up with Nitro.
That felt like it was gonna give NRG
a little bit of extra legs and extra power.
So I think there was an additional hope there,
especially the start of the year OC had.
I think within the NA region,
there was a lot of excitement growing about that team.
I was, I maintained like a level of concern,
but you see it here, like no matter what the excitement is,
they never seem to accomplish that goal.
MAT and NRG, last place of the tournament, Liquid,
for one game, and they beat MAT, so.
Owned special animal, weren't they, I mean, Liquid?
I don't really have any words left for Liquid.
We talked to Mobs the other day as well doing a podcast.
And I think Mobs as well,
I was a little bit lost for words too,
like feeling like the situation that he just stepped into.
So they've got a long road back, you know,
even beating M80, I think the ITES was really ugly
for Team Liquid at this event.
And Boomich, straight to the semi-final,
that Boom taking down Vitality,
that was definitely the shocker of the tournament so far,
regardless of Vitality, you know,
practicing, taking some time off,
They feel like with one hand behind their back, they're still able to win that game.
But Nuke issues kept creeping up.
Anubis, they lose in OT and Bumic and Cole make it straight to the semifinal.
Yeah, man, I better look good, but I think while Vitality came out of that game with
like two rounds on their T side of Nuke in that series or in that match, I think even
when someone tweeted that was like them playing their F game, that's a funny thing.
We've seen Vitality playing their T game, their C game, and they've still been like
beating teams over these past two weeks.
Apparently they can't always do it on the F game.
I expect them to bounce back with,
I want to talk more about some of the teams
that aren't in the playoffs really quick.
Teams like Foot and Astralis that we have some hopes for.
They're taking some early exits, some early Ls.
I guess if I hyper focus on Foot,
it feels like that long to not making it to four worth
last week meeting them in Atlanta,
like Bruin Simmel mentioned that team had,
and I'm hoping that doesn't throw them off their game
for the major.
I hope they find it back.
Yeah, I had them as potentially, you know,
dark horse for the whole thing maybe they can even upset vitality they beat
them on Dust2 with their coach at Fort Worth but yeah you have to take it to
account you know okay long season at the tournament but also they come practice
in the meantime he's in Europe even after that tournament you lose a ton of
practice and then you just miss a step right and losing to Bate was
definitely surprising and disappointing and yeah you hope they can bounce back
at the major. What about the Australian side we just talked about foot you
What did you say about foot really quick?
They've tried to silence me, Jason.
They've tried to silence me.
They've taken my microphone away,
and they've been on the phone,
and I lost the flow of the conversation.
You talk about the stunner too much, man.
That's not allowed.
They put the foot in my mouth, and it's all...
No, look, foot for me, I'll give him a pass.
Longs wasn't there in forward, right?
He was here, and look,
it's concerning the off-debate to O,
but I'll give him a pass on this one.
Astralis, did you talk about Astralis?
Yeah, we're just getting there now.
Astralis are done.
Astralis are done like a dog's dinner, mate.
The way they lost. I've never seen people look more miserable and I know myself right?
I'm one of the most miserable people I know. Pooxy makes me look like a saint. I don't know what's going on with
Astralis. I don't know. You feel like a ray of sunshine after you watch Astralis play. Yeah, that was very disappointing
especially considering they lost to Gamer Legion who they played in Crackle at the same sort of game to make the
playoffs or get eliminated and they dominated Gamer Legion back then. So just a complete flip of the script. No energy. No fights.
Just pure domination in that game from Gamer Legion.
Yeah, what was, what do you think, I didn't see that elimination game from Astralis.
What was worse, Astralis losing in the fashion they did or the way Team Liquid lost that game?
Where like the double Tek-9 entry on Nath and Aleige,
your two most experienced players go down to a single Tek-9, walking into the B-Bomb side of Mirage.
I think the thing is, I didn't have any expectations for Liquid,
which I know I shouldn't be standing in front of this type of a crowd,
but like, my bar was low.
For Astralis, I wouldn't say it was high, but it was like medium.
I wanted them to perform better.
In my mind, this event should have had Navi, Vitality, Fort and Astralis.
And then whoever the other two teams were, rolled the dice, right?
But the fact that Fort and Astralis both don't make it,
and then we got Navi versus Vitality in a friggin' quarterfinal,
everything is really all over the place here.
Liquid is a weird one.
I think they just like Soul, right?
And we're in Atlanta, they shouldn't have been lacking that.
Yeah.
Hey, was that the right place? Did I do that right?
Yeah, you did that really good. I think you did that good, yeah.
Yeah, Malmstow was yesterday. It's just a mess of the team right now.
Well, also that lacking identity.
He was talking a lot about that, he was talking a lot about...
Like, it makes sense that they're struggling with everything that they've been through,
sort of the players individually too, and all the changes that they've been making, but...
They don't seem reinvigorated by this last roster change.
You know, usually you get a little bit hyped when you make a roster change.
oh here we go this is the thing we were missing like you know we made the change
everyone's excited but you don't see that you just see more of the same so we'll
have to see after the major if more changes are on the horizon or is this
gonna be the team liquid lineup for the future I guess I guess one question we
can switch into now too is if we look at that bottom side of the bracket because
I think we all agree that vitality is most likely to come out on top this
quarterfinal today dictates a lot obviously but it lets you say
Hypothetically vitality make it bottom side of the bracket gamer legion pain legacy all showing some cool things all
Surprising us I guess with their performance here
Which one of those is likely is to get to the grand final which one is the best chance of getting to the grand final and
Challenging vitality for a good best of five series
I think legacy and game a legion have both played pretty exciting counter strike from what I was watching
so if it's either of those two I sort of think they have a chance against vitality in the final but
I would like to see that as the semi, right?
I want to see those two going head to head.
They're both doing some fast CS and set pieces.
I can't call it between the two of them, right?
I think that they're pretty close.
I think legacy has been fun to see these resurgence.
Like, Dumau has had three aces in this event so far.
One of them was part of a 2D5, and that was sick.
That was really nice to watch.
So, Dumau's been on form.
Arts calls, the team have faith that, you know,
he's doing some crazy shit, that's what art does,
But the team's following.
So, look, if I had to pick one, I'd go with legacy based on what I've seen so far,
because they've beaten RV, right?
Actually, I think what we saw yesterday too, that the record for ACE is in an event,
is simple and dark, each with four in one event.
So, Dumal can actually tie that, which is a crazy idea.
It also feels that that might be a slightly longer event,
or maybe they had an extra game or two.
But yeah, I think I'm excited to see Gamelidge,
and the most important thing for me is with them,
that they don't fall off a cliff now because they're in the playoffs.
Like, that's been an issue for them even last year
with some different lineups and some games
because they've played on a really high level,
both as a team and individually, Snacks has been playing well, calling well.
So you want to see that.
I still think the best chance for Vitality to not win this event
is if Navi beats them in the quarter-final.
Because it's a best-of-three.
I don't think even Navi has what it takes to beat them in a best-of-five.
And all the teams on the other side of the bracket,
If you're talking about game religion and legacy, their map pool isn't too great against Vitality in a best-of-five.
To beat Vitality right now, you need to have probably a pretty good Anubis.
Like, that needs to be sort of your pick, maybe something like Inferno or Nuke.
And for both game religion and legacy, it's like Anubis saying up there, like they prefer banning it.
They have some other weaknesses that Vitality could exploit.
So yeah, as I said, feels like last chance for Navi to take down Vitality
potentially then at the major have some confidence if that matchup happens again.
Honestly I know I know the vitality now the game feels like it's gonna be like
the best game of the playoffs but I feel like a vitality bedroom would be so
good for the intensity of that because I would feel like if I'm on vitality I'd
lost to them at the group stage that would be such a hardcore grudge match for
me. I would come in and tell the boys major final this is like get our pride
back that's the focus I wanted to you today I want 13-1 wins on both maps I
want to wipe these guys out and make sure everyone knows we're the better team.
It's gonna have that angle though if it's legacy in the grand final as well, right obviously from Austin last year in the best of one so
There's no
Other than the Navi game where they have what 21 and 1 in map source only like that
Right, that's the only one where if I tell you don't get out of bed for the game
There could be problems, but yeah going up against that boomer. Let's show that I was just a one-off. Okay legacy
Let's dumps to them. Let's do a quick trio. Let's lift the trophy. Let's go home, right?
That's what I feel, I agree with Yankev, Navi don't stop him today, Zutava.
I don't know if it's over for Navi, but I see what you're saying.
If they don't get the confidence now, where are they going to get it?
You just said it's 21-1 with the quarters of the teams, but even if you just look at this year, right, it's 8-0.
Sure, some of the maps have been really close. Last time they were in the quarters, actually, Navi got stomped, that was in Rio,
so it's like you're running out of things to feel good about if you're Navi about that matchup.
Vitality came back from like two or like one eleven deficit on nuke
I get the finals like that's that's just gonna be a mental block that you can't really get over
Just beat them every which way, you know, they came back. They stomped them like whatever you
Vitality didn't I guess before we before we get out of here because the pre-match is gonna begin soon for there for the first quarter final
If you take a look at Vitality over the past two weeks, we know they've been rough around the edges
They've been talking about not practicing
Is there anything that you would look and see out of vitality during this stretch then playing D game C game sometimes D game?
that you think could be a lasting issue.
Like, is there anything that you're not
chalking up to, this is a team prioritizing rest,
prioritizing not being on the grind,
getting ready for major preparation,
that you say, oh, that's an issue
that could still be there two weeks from now,
three weeks from now.
If anything, I go like the opposite,
I think it's a good thing that they got exposed
on like the T side of New Kia,
because now they're gonna work on that,
whereas if they didn't get exposed,
then maybe they wouldn't have put so much work on it, right?
Also, they're a new bus.
So I kinda go the other way.
Obviously, Wessey. I'm giving them so much rope because they've earned so by being this best team for so long.
Once they actually practice and they set their sights on a third consecutive major,
hey, like that's, it's a whole different team.
Right now we're dealing with like vitality-like.
Yeah, exactly. I think one benefit for Navi in the matchup is it's going to come down for me,
the staff of Vitality and Apex.
Can they put in just a couple of things, new things, right?
even with no practice just in these like two days that they've had to make it
more difficult for Navi to prepare right because obviously they don't have new
strats they don't have new anything it's the same old playbook and yes that
playbook is deep but Navi has done a good job when it comes to preparing for
vitality you know they lost due to some other you know it's Bumblebee it's
Bumblebee that's actually a good place to stop though Bumblebee's looking really
good over there he's playing video games we're all having a good time out here
at Dreamhack and the Intel Extreme Masters we're gonna get out of here
pre-match set to begin. We've got the first quarter final coming up when we return.
I'm here with Biria, the highest rated player for T-Side this event so far. How does it feel?
What's up in your mind? It's looking nice. I'm working for that. Yeah, that's cool.
It's cool. I mean definitely first playoff for you at the big events.
Any nervousness? Any cheaters? Talk me through this. Are your teammates maybe helping you with this?
I'm not nervous at all. Whether I say I work for this, I want these big moments. And yeah, I
cannot, sorry. But it's not so good. Thank you.
Definitely I can feel that you're ready, you're coming here determined, but you're playing a lot
of EU teams here and I wanted to ask what's some differences between EU teams and then the local
rivalries that you're playing because the style of the CS must be different right that you're playing
here. Yeah it's a bit different like in Euro CS it's like so how can I say it's more slowly you
know in Brazil it's like more fast game you know some pace differences. You feel like tactical
differences are mostly there you know like slowing down defaults and stuff like that a lot a lot yeah
are you ready to face that's today again yeah i'm feeling so let's see how that goes and over to you
this one's going to the break
Welcome OC to the Jason Rogan Experience.
You're the next in a long line of North American operas and marksmen coming onto the show.
I guess I'm just looking.
If you look back in the history of North American Counter-Strike, what are your big
op influences?
Is there anyone that's really peaked your interest?
No.
No?
No, no one really.
Yeah, there hasn't been a whole lot of good operas coming out of the region.
Yeah, I mean, we kind of suck.
What is it about you that you think that makes you such an intriguing sniper for the team?
Like what was it about the weapon that first got you interested?
Uh, nothing.
It was actually just no one else wanted it.
And when I first joined my team or a first open team, they're like, yeah,
I don't want to op no one else want to talk.
So I was like, all right, I'll try it out.
Yeah, that's fair.
You know, I'm back in the day, uh, you know, way back in the day.
I was somewhat of a marksman myself.
Uh, I quite enjoyed picking up the big green running around the map.
I had great form.
I have shoulders straight back, you know, perfect posture.
Yeah.
Perfect.
but can you show me what you look like when you're?
Oh, man.
What do we got?
Yeah, like a little bit of a lean to it.
Yeah.
So your shots probably flick to the left a little bit more.
Yeah, I mean, my back has definitely been feeling
the past few years of playing, so yeah.
I think that's one of the things most North American
operators are saying going over to Europe
where they have that perfect posture is like that,
that little lean that you've got going on
that throws you off quite a bit.
If your fundamentals are off,
Once you get to the big leagues, it's gonna be tough.
Oh yeah.
What do you think about the problem?
Like, what do you think if Valve actually brought
a bow and arrow under the game with Counter-Strike?
Especially for North Americans,
I could feel it could be a huge benefit.
Yeah, I mean, seems like us being on the same playing field
or level of with the Europeans, it doesn't help.
So we need some sort of advantage over them, you know?
So maybe a bow would help us.
Right, we know how to handle a bow.
We got some experience with that.
I think that could actually be the move
makes North American Counter Strike come right back into the map. Yeah, I mean, it'd be exciting
to try out a new gun. I mean, not even a gun, just a bow and arrow, yeah. Yeah, pin people to the
wall. It'd be great.
Hey, Jason, rock game experience.
Atlanta, Georgia. Here we are yet again, the Ponce City Market. What does Atlanta know about
Counter Strike or video games in general? Let's just find out. Let's just see if anybody is on
the same wavelength as us here at the Intel Extreme Masters.
Come on.
I play video games, funny chance?
No.
Sorry.
Come on, let's play.
Talk to me about teams playing other teams and people playing other people in video games,
eSports.
I think that there is a culture for it, but I haven't really been involved with the culture
of eSports.
What do you think separates a good eSport from the great eSports?
You need a good balance of the game and you need players that understand the mechanics
of the game and use those to the fullest capabilities.
I'm literally on Super Smash Bros. pretty much only.
What's your favorite character? Who are you playing? Who's your main?
Ness.
More of a Kirby brick, everything.
Yeah, yeah. Any new girl that I teach Smash?
She plays the Kirby game, yeah.
Maybe one day I'll grow up.
Are there any games that are just embarrassing to get out that you can think of?
This is gonna be a hot topic.
I think it is a little embarrassing to be good at God.
Okay, let's go out and man, let's tell them what they need to hear.
I must have said at the wrong table, yeah, we're kind of talking about video games.
Do you guys know anything about video games, e-sports?
I know stuff about Brawl Stars.
Okay. I know Atlanta has a big cod scene, but how many times can you play Cold War and say it's a different game?
What do you look back and say to the younger you watching?
Go hard for the times that need to be taken hard and just have fun.
I'm here with a big man, Snacks.
Last time we spoke was actually two or three weeks ago and ever since then you're playing really good. What's up with that?
Well, how come how come is it this poor finding?
I don't know. I think we're just lucky to be honest and
Maybe a little bit more confident. So that's what give us opportunity to be in a playoffs
I mean playoffs at big events
This is familiar for you and now for game religion is actually back-to-back
But you know, I want to ask is this you finding this a game at the perfect moment right before the major when towards the end of the season
Yes, I would say so, it's pretty nice. We are working from January together, even from
December. I didn't have a vacation back in the day because I was needed to go to Miami.
And it feels like it's paying off obviously, the work we are putting. I'm pretty happy
as well as we can look at this, that we are a little bit sick. I was sick again. I think
Fredon, if you look at him, he's not looking well as well, so we still have some sickness
in the team. But even though with this, like how we are feeling and how we are playing,
I think it's really nice that we can still play good.
Being in quarter-finals as a favorite
is pretty dangerous for inexperienced players.
So what's the mindset coming into this,
coming from you as a leader?
I mean, I didn't even know we are favorites.
I just didn't look at anything.
So I don't know.
I thought that we are not.
So maybe they are feeling the same way as me.
So we'll see.
I don't think so.
They felt like we are favorites here.
Thank you for this vibe.
Checking good luck on the serve.
Freya, over to you.
first quarter final inches ever closer as gamer Legion make their return to the playoff snacks.
Certainly no stranger to Atlanta, but now nine years later he returns to the same city with his
squad of young guns. So let's check in with the AWPer who's certainly been leading the charge in hypex.
Hypex not ready for an interview I guess. He's just focusing on the game. I'm going to introduce
you to our panel of experts. So it's myself, I suppose I wouldn't call myself an expert though.
And look, Yumi and Pimp, to help me along with that gentleman, we were already talking about it,
the bracket, not exactly shaping up how we anticipated, but this makes it have a lot more fun,
particularly if you're game legion or pain, right?
It's a golden opportunity for some of these teams that we don't often see in play-off as big tournaments,
and even more so as you said, you know, having Vitality and Navi do get out in the quarter-final,
all of a sudden opens up this side of the bracket, so for game legion, for pain, for legacy,
it's a massive opportunity to make a statement.
If you're a fan of growing up-and-coming teams,
the tournaments that are happening right now across the world are exactly where you want to be.
You know, you're getting the results that you want. You're getting the growth from the teams
that have been sort of teetering on the edge of tier one for quite some time, but never been able
to make that next push. This just feels like the right time for more upsets to keep happening.
100%, particularly prior to the major that we're seeing so many of these teams in attendance,
making it to either stage one or stage two. This is where you want to be farming a little bit of
that confidence. I just want to refer to what Siko was chatting to snacks about there.
He doesn't feel like he's the favourite in this matchup.
Who would you say is the favourite between Game of Legion or Pain?
I would judge so far what I've seen.
The Game of Legion has played the better brand of Counter-Strike.
They're also coming in with their full roster.
No stand-in, whereas for Pain Gaming,
they're struggling a bit, obviously having to feel suffering for this tournament.
So whether he wants to say it or not, I think it's pretty evident to me
that Game of Legion are the favourites, but it's not a clear-cut favourite.
It's not a game where they walk in and necessarily expect to win at no cost.
They are very well aware that Pain have been playing well so far
and they have to play up to the level we seem to find this tournament, but making the case that snacks in the boys are not favorites is
Very hard for me. Yeah, I think that is it's hard to really justify putting a stand in the position where they should be the expected winners
But I think because paint have been ramping up and they have basically lost options with safe coming back into the roster
You know, he's someone that was always a very passive type player more aligned with a shiro
But maybe without the reaction time of someone like shiro so more positional more defensive
But they've got a lot of aggressive riflers and
Gamer legion know that that can be a very winning formula
Let's talk about you on the other side of things hypex and firmly in the driver's seat just in terms of some of those individuals coming out of
Gamer legion particularly when we look back at that Astralis game that in saying clutch
We had him on the desk afterwards, and he was like I really understand how I got away with that
I did I just played exactly how they came at me and it pulled off into an amazing moment
Goes hand in hand with where he's at right now, when in Gamer Legion.
I think part of the reason why Gamer Legion are looking better and better as a team
is also the fact that Hypics have been integrated into the lineup now.
Ever since Snack's arrival as well, you've seen a clear uptick in his performance
and statistically speaking, he's having his best event at a big line event so far in his career
and within Gamer Legion, so I think there's something to be said that when he's playing well,
when he's performing well, that also elevates Gamer Legion to a new level,
especially Yumi when we consider all these different teams right now that we're looking at.
And I think it's an issue for a lot of teams, right?
Having the impact with the AWP is something
a lot of teams are struggling with.
And Hypex right now is on the upper echelons of those teams.
It has been noted there are some struggling AWPers
that post-Anim Graph 2 actually have seen that upswing.
And it might not be real.
You know, it might be placebo.
But that doesn't matter so long as you're actually
hitting your shots.
It felt like for a long time outside of the top four
AWPers in the circuit, everyone else
was having struggling inconsistencies.
So it's nice to know that there are offers that do seem to get the the impact that we so expect from such a massive investment
Let's talk about just game a legion overall as a team
Because I was I was on the interviews that questioning all the teams yesterday during media day and every single time I'd ask
What's the biggest strength the game a legion every single team said that team play they seem like one of the most synergized teams
Which is lovely when I don't why I'm sparing shade to liquid here
We got to witness their games and it was just completely the opposite
But for Game of Legion, I think that's what impresses me so much about Snacks coming back.
Like he's obviously such a veteran player, but the fact that they feel like they really
chill there so well, loves that about Game of Legion.
Do you think they found a great balance in that, you know, with Snacks coming into Game
of Legion?
I think it's not to say they play simple Counter-Strike, but he simplified the gameplay of Game of
Legion a lot to a point where everyone from the team understands it, everyone buys into
it.
And as you said, it clearly shows on the server in terms of their synergy, in terms of the
team play.
At this tournament as well, out of all the 16 teams that we've seen play, they have the
the highest trade percentage out of everyone as well,
which means that they're very aligned
when they're walking into a bomb site.
But having a higher trade percentage
is usually also a sign of playing,
not necessarily simple Counter Strike,
but playing Counter Strike to a point
where you don't rely too much on your individuals
to go out there and seek success by themselves,
but you run in packs,
you run fast paced Counter Strike,
as we talked about as well,
but to a point where everyone is buying into it.
Yeah, if you look at heat maps for the lurkers,
for the extremities players, the entries,
everybody's chopping and changing positions
because they're called into those packs
that they can break into bombsites. So yeah, I do agree this, the lettuce cook combo of snacks and IMD, that is really what felt like a bit of a turning point, getting that coach combination with the in game leader because yeah, I mean snacks as previous projects maybe didn't feel the most inspired. This one does feel more cohesive and it feels like as well as even saying himself that, you know, they have an aligned vision on how that counter strike is played.
without saying coach, in-game leader, combo,
you need to be on the same page, right?
You do need to be on the same page,
and you need to be able to play it out against each other
as well, you know, Snax is, I think he's finally found
the team where everyone is trusting in his vision
and trusting in his ability as an in-game leader.
And if you're backed up by your coach,
that synergy that you can play,
we often highlight Alexi B and Blade as great example,
you know, two players who in the beginning,
when they were first put together,
Alexi B had one way of thinking counter strike,
Blade had another, over time they developed,
they found the same book and found the same page.
So to speak in that book and it just elevates a team what everyone's buying into the league blades words were that he wasn't a tier one in game
Leader yet and that he needed to learn to become one
Straight to the point. That's why we love play that is why he's the great
Um, I can reveal that I did see game lesion at breakfast this morning and they were all sitting together
So that's exactly the key. That's exactly what we need. I do use for the other exactly
I do just want to talk a little bit about snacks in this history here, right?
We alluded to it earlier obviously back at the Atlanta 2017 major
They made it to the Grand Finals. That was when Astralis started their absolutely insane run
That was with their Kirby on the roster as well
But this man's got history if you don't know this guy's name put some respect on it
I 100% you know
He has a very very very inspiring career and the fact that he's been able to make the transition to now be an in-game leader
Who's still competing at a very high level and with game religion potentially taking them back into to contention for that top 10 spot
Maybe even top 8 at a major with the way they're playing right now. That's remarkable snacks back then though was a different player
He was a different maker on the server. He was, I can tell from personal experience,
maybe one of the most annoying players to be up against. You would always push the smoke and
wear their timings. He had that sixth sense for the game as well, in a sense where you knew that
something was happening when Snacks was in or around the smoke, but you could never really
figure out how to stop it. So, that regard, you know, from an individual standpoint, way more
influential, I guess, from fracking department, et cetera, whereas today as an in-game leader,
he's changed the way that he plays Counter-Strike and think Counter-Strike.
Yeah, I mean the way he thinks counter strike I do I do agree with you
But I still see the stacks of old and an occasion you replace what cave on ancient
He loves darting through it and finding timings with SMG's and the like
So, you know it similar to someone else in the tournament art, you know
There are still raindrops of or the sprinklings of what made them those characters from before. Yeah, you've got to keep your inspiration
Yeah, I mean, right, but it's kind of weird just bringing up that photo of all the old
and you guys as well, thinking about their careers
and where they've gone from now.
It is mental to think that he's still here,
still relevant and not only that,
still hungry to be pulling a team to the top
because he's not hard, it's easy for the game of legion, right?
It's not like it's just been instant fights
to all invites rather, to all of the best tournaments.
You've got to grind for it.
It's the bounce back from G2 as well.
I think a lot of people, including myself,
were maybe worried that we wouldn't see snacks on this level
again after G2.
He found a home in game of legion,
he found a team that believes in him.
And as you said as well, I think from my money
at the very least, one of the most underrated aspects of Counter-Strike players is longevity.
You know, everyone can be good one year, everyone can be good two years, I say everyone, but
a lot of people have done that, you know, where Kyrus-
How long were you good for?
I had a couple of years, you know, when I was in my prime, so to speak, but take Config,
as an example, you know, there's so many players who have that amazing talent, the amazing
Vista for the game, they're good one or two years and then they fade away because they
stop working hard, whereas for players like Snacks, Kerrigan, Forrest back in the day
as well, the longevity of those guys is inspirational and something that's very, very hard to do
over so many years. It sounds like every in-game leader that went through G2 suffered some kind of
reputational damage. I mean whether that was Hooksy, Alexi B, Snats and they've all been able to find
success on different rosters when certain players weren't also part of their rosters. Are you saying
that time in G2 doesn't count? I don't know if it doesn't count entirely but they have some stronger
personalities to combat and I don't know that they are the fighting type. I like the correlation
that you found there. We'll dive into that a little bit later just to recap exactly how Game
the game. Allegiant found themselves here, though. I'm some pretty impressive results.
Obviously, liquid, not exactly the hardest opposition right now, but a very competitive
series versus Navi taking them down on ancient as well with an insane T side. That I think
is what impressed me the most about game. Allegiant in the groups.
That's the thing. That's the only thing you can pinpoint so far that hasn't been nearly
perfect for for game. Allegiant. A loss to Navi is by no imagination, necessarily a weakness
for for game. Allegiant coming into the game. I thought Navi were going to win somewhat
convincingly. So I was surprised by the fact that they were able to win ancient in the
fashion did it. I was surprised that they were able to remain competitive on the third
map as well and really pushed Navi to the limit. So in terms of having the tournament
so far played out for Gamer, you can sure they lost the game to Navi, but if anything
they showed that they could beat them, that they were on par with Navi. And ever since,
as you said, in the lower bracket, beating Liquid, you know, beating Astralis, it's
been pretty clear cut that GamerLeading were a team supposed to make it to the playoffs.
Yeah, I mean, it's clear as well that all of the favorites that we would have had on
paper, you know, they're talking about it in the pre-show with, you know, Chad, Jason
just. You know, we have foot
the season we have vitality
has looked mortal or has
been cut out of the tournament
completely. We were expecting
to see Astralis in foot in this
bracket. We don't get to see
that. And so it is this feels
like the right time in general
just for those teams that
haven't been a part of the
conversation this year to enter
it and pain, obviously part of
the reason that foot don't find
themselves here, initial win
versus phase. It was a pretty
competitive affair. Then going
in the playoffs, lost to Betbyn in that CD matchup, but it doesn't really matter.
They still make it to a quarter-finals and I'm very glad that we're seeing a rebound from Payne after.
I guess a bit of a complicated time for them.
It's been a rough time for Payne gaming. They really started to find the identity and find the level that we saw,
you know, leading up to the Austin Major, which is almost the year ago now.
That's when Payne were at the highest, when we really believed that, OK, we have a Brazilian team here that
not only do they contest to be a top-8 team, not only do they make the playoffs at a Major,
but maybe even Furia, you know, have to look out for whether or not they're the best Brazilian-based team.
And since though, Yumi, it's been a strop in some period for them, they tried a few different roster changes,
they tried to change the playstyle a little bit, Big Lucera have been changing his roles within the team as well,
so you can't fault Pain Gaming for not trying, but they haven't really found the recipe of success just yet.
Well, it was clear that everybody crumbled in playoffs for Pain.
I think that was the most apparent thing, and probably what led a lot of their roster decisions,
whether that was actually moving out of Brazil to find find talents that had more
veterans see a bit more autonomy, perhaps that big is there. I didn't have to micro it
when it got to these stage games. That's the biggest worry for pain coming into this this
set of games today is that when they get to these playoffs, these players have shied away
in the past, but they have more aggressive pieces. They are playing in a style that is
totally unconventional. I ragged on bait for a lack of flash assist. These guys have been
have the worst T side flashes at the tournament. Pain don't use their flashes for kills, they
use it for position, they try to be tricky around smokes, they try to get these forward
presence players inserted deep into the back line.
Just after that, in context of this game as well, which broke about GamerLeading having
the highest trade percentage in this tournament, well guess who have the lowest by far in this
tournament, that would be Pain Gaming, they don't use flashes to set each other up, they
don't necessarily use the 1-2 punch trading each other, it's a lot more relying right
now on individuals, you know, winning their duels and by then overtaking certain areas
the map. Well before we do dive into the pain side of the conversation I did tease you guys earlier
with that Hypex interview and now we have managed to grab him so let's hit from him.
Quick catch up with Hypex before the quarter finals I wanted to ask you you have a fantastic
tournament so far and when I last spoke to you you said that your uptick in performance is because
of snacks Mr. Snagg's giving you a lot of freedom is this still true? Yeah so far so good today's
Today is going to be, it's going to be bad today, my teammates are going to carry me.
So yeah, it is what it is.
Alright, that's pretty confident from you, but I want to ask you, because you're the high, this is a stat from me, okay?
You're the highest rated AWPer on T-Site, this event so far.
Did you know about this?
Nope.
Alright, so now you know, and I want to ask you that since AnimGraft 2 Update, especially, you've been really feeling the game.
I checked your stats and saw your game, so do you have anything to say about it?
Do you see the correlation yourself?
when the update came out, the first three days in practice,
I was still in awe, I couldn't hear anything,
everything was bad, I was, hey, you did the update,
then Blast Event came out, I was shaky,
and then some other update came out,
and I don't know, I just popped off again,
so I think I'm back.
All right, it makes sense.
You've been getting also really loud this event,
maybe due to your performance, right?
And this is kind of new thing for you.
I didn't really imagine you being so loud
and shouting at opponents
and being like a little bit disrespectful.
So I wanna ask you, this is what confidence does
to a man like hypex is this is this confidence talking I mean I think I was
always kind of like the hype man in our team but maybe I didn't do the opponent
so much I don't know sometimes it just comes out I don't even remember it
coming out and then I just rewatched the replay and I'm like oh yeah it did come
up so it is indeed the hype man I mean you're a hypex after all right so no pun
intended but good luck in the quarterfinal and see on the server yeah
turning hypex his second big stage as he does answer the gamer Legion Jersey I do
want to talk about the author on the other side of things though because I guess it's
a complicated situation with safe and his kind of current role responsibility and tenure
with pain. Yeah, I mean he he's a kind of a late bloomer coming into counter strike global
offensive and started making waves within the North American scene then into South America
and just being being able to be a safe pair of hands. I think that was always how we described
him in a in a region that is documented with so many in game leader orpers that all want
to be hyper aggressive and make all these plays. Safe wanted to play a bit more device,
positional, counter strike, and actually did a very good job rising the ranks with this
pain roster, but he is also someone that just doesn't take a lot of opening fights. You
know, that's one of the advantages that you have as an office, that when you find yourself
in an opening position, you force the other team to commit resources just as a precaution,
typically. Safe sometimes feels like he doesn't get that same sort of respect.
He's always been an almost guy for me.
I feel when he was in FHIR, you could clearly see the potential.
You had periods and certain tournaments where he would step up and where he would be the
difference maker, but as you also described, somewhat defensive in the way he plays Counter
Strike.
And I've always liked that extra spark coming out from safe.
And I think that's kind of what has been, maybe describing of his career as well, that
he's been good, but never great.
And that's been a bit of an issue in terms of him making the next step, whereas now he's
finding himself in a standing position, obviously doing well here for pain, but it's not a player
that you're looking to sign for a big team at the moment.
at least got a familiar face with him when he rejoins the roster and he I actually got to talk to him
But during the lobby and he was saying the philosophy feels fairly similar. Okay. Okay. That's pretty reassuring then
I do just want to put the show on the other foot and talk a little bit about big who's era because he were always talking about him used
To be kind of the big frang and game leader obviously
He put himself in some of those positions where it would it listen a few more frags here and there has that narrative continued
But Jacob I don't I don't think so and it's something that we often
You know find ourselves guilty of doing that if you have established yourself as a fracking in game leader
We keep referencing you to as that fracking in game leader for a long long time
But if you dive into his statistics if you dive into how he's been playing as a recently
If you die into to how pain have been trying to change the way they play and how he's changed certain positions
Statistically speaking, he's not that same fracking in game leader anymore
He's still doing a decent job
But whereas he used to post a 1.10 1.15 rating at pretty much every single tournament the last two years
He's been struggling in terms of getting the same amount of input
Well, maybe it's time for him to defend his case, then, Jacob.
He caught up with Stiko ahead of the series.
Because you're right here with me ahead of your quarterfinals,
I have a question. Making a playoff versus fairly good teams here, right?
What would you rate your current form in the team?
Actually, no idea.
I think right now we are like...
We are growing as a team, you know?
So if I put like a number, probably like a seven, like, yeah, probably seven, seven out
of 10, right? Yeah, out of 10. Yeah, yeah. No, I mean, I want to talk a little bit about
your map pool because there's been some holes. I probably want to mention like overpass you
have won it once this year so far and other teams really like try to punish pick against
you and they're getting away with it. So what would you say is like the next step for your
team, how are you going to negate that maybe even at this event?
Yeah, it's a process, I think we've changed our role that is so important, the helper.
And of course, we have a lot of things to improve and to fix, but at the same time,
we are working so hard to do this kind of change and just to be better at each map.
And I can feel the progress.
I really feel.
And the last map, I would say, was a little bit unlucky because I watched the demo after
and sometimes just times and...
Small details.
Yeah, small details.
And I think today is going to be our day, you know.
I think overpass is going to be ours.
When I talk about this specific game, a lot of people have you as an underdog coming into
this match.
ask you what's your winning condition today against Gamer Legion? What do you think?
To be honest, I think we are not underdog. I think we just have to do our gameplay and to follow
what we talked before, the match. And I think that's all. I think that's not a win condition,
To be honest, I think we are at the same level of the team right now, I think like 50, so anything can win today.
Well, good luck, see you on the server, I'm excited to see how it goes.
Thank you.
Okay, I'm loving that from Biguzaro saying he's confident and he's going to be taking that ground of Overpass.
Just some takeaways from this video. Expecting it or not?
I was expecting a nuke decider. I really thought Pain would just float that within the veto.
the top 50 teams that they've
played online when they've been
able to get those opportunities.
It's actually a map they have a
win streak on technically against
top 50 teams. So I would have
liked to see them float that it's
another strong game religion map.
It feels scared that they've
operated this way and have moved
into an inferno, but maybe they
know something and maybe they've
trapped something's back. Let's
quickly do our predictions, not
just for this game, but for the
overall tournament because one
side of the bracket a little bit
skew with right is anybody going
to go from this side where we've
going to go from this side where we've got Payne, Game of Legion and Legacy, what are you thinking?
Oh it's tough man, it's tough not to make the case that it's going to be the Vitality or Nami,
but I will say if any of the three teams from this side of the bracket, I'm looking towards Game
of Legion first and foremost, and I think Legacy as well have really stepped it up at this tournament,
on a bit of a win streak as well, came from a domestic cup where they won as well, found a
bit of confidence, so you know what, I'm going to take a bit of a wild one here and say Legacy
is going to be in the grand final and who knows what happens with Legacy in the best of five grand
Yeah, for skipping past one and two then I'm gonna have to go with that boom to be honest
I think boom which has got that special sauce that I really like in the first of the plan is
You'll love on these underdog runs
I think I'm gonna bring some sense to this desk I guess and say vitality
Oh really?
Ooh
Hey Finn, am I boring?
So boring man
It's my boy Menzey
Basic, you're very basic for him
Yeah, that's something that's been said to me a lot
Well, yeah, that's exactly what you can screenshot when these two gentlemen are wrong and inevitably I'm right
So by vitality you get another trophy
Most likely you are, most likely.
Then again, I think if there was a time to beat Vitality,
I think that's been set and floored with quite a lot.
I think there was a show at this tournament
that had beatable, obviously.
Congratulations to Bed Boomer on that one.
So yes, that's why you're going with it.
And we could all lose as well, so...
You really could.
Well, there will be winners there and sadly,
there will be losers in our first quarter-final of the day.
It's time to truly get this show started.
Welcome to the Intel Extreme Masters.
I don't know.
Hey, Lanna, can you hear me?
Hello?
There we go.
All right.
Welcome to the Intel Extreme Masters.
It's the city where culture moves fast, the base hits hard, and the pressure makes diamonds.
From Bankhead to Buckhead, from the Beltline to this big stage right here, this City Knows
Competition.
Friday, the 15th of May, StreamHack is open and it's playoff time in Atlanta.
Let's get it on!
Alana, I know how to get loud, I know how to kick off your feet, make some noise, it's
time for GATA STRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Making new players here, for sure, are nice for us.
At the start of the year, we are playing a little bit different tournaments than tier one.
The biggest strength for our team right now is last two months when we are playing.
We never give up on any match, so it's very nice.
To be honest, I really don't know what's the level of pain.
I was not watching the other group.
I mean, I had a little bit different job.
I was trying to focus on the annual region more.
By the results and if they are in playoffs,
and I would say they had a tougher group than us.
Yeah, I think it's going to be a good match and a good take.
Being back through the playoffs means a lot for me.
I'm very proud of the team and of the work that we're putting.
We are so happy with SafeJoin bringing a lot of experience to us.
That trust in the guys of my team and hope we can win this tournament and make it.
We need something miraculous! We need something special!
Oh, look at that!
I'm going to nail it!
Oh, no!
He's going to go in, walks away with a triple!
He's going straight out of high-packs.
BR Solid is a walk on site, gets three!
There's up to high-packs in the bush!
High-packs can go from here!
Exit onto Fursy!
I've had never classed in high-packs!
So first will be a good match.
We will try our best to beat them.
I think our chances are high too, to win against them.
Welcome to the stage, your second quarter finalist gamer, Legion!
Let's talk about who has the edge in this first game with Jacob. Who are you siding with and why?
I think so far, I like what I've seen the most from Gamer Legion. It's been a really,
really strong performance in every single one of the games. And as I said earlier,
the loss to Navi was even in itself a win to me. The fact that you take a map off Navi where you
dominate an un-ancient, you make the third map very, very competitive, and yet to see Gamer Legion
have a poor performance, and yet to see it not play well, I also do side with the individuals
of Gamer Legion. As much as you want to talk about cohesion, we want to talk about team play,
You need players that are able to step it up on the stage and deliver the fracking output you need.
I'm looking towards PR, I'm looking towards rest, who so far has had a great great tournament.
And then of course, as we mentioned, high picks with the 8 on VP as well.
Not to say that Payne haven't done well, but I'm starting with Gamer Legion based on what I've seen so far.
It's these tea sites for Payne that are really going to weigh them down, I think this series.
And Overpass is just one of those maps where Gamer Legion like to pick teams apart.
When we talk about that Overpass, we heard from Biguzera and he feels confident going into that.
Is there any particular reason why he should be?
They just there's there's so many limitations as to how far you can deeply insert a player
That's their biggest strength maps like mirage max lot naps like nukes sometimes as well
You can be very tricky about your positioning overpass
It can be a bit more clear cut the teams are very well drilled about how to clear these angles and how to be
Extra cautious on those rotations. It will be an uphill climb also a map
You know where safe is easy to integrate and easy to try and you you describe them as a defensive
Orba and Orba who is very cautious about who's positioning CT side upping on overpass
You take a duel, you fall back, you take another duel, you fall back, so he's not a liability per se on a map like a Warpus.
This might be a strongest map in fact on CT.
Who are you starting with, who are you?
I have to side with Gamer Legion here. I feel like they've got a really complete package.
All the pieces seem to contribute very wholeheartedly throughout the games.
Well, it is time to get this show started.
A quarter-final, our first one here at the Intel Extreme Masters at Lanza 2026.
It's going down between Gamer Legion and Paine.
America love an underdog story and year after year at the Intel Extreme Masters in America
we've had an underdog story.
Both of these teams fit that bill Jason.
Neither of these teams are teams you'd expect to have been in the playoffs coming into it,
right?
Some surprising runs through the group stage, some surprising struggles from teams that
we would have expected to be in these slots.
A Seralis went out early, Foot went out early and these two guys have picked up the pieces.
Gamer League with snacks at the helm for just five months, new into this team, able to bring
them up to a new level, great performances, the best start to his career, Rez has ever
had highbacks as an offer, getting comfortable. For Payne, it's been a long road months back
in South America, regaining confidence, regaining belief. It's been nine weeks since they played
an event with this level of competition and they have risen to the task, refreshed by
some regional competition. Safe in this team for less than a month, he's coming out a year
without playing at the professional level, but it doesn't look like he's missed a beat.
All the pieces in place for these two teams to surprise us even further in these quarter finals and make it deeper at IEM Atlanta.
The entire stream masses have come back to America for another year, so let's have a grand old time Georgia! Let's kick off the playoffs!
Over past the start of these quarter finals, Payne gonna be defending.
the game. The game is
going to be a very tough
affair for the pain side of
things. Big user as the IGL.
You've got a couple of young
players snow. We're still
looking to see him reach his
full potential. VSM in this
lineup able to have impact.
There's some cool pieces on
this pain team that it's his
job to make sure they're all
firing at all cylinders.
And as you read, it's really
meditating to start the day.
Right. We've seen him standing
on the stage and they walked
down now doing it again here
trying to get him to the
bottom of the game.
He's trying to get him to the
bottom of the game.
He's trying to get him to
again here trying to envision he's on he's on the he's back in Oakland right he's
trying to get into the mindset I'm back in Oakland it's that big-time
performance that's what we need out of him would be great to see him oh I love
you guys too hey you guys got great shirts as well make sure you turn around
once in a while yeah
well we do have a little tech issue to kick off today there are for ease behind
They're trying to get that sorted and we'll get into the actual as quickly as we possibly can
Yeah, nice to have these issues at the start. I know it's a little bit of a bummer to get things to late
But yeah, we're getting it looks like we're fixed free time is underway
High fives are coming out from snow in the pain side of things Atlanta. Are you looking for a pain victory right now?
All right, how many you looking to see gamer Legion take this series
Snacks fans in the house full of it and we're live quarter finals in Atlanta
begin and right out of the gate safe and period could be playing towards the
A bomb site bathrooms on defense. Taliesin, Hypex and PR with the bomb
lining up outside of Monster. So while the slow opening to this pistol round is
both teams cautiously look for aggression we'll get a mid-round exec.
Res and snacks to clear things out. They're the ones in danger at the moment
for game religion and look at the position of Piri on the minimap now
climbing the ladder can have a very fast wrap around he's just got to pick the
right bomb site how long can game religion hold this the longer they
wait the more effective period becomes on the flank and it's I mean it's all
about the faith right they want this utility on snacks to be thrown out
towards long, but Piri is going to discover it sooner.
Oh, here we go.
Piri, what a start to the play-off.
So for Piri, now Snacks and Rez immediately
have to figure out there's nothing you can do,
because the bomb has dropped.
On the other side of the map, all your teammates dead
in a second.
Yeah, that's huge.
What a play.
What initiative from Piri on good plan from Payne.
Gamer leeching taken way, way too long
to develop this tactic all the time needed for that push.
And one missed detail ruins the entire round.
Nobody looking for the flank while they waited.
Patiently
So a recovery mission two versus four resin snacks coming back now utility is spent
And it's grim in this pistol round
Here we are another one
Okay, he's going for all five to kick off the playoffs here
All five in the pistol
What a lovely performance from Peria
A long journeyman career down in South America,
been on this team for very little time.
Just a few months, what a performance
to open up these playoffs.
Stays calm, lines him up, knocks him down.
And he gets all five.
His team wants him to chase it down, so a bit of glory.
And that's going to give you so much confidence
in the play you need to step up in the playoffs here, right?
The fact that you've started the first pistol run like that,
period has been so good for Payne.
important that we see him continue that kind of form coming into the playoffs here and the
game of Legion and another tacky issue here on Snacks. Only add more frustration after
getting back out of the pistol like that. Yeah, it will be for sure, but still early
on. Piria meanwhile has been the best player for pain at this event. Operated players statistically
for the squad. So, Bob, he's been loving the work he's putting out and it's going to continue
when he opens up and starts you a game like this. So Snacks having the conversation. The
The conversation around pain has always been about Biguzera, the fact that we feel like
he could have at many points in his career gone on to play at a bigger team, but has
stayed a pain gaming, has stayed committed to this organization, and they've tried to
bring in young players and talents and change things up so that pain have a chance to deliver
what Biguzera is capable of.
He's an IG that showed a lot of cool things too, really started to peak around the Paris
Major with his qualification there with the pain team.
That was the squad that had skulls on it back when he was popping off as well.
That was the best we saw skulls ever look at any team.
shown the ability to develop players and develop a team from like kind of
building from scraps to then achieving good results.
I'm going to think about the Austin Major last year. I mean he has a good run again
they're getting into the playoffs over there so America seems to be a good spot
for Biggs era to perform with his squads and now there's newer version. We didn't
really know what to expect of paying coming into the event because we hadn't
seen them in so long but I think you and I got the cast of the Roman Gaming it was
oh wow this actually looks really good. Yeah I mean there's some very cool
things that they can bust out I think his biggest problem has been the up and
down nature of some of these pain lineups over the years.
So establishing that consistency,
finding a line up that can get to a nice peak
and kind of hang out there and be able to deliver
those results event after event.
That's kind of what he's been lacking over the past few years
of his career, but a lot of roster changes,
a lot of swaps trying to find, you know,
the proper fifth player, the proper fourth player,
trying to mix people into things.
So would be a big accomplishment for Big Euse there
to bring another pain lineup essentially
from nothing to a playoff performance.
We were talking about pain as a whole,
as a team, having seen them in a long time,
but it's also in particular safe, right?
We were talking about how he hasn't even played
Counter-Strike at this level at an event in so many months.
Yeah, we casted his first game here, too,
and that was a big thing for me.
It was like just keeping an eye on him,
and it looked good.
Like it had been, I think, like nine, 10 months
since he played an official match at the professional level,
and he came out spanking everyone.
Really, really cool to see,
we'll see if that continues to develop.
I know this side of things.
I'll mention Rez, we all know Rez, we all love Rez.
Having one of the best starts of his career,
which is crazy considering how long
been around kind of one of the first players the next Swedish superstar quote
unquote coming out you know the NIP era back at the early days of CSGO but a lot
of this team is also the development of Hypex and Talson has been very very rock
solid for this team so some strong riflers and I think the development of
Hypex has been the thing that's made everyone kind of kick up a notch when
you have that opera finding comfort and finding impact everyone's life gets
easier. I mean that's been the story around game of
legion for a long time with Asher as the coach for so long it was always about
trying to find that AWPer into the squad. They just couldn't find one that clicked.
You know, they brought players in that looked promising in their other teams,
they would bring them in and they would just fall under the pressure. I think
Kersi was a good example of that. I'm sure he'll bounce back at some point, but
he's an example of an AWPer who came in and really that mentality shift you've
got to have when you step up to another level of counter-strike, they weren't
really able to handle it. And Hypex comes into the team and I was talking to him
and he was saying the same thing was on his mind when he joined the squad. He had
seen how many AWPer's had been cut pretty quickly by game-religion. He's seen the
pressure that they were getting. He was getting a lot of hate and a lot of doubt
thrown his way and he read into it for a long time but he said coming into this
season he just stop caring stop reading it and stop caring what they were
saying because he's saying even the likes of Vitality are getting hate
online so it's been great to see Highback start to show some of that
confidence that he's shown his previous teams and his teammates are noticing
that as well. Yeah I think I think that's part of the reason why that story
around Highback is so cool because yeah you're right he does come in and notice
I'm like oh this is the slot of the team that's just getting rotated out this is
the musical chairs place and I mean having that mentality coming into it
knowing that's the situation and when watching him kind of struggle and then
overcome those and step up that's really cool seeing that development and that
kind of comfort develop within a player within a team.
Yeah it's been quick seeing Gamelizion perform so well at this event as well
because I know they were worried. Yeah there we go.
This is the crowd for it.
And also one of those signs.
Yeah a real well done there too. Really good job with that one.
Yeah I mean we were talking to Gamelizion as well they came into this
They were open about it. They talked about probably how they're not feeling so good
You know a couple players picked up the land flu from the last event
So, you know, they were coming in a little bit worried about that but it seems like it hasn't really affected them all that much
I just like watching snacks. Max feels like he's like kind of like half like troll mode at this event
We had him like the clutch where he's just slamming the door on that over in the lower box
Oh, that was great. Just over and over again. He's just having a great time out there
Cobble over cash, I don't know about that one. No, I don't know about that one
Did you have that one cool B execute though all those years ago?
Yeah, I did have that one cool B execute.
So getting things checked out, snacks open some issues.
Later on today, the second quarter final, a huge one.
Nice time-leave thing to put the phase jacket on because we got vitality.
They're going to be coming in taking on Navi. Nothing to do with phase whatsoever.
Well, you know, vitality knocks phase out.
True, there is that connection.
So that worked out. So phase might have been in that spot if it wasn't for vitality.
We could have had Twist here, we could have been hanging out, having a great time.
I mean, there's one thing that's going to be true in this crowd.
Is that anybody who's planning its vitality is going to get some support, I think.
Yeah, that's probably true. Yeah, the anti-Apex crowd out in full force.
Well, it's pretty important we get the headset of the in-game leader working, isn't it?
So, just working through that at the moment, at least one pistol's gone away,
And you kind of kill that momentum with this, you know, you can just come in, you're coming with a bursting ace and
It is like the unintentional like, you know, for ice him out, ice him out a little bit
So that ace that period gets, you know, that momentum now, I don't think he's gonna like fully be able to carry it forward
But it will help him out, obviously, plenty of money
Ah, the bees in the air, Pernar
Nice
Unk, snacks
Unk still got it though
He does still got it
I'm sure he's going to be showing us glimpses of it as well here on this stage when we get back live
Looks like things are getting into a happy place. There's no more referees standing behind them. That's fair. Yeah, that is very fun
I think we can all get behind that
All right, here we go Atlanta finally getting ready to go into the second round to the countdowns through headsets are fixed
Let's get the counter strike back underway
I can't promise you the most entertaining round though because it is gonna be blocks out for a game of Legion
So very likely to be that 2-0 start here for Payton
Yeah, we're all gonna get a chill see what snacks is able to do with this block might I mean after that kind of extended tech
Timeout where you can't really communicate a whole lot might want to take this one slow
Have the conversation whatever you might have been thinking of make sure everyone's on the same page after that extended break
Payne's gonna continue taking initiative though taking map control against what they know
We're gonna be weaker weapons
So you already have period kind of pushing up, snow and big user taking control of short map shrinks for these blocks
Yeah, just test the headsets fine. You're happy with that
You know no issues now for snacks just moving forward as a little unit past the fountain
And for pain you want to just keep passing positions keep your range if you're right for and they're coming up periods
They might just feed the beast a little better.
Oh, here he is.
Line them up, two quick headshots, high-packs, and P.R. both dead.
And send the data around the corner.
And it's taken towards them to line.
Enough for T.K. coming in to steal it, though.
Snow, racing up, just prevented.
But that's a 4k from Peria.
Nine kills, two rounds. What a start.
I think all the kick-girls coming out on the pain side with Snow taking that fifth kill.
Could have been back-to-back aces.
Still, everyone's gonna be feeling good on the pain side of things due to this start.
really impressive stuff from Peria. However the AK's come out now for Gamer Legion. First
gun round is going to be underway. Snacks a chance to marshal the troops to get this
T side rolling right out of the gate. Aggressive CT set up. Peria's going to go for an aggressive
peek. He's got the hot hand at the moment. And he's going to move up, play behind the
smoke. I like this limit test. What Peria can do right now. Flash being activated in
towards the smoke, just about doing some damage there to high-packs before he gets around the corner,
but that's the bomb carrier. Period, can't fall back.
High-packs, hunts him down with bullets through the smoke, and GamerLugin get the advantage.
Yeah, I gave the footsteps to you as well, started to run back,
and I think that's the sound cue that pulled the shot.
Thank you, Zerid, knows he's been seen, know he's compromised.
So backs all the way out quickly, gets away safely towards Divider,
and just when GamerLugin starts taking a little bit of extra control, five on four for the attacking side.
High-packs sending the flash over the flowerbed, runs into the flight, safe, get a die.
Now we've got game religion, two players up, as soon as the guns have come out, looking a bit stronger here.
The pressure is going to be on bigger Xero, to be able to change the outcome of this round with the A site.
It's going to be very tough with just the MP7.
That's exactly the way you may kind of describe this map early on, is that pain?
They got to be careful because this is a map game religion, love to just pick teams apart.
Pick teams apart to really early kills with no chance of any kind of a trade or any kind of information
Changes no longer have the resources or the bodies to defend everything
30 seconds left on the clock. It's got to be a save
Big Euzerra is already backed out to play retake and you don't have the utility to play retake
You got one kid on snow. None of the B defenders have moved
So big Euzerra, I guess is just gonna see what he can do if there's anything crazy and then try to escape
Okay, lucky to be able to slip away and join up with the rest of his teammates down low
but that means Gamer Legion have found their first-round win here on Overpass.
Yeah, good timing out towards Long with the flash for the swing from Rez to find that kill.
That was safe, kind of trying to transition, caught in the middle, caught in the open with nowhere to go,
trying to get close to defend Long.
Turns into a pretty easy round for Gamer Legion, all things considered.
Plenty of money for the pain side of those, so Gunn's gonna come back out in the next turn.
They'll try again. For Gamer Legion, a clean round means money builds up. They get to get rich.
It's important to keep five players up after losing the first two, and yeah, money is starting
to look very good.
They've got a nice foundation, laid their high-packs with $30,000 as the all-per-in reserve.
It's going to be great moving forward.
They're keeping a couple of SMGs, but they will actually bring out the all-per-safe,
so they'll have that in this next round.
It'll be unrivaled.
I like that though, I like them forcing it out, especially considering money is going
to start getting hurt with some of those rebars.
VSM's got money left over, that's about it.
So this round depends on if you're going to lose what you can bring out of it.
But the whole point of this safe off is to make sure you don't do that.
Get you a big early, good shot.
Flashbang hits him a little bit, but safe still drills, res to the wall.
I'm just going to slow down from here, 5 on 4 on Gamer Legion, still just playing far
far back, not wanting to risk anything else after Res falls.
Bombs going to shift back towards the B bombsite, which eventually it feels be the finishing
place.
Snack's not moving past the fountain whatsoever, so utility as a fake.
Towson to cover the middle of the map, making sure nobody can flank them down, and we'll
We'll see what they can actually accomplish when they move into the bomb site.
Hypex just steps aside, dodging that grenade flying past him.
Saif is not going to pick up that AWP fall away. He wants to go for this.
He wants to fight and he's got it down into a 1v1. It's Hypex and Saif.
Both on rifles this time. A 1v1. He's got a kid as well. He can play this slow.
Hypex keeps his head down. Saif waiting for the mistake. He's picked up a smoke.
High-packs is backed off into the monster tunnel. A great reposition, a strong spot to have and then out with the peak, it's High-packs.
So cool and comfortable in the clutch. It raises his finger, a real sign that he is so much more confident inside of the team now.
Yeah, played that clutch really, really well. Just playing the information game, not letting Safe ever find out where he was, not giving him any good options,
options not let him have a plan of attack into that 1v1 and quietly waits for a
sound cue safe gives it over to him and a really nice timing on the peak just as
he's about to consider diffusing the bomb. Lovely stuff from Hypex, cool and
collected. Round five and all the money taken away from pain. A hero M4 on VSM and
upgraded pistol into a 5-7 that's all they've got. At game religion these past
These two rounds have looked very comfortable on the map.
Four versus five conversion in round four.
All snacks is already out into the sights.
Team mates will join him.
The best case scenario here for pain is somehow making some chaos happen from within these
smokes.
The smoke snack takes our headshot and that's the site.
He'll be able to wild DSM. He's got a massive unit.
He's done a good amount of damage. He has softened them up.
So, he buys on this 5-7. Can he do anything with it?
Big Ozzera vs. Goody. Can't follow up.
Saves certainly will though, but now it's just Peria.
And unfortunately for him, two high HP players left against this USP.
He'll step down a little bit closer to Ryze.
Needs a very quick kill, almost instantly here.
here and he does get the frag, so trot down to 20 and PR jumps up to clear him out and
put Gamer Legion into the lead.
Yeah, good job from PR, Snacks telling him I have low HP, he needed to take the initiative,
make sure that kill gets found, they can secure the bomb site before anything further goes
wrong.
Very, very sketchy.
Ice resistance from pain with very little brought into the round.
But it's two to three as they take their first time out to talk things over.
They're going to have the AWP back in the hands of SAFE, but they're probably starting
to feel in these last three rounds that Gamer Legion just have a much better grip on the
map as they've worked things over.
Rick's not happy with what he's seeing after the first two rounds going so cleanly.
Gamer Legion getting guns out and are now in comfortable control.
We saw early on Payne doing a lot of the aggressive moves early, like pushing up Fury in the pistol
round, pushing up, climbing the ladder, wrapping around the B bomb, so we've seen them try and
get aggressive towards Fountain. Now that you've seen a few rounds of play from Gamer
And you should probably start understanding that they're they're stoping these rounds very very slow very far back
So the plan for pain if they want to maintain that aggression is just gonna have to be measured
Is how exactly do you want to do it?
I imagine they're gonna incorporate safe in that game plan a lot get one shot with the adbp safely fall back
So gamer legion again a lean towards the B bomb site
Four players here so I'm not going to mess with the other side of the map.
That's what's safe.
Off is opening kill, provided by Peria.
Extended battle. Res can't control the spray.
I don't think that's going to dissuade anyone from this B bomb site though.
Might just relocate the point of attack.
back. And Payne know exactly what's coming. Safe has been front bathrooms with his AWP
this entire round. He's heard nothing. He's seen nothing. There's been no pressure applied.
So Payne's happy to have a fourth defender here. Very tough defense to crack into if
if your snacks in Gamer Legion.
Oh, there's grenades landing right on top of Snow.
Fire as well, melting him away down to 2 HP.
He'll back behind the pillar, Towson coming out of monster with the SF dead.
Defense coupling.
And Gamer Legion in full control of Overpass at the moment.
He'll take something special from Snow at 2 HP behind the barrels.
I'm checking him at the moment, they're actually giving him a chance.
for a snow to take. It goes out of camber. PR this time response safe. Connects with the AWP.
It's still a 2v2. Still have pain of stating this.
What a long extended hit. Great utility usage. PR wants to try and force a play at the tap of the
bomb. Nobody's home over the top. Now he's picked off. Yeah, really exposes himself there.
All of a sudden, game of legend. Nine seconds left. Have to rely upon Hypex. He's got the bomb.
He has to plant. And now there's no time for it. It has to be elimination.
Oh! That's incredible! How has he done that? Last second from Hypex! But he's pulled it off!
And nothing will make you get more comfortable on a stage than a clutch like that, the 1v1 earlier.
Hypex is going to be feeling like a king here in Atlanta. He can do no wrong.
Look at this utility usage though, it's actually beautiful from Gamer Legion.
Such a strong defense to go up against and they destroyed it everything snow couldn't find any comfort battered down the crossfires broken up
One kill towards monster because snow had to back away. There's no more defense
This is insane high-packs has hit another level right now to game
Yeah, you saw theory that you can have the ace in a pistol you can have the court kill in the follow-up. I'll take these two clutches
to put GamerLegion up by two.
That round was so hard for as well for Payne just to stay in it.
They find themselves in the winning position down to the final second of the round.
It's not even that. I think more than anything, the frustrating thing for Payne is going to be
the fact that you had the read. You knew exactly what was coming.
You knew it was going to be a B-exec. You had a five on four,
and you had four defenders stacking the bombsite that was being attacked
to lose that round and then have the fashion of the loss in that clutch.
There's like heartbreak upon heartbreak there. There's layers to it.
to it. And then another tech pause so let's just let them stew in it in silence.
Now Hypex gets the all-out for the late stages so he's got plenty of money to purchase into
that so he'll have it out. For a pain you don't have anything to fight them with.
I think that's the tough thing too is that yeah you've lost everything but in that 2-on-1
played incorrectly I guess the time wasn't really called out the time they missed that
kind of detail. Opera pushing forward trying to get him off the bomb plant but
the other player low HP not backing off you know that that way then you look at
the clock in that time you should know one player can be the aggressor to take
him off the plant one just needs to live. Still incredible that high-packs is
able to take advantage of it. Snap shot up to heaven through the smoke and now
you just have time to sit there and dwell on it. Now having a PC restarted
moment for safe. Once we get him locked back in and ready to go the game will continue.
That shouldn't take too long.
Roky went home man. Yeah gotta gotta wait a while. Yeah you have to, there's gonna be some time for
that one. That request will get to him eventually. It's been a very different landscape here coming
into this event right. The teams you thought might perform well and might get into the playoff
fallen a little bit short. I was excited about foot to see how they would be able to continue their form.
This seems like a perfect kind of event for them to get into the playoffs off.
Yeah, I mean we can talk about it too, because we've mentioned it's a good run for these teams that we didn't really expect to be in here.
Dastralis and Foot as you just brought up were two teams that we probably kind of said before this event felt like the likeliest to make it into the playoffs.
But Payne came into this and handled FaZe in their opening match. We casted that one.
Very surprising to see Payne open up in that fashion. 2-0 win.
went on to foot one of the other teams that we expected to be into the playoffs
beat them in a two-to-one series as well so that's when the eye started opening
and then a loss against Betboom in the game that would have qualified them to
the semifinals brought them here to face off against Gamer Legion their run a
little bit of a different affair opening up with a win over Sinners losing next
to Navi 1-2 and then beating down Liquid 2-0 and then taking Astralis to make it
into the quarterfinals eliminating Team Liquid and eliminating Astralis on that
path. Yeah, and the way they handled both of those teams was very impressive, right? It was comprehensive victory for Emilie Chin.
Yeah, not showing the love to Apex. Not at all. We knew that, though.
Yeah, crazy to see Vitality having to play at the quarterfinals as well.
Yeah, that's a different experience. It was crazy seeing them be on the verge of elimination either,
like having to even have the conversation of is it possible that they lose one of these matches.
Now, it never felt like it really significantly got super close in those.
No, but it felt like the possibility was there for the first time in a long time
Yeah, I mean especially at first map versus phase right right on nuke which was close
You had that like hero performance out of twist coming in yes
Vitality bleeding just a little bit, but they picked it up. They got it done and yeah once they get into the playoffs
Obviously still favorites to win the entire event
That's what's scary is they're playing like they're being the C game and they're still beating everybody they come up with
So vitality a favorites into these playoffs fist bumps are out
We're going to get back into the action, Atlanta.
Thank you for being patient with us.
Round seven set to begin.
Game religion coming off a four-round win streak.
Four straight after the explosive start from Peria and Payne.
We're going to be fighting in this round with some upgraded pistols.
Armour picked up.
Deagle's 5-7s.
Little bit of the utility.
But Gamer Legion is looking really, really solid on this map, this T-side.
Snax has got them under complete control.
They've brought back and converted to 4 versus 5 rounds.
Even when pain get the opening kill, it doesn't seem to lead to a victory for them.
Since the gun rounds began, it's been all Gamer Legion.
So once again, just a quick check, just a little bit of presence out towards Long and
towards Foulins just to see if anyone's pushing.
I imagine Gamer Legion yet again in the Anti-Eco, the Anti-Force by going to rotate back to the B-Bomb site.
Rez going to be left on his lonesome away from the pack.
Well, this is the only way you get something going if you're pained, right?
Is he going to do it twice?
He's going to do a Tirey around the back.
Now, the pistol round, and he had so much success.
Going to be much more difficult now with rifles on the other side.
And with the Diggle, Diggle's not as reliable.
And he's running down wondering how the hell all of his teammates have died to the pistols here.
They now spot rise early.
They didn't learn their lesson from the pistol.
Round takes way too long to develop.
Pain with weaker weapons.
Happy to take a real shot at the pistol.
And he's running down.
It takes way too long to develop pain with weaker weapons, happy to take a risk, and it's that exact same push, the exact same player that wreaks havoc and causes chaos.
Peria again, adding the staunch defense at the point of attack towards the B bomb site. Look at the X's on the radar.
Yeah, I mean, aim religion just gets stuffed.
Certainly the player that creates the cash right at the end of the round, but even the initial defense was strong from pain, right?
They hadn't even activated the period of flying.
He had to take it a shot before two kills had come in.
So the initial setup from Pain Gaming was way too successful.
Well, I mean, it's a really nice timing for it.
They recognize Peria probably communicating like stall them out.
He's about to turn the corner, and he wants this attack to slow down.
So that's why the flash comes in at this point.
That's why all the Pain people get aggressive on monster at that point
as they swing with the flash, and that's why this just gets shut down.
What a nightmare for Gamer Legion.
There's four free weapons picked up off the ground in that round.
Three AK-47s and an AWP.
Tons of money all of a sudden for the pain side.
A complete reversal of the economy as it rips the money away from Gamer League.
They're fighting with pistols in a single AK-47.
I talk about Rez at his start at this event.
Really gotta try and continue that now into the playoffs with the Hero AK.
How much can he do?
You got Snow now stepping into water. He's got some backup in Bigazera.
This is where the fight might happen, Rez.
The AK peeking out, losing it against Snow.
AK falls to the hands, the very capable hands of PR, but he doesn't have any Kevlar for this.
Passing the flashbang off, Big Ezer wants to be the proactive one, he's gonna set up over towards board, so he wants to clear monster on a timing.
Gamer Legion has readjusted their hit, it's gonna be coming through sandbags, but it's all four players in that direction.
So Big Ezer has got the opening, shuts it down, wants to clear monster, sees nobody home,
and Tango looking very comfortable. Good kill from Hypex but is it enough?
Hypex stepping out into the open, it's going to be period, bigger zero.
Well, a couple of kills between Hypex and Taliesin, both dead.
Living snacks, 1v4 with this Diego and he's nowhere near anybody.
Really, so back it away, dropping down and trying to get into the fights here with that dig.
It's going to be a tie game, a pain game, bringing it up 4-4.
Yeah, next round, Gamer Legion need to do at least some damage, you know, even if you
had a blues in the round, you need to get some kills.
Look at the money on the pain side of things.
Four people survived again.
Let me get four free weapons in the previous round.
So, I mean, if Gamer Legion doesn't take anything away from them in this one, if this is too clean of a win for pain, their economy is just going to be way too strong for the rest of this half.
And then Gamer Legion is constantly fighting against full buys.
So, really, really tough stretch of rounds coming up for Gamer Legion, but they've handled most of the rifle rounds okay.
two, three Galils in the mix, two AK-47s on PR and Towson,
and Snax is gonna line up again to try and get them back into this.
Safe's AWP out towards Long A in this round.
Actually, I feel like GamerLegion's done a better job of working this map when they spread out,
put some presence towards bathrooms, trying to push towards the A bomb site.
That's where they found some picks, grouped up towards B, hasn't been as successful as they'd like.
Step in through the smoke, that's a free kill, Ryze dead, Piria gets a second as well, backing
into the bathrooms.
He's got low health, but he's so confident to fight because he knows he's still dead.
Bomb to the floor and he once again steps up to the next fight, but Hypex has finally
put him in the ground, but the trade comes through and Gamelidge's T side is really
slow down here.
Yeah, this is nice.
C&P kind of snap into place on this defensive stand.
Really well done.
The low by round, giving them tons of money, tons of confidence.
Saves going to go for another peek out towards Long, sees nobody homes, two on four.
Towson still waiting for the follow-up push as PR clears Long.
Going to pick up the bomb now, and now the move comes in from Snow.
The SM there as well as they slowly creep up, PR and Taliesin pick the A-bomb site.
You've got Biggie Zera defending over in bank and a fast flank once your position is noted.
Yeah, the bomb now is crossing, it'll die, you're going to easily take that one, putting
PR in a 10-second clutch, so 1v3.
You won't see the mistakes made from Payne to make this one possible.
So PR backs away, hangs on to the AK-47, he's going to peek him, they've got a challenge here.
PR fights on, but...
Well, HP covers in the corner, here's the push coming forward again, and Snow not going to arrive in time.
So at least the AK carried over, but it doesn't really paint a prettier picture here for game-religion.
They've run thin on cash, they don't have much ground for them at all, and this is what we're talking about.
Oh, wow.
This is America, a full ensemble.
Lovely double kill from Peria. I feel like there's a gap in that smoke. I feel like
ResinSnacks both saw the gap in that smoke and were like, well that's
tantalizing. That's a cool little gap we can slide into. This smoke might not be
as effective as they think it is and both get punished for the risk taken.
Hero AK47 on PR and fast play towards the B bomb site.
Oh, well, if you guess I'm a house-wheel. Exactly. A bit better sposs than that for sure.
And I mean, I think game religion was like they were gonna commit to that but
when that kill comes out so easy and so free, ever taking any damage back off
again. Now you can spread the defense out. So this hero AK-47 on PR can be a
little bit more effective because the defense is going to be scrambling to see
exactly how they want to position. So you've got some room to work with elsewhere
on the map.
All the way out towards Long they go. The A-bomb site at the moment just
populated by one defender. It's Peria. He's going to be jumping over the APC,
jumping over dice boxes to try and find information. Big Yuzera snow and safe
stuck defending the B bombsite committed to it. They haven't moved yet. And off
that shot you start seeing Big Yuzera slide back but even Piria kind of
calling them off. So between two mines at the moment but Big Yuzera is going to
commit. Nice kill from safe and that's going to move the A attack forward. Piria
stepping up over the top of the stairway. A shot back from PR. A 3v3 somehow
game-religion competitive in this round. If that plant comes through it's got to be
Bigger Zara snowing safe to recover the round and Rez's Deagle rings out bigger Zara dad
That might be it and that might be it but snowing decides this fight is still on because PR offers up his life as the AK player as well
It's all of a sudden just Rez's Deagle that's worth talking about
Hypex step forward just a glock trying to keep them distracted trying to keep them back and it gets one off
But it's gonna be Rez
Rez's Deagle enters the feed
already in deed and a big round for game of leeching and needed that one because their life was running out in this first half
Well, that's the way
That's where one of the Seattle res all the talk about how well his years been going that's a disgusting round with the deagle
And he saves the misplay from PR who gets aggressive when you don't need to but look at these deagle shots
Lovely stuff here to give you some extra space
This one is so nice in the 1v2 and saves already been deep up and put a little bit low and clean up with the deague and
And Gamer Legion stats around the way with pistols.
Making it even. Pain won a low by round earlier.
So Rez just returning to favor.
Also in a position where he's trying to stop any period flank as they're trying to go more so this time.
Smoke fade, smoke fade. Who's quicker?
It's gonna be taken down, Hypex opens up the chance, now the charge comes in,
Gaming Legion, sending their forces into the B bomb site.
Smokes are up, keeping Payne alive for now.
Binding crucial seconds to position themselves ready to defend the site for the utilities coming in.
It's making it tough to stand for BSM.
He's removed, but Smoke filters in, replenishes the same position, and gets a headshot for his troubles.
Oh, he's been creative, he's causing chaos though as well.
Not dropping back behind the bomb site, playing within the smoke.
I don't know if Gamer League is going to be ready for it.
They might even be forced back four on three,
but that B bomb site does not feel comfortable.
No, the reset at least gives them the advantage
and they're able to hold it.
And now they're looking for the reaction.
So Rez is going to push up through middle
all the way up to this A site.
Actually, they might hear these footsteps as well.
They definitely hear the Nade.
So it's going to force the defense to make a position.
Rez is actually the only one.
He wants to make them second-guess the entrenchment
at the B bomb site.
And one kill would do it.
Spots the information.
It's forced Snow to back off and play a bit more passive,
which leaves Pirae on his lonesome.
Nobody spots Pirae, knows he's right there,
but yet to pull the trigger.
Biting his time until the perfect moment,
they move in with a plant, Pirae steps forward,
high-packs, and it will get him, so Pirae knows again!
Pirae, the two, stole the other,
and rises to last remaining number,
they know he's coming from the A site,
and Pirae has got him as well.
A 3k from Pirae, 20 and 6 right now.
An unbelievable performance in the first map
in this quarter-final.
Yeah, God tier, from the newest addition to this pain gaming roster.
How impressive he's been.
Such a good job so far in Atlanta and in these quarterfinals.
He's got them started with the ace in the pistol, and this is a big time round.
Again, just a small miss detail for Gamer Legion.
They have never pushed forward during all that chaos.
Pain's defense have prevented them from clearing the safety behind the bomb site, finding that.
And Peri has just been the dagger.
So impactful.
This is like the third round he saved for Payne.
Oh, frustrating moments here for Gamer Legion in this first half,
but they've already got five T rounds, right?
A chance for six as they come into this next one.
It isn't going to look pretty.
You've got Mat10s on two players, Snaks and Taliesin,
a tech dive for Hypex, a Khalil for PR, and luckily an AK47 for Ryze.
So Payne are in the better position here to try and get a seven to five lead
going into that second half.
Well, I think the trouble for me is Gamer Legion has done a really good job
when they spread this map out wide when they make this defense move when they get an opening kill and force the decision now
You're playing with the tech 9 to Mac 10s a galil
An AK-47 on red so you're gonna stay more grouped up in this round
And I think that's been the lesser effective rounds on the T side for game religion, but it's all they've got
Yes, I'm gonna burn him out from the barrels, but he's still got that head shot snacks guys BSM going forward again
We're running out of bullets now need to be cleaner more economical with the right
It's now snow in this sight and big as that for the final kill a 7-5 lead from Payne
What a start from Peria. Is it enough to win that boy?
I
Well, Birria has been on this pain team for about five months.
Highest performing player for them here in Atlanta so far in this event.
Twenty and six to get them started in these quarterfinals with a seven to five lead.
A journeyman player, this is the best performance he'll have had in a team.
Finding his comfort zone and giving a pain leading into the second half.
Gamer Legion still struggling to find themselves here on this opening map.
A very small deficit as they switch to the defensive side and we'll see what they can do.
Now we'll hear it starting the first half with an ace in the base hole, hoping for similar success here as they switch to the T side.
So Gamer Legion going here, got Joe Bronez out for Telsen, made for snacks, a flash, or for high packs.
This would be a devastating map loss for Gamer Legion. Their map picks, 67% win rate for them, 17% for Pain.
This would be a huge upset, a huge steal if Pain can complete this good form that they've had.
This surround goes a long way for the T side of Overpass.
Yeah, it's going to be solo Red's here. You know, he's not got any teammates with him.
He was just looking to detect information early, but now starts the back off towards Batten.
Yeah, and Hypex ships over, Snacks even backs off the B bomb side a little bit to set up with Utility.
so we can have a fast rotation between the bombsite.
Gayrelige is still pretty tentative on the map,
still trying to figure out what's coming,
still haven't spotted anything towards this A bomb site,
but by the time they do,
Rez is going to be stuck in this close-up fight against the Glocks.
Rez, Hypex, and Snacks to defend.
Hypex taking a lot of damage on board.
on board, it's Rice and Peria trading blow-for-blow.
Stanks waits a truck.
Stanks fights Kevin this way, just trying
to get away with one headshot, but hasn't been able to collect it.
And you see Payne's starting to back away.
Yeah, I'm surprised by this.
I think the problem is they didn't really
get a push into the bomb site with their initial salvo
of utility, so I think they're a little bit nervous.
They don't have anything followed up.
So now they're just going to go quiet,
little bit of news made towards the B bomb site,
just a footstep, just to give that inkling that they're
coming back.
And now the only defender is low HP highbacks.
But they're missing the window of opportunity
to re-aggress. Gamerleach is starting to move around the map and figure this out.
Yeah, gathering the information, realizing it's quiet elsewhere.
Payne have to commit into the ace side to close this one out, but
it's such a limited time to do it now, and here comes the flank.
This time, from Gamerleach, but Towson is unable to do anything.
With it, he's taken down, Peria again with impact. It's just high-packs,
and he has to pull off something special here, and he just can't do it.
Safe to put him in the ground, and a pistol round for Payne.
Both of them now picked up.
Yeah, Peria's not slowing down. Triple kill for him in the pistol.
Hypex there, that would have been a miraculous clutch to win in the 1v2 with low health,
but he's already won a number in the first half, and I think that's one of the scary things for Gamer Legion is,
yeah, five rounds, we normally say that's great, and the T-side, so many of those powered by Hypex clutches, right?
Some huge ones, a 1v1, a 1v2, later on in the half as well.
And he feels like almost on some level there's some artificial inflation of that Gamer Legion scoreline.
Gonna try to recover in the second round, turn it back, scout in the hands of Hypex,
MP7 and MP9 picked up upgraded pistols.
So GamerLegions here in round 14 to fight.
Yes, GamerLegions map pick.
You can see this and go to Nuke.
Pain would be feeling fantastic about their chances of seeing a semi-final.
His boost deployed. PR up on top of his teammate's head. He's going to hear the steps.
Pull the trigger now, holds down mouse 1, gets VSM and backs away with the advantage for Game Religion.
Okay, a little bit of information though if you're the Game Religion defensive team.
Yeah, there you go. Snow sliding into a shot. Two players boosts, it gives that information a pain,
but losing a player as they try and take advantage of resources on the other side of the map.
We're back into a four on four.
And IPEX has missed the cross of long.
Safe has made it safely to the right side.
Snow positions himself just on the reverse side of Defyder.
You now got snacks signed to peek on a timing and it hasn't worked out at all.
They've lost snacks and they've lost the advantage.
It's now Payne moving to the A site.
Now you're going to be smoked off as well, your scout even has to give up the bombsite.
So it's all about saving now for Talcent, PR, and Hypex.
No chance of winning this round.
They just slowly move up closer and closer and take away all your options to fight.
Good kills and good utility in place.
So a ninth round for Pain.
And whatever more they can take away from Gamer Legion.
It's tough for game religion not to catch or break it, but they surround or even the
force by here which is just going to give Payne the perfect start to the half they were
looking for.
Yeah, even safe is kind of pushing up to try and take a weapon away and he might get there
in time.
Hypex is backing off slowly, slowly, but safe is clearing out these angles and they could
meet right at the end.
Nightfowl, there's the shot with the scout, there's no way he's letting you get away.
Sakes going to turn this corner, final kill, and Gamer Legion have all the weapons ripped away.
No chance of bringing resources forward into the next round.
And it's got to be one where you sit back on just pistols, and now Gamer Legion starting to feel a bit of despair for the first time in this map.
I don't have anything to really fight back with here. You know got a deagle out for PR 5-7s on
3 plus, hypex and a civil over of cash because he knows he has to get you up as soon as he can.
10-5 the most likely outcome with the next more minute and 40 seconds here.
because they were clearing out the con, no one home.
Sprite out across the map for paint.
Just letting Big Azera work.
Snacks does have a flash to try and activate his teammates at bathroom once they make contact, but
regardless, it's gonna take something out of reds because the USP you can't imagine it doing anything here.
Yeah, only if they're only that flashbang is the god flash. It keeps everyone blind. Well, there it was used.
Nobody was home, so they missed that opportunity for the little setup.
Pange is playing this so passively that it's hard for Gamer League to get a read of when they're stepping into the zone for the trap.
They're looking at spawn, it's no season one in bathrooms.
Good amount of team damage on towards safe, but it's all good, they'll back away.
They don't like what that looks like.
That's the kind of implication that there's a few more players around, and now safe has fallen.
Oh, here he is. He has two more picked up.
An attack towards the head of Snow.
He put on a pressure here, trying to get away.
He don't want to give up the adaches they hold
because he had VSM help out towards Water to help him out
and worked out well.
Res on the hunt. Ball plastic.
Just working together making sure this is very uncomfortable here for game allegiance.
Snow takes the attack from that 5-7 down to 1 HP at the tail end
and he's going to be finished off. Res was ready for it.
They can actually go for this. There's still time in the bomb timer if they want to push forward and try and make a miracle happen
Res might just be happy to take the rifle into the next round and I maybe they missed the opportunity. So now about exit kills
Yeah, well PR is in a spot to do that
Watch him now. Deagle shots good
Now they're too much to ask of it here is I you're just not gonna beat him right now 28 kills for Peria
That's crazy, no 3k for a period just adding his multi-killers piling them up, it's...
We're going into round 16, he has 28 kills, it's just insane the level he's at right now.
I still can't really snorst all the way to his second AC.
Yeah I know right, he's probably can't believe that at the moment as well.
Really cool, we're seeing a time out coming from Gamer Legion.
5-10, their own map pick, feeling desperate, pain starting to beat them up around the map.
T-Side starting to develop quite nicely, but this will be the first big test in Gamer Legion into this first gun round.
first gun round. This is where they took control in the first half and went on a
little bit of a streak was right when the guns came out. They're thinking the
same thing here in the second half and they need it if they want a shot at
staying in it. They want a shot at taking this map coming back and
reversing their fortunes. It has to start here. So Hypex is gonna have the AWP, M4s
and utility around it. But Gamer Legion has got a sense in this moment. They
don't have too many chances with this score line to get their half started.
It's taking their time.
Okay, gaming moving past fountain scope up to save looking towards the back
Passive game religion on this setup right now
There's so much of the map to work with if you're paying
Now the game religion wants to mix too much into the playbook with those aggressive pushes until I've got some money behind them until
They have some confidence they can replenish the weapons and utility they need
So up towards long feels like the first point of contact rice is gonna be short
He's taking down by Snow. Snow looking for the follow-up. He's not alone, but he doesn't need any help because he's got that second kill for Payne.
And the confidence of the AWP provided. Covering those hookings there. The knockout blow. No resistance from Gamer Legion.
This is insane. Payne are looking so good. There's a Snow going down to 1 HP again, but he just goes into the open. He takes two kills along.
And you know, there's a certain feeling that Game & Legion are eventually going to get into it.
Just with how many times you've seen good CT sides of them on Overpass.
But they had no chance in this one.
Yeah, I mean, it's a brilliant first kill from Snow on to Rez,
but then the willingness to follow up the next fight.
He didn't shy away and tuck in.
He kept swinging a little bit of wider, forcing that fight to happen,
allowing safe to get an angle with the AWP.
He finds a second kill.
And he even knew the position of the third player for Big U's error to come in and grab his headshot.
So just a brutal, ruthless round that GamerLegion had no chance in once the fight's begun.
For Peria, this is the most kills he's had in a landmatch in two years.
Great time to have it.
have it. It's a lovely time to have it to get the team started quarter finals as well as you're
looking to make a deep run in these playoffs and get a little bit of confidence for your team heading
into the major. Yeah certainly the the attitude I'm on the Counter Strike community is going to
change around playing with the way they're playing at the moment right. I don't think many people
were super excited to see them return. We didn't know what to expect from them and come out and
give us a taste of what's to come and it's great to see this. Look at that get to map point now
Now in the opponent's map, Pink.
Bepuria waiting in the tunnel, PR, and he gets towards him.
Bepuria's got that kill and opening onto PR.
The aggressive play on his own has not worked out at all.
Advantage for Payne.
They're so comfortable in knowing what's coming.
He backs off after that initial information.
GamerLegion probably worried about the presence over
ensuring the possibility of a sandbags attack.
Dude, if it wasn't for some high-packs clutches,
this would be a complete warm-way street.
Yeah, it'd just be a stopping at this point.
Might even be over already.
If he gets a shot off, can maybe tag him to make it awkward to clear Rez's position.
Could kill from Snacks. How does Snow play this now?
Yeah, because if he opens Snacks, makes it back safely.
Rez able to make it work, also Snow needs another one.
And he peeks out a second kill from Rez from Divider.
Look at Safe.
What a second kill! That's the kill!
He opens up the B site, period!
No one in the joining.
Just enough time to get in and get that bomb planted.
Taliesin feels like he's really given one away.
That's the escape route by Safe.
Up in position, Hypex is here with his in heaven.
There's a kid on Snacks as he makes his way out.
Oh, it was safe around the back.
Snacks is gonna die safe again.
It's gonna be Hypex again.
We just talked about his clutches earlier in the first half.
They haven't led too much,
but perhaps you can get another one here.
The last lifeline, but safe is right there.
Atmonster safe with a master class in this round.
Opens up the fallback plan and makes sure it's the round win.
What a huge round for safe.
We mentioned how impressive it's been. This is his first officials back in such a long time joining this team.
Stepping in like no time has been missed.
Unbelievable triple kill in this round. Opening up the escape route into the B bomb site when they encounter issues on the other side of the map and sealing the round as well.
Beautiful performance.
And in that round as well, Peria hits his 30 kills in regulation.
Cowering Payne, a 7 round lead and 7 chances to close out this first map.
Stepped into it with a 17% win rate.
Gamer Legion choosing it as a punished pick due to the weakness.
But that weakness has been absent.
Payne have come in with the game plan and executed perfectly and Gamer Legion look like they're
three steps behind.
Three steps behind on their own map selection.
This is incredible to see what pain
are capable of pulling off the moment.
There is steps up.
There's a man to really open things up in the first round
of the play here.
He's looking to be a man that can close this.
That's in the water.
The position to get early.
Biggie Zera has the bomb over towards the B-Bomb site
already right out of the opening.
And that can obviously rotate back at any point.
But with that starting in that part, such a large map, you feel like it's going to be the ending point.
So it's nice that Rez is able to control the middle of the map.
Rez coming back into the 5-period, spams away through the wall, let's hit kill on Rez.
He'll get away. Over 30 kills now, high-packs and snacks.
Really important that the poles combine to get two kills here.
To put Gamelidge into the advances, but Big O'Zara on the hunt, gets the headshot on PR.
Under a minute left, still working difficult in this round for Payne, but not impossible.
I don't think Big Yuzera feels like he can do a hard clue to the right. I think he senses the positioning, right?
So that smoke is going to make Towson very, very nervous, but I believe Big Yuzera is going to try and just disappear.
So, Peiria, how long does he run? I believe Snax is hearing these footsteps.
Hypex is shifting over, but they're trying to connect Peiria at the B bombsite with Big Yuzera, so his idea is to flank.
Highback swings out, but Perrier's got the headshot.
Highback's gone. Numbers even. Snatch to drop, Perrier.
The Snatch realized what he was doing. The Snatch realized that he was trying to push CT spawn to meet up with Biggie Xera.
His Towson estate put over in Graffiti.
Well, there's such limited time now, right? You're at the 15 second mark as Biggie Xera arrives at the monster tunnel.
You'll go, you'll clear right, you'll look up to the left side of the site, but no one offering him a clean chance.
They fall back, tells him from Graffiti, confirms the kill.
And another round will be played.
David Litch is staying alive.
A nice idea, almost able to connect the pieces.
Good job from Snacks being aggressive
and making sure that flank can't actually happen.
Saves the round.
If he was able to slip into that smoke,
there would have been a really tough defense
a 1v2 at that B bomb site.
I backed with the opening kill.
This is the one that really made things difficult.
No control towards the A bomb site, made it desperate,
Made it so Piriah had to try and make the miraculous play.
Round 19, Gamer League and Sailor just barely, and we run it back.
Oh, Nades towards the boost.
Snacks a magnet to them.
Losing over half of his health.
Fight Con, VSM.
Ducks out of it before the engagement even happens.
I feel like he's like, okay, once that fight and he's got it, I was going to say he's had a quiet game, 3-14, now got his fourth kill, that's a big one.
Early on, 5-on-4 now for Payne.
And any presence in the middle of the map to gather information for Gamer Legion is gone.
No rely on whatever PR can provide them.
PR trying to tap away onto VSM, which does a good job, not to overextend into the open and offer up his life.
Yeah, but now that he backs away, they're blind on the map, they have no idea what's happening.
So this is all about how long does it take for Hypex to spot this play out towards Long A.
That'll be the first indication they have.
And that'll force Snaks and PR. One of them will have to shift and rotate.
But if he goes down first...
Ooh.
Don't jump again. Don't give that chance on over.
Game of the Legion, a player down. Low on health on Snaks.
You see that utility stuck to fly through the sky towards this A-Ball site.
Game making it clear.
to which site they would like to close this map.
Flash is going forward, now into the play, it's snow wrapping around the back of the dice box.
PR Jen looking for the follow-up, but Hypex has somehow kept his team in it's next,
who shots forward, Hypex again.
A 2v2, it's game religion, neither survive here and now, and it's Hypex.
One small being the player to deliver the impact.
There's no kit, there's no smoke.
But who else to close the map, but Peria.
With the kind of performance he's been having,
It would be a poetic finish from period junior to win this one out goes on to the open
high packs down.
Period junior a journeyman player finally made his promotion to the senior squads and
now plays on the stage.
Look at the man, he's composure to close it and he has won it.
No kill, Telstra, period.
It's the man to roll things out and will be paying him in to take map one of the quarter
Gamblee just map-picked and they get destroyed.
33 kills from Peria.
An incredible performance.
He's got them started on the right foot.
That's one map-up for pain gaming in dominant fashion.
It doesn't matter what day you're joining us, this is the Intellitree Masters in Atlanta,
Georgia, 2026.
Mic check, one, two, one, two.
You play video games, man
So violent no reason. Hey, yo, what's up y'all anything about counter strike video games, you know about counter strike
I'm in the Georgia Tech fencing team. Tell me what crossroads there might be between counter strikes and fencing
You know counter strike here in a clutch situation. It's kind of the 1v1 situation of you and your opponent fencing
Just going in for the last stab or that last quick scope up
All right bet
That was that was good. What do y'all think about people playing video games against each other competitively?
Oh, I love it. I like the smack-talking they do.
Get back the hog, you're the talk man!
Who are your favorite Counter-Cauchy players?
I gotta go with an OG Kenny S.
What would you say to Kenny S if he was watching right now?
You're my inspiration. I think about you every match, but I'm tensed up.
What do you think about that?
Kenny S was never my favorite, if that's what you're thinking.
Y'all play video games by the chance?
Oh, he didn't even realize it. I mean, Jacob, when you rolled up here and you saw this mic
playing, you said, oh, I'm gonna bike a little bit faster now. What do you think?
I thought I might as well get as far as where it's possible from you as fast as I can
She had a blast on media day
I had a blast on media day so you did what?
You had blasted media day?
Just kidding
Bye
I'm by 2 now
Yeah?
They're all on him
I don't have a soul
They're all on him
He's gonna speak fast
I did this
Let's go
Let me see.
Good.
Seven.
Oh my god!
What the fuck are we doing?
What the fuck?
Nice Milan!
Holy shit.
We go close, huh?
And bottom.
Back on the back.
Ten feet, ten feet.
a couple of clutches, winning a lot of opening duels as well, and just in general, you know,
there's different ways where you can get to 30 plus kills in a game of Counter-Strike, right?
This is not one of those device-esque ways where you don't see the kills,
you don't really feel the impact.
He was dominating Gamer Legion from start to finish.
Every single round, 20 kills in that first half, and without that,
I'm not sure that the CT side would have had much to offer, really, from Pain,
that it felt like they were getting roadblocked and outgunned by some of the stars on Gamer Legion,
But then to think one of the playoff rookies the international playoff rookies on this team popped off that massively in his first map
This changes to the tone of the entire series 100%
I think we do need to dive into that first half there is a unit was saying much more of a competitive affair there
There was one round where there was a lot going on so I want you to break it down
Yeah, I feel there's one round that encapsulates everything we were talking about coming into the game
And that is round six that we can bring up for you guys on on the illustrator
We spoke about the trading game coming in for paying gaming and the lack of trade
Or sorry the other way around the lack of trading from pain and the trading game coming in for game a legion
As you can see in the radar just to start the run right here. You have period in underground all by himself
There's no teammate next to him. He's playing by himself and that's where the impact came from he obviously walks down
He finds the duel against resin as he did throughout them at the basket here of this game
He wins that duel so again relying on the individuals right here
You know wants to go for it then you have game a leading coming in very well prepared throwing two grenades towards snow
He survives that a third grenade and a molotov on snow as well somehow some way he survives with just a single HP
Then you walk into this be executed as well
You're down a man, but you still find the opening on towards BSM
You don't know snow is low on HP because here it gets caught off guard as well and game a legion slowly
But surely fighting their way into the round snow still a bit of an issue right here gets a single kill before he gets taken down
Went into a 2v2
Saffir gets the kill with the AWP and you can have a winnable scenario right here for
GamerLegion.
Unfortunately for PR he completely overextends with the bomb right here and then Hypex.
Fake plants gets the kill on towards safe, not quite sure what the guy in Heaven does
and what is reheard coming into this segment.
The teammate yelled, Heaven, Heaven, Heaven.
So it was actually not Hypex seeing him but it was the teammate.
I think this rounds encapsulates everything we saw.
We saw a well prepared GamerLegion, clear game plan, good utility usage, they really
had to fight for their rounds but the biggest issue they had in this game was Perrier.
When you have a game like that, it doesn't matter how well prepared you are, it doesn't
matter what kind of strategies you're throwing at your opponents, it doesn't matter how many
times you're mating, snow, forcing them out of position.
When period is frowning impact, every single round, even a well-prepared game, or even
can't do much.
Even if statistically you're looking at this game, you're trying to anti-strat a pain,
you would actually want to target that B bomb site fairly frequently, but you can't only
do that.
If you do so, those eight players will start to lean over, there'll be cheated rotations,
there'll be more aggressive moves made by pain, because those players typically do struggle
not be bombsite but they couldn't ever test the A side of things in the way
they wanted to to actually stretch the map out and then you look at the
scoreline right here right it's game religion T side all parts you're
leading 4 to 2 you win a massive round you're forcing the opposition into an
eco and then what happens first they lose the next round some way somehow no
should we need to re-roll it they lose the next round some some way somehow
right an unloosable round when you consider the economy and to me that
was the breaking point of game religion got us to such a good start showed that
they were road prepared. Look at his bite coming in. A couple of diggles, you know,
a couple of smokes, no armor whatsoever on two of the players. This is
unloosable, you mean. I mean, it's a very proactive move that's at least being made.
I mean, on a round like this, when there's nobody sort of aggressing on that
T-side. Guess who? Guess who? Yeah, you get to see Peria make a really ambitious
play, but they actually fully believe in the idea that he's catching the right
flank here. He could have flanked A, he could have made that choice if he wanted
to. They stall with Utilt, they don't swing for it, because I know Peria is
coming to crunch them on the other side.
So, yeah, this is one of those moments
where Game of Leading thought they had more of the map
to play with that could operate with multiple threats,
but sometimes all it takes is this one risk.
And I love the patience as well.
As you said, the stalling right here,
Game of Leading with the flash,
the way well aware the period is coming in from behind,
a lot of teams would fight,
a lot of teams would poke in that flash,
but they played calm, they played collective,
so as much as I want to give credit for Game of Leading
getting off to a good start
and showing that they were well prepared,
if anything, pain matched them in that department.
Should we just run the period highlights as well?
this is insane. Like we can't
overstate enough how much of an
incredible performance this is,
considering you me first big
land stage for him in an
international event. It would
have been totally acceptable if
he had a couple of shakes. I
mean, VSM is actually in a
similar position actually and
has maybe been more of a
journeyman throughout his
career, but period had such a
composure to him in the fights
that he was taking. It didn't
seem like he was nervous at all
and he was sort of basking in
the moment because I mean, he
started off the game with nine
pistol and then he moved into the second round and he got four more so I guess if
anything is gonna get you fired up it's probably that hot of a start. That's the
cool thing about it right because you often see players get off to a hot start
you know maybe having a great pistol around you know finding a couple of
kills in the first couple of say rounds but then they they slow down you know the
Diva would get into the game they'll they'll have less and less impact he
just kept on doing it very last round as well and as you said for a ride he's the
one winning a 1v2 and closing it out from the beginning so. He plays that so nicely, he plays a show.
you know, with calm, he's composed. He's very well aware of what he needs to do in order
to optimize his chances of winning the rounds. And to me, that's equally impressive. One thing
is the aiming. Another one is the decision making for Piria in this one. Then put a foot
wrong. And I think this is part of why they made the acquisitions they did in Piria and
VSM. They wanted people that had actually been through the trenches in the South American
region that actually had to call their own number a lot. And to an extent, card carry
their teams for the fact that they're able to make those moves, probably just in actually
reinstills them with confidence that it works out so early. They didn't lose any of these
ridiculously silly rounds. Maybe the 1v2 you could excuse in some respects, but the fact
that they kept on pushing with that, those rookies would typically crumble if you didn't
make these massive mistakes because then you know Biguzera is breathing down your neck
for the rounds to follow.
Let's just contextualize this as well. This was Game of Legends, Matt Pick, right? We
heard Biguzera saying some pretty big words prior to coming into this particular series
saying I feel like we have the
up and over past now we move
on to new can you give me some
logic you mean as to why they
might have chosen this map. They
have in their last what I think
coming into the tournament is
coming into this year they have
played it on an international
stage against other teams within
the top 50 now. You know that
that is quite a large range you
play some South American teams
in there as well but
internationally they have
actually found success on this
map they've taken. I believe if
I'm not mistaken they beat Aurora
on this map. That's one of those situations that they do feel confident in the style that they play,
but it is an unconventional style to most nukes that you'll ever see.
It's also historically speaking a map where Picocero loves to call, loves to put himself in the
center of the situation and I think when you bring in a stand-in like safe as well, you've got to
make sure that you bring a map where the rest of the team is very comfortable, the rest of the team
doesn't have to stress about their role, which makes the implications of having a stand-in with
you less significant. So I think it's a map where NQC, the way he plays the Orbis World,
is somewhat equal to the way safe is playing, not that aggressive on the T side, not that aggressive on the CT side,
but you just got to make sure you hold up to your own.
So in terms of mitigating for the fact you're playing with a stand-in, you're picking a map you're comfortable on yourself,
which makes the implications of having a stand-in less significant.
Where does that leave game a legion?
Well, I mean, game a legion can also play the map. You know, we've seen that.
It's not a punished pick against game a legion. It's more so a pick the pain at doing to make sure they're comfortable themselves.
So I'm not too worried in regards of whether or not we're going to have a comfortable game.
I've seen PR do a lot of good stuff in this tournament as well.
Janko had an around that he brought up as well a few times where he likes to dive into the vents and like to create that
Kersen and apply pressure early on and that's kind of the gamer leading I want to see.
Please don't stay away from the aggressive counter strike that we've seen so far.
Keep the pace as high as you can on a map like Nuke and then you got to make sure that PR is feeling it.
I think when he's in the entry department finding success on a map like Nuke,
that's when gamer leading are playing the best.
I talked about the style for Payne being a little unconventional.
They don't use flashes to set each other up.
this nuke is actually a map where you see them get into some very, very chaotic situations.
That's what they really try to do, especially on their T sides. It's just flash, get into
flanking positions and just really create this casted wide net that gives them a lot of options
later on, but also puts a lot of pressure on those pieces not to fumble any of those moments.
Well, pain come out. All guns are blazing on that T side of Overpass. That was indeed
Gamer legions Matt pick pains pick of nuke awaits after this break
You're gonna put that together!
Why are you doing this to me?
Say it for me you idiot!
The pounding hall of Easter, each of them here are calling each other.
Double Peep is getting shot down!
It's unbelievable!
Something special just happened.
There's two girls and that's also you and the actors.
And it's a...
We are back!
Hey guys can I interrupt you a little bit? How are you? What's your name?
Henry. Henry? MJ. MJ. Alright you're about to play Counter-Strike. Are you here
specifically for Counter-Strike? Are you enjoying that? Counter-Strike. We love
Counter-Strike. Alright are you watching the tournament as well when it's
on? We are, yeah. We're walking around now. Sorry? We're walking around because it's half
time. We're just chilling. What are you gonna be cheering for here during the weekend?
Well, I we were gonna go for phase, but we all know what happened to phase. We don't talk about that
Right now I talk about what happened to phase at all
Phase are out, but they're still the best teams coming in there's vitality
Are you gonna be just enjoying the best kind of strike that we can get in Atlanta after a long long time?
I think I'm cheering for vitality right now for sure. Yeah, so we are swapping jerseys mids tournament
I guess so, yeah.
I mean, that's great.
I don't want to take away much of your time.
You're clearly warming up to beat vitality, right?
Hell, yeah.
And yeah, take away and enjoy the game.
Thank you for having me.
Bye-bye.
Can I ask you before you join the game?
Hey, what's up?
What's your name?
My name's Harrison.
How are you doing?
Yeah, how are you doing?
You know actually my name before I introduce myself.
First of course, I know you, man.
You're a legend, legend, legend, legend.
How are you doing?
I appreciate it.
I'm doing really good.
i'm enjoying some contract here but i want to ask as well are you about to
get into the game you're here to watch the tournament or i came here i came
here to play both i played both both the tournament and the game tournament
tournament and then also playing the game as well
what are you for a reason
honestly i don't i don't like my tauti too much so we're doing now we will do
not be not be not be really good mccasey you know mccasey's in really good form
lately
but i don't know zewoo zewoo's is too good right now is too good but i'll
cheer for now be
we gotta nerve them some more right
We gotta make them nervous, we gotta get crazy in the crowd, okay?
Crazy, we gotta get crazy.
Everyone cheering for Vitality.
I feel like this is kind of a thing that is, you know, we're cheering for the favorites,
but right now you're against the crowds.
No, really?
Everybody says Vitality over here?
So far.
So what I asked is Vitality.
No, it's too much.
It's too much.
They're dominating.
They're dominating, you know?
There's no other word to describe it.
I want the underdogs to win.
I want somebody to have a reason to go crazy over here, you know?
All right.
It makes complete sense.
Enjoying this for the whole weekend. Are you here with friends? Are you here by yourself?
Yeah, it's my team right here
We have a full team over here full full team of five over here, so we're having a great time this weekend
Should be a lot of counters strike a lot of fun this weekend. They're about to join the game
So don't don't let it myself to lose you that evil. So I'm not distracting you. I'm not distracting anymore. Yeah, see you
Yeah, this is I am Atlanta. See you on the stream
Does your moisturizer suit your narrative?
Why should age determine expectation?
Save your skin with the all-new potential.
A skin care range my friends found.
Potential defends against the four symptoms of underachieve.
Why be a future star for just a year when you can be a future star forever?
to the end of the game, but
welcome back to the talk.
Stream masters at land. All
things were peachy on that
first map for paying gaming.
They're now one map up in the
quarter finals. Game religions
They've been showing us over the last few weeks a good run in Fort Worth a great run here in Atlanta
But it's been so disappointing so far for them from that first map with play
Yeah for a team that has so many players performing well for them
Really that first map was all about fightbacks and the clutches he provided them to keep them alive on the other side of it
It was Pyrrhea for paying his best map performance in over a year and a half an absolute master class 33 kills for Pyrrhea
was a beast and now we're going to see what they can do on Nuke. It's their
map pick after stealing away Gamer Legion's overpass. On Nuke they'll be
starting on the attacking side but hopefully it's underdog surprising team
surprising runs they're having. It continues here but for Gamer Legion the
end is at the end of this map if they cannot show up. So all the pressure
falls on them to deliver what we know they can deliver on the stage here in
Atlanta and Penn stands against them looking towards the semifinals.
Camelige in versus Payne, map number two of the quarterfinals here in Atlanta.
We're heading into Newt. Payne would be so good at these pizzeras. Thanks to Peria.
We're going to try and continue that as well. We know how important that T-side pistol on Newt can be.
They've won every one of them so far in the series after that first map.
So, P250 Alphers safe, some mates here for snow.
Let's see what kind of call Paine has.
Yeah, both these teams are, oh, hang on,
this loo is looking a little bit quick, period.
Getting up to the door very fast.
Both these teams gonna be good on Nuke, effective on Nuke.
So, Paine's gonna have a lot of confidence taking it here,
knowing that Gamer Legion can deliver
a good quality counter strike on this map as well.
Just confident in their own ability to overcome it.
And why wouldn't you be after the first map performance?
Smoke outside to help across Flashbang as well
to get the P250 in place.
wants to take some duels and crosses towards secret.
We got Talcid up on top of the Raptors,
first player going into the site, he spots them.
PR Talcid off to a great start here for Gameligian,
and Piriah alone.
He has picked up a kill at least,
the only kill of this pistol for playing gaming
will be found off of him.
The much better hit from Gameligian,
coming out with a better start.
Yeah, very, very clean.
That hit really had no strength to it,
no power to it, all the opening kills going the way
They have Gamer Legion and stops that cold.
No space opened up in the upper bomb site.
So, pissed around for Gamer Legion,
a luxury they didn't have on the opening map.
And on the CT side, Nuke,
get a start with the economic advantage
and see how far they can take that.
No opening kills provided,
it was just a matter of time before Towson
punished them from the Raptors.
A lovely round.
And without a bomb plant, without very many kills,
pain stick on Glocks.
Yeah, it should be nice and easy for Demolition to get a 2-0 start here.
There's a number of moments in that first half of Overpass where you thought Hypex's
clutches might just ignite Demolition, but it was always a pain finding the answer, finding
the way to stifle that foot, kept going.
Well, nobody ever stepped up next to Hypex.
Normally, that conversation is like, alright, these clutches are keeping this team in this
game, keeping them alive as long as humanly possible for somebody else to kind of wake
up and help provide impact but no one from Game Religion actually got into any kind of
a groove on Overpass where they could provide impact early on in the rounds. It was just
all those clutches.
Alright, thanks. Just waits all towards the bottom of hell. He's taking himself just
one. It's in the wild to get that kill in LPR. Uh oh! This is badly played from Game
Religion. Yeah, very much so. Nathan and Kanat should get one more kill. Thankfully with
with only the pistols and unarmored pistols at that.
Nothing that Payne has to follow up
taking ramp room in the kills there.
Big use there, it's a matter of time.
Yeah, but that just feels like a wake-up call, right?
But the fact of how badly that was played,
you see P.O.R. very frustrated, almost shocked
that hopefully that was played,
as he backed into his chair.
Now, they're just hoping they're not gonna get
punished fully by it.
Snow has got himself into the 1v2 clutch,
puts that bomb down as well.
So really a lot picked up here for Payne,
and around that really should meant nothing.
It's got snacks now peeking out, snow.
He pushed him, double doors,
Talcine comes in and cleans him up,
but Gamelitsyn losing three players,
conceding a bomb plant and giving Payne a heap of cash.
Yeah, you're dead on that.
I mean, you're looking down the line as the two ramp players
and you're just telling everyone,
that's all about it, it won't happen again.
But that one certainly will shake you.
The ramp is taken so easily,
two for two trade against unarmored pistols against Glocks.
And you feel really bad about the third kill that comes out
and the ensuing bomb plant as well.
So great job from Snow, great job from Payne to get in and get as much resources as you can.
First gun round is underway.
AK-47s for Payne, full sets of utility.
No all-out yet for Hypex and Gamer Legion's defense.
DSM individually going to be looking for a better map.
We know Nuke can be a comfortable ground for him.
He's gonna be looking over the top of silo trying to challenge snacks and he's got that opening kill in favor of pain
Good start for BSM. He had that slow quiet overpass wasn't needed whatsoever in the victory
But this is a nice opening kill to find first gun round
He's given a five on four and taking out some aggressive outside stances. He joins up with snow on the ground
Although smoke stuck to come in from pain now as well
Constructed a wall outside
The NAVE will land and disrupt that sea of clouds and we've got high tanks tapping away
all towards snow.
There are company defenders around here for Gamer Legion.
Three players here and a four versus five.
Even Taliesin is playing like head in area ready to react outside so I mean Gamer Legion
very nervous about any kind of yard play.
It's making the bomb site defenses weak.
So weak.
Now Taliesin stepping out a little bit more he's going to have to send down into the
site. Go ahead and challenge BSM, but it's period to get that all important trade. There's another
player at the back of the sub, but period is ready. Hitex is tucked behind the box though,
just in time. Snow comes out, nearly transfers out towards Heaven, but a 2v2 off the back,
but it's safe. It's dropped down into the lower bomb site. Yeah, gives Snow,
and he's going to have a tough time. Low HP, but he's got to figure out how to have impact.
What's the cutoff? The rotation. PR knows the possibility. One slip down, and now Snow becomes
the flanker. And one does he decide to go. He's waiting, waiting for rise and
Snow's patience is paid off. It's all off PR. He's got no kid on his back nor any
utility. It's gonna be an almost impossible clutch to win if it's played
well by the two remaining players here of pain. You've got Snow out towards
Deacon. He'll play first with a low health. And safe is at the double door. So
that's the tap. The flash comes in. PR, when do they push him? What's
for him and yeah there's no reason to he's not on it he's not on that stick and they will not
commit themselves into any fight there's no chance for PR to win it pain have picked up their first
come round yeah really what a great performance as well fighting all the kills necessary and when
things got scrappy and that upper bomb site what a great decision to just drop down the vent's
bailout plan B nobody home downstairs so you add that into the three kills that were had previously
with Glock's in the last round, and the money for Game of Legends is in a horrifying place.
They're taking a very hard reset early on, heading into round 4,
and at time out to discuss how they want to handle the situation, they still have the M4 on PR,
so one weapon is there, and making the decision now if they want to replenish some weapons behind that,
or save their money and fight a little bit further down the road.
Not a situation you want to be in this early on the CT side, especially out of that pissed-around victory, but it's the consequences of a poor round two in this half.
And Gamer Legion shove all in, buy up everything they can, high-packs with a second and four, five-sevens in utility on Snacks, Towson and Rez.
A very important round for both teams. Both low on economy, low on money.
Well, neared up towards silo, VSM backing away from those two grenades that brought to the damage, not connecting towards him.
You know, PR pushed up in ramp.
A little bit more of an advanced position.
You can play with snacks. You can take the initial attention on the weaker gun.
And Talsen has moved into what's hot.
Looks like they want to set up a lobby crunch in the mid-round.
If they don't see any activity, if they're just kind of waiting and standing back on their heels,
it feels like they've got pistols ready to push hot.
They've got rifles ready to be aggressive with snacks over towards radio.
And here it comes.
And big of Zara into the peak.
Spots out all the players that are here.
players that are here. That's information given over a period somehow walking away with both of those kills. Snow and
BSM have the others. Pain are looking incredible on the individual front, especially period.
Yeah, that's that feels like where most of this game is being won at the moment. They're
tactically behind Gamer Legion in any sense, but just individually that is an advantage that Pain has
had in map one. And you're seeing some of it still there in map two. Gamer Legion, they just get pushed
to side after winning the pistol. Pain don't care. Reset them early on.
And Big Ezeridh knows that he's dropped down to the Mach 10 to form up some easy kills.
This round, speaking of easy, should be absolutely no problem for Pain. They're going to take the lead.
And they're doing this without the pistol round win, right? They're doing this without that great start
So the fact you're doing the happy lifting of physical rounds is even more impressive here for pain
Making something with this G-side
And also making you know game religion look flat so far on these first two maps of play
You know like just kind of disrupting everything they've done so well throughout this event
Remember game religion coming into this with you know a big win over liquid to eliminate them big win over Astralis to eliminate them
a loss to Navi, but a very close affair where they had their chances to win that series, losing the third map 13-11.
We've seen a lot of good things and a lot of good performances, but here in the playoffs at Atlanta,
Payne's at least neutered some of those strengths that they showed throughout the group stage.
A very quiet walk to secret down the stairs. Nobody from Game Religion has any idea this is happening.
Not a footstep was made.
Big use error leading to Mach 10, in case there's a trap, the AKs can follow it up for trades,
but the stack is at the upper bomb site.
So this will be a third round for Pain.
And Gamer Legion gonna look to find a few gifts at the end of the day.
Perius actually put himself in a situation where, all on his own, isolated.
That AK-47 would be a tasty prospect for Gamer Legion.
Now, under the open, two kills picked up quickly for Perius.
No real threats coming his way.
the corner, clears out snacks, and marches forward. So, three to two, a great lead for a pain to be carving out for themselves, especially having the ideal start.
Yeah, they are laser focused pain, doesn't feel like they're dropping the ball once. As I say that, missed opportunity, VSM just takes attention his way.
They wanted the double peeking towards lobby to save period, and now that's two AK-47 saved. Not a disaster, but some free gifts over to the gamer legion defense.
and Big Yuzera is going to do his best to hunt them down.
Yeah, he makes some money on this Mac 10 as well.
He's flying over the top of the Intel, sending good spots.
Oh, should have been able to handle Big Yuzera.
He should have been able to handle him, but...
Somehow Big Yuzera has won that fight, descending down from the roof.
I think you'll be relatively pleased as Gamer Legion will get in one AK-47 out of the mix.
You're always going to be happy about that one.
It's an extra cash that you can build up for later on as well.
So Hypex has passed the AWP by PR because he has that AK-47 from previously, saves him some money.
but yet again in a deficit on the scoreboard two to three as the guns come
back out
all on both sides. Kamek's getting a go on the defense here with your PR gonna be
keeping that AK-47 he hung on to in the previous round. Kamek's searching outside
for what would be the opening kill of the round he hasn't been able to spot
anybody though. Yeah, Snow's playing a super passive just wanted to see if there
was gonna be aggression if anyone is pushing the red box pushing even deeper
than that. A little bit of a fake going to be thrown outside for snow, but we can see
utility towards the upper bomb site, so they want to make it feel like a couple things.
They say we're either going to go outside or we're going to go through hut. We're actually
going ramp, but Hypex is ready. Yeah, he's got himself in the right spot to try and deal
with this. He is here as well along the wall. A strong setup. This was the setup earlier
that broke apart in that second round and inflicted so much damage upon them, but it's
much strong girl though.
Hyfex gets caught with a flash in the open.
He gets around the corner just in time.
So now Payne forced to look for a different answer,
but look at this.
PR is starting to move forward,
pushing into the ramp, attempting a flank.
Yeah, they don't have the manpower to watch the flank,
so PR is taking a risk, but he's gonna get the reward.
There's a nice shot.
That's Perius swinging out, and now,
I mean, Payne just boxed in nowhere to go.
No options available to him.
44 seconds, and it's two versus four.
We're going to walk through the smoke, it's the only play available there because already
it gets spotted by snacks taken down and you leave snow on low HP.
Walking into the lobby, Talcinoff the ladder gets in and it will be tied again so much
better here.
PR using the AK set in the previous round, the devastating effect and we've got a 3-2-3
scoreline with money, not in the greatest spot for pain but snow has 7.3 thousand so
we'll see what they decide to do.
I'd see a timeout from them to talk things over as well.
Yeah, it just comes in right now.
Have that conversation.
As you mentioned, snow 7,300, so he can drop an AK
as well as getting himself one.
So that'll be the question is how much does Paine
want to invest in this round to fight sitting at three,
tied with Gamer Legion?
I imagine the decision is going to be a year of AK-47
and everyone else kind of just chills a little bit.
Maybe some upgraded pistols, but no need to risk
your entire economy right now with another full buy
right around the corner.
Snow and Peria continuing good play from overpass, seven kills apiece leading the way for Pain.
On Gamer Legion, it's Towson and PR with seven and eight kills respectively, topping the scoreboard
for the defensive side.
Live into round seven.
But it is just the one hero AK and it's just sticking back on pistols for the rest of Pain.
So how much damage can snow cause?
Game Legion not giving them any aggressive looks.
Gathering information.
Well, Snax over towards secret, realizing there's no presence coming outside, but kind
of moved into the ramp room, and there's no one there, so they do actually have a full
free bomb site to go in through, so they flood in to be.
Yeah, a little oversight from Gamer Legion, I think they're going to be okay playing retake
on it.
They haven't really figured out what kind of a buy it is at the moment.
The AK rings out, so Plant should come in with the cover of Snow.
Needs this kill period, can't handle it with the P250.
Takes a while for Snacks to get the kill, but eventually picks it up.
There's this snow in the rafters getting taken down by Snacks.
They move into the retake, they'll handle the pistols, they'll handle the round, but...
Who payroll P2 disappointed? They get a bomb plant out of it.
And they're just gonna go down. So Biggs are out of there, game religion back into the lead of the game.
It's gonna be 4-3, but the fight's starting to get going, but here comes the challenge again.
Yeah, I think game religion there said we know it's gonna be we know they're gonna be by next round no matter what you know
They can have the bomb plan. Let's not lose the weapons. Let's prioritize our economy
Let's just play a really smart retake at the lower bomb site and around where they likely one of the resources for it
So game religion inch out to that lead once again four to three
No all for safe on the T side they've stayed away from picking that weapon up high packs has his
Tells him he's gonna be smoked away, trying to stop anybody from attempting to vent dive.
Piria has to backtrack, because the utility ended up deeper smoke layers on top.
He's blocking from Gamer Legion early, of course paying to burn a few seconds, he can
just come right back at it.
Snow's outside waiting and being patient, so I think he's going to eventually turn up and do an aggressive lurk position
when they start applying some pressure to the upper bomb site, maybe a pump fake on the execute,
maybe actually executing, but Snow is going to be patient,
wait to wrap around and eliminate some of the players retaking or flanking through Mini.
Yeah, he's going to punish if Snacks...
...fails to compete in this duel.
Start tapping shots towards Snow, they've got the information, so Snow no longer wants to stand in the spot.
It's about to be littered by utility.
It's a quick decision for Snow to change his position back and he'll start throwing utility towards where Snacks was standing.
PR's in big garage though so Snacks shows that presence.
Snow might think that might be the only player out there.
He doesn't realize quite yet. He's got like no chance of getting in towards Mini as long as PR is still in the back of the big garage.
Well eventually they started to run out of utility towards that door. They blocked it the entire round so far with Smokes.
Perrier's been so patient but now it's his time to go.
Molotov onto the hut. Red's gone. Flash Kim's in.
I'm saying both period and right blinded so they pause for a second and the fight happens period gets a kill
Right through the trade spamming down through the hot as big who's there are keeping pain in this fight
But it's all about the flank snacks is repositioned laid into the round coming through the hight
There's the kill from safe
So snacks even more important that he finds success from this but now he gives it away
He gives his position away
And now you look to be on to come up from heaven
But Snacks has died in lobby, and Game of Legion have not made the most of this round whatsoever.
Pior dies at Heaven, and Payne have found a way.
Yeah, Snacks got spooked, maybe just trying to pre-fire something, maybe just saw a body slumped against the wall.
But that little shot gave away his entire position.
Yeah, that was disastrous, really, because that was the only way back in the round.
Yeah, he had a really sick play kind of forming on that flank. A really nice timing for it.
I think the kill from Safe also makes things way more difficult, right when he's getting into the position to make the move.
Safe grabs and one kill, which just makes that really awkward.
I think Snacks was forced into a play.
Timeout taken as we're tied back up.
Plenty of money for Gamer Legion to reinvest.
They built up enough cash with some clean rounds for that loss to not be devastating.
All back in the hands of Hypex, but we're missing that impact.
We're missing that loud play from Hypex that he had on the first map to keep Gamer Legion alive.
Right now, they're just barely flinging on.
on. These rounds being traded back and forth being grimy. It's gonna favor the
T side especially here on Nuke and now that the money is disappearing for
game religion, a loss here means they're in a ton of trouble.
Yeah, I'm missing it for Raz too, right? We're not seeing those big individuals that have been so
important for game religions run showing up at a crucial point in this
competition. They've got to hit that switch. Look at Snow though, confident.
Moving through the smoke, singes. All the excel queues up and Snow gonna be
frustrated but communicates the positions of the game
release and players.
It doesn't matter, though, as Calson extends the advantage
here and Hypex chiming in.
So just safe from Big O Zero left, 2v5.
This round had potential for Payne.
You know, getting snow into Mayn earlier just crumbles.
I think it's actually a really cool tactic to call
if you're the Payne side.
I think it's basically the similar opening
that you had previously, the same kind of a setup
for people, lobbies, snow outside on his own.
But this round, you changed it up so that he's more aggressive,
so that he's the one to initiate the attack.
but stepping into that Molotov ruins everything,
gives away his position, prepares the Gamer Legion defense
for what's coming, and you could tell he was a little bit
frustrated after stepping into the Molotov,
not sure what to do next.
So it falls apart for Payne.
They'll be a five to four advantage on the scoreboard
for Gamer Legion when all is said and done.
But they've barely been able to maintain this lead.
Every single time, Payne has a response.
No loss bonus for Payne.
Yeah, that might actually take the ability
to respond away from them.
This is a good win for Gamer Legion
to put the money in an odd place for Payne.
So Big Uzero, he's looking to see if anyone
had a smoke drop, anything he could pick up
because he's gonna back away and save the weapon.
It's the only thing they'll have likely in the next round.
Save us 3,000, so we'll see how courageous Payne is,
But it's that same decision they have to make from two rounds ago,
is how much do you want to force up around this one save decay?
How much do you want to invest?
How much do you feel like you have to win a round right now?
Later on today, Atlanta, you guys have the other quarter final,
Navi taking on Vitality.
How do you feel about that one?
It's going to be a party.
Yeah, how do we feel about the fightality though here in Atlanta?
You know, we don't usually have a lot of fans of Apex around here.
So, it's going to be Navi with the favor of the crowd there today, just you to imagine.
I don't know if it's going to help them. I don't know if it even matters.
They're going to need all the hump they can get.
I think that's the only champ that could have beaten out USA.
Oh, it's beautiful.
A glorious thing. Thanks for coming out of that.
We'll see you all weekend. It's going to be a great time.
Back into the action.
Here in pain taken on Gamer Legion. Timeout comes to a close.
Round 10.
Gamer Legion with a slight lead and pain.
They want to fight for this round.
Around the same day K one more bottom two glills attack nine
And they'll try and batter down this game religion defense once again
Smokes outside a
Second body here this time with snow period is going to join up with him at the hip they use Aaron VSM over in lobby
Hiteback's not spotting anything yet.
There's Snacks, okay.
Perra headshots outside, Peria and Snowbrook done, Hiteback's patient pays off, goes
back in again, and the double dip also successful, leaving Safe outside 1v5, they know where
he is.
to knock out Conceited Player in this round.
Did Snacks see anything or did he just shoot?
I don't know if he pushed through the side of the smoke.
Yeah, we got into a late.
That's a very Snacks thing to have happen.
Double kill outside.
This strategy ends before it even begins.
It looked like he was coming back into the smoke.
So we'll see from his perspective.
So yeah, you guys made it.
Look at that luck as well, isn't it?
Oh my God, that was great.
That's devastating.
You never even get a crack at what you called in the round.
and you invested so much in that, that's a buy that puts you on the back foot.
Snapshot is Rex Payne, and whatever game plan they had for the last two to three rounds of play in this half.
Four rounds on T side so far, and a chance for another towards the end of the half here,
but David Legion could be up to seven for a lead.
Spot at the head of Snacks over the top, can always be a difficult shot to hit.
Snacks just too quick. He wants more.
Yeah, much better from Snacks on the second map.
Great deceiving. He has such a quiet overpass. Never really got into it.
And one of the great things about Game of Legion as of late has been Snacks' resurgence.
Indivisible! Oh yeah, he has a bit of a show outside against the Pistols.
And finally, a little bit too much to handle.
But some fault for his being picked up and around like that.
Yeah, all good. I lose an AK-47 for it, but not going to matter at the end of the day.
of the day, one more round remaining in the half after this.
Gamer Legion's gonna have a three round lead
when all is said and done here in round 11.
Seven to four and then we'll see
if they can close the half with a really strong lead
with a dominant stretch of rounds.
They'll have won five of six as soon as this ends.
And they outlasted that little mini run
from the paint offense, three rounds straight,
rounds three, four, and five,
but from there the Gamer Legion defense snapped into place.
Oh big as there it goes and down he goes.
Seven to four for Game of Legion.
Last round of the first half of Nuke coming up and money back for Payne.
So AK's coming out. There's no AWP in sight for the T side.
So Hypex will be unrivaled in that department.
Yeah, he hasn't had that the entire half essentially.
I've never really gone to pick it up and never really prioritized it.
It makes sense how slow things have been and how kind of like,
of like, get into a position and then they've been executing a lot into the upper bomb site,
off a little bit unwieldy in those scenarios, they'll certainly have it on the CT side.
So snacks and highpacks going outside for the moment, the off in position over towards
credit, it's a pressure to apply at the upper bomb site early for Paine.
It's taking the time, the smokes deploy outside again, snacks are going to be a real nuisance,
That is not the start, game elision would have hoped for, period.
Stepping up, arriving in the kill feed again.
GSM to dive down onto the top of main.
It's a play resident to great success against me.
Trying it again, it goes against him, and now the defense falling apart with the lineup.
Yeah, team kill on that bigger Sarah, dropping his own teammate, but GSM to step up
and respond, he takes a lot of damage, he's down to 4 HP.
But it's got to be PR and Hypex to win out this 2v3.
If you want an eighth round here if you're game elision, Hypex in the van, 5-7-0.
Oh, great quick headshot off Snow!
VSM feels trapped.
VSM feels trapped with the bomb.
He heard the steps of PR taking Lobby,
so he feels like someone's wrapping behind him.
Excuse me, safe.
Feels isolated with the bomb and alone.
But yes, that could alleviate that,
but he steps into the open.
PR's sharp on that headshot.
Great turnaround here from PR and Hypex,
and PR will close it out.
So, game of legions showing up in the quarterfinal.
There will be nowhere to be seen in Overpass,
but on Nuke, they lead the way.
8-4.
I
Well, we've got Gamer Legion show it up now.
half of Newt set to begin with that first half they really woke up after an overpass
in which they got beat up across the map here on Newt they plant their feet and
they stop paying from driving any kind of advantage in this opening half on the
second map now we switch sides it's gamer legion's offense they're gonna go
into the defense of pain it snacks let's see what kind of masterclass you can
call because they want to force us to a third decider they want to force us all
the way to inferno to bring it close to these quarter finals they got to win five
5 rounds before we get there.
Hey, winning both pistols on map 1.
Gamer Legion getting the first pistol of Nuke.
Let's see if they can double up themselves.
You've got Snow playing into his main,
and Taliesin about to wrap around into the smoke
as teammates move outside.
Higazarou going to take contact,
wins the first fight against Rez.
First blood drawn, second blood will be betrayed.
Taliesin and PR are able to pull things back
in their favor, so Gamer Legion,
4v3 fighting with blocks outside
Getting information of two of the remaining three players of pain. Yeah, now you know that you know the bomb sites open as well
Yeah, you might have to deal with this play from heaven
But you already got some inside the site one for one and snacks can get the bomb planted safely
Yeah, bomb going down because there was coming up through secret now
You know he was last spotted there and now look confirmed. He's still in that position
Save just waiting at heaven trying to jump get some information and just really send himself out into the fight
But it hasn't worked so despite big is there are getting the opening Friday this pistol round
It'll be gamer legion who end up winning both pistols here on new
Yeah, I think maybe a little bit too much of a reaction off that first contact and first kill from big user
The period push in towards the hut pretty much immediately right out of the gate
They didn't realize that they didn't have the full picture of what was happening on the map
So the gamer legion lurkers come right back into this round and snatch it away
Both pistols now for Gamer Legion and they're up 9-4 with economic advantage as well.
Everything you need to close out this second map is there.
Everything you need to force us to Inferno, Gamer Legion has on their side at the moment.
It's got to be a great force by here for paint.
Double scouts coming out, you've got safe and PSM rocking them.
Formasio for Big Azera, Deagle for Aperia, 5-7 for Snow.
Yeah, but this really feels like kind of the entire map, like kind of lends itself to this one.
If you don't win this, you're going to have a similar buy moving forward or even less.
Well, a strong tag through the smoke. Snack's going to be down to low HP.
The safe is still on the prowl outside, but not connected any further shots just yet.
Getting information seeing heads crossed was secret. Yeah dangerous cross back against the fence with a with a wall
That's very close up
And they're not gonna like that smoke as it pops
They want nothing to do with it snacks the one who took the tag from that scout earlier
But now they're gonna get funneled white right back into the arms of safe
We're gonna have to have a decision to make do you want the battle moving forward where you know
There's likely a stack on the other side of the smoke or do you want to fall back and deal with the scout?
Minute on the clock.
Game religion paused for the time being.
Bigheezera making his play forward, clearing out Lobby.
This is what hurt game religion on the overpass though, was the slow rounds that gave so much time to pain to figure out what was happening and position themselves appropriately.
And this is still taking a very long time. Bigheezera is almost wrapped all the way around through yard. You're no longer dealing with just the scout.
Bigheezera is like, you can rotate. I'm actually gonna get some free kills.
kills this is exactly what you were talking about though this is the same
as period of flanking them a monster getting on the flight because they're
up and save chiming in kills here for pain and safe then drops into the back
of the site 25 seconds left for game religion to try and get in towards the
side itself but they take another tag on board safe goes out he finishes off
high packs he's being run down but the bomb has spilled and now you've got to try
and come back into this if you're game religion and fight on multiple fronts
Two players in heaven.
Get to reveal both players up there though.
The plant will be coming through. Snow goes forward.
Nearly catching the perfect timing, but it will work out.
Towson alone has to win it here for Gamer Legion.
VSM searching for him inside of hotbed. Towson is quickly repositioned.
He didn't realize he jumped away. He was looking inside the bomb site.
That was a chance miss.
And VSM over the top.
And will leap more than anything for Gamer Legion.
Towson trying to fire up the crowd, but...
But that's just a sigh of relief for Gamereleaguez,
and then they pull that one off.
Oh, yeah, it is.
That got very close, very, very sketchy,
very disorganized, a great recovery.
So Gamereleaguez, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
And for Payne, that was an all-important round.
You're sitting at 4 to 10, probably not
feeling super motivated.
You had such a great flight to buy.
I mean, it seemed a great flight to kind of achieve
that situation, that harassment as he comes around.
When he was down on pistols again,
he would pay just as you were highlighting
That felt so important for the half through for Payne Gaming and it's heartbreaking how close it comes.
But Towson is safe. Game of Legend here and kept that dream of him from a wide open.
It just looks like we're going that.
And Rez has already made his way down secret. Who had fast? Okay, five on four. Good shot from Big Euzera.
He can drop down. Rez hasn't turned that corner yet. They know players cross. Rez was loud about it.
So more players, more defenders coming down to defend the B-bombside in secret.
And he got big is there I've got the eagle out for a spin again. Hope he can get a second kill, but
Gonna be tough he drops back in the side. There's three defenders here
Thank you defenders here brass has connected on to because they're only number of the SMAs they have a Molotov for this position as well
So they're gonna burn them out taking their time. Oh
Are this? Oh my god, he can actually just stay in the same position and they know that
18 they're gonna be distracted which sets up safe for a kill with a five seven of snow needs something and it'll be nothing
Tell you what, two kind of sketchy rounds though from Gamer Legion, the previous one that they almost lost.
This one had elements of a stack kind of shutting down their attack.
Good for them to get away with the victory, again having to fight themselves out of a tough scenario.
So Peri is going to pick up the weapon dropped by Big Yuzera's kill earlier. That's a free rifle moving forward.
And at 4-11, Pain can't give away any of the gifts that they're able to find. That's a weapon that's going to be valuable.
to get the ball. Yeah, but
regardless, they will get
themselves up to 11 rounds here.
Game and Legion. Even if it did
look scrappy over the last two.
Period obviously with his team
not performing as well, either.
He hasn't been able to keep up
that performance from overpass.
No, both teams dominating the
opposition on their on the other
teams map pick. Yeah going into
maps and I mean this one was a
little bit more reasonable in
terms of how the history of
on the map, Payne having a bit of a new line up with a couple players chopped and changed,
same with Gamer Legion 1 or 2 in.
Alright, what have we got here?
What are we doing?
Nice.
I just appreciate you didn't fake it.
True.
I'd rather you never fake it, Jason.
Yeah, the bar's low.
I'm not big into that.
Down 16, it's 11-4.
Last to raw for paint gaming here on Nuke.
Oh my god.
To become a VSM.
Okay, he's got himself the all-go, he's taking it for a spin.
He's under a lot of pressure now, he's called his teammate over,
Seiko's trying to help him, and the AWP will try and aim, so Snax is gone, so is VSM.
And Seiko's got another one in him, you better believe he does,
and he's actually landed that one too!
He gets away with it!
All right, star points for safe.
He's a holes down the ramp room.
Well, if you're going to have a moment to ignite the team,
it's not some kind of crazy clutch.
It's not going to get you out of your seat,
but a rock solid performance from safe shutting down
the ramp attack.
Gamer legion trying to end the map.
It felt right there with an uppercut rush towards ramp room.
And Payne was ready.
So Snacks calling on the fly, vibe calling.
Shut down, and now Rez is left in a tough situation.
And with four players alive still for pain too, if they capitalize on this, great job
growing the money.
And there goes Rez, found by Big Yuzera.
Safe gets pain, their fifth round on the board.
And let's see if they can turn that into something worth talking about.
One for Payne, long road back into it.
The games are that first step.
AK for Russ.
The rest on the blocks for P250.
I like this.
I like this as well from GamerLegend,
the choice to just go for the hero,
AK and Rez and not invest too much around it.
You could have bought some tech nines.
You could have bought a Mac 10, made this interesting.
See if you can steal around away at the upper bomb site.
But you have such a lead and you want to maximize
the full buy rounds you have.
So trying to have a round with a little bit of danger,
but set yourselves up for the future.
also makes it a lot more difficult for Rez, not having any support whatsoever.
But let's see what he can do with just the brawn of the AK-47,
and nothing is Pyrir held a good angle, spotting the likes early of Rez.
The AK will fall into the hands of many players here on GamerLegion,
eventually getting a kill, but it's the clock of PR.
With his fast success on Pyrir, he picks himself up a 3K.
PR left on Low HP, caught by Soap, suppressed the maneuver through the ramp room to close,
And it's 11 to 6. So pain gaming with some life left in them yet.
Here we go.
Oh my god. That's not bad.
They're rarely seen crowd upgrade.
You don't usually see that.
No, you don't get that one too often.
That's a new trend.
We've got 11-6. The score line. Game of Legion.
That's what you were mentioning.
You know, saving most of the money so they could get a buy out here.
but it has left Rez without an AK. He's only got a D-Golf at a time being... Oh, Hypex!
The point that he got that kill, because he burns away instantly after
so he trade Hypex and say go blow for blow. And then he P-Falls into the hands of snacks.
Yeah, he just wants to make sure nobody's going to be able to recover it, give it over to Rez.
Oh, he didn't have it coming to be fast for this round. Just a D-Golf.
The fortunate thing is, off that kill, there's no one taking space outside for game relations,
So they're happy to leave it as a point of danger and go elsewhere
Talcyn might have a gift to walk right into his crosshair BSM shadow show so loses the fight and PR goes to for one double kill
Ramp is wide open. Yeah, let's put them in the spot to try and get them out point to your game of legend in 3v2 to close on
It's gonna be a bigger zero and snow
To pull this one off together and and you're I mean you're kind of isolated
There's no way to really join up and watch everything you would need to so snow is going to tuck himself behind the box
Sorry about the wrong angle though.
Yeah, he is easy kill for PR.
That's the third in the round for him.
Upper bombsite over Ron and Gamer Legion's offense
gets them up to 12.
Big is there up.
Snapping up from secret stairs, clearing out towards garage,
but no one going to offer up their life here for Gamer
Legion.
They want to make sure they stabilize.
They keep three players up.
They don't have a huge amount of cash either,
so make sure you're buying the next round as as good as possible
to ensure you a chance to close out a 13-6 win on Nuke.
And I think Biggie Zera would have the knowledge as well
that money's a little bit busted.
So I mean, if you grab any exit kills,
if they try and evacuate outside 3 yard,
Biggie Zera can even out of a victory
do a lot of damage to Gamer Legion, but they go elsewhere.
Yeah, back it away safely all the way towards T-Spawn.
And we'll carry those weapons over.
High-pitched, looking at his AWP back,
Res is going to the AK-47.
But this is what you wanted to see from Gamer Legion, right?
You want to see PR and Towson actually getting into the games, your rifling engine showing up at some point in this quarter-final.
It was so disappointing to see them play on the first map, but a big part of that, you have to say, was definitely the strong start.
The paint came out the gates absolutely swinging.
There was just some time to actually get into the game here, both pacerons picked up from Game Illegion.
Yeah, we didn't see that rifling. The rifling engines come online on Overpass for Game Illegion
because the individuals of Payne shut them down in the openings pretty much every single time.
Those first steps that felt like Payne was always winning
and the strength of Gamer Legion in the first map was the high-packs clutches.
Now you're starting to see those rifles provide some impact.
Strong stands on the CT side, now here able to find some picks
and work themselves in a good situation.
Now, that's going to throw the confidence back into the mix here for Gamer Legion as well
when you come into the second map.
You get banged out on overpass, usually a comfortable affair for you guys.
You come into Nuke and you stabilize and you shell-kate.
This is the car we've been playing over the last while.
More of what we expected to see out of them today as well, coming into this.
It was shocking to see them a little bit flat, very quiet on Overpass.
Yeah.
So how many rounds are we going to take for them to close it out?
They got six chances to bring us to Inferno as a third map decider in these quarterfinals.
Snacks sitting on 25 Kevlar right now, uh, he buys on that.
Definitely have money to upgrade.
No one outside for Gamer Legion, safe looking for it.
Little gap in the smoke caused by the break.
Sees nothing.
Gamer Legion lined up like they want to hit the upper bomb site.
VSM once again, back of the ramp, is it a very quiet quarter final?
And he silenced again.
Highpacks to drop him, that's the opening at the ramp room.
And you're going to see Gamerlitch and Flood in.
Losing such an important part of the map so early in the round is going to feel you spread in if you're paying.
You've got to rotate the player down lower.
Well, Snow's going to wait over towards control side.
No indication yet that they're committing to this bombsite, but Snow has no backup whatsoever.
There's the smoke to block his vision. There's utility in to find a safe, comfortable lower bombsite.
get that bomb planted and it'll be a four on four retake period what's the
challenge towards decon just be a nuisance for the moment and right now
gamer legion trying to have a conversation of how they want to handle
this yeah plant being locked through all that smack down on the ground it's
got to be a fight for a retake just to stay alive a little bit longer snacks
doesn't want this to happen but he's gone down it's thousand instead
And taking game of Legion to Inferno. It's safe 1v3. The only player that can do anything about it.
And he will be denied. Game of Legion bounce back. HyperX stands up. That's more like it from Game of Legion.
They will see map 3.
It was the height of the 1960s, the space race was heating up and the wards were never
The Beach Boys and their hip-new genre of surf rock were about to burst onto the airwaves as Americans demanded the end of rock and roll.
It was an era for change, an era for elevation, an era of the brave.
North American Counter-Strike was alive and well with Cloud9 and Liquid featuring American Maid, Canadian Supplemented Iron.
Resilient Counter Strike was already in full swing, and Scream found himself playing alongside the French.
It was the dawn, the early embers of the looming Astralis Era, but in the small manufacturing town of Oakland, a new miracle was about to take shape.
An IP signed Newcomer Reds in the hopes that he could take the disgraced Nip Squad to new heights.
The only title the once illustrious squad could still defend was in Oakland, the final bastion of a bygone age.
Expectations were low, but morale could not have been higher.
The old kings of forest get right and exist had a point to prove, but not even they could have expected what happened next.
Frederick Stanner came into the event with Boogie's baffledest of the Young Suede's inclusions.
Crowd looked on, unprepared to put their faith in someone so unproven,
unknowing, and uncertain. These were the times.
He exploded into the event, turning heads every step of the way.
It might have been the swinging 60s, but all anyone was talking about was the new hot up-and-comer.
An MVP performance like no other, finishing as the top-rated player in the event who made
the playoffs. No one could keep up with him, as Carragant, Nico, Braid and Guardian alongside
Olaf Meister would learn in the Grand Finals. Forrest felt inspired by these performances,
and so in the final put forward his best performance yet. The ragtag team of Rez and Forrest evoking
memories of better, brighter times in NIP's past. In what was described as the greatest,
the best of five final of all time, NIP battled back against FaZe Clan in the Grand Finals.
A lesson they would surely remember, an experience they would never want to repeat.
There's ended the event giving NIP their last ever trophy win.
A true visionary, a true believer, and a new golden age for Swedish Counter Strike.
I'm going back, I'll be first, I'm going back
I can spot Dorson
I'm deep radio deep
I don't see outside, good
They went towards side, I think
I'm outside, I'm pushing ramp
Don't worry, I'm going to see them again
I'm going to kill, I'm going to kill
Nice, I don't see more, one more
One in door
One more
I'm in the ramp, I'm going to take ramp
Chill, radio
Don't die if you don't need to
He even back up
I have a bomb
Nice, XT
10 seconds
We need to pop back, get again bro.
Out heaven.
Out heaven, out heaven, out heaven, out heaven, scout.
NOOOOOOO!
Let's blow it up!
That fucking bomb man!
Pain may have dominated on Overpass, but Gamer Legion clap right on back on Nuke.
Both teams now one upper piece on each other's map picks,
and we do need Inferno to be separating them in this quarterfinal,
but not before myself first,
because Umi and him break down this one.
This was an impressive, but necessarily bounced back for Game of Legends.
Yeah, very much so.
Good to see Gamelitian turning up and playing the brand of Counter Strike
that we've seen so far throughout this tournament.
I was a little bit worried after the first map,
where it felt a little bit lacklustre on this other Gamelitian,
but the instantly bounced back,
naturally helped by winning the pistol,
naturally helped by winning all the key rounds of this game.
I think if you were to dissect it, you could take round 14, which we just saw a bit of a recap of as well.
Every single time, GamerLegion were in a position where they could use control of the map,
they would win instantly the next key round.
And I think that was pretty telling for me as to who were the better team here, Nuke.
I think there were some early warning signs, though, for GamerLegion coming into this map.
You could see, I mean, what, they were against 4 Glocks and 1 AK.
They gave complete ramp control and actually allowed just a free access, 5-on-5 B-take.
You know there were I think moments where you could tell players were maybe shelling up a little bit on that game Legion side
But you could tell the prep work is there as well because they were trying to be very disruptive outside
if you look at pain demos on this map, they constantly try and work outside as a like
pivotal points to
Get themselves into bomb sites and once they start to get locked down because stacks was trying to be disruptive or getting some support from
Rez it did feel as though they ran out of options because then they have to run into PR
He also had a fantastic game and that's the thing right for game Legion
We were praising it so much in the group stage the preparation as you alluded to you me right
I think the perfect example of that was against Navi on their kind of home turf of ancient
Seeing them being able to put in some of that preparation actually into practice and execute it perfectly
That was really nice to see super super nice, you know and it's again. It's a team effort
It's not necessarily about one player popping off or one player doming his area of the map that then opens up for the rest of them
I think the prep goes without saying that when you have a team who's all buying into it
It works much much better this time around we speak about PR bouncing back having a great game speak about
Tau San as well a player we haven't mentioned, you know at any point throughout this game so far also finding an incredible amount of impact
And even snacks, you know had a bit of a snacks of 2017 moment with the AK 47 in yard
We're just tapping away and feeling like the best player on the server
So one thing is the preparation but it's more so the entire team buying into it and the victory or sort of like the impact
Can come from a lot of different directions
I think one player starts to find
that success. You could tell the fire
just starts roaring for the
game religion side, which is
absolutely necessary because, I
mean, they said on the cast, you
said on the desk, it's just a flat
start from game religion coming into
the series. And I think the real
problem now for pain is that,
listen, if the two, if 1000 and PR
are the guys that start stepping up,
you move into a map where anchors
actually are really pivotal and both
those guys are on separate bomb
sides, there will be no weak side.
100%. I mean, let's bring up some
of those PR highlights and we can
kind of bask in the mic. I'm
curious as to your perspective
your perspective. You me.
Obviously when PR was kind of
coming onto the scene for
Game Legion, everybody was
counting him is like the next
big thing. Obviously we don't
know what happened to some of
the rumor transfers. I have a
some of those off periods, but
in terms of PR delivery. In
this map, obviously
instrumental, but just
overall, do you feel like you
want a little bit more of this
version of PR more consistent?
I just think coming into this
year because of all the rumors
and I think there probably was
something happening in the
happening in the back end. Once
that fell through, he started
this year pretty terribly. You
going fumble make bad decisions
very frequently. This I think
this event and maybe the event
prior as well. I'm starting to
see that resurgence in form from
him and his I think he's regained
his composure actually a like in
his career kind of similar to
Lawn X on foot where once upon
a time he was on Sprout really
big prospects that I think his
transfer got blocked on that
team and then they start to see
deterioration in his performance
as well. But we see how mature
he is now and how much of an
impact player he is now. So in
of career arcs, maybe those two have some parallels to go.
I can't remember whether it was a quote or a tweet coming out of PR when he was saying,
you know, you hear certain things happening, rumored to be you, and it doesn't come to
a version like, ouch, that must hurt.
Yeah, I think he was pretty disappointed, you know, because also the prospect of gamer
leaving that point, you know, losing Ash as a coach, the entire team, not really sure
what direction they were going.
I think PR were looking on his way out, so to speak.
So I can, I can somewhat understand why it took him a bit of time to get into the groove
again and why it took him a bit of time to maybe believe that the gamer leading project
was one that he needed to buy into, but he's also instrumental into their success.
We saw in the beginning of the year, when he was struggling, Gamer Legion is struggling.
He's the player that is involved the most in opening duels.
He's the most explosive player on the server as well, whenever he's on the team.
So, I think PR playing well and PR believing in Gamer Legion, that was the most important
task Snacks had to do when he came into the line.
So, that's always been the difficulty for a team of Gamer Legion's calibers, that they've
kind of floated within this sort of 10 to 20 bracket rankings, where they never seem
to be able to punch that much higher up.
Maybe you get a playoff appearance every now and again, and you think, oh, maybe this could be the moment
But if you see the team is not being able to make that progress
Then if you start getting offers if you did those rumor transfers do actually happen
Then yeah, of course, you're kind of hoping that you can escape a stable ship ice of the yeah
Let's go back to the first half of this one. They see decide to game lesion. What have you picked out for us?
I mean, this was just a moment that I thought the game started to shift because the
it felt like the options were drying up for the pain slide when you when you have
you know this is the moment where snacks actually creates some chaos towards
outside and I did note it as a pivotal point for for this pain gaming roster
because you see them take a lot of dry fights they try to flash through smokes
they try to be tricky and if we're going to attribute anything about snacks he is
tricky once this wall goes down because pain had actually been looking for these
later timings in the half. We had seen previously snacks trying to play around the red box and then
got picked off by the player on top style this time he played in garage and once that second wall
comes down he just lines himself up in a position and just as that's all looms two headshots instantly
but this was the next part of the equation is that when they lose outside that is the response
from pain is that they start hunting and searching either towards ramp and hut and hypex already
had an advanced position so I mean I just think this is a really well put together around in and
And I think they identified as well that Paine were playing with the same pace that they'd had in some of their previous games.
Also the moment in the game where they took control of it, you know, in the beginning it was back and forth.
The game only didn't definitely had a couple of rounds that could have slipped out of their hands,
but at this point you win this one, you put the economy into the bin, you go up six to four,
you then move into the second half, you win the pistol round, you convert, you're now leading ten to four,
and then as I said, round 14 to me, that was the breaking point.
You have a 2v1, you had the Paine gaming with upgraded pistols, you know, forcing their way into the game.
That was the last chance they had, I guess, remaining competitive to some degree.
And it was just every time there was a key round in this game,
it would side the way of Gamer Legion.
And that's why we never really got closer to our tense game.
Well, it is a deciding map.
That is going to be in final, gentlemen.
Quick thoughts. Where do you think this one is going?
I'm still leaning towards Gamer Legion.
I think the stability they've shown throughout this tournament,
for me, is what's going to give them the edge on Inferno.
I've also seen them play well, play very aggressive.
We've been speaking to Janko about it a couple of times.
The T-Side pace coming out for Gamer Legion
It's something that's tough to deal with if you're a pain.
I suppose, I can't see why it should be competitive,
but if I have to lean one side or another,
I'd go with Gamer League.
My eyes are just on Peria.
He can't have an insane first map
and then just be okay for the rest of the series.
He's gonna be important as well.
He's the Apportments player.
He has to create that chaos.
Well, a very exciting third map does await,
but not before we head things to a short break.
When we return, it's Inferno between pain
and Gamer Legion to decide who is heading
to the semis here in Atlanta.
What's going to happen? It's got to be some...
We are back!
Jason Rogan podcast, check it out!
The Jason Rogan experience.
Counter-strike by day. Jason Rogan podcast by night.
All right, welcome to the Jason Rogan experience.
As a man, obviously, who's very obsessed with what he puts into his body, being that my body is a temple,
as a temple. I'm excited to have you here because we obviously get to talk to someone
who's been so good in terms of not aging. How have you managed to stay so long as the
young veteran?
I mean, I think I do. I put a lot of effort in my health and keep my face really young
as it is.
I can tell.
Yeah. So I think a big part of it is probably my resident here in Sweden, living in Sweden,
trying to stay away from the sunlight as much as possible, staying indoors, playing
I don't try to go out ever, almost.
I stay inside, keep away from the sun to keep myself young.
It's an interesting strategy too, because a lot of people try and qualify to stay in more events
and go deeper in tournaments, but you're sitting there like you can lengthen your career
if you just don't go deep into the playoffs.
Yeah, I don't understand why people don't focus more on this.
This is like the most important thing in life, I think, is looking young.
And they put a lot of mileage on their bodies.
A mileage you obviously don't have to carry with you, which is great.
Yeah, I think this is the most important part of me.
Yeah, I think this is the most important part of me, like this is what defines me.
Can we talk about diet a little bit, because out here in Sweden obviously you guys have this beautiful land and known for your moose meat.
That's an important point actually, I think I usually go on weekends after we play our online qualifiers, I usually go out hunting with my friends.
That's a big part of keeping my body as it is.
Right, now talk to me a little bit about the whole fish thing, you guys have this fermented fish.
I imagine that has to do something with keeping the skin clear all that fish oil
You don't even take the supplement you just you just get it right from the can. No, I go to the sea
Richard yes, I fish like straight from the source, you know, and I eat it raw. That's beautiful. Yeah, that's perfect
Okay, I like it now. I would say like for me
Have you ever looked into like some cells and for me like I'm really a big fan a big proponent of some cells
I'm big proponent of the ice bath in the morning. You're talking about the moose meat. I've had that as well
All of this seems to just do great stuff for for keeping the longevity of what you're of how you're looking young
Which is something that you've been able to accomplish stem cells. I don't believe in that that much. I would say
I would say it's probably just the the sweet in Swedish atmospheres all you need now one thing
One thing that I've heard that this is this has been a little bit of a conspiracy
But one of the I wanted to talk to you about it
You've you've been and you were in the NIP roster for so long
While Swedish Counter-Strike was struggling to bring in new players and new people
Now I've heard that there's that you have some kind of a thing going on where you actually kind of take the the power the life force of
the younger Swedish players coming up to the scene to make yourself a little bit more powerful and longevity.
Like I
When I play with young players, I try to always the first thing I look at when I get a new young project in my team
It's like how do they keep?
Themself young and if you take that away from them, then all of a sudden you will get a reap all the rewards
Yeah, of course, that's the I think that's the point of everything and for my cure. Well, that's beautiful
I think you've done a great job. Thank you. Keep going keep it up. Stay young
I will.
Jason Rogan Podcast, check it out!
Hey, Jason, small game, experience.
Towsdike by day, Jason Rogan podcast by night.
Welcome back to the Intalk Tree Masters at Atlanta.
We're ready for the third and final map.
Payne vs. GamerLegion, two one-sided affairs in the first two maps in play, but we're hoping Inferno can deliver it.
One-sided affairs, Payne taking GamerLegion's map pick 13-6, GamerLegion giving it right back, taking Nuke 13-6 as well.
Inferno, one of the best deciding maps we've gotten, Counter-Strike will be the landscape for this final battle.
Winner goes on to the semi-finals, their opponents await them.
For paying you've had Peria, your star player of the event, stepping up performing well, delivering for you on this stage.
For Gamer Legion, it's been Hypex who showed up on map 1, it's been the lifelors of PR and Towson who brought things all together.
Snacks at the helm takes those pieces to see if he can find his way into the semifinals of Atlanta.
One final matchup, one final battle on Inferno.
We have all come together here in Atlanta to kick off the playoffs, the last map of the first quarter finals.
Georgia, you've been so loud, you seem to be so great throughout this once.
It makes some noise for map number three. It's in front of them, and we're hoping we'll deliver.
Here.
This around is live, we're going clean if we're GamerLegion, no utility, armor and pistols
across the board.
On the other side, they've got tons of nades, everyone's got nades.
They've got so many options, but GamerLegion's going to push right down the throat.
Yeah, Res goes in.
Oh yeah, that's a good start.
We've been waiting for Rez to show up in this quarterfinal to the level that we've seen from him recently, and this is more like it.
Rez running down mid, three kills picked up in this pistol, and Gamer Legion have picked up where they left off over on Nuke.
Damn, well, that's a statement in the pistol round.
Gamer Legion not gonna sit back on their heels, setting the tone early.
A very strong mid-push powered by Rez.
Paine had no chance. They brought four players into that with Nades, and all of them get taken down.
They're not going to use any of it.
Never spotting the push. This comes in so fast before they can even react.
We talked about how Pan couldn't get into the game over on Nuke because they lost both Pestirons.
They didn't have those strong stars that they had on Overpass, which seemed to prove so important for them.
Now we're going to do the hard part again here on Inferno. You're going to be starting slow on T side.
Most of the heavy lifting needs to be done obviously in these gun rounds that are coming up
But this gives gamer legion a 2-0 start
Yeah, nice way to kick things off and see if you can build up a little bit of money now a nuke
They kind of had a hiccup right they lost three players in this round made the buys a little sketchy took a while for that
CG side to get the economy back up, but he on inferno
It's looking like they're having no issues whatsoever
Me on nuke we started talking about how PR and Towson showed up right to the rifle as you really want to see perform
If you add res into the mix with this third map, then obviously game a legion go up a level
Got very strong looking defense
Especially when you consider you know like yeah, that's a third like one of the mix would be something incredible
But especially when you consider overpass the first map of the series one of the great strengths the pain was individually
They were they were they were stronger. They were better. They were sharper that that all switched on overpass
Everything kind of changed now. It feels like game a legion individuals have hit a level and pain has sort of faded away
seeing gamer legion play this map twice at this event against sinners of 13 to 9
win against Navi a 4 to 13 loss
pain on the other hand I haven't had to play this map this week this is their
first time in some time that they'll be seeing Inferno
guns are out AK 47s for everyone on pain
early utility exchange in banana looks like the defense they're going to
challenge at least for the top portion of it snow spots to jump not sure about
the push there it is counter flash is just better and pain take a one-man
advantage five on four
Yeah, take a lot of damage, but holding the extra player for the time being here for pain.
They're very far back. I mean, happy to take this man advantage though and start moving into the mid-round.
Utility to take bracket control. Left side mid smoked off. Molotov to force back any defenders.
Towson just standing behind him and not forced too far away. Snacks the point man on this B defense
Big is there a burning
Further damage done look at the reef from gamer legion snacks is gonna go confirm it as well flashbang is out good fire from snow
Yeah, I second kill though for pain gaming
So you may have the read you may know what's coming at you, but handling it is a whole different ball game
You won't expect two more defenders behind snacks here. You thought maybe that's the second player
But Rez has arrived and Hypex is here. Well Rez out new box. Hypex behind smoke
So it has to be Rez out first takes that kill on safe not gonna be fouled though
He's 29 HP eventually removed. Hypex sending shots down through that smoke
Couple of low HP players, but that bomb plant not denied
It will go down and pain gaming now the post plant in which they have a player advantage. Yeah, but low HP
Unconfirmed unfortunately, but if 1000 can find some clean looks you might be able to get a quick double
You want some utility to force them out of these positions, but they've only got a single flash, right?
You can't even block banana. So this is a strong pain set up in the post-plant having three players in a triangle of death
Yeah, and they didn't give any peaks. Taliesin was given some footsteps trying to bait somebody out with the flashbang
flashbang ushers, but nobody actually peaked with it. Big Hughes there in snow
Stay tucked in one kill on the exit and Gamerleague is gonna be happy to sink away after that to keep the two M4s in hand
First round for pain on the board here on Inferno
So the big gazero dies in the bomb blast, only a single player survives in this round for pain,
but they'll be happy to get the round on the board.
But that damage is more important than you might think at first,
because there's not a huge amount of money here for pain.
So it's not like you can dive the bomb and immediately reinvest in absolutely everything you want.
You're going to take some hits.
You're going to have to go to Galeel to get some extra utility.
Yeah, we're in that phase of the game where both teams are trying to be the first ones
to settle things down and get comfortable with the situation that they're in.
This round means everything to both squads.
I mean, Gamelige is definitely in the better spot when it comes to the buy here.
They've got the AWP out. Everybody's got a premium rifle and plenty of utility.
Yeah, two kits as well for the CT side. Gamelige, not in the bad place.
They use their VSM, are moving up the middle of the map very quickly without slowing down.
Talcin wants to get aggressive behind the Molotov.
Yeah, this has worked out well. His period falls off the ledge.
Talcin gets into a position without Molotov. Thought he cleared it out.
Let's Halcyon and Hypax open things up here for Game of Leech.
It damaged him to Snow.
And hard to see a world in which Payne Gaming now pulled his back.
Yeah, it feels like too easy of a kill to get away from Biggie Zera.
I think trying to spam through the smoke to catch the player retreating,
but meets the AWP on the other side as he blows a hole in the smoke.
And now all that you have left if you're VSM Snow and safe
is this hit towards the B bomb site. See if you can get lucky.
We got PR sliding into the site, going to be playing as it was the darkness, safe jumping
south you made, going into a CT spawn, and Snax is going to move out, but he's got that
information over to his teammates who are ready for that CT fight.
Yeah, this is where you back away, this is where BSM and Snow save.
There's really no more success you can have here.
BSM got that calm just a little bit too late as Snow steps out of the angle.
And you're gonna have 35 seconds here alone if you're snow.
It's not really why he's staying committed towards the site.
They know next round is going to be a low buy regardless of the snow.
Give it a go and he won't die at the hand of PR.
So no falling back, no saving and paying gaming's money.
Reset.
Yeah, game religion looking rock solid at the start.
Took that one round loss, that little hiccup.
But this is a very strong victory in response to it.
Yeah, should be a 4th to 1 lead off the back, but this is a great move from Towson because that Molotov goes in, you think it's clear.
You don't expect Towson to be in this spot, but he found a little bit of sanctuary and just being in that area so quickly after the flames fade away, you just get surprised if you're paying.
Important to note is that he missed the jump when the Molotov was still burning, so I had to come back to it, so his own mistake caused his death. We'll give it to him.
Towson gonna be chilling at top middle. He's here with Res and Hypex on the wrap side.
Yeah, I'm here here gonna play with just the Deagle.
So that's the only thing worth talking about in the round for pain.
And even that is not going to lead to anything magical you would imagine.
So for one up for a game of Legion, there is a world in which this just is another one-sided victory in favor of game of Legion.
If you're pain and you win the first map, 13-6 on the game of Legion's map pig.
To me, it felt like the draw maybe to be done on map two, right?
You get that start and then you come into Nuke.
But the way they lost that second map is really disappointing.
And it's tough to see how they're going to get back
into the series now, especially with the start
that Gamelige are having on Inferno.
Well, Gamelige right now are playing a game of Counter-Strike
where it feels like they're not taking a whole lot of risks.
They're kind of staying far back.
They had that mid-push in the pistol round.
But in these gun rounds, staying far back,
not doing anything too crazy.
I think they're in a position where they're like, all right,
Payne, show us that you can take the initiative.
You can be the ones to make the move,
that your T-side can break down the defense.
And we'll see if we have to switch things up.
But they're really happy to just play
pretty basic counter strike and come out on top.
Hypex gonna get challenged here, snaps up to Big Uzer on the boost,
spots a few more.
Uh-oh. Oh, DSM's, Deagle's erupted.
Hypex and Snacks both dead. That opens up to B site. More pressure
on the sole defender in PR. Yeah, and actually, Res and Towson are frozen right
now. They have no response to this. They don't know if it's gonna finish. PR's
and they're all here, so it's all on you 1v3.
Hey, Shrouds himself in darkness.
PR with the AK is the light for Game of Leeching.
Elegating everything with a 3K.
They march to the decks inside of the B-bomb site,
and the 4-1 leaders there.
So the pistols, they break open.
There's a chance thanks to VSN, but in reality,
it comes crashing down upon them.
They put them in a dangerous situation as well,
where they weren't sure exactly how to handle things.
If they should push down middle, deal with CT spawn.
Right between the wickets.
This is a VSM making that Eagle work.
Great shots. All flashes of what VSM is capable of.
I haven't shown it in this series yet, but there's a little glimpses of what we know we can do.
Yeah, it's not without impact either, right? Limit the money of Gamer Legion.
Keep them as low as humanly possible for when you can start building some momentum.
Paints are looking for an initial recipe for success on these Inferno rounds.
No banana control, no banana presence this time.
And because of that, Hypex is going to take a deeper angle.
Hypex waits, peak comes in.
Shock goes between the legs.
But it left to the clock, utility being thrown in towards the A site.
The long smoke is just faded.
They toss him out to cover off the front of library, but there's a push coming in,
Rez taking the risk, stepping in front of it for information, and then falls back
and he sees no one progressing.
So this, that's a brutal like shot to take.
Snow brought down to 20 HP, and he's the guy who wants to be aggressive to Tartake
in some space and be aggressive and assertive towards the B bomb site up at Ana, but with
that limited HP, VSM's got a slide into the roll.
Peary unsafe coming back to join him with the bomb, so Big Uzerra's going to try and
be a fake and nuisance alert to wrap through CT spawn on the tail end.
Yeah, we'll see if they even need a rotation or if this defense is going to be strong enough because there has been spotted
I don't think he realizes it either look how rapidly rises communicating that because they're looking towards library rises
So ready because they're a dad now the defenses are freed up on this B bomb site ready
But it's high-packs missing a shot and they flood into the site so the plant is coming through
Gonna try to deny it is PR through the small
He's got two!
Here we are in safe, both dead.
Form is planted, but VSM and Snow are now in a 2v4,
and Snacks comes up through Banana.
It's all on VSM.
We speak of potential, but no chance to show it here.
It's going to be around for Gamer Legion 5-1 up,
and PR is handling business on this B site.
Yeah, I mean, just rock solid from Gamer Legion,
and then this round, we're losing to one player as well.
Like, Pangeous cannot find the kills.
Hypex was left alone in the B bomb site.
This play from PR is a thing of beauty.
I was surprised they didn't have more presence inside the site considering it felt like they knew what was coming.
But dropping the Molotovs, spamming them down, obviously does the job great.
And that turns it into an easy retake as there's no position safe for the pain players inside the bomb site.
And you force them into a timeout.
Oh, there's just not enough money to get a good buyout again here.
It's such a rough situation in this first half for a pain.
They're in such a deep hole they've got to pull themselves out of.
Yeah, I'll tell you what, it feels like at the moment the economy is the least of their worries.
Having so many issues tactically, not able to find ways to challenge and
aggress the B bombsite earlier.
Haven't been able to really push up banana and get any of those fights, find an open and kill,
snow or VSM and banana at the start of rounds.
Up bait hasn't really worked for you.
We've got to find an NA player of sorts, I suppose, coming into the playoffs here in Atlanta.
You know, it snacks as one of the ones I take as well. I'm with you.
He plays with that entertaining style.
We've got highpacks going down into the peak at mid.
Got a little bit of a charge up with pain,
sending players in the second middle, marching towards A.
Taking a pause now as they want to set players up into the balcony,
into the apartments, snow among them, and Towson.
Well, I was peeking early for information,
but drops back to play from balcony,
keeping some range against what is likely to be lower-tier weapons.
Yeah, we know in these rounds, popular strategy,
get a few of the tech nines and Mac 10s up in halls
and do a hauls pop it almost feels like pain is playing with that idea at the
moment going to show some utility as if it will be a hauls pop but most of the
force is going to be coming up lane yeah well they're all coming up short now
telsen springed away taking a while but not getting anything rise has to help
his offer inside of the site gives time for high-packs to ready himself but it
has to be rising he's done well he's got himself three kills in that defense a
ten and two scoreline right now from rise but now snow left alone and the
Push is coming forward, he got that info just in time.
And they fall away, so a 2v1.
Snow doesn't have the information of the second player.
He uses a snark perfectly to block out Longside again.
But Snow feels paranoid, he feels claustrophobic inside of the site going out into the open.
Side of the smoke, sideline, snacks, and now Snow against PR.
And PR's been so great on Inferno so far, but Snow has to win it, and he does.
They needed someone to show up and it's snow the lands on top
They picked up this guy to be someone who come create moments like that when moments for you the talent
He showed as a young kid inside the Brazilian scene. It's taken a long time to get some of it realized
That's a lovely clutch at a critical moment
Yeah, you need to make this the turning point though right that has to be the catalyst that gets this first half underway
I'll tell you what snacks really foreshadowed this play though showed exactly what he wanted
What is exactly on his mind that second smoke create him another avenue, but snow use it back in his favor
Use it against snacks know what was coming well clutch is gonna fire pain up, but can they run with it now?
An AWP for safe AK's out among the rest plenty of utility and you see how quick that timeout comes in as well from game
Allegiant when they lose that clutch they want to make sure they stifle this before it even gets going
Yeah, money's in an odd place for them
So certainly don't want to deal with the consequences of losing two in a row and if you're paying you got to feel like that's the moment
This is the one you have to seize. Combine rounds together. Potentially break the money.
Find yourself some easy back avenue back in to competing for this third map.
Hypex waits at top middle.
I'm blocking with the smoke.
Oh, I like this from Payne. Getting into the smoke. Look at the burst through.
Hypex is in position. He's getting overwhelmed.
If he's not careful, if he doesn't have help, and that's exactly what he's got.
God, Rez makes sure that the trades come in and he doubles up from the same spot.
Now, period, a walk out of boiler, but Rez is not moved.
Rez is ready, and Rez has got the rest.
And so there is no chance to build upon the clutch of snow.
Safe marches off to save his AWP, and Rez has answered immediately.
A 13-2 performance from Rez on Inferno, and it's 6-2 lead right now for Game of Leagy.
Yeah, that round was all decided. That is a strategy called to just say we might win it on this play,
but when they're combined, when there's a crossfire up top, so much attention towards the AWP and Hypex
understandably, and Rez just doubles you up. He's been brutal. Destroying pain throughout this map.
Good adjustment for Hypex. Second flash is perfect, and Rez first takes down the player meant to
eliminate him. VSM can't get it done, so Rez is able to have a double-up easy double kill.
safe vault still in play still intact but it must be the shining light of the
round if anything is to happen here for pain
high packs waiting at top middle a challenge coming this way flashes up
so high packs will fall off the angle that was fast off the flash he's locked
in goes out look at that PR catches safe back turn that's the
up going, it falls to big of Zara instead. You assume there's going to be some
safety there when you show the AWP having that angle so that's quite a
risk for PR but obviously comes out on top. Yeah now you've got Hypex who's had
all the time in the world to reposition back into the library. Biggie Zara might
feel like he needs to overextend, be overly aggressive with this AWP to make a
play to create the opening for his team so Hypex might get a chance. See if they
can bait out the shot here so they can get past the angle. Hypex is going to
start throwing some utility down trying to heat things up figures are it does
get into the flames he takes the risk but he's not able to capitalize yeah but
he's out he actually has high-packs pinned down who's not gonna want to peak
again right he goes again anyway the flash and
Rez again supporting not only with kills but with utility Rez is delivering
impact but he's gone now here he has dropped it here he's got another but
high-packs still here still a threat but a miss shot if they run right past him he
has to deliver something but it's miss shot after miss shot and relies upon the
rifles to help him bail him out but they will be the game religion hold on
he mentioned it's a different team when the right for show for gamer Legion we've
talked a lot about res now PR arriving in the exact perfect moment because
hypebecks is about to get overrun he's got no real options with that AWP in
the scenario until PR buys in that extra time
gamer legion starting to fire on all cylinders it's a 7 to 2 lead five
Five rounds ahead of Payne.
Full control right now, Game Illusion.
We still haven't seen Payne ever like work up the motivation to go challenge for a banana with any sort of aggressive nature, hyper aggressive, like no one's trying to scale towards half wall, no one's trying to turn the corner and pressure these B defenders.
Well, it seems like game religion think this might be the realm because they positioned high packs over here for the opening
They're looking for that change up. This is with the second or third time
We've seen him start here in this position
So I mean they're looking for that moment when pain decides to actually aggressively take banana, but it's not coming
Yeah, the game plan very much about avoiding it looking towards a even after that snow clutch right there the idea and the fall
I was trying to burst through the top mid smokes
Stopping working here for paingaming and snow getting taken down you got Towson with an easy kill towards Pyrrha
None of these kills being challenged back from pain, so it's a shut down for gamelych, you're making it look easy
And Biguzera the only player left has to try and clutch off now
He has actually done very well to get this into a 1v2 all of a sudden
So Biguzera out of nowhere and can it be another clutch on the site?
He's going to be trapped inside the bomb site, know where he can go.
Hypex has him locked in.
Oh, he knows.
See there, he goes big or they go home.
Inside of the site, worried about the short push coming in.
Biguzera, crosshair, chopping and changing, trying to catch the right timing.
But he knows, he's coward in the corner.
He has no idea where they are.
Know where to hide.
Know where to run.
And Hypex takes him down on the first chance.
It's a nice try for Big O'Zara. Three great kills on the site, but in the end, it's Game Illegion pushing themselves up to eight rounds and looking to push Payne out of the competition.
Yeah, it was all desperation. It is nice to make that doable and a good look to get those couple of kills to put yourself in a 1v2, but it's starting to get sloppy and disorganized from the Payne side.
Going down, losing two players before the execute even begins, and there's no chance of its success at that point.
And it's sad to see I mean we were so positive about paying coming into the tournament right but it seems like they've lost control of it now
Almost feels like they might have done one of the classic where you they almost was like they prepped so hard for overpass
So looks so good there to understand what gamer legion was doing knowing it was gonna be a pick that the other maps
Maybe he didn't get as much longer don't have as much focus and game plan built into them
Specifically for this matchup either way
Also helped that period was having a
A life game?
A roster came down on that first map, he has not been able to keep that up, obviously.
Yeah, without that life game it feels like there's been very little production on this
T side.
Only two opening kills in the ten rounds of play on Inferno so far.
One from Snow, one from Peria.
Eight to two lead for Camileachin.
I mean, pain after when the next two rounds here, otherwise this is done.
Yeah, they need some room to work with in the second half, don't they?
Let's see what they can get.
Snow gets...
An analog.
Yeah, but still not super aggressive about it.
Utility is going to force the defense back immediately not winning the best here we go
Yeah, through the fire though. They're gonna be slowed down so good response futility for game. Allegiant
Keeps paying back for now. Well, that's a huge name on a snows position down to 18 health
Yeah further utility about to fly through the sky as well
We got PR stepping out clearing top cart
And all that banana control you fought for if your pain is to be taken right back by
Game of Legion.
And it's now very, very low.
At least some shots being sent back to PR.
Yeah, PR met at the switch positions with Rez, right, with his low health, so...
Okay.
Looking for a little play through the smoke, a boost up over the top, snacks.
Looking for anything.
And pains on the other side just tilt against the wall, barely missing the information.
Here they go, under the open. Snacks are taken too. Of course he has. Bomb spills. 30 seconds
left. He is very low inside the bomb site. He is not really any kind of resistance to
speak about. If you are earlier in the half delivered a big 3k from here against pistols
but this time against the right force, but they don't check him!
And that was a free kill.
PR is very disappointed and frustrated about that.
But Hypex, at least getting one kill back.
You've got VSM on 12 HP, this retake, extremely doable.
We'll see Game of Legends banana fight.
This is everything for Peria not to give up his life,
do not leave VSM alone on 12 HP.
Peria taking damage, but not the kill.
Still trying to fight Towson.
Still trying to win this fight, and he's picked it up by...
Yeah, Sands got the head shot and all of a sudden it's Rez alone.
He's got the 1v1 though and now he's on the stick.
Rez is stolen and away from Payne and surely that is it.
He's got to be getting the call from Towson saying he's low.
He's done damage, low HP, red and banana.
And Rez takes that information and say he's going to want to play the second one.
He's not going to swing here with this HP too early in the bomb timer for it.
Okay, Ryze. He's just having a great game right now. 14-4, clutches like that.
Yeah, Telsen jumping up. The jump was a little crazy. Wanted some information. I
think just swing for the flight of that kind of scenario. Both players running
low on ammunition. That should end it really. That defuse from Ryze should
cut this short for paint. Nades down banana. Bigger Zera getting battered.
down to 52 health.
You get a PR up on half wall.
VSM's ready for it this time.
You can't try that two rounds in a row.
Snacks double from it in the last one.
PR gonna be punished.
Snacks trying to fight, at least getting one kill here,
but a lot weaker on the defensive game,
at least on that B-size.
Wide open now.
Yeah, there wasn't the time to shift a third player over,
so now those losses are really, really painful.
Defense arriving just now,
but they've already made their way into the site.
Extra damage with utility.
Yeah, Biguzera fairly alive.
Five HP left on Biguzera.
Emerlige has been good in these scenarios.
Yeah, they have been.
Utility to commit a swap.
Trying to make that plant a little more difficult,
but safe has just enough health to make it possible.
But this time on the retake, they've got some Utah, right?
They can isolate the banana player, throw in the smoke in,
but they're getting blocked at CT,
so the utility comes in at the right time for pain.
Yeah, they're just gonna have to pick this up
like they can stream out relatively quickly.
Can't wait for these smokes to fade.
You do have kits, and here comes the retake.
Yeah, well, they're forcing Snow to take an open fight,
He's found some cover good movement from snow to stay alive in it and a third round is going to be squeezed out from pain
It doesn't look like it's gonna be enough game and Legion definitely in the position to move through this quarter final
I
Legacy awaits in the semi-final, the winner of this quarter-final that will meet them tomorrow.
Currently watching their countrymen struggle and labor through the series a good map won,
but disappeared on Nuke and haven't yet found themselves uninformed.
One final round they managed to scrape together right at the tail end of the first half to
to get themselves what breathing room they can, but it's backs against the wall for
pain-facing elimination, three to nine, and a huge comeback required as they
switch out of the defensive side of Inferno.
It's tough to see a world in which this is going to happen for pain.
A positive start to the tournament, but looking to be a disappointing end.
Towson, waiting at the barrels for that first peek.
Viguzera will provide it, but no headshot from either player.
Just a little bit of information as Gamer Legion slowly creeps along the map, a default spread.
Seeing what they can find, seeing what information they can glean from whatever setup Pain is playing.
And they're going to fight for this banana control as well. They see the two players. Flashbang is held by VSM over at Coffins. They'll activate shortly.
As soon as they sense Gamer Legion turning the corner.
Because they're up going into the peak and then falling back again. They've got the info. They know they're coming
But you have to go to these kills and snow can't do it
Res takes him away opening kill here for game religion. Oh my lord. This is at this
Yeah, and this is gonna I'll be surprised if they execute up this almost feel like if you wait a little bit longer
You can buy time for PR a spell on the worker landing the shots not getting the kill
We'll find it. Yeah, finally PR
I was eating a meal of it, but eventually takes his silver snacks.
Hypex has killed his own in-game leader, and then Big Ushara's got away with one.
It's a croff like a through banana, because look, it's safe.
Coming in a little bit late.
Big Ushara's done enough to keep his team in this, but safest in man.
It looks like he's gonna win it, and then Hypex spins.
Takes the plant, pulls him in, and another clutch for Hypex!
Yeah, another one for him, and look at the attitude when he wins them.
Deja vu back to map one
Here is clutching all over the place on overpass. That was the only shining light
He gets another one here in the pistols
It has shades of that overpass clutch too right where he captures the headshot just as big as our
He's jumping back around the corner. He doesn't even big as a doesn't want to fight. He wants to see if he's sticking the plant
What a disgustingly fast shot from highbacks
Let's see it again
Yeah, yeah, he was just about to get around that corner
And that might just be the final nail getting hammered into this coffin pain gaming going for a force bite you have to
But it's on the wrong side of the map. They have an aggressive force by they want to stack banana to take advantage of any presence there with
No one home. They're gonna pick up the paces now
This has been an issue for game religion taking too long for their tactics to come to fruition
But they might speed this up. They're not doing anything else on the map
You might as well just go now and snacks is gonna find this push. It's got the information at least
so call that over to his teammates.
Hypex will adjust himself, but they're losing members rapidly.
Rez at least sending a shot back.
The game legion are gonna get funneled out through the balcony,
but plenty of players ready to meet them.
It's gonna be Rez, who's in a stronger spot inside of Pip,
but he gets overrun.
BSM gets to the side and sidelines Rez.
And then they land upon his head,
but it's not gonna be enough to drop him.
So once again, you ask Hypex to deliver for game legion.
The bomb has dropped in Pip though,
so they have to finish here.
They have to win these fights.
But at least that kill will even things out.
Towson and Hypex trying to bring down VSM and Pico Zera must win clutch for pain
Lose this and you shouldn't be out of Atlanta
PSM waits in the smoke not always about to peak he's given the peak
Towson can't take the kill so once again Hypex in the clutch
There's no way surely no way not this one
It's going to be so tough to force them into fights.
The first chance waiting for the peek out for the paint.
He knows the positions.
He just can't get into the engagements he's looking for.
So, Payne Gaming, what a force by, keeps them in it.
That's a spectacular round.
I mean, a great push down Banana.
Snacks gets caught completely off guard.
Those are things that have worked for you in the past.
Back on map one, even a little bit on Nuke.
It's the shot with the scout that really seals that into a dangerous round.
off just as they jump out of the halls that's the thing of beauty. By the skin
of their teeth pain survive. Of course a second time out out of Gamer Legion to
talk things over. A 10 to 4 advantage. The pain is thrown a spanner in the works.
Now you got to be concerned about a comeback. Much more within striking
distance now that the guns and the money has been taken away.
The Gamer Legion looked to challenge here again in round 15.
Buy up everything they can, fully invested.
You've got a Galil on Towson, pistols and armor on the rest of the players, very light
on utility, so Gamer Legion's decision in this round is going to rely a lot on what
this Galil can provide, and they can't create opportunities for it.
Yeah, you don't often say hero galeel do you so
I'm actually surprised there. They're buying here, but
You have to save in the next one is there is there a line of thinking with the losing bonus the way it is
Well, let's see if they can surprise you again. Maybe you do something with this
For pain they've got snow all the way down banana he'll play at the logs
Always getting him into a good enough spot to kick off the round
Game religion is about to move out through top mid.
Snacks are going to be taken down for the smoke.
I mean there's really nothing you can do which is part of the reason why I'm scratching my head.
I don't think there's any kind of significant game plan you're going to fashion with this buy and two smokes the whole time.
Haven't even used the utility yet. You're relying to get a kill or two first before you put those smokes into place.
Under a minute left.
Safe, he's going to get flashed into the peek. He even eats a bit of that flashbang himself.
Gameligian have the angle, safe again, getting caught by the flashbang, but just trying to fend them off, and he's doing a decent job at that.
Until traded by Taliesin. Here's the flight from Snow.
He got that early position, but even that's now being detected.
But what can you actually do with 30 seconds left?
Gameligian starts to move in. Peri is still in the strong position in pink.
PSM's headshot rings out, Puri uses the distraction to be effective in cleaning up the rest.
And the MP9 rings out, makes some money, and a fifth round here for Pan-Gaming.
Yeah, now we'll see a full blown save for the gamer legion side of things and the problem now is that the gap is going to close even further so we're looking at the likelihood of 6-10 for Payne
going into the next buy round of gamer legion and all of a sudden that little, I'm not going to say it's here yet but that potential for a comeback just grows.
They're going to be within striking distance very very soon.
One flashbang, that's all you've got here to work with for game lesion, so 6 round for pain coming up in no time.
Snow is a chance to melt them in.
Don't come ass off, Igaleo for snow, only the war and how are the glocks taking down both of the rifles?
Got no flash.
I know there's lots of weapons available, that one flashbang is proven very effective.
Another bomb plant's coming in.
Oh, it shouldn't be possible, good kill from safe.
He's got the rifle though. Snacks picked up the galeel.
Yeah, but what do you do? I mean, you have no armor if you're PR and snacks.
They've got utility, and they've got a man advantage.
So at some point, you're gonna have to get aggressive and put a stop to this,
just lying and wait, waiting for the turn of the corner.
You can't lose this, Payne.
Smokes too deep though. PR can actually play in front of it.
Snacks is ready! First headshot, same, but the two kills come through.
And Payne has signed for Leaf. That round comes way too close.
There should never be a world in which gamer leaves you even have a chance to win that round
It's a huge benefit that you win against that force by earlier that you're able to pick up an upgrade a couple weapons
Because that's gonna help you sustain the three losses that you just took the rebies aren't gonna nearly be as painful for pain
They're within four rounds
How does snacks one open up the gun rounds on this T side on this offense and this campaign to close out the quarterfinals in Atlanta
the AWP for the CT side. Looks like he wants to bring it towards Banana to start.
There we go. Open and kill. Puts it down. Great work from Safe 5 on 4 provided.
What's the response from Game Religion?
Got PR who's pushed up behind that top mid smoke.
No presence in Banana, thanks to the early success of Game, of Pain's Operator in SAFE.
So, Game Religion only filtering in now.
They're following this up very casual, so Naxx is like, yeah, he probably fell back.
It's a little bit of utility, you'd love to find an equalizing kill, but SAFE is relocated.
minute five. That's all that's left in the round. GamerLegion starting to get into position
in banana. Could be set piece here coming up. Yeah and I mean clearing out brackets if
you're safe right now is perfect while that smoke is up so you can actually send VSM on
the rotation. He's sliding through CT spawn right now going to join up with his B bombsite
on defense so three players here. Four players to attack into it. GamerLegion had some sick
Executes in utility of the previous two maps
They need another one here. They're going up against three defenders 35 seconds
More utility being saved until this crucial point for pain
The fire will fade and here come game of Legion
Attacking into the site BSM swing to the smoke the trade is in after one
It's gonna be snowy and leashes one snacks taking down bigger
without much of a fight, and Gaming Legion are into this, 2v2.
Up on the flank, Snacks has a big role to play here,
safe going to start turning the corner, off angle for Snacks, although drilled.
Yeah, now it's high-packs. He's been clutch all day long,
but he walks right to the smoke into Peria, and Payne can start to believe
they're starting to do this one step at a time, still a while to go,
still three rounds back, but they're winning the important ones, keeping themselves in it.
And it's not a great purchase coming up here for game allegiance, but this is
probably the best pain has felt since overpass right you haven't had that
feeling like you're in control like you're coming back like you're able
to string rounds together. Nuke was a complete blowout. First half on Inferno
had nothing positive for you to take away. Finally now, starting to see this side
build up some confidence and some faith they can come back in this match. And this
is when the Brazilian teams get the most dangerous, is when you start getting a
roll and start getting that momentum and in between rounds and they're hyping
each other up, they just get stronger and stronger.
Yet to see like a truly convincing round victory,
though, that it's always touch and go.
It's always down to the wire.
Even the block round, man.
Like, even that round felt a little dangerous.
So yes, Payne are winning the rounds,
but they need to start showing a little bit of a stronger
setup on the CT side.
They need to be a bit more convincing about it
if they truly are going to come back all the way.
Well, thankfully, they got plenty of money
to sustain any losses they would take.
PR is knocking on the door of Halls. Flashbang is out.
Simulating a Halls pop.
Yeah, safe after ready. Good shot.
He gets the info on the second player too, and safe isn't falling back.
In fact, he steps out into the open looking for a further kill.
What a great first event it's been for safe in this pain jersey.
Good to see him back on the server.
Jamie Ligin. Want to send him home though.
Here they come. Coming in towards the A site.
with the A site, the flank is coming in as well from Talcyn.
Or he's joining, he's coming back from Banana, he'll join up.
So there's more extra players now available for
game allegiance attack as they get ready for their final maneuver.
You've got safe, who's at the ready?
Looking for the P-Kain, but Big O'Zara, Peria and Safe all combined together
to bring a stop to this attack from game allegiance.
There will be no way through as the CTs hold on and now the gap is just two rounds.
And that's what I'm talking about, look at the difference.
Now they're starting to get hyped up.
Now there's energy going and flowing through the pain side of things.
The game religion looking for more after each and every last they've taken.
And that is now the convincing round we were looking for, right from Payne.
The round where they actually put a stop to game religion before they even find themselves in a competitive position.
Convincing round and all of a sudden it feels like game religions playing a little bit tentative, right?
They're sliding into these positions, they're waiting for the peaks, but there's really no aggression, really no pressure being applied.
They're hoping that Payne is going to give something to them.
But at this point during this time out someone from game religion is going to have to realize they're going to have to go and take these
If they want this win pain clawing themselves back
Into this series five rounds in a row for the defense now this fall over it fell completely over pain
Looks so flat like there was no one showing up no shining light to look towards to get you out of this pit of despair
But all of a sudden pain have turned on
And it's been safe his all play was the one that started this streak
had some lovely rounds.
Well, after the time up,
Game Illegion have decided to invest a little.
Save a lot,
and buy into the next one.
But how can they perform with Technis?
Some speed is in the mix.
They're running him down,
putting pressure on that very man
that has got them back into it.
Safe is down for pain,
and all of a sudden,
this round feels wide open.
Period trying to shut it.
PR through with a deagle.
Period dead.
And again, another run, and game of legend coming in with a swinging play towards this
A site.
The weaker weapons have been upgraded and 11 rounds loom.
Crank of the aggression up to 11, that's a wild change of pace, Payne never saw it coming,
and save force all the way back into CT spawn, caught off guard with Nade in hand, and you
can't even go for this retake.
Of course it comes in a round like this, where you talk about save being the impact player
The reliable force for pain and the way you deal with him. It's just overwhelming him forcing him back into the archway
Pistols running him down take it away that AWP. I just I love that call out of the time out
I was just mentioning it feels like game religion just got so intensive that Nate coming in
That's actually gonna do good work and there was one the peonches
Oh, that's it. That's the wrong thing relax for a second
But yeah, I mean it's great for game leaching in terms of the economic decision, right?
Because the fact that you know you're going to do it by the next round allows you to take more risks in this round.
And also, I think this hasn't been one from the coach probably.
When he's noticing similar, I'm assuming to what I did, of the tentative nature.
And when you call around like this, you take that tentative decision making out of the player's hands.
Everyone knows, if you're going for a fast attack like that, and nobody lets go at W, nobody slows down.
Everyone moves forward for the next fight.
So you take the decision making away from the players who are probably feeling some of the pressure of this comeback
Some of the nerves are being able to make it into the semifinal and you remove that from the equation
And now ricks needs to get on the mic one last time all the time out's burned
There's pain somehow need to discover themselves once again
And here will it be this time if safe ignited them in this half to get the comeback started
Who's going to be there for him to help it continue?
Could be him again.
Still got the AWP.
Payne trying to come back.
They've come so far.
But it might still be too little.
Fingers era was in confidence, but they get battered by grenades.
Payne gaming so low.
Two players below half HP.
And Snacks continues to move up through Banana.
He now sits at the half wall, but Snacks is going forward.
side of the smoke. Utility up, South Q made.
It's a hit-off, bigger zero, but they've got top of that in control.
Hypex, challenges, snacks goes in with a second kill.
And Game Religion in a better position, 43 in search of series point.
Not a nice timing, not a bad timing for that play from Pain to re-aggress,
but man, Hypex blindshot kill. Now Snow wants to be the hero, but it's not the case.
Towson's ready.
Game religion locked in and will miss no details.
And now the two remaining players for pain are on polar opposite sides of the map.
At least you have a defending player on each side.
But it has to be a hero play from either Pyrrha or safe.
And Pyrrha has won his fight.
But now you know that at least there was only a single player on this B site.
So the hero play must come from safe.
safe. The question you posed was who is it going to be for pain. Safe steps into the open.
Towson embraced as they move into the site. Game of Legion and a 2v2 bomb plant coming through.
That's all safe needs for right now. Stay alive, you got the kill. Smoke broken, nobody's in the open.
Oh, he gave him the flight. Hideback step back for it. Risky. Kids on both defenders. Safe steps
into the open, missed shot, he's back in the costume, he gets away, so still a chance.
Imperial moves up, snacks ready to silence him, and Hypex is down with him.
The pulls prevail, and it's 12-8 for Game of Legends, series point.
The opportunity was available for safe to rip that out, he had his shots, he had his chances.
Hypex gave him a couple of extra looks.
That he just can't land and he has been good in the clutches all day long, Hypex.
Another late-round scenario where he steps up to have impact.
Four chances for Gamer Legion to progress into the semi-finals
of the Intel Extreme Masters in Atlanta.
And this is what Payne have to play with.
the max seven ambiguous errors hands over towards B
the rest will have rifles one of them are for mass
game religion slowing things down to kick off the road
there's not a lot of utility to play late into the game here if you're paying
not a lot of utility and you got a shot down a big use air but
We've seen a jump here to good effects.
We need a max 7 moment for Payne to stay alive.
The damage is through, the kill comes in, but Biguzera traded by Snaks.
Pretty critical trade as well, to grab that one and find yourself in a 4 on 4.
Yeah, prevents Biguzera from getting his hands on a better weapon as well.
Well, if you come in, it's exactly what Payne are looking for.
They've got a vertical stack and period ready to respond.
Snaks and Ryze, out through top mid.
Payne delivered 1, safe traded by Ryze.
effective trading, but Peria puts a stop to PR.
Rez up through top middle, bomb is at bottom mid, it can go elsewhere, if Rez can get into the archway
they can split this B bomb site, they can split the only player here in Snow.
He mentioned that Bob is in the open and he's dead!
Snow casts his side, Rez into the site and it's a 2v2 for the life of Payne here in Atlanta.
maybe a miscommunication, snow being very, very exposed,
bummed down, all in the retake, there's no kits.
Let's rain, Fiasse, I'm gone, period.
Next up goes in, it's New Church,
and he better pray because that's the only thing
that can save them, but game of legend with it.
The Legion of Gamers will march into the semifinal,
they will play against Legacy,
and Payne started this tournament,
it started with positivity,
But unfortunately, it is a very flat end.
Yeah, continuing this great run as gamer Legion,
bouncing back after that map one,
dropping it in a horrible fashion,
but resetting, looking good on Nuke,
looking good on Inferno, the right first showed up.
They got to be happy, because everyone's playing,
and we saw all day today,
their players getting comfortable on the stage.
Hypex winning launches, getting the crowd involved,
hyping them up, Snaps making his place.
That is so good to see a game of Legion
have a bit of attitude, right?
They're all for actually winning these big clutches,
winning these big moments for the throughout the game
and then actually show some confidence,
not cowering away and falling into themselves.
Well, they're going to need that confidence tomorrow.
They've got a really tough task in the semifinals of Legacy.
For Payne, a good showing eye-opening.
I think Safe coming back has got to be very proud
of how he played in his first event,
returning to official matches in quite some time.
They still look like they're showing improvement,
but obviously a little bit of a hiccup here
as the map pool went deeper.
Flat on Nuke, so flat on Inferno, tried to fight back, but overall I think a good showing from Payne
that makes you think there's something cooking in that camp.
Yeah, it's been a while since we've seen them and great to see them come back and be competitive, make it to the playoffs
all of this event, but definitely a lot of work still to be done as they get themselves in gear
for the World Championships, Counter-Strike coming up in a few weeks' time.
But down on the stage we have got snacks.
We do indeed have snacks. Atlanta makes some noise for gamer legend and snacks.
Snacks are cooking the golden age of Polish Counter-Strike. Over a decade later you're
playing again in front of an Atlanta crowd. Talk to them, man. Thank you, guys.
A lot of legendary moments from your snacks. You built quite the tenure, quite the career.
What about this game today versus Pain?
I mean, Overpass was a little bit tough.
I didn't show up at all. Maybe two or three frags, so obviously we cannot win map.
If I play like this, for the second and third, I felt like we gained the confidence back,
and we tried our best. I believe a bit was shaky at the inferno at some point
because we didn't go with the plan I had.
But hey, I'm happy, you know, to win is a win.
You've got a big game and legacy and a semi-final.
How does that work out for your snacks?
How does this break down for game religion?
I mean, I think we really don't care who is going to be next up.
As an opponent, we treat everyone the same. We want to beat everyone, so...
I hope we can make it, yeah?
Snacks, I've got one last question for you, bud. Do you like peaches?
I like the squinka, yes.
Yes, because you're in the peach state. How hungry are you, snacks?
I mean, not much, actually. It was...
I had a Brazilian barbecue yesterday, actually.
I'm not lying with the team and I couldn't eat for four entire day after it. So it's fun. It's fun today
Snacks anything you want to say? Thank you guys for studying. I see you tomorrow. Yeah
Well snatched up might not be hungry outside the server
We certainly was inside this was a crucial recovery for game a legion in this quarter final
Which teeth him up versus legacy tomorrow
and it really did feel like it was a story of the individuals
slowly but surely powering up in a Snacks' research.
The confidence coming along with it.
Yeah, the change of pace in the second half,
when we started to think that pain gaming were coming back,
when Snacks and Game Religion starting to lose grasp of the game,
they changed the pace, the winner forced by,
and from that point on onwards, it was clear again
that Game Religion were the better team.
You speak of individuals as well,
high picks stepping up,
massively in clutch situations, not only in the group stage,
but now also in the playoff,
you saw in the very last round as well,
risk taking the initiative.
in a 2v3, locks first smoke, catches Snow off guard
and then is willing to fight the last two kills as well.
It was clear to me to see that the more experienced players won today
and the players who actually had the vista in order to go out there
and risk a bit were also the ones who ended up being footholded.
That's part of what makes this game really exciting.
Since the injection of snacks in this IMD combo,
they have this ability to swap up that pace
and actually give that freedom to the players
to make these types of plays, it feels like.
There were times before, maybe under Ash
or when they were a bit more restrictive on the system,
that everything looked like it was so well put together and always so well composed. But
sometimes you do have to let your players loose a little bit. And I feel like these players are
enjoying that extra freedom as well. 100%. You could see it on the stage there as well. I mean,
just a few words to decide the pain. Obviously, ultimately, what was the cosmetic comeback?
Jacob, credit to them for that first map of the series. But I think you're totally correct. The
better team in terms of those individuals, in terms of the teamwork as well, ended up taking
the win today. And it's probably easier to say as well, the better team, right? Pain came into
came into this tournament with a stand-in, came into this tournament with lower expectations.
So for them to even find themselves in the quarter-final in the first place was perhaps
a bit of a surprise.
I do want to give it up to Payne though for putting up a decent fight.
Safe as well, you know, being the stand-in.
I think our Inferno, he was one of the players that made them alive again, you know, the
AWPing, the entry-fragging on towards Banana, the playing defensively towards the A-bomb
side as well.
I think Safe was a pivotal player in this game.
It also even, I guess, get back into it to a point where we believe that Payne maybe
had a shot at coming back.
I think, unfortunately, those same demons started to arise for pain, though.
I mean, do I say they disappear in international playoffs?
It seemed like that was the case again.
If not for the fact that Peria had the insane first map that he did,
I don't think I saw really enough out of the other pieces
to feel very confident in his pain moving forward.
So I'm worried that those demons in the closet just keep on reappearing.
They're not going to they're not growing out of it,
because that was the main thing they probably would have been attacking ahead of the major.
Well, we did feel a lot from the you really touched upon it.
He's making a bit of a name for himself and there's some of those kind of high pressure
clutch situations before a few more of those going down today.
He seems unaffected by that kind of pressure and he seems to thrive in scenarios where you have to think for himself and nobody else
and really have been stepping up throughout this tournament as well.
We saw the amazing clutch in the group stage against Astralis, a 1v4 in Donut.
We saw it again today and it's the timing of it.
It wasn't the exact time where you feel like, oh, pain is coming back.
I think Jason said it during the cast as well. It does feel like pain slowly
But surely are starting to get the sense of the game and a feel for the game and then boom
Hypics comes in and find a lot of impact. So not only does he clutch but he also clutches in the right moments
Yeah, and it wasn't just you know roll 1v1s or 1v2s
It's just these late-round kills that you just kept continuously finding it
It's sort of such a massive bailout for a game religion throughout this entire series really
I think he finished with three clutches in total across the maps
but he was just, she couldn't be stopped or anything.
And that's one thing I noticed as well, the body language of Hypex,
one of the players who would be standing up on the stage,
who would be hiding up the teammates as well,
he was embracing it, he was playing into it,
and it almost felt like he was being feeded by that energy to some extent.
We had the opportunity to talk to him on the desk,
and there he was being very modest, he was being very calm, very collected,
but it's clear to see that he's playing with a certain fire when he's on the server.
This is only a second big stage, inside the Cambridge and Jersey as well,
that is nothing to be forgotten as well. Any other individuals that you'd have like to hide up a little. I mean, it's just all of the young bucks really on on
gamer leeching, you know, we actually failed maybe to get a good performance out of res for the first couple of maps he really locked in, you know, maybe that all that
meditation he did entering the venue and entering the stage. He actually needed to jolt that jolt of energy and you had great performances from 1000 and PR throughout. I wanted to highlight them coming into this map because of
that they serve as these anchor players that can be so disruptive and hard to deal with.
And unfortunately, that wasn't enough. And we don't see the the disruptive flashback
or utility. We didn't get to really get into pain eggs, executions where those anchors
are really put to the test. Yeah, I could as sentiment. As I said, I feel
like the wind could come from a lot of different directions. Snacks as well, you know, had
certain moments in this game and certain rounds where all of a sudden he's the one getting
a multi kill. He's the one putting himself at the center of the round. And then as I
I said, Ress, one thing I like about Ress, and then people may not give him enough credit for that,
it's a player that is always sticking to his true identity on the server.
Like, he's willing to be that guy who maybe takes the gamble, and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,
but at the end of the day, I think Jason has well highlighted that on the cast,
someone within GamerLeading will have to break out of the system, break out of the boundaries,
in order to change the tide of the game, and you can always count on Ress at the very least,
trying to be successful.
Should we look at what you've done, just kind of the final moment for this map,
around 19, what are you highlighting him?
It was just simply, I mean, this wasn't a good economic round really for game
allegiance. You could see that our buy is here with massive tech nines.
But because they've been playing with a slower pace on this T side,
safe gets caught with util. He gets run down by res.
And then all that chaos brewing along PR picks the perfect moment to come out
of the smoke. And it just felt as though Dane were getting completely caught
off guard by that tempo. And without their understanding or being able
to deploy some of that counter utility, it's tough to hold on to that a bomb.
Straight after that time out as well.
You know you see the instant impact coming in and as you said that was the that was the game right there
That was another key round going the way of game religion and essentially what made sure the pain giving never came back into it
Well, we talked a lot about the individuals on the side of game religion
So I'm curious to find out who is in our top three of our DHL MVP
Who will be the DHL MVP?
You decide you can participate in the DHL MVP vote as it happens
Make sure to be tuned into the twitch stream and be ready to have your say
This is exactly where you put your hard earned Twitch channel points to very good use.
You've got three options from this particular quarterfinal, no surprises to the Hypex as
our first option, Jacob.
In terms of raw impact, he definitely had a great game.
He was consistent throughout the entirety of the matchup, didn't have many periods
where he didn't find impact from start to finish, and then as we spoke about the clutching
ability, the ability to be mobile with the AWP as well.
I think it's only fair that we give the Hypex some praise, had a great group stage and had
great showing him the playoff as well. Our next contender is indeed going to be PR.
Yumi, are you tempted to put your Twitch channel points to him?
I'd be tempted. He's a hard sell over HyperX, but I mean PR,
cool, calm, had a lot of really high impact rounds, and even when he's playing these more
passive positions, knowing the right time to press the attack and go in for those flanks,
really showing that quality and caliber that a lot of people had hyped around him moving out of
last year. He's the ex-factor, he's the player that you can count on, you know, to change the
course of the game from time to time. P.I. didn't necessarily have that many moments today at that,
but I'm sure he'll be needed in the semifinal. I feel like you're going to be tempted, very tempted
indeed, with our final option, Jacob, because you've been on the res blow-up right now. You've
been talking about him being his best version of himself, since donning this game of Legion
Jersey alongside Snaps this year. He certainly bounce back to a level that he can be very proud of,
but also a level where he's helping out Game of Legion and also a lot. Not only with the experience,
He's been around for a long long time, but he also steps up in the crucial moments
Best visualized here in inferno in the final round where he's single-hand winning the game and winning the round for game
Allegiant so only fair that we put rest on the list today
Maybe not the guy I would vote for but definitely in contention
There's a lot of reasons to like game religion if you're an American fan
It's the the big apple and snacks moment and mr. Okul I am Oakland himself
They'll never let us forget that really of course
They're gonna be taking on legacy in our first semi-final tomorrow
But I do just want to briefly talk about pain under the road here for them.
But not the last time we're going to be seeing them this season.
Of course, when we look on towards the major, they're actually going to be starting in stage two.
I mean, is that an initial surprise thinking about how that year has been so far?
Would you expect them more as one of those stage one teams?
Or do you think they might have a chance to make a dent in stage two?
I think they're the cost of it to be completely honest.
It hasn't been a great year for K gaming to be completely honest.
Now they most likely will have NQC back on the lineup for the major.
That's going to be a good thing for them.
I think he's a big part of that roster.
But I see them being a stage 2 team right now, but I have my doubts whether or not they're going to make it to stage 3.
And quite which two to say, right?
We're talking about a team that were in the playoff in Austin, you know, all the way into the semi-final.
We're talking about a team that at a certain point were stable in top 8.
But I think those days are long gone for paint for now.
Yeah, and the team, I mean, they did at least beat Foote, who have been kind of the team of the season.
You're coming into this year.
So in some respects, I agree with you.
You know, this is they're on the cusp, but you know a phase and a bad boom that that beat through them
I wanted to see more I want to see that development for those playoffs because even if they do make a past stage too
Further into the major becomes more complicated. It's gonna be very complicated indeed either way and the lines of pain here in Atlanta
So let's get a few closing thoughts from them courtesy of sticker
I'm here with Safi from pain or commiserations on the loss obviously I want to ask you about this mess of three
From your POV, what really happened?
Finally you broke the overpass, but still the best of three wasn't enough.
It was hard.
This last map, we were going to come back and we lost the first buy.
I made a mistake on the long side and I think that caused us the comeback.
No, we were playing good and after that I didn't manage to win a round I think.
But I mean it is what it is. I think we showed resilience throughout the whole tournament.
And I mean a few were on the right path. We had just two weeks of practice so there's a lot to learn and a lot to improve.
I mean you're so critical there that you're kind of blaming that one round your mistake.
Can you talk us a little bit about that mistake because you blocked the smoke right in the arch.
You took an HE in the hand and you didn't count that they're going to run you with the technizer. What happened there?
what happened there? Yeah, so first I think I did a smoke B for the banana guys and VSM he jumped
window and he called VP but I'm new in the team and I didn't know what VP was and VP was the rush
rush long and I didn't know and when I got to the arch I just saw the smoke and I didn't think I
I had time to do anything else, you know, so I think because I'm new to the team and
I didn't understand the call.
But I mean, this is how it is, you know, the only round that I smoke banana and they
do that as well, so, yeah, I mean.
It's super unfortunate, right?
But at the same time, you're admitting that this is kind of a new environment for you.
But looking ahead, what's next for PIN?
Can you share a little bit what is on the schedule for you?
Yeah, we're going to go to China now.
We're playing the CAC there.
I'm really looking forward to it. I really love the country. China is really really nice
So yeah, we played there and then after that I believe we're gonna go to Belgrade to do a bootcamp for the Cologne Major
So yeah
Anything you want to say to the fans before before your last sign-off from this tournament?
Just say thanks to the fans to the Brazilian fans to everyone
It's it feels so nice to come back and play and be in front of the of a crowd and
Yeah, so just thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you as well for this and good luck in China
Speak on safe for the inside and that one I'm very honest from safe
Even though he's in a situation where he's coming and standing in for the team a lot of accountability
You know basically taking it upon his shoulders that they couldn't continue the comeback and think it's fair enough
You know, he didn't make a mistake
But overall I also think he was one of the players for pain gaming on Inferno
They kept him alive for that long and actually allowed them to to make the mini comeback
they did, you know, so fair enough and a fair play to safe.
Playing as a stand-in is never easy.
I think he can be part of his performance today,
but also throughout the entire tournament,
by no means a weak link when in pain.
I think it's maybe just one of those positions that he's in
where, you know, he's seen the impact that NQC has had
on the roster before, and so maybe he's trying to
fold himself to that standard,
and even if it is an awkward situation for himself.
I always appreciate when safe gets to do those interviews
because he's actually a very sort of insightful,
self-reflecting player in general,
because of the fact he entered the game quite late. He wasn't one of these 18-year-olds coming into global offensive and all,
but the teams and players are rising through those ranks. He chose to do this, you know, midway through, I think, education as well.
Yeah, very eloquent, gentlemen. Yeah, up next on the docket for them, that's going to be taken on M80 at CAC.
They're also on the same side of the bracket as Falcons, who you're just seeing obviously take it out through, over at Nistana as well.
So I think it's going to be quite a tough competition for them over there.
MAT does seem beatable, but yeah, if the inevitable happens between Falcons and BC game, that's going to be tough.
It's going to be another great test for Payne, you know, heading into the Colombo Major to see where they're at.
I think overall, you know, right now, surely disappointed.
I think they saw the opportunity that playing Game of Legion and playing Legacy in a semi-final,
the final was possible for them, but overall, I think if they were to look at this tournament as a whole,
it's a step in the right direction, and I'm sure they hope to do the same in the tournament at CAC.
Beating MAT though, that should be more than possible.
and there's two tournaments happening simultaneously with some of the best teams in the world,
and they have looked mortal. Some of them will also be going to China.
You know, the fact that we are starting to break through the wall that did seem to separate
the best from the rest is a very promising prospect.
And surely such a confidence-boosting opportunity, obviously not guaranteed prior to going into the
major, right? These kind of moments and those kind of wins that present themselves
could give you such a boost going into the most important event of the year.
It could, and I think it's an important point to bring up as well, but I think there's also the other side to the coin that we don't often speak about.
It could also be a mood break-up. It could be a scenario where they walk into that tournament, they lose to M80, they drop down to the lower wagon,
and all of a sudden, the last tournament you played heading into the Major was one that didn't give you confidence.
So, as much as I agree, you know, for a team like Gamer Legion Legacy, paying to some extent as well, this was a farming confidence exercise at IM Atlanta,
but now you've sort of risked, you know, losing a bit of that as well, if you don't do well at CSC. So, it comes with a bit of a risk.
You can make the second place. You can make the grand finals of every tournament and still be in a nightmare position as a roster
We've seen that demonstrate over all of last year
You know, maybe a deep into tournaments doesn't guarantee that you ever break past that barrier as well
So yeah, I think there's there's a lifeline to this
You know, there's a shelf life to how long this this roster can take getting into a playoff position or getting to scale up against tougher teams
If they don't learn and develop from that again, you reach the same roadblock that pain of encounter before
Let's have some light thoughts on the semi-final for tomorrow. Then the first one that we see cemented legacy versus game
Allegiant I imagine another very competitive affair
I'm just in terms of the two Brazilian styles that we might kind of compare and contrast between pain and legacy
What do you anticipate that game?
We're gonna have to face tomorrow. I think it's gonna be a fun game to watch
It's gonna be an explosive game of counter strike. We've seen this Nexus very willing to play fast-paced counter strike
He's willing to do out of spawn calls and we see legacy
They're very willing to adopt a bit of the art style
Maybe not to the same degree we saw back in the day with Furia, but there's still some of that identity in them legacy
They want to fight your heads on and I think snacks in the boys from game
Only then would be willing to take that fight so explosive counter strike and front counter strike it should be
I just think this is like a fan favorite type of matchup really
I mean you have snacks and art that are just just these crazy personalities that have these quirky play styles
They give great interviews. They're very insightful
But then they're also just as chaotic as playing a matchmaking game. They will go in with shotguns
They will make crazy plays and they will I think to play with that tempo in a great way
I think that's really where the battle of styles will come through is that art has done a lot to slow the game down
For a legacy that at the end of last year were actually pretty hectic pretty chaotic
But making it up the levels and up the ranks in a way that people wouldn't have expected from that funny how that works
Isn't it as slowing down a team? You know five years ago that would have been unthinkable
I very much agree with the point, but the problem I guess for Game of Leapness, the legacy is the team right now with a lot of confidence.
They came fresh off a win domestically speaking, so it's going to be one of those games where both teams obviously are eyeing a massive opportunity to get into the grand final, but both teams also win to 5-4.
You mean just because you're not going to be joining us for the next game? It's been such a pleasure to have you up here by the way, but your speaker fan favourites upnakes Vitali versus Navi. Any predictions going into that one?
There isn't a single place you could be in the world right now where you shouldn't be watching this game
This is the two best teams in the world both have shown vulnerabilities
And I think it was discussed before but for Navi if not now what then when if vitality
You're saying that they're playing their F game to get into the playoffs
If you can't you won't beat them when they start practicing. Do you think they will?
I don't think so
beautifully for us they you mean we're going to have things to a quick break
and when we return just as you meet was saying the number one and number two
teams in the world going to be descending upon this very stage it's
vitality taking on Navi in our second quarter final after this
What's up, my man?
Washed vitality is here.
You have to play quarterfinal now.
Oh, no, it's, uh, what's going on?
The air is done. We've finished, we've finished.
I have to ask, though, because I can imagine yesterday was
spending, you know, polishing things and you have to, you know,
have some days off as well.
Can you walk us through a little bit how did you use this?
And you can get technical with me.
Was it theory? Was it practice? Was it individual?
you. Um, mostly we had a couple
practice games. A bit of theory
as well. Just, uh, I mean, of
course, it wasn't a full
practice. They we just had a
couple practices, but just to
get control on some of the maps.
Uh, work on some new ideas as
well, not just for this game,
but hopefully it's not our
focus. Of course, we want to
win here. Our focus is the
game, but also we're still in
preparations for the major and
make sure we can peak there as
well. So I think first year we
still haven't had a lot of
practice days before this event.
It's been it's been pretty
rough in that aspect. So it's
and see what we can add to help us here as well.
Looking at your bracket, it's a pretty difficult draw, right?
You potentially have Bedboom, who actually beat you.
Now you have Navi, which, okay, you have a good record against them,
but when you saw that draw, what came to your mind?
You can speak on behalf of whole vitality.
I'm excited, I think first it doesn't really matter who we play.
Of course, we probably expected to play Navi at some point,
but maybe a bit further down the line,
But at the same time, I think for us, it doesn't matter who we play.
Now we get to the playoffs, it's kind of sometimes feels like a separate tournament for us.
Like we have the groups, okay, now it's our time to step up and make sure that we get a level up now
and take the step forward because, yeah, we're playing Navi.
It doesn't really matter how many times we've beaten before, how many maps we've got over them.
We know every game is different and we had records of other teams in the past
and you never know the next time they can beat you or make it a lot closer.
So, yeah, I mean, it's going to be a tough bracket,
but I think for us it's where our experience shows and where the individuals and experience kind of
take that step up now in the playoffs and on the stage and that's what we're looking forward to.
Really always nice talking to you. Good luck in this quarterfinal.
Get the fuck out of here!
Something special to tell you is divine.
And that's what you do when it happens.
Got a bit, sir?
We are back!
The dispatch is back and looking better than ever.
Oi! Get some of that!
Fall in your new wheel!
This season it's bigger deliveries.
It's a lie Hugo.
Bigger personalities.
Invasion, wake up walking.
In bigger problems.
Trains!
Featuring special guests.
Alex, what the hell is happening?
And of course, the team you know.
Is this really necessary?
There it is!
I'm not gonna die!
I'm gonna kill you!
Be careful what you wish for.
Hi, I'm Henry, Henry G. Greer, new general manager for Team Falcons.
And today, I'm going to give you a peek behind the curtain as I build a colossus on Colossus'
new fantasy mode.
We're going to kick things off with a triple pickup.
Kisuke, Monosie, Niko, my boys.
Welcome to the team.
And I'm biased.
To me, so...
Daniel is a personal friend of mine.
Not very bad.
Seems the site has a...
Technical error.
CUT!
Right.
You've gone over budget.
What do you mean, gone over budget?
It's fantasy, right?
The idea is you build a team within your means.
Well, that's not very realistic, is it?
Look.
It's classic fantasy.
You can pick any player within reason.
And you can build your roster.
The best part, with Colex, you can win actual prizes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's all great, but one question.
This budget thing.
If I'm maxed out, how am I gonna afford S-Attack?
What?
Can't build a colossus without S-Attack.
I usually like to always do my monitor as soon as I can.
I still do the same thing actually where I do like an arm's length away and a little
bit more and then in terms of like how high I usually just go like to the max and then
like a little bit lower so like my eyes are at the top of the monitor.
Okay.
So just for some reason that's supposed to be the best.
In terms of keyboard orientation, you've got a wrist rest.
I do.
I think that it's just nice.
It's just nice for my wrist, especially when you're playing for a long time.
Don't want any issues.
That's pretty much the goal as you get older.
Don't want any issues.
Nothing going wrong.
Long games.
Yeah.
It goes with your posture.
And it just feels nice because if you don't have the wrist rest, your hand has to be like
this.
Whereas if you have the wrist rest, it just feels more comfortable for me.
More natural.
Yeah.
And that's a Wu-Ting keyboard, I do believe?
Yeah, this is routine. Can I ask a couple of questions? Maybe? Wait, are they?
This is a custom key cast. I see. Are they
Japanese? Yeah. Okay. Let's just just for looking cool. Do you ever go
where's the letter L gone? Oh, I got it. I got it on lock. Okay. All right, fair enough. I don't
even look. You don't even have to look. But like whenever I'm doing SSD setup, that's where I'm
sometimes they don't like it because they can't type in that in the password.
It's a very unique looking keyboard, I'll tell you that much.
Okay, so are you a rapid trigger user?
Yeah.
Okay, what about your actuation point?
So I have it at point four, but I actually have different switches.
You can feel it if you want.
So they're actually tactile because the standard like HE, which is like the Hall of Effects
switches, they're usually linear and I really don't like linear.
So I found these, they're like heavy tactile switches.
It's supposed to be like what I used before hooting.
And it feels really nice.
Okay.
Cause I used to like when I'm like doing like ADAD
or like doing my strings where I can like feel the bump
and now I can feel the bump
and it feels much better for me.
Okay, that's cool.
Okay. And that's a little addition there.
So do you have a, you said 0.4.
Yeah.
Is that on all the keys or some different?
I have them.
So it's 0.4 on WASD and then everything else.
I think my default is like around two.
And then like keys I really don't want to press
Like G for example is like the max.
I have it at 3.5 or 4.
Okay.
So like G or like the windows key for example,
like any key that I really don't wanna press.
Okay, that makes sense.
So we ever see you drop your gun to that user error.
That's not a key point.
Yeah, that's user error.
Okay, it wasn't a key point.
All right, so special key caps, special switches.
I mean, I'm on the super strike now.
Lots of grip tape on that.
Yeah, just cause my hands are always sweating.
I think I found this in 2019 of just using grip tape in general and it helps so much more.
Like just not having to worry about, because whenever I have a mouse that doesn't have
grip tape I always have to do this middle of the round and it makes a big difference
for me.
Lana Georgia, here we are yet again at the Ponce City Market.
What does it Lana know about Counter-Strike?
Or video games in general?
Let's just find out.
Let's just see if anybody is on the same wavelength as us here at the Intel Extreme Masters.
I play video games, funny chance?
Sorry, come on this way, come on this way.
Talk to me about teams playing other teams and people playing other people in video games, eSports.
I think that there is a culture for it, but I haven't really been involved with the culture of eSports.
What do you think separates a good eSport from the great eSports?
You need a good balance of the game, and you need players that understand the mechanics of the game,
and you use those to the fullest capabilities.
I'm literally on Super Smash Bros. pretty much only.
What's your favorite character? Who are you playing? Who's your main?
Ness.
More of a Kirby brick everything into that.
Yeah, any new girl that I teach Smash? She plays with Kirby.
Maybe one day I'll grow up.
Are there any games that are just embarrassing to be good at that you think of?
This is going to be a hot topic. I think it is a little embarrassing to be good at God.
Okay, let's go out and man, let's tell them what they need to hear.
I must have sat at the wrong table. Yeah, we're kind of talking about video games.
Do you guys know anything about video games, eSports?
I know stuff about Brawl Stars.
Okay, I know Atlanta has a big cod scene,
but how many times can you play Cold War and say it's a different game?
What do you look back and say to the younger you're watching?
Go hard for the times that need to be taken hard and just have fun.
The Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta 2026 is brought to you by ESL
in partnership with
Intel
Acer Predator
DHL
Checks
And ZOE
Ehor, can I grab you for a second?
Come here, my man.
I have a quick question, Ehor.
You get to play, again, the best team in the world.
What are you feeling like? What's inside of your mind?
It's okay. Every time we're playing Grosjean, we're getting better,
so it's time to maybe finally win them, I hope, and just show our best.
I don't want to ruin it by talking about head-to-head, or a curse, or a streak, or whatever like that.
What are your expectations coming into the game today?
Is it just a win? Is this all you think about?
Just play good CS. If you play good CS, we can win them.
This is perfectly fine. I want to have to talk about the group stage,
because it was kind of unexpected loss against Legacy as well.
I just want to talk to you with, you know, two days ago.
What have you learned from that game?
Did anything, you know, change in the team? Did it affect you in some way?
other things that affect us.
We just played bad as a team.
We lost our first map, and it was in our hands, but we managed to lose it.
And nothing changed, literally.
We just like to play Vita, not in the grand final, to play them right now.
So it's better to play a thing in group-station, in playoffs.
You reckon that it will be a little bit easier than the best of five against a team like that?
I think so, yeah.
We'll see.
Yeah, I saw also a lot of fans in Na'Vi jersey and specifically cheering for you guys, any words to them, this will go in the arena.
Thank you for the support guys.
Yeah, and see you on the server.
What so many thought was destined to be the grand final here in Atlanta, already set to be going down in the quarters.
The house is packed out for Vitality vs Na'Vi.
There are four Pads ahead this year, but one will not be able to claim a single map off of Vitality.
Can that fake be changed today? That is what we're here to be answering with myself for our Spears.
We've got Pimp and also Janko up here joining us. Welcome to the desk, welcome to the arena.
We've had some fun in the first game, but this one, this should be a banger.
Certainly, I mean, I think the atmosphere is great. It kind of gives you a throwback to the early days, right?
with the huge floor, with the crowd being so intense, right, and so involved with the games.
And I think for what's going to be the marquee matchup of this playoffs, right, we're going to get a banger, hopefully.
Yeah, without a doubt. We have what is currently the two best teams in the world.
Obviously, there's no discussion whether or not Vitality are still the number one team, whereas for Na'Vi,
I think they've established themselves as the first challenger.
But as you said, Fred, it's been a bit of an issue for Na'Vi to actually get the Ws and get the Metwinds
even against Vitality, so here's hoping that we get a, I wouldn't say more competitive
serious than in some of those because there has been close maps and fun series, it's more so
for Nami to get it over the finish line. We do also have to check in with what exactly is on the
line if any of these teams were to go on and win this entire tournament as well, obviously a notch
on the belt of the ESL Grand Slam which we just aptly saw Vitality wasting their second off,
second back to back, first team in the history of the universe to do so, and if we could so
believe it Yanco, we've been talking about it so many times. Vitality could do it again this year
as well. We asked Apex about it, he didn't like to talk about it, but it's a prospect.
I'm not calling for it, Freya. We had the same conversation last year when they're winning
everything in the first half of the year, right? I don't think they will complete another one in
2026. It seems impossible. I think they'll get probably a couple of notches under their belt,
this being one of them Cologne potentially being another. I think even with other teams making
changes and let's even say that they're going to improve and put up a better fight against
vitality, they're not going to be going anywhere. You know, there's still being contention for
these trophies, they'll still have deep runs, but yeah, it's been coming a little bit ridiculous,
sort of the things we talk about when it comes to vitality, but that's just how prominent they are.
Yeah, I mean, we're talking about an era and that's just so rightfully said, you know,
maybe it's the dynasty and if there were to claim another one, you know, if there were to take
another ESL Grand Slam in this year alone that will be that will be the dynasty and a and a lot
more too to that. I'm not sure either to be completely honest I think Vitality have a good
chance instead of remaining competitive but just winning the ESL Grand Slam in itself is a very
tough task and to do it three times in a row it seems unimaginable. It's one of the toughest
in all of esports to be completely honest right and when we're looking at vitality right now I
think you know you brought up the question is this the most speedable version of vitality we've seen
And is this the time, if not now, when for a lot of these teams?
Well, if it isn't, then I don't know what is, right?
I mean, they haven't practiced, they've been on the road for, you know, three plus weeks
at this point in time, away from their homes, away from their families, so, you know, it's
getting more and more difficult to sort of just play with Counter-Strike even, right?
I mean, they've been together for a long time now, their playbook is deep, but we know how
tough it is nowadays.
You constantly have to update, you constantly have to refresh.
You're the number one team in the world, you've got a target on your back, everyone's grinding
day and night to sort of catch up with you.
And I think this is for me also the last chance for Navi to beat Vitality.
If they don't beat them here, they're not beating them.
Like if it's another loss, then you're just becoming the Maus of 2026, a really good team
that's beating everyone else but just can't beat Vitality.
And granted they at least have a tournament winner under their belts at Crow League, you
with the absence of vitality, but they don't care about it.
I have to give them props because they say if you don't,
if you're in a tournament and vitality isn't there,
it doesn't really count.
I think there's two ways around that question,
because I agree, right now is actually the most beatable time
that you could face a team like Vitality.
But to me, the question is more so,
is this the time where the second best, third best team in the world
are the most capable of beating Vitality?
Because I think what we saw last year when Vitality were losing
a couple of the semi-finals and finals,
That was Furia, Falcons at times as well, playing Counter Strike at an incredible high level.
I don't see Na'Vi as a right now, sure they've gotten better, sure they're playing good Counter Strike,
they're the second best team in the world.
I don't think Na'Vi as a right now is a better team than Furia where last year when they were beating Vitality.
So even though Vitality may be more beatable now, I'm not sure the competition around them is as strong as it used to be just half a year ago.
The comparison to Miles is, that's really hitting me, Anko, because you're so right.
They also won a tournament, the only tournament they won, Vitality weren't even at as well, right?
like the comparisons it's got a good one because there's a psychology aspect to
it and this isn't the first time we see it obviously we compare vitality to
Astralis. Astralis had liquid at that time you know they were beating all the
time here you can see some of the results that happened between vitality and
mouse and it's the same sort of amount of games compared to how many times Navi
played them this year and the problem is it just becomes too big of a mental
obstacle. We even saw it when Navi was the best. Like G2 couldn't beat them, right?
But the Navi couldn't beat Spirit, and Spirit couldn't beat G2, and you had that
weird triangle, but you know it just becomes too much to deal with. You feel
like whatever you try, because you tried a lot of different things, if you lost to
the same team five times in a row, you can't even win a map in a best of five,
you just have this feeling of helplessness, right? And no matter what we
try, these guys just have our number. Yeah, I think the only silver lining to
that is that it's been getting more and more competitive in some of those maps you know and
I guess you don't get any participation fee or you don't get any clap on your shoulders
for almost beating Vitality. There's a lot of teams who's been able to do that and then
push them into overtime and that's where I guess the current Vitality have shown to
be so so strong that regardless of what you throw at them they'll find a way to win but
if I were to give any hopes for people watching right now it is Navi seemingly have gotten
closer to beating Vitality.
That's a really slim silver line. They haven't even won a single map, right?
14 in a row and that is crazy. It's 22-1, I believe, in match 1 for Vitality, the call
Vitality to Nami's call right now. So, yeah, let's be honest, this is maybe the most dominant
matchup there's ever been in Counter-Strike and there we go.
One map in three years. That's what we're getting to here almost. Yeah, but I think
it's also important because they played so much recently, you know, in some of these
games, like it becomes a meta in its own right when you play a certain team. And it's really
important like how you approach those games and you don't prepare for it and
then you don't look at it the same way like you do any other series. Should we
talk about some of those adaptations? I imagine you've been in that situation
before when you're taking on a scene just time and time again how do you make
sure that you're making those micro adjustments to get the better of them? What
have you observed? It's not because they played in two finals back-to-back right
in rivals and in Rotterdam and just going from one final to the other you're
going to see small adjustments so this is first going to be from the Rotterdam
the first final that they played, watch out where Alexi is, like he played this spot a lot, so he's
listening for any sort of aggression, he's playing close by, in the mid-round once Vitality starts
taking mid control, you see this combo for mid, you see the A main combo as well, that's going to
prompt Makazi to throw his first smoke, because of Alexi's forward position he could have saved
his smoke, they didn't need to spend them, he got another one for Alexi, so he blocks now and you
We can see as the hit is coming in from Vitality, he has one more smoke at 35 seconds left.
That's going to make it much easier for him to hold, gets one kill.
Also really important, you can see if you look at the radar, there's only two guys on
B. Alexi can just freely hold this flank because B main is smoked.
So it's easier for the B guys to hold it on their own.
Makazi, great individual play in this round as well, flashing through the smoke, finding
another multi-kill and they just win the round, right?
But what is the adjustment from Vitality?
This is now from the fourth-worth final.
Look at Mazzy.
Combo for exactly that position where Alexi B was playing.
So he clears that out and now in the mid-round, Apex just throws a weak fake.
This isn't supposed to fool Navi that it's going to be A, but it's supposed to do exactly
this where they're coming out to clear mid because they think it's a fake, they want
to creep mid.
Also, because of that pressure, there's no small B-may now.
So now that the execute comes in, more bodies coming B-may, you can see how the trades come
in.
We just have a 3v3 post plan and they get right back to it, clutch it out and I think
it's mind games like this that really matter when it comes to how to approach your T-side.
And it's something we spoke to Flamesy about as well on the desk after they qualified for
the playoff.
He said that Apex plays a vital role in that, has been limited time to practice but even
during a tournament where Flamesy said that sometimes we're struggling on a certain map
from the group stage to the playoff, a few adaptations, a few things that then Apex walked
through together with the coach and the assistant coach and all of a sudden they have a new
belief in that map. So to see something being changed in such a short amount of time, despite
using the same playbook as Flamesey said, they're still running on the IEM real playbook within
Vitality, because of the lack of practice, that's another point as to why they're so, so strong
and so hard to beat. Yeah, we have another set of rounds where it's important because Navi does
such a great job at game planning, right? So again, from the first game in Rotterdam, Alexi,
same position, plays close by. This time it's a different sort of a round where, okay, now they
They don't feel any pressure and they're going to go for an information play like they really wanted to target to Masi
They know he's usually on his own holding. They're gonna be able to push out find the kill Makazi keeps pushing
Finds two more kills and this is now winning like back-to-back gun rounds at the start on CT side and UBIS
Which is not easy. So if you move to the rivals game, hey, what's gonna be different now when this combo happens?
Look at the radar
Messi, he's number five, but the number three guy over there, that's Apex, just playing anti-clash.
So this is all, all of this round, all of this call is just to prompt Navi to react, right?
And then to punish that reaction as they're taking mid, Navi repositions for the flash play,
even though Apex started moving, like him just being there, draws enough attention where
Messi can get the trade kill, and then in the 4v3, Vitality closes it out.
And these are games that have ended 13-11 for Vitality and 13-10 for Vitality.
It's just super important to talk about how you always have to be on the top of your game
and talking about vitality, taking time off and not really practicing and everything.
Like, can they find, again, a couple of things that they can turn into their advantage and
sort of sprinkle something in where it makes it more difficult for Na'Vi to prepare?
That's exactly the question.
And I hear Stigo has some more vapors.
Hey, back sketching out with me ahead of the quarter finals.
I want to ask you a couple of questions, because we've seen some struggles after a long time obviously.
From your POV as a captain, as an IGL, what has been the main struggle so far in this tournament?
Let's put like two or three topics here.
Well, the same as the last one. Nothing changed, we didn't play.
So we have sometimes a lack of understanding each other.
I would say the third thing. Sometimes the individual as well.
and lack of team play in a way, like taking things not well enough, I would say.
So, I just think that you get when you don't play.
And now, because I see some people say, yeah, they are professional,
yeah, but it doesn't like, why we repeat things every day?
Just because it's not easy to get a really great level.
So, yeah, we like this thing right now.
But what I mean is we stepping out of the age game
and hopefully we're going to still step up today.
Despite all of that, you suffered a loss obviously against Bad Boom
and you had to do the lower bracket run, which is kind of rare for you.
I want to bring you back until when you when it was that game against Beboum,
what was the team talk like?
What did you tell to the team or what was the coaching staff were talking to your gas?
Well, I think the main thing was probably a nuke on that one
because we had again a really poor side.
So I tried at least to put hours on nuke and understand why we were shit at the time.
And because we knew that also the next day we will play against space
and they would pick Nuke, so we had to step up and actually we played better against
them on Nuke. It's still not perfect, so that's the thing that we need to take care of.
But overall, we just didn't play good and that's it. I mean, there is no like 100
topics. We didn't have good to play. We didn't send much each other on a few rounds.
I haven't played much Anubis before that, so also it was a bit of a mess and if you
didn't step up, so all together combined, you lose.
Anyway, that's complete sense. I want to say that teams are kind of feeling that vitality
are weak right now and they're coming to get your head right.
And I want to give you the opportunity to talk to them a little bit ahead of the quarter
final.
Any message to them if they're trying to chase you right now?
No, I don't really care to be honest.
I'm forgiving on ourself.
I never talked before.
So let's see it goes.
Yeah, I mean, that's a good rule to stand by right as well.
Good luck in the quarter final.
Thank you.
Alexi B and Navi are in the house.
I want to talk to you about vitality on the other side of the bracket again.
I mean, in the same bracket, on the other side of the server, but they seem very beatable.
Do you feel the same?
Do you think that this is finally the time to break this curse that you're having?
I mean, right now they're form-wise and the stuff that they're saying on interviews doesn't
look like they're the best versions of themselves, but to be fair, they've won us so many times
in a row that for us, we're facing the same vitality and we're trying to always create
something new and have a new game plan going on. I feel like the whole team is feeling pretty
confident even though our previous loss against Legacy. I just think that we understand that
this is the main team to beat no matter what in this tournament and now it's our time.
Alright and speaking about them being a team to beat, since you've been struggling a little bit,
do you feel honestly as an IGL, do you feel like this was a mental block or tactical or
individual? Is there something, a combination of all of these?
Versus Vitality?
Yes.
I'd say it's a combination, but at the same time we can't deny the fact that they've been
playing amazing CS and I think the whole community saw the way they were winning some trophies,
not dropping maps, series, all this type of stuff.
It's unheard of, so at the same time I just think that they were a better team.
But I do think that we had our chances to win maps, which we didn't, so not winning a single map,
It also means that we need to be better as a team.
As well I always have this feeling that whenever you play against them, it feels like the game
plan is pretty logical, pretty strong, but when it comes to execution of it, you're kind
of fumbling there and losing key rounds, do you feel the same?
This is something that you specifically work on against Vitality?
I don't know.
It feels like always Vitality is on the better side of it, right?
Yeah.
When you watch their games, they have those round 2 conversions when they don't win the
pistol, happens against any team, or Zybu and a Hero AK on the T side, or saved weapons
on the CT.
They're the type of team that has this individual brilliance and the confidence of the players
that they can pull these rounds off against any team in the world.
Sadly, we've been on the other side and it's tough to review those moments because you
feel like you have the upper hand, but suddenly you don't.
As you mentioned, there's a lot of nuances, a lot of details and we can't avoid the fact
that we didn't win a map yet.
So for us, we feel confident now and we feel like we always want to show.
The next time, the next time, you know, every time we can face them, we're going to take
that chance.
Alexi, I love how you're cracking the smile, even though this is kind of a tough and important
match coming up and good luck, see you on the server.
that. Yeah, very candid from
Alexi B saying, Okay, this might
be the most quote unquote
beautiful version vitality, but
in the history of this year alone,
we haven't managed to take a
single map of them. Some of them
that will be seeing rearing their
heads again in that veto. Do you
feel like an RV have a better
chance right here right now? I
think so in the best three. It's
also funny. This is probably the
first time they are team being
the veto, right? So they don't
have to play their own map first
because they were the higher
seed coming into this one. Yeah,
Navi had to go for Anubis, I think Vitality does too, is obviously their whole map.
And considering they've been a bit shaky, you don't want to test any waters or anything like that,
it's just funny to see Navi Veto out Mirage in the end between that and Inferno.
Stylistically, yeah, Inferno makes sense, but considering that it's been a whole map for Navi for a long time,
you're still surprised to see them Veto it.
I'm just glad Alexi B, he spoke about them having sometimes a bit of a rushed start to the games
and sometimes losing the upper hand that they gather themselves.
Because one thing that's been evident so far in this tournament for Vitality
is that the pistol rounds and then getting off to a strong start has been struggling a little bit.
That's one of the things you pointed out, Janko, saying that
here's part of the reason as to why Vitality sometimes are struggling at this tournament.
They get off to a rough start, they take them three, four, five rounds before they get the orb
in the hands of Saibu to begin with. So in terms of winning pistols and converting in that regard,
I think it's super, super important and of course it goes without saying in our MR12
that Na'Vi are getting off to these good stats that have been doing so far in the tournament.
They have the second highest win percentage in the pistol, whereas Vitality so far is the weakest team
out of everyone so far in the pistol rounds. Well, you mentioned Zary, we wouldn't be doing the
gamer. It's service if we didn't talk about the open head-to-head, right? We've got no doubt the
number one open, but it's not the number one player in the world right now taking on Wonderful.
Where are you putting his form right now? Wonderfuls? Yeah. I think it's one of the
reasons why Na'Vi has had these deep prances. He's becoming a bit more consistent with AWP,
right him, Makaze improving and having a lot of output and then Bit obviously is that veteran
third star in a sense like that's the trio like those three guys have to play well like Jacob is
on point you know the the reason and even Alexi said that like they're losing these rounds against
pistols against the hero AK they lose a 3v2 clutch right post plans like that's where the players
have to come up clutch they need to step up they need to be able to close these rounds out because
expecting just off of gameplay and off of calls to constantly get good reads and win the game
only off of that against Vitality, that's not going to happen.
And that's the whole point we're trying to make right, that Vitality seems more beatable than ever
than if not now, when is the time to beat them. But there's a reason why Navi are facing Vitality
in the quarter-final. Navi have also looked beatable at this tournament. They also had a loss
against Legacy and I think Alexipi has said it, if not to Chistipu at some point, but during this
tournament as well, that he doesn't feel they played their best play in Counter-Strike right now.
Even played on the disc with us, we're a bit worried to some extent about certain things that were
going on within the team and really had to tell the guys to step it up and be focused. So one thing
is whether or not Vitality are more beatable than ever. Another one for me is whether or not
Navi is ready to finally take that step further and beat them. Do you agree with that sentiment,
Janko? Yeah, I mean, at this point, it doesn't matter how you're playing, you just need to find a way
to beat them and sure you can even go to that you can say listen up until 11-0
these were going great and you're always going to try and find this the
silver linings and Alexi was honest about it like yeah those demo reviews are
hard when you see how you're losing some of these rounds but then there's also a
lot of positives right like when it comes to gun versus gun rounds they've been
doing really good work and those are the toughest rounds sort of to play so in
in theory they just clean up play with a little bit more discipline in some of
these rounds against pistols against weaker buys they can really set themselves up for
success.
Well either way it is time to get our second quarter final start at the two best teams
in the world ready to take it to the stage.
Atlanta, hello, Atlanta, hello, hello, is this thing on, can you hear me?
We've got a big one in front of us, this was a whole some major, major wait, we've got
Cologne ahead, but tonight tonight we've got some great counter strike in the
city of Atlanta make some noise
it does back the question though is this gonna be a nov victory
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Let's give the Vitality Stands another chance.
Vitality fans.
Yeah, what about, but, not me?
What about Apex?
Let's play Counter-Strike Atlanta, let's do it.
We're going to win!
Music
Atlanta! Atlanta makes some noise!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
If I'm talking history, head to head against Na'Vi with a call against Cor.
Of course we have a huge advantage.
It doesn't change my mind that they are the second best team runner in the world.
They've made our final, the enemy team they've been losing to is very tendency.
We fight a lot against them. It doesn't mean that it will be an easy game, but obviously it will be tough.
For me, it's just focusing on playing our best and trying to beat them.
And I don't see the advantage of beating them a lot.
We saw that they were struggling a bit, but it was group stage.
I noticed that Vitality is playing better in play-off.
There are winning a lot of events and they're losing many motivations.
To think that what you did in 2025, we are on the same road, why not?
Georgia, welcome to the stage. Your next quarter finalist, Navi!
Now, it's Ragnarina, the greatest Counter-Strike team that we have seen in a long, long time.
In a long, long time, it's Team Vitality!
It's coming, let's go with the hardest
That's the big we came here for
What you been became here for
To win
A demon that so many simply cannot tame
But this one feels even more personal for Navi
You have to go all the way back to Cologne 2024
To see the last time Navi could even just simply win a map
and even farther to see them win a series but does this change tonight Yanco?
Yeah, you have to go all the way back, you have to go all the way back to Cracow this year to win Vitality, lost a map in the playoffs.
The last four tournaments they're winning, they're not dropping a single map, best of five, best of threes, it doesn't matter so
even with all the breaks, even with you know this being an end of a long road for them, a long trip,
there's still the best team in the world and maybe the best team that ever was and I think this
Shriekoff winning without losing maps continues today.
It's also one of those teams that will always level up throughout the tournament.
Sure, they were off to a bit of a slow start in the group stage.
Losing to Bedroom, obviously not something they expected, not that we expected,
but the more they play, the more they practice during these off days,
the more ready they'll be for a playoff content like this.
So, honestly speaking, sure, maybe right now Vitality is the most beatable.
They've been in a long, long time with the lack of preparation,
the lack of practice leading into the tournament,
but they'll only go stronger as they go on in the tournament.
and they multiply.
Navi is the second-best team in the world, no doubt about that.
And you can still call this a David vs Goliath matchup.
But that's just how good Vitality is.
And I'm happy that the crowd is on Navi's side.
They're going to need all the help they can get there, the underdog,
and the players will have to play their absolute best to match up against Vitality.
Don't be fooled.
Rops isn't going to go missing on this stage.
Xayah isn't going to disappear all of a sudden because he went to Yosemite.
You have to do your best if you're going to be able to take them down.
win conditions for Navi because it seems like we're only talking about the fact
that if Vitality don't turn up playing maybe even just their C game that's a
chance for Navi but what can Navi do to take matters into their own hands? I think
you have to look at Mikasi, I think the way he's been standing up as of late, the
way he's always involved in a lot of the opening duels for Navi, the way he
creates space for the likes of Wonderful to come alive later on for Peter as
well. When Mikasi is playing his first of brand of Counter Strike that's when
Navi are looking the greatest as well. Navi certainly the crowd favourite here in
Atlanta, but this is the head-to-head that has plagued them forever. Can they change their destiny tonight?
It's Friday night in the Counter-Strike world has been given a feast.
Astana concludes and now Atlanta the party just keeps on going.
Quarter-finals here.
Those still watching in Europe they're burning the midnight oil signing up for the late-night party getting that weekend off on the right foot
Now he first vitality to start how you do it Atlanta?
To do a slip up from both Navi and vitality on their part of playoffs
They've collided ahead of the anticipated schedule one number one. That's his world number two
A head to head that hasn't filled the pundits,
StarV, all their fans with confidence.
And we start on a signature pick.
Just through the playground of vitality and comfort for vitality,
will today be any different?
I'm going to be here. 19 and one this year. So far, by tired in this very amount,
apex loves to open the Xbox, but the short Molly into lower tunnels is wonderful.
Alexi support from cat with the Nade and up short, they trundle.
They considered actually a run boost there.
Off some top of flames, his head now, Alexi be forced away.
He's gonna be overrunners, just Alexi.
Just Alexi and they're accelerating.
Apex is gonna catch Wonderful here on the jump up, composed for the tap.
Wonderful's lost his head, and they've lost the bomb site.
This is really uncomfortable.
There's so much info there.
He's got run down quickly, though.
Important for Mikaze.
It opens up an avenue towards the long side.
It's gonna be very short-centric.
Yeah, it's blocked now.
How are you gonna come through this?
You need this, Alexi? Flash.
Robs can mantle up.
He's actually gonna be playing on the new box.
You're gonna have to come through this.
Flash and go.
M.M. McCarthy, what can you hit?
Bit could be the late Beast track by Robbs.
Can't hit it, he must be connects.
It's Masi on the side with a lot to deal with.
Does well, finds the head of Alexia,
quick tap to McCarthy, oh Masi!
APPLAUSE
Great start there.
Standard stuff before Vitality
and how they approach this Duster, T-side, Pistols.
You take a look, the prep would have been done,
Navi would have been expecting something similar,
but you never know where they're going to go
off the back of those, opening you to...
Apex finds this open up.
And throughout this event, they've been very tough as far as the pistol rounds are concerned.
In the bottom three teams of Atlanta,
and their second round conversions are pretty rubbish as well.
This team, they're not hurt, they're not wounded, they're just in second gear.
So this is an important one, and one where Navi know they've been vulnerable.
Can they cause another footfall for Vitaliy on these second rounds, especially on the T side?
So they've had a really rough go of things.
especially considering that it's that wonderful scouting if he can start as he
needs to go on hit a couple of those body shots softened them up for the 5-7 to
Deagle and stick those down.
Kazi B, Ima the A rotating right there, he's going to join on the outside of the
mountain, so they're three stromp, Alexi Bars down and long and then wonderful
with that scout you mentioned so they're doing what would be a gun round set up
but now with just less and starting the waltz into a mid to B. The stack is in
the right place. Yeah, they'll block tons, enables Mikaze to join bit focusing on this
B-Ram side. Mikaze takes a little bit of threat shift, distracts enough, nice headshot from
Bit, there's Mikaze, it's just locked down again! Second round confusions and a great
one! Slaps through for Tartus Fengus! They have been absolutely rubbish at these throughout
the event, 40% second round conversions. And that number is just going to tank even further.
The stack perfect display. He's going to be happy with that one.
I have to force my back, but only the 1400 and this looks way too easy.
These are the type of rounds that Vitality are known for winning.
I'll be sneak one away early.
The forces in, very deagle-centric. Three of those light on the U2. Apex with the scout flames with a tech nine.
This one's going to be tough. Look at the buy on the other side.
Good to see some conviction in him as gameplay. This is a forward position. They're planning to disrupt the default forward position.
Alexi B draws a tension 5-2 and sets up in there for the swing. A check in attempt from Flamese. He rounds already over.
Couple bullets running him down. Robsters are getting a chance to even reload his desert. Here you go.
Double kill from Alexi and Inno on the short side.
Wonderful. Now you're going to see them down to an eco. She should be a 3-1 start for Naveed.
I don't expect them to slip up against this, and it means they're going to be able to build even more cash going forward.
They run so far for the World number, still a win of a passion, a win of a game, a legion.
That one was tough, and then I lost the legacy to give us this bracket.
That's an absolute mess.
That conversation about this team being beatable.
If you're able to take them down here, even if they're not playing their best CS,
Confidence going into the Major right around the corner.
Might be all Narby needs.
Oh, get it, Moe!
Just feeding on the ball!
And the last two of those runs were in the draws!
That is a very dominant eco bash.
You got to have quick these last three rounds of faith.
And in those three rounds, the casualties just won
that Narby had taken.
So do you want to call back into things, Apex?
Is something fast to continue with this turn,
or do you want to slow it down?
It's like farce long heading into this Alexi.
He's there with the MP9, he is able to match it to Chicago, but what entrance?
a full name.
Rob's cash is now on his chin and Alexie ain't done.
Swaps out to the side arms, does span and smokes and there goes Skarn!
This gun runs over already!
How many casualties is that still? Only one in four rounds!
Four rounds at one kill for Vitality and this is all happening in the blink of an eye.
You can get away from your quickie, down to another partial.
I'm very confident to be...
now. This is just rapid heads
up CS shoulder buying pattern.
Not great, but we'll see this
partial. Might be an excess
time out going into the following
remember. I do this up next. We've
seen the full folks from the
mentality on the end is torn
back against that. But.
For a good 47. So now he's even
going to hold on to how many of
them there's no wonderful
for the mix just yet. So once
that comes out to play.
This has been rapid. We're talking about all these streaks and pursuit of their 22nd consecutive
top four last time they didn't make one was at bounty in season one of 2025.
Another chunky made damage for Apex to Stunner. It wasn't the whole squad though. But often
now it's not only those streaks you take a look they've only lost to two teams all year.
was Beppin. Another two occasions. It was out of Falcons.
It starts in 2026 there, 70, but then 12 in maps. So 70 wins, 12 losses. As far as series
are concerned, it's 31 series wins to three series losses. That's it.
Now we'll set up for an A attack.
All timed in sendy area. Flingsy gonna go regardless.
Head of the Utah. Spam from wonderful. Will Willmoo.
Two vape-picks from the pack of the party, from Fensies, look at the right way, just there, and a Goose!
And a Goose head for Lobs, change now, cracks the skull of the Lexi.
That's all he's gonna get, though, a consolation prize, a little bit of bloodshed.
Cos this round's going off his way once more, wonderful, putting that AK to good use.
The shots, fight another.
Hits locked the door behind him.
to go live with the u2 is not there. XTAS takes the time out and an enemy territory right now.
Well it's time for your right XTAS understands this is an emergency meeting. Yeah gonna get going
in quick just so few frags in what has been a landslide of five straight. Mom hasn't gone down
in any of those. No open kills nothing to note. Navi are in the flow state at the moment.
But how long can this last?
The conversation peering once it gets to the playoffs,
Matali starts to play some of their better counter-strike.
Roxanne, they're not here to waste time.
Shot to be a weakness before the major would be...
starting to flood in the water for all the other teams
with Cologne just around the corner.
So timeout time, remember, Robson's finance is low.
This is going to look like the upper tunnels. Is everybody else getting outside long?
Do they want to try and pop again?
Mezzi's here, Flancy, too. Zabu joining in. Apex has the flashes at the ready.
He tried this once and Alexi B completely shut it down.
Slum on a bit of a different tempo, making sure there's no top mid aggression,
not parming into lower, they're not pushing up towards palm tree,
and that wonderful AWP is a quip.
Now, Emma is the man I want you to keep your eyes on.
Here's the joker in this situation, this is your A rotating right fly, Alexi will take contact first, and Emma might go overlooked.
Powerful off angle from Alexi, here you don't see this one all too often, he's gonna hit the flashbang.
Team flash!
Yeah, all good for both of them, and Alexi gets nothing, help for the left fly, Emma got set up to succeed!
Just body shots from Messi, so sketchy from the individuals of Narvi, that's given Vitality a hefty advantage.
I can't claw this back, I know it's a 3v5, but the mental's gonna take a bit of a hit.
The call was right. The setup was perfect. The execution was more.
45, ace split. And it's wonderful. Makazi and Birt, well, two of them, the bee holders, wonderful.
According to Evacuate, this might just be around handed over.
I need to hold on to this financial advantage they have for a while.
As Makazi spams away at slow and steady amount of vitality, but by the looks of things, this one is secure.
secure. Is Robs going to look for a hunt? Because they need to get their cash
flowing as well on this tee side.
I mean something's getting started about the vitality since that pistol round
which felt like it came way too easy.
He's a good call.
Alexi V had the backup, but far more than the execution.
Five to two, comes retain, still plenty of cash to buy behind us, don't you worry about
that. And the flash where he can see sloppy the second one completely blinds up. I think it's
messy on the way out and lucky Flames is here too. But his standards as far as 2026 is concerned
has not been having the same level of tournament. An opportunity to turn that around in the playoffs.
It's bedroom up next for either of these two. For Vitality, I'm sure that they would love
a little bit of revenge from the group stage. After you take a time out off the back of X-Tasers.
So, adjustments on adjustments in one of them, you can see it here, double AWPs.
As he has a good longspawn, so it doesn't have his or.
That advantage lies on one side of the server. Wonderful.
Nice road to play for Nabi throughout Atlanta so far.
It's good that he's in fine form.
They just double smoke long corner.
They have some missed comms for Vitality early.
Can't be behind that extended area.
Missed throw, gave him an angle.
This Navels, that's what affects his name all over it.
Nice countering of chip damage. Unconfirmed.
Interesting that they have started a bit with the AWP over to Wards A as opposed to 1.
Well, he's just posted up on B in case of a pump he's playing ahead of any U-Till bar.
We'll lose vision because of this lurk smoke now deployed by Robs.
Look at the reroute.
A-Darp shows you that they were leering towards Long applying a lot of pressure.
Look at that double smoke was intentional.
Did land in different positions and the B-Pump being lined up now.
I think they're going to come down to how good the flashes are.
Well, how good Mikaze and Wandaful are.
Well, look at the U-Till between the two of them. It's just a HE.
That smoke's deployed now. They're not gonna have anything to stall the flashes all lined up here. They come
Flashing go Macaulay called upon to deliver for now. He does start strong fight fleets. He can wrap up a second and there's
Wonderful down on window that should be round. Okay another round where now people have to opt with the save
Take a look at Macaulay left-hand side it 14k
This isn't the most glamorous right there
They will start contending for rounds at a certain point, but this is just going to give them more gun rounds or at least their level pegging, right?
They bank balances and blown open. They're not down to four spies.
It's a good recovery for Vitality. They could have been a little bit shell shocked after the second round loss.
And then just that landslide where they weren't even doing damage. But now they're in it and well,
they might be able to get a couple of exits here.
Yeah, they just smoke this one off, all right.
I should cover them.
All right, and now they're starting to accumulate a little bit of cash.
And Zai has always been able to scavenge himself in AWP.
They told it as he goes down.
Cheeky.
But he thinks it's more for the show.
Do you see that little flare this time?
Because it does well with the burst right through the nades, it's not really helpful for Wonderful, the AWP right doors to smoke off,
appearing through window that already scoured further than he had thought.
We're back under way.
So we rambles off a shot on the cross.
Nice gap with just a Mach 10.
4 out of 5 players on RV do have head armor, so Wonderful's the only one that is going to be extremely potent against,
and it looks like they're lighting this up once more.
more. It's just gonna be a double pump and they really just
could have forced the issue on Mikaze's side. This time he
has more utility to work with. Could be a defensive smoke
dropped in in his feet.
They'll smoke in. Just flashing flashes. Here we go. Mikaze
he's gonna throw the incendiary. They're gonna come ahead of
that. He's on the site. Begging for backup. Flee blind him.
There's that Mike 10. Crazy. Swift with it. So nimble just
charges into the site. Mikaze, we saw his frustrations on the
can. It's only gonna be exacerbated now as they've had the audacity to just do it again.
Well, you know what that means. Once more, everyone's favourite four-letter word. A save comes in once more.
Flanzie picks up that AWP, denies it from them scooping it up again and even gets himself an
upgrade into an M4. So everything's done an out round by Flanzie. This man, it's great on the
entries, but it's because of the well-old machine that Vitality is, right? He has so much trust in
the flash of these teammates are throwing. Now we should go in first if you know the enemy's gonna
blind and this is a recovery and a half. 5-4 the score will reap. I think Flames
uses as well one of those players when you talk about flight parts. If you watch
his demos you'll see every decision, every part he chooses into a site is
deliberate and it's taken into account the system, the supporting it, Vitati's
flashes, the smokes, the timings. He seems to nail it.
I don't like round 10.
Nancy has long swarms.
They also join by looks of apex
and flames there. So if they do
want to try and change the gear,
they're just going to boost the
AWP.
Since I was forced to cross, doesn't
catch anything.
I'm going to run the double-offs
this time on RV.
It's bit acting as the unknown entity.
So some real high chinks for
Navier with these different positions
as far as nameplate counter-track is concerned, a name like Bitmacka overlooked.
I don't think that Vitaly would dare run another B-pop, but right now, the bomb is in upper tunnels.
So sure, it might not be direct through tunnels, it to be as possible.
Going through the motions, we'll have to force back short.
Yeah, you want to make this convincing, and Apex could get caught here on the swing.
Ahead of the expectation is in now, off the flash, catches Flames, and he likes to be set up here, Matt.
How they're hitting B?
They're going to have to, it's only because, hey,
If you can get anything, any kill is everything! There it is on Tomaszy!
Robb's untrained, bombs him to B.
It's a 2 on 4 and the AWP is on that cross.
And these are the two you want alive in a 2v4 situation.
Didn't quite manage to spot them over the top, the incandescent smell of the flame.
No smoke for Daws, just a Molly and a HE.
How's that Molly, utilised towards Window, buys a little time.
That's a very lurky smoke thrown towards the doors, very threatening.
Very uncomfortable for Zywa with the AWP.
Here comes the next chain of Utah.
Indeed.
He doesn't achieve its mark. It's all about this flashbang.
It's coming through tunnels.
Alexi B synchronizes.
Flash connects.
It's all he's brought down to half HP.
Goes down, overlooked it, drops.
Looking for the clutch, and there's Alexi!
Alright, finally a retake. They've gone for here, and that's going to happen.
He attacks two players, blind as hell, over towards short.
They accelerate into B.
Mikazi, as you mentioned, he got his.
He's that heavy number advantage, and then they piece the retake together,
and they don't rush in, they don't extend individually.
They do it as a team and now they get to six.
Yeah, it feels so much more uncomfortable if Mikaze gets nothing.
Sure, it starts fantastically.
Great flash from the lexie,
Emma as well, quick to piece together the double kill.
They're using their numbers on that retake and breaching back in.
Before going on an early venture.
Nabi have not taken them out,
Corvus Corp on for Vitality since Cologne 2024.
A few years ago.
And also Dust2, they've already managed six rounds.
And the 20 played this year for Vitalio and Dust2,
only five of them have gone double digits.
So maybe even getting to 10,
a small victory for Nabi.
This is time for Cluster of Vitality.
up their chest and take this short control.
There's something to go again.
It does.
He's going to be able to land a hand.
Wonderful missed his first opportunity.
How many more does he get on that rampside?
Not comfortable.
Flamesy shows us how lovely from Flamesy.
Provides the double entry once more.
This time on the ace side.
Burns from Alexi.
Willi nearly goes down to Mezzi.
And it's Mikaze.
Giving it a go.
Found by Rops to wrap it up. It's just bit.
He may have a look.
Right, they've got Heaps of cash for the final round.
Bit needs to give this a go.
Yeah, the bomb on the ram side.
So, Simon's gonna be tasked with a plant.
He's gonna go through the flames.
He is.
Rops is gonna have a nice lead.
You'll be hit!
Oh, he has a flash!
That is not right!
Just for Bit!
Just what Navi needed!
He was starting to look like a 6-6 half was on the cards,
but Bit turns the tables.
That's going to cause some frustration with the Vitality cap.
This felt like it could have been a collab right there.
Wonderful goes down, but it's sloppy.
Right, there's a bit of individual overpeaking from Vitality.
Good grip determination by Bet.
That's what they're looking for.
And Alexi, the boys, they like the way that one feels.
The tempo keeps up. Wonderful.
Our shot taking the fight. Apex finds the opener.
Wonderful down again.
Over extension is constantly opening.
Was riding that high from the clutch a bit,
but now they've conceded an opening.
Yeah, just go away. You know the orbs not there.
Apex is. He's going to go vaulting on in.
Fires off a warning shot. Got the Lexi to deal with. Nice fight from him.
Supporting from the long side, but they've lost him out.
He's worried about Messi. Good awareness!
Catches that long lock.
Bomb on the back of Flamesy, because he activates through mid, held by Robs.
Oh, and that came from...
Lexi's quick on the rampside. They know where he was.
And Ben's so disconnected from his teammate.
This is so disadvantaged for Narvi. Is there any way back in?
HP now loses his head, Bits position, now notes it, Robs, fully aware and ready, 7-5!
We've got a game here ladies and gentlemen, this is Dust2, this is Vitality's turn,
and now I'll be putting up more of a fight than we've seen before.
I
2nd quarterfinal here in Atlanta. First maps first half. We saw a clutch from Bit. Another
second round loss after a one pistol for Vitality. Naavi did the hard work early. A run at five
off of that second round and a single frag from Zai Wu.
This is surprising, he's always been in fine form here in Atlanta.
That's right, a player of the tournament so far,
but that might be changing if he doesn't pull up his socks.
And expect to keep the absolute best in the game down for too long.
Let's see, CT side, he'll be an integral part of this.
Can they make it two from two on the pistols?
Much better with the conversions on the CT side.
Alexey, throw out this hints smoke late bit.
He's in bedroom. Wonderful, he's just jumped,
It's funny to see the hijinks towards Midland,
Ima and Karnzie will take
on Patanel's control.
So Zaheer stays barred in mid-doors with those dual-breaders.
Alexi just making sure he's got this one lined up properly.
Double-swing back-plam as he just keeps his head sacked.
Setting up for an A-split.
So Apex is in the site, flames towards Long.
Starting their progressions up cap, spotted at the top of the smoke, Robs has the info and spots the bomb as well, making his way across.
Apex on high alert, flames the underscreen, there in trouble.
It's out, he had the B250, perfect up that range!
An opening kill!
Apex in open!
Pull down, nice for his area there!
Here's the alive!
A back stab for two!
Needs a third of that range, it's not the weapon for the job.
This is partner in crime.
Robs towards CT, Mezzi partners up on the short side, bit on this Reekler looking for him, trying to retrieve that bomb is so uncomfortable for these two now.
Last of the nades, hoping that enables a fight on their terms, not favouring them anymore, Zywou's here!
From one frag to five in the blink of an eye!
There you go, that's impact. No other way to frame it, and that A-split, it looked perfect. Opening kill, all pressure on Apex, he's trying to scamper the Goosers in space.
And before you know it, Zywoo with Jules Barrettas is shooting you in the back.
You have no idea. Look how rapid this is.
They're still fighting Apex on the side, and Zywoo's already taken down three.
First bullet accuracy as well.
Some players, you know, they capitulate, they get nervous with the backs turned to their opponent.
Zywoo's so quick on the trigger.
All right, well, now be into this one. They haven't forced.
Wonderful's bought the scout. He's looked to find a kill on the cross.
He hasn't found that, and now they're going to take the eco.
So next round, Wonderful can just work with the scout again.
But you're still hoping to allow your sniper to find a couple of tags right then the glocks even the p250 from Emma
Can look to convert a kill or two to keep the finances humble
This feels like a freebie as far as the conversions are concerned
We did some fatality a little bit earlier in the tournament lose the clock eco and that
Is why this team is feeling beatable in Atlanta
Highlighted here by the obstin you can see apex on the ramp with just a USP a bunch of nades as well
Well, he'll be able to get Zywoot and all pinned to the next as long as he doesn't go down in this one.
This is going to be a slow drawn-out round as we are now sub one minute.
30 seconds now they're just going to waltz into ace Apex commanding question
made in hand and they're just going to pass through the smoke Alexis just waltzes
through and Apex is going to lift to unload with the USP. It's one proof trouble
Zahru goes down should still be fine flames is shipped down low hold up a
second this gets weird but that bomb loose though you have to drop down that's
What it's doing tries to grab the bomb this retrieval mission kind of working
He's mantled back up the bombs going down. Just an idle time. Okay
shaky
If I should be able to drop this AWP desire work
And I know because of the scam it would just be another for wonderful a little bit sketchy, but we are all tied up seven apiece
See what Nabi settled into with the first rifle round, wonderful.
Little tag there, drops operating on half HP over towards B.
It's just a default coming out early from Nabi, no pace to this one.
Can they return late to long? It's a bit wonderful, and Alexi, we'll have to toss with Flamesey, and so is Orr.
It's just such a powerful position for Flamesey.
He's wrapping around with nades right now.
Oh, get a court! Clunky, clumsy! Zyrus just in time!
Flamesey's position noted, and that wall bang did connect, so Flamesey and Robbs have felt the wrath of that scout.
Pivoting into a mid to B quite quickly here.
He's got 60 seconds to find the finish, Makaze out middle.
He's got Mezzi to trifle with.
Nice shot!
Hails it!
Only one there, and the site had to be robbed, he's delivered, and now Emma goes in!
And that site's open!
He takes a live input towards the window, flushed forward by the flames, and is comfortable for Emma!
High in background!
I could signal the safe!
He certainly could, Zahouz is having a look.
If he wants to find something here for free, they might have a look at it, but flames are still very short for lurks.
It just felt out of sorts. Wonderful jumping upwind though. Does he want to try and contest this?
If you give it over, then they can give it a go, but halving away, vitality, we find themself on the safe.
Really impactful round out of him at that.
To turn that around after being an defensive manager, because he walks out middle, able to get one.
Puts all the pressure on Robs, who he knew was low.
Emma coming through the smoke is a risky move, but one that he has to make if they want to contend against this round.
and yet, they draw blood on this T side.
Zahra can drop, thanks to the same.
And Mezzi can operate on something a little bit lighter.
We'll see the distribution of weapons come in at a moment.
It didn't even, there wasn't even a full commitment.
The crisis has gone up mid on his own.
Apex, multiple stays around, middle, the same as Alexi, they're waiting for the reactions,
and fortunately two of their space takers do exactly that. Apex forced into a tough decision,
takes a risk, and that for the in-game leader. When it pays off, it looks brilliant,
not the frustrations boil. Oh, look at this, aggression. Straight up the guns in the middle.
Got it. Apex charging. He's the boss, does find the head of wonderful, and dips away.
Gotta get out now, keeps them out of damage.
Can they swim? Can they find anything where they disappear in a puff of smoke on mid?
Junkie mid as well.
What on the chin?
Karzin might want to try another mid to be maneuver. He's just walking out on his lonesome.
X-Box smoke fading. Doors 1 is up, so they are covered off.
I think they're right to try and find this gap. Just contact walking. Look at Makaase.
Makes his move. Robs is there to turn to him.
Mezzy 2.
Turns to Flash, he's the headshot, nice burst from Mezzy, can't find the follow-up, it's
in the middle of the trade, Robson pour the trigger!
3 on 3 and Apex with such low HP, plan around the edge of the smoke hoping for an overstep.
Cautious parting from Alexi, Bitt does bring it down, still flames up the long rives, just
in time to make it a 2-1-2 and look at this one on top of it clean with it clutch available for a next
hit and it's Flamesy
doing it on his own
Just tapping away
Ties us back up eight a piece now V
I love the flair just to walk out there on that timing the idea from Vitality was great though taking the 2B defenders trying to pipe them over towards eight
Props taking an angle that's a little bit unnatural
But I think he's expected not to be cleared in that scenario because hey
It's already a player taking that fight from CT round, but Flames.
Beautiful shooting from him.
I mean, that's exactly what you want from your long anchor on a retake.
And they needed that. The money would have spilled open for Vitality there,
so we continue to go back and forth, blow for blow as Blade will take timeout number two.
Wonderful does have an AWP. He does also have the best long spawn available.
and right now he's posh to head that way but with the coach on the mics and adjustments
from whatever the light plan was in motion, it's also going to have to be a little bit
of a different long set up coming out of Vitality unless they want to risk the corner fight.
And Apex has the best spawn, flames the long anchor with one of the worst.
So depending on what core blade is made right now, he might be able to contend for this
long control. Wonderful, it's no longer. Looking towards long, they might want to just take
something a bit more standard before the finances run dry. Or not.
Those look like he's taken it. Wonderful. Quick for that long fight. Looking for apex
does round the corner in time.
Flames it tucks in in case there's a second timing pot.
Mr. Stan set up this time round from Vitaly, Mezzy, Rops, Beep, Zywoo, and he ran with
the AWP and then Apex in rotation while Flames he burrows down, but look how fast they are.
Cogging very quickly and silently.
Right, no mollies, no flashes and they're already out catwalk ready to explode.
This will be fast.
Yeah, Apex is HE's.
They could do some serious damage if he gets the timing right.
Tywin, quick flicker to MacAusie, there's the first name, is ringing for Alexi B.
There's more where that came from, bullets, a hail of them onto Alexi and it's clean as a whistle.
On the fold, just 5HP tagged through the box, running into Robs with his knife out and he's gone.
And well, Robs could pick up that off and now they can run the double AWP set up on this CT.
No, okay. All right. Knowing they're in a lighter by scenario to the next,
I think that he picked that up to carry it through them. I want to try a little bit of a B-pop
But this is a real shutdown and so would remember he had one kill at half time he now has ten
He's back where he belongs
Let's see what he finishes the map with but by telling me they take the leap nine to eight
A couple of digs, P250, and a smoke here for Alexi.
I need for Lexi's smoke, I'm going to use that L-swap.
I'm going to take the frag and they're just going to continue to wrap this one up.
Our mid-tour was wonderful and Alexi looked to join him.
I wonder if we've hit the turning point of the map.
It's a little bit shaky to kick things off. It was that 5-1 spree after losing the second round conversion, but this one
Practically spotless they keep it that way and as it confirms it's now a two round gap
Yeah, two flawless rounds back to back
Ross still has this MP9
Has a good spawn for lower tunnels might want to try something a little bit out of the box here now the
It's not too common to see Robs go for something aggressive.
I think of this patch of the game, right?
You can definitely change the tone considering you'd have this nice buffer of cash you're
working with.
Safe from the cross.
Wonderful.
Unable to connect.
Look at this aggression.
Undetected.
And Apex's Alexi does get out long behind the long corner smoke.
Flamesy.
They're feeling some pressure.
They're called.
Complete B-Clear.
So they continue around the world with this.
Flamesy's to stay alive.
Wonderful hits of pit.
Oh!
Orphus is AK!
Flames, he rips his head off!
Zawoo playing around that car as well.
He's safe from the flames, they don't spread.
Look at Apex.
They're gonna walk with the smoke.
Zawoo in a position to push this.
Does catch bit walking because...
Hey!
He's down as well!
Zawoo!
One frag at the start of this second half.
Up to 14, top of the tables.
And another one for Zairu.
In the peaks on it.
Peek at your own risk, at your own peril.
The chosen ones back in the server.
It feels like all of these that impact kills from Xayah would have come as Maltese.
What a shot from Flazy.
That's massive.
That's against AWP.
Wonderful.
You know it's good when the production team give it to you three times.
Ah, partial buy for Na'Vi.
This has gotten away from them down quick.
Yeah, they're running out long.
Tech nine, a little bit of a pace on the flashbang.
Wonderful's got some space.
This is a fake.
The bomb heading back towards B.
You know, it's going to join Bit and Mikazi
in the upper tunnels.
Long is the biggest threat at the moment.
We'll smoke, as we can see,
not landing perfectly, not the first time either.
Lexi now joins the pack. Wonderful, looks to be the mid-piece.
Rops on his own right now, but...
He's only got a flash, and Messi's not too far away.
Here goes the pop.
These are those defining moments of the anchor.
The whole squad running out of use to forth from Messi.
Solid as a rock, and Rops gets nothing, and now Messi's got two!
Okay, this one gets uncomfortable.
Wonderful, parked in middle, hoping to catch a rotation.
Backstab on some flames if he's not diligent his back is turned just in time spots him. They've got influence to wonderful's location
Needs bit sake a lethality and a clutch available for the wound
It's so low
That's the second of those for now be in this map so far
up. And a very important one.
Messi gets the first two kills on the way in,
and they're able to turn a 3v5 around.
That's the two of them.
Ben Bacazi, traditional Bidger, and now doing it on the T side.
Look at that.
Hard to be audacious there.
Ben took a risk and a big one.
Such a brilliantly calculated risk as well.
Leg shot.
Robs limping towards his bomb site.
You've turned it a couple of times now.
Still money for another bite. If I tell you to lose this one, but starting to get a little bit ropey.
It's like getting frisky smoke has faded. Just standing on the Xbox, pivoting between the two possibilities.
It's a B smoke lined up for me and that mid-doors blocked again it's gonna free
Nezio them to about the 52nd market yeah they reading this right the fact that
apex is the man to flow over towards B he's not hanging around it's B smoke
We got a game. Double digits reached.
Yeah, we got a game.
And XB only gets out of bed for the world number one.
It's tough for these teams to
manage the energy correctly when they're at the tippy top of the field.
The expectation was this is meant to be Sunday.
This is meant to be how we conclude I am Atlanta.
This is how both these teams are kicking off the playoffs as Max Tas on the mic, his second tactical timeout, last blade.
So contributing, this is a massive round of the context of this game.
After buys have come in, a couple of players hovering around that 2K mark for vitality.
There was a site early, got a couple of saves in, but be fine for a buy.
Money is not great. It's not being the ones who have been winning the lighter by
rounds. And it has a good longsword. There's that shot again. Just a whip. Put that one
on a post. That Mr. Alexi B. Your in-game leader is delivering your openings like that.
You're in with a real shot against the world number one.
Maybe I said we wondering how the hell did that happen? Here we go. All boosted up.
Is it another tag on the ropes?
Get across this time.
Time unscathed.
Zywu, smoke so he won't extinguish any bottles of flame, but nothing comes his way just yet.
Oh, wonderful, he's lining up U-Tilt towards the door side,
and Alexi is showing restraint on his lower crawl.
They're around the edge of the smoke.
Karzai starts to aggress, this is gonna come down to Zywu yet.
They're feeling a little too much pressure, we'll back away as McCartney...
He's got the timing on this side, he's posted.
Watch out, Picasso goes wide.
He's going dry on that, that's insane.
They've got the space, this could be another one of these quick eruptions.
They're lining up the nades now, it's going to be the double smoke.
It's their commitment behind it, they've longed.
Four congregated towards the shore side, good HE could do damage.
Picasso half health.
It's all on the smoke there.
Yeah, it's tough now.
This gets infinitely more difficult without good smoke coverage.
I don't believe it's A, he's always playing for mid.
They will now, they've just seen Bit trying to progress long.
Flames, he relays that information. Now that pulls rotation.
It's always not going to be there in time.
Hepex is going to have to try and delay as best he can.
Flames at his feet, Siren Walker at the opening.
Limbo with AWP, still manages to wrap up.
Wellington Macalze, right at the open.
It's a shooting gallery.
2-0-2.
Dust will settle, 30 seconds bomb to be retrieved.
Wonderful task with that.
It's got Flames on the long side and it's Bit still coming back for this fight.
This is so late.
Always been retrieved, timing everything, he just looked away.
Oh, he nailed him!
He robs his turn in the clutch.
Died by the Flames for the walk-up.
Gifts go swinging in, comfortable for Robs.
Can he do what Bit did in that first half?
An impactful clutch when he needs it most.
Both teams sitting in silence as their players locked in a 1v1
with such big ramifications, Robs is expecting one thing.
1-17.
Headshot will do it, though.
Wonderful! Stats missed out!
With no time! Ball game, folks!
Money hits the conversation.
I'd be surprised not to see a tie-down here.
X-Tars not out of his seat.
They don't want to take these 30 seconds.
But I think you have to.
Zawoo gets there, gets the first.
They've already swarmed.
Wonderful's off-science, but this is it. Such a late one. This 2v2. It's actually Navi to take the time out bit
He's only got 11 kills, but every single one of them has come with absolute impact
Get them across the line there. You've got to give wonderful extra knuckles for that. Well, that's 1v1 versus Ross
He's the guy that wins those
So what he's in this roster to do
Wonderful doesn't capitulate. Haven't shoved yet
But Navi, it's actually a timeout, so maybe Blade didn't lie when he heard coming out of the in-game leaders mouth going into the next round to play.
Maybe they wanted to take the time to assess what the buy could be.
We can see on the screen right now what's taking shape, but it's not a shove, it's not an all-in, it's 2900 loss into the next. They're hedging their bets right now.
Vitality, they're not playing for overtime, but they're giving themselves a chance in this one as well as round number 24.
There's 2M4s, Mag7 a scout and an MP9. It's the lack of U2 that's the real issue.
Wonderful just counting chickens up the cross. Didn't see an AD either.
Oh, Apex, how many times are you going to cross that door?
He's pushing, talking a push. Look at Robs!
Oh, he is taking so much space right now.
Alexis actually heading for this.
He's not ready for this.
There's no way. There's no way.
Robs is here and all this.
This is outrageous.
Vitality on belay off the leash.
Flames the up mid.
Robs pushing in tunnels.
The information now as well.
They're stuck in T spawn and we're at a minute 10.
This is so uncomfortable.
Look at that smoke as well.
There's so many places.
Robs's MP9 could have borrowed.
Wonderful and beer-feeling hyper and comfortable.
Apex just found himself and upgraded a lot of tunnels.
tunnels now that max seven turns into an AK. There's nothing for them here. Every option
goes down and this flank keeps on.
What are you meant to do now? Wonderful. 45 seconds to just try and hold on to this
and the map feels tiny. Battalia everywhere. Such a crazy round to be pushing like that.
Wonderful finds the first onside with a aggressive long.
The 1v1 is one thing.
Up down set up from Apex and Messi right now.
1v4.
Asking way too much.
20 seconds.
He's still worried about the long flag. Apex,
Messi, Brandon, ready, and they take it.
Vitality, map, point.
The finishing regulation, it's been a wild rollercoaster ride.
and just when their money was teetering when it's max sevens when it scouts flames
the up the guts of middle it feels like a gun around if you're not big doesn't
it your first contact is against an m4 you don't have to worry about the scout
with the max seven at all sure the MP9 it's the space and ropes close lines bit
with that one is it gonna be another close but no cigar now be there be
getting closer and closer oh he's right there it's right there for the taking
Compromise is short. Gelil, tech nine.
The 3B star provides outing.
Flash in, Flames in, Stealth notes presence outside the long doors, Mikazi and Alexei
announce theirs at the short side.
Box smoke deployed towards B and there's more where that came from.
Sixty seconds, mid corridor is theirs but I don't know what lies on the other side.
XCB partners up with McCasey and tests Nezzy.
He's been unable to find the frag, Dobbs drops into the side, but this is where that third man is.
A-Pix on the brick side, uncrushed, headshot, Nezzy's back!
Navi in trouble!
Spiraling downwards, not looking good! One back from Bitt! That's wonderful!
He's ready for the push through to smoke as well as I, we've fixed twice a battle, so there's Tracer fire visible from Flamesy, but he doesn't!
Wops into Bitt! Their advantage is disintegrating!
Time!
Robbs is on the site.
They know he's around here somewhere, strafe's on in, it's comfortable for Robbs, it's looking like they've done it!
Vitality, the last round of regulation, they snuck to the way!
Rob said he didn't want to go home with regrets, and that's dust, dude, that's their home turf.
This one was tough, Zawoo with one kill at the half, ends with 19.
Vitality, they do their best work in the playoffs.
All right, we're down here on the show floors the Intellecturing Masters and Atlanta you know exactly where we are
So today we've come on a mission to find the most
Pleasantable curse t-shirts that we could find and so in doing that and I don't want to pay attention. What's this?
All right first and foremost where you off from
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, okay, and y'all you all flew here you drove here. What what happened here, so there's
I mean really the best way to put it is we heard about the Kerrigan transfer and then Launders had
come out with a video with this picture. Yeah let's go and turn it on because see I was going to save
the reveal but... Huh all right let's get the origin story for the backside too. And yeah so Launders
had just put that photo of Kerrigan in his video and we just thought it was hilarious. Originally
we didn't know what we wanted to do for the design so on the front we decided to do the
Niko phone meme with him with the whatsapp and then on the back Kerrigan's been summoned by Niko
with the whatsapp phone as you can see here it's it's lovely it's beautiful i mean this is this
is what Niko called up for like it's beautiful yeah thank you for the talking i can't do it
Either way, gentlemen, thank you for that.
You have any more suggestions, any more crazy t-shirts, you let me know, okay?
We'll do it, absolutely. Thank you so much.
No problem. Anything you want to say to the internet while I have you?
Be careful. It's forever.
If you're not here, you're not living, let's go, the boys!
Thank you all. Thanks. Good job.
Thank you.
Tired of your star player tilting?
Here at ESL, we've been studying rage for generations.
And after years of testing, we can now finally re-reach.
To take in the most tilting thing in Counter-Strike and combine it in one tool.
With repeat exposure to these drills, we've observed drastic red reduction.
Cool, no problem.
From the spawnstab to the classic block, you have many options to explore.
Forget simple hotel room, the only anti-molding you need is RERAGE.
if you're an RB fan and if you're hoping for a series going all the way
because there was plenty of opportunities in this game for Nami to
to finally get a map win but as you said Vitality that they're just masters of
finding different ways one way to to label this one around you know would be
Simon in the first half he goes one and seven right the player that has been
playing so exceptionally well as of late he's nowhere to be found in the first
half obviously that means that Nami is getting off with seven rounds they're
getting off to a good start so to speak into this first half of the game and
then Simon comes alive in the second and it can't find a way to to close it out
And I think that's the way I want to reiterate this before we go into detail with what happened
It doesn't matter how much I leave him they always find a different way of doing so this time around by silo not fucking into the
Server before we play 13 miles. Yeah, and then he was doing some dangling of his own in the second half
But I think you go going into this dust to write into this quarterfinal
Vitality play dust to many times this year
They've lost once and that was to a foot with a stand-in as their coach
right like in a game that didn't really mean that much in a series that they
already won. There's been more times that they held their opponents to five
rounds or less than their opponents hit double digits against them like that's
too is just and this is why they pick it because no matter what's going on the
game plan goes right if it goes wrong they can always adjust on the fly the
individuals will always have their moments because they all love the map
and they understand it on such a high level and it just seems like Navi they
hadn't they win the force by of their own in the first half they were gonna have
In the second half to get rolling to get to 11-11 and then again things just fall apart at the worst
It's crazy
It feels like no
You just need to feel the standard of their own to have like any hopes of doing something versus vitality at this point
It must be so frustrating if you're on the side of Navi to think we have them
We have them right where they want them and then at the final hour just gone
Yeah, especially because you can make a case every single time that they play close to hey
Have we won this round or have we played this scenario better than we could have won the map
But when the end result is the same over and over and over you also get to a point where?
I guess Falcons are one of the few teams we can imagine that you know that yeah
We get so close, you know, but we don't really know what the issue is because we can never get it over the finish line
And I'd say the same for now right here over all the better good game of Counter-Strike
They put a good fight up against Vitality as you said as well won some of the key rounds
You know state competitive applied a lot of pressure
You have bits showing up in crucial moments as well
And yet that's still not enough when Saibu is not part of the game for the first 12 rounds
So there's always a silver lining going both ways and at the end of the day the end result is always the same
Let's dive into a couple of moments to start off in the first half we got round nine. What's the story for vitality here?
Yeah, I mean they had some good reads Navi and even in this round
You see just flames it going quickly down lower. He's making a lot of noise
He's gonna throw this smaller toe like he's just simulating a default here
So that now he thinks you're just another standard round
But actually they just want to do a B pop and we saw back-to-back round where vitality found success
but here it's a bit deceiving because Makazi is playing exactly for this.
He's jiggle-peaking with an incendiary, but just as the hit is about to come in,
he's going to switch to a smoke and he gets caught juggling nades and now it's too late.
The modern incendiary is too deep, he gets blinded and just gets chased down and that's where the
frustration comes in for him from the player cast because he had the right counter play and I think
someone told him, okay, let's just smoke tunnels now and just as he wants to do that,
Here they come and it's the worst possible timing and they were targeting that B bomb site in the second part of the first half
It's always he just very unfortunate because as I said, he's ready for it
He's waiting for it and at the worst possible moment
He'd decide to pull out the smorgasbord and at that point you can also give credit to flamesee for just running in straight ahead
You know, there's a clear idea of how they wanted to enter the pathway into what that bombsite and having the efficiency with the Mac 10
Here is credit to flamesee and the first gun around that now he loses
they have the read, it was the double long setup with Alexi baiting for Ima and Vitality counts,
they just can't connect on the kills and then it was those early few rounds that's really
allowed for Vitality to get back into the game.
Well look, that's at the time where Navi did manage to connect the heads as it were,
because it came down to be an incredible clutch for closing round 11.
Yeah, I think Chet said it on the cast, you know, that every single bit kill we got in this game
was with impact and round 11 was another one where he showed up massively and around where I feel like,
Okay, this is now the entering this game at a point where I started to believe that it may be possible because it was atypical
For vitality to lose this car around again
They're taking short control the setting up for an a execute flame see again in a position where he's obviously getting flash for
He's the first guy in and usually he finds a lot of success with that wonderful is being pushed off the angle with a flash
Takes a repeat right here can hit the shot again
It's flame see coming in with a double entry as he's been doing thought the entire day of the year
Then Alexi B does the only thing he can do and that is taking a fight from a very tough position
position together with Mikazi he's bringing back the round and all of a
sudden we find ourselves in a 1v2. Now you'd say if Sairu and Rubs is alive in a
1v2 and you know Bit is coming over from the other bomb side, odds are that he's
not going to win this. Steven gives up his position by running through the
Molotov but he's instant on both Rubs and Sairu. I'm not even gonna fall by
telling you or Sairu or Rubs were playing it badly in this scenario it's
just wonderful counters right coming out from Bit but it's atypical. Normally you
always see by telling me when these kind of rounds so when this happened I
thought to myself okay we may have a game. It's exactly the sort of magic
that you need if you're going to take them down on a map like Dust2.
So they had these moments, they had chances, it seemed like at the end they were able to
turn it around but Vitality just found a way yet again to close out the game.
Yeah, 100% we talk about some magic on the side of Vitality because round 23 we see maybe
a typical push from Famesy, a very ballsy one at that, but then rocks.
This is where the magic truly...
Here's the thing, there's a couple of things.
I'll get to it, let's talk about the round first.
You can see it's some sort of a buy, but having enough money to buy in the final round too,
and Flames he pushed up, and they did this a lot.
They were very aggressive on their CT side, pushing tunnels, pushing up mid in the first gun round as well,
and Flames he gets a double kill, and robs once he sees the names, and two guys dying lower,
he knows, okay, no one else is covering this.
I can take the space, look where he kills Alexei.
I mean, almost in T spawn, and at this point, like, all the space is taken away from Navi,
bit and wonderful in the 2v4, there's really not much left for them to do,
to do but I was really surprised about they taking a timeout before this round
because they brought back another sort of 3v5 it seemed like they had
vitality on the ropes I guess he didn't like the plan for his from his team
maybe didn't seem like they had a clear direction and he knew how important the
round was and wanted to get all their ducks in a row but that timeout gave
vitality time to organize themselves and called maybe this push from Flavius
they figure out how they're going to support him and usually when you're
winning these rounds, you're not supposed to,
you leave it to your opponents to take a timeout
if they have one because it's very frustrating.
Exactly, I saw the timeout logo and I was like,
oh, I assume it's Vitality's, right?
You just lost that round prior to it,
but then this call comes out and it's just, yeah,
I mean, it's so typical Vitality, isn't it?
You're literally on the brink of overtaking them
on their home ground of Dust2 and it doesn't happen.
Yet again, Junko.
Yeah, they always do find a way to win
and it's hard for us to explain exactly what it is
because I feel like it's a different thing
every single game, every single series.
This time around I gotta give it to FlameSea, right?
We're just showing you three different rounds
and in every single one of those rounds,
it's FlameSea getting a double entry, you know?
He finished with 15 kills,
not necessarily highest on the scoreboard,
not having the most sick ADR,
but he was involved in nine opening duels
and a lot of the opening kills he got was double entries,
where he's single-handed winning the round.
So in terms of setting up FlameSea to succeed,
in terms of having him run in first,
with flashes behind him,
with smokes pathing the way for him,
I think APICs throughout 20-26
really have found a perfect way to enable him.
And then the other side of the story as well, as we said,
Syruh first half going 1-7, nowhere to be found.
Part of the reason why they lost that round against Bit as well,
couldn't get the trade kill, second half, as you said, Yanko,
all over the place going 4, nobody kills,
really putting it down and ending up as the top frag on the server.
To have a star player who can go missing for 12 rounds
and then show up like that, that's also a pretty unique aspect to it.
Very quickly, gentlemen, just some thoughts on Anubis.
I'm happy you saw a competitive-looking Navi,
because this is their map pick that lays them weight, right?
Well, you should be optimistic, right,
because we said, how great Vitality is the best team ever to play this too, right?
And you were able to take them all the way and we're within striking distance.
So now you're going to your own map and a map that you probably should have won
four times you played in these Grand Finals.
We talked a bit about the matchup and how it changes.
Like it just becomes a meta in its own right when they play each other now.
It's not about how an Ubis is played in general.
So I'm curious to see what Vitality will bring in that's a little bit different
to keep Navi on the back foot.
Well, we are going to be diving into it, but not before we head things to a short break.
When we return, the map pick of Navi coming into this one.
It's Anubis going down in just a few.
I'm down here on the stage in front of the stage with a man who loves fantasy.
As Jason, a few fantasies you've had in your time, Jason and Buss.
Now we're going to do the Kool-Ax fantasy.
That's a different fantasy, but obviously everyone's favorite fantasy is having three vitality players in the same exact team
So I assume
You and I retrieved three vitality players
We are indeed gonna pick three vitality players. I'm gonna go with apex inside
We'll go first of all and I'll throw rocks in there. So shockingly. That's gonna be three vitality players
I think yeah, who you fleshing out the team with yes, too. Morning. You gotta find I'm gonna look at the rest
It's one of the playoffs side
I think legacy are gonna do pretty well, and there's like a jewel in that team that everybody always talks about
Do you know what? So for me, those are two other players that will pick outside of Vitality.
So you've taken Apex, Zairu, Rocks, Do you know what?
There might be some communication issues, but I think it should be alright.
Alright, let's fair it up. I'm going to do something similar.
I'm going Apex, Zairu, and Mezzie.
Oh, alright.
Yeah, I'm picking Mezzie up in there.
And then I'm going to go different direction. I am going to take Do you know what as well?
I like that from Legacy, but I'm getting Makazey from Navi.
Makazey from Navi, he's my secret weapon. He's the secret source of the scene.
Well, if Navi beat Vitality, then he's definitely going to play a part in there.
Exactly. That's what Collex Fantasy teams will see how they perform. I'm feeling good about mine, not so much about Jason's, but we'll see how it plays out here at IEM Atlanta.
You and half of this Calvins, sir!
We are back!
Another smoke guys.
Yeah, can you do smoke doors?
Yes, I think so.
I will go and get you window.
Get window.
I think two guys.
Nothing.
I think two!
I think they're two, nice!
Yes.
Can you pass them a moment?
Wait, I'm gonna go default like this.
Yeah, I will go default.
I'll flash every window.
Ready?
Yes.
Flashing.
I'm gonna push mid, I'm gonna push mid.
So careful.
One shot, one shot, one shot.
Okay.
Shot, yes.
Two, three, two, three, I think.
Two or three.
Long one.
I'm leaving.
Two long, two long.
Two short, I'm pushing.
Shots shot.
Pushing window.
Pushing, pushing.
Nice one, one shot.
Nice one, long, long, two.
I'm going to shoot!
Go back! Go back! Go back!
I'm going to shoot!
I'm going to swing you!
Wait wait wait!
I'm going to run!
Let's go boys!
No!
I thought you guys...
Let's go boys!
One lower!
Hit and three!
Keep it lower!
I'm dead.
Lower.
Two sets, two sets.
Two sets.
Two back.
Up there, up there.
Top mid, top mid.
You can go to the spawn, Robin.
He's top mid low.
He's dead, he's low.
One more low.
Nice.
One more low.
They cannot go back low.
Two more, two more.
Two more.
They cannot go back.
They're trying to kill Robin, I think.
I got...
Nice!
Nice, nice.
Hello guys, crazy summer right?
What are you doing bro?
You're a brother.
Who didn't go anywhere without people asking for pictures?
Yeah, same.
Wait, do you guys have fans?
First major win and I'm even more motivated.
I don't know what James was talking about.
Same brother.
Boys, not gonna lie, it feels like we can't do no one.
Oh bless.
Stopable
So what do you guys think?
No, no, Dan.
Dan, it's really Dan.
Just two goes Vitality's way.
a finish in regulation couldn't keep Zai Wu down after a poor first half but now
we get ready for a Lubis. Tarktid weakness is the discussion but how much
can Na'Vi manage to convert here? The record ain't pretty. Does the game break
their spirits a narrow, narrow loss on our first map. Is it just going to be a
vitality semi-final or is there more twists and turns?
This has to be a different story for Narvi to remain in contention here in Atlanta.
This is the Internet Extreme Masters. We're live from Atlanta. You're having a good time tonight!
favorites to lift the whole damn thing.
Another T side start for Vitality.
This is by choice.
They're setting up for a B-Pot.
Mikaze, wonderful.
You've got Khamni.
He smokes off, yeah.
This is going to get uncomfortable quickly.
Fortunately, wonderful does dip back onto site.
He'll have vision to try and disrupt it.
Oh, he nails it!
Catches it, we throw in the backplot.
Molly enables Mikaze.
Wonderful for a second as well.
Apex, he needs a whole lot more.
He's caught reloading in the smoke
He's got no support, Nezzy arriving now.
The damage from Apex, it's fit onto him,
but Nezzy try and make something out of this one on three.
Flash connects, and Bitts bullets will too.
And I think he put the right foot forward to start.
Beautiful shot there from WandaVeek,
back that's on to Zywoo who was starting to heat up
in that second half.
Mikazi then gets the good gracious to come through the smoke,
knowing there's that buffer.
So the comms must be in a comfortable place for Na'Vi.
And they knew that Dust2 was always going to be tough.
This one here, right in the flash, there's nothing that Mersi can do with that one, and they will make sure the bomb doesn't go down.
Obviously Vitality coming into the next round of play with just a couple of digs.
And then, absolutely no hurry with this one.
I'm going to go to the left side of the map.
If you're going to lay out the land for the setup as far as it's concerned for Nabi's
CT side, Alexi, over towards Jail.
This has been piloted by Yanko in that prep for the game.
He's going to be your B main holder.
He'll be partnered up with Laksimakazi.
Holding off towards E-Box.
That means you get a combination of Immap and Wonderful in middle.
two. You know, Wonderful's the
Rotator. Emma will be playing
more towards A and you'll be
joining that a bit as the
Ancap. Just causing a little
bit of a kefuffle early on
Vitality, just showing
themselves shooting off a
couple of shots, trying to
draw out that U2. Now they
gravitate towards mid. It's
where Wonderful and Emma
reside. Ooh, pressure applied.
It is done well. It stands
his ground for two.
Eventually went all the way
out by the Glock of Robbs.
If you can get another with the 1400 investor in these two digs, not too shabby, but it's going to be tough.
So 40 seconds now, Zau and Mezi are going to be starting to look to die.
That launch bonus in the bank balance and get the guns out into the next.
This could be a great time for Alex B to get his frag total started.
Simone Armored pistols, Francis and MP9, Macalze steals one and he gets started indeed.
Ok, I was going to pick up that thermos, that could be dropped across or an M4.
There will be no issues in the bind apartment, a 4 and a half feet.
Just no AWP for wonderful this early in the game.
They know that Vantalini are now going to be hedging in with the bike.
4 AKs and a Galil for Mezzi, needs to facilitate that U-Till.
They don't go saying it's a longer the broader approach of these two teams of them up.
There's a melody built with the head to head.
So see how these mind games play in.
The other box early for either team.
And then wonderful stunning close mid wanting to harass.
The block same mate.
basket smoke for some space Ross is going to try and take this away from bit
century move it early there's that one
forces out even more you two and with this starting to path back towards B
still play as middle as well they could drop out the window more could head through e-box
Bomb being picked up now, we finish.
How's he feeling like this B split? It meant being drawn back towards middle, Alexi and Mikazi.
Still with a decent amount of Utah between the two of them.
Oh, spam from Mikazi, doesn't quite finish off Apex at all, just a single bullet scrapes his knee.
How's he asked to respect this?
Yeah, they're gonna push through, well placed on the HE.
cheap
It's gonna be
Plan for a lexie be first to receive
Carpenter play here and XEB
Tag through the smoke spam from the Zai Wu and nezzy coming in from be made here
It comes pressure amplified flashes flame and a headshot from flamesy. There's a lexie just the one
Opportunity for more they're low in as quick on the scene frames gonna get clear here
So that pulls us in three on three nearly transfers it on to eight picks with that bomb plot
They got a kill on him and they can give this one a go. There's no U2. This is gonna be tough.
It's hard to wounded.
He brings the fight to them. That's outrageous. Bit one back. He picks an over extension,
goes swinging in, at least confirms his whereabouts. And now it's Robson that brings the fight.
Ambitious. Watch available. Hang on. Should be comfortable and Robson's hands in. Look at the time.
Bit knows if he could just isolate the duel, but Robson's played the clock.
I think Apex is assuming they're going for the save in that situation with that type of a pick, there's no way, the gun show, Apex has got some competition out there.
Their money's not going to be great going into this next round to play, so the fact that they're giving this a go in a post-plan scenario, it was a double pump as well, right layering in the U2, waiting for the block dates to come out from Nami, the second wave flames you fantastic with the openers.
And this one, what a shot!
Just a just down into that, and Robs stays cool.
Forced by InfaNavi.
1-M4, 1-Famus.
MP9 and a couple of pistol upgrades.
They'd love to be able to wrestle this one back in the early game.
They lose this, the rounds are spill open,
and Vitality should be able to take the lead.
Selling, eh, Navi?
Nobody close baskets, nobody attending with the sight whatsoever.
a very heavy B set up coming into play. Now look, if you gamble incorrectly, just hold
on to these and go again into round number five.
The battalion are tracking in this direction. Let's see if they're as diligent with the
U2 this time round.
Thanks to these holding a flashback. Try to catch them and disrupt them upon the commitment.
There's that Saint Molotov, gonna make life miserable for the two of them backplank.
Wonderful burns down.
12 HP, still manages to catch one on the back foot.
There's Zaiwutou from the E-Box position, racks up a double in their backplank for another headshot.
Rops.
Tracksome as he tries to fight and they're losing everything here.
They put all their pennies into the center of the table and Vitality have managed to secure a second round.
It's giving it a look.
Certainly will have a go. It's that horrible crossfire though.
I'm trying to breach this with
only a Mac 10. He can isolate.
Oh, can he vote nimble from
messy using that moving accuracy
of the SMG?
Harvey Bancroft.
It was like a sense of inevitability
is settled in. You sense it with
the crowd, maybe as well as the
players from Na'vi. I think it's
the mental anguish with how close
they were on map number one.
They had some big moments of
moment but Vitality is still for Vail.
The B lane but this is just the EK you expect this one to be farmed up.
But the Nubis in the mix and there's last two outings with these two teams 13-10-
13-11, Vitality just getting across the line. So we should be set for another close map.
I think it's the Betboom lost 13-10, which is what forced Vitality down to the lower bracket,
having to play two best of threes the day. First time they've done that since Chuck do,
it's here he is. Apex the five best. That's three. No, the fourth in Zywoot. He won't miss.
So just need to find that a bit. They'll expect him over towards Apex. Oh, not a bad shot.
Much more damage.
And that's what this is looking for, right? Vitality again.
Oh, goodness, series. They put themselves up against Betboom in that semi-final tomorrow.
Already locked in legacy versus gamer legion.
And whoever wins this one, they are the heavy favourites to take the title again.
I think everybody coming out here to Atlanta expecting the grand final to be Navey versus Vitality.
But hey, with the footfalls that we've seen on folds, this is where we find ourselves.
Yeah, you heard mezzy in the interview with Martin as well just talking about how they like to try and
Consider themselves two different teams and groups and playoffs
It's an intensity shift right for them groups for like a formality. This is the fun part
Yeah, exactly on the big stage with that loud Atlanta crowd you guys have been bringing some insane energy
I'll be not giving him too much to cheer about right now.
This time early aim and pressure applies.
What intensity is this side?
Is that rotation has been drawn?
Wonderfuls AWP will be posted on the line.
They're blocked towards mid and they're juggling in nades.
That's how they're feeling quite comfortable.
They've got the map control that they're looking for.
Look at Apex on the camera.
He's got a very clear game plan.
is relayed. It's just hands off the mouse and keyboard making sure his troops know the marching orders.
Well fine, coming in the way off, Robs. Bit him a pad up to clear it out and
they're happy with what they see but mid's been a voids around all of this.
Wandaful heading back over. Can't really push into the line. 50 seconds.
It looks like we're going to get an AWP head to head here. Wonderful heavy advantage and nails it.
Removes the woof. They pivot now. Do they want to head towards B? They know the wonderful Zork.
the other side here we go heaven smoke flames you messy they need these good
flashes from apex to be able to path in wonderful center collect another jumping
over his life so quick flick on to messy and a lot of flags
beautiful any more of that very comfy stuff with wonderful with another head-to-head
against I would seven and four for wonderful keeping up that good form
from the group stage. Yeah, he sat him down on the pistol and
has kept it up with the AWP.
That tells me you're not walking into that drive. You expect the
officer to be there, right? He assumes he's going to get some
room against some rifles, be able to post up. It's a bit missed
right now for Vitality. Tech nine, Mac 10, three rifles.
They've missed a smoke here. Masses with Flames's lineup.
I don't want to try towards mid-legged Flancy at least.
Starting to flirt with the smoke, this is just what it waltzes on through.
Wouldn't put it past him, and he has just gone straight through that smoke.
Enabled Saewoon Mezzi, the tail joins him.
Imma, supported by WandaF-
Oh, there's the headshot, Saewoon however.
Onto Imma quick.
And WandaF- How's he getting away?
Missed spray, a second lease of life for Narvi's sniper.
They're applying a lot of pressure towards A again, but it doesn't have to be the finish
till over a minute on the clock and they can pivot back.
Alexi's have to rotate over to help out Wonderful.
He's going to get head towards Bitt, Sight.
And so split 2-2 at the moment.
Looking around the same round again.
There's the flash though. This is the difference maker.
Bitt eats the flash bang and measures he par-
they get to the Sight for one.
The back of the Sight lies Wonderful.
He has to find a multi.
What does so?
Pieces to get out for two!
Sight lost to Alexi B.
He falls as well on the camera position.
Sight, we're aware of it.
Kasi's close. He's too. He can give it a go.
Certainly Will raps towards founting.
Galil Vyempo looking the wrong way, makes it even.
Zairu low HP.
Mikazi's even got the HE.
This could make all the difference.
An impactful round.
Three kills deep from Zairu,
but Mikazi can make it all for naught.
Back of the side.
Where's that HE going too deep?
Zairu pinks and Zairu frags before.
It's OK.
Zairu's had one off half right now.
He's sitting nine and four.
That was a massive round from him.
just hit everything that moved on that A site.
Let me go back and forth as the score now reads 4-3.
So there's been some stubborn calling,
or at least consistent calling from my tiny brothers.
Two rounds in a row with this B split in through water.
Once you get the E-box control, the mollies towards the plant.
Now they've run a very similar looking A split round after round.
He says smoke comes in.
They had a push after this Molly.
It looks like it was going to be a...
In the south of the window!
In it!
Just going to bring the fight to them.
Sure.
His 40 HP catches some flak.
Two of them in the canal.
A forward start from the defenders, but gaps available.
Their flames he pushes mid.
Off the flash from Apex, he's in.
Yeah, good response to losing canal.
Look how uncomfortable that makes Mikaze.
He's got to be worried about so many different avenues.
Faster back away in E-box, safe.
And now the pressure is on Bit, right?
Because you're going to lose canal control once they...
...tease their smoke fades.
You know that they can apply that pressure.
I'm still in limbo, no commitment for Vitality just yet,
but they're coming into sweet mid.
Oh, that's a lot of in-flags.
A whole lot of in-flags.
What's the whole squad?
Easy frag, though.
Bit with the M4, rips the head off the flames.
He apexes next victim. He's a dead man running.
Back turn, and that bricks it up comfortably.
So I was got the bomb can't afford to commit now. Massey hoping he catches one returning from temple
There's wonderful little peak out gets the info
still a body
Outside be made smoke will obscure two of them, but that's like is safe and if it can damage through the smoke there
As he kind of keeps plants it and they'll just run at him. I think it's a safe
They're just gonna call this one off. I'm since I we're looking to hold on to what they brought in weird and apex if people
the corner there and the can after those deathful admit it was very frustrated.
I think with all this players he saw maybe you're hoping for a reaction from
your teammates maybe you thought hey I made the right call it was just on a
later time unit they came and swept through middle. We tie things up again.
So 1400 is the last bonus. Zahler and Robs won't get any of that.
Apex is in Galil territory. Flamze and Mezzi are gonna have to be down to some
Pistols side, we could drop hook a little.
And the tactical time out called.
So good chance right now to organize that by.
to the left. Timeout. Subcited
now. They're on freeze time. You
have to see what investments are
coming through behind this. Okay,
piecing it together now. Hex is
going to take nine armor with
Nate. He's in with the Mac 10.
Messi on the technology. Well,
this is tough, right? You have
to balance the fact that you
have to save the WP and
gives our chance to play into the round. Claims you. Just misthrow right there on the molly.
Man try to boost him up trying to catch the AMA. Could work out. He's gonna play it safe.
Throws a block smoke mid and tucks him to join bit on A. Clearly trying to demonstrate
present outside of a name. You want to force that rotation, but with this 3-2 set up that's
has been opted for right now in this cheeky fangle here on top of the box.
Emma will not be pre-amped here whatsoever.
Let's smoke dotted now towards E-box, so over towards B. Oh, look, Flash coming from LX.
See, they're going to clear up your name. Mezz is very passive with this.
Well, he might get caught in limbo. Here comes the Flash.
He's got cover, tuxing, relays the information, and takes a head!
Macazze's dead, wonderful, very quick hiver, and knows that they're gonna try and
scope up in towards E-Bot, swinging in, Xayah was unable to track him.
It's mid to focus, in-end bit of set this up, the trap.
Up on the boost, I say that as he actually drops off as they start to commit,
he knows he's gonna be nimble, but goes down, comfortable, frag for Robs!
It's bit for the multi, can't provide!
Some damage, heavy damage inflicted. This one, an interesting lay of the land.
It might be over before it even gets started here. Alexi and Wandaful having a conversation over to what CT spawned.
They want to go fishing, see if there's an overstep. They've got a kit, but no smoke.
And there you have it, all right.
Oh, considering the timeout, the financial implications of the investment.
Messi does very well, doesn't he? Under a lot of pressure, the flashes come through.
He's having a calm there and focus on the cross there. Gets one done.
you know, the flashers came
through and two players P. So
a lot of information and then
Emma looked good, right? But at
that point, he's no longer
playing for info anymore.
Thinking they're going to
rejig the setup because of that
exchange. We get to the time
again. So five to four.
Wonderful good drop and that
will go into the hands of
mccasey. Everybody else should
be able to buy. But it has 4.6
and Blades got his thinking face on it's just right now a bit of an armrestle
But again if you now V4 round CT side, it's not terrible right if you're able to get one more
You'll be happy with that and the drop-off couldn't come at a worse time
It's turn to call the time out
It's a chance there right bit could have gone massive really he gets that frag
The players low he mobs it up and able to stand tall
the team has lost but that's why we're having to see these saves. If you want to have something
to contend with, you're going to have to keep holding onto your guns. We've only got a handful
of rounds remaining in this half.
I was going to be into the Evox lined up and away we go.
As he gets in at his hands this time, just waiting he early peeks out the hole.
Take a look early, prepare to react and then drop back into a bit more of a standard set
of a 2-1-2.
I don't know how many Nade juggles going on for this T-side.
It's just so confident on both sides of what the others are doing, right?
That's your opponents.
Yeah, that's the meta game within this game.
Flash forward mid-space again.
Three players here to deal with this.
Imma, forward position.
An awful angle, they're baiting him in as well.
Imma, go swing it, can't find it.
Bitwell at least combined to keep it a level trade.
Ropspan is smoked, wonderful returns.
fire with the tracers betraying that was a ugly exchange on a for RV so you know
the mid-player is dead and the rotators dead group up hit the side together it's
a wide open sight chat you were talking about it there bees evacuated it might
just have to be another save for now V
he seemed enough and the red carpet rolled out for vitality sixth round
I can't say we'll have a look. Do some light investigations into the retake ability.
Lex is here.
Bit. Looks like he was gonna be on his way.
I think I'm gonna call this one off. Yep, alright, well, more of this.
I'm just questioning what now they're going to opt for here, right, because Alexia and
Mikazi will both be able to drop M4s, which doesn't mean they're going to be lighter in
the Uto department.
So do you want to just partial behind this three saves?
That's a good tip.
That's a hydrohomie if ever I saw one.
That's getting dry out there at the moment with the tone of this game.
Now they're going to need some water for all the salt if they do not find another round on the CT side.
Yeah, okay, so they've just gone for the partial, right? They've gone for a full gun round and for the final round of the half.
So this one, sure, there's two chances. There's three saved guns.
A little bit of U-Till.
Gonna need some individual output to win this one.
Yeah, well, we know Bitt is capable in the individual department.
He's also got his AK-47. We'll turn the flash.
It's a Robs versus Bitt standoff. There's another flash to set him up.
Bitt versus Robs.
Again, dipping his toe in that water.
It's Mikaze, this forward position, ready to flick down.
Catches Apex for an opening.
Okay, that's a B defender. Am I accelerating them into that site?
Considering it flames is bringing the bomb over there now. I'll tell you till for the finish
But the stack is back in place. They looked a little bit jittery, but it rotates back in time
Opportunity for some word easy frag onto wonderful. He wants it answers instead. He gets an all bullet in his ribcage
Rob's arriving Alexi P preoccupies gonna be exposed to Rob's the back turn call the quick switch doesn't matter and site
Taken at just Macaulay. They've got to get past hiding out behind the side smoke. It's here as well. He's got a flash
to the air. Yeah, Rob's not going to be blind. There's one on to
Messi. Can't find the second great covering fire from Rob's
now bits turn sweeps on through flames. It gets the information
safely. Now Rob speaks in good adjustment, but there's flames.
Those jiggles are so annoying. The bomb goes down. The first
thing Flemst does is jiggle that plug gets the info and then
they all just focus fire. So seven rounds to vitality.
Can they make it eight and I haven't really had a gear shift
gear shift in terms of anything quite pacey and in your face wonderful right now he wants to get a cross before the smoke comes in and
He's removed from play once a few of these teammates they can group up. Maybe get a rifle in one of these
Well, the comrades goes down
He gets core and that's what makes it the 4v4 so that one sucks
So we've gone for a man pick real fast. This is a really quick
Here's that takes a heavy made damage. It's actually wonderful. Zork this managed to remove rops
Smoke break on E-Box. Apex continues his walk in, a contact walk.
He's got support from Alexi.
Biff, spotted outside. Molotov's going to make his life miserable.
Dips away. Backup Brigade has arrived.
A couple of limp flashes. He's eaten that and there's him.
No trade potential on that from Apex. It's a three on five.
Nobby to end this half with at least their fifth and less.
I will keep getting shots like that catches him or over the top of the smoke
They've still got mezi is a bit of a
Look outside B
So I was hanging around looking for another if anyone comes begging for questions towards heaven
This most also like does he get a chance?
As he's starting to float over now
There's no idea the ones looking for answers grouping up towards middle once more
As he's very late to this, but he does have a smoke.
Kai Woot has Util as well.
Camera smoke, Heaven smoke, get Molly into what's backside, or bricks, and away you go.
Here he comes.
An abandoned bit.
That cut of noise has put it all onto his shoulders here.
Rotation swift.
And swings on in for nothing.
Mezzi, clean head shot, covers flames as he gets the bomb down.
ZywOo responsible for camera, Alexi B trying to get through and it's Alexi B that finds the headshot.
Oh, so it is wonderful!
Just ZywOo in the clutch, can't hit it!
Navi 5 of Vitality 7, is there more to renew this?
Is the third map required? Can Navi beat this team?
It's Cologne 2024.
That feels like a lifetime ago,
and that's the same with Vitality
and those top four placements.
477 days ago was the last time
they couldn't achieve that.
Like a bastard bounty season one to kick off 2025,
but here we find ourselves in the pursuit of Cologne,
the major right around the corner.
They're looking for weaknesses in the world number one.
I think there's allegedly one of them.
The games are close. Let's see if this one delivers in the same capacity.
Four sets of Kev in flames with a smoke and a kill.
A whole lot more Yuto invested upon Funaabia in this one.
Quite a storage defence over towards A.
The bomb outside B.
It's on the back of wonderful. There's no clear commitment as Aru is calling mid completely clear.
Wonderful starting to line up some U2 as Mikazi.
So it wants to help flush our E-box with that molly.
Temple smoke obscures our view.
You respect it for now.
Is this a fake or is that commitment?
They're not getting any resistance right now.
They might want to head in.
Bombs starting to float back, flames the apex and ropes.
Also getting a little bit jittery. They're rotating away.
Tom has headed back, they're going to try and play this one on the side, Mikaze, he'll be tasked with that.
They have to retake Package on Flamesy.
Another smoke for Tampoy.
This one heavily favouring Na'Vi, surely at this point, sure, smoking kit.
The first headshot could start the house of Karts Tumbling.
They're going to get to the bomb first.
Just about rocking up now, Mikaze hitting on the pillar, feels good for Na'Vi, feels great.
They can find the first, they've been gone, and another Mikaze catches the smoke, pushes clean, it's spotless.
It's exactly what Navi needed.
Just a blend of that, really a temperate approach and no rush, fell to out, didn't find resistance, suspected a stack and they were right.
Stuff from Navi there picking up both pistols.
We'll see if Vitality 4 starts to take shape, and this is just way too easy isn't it?
The smoke skittles in, but there's no flash.
There's nothing to make that a possibility.
Just locking them down and finding the fire.
You're just going to get past this one,
and you can take the lead.
A couple of MP9s, two diggles, and a 5-7 for Zawoog.
These are rounds you have to win if you want to put vitality away.
Four man, silent crawl middle.
No eyes on. Josiah, we're playing jubile smoke defense from camera.
High level now. Vision obscured.
Alexi B. Bully hopping his way into the temple flank.
Forces a adaptation from the CT set up. Wonderful. In sport.
Somewhat considered.
Yeah, Messi's ready for this.
Boss of the shoulder does not get that immediate head shot.
It could pivot back to Borte. They don't have to commit with this.
They're feeling so much pressure, the Navi clamping from every angle, he got bit.
Holding out for any of those A rotators, it's Simon and Robs trap from that side.
The Mando triple swing though, good from Mikaze, support from 1 to 4 for 2.
Easy headshot, Simon goes down the A side of the Mando, then Mato activates onto Apex.
Okay, enough nice from Navi, they really crunched themselves in enemy territory.
Vitality, they feel like they have to make a move and they run into a tight choke point.
that's what they have the pistols and the SMGs.
But Navia set up for that and they will be able to tie things up, set in a piece.
Atlanta was the third and designer of this one.
But the victory being, as you mentioned,
Navia can just pick up a map.
That's going to build some confidence, right?
They've been getting closer.
There's been a couple of maps this year.
This is the fourth time their face-up has been blowouts.
two grand finals, one quarter final will make it to now here in I.M Atlanta.
And taking a map off.
A lot of teams struggle to do that in Vitality's era.
Vitality want to join it.
So now they want to join that list.
Alright, Robson gets to hold on to his deal, he's had our...
Sasha, the snatchers in the building.
He's giving you a wave.
That's what the kids are called a blower.
He's got plenty of that, but it's the partial.
I can't say it's all you box.
Three players here.
Team flashed there four-timing.
It gets a bit flanky, doesn't it?
And B-Main smoked off. They're rotating away now. Zaru is up to bat.
Zaru want this flank. It's everything.
Let's see if he can get awareness. Had the gun on.
It's information that they are vacating.
Ah, it's just a race right now. They should be able to get to A. No issues.
Yeah, there's no one there. Flanks is going to be the first man on the scene.
has to get across this midline though, Lexi B has drawn the line of the sand.
What are you supposed to do? You go off a flash, and comfortable, in it, and Lexi, pick him up!
Pick him off!
And sees control of the A site.
Alright, well Rops and Apex may as well try and do a little bit of damage here, see if they can find themselves an upgrade,
or just force some rebikes for teamwork, regardless of the disadvantage there and back.
Apex goes down.
It's a very well-tempered approach from Navi.
Nothing felt rushed, nothing felt compromised or hurried.
And they're being allowed so far to play at their own pace,
but when the guns come in, that's where the questions will need to be answered.
Rops again. Last man standing.
And he's going to get nothing for his troubles. Wallace.
No kill for Vitality in this one.
3-1-1 with the setup, Robs, Solar, A, Zawibiddle, the other three over towards B.
They have a move in mind, or they're just expecting it to be an early play into the B site.
They're getting the bomb on one of four outsiders.
Alexi goes through the motions from the midspace, eyes back to the doors.
Zawib doesn't really feel too much pressure as an A.
Spore on the dome there, off Mikazi, brought down to 63.
Another one through the window, Mikazi.
It's on the flak damage.
Oh, that could be number three.
Apex even has it.
Keeps hold of it for now.
In and throwing out the Utah.
This is just the double pump.
There's two smokes in the sky.
Ready for that second wave.
A counter.
Nade and Sanctuary package sent towards the Evox.
What force Macaulay away?
Still stabbing towards B.
Nade has gotten across.
Look at multiple angles to pick at a V in a moment's time.
HB, not a single bullet has found Makaze, just HE grenades stacked on top of each other.
I think this is all posturing though.
And maybe they're right, why don't we start in a cheap back?
40 seconds.
Roms has signed with support, and Lexi B already forging a par from the middle, it seems the
bomb's going that way too.
Can they try and synchronize with Big Makaze through a name?
This is the finish.
I hear them coming.
Pressure was applied, Zywin ready, gun-off, spots the legs, he controls his spray, trade from wonderful is superb.
An opportunity, but they've got to get this bomb down, they've got to get past props, he starts his strut onto Mikaze, the bomb, 13 seconds!
There's bit with one, but the bomb's lost! 10, that should be around there, the right there!
The name from Flames is securing it.
Oh fellow, the sorry, the round was the hey cheese.
Truly.
So much damage done to Mikaze, never easy to try and get that space, but copped it in every turn.
of responses or reactions to map control.
There isn't going the way that they were hoping for.
Rivals, Rio, Rotterdam.
Having something to eat this team.
It's been closed, sure. This one in particular starting to shape up nicely for now. Viet 8-8.
But, for the TCT side, it's just got its first round.
Is this aggression? Flash is corrupt. He's not necessarily swinging over first.
He will go out on the second for a quick glance as Flamesy has one out window.
This will slow down the default, right? The fact that they've done this on a second timing.
So now we have two choices. Let's react somewhere else or we'll wait it out and take the space bag later.
They applied a bit of pressure towards B, but they know that mid becomes the weakness.
Both teams on their 60s since we've got a little room to move within these mid rounds.
I'm still down outside middle, 55 seconds. Looks like Alexi heading back to pick that up.
Wonderful waiting for a re-aggress.
Smoke will fade to camera, it should be coming in a moment.
It's a good one. It's a good one.
Connect. I will up to about
first because they stay nimble
over the spring commits to it
has a Lexi lower now. Mezzi's
eating flashbanks needs another
is robbed the steps up to the
plate. Supported flash
work from messy is actually
rotated over towards a as well.
He's got the headshot. He's got
the both clean. From
teams are giving each other so much respect in certain situations waiting for those reactions like
I'm talking about then you get these spurts back and forth and then well there's only 20 seconds
left and there's no chance. It took a timeout for that and they didn't get what they were looking
for. Robson under a lot of pressure here at the rotation. Miles away and then apex comes in and
cleans house. It's not going to be the force for now, there to be a partial bite.
It's a couple of rifles in the mix.
It's not if you might want to do the same run and hide right now.
This one's starting to have that familiar feeling. Can vitality be the first to reach double digits?
The buy is definitely in that favor, but you go back to dust too.
They lost a bunch of rounds to purchases like this.
They've done a good job of putting Vitality off on their timings and tempers.
A lot of cases where normally they'd have three strong and everyone would have their
nades ready, their guns out, but they've been caught out in certain scenarios.
That could happen here again.
The read of the situation for Apex, the stack is on the wrong site for now.
They don't have so many smokes to this B defense, both Apex and Mezzie with more smokes to
deploy.
Head of this, Makase is making his move.
Supported by Dip, Apex dips away, he was committed to that corner, somehow he gets away.
Now they're swinging in, Apex loses control, Inman provides an opening, could get more.
Flames it up to Makase, and there's another double spray!
Flames he's on one, been in the clutch, does he second, bomb needs to be retrieved.
Zaru has his cross back to bomb retrieval, it feels like a set of done.
Nice miss shot from the York gives him the freedom to pick up the bomb the 22 HP 1v2 and Ross in temple
He's gonna walk straight into him. It's an open plant a Hail Mary play
Drops doesn't play with an eight does all the work
Lazy can we address how quickly he piece together freedom that happened quick out of the spoke on rotation
Just smashed that attack apex was under a lot of pressure. Mezzie as well
Well, fortunate for the rotation, the bomb does go down when you're not going to be buying
anyway, but that is going to help out a decent chunk.
Off the logistics for all to do with the downs in the corner.
Flames the same to the tag.
Just three more rounds now for Vitality to book that semi-final spot.
No chance to take on Betburn.
Time to try something aggressive there, but he's just gonna have to respect the U-Tilt.
Oh! Oh, we've lost Ablex!
Macarsey punishes him for just a straight head-to-head aim duel.
Now there's more French in the middle, explains you on the callback.
Okay, gets a bit keen.
Swings in to try and fight bit as well, and it costs him his life.
Advantage RV.
You wouldn't expect another borrowed into middle like this, would you?
Just in time to at least have a first fight.
Get across his sideline.
I'm worried about that lurk in middle, and Ima is there.
Trucking A onto camera position.
As he approaches from A main, looks for a lexic, finds it. That's an equalising frag. Bomb goes down.
Clock starts to take in Navi's favour. Ima activates.
Oh no! The soundcheese! He halts! Ima!
Wonderful solid onto Robs!
Picks up and retrieves the AK better for this
Grouped up towards heaven is wonderful and bit everything to play for that clock ticking in your favor further
Zyre was swinging on in trying to draw attention the Molly's great if you can get to a good fight from wonderful
Just messy in the clutch. He's gonna try and stick away
All right now big they get the crowd to make some noise there again just these tempered approaches
Rocks felt like he had threatened the needle in that moment.
Imma would have been spewing if that round had gone against him.
That one could have signaled a downfall.
This is that opening.
Yeah, playing ahead of the smoke.
McCasey had to worry about the line.
That's it. Apex is barely out of the smoke.
Barrow spot. This one makes it all possible.
And then Mezzie, he had a tough time finding it.
Well, they didn't have a hard time finding him.
This time Vitality's money is on the line.
As he wants to go aggressive, he's posture towards B-name.
I think the smoke blocked, it's going to change their dialogue.
Look.
Again, look at the space Makase's got here.
Walks into the bebomb site.
Fatality, nobody's home.
I can't believe your eyes. Just
need to get the bomb across it.
That confirms Messi's quarter
minutes. You have to say.
That sounds crazy. It's a five
five, but 1900 next round.
We're going to type the game
right here. If you go for this
one and you lose everything, the
bombs are down. The clock's
already ticking. You don't even
have a kid. I think this is it.
This is just such an odd game
with the tempo and the tone.
Easiest rounds at Navi are going
to win all game long. And they'll
take that one. Hoovers on the CT side. We know it's a map where the CTs feel
like they're forced into taking some risks. I understand the addition of the
hole that makes some of these rotations a little bit swifter, a bit of harass over
the water a little bit earlier in the round, short.
I tell you they gamble incorrectly. How would he home even to really tell what
was hitting that site? And Arvid have gotten away with one there so we tie
things up, 10 of these.
Only really many streaks that we've had throughout this map,
unless anyone's posted can securely have been three straight rounds.
The crowd divided.
Two teams inseparable.
Didn't really get a good idea if your Naveah Watt by Tadi had in that last round of play
trying to play with their saving.
You have to assume they have something,
but in terms of what they're actually equipping
and bringing into this next one,
well, they're not going to upgrade too much, right?
Next round, the 2400 loss bonus.
They'll be hooked by again as we get back underway,
but the round will not be as easy as that now, Vy.
This one you're going to have to fight for.
Collision corset for this boost.
He scopes up.
and diff smells.
Wonderful heads back to spawn, picks up the plomb.
He wants to hit again with this setup.
Two MP9s alongside the M4 of Robs.
Mezzi and Zawut holding onto B and Mikazi while he's back up to his usual par thing.
Mid space game from Alexi off the flash.
Drops blocks A.
Only once remaining now that's on Apex.
It's not looking good for Flamesy and Robs, they're going to have to do it all on their own.
The Calvary is completely departed, it will just be a 2 on 5 on this A crunch.
Robs tucked on that pillar, Molly's going to make things weird for him, forced to stand
in the flames to try and deliver the multi, unable to do so, Mikaze goes down and that's
the end of the A site, that's got to be an RV round.
Apex, just an MP9 versus Alexi's Galil, and Galil victorious.
I'd save this all. Hold on to that M4.
Mavi, in post-11.
It's the lack of exchanges earlier.
There's no real spamming through smokes.
You're not really seeing too much damage being done.
I understand what the type of buy they don't have too many nades
they can throw out, but that's the type of round you have the all.
Maybe you go for the triple boost towards there. You get the gap up towards the stairs.
We did see earlier in the piece. Navi were actually expecting.
I think I saw Mikazi holding for it in an earlier round.
So all these little tricks that you have to deploy.
Navi in the lead, two away from securing something that has alluded them for years.
That's been an awfully long time.
and he's just making so many assumptions at the moment. A lot of this is without any actual info off of the map.
This is a full bite.
three three a chance in the post plan. But you're just making so many assumptions at the moment.
A lot of this is without any actual info off of the map. This is a full bite.
They're ahead of that. Ross doesn't know because he a bit walking in wanting to take this head to
There's he everything to do here nails it on to a Lexi.
It's one off now. It's just wonderful in a 1v3.
What's he got other than the plan?
He's got three targets encroaching on his position from three different access points.
Rob's coming from the e-box side.
That looks like wonderful.
It's going to go looking for trouble.
He needs to try and find these jewels on his own terms.
You know Rob's catches these timings.
It's what he's in the roster to do.
Catch you with your back turn.
You're looking somewhere else, fine.
Zaiwu though, wonderful.
Can't find the fight.
Robs arrives just in time,
and we tie this game up once more.
That's been the constant words coming out of our mouth.
Just got to tip the tap throughout.
He gets Zaiwu back, he's on.
They get that diffuse throw.
No issues in the buy at all for Na'Vi.
All 24 rounds coming your way again.
Does this one have overtime,
or is this one a Na'Vi victory?
Can they push us to the third?
We'll do Vitality, clinch it and seal it.
Booked that semi-final slot.
Some great support of Util from Flacey there.
Yeah, right.
Once you know they're across the boundary,
you've already got to force them out, then they just
follow them, and then they swing with it.
So extremely well done there.
And then very tough for Alexi and wonderful.
I know they needed to get out of dodge.
He's played.
He burns his final tactical time out.
He's got them all in regulation.
that. That one was a change of
tempo, right? It wasn't a rush.
It wasn't noisy, but it was a
whole lot quicker at that be
lined up as passively as
possible. Just that silent
sling in towards the side
ropes. Shaving that first one
off the pack was great, right?
Doesn't over extend doesn't
swing wide.
Sure. We talked about the fact
we haven't been able to take the map off of Vitality. Well, they have been close.
Is it really going to be the same story? Every round of regulation, but still the L in the column.
Or can Na'Vi flip the script?
Big early space.
to the right. Well, let's see
just means there's a little bit
less pressure on flames towards
middle, but they are playing
other one of these two, three
setups as rumps and flames in
combination towards a it's as I
would apex and messy. I was going
to say towards be apex. He
started to rotate big move
around the world. A lot of their
stacks, though it's felt like
It's felt like they've been in the wrong place.
It might get caught here.
Yeah, he's got his volatile valve.
It gets away.
Just a scrap of health, but a bit allowed to escape.
Ziwo sets up to succeed, finding the car's A towards the E-box.
Alexi B across the camera line, though,
does open up avenues for a flank.
That has to not be a flank. Apex has the line.
Apex is perfect in position for this.
Alexi didn't find a deep clear. Apex dips out.
In the unknown entity, maybe Audibals, I was still focused on E-Box,
Mezzie relays the information, Zile has to account for this.
Has to account for this, doesn't!
Maybe Mezzie didn't. After all, that wonderful can rock up with the bomb,
they've just got Mezzie to get past the distraction shot,
and now destructed.
Two clean entrances, looking good.
It's just gonna be Robson Flamesy on the way back in.
They got a kit for this.
Okay, it really comes down to what wonderful can get done.
Partens up with him, both of them with HE grenades,
into what that E-Box could be enough to find Robs.
I don't know what to do with it.
It's not going to achieve anything.
Wonderful seems destined to deliver this one here.
Too easy.
It's 12-0 V.
What a way from doing it for the first time in two years.
Showing that the bees bleed.
All right.
Well, it's going to be overtime at a minimum here,
Vitality.
That could have been heard.
Should have been heard.
Mezzi was at least addressing the possibility.
We're just sticking out like a sore thumb. No consideration for that gap. It must have been communicated. Emma with a massive double and wonderful
Closing things down. It's a scrappy buy for round 24
Last round of regulation
Rops his fan up for giving this space over.
Hibbo bits play in the past. This time
Zaheer doesn't pull the trigger on the flashback. Trust drops on his cars
Now when you go in the second tempo, this one final flash from Flamesy has to respect the Molotov thrown by Bit towards the road position.
And that flash has just gone out. So Khan made the plan for that.
This one's going to feel damn good for Na'Vi.
Stands for the taking.
Weapon re-advantage.
He's dead. Surely this is Narvys for them taking apex with nothing. Empty hands and an empty
bomb site. That's the hardest part. The bomb's going down already. A well-placed
HG doesn't quite find his target wonderful firing off warning shots, but this is looking good
An ugly retake with no kit
Na'Vi to take in the distance
Mezzi falls, Zywa's gonna be their next victim walks up on that close wall
Strength in numbers, spots a flash of flash, wonderful, good fall in and we need a foul!
2 years of waiting, Narvin has managed to fell vitality and it will be decided on that third map.
You know it's like having God above you talking to you with this headset.
Put the blindfold on?
No.
Okay.
It's coming up.
Yeah, it's on.
Get him! Yes! Yes!
The knife is the ghost!
Okay, but no knife!
Can you give me a 360, turn around?
Daaaaan!
Stop!
I'm being put. Yeah, he's somewhat up.
Okay, you can turn down.
And down, he's in front of you.
Up in it.
To the right, right, right, right.
Up in it, right.
Down.
Right, right, right.
Right.
Down, down, down.
Left, left, left, left.
Right, right, right.
Shoot.
Yeah, yeah.
How the fuck did I get him?
To the right, I went down, down, down.
I got down.
He's in the water.
He's in the walls.
He's swimming.
Shoot.
Left, left, right.
Shoot, right.
To the right.
Okay, you should be at something.
To the right, right, right.
Jumping, jumping.
Shoot.
What the fuck is going on?
Yeah, you need to control your M.E.O.
Oh, okay, sure.
You shot him in the face twice and he couldn't hit me.
My accent is good.
Yeah, my accent for that or something.
Robin has $400 for some reason.
That's a shame.
It's not our problem. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Is it gonna end or is it gonna end?
You wanna rock?
you're on a rock okay so okay let's see you're going towards the house now you're
looking towards the house yeah and you're right behind us a bit
straight and back and forward now and then I thought before he's inside the
house and you're outside
Just move around your plant. Left side a bit. Left side a bit. Left side. Straight, straight, straight.
Put the burning to the wall.
Is that the full roof?
Look behind you.
You're going up the stairs now. You're in the house.
Down, down, down, down.
It's a really...
When you plant the bomb, bitch!
Not plant the bomb!
Actually...
I feel like the bomb was planted.
It's going to explode.
Otherwise, I will knife!
Yeah, yeah, you're nice person.
I'll plant the bomb.
a
Feet that felt so close yet so far, but on the 16th time of asking Navi finally take a map off of
Vitality this series goes the distance and we get that well-deserved bird of Inferno to see who will be going through to the semis
It might have taken them almost two years, Janko, but finally, Navi get to celebrate and also
breathe that sigh of relief that Vitality don't end up stealing this map from me.
Hey, I think they just took a page out of Hunter's book when G2 finally beat Navi.
No one beats Navi 16 times in a row or whatever it is that you said.
But yeah, I mean, this is just such a huge feat from Navi, also the manner in which it happened.
We didn't file out of the last six rounds, you know, to close it out.
I know it's T-Side in Ubers, but still you're going up against Vitality who you just lost so many close games time and time again
So this might be a real turning point for Navi
I was just about to say you know this could be the turning point for for Navi and on the back of a very
Tactical game of Counter-Strike as well
I think she had mentioned it a couple of times during the cast that it felt like both teams
Constantly knew what each other were doing like both teams were playing with an insane amount of preparation
And of course also hinted by the fact that they've played in Ubers a couple of times when in the last couple of weeks
So there's been a lot of prep leading up to this game and neither Vitality or Navi have had a lot of time to practice
We know Vitality haven't at all and Navi, there's only so much you can change in a short span of time
So in terms of the preparation coming into this it was two teams who knew each other very very well
It was also created this crazy back and forth scenario
We'd agree with that sentiment for the side of Vitality up into the final few rounds
No, like it felt like Navi had all the reason for where Vitality weren't stacking which is just so uncharacteristic
tourism. Exactly. It felt like they got lost in the sauce somewhat, right? Because Apex, a couple of,
you know, wrong reads in terms of where he's going to put himself as the rotator.
He also had a weird round where Navi goes into almost the MTB bomb site. It's a 5v5, you know,
everyone alive and Vitality goes for a save. So, yeah, it was really impressive. I know it's not
exciting. It wasn't mega entertaining, perhaps, the way in which Navi closed out the game,
but it's really impressive for them and really important that they did it in that way and not
by, you know, just crazy individual heroics or something wild happening, they're just
outplayed Vitality, you know, towards the tail end of that game.
And the fact that we're saying that this is the first time Na'Vi have taken a map off
of Vitality, 16 times, or 15 times before Vitality have done it to them, I mean it
firstly goes to show the level that Vitality are playing at, right, but for Na'Vi,
surely this is a mental shift, no? It is a mental shift, you know, and it came
off the back of a great performance, it also came off the back of certain individuals that are
Highly impactful for Navi, doing a good job.
Ema went 5-5 with opening kills in this game.
Wonderful, had a blast of a game with AWP.
Also at the later stages on the T side,
he was the one finishing it off in round 24
and really put himself in a lot of favorable positions.
So we spoke about it, right?
There's many things you need to do
if you want to beat Vitality.
First and foremost, you need to be well prepared.
We saw that from Navi, we saw that from Grave.
The tactical timeouts coming into full effect as well.
But then you also need the individuals
to go toe-to-toe versus Vitality.
Ima had a great showing, wonderful had a great showing and I think that speaks to what Navi have changed the most as of late
and that is wonderful finding more and more and more impact.
Not only as a player that closes out the round, but in this game as well, opening up the round.
She went 5 for 5 and opening kills as well.
So you combine him and Ima's impact in this game and now all of a sudden you have a Navi that is very, very competitive.
It's really important like how this game ended, especially considering how Dust2 went.
Yes.
Right? Because you asked me like is it worse to get stomped or to lose a close game.
I understand.
During the series, losing a close game can leave you lingering and thinking about every
single little detail.
So the fact that Navi was able to reset after that and then have the concentration really
to come back and win the Nubis really gives you hope for Inferno that it can at the very
least be a close map.
100%.
Let's dive into the tail end of it then.
We brought up round 23 from Dunstoo where Robs had that crazy push.
Let's put the shoe on the other foot.
What happens here?
It took so much composure.
Xayah misses one of the smokes, so you're like, oh my god, is it really gonna go horribly
wrong in this round?
And Bit dies trying to put some pressure towards A. This is all supposed to be a fake, right?
And to draw attention away from the B bomb site, Bakazi dies to Xayah, but here was the
key moment, Alexi and Ima managed to sneak past and Apex expects one guy, but not the
second and Ima finds the gap, Xayah almost never do you see him shot in the background
or in the side, and Ima after that first kill, great job of understanding where most likely
Messi is waiting waiting for his teammates finding timing and this was a 3v5 at
11-11 that Navi is able to convert it was a 3v5 at 11-11 with a bit down to 19 HP and apex in the perfect position
I'd say they read it like a book up until the point
I'm super curious to whether or not that's apex miscommunicating not saying to side with a hate that could be potentially a gap here towards middle
Or whether or not that's I will not really picking up on one apex is saying because as you said Yanco
It's so so rare that you see Simon get shot in the back
This is also one of my favorite calls back in the day like the double look you you send your usual lurker first
And then you kill him and the guy says oh lurker dead right and you focus on the bomb side
But then there's a second guy who's usually with the pack and you can catch your opponents of guards
So a brilliant call from from Navier the crucial moment. Yeah super game changing for them
Let's run the wonderful highlights as well was right. I mean involved in eight multi kills five and zero in terms of openers as well
He was having an absolute field there.
Yeah, he's stepping it up a lot, Lady.
We spoke about his consistency coming into this tournament.
I feel like he's adding layers to that now as well,
by playing so well against Vitality
in this very, very important game for Navi as well.
And as we said, you know, wonderful,
has often been labeled as a bit more defensive,
you know, maybe a hybrid opera in the sense
that he's not the most aggressive,
nor is he the most defensive opera.
I think he's added a layer to his play over the last year,
where he's more and more involved
than I think played it, mentioned it a couple of times
in certain integers as well,
That's something they've been working on, you know, we need to get more out of wonderful
We need to make him believe that he can be the different maker early on in the rounds as well
And not only in the cut scenarios. I think it's just the inconsistency because when he's on he can do it all right here
Like he's super versatile. He's not a one-trick pony
But then again when he's having a bad day, then he becomes a liability and you can't count on him for pretty much anything
So hugely important that he's having a good series here and what Jacob mentioned, you know before the series the pistols
Like, that saved Navi's ass in this game, right?
Because both, they've been both pistols and converted,
and Vitality stabilized immediately in gun rounds.
Like, they took control of both halves,
and it was only at the very end of the second half
where Navi found something
and figured out a way to close out the game.
I just want to take a couple minutes to set the stakes,
coming into Inferno.
We're in on-chart territory,
where Navi have now equalized a series.
What's your read on this?
Playoff, arena, Counter-Strike, Inferno, Decider.
Slap that bad boy right on there.
I think this is a problem for Vitality a little bit because they only played it once in Rio and that's it
Like so they've been to Fort Worth. They played the entire tournament here without playing it
And we know they didn't have time to practice
So is it going to feel a little bit awkward for the players to get on the server, you know
The how much have they game plan and how much have they prepared for this map?
I think it can be challenging. I think that's an excellent point
But that's exactly what flame seed told us when we interviewed him after the group stage then certain maps like we're not practicing right now
You know in certain maps we don't play a lot at the tournament
So when you come in you know in the beginning of a boom stage or the first time you're playing X Y and C map
You feel a bit rusty you forget some of the details
You forget some of the agreements you have in certain positions and as Janke said in furnace one of the maps
They haven't played a lot as of late, so I also see that as a big of a weakness
I will also say just you know sure you want to stay alive in this tournament
You want to go into the semi-final you want to win this trophy as well, but we're looking ahead for the major as well and
Mentally it's such a big game for now
right now, imagine if they can take down Vitality in this game, imagine if they can beat them.
Sure, Vitality can go back home and say, yeah, we didn't practice for this, we'll get it done
when we're at Cologne, but if anything, that gives Navi belief that once, you know, time-crushing
come at Cologne, which it will at some point, we've shown, you know, just a couple of weeks ago
that we're able to beat them. So I think there's more at stake than just in isolation this game
and staying alive in this tournament, but even more so for the Major as well, if you have any
highs and hopes for Navi doing well there. But to get it done, they're going to need their young
start to show up. Makaze has had a quiet series so far right and we know he
plays B with Alexi on on on Inferno right that's obviously going to see a lot
of action keep an eye out on Apex and the utility right like we know how much
damage he does with those A cheese and I really am curious what the approach will
be from Navi on the T side to sort of try to diminish that to some extent. Well
Navi going where they haven't gone for almost two years that is taking a map
of the vitality, but can they translate it into a series victory? We're gonna find out on Inferno after this.
I'm gonna kill you all!
Something special to tell you is divine, and that's it!
Got a mix-up!
We are back!
My map, thus too, is so beautiful when the sun is low.
At nightfall, the Elo Harvester's land.
Their cruelty to my people is all I know.
May thy most whip,
and splatter.
And a double kill, it's gone to Alexi.
Pity.
He's got 19 bullets, everything he needs.
Who are you?
Gotcha.
Does this mean of the name,
you're not fighting Alexi,
not by him!
We're not human, it's virtual.
My desert, my elo, my just human.
Fuck's sake.
You're missing me with any fucking facile.
Atlanta, hot Atlanta.
You can call it whatever you want.
What we've actually come here to do today
is to keep playing and see what happens.
The Great Peach State.
It is Atlanta, Georgia,
but mostly a lot of historical, eh, eh, eh.
Fuck.
The hunt continues.
Just wondering if I can help you with anything about video games.
Alright man, me either.
That's what I was saying, he plays, he plays video games.
You play Counter Strike.
Deep into the depths of the Ponce City market.
Hey man, you play video games?
Forty-five, so...
How old do you think I am?
Thirty-two?
Okay, yeah, that's pretty fair, but I'm thirty-six.
We'll take that.
Not sure, man.
What do you think about two teams or players playing against each other in tournaments and video games?
I mainly play like Rainbow, Apex.
Is it something where we can kind of mutually agree that there are games that shouldn't be considered respectable?
Perhaps maybe like, I don't want to just put words in your mouth, but Valorant?
I was going to say the same thing. Yes.
You guys know anything about video games at all? Counter-Strike?
Children's Fighters. Age of Empire.
My team right now is number one in the state on Marvel.
Marvel Rivals? Yeah, my school.
What school you go to? Carrollton.
Where can we find some counter strike players?
I mean, Age of Empires is cool, but I'm looking for counter strikers.
I'd rather go to the hamburger place, maybe, you know, in the corner.
H&F.
Thanks for the guidance.
You want to say something to them?
What's up, guys?
Poverty.
What is it?
Poverty.
P-O-V-E-R-T.
I was about to say, that's the wildest sign-off I think I've ever experienced on the show here, is poverty.
We're back in business live from Atlanta, Georgia.
The Intel Extreme Masters on its American tour and a third map, not what we were expecting
coming into today.
Vitality, Navi both slipping up on their path to playoffs has led to an earlier than scheduled
collision.
This quarterfinal is heating up.
Narvi picking up a win that has eluded them for some time.
They take Anubis, both teams in fact taking their respective picks and Counter-Strike.
It's a long and storied history.
Inferno third map deciders, sometimes, oftentimes, deliver.
Is the win on Anubis a turning point for Narvi?
They have proven vitality complete on the IEM stage.
World number one versus two, Navi took the knife and they were elected to start on the
defense. It will be vitality. They have to break the fight.
Well been, wonderful, keep their form up. Janko says eyes on the car, say, is it just
a map win or is it something more? Let's find out together on Inferno.
The first time we've seen Vantali outing on Inferno throughout Atlanta.
Ok Dust 2 here, some Mirage, Nuka Nubis, overpass.
Yet to play Inferno.
And under control with 5's, I will add the half wall.
Opposite flashes at the ready. Flames even smoke Mezzi with Mollie and Robs has one too.
Very defensive set up right now from Na'Vi.
No early information middle, watching Banana.
Just waiting to react to the onslaught. It's about to knock on his B door.
Double monotone go. Flames in parming forward.
Nice flash, counter. Perfect, got flash.
The next round, wonderful sensation!
Shut down!
Keeping up that bomb, coming into this.
Zaiwu, wonderful.
The two highest rated players for either team,
and both have been lock and horn throughout.
Wonderful kicking things off in style.
This is the third straight, T-side start for Vitality.
You're not going to get out the blocks early.
They have been stunted, the bomb doesn't go down,
and we know what that means.
the full income to follow, but that is a thing of beauty from the Ukrainian sniper.
In that record now 22 and 2, the series record at 9 and 0.
That could change right here right now.
And only that.
Vitality, they were looking to do the same as last year.
They win this one, it would have been six consecutive trophies.
Well, hold up, they still got a couple of games to go,
to go, but they locked themselves in with the heavy favorites if they did take down Navi. Now that's a conversation.
Top four streak. Sure, they don't care about it, but the history books do.
Opportunity to make it 22 consecutive up for debate now.
And this run has been rocky, the desk highlighting the lack of practice shot.
They've achieved that goal. They want to debate out some util and have done so with some steps.
Now, he still romps up the stew, right there, iced him out, and that was with the Diggle.
I don't think this time they're going to put themselves in a scenario where anybody
staying alive, as Apex is the first one picked a part bit, back at Pimp.
For an answer, we should be able to just get one, his teammates, they chip in and steal the X.
I'm not looking like the happiest man maybe they went off script after
the chat outside, but we're only two rounds deep.
That is such a blade, time to time out, like you're 2-0 up, everything's been smooth.
You must have heard something, he didn't like the sound of it,
yeah, just circulating off the storm.
It's so smooth that by the time he had to get a kill, right,
so things couldn't be going better at the moment for Narvin.
Curiously, it's an opportunity for Vitality to, you know, return in extra 30 seconds,
X-Tas chips in.
Well, Blake was just spurting something,
can bit was laughing so maybe it was more about the vibe than it is about the
coal either way atmosphere looks good for now V maybe even just to check in like
boys you've got exactly what you wanted pistol conversion CT star essentially
the bonus right these MP9s carried through this M4s in the mix number
one's upgraded into a kit let's see if that comes back to bite them
There's he on that early fight. Looking for a tussle.
He take you till there from the cars there.
In the jiggly for info.
He finds the body find Alexi, there's him at quick to the trigger.
As he goes down, thought he had Alexi booked.
Come on, it's risky for an A-punch.
He's just done that, he's ambitious, isn't it?
Alright, well they're going to reset now, they've been smoked off,
just picking up extra nades, but still quite brazen, just in front of Narvi.
The A-defence is the Ukrainian, it's wonderful.
Over towards Mota, a bit tight to the back of Pitt.
And both of them still have some nades.
Tadi, you don't want to say they're floundering right now,
but they're definitely needing to come up with a new plan, long smoke.
Second time deployed.
Wonderful now types in the site. They're giving up the long route not expecting that to happen with about 40 seconds left flamesy
Leaving banana to join the rest of the team and Alexi starting to make his way over towards speedway
Let's see what wonderful and big 25 the smoke toff Alexi bees gonna struggle to contribute unless he goes running through that smoking will
come to save the day to find that opening kill. From there they stay steady, only two casualties.
It basically catches that nade. A little hold here on the side, they just move them down
in the way, it has to be a partial full vitality. Really yet to get going.
They've done some beer and Bacchasi early. Still have banana control, that's all there's.
And a couple of smokes of flash and a HE remain.
We still have a minute 25 on the clock, so no clear indication of where they want to go,
but they might just have to wait out the early protocol nades.
it's been smoked deep banana now be
clearly believing I mean the best
discussed it as well can't expect a
mental game you finally buck the trend
oh hang on that's a crazy headshot
provided by flame site it is an empty
bomb site yes they're gonna work that
out real quick diligence from flames
to see Alexi Bingo swinging into trying to be a disruptive force, but gets nothing for his troubles, apart from Flacey flying into his face.
What a crazy turn of events to get Vitality a bomb planted in a round one.
You've got to wonder, is that a prefire as he's coming up half wall right there?
He's just salmon away with that tech, nice.
Smashing McCauze's head open and Alexi tries.
We've had a lot of this throughout this series, right?
These teams, when they know they have a financial advantage, they're taking these saves, they're not risking the money early.
That's going to give them more gun rounds the longer this goes on.
It's been an awful lot of saves, especially on the CT sides.
And this is no exception to that in the early stages.
So, Navi...
I mean, that's such a gift to Vitality as well.
Flimsy has given them a way into this third map.
By virtue of a flying tech 9, perfect first ball,
and a headshot onto a jumping MacAze.
He did take a little bit earlier.
Chips that may have run for the HE,
but otherwise, just the ball to the diamond.
Thank you very much.
The question is, is it just going to be individual heroics they get vitality across the line, or is this going to look well polished?
Well, imagine what we're seeing, probably not.
That's the luck change for the first game of the day.
Oh, cool.
Yeah, just spamming away.
I think the cars is going to have a pretty good excuse in Bob review.
review. And then this, James, full blind, unloads, Alexi goes down, can't cause that chaos, wonderful.
Okay, a different approach for the early banana biff.
He's aiming for just the head shot. It's not an easy shot, but it's one he can hit!
Stunning start to round five from wonderful. And it's on the Zywoo, 0-1-4, he had a slow start on
does too. Oh, he's not done! The second racked up from the sniper, finds him, flames him with the
rebuttal.
Robson's taken on the space right now, he's tucked in, he's tucked into the pocket.
Can hear the rotations from this point, but it looks wary that this is a possibility,
you can see there, the bullet highlighted through the tippy of that wall.
Wonderful 10 and 1, they finally brought him down, well they convert around.
He doesn't seem to think so, can't find the follow up, Apex good for the trade.
Just in here.
Yeah they're gonna wrap, Flames are coming in from that short side, gonna flush him out with the Flames, Apex.
You got an auto dude out, not comfortable at all.
XB from Macase from the B side of the map, hiding out behind that smoke and Apex trying to come up clutch,
But his back is tired and Makase feasts wonderful. He's playing out of his skin right now
What the questions about Navi right? Okay, we know that this team has good structure. We have the blades that bring the strats
Makase comes into the roster 4 JL
So much spicier without the x-ray on the second one was beautiful as well
Emma this has had to be instant in that you get flames your chance there in that side to 2v2
And you can see that feeling, they're getting pumped up now.
Off a lot of major winners in the server today.
I know what it takes to be champs.
And Zawoo likely discussed 0 and 4.
He actually stayed for the full 10 minutes between maps,
just shooting AFK, Narvi, players in spawn.
Trying to keep that hand warm.
Oh, it's just been knifed in spawn.
Oh, my God.
It's just been knifed in spawn.
They're helping out Narvi.
Now it's being tough, Vitality, it's not the team.
We've come to know and love it, we can understand why.
Yeah, it certainly lacks a little bit of the polish we've grown accustomed to.
Haven't seen Vitality stabbing each other in the back accidentally.
They've gone through some of the matches in the group stage, right, there's a missed utility.
There's some clunky moments, and that's continued onto the stage.
Is there going to be more where that came from?
Nakhazik finding Apex in a response through the wall, turns to Aga Bimek and confirmed
damage to one of the three on B.
This one's brewing now, isn't it?
It is.
It certainly is.
Now, it is just wonderful bit.
Robson, Flamesy are both together.
Often, it's just Robs the fact that Flamesy's beside him.
Just looks some additional trade potential.
Flamesy reveals his position off the flash.
Yeah, well right now apex is able to be the puppet master from the grave sure but I think this is still so tough right there's a very static
They're waiting for now Vita play
Vitality aren't the one setting the time
It's the plate ahead of the flashbang because they twice swing finds mezzy
I would say we're forced into a right this is it and it looks like they're just scrambling to try to pick up this bomb
Oh, it's key finally found it, but I think they're just gonna hold on to their guns
Is that really the best option and this is an out of sorts looking vitality right now. They've been rattled
I'm quite the opposite, right? We're talking about confidence.
Navi are brimming with it right now after a new bus.
Just with the way things have been flowing, sure.
They've given up one opening kill, but that was a bit of a miracle,
the one that flames you out in that tech nine.
Otherwise, you can't copy and paste that.
You can't say, yeah, could you do that again, please?
And that's what I mean, right?
If it's going to be individual heroics,
then someone different round after round needs to step up
for Vitality to get this one going.
But it's one of those games where it might just have to be that.
to the right of the left.
We patch around again. Okay,
X task. What have you got? We
can't find a contribution when
you're 10. You know they're not
playing their best counter strike.
It doesn't matter. You're in the
server right now. The outcome
isn't going to change either way.
It's about finding a way. To get
them to draw into what's next,
this time so who hasn't been
nice that's nice how much longer
can this go on for it doesn't
even matter that the lost
bonuses max out into the next
it's just a lack of pet plants
a lack of damage we're talking
six kills in total and six
rounds of play.
We have kept vitality under
their thumb.
Trump keep Nade on to Apex's
face wonderful burned away
way they will take the banana control, so three here for the defense.
That needs go Flamesee, or it's a majority of the damage, so Karren don't
vitality's control, he picks holding a flash from Flamesee's core.
Haven't this mid info, the ember's playing over to watch trash right now, he can have
intimate and jiggles clearing it if he wants, otherwise the stack is in the right
place and this looks deadly. Yeah it looks perfect doesn't it with wonderful on the
line. He was to double made. Wonderful is going to die to the first. It's perfectly positioned.
Opening with the HE. Wonderful on his head. Apex is provided with the opening kill. On flash.
He worked for them in the pistol. This is Mikaze with an AK-47. He can achieve great things.
That one shot headshot. Perfect. He primed a ready transfer for number two.
He messes it down, no trick!
Oh, he can't stop the passing!
Josiah will remains!
The corpses of Vitality litter the B-bomb site!
Navi's individuals firing!
I was hanging around so he could lose this off the time here.
It's quite a down jiggle down. He can't hit the shot.
It's always going to go down. Surely they just run at him.
Surely they take this after time.
Zairu has 250 bucks!
That's a fatality, team.
What an unfamiliar feeling this must be.
Yeah, well, they've only lost two teams all year.
One was Betbom in the group stage, another has been that of Falcons.
Na'Vi make a very strong case to add their name to that list.
This is it, about one-fives consecutive titles.
They're not even dropping maps in playoffs until right here, right now.
And look at the vibe in the Na'Vi camp. Here they come.
They can't make it.
He takes one.
Siren's Deagle finding it.
And that does give them the leg up.
They're actually still here.
They know that.
Century, half wall.
You don't just want to brave through this.
Rotation from Bitter would be there in time.
A lot of people are wonderful on the inside of the map.
I wouldn't put a pass to being able to get a multi at a minimum.
Macazes had his moment. Wonderfuls on.
It's been having one hell of a series.
They can smoke CT and coffins. It's just how much can be two.
He knows they're coming now.
One man versus four of Vitality.
High is locked. Fixed agent on the crosshair forced to relocate by the incendiary.
And behind! He's the one who's on fire!
Two clean headshots, Flamesy finally falls.
Bits gone down and we could get that bomb planted. This still not a certain version.
It's faded.
It's faded. He's just going to be sitting in the open.
LXP's pulled out the incendiary. A chance for Wanda for the block.
And now it's awkward for Flamesy. They go down!
Bits doesn't last!
He was alone, isolated on the side, he gets his two.
And a comfortable retake for Wunderful in the leg seat.
It goes from bad to mass.
As soon as Messi repossed for the plan,
he's realised it's fading and he's committed.
They do the right thing, which is the double swing,
but they put themselves in a tough position.
Messi 0-7.
Wunderful survives as well with some gymnastics.
Flames is doing the most for the team right now.
They've got such hunger on their faces.
We know that this means a lot to Narvi, this type of a victory.
Ahead of the big one.
To show you can beat the big bad, it would be phenomenal for Narvi and their chances.
Another season end with Silverware.
They're taking nuance out of this, they're just turning this into an ace at peace.
Okay.
A change of pace.
In that relay.
The sound is asked by Si, where there's Masi as well, and the individuals finally both connecting for Vitality and Unison.
I'm just wondering is this going to be way too late? It's already seven rounds to Na'vi.
Why couldn't you see that save again?
Powerful rounds to be played here right now, and they want to make sure they're fully strapped to contend with all of them.
Alexei Mikazi, how wonderful though, they are heading over.
It's not in Vitality's best interest to go for the hunt. They know that.
They've been sloppy across all the areas. Maybe this is one they can find another way in.
Even just some damage being done. You've got the finances that you can take a risk. See if you can take a couple down with you.
Cross out those rebies.
Just said Nancy 0 and 7 he gets on the board and impactful one as well
Oh, we lost the second round, gonna take a time out. Let's talk about it.
Let's make sure that we are going to run away with the rounds in this half.
Look, you do the hard work in this one.
Makes your team start a whole lot easier.
The head of the pistol department, currently three to two and only one to play.
And that's how to shift it
Three straight
With a new bus now into inferno
I think he's sitting right behind you
How much of a return to form good vitality find in the remaining three well as I said right they took the nuance out of it
They weren't playing a reaction game, it was just to set peace.
So, is there more of that?
Right now the complexion of the default says this is more standard.
FDNade.
Still takes the space as it counts in.
Oh, will that flash catch Mikaze?
It does. Doesn't clear.
Doesn't smell.
Oh, now they know. Now they know. No support.
Alexibe's a mile away.
They'll find the opening cleanly.
Alexibe dumps his utility block.
Still has his smoke and will hold on to it.
The bomb's still T-RAM, so no commitment in it.
No rotation, bit, wonderful, and in there.
They're calling top mid, clear them.
I want to fight this to see if they can catch him in the choke.
and he's got a couple of flashes to assist Alexi B.
Now Flames is rotating back to join Apex and Rops on the A side.
It's just a bit, 40 seconds.
You know, Leeds Eye will just see if he can create a little bit of chaos.
See if he can find anything here, the flashbang.
Wonderful, he's a pick up.
He sets himself up for that.
For giving the sign off, he's going to go for the A side.
He's going to go for the A side.
Get some self up for that.
I've forgiven the site right now.
Bits playing long side.
There's nobody here, there's nobody's site.
They just need to get in.
And they will.
Just out of the balcony before him arrives,
he did a spot rock up in the wrong way.
Vibes the kill, gets away.
Advantage Narvi.
But still no bomb planted.
Bitt has this fight.
Easy as you like.
Messi goes down.
It's going to get ugly.
A two on four for A.
Bits and Flamesy, or this scoreline,
will extend in Narvi's favor.
They got the numbers, surely that's gonna be enough here. Flamesy would have to do something sickening.
Apex to distract, but if a cross find there's a flank on the smoke wall, there's a chance.
Nice from Flamesy and Apex, they're doing it!
Two on four, goes one on one! Apex is holding it!
Well, it's not pretty, but it counts.
That'll be number three.
Oof!
I see, that's hard, you just don't have to flow the game.
Most of carried on from the new bus. They're just getting caught off guard like ropes right there
How often do you see him just sticking out in the middle of nowhere?
This is
Vitality really having a scrap hard but apex gig game leader steps up not with the calls, but with the gameplay
wonderful burrowing bits gonna take a chance it's what Ross is hoping for
burrows into boiler anticipating something more aggressive if it's any
ready for this and that's how's his clears a face still ready nails the
hedgehogs a bit but would he have done that alone is the question it's just
wonderful and in on either side of the site
Catches someone just at the smoke, blooms and Almezi call walking.
It's an advantage now V.
More for Wunderfow.
Really? How's it now? No!
Take a bow, son!
Flamesy, I have to win it.
Wunderfow 3K is surely not for nothing.
Not in vain.
because they're on the short side flames he's got to to worry about pivots for
the balcony approach
this could make all the difference
because he chose it
back turn, blocked and wonderful needs an extra firm handshake if they can convert more
show us number three right there off the top row pierces the skull apex gets in the
entry. The side feels like it's about to fall and wonderful. First one's nasty, takes a punch
all through the smoke onto Saewoo again. Molly comes in, forces him out of pit. This is under
pressure and this is beautiful apex. Thanks for coming. You've had your ticket punched.
Well, wonderful is the best player in the server right now. No doubt about that.
So we're paling in comparison four and eight compared to 15 and four and wonderful has that impact throughout
Pistol round he kicked off the show
He wants to finish it eight to guarantee
How's nine sounds?
I can't believe a 7-5, that would have sat nicely.
so close to the realization of the elimination of vitality.
It is a lively hood down here in Atlanta.
The Intel Extreme Master is thoroughly underway now into the playoffs themselves.
How you doing friend? Where you from?
I'm from Idaho, all the way up in the north.
Doing fantastic.
The game.
Did you drive here? How'd you get here?
We flew, thankfully, we dropped in Dallas last year.
That was a trip.
Exhausting, is it not?
Yeah, it was a day and a half.
There I asked who you were, Fennop.
Out of everybody here?
Vitality.
Look, some apex.
I love to hear it. Sometimes they need a little up to you.
Hey, you enjoy yourself.
Hey, where you from, homie?
So I'm from Arizona, friend he's from Seattle, he's from LA, and he's from Boston. We all flew when you were today.
Oh guys, boys trip or what?
I had some boys trip, but we came here to watch this game.
Nice.
Came here to watch this game.
So who did you want to see win this game?
Me, man, me, me.
Of course.
You know, he was just here, standing over there.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love Sunphalman. He's my everything, and I wanted to meet him.
Nice.
A little bit about it, it's a bit far. Thank you very much gentlemen.
So far, Vitality, then a little Navi, and an Astralis fan has appeared.
Agically.
Where are you from?
I'm from Tennessee, man.
You drive over here?
Yes, we did.
What part of Tennessee?
Toronto City.
I hear you.
Look, so you've got the Astralis thing going on, but what's the big message you want to
send today?
Fuck Apex.
That's the message we want to send today.
And on that note, I think it's been decided.
Na'Vi all the way, let's go!
No whispers, there was conversation about maybe Na'Vi finally being able to convert a map win versus Vitality for the first time since 2024.
We thought maybe the floodgates open, maybe the confidence starts to brim,
and if that first half is anything to go by, I'd say it has.
All right, now wonderful in MVP form, going up against,
not only the world number one, but the world's best player,
and he's putting him in his pocket.
Think about the amount of times he's picked him off first.
A pistol round, and we'll call this one done.
I did the bookmakers agree.
Let's get this one underway, shall we?
Three to two in the pistol department, but three consecutive pistols for Narvee.
Can they make it fall?
What do you think Atlanta?
No, he doing this.
Drops and Nezzi say this quiet.
You'd have to agree.
One a piece for those two.
Austin, the source.
Just for info here, just for info,
gets his. Holds the block smoke
during the game that they've been
having good restraint being shown.
Oh, I take that back.
Quick in his boots!
Zaru has a smoke to block over towards B with his dual Berettas.
Has you to assist him with the flash.
We've seen Zaru have bad halves and then a pistol round and he ignites the fire.
Next to B spot, it gets the info.
And has he ready with the god flash upon Zaru's call?
Block smoke available too, Navi are not rushing things.
We've got two smokes to their own, and they've been deployed.
This is a fake.
It's worked, Apex is rotating.
I can't seem to full commit with the Lexi-V.
Running in, Sylas fully blind. Looks like the first Frank's gone away in Vitality though.
Crops and Flames are still in pit.
Yeah, they're in the right place for this.
Flames, it just gets old!
And now it's up to the headlamps!
Got a track here!
They were still there, they didn't bite, the hook was not in their cheek, it doesn't matter
if the bullets in their head.
Apex overlooked, bit on the box.
Take a fork in this one.
It's done.
Amazing, might just go down with the ship here, pepper's away, Ampere wants to finish
him off, a cracker and a shot there under the pit player.
And Vitality, they are stunned.
Still American vacation.
The happy memories they were hoping for.
Not going to be able to compete the same feat as we saw last year.
Seven consecutive trophies, while this was in pursuit of their sixth.
They might be cut short.
Yeah
Vitality just wanted to see the sights, but it's not be seen that bombsite taking it with ease
Apex has lost a chunk of health there wallbangs rough
That's from bit just stamina the bridge in second made their four sport
This one's for all the marbles in my opinion
This isn't even the worst scoreline they've had against Na'Vi in recent history.
They did bring Nuke back after an 11-1, but Inferno, I think that's a different story.
I mean, look at the health, look at the weaponry, everything indicates this should be Na'Vi
taking an 11th.
In the open, just sitting, darks far too comfortable for Mikaze.
He's running out here. It's Simon versus the jumping Mac Tanner supported flashbang and a head shot from Alexi
Well, you've got a 5-7
Got the mag and you got the deagle. Do you want to hold on to these? I guess that's your only option
This would be to the crowns to light
They could have had this done in two. Oh gosh, yeah, that's two was that another 13 to 11
to the left. They've been running
rings around vitality in that
final stretch of an Ubers and
continuing that right now into
Inferno. I've either was
decided to take it here by
totally removed you now if you
had the choice between Mirage
Inferno. You the time vitality
hadn't played this in the run so
far. They're rusty on this.
Looks like it's going to be
to an end as well.
It's more difficult without the bind.
Backstab it.
Desiree Blu, 5-7.
Couple of up there, Shaw.
I think it's the only one putting up consistent resistance and an apex combining with him in
that 2v4.
That was something.
Yeah, but it's not the spark they're looking for normally after they win those dark rounds.
They pick themselves up.
They dusted stuff off.
They start believing and they make it happen.
today Vitality. I mean, just the fracking output from Navi's individuals has been on
today. Wonderful and big, inner as well, all hanging at the top of the scoreboard, exactly
as it should be. And McCarthy, look, he's been here for this one, 10 kills for him,
like a team effort from coast to coast.
Raps, folks.
March in library.
Messi's only got a teagle for these kind of fights.
It's so uncomfortable for him.
Up against the leaping, jumping.
McTairn, Zai with a hell Mary.
Pushes into bit.
An easy headshot for him.
Flames are just the one.
They're crumbling.
Messi's holding on by his fingertips.
trying to claw around out but he goes down.
He begs for the door to play for, he's going for it.
A Max 7 smoke, push, flies into the site.
That's how little hope they have.
His best bet is to push the site.
A 1v2 with a Max 7, he ain't got it.
How about they start with the first of the half?
Fully bought, everything invested, kid on Massey, apex, that's his presence in banana
but Harvey they know they're in no rush, just one round, just five kills and so many chances
to get there. That match in series point.
Flames is going to be in the open here.
You can see it pops to the left shot, trade from 1 to 4.
He too comes in, but that tells what the setup was.
Zandu goes to rotate, but Mezzi...
...be the man on the scene and apexes down, and likes to...
Run on in! Surely this is it.
Red carpet rolled out. Sure, Mezzi arrives on the scene in time.
Rotation from Zywoo Spam and smokes, Alexi catches, Flak should be seeing that bomb go down.
Mezzy can try and just run, no he can't!
Wonderful's got a snap, but 19 frags from Wonderful.
Up against Vitality and the right is on the wall.
Slaying their demon.
The team they just couldn't seem to beat.
On the eve of the Major, Na'Vi now know it is possible.
A fast for this Na'Vi versus this Vitality.
Sometimes the first one is the hardest.
Counter-Strike's a mental game and Na'Vi, time and time and time again they have tried and they have failed.
and they have failed, but today they prevail.
Vitality, the top four streak, it comes to its close.
The first time since the start of 2025.
And this win, this win could be the one
that unlocks the mental for Na'Vi.
Wonderful, his name, the best to define that form.
Absolutely amazing output from him today.
as now V they send vitality packing they booked that semi-final spot against
Beppu and they do it in style
eyes on the prize now for now V you've taken down vitality there's more
counter-strike to be played but you can't help but feel like this is is a
victory you're the tournament favorite from here on out no doubt about that just
taking that and now going into the semi-final tomorrow this is your
tournament to take. You've got some names to slay. There's legacy on the other side going up here.
It's game of the year. You've got to get past Betbu first, but this victory right now, sure.
It unlocks what's possible. The world number two topping the number one today.
There's still a trophy to lift. I'm going to throw this one down to Trace with Alexi B.
Historically speaking, unable to tame that beehive for the longest time.
Now the outshine vitality today.
Lanna, make some noise.
But it makes the question, Alexian,
they had the number of Budapest,
Rotterdam, Rio, vitalities had your number personally.
How did you do it today?
What was different?
Just mentality.
You know, we never quit.
We never stopped believing.
And we always worked hard for this moment.
And I know that, you know, we deserve it today.
That's for sure.
How important was this win over Vitality today prior to this major?
Prior to going into this major cycle?
I think it means everything, you know?
Like, imagine us losing today again and facing them on the major, it would be 10 times harder.
So I think us winning today, they understand their weaknesses,
they understand they need to do more now for the major,
but we also understand that they're beatable and that's something huge for us.
Tomorrow you'll face Old School Navi alumni.
Does Navi plan to get out of the way or are you guys going to put them away as well in Bethune?
I think that they've shown some strong CS. They were the team that beat them the first time and we were watching how they did it.
So they are definitely ready. We are fueled up with this win and we need to show up tomorrow. Tell them something, Alexi.
Thank you to all the Slovaks for watching and hello to Espoza and Kote Katsova.
It's all mixed and noise for Navi!
Navi break the curse that has plagued them for so many years, finally taming their demons of vitality
and it could not come at a more pivotal point as Alexi B just said to Trace on the stage
Going into the Major, if they had that on their back, yet again, yet again another defeat to Vitality,
it would be a different story, but today they put it to back, Janko.
Yeah, that's why we were saying, if not now, when?
And you feel like the mental health would be too much on the side of Navi, or the side of Vitality,
but Navi was able to flip the script today, you know?
Despite the very frustrating loss on map 1, where they felt like they had control of the game,
they were able to bounce back on their own mapec and man, on Inferno just absolutely
dominate the best team in the world.
That's the thing, right?
That's different ways of winning.
It could have been a hard-fought fight on Inferno, could have been a back-off-forth,
could have been a game where you could argue both teams could have won,
but they left no room for doubt at the end of the day.
Who were the better team in this game?
Navi beating, I'll tell you, it's a big thing,
but Navi beating them in this fashion as well and showing that they're able to play at this level
when everything is clicking, with wonderful popping off, with big popping off.
as Alex B said, you know, it's a huge confidence booster in the next time they're going to face off against Battenham.
And this was such an emphatic end to the series as you were alluding to normally,
we're so used to seeing both of these teams go toe-to-toe, have those 13 to 11s,
maybe even overtime affairs at 13 to 3, Janko.
That's insane as an achievement for Nabi.
Yeah, you could tell some of the things we discussed before in Furno,
like some of the rust just on the map itself for Vitality.
It's also difficult for Apex as the leader, you know,
You don't play the map for a while to feel the rhythm of the map,
like the banana control that we talked about, they didn't go their way,
they eventually adjusted one a couple of rounds on A,
but still it felt like for the most part,
like now we had their number in terms of reads,
being at the right place at the right time,
they even won that crazy 2v4 apex in flames,
it still wasn't enough to really get them anywhere close on this map.
No, I agree. It's hard to not paint a very dire picture in isolation for Inferno as a whole.
I also think we saw the limitations to Vitality in terms of the whole conversation about no practice.
Flamesey told you on our fair that one of the first things that goes away is that instant feeling of being sharp on the server,
winning your duels. And once you're not feeling too comfortable on that, you also take a little less initiative.
And I think today we saw the consequence of that, but also what you kind of expect.
If we were to never touch Counter Strike, or if we were to not touch Counter Strike for a month,
you and I both know Janko how bad we are already, but it's just still uncomfortable for us.
Well, there you go, but I'll be completely honest, it was just a question of time before someone would punish them.
It's more so the fashion it happens in, where you look at Inferno and you look at a team running all over Vitality.
We're not used to seeing that whatsoever.
Honestly, man, it's good for everyone. Vitality included that they lost today, right?
because it would have gotten ridiculous.
Like, I mean, they can take a week off, not practice,
show up to a tournament, and still stroll to a trophy, right?
And if I'm vitality, I wouldn't have done anything differently
considering their own situation.
But it's good to get a little bit of,
I don't even think it's a big wake-up call or anything.
Like, they knew they would have things to work on,
that this is not, they didn't put their best put forward
for this particular tournament.
And that's because the major is around the corner
and that's what they have their sights on.
You know, no surprises there,
but it's good that Nami was able to beat them because now it makes it a little bit more spicy come major time
You know as a another contender a team that we decided confidence of beating vitality right
It will it unlock a new level for them. Well speaking of contenders. Let's go ahead and check on him with our front runners for DHL MVP
Will be the DHL MVP you decide you can participate in the DHL MVP vote as it happens
Make sure to be tuned into the Twitch screen and be ready to have your say.
This is where you put those well-earned Twitch channel points to you.
You have three options to be choosing from and I think Jacob the first one very tempting
and wonderful.
Yeah, we're out of doubt.
Another great, great performance from Wonderful who overall has had a great tournament as
well.
We spoke about his consistency issues.
I feel like he's put them to a bit as of late.
showing up every single map, showing up every single time and right now not only the main
contender so to speak here for the DHL MVP but also an MVP for the entirety of the tournament
so far at least for my money. Absolutely and lights out on this map like some of these
rounds on Inferno were absolutely filthy and we talked about him sort of raising the ceiling
for Navi with his consistency. I raise you a bit then Jacob, sell me your miss man.
It's good to see him play well, it's good to see him drive, you could even see in the body language
He was fired up. He was yelling and we know a bit to be a very sharp aimer
And he's been able to show that in particular in this game again a lot of impact a lot of clutch scenarios a lot of rounds
Where he can tip the scale a little bit where normally you'd say okay bid has been lukewarm as of late
I think this game in particular there was to see the good old bid in good fashion
Final option we have got coming your way is indeed gonna be another narby player and that is going to be in a
Another man who was standing incredibly tall in this one and great seeing Frank and out. Yeah
You don't see the same numbers as maybe some of the other players, but he certainly found impact in this series
I mean that round on an Ubers towards the tail end of the game
This one exactly right on the flank just getting a double entry
Was instrumental in them being able to extend the series and yeah as the rotator in the right place at the right time in all
of these rounds. His positioning was really impeccable on for I feel like
Navi are probably celebrating so much right now. It might even be comparable to
winning an entire tournament, but this was just before the final that does set
them up in the semis versus a team or I didn't get leader Wada, who some of them
have a little bit of history versus right Jacob. We've got Bat Boom. We've got
Boomichu. Funnily enough, won a major on Navi. I'm excited for this one. Me too.
You know, it could be the wrench out coming in for for Boomich. Now, obviously
it's a long time ago and you know, both teams and then Boomich for that
as well have changed an awful lot in that time and so has Navi but I think there's
a bit of a grudge match going on and I'm sure Brumage and BitBroom are very
eager to show that what we saw in the group stage is something they can
replicate in a playoff as well. Yeah we talked a little bit about Navi, Maus,
drew some comparisons and when Maus beat Vitality in the semi-final
alone you know they ended up losing 3-0 to Spirits in the final but I think Navi
will have no issues finding motivation for this semi-final tomorrow right I
I think they'll be locked in and I think they'll take care of business for the first time in a very long time
It is an RV to take the edge over vitality. So let's get a few closing thoughts courtesy of X-Tas
I'm here with X-Tas
Commiserations on the loss of is the water finalists is not where you wanted this to end
But I wanted to talk about your emotions throughout this whole best of three. You've been really emotional rightfully
So can you share with us? Why is that? What were the biggest problems right now today that?
that caused this result?
I mean, many times we didn't understand, listen to each other.
It was the main issue.
Especially in Anubis, nothing to say, Propto Zeno, in Toronto.
But in Anubis, yeah, we did so many mistakes.
So we definitely won this afternoon.
There was this 3v5 on Anubis on 11-11, I feel like.
Yeah, it's insane because actually the communication was good from Apex.
But I don't know, they didn't visit you here or maybe too focused, I don't know.
That's a shame because it cost basically the best of three.
In the end it was also an Inferno, right?
Like Zayvus started around being knifed in the back,
like there was this uncharacteristic mistakes that happened once in hundreds of games.
And they all kind of happened today.
Was this kind of worrying for you to spectate from the behind and you cannot really control it?
Because you took a lot of poses as well, so I wanted to, you know,
see what you were thinking.
The main reason was the organization.
It was a mess.
Sometimes someone picked too fast,
and behind we couldn't trade, et cetera.
Also, we didn't take our time at all to do things properly.
And it's key on banana.
OK, it can be chaos, but you have
to understand each other.
And unfortunately, today was not the case.
You guys said that the IM Atlanta is not right now
the priority, but does this result worry you?
not the fact that you ended in quarterfinals, but how it ended?
Of course we expected better because we felt like we were improving a bit last two days.
But yeah, as you said, for us, now as we focus on the major,
take a bit of rest from practice, bootcamp and major.
Thank you for sharing so much and see you in the major.
Yeah, some great insight. As always coming out of X-Tas and what is a tricky moment for Vitality,
I love the answer to what X-Tern's term is the moment that kind of lost them the best
of them, right?
The miscommunication.
He gave us a bit of insight into that, so that's pretty cool.
Yeah, the Apex apparently calmed the gap that was there and characteristic from Zyvo
to have that sort of a lapse where he doesn't realize the information that's coming his
way, but that's just counter-strike.
Mistakes happen, it's unfortunate for Vitality to happen in a key moment to lose them the
map and extend the series, but just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Sometimes that's how the cookie crumbles. I just love the fact that we get to talk about
it now and we get to address these two teams heading into Cologne in a different fashion
because essentially I was just thinking about it, you know, for now we're winning this game,
it changes everything. It changes the belief in them being able to beat Vitality,
changes the belief in them going into Cologne as potentially a contender to win the entire thing
and at the same time, you know, the truth could be that this loss changes nothing for Vitality.
They're very well aware as to why it happened, you know, miscommunication with Saibu in isolation here
But obviously the lead up with no practice then taking some time off, etc, etc
So here you have it
You know, you have the second best team in the world in Navi where it changes everything and at the same time for
Valtteri, it changes nothing and I think that's kind of beautiful to to have those being put up against each other after a game like this
Change the well gives it an ending to the top four street as well
That was not before what was it last bounty beginning of 2025 obviously began in Katowice as well
That's a crazy run to have had but comes to an end today.
It's unbelievable consistency because even when they were struggling they would still be making top fours, right?
Like that's just how good Vitality has been in the last year and a half
But you know, it's one of those that it's nice to keep it going
But at the end of the day, right? You have your eyes set towards a bigger price.
100% it's just like the series straights and the map straights, right?
It will come to an end eventually and sadly this is the end of our title here in Atlanta
But let's take a look at the bracket to see exactly how that tees up our semi finals, of course
We kind of turn this is the the destined grand final that didn't happen
This quarterfinal wraps up with Navi now taking on Betboum didn't get your thoughts about this one earlier
Yankee because you weren't on the first game, but the legacy game religion. What do you make of that?
Do you have a favorite?
But it's a tough one
Game religion has played great CS all tournament long right on a couple of maps where they were shaky and legacy
Obviously, there's a reason why they're straight into the semi finals
So I think it's a pretty even matchup.
I think who handles the emotions better
of playing on stage, it makes fewer mistakes,
it's gonna come out on top.
Navi for me, a massive favorite in that one.
I think we'll see them in the grand final.
And then, you know, a Navi legacy rematch,
I think that would be a nice one for Sunday.
And the best of five with so much of stake is one.
Well, we do need to take a look at what is on the cards
for tomorrow and the order in which the games
will be coming, of course, a legacy game,
a legion game, gonna be the first semi-final of the day.
Then Betting versus Navi.
I guess you're blinding to the same point,
Jacob, that are Navi.
Tell me favorites in that one.
It's hard not to imagine Navi being part of the grand final,
but it's also hard not to imagine all the teams,
all the four logos you see right here,
you know, eyeing an opportunity of winning a big trophy.
Now naturally, Navi are still the favorites,
and I think everyone is respecting that as well,
but legacy of beating them already,
and I think if you're a game a legion,
legacy and bedroom for that matter,
this is arguably and possibly the best chance
you're gonna get all year long in order to win a trophy.
So you better capitalize while you have the opportunity.
100%.
Yeah, I mean, thank you gentlemen so much for today.
Thank you everybody who's been in attendance here as well.
Still here.
Yeah, still here.
They will be here no matter what.
Yeah, thank you so much for everybody
who has joined us at home as well.
We will see you same time, same place tomorrow
for the semifinals here at the Interlux Stream Masters,
Atlanta, 2026.
What a start to the playoffs here from Pyrrha!
Pyrrha, another one.
Okay, he's gone for all five to kick off the playoffs here and he's won!
He trials himself in darkness, PR with the 8K is the light for Ganglicion.
Alleviating everything with a 3K, and all of a sudden it's Red's alone.
He's got the 1v1 though, and now he's on the stick!
Oh, he likes his shots!
He's holding it all the way!
And he better...
BAM!
I said I can save them!
The game of Legion would it!
The Legion of Gamers will march into the semi-finals!
They will play against Legacy!
How she talking and stuff like that?
Looks like we're gonna get it all back down here.
Wonderful heavy advantage, and there's it.
Removes the loop.
Another jumping over his life.
So quick flick on to Mezzi and out of France!
Spotless from Narpeen!
Mezzi's actually rotated over to what's there.
He's got the headshot, he's got them both, please!
Run into running trams plus for no return, Masi down, no train, no, you can't stop the Ponsay!
Aaron, on the side of the side.
Oh, wow! All from one to 40!
No, you don't know!
No, you don't know! It is possible!
Test 1, 2, check, check, check, check, test, test, test, test, test, test, test, test,
checking my microphone, microphone, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check.
The Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta 2026 is brought to you by ESL in partnership with
Intel
Acer Predator
DHL
Checks
And ZOE
Rafa, really making history, absolutely phenomenal.
And Ace is the champion of the Intel X-ray map.
You're the final.
Steward Stammer, Pact 19, is gonna take this fight there.
Twenty seconds left.
Two rounds, it's gonna stop you from being safe.
Unless there's a massive movement there, please don't contact with Justin Nexon's kill.
He's got a blackout, cheers!
And it's all gone!
A strong twist!
Unbelievable run, with a 4-0 victory over Clash in it.
And they did it again, in the grand final!
It's all moved!
He's got the double beat, he's got the shoulder, and the body before him!
Something special to take this deep breath, and that's it!
Got it in, sir!
We are back!
I don't wanna be a woman, I don't wanna be a cop, yeah
I need my love for life, I don't wanna be a cop, yeah
I don't wanna be a woman, I don't wanna be a cop, yeah
I need my love for life
She was a little high up up there
Hello, forgive me, I just needed to hear your voice.
There's a siren in my heart
And it is deafening
Singing circles around the world
Hello
Are you still listening?
I was dreaming