Kowaro for 9.10!
It's done, really.
Oh my god, what a round from 9-10 and no reaction from anyone.
That might be his best player in the tournament.
And it wasn't late.
It wasn't anything too crazy, but it's turned into him getting nice.
For Stralis, if they win the pistol round, it is incredibly likely that they will just round out Mirage.
No, good sharp shot. He's got the information.
He's got to call the rotations.
are coming through. He's got three CTs. Oh my god, he's got the knife. No way. No! Oh my god,
heck no! How have you got away with that? There's a slash remu me on the B bomb site. That is insane.
This plant coming in for a hook see.
They're shifting a lot at the moment. Cemetery's now going to the long corner. Good jump from
For many better follow-up all no way you get three there
About to get over run he's got five bullets like my god. He's hitting the headshots. How's it possible?
He's still got a couple that finally gets another magazine in he's trying to be efficient one more headshot somehow
It's turned around
The bomb's down to 15, small part of the bottom side floor, the flashbangs are perfect, I try with a lot of trouble here, but it does what?
And they're pushing him, I do love this from the T side, but it almost backfires.
I like the idea of catching the CTs before they can even set up a retake here.
A lot of damage, it's not over yet. Stare gets the control of the second player as well. A triple!
Xenia traded in not only the trade but also the follow-up kill to Tiffin in Longholster's favor.
But Fuzi, that is what we're talking about! Destruction from Insight Cave!
going into the site. They're taking right now.
Oh, the suit!
Yeah! OK, there we go.
Fast flank from the left flank.
You think you should have their backs turned here.
Catches the planner, explodes.
Very good timing on that flank.
A nice activation from the left flank.
Now, clear!
Oh, no!
Without quitspin!
I
Message you since the diffuse
So hard to imagine you could come out alive. I mean
It's hot spring. I'm having a deal. He doesn't the right way
This is a great round of essential.
Okay, back to the round over.
You make sure that you're ready to go shut down through the smoke block.
You're out of essential.
Take a deep breath and make your way towards the A side.
Hopefully you can overrun the CTD fence after this.
Take it away.
Alex, he is certainly ready to use just that.
A couple of good kills.
Lance, a third shot takes down NHL.
on the NHL and the Frick quad makes it an ace to the end.
The last smokes they just threw out as well,
so they've got to make something happen while they're up.
Oh my god.
Getting alerted to a pattern.
There's just a time.
No, no.
Hopefully the utility committee makes it.
Ah, OK.
Belcher not.
There's going to be a tough retake ahead of 3D sports here.
Oh, maybe not. Maybe not.
Jungle kill. There's no way!
How has he got away with another one?
Daylight robbery from Louncacan.
Stellar performance.
Jay McGat needed the clutch, and he's got it in him.
Greetings, Counter-Strike fans, and welcome back to PGL.
Bucharest, as you saw there, yesterday was brutal.
People were grabbing, clamoring, first-last playoff places.
And that means that today it is indeed the start of the playoffs.
And your host Richard Lewis joining me in the morning crew today.
We switched it up ever so slightly. Blair is still with us.
We're loving that for us.
And of course, his favorite co-worker, as you can tell by how far apart they're sat on the sofa.
It is, of course, Dusmurray.
Lots of arguments going to be happening today and I can't wait to hear them.
How are you doing, guys?
I'm just going to tell my kids that this was the United Nations.
Indeed, not far off.
Yeah, we talk a lot and nothing really comes out of it. Yeah, I'm not the gates hot this morning. I see over there
Yes, I'm topical. He's been doing scrolling in the night sounds about right. What about you though? Good. Yeah, I'm relaxed
I'm good to go. Yeah, fine. I mean you survived the the Ston monologue yesterday as well
Well, he was just popping off having a therapy session. You haven't seen that by the way guys definitely check it out
That was great. So good to have you here in one piece and for now
Why don't we take a look at how it translates yesterday?
This is of course the Swiss bracket, no longer relevant,
only relevant within the context of the story we will tell today.
We had three incredible series, but one more than the others.
I'm going to start by just talking about Paravision Wildcard.
I've said it a million times that when Paravision go to overtime,
that is when they're going to, that's when they'll break you.
You will not break them.
That is why Jay missed the time, Lord.
There was so many opportunities in that series
when Wildcard were up and it's one more round,
one more round, and Paribasian are playing bad.
They're making mistakes, but it just didn't happen.
Yeah, the thing with Wildcard is though,
I just wanna give a little bit of flowers where it's due.
Oh, we'll talk about that.
Yeah, I mean, does the team just really punch well
above its weight class, but for me,
the most impressive thing,
impressive thing was how Paribasian had a massive lead,
It was a wild card actually kind of dragging this game into overtime, but man watching this game was great
It was entertaining it did almost break Moses and Binko as human beings
There's the amount of mistakes being made, but you could not deny the excitement fighter
Third longest official ever played in CS2 thus far
Yeah, it was no nip-am call, but it was a good time
I think that's what actually made it bearable was the fact that it was at least still you know some explosive exciting kind of strikes
people are making some big
individual plays at times.
They got down to the wire and
it kind of had that perfect
mix of entertainment to kind
of get you through the fact
that it was such a marathon
of a match.
And yeah, you know, except
you're half the wild card,
you know, this is a brand new
team that came together at
the beginning of this year.
They only just brought in
the mania through the new IGL
a few weeks ago.
So haven't really had a whole
lot of time.
I'd imagine to hammer things
out, but we saw some good
performances out of most of
their players.
And that gives you some hope
that maybe there is something
there.
No, I mean, I will say this,
you know, we'll talk about
powerball, you know,
you know, we'll talk about
Paribasian some more, but first just on the front of Wildcard,
you know, go back home now and dominate NA
because you clearly have the ability to do it.
Very impressed with what I saw here.
You pushed Mongols on a map.
Could it easily been a win for you?
You pushed Paribasian all the way in the series.
You've got an incredible forfeit win over FaZe, you know.
So, you know, so ultimately, I think it is time.
time like if I'm looking at genuine NA teams not the bullshit liquid or up to
I'm talking about genuine died-in-the-world NA teams your M8 ease your wild cards your
NRG's I think wild card have shown that potentially the best of the bunch absolutely
and for me the most impressive player obviously someone we've touched on many
a time is going to be Hex I'm glad Dossos here with me because I do want to
address the the the peeping in the room so to speak in a pneumonia him coming
out of my questions you know but his eye-gilling start clearly is working out
These teams have activated Hex, Wreck, and image L as well, very, very capable with the AWP.
But Matt Peeping, he had the one good game yesterday, but he just doesn't seem to have
any confidence whatsoever. Now, I have put in the Cav yet, because a lot of his roles have been
changed and N'Mania doing a lot of the stuff which Peeping used to do. So now he's kind of,
so to speak, doing some of the bitch roles, the utility support roles and whatnot. But
at some point, he needs to wake up and kind of get that confidence going. So either N'Mania
is able to inject that into him in the coming months or else, I feel like you have to call for
for it changes he looked abysmal now look I'm gonna give this the glorious
opportunity here peeping was the first player in the tournament and look he
made a bunch of elementary mistakes that no matter how charitable Blair is
gonna be you know running off with the bomb dying and when you secure the bomb
site that one where he flanked them on Mirage three bats this you have played
with city yeah just I'd forgive a blind panic so I'm say this I know you've
about the KFM before as like a potential talent in the NAC.
How have you changed your mind?
Here's the thing.
I thought that he looked good when he was with bounce.
When it was like into 2024, beginning of 2025,
he did look like a guy in the NAC.
When we were desperate to try to find up and coming players,
like JBA obviously eventually kind of came up,
Lake obviously eventually came up.
And so there was a couple of names,
but he was kind of floated around there.
And I got turned on to him actually by his coach Adrin,
a storied NA coach, a liquid that was coaching mounds
the time and he's like, hey, keep it on this guy, he's pretty good.
And I thought he did look really sharp at North America.
And I think that if I'm being charitable, let's be frank, the wild
court organization has been his absolute absolute mess the last year and a half
up until now, right?
And up until now, it has been a revolving door.
But now they do have stability and they've picked up good players.
Like Hacks was a great pickup to catch if you're a wild card on his way out of
MAD. Wreck was another great catch.
No, also coming out of MAD and being left behind.
So they've now brought in the right pieces to actually do something.
And so from this point forward, there will be no more excuses.
Either he needs to perform as his team continues to play competitions,
or yeah, you might have to look at a different job at some point.
Yeah, I mean, I mean, look, I think one more tournament probably in these roles
that he's been assigned by Nemanja.
And if they let's the biggest one is like they have given him a lot of the star
CT roles and he gets to play a lot of the like secondary entry or trade
fragging positions, which are the ones you generally would put a star player in.
So yeah, I mean, the weight is certainly on the shoulders in that regard.
Yeah, absolutely.
Anyone else you'd like to talk about from yesterday?
Come on, I know we've got loads to cover.
From that matchup, nothing in particular,
I think, like you said, you know, for Paris Vision,
the big surprise is how they've kind of
screwed the bracket a little bit
because of them going three-two,
we'll talk about that later on.
And what else we got yesterday?
Like, we did have, yeah, the eyeballers one.
The eyeballers, that was a big surprise for me,
a massive surprise because JW, firstly,
coming to an eight-year event, a big event,
big money event with his team,
he did say, you know me, when I come to an event,
come to win but realistically any other DJ say was a bit delusional right but
that being said the fact that I bothers are able to make it to the playoffs on
an event like this sure with the caveat that competition isn't exactly the
highest of levels I think it's super impressive also just the way he's
leading such an inexperienced young players like Bob XD for example even
players like Rob so a hell of a game and a hell of a bit of a disappointment for
me from focus they should be in a playoffs if they hadn't choked multiple
times across multiple series but that being said Rich again I'm going to be
very charitable pretty new lineup all together and you have someone like
Cuban at the helm I'm sure is gonna kind of shape the back of the shape
later on soon. Yeah I mean if I'm looking at focus first this is a team that you
know brought together a brand new squad like in this era of VRS where a lot of
organizations try to counter strike by buying cores and we've seen some fail
we've seen a couple succeed focus went the route of trying to build something
brand new and while some other players have some links from past teams you know
obviously you know for example ZTR and Balt playing together on game
religion back in the past there's a couple other little ties here and there
as a five they are very fresh and I think you did see a lot of positive things
this event you know they didn't make the playoffs I think you know some of their
individuals did look good I feel like they have some good initial game
planning and staging of rounds but as you said you know sometimes choking in
critical rounds. Well I thought the UCL and the screen right now in these highlights right
so many unforced errors, essentially, and just inexcusable and look, I mean, everyone
was going, okay, new lineup, you know, been together two months, blah, blah, blah, narrative
beats, etc. But I mean, that applied to Wildcard, they choked there as well. And, you know,
we were counting them up yesterday and we lost count. I was talking about it with Henry
and Anders back at the hotel after the games. Like, just how many rounds were there where
they should have won and you know they were like well they had a 5v4 here they
lost to a force by here they lost to another force by bat the back there and
you know it's like wow actually they had way more opportunities to be eyeballers
than you would normally get in any of the series and it's also if you go back
to a lot of the players who messed up it where it was the the young up-and-coming
so I'm looking at Banjo looking at Matheos these are like the star players
There's a place you look at, but then when it comes to these sort of, I wouldn't say
unloosable rounds, because they obviously lost, but rounds they shouldn't be losing.
They are the ones who over-peak a little bit, they are the ones who play a little too scared
when you need to be playing a little bit more aggressively.
Just counterintuitive plays coming up from these guys, but if you look at people like
Z-Tart and Volt, they're the ones who aren't messing up, they're the ones who kind of
dragging them along, dragging them through rounds which they need to win.
So, I feel it's just a matter of time, in all honesty, I think it's a matter of time.
I feel like this is a team who is going to surprise a lot of viewers the way Foot did at the beginning of the year.
Just got to give them a little bit of time. They have such really good pieces.
Hey, I tell you what, Jorger's got a hell of a freaking elbow though, don't he?
Like, you might want to watch out. Listen, if Counter-Strike doesn't work out, this game, like...
That's the thing I have to make career ahead of them. And shout out to Secret Last Desk, by the way.
They go up pretty darn well if you ask me. Let's get a replay of this action.
Boom! Boom!
Look at the technique on that. Like, that's some proper MMA ground pound right there.
Almost went for another one.
He saw how he was going for a third back.
That's what's about to get him.
I'm going to take everything back.
I think that I need a new AWPer, because I
think that was shattered.
It's a million points.
He kept the wrist in hand clean.
It's all good.
He can't move.
Dropping the John Jones, bro, like 12-6.
He's got office sensitivity and be a wrist player.
It's fine.
That's fine.
Why don't we take a look at the playoff bracket.
We'll obviously talk about it a little bit later on.
But this is what we've got for you.
This is an interesting bracket, the way it worked out,
honestly, because we're going to start the day with MIBR3.
3D Max. We got Astralis versus Eyeballers. Just to put it on the record, a lot of people
feel Astralis is genuine contenders here in Bucharest, to lift the trophy.
I would just tell this far, Astralis has no excuse to something like the Scranton.
With that bracket in particular, they have a real good shot at just taking it, right?
Because look at the bottom, Rich. You've got foot, you've got Mongols, and you've got
paravits.
Yes. The key thing for Astralis is dodging foot, who they've played like 15 times.
You know, it's insane.
They always seem to run into each other.
But then down there, that's the interesting series of day.
Not that for me.
I think they're all interesting in their own way.
But the Mongols and Paribas have never played.
And it really is the irresistible force
going up against the immovable object, you know?
Well, actually, the only matchup that has any history
is fate, but the other three games
are games where these teams have not played each other
with their current lineups.
So it's definitely an opportunity to test yourself.
You know, for example, for a team like Bade Brazil,
the chance to finally do something in an international event because since they
bought their new roster they have only played domestic events up until this point.
Obviously for i-ballers there's a chance to try to continue to see if they can
show us a little bit of something and you know again I think Mongols
Paravigion that's a brutal one because one of these teams that was maybe
supposed to win the whole event is gonna wind up in seventh eighth place and I
mean that's a tough spot to be. Because if we go back to the you know the
beginning of the of this event we were talking about it the favorites of this
tournament right as Mongols in Paravigion and then you have Astralis and
foot where the the dock was so to speak so it's kind of a little unfortunate we
had a matchup early on but then hey they only have themselves to play sure but
I mean also what I would think is interesting is community reactions
going to be very instructive very revealing when that result occurs
whichever way it goes if paravision winner not Mongols out Mongols are
going to catch a ton of heat yeah and everyone's going to say well you know
paravision of the form team right now they're better than people give you
credit for it might have been ugly and scrappy in the groups but daddy Dastan's
come in with a belt and sorted everything out. Meanwhile, if Paravision go out, they're
going to go, yeah, it's every other tournament. Paravision win one, go final, go out early,
you know, Mongols should win that one. So I kind of do feel a little bit sorry for Mongols
in that situation. Paravision are in that sweet spot now when you're an emerging team
where people will make excuses for you. Mongols less so, I feel.
And I feel Paravision is a perfect kryptonite for a team like the Mongols. When Paravision
Mongols make a lot of mistakes sometimes. Sometimes individuals get a little too carried away because, you know, the style aggressive in your face, good, great firepower, but PowerVision are that team who's going to punish you when you screw up.
And I do feel like they would be the perfect counter, but we saw from Dawson yesterday, he's like, right now, a lot of these players make a little too many mistakes. They're not really locked in.
They're looking at teams like Spirit, like, you know, the likes of Monosy and all these guys. That's when they really lock in. And against Mongols, they might put their left foot off the pedal.
foot off the pedal. If that happens though, I feel longer just might run away with it.
Quickly, I'll say this though, I mean,
Paravigian has struggled with disruptive defenses.
Teens that get in their face and don't let them kind of roll out their normal
slow and steady and really, you know, fine tune game plan.
And Mongols is a team that is going to play you very aggressively.
So there are certainly some opportunities out there for Mongols to maybe kind of scatterbrain
them a bit. Also, you gamble stacked around direction and Mongols explodes on the other side.
That could be a problem. And the other thing I'll say in that series is Paravigian Mirage has been abysmal.
And as a map that Moggles is definitely gonna get to play in that series and so that does give them, you know, a foot in the door in my opinion.
Alright, well look, let's talk about the series coming up first.
MIBL versus 3D Max.
I'm almost been putting it off a little bit because I can't believe 3D Max are in the playoffs.
Yeah, I mean this is a team that, you know, I used to say it's death taxes and 3D Max placing 9th to 14th.
I mean that was kind of just the story of this team.
The only exceptions were they did obviously do really well at CAC last year.
And Masters Bucharest, I believe they also had a pretty good finish up and not mistaken.
But everything else that's been, again, right on the borderline of class, were not quite there.
But they've done, you know, okay, this is it.
I think the first two games were a little bit shaky against Focus and Vogue.
A little bit.
But at least the wins against Bate and Paravigion were pretty clean.
So there was some improvement throughout the course of the event.
It's a tale of, you know, Dr. Jack Kull and Montsehoyed, right?
Like, I don't know what to make of this.
You lose the focus very convincingly into the mass.
two of them as one of which you like that rich and then and then the voka game is
where I was like that this is it this is this seems dead it's a dead team walking
they're gonna make some changes barely scraping a window of voka coming down
over time on a trip double overtime I believe in my number two or three as
well and then you go against bait now sure bait have been struggling a little
bit as well as we're being very up and down they make mints meet up bait go
against paravision you know the the actual real gatekeepers and they beat
They're pretty reasonably convincing as well.
So I don't know what to really make of it.
I'm going to go out and live and say this stuff.
And this could have been catching a lot of break
back from a lot of the French fans.
I think this is a bit of a dead team energy.
I feel it's just them kind of cruising along.
They have no expectations.
They're like, screw it.
Me and Dave are just going to carry on and just play our game.
And it's working out for now.
But I feel the changes are going to take place after this event
maybe in a couple of months from now.
So just kind of this coasting energy, if you know what I mean.
Yeah, and obviously we can talk about the suitor as well.
real quick. He's been the guy that's kind of given them an extra dimension. I agree when,
you know, Stryker for some reason is obsessed with 3D Max. And he understands them on a level.
I don't think any of the analysts does because I don't know how what you can make of this thing.
He does have a pain king. True. True. But Masuta since coming in has been the best player. Yes.
even if they're not necessarily a better team.
I think he is way above what they've had in the past.
Well, here's the thing.
The reason why we had some interest in 3D Max before,
even though they were placing plays,
because they played fun tactical CS.
But I feel like when the in-game leadership passed
to gravity, it kind of started to deteriorate.
Now, Maka's back at the helm.
And also, what they've done with the movement
within the roster is now Lucky's getting more star CT
positions.
He's kind of taken some of the spots body used to play,
being more active.
He's actually performing well in those roles.
And yeah, Masuda, you know,
body was a big opening force for this team.
You know, say what you want about the guy.
He was a really good soldier
and entry fragger for 3D Max.
And Masuda has come in.
And while he's not going for as many openings as body,
he's not like a true entry fragger, so to speak.
That's still very much gravity.
He's a big playmaker.
I mean, this is a guy who does get those active T positions.
He's a very good trade fragger.
He's a very good mix of like anchor
or aggressor on CT side, depending on the map.
And he's performing, which is kind of nice
because this is a guy who got cast away, right?
He was on the French version, the Falcons, he was on, you know, a version of Vitality
in the past and he's been able to kind of reboot his career on this team.
Yeah, and then MIBR, it also has been hit and miss, but we've liked what we've generally
seen from them.
I mean, we saw Insani absolutely pop off last time he was on the server.
We have seen Klim live up to this hype as one to watch.
MIBR are telling us in interviews, yes, watch this kid, he's sick and we've got LNZ making
very well-structured European calls with some of the best of the Brazilian talent.
I think the most impressive thing for me is, apart from obviously Insanin and Klim being
playing at the level they are right now, it's just when they're looking good, like for example
the games against i-ballers and Mirage against, I believe it was BC games as well, when they
look good they look like almost world-class, right?
They fight together, the comms flow so well, Insanin was saying how the comms haven't really
been a problem only for Ben and Zerry's in a bit of a learning stage but when
they're on you know on the same page with the calling coming from L and Z they
look great but when they're playing on a map they feel a little uncomfortable on
you can see the hold still prevalent in you know when it comes to the comps the
utility usage and whatnot so it's kind of again a Dr. Jekyll in a high
situation here but for MIBR they seem like a more consistent and more a force
where you know what you're gonna expect from as opposed to 3DMAT which is just a
toss and a coin. Yeah I think this is fun because this is made Brazil's first
international test with this international lineup, right? With Linus coming in, with the
Venomzera Swap, obviously, Clem hasn't even been in the organization that long in the grand
scheme of things. And this is the big one for me is what helps made Brazil so much that they
have players in the most difficult roles to find good players in. Every team struggles to find a
great opera or a big entry fragger, and they do have both of those in spades. Insani has been
a great entry for several years at this point. I've honestly called for him to go to the international
team multiple times. Obviously, we know sometimes contracts don't allow that. And then on the other
you have Clam, look the open market is starving. We've been talking about that for ages and this is a guy who looks pretty damn legit
So I hope that they can kind of keep it up because that's what made in Brazil needs to be relevant and these two guys so far give
Anto them. No surprises with the bands here from from the side 3D Max Mirage getting better. It might be hard
They have that so-called 7 map map pool, but that's too bad about 3D Max usually go for this. I think inferno and ancient come out here
Yeah, I think 3D Max definitely will be going with inferno. Both teams are willing to play anubis too though
So if if I'm if I'm MIBR, I don't play an oebus. It looks so sloppy, bro
It looks so sloppy against eyeballs eyeballs of all teams, right?
We had people just walking all in this is the right call in my opinion
This absolutely the right call it's about the 3d max of struggle
They almost lost to voka by the way on ancient
They got smacked by focus on day one as well, and I guess it's gonna be a newt decided
Yeah, take out overpass your MIBR. It's a map where they really haven't been feeling super comfortable on and
And yeah, there we go. Nuke, a bit of a shakehand map coming in, nothing too crazy rich.
I feel this one is a three map affair.
I feel 3D Max have shown us enough, and on Inferno especially, that they can take that map.
MIBR's Ancient, that's a punish pick kind of coming in from them. I think it's all going to go all the way down to Nuke.
Interesting. Does Steve concur?
I agree. I think the punish pick of Ancient is true. Like, Made in Brazil has looked really good on Ancient.
They've played it already a lot. Yeah, it's all mostly domestic competition, but still just the eye test kind of 33-32
So yeah, I mean it's really really good
Meanwhile 3d max has really kind of struggled on this map and the roster chains hasn't helped it along either
So I think that is definitely if you don't punish and you know when you look at inferno, you know, maybe there's those no slouches there
I think they'll put up a good fight
But certainly 3d max has always kind of had that identity of being an inferno team and also really cool to let inferno
If you go back to the power vision game even go back to the bait game the really cool thing is man
The way they just abuse banana just with the utility and then of course you have that the lunatic right that the
Aram is that that time on of the team gravity
Mac 10 is running in and it's not just about blind blind horrible things. It's not a black out of stride though
It's it's very well constructed. They they abuse you they they they have a reaction to your reaction
They're like so far ahead so for MIBR while they do have the individual stuff
They have someone like insanity on the b-bomb side
I feel like when it comes to mind gaming 3d max they just look so good at least in this tournament
What I'll say is this, I think Insomnias and Masuda are the man to watch, right?
They're the most active pieces on the board.
They're going to be either entering or trading quite a lot, and they're going to be after
the prime real estate, and whoever comes up heads up in that match, it probably wins.
I will give one slight edge to Made in Brazil too, is that Klim really does well with the
AK-47 on the T side.
He actually has more AK kills than Op kills his tournament.
And so that gives you kind of an extra rifling trader on a map where T side opting can sometimes
lack impact, and I don't think Maka has the same punch as Klim.
So I think that that's kind of an added benefit.
Even if 3D Max is the better Inferno team on paper,
I think Main Brazil could put up a pretty good scrap here.
You know who will also put up a pretty good scrap?
I don't know where I'm going with this.
I like it.
It is Moses and Dinko.
How are you doing, guys?
Good morning.
Welcome to the morning crew.
Good morning, Richard.
Yeah, not as good of a scrap as Blah and Dust, though.
I feel like we don't even need to be on the LAD.
We're not even fighting.
What are you talking about?
It's so apart.
We could fit in the middle of you.
We don't even need to be on the LED screen.
You guys are so far to the edge.
It's a big couch.
The cushions are actually moving upward in the middle.
You guys are literally cat us further away.
Is that a him a leg?
I'm progressively each segment move a little bit.
Well, bang some cuddling for your next segment,
if that makes you feel better.
Blank it in here.
We'll have a good time.
You can do that right now, though.
I hope so.
Absolutely.
Who do you think's going to take this one, guys?
I'm leaning towards 3D Max.
I know it sounds a little bit like the desk.
Like you guys are kind of on the, I don't know,
like a little bit leaning more towards MIBR.
I think 3d max with kind of the history with this change of I think there's a little bit of a honeymoon period
That's about the game is like but continue the thought. We love you. Have a great cast
I love you guys too. See you have a good time in the green room
I like what they were saying in terms of the fact that MIP are I think are more consistent than 3d max
But that's sure you can say that but I think 3d max have a higher ceiling
So if they perform that to the level we know they're capable of then 3d max should be able to walk away with this series
Let's see how it goes down and I'll be on a CT side 3d max on the T side and sunny
Maybe getting them self-involved in a pretty scary early fight.
Yeah, risky. It looked like Mako was going to be able to lock him over towards Sandbags.
Ooh, look at this bush gravity. You got a big test coming at you. Miss shots.
But you got XCCs coming from behind, and he goes down as well.
More miss shots from the 3D Max players.
And, okay, well, we're in a 3 on 5.
Blocking them or attempting to block them is Venom Zero, but...
Nasuda's just going to creep on up. He is the God of the Pistol, Jason.
If there's anybody who could turn this around, it would be Masuta.
But he's uh, not even he can do this so it's all shut down LNZ coming as well. Makka
He is in the grave leaving lucky 1v4 and we'll see my PR taking the pistol round
So forget what I said am I brought one of the pistol Jason? I've got a feeling
We're gonna get a lot of people gonna walk over this game now Jason. Oh, yeah
Switch it that much so important. Okay
But I actually have been relatively impressed by my PR like when I seen LNZ at the airport
I was like, oh my God, I forgot you play for.
This feels weird.
They've had some interesting, the kicker was there for a while, right?
Everything's been a little bit crazy over at the MIBR camp, but it's been a year for them as they've gotten this new lineup working together and underway.
Done a good job, mostly regional competitions.
PGL Big Press is their first tier one competition of the year.
Other than that, it's mostly been localized tournaments with South American teams.
Yeah, so a very important event for MIBR and an event that they would have earmarked on the calendar and pointed out
I've been like we need to be able to be ready for this one
We need to be peaking at this one because this is our chance to show we can do against the better teams that we don't normally
Get to play again, so very important event and tournament run here for MIBR
Yeah, and they get out to a very good start nice pistol from Breno two kills and that aggressive piece over towards halls
And an easy mop up at the B bomb site. I mean we heard dust talking about how the AWP market is
is not it's rough out there.
I know it's pretty rough.
He said it was starving.
We've got a Clint who's on loan from G2 Eras,
their Academy team, playing for MIPR.
And he's been very impressive so far.
He's had a couple of big performances for them.
I think for G2, who have kind of an aging offer right now
and some pieces that inconsistent, you know,
you break in.
What a way to phrase it.
Yeah, that's true.
You're not going to be looking at some pies
and having a huge upside and upswing in his career, right?
So, you know, he's a good offer.
He's definitely sufficient for the role right now at G2, but you've got a young offer here.
You've got in your ranks on loan to another team.
You get him all this experience of MIB on and then you're like, all right, let's bring him back to the main.
Also, they just watch what Molotov is doing over a period. They're like, let's go down that road.
We like that road. Let's roll the dice.
I think if you're an offer out there in the world, you know, maybe just hold out. I'm hearing good things about the AnimGraf 2.
I haven't actually played the beta yet, but I'm hearing good things about its tracking.
I'm hearing good things about offers and making it feel a little bit better in terms of shot connections.
So just hold out a little bit longer, boys.
We're almost there.
And the AC game will be the best team in the world.
Sure.
And then, and then we'll be back.
We got Clint on the right full.
Uh-oh.
Really showing his best step forward there.
Is he getting out to destroy the glocks?
Quite aggressive with no head armor,
as it is a decision you can make.
Yeah, no one's saying it's a great one.
Well, it's better decisions to make for sure.
Venom's out looking to make some money.
Nice.
Head shot there at the end.
Makka, take it away.
Venom's out.
Bomb plant.
Not going to be taken.
Nope, here's the Honzi with the peak out.
Guys, you should, I mean, sure, great.
Nice win.
Like you've lost three players to unarmored Glock.
So you're gonna have to reinvest its Haunted Money.
That's lots of damage to the economy of MIBR.
Really nice round from 3D Max,
and they pick up AK-47's gravity.
Of course, go into that Mach 10.
Desk touched up upon it,
and when we watched them play this map earlier,
the number of times gravity with this Mach 10
is just pushing middle, up middle,
attacking brackets through the smoke
constantly throughout the half.
So MIBR, that's a big glaring play when you watch the demo, when you watch the VODs.
I'd say it's probably easier to deal with in theory than in reality though, when you've got ground to fly through the sky.
Just holding down mouse 1 without Mac 10.
Very astute observation, that's the rule of thumb with everything in Counter Strike really.
But, yeah, that's beefy.
Double-nade towards LNZ, just lucky to be alive really.
It's just like...
I have one too guys. He's like this sucks. I think for 3D Max though, the gravity Mac 10 gravity impact
has just not really been there at the start of 2026. I think a pro league in particular was filmed
real bad for gravity. He was just not playing very well. But finally getting some of his form back
coming into Bucharest and really just seeing him elevate his performance has given me a lot of hope
for 3D Max because he's no longer the in-game leader, you're going to need to step up as
an individual if you no longer are burdened by the shackles of in-game leadership.
That's what I was going to say, I give him a little bit of a reprieve, give him a little
bit more time, like it's not easy to shift out of the IGL mindset to then a highly aggressive
playmaking frontman mindset.
There's the flashbang and the peek, the smoke broke and open, and Venom Zara is going to
be the second man.
XCC turns around to clear the cubby, good trade from Masuda, but 3D Max is getting thinned
out.
Took a while checking that cubby. I wonder if it was waiting for a flash, but it doesn't matter all the rest of the
Peaks from MIBR coming in 25 seconds, bomb going down, Masuta, a very important kill.
Now the rotation has arrived in time and the man to try and save MIBR in this round isn't Sonny.
Both spawning him and both just fighting him. No need to commit to the plant when you've got that 2v1 fight.
3D Max also getting the bomb plant celebrating some high fives and they've got themselves their first round.
Yeah, a little bit a little bit sketchy though.
So we saw the turn of the corner from 3Dmax with the Nade out, so making some assumptions
and those are things you're going to want to minimize as we go on, especially considering
it's kind of a longer extended hit.
So the rotation's coming in, got to be prepared for those follow-up peaks.
3Dmax still outlasts him at the end of the day.
Good trading on the way into the bomb site.
Good trading on RAP side as well, Masuda with some critical kills.
Yeah, I've been liking Masuda in the start of this team.
Yeah.
He hasn't really had too many bad performances yet.
We went from Missoula to... Oh, Missoula.
Oh, Missoula. Hello.
Okay. How are you doing?
Ooh, la la.
Yeah, I think it's been good to see them come into the team.
I think they're sort of limited in terms of players they can go to.
I mean, we're going out, we're finding body, bringing them back.
Right. Yep, yep, yep.
You know, there's not many French players out there
that you really want to get inside of this roster
that have enough experience to make sure you don't fall through the floor.
It is just a little refresher of why so many teams have gone international
just to be able to dip into a larger pool of players.
Here's the consequences of losing so many weapons to those blocks in the previous round is you've got no money to really invest in anything outside of 5-7s in the MP9 on Brenno and Klim.
So very rough defensive loadout for this round.
MP9s and 5-7s though, we see so many round wins with these things.
They can do work.
But not a solo D player.
Especially when they're on 40 HP.
I mean, the utility in Banana from 3D Max's T-Side so far has been great, 96 damage onto LNZ last round, now you just drop an 8 on Insani down to 41, usually the utility damage is racked up on the CT side, it's in reverse at the moment.
Feels like we're gonna see a save. At 3D Max you're gonna go into the B-Side, Insani's gonna die and you'll save 4 players on A, so...
Can't promise you guys at home a very exciting round of counter-strike here, to be honest. Not all of them can be bangers.
But unless, you know, Insani has the greatest 5-7 clip of all time.
Alright, well here's the utility out.
Try to block it, do what he can, but you're exactly right.
As soon as he goes down, it's a save call. Everyone's kind of shifting over now, but there's no point.
Yeah, so those blue dots, he's like, no!
And we're turning back. Peace!
Alright, let's get comfy, let's get saving, and that's going to be 3D Max with a 2-2 score line.
Getting to get this T side going as soon as the guns came out.
That was a nice feeling.
Yeah, both these teams qualified through the group stage as well, 3-1.
3D Max losing to Focus early on, but then beating out Voka, Bait, and ParaVision for MIBRs
and early loss to Astralis and then a victories over BC game legacy eyeballers to make it here.
So both of them having just that single difficulty on the opening day at the group stage
and then snapping into shape as both of these teams were kind of a similar story
of the sort of recovery where both have had some success in the past both have
like shown some good signs in the past and then just kind of descended and not
able to find that any longer just like kind of dropped the ball and a lot of
the effectiveness of these squads kind of disappeared roster changes and now we
get to see if they're gonna be back on the come-up. 3D Max getting stronger as
the group stages went on as well taking the biggest win against Parabasian the
only team that didn't drop a map to. That was probably one of the more
surprising upsets that we had in the group stage especially because it was 13-9, 13-9.
Good series out of them and hopefully filled them with confidence. That was the series to
qualify for the playoffs that put ParaVision in the 2-2 game. Wildcard gave them some issues last
night, seen some harsh words out of Distan, out of James about the performance. I kind of love
waking up to those quotes. I think it's hilarious.
There's a mistake so unacceptable to have a pager. I can't kick them right now, but if they continue, yeah, but I don't want to, I might have to, especially if you keep throwing smoke instead of flashes.
Yeah, there was a lot of mistakes yesterday from KeraVision, so hopefully that gets cleaned up.
MIBR obviously with that say very similar kind of situation we have going on
that basically ran the exact same defense and Sony solo at the B bomb site with
utility stockpile that stack up in lane with three players and one playing
balcony
three max being very cautious about this yeah they don't want to lose to USP
round with Insani and then the rest on the save they know but that is what
happened they know they're still going up against fourth okay walking into an
A-stack line it up at the top left of the sea
crouched uncrouch okay then that little dot right there Jason good chuck the
minuscule crack it's it's right at the stack you're excited if you're I might
be all right now your palms LNZ on the balcony dead now gravity of course
Defying gravity really is just floating through the sky as usual.
Max attack.
Good for a kill. Masuta comes in for two, and there's nothing left in the rounds here for MIBR.
So into the site, bomb plant confirmed, and three max taking the lead of the game.
Nice little run from them, and nice job not dropping the ball against the pistols.
Even though this time they come into the stack, they handle it very, very well.
Heard Duss talking about how he's asked for Insani to go to international teams for a long time
And I think many people have been echoing that sentiment for years
So if he isn't going to leave Brazil bring international teams to him I suppose
Give him a shot to
players from international players now
LNZ and Claremont
Not the biggest names in Counter-Strike
The question is did you miss like the window of opportunity if you're Insani, right?
But he had like those two years of like a lot of excitement and hype around him and
like his development and what he looked like early on and the excitement of what he could
become.
So the question is, have you missed the window where teams are like actively saying we want
to get this guy on our squad?
Now our team's still saying that is the question because we haven't seen those performances
nearly as consistency, haven't seen the results of MIBR improve enough to make waves on the
international scene.
Yeah.
I mean, everyone's comparing MIBR to fury in terms of like the decision making and saying
You know, it might be our kind of budget version of Furia
It almost extends to Insani and Kessarotto too, where it's like, for years you're asking for Kessarotto to go to international teams
You ask that same question, has he missed out on that chance?
Should we have gone to Liquid? Should we have taken a bigger offer?
Yeah, it might be Furia, but it brought an international team to him, and now we're kind of asking the same thing about Insani
Yeah, it might be ours now in that arc of like, okay, we got to build a team that makes Insani want to stay here as well
He'll be playing banana at the moment, the point man, everyone else has left him alone
He's got a deep smoke for cover now, about halfway through when that fades, he's gonna be backing off.
Masuda legged at the start of the round, so he's very passive, holding the bomb way deep at the bottom of middle.
One minute left on the clock. Two players watching wrap, including this AWP from Klim.
He'll get tested.
And 3D Max wants nothing to do with that AWP, so back to the B bomb site we go.
And Sany is going to check out this Molotov, he's got a smoke as well to delay, so let's
see how 3D Max handle this.
Oh, another Molotov.
So many rounds with it, just dumping a bucket of utility for Sany to play slow.
They have to go to the smoke, and there's going to be another Molotov behind it.
The majority of this round was Sany alone on B.
So do you either have to bail out and sprint to A and hope and pray you get the kills or
you have to save?
This runs, I think this is, how do you win?
Well, you just have to hit some absolute blinders here.
Last second, the boost is a great call.
Smoke missed.
And Insani's got to kill, bombs down, rounds dead.
The kills are coming in for a day, but.
Not dead yet?
No, there's not enough time to get it.
Yeah, there it is.
So you've run out of time.
I mean, you got to give credit over to Insani.
Scott, how in that utility, and I think the other,
the other layer of that is 3D Max really wanted
to hit that A bomb site, so it didn't apply
a whole lot of pressure to Banana and to Insani
throughout that round.
So we got to keep that utility.
So there's a little detail, 3D Max,
it's gonna wanna make sure even if you're going
towards A, that slow progression,
you have somebody chucking out utility, making noise.
You have to force some of those smokes out early
if you're gonna wanna return to the B bomb site
in the late game.
I mean, I love the fact that they're not getting punished
for only having one B player.
And for the start of these rounds in sunny,
you'd like to set a lot of credit towards him,
blocking them, not really falling to any pressure.
And that's gotta change here for 3D Max.
They're calling a timeout, going to burn their first one.
Yeah, so just letting him be off the hook with a little mistake,
just a week round on the T side.
Timeout to talk things over to make sure that doesn't happen again.
We're tied at three, money on both sides.
Makka with the AWP, Clem has his.
High fives are out, we get back into the action into round seven.
All right then, Makka off.
Alright, let's see what that can do.
Alright, let's see if three maximum is some adjustments.
Time out. Let's see if there's more pressure towards banana early on.
If I'm not anticipating that, I've started with three at B this time.
Got two players committed as well.
Over towards Sandbags, and those nades are going to land right on top of them.
VenomZera, 15 HP left. Insani down to 56.
Okay, the Baton switch set up. VenomZera, the lowest Pplier behind the Sandbags.
Yeah, but one Molotov ruins all this. Yeah, the Venom's holding the smoke just in case they're gonna use it
The flash goes in great shot insani dead Lois P left on Venom Zera
Got it confused with a flashbang and that's exactly what happens then he's native out by Maka
But with 15 HP can't be back to two kills
You know what you're okay with this if you're 3d max 2 for 2 trade
You know the defense is gonna thin out likely gonna be one defender at the B site
And at the moment 3d max is making the assumption that someone is shifting to support B
It's actually the opposite. What a God tier read from LNZ.
I'll say if they hold the 4th here in my view art.
Oh, they're gonna get aggressive on rap as well.
Oh, Mac is waiting for it though.
How long does he hold this line?
Oh, he hits the shot, but it was through the brick, so not enough for a leadality.
And now he's gonna race after that trade kill and have to deal with a second player, but B has just opened up.
And gravity's gonna sprint.
Yeah, he's gonna have to drop a smoke behind him to protect himself.
Okay, Clems taking it very, very slow, swaps out to the M4, so AWP is on the ground.
If Clem's to win this, AWP not available to him to recover.
That is a very bold plant spot.
Alright, pick the home zone, Gravity.
Let's go smoke out to a CT just in time.
Way too deep.
Man, it's far too deep.
It's unimpactful.
He's got another one.
So, not gonna use it though.
Doesn't wanna give away his position.
Doesn't wanna teleport.
Clem wins this.
You know, he's already beat it.
The timing is too good.
Gravity's never gonna react.
He's just gonna react.
And Clem is too fast.
So, yep.
There we go.
He's got...
See the kit? No, he doesn't.
I was going to say, he might have time to run back and get the AWP.
So, nice win from Clement, the 1v1.
Great timing as he ships over and a good read of the play of exactly where he went off to.
Looking desperately for an AWP on the ground anywhere,
and he's just going to leave with an AK-47, a consolation prize.
He can afford an AWP as well, so all good.
And not being able to seem to be putting all the pieces in the right place
and making the rotations at the right time is a chance to decide.
Yeah, getting away from having an Insani solo P for a long time,
make the rotation stack the extra player. I ate the right time.
I mean, it's a really good read of the mentality of the 3D Max side of saying,
okay, well, you've seen Insani here playing solo.
He's stalled you out a couple of times with utility.
He's been quite a nuisance.
So stack up over there because we think you're going to try to apply some pressure
so that you don't stall out rounds again.
So good read in that situation, the L and Z stuffing the B hit
and then rotating immediately to A is such a God tier move.
Perhaps the winning move of that round.
Two players through the top middle smoke, they're going to be walking into VenomZera
Clint.
VenomZera out from the cubby, just trying to keep the pension drawn towards him to free
up Clint's peak.
Alien manages one.
A lot of damage done to Exocys, Breno, there's also got LNZ up towards balcony and still
a stronghold of this A bomb sight friend my BR had.
3D Max struggling to penetrate the defences at the moment.
Molotov in towards the pit, Brenner.
Oh my god. Okay, that's a way to die.
LNZ up on... Okay, trades it off. The suit is out.
It needs to be a perfect shot and it's not there.
Insanity to win at the end of the day. 5-3 and 3D Max still getting stuffed.
Yeah, well LNZ wins that round. Just with that double kill on balcony.
Yeah.
dies in that kind of strange fashion I mean obviously he thinks they're running
him through shorts we want to tank the damage just to get a kill to set up
LNZ in the balcony but 3D Max did not push it but I mean that's LNZ really
stepping up when needed
there's some comms I tell you we wondered how I might be are gonna communicate with this
this international team, they don't.
That's from the round obviously the Klim 1v1
and you can see him giving credit over to Ellen Z
for the rotation that he made towards Rapside.
So MIBR super happy with how proactive
they're being on the map, but they should be.
Yet again, I mean, you go over towards Rapside,
you get two kills as 3D Max, that feels good.
But if you're MIBR, you're like,
yeah, but that's the B support of Ellen.
We still got two defenders here, we're all good.
Yeah.
They are a step ahead of 3D Max on Inferno so far.
I'm liking what I'm seeing from MIBR.
It's been good so far.
Yeah, we haven't casted them at this event.
So we get a little bit of a different vibe. You can watch the VODs and see a couple of things.
Getting this POV from the casting booth is things looking good for MIBR.
I think Insani's done a really good job so far playing solo banana
for the most part in the mid-round. Only three kills,
He's done a very, very good job making sure that the B bomb site is never like an easy open opportunity for 3D Max.
He's more bodies coming his way. Now there's the double-nade down deep. Ooh, chunks him down.
And there's the utility dump. They shall not pass.
Yeah, held in place. We're going to see Insani step in behind.
Top car spamming on down. It's Insani snapping away and taking gravity out of the equation.
He nine steps out for two and Sonny comes back and they finish off the entire B-bombsite offensive.
So that'll be six to three here from IPR, really building on the CT side now.
We've seen three Max call timeouts and try to make adjustments. They just still haven't figured it out yet.
Thanks Gunround. Let's see how this goes. You have gravity with the Max 10.
I think this might be the time where they call for that play.
They haven't done that like dynamic play of gravity getting aggressive through the smoke.
the smoke so I think now might be a time where gravity is saying okay the offense
needs a little bit of gas it needs a little bit of some a little bit of
energy pushed into it so this might be something where he tries with that mac
time to create the opportunity for his team
all talking towards the window utility exchange down in banana as well although
the CT is holding on to it you know and Sonny and LNZ haven't really dumped a
whole lot deep down banana happy to let them take the first step at the very
released. Here comes gravity positioned inside the smoke. Ready to party. Nobody home. Very
passive defense for MIBR. They don't want to mess with it at the point of attack. They
want to mess with it as they turn the corner. Yeah, let them zero. Sends the flash. Here's
gravity swinging. Back to the kill. A clean. The lineup two and then traded. The 3v3 still
stands. Three and Max have a chance to try and get into the safe side, but that rotation
is coming quickly and Breno is still in a strong spot inside the pit. And Sonny just
sent himself through the smoke hasn't worked out for him but Breno in the pit
is the biggest problem right now it's a strong spot got plenty of cover and a
low HP here inside of the bomb site from a Suity could be taken out by the
grenade but he's a little bit too far away for that to be effective that you
wish you got the grenade to break the smoke but your teammate in pit has got
one and now he's got the second Breno just able to chill good patience couldn't
find his his fight he wanted early on during their step into the bomb site
It was really awkward trying to find the timing on those peeks, but closes it out at the end of the day.
Really smart play from Breno after he takes care of the hull's player, just saying,
Alright, all I have to do is survive. I don't need to commit to anything crazy.
Just need to live here and make sure their box get into the bomb site.
Even this utility couldn't lose, it might be all that well.
Now Brenner does so well on pitch, just a real threat, real nuisance.
Can't get him out of that, can't force him into an unfavorable fight.
30 Max, come back with weapons though, it's not great, it's a lot of Kaleels and now they've
lost Kassuta, so Clem's starting to find some confidence too, running down through that top
new pickin grab the opener
song the player that is fracking here for three maxes all of the day from a
suit up
lucky attempting the challenge
they've never been able to get a clean look at the people I'm sorry I'll have
briskiest move we've seen in sunny make
today and forces a bit of the open kill from insati man he's playing well
Come in LNZ together or just a force over here in 3D Max.
I like...
And at 3 on 5 it almost feels like your only real option for a win is to hit the B bomb site.
But this just seems way too strong for them to overcome.
I think LNZ has a good idea of how he wants to play the banana on this map.
I mean, even when he was on a heroic, there was a number of times where I would see...
...good banana holds and halves and when heroic are a bit inconsistent.
But when you obviously see them have a good inferno game,
I was generally watching LNZ and how well he was able to control B.
It was always super fun to watch and carrying that over here to MIPR
has got a great teammate here in Insani to make sure it happens.
Three mags before they even really do anything.
The key side is destroyed.
We have eight rounds here for MIPR unless...
I mean, a special recovery comes in on this B bomb site now.
You're still exacting through a smoke.
It's true. Blinds aren't making many mistakes at all.
14 seconds. Blinded, good flash at least, and Sony gonna take a lot of damage, a lot of heat.
Clim comes in, shot connected onto XSE, she's still getting Sony alive.
Play this retake if you want, or just charge for the smoke.
Clim actually switched out to the right fall, runs through the smoke, gets both kills.
MIBR, full of confidence.
Just another example where the B bomb site is never even really available to you in the late round.
That's the second or third time we've seen with like 35 seconds left on the clock.
Just one last smoke come out of MIBR.
Every single execute into the B bomb site for 3D Max has been harassed by Molotovs, by utility, by flashbangs, by the rotation.
MIBR is such a good read. They're playing such clean counter strike in terms of the rotations
and in terms of getting a step ahead of 3D Max. Very impressive.
I mean, the idea that 3D Max isn't even having looks, you know, like you're shutting down
even just the opportunities to get into a post plan.
On their map pick as well.
Yeah.
On Inferno.
Their map pick, we've seen them look good on this before, but getting absolutely annihilated
by MIBR right now, they're not going to have room to lose a pistol round here, 3D Max.
They're ancient up next.
Famously being the map that 3D Max has struggled on.
With every version of this roster, that doesn't bode well.
Looking for their fourth round.
Three defenders at the A-bomb set, again passive.
Exorcist clearing out the angles. They've got control of brackets for free. This
hasn't been the issue.
They've been able to maintain this position a number of times. It's what do you do from here?
Sony into the top and out of peak is actually died this time. Okay
That's one one time you've been able to get rid of and sound he make the most of it now
Yeah, just walk it walk towards the B bombsite. He just just go for now
You've all five players are here
You've given up any space any standing you had up at brackets up in middle
Ellen see does have another Molotov and another smoke
So he's trying to puff himself and make it feel big make like there's a second defender at this bombsite with all this utility
Trying to keep 3d max shy away 35 seconds and again another smoke just drops
I'm surprised we haven't seen a rotation from anyone from MIBR. It's gonna come in now, but it's gonna be late
So what can LNZ do on his own?
Sends a flash through go to the peak
Hands up taking a flash to the face himself, but doesn't die stays alive
Disrupted right to the smoke. Oh my god LNC two kills through the smoke going to get all LNC
Destroying them at the B site not in a time to plant the bomb
And even though you get rid of Insani, it is LNC with an incredible half of defensive counter strike towards that B bomb site
9-3 lead, that should be too much for 3D Max to recover from.
That's so insane that he's able to do that.
The only support he had, nobody else was there.
It was one flashbang from a teammate who just arrived in the moment to chuck it out,
with two kills through the smoke, and then you push on through a resuspected play,
but knowing the time as an ally, you get that one kill, and it's done.
Exactly what happens.
Sunder terrorist, we...
9-3, a such a strong start for MIBR, and 3D Max's offense just looked flat.
You know, as he just got himself a Brazilian passport with that play, that was massive from LNZ.
And really, I mean, like I was saying, there's not enough room to lose a pistol round here for 3D Max.
You lose the pistol, map one's done, you got to go to ancient, and I do not feel good about 3D Max's chances on that second map.
This is fantastic from MIBR.
Yeah, I mean, just unreal that all every single play just seemed to work.
The fact that LNZ is able to get away with all that is just craziness.
All right, time to buckle up if you're 3D Max.
Better be the best CT side you've played.
I mentioned they've powered up throughout the event.
They've certainly dropped the ball here in the opening half
of this quarter final series.
All right, NYP off.
Could win the map here with his pistol round.
Plenty of utility for Breno.
I'm just gonna walk in out through banana and Sony doing great work on it on the CT side now
Switch to the T side. He's leading the charge. See the charge move a walk up through banana
Here's the difference though is I'm the CT pistol on for through for excuse me for my VR and Sony was peeking down to have some information on the scaling
Yeah, 3D Max don't have that so you just get this surprise attack and suddenly appears that a lot of you tell sent to a CT
So the extra man you brought over to the B bomb site is instantly dead gravity and lucky at least getting away with one each
Gravity still alive can get an extra kill here really needs one
But he's gonna back away and just try and play even numbers
So I might be I put the bomb down clean gets that kill on gravity and now a retake seems just so unlikely because Mac
Timmasuits have no utility and no kit to speak of and you've got three players to try and flush out here now
You spotted the barrel. That's a free kill on that in Zara, but immediately clean peeks out from dark
gets the trade so Mako with 5 HP can't win this, Paystall, MRB are going to double figures and really
shoot Pia on Inferno. Flemish, sharp man, we saw some of the AK work in the first half,
I mean some of the rifle work in the first half but this one is pissed around just great peaks
and very quick trades. When his teammate goes down and watered by the bombsite that's lovely.
I'm talking about how they're not playing very well right now and time to have a beautiful
CT side now.
I'm sure that speech felt somewhat inspiring to kick off the half.
Yeah, do you feel inspired at the moment, Dinka?
It feels better if you win the pistol.
And now it's like, ah, Sacre bleh.
Not happy about that.
Not much to be happy about.
No, you're right, Jason.
That was not inspiring.
Not even slightly.
Could it be inspiring? No, if you want to pit still, you know, you remember back like,
see, I told you we're gonna have a beautiful side.
That's how it starts, boys, but it didn't go that way, did it?
Eight rounds in a row for MIBR.
There's a wild run of dominance.
Second round by for 3D Max.
Three MP9s, the upgraded pistols.
Makka saving a little bit of money for that AWP in the first gun round.
3D Max just isn't going to have a whole lot of opportunities in this game to get going,
It's a recover if they don't win this round right here
Oh, well NZ 13 HP
So backtracking through banana going up through middle. Yeah, I mean he's gonna be sad about that
Maybe that has some consequences down the road
But at the same time I think they're okay with the idea that they forced out that smoke
They've actually baited out a little bit of utility. Okay, here's a mid key. Good wins.
Oh, it worked out really well here for 3D Max.
If you're gonna lose the pistol run, you have to win the second round and it's a good start.
Should be tough to lose this one now, especially with that kill on Breno.
So four rounds for 3D Max. How much damage can I have here though?
How many players can they take down with them?
They take steps up to mid. It's Clement and Sonny.
They're still looking for the round win, of course, but look at the HP though.
Very tough to imagine that happening.
Clinton needs to step in.
He's going to have to rotate all the way back around through halls.
We'll pause. We'll pause. Here they come.
Oh, Clinton giving a shot. They know where he is now.
AK-47 goes back into the apartments.
Yeah, but he's already got two players coming up.
Brackets from the flank.
So this is going to be a little bit weird.
He might have some issues crossing over in the bomb site now
because they're going to peek this.
They're moving in.
Flashbang is going to go too deep.
I need to be incredibly sharp.
That was a small window of opportunity to try and get through
to win this round and Sonny doing good damage, putting extra players down with it.
Just worried about the balcony, but they're all toward short.
And Sonny jumps up time, taking eight seconds on the clock, so no way to win the round here.
And he's just going back. He will die before the time, so at least he's got that mercy.
At least he's got that going for him. Okay, fourth round for 3D Max.
Able to outlast on the second round, and that was the one that really allows them to keep
fighting in this game if that wasn't go by the wayside they had no chance of
coming back into this it feels but now with the MIBR so three rounds away from
the back map victory 3d max can look at that inspiring speech from half time and
put a little bit more stock into it yeah it's kind of like a brave heart top
speech to be honest like if brave heart was French yeah French William Wallace
over there
Laser beams from his eyes.
As if you, if you, you know, if we don't come back, you know, it's fine.
He's gonna lose.
That's the French inspiring speed shot.
11 to 4 is what we are hoping for off the back of Tec-9s and the Eagles.
Now, you can get a balcony pop going.
It's possible with these kind of pistols and little bit of utility.
Yeah, yeah, it can be very dangerous.
Not a bad timing as well as this defensive smoke comes down
comes down if they want to scale behind it. Makka is shifting back.
When this clears, I think MIBR, chuck out a flashbang and just kind of hit it.
Makka over in library for the moment. I could isolate him out of the fight.
Gravity is going to have to step into the bomb site when the execution eventually comes.
And Molotov is brutal. They're going to have to step away from the flames.
And I think now is the timing.
He steps up towards default, teammate's gone, you love the Sand and Sonny Deagle, I put a
kill feed if you're on YBR, followed up by Ven and Zera, gravity overrun, and yep, that
is a teeth grinding moment for 3 Max, it's just been destroyed.
The flashbangs were nasty from MIBR, I'll say that.
The follow up is second layered flash that blinds that player in the bomb site to prevent
him from supporting anything, but damn that felt way too easy.
Andy got the entrance, the follow-ups are there, gravity, he couldn't really turn his attention and get prepared for the fight in time.
He was running through a smoke, deleted.
When you look at that mini-map on the CTX's that have died without perfect flashbangs, it's hard to see how you don't lose a T-player.
From those positions, it's crazy how easy that did look for MIPR.
Got one player in D4, one towards Soda, one towards Pit, and none of the CTs manage a single kill.
You're gonna be lovin' this.
Just a wild sequence of events, they can't get anything going.
Like there's just no momentum to be built up, no consistency.
Here's the one D, okay that came from short.
Yeah, coming through the smoke, Maka had no chance, gravity on the bomb site just gets completely blinded.
Oh man, just wrecked.
Get them out. Let's get to Ancient.
Famosas are out.
Lucky as in M4, but 3D Max...
I mentioned they've been getting better and better throughout the tournament. Well, this feels like they've taken a couple steps back, at least here for this opening map in the series.
It's certainly going to be a stern conversation between maps as they attempt to...
tie the series up on Ancient.
That's not over yet, but just by the way 3d max is playing it's hard to imagine that there's gonna be a turnaround where they can come back
Masuda holding on to a smoke a Molotov as well on his teammate at the B bomb site
These are the last two pieces of utility available a little bit stockpiled behind him, but they got to get the timing right
Gonna be getting ready to go into the B site here
They're going to be blocked by another smoke, just under a minute left, they can wait this
one out and get your pieces put in place for an execution.
While that's happening, XSS is going to rotate over, they're going to have an extra player
for the defenses.
Mack are also looking to join them.
Yeah, good call.
This means they can actually send bodies through the smoke as well, so they can actually harass
this on the attack, and then you've got multiple layers of players ready for the retake, already
arrived at the B bomb site.
Behind the flames, Masuda takes a couple shots.
Hellensee is very far forward compared to the rest of his teammates.
He's on an adventure, but taking down by Masuta,
XCC is getting involved as well,
and a shutdown coming through,
but Brenner will send the light.
A small chance, if he can take down Masuta,
which he's done with attack nine, then it's doable here.
Still difficult with 20 HP, the FAMAS picked up,
and then gravity runs over the top,
he raced up through banana once,
he realized it was the full commitment
to that B bombsite, so a really important roundup
for 3D Max.
Yeah, I mean, they noticed the time on the clock
and were able to cheat that rotation,
kind of saying this has got to be their final play only like 30 seconds there
they're gonna be coming and attacking this be bomb site shifting a third
defender having a fourth close by to be there with some quickness and as soon as
contact is made just the trap is sprung and 3d max collapses really well done
you do lose three players so economy's not in the greatest position ever yeah
well they're chasing this wind still for my PR in terms of going through the fire
don't want to take an eco here so tech 9s coming out AK 47 in play here for
Breno, my Mac is going to make his way down middle, he's got that opening frag here on VenomZera, so immediately you're going to have to play a 4v5, and you've got weaker guns here at my VR.
See, I'm starting to see a little bit more pep in the 3D Mac step. Nice little aggressive peek towards alt mid to give yourself a man advantage 5 on 4, smoke towards left side mid.
Probably feeling the sting from previous rounds where they just sat back and allowed those pistols to get into position and actually get on them with flashes.
There's also that element where like when you're getting beat so bad like at some point like you just get so frustrated
The pressure just kind of disappears because you're just you're just losing so badly
It can be frustrating because you're also just like wow
Why can't we play like this out of the gate? You know, why do we have to come back?
Why do we have so many rounds to?
Have to pull back to get close to time things up
I'm about to need bombs still to the floor
Dealing with the players already got into the bomb size
He's actually under a bit of pressure, but he's got his teammates to alleviate that.
And then they hunt down the final kill with the USP.
So better rounds here, back-to-back for 3D Max that will force the save coming out of the T side.
Just five rounds back.
A good chance to close it down to four as well in that gap on the scoreboard.
$2,000-ish across the board for the MIBR players, so expect a save.
Maybe some, probably not even pistol buys actually.
No, you might as well just get the best buy you could possibly get in the next one if you're MIBR.
MIBR. Yeah, it's gonna start heating up. I mean, next round's gonna be critical. That's
what makes this, that's gonna be the interesting one. A 3D Max can win that and keep this alive.
Keep MIBR off 12. That's gonna make this interesting down the stretch. And I even like this. This
is cool from 3D Max too. The psychological aspect of things. Go push into their face. Don't let
them have any fun. Don't let them chit-chat. Don't let them feel like don't give them the room to work with.
You know they have the pistols. Probably not gonna have a whole lot of utility. And it seems like such a
small thing and around where they bring on the glocks and but I mean mentally it's
just annoying to get pushed like this no matter what kind of around it is
I love this. Get us out of this eco round. Get us to the gun round straight away.
Now do that against paravision. Yeah you can do that. It really seems like they did do that.
Timeout called MIVR first time out taken. I haven't had a whole lot of issues in
this match this is really the first stretch where they've had to scratch
their head and go back to the drawing board and have a conversation.
Slow start for MIBR's offense on this T-side, winning the pistol, losing the
second, returning in the third with a Deagle win and Tech 9 win and then
losing the follow-up round after that. Not able to string anything together,
build up momentum and now three rounds straight for 3D Max. They've built up
They've got some breathing room, gravity's got 8,000 in the bank, Maka's got his AWP with 3,600 in the bank.
Money not an issue for 3D Max right now. They've set themselves up as good as possible to make this comeback happen, to make it a reality.
Now they just have to execute perfectly.
Four rounds back.
All players from a suit up, broken smoke, flash to set out up.
You've lost Insani.
I'm going to good start to the rounds here from 3D Max.
That's what I'm talking about, pep in the step.
Yeah, definitely seeing that attitude coming out of 3D Max.
Now, getting disruptive.
Three rounds in a row, we've seen some very aggressive stances from at least one 3D Max
player.
put in the pressure on them I'd be able to figure out how do you play a 4v5 you've lost
banana as well.
Clem's looking for the rifle.
Like hello?
Don't be nuts to him it's been stolen or disappeared.
Probably stolen.
Flash gets full and the suits are burning and dead.
That's gonna be Clem worked a great headshot doesn't need a rifle if he's got the deagle
And now we can get onto the AK.
So that resets to a 4v4.
We'll see if my Bjarke back into banana.
We got Maka now stepping up to try and close this gap with the AWP.
Yeah, because it's the AWP, they're confident that he can hold it on his own.
They've shipped it away.
Lucky's gone.
Yeah, maybe he's rewarding them for their confidence with that opening kill
and slowing things down with the Molotov,
but they want to press the issue with the extinguish.
You know, just going through it.
Maka is going to miss the shot dropping back to Newbox.
Spamming down, though.
His ecstasy through that CT smoke is connected onto Venom's air up.
He's slowing this MIBRT side down.
Not looking great. Brenner's gonna send a shot back through the smoke.
Makka, gotta step up here.
Two bullets left in the gun before the reload and he's out of ammo, but he's got teammates.
And 3D Makks starting to get something to celebrate.
Yeah, both teams really strode to get good looks at the B bomb site.
Every time both teams have tried to shift into it late, the site's not available to them.
The off-shot, the follow-up Molotov to delay things, buys the time for the rotation to come in.
Both defenses managing these late-round B attacks very, very well on their CT halves.
Offenses so far in this quarterfinal, having a varied tough time.
Here's the opening from Masuta.
Amaka just had a relatively comfortable round. They could never get close to him.
Now he's getting hyped up. Now we've got some energy coming into the 3D max side.
This comeback is well and truly on. Three rounds away, MIBR has been stuck on 11 now for four rounds.
And haven't even really gotten close in any of those.
And it looks like this will be the third time in a half-by-round where they come back to this hull's pop.
Worked the first time when Insani gets an opening kill with a Deagle from Lane from Short.
They got stuffed last time they ran it, and maybe this time again.
Trying to get out of the balcony, gravity, and mach out with multiple kills in quick
succession.
And this gap is closing rapidly.
R&Z out with attack 9, good second kill out towards pink.
They just have some style points and not much else.
Prioritizing the AK-47s as well, because they're so rich, Marker calls them off picking
up the AWP because he can afford it. He wants to make sure the strong rifles are there for
his teammates. 11-9, the lead has cut the 2. Oh, so fast. Now 5 straight for 3D Max.
Defense has locked in. Beautiful CT side. That inspiring speech has led them back into
this game, Jason. True leader. And Maka. Let's see how this comeback continues. It could
be 12 right now for Mabiyar. I just think they lost the pistol round as well, 3D Max,
Which makes this really impressive if they do run this all the way back.
Yeah, well they also lost the eco round in the third round too, so you can add another piece of impressive nature into it.
Maybe a little bit too eager, maybe a little bit too much pep in this step now, hasn't scaled it back yet, that might not cause it in the future.
Too much pep.
Way too much pep.
LNZ.
Come through banana.
and he's gonna land towards the coffins no one from 3 max aggressive enough on b for that to be an issue
they're leaving lucky over here solo but doesn't feel the most comfortable so they just start gonna
shift that up and bring mack over here who has shown that he's capable of holding onto that b bomb
side alone oh free up lucky to go back over towards a i can see that smoke down towards ct we'll
toss his own out to try and keep these players back. In fact, they might have, you know,
have enough. They would be there going to walk into the stack of players. This is the
best chance for 3D Max to hold on to the round.
They're doing another Halls pop. Maybe they have a full, yeah, there's the bomb is coming.
Clems going to come. So this will be the fourth Halls pop they call this time though with
AK-47. So they clearly see something here that they think they can exploit.
Oh, well, that was a good shot. Yeah, you can exploit that. Yeah, they see it pretty clearly.
Lucky and Masuta trying to come back and hold this together. Lucky gets one, but both A-plies go on and Makka good luck
There's nothing you can do other than save that AWP get comfortable hang on to it and that is map point for MIBR
Yeah, I mean shout out to MIBR. They're dead right. There is something there they can take control of I
Have 3D max might be just like okay. That's four times now. They're just gonna keep attacking us at halls
Perhaps expecting something different, but MIBR just just runs you over so that's 12 finally put an end to the streak
But you have to say, 3D Max has a great job getting this close, so, I mean, well, previously
I kind of written off the comeback.
I'm not going to write it off here because they are close enough to strike back.
It's still four sovertime.
They need three rounds in a row.
20 kills on Clem in this game so far for MIBR, LNZ has 17 on the other side of the map.
16 from Asuda to lead the way on 3D Max, 15 for Gravity.
And MIBR finally gets up to 12 and that's a deep sigh of relief.
Now you have the cushion, you have the parachute of overtime.
You cannot lose in regulation, so you can play a little bit looser.
Round 22 coming in.
Full buy for the 3D Max site, again that money was just so strong.
Damn, that is not a bad shot at all and good utility on the follow-up push.
map winning opportunities for MIBR that begin right now.
Blocking up top mid is attempting to slow things down but there's no slowing this MIBR
down. They're going to go around the corner, clear out gravity. Masuto at least getting
one but into the archway towards CT Insani will run. Lucky hearing the steps, gets his
rifle out and Venom Zera is slowing down just in time so he doesn't walk into a multi-kill.
shot from Mac as 5-7. Yeah, Venom's probably pissed. That's a kill he should have had. That's
the exact one he was looking for. He was ready for it. I mean, Pitt is such a powerful position
here. XCC count 4. Oh, what? He just steps out. He gives up his life. Yeah, I don't really know why,
and I don't really know why you'd jump up in that particular location. Dude, there's no reason to do
that. You've given NYP all the way to close this map. Yeah, open things up. That Pitt position
is just so strong to stay alive in, so huge mistake from XCC that's going to have even bigger
consequences, potentially, if they go on to lose this tough retake. They've got all three kits.
They've got a good amount of utility, but still a hard bomb site to retake even with those tools at your disposal.
We've got to put an LNC out into the open. Can he get one before going down front?
He's got to help him from pit. LNC up for it, and that mistake is going to cost him this comeback.
3D Max lucky up against Breno. Can't stop him.
LIPR with a wonderful first half. Finally closed things out here on Inferno,
And 3D Max, to come back in this quarterfinal, they have to rely on Ancient, despite their Ancient history.
Yeah, Ancient history is what they are on this map, at least, Dinko.
MIBR, that's kind of what I expected to happen. I feel at this tournament, at least the individual parts of MIBR have been good, even when the macro game has been kind of falling apart.
And the unfortunate thing is, Richard, we have a couple of rounds we'll talk about later on,
But there's so many tiny individual mistakes being made by the 3d max players who are the more
Experience side who have players who played in so many bigger events and a lot of the players that might be our that final round
What was ecstasy's climbing out of pit? You're the only guy you have all the place towards arch
You notice smokes coming in towards motto. I mean I smoke and deploy to cut them off
He just jumps out of pit gives them a free
Yes, he from when he got one bullet in by LNC in the previous round
Well, they still didn't do anything that he that was a safe
That was a 4v2, that's a round they had no business losing and yeah, so many mistakes being made by 3DMX because that was in all honesty a very commendable attempt at a comeback but unfortunately you slip up like that when you have that many rounds to work with you will fail.
Yeah, I mean kind of a tale of two CT sides right, I mean both have started out really scrappy, you know kind of a back and forth maybe the first four to five rounds especially in the second half where you have you know the pistol victory turns like an anti-eco and things of that nature.
that nature. What I will though do is give a little bit of credit to Bayton
Brazil for how well they played defensively in that first half. It just
seemed like every time 3D Max went for an engagement whether it was when they
were wrapping you know art side or whether they were taking a flight of
banana there was always that extra man there for Bayton Brazil you know they
never really let someone get isolated there was always really good trade
potential they had like these little micro like bait and switch setups or you
know just you know good trading efficiency I think is really kind of the
best way to sum it up and it was really all across the map and this dude just
continues to deliver. We were talking about it pregame. This is a guy that
everyone's gonna start having their eyes on real soon. And I just want to put
this one out there. He's only on loan to main Brazil right now. So this is a guy
who is beefing up his resume quite a bit. I'll be curious to see what kind of
future he has because he's one of those operas. That's like the perfect mix of
a really good opera, but has a really badly rifle to which is what you need
to have in today's day and age. And he's got both and he's been looking really
impressive on the spin. Yeah, we interviewed Insani when he joined us
And we were talking about Clem and he just said this kid's crazy like he thinks he's one of the best opus in the world
Or certainly destined to be there especially in a day and age we're finding a good offer is so very hard
Right, we have a few players who you know were really good in tier 3 tier 2
They come to a proper team play on a big land and he's completely crumble
This has not been the case it came into this event as a heist rated player alongside Insani and it continues to deliver time and time again
So yeah, I completely agree with does that CD side was not just how good they were counting with 3D Max
was throwing at them, but how disruptive they were
was retakes.
They didn't allow 3D Max to even get the bomb down
before you have two or three guys just pushing through the smoke.
So all in all, just great stuff from the Brazilian side.
Again, it's just how they played off each other,
like the way that they were setting up
playing for these grades, the way
they were timing the blowing open of smokes,
or just in general how they played together.
Again, they're never facing one guy at a time.
It's always multiple targets that they have to deal with.
And so that just goes to show that made in Brazil,
despite not being together for that long
and not being internationally tested.
They clearly have some good team play and protocols in place.
And I think that, again, for a long time,
what made in Brazil were just like, man,
we feel like in science kind of wasting the way on this team.
What's going on?
They've been different in-game leaders.
They had done different roster changes.
They even brought Brenno back after benching him.
And it seemed like this organization was
missing the fail.
But now you bring in Lienis, experienced European IGL.
You bring in Letny, an experienced European coach.
And it's inject the new flavor into the squad that's really
helped them look sharper.
Yeah, I think I hit the nail on the head with Linus and let me come in.
Like you can see how different they look from the previous iteration with Headkicker and the lineup and what not.
Like everyone seems to be on the same page.
Yeah, it's organized.
And very organized.
And Linus said in an interview on AngelTV as well, it's like, you know,
in this team people are respecting my calls, listening to what you're doing,
and you can clearly see how evident it is in the server.
Well, why don't we take a look at some of these rounds?
I want to highlight a round a little early in the first half.
And I feel like this is the turning point in the first half.
This is when I ran away with it.
Look at how much time is remaining here.
Such less time to work with.
And then we're gonna see another Molotov being dropped in.
Look at the time.
It's a five versus five.
They have to force their way into it.
That's a failed smoke by gravity.
You can't screw up a CT smoke right there.
The players boost it up top.
They come in, they do a pretty decent job trading out,
but then for aligners,
that's three kills right there, right?
He finds up for a skill, they don't check in,
he gets a second kill, they run out of time.
Small, little, tiny mistakes.
And I don't wanna point fingers.
I just looked at who messed up that smoke.
CT in front is a very hard smoke to mess up.
Sure, you might not get the smoke
which blooms a little bit higher up,
blocks off the boost player,
but messing it up like that,
and off with that, MIBR just went in a streak of rounds.
So again, individual, the little dots,
the little T's not getting crossed
by 3D Max on the T side.
Yeah, and that was another one you wanted to highlight.
And this is just a highlight, MIBR.
This is what Duff will start pointing out as well, right?
It's gonna come down to once again,
the B bomb side hit, that's what 3D Max is trying to,
you know, get a lot of the,
try to get a lot of the rounds.
Again, Klim getting a nice opening kill over there.
Now look at the re-aggression.
It's a five versus four.
You expect MIMBAR to play a little bit passively,
but no, Nade and Rifle combo.
And then they try to enter into the bomb side
to blow up the smoke.
Bomb gets planted and then perfect flashback.
Beautiful flash.
Klim comes in, gets the first,
last guy one versus four, no chance in hell.
Just to highlight how disruptive they were
and they just never allowed 3D Max
to kind of play out the game plan, so to speak, right?
Being a man done early in these rounds.
So if you go back to some of the Inferno's 3D Max
played this tournament, it was a T-Site
where they found a lot of their rounds,
a lot of their success, and they had to be to come back.
And if they had been allowed to win a couple of these T-Rounds
with a comeback, they hadn't seen T-Site,
who knows, it could have been overtaken.
I mean, here's the difference though, Dust.
You think back to earlier tournaments
when we were talking about 3D Max,
the one thing we always used to say was,
well, you know, they can beat anyone on Inferno.
You know, and that was like, sure, three IGLs go,
but two of those IGLs is the IGL they got now,
when the other guy is still playing on the team.
And they just, I don't know,
they just looked really flat, like out of ideas.
You know, they just didn't really do anything.
I mean, the identity of this team was
they were always good enough to get invited to tournaments.
That's step one.
And then step two is they could sometimes
punch above their weight in a group stage game
because even if they didn't have a true star player
or maybe if they were a mismatch overall talent on the server,
they could get you tactically, right?
And what really this team was proud of upon particularly
was how well they layered their utility,
how good their spacing was, how they scaled like a team,
how they never really let someone feel stranded.
And you're looking at these games where it's just like,
even the basics aren't being met anymore.
And it's tough for me because when they first moved gravity
to the IGL, it actually at first worked out.
Like they were a little bit more reactionary,
they had a little bit more pace to them,
it added a new element to their game.
But we saw it deteriorate.
We've now seen Maka come back to the helm.
I think they were also hoping maybe Maka
would increase his performance,
not having the IGL that didn't really happen.
And so he's now, he's back at the helm
where they were at their best, in my opinion, tactically.
But I'm still not seeing that same level of sharpness
in the play calling that they used to have
when they were actually a team that could cause a ruckus.
Again, this is a team that made a CAC final,
made an EPL top eight.
They had their moments at one point,
but now they're kind of fading back to the background.
And it's also like, you know,
for example, there's one round where
when the mountain has come back
and they knew it's gonna be a pop towards the A bombsite,
three cities lying in a way,
they know exactly who's coming in.
They don't get a single kill against pistols.
sure Insanya was hitting a nutty opening kill but the fact that not a single begin
of smidgen of damage being dealt out onto that hit and you see that you're like yeah this
seems like the writing's on the wall and again I'll say this Rich what happened in the group
stage the win the head of a paravision everything I just feel like it's a bit of uh it's an anomaly
I feel like this is a dead team walking too many small little mistakes being made you look a little
too flat we saw even the the the comms right where I believe it was Mack I say come on guys you know
let's let's get everything going but just look at the body language it wasn't really there and with
With this map gone, I feel like it's going to be a tool for MIBR.
Yeah, well, let's talk about why we've got a few minutes.
Ancient, Dinko alluded to it in his nice throw there,
where he's talking about ancient history.
I'll try and do something with that when I throw to break.
But yeah, ancient history for 3D maps, not good.
No, it really has been.
It's been a long, long time since they were a good team.
I mean, I feel like at a time they were.
Like they kind of revolutionized how you would chain flash
middle for control of it on the T side.
They were kind of the ones that were trend setting.
but now they've really struggled with this five.
They struggled the last six months with the core four.
It's been a really tough one, but made in Brazil,
they've been on a heater domestically on this map,
even beaten a couple of decent teams you'd recognize.
I think what I love about this team
is it getting Sonny at middle.
The dude's just nasty, but he's so confident.
He's very, very strong in the entry fragging.
And I think what else has been nice about this team
is what I've noticed on ancient,
what they've done with Insani is,
they're not using it as a pure hard entry anymore.
They're kind of letting them call his own shots
a little bit more.
Sometimes we'll like lurk middle, for example,
or sometimes someone like Linus or Breno on the extremities
are willing to go in first to let Insani trade frag.
This is a guy that used to take over 30% of his team's
opening duels, it was insane.
Now he's back on more of an equal level.
They're spreading that distribution out a lot.
And I think that combined with the pace he plays
at Breno the table, they're an efficient squad on this map.
Yeah, and also like VenomZero taking a lot more
of the T side opening attempts as well.
I think it's really helpful.
Obviously you want, as good as Insani is,
you don't want him to just get an opening kill and die.
You want him to get that multi-kill, right?
the fact that they are kind of reinventing, so to speak, how Spain's team is really cool.
But here's the thing, man, for 3D Max, this map has looked very rough.
Why I'm telling the writings on a wall with this particular series is,
against Voca, came down in 1916, came down to almost losing that map.
They lost to Bate as well, the team has been struggling so far, and opened things up.
They got smacked by Focus 13-6. So I look at all of that.
And despite the caveat that MIBS, a lot of the results have been with domestic opposition,
They look so much better, at least from what we've seen so.
Yeah, I think for me, for 3D Max, what has to happen is two things.
One is they made the pivots of putting Lucky back into star CT positions when
body, the part of the roster, and he had a really good tournament up until this
match. I think he was like in the top 10 rated for the tournament, definitely one
of the highest rated players out there. And, you know, make something of this,
right? They've now kind of given you that responsibility. You're going to be fighting
Insani a lot in the middle position. You're going to have to be able to come out
on top. And there's also a situation where I hope they can get Masuda involved.
You know, he's the other kind of more active mid-player on the team on both sides of the map.
He's a guy who can really make things happen for me.
And it was just tough to see him really be able to get to his ceiling in that last one.
So I hope he came here.
All right. Thanks a lot, gentlemen.
We are going to go to a break.
And as Dinko said, 3D Max is going to have to rewrite ancient history
if they're going to make a series of this one.
We'll see you in a moment.
He said she loves you, but she can't love me.
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I'm gonna make myself my base man
I won't play window anymore
What's going on?
Play your role, and when it's back
I'm gonna do the work
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What is going on everybody, it's time to chat to some of our players here at PGL Bucharest
and pick their brains on the recent changes to ammo and how magazines work.
With Probeni of Fert, with Dewi of Inner Circle, with Wreck of Wildcard, Mazenio of
the Mongols. Zwei of ParryVision, Moutyrus of BC Game, are you full or against the new
magazine change? I am not thinking, I am full, yes. Full flanger for it? Yes. I'm full because
like it's more realistic so I like it and also some loops I think we'll mess up in this
one. Yeah, so you think it makes the game more tactical perhaps? I think no but like
Like you know, I like all the bettas that some change like mechanics, you know, like
the smokes you buy HE, I like all the new mechanics, so yeah, I like it.
Yeah, I think for it, it gives more thought to the game, right, it makes it more realistic
and I think some people may like that, some people may not, but me personally, it definitely
really makes it more enjoyable, you know, and maybe it will affect it in the future
and maybe someone I'm playing against in 1v1 runs at ammo because they don't be thankful for it, you know?
Yeah, it sucks.
Why?
I don't know. They're talking about it's more realistic, but I don't think this changes necessarily.
You don't think it's a change that was needed?
Yeah, it doesn't need it. Maybe CZ is effort for peace rounds. Maybe we can see a lot of CZ on officials.
I can't say that I against them, but I don't think it was needed, but it evolved things
that changed something that they'll never, but I don't really care about it.
I don't feel any emotions about it.
I think it's okay.
For me it was okay.
I didn't saw my teammates complaining about that.
I mean, for me, it didn't change so much.
Welcome back to PGL Bucharest, 2026 quarterfinals day here in the PGL Studios.
MIBR taking on 3D Max, we move on to Ancient.
It's MIBR taking a one map lead in the series.
And the nightmare scenario for 3D Max is that they're not very good on this map.
on this map. So it's kind of an issue because they could be eliminated right here right now.
Yeah, it's looking very likely. I'm really impressed by Klim obviously on that map. He
looked really good on the rifle. As you were mentioning, Jason, the green room,
you didn't really buy the Op as much as I thought you would.
Yeah, I thought he'd use the Op a little bit more. Even on the CT side,
I think he even stuck with an AK for a good chunk of it. He swapped out during a clutch
and never went back. He's like, no, AK feels like home. And obviously, no complaints there. As
I think a stronger win than the score line would even suggest 13 to 9, but felt like dominant for my beer all the way through that 3D Max offense never got running in the first half. The defense kind of had that stretch, but.
Mistakes individually from from 3D Max players. It just was. It just did not look like a great game from their side.
Coming into ancient tough to see how they're going to pull this quarterfinal back, but man, if there is one way to do it, it's supposed to go to start strong. You know, John put that inferno behind you immediately and just get the ball rolling. I mean, actually,
We always give him some compliments. We talk about him as like a playmaker on this team.
He can often be the X factor. Might not always be at the top of the team, but he'll find some impact.
I mean, he had impact on the outcome of the game. It's just not the impact he wanted.
I mean, he did make a play. Yeah, he made that play in the last round, but he really struggled here.
0.58 rating on that first map, 10 and 20.
Obviously, he's going to be wanting to turn that around as we get into this next map,
because he can be such an impactful player for 3D Max.
And I'm with you though the hot start for 3d max feels necessary not even so much for what happens inside the server
But just for the mentality of the team to kind of snap them into shape
Admit very quickly is Insani leading the way smoke in red room and they're gonna chuck decoy out towards done a bomb
Said it towards the people I'm said a little bit of aggression, but then I'm there it tucks in
He's in rapidly calling as well telling everybody that they're running down
He just can't get a shot off only can get a lot off just not landing any of them exes
He's gonna grab first blooded and Ellen's he straight back to it. Climb in with a clean one
and we fall to two players here for 3D Max.
The bomb is leaped to the end of the cycle,
and as soon as they're wrapped upon,
and he just can't change the outcome of the round,
so the plant comes through MIBR, really,
clinical pistol, they lose one player in Venom's era,
but the rest of the recovery is perfect.
Yeah, kind of trapped between Klim
coming through the double doors in L&Z,
playing out towards Jaguar.
That's a rough trap to get set up in
with the aggressive play, and just get deleted again.
So pistol rounds at MIBR, that hot start,
that's not gonna happen.
So now we're gonna have to win in other ways
if you're 3DMAX, we're gonna have to reverse this
in a different kind of a style.
It did win the second round back on Inferno
after losing the pistol.
Let's see if they have any kind of a plan to set up here
for that sort of a trap.
I'm investing anything yet on the 3DMAX side, MIBR.
MAC-10 is picked up, a couple of rifles also in the mix.
And they get to try and extend this lead early.
It actually looks like 3DMAX is just gonna sit back
on the USP.
has picked up for exorcist no armor so saving a little bit of money but just
wants one weapon to do some damage
it's all back to shotgun yeah do that I just wanted one of the decals I'll
Take it all a little bit, a little thanks on Q.
Thank you, Jay.
Fine work from the observing team.
Well, so fine work from 3D Max, though.
I don't expect anything in this round.
They're gonna be stacked towards A, and M1P yard going towards B.
So, you kind of have the worst thought possible.
M1P yard gonna be 2 and 0 up.
We're gonna buy out for 3D Max in the next,
but 3D M1P yard's gonna be loving how much money they're building up.
They have 3MAC 10s, I'm sure they're gonna be ravenous for some eco kills.
Co-kills well it also makes you feel like that next gun round that comes in which will be the next one in 3D max buys if they
Still have these three or two or three Mac 10s gonna be pacey gonna be pace you're gonna be aggressive
Leo spotting him out in middle now send the eight clean
Little careful you get the best weapon he's gonna be picking out trying to hunt some of those eco kills down Clims lost
47 to be picked up
The one from the suit, the Mac 10s do make money in the end.
Cleaning up, just recover those rifles, upgrades on the Mac 10s.
And so you might not have to go for that quicker play now that those Mac 10s mostly get upgraded.
Yeah, you can have some different options available to you.
One Mac 10 is brought into this round on the hands of Insani.
Two to nothing, M4s and FAMAS, and plenty of utility for the 3D Max side.
They are missing kits, so Keith and I have the retakes and the pacing of them.
And the first gun around here on ancients begins now.
It's going to be Insani heading over towards Elbow, all four other players from MLVR heading
towards Belane.
Okay, that's happened.
LNZ just wants to kind of throw a mock rush into the mix, finds an opening kill, now the
follow-up utility, they're happy to follow that up.
And to the site, onto default, your suit is going to block out Cave.
It's kind of weird, like they had so much success, I think they're almost concerned about committing to this.
And Asuta going forward, he does get trended out, but Lucky's right beside him, so numbers stay even here.
3G Max have the right pieces in the right place, but Insani is going to try and get him behind.
And once this pause happens, you start to consider the fact that a player could be coming through Red Room,
and Insani realizes he's likely going to be detected, so he uses his utility to try and isolate the fight
as the bomb tries to get towards Donut. He is sprinting for this final maneuver towards the A site.
No smoke or Molotov to block off the CT choke points, so bomb will get planted.
That one's safe. Nobody's going to challenge a utility advantage over to the side of MIBR.
Remember, there's no kits. They're here quick. They're here with plenty of time.
Oh.
And Breno never considered it. He didn't think they had the timing to beat him to temple.
Klim going elsewhere. I think this round is just done.
I don't think Klim comes back and really tries to stop it too much.
Nah, he's not going to be able to do it, surely.
That's too far to the right at the fusel, and he will get spammed down through the smoke by Makka.
So if you're masking to celebrate, and you've got the round victory, that's a lot of hard work to be done here.
It's a weird round. You get the opening kill from LNZ, and then the follow-up is kind of slow to come into the B bomb site,
and then you bail out with Insani's position in red room, who dies as soon as you're making the transition.
I just felt like MIBR didn't have a good way to follow up that opening kill.
They get it, but then you're kind of stuck in no man's land where the smoke and the utility fades.
It's not replenished, so everyone's kind of exposed.
Two players far back, two players highly aggressive.
A little bit disconnected in the round for MIBR, but the ideal was there.
The opening kill was there. The opportunity was available.
Well, Insani, punished for not breaking that smoke all the way open.
They're out, A-Main.
Pack of players running behind the big box.
Now, good shot from Breno.
Axes these top holes and so does the A-Bomb site with that kill.
Rotation's here from Lucky and Donut.
The plan is going to come through from Clint.
Gravity moving through Jonah would be a sweet treat to deny that bomb plant, but can't do so.
Oh, smoke the start.
So MIPR actually able to back off into good post-plant positions.
They penetrated the temple as well.
That helps the CT scale.
It doesn't allow them out of the donut, does it?
It's even more important to hold on to the temple, which Breno's done.
L and Z on the boost is hard to not see him getting one, and in fact, he gets multiple
frags.
Response is that MIBR lose their first round in the previous and they bounce back instantly.
Really quick reaction and Sony with his aggressive play towards elbow calls out two players in middle.
One was close up that killed him, he spotted the second player firing.
So once MIBR realized two players in middle, they know at worst they've got a 4v1 at the A bomb site.
Really decisive swing behind the Molotov as well.
Makas able to grab one and keep that AK-47 alive for the next.
But MIBR preventing 3D Max from getting into this game.
Stop short at just one rounds.
And money becomes a little bit of an issue for the CT side.
It'll be a massive issue moving forward if they invest here and lose.
So it's time out is taken because 3D Max need to talk over how they want to
approach this next stretch of rounds with the economy that they're working with.
So we are just piecing together exactly what they're up against.
Sounds he looking down the lines and hey, they're not going to be at full buy right and everyone's giving him the positive
The affirmation so a good sense that they're going up some whatever you say buddy. Yeah. Yeah. Yep sounds good
You're the man
I have it right there are there are weapons with stopping power and for AK-47 to FAMAS in an empty time
There's a good amount of utility as well
So there's some danger for 3d max to be able to contest in this round one kit on gravity
Aids? Oh, and a lot of them land into his L and C, so not able to burst out Elbow the
way he would have liked, but Insani, as Venom Zera taking fights for kills in a couple
of seconds here for MIBR. 3D Max, just left out to dry.
As lucky with 1B3, he says nothing he can do to change the outcome of this round. It
It is 4-1 within a couple of seconds.
I mean, it's aggressive in two different places
on the map at the same time.
So MIBR are doing a lot to just put a lot of traffic
into the 3D Max comms and force them to make decisions now
because you now have B defenders who have struggled
with that early peek from L and Z a couple rounds back.
Now you get a double out of Venom's era,
have success in mid on that as well.
So two parts of the map are probably calling for assistance.
And you just flood those comms
and there's no way for 3D Max to stop the tide of attack.
And that's the economy knocked out and I would imagine that's the call
LNZ makes when he looks down the line and says they don't have a full buy right
they're gonna be a little bit bruised and everyone says yes he's like great
let's be aggressive off that. I think that bot was probably better than they
expected but it still works out. Three-round lead for MIBR T-side ancient.
When the mags have it out for ecstasy's, deagles, I mean, the buy here just tells you everything
you need to know about the conditions of the game right now, 3D Max, out on their feet,
MIPS having a great time in this quarter final, just trying to get a much better showing from
3D Max.
Improbably slow start on inferno.
Getting a slow start here on ancient.
I missed utility from my BI towards gravity.
Molotov would have forced him out of his position.
He's currently in.
Guard loose.
He still has to fall back.
I think if you're 3D max in this round, you just get a kill down middle.
I almost feel like, I mean, I think they're going to come test and see if they can get
a couple of gifts maybe, but saving, oh not anymore.
Now that he's gotten a second kill, now you come forward.
Oh, a deep from the pistol.
Oh, that's brutal.
Back to back.
Fantastic double kills for Venom Zara.
Yeah, he's really feeling it now even down to low HP
Realize there's no falling back from that. You kind of only have one option
It is to just stand there and fight and you're with both of them
In the copy there's lots of the 5-7 can be so quick to kill that 5-7 and
Climb high HP player and that I'm Sarah still confident despite the low HP
I'm up here. I celebrating every single round victory
Even though he sustained some heavy damage there.
A round winning double kill from Venomzera in the previous and a round saving double kill here in this round.
So that's that's lovely impact and back-to-back rounds for Venomzera.
He's feeling real good at 5 and 4 at the moment.
Quality, not quantity for him.
Takes the team early as well, just stands his ground, beautiful shooting.
5-1 lead, full fire has returned for 3D max.
I'm all about to mount out some speed from my PR getting out through B-Lane.
I'm gonna apply pressure through Jag, Amolotov goes in, flash to follow it, and LNZ just
making his way in here.
I'm gonna make it hit the pause button if I'm on my PR.
He's decent control of the map already.
VAC is expecting a Heaven Peak to come in at some point.
Well, now that Lindsay knows what was curious about the economy the last time, he knows this is going to be a full mine.
So you have to assume the AWP is in field, so taking his time, not swinging just yet.
Oh, he's trying to look away, always a risk in that timing.
Justice, he commits a little bit further into middle. Flash comes in, he gets blinded by it.
So it's so important that Exorcise and Lucky get those two kills.
Yeah, I mean, that's you could see that aggression and doughnut from the offer is also paired up with the aggression in red room.
So nice teamwork two players close up here. I don't think that I'm got a double killing this time. No, he's going to go down clean. Couldn't get to
And now Bruno 1v3 has got a bomb. I think at this point you don't plan yet. You know one's over in cave. You have the location of Missou to kind of you want to shave off one kill before you commit to a bomb plan.
You want to find at least one player 30 seconds.
Okay, you got a clear lucky and you can't take that always put knife out.
I hate this.
Why did you play the corner where you're not?
I don't know, but what's with this trend?
I don't know, players just pulling knives out when they're walking in these situations.
I'm not a huge fan of it.
Especially when you're still actively clearing the corner like, yeah, you're playing the
game, my brother.
I'm clearing the corner, but you know, if he's there, I can't do anything.
Okay, well, that's a round for 3D Max.
Don't understand that really.
But whatever. Two rounds now for 3D Max, yeah, and for MIBR, I mean, you have taken some damage
of the last couple rounds, thanks to Lucky, who was able to get some damage on that rifle,
and you can see the effect of losing one round. MIBR are down to Galeel's on two with
Tech 9, got an AK and AWP, and Klim gonna take it for a spin. We wanted to see more
of the AWP, so let's see what he can do with it. Going into the peak, misses the shot on
Gravity. Tough shot to land though.
Horses of smoke out of gravity would be at least be happy with that.
Good presence of the AWP to put some pressure on the defense.
And Sonny's still just trying to be as much of a nuisance as possible over in middle.
Deploys the red room smoke, starts sliding out the back wall of mid, grabbing angles,
and he'll stay and play as a lurk.
Good kill from Klim, good boost up over the smoke, and now, and Sonny, can start playing.
They're already running over the top of that B bomb site, and Sani does activate towards
the donut point.
Masuta!
That is what's required!
A couple of kills coming in.
Makka also stepping up, and it's the M&M combo taken over the site.
That's a wrap.
Ooh, on this round, unless and Sani can pull this one off.
It's a 1v3.
He's taken Masuta down straight away, and that defuse is now happening again.
He's come back to the same spam.
Insani not connecting it in time and or at all on the second time of asking
I'll be that'll be the round here. So timeout required
It's a second time. We've seen like MIBR hit this B bombsite while Insani is aggressively lurking in middle
And it's the second time we've seen them actually get in fine on the first layer of attack into the B bombsite
But no follow-up nades or utility to kind of close off those choke points
So, 3D Max is having the advantage and the retakes to a certain extent.
This time they come out on top.
The lead closes to just two.
And MIBR's money is taking quite a hit.
So, we're going to see a couple of AK-47s brought out,
but three players saving pretty much everything they got.
And Sony and Klim on those rifles.
So, we'll see what they can do heading into round nine.
Makka still with the AWP.
All right, Jason, time to find out if it's going to be three rounds, Max.
Surely they got one more.
Surely across the rest of this map, they get one more.
You're thrown in there.
You'll find the chat a little bit, Jason.
They lost it.
I got Mako's taking Venom Zera down, so no big impactful multi-kill coming out of him.
Zee hit the shot, but it was for the brick, so sounded more impactful than it really was.
More intimidating than it actually was.
Yeah.
And Sonya hasn't been able to do anything over at elbow, been smoked out constantly with
one of these AK-47s, so that weapon hasn't been able to be put into play quite yet.
Two players, though, aggressive in middle.
masuda's backed off but you still have ecstasies uh... chillin and now he's gonna
slide his way in towards jaguar with some safety
nice and clean for ecstasies dealing with both threats insani
trying to keep the economy modest and damage is actually very effective on the
reload getting pushed at heaven and don't have the same time here insani
my gravity don't show him too much and then
That implies not continuing to push, obviously, if they have possession of the box, there's no need to.
He has to come back to them, and they know that, and so they make sure that they remove him.
So, 3DMax actually playing themselves into this first half now.
Yeah, they've done a very good job coming back into this.
We'll see if MIBR's offense can scrape together a few more.
There's a little bit of economic damage in that round from Insani, but nothing too crazy.
So, 3DMax sitting nice with this buy, and they've got some cash built up behind them as well for the future.
Three rounds remain in this opening half of Ancient.
Coming into this map after after the dominant win on a different from a VR
You're coming into a map where there's only a 31% win rate for 3d max
So it feels very dire, but at least we're seeing them put up some resistance right now
They're coming at the a bombs are relatively quickly here at my PR
The only player here to deal with it is exorcise inside of donut
They want I'll have the a bomb site. They haven't given a whole lot of love to the B bomb site
So I don't think there's a whole lot of reason for 3D Max to put defense, but the Sony's just a monster.
That's just wild.
That's the round.
I mean, you have just actually won the round.
You've killed the quickest rotator to the A site and you've killed the only defender of the A site.
Yeah, I think if you're 3D Max, it's time to back off and save.
Boring, boring kind of response, but you're not getting into this bomb site.
You're not winning a 3v5 and while the money's okay and you have some built up behind you, Xercese is going to need a drop.
I mean, that's a great round from the Sony.
Just takes the fight away from their opponent.
He's gotten outside of the rounds where they've pushed aggressively and 3D max play aggressive in middle
He's pretty much gotten free run. He's been able to challenge and donut
He's been able to step up towards a red room as well. He's about to get another one
Another one. Yeah, I mean, this is a situation where the money is not great for 3D Max
He's not fully built up. Masuta and Mack have a little bit of extra cash for those
Every kill really matters if they're one mistake and headed to dumb stretch here and Sonny
We're going for a 4k, finally taking down one of the suits up, but the Cavalry is arriving and it's down to just a single player.
Fortunately, the most expensive weapon, though, gets saved over.
Yeah, and I mean, unfortunately, only one player needs a drop, and that's going to come from Maka.
Everyone else can buy themselves. They'll have to drop down to FAMAS if they want utility.
Stay away from some head armor as well for those extra nades. So, yeah, not a perfect buy, but it's still got plenty.
However, this is kind of the round. This sort of decides if it's going to be a close affair or if it's going to be an 8-4.
8-4. If MIBR wins this round taking the weapons away, there's nothing to play with in the last round for 3D Max.
Well, they fight on and they go into middle with three players.
Once again, A is the call. Gravity alone with an M4 off angle at the big box.
I bet himself he's going to try and keep these mid players busy, but not going to arrive in time to take all that contact and keep them placed in mid.
So, Gravity, let's see what you've got. Here comes the A-play. Hiving him behind the big box, Volta is going to force it back into the temple.
into the temple, quick, quick kill from gravity.
His team at Exorcist arrived towards the donut.
He's gonna come through that smoke
and actually makes the most of it.
I don't know how he hasn't died there,
but I think 3D Max will take it.
How did he only take like,
he only took like 15 damage from Brenno as well,
like nothing landed.
Okay, so that smoke towards CT is deep.
It's gonna make MIBR nervous for the moment,
so they pause as the bomb is on the ground.
There's no more resmokes as well.
This is an issue they had at the B bomb site
throughout this half,
is they don't have the follow-up layer of utility
to secure some safety inside the bomb site.
They're scrambling right now. No one's really sure what they can do to get out of this situation.
Good pop flash, good kill. Now we have a 3 on 3 and that's workable.
Yeah, I know. As this was going on, 3D Max are resetting and putting all of the forces together inside of middle.
They're going to try and retake all through donut, which makes this really difficult because you've got
two T's who are now in the post-plant position of CT.
They've moved themselves out of position to really defend the defuse.
Yeah, that's true. Look what a bomb is.
Okay, well, you can wrap around the temple, get back into the site, and then you'll have a better angle, but it's going to be down to time.
That's the issue. No kit available here for 3D Max. That's really important to note.
Get into the site. Masuta's got two kills, but has to be Insani to save them again. Looking for impact.
He's got the kills. Has he got the round? The time is going to be close to your 3D Max on it.
He actually found a kit, so Mac got picking that up in the midst of all the chaos,
And that will be 3D Max to get back to your retake and a real chance for a 6-6-1 half now.
Small mistake with big consequences. That second player over in temple, that's a really nice bait and switch setup.
They get the first kill and they're not going to expect the second one except he makes a footstep.
Right as soon as his teammate dies, he swings a little bit too fast just to get to the angle as quick as he can.
And that gives away the footstep that lets 3D Max know that there's a second player temple.
Really negates the strength of that post-plat setup that wrap around through CT spawn.
MIBR is still a decent buy, good to the last round of the half, 7-5 still possible.
Maybe try and slow down that elbow attack and flash us in, it's chaotic, but it's coming out on top for MIBR.
Venom, Zera, and LNZ with kills, XCC's at least getting one, but he can't get back to safety.
Insani hunting him down, Breno sending bullets through that red smoke, and it will be a seventh round here for MIBR.
MIBR should have just rushed every round in this half.
Yeah, they could have.
have like this hardcore fast aggressive play it works out there's a kill here but
one of double doors that was the bomb carrier as well. Klim never had to move
easy frag for him in a 7 to 5 lead for MIBR going into halftime. Big advantage
now going on to the CT side. Big advantage in these quarterfinals as well
looking to eliminate 3D Max from the PGL Bucharest playoffs. Move on to those
semi-finals. We've been talking, I think one of the great points in the
this morning is MIBR just be more consistent. The level is more consistent than that of 3D Max.
Now, 3D Max, I mean, up and down, mostly down this year in 2026, but we've seen that upturn
coming into this event, started really slow, obviously losing the focus, but they started
getting better and better and that win versus paravision, it gave us quite a bit of confidence
just in the way that they did it. I think the scary thing for 3D Max at the moment,
we had this conversation on the walk in, I was like, I wonder if there's like a little like
honeymoon period for 3D Max, and then I guess the question would be, would it continue after the
the major, but if this is a honeymoon period, it's not a great honeymoon.
No.
It's a very local holiday.
They've gone glamping.
No shade on glamping.
No, it's not quite a honeymoon.
It's not quite a honeymoon, unless she's into that, which in which case, or he.
Or they.
It's all good.
Yeah, we've covered all bases now, Jason.
We're all good.
We're good.
Okay, second half beginning.
And we've got plenty of utility available here for 3D Max, Makka, with a Molotov Smoke and a Cheep.
Man, I like how fast this is looking.
I think ammo will probably be happy to come with you.
Yeah, they're gonna be pleased as hell.
Okay, thank you very much. And no one could have won better though. Could have won better.
They didn't get the kills required. Venom Zera could change that.
Yeah, they will. I doubt Venom Zera is shredding them.
That's a sequence. That is a sequence from Venom's era. Hey doing this time and time again talk about his impact man
Triple kill on the pistol round here in the second half
He had the two back-to-back rounds with double kills that secured two victories for it might be our set themselves up set them up
Nicely, he's having a beast of a game and now we start to climb up the scoreboard as well with 12 kills
Just beautiful shooting as they come sliding around the edge of the smoke
Disgusting performance from Venom's era
Living up to his namesake.
Getting ready to head into the B site.
I mean, 3D Max are just going to get out of here.
Imagine by the MP9 here, LNZ, confident he's moved down and
take gravity away and stick around.
He's got Sony to back him up and that's enough to crush 3D Max in this round.
9 to 5, we're seeing MIBR shoot ahead.
Those are a pair of nice Glock kills against M4s.
So that's a little bit weird, but still winning the round.
I think they lost an additional M4 at the end of that.
They were trying to juggle an M4 back to a teammate,
and I think they lost an additional one.
You may not see that, just went into the void.
So, I mean, countered, I guess, in a way,
as three kills for 3D Max or decent economic damage.
Don't love to see that.
It's getting weird out there.
OK, let's see that.
That comes back to her MRBR.
We've got three Galils in play here for 3D Max and their first purchase of the second half.
I want to prioritize getting utility out rather than those 8Ks.
One of the 8K carriers in Masuta has taken a lot of utility damage.
He's down to 45 health.
The round has just begun.
Very chill, very passive.
I think this half will start getting difficult for 3D Max. If MIBR decide to mix in some of those aggressive plays, the smoke towards double doors that pushed down the ramp, we saw 3D Max unable to handle the overwhelming aggression in the first half.
But again, a map that's not been kind to them. I imagine there's weaknesses and they're set up against that CT aggression.
55 seconds on the clock, bomb is still dropped all the way back in T spawn, so Maka and Lucky went through to clear A main.
Now we're going to back off and pick that up. One's going to stay as a lurker towards elbow, that'll be Lucky.
And Maka's going to come join up with the team.
Smoke just pops at the top of B ramp, which is certainly going to make things more difficult.
It's Venom-Zero with a Molotov and LNZ to defend this B bomb site.
site and the fourth plan behind the smokes and not going out too long to get
they could deploy a boost. It's not a bad idea. Everyone's here, she's getting some
damage, but it's not going to be happy about it. He got the crappy end of the
tilda. He's the player boost thing, the player up. He's got the battle weapon, yet
he gets spouted down through the smoke. He's max happy about this. They're into
the site. They've got the play advantage into the post plant and it's good for LIPR.
You're just gonna back away. That's a good call. That boost up doesn't work
whatsoever. We don't really have the utility to come for the retake and the kill
happen so quickly that it didn't really feel like you could get in position to go for a
good fight.
You know, maybe you didn't lose so many plays in the last round, maybe you could think about
a retake.
Yeah, to a clock.
At least give it a go.
To a clock.
You know, someone's been going through my, just percolating in my head throughout this
series.
Okay, here we go.
I'm like, I'm a little bit stunned seeing this 3D Max today come in after they beat
Paravision to qualify for the playoffs, like kind of the favorite for the tournament,
number eight ranked team in the world. And they also destroyed them.
Yeah, and you smoked them pretty clean. And today coming in and it's a completely different
squad inside the server, I think that's a frustration that I think 3D Max is going
to be aware of. I imagine, I mean, every team, especially the ones kind of struggling to break
into tier one, always talk about that difficulty of playing in matches, how the team does in
practice but the inconsistency from being able to kind of trounce paravision
to qualify to now struggling against MIVR a little bit of whiplash but you've
also known that there's a vision has been playing the right game at this event
so far either here's an aggressive push down middle Breno along the wall and
Sonny has jumped up to look at the b-lane
First kill goes in favor of MIPR, but it's the amount of space they've got within
Sony down P-Lane and Brenno pushed down middle.
Oh, this is suffocating and it's done.
I mean, that is a very quick round in D for MIPR.
No one's fired a bullet back yet from 3DMass.
Yes.
I mean, if you're going to save and you're going to give up that last round and not really
give it a go, this is the perfect response to make you feel better about yourself.
Coming to the next round and just walk away with it within the first few seconds.
Yeah, I mean the boost is set up because they hear the push down middle, so they want to exploit Insani who's gone for the jump up.
But I mean really the only kind of tactical play that 3D Max is looking to make here was to kind of sneak XRC's up with an aggressive stance and pop flash him to
have a surprising timing on the B defenders. Just none of it works.
Three kills essentially for free for MIBR and in the 2v5 3D Max is just going to be saving for a minute.
Yeah, not a great feeling if you're 3D Max.
So I'm just tuning in wherever you are in the world.
I'm wondering if there's going to be more Counter Strike coming your way.
There's going to be plenty of Counter Strike today.
We've got four quarter finals.
We start today with MRBR 3D Max and Astralis Eyeballers.
We'll see JW back in the playoffs.
Hell yeah, we will.
Yeah, we'll see how he goes down against Astralis.
We've got Footbaked and then Mongol Paravision around out the day.
Yeah, some some cool matches there.
Strauss eyeballers obviously mentioned the JW thing.
We're going to be casting that one.
Anders and Henry be coming in for foot bait.
Tried to see what kind of a run foot can put together.
And if they can make that a tough game for him.
And then obviously Mongols,
Paravis and the headliner of the day.
I mean, that's what many people thought
would be the grand final,
but with Paravis and really dropping the ball
in the group stage is making a lot of mistakes.
Tell you what though, if you're a Paravisian player
and you wake up today and go to HLTV
and you see the quotes from Jayman to Ston
after the conversation,
They surely would have sat you down last night and had with you you're waking up today and you're full focus
You're going into the server you're throwing every single smoke. You're making sure you've got it all down
We're gonna up against a team that don't even practice guys and we don't win this one
Now that's an inspiring speech
10 to 6 timeout taken 3d max having a conversation
trying to turn their fortunes here. They're investing a lot into this next round.
The offense was an issue on Inferno as well. They only netted three rounds T side Inferno, so
offense hasn't really been going. And I guess in a sense that shouldn't be like a terrible surprise.
I'm not trying to like make excuses for them. These have been, you know, ugly T side on Inferno,
and this we'll see how this one ends up. But I think these struggles can be kind of expected
when you switch the IGL. And yeah, you're going back to someone who's done it before, but he's
He's never been good at calling ancient.
There's a different style as well, right?
It's stylistically different as a player
when you have a different IGL and calling the way
he likes you, different setups, different pacings.
So there's an adjustment period,
but they're really laboring through it.
LNZ waiting on the site,
gonna run in towards him.
Venomzera and LNZ with the first two kills here.
It's shut down around again.
Oh, shit.
I mean, you just save for a minute
and then that's the round you come in after,
what looked like quite an intense timeout, a lot of conversation going on,
and then you get melted and now you have to either save again or they're just going to hunt you down and not wait a full minute.
So it's going to be 11 to 6 MMPR, very comfortable quarterfinal.
You're going to be feeling so happy if you're MMPR.
They got a lot of things going their way right now.
Even, I think Venom's error in that round, he throws that smoke when he gets blinded
and he's kind of like trying to move away, so it goes sideways,
but it still bounces off the wall and into cave where it's actually a perfect defensive smoke to block.
Like it's just, even the accidents are turning out as a positive for MIBR.
Half-real accidents.
But, where's the layered flashbangs?
Well, where are the layered flashbangs to blind these defenders?
When the hit actually comes in, the initial salvo of utility had already worn off,
and 3D Maxes turn to the corner and going through that smoke to disadvantage fights.
Deep utility down mid. Lucky burns to 32 HP.
MIBR want this fight as well.
At least Insani does.
It feels like one of the most significant results for MIBR even
getting to this point since I feel like pro league season 20 where they were
Thanks third fourth
Back at time 24 or so now means
Impressive to see and I'll be I would this level and the way they're getting through this quarter-final
They've gotten Sonny holding on to the donut. The suit is gonna step into him back up
Getting the trade and opening up this a site
But I'm Sarah trying to get back again. Mr. impact over here
There's one quick kill getting pushed from a man gravity could have taken down to better Sarah
It's at least allowed the chance to fall back that eventually gravity will finish his meal
Okay, well, I'll see coming in the flank through donut
No more nades boys keep the guns out for the moment could win from LNZ now
It opens up and adds in a one-on-one. We've got marker LNZ
Back on the AK all good repulse. Yeah stays on site
There's no way I was he's gonna think he went back to the default boxes
He steps out into the open Macca should have this clutch
really good maneuvers, defuse being stuck, and Maka to confirm the headshot and the clutch.
Yeah, they'll celebrate that one, Maka stepping up when they need it. Such a nice little sound cue
to give to really sell the position that you're going back to Temple, you're going back to big
box, and while the smoke is still up, you just completely subvert his expectations.
Nice brainy win in the clutch in the 1v1, 11-7 off in Maka's hands. Now,
Now Clem's got his as well.
Forcing the defense back, taking a little bit of map control now.
can slide in towards Jaguar. Molotov in towards the cubby and nobody's home but
Venazera has a flashbang set up at prime to lay out this trap in middle. Activate
Insani for a peek. He sees nothing and is just gonna back away.
Just jump spotting. Cease two. Information, Clem. Gonna be aware that they could have
crossed over towards Red. He's gonna call that to his teammate. Step was made so
So he's going to position himself to try and deal with that threat.
That one's Ian and Sonny turning the back, putting a lot of faith in that smoke, a lot
of faith that nobody's going to-
They'd be nervous for a second, huh?
This feels like it's going to be a fake, and I think they're going to sell it, because
MIBR already looks like on the minimap, like they have an inkling that it's going to be
ending at the B bomb site.
The execute is going to come out in that direction, but everyone from 3D Max lining up to head
back to the A bomb site.
I think MIBR has already bit on this.
Lucky.
Blood drawing.
Breno and Clem entering the kill feed together here for MIPR.
Really important kill from Exes.
Pursuit up.
Sharp to take Breno down.
LNZ responds with a kill to the smoke and we're still leaving here.
Maki will put the bomb down.
And they try to get back into post plant.
LNZ sends himself forward through the CT smoke.
It puts it all on Venom's error.
No, from Temple, Xercese, right on to me, Tham.
Good timing.
I mean, Maka's looking towards CT spawn from to come through that smoke, and then I just
has the idea.
Just feels it.
I'm like, okay, that's how long it would take to get to the Temple entrance.
Good turn.
Big rounds from Maka in back-to-back performances, 11-8.
Just like Inferno.
It's felt like a beat down this whole way, and then right at the tail end, you see MIBR
kind of slow down, and 3D Max start getting some momentum, and some things go in their
way.
On Inferno it got cut short, so we'll see if 3DMAX can keep it up here.
Yeah, on Inferno it was just too much done by MIBR to really pull the comeback off from 3DMAX.
I wonder if H&M is going to be the same.
Nuke would be the third and deciding map if 3DMAX can pull off the miracle and it actually complete this comeback into a map to win.
Obviously they're going to be feeling much more comfortable on Nuke.
So obviously the Corfano completely reopens.
If they somehow pull this off, gravity, waiting for some aggression,
the number of rounds RLNZ has thrown that CT push in,
got Insani now, looking out from red,
and then fight down towards the bottom boxes,
LNZ has come away with that early kill.
Yeah, that's a disastrous kill to lose,
because now they can swarm that bomb,
the two players can stay committed towards it,
and 3D Max have to come back to them.
Insani needs to stop peeking, there's no point in this fight,
there's no point, okay, well you're gonna die,
that one I'm not going to lie bomb still under control though and that's the main
problem for 3D Max is they rotate around Xerces gets a kill on Venom Zera
it's falling apart it's collapsing yeah you're good start to the round oh my
oh pin to the wall that what have you ever seen anything quite like that that's
a new decoration here on the wall that's the mechanic in like half-life to have
Hitting someone with a crossbow.
He's just resting in taxidermy.
Chilling on like the lighting fixture.
This is a lovely room of death.
There's my trophy right here.
Okay.
That's probably the most entertaining thing about the round.
There's three Max moving to B. They've won it already.
I might be on the save.
Nice catch.
Thanks again to the Observing Team.
You can hear in the playoffs, oh the candle shot.
Oh my, PGL Buchra is going to win Best of War for cinematography this year.
I think this is beautiful stuff.
Look at the way the shadow really emphasizes the disappointment.
The way the head is slightly downturned looking at the ground.
He knows he's made a mistake.
Can we stay still for a second?
I need to make this my phone wallpaper.
This is beautiful stuff.
Create some art.
They smoke themselves off kill.
Yeah, if they go B we save, okay?
Okay, headshot.
I have a fangirl drop.
Nice shots from Klim down the screen.
Yeah, he was playing headshot.
LNZ had quite a one-way conversation, wasn't it?
like hey guys anyone there communication is a two-way street
a lot of time I'll see let me get on the mic
he's probably feeling a little worried now all right guys we have an
opportunity to get into the semi-finals here it's been comfortable it's been
looking good but it's very quickly get out of hand three to max on the comeback
trail obviously literally with some individual moments think that macro clutch
really important to keep this campaign going for 3D Max.
It's really what's kicked off this stretch, hasn't it?
Three in a row now for 3D Max off the back of that clutch.
And I'll say in those last three rounds,
MBRs had a couple rounds that was a little bit scattered by,
a little bit beat up and bruised in terms of their economy.
No excuses this round, though.
Klim has his AWP, they've got four kits,
full of utility, AKs and M4s on the board.
And this is exactly where 3D...
I mean, this is exactly where MBR clamped down on Inferno.
Once 3D Max got to nine, got within this point,
Am I the arches rolled to the win after that with two quick rounds in succession?
Good timing and decision-making to back away from the mid presence
We do have an aggressive a main stance from L and Z so the timing when he decides to push forward is gonna be everything and there
There we go, aggression in Red Room again and Sonny, all to do.
Sees two more at Elbow, one up at the jump-up,
and now this is when he makes his move.
Oh, LNZ is trying to pull the trap.
Yeah, look at this, they're considering, okay,
if Bluffman is convincingly worse to reaction,
it's gonna be the A main push.
Lucky reads it, LNZ dies, and this game's falling apart.
MIBR are starting to disappear.
There's way too much aggression
in the mid-round towards middle for MIBR.
I don't know why they're so dedicated
to taking these fights at that point where 3D Max,
They've struggled getting into bomb sites, make them execute.
You're giving them kills in middle, peeking red room,
pushing down in the mid rounds.
Especially when we're here, the top team is Disgust Ancient.
They talk about how that mid fight can be a 50-50.
Well, look, the both defenders are mating from right here,
so there's a chance.
They're going to take their time going in here through the mess.
Such limited time left on the clock.
Oh, they have it checked.
VenomZera, MIBR up with a shot at this.
All of a sudden, the kills are coming in.
VenomZera is going to be cleared.
The flame goes down with nothing.
Exorcise saving them in the last second,
and that's gonna fire 3D Max up.
Yeah, it really is,
because now they're gonna take a bit of an advantage
moving forward.
Money is a massive problem from MIBR at this point.
Venom, Zera can buy, Clint can buy,
but outside of that, it's real sketchy.
And how do you want to invest
knowing it's coming down to the wire?
Easy opening kill at this point,
and Sonny's dedicated to the play
with that utility goes one for one,
forces L and Z to move,
which is predictable, and even with Venom's error giving you a double kill yet again in a critical moment,
the round is won by Exercease.
Confidence now flowing through 3D Max.
The first time they've had it on this map.
MIBR is back, number four plays, they're going for center crush,
but look at 3D Max, they're ready for this count of play.
The map could just put the scope up in Sony.
It's gonna be taken down instantly, so will Klim.
11 to 11.
And the dream of a third map seems so far away
for 3D Max, but starting to look more
and more like reality.
And I'm Xera, unable to connect anything.
Not a single kill against 3D Max in this round.
We've got a tied game.
Where did MIBR go?
They've completely disappeared.
Where are they right now?
Five straights for 3D Max.
All right, if I'm coach, I'm taking the time out now.
If they have one remaining, I don't remember if they've used all three.
You have one more.
And I'm saying, no one, no one try and be a hero.
No one has to win this round by being aggressive.
Like, let's make them execute.
The last, like, real execute onto a bomb site we saw
was towards that B site right before the clutch,
where they just kind of got slaughtered.
They hit the A bomb site effectively
when they've gotten a couple kills in the middle first.
Okay, they are playing more passive in mid.
Come start from Donut, drop Uto, Mac up.
He's leveling up now though. That's going to be another opening found from the AWP.
Well the question becomes, because the slide of the bomb is towards the A bomb site,
and actually they might just hit this timing off of that kill.
And Sony, is he going to be ready for it?
They're all cheating away.
Oh my gosh, he's just left.
AWP's going back, but I don't know if it's going to get in the,
oh it does, it gets in position.
Whoa!
There's the boost up!
That's the warning system.
A lot of Utah landing towards it.
Venom, Sarah, pushing down B.
Cancels it.
And Insani pushing down mid.
Oh, this is a good angle to have, but is he going to be in the right spot at the right time as Makka?
Now, all right, I think out towards elbow.
Gravity, timing, just comes out as Insani looks away.
But you should know that's possible because you just spotted them in A main.
Like, you should know that there's a timing and there's a chance that they're just going to come elbow.
It's like this aggression just has so many risks inherently built into it
And they're just giving away free kills. Yeah, I might be off throwing this one away
Had it and the semi-final in the palm of their hands
Oh, you see exorcise is clearing out the eight bombs that right now
He's gonna well Maka's gonna find the killover and that's it. That's 12 man. I might be ours is just I
I mean, they're giving, they're giving 3D Max every single piece of, I feel like 3D
Max doesn't have to do anything in this half, throughout this stretch.
They just have to be set up and ready and waiting.
Yeah, you'd just see, Makka in the previous round holds for the B push, and this round
he goes and gets the opener.
But there will be some sort of proactive play from our mobbler that will just give 3D Max
an advantage.
Little confidence you have to have to just play a 4v5 standard for everything to be a push.
It's really starting to get to me, Dinko. I don't know if you can tell. It's just getting on my nerves.
It's understandable.
This is a dream.
And I'm not going to have so many chances.
Now I'm just tossed this opportunity out the window. I've lost everything.
And this is the map where you're supposed to have the incredible advantage.
Yeah, and they did.
You steal 3D Max's map away.
They have a 30% win rate on ancient.
It's never been a map that's been in their wheelhouse,
but you're making it so much easier for them by essentially playing two T-sides.
Mental reset, if you could somehow force this into overtime now.
Two for mass, we got MP9, actually more than that, we got three for mass.
MP9 and 1M4, not looking great, not really looking great in terms of utility either.
3D Max have a golden opportunity now to take this one to a third map and we've discussed how Nuke would just completely reset this series.
3D Max, back into things.
Two players starting on the A bomb site here for MIBR.
Brenner on the boost, Clemen behind big box.
Oh thank god, nobody's in red room.
Everyone is playing towards B.
Everyone's playing a position that you can't peek.
Perfect.
How are they going to force this into OT?
Donut smoke and red room smoke.
3D Max going to bring forces out middle.
Going to start pushing.
It's looking like they want to split this towards the A bomb site.
XRC is joining up with gravity over an A main.
Lucky and Masuda stepping out towards Donut.
This B main push is going to be at a good timing to get in behind them.
They're going to have quick rotations to this A site.
If the two A players can do something about this, if they can take some players down,
And this could be very potent shadow against the wall, nothing from Breno.
Okay, 3D Max moving in to cut the player Vance, Vennem Zera and Klim stepping up.
But through for gravity and lucky, Vennem Zera again, a multi-kill. He's on 5 HP, 30 seconds left.
And now Max, a hunting that kill down on the Tech 9, goes to it.
So it's all on Insani. It's the man you want in this situation.
He made the play.
He did. He went around the big box, that's gonna be the bomb going down.
Mako the pressure's on, has he got another clutch? No Insani forces down over time. There's still a shot to win it in two
Perfect. That is one hell of a comeback from 3d max and that is going to beat their flading the fact they couldn't close it
But for mipr, it's just a huge sigh of relief
Well, it's also like the first time in eight rounds where they actually played the map as a team
Or like they're actually like, you know instead of instead of a single push down middle
That's like 50-50 if you die or get a kill
Now it's a double push through V to clear off the map to get the information to have a fast rotation
Occupy the donut players force the remaining two players to hunt you down
Which gives him sunny time to make this kind of a play so yeah game gets a lot easier when you're working with your teammates and making plays
Off their moves as well. Yeah, 3d max immediately using their overtime timeout
They want to use it for the first round here for my PR
You would imagine they're not gonna go back to what they were doing for the rest of the half
That's surely how I don't know why the CT side of me feels like they played it passively because they didn't really have
Utility to be aggressive
But now you get into overtime and the money comes back and you might be motivated now
If it's a coordinated piece of aggression to start around that makes a lot of sense
Let's rock and roll there for sure. I mean they did have a question in that round. Obviously, there was perfectly time
They're walking down B and it was two players. Yeah, so it was looking good
That's not just individuals walking and doing their own peak or walking through their own smoke
I want to see how it goes down. So yeah, back to that early mid aggression with numbers here from IPR, flashed and blinded as they climb up towards Heaven. Breno looking to protect Insani.
Re-Max through, get out through the elbow of Smoke, but there's another one waiting for them. How long does Breno stick around here?
down to. Well, Exorcise is ready to come through this smoke as soon as the mid-ball first kill. That's perfect.
Now you can turn into Dress, but you can only get the second two for two trade.
We descend into a three on three. All rotates over to Red Room.
Very snappy there from Insani. You get a second kill. You thought Breno might be able to get one,
but it's actually Insani who kills Exorcise and deals with the L-Doy threat.
Well, there's gonna be some extended quiet, so we'll see. I'm on BR.
This is where they have to kind of hold their nerve. Get into some decent enough positions.
And then, Venom, Zera, and Donut is nice to keep an eye on mid and listen to the A bomb
site for information.
LNZ playing very passive at the B bomb site as well.
He's got to be cautious about Red Room as that smoke is up in Donut, but they're pretty
convinced nobody's traversed that path.
All three players at 3D Max just waiting passively at elbow.
That's them giving the rope to M-I-B-R as they have been all half of like, yeah, push.
This is the quiet period where you would.
25 seconds, here come 3D Max.
Shadow, spotted, Venom, Zara, let's off a couple of bullets.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Oh, get your gun out.
Well, he's trying to delay it.
Clem just needs to land some shots now.
He's got nades out too.
Oh, you just got to shoot him.
And now they're into the site.
The plant can come through with just enough time, and it's LNZ with a 1v3, I mean, oh.
Trying to delay with utility. They're not playing their life really. That is just
allowed 3D Max the round win. 3D Max during that stretch in the second half
knocked something out of MIBR because like the Venom's error that we saw in the
first half getting those double kills combining for those throughout this half
he's just swinging for a fight. Why are they so... there's like no confidence at
the moment the ability to kind of hold these positions. Just 12 to 13. 3D Max
taking the lead again I mean what what the time left you know I think they're
gonna run through them all as well like it just I'm with you
Z some of the people it's for the spam you'll throw back inside of cave
Feels like it might be our barely hanging in that.
Sony, we can see inside a cave, it's a strong setup.
Going to play anti-flash turn against the wall, and Sony
getting taken down first gravity to make sure the trade is in, so they've got the
advantage now, 4v3.
It might be our really struggling with multi-kills all of a sudden as well.
The trades have been much more effective for 3D Max, maybe it's just them being a little bit sharper in those scenarios.
areas but a big advantage in a minute on the clock still remains and this is
generally where 3D Max stays pretty passive and sees if MLBR is going to
move across the map.
None of that happening at the moment. Two defenders at the B bomb site that's
going to be Breno and Venom.
Pull him with his AWP at the big box at the A bomb site. He missed a couple
critical shots in the previous round as they came out of doughnut needs to nail
them here but they're not going to commit it's going to be over towards B so the
The utility is just a fake, but it prompts MIBR to come searching for information.
Again, paired up, though, buddy system, and you might catch a perfect timing as they come
out of double doors.
Yeah, yeah, the elbow, he comes in, so that distracts, and they have to slow them down.
Now Brennan realizes you've got 20 seconds left, get back to it.
You've got Util as well.
Look at Gravity's HP.
Gravity's HP is low, and he's the one who kind of has to be the aggressor, the point
man on it.
15 seconds left, they're actually going A. They're going A, and they've just left the
A site.
Flash is going in, and 3D Max, you've got an open side all of a sudden.
on his last day.
All right.
Oh, you have found the way to an empty bomb site,
and now a retake gonna be forced out of him.
That grenade could find gravity, but it's too deep.
Gravity's sticking around, he's trying to fight.
And he will get taken down through the smoke
so he's caught by Klim.
They move into the site now, Lucky.
AK-47 up against two.
The tap on the defuses, not the stick.
They can be applied, Pricer to Lucky.
Can he get both?
There's the first and the second.
Lucky steps up for 3D Max.
MIBR finding every way to lose.
It's the game they're playing right now.
How can we do it?
What a round from Lucky.
1v2 clutch, standing tall in donut.
Absolutely perfect.
And MIBR just cannot get a grip on this game all of a sudden.
It's wild to turn around.
It's like I'm sitting there and wondering, how in the world
is it 3D Max when this round?
Gravity's low.
has to be the playmaker of the 15 seconds left on the clock.
It's an 8 to 1 run for 3D Max going back into regulation,
and now they're feeling real good,
because it's the uppercut call into the A bomb site.
They've been playing these last six, seven rounds,
spread out on the map, slower pace.
Now it's just get in, get this bomb planted,
and see what they've got.
You know you've got MRPR.
Just rocking on their feet right now.
Not stable whatsoever.
Confidence just drained from the team.
Just hitting on that A site, hitting where it hurts.
I'm looking for 15 to 12 3d max. I don't see how they're gonna lose this map now. Just the way things have changed
It's gonna end up being nuke in this series
Gonna be really important reset from my jar going into that third map a test of this
Mentality and the mentality of the inexperienced squad as well playing together
Can they come together do they have what it takes to?
It feels like it was their semi-final.
He's now going against them.
Nine of the last 10 in the favor of 3D Max.
They've just grabbed complete hold,
marching towards that third one.
It's been excellent to see this kind of return to form
for 3D Max after a flat inferno,
after a really rough opening half.
It felt so done.
So great turnarounds.
And you have to give a lot of credit over to Makka
for that 1v1 clutch that started it all.
Ever since then 3D Max has not looked back
And they got three chances to close this out now at one opportunity in regulation
I'm going to go back here.
Back up.
With another opening frag in this AWP, this time taking a step towards Nuke.
Shadow, ready for his next victim.
A 3v5, MIBR have completely disappeared.
And it's an incredible collapse.
Three versus five now.
Back to the B bomb site we go.
But with such an advantage, 3D Max is just happy
to just play, just play to stall out.
Good shot from Klim, picking one off.
Smoke doesn't go into play,
so you've got the opportunity now.
You can see the defender sliding over, Maka's op is on its way, good shot from Venom's era.
We're not done yet, back into a three on three.
Now Klim is stepping up to the mark, looking for the next shot to land.
Scoped up, creeping.
It's way through long.
Got Masuda close, shadow, miss shot from Klim over adjustment, and Sanni taking a lot of damage on Boybet, still getting the kill.
2v2, last few remaining players, BMIPR are low on help, but...
and Sonny not low on ability. He pushes in towards CT, wins that fight and puts Exorcise in the 1v2.
The man that lost in the last round on Inferno looking to win them, ancient.
He's going into the wraparound and Sonny is low and he's dodged him and that fuse continues to burn away.
But Exorcise just gets to the defuse and he's gonna hold it. 3D Max, he's got the shot, but not enough time, it'll go off and MIBR continue play for a little bit longer.
Okay, they stay alive. One more round at the very least. Nicely done from Insani with such a low HP.
Probably loved when Xerces steps up to play Ring Around the Rosie and the Cube. Huge advantage over to Insani who can just use the sound cue and the bomb to win the round.
But a valiant effort on that retake on the 1v2.
Shocking to see, I mean that's a 3v5 conversion as well.
So both teams are doing a good job of giving away advantages when they've got them.
Not what I'd normally want to praise teams for, but a 3D or a 5 on 3 to win the map and
you can't close it out.
It's not going to get much easier than that.
Moving forward.
Insani waiting for his time to turn.
Plenty of flashbangs coming out.
Plenty of geeks.
One for one in middle, but LNZ is going to fall afterwards and again, advantage goes
to 3D Max.
Moving up in towards the A site, you've still got XCC's wedding.
How many chances do you need for 3DMAX if you're getting into these advantageous scenarios?
Eventually, you've got to take one of them and block a main.
That's going to buy time for this rotation.
3DMAX bringing extra players over here.
Surely, this is it for the French.
Moving up to the Dota.
Oh, it's a good shot from Venom Zera.
to respond the push into donut though they're separated from the site from the flames Venom
Zara is not committed into the donut Masuta has arrived that plant is coming in but Venom
Zara is going down and that second half was so ugly from MIPR they might have just nuked their
chances of a semi. Yeah dude I don't know what to say Dinko and and Jay I mean Jason coach
Moses losing his mind and rightly so because you ever want to see how to
throw a game that you have already won how to
Snatch the feet from the chores of victory. It's this. So I just watch this back MIPR. They were through they were in the semis
I'm aghast
I
Don't even know what to say. They lost the sorry 3d max one
10 of the last 12 rounds, right?
They gave them so much. Jason kept highlighting why they just kept going through this mid-agro time and time again.
And after us, Gus, Insani, our boy, what was he thinking? Just gave away so many advantageous positions.
They seemed to be completely unaware of what was going to be happening.
And it just a switch, which it felt like it was an unforced flip.
It's not like Trudy and I said anything crazy to kind of break their mental.
Instead, they themselves have completely capitulated that pretty much highlights.
I mean look at that. There's a death twitch right there. That was the last death rose of MIBR right there
I don't know man. That was just ugly to watch. Yeah, I mean like put it this way
I think like one or two rounds when you're feeling it to have that kind of aggression go in a red room
Take those long peaks have that mid aggression. I get it right do that for sure
But by the fifth time it hasn't worked
You've got to adapt you've got to stop doing it
I just want to highlight this one as well.
XS season, that 1v2, like, there's no time remaining.
Just tap the bloody ball and play the 1v1 now.
Like, I don't know what they're doing, honestly.
Yeah, real fun.
I just, yeah, kind of speechless at this.
I mean, this is a game where Made in Brazil
came into it so hot.
I mean, they played a fantastic T-side,
their ability to split pressure, and science playmaking
in middle.
I mean, Venom's there, multi-fragging on the B side
of the map, and just leaving all their options open
and making good, decisive mid-to-late round decisions
to close out rounds, and then just all of a sudden,
it's like they forgot that, hey,
there's two bombsites these teams have to get inside of
to be able to win rounds, and you're just not even
really putting forth any effort to force them
to have to work for it.
You know, it got to a point where it was just so easy
for 3D Max to sit back and just watch
and not be our hang themselves, right?
They just kind of hand on the rope like,
yeah, sure, go ahead guys.
And it's just crazy how they're destroying this.
Because look, I don't mind aggression.
Like if you want to be disruptive,
and if you want to try to deny space to an opponent,
That's fine, but A, do it together as a unit
with the offer utility it's facing and support,
or at the very least, learn to adapt when you figure out
that that's not actually working for you.
You know, it's almost like they were just so eager
to finish this game, so eager to move on to the semifinals
that they just failed to grasp
that they were slotting downward.
I mean, essentially what happened was, you know,
you had Maca win that 1v1.
I think there was a timeout as well.
And pretty much from that point,
they were just reading what MIBR were doing
with that aggression.
you saw there on the highlights they're waiting for them every single
Yeah, I mean it's textbook counts right from 3D Max and I got to give credit
words to you right even with the saying you know they pretty much have done
team and everything and everything when it when it chips for a down when it
looked like it might be our word we're gonna to over this little things down
right they get a kills towards mid they like there must be a regression
happening somewhere it turns around wins a duel but you also have to highlight
the guy I've just saw right there lucky metallis man for this team and he's
been a guy who through all the struggles have had so far this season he's been
the highest rated player for them.
And in this particular match,
and while everyone had their moments,
I think he was so pivotal in that comeback.
Yeah, I definitely agree with that.
And anything to add to that?
Yeah, I mean, again, they had a conscious decision
to put Lucky in more star positions,
again, defensively in particular,
with body's removal.
And he did make the most of it, right?
I mean, it was a little bit easier this time.
Raoul Maybers was kind of giving it to you.
And just to get back to that, again,
it's just like even when they were going for mid-aggression,
you're putting yourself in positions
where you're having to guess 50-50
if you need to be looking shell for elbow.
And that should never be the case, right?
You should be putting yourself in position where you only have to focus on one angle,
or you should have someone covering something for you so that you can actually make that
aggressive move.
And again, it just, it felt to me that they were so fixated on the next step.
They were so fixated on being able to celebrate this win, to finally have like a deep run
in an international tournament.
They just got ahead of themselves.
And you could clearly just tell that they had no adjustment factor to recover once it
starts filing back.
And it's also like, they didn't even have the luxury of overtime guaranteed.
were only in 11 rounds. It came down to the 1v1 of the very end, 1v2 I think from Insani
on the on the A bombs at the very end for us to take the overtime. But just the fact
that it was just shocking how they just completely lifted the foot of the pedal that early on.
And I have to lay a little bit of blame on Linus and on L and Z and on Letny right there
because like at that point when you had three or four rounds go their way, you have to kind
of rein them in a little bit, right? I know you give a lot of freedom to players, especially
someone like Insani to go for the plays he wants to. But at that point, guys, 3D Max
were struggling to enter the bomb sites. They were really, really struggling, their execs
weren't really good and I also think it might be a very good job of being disruptive once
they're trying to get the bomb down. Let that happen, let it play out instead of losing
two players early on at the beginning of every bloody round.
Again, I'll refer you back to Coach Moses. This is how difficult 3D maps are finding
it to get on the sites. They weren't even like layering flashbangs.
Yes, the B site hit.
on a basic B site execute, you know, the utility was off.
All you have to do is just sit back
and absorb that pressure.
And then you're gonna win the rounds.
I mean, you know, like I'm a noob, right?
Like, I'm a chip, but like, this is textbook.
And that's almost the most damning thing
because 3D Max, from watching them play,
you can just see how much they have regressed
tactically on this map over time.
Again, while they were never a super big
ancient team as far as win record,
they were at least a team that was trend setting
how to actually take mid control, how to layer flashbangs,
how to make the most out of the utility in the game.
And we're seeing a game like this one
where we still see that same regression
that's been there for a while on ancient
where they don't have the same sharpness
to how they approach these site takes.
But it doesn't matter if Bay of Brazos is feeding you
by pushing mid at the wrong time
or just walking into cave and giving a freebie.
That's just easy pickings for Mop.
That's in game leaders dream.
I don't even have to do anything.
We're lucky to let them take care of themselves,
let the garden weed itself, so to speak.
And a really cool thing, again, credit where it's due, Maka.
You know, he's been struggling a little bit individually as well here.
He started to come alive with the AWP, especially during the ladder stage.
He just had that game, but also some really good mid-rounding coming out from him.
Now, one particular run comes to mind where it's a 2v2.
I think one of the players, 4 of 3, they're super low.
There are the B bombsite, but 17 seconds remaining.
Boom, just running through the A bombsite.
So many good calls, a reactive calls based on what's happening in some other part of the map,
just showing his veteransy, so to speak.
And I think during a lot of stages of the game, that was a veteran from Maka, which
gave them that edge over LNC.
I mean, I'm genuinely flabbergasted.
I didn't even think we would be talking about Nuke.
So now we have to talk about this deciding map.
And I've got to say, I mean, if you're 3D Max, you've been given a gift from the gods.
I mean, it's actually crazy to still be here.
It is indeed.
It's actually on kind of a neutral ground of Nuke, right?
I mean, it's not like either one of these teams relied on the world on fire, but both
these teams do have the capacity to play at a pretty decent level.
3D Max actually does have the better trending nuke if we're being 100% honest there.
They'll be starting out on the T side.
And again, this is a map where you really need to keep your eyes on Masuda
because they do a really good job of letting him just be that trade fragger wherever they're going to go.
And 3D Max is a team now, I feel like this configuration, they're a little bit more gather and go oriented.
You know, they used to be a little bit more spread default, kind of slow where you down.
Now they just do kind of pack up and try to make the most of the explosive lifers that they have
and let Lucky kind of be that smart player picking his timings from lobby.
So it's going to be at the main Brazil to figure out how to steady their defense in this game
I mean on the bright side though, you know and Sonny even despite the mistakes he made
Individually who was still popping off like he has not dropped off at all right and playing the position outside to a outside towards
Yeah, I think a lot of these fights which is going to be taking
Towards out to yard is going to be deciding how this first up half plays out if you look at the numbers
I might be ours
I think wind percentage is a little bit better than the side of 3D maxes
But a couple of factors a couple of caveats here
Firstly, they haven't played a single nuke with this particular lineup against the EU team.
It's just been the local domestic opposition where they're pretty much the best team over there,
one of the best teams over there, number one and number two.
The momentum is completely shifting.
Completely.
They've got to shake that off, brother.
They have to shake it off, but that's where 3D Max despite me saying they're a dead team walking
and all that, they have had years, all these players individually combined together,
have years of experience when it comes to situations like this, right?
So, while MIBR are kind of like a known quantity, known entity, 3D Max,
if they manage to bounce back the way they did on Ancient,
this could be kind of a mini upset.
So, one more thing I'll say that we need to look out for this game is Klim,
because I feel like on Inferno, the guy was on fire.
You know, he was making all the right plays.
He was showing you his capabilities to also use the AK47 at a very high level
and kind of be that additional, you know, trade entry type player.
And even on Ancient initially, again, we were seeing that same kind of fiery
Klim throughout the first half and I was seeing some big things.
But if you notice the accuracy with the out started kind of waning a little bit there towards the end of the game
A couple of shots that you think you would normally hit was a little bit off on
You know, this is a map where dynamic CT offing can be the difference between winning and losing the game
And they're gonna be starting on the CT side are just having suffered a horrible horrible loss on ancient on your defensive side
I want to see if Clinton can shake that off because again people forget this guy didn't start playing lands and CS until September of last year
And that they were all in Brazil. This is his first like big international
European tournament with this team and this is a pressure situation where it's
either I advanced the semifinals or I get knocked out of this tournament in the
top eight wondering what could have been and so I want to see how he settles in
because this is this is a big pressure moment for an opera.
All right thanks a lot gentlemen we must go to a break we just saw MIBR blow up
their chances of a semifinal. Ironically they get a chance to fix it on Nuke.
She said she loves you but she can't love me.
But I love you!
I
Won't play window anymore
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Not directed at death, it won singular posture
for 12 hours a day.
It's time your chair evolved.
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3rd and final map here at the 1st quarter finals of PGL Bucharest 2026, MIBR and 3DMAX
go and blow for blow on the first two maps. We're just leaving ancient where we just saw a complete
capitulation from MIBR. So now they're the ones faced with the prospect of rebounding,
bouncing back for this third map to try and take it away and move on to the semifinals.
Three maps have got to feel like a miracle is happening right now. It looked like they had no
shot at making the semifinals of the competition. Losing Inferno, getting blown out in that first
half. Then over on ancient you come into that map and you have a terrible start there. We talk about
how they really struggle on that map, and you have to rely on Ancient to keep your tournament dreams alive.
Well, now we move to Nuke, and the only time they played it so far at this event
has been a 13-6 win over Bay. 3D Max are a very capable team on this third map,
and now the momentum's on their side too.
Yeah, that Ancient, at the end of this map, at the end of this series, if MIBR dropped this third map,
that Ancient, they're going to be looking back on it at 4. We're going to get an upper rush in the pistol.
Many smoked off. LNZ is just going to back away from the fight.
5-1-5 retank the strength of it coming from the lobby push.
Well, that plant is being secured. Now, Mack is going to try and deal with this ramp rotation.
And he stopped Runo. He's going to go again, a second player waiting, and it's Clinton,
the Jorba Ruttus, and...
...move the music down, and yeah, I mean, it's pretty intense, but we've got the music to
chill us out a little bit here. I like it. I need to chill out over in the MRVR side of things,
as LNZ is suddenly alone, and that will be it. It's very quick, it's very convincing,
not a single kill going against 3D Max, and that's another side to this that I'm a little
worried about for MIBR, it's like if you have been knocked off your feet by that ancient loss,
which I imagine they are, and then you go up against 3D Max who know they've got that advantage on
their side and they just come at you swinging, aggressive, poppy play. I've seen a lot of 3D
Max games on Nuke that'll be very, very quick. Yeah, yeah, especially if they get a good economic
advantage around they sense you have low economy, those upper pups from 3D Max can be very, very deadly.
And that certainly was the conversation for 3D Max, right? Like guys,
You've just been given a gift of the way that this played ancient, the way that ancient played out, the way that MIVR handled that scenario in that map.
We were given a gift to be able to survive the deficit they put us in. Let's capitalize on it. Now we got nuke.
Oh, shit. Okay, that's fast. Excuse me.
Didn't expect that to happen so quickly.
No, that's bad enough. I mean, I think we could have... He was so ready for that angle.
We're gonna have to deal with speed. I don't think that's gonna be, uh, certainly the name of the game here.
3D Max lucky just moves up onto Insani. This is a force by from my beyond. They've lost the first two
There's no real shot at getting into it now, especially the utility for 3D Max. So there you go two zero star for 3D Max
We have a blade
You look at when Masuda came into the team
They got a 13 full win on new versus gaming gladiators back at Pro League a 13 five win versus liquid
They lost the spirit but then after that it's been 13-2 win, 13-5 win, 13-2 win, close enough against Bay, but later went on to win 13-6 against Bay at this event.
This has been 3D Max's wheelhouse recently, like very one-sided victory.
Yeah, they're loving that, they're loving that they somehow made it this deep.
Now the winner of this quarter-final series between these two teams was onto the semifinals obviously and they're on the side of the bracket with Astralis and I-ballers,
will be our next semifinals. So winner of this plays the winner of the next game
in those semifinals and I'd say we go into that one with Astralis as the heavy
favorites. We'll dive deeper into it after this map concludes but that's the
side of the bracket the trajectory these teams are on at the moment. How do we go
to slightly now? I mean Dust was saying this morning that Astralis have no excuse
not to make the final now. Looking at the left side of the bracket that says
belief and we'll see if that is the case as we move into that game later on today.
Good shot from Clint, Mac are going to be pumped out of the sky in an advantage given to MIBR,
but really it should just be the one kill on 3D Max, comfortably taking three.
Well, it's interesting because that one kill, they were going to go downstairs and meet up with Maca,
but that one kill means there's no information, so they actually have no clue who else is downstairs.
So this is more like Ancient, where all of a sudden the mid-round is paused, they made that move towards...
Okay, L and Z, there we go, double-deague. Two players downstairs, they're coming for this.
Lucky and Exorcist are going to be under a bit of challenge, and how crazy do you want to get?
Do you make the read? Do you just drop down dense and say, okay, they're going to shift?
I don't think so. 3D Max is going to go into the A side in MIBR.
It's starting to get closer and closer. They're in the lobby now.
If he arriving towards Lucky, he's going to think about that plant. He'll put it down towards the back of A.
Insanity and Clem getting ever closer to this side now. Lucky.
Getting towards the height.
It should be tough to lose this now after 3D Max, I mean it's already pretty expensive but losing the round?
Oh, you've got to have a lot of whiffs if you're going to lose it.
I think now the time is taking a little bit too far, so Insani is going to be dropped and also climbed, meeting that same fate.
So 3D Max, get the win.
Yeah, really well managed in the 4v5, good conversion from a disadvantage.
Yeah, it's up against pistols, but you lose your player downstairs, you lose information of where exactly you wanted to finish at a spawn,
spawn and you can get a little nerve-wracking so good slide back towards
lobby catching MIBR with their own piece of aggression you have a three to three
to nothing start.
Maka got the AWP which makes me feel like this round is going to be a little
bit slower from 3D Max probably not anything too crazy off the rip.
Lock us up, up on silo outside.
No one home for the MIBR defense in terms of big garage, in terms of credit.
But that up can cover gravity as he starts to scale.
Got a decent position for gravity to have that first lag in plenty of time to let MIBR
peek into this up angle.
LNZ at the base of the secret stairs, Makka trained in on it.
Klim with his AWP playing over towards lockers.
Have the angle for the cross, no smokes up,
so he's got all information.
They're coming now.
So it feels like LNZ is gonna get the attention
that he's positioned for.
All the smokes land in place,
there's the, oh, LNZ's gonna step up from secret,
walk right into the winning arms of Makka.
So an easy kill there for 3D Max to take the advantage with it.
Try and follow it up by going into main,
or spot in Sani, top high.
Kulim gets away with one arrow of gravity as well.
So all of a sudden,
I'm happy I have the extra play to play with.
25 seconds as well.
Final A play in Sani.
Two with Molotov and the Flash, he will die.
But Breno peeks out from heaven,
keeps Venom Zera a secret.
And the fact that he's able to stay alive is fantastic.
A wall bang, he can connect onto that vent,
thick enough to stop the full damage.
And it will be a round with MIBR.
You have a 5 on 4 and the mini player goes down with no one there to trade on top hut
and then gravity misses a free kill on the AWPer who spotted him about 6 bullets
before Clint could react in time but still gets the kill.
So the opportunities were there, the round was there, everything 3D Max wanted came to fruition
and they missed the chances when they presented themselves.
That's lovely Maka perched there, baiting him out into the open, no follow up, no more pressure there.
That kill is the one that seals it.
Frustrating for gravity, Clem almost grabs one out of the sky as well.
3D Max after three rounds straight to open up the half.
Money's not good enough to get a full buy here, but they do save plenty of money with just unarmored pistols and glocks.
One AK-47, I'm lucky to try and get a few kills and keep the money honest for the MIBR side.
It's always a conversation when we talk about Nuke and how important that or helpful rather
that T-Sod pistol can be.
Yes.
The fact that they converted to get those first three rounds, that's a beautiful foundation.
Yeah, even if you go through like a stretch of struggles, right?
You get like a one more round, like you get, just sneak like one or two more rounds in
and you're going to be feeling okay on your T-Sod.
Yeah, with the Quants team, not necessarily in a few.
Yes.
But you'll be sitting there and not feeling like you have no chance at the very least. Okay, that's awkward. It's not a completely blinded
Okay, this gets dangerous now AK-47 M4 recover they can pressure underneath heaven
Bruno is going to get traded out after one and then a dinkus wall on Clemes three HP
Just about gets away. I like the idea that lucky to know that you think to know you've done the damage
But then the suit it turns around deals of Venom's error Clemes still three HP lucky try it again
And there we go. It's getting matter. She takes that
And leaving LNZ in a 1v3, that is a horrible round to lose if you're in my view.
Well, it's similar to what we just saw in Ancient, where you can see the brittle nature of their confidence in what they have going on,
where when all the chaos is happening, everyone feels like they have to make a play,
rather than settling into the bomb site and stopping the next move from 3D Max.
But I mean, this is a round you came into with one AK-47 and a D.Eagle and a P250 and two Glocks, and you're about to lose it.
LNZ does get that kill, he does have a kit, but we're way deep into the bomb and now they know his position.
So he prioritizes the AWP and bails out 4-1 for 3D Max.
And now this opens up the playbook. I would not be surprised if this next round from 3D Max is, this is the timing for an upper bust.
You know the economy is going to be hurt off the one round win and then an immediate loss. They've saved the AWP, you have three players down so gravity can slide into the Mac 10,
And you're letting out war cries so let's let's party. Let's rock and roll
Gravity doesn't go for the Mack ten
So we're going to the party without the party popper feels that way doesn't it yeah
Around six you have an op on Clem m4 is picked up three of them and then an MP9 on Brenno
The one kit on LNZ utility missing on a couple players
The last buy MIBR will have before having to save if they can't win this
All some aggressive plays here, but remember my API, they push up into the radio room.
Got Masuta, he's hanging on, waiting for this push to come in.
If he steps out into the open, Clems off, that's got a tight angle, let's disrupt that
angle with the flashbang.
So I'm not going to be as strong of a setup here, Breno.
He's going to be forced into a flash.
Takes his kill, Klim setting him up on the FB9, Breno going away with another one.
How has he got two from that?
Oh, then you don't pressure the smoke, so he's just going to live.
They're going to trap him in there with the Molotov, but there's no way for them to actually
take him down.
And probably, okay, you're just going to go right through the other direction.
So Klim gives you the AWP shotgun to the chest.
This round falling apart for 3D Max, they just get pulled into rough fights and can't
win anything.
All five players survive for MIBR, which lets them off the hook economically speaking.
They build up some cash behind them, and they get back into a very strong position 3D Max.
They have to get sent back.
Now we get the Mactown gravity.
Now we got the party poppers.
I don't know how he gets away with the second kill there.
It looks like he's going to be the same old story where these MRBR players are getting
caught with nades in hands, but it's going to be just a bit of time.
Yeah, I can at least understand that one, right?
Like getting pushed upon with red HP.
He's like, well, the only chance I have is to prevent them from pushing through this choke
point just switches back in the perfect moment. At a timeout called as that comes to its conclusion
MIBR saddles back up for round seven on the CT side of Nuke. Two Mac 10s on Maka and Gravity.
AK is unlucky in Masuda and a Galil on XRC so money is at the end of the road on the 3D
3DMAX site after this it saves.
But these are the kind of rounds we always see 3DMAX find a way to be competitive in.
Mactanes. I love them.
Actually gravity, as you were mentioning Jason.
I see how they set up. So I've got one player on the T roof ready to toss him utility and that's going to be Axis-Ease.
Just a little stutter step and a pop into the upper bomb site.
Oh, we're lucky. It has been taken down first, so already this attack is going to be weaker.
I think they might even call it off now with that death.
What do you do other than that though?
What's the other options? Because you've got one smoke, so you can't really create the outside wall.
You can, you could try and move outside if you wanted to, and maybe try and take a stance to get into mini,
and you could instead of doing an upper pop, maybe try and combine it and split.
But everyone's vacated lobby as well.
I think the lack of utility is going to force them into an awkward situation.
At this point, if they start moving and don't have any contact outside, you know, smoke lockers,
that's maybe one of the biggest angles you can do.
Maybe you just walk secret.
Well, let's see, blinded and treaded by gravity.
So, still a lot of work to be done here for 3D Max, but 35 seconds to do it, that's the big issue.
Yeah, they're putting everything in this round is on gravity. Gravity needs to have impact on this plate towards Heaven. 25 seconds.
They're going to buy him the time. They're going to wait patiently for him to get into the move, but he has to find Klim here tucked into the left.
Klim misses the shot. Now, attention should be drawn towards Heaven, but the reaction for Insani is to push him to hut.
Leave Venom Zera here at the CT van who keeps getting away with not being checked.
His teammates are providing enough distraction and support.
The Venom Zera is consistently finding the impact now from behind that CT van when they come towards it.
Another critical kill. He had plenty of those over on ancients, at least up to a certain moment.
Four to three, that's the money gone for 3D Max, so they got to sit back.
This is where we do touch back into that point you brought up earlier about winning the pistol round,
getting your four rounds really quickly in the first six of the half.
One more round in the remaining that you have in this affin, and 3D Max is sitting pretty with us to switch sides.
Well, it's not looking like it's going to be one of those dominant 3D Max nukes at least.
My VR have stabilized on the CT side enough, and they're going to take a French timeout.
Yeah, just having a little conversation.
I'm going to run with the Glocks, have a chat with the friends.
Yeah, figure out what they want to do in the next rounds.
Where's the party going to be this time?
It's cool to see MIBR have this kind of resistance, though, especially considering the good start
from 3D Max might have, there's a world in which that buries them, so the responses,
the rebuttal, that MP9 play from Brenno over towards ramp, paired up with Klimzalp.
good work. Alright, we're ready to go. Conversation has concluded.
Time to melt these glocks. We're just trying to overwhelm the site. Don't think anybody's
going to be overwhelmed by this. I haven't even really bled any utility out of the MIBR
defense either. They've just been able to hold all the utility. There's been no sound
no noises until just now. As they come into the slaughter, triple kill for VenomZera.
AK will get recovered. Max or Cease, the only one remaining. 28 seconds, nothing to do.
So we're tied up at 4. MIBR, bring it back.
And guns come out now for 3D Max to try again. Try for a 5th.
No opt for Makka this time.
He's stuck on a Galil, not the money to bring out the big green.
So utility being passed around, allocated the way it needs, and we'll see what 3D Max
comes in.
What did they come up with during that little chill Glock round?
Gravity heading outside.
Makka was on silo in the first gun round when he had an AWP.
Now he is a Galil.
I don't think he's going to want to take that perch whatsoever.
If you do next to I think there's been a level of success you've had attacking outside to wrap heaven
We've seen I do it a couple of times and they've been able to get access
Even in around they had pistols they were able to take it and wrap around and be dangerous now more direct approach towards ramp room
And they're doubled up and Sonny and Brenna ready to defend
Exorcist gets in front of the utility, but his teammates are all stuck behind it. They're severed off
XSC is doing a good job, not to put himself on his way until the rest of his teammates
can join him, but in the end, Brenno getting two out of it, Klim rotates over and Insani
is part of the shutdown.
So gravity outside, all of his teammates dead over towards ramp, and no ground gain at all
for 3D Max.
That might be all showing a really good CT side now.
Yeah, what a read.
What a read to have Insani just park there and ready and waiting for it.
Why is it something like they hadn't really seen a whole lot of pressure towards the
Ramp room Brenner was able to hold it back with an aggressive stance earlier in an anti-eco 3d max attempted to hit ramp room
But outside of that it's been left alone
So gravity falls back with the only ak-47 a 1v4 and he'll spend the next 30 seconds saving and just staying alive
More money built up for MIBR. They're gonna be all good for the rest of the half
Three rounds remain after this as MIBR take the lead for the first time here on the third map of nuke
You can just see the idea of that for 3 max, but yeah, I mean, it's just you can't do much
about it when you haven't read so hard and MIBR, but so many of the resources that you've
even got the AWP quickly rotating, there's no breaking through that.
You might have been able to handle it if Brenner doesn't get a double kill on the slide out.
If that's traded, that's a one for one.
Maybe the AWP gets another kill, but you trade Insani one for one,
and then the AWP doesn't re-peak, and you've at least got Ramp Room,
and you can kind of work with that.
But the lack of trading on the first contact was just brutal.
That takes away the timing for the AWP to feel comfortable peeking.
Team all it's off.
I'm going to cut my through it.
At least you've got a missed shot going for you over on the 3D Max Department.
They're going to be running outside, crossing the smoke,
getting down to a secret exorcist is taking Insani out and he's actually into the vent.
So he's joining his teammates. He's got an AK now to play with.
Breno got a stop gravity from getting safely to the site, but Exorcist is making the most
of this AK-47. He'll toss it away. He's had enough with it.
And he'll play forward with his tech 9, taking a flashbang to the mouth.
Flamers held back, force back behind the smokes. 3D Max have got themselves into the lowest
site. And for the first time in a long time, 3D Max are competitive in a round.
Exorcist I think just won in this round. I mean, you can go for the retake. You can
see if you can get a kill. You've got plenty of money to risk some of these weapons, but
he's got two kills and he applies so much pressure towards Ramford to slow down the
retake.
Well, here they come. Exesese could be getting even more impact in this round. Waiting for
them to come down through the Ramford. There's going to be one chance for Claim and Venom
Zera taking kills between them. It's unlucky in Masuta to try to hold onto this golden
chance for a fifth round win for 3D Max. A tap with a defuse. Masuta sees it on it, but
He can't do much about it.
Now they're going to hold it.
An MIPR recover in the retake.
Damn, very nice on the retake.
So clean, so easy.
No trades coming in whatsoever.
The advanced position is not having impact for 3D Max.
They'll be pleased with the bomb plant
and the pressure that they applied
and the money that it's going to give them
for an investment here.
But that was a winnable round that slips away
from their grasp.
Here's the opening kill.
I love this from Xerces.
Able to control vents.
Everyone's got to rotate through to ramp room.
But once you've come in the crossfires aren't nearly as effective as they would have liked.
Good utility.
Look at all the positions of these smokes to block away these angles.
To prevent players from activating on contact.
Really well done from MIBR.
Found a little bit of a groove here on Nuke.
Let's kill him here from gravity.
I'm hoping they can kill to play with you for 3D Max.
Oh, they can't let this one slide. You've got two men open it.
Haven't been traded.
Oh, VenomZero though. This might be the play.
Yeah, he was spotted. He was spotted.
Yeah, no luck. He should be faking it, but he won't.
VenomZero wins that fight.
He's blocked off Lobby, so you know that's happened.
Exorcisms still moved out the door.
Got another kill, and L and Z just shut that gap down,
and still doable for him up beyond until now.
So VenomZero tries to climb up to the T roof.
T-Roof, Masuta waits for him, and just the openings are just too strong to put through the backs.
This has not been a good T-Side, but they're up to five rounds.
Yeah, I mean, you know, in some sense too, you have to say, like, maybe like, text book-wise,
we're not gonna sit here and say this is mind-blowing strategically, but also, I mean,
at some point you have to say, get five rounds in your T-Side.
That ain't bad, right?
Yeah, I mean, it's definitely enough to work with, instead of comfortable going into the second half.
And a real opportunity as well to tie this game.
I think the problem is, it's just like...
AHHHHHHHHHH!
We've been hitting on this angle at least in the mouth the last two maps,
but for good reason I think. I feel like MBR just like...
You can sit and wait. They're gonna make a play for you.
You know, if you're ever in a situation, like, they're gonna move.
Maka trying to get a little bit of luck on his side with the no-scope off-shot towards top hut.
It doesn't pan out. 3D Max trying to equalize the score
right before they switch sides to the defensive of Nuke.
And once again ramp is where they call it in Breno. It just switched to utility.
Yeah that quick switch just as they move in. It's gonna be ramp room for free for 3D Max.
Yeah it's punishing in the sense of losing map control, but it'd be much worse if it was punishing in the sense of losing a player.
So Breno just drops down towards dark.
Is a second teammate just arriving right now in Breno coming down the vents.
All right, L and Z coming down the vents, excuse me.
Brano keeping his perch and here's the utility, here's the execute.
Brano.
Still alive, still kicking.
Let's see if he can bring that with him.
30 seconds left here.
Here come through to Max.
First few bullets, Lance.
A lucky bit to blind side is pushed by Kravity.
Moves it up, run and remove.
And now LLNZ, the second victim of it.
Rotation down the ramp going for this now.
And my bi-
Oh, it okay, Vandemzera!
That is poisonous with the clutch.
We've now got Masuda left and he is in a clutch
that he can win all of a sudden with that tap.
He's now looking down towards the decontamination door.
Maybe that is the only way he can step forward, gets into the side through the flames, three seconds though, and Clem has called his bluffy backs away.
Venom-Zero's work does not go on one of the plays here from the side of 3D Max as they step up.
They won't get that tight game, and that is Venom-Zero. That is a huge moment yet again, more impact.
Unreal, what he's just been able to do. Unreal that 3D Max not able to put a stop to this scrambling, chaotic, disorganized into bomb site.
everyone panics and scrambles to get the bomb planted. They're just not ready for the peak.
Unreal sequence.
And a perfect timing to stick a dagger between the ribs of 3D Max just as the half comes to a
close. Stu on that. A 5 on 2 dropped by 3D Max due to the quad kill from Venomzera.
Yeah, incredible. Just unbelievable when Venom Zaras either has some moments where he looks a little shaky, but then there's just impact moments too.
Well, they're on ancient on that first half, you know, the amount of multi-kills he was getting saving them wasn't enough and the end really fell off, but great to see him step up and around like that.
Extra round to play with for MIBR.
3D Max now switched to the defense.
That round turned around so quickly.
Yeah, just like a second and a half, and Venom's there is like,
nope, you're not winning this one.
Seven to five, 3D Max switches to the defense.
Even with that heartbreak right at the tail end of the half,
five is definitely, definitely workable as you switch over.
Gravity with the P2K outside is going to get a lot of love
heading his direction. It looks like they're going to turn in towards Mini, could choose
to attack outside.
Trap, but he under a lot of pressure, he does well to get one neck. Looks like he wasn't
going to be able to make much of it at all to come in from MAPR, but again the response
is immediate from 3D Max. So looking good for the Pistor on here for the French. Both
halves started strong with a Pistor on in both.
shooting from Masuda triple kill in the pistol as well. Yeah both pistols on the third and deciding
map both pistols on nuke where you've now switched over to the CT side 3d max in a very strong
position. No bomb plant as well which means you don't have to be super concerned about rifles in
this round but you do have to be concerned about that helper bust against these tech nines.
Here's Masuta on the rotation trading off gravity and ready to fight for more even has
exorcist coming through the smoke with dualies to work in tandem just in case he was to mess something
It's fast here, on towards the upper side, we've got gravity with the MP9, LNG, taking
the one on the tech nine, but really important that 3D Max is able to handle that speed and
so far so good.
And then Zara, not going to be up to his old tricks, just gets the one kill on Maka,
make quick work of Insani as he tries to move towards himself, 3D Max, yep, able to convert
Both pistols this walk time important for their chances of closing our new kit
That's actually a much scary around that it ended up looking like they did get the first kill on my BR on that attack into the upper
Bomb so with the tech 9s
That's usually problematic but good double kill inside the bomb site to settle things down and allow 3d max to close it out
So you play with a couple of diggles up good at pistols here from my BR, but
For 3d max the lead is right in front of them. They just need to reach out and take it
and
once if they don't lose anyone here
just a little bit more money
before you bring it out
wait for someone to die to pass the m4 over
though easy kill on the venomous he swings out silo the rest of the uh...
the mivr attack with the Glock of the Deagles is going to come a little bit
more slowly.
It's round 16, we mentioned earlier in this series MIBR this is their first tier one international event.
So much of the year has been spent regional competitions. They've won a couple, two first places, a second place and one early exit for 3D Max as well.
This is probably one of the biggest events to close out their season as they didn't qualify for the major.
There you go, you have some sort of positive for 3D Max, starting 20-26, hoping this is it.
So let me final take you close out this series, looking so unlikely once they lost in Furdo.
But they're now the favourites to head in to the top four finish.
Oh my god, I can't believe everything's just going so right for them.
Makka moves through the smoke, doesn't matter.
Look at him. Look at him as a coach. You see that shit? You see what I just did?
You see that? Come on, give me some love.
He ain't losing this. We ain't not losing this.
Doesn't feel that way, does it? Now we're starting to see smiles and confidence.
Inferno, it was the pep in the step that kind of changed, that started that comeback that fell
short. We saw them regain some of their mojo on ancient. That win and overtime really secured
the feeling that they were going to be competitive. And now on Nuke, a map of comfort, unlike ancient
3D Max, having an initial rock solid defense, MIBR yet to post a T-Round on the board.
Accuracy's spawning out.
Verdim's there up, doing as much damage as he can.
It's just going to be in their nightmare for a long time, that ancient performance from
IBI.
Yeah, that, when they do a VOD review of that map, it's going to be depressing.
I hope they don't have the casting on, because they'll hate me.
Exorcist, okay, native hand, now you've got to get the weapon out, your teammate's gone
down, nothing, just slow this.
Gonna love this.
Take nice, you're swarming this A site, 3D max, not able to hold onto it at all, so
I might be all bursting through with an unlikely round to it save and you have to save there's no way back into this round
You're not retaking this with no utility and no kids on the two remaining players
That's I might be all with an explosive round when that didn't really see coming
I'm a pretty back them we didn't see it coming. Yeah, they were I mean just as the utility was fading
It's when I'm at the arc. I'm gonna get that execute and just as that utility is fading 3d max miss the opportunity to
To re-smoke a little bit earlier
So nades in hand inside the bomb site and so many of those timings today
We've seen in this matchup of players just kind of pulling nades out at the worst possible moment
It's been very messy counter strike at stretches and my VR get up to eight
Bring this a little bit closer with this bomb explosion their first round on the T side of new
All right, but just a hiccup. Just a speed bump.
That's what 3D Max is saying right now.
Let that one go away. We dropped the ball.
Just lost a little bit of focus, but everything else has been gravy.
No cause for panic just yet.
It was four in a row for 3D Max to start this second half.
And in that stretch, they built plenty of money to survive a punch like that.
They take a time out just to settle things down and have a conversation.
But another full by coming in for 3D Max.
Improving the timeout here through the three Max as well.
We need to make sure that.
Ensure that that was a hiccup.
Yeah, I think just a conversation about what went wrong.
What they could do moving forward.
Maka still looks like he's looking to the guys motive anyone keeping the atmosphere up,
being a little bit of a presence inside the team.
I think that that camera shot is great between the coach and gravity and Maka because.
You know, gravity was the most recent.
Jell's going to still have a lot of input, be an important voice inside of the team,
Maka, Dean Kim, leader of now, and, you know, we got that trio looking to come up with ideas.
It's what a bit of brain power for 3D Max to play with.
We'll see if it's enough to really tighten things up here on the CT side.
MIBR are going to be running towards our side.
The smokes are up and they've made their way to a secret.
Look at this from Maka to risk.
He takes the shot, you can't get away.
And then they smoke kills everybody having to go.
Reload update.
Not slowing the smokes, bounce down and out at all.
Oh, hi, what?
Yep, living up to his name, all right.
Second kill through the smoke,
and we now have LNC and Venom Zerot
left at a 2v3 here on the T side.
Lucky still feels a lot of pressure, though.
You can see he's just worried,
because he doesn't really have a whole lot of support.
Axes can at least help him with anyone sliding
through the gap in credit,
but he's really gotta be worried about big garage.
Now, Masuda's come outside
for a little bit of support as well.
Three on two, Masuda's gonna find the fight,
but he's gonna lose it.
Now the slide out from Lucky, good win.
low on HP, and VenomZera makes his move.
He sure does into the open,
but he's gonna be crossing main,
worried about the CT player.
Surely, the Trey Kim's in.
He nearly gets his cross on the right spot there.
Makes him see, picking it up,
and they're very happy about this one, 3D Max.
He run it, kills, they copped through the smoke,
which is ridiculous.
Triple kill from Lucky in the round
to really save the day.
Huge play with the aggressive push outside.
And they might be also getting smoke kills there.
It was just a real brawl through that outside wall.
Timeout taken here from IPR.
Yeah, it makes sense too.
Down by two, they're gonna fully invest into this round,
but this is all the money they've got left after this.
Venom's there, it might be able to drop one if possible.
Or if needed, I should say.
But outside of that,
it's gonna be an ugly purchase moving forward.
So IPR, this might be kind of the last stand they have
if they can't win this one.
Then 3D Max is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel
in terms of a map win and a series victory in terms of the semi-finals tomorrow.
Gonna be around there for lucky.
Double figures for 3D Max. Still a very good buy here for MIPR.
But money. There's not a lot left if they lose this.
Very likely to be series point for 3D Max if they're able to pick this one up.
I'll send Insani outside, we'll play it towards red while the smokes are up, oh it's going to boost the AWPer but look at this, Bakker was close to it but not able to connect the shot, Clem's going back, Clem is going back for the peek, Makker spotted it and now they both just handshake up with a little fall back and respect that, Masuta though, there's one rule of playing ramp and it's don't die like that, well he's been taking down, that's opened up completely that B-Ballside.
Yeah, but there's two players downstairs. They've got to worry about secret. That's a tough loss to take
So lucky can't address the bomb site to low HP players man
Everyone's getting picked apart away from the action. There's the swing stop the plant but traded immediately well done from Venom's era
And this round is MIBR written all over it
So they survived the most dangerous round of the half
And they do it emphatically with four players surviving so now they rebuild some of that buffer behind them
Yeah, that round fell apart really fast for 3d max
You know, a couple of chances outside for Mackie to grab the opening kill, just a bit of an awkward scenario between him and Clint.
But the second Masuta dies, you're right, like two players still rotating lower, should have been able to do more to slow that down than they did.
Yeah, that secret lurk was a very nice kill, and you know, one player kind of playing towards D-Con, one player trying to go control side.
There's no chance to trade it, which just makes your attention is just drawn in too many places.
Makka at least gets away with the AWP. Money's still in an okay place for 3D Max.
Makka can drop a couple M4s if called upon with the cash he's got left over.
And a second timeout called by MIBR.
Not wanting to play with the momentum, wanting to pause it, talk things over,
but that's equally giving a chance over to 3D Max to figure things out as well,
especially given them time to manage this by in a situation where they only have one timeout left.
So you could have kind of put the pressure on them to say, if you want to talk, we're fine.
Yeah, I think the three max are loving the fact that so many timeouts have come through in the last
couple of rounds here. Yeah, freebie timeout as well. Yeah, two of them.
And just as we were highlighting in the last round that three max have the opportunity to reset
set the money of MIBR, I'm on BR now, how that chance versus 3DMAX.
You take them out here, they'll be down to weaker weapons and you have a shot at going up to 11 rounds.
And semi-final spot, still up for Graves, with both of these teams as they head out for the fight.
A full buy versus full buy, but 3DMAX realizes it's the last good one before they have to take a bit of a hit.
Gravity spotted the AWPer as well, holding the angle,
looking through a broken double door to see if you can pick one off crossing in
from many so that's calmed out that the opposite door early. Masuda has slid over
towards the secret stairs to pause and wait for his moment. Lucky's playing
outside to have the information that he can pass over to Masuda. Those two
communicating a lot in terms of the scaling in terms of the information.
Well, the golden rule of Ramp Room, as you mentioned last round, don't die.
It's on Maka now.
Yep, a Maka.
No problem.
He's going to drop down, throw a flash out to try and hold him back, but as he's getting
that first kill, they also find one L.S.W.S., who Brennan and Sony both dead.
Now, here comes the reaction from IPR.
They're going to try and take down Lucky, but this angle is always going to be good
for one.
Maybe even two from Lucky, and he will, in fact, ensure a double.
Why not make it three? 3D Max don't even lose a single player. They're up to 11 rounds.
Yeah, that's a perfect round for them. Obviously the triple kill from Lucky is a thing of beauty in the suit to adding one,
but Maka grabbing that kill and backing away. Every step, every move that MIBR made to move forward and get some control
was met with a player loss. Paying the 3D Max tax.
Not able to find any openings, any kills, not even any trades. Lovely sequence from Lucky.
And we're right back to where we were just a couple of rounds ago.
Another buy for MIBR, that was the buffer they built up in the previous round with a clean win, but it's gone now.
And a reset as 3D Max gets to 12 would be devastating.
Series began with a dominant Inferno from MIBR, 3D Max looked flat, not even in the server until late in the second half.
Ancient was all the advantages in the world for MIBR on a map that 3D Max has notoriously struggled on with a 30% win rate.
But 3D Max came all the way back in one and overtime.
Brings them to Nuke where they're much more competent and we're seeing it here as they have a two round advantage.
Coming up towards hot now.
Now, it's exorcise with a really important double kill.
Now get off the top of that, because you've got plenty of teammates coming to try and help you,
but Insani, making the most of the situation,
it's just not enough, though, to prevent 3D Max from heading to series point.
You are now one round win away from reaching the semi-finals here in Bucharest.
Yeah, three chances to close it out, and this is going to be so exhilarating for the 3D Max guys
when this one win comes in, because I guarantee you, down the line on Ancient,
There had to have been moments where none of them truly believed that comeback was going to happen.
The gift to be able to survive that from MIBR, bring it to Nuke.
This is going to be a huge celebration from 3D Max if they close it out.
And look what they're up against.
Tech 9, MP7, AKs, 1 Galil.
Utility is very light for MIBR.
Advantages all across the board in the favor of 3D Max.
LNZ, dropping down.
That's a behind credit card, and yep, not going to be spotted, but Masuta making his way up secret.
Just kept going, but LNZ has to reveal his position to get that.
Kills with the trade comes in immediately.
Smoke is up, but they move right through it.
Mako can't connect the shot.
And so, Amopya had to take a risk, and it's worked out.
They've got down towards ramp.
Really good call from Mako to just give it up.
Knock over the repeat, not take the death.
Play the four on three.
are they going to are they just gonna go decon and try and relocate reposition
oh it's gonna my work the drive-by but you can't get a fence surely you can't
get a fence and now you can't go back into the bomb site either oh we'll be
one back from clean gravity gonna be gone numbers even now to get a bomb not
being planted yet Mack is waiting he wants you to walk through the double
doors and they will provide here comes Venom Sarah as well miss shot from
But he will recover and 3D Max, the renaissance here in the series, they make it all the way to the semifinals.
They look down and out, but they have resistance and they pull off the comeback.
From nearly losing to the worst team in the tournament to the semifinals, 3D Max remain an enigma.
I cannot solve it.
For MIPR, a powerful lesson in taking your chances.
They're going to look back on that ancient opportunity and rue the many mistakes they made.
But to the victor, the spoils. I mean, we've got to talk about 3D Max now.
Great new plan.
Really well done. I mean, this is a team now that's looking to make their biggest push
in international tournaments. Quite a long time, right?
I mean, with CAC or they took second, it's been a long, arduous road since then of disappointment.
This is a chance to make a semi finals appearance and have a chance to do something because
as Moses kind of indicated a couple of different times, you know this is their super bowl.
They're not going to the major.
And they don't really have that many big trophies in 3D Max's organization history.
I mean pretty much looking at like the PS challenge I think in China they won last year.
They had that Sky eSports event that they won, got out one time.
But other than that, they haven't really had a whole lot to put in the cabinet.
So this keeps them in that range.
I'm actually super impressed with the fact that.
I wouldn't lie, you know, you watch a couple of days of this tournament, you think, yeah, this seems done, they don't give it.
And a lot of teams who didn't make it to the major, BC game comes to mind for example, just completely capitulated,
they just, the heads were not in the game.
Over 3G max being 11-6 down, and sure, MIBR, they messed up a lot around, they brought them,
they allowed them back into the game, but they seized the opportunity with both hands.
I mean, definitely, and an opportunity that was gifted to them, but an opportunity you have to take,
and you can see from looking at the scoreboard,
I mean, I have to say,
was very impressed with Venom Zero
across this series.
Had so much impact for his team.
I mean, you know, up there with the usual names,
but at the end of the day, you look over across there,
you've got to just take your hats off to this guy.
I mean, doing it all quite well.
The impact he had on the CT side in particular
was absolutely impeccable.
I mean, look at this heat map of outside control
that he just dominated.
CT side, with the AWP.
Unbelievable.
No, it's not just that.
He was hitting some of the most ludicrous shots
I've ever seen him hit as well.
Just blind shots through the smoke,
just being in their phase using,
like just setting up his teammates as well.
And we did point out as well,
Dustin, it was gonna be a lot of battles of Insani, right?
Who was outside and he's gonna be the one
who's gonna have to kind of lock horns
with a 3D Max's outside defense.
And unfortunately Insani, the lowest rated player
in this map, the one map that he really fell off,
he was really struggling to find anything.
And it also had in the first half, honestly, even though the 6-6 scoreline,
it was some very well-constructed T-side rounds coming out from 3D Max.
Running the CD-side by Mac. I mean, this is just BS bullshit shots coming out from him.
But still, it was so aggressive, so in your face, so disruptive, so 3D Max.
That's the way they want to play in your face, be disruptive, not allowing you to set up.
And unfortunately for MIBR, you had a second half when, you know, we could see things spiraling out of control.
I said it as well, Rich. Even though MIBR were my favorites coming to this matchup,
once momentum shifted on to ancient,
three demands just ran away with it.
Child is lucky one time too, man.
I mean, he's kind of their main yard defender
aside from Mata's AWP,
and he definitely had some big moments as well.
And he's kind of the rock of this team, man.
I mean, he's been around
through all the different changes that have happened.
He's ever been like the main featured player of the team.
He's ever been the number one star of the squad.
And his role has kind of shifted between, you know,
different players coming in and out of the team,
but he's always found a way
to remain a consistent level player.
And he did well here too.
All right. Well, we've got questions
on the panel about what's going on with 3D Max. The good news is we can throw you over to Paula to
maybe ask them. Thank you so much guys. Yes, I'm down on the floor with Makka of 3D Max. Makka,
just before we went live with this interview, I asked you, are you happy? What did you say?
I said no, I'm not happy. I'm very happy. I'm very proud of this team. Congratulations on the win.
Congratulations on making it through to the semi-finals. Can I get your initial reactions?
I don't know, it was a very stressful game, but so happy, like I almost said.
It's unbelievable the team that can go through hell, like the couple last weeks and go through
this and be able to play that great thing.
Yeah, let's talk about the stresses.
So Inferno, quite a surprise to lose your map pick.
What went wrong on Inferno?
Nothing, lack of composure, overall. We didn't follow the game plan exactly the way we wanted
and they clicked well and didn't go our way.
Moving on to map 2, so Ancient, we ended up going to overtime. Perhaps that was a switch then in terms of composure
because you were massively behind but you grinded it out and got the W. What happened on Ancient?
I think we made that scenario in our head, like yesterday night.
If we lose our map, we can be going through the ancient tea side.
We have to be composed and very calm.
I think that helped us a lot.
I don't know if we played the way we wanted to play.
And each other, I think this is the way we want to play.
And we have to keep playing like this, calm and very,
like, I don't know, like dominant on this area.
Yeah, you guys looked very composed going into map 3, Nuke.
What was the feeling or the mood in the team going into Nuke,
and then also what were the keys to victory?
To be honest, going into Nuke, we are confident
because we wanted to pick that map at first.
Yesterday when I watched Vitos,
so it feels like we need to arm up pick.
So, yeah, the start of the game was very good.
We kind of came into the same mood we had on Inferno,
so we are a bit scared, I think,
But going on the city side, we are so confident on it, and I think they like some good strategy to counter us, so...
Alright, well, Mac, a final couple of questions. Yeah, you've got the win now. You moved through to the semi-finals.
You'll be playing either Astralis or Eyeballers. Who do you think will play and what are your thoughts on one of those potential match-ups?
I think Astralis are the main players of this tournament. They look so sharp and great.
Uh, the data was just watching me, uh,
that's sort of why I passed the glance round before to see if they were coming by as a
matter of fact. I think there are very good fairies in that matchup. Uh,
so looking forward to play as far as we want to play the bigger,
the big games. So looking to play as far as, yeah.
And if you were to play Astralis the last couple of times you've played them,
it's not gone so well.
What changes if you do end up playing them in the semis?
I think we don't need to focus on the way they played.
Just focus on ourselves and I'm pretty sure we can do even better than them.
All right, well, Macca, thank you so much for your time.
Congratulations once again on reaching the semifinals.
Anything that you'd like to say to the fans watching at home
before I let you go.
Thank you, everyone, for supporting us.
Merci aux Français qui nous soutiennent et qui nous regardent.
And see you in the semifinals.
Merci.
And yeah, we'll catch you tomorrow.
All right, for now, let's head back to the desk.
Yeah, Merci.
Love that interview.
Oh, la la.
We didn't show M.I.B.R. any mercy diddy.
I mean, let's be real.
It's going to be a sore one for them.
shake off. But I like his attitude. We were wondering if there was going to be changes
to the team. Didn't make the major. He's all smiles. He's just like, you know what,
we're just going to take each game as it comes. And if we play the way that we've set up to
play, we'll beat Australia in the next round. We'll wait for the finals.
It's one of those things where it's like it obviously stinks to be in that situation where
you're not going to get to play the major and things aren't really going according to
plan just in general throughout the course of the season. But it also kind of creates
opportunity where the weight gets a little bit lifted off of you because now you know that that's
gone and now you can kind of focus in on making the best of what you can with this lineup. Seizing
this opportunity, a tournament like this, where a lot of the big dogs aren't here, and make something
of it, you know, something to build off of maybe going into the offseason as well. Yeah, 100% agree.
Well, a lot of a lot of other teams, as I pointed out earlier, who haven't made it a major, just
completely come in completely checked out mentally, haven't made it to the playoffs. The fact that
3D Max is still alive and kicking despite the first game lost to focus, despite almost talking to
you evoke as well, your NA boys, the fact that they come in here and kind of basically
just snatched victory from the Jaws of Defeat. I think it's very impressive. But for me,
I feel a little gutter for MIBR, right? They've been looking so good. They were a team who
I didn't necessarily expect to make it into playoffs, but it played really good CS so
far. It could have easily been a 2-0 for them that it could be waiting for the next game,
but congratulations to them. But that being said, I am excited about this MIBR lineup.
I feel like going down the line with some of the reps and the experience that picked up
but it's a bad their team who could really deal a bit of damage in a few
two events. Yeah, unfortunately for them one bad half a CS we were their ability
to make a semi-final and that's a harsh lesson. It is but hopefully they will be
able to grab something from it. Again, I think at least we're seeing Insani still
play at a pretty high level overall which is something that you can kind of
always count on. Again, I think Clem is still looking like an opportunity to keep
an eye on it. Even Venom Zera, he's kind of the guy you don't talk about as much
because he kind of he was on red knits for a while for a few years was never
really a main featured player in the Brazilian scene. This has been a big
opportunity for him. He's been kind of overshadowed by some of the other guys on the team, but
he definitely made his presence known throughout the course of this term.
I mean that 4K on Ram comes to mind, which is so insane. So, Ben and Xero was kind of
like on paper the weak link, you know, with the comms and everything, but I feel like
it's been a big growth for him, especially with the opposition he's had to face so far.
So MIBR, get a walk over the head-to-head high today, despite the disappointment.
Yeah, well, we were talking about the majors and how that affects 3D Max, and we've got
announcement about the major for all of you at home. It's also up on the PGL social media site
but it's Singapore major time. The second major of the year is of course going to be in Singapore
and we are going to be doing things a little bit differently out there. We fought for ages to perfect
the kind of format of a major. We've finally got people to agree. Yes, let's do Best of Five finals.
Well, that major is also going to have a third place to side, a bronze medal essentially
handed out.
And obviously that's really important within the context of, you know, VRS points and everything
else.
So I'm actually super stoked.
I also think for the fans as well, if you've ever been to a major, I've had the pleasure
of attending a few in my career.
Obviously on that last day, you know, some people, they're the show matches, as fun as
we try and make them.
No more show matches, Richard.
I'm so happy.
I'm sick and tired of the team's tryharding in a show match.
So that's out of the way.
I think Bless is getting sick of getting on then.
I think it's real.
Yeah, also true.
Christopher, tryharding.
We're trying to have fun, guys.
Listen here, bud.
Like, just calm down a little bit over there.
I can't be hard.
But anyway, I'm very happy because the majors have always
had the ignominy of kind of always trailing
behind some of the big events of the year
when it comes to the format, so to speak.
So the fact that they're catching up to all the premier
events of the year.
the PGL, the big events, you know, talking about Cologne and all these events, the fact
that we all have 30 to side right now, I'm glad the majors are actually catching up to
it.
I'm just glad that we keep seeing the major iterated on.
You know, I think for a long time there, there was a pessimistic view from the community
that Val was kind of asleep at the wheel and that, you know, these majors would kind of
stick with the same format, they were kind of lagging behind the rest of the scene.
And now we have seen with Cologne, obviously the introduction of best of threes in the
main group stage, which is a huge format improvement, my opinion.
Now we're seeing them level up, having a third place insider game, having a real potential
for podium finishes at majors to feel a little bit more special maybe on getting that bronze
medal.
And I think there's one other thing, Rich, that also will be taking place at this major.
Oh, do you want, do you want to share it?
No, sure.
The cutoff has been extended.
So here's the big thing.
As people know for the Cologne major, the cutoff was in April two months before the major.
time around the cutoff will be in November which means that the entirety of the season will have
an impact on who makes the Singapore major as opposed to having kind of this weird two-month
law period where yeah people are still playing for VRS and the importance of that in future
tournament invites and maybe the next major but now like the second half of this year is really
going to drive the storyline of Singapore in a much bigger way and also overall when it comes
to teams performances as well two months is a lot of time for certain teams to drop off in form as
as well, right? So with just a one month difference, you're going to be seeing a lot more teams
being more battle ready, so to speak, as a major arrives.
Yes, we have to switch chairs now, Dustin, doing my job for me. One thing I can do for
all you at home though is tell you about the tickets. If you scan this QR code down there,
Boomer Mind can't comprehend this technology, but I assure you at home it does work. If you
do that, that'll give you all of the details. Tickets are available. Make sure you get yours
now for what is going to be a historic event. So there you go.
25th valve made 25 we've come a long way haven't we guys but for now we must take a quick break
Reset and when we come back, we're gonna be talking about Astralis versus I ballers. We'll see you in a moment
He said she loves you, but she can't love me, but I love you
I
Won't play window anymore
The human body was built to move, not trapped at the desk in one singular posture for 12
hours a day. It's time your chair evolved. This is Secret Lab Titan Evo. Ergonomically
engineered for you. Gamers. Hybrid workers. Artists. Back in your every move.
I'm just gonna go ahead and say this now no one else even try that slam of the year yeah
yeah really just no way to be in that yeah yeah no no you'd have to actually flip the
But anyway, to do the proper setup, right, okay,
and introduce segment, it is going to be
Isgrales versus Eyeballers.
And before we do turn our attention
to the individual teams, myself and the panel
would like to talk about something
that maybe you've noticed or maybe you haven't.
And it's something about legacy, not the team,
but actually what we leave behind
when things crumble to dust, you know,
in the material realm.
And we're going to talk about young Ninjas.
And Ninjas and Pajamas, you know, historically,
they've been a great organization, a joke organization,
somewhere in between, and they had an academy team.
I've called this graphic revenge of Shinobi.
Boomers will get that reference,
no one else does, of course.
But think about all of the players
that have played on the Young Ninjas team.
Think about where Swedish Counter-Strike is,
and then here they all are together.
We've just seen L and Z go out of the tournament,
but you've got ZTR.
You've got foesie coming up.
We've got Max, we've got Rolf.
All of those guys came through the Ninjas and Pajamas
Academy system and actually are better now than they were then.
Yeah, maybe your time on Nip doesn't count,
but your time on Ninjas apparently may mean
that you actually have a little bit of a future ahead of you.
And I think the biggest one there
is definitely the Tuesday to set story
that ties into our match.
Because I mean, this is a guy who was wasting away
on wild card play.
Wedge of China before that, let's not forget.
Let's not forget that.
I knew to learn Chinese. Yeah, like literally the meme almost became reality on that one.
Also, he did have like a brief on the main team. But you know, I don't think they really
gave him a whole lot of time to flourish on that one. But now he's one of the better
offers in the world within this year. I think it's been really cool to see him climb. And
yeah, like you said, some of the other guys have definitely gone on to, you know, make some big
waves and talk to the irony of the fact that, you know, it's a Swedish offer coming into a
Danish organization, a straw list to kind of make them look good again, resurrect their life,
He looked up a flying whatever and it's just kind of funny, ironic in a lot of ways.
But it's really cool to say I agree with even some of the youngsters, Max's Rolf for example,
who didn't really have much of an impact when he's playing the nip,
and that old nip, youngster's lineup, but just the fact that they're finding so much impact
in such a different way, so to speak. It's a pretty cool storyline.
Yeah. Well, let's talk about what Swedish Counter Strike looks like broadly speaking now
by talking about eyeballs. Obviously, we saw them when yesterday.
We had JW on the couch.
He corrected one narrative that we've been peddling,
which was he's the CEO.
He's apparently stood down so we can focus on playing
and being an IGL, only temporarily,
still his company, of course.
And look, they have done very, very well, in my opinion,
to be in the playoffs.
Yeah, I mean, they're making the most out of an opportunity,
right, because they were one of the replacement teams
that came in because they didn't win the qualifier.
So they had to kind of come in last minute
and they've really seized on to.
You know, we're talking about Swedish CS,
They're able to beat up on that a sport and alliance to come second at the ROG
journey event leading into this one.
And now they're getting their first chance internationally to compete against
top level teams and kind of lucky to get a freebie against FaZe in the opener.
But they took care of it against focus.
And I think that that was kind of like the key matchup that really kind of was
like, okay, you know, maybe there is a little bit of something here to keep it
on. And even against the Mongols match of the first game, the real game they
played about from the FaZe walkover was the fact that despite the school line,
it was a very competitive half.
There was a very competitive rounds as well.
And again, you got to remember J.W.S.
he did say, listen, I'm a bit delusional, I'm coming in for the win, but also at the same time,
if you look at a lot of the other players in this team, someone like Bob XD for example,
who's very, very green, especially at this level of counter, so these are such important reps
that he's able to get against a pretty solid team overall, so a lot of growth would have
transpired already for this team, and of course I'm sure they weren't really expecting to make
the way to the playoffs, but hey, they're here right now, and as JW said, I'm here to rock and roll.
Yeah, and look, I love the interview we had with JW, so gracious with his time,
even though he does have a pretty bad cold at the moment, which he may or may not have transferred on to me.
We'll see. I'm happy to receive it from J. W. He's a legend, so
But but I will say this he also highlighted the Bob XD as
The their ex factor player and the statistics haven't poured this out yet, right?
But everybody around I Paul is saying this is the guy to be fair. He plays a tough position
He's their main entry fragger
He's definitely one of the big aggressive playmakers and he definitely was alongside
Maxter, their top performing player over the course of the last good bit of time on land
and in the on-mount environment.
So definitely taking on a lot of openers, it's not converting them as much as usual.
But again, he's going for so many, right?
Like Berlin said earlier, it's about getting those reps and getting more comfortable interaction
with those situations in the land environment.
But also do give a shout to Maxter because I feel like he has lived up to the billing.
He's kind of the other star, quote, unquote, of the team.
And he's had his moments against Mongols and Energy,
and even was really great in the final map against Focus
on Dust2 that got them to this playoffs.
I got to say that the one guy who has really popped off
from me has been JW, right?
Like leading by example on Captain On-Lap.
Because online, he has been an illustrated player
in an AWP-ing eye gelling.
It's not an easy job at all, Richard.
But coming into this event, he's been so pivotal with the AWP.
Even the comeback against Focus,
he was the one leading by example.
Tall order for him today.
Taking on Astralis, some people's favorites
to lift this trophy in Bucharest.
Hoopsy got to cut the Deadwood from the all Danish lineup,
turn it international, and so far so good.
Henry really put me into a spin the other day.
He said, this is the best Astralis we've seen
in six, seven years.
And I went, come on, bro.
Like, you really saying this is better than the 2016?
And I was like, oh, it's 2026.
So yeah, okay.
It's been good.
It has been a bit, man.
Yeah, but at least doing what they're supposed to do, right?
the group stage only dropping one map to bait, beating Mongols 2-0 convincingly.
You have some of these new players playing really well.
Fusey, we've already talked about him looking like one of the best
offers of the year right now, but also it's been kind of the resurgence of Yaddy.
This is a guy who struggled last year. I mean, he really wasn't doing himself any favor.
A million-dollar player, last week, forget.
But this year it's been a different story. He has really come alive.
I think it's because they've given him a little bit more freedom.
He's getting a little bit better roles for himself. Now that's down is gone
And he's really kind of taken that opportunity and ran with it and again
I think this is all because I did a catalyst here has been a fact that stare has finally had the opportunity
Shine in all these star positions all the star road
He's a player you touch upon time and time again during all the metronome tribulations of Astralis
He was the one rock for this team playing some in some very rough positions a very rough road
But still able to deliver the numbers and now he's just consistently delivering your foes being a constant
with the AWP as well, just so stable with the AWP, and that's, I feel like,
allowed, alleviated a quite a pressure from Yabi to kind of be, to kind of find
himself, so to speak. So, yeah, Stralis right now, man, they're looking, for me, they're looking like the favorites.
Yeah, I was kind of wondering what we were going to get, right, because they did have that big third place finish at EPL,
where they beat Spirit, they beat Foot, it's like, okay, like these guys are cooking a little bit right now,
but this is a different situation where they were kind of playing the underdog role at EPL here,
they're supposed to be one of the favorites next to Mongols, and maybe Foot, and so on, and they've lived up to it,
to it and stairs been the big one because look I always thought stair was solid but he has leveled
up this year in a big big way in my opinion not only just overall performance but because he
is going for so many openers and converting on them that is one of the biggest things I think
he's been one of the better entry rifleers this year yeah I think when it comes down to the maps
right this is where Astralis despite them being the favorites that's this is what makes him even
bigger favorites I was wondering if eyeball is going to ban an overpass or ancient they're going
to ban an overpass a newb is going to be banned about Astralis it should be Astralis going for
for the ancient pick here.
I wouldn't be surprised with that.
And for GW, the only safe bet you have here is Mirage.
That's a map you're usually comfortable on.
It's going to stick with this.
Even the whole Astralis looks solid on it
and comes down to the final two maps.
Look, Dustin Banzar, Banner of Astralis.
And whether it's Inferno or Nuke,
it's heavily going to favor Astralis.
Their map pool is so much deeper
than almost any other team we have at this event right now.
So, man, Ibalas have a tall ask ahead of them.
It was always going to be difficult no matter
what the map pool was going to be,
especially because Ibalaj is not one of those squads
like has a perma ban or a perma pick they really try to rotate around the pool and I think uh you
know banning nuke is a little bit surprising to me from eyeballs I thought they'd want that the
third match that is interesting because that was the map they picked if you remember against
bait and they got completely smacked by them yeah I really feel inferred they feel like they might
stand a chance but in all honesty I don't think there was going to be any map they're going to be
happy with come come the deciding map but it's going to come down to mirage rich this is their
There's a whole maps map they're comfortable on but remember last time you played this was against MIBR where in Sanin and Breno completely demolished them
So uh, they gotta hit the ground running. I'll tell you that. Yeah
I mean look obviously there are levels to the game right and we don't want to be disrespectful
To eyeball us, but when you're down there in that like tier 2 melange you're playing a lot of online CS
I think the reason you've seen the jump up in JW's numbers here is because
because landing is just a different beast and when you're playing against quality oppositions at land, it really is a different world and it's very easy to get inside your head, make simple elementary mistakes and we've definitely seen that from eyeballs.
Real quick, this is because we're talking about Yabbi, I just want to make the connection. Yabbi was a B rotator in the past which is a star position on the map where you get to be very active and mobile and be a playmaker.
He got relegated to being an a anchor when they had the whole situation with stound and other players kind of coming in out
They have returned him to this role. Thanks to relief. Exactly. That's what I'm saying
Thanks to reuse ability to anchor they've been able to put you have a bigger playmaking position
So keep an eye on that and I also put aside a long when the first out of straw this one
It did Mongols was a 13 for drubbing for one of the best teams on this map. So yeah, it's gonna be over behind players jump scare
Oh, no, oh, I will commentators are here. Who'd be going in this one?
and why is it Stralis?
Well, where do we begin with that kind of a question?
I can see the JW romance coming from Moses right now.
It's coming. I can feel it.
Yeah, I'll give it to you, man.
I am on some level just happy of JW here.
On some level, I don't care what the performance looks like.
I'm just like, JW, back in the playoffs, I think,
his post-game interview with you guys on the desk
just the other day, or a couple of you guys,
I just love, I love hearing him talking.
I think it's incredible seeing
he's been able to work himself back to this level.
Yeah, good to hear his mentality, but yeah,
coming. But Astralis is going. Yeah, there we go. Astralis on the CT side,
Eyeball is starting on the T-Saw to Mirage here. And the Desk Highlander
throw our levels to this game. I think we're about to find out those levels
coming into this. Yeah, well, let's give him a chance to like surprise us a
little bit, right? Keep your heart open to be impressed here with the
Eyeballers thing. And we'll just see how this goes. We've obviously heard a lot of
good words about Bob, his performance and how much eyeballers value him. So we'll see
if we can create anything.
How nice to have seen it. A huge amount, but let's see. Maxir, he's been well to get
one, and then Starr immediately snatching away all of these kills, and I'm starting
to feel less like it's in my heart, Jason, to be honest.
It's already, you're already shutting your heart off to it. It's not even, Ron, one hasn't
even finished.
Stone cold.
You need, you need Jesus, Tinko. There we go. Get into it, Maxir. Lovely one tap. Maxir,
Max, there's another name you could point out in this team that has some interesting things.
We've seen him play before, we've seen some good stuff out of him.
Hasn't had a wealth of opportunities at the top levels of play, but he's another guy in this lineup
that I'm kind of like, given the side-eye and keeping track of his progress and performances.
Her mac is saying ahead of this that Richard and that first-game interview with Palaeus,
and Strauss are quite favorites for the event they're playing, the Queen of Scourge Strike,
but they're a trapeze.
I don't have to agree, you know, they are looking very good.
And Yabi, talking point in the desk there as well about his performances and how he seems to be unlocked,
he's given it a lot more space in the team, a lot more responsibility and playing way better
Cowerish right now because of that.
I mean if we want to go back in during this round and kind of like truly answer Richard's question of
you know why like give us the reasons why Strelis is going to win, I mean yeah, Yabi is one guy you
point out and say his resurgence within the team, I think you also point at Stair and say he's
continued strong performance for this team that has just been consistent over the course of
years, you know, like he's another player that's performing well.
Fuzzi, a promising young offer who has the capacity for incredible games as we saw
versus Spirit at the ESL Pro League playoffs.
And then you go to Hooksie as an IGL and just a strong tactician and someone who,
when we see Astralis lately come into games,
Hooksie has them seemingly well prepared and everyone on the same page in terms of
how they want to approach the game.
So yeah, there's so many positives that go towards the direction of Astralis.
Yeah, at the start of the year, at the start of the season, we've heard a lot of coaches
and players saying they've been impressed with the level of structure Charles has been
able to get together quickly.
Let's see how long that goes towards.
Hooks is the in-game leader, but also the coaching staff.
Henry was singing the praises of Mighty Max.
There's an ounce to be won by the assistant coaches over there.
Skip the head coach, one straight to the assistant coach.
I mean, here's someone that has just been recently added into the team.
we know rugby for a while. Yeah, I remember listening to Henry. I'm making a little bit of a joke.
He's touching on his experience of no one mighty max from the UK scene, obviously. I mean, I think it was all in the context of
endpoint, all the different players that had come through that organization. Yeah. But also the fact that ruga is still, you
know, he's been a part of this team and it wasn't going very well. So you know, obviously the recent changes to roster
has all come together. Rug as a whole career has been on teams where things haven't been going well. Some years at OG, like
trying to build lineups that we're going to be able to compete and was never able to get the players. So this is
This has got to be a great feeling for him finally having a squad that is improving to the degree of being able to compete internationally and then now he's got a chance to prove his value as a coach and if he can help Astralis get over the line to start winning trophies again because this organization as Richard had said six years since we could speak super positively about the Astralis organization.
Man, it's crazy. I think it's been that long.
I could start here for eyeballers.
Jake Delbs with that opening kill turn in the corner
He's been playing ill throughout this events
Let the go say hi to him for the first time in the years after their playoff qualification wouldn't even shake my hand
He's just been sick wouldn't touch Anders
Boxy's got a lot of attention headed this way doesn't realize the timing of sick tour
Yeah, maybe he was lying the whole time maybe he was just like
You just see you ever
Miss you who you again?
45 seconds left and hard loaders going to be going into this B bomb so we got
scare on shore it's gonna be all fell into stairs right fault but Maxter and
JW coming in to collapse upon this B bomb site yeah there was a chance there
to hold on to it even a couple of those kills Fuzzi's brought one back no more
mistakes that made gonna go a little bit deep to take down Maxter great damage
onto decks but two versus three and they're entrenched in this B bomb site
I think more than likely Astralis just set up and play for the exit kills.
And even though it's not going the way of Astralis, so Iblos can be really happy about this first time taking the guns out for a spin.
Working out very well over towards that B bomb site.
Yeah, good shooting and good opening provided by JW scaling up short and just taking a hard flight on the swing.
It's got that jersey buttoned up all the way to the top.
It's business time.
2-1 here in this quarter final series.
Winner as we just saw would go on to play 3D Max
in the next semi-final and really looking at the brackets
as the desk has talked about a couple of times as well.
Astralis has the red carpet to the grand final.
It feels laid out, especially with some of the struggles
we saw at a 3D Max earlier.
You gotta feel like they're gonna be favorites from this side.
Another opening provided by J-Dubbs.
It's a little rough that it was there.
It looked like it should have been able to take that kill.
JW was given a lot of time to compose himself to win that fight.
Oh, look at this move.
Yeah, look at it.
It's already out to a sandwich.
That's such a surprise here for your flawless defense.
That's another angle, another layer to this story is, you know,
this is a team that a lot of the top squads aren't going to be familiar with.
There's a certain level of familiarity you gain in the pro scene from practicing
and playing so many officials against squads.
You get a sense of the different players and their timings and their decision making,
how they approach different scenarios, how they play in clutches,
that's all information you don't have if you're Astralis against Eyeballers.
So all of this is, this is gonna, this can feel like a very weird game to the Astralis guys.
And that, that sort of angle of things opens it up to a little bit more of a conversation about the upset.
Also the angle about the fact that Astralis is playing with the pressure of being a team that should be winning this event at this point,
or at least making the final.
Yeah, but you know what, if you can't handle that pressure in a quarter final against Eyeballers?
Yeah, I don't know what to tell you, but what I'm saying from the other perspective is that eyeballers don't have any expectations or pressure whatsoever.
Well, they'd already probably exceeded expectations to a certain degree, right?
Everything from here is the cherry on top of that Sunday.
We're tied at two and quickly the money for Astralis gets depleted out of that pistol round victory.
Too straight for eyeballers and Astralis sits back on USPs.
Yeah, it should be no problem here for I've both double smoked.
That's very smoke.
The window is very, very smoked.
Well, now's the round to make the mistake.
Smoke in towards Con.
Bob's just gonna scale up short.
Uh, lazy clear of lateral room, but they wanted to hustle past it and get into this execute,
holds the trigger down.
kill rounds done I stubble from Bob so three to two I ballers gain an early
lead is here is your heart open back up yet dingo
that's why it closed down halfway through the pistol but yeah I mean
Bob and W have brought it right now yeah it's beating again
they know what he was doing what he can yep that's stylish
okay most three kills easy peasy I think it's it's good to see them getting on
the border early because
I think if you're an underdog like this, and you go down early and you let Astralis get going when all the gun rounds in the first five rounds, you've got this huge lead already building for Astralis, all the wind in their sails, I think it's so much more difficult to get back into the game.
So at least there's some success here for eyeballs in the first few gun rounds.
Well, I think they did a good job of, you know, we talk about it all the time and these kind of underdog matchups, especially the extreme underdogs, is you got to make Astralis respect you first.
first and I think in these first five rounds they've done just that and you got to get the sense that you've accomplished it
Forcing this early time out of Astralis. It's not any kind of like panic timeout, but certainly certainly something that a
Hooksy and in rug are gonna try and put a stamp on now to get things going before this hole gets any deeper
one kit on Ryu no AWP out for the CT side same for the T side though sticking with all AKs
stairs stepping out through the flames having to get back he's got 31 health now it's a
defending player of the connector yeah it's kind of an issue especially because he's gonna look
like the next support of element over to the B bomb site when this hit eventually comes in.
It's already weakened to an MP9 as well as the main defender of the B site.
Oh, here they come.
Running into the B bomb site, it's Yabbi who's up short.
There goes Maxster.
He's done well to get one, but then burns away.
Stairt does die, but Yabbi's still around here with the M4.
Yeah, but they know he's here.
They know he's in the location.
Yeah, there was no play for him to make.
Fosey gets one through the smoke, but that's not going to change anything whatsoever.
So Highballer is breaking through to another one on this B-Bomb site.
Yeah, and I mean if you don't get a kill in the next like five seconds like you kind of got to save.
Gonna try and sneak through this smoke. Bob not really paying to tell guys. Just try to spam at the angle.
Do they really want to commit to this?
I mean, time is really ticking and there's still so many positions to clear out.
I think you should try and get away right now. Even with that kills up, out they go. Save those weapons and...
Highballers are up to four.
Yeah, really well done. Just a quick hit towards the B bomb site when they sense they had it.
J.W. is going to try and take some M4s away at the end, but they entrench themselves on the stairs and don't go anywhere else.
They can hear the footsteps of J.W. into the bomb site, nobody peeking.
And J.W. goes down. Doesn't clear hard right. AK-47 given over to Fozip.
So 4-2. A lead for eyeballers.
Starting to be able to work the map. A couple good plays in middle.
opening kills provided, scaling up short, and then you switch into just an overwhelming hit at the B bomb site through the halls.
Only success that Stralis has had has been the pistol round and the ensuing. Outside of that, it's been all eyeballers.
They take a timeout out of the victory heading into this next gun round, so they're going to make Stralis consider their options.
Actually, see me, not next gun round, just...
Couple forceps around the two saved rifles.
I feel like J.W. would have had some very important words to give to his team before
this went live with the position that he's in as a leadership figure.
It would be cool to ask him what exactly he said to the team to get them motivated for this matchup to get them playing well.
Overwhelming Palace this time.
Forrest Troll has two plays charging forward.
I ball is realized they've lost significant control of that.
They're just going to pause. That is going to slow this round down a lot, probably.
They have so much to worry about now.
Just got to be conscious of it.
And obviously coming back in, plenty of time to deal with it.
You want to force the defense back.
So yeah, gonna deploy a smoke and you aren't gonna want to pressure that whatsoever, but
it's information gained and the option might be available to you later on in the round.
They still have time to traverse to the other side of the map.
Astralis they're doing a good job of not peeking, not getting anything over for free.
So if eyeballers don't start making their move, actually I'll say this, this is a lot
of resources kind of stalled out doing mostly nothing on the map while all this is going
on towards Palace.
So Astralis is doing a good job of chewing so much time off the clock.
Well, Stair does get taken out eventually as Rolf steps into Palace to deal with that threat.
45 seconds left and it is going to be an eyeball as finished towards this A site.
Some split potential later on in the round.
J.W. is the AWPer is just cutting rotations off towards top mid.
Yeah, he's not going to be aggressive.
You won't see him splitting towards Con whatsoever.
He wants to stay far, far back.
Good kill from Bob, providing the openings necessary.
28 seconds, so plenty of time.
One goes down, trades as they turn the corner and there's J.W. with an easy pounce and an easy kill.
kill. Eyeballers continue their winning ways up by three.
I mean you got a little bit of a loving missed start.
Here comes the next level up. We've got Astralis getting the off out for Fusey,
everybody else is going to have the rightful day of desire and plenty of utility now arriving for
Astralis. So this is the big obstacle to see if Eyeballers can get around it over it or through
it. And if they can, if they can put another round even against this full buy when everything's
fully flashed out. Who knows how far they could go in terms of this initial start.
Yeah, you could just get buried if you can't close this one.
Astralis put a lot of focus on mid early exchange of utility.
Bob's trying to find a chance at it, but Bozy from the underpass grabs the quick kill.
Opening provided, Astralis up into 5 on 4. Now he's got to find an escape route.
Max just bought a hook, so you're trying to put pressure on the Strollers in-game leader.
Keep Hooksy down on the bomb side, he's not giving up any chances here, no peeks towards
Max just as soon as he does, Max just has a few shots, so he realizes he's got a threat
up in the apartment to worry about.
J.W. will start making his way out through the underpass.
Oh, stairs coming window.
Timing I don't think would be with J.W. but he wants to peek into the A bomb site.
He's alone in the middle.
So again, can't imagine any aggression coming from this position.
Much like Lastron, a supportive element is meant to just be a nuisance in the middle of the map.
But this is a long time from to hang out having to think about a catwalk push, a window peek.
peek just now resmokes window which kind of shows to Astralis a mid control is
coming in. Fuzzi goes into the peek bottom connector Jw knocked away Dex is
going to reply but you still got Rio being burnt out of position Dex with a
follow-up kill has drawn this back to even numbers. Astralis trying to rotate
over there got two players coming through CT one of them stare and he's looking
for that cross into the bomb site now the plant is not committed to just yet
for eyeballers. Rolf is going to put that through now and he's planted it for the Stanton
Jungle post plant position. So it's strong if they can get into the spots and they are
in those spots currently but they're being forced out of them. Yabbi spans through the
connector and now we've got Maxter getting taken down upon the push as well. So Astralis
will retake and find an important round victory here and put an end to the streak of eyeballers.
Yeah, nice retake coming from CT spawn just as the bomb gets planted and you realize the
The planter is going to be in a moment of transition where he's trying to find cover.
Once he gets into that safety, the retake gets so much more difficult.
So really good timing for Astralis to hit.
Helped out obviously in the opening kill to follow up from Fozzi.
The off-do and work in this round for Astralis.
The perfect amount of impacts.
Good protocols and good scaling and a good job from iBallers getting into the bomb site.
But a better retake.
Yavi, just a beast, double kill on it.
Five to three for iBallers and they buy back up.
There's still money in the bank for another investment in round ten as well if iBallers need it.
Different story for Astralis, it'll depend on how much they can save in a losing effort if they're able to continue buying and continue fighting.
to be a really strong blow to deal to Astralis if I ballers can pull it off a round win to
take plenty of guns away give yourself an advantage and then you might even be able
to just run away with the second half or I mean the rest of the half.
This is I-Ballers map pick of Mirage showing good things on it so far.
Three players in middle, Maxter just coming back from the B-Halls now.
Bombers and T spawn so no decision quite yet for I-Ballers.
Minute left on the clock.
Now look like this split coming through Khan.
Foze's AWP is here and in position.
We got Dex making his way up towards Yabbi.
Stare also, silencing what would be an eyeballer's attempt towards this haste-side split,
but the players haven't even come out of ramp yet and the connector contingent is already dead,
so much more like what we were expecting here.
Astralis putting a stop to eyeballers moving forward.
Yeah, it really feels like Astralis has settled this down to quite a degree.
They look very comfortable in this round.
So I ballers will have to go on a little bit of a run to disjoint that again if they
can.
Five rounds already is a good place to be, just scrape together one more.
Another buy coming in moving forward, Max are going to save the AK-47, moving over into
Palace for the safety.
But Astralis coming right back, the early effort from my ballers is fantastic and now
we're seeing the response from the favourites adapting, adjusting and clawing back into things,
one round back now. Yeah, I don't think we got to be too stressed about the start. You
know, you can get a hot lead on mirage and get those T side rounds going. But for Astralis,
the fact that when the money came back and they got the yelp out for the first time that
they went two rounds in a row, they're starting to chip away at the money. If they win this
one, they're going to get that break they've been looking for. Four side ballers down to
some weaker weapons again and Astralis will have a tied game so see if that is
the case I've always had one last chance to really try and extend from these five
rounds they picked up in a row yeah there really shouldn't be any calls for
panic for Astralis so over the past month they've done on a pretty good run
and I've got some pretty good wins under the belt that should let them know
they're on the right path wins over the Mongols wins over Bates undefeated here
in the PGL Bucharest group stage wins over foot over spirit back at ESL Pro League
over Fury IDSL Pro League. They've got a lot of very strong winds, so no cause for panic.
Oh, good kill from Dex at least. Had a couple of those in the last round didn't lead to anything though.
Hoping that this time it's a different story.
No minute on the clock stare looking to block out connector really important role here on the CT side. He can get nothing
Yeah, be all transitions to the jungle player does damage to him
But doesn't bring him down so eyeballers do remain competitive
In fact, they keep four players up and the game to the A side
So it's gonna be six to four and eyeballs loving the fact is that they win this one so cleanly too, right?
They don't lose too many players just the single so they can build money up again
Yeah, really cool scene as well around like this too where it's like it's not just it's not just eyeballers winning off some of that momentum
It's you know, it's Rallis just rattled off to in a row start of looking comfortable
And you're still able to snatch around away from them very cool stuff from eyeballers so far here in mirage
Little bit of a hunt to try and find the all-puff fozy, but not ultra dedicated to it at the moment
And they're content to let them have the AWP for the next round six to four two rounds remaining in this opening half
I baller is making a bit of a statement that they're not just going to be any kind of a rollover squad.
A double offset up now picked up for Astralis. It's actually, yep, it's passed over to Hooksy as the secondary offer.
So Hooksy gonna position himself at the B bomb site which is gonna allow them to put that
Fourth player on a rifle to be a little bit more mobile around the map and not be super concerned about the B halls
Now moving down the ramp as a unit
You've got Yabi over in ladder room, Stare there in support, taking some attention, Yabi's
got the first kill, dodges the flash, but Nade in hand, nothing he can do is bob swings
in, middle of the map controlled by eyeballers, in a position they can exploit as they move
quickly and swiftly and decisively towards the P-bomb site.
But it's Hooksie who's going to step up with the AWP and he's just not going to be able
to make that happen, so he had two shots at that, couldn't take anybody down, now Stare
arrived hoping his rotation is going to be effective enough but he's just spraying bullets
and not really connecting any of them so you got eyeballers two players on very low HP
grenade's going to go in, ball's going to dodge that but he can't dodge the plant,
he's forcing the open, Fuzzi gets the frag but Fuzzi's now going to clutch.
A 1v3 total would be 4 and he's uh, switched out to the right fall but there's no bullets
in that and he just ends up getting flanked out by J.W.
I mean, if you're eyeball is you're absolutely loving the performance you're putting on the server right now. I love seeing J. W.
You still just be like a sneaky little round of a player as you know, like he has his presence. I'm sure it clears out the player the back of the side
reposition through the ladder room to wrap around.
Just the game IQ for J. W. is so high.
Get open and kill for Yavi, but not able to build anything off of it again. It's like the quick pace. It's when that's happening.
I baller is one of these teams right now that are just really trying to exploit the gaps they create as fast as possible
And not let the experience in the game plan of Astralis ever kick in
Astralis isn't giving any chances to read the game and get ahead of the play because I ballers is always escalating
Well this time to bring the fights to the infusion instead of taking the first two kills almost immediately as soon as the round begins
Real holding on and spraying away for a second. So last round the half will go Astralis's direction
And we have fifth round being collected here for the CT side.
I don't think Astralis is going to be too happy about this first half whatsoever.
No, but at least you got something positive right at the end, right?
Like, at least you scraped this round together.
Still, I don't think like panic is anything, but certainly they're going to understand
they've got a huge task in the second half ahead of them.
What a great opening.
What a great first look in these quarterfinals of eyeballers.
Seven to five lead over Astralis.
We're going to switch sides and see what the defense can do, see what Hooksy can marshal
his troops into for an offensive campaign here.
Ten kills on Bob, ten kills on Dex, nine on JW, those three leading the way, JW with
plenty of initial kills, opening kills I should say, especially at the start of the half.
The first two gun rounds won by all ballers were started by JW getting opening kills
and middle so him as that kind of veteran leadership presence able to get
them started on the right foot really cool to see and there's the ultra layer
too of I mean much like what we just had with 3d max in the previous the
conversation about them like the whole goal of that team when it began was
revitalizing the French scene and having a French team obviously the same story
over with eyeballers the entire point of this was JW starting this team in this
organization to to get Swedish counter strike back on the map because they
dropped off the face of the earth. Well they really did and for a while and
Fusi's coming back he's kind of having his own sort of return to form in his
own career obviously but bringing the Swedish player to the crowd in Stockholm
and the last couple events at Pro League and he gives them a show he won a
really impressive series against Spirit where he was the star of the show. It's
It's good to see the Swedes entering the server again these days.
We've got J.W. waiting down in the other pass, and it's off a good opening here on staff.
Trying to get a second as well, reuse, applying pressure as teammates.
Go on, but J.W. had one bullet left in that USP, and he's picked it up.
Now he's looking for his next target towards middle.
Now Hoaxey's running him down, looking to try and force him away.
J.W. is handling the pressure, though.
There's the bomb at his feet, and J.W. is laying down the lock.
Yeah, he is. You gotta love seeing this out of JW. Okay, this one's tough though.
Yabby creeping up close timing. This angle might be unexpected, but he swings into the angle.
Beautiful shot. And it's JW to control the situation, to control this pistol round.
This is what you're asking for, you know, coming into a game today. We're talking about JW back in
the playoffs and he's actually performing really well. It's all you can ask for.
Good to see him have a big pistol round here, some nice shots, even Hooksy just tries, I've had enough of J.W. getting kills in underpass, runs at him and J.W. handles that pressure too.
8-5 up, I-Ballers have won the pistol round, coming into the second half. It's going to be an eco here for Astralis, they did not get close to the bomb plant there.
So I-Ballers can start to pull away here on the CT side.
Yeah, they really can build up some money and just bury Astralis and it's gonna be a great chance here to build up plenty of bonus money
Showing the bomb towards the B bomb site trying to get a shift with that sound cue and it ain't gonna work
One more comes out of Palace
Two quick kills make it four and hook see alone with the bomb so nine to five
Eyeballers are gonna be just four rounds away from a map one victory
Crazy to think about it
It feels like the engine, we've been waiting for it to start here for us all, it's just
not going, it's just not moving right now.
Which is interesting, you have some of your big time players with a decent amount of kills,
Fuzzy's got a Fuzzy, Fuzzy, Fuzzy, Fuzzy, he's got 12 kills, stairs got 10, Rios got
You've got a decent amount of kills, but I think just like the impact and the pace that I ballers brought out within the first half
Was really just catching him off guard. This is this that first half wasn't one and lost by frags
It was one and lost by I ballers getting in before those frags even really mattered for retaking the bomb site
Oh
What a damaged landing towards Yabbi
You know JW waiting up in the apartments. There's gonna be plenty of players come to test his site
See if JW can display his might just the one kill and stare to trade him
efficiently moving into the B site and yeah you gotta save. Look how far away
the rest of the eyeballs are. Three MP9 still as well. Interesting them kind of
stacking up I think maybe the weaker weapons made them feel like they had the
group up towards one of the bomb sites and they just selected the wrong one. Now
if you can set up in a round like this and get some exit kills I think you'd
need a few more players over in the B halls to join up with Bob. He'd probably
have to scale a little bit further. You can get some upgrades to AK-47s.
If Hooksy gets distracted here, he's going to go down to Bob.
Oh, he turns! What a good read, but not fast enough.
Trying to get back out. We're going to make some money.
And still handling Max, and Bob also going down. So that's the release valve.
You can move forward, you can save comfortably enough, and carry those three rifles on over.
Actually, they handled that really well, Astralis. That could have been a disaster down the stretch with the two MP9s.
They got the smoke up at a pretty decent timing as well. One kill, they could have stemmed the tide coming through that smoke and sloggered Astralis, almost there for eyeballers.
But they buy back in because they got plenty of cash. So, AWP on JW, MP9 and M4s otherwise for eyeballers.
I think they're going to be clearing out underpass and maybe forcing back any presence in mid
or any connector presence before they return to the B-bomb, but yeah with the bomb being
dropped at the base of the halls it feels like that's the end point.
a challenge and put some pressure on with just a single player show and
execute but not commit to it look at all the counter utility they forced out
Astralis is saying we've set ourselves up perfectly for the late round if we
want to go to the B bomb site all the counternades are gone. Wanting to open
up on some plays available through the window and looks like I've always want
the information they want to see what mid is looking like but as they move
forward and they take those risks both of those kills go the way of Astralis so
You've fallen into a 3v5 here if your eyeball is and this is where Astralis have just a minute to work with they've got
Time and they've got the advantages in the player department. So gonna be tough for Astralis to lose this round now
I think I think Bob just put it together though. I think Bob just realized nobody's in there
They're coming back to the B bombsite. This kill is gonna secure that piece of information
So Jw a great chance to have impact. There's no smoke for this position. Jw can pick them apart
Well Jw comes back to the AWP. He doesn't strike first. He waits until he can connect Bob is in position
and look at good for I ballers they pulled this way back and it's Bob doing what he does best a
Multi-off short and we've got hook see dropping down into the site with 15 HP
He is not gonna be able to catch up Jw with further impact on the AW and this is looking fantastic
From I ballers way more competitive than we thought this was going to be man
Give so much credit over to Bob
It's a it's a it's a risk in the three versus four to go hunting for information off short like that
but when he gets it, pieces together the information perfectly.
JW is shifting through CT spawn to the A bomb site, starts pulling him back.
That kill secured what the information was correct, but they're already in position.
With no utility left, JW's just got a shooting gallery.
Double kill from the captain on the AWP, 10-6.
JW's not gonna miss those easy ones.
I'll tell you what, another timeout from Astralis, and I think this one is time for Panic.
Eyeballer's now three rounds away, and they're not giving you any room to work with.
It would be a disastrous, disastrous situation for Strauss to lose the opening map of this quarterfinal.
Eyeballers, they have got to be so happy with themselves right now. 15 kills, eight deaths for JW.
McFletcher rolling back to the years, but he really is.
He is certainly known to be an offer.
There's Charmin in, shot after shot as they come into that B bomb site and now 10, 6.
Let's see if I-Ballers can keep this up.
Got an AK for Fruzy.
I mean look at the advantage they have in around like this, 2-Tek-9 and a D-Gull, Galilla
as well.
We're up in advantage over to I-Ballers.
Their biggest concern at the moment is economy.
It's not at a full-blown breaking point, it's not pretty in any sense either.
Another round where you want to try and have a very clean victory, that's kind of a priority
at the moment.
It's going to be maxed around short.
He'll peek off at some point to help kind of try and fight towards Con.
That smoke is going to obscure his vision.
Three defenders here, four eyeballers.
They're in the right places. Now it's all about landing the shots.
Ah, Dex pulls an eight. Fuzzi's gonna capitalize on that chance and push it towards the jungle.
Now they know they have Rolf pinned. The Tec9 are gonna finish him off.
Riyu primed and ready. Takes the headshot and JW having to retreat back and towards CT.
But Bob is now left to get a chance there. That was very exposed up from Hoxie, but not fully punished.
He loves to cancel the plant, but Fuzzi going down and 3v3 now establishes that
ballpark is coming through this time.
Oh, that's a huge kill and even a bigger one from Yabi.
And now the off can't get away.
Yabi is going to try and put a stop to this retreat.
It's got utility at least blocking out the burger
hole and J. W. Go to jump on by and even then Yabi spamming
down his retreat.
Oh, I think I think I think I ballers actually played that
pretty well once it got into the three on three.
You felt like you've kind of stalled out the plan.
You've sold out all their utility.
You have a ton of good advantages.
Great kill from Hooksie through the edge of the box.
And great kill from Yabi as he stands his ground.
But really, I mean, a solid initial defense,
but again, another situation where
a Nade is pulled out after one single kill.
Like, we're trying to be two-cover with utility.
It's just a micro mistake in one-one player,
and yeah, that just sets up the...
It's the first dominant to fall,
because then the underwood player
is put under too much pressure,
Ryu's able to peek in and take him down with attack nine.
I
Well look at the situation you mentioned the money
You can't buy again here eyeballs
Yeah
Well, I mean they might have been able to force one out if they hadn't just got you know wiped out of the map
Right if two weapons save you can go for but that's certainly now again with economy being such a concern
I like that they haven't invested a whole lot here
Couple zoos is picked up picked up on a Maxter and Dex
57 on JW
I was going to hear the steps going past, Dex, you just let him go a little bit too far,
but that would be too effective and then you would be able to wash him connector, so...
Yeah, that was too perfect.
Yeah, exactly what Astralis would have wanted in that scenario, Rolf at least getting one
of the USP nice reaction there from Fuzzi the deagle, just blinding Rolf, we've got
Max to just wedding back. He's gonna be pushed by Sarah look at make some money on the Mac 10 and you'll do exactly that
All right, it's in the Swedes getting hyped up a little bit of internal smack talk to get the energy up a notch
It's 10 to 8 I think Peter just called for a time out as well could see them lean in put the mic down conversation. He's got something
He's got an idea that he's gonna relate to the team now
closing end of the map often where we see the underdogs struggle the most is
that understanding of how to close out games so Astralis with another thrust
here to close the gap on the scoreboard it's 10 to 8 a two-round lead for
eyeballers coming out of this timeout no open the field for JW no kids on board
for eyeballers either and three the last four in the favor of Astralis means
it I mean much like the first half it feels like this is a stretch that
settles them down. Now in the first half they didn't last very long as the problem.
So what comes next?
Well, fist bumps in. As I bowlers saved for this one, they wanted to get a better vibe
and instead of wasting one in the last round and forcing out something that was not very
likely to work. So let's see if that conservative approach pays off.
Strollers have got to feel like this is an opportunity to finally get into the game.
It feels like they're doing just enough to stay alive in it, but it's never felt like
they're fully here yet on Mirage.
Yeah, they haven't really, yeah, I know what you mean.
Or maybe this is the turning point.
I think a round win here surely, because you'd take over in terms of, you'd break the economy
yet again, you'd start going on, you probably have a four round streak.
You've also got a load of money.
You're looking at a 5k on Fuzi right now, real with 5k as well.
And you have a Hoaxi.
And you have a Hoaxi, who's always wanting to take your head.
So smoke up into the apartments, gonna haul a shot back from now, a bit of a fake towards
the A bomb site, we'll see if that adjusts to the fences.
Well that kill is certainly going to help that, so JW all getting the trades is really
important there on Fuzi.
A re-smoke coming in to block the apartments for Bob.
Looked like they were just about to move through too,
so good timing on that smoke.
I break it, oh, big fight, big fight for JW to win.
That's the mid player, Hooks, he has a lurker,
no longer involved in the action.
Yep, 3B.
Yeah, he's got the AWP out,
and I think it's for us to have to figure out
how do we actually win this round?
Where do we go?
And it is a backtracking.
It's the AWP, it's JW with another one.
JW with heavy impact on the server today.
Off to the ace.
Here he is, and he's working out connector now utility dropping 15 seconds
They've got a go so he's throwing all his utility to try to slow them down
Jake W off of the edge!
There he is!
He does it with some style! Really rolling it back!
Jake W with flair in the server, returns to the playoffs for the first time in years
and still styling on the tier one stage
Welcome back, Jake W, putting your mark on this opening map, a strong ace in a must-win round
The equalizing kill, finding Hooksy late in an unexpected fight, but then picking up the
AWP and doing your best work.
It's classic J.W.
Yes it is.
He is going to be loving this experience, we've heard him talk about how much he's
missed being here, he was tweeting when he got to the event, how excited he was to just
play it to one event, so now he's really making the most of it.
He's dead here at the start of this round though, who's he getting some revenge?
Great to hear his mentality about how he doesn't feel like he needs to show himself to the
the wall up anymore, he's already done that.
He wants to be the level, had the experienced player
for this roster so the youth can really show up,
but my goodness, J.W. is showing himself off right now.
20 kills for J.W.
Out of action here, four on five for eyeballers,
so can the inexperienced team put it together
without the experienced player?
You need this kill, good job, Dex, hunting it down,
showing some courage.
I hear they come and stroll us into the A site.
It's only Rolf at default.
Yeah, you better hope that he can step up here
If your eyeball is this utility in place,
this shot's a roll.
Hasn't been able to do anything now.
Re-e clears him out.
So the A site is open.
KW is hard working the previous round
about to be undone.
You need Bob to get a couple kills from this position.
Trying to swing a little bit wider.
Open up the angle, he had the opportunity.
They weren't paying attention.
And now he knows one's over at the boxes as well.
Nate towards Ryu, deals tons of damage.
Here's the flank around the back.
Maxim needs both.
He needs both kills here.
Fusy reacts, turns around, but Max just got both kills.
Oh, no, it is!
Max did with a beautiful triple kill.
And Yabbi up in Palace, as strong as Catcatcher breaks,
they are not meeting the firepower of high ballers.
J.W. loves it, looking down the line.
The kids are playing so well.
The information pieced together from CT spawned,
so Max is ready for the third fight.
A disgusting reaction.
He very easily could have been distracted by the AWP,
just kind of sticking out,
and not been ready for that first fight.
What an incredible triple kill.
Incredible work for Max.
And this is where J.W. going down first.
Max, the recovery is coming in on the flank.
The second's beautiful, but the third is perfect.
And Max just goes on to secure the 4K as well onto Yappy.
But Stralis, every single time they think they're out of the woods,
that they finally got into the game,
the eyeball has shut that door in their face.
It was J.W. with an ace, and now Max with a 4K.
incredible firepower on display from i-ballers and they are charging towards the first map victory in this quarter final
They've got the opening kill astralis trying to get on towards the ace side, but texas got another he's just following up
Everybody's on the server having a great time from i-ballers and all eyes on the swings
They take the opening map astralis left stunned to kick off the quarter final
I think we're all stunned uh
incredible scenes. JW rolling back to his. He said yesterday he was delusional. Maybe he's not.
Maybe he's a genius. He's got it, baby. Sometimes, sometimes a little bit of madness is what you
need in life, Rich. And I'm all for it. JW on land. I don't think that that ace was that was it.
Right there. You knew this game's done. This map's done. Imagine the year of our war 2026. JW
on land, distant to Astralis. I mean, good Lord. If someone would have told you that years ago,
you'd be wondering what the heck had happened in life.
Man, he's crushing.
This is something you say in 2016.
You're like, yeah, this could happen 10 years later,
and he's still giving them the beams.
This is insane for my ball.
Oh, man.
You got a little bit of everything from him, too.
The classy, quick switch nose scopes.
Yeah.
This is a little bit of everything.
Hitting the easy shots and the hard shots.
Also, while we are glazing on JW quite a bit, as we should,
I do want to give a shout out to Bob FD.
You're going to build up this game.
We were kind of hoping he would have his moment.
He was a big star for them and some other competition and he did our eyes on this one
Bro that that fly for Maxxer as well. This attack he fights all four kills without anything is ridiculous
But look, I know JW kind of stole his show right there rich
But for me it was a team effort everyone was dialed in decks in the first half on the T side finding so many
Openers Bob XT we touched upon him as well and even Maxxer who was Maxxer was very quiet
He only had like I believe like six or five kills to the very end of the game
He had that pretty much game-winning flying coming in from ramp as well
so an incredible showing. I didn't see this coming. Also, I feel bad. Analyst
curse towards talking up Yabbi and how he's been back in this new star role on
the CP side and it's been really good. Not today. Unfortunately, really didn't
show up. I mean, no one really did have been staring Fuzi. It was a tough day at
the office for the favorites on this one. Yeah, I'm gonna just say it though. I
mean, I think I ball is they just look sharper, right? I mean, you know, they had
very clear idea ideas about what they wanted to do on the map. They had, you
The aim was just so unbelievably crisp even when they had the wrong read
They brute-forced their way through shots like there was that one around on the A side
And you were talking to me about in the green they kill hook see and you know who sees a B player
They still walk into a stack of just a wreck like jw was crying there with the graphic on the side
He's crying for all the strawle fans right now rich good. Listen jw would just be doing everything. It was everywhere, bro
There it is again. I'm sorry
just see it man like this is what he does and it what you have given credit
for at the tender age of 31 years old is like his wife Lynn's actually been
crazy bro that's he looks good like he looks sharp and I mean again like when
he was beaten up on you know maybe smaller sweetest teams or you know
doing it online maybe you don't really glance at a bunch and the reality is
he's actually playing better at this event and it's better opposition than he
was playing and some of the other stuff that I've always done in smaller
events and that's just like you know a guy who aged like fine one who shows up when the pressure's called
You know normally young teams that play aggressive play styles they get titted whenever they go up against the big apartment
Not when you got JW at the helm. Let's look at this. This is it. This is I remember JW nosco, baby
The only thing missing here was a knife. You know, just a flying knife. That's the only thing missing from the price
If we don't talk about it's easy if you bring the cc back JW might be fully on my best player in the world
Look, listen, I'm pleasantly surprised, I'm pleasantly shocked.
This was such a great game.
And even like, you know, ignoring some of the fragging out from the team, you can talk
about a couple of rounds, but it had such good, like this one round in particular, this is,
I believe, five versus four.
You're going to get the opening kill on the Jw.
I forget who it was.
They get another kill.
Look at what Bobax does here.
Single hand lead goes for a risky.
He's like, I need to go for a risky play.
He calls it a guy's mid-NT is probably going to be a B hit.
They find the lurk towards A, JW, calm, patient.
They're walking through the trap.
Bobbockx, he does such a good job here,
playing around at the pillar,
getting the second kill as well.
And if he didn't go for the play towards mid,
find the info, this round's lost, right?
But the moment he knows there's no one mid,
there's no one short,
the most obvious hit is gonna be B,
because otherwise you're gonna be having someone
coming out of connector, there's gonna be an A hit,
they kill the lurk, JW immediately pivots back
towards the B bomb site,
doesn't even take the flick shot,
waits for the easy kill, beautiful stuff.
Yeah, I mean, just kind of like dig deeper
into what you're talking about.
It's just like good team play across the board.
You know, it's taken initiative when you're behind in the round.
You know that you have to do something as you've indicated.
But it's also a rulf, like getting the communication,
understanding what he needs to do to get the information on a ramp.
The fact that JW now knows he can freely rotate with the opt-to-be.
The fact that Astralis had no utility left to block off his op.
It's little things like that that sometimes young teams just don't have, right?
The ability to communicate intense moments in the mid-round.
And they were able to just play clean CS.
We can look at the ace again.
I want to see that, yeah.
Yeah, I want to see that.
I brought his highlight up, not to break it down,
I just want to watch it again, that's all.
He does it with the rifle, gets the ARP out,
they rotate into him, and of course,
the nose scope, the cherry on top.
Just, I mean, again, like you saw him laughing after that
because it's like, you know, it shouldn't be happening,
but it is, and you know, he said that he wants to get back
to play him in stadiums again, you know.
It's the same, maybe you know something we don't.
And it's also, again, you got to contextualize it with the fact that he was the first MVP
winner, champion and MVP, right, in 2013 December, it's been 13 years and he's still
popping off like this against a team right now who is probably, you know, top seven,
top eight in the world.
Just build high his imagination, Rich.
All right, we got to do it.
Like our heads are in the clouds.
We've been celebrating.
Let's talk about ancient.
What's up with ancient now?
No, we got to talk about a paddling on extra Alice, bro.
Like, what are you doing?
Yeah.
What are you doing?
You're on the top end of the bracket against the weaker side of the opposition.
You are one of the favorites to win this tournament.
You have zero excuses not to make this grand final considering the field that you're up
against on the side of the bracket and hold the phone.
You're one map away from getting eliminated on the weaker side of the bracket top eight.
I mean, that's unacceptable if you're a Strasz.
Not after what we saw at EPL.
Well, not after what we've seen all year long.
What did you observe that they were doing wrong though?
They just look so cold.
Like I mean, just for one, you know, they're other than stair and a couple of rounds from
Fuzzi like they just look totally off.
I think even whenever they had the right positioning, they still weren't able to capitalize.
I'll give one example, JW in the second pistol round in underpass by himself with a USB gets three kills doesn't get traded
Barely takes any damages. Well, that should never be happening, right?
And he talked about yeah, be sure he got unlucky a couple of times
But he was just I agree with it just completely cold everyone on the side of eyeballs looks so very sharp
And there's one round I think hooks it with a secondary AWP towards a B bombsite whiffs an easy shot and right there
I'm like this is not looking good guys
It looked like a desperation play coming out as well and sure it is eyeball is mapping, but he just go back the last time
Sorry, it is eyeball is my pick but look at last time Astralis paid Mongols, right?
They look the domineering dominant on this particular map and it just seems like a completely different team here
So if they don't wake up despite the fact that they are heavily favorite and ancient things you get very messy here
Well, let's set up ancient men. I mean obviously we've still got Astralis is the favorites
Oh, absolutely
Especially for this map. I mean they're undefeated on this map so far with this five and they've beaten some really good teams
seems to be in paravision,
foot, Mongols spirit like they
have really been crushing it on
ancient new laws for eyeballs.
Even against lesser competition.
It's been kind of a 5050 math.
If you kind of look through the
results in what we need to see
from Astralis to make sure they
can keep themselves alive in this
series that we need to continue to
see stair playing well because this
guy dominates mid on both portions
of the map and all the ones that
they've had this year.
He's been so efficient and I think
what's also helped is that hooks.
He's allowing himself to kind of
come in and sacrifice four stare in
some ways and the other big thing
They just have such a dynamic defense, but one of the teams will like throw four riflers at middle defensively issues like really crazy antics
So I just need to see them come out, you know in form and play the way that we're used to seeing the way when the payments
Mongols they were actually they had a very very slow starter T side
I think was eight one up for the Mongols or something
But when you switch over to the CT side is when they just completely locked it down getting the win against the Mongols as well
So the city side very very solid, but I agree with Dustin
They don't get off to a decent start on the T side even though the defense is very good
You need to have a little bit of buffer to work with so I still
I still feel that Astralis are going to take this map, but I ballers are really making things interesting.
I mean, the thing that I'm worried about right now is, if the eyeballers are just aiming like this...
I think the worrying thing is for Bob XD, because he's had so many cold maps throughout,
if he kind of cools down here again on this map, I feel like it's going to be rough for I ballers, right?
He's playing at star position, playing towards mid, you point it out there, it's going to be Bob XD,
and there's just going head to head as well. But if he's able to continue to form he had on Mirage,
That's when things get interesting.
That's when it gets a little bit more spicy.
And speaking of interesting, I mean, when you look at a
Stralis and you look through their resume of ancient matches
and you look at the film, they're a super diverse team.
Like they have a very deep playbook.
They can do the fast plays on a spawn.
They can play heavy and been controlled.
They can do all the stops that you would expect
they'd get ancient team to do.
But it's about actually executing it on the server.
And now a dire situation where you're a map down
and a map away from the nation.
Meanwhile, I've always just said type of team is just gonna
play scrappy CS and draggy in the mud.
And, you know, we saw a lot of that.
What's with our brute force plays on the T side of the
We could see it again and if 5xc and company can keep it up, this could get spicy.
Yeah, I know. One thing I really like about iBall is where they go for the trade.
We saw it in Mirage as well. The player dies and they're like, oh, I'm going to run into the flims.
I'm going to get that kill. I'm going to get that trade.
They really do live and die by JW's calls and that sort of cohesion.
Winner of the big underdogs going up against team like Astralis. That could be the winning factor.
Alright, thanks a lot, gentlemen. We go to a break.
Astralis need to win this one to get into the semi-finals.
But the way JW is playing maybe today belongs to the ancient ones.
We'll see after the break.
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I
and
Entering these playoffs of PGL Bucharest made high
expectations for Astralis,
looking like the best playing
team at the event with ParaVision,
kind of slacking the last few days.
But then we have to ask ourselves what year is it?
Because JW's just dropped 20 kills on him.
He just battered him into submission on Mirage.
Now we move on to Ancient,
where Astralis has to have a recovery,
because this would be an incredibly disappointing
defeat and elimination.
In a bracket where it feels like the red carpets
laid out for them to make it all the way to the Grand Finals.
I mean, yeah, you're planning to get his eyeballers
I was like, I should be pretty easy for us to get through this one, you know, and I was expecting a 13 eight for Astralis on the opening map, but strong start from, from high ballers. Great work in the gun rounds and then down in that second half, it was just so many individual moments.
You're a JW ASEAN, then you had a Maxter 4K, then Dex to close it out.
Everyone was just popping off.
Yeah, JW's going to take the highlights, he's going to take the headlines,
but man, Maxter has that retake at the A bomb site.
So critical, Dex closing things out.
The individuals, the youngsters of eyeballers, able to step up
and deliver some impactful performances to close out the map.
And now, Astralis backs against the wall.
A loss here on ancient, and you're eliminated.
It's going to start out very well for Stair.
Two quick kills, and Maxter backs away into the bomb site.
Now, important to say, that was I-Ballers' map pick of Mirage.
Now, we move on over to Ancient, where Astralis wanted to take this fight,
and this is where the more inexperienced teams, this is another issue of theirs,
is how deep does your map pool actually go?
Astralis are hoping not for a deep at all, but obviously Ancient has been a great map recently
for Astralis. They've beaten Bay and the Mongols on it so far at this event,
not letting them get into double figures.
So hoping they can bounce back into the series here.
Got JW looking to kick off the pistol round.
He's got a good pistol over on Mirage.
He's looking to do the same again here for the CT side.
It's Yabby that has gone down in that kill.
Actually, even things out on a 3v3.
Oh, Max, we're almost ready for that fight.
Oh, he's got it.
Yeah, just picks the head of Riu off.
Okay, Astralis is just getting whittled down due to indecision.
Hunter, now the bomb.
The bomb's out in the open.
It's JW and Max for again and again.
pistol round for eyeballers. Yeah, that's another pistol round. So like they have a great opportunity again in front of them to make the most of this and go on a run and do what they did on Mirage, which is get good starts and really force the straw is to have the hard work ahead of them from the get go. Yeah, you don't, you don't want to be in this situation if you're a straw.
As you mentioned in the first map, all the pressure, considering the way this bracket has kind of panned out, looking at it for a straw is with the rise that they've had recently with some of the weaknesses of the other teams. We've noticed.
Man, like this is where if eyeballers get out to a hot start here on the elimination map,
that pressure gets cranked up a notch.
Gotta be real careful for Astralis.
First gun round gonna be important as hell.
Yeah, if you're eyeballers, you would absolutely love to somehow ride that wave,
infomerize seamlessly into ancient.
Playing with no pressure, playing from the front, playing with momentum,
all things that underdogs generally need to win,
and eyeballers have them at the moment and look at this play.
Bomb.
Trigger discipline as well. J.W. wants four kills.
He's like, alright, I'm gonna get him behind and...
Attracts his bomb all the way back, loads the donut, play it to it, now J.W. is going to accelerate.
They're going to hit it in the sense they know they're being flanked now, but dealing with him is a whole other problem.
Now Yabi's going to hit the pause button, the bomb lies down in the floor in front of him, and he's got multiple targets coming at him, he's reloading and exposed to both sides.
So, too many threats, and eye-bollers don't let that round get scary at all.
Yeah, Strahls at some point is going to have to fight fire with fire.
Thank you, I think there's a world in which because this team has so many advantage, a few more game plans, and you got Hooksley,
If they try and fall into playing too much of a tactical game,
I think some of these bold plays that I bought,
this early push, obviously, against Glocks,
but start seeing some of those more individual efforts mixed in.
I think Astralis can get caught off and disconnected.
We saw in the pistol rounds, they kind of got pulled
in between two or three different ideas.
I think this competition started for Ibole.
He's with a four-foot win versus FaZe that didn't shock the event.
And they made the most of it,
all ramp up in the quarterfinals.
I'm gonna be spraying down through elbow getting traded by yabbi eventually hook see having to deal with a man aggression
Two players coming out and hooks he's got information
But he hasn't got his life and they just ship to shift it over to a man to join up with hook see so
You've lost him now the staging area is kind of gone and time has wasted us you have to come back in and reclear this I
Love the confidence of my bowlers right now getting an astralisks faces
Oh, they're gonna walk right through the smoke dex is ready for it
Fuzzi not wanting to give away the he's there either if he pauses any weights. Maybe yabby can
Sort of adventure over here and join up with him with a minute left
There's no need to rotate in a way that leaves huge gaps at this point in a five on two place safe positions to gather
Information slim gaps make it tough to go to die to a shot to an incredible shot
Just play information and play for the retake now with the advantages you have
Astralis are the ones that have to commit into a flight if they want to 43 seconds left on the clock
Jack's not panicking as that smoke comes in. It's J.W. who makes the move. He says,
okay, your line of sight is taken away. I'll just shift over towards donut just in case.
Now down to 30 seconds and a 1v4. I'm loving how eyeball is it playing right now. They're
just moving, constantly being proactive, closing the space down on Astralis. They just don't
have the map to work with. Fuzzi's got to clutch this and 15 seconds left, you'll head
into the A bomb site, but Dex is in the perfect position.
He's in the checkmate spot.
There's no way, surely, that Fuzzi can win this.
And he will go down.
Dex to pick him up.
Raps are on the default boxes.
My ballers do come out swinging here on ancient.
You know, there's another layer that we haven't touched on too
much, but you can't underestimate the impact.
Winning a map one is going to have for a team like my ballers.
You know, you come into this, you know you have the underdogs.
You know it's unlikely that you're
able to kind of steal away a victory.
But you're going to come in and try.
And then when you're able to come out on top in that fashion and do it so dominantly,
man, the confidence swing is you're just like, okay, these guys are within our realm.
These guys, we can definitely beat them here.
So there's, I ballers have no reason to be afraid on this map.
Taking a bit of an aid to the feet there, hoopsie, it slows them down.
And we'll still move into Jag.
So we cleared that one out with Molotov.
We're in the middle with multiple players here. Bob XT just jiggling to gather that early information, but he smoked out.
He has to call to his teammates. They could be pushing into the red room. We'll see eye ballers adjustment to this.
Okay, it's the best chance that Astralis has had to actually win around here, but this is a long angle for JW's AWP.
Nobody come in temple. He's going to shut them all down. However, Bob has fallen.
JW is going to have to be a little bit more passive here. Mischot on the jump, but he needs to stay alive.
Teammates have arrived. He backs off all the way.
Yeah, he does he gets out of danger at least but he's just waiting to join up for his teammates right there coming back into helping
You're gonna go for this obviously if you're eyeball as you go all the better weapons
You're just trying to put them in the right place
It's good consideration here from Jack's good timing to look behind him because that flank was coming in from Fousey
You have be playing in the doughnuts the only player that's got his hands on a better weapon here the rightful
But stare do what he can on the T. Go. It's just a single kill so yabby
And don't take it down by text and yeah sharp shooting again here for my bowlers
They get anyone to retake they lose a single player and it's four rounds in a row
Here's another layer for you think our ancient for Astralis is an 85% win rate
It's the best the map they want to go to in the veto process
It's a map they're gonna select in most of their series and as you're turning that corner into the major you all the sudden lose
Some confidence in your map pick. That's an issue
Guys you're trolling me right now
Do you know what it can certainly feel that way sometimes you gotta be trolling I I think anyone who's tried to
IGL for a game can understand that emotion that feeling
Well things are looking pretty sour on the Australian cap. There's still no sweet things
Coming out of double kill on ball back Steve max. So that's what stare can do
He's gonna get you a couple rounds like that running through med with those openers
Yep, and you just saved fear if your eyeballers keep your feet planted up over at the B bombsite
No need to move you're not recovering this round those kills are way too fast down mid
So at least stare decides to stop trolling
Let's start rolling so if they can keep it going here as flawless
Those midfights could be
50-50s
obviously stare
That on a lot of players in the world in terms of how much impact you can get him out in those midfights when he gets the spawn for it
Oh this time too
I think he both came through smoke as well.
So a little bit of fortune going into his side,
but definitely stairs going to be a force you would imagine throughout this half
as long as the straws can keep this up.
Now, we've seen eyeballs be proactive and make aggressive plays.
I just I'm kind of scarred from the last quarter final, watching.
It's a question to what I was actually thinking about that, too.
When J.W. was kind of pushing down mid to wrap around for doughnut.
I'm just wondering, is there a point in this game where we see eyeballs
Start giving us flawless chances by walking into them.
It'd be great to say, okay, we got a good start playing this way, but if it stops working, I'd love to see the adjustment come quick for my ballers.
I think a lot of it's going to, I mean, you lose two opening kills like that. There's nothing you can really do. It'll be interesting.
But I mean, you know, even going back to Mirage, they handled the retakes so much better.
You know part of the issue with those pushes from MIBR is it just felt like there was no like big picture concept to it
Well, it was just kind of like I'm just gonna pick here make an individual decision, right?
Eyeballers have felt a little bit like there's there's some plans behind it or at least some orchestration
And how to coordinate that JW goes for an early peek with the alt towards a just misses his timing as he gives away the scope
And they are playing more passive a mid instantly here. I bowlers. I think they're a little bit less than about
He's getting bashed by Stare, but then the break of the red smoke has to be a trade from Barbex D and he's got it.
So, Shunning Stare down before he can get a multi-token flash, and that's real bad. He gets stuck in the open.
Give him one back.
Well, now let's see what the reaction is, because J.W., you imagine, is going to want some help at some point.
He's playing over in Donut, there's relative safety, but what does the rest of I-Ballers do?
What does Rolf and Dex actually do over at the B-Bomb site? Because they haven't budged.
And if they're going to come in for this retake, JW probably needs at least two kills out of
this situation.
If he can survive and donut after that, it'd be excellent, but you need to thin this out
and buy time for your two teammates to join up with you.
To the A site, they moved.
Miss shot from JW.
Hooks, he stopped short.
JW not finding himself the perfect position to deny that bomb plant, so.
Well, now you have to do one of two things if you're the other players.
You have to kind of push and help JW get out of this scenario.
If you're not going to go for the retake, JW needs to try and survive.
Going to use the cover of the smoke to work his way towards Red Room.
Yabi hasn't found any of these players at the B bomb site moving.
And Astralis going to get a pretty chill win again into the A bomb site.
Five players survived in the last round for Astralis, four surviving in this round, starting
to see that Astralis ancient T-side building up.
Yeah, it's the mid success coming in from Astralis, again, back to back rounds, two
kills from middle that lead to a round one of the A site.
I've always didn't even play aggressively in mid this round.
They go for a JWPK main.
It's the mistake from Bob that does it, isn't it?
Yeah, I mean, I didn't even mind it.
It looked like he was just going to reposition into the cubby and play for them to walk in
towards donut, but I think his brain was like, no, this is a bad idea.
He makes it worse by trying to leave in the wrong moment and then just get stuck in the middle of indecision and
Get stuck on the wall. Yeah, you're gonna have to live and die by that with with the younger players as they gain experience for sure
That one you get the crappy end of things
round seven
Deep utility down mid this time. There's a little bit of presence not swinging behind elbow
But Bob's gonna jump over towards doughnut smoked out Max you're playing in red room smoked out
Yeah, really taking the spawn this time. He's gonna head out
towards the boxes. J.W. is all positioned over towards Jaguar as well. So Astralis is happy with
this first step of map control that they've taken. All it's off down is going to force Ryu into the
open, flashbang as well, but no commitment to the fight. Maybe some conditioning from losing that
previously. Yeah Ryu, gonna be happy enough he didn't take any fire on that retreat back towards
elbow. J.W. trying to be dynamic with his AWP is selecting a lot of different positions,
but Bob has stepped out and taken a death.
It's going to be Fuzzi taking that one.
Another advantage in middle found by Strauss.
Now it's starting to look a little bit like
I'm on the RCT sides.
Yeah, you're just giving them chances.
Now, Strauss hit the pause button.
You walk into them.
JW, oh, the unscope as well.
I'm starting to look a little rough now for eyeballers.
Timing on that is so unfortunate.
Yeah, Abby's just going to take it as well and move on up.
JW's going to walk right into the cross hat.
And this is more like it from Astralis, getting comfortable.
Time for a timeout, if you're eyeballers, and I think Pita's got to get on the mic and just say,
alright guys, stop, stop moving, you know.
Giving them kills, yeah.
It's the same thing we were talking about in the previous series, it's just, hold on, hold on.
It's not over yet, they're forcing Pita to smoke, and Maxster punishes them for every step they take.
How's he gone away with that? That is incredible. Now, Hoocsi has to 1v2 this.
15 seconds left, Maxster turns and finds him as well.
Look at the rage as well on Hoocsi.
so disappointed how are they losing this round when their timeout immediately coming in it's
going to be a strawler's call and this one they flipped on a banana peel gotta make sure they
don't knock themselves out that is a huge round from max through a disastrous moment from a strawler
so they're gonna get their emotions in check how are they giving this one how is it just one by one
through the smoke that's what he's gonna be pissed about that that was terrible it could not have
Easier for Maxter I
Think that I mean even if even if you didn't even if you didn't feel like you had to go through the smoke
You had time to wait it out. Yeah, I mean who's he's really got to feel like they're trolling him now
What a disaster
Yeah, what are they doing? I don't have no idea.
Hooksie doesn't know either.
That's firing up high ballers.
But Strahlus, I mean decisions like that might just lose them this quarter final.
I mean that's just going to knock you off kilter.
We already knew it felt like the way it opened and the way Hooksie reacted that.
It felt like it hit the hill.
Oh, that's fabulous.
It just had on top.
This is just like a stress test of the mentality of Astralis in this early run.
No, they are getting picked apart.
Don't give anything back now. You don't need to do anything here.
Five on three.
Just ride this wave.
Make sure you just take this opportunity and really humble Astralis.
Pile on the pain, pile on the tilt.
It is looking great right now.
Ryu getting one, but instantly replied to.
Bob XT holding stairs attempt, but it's not going to work out for him.
you know, you can bounce back
from around like that. If you
come out and you win the next
round, Astralis come out and
they just get absolutely melted.
I mean, that's just going to
make it even more tilted than
he lost the last round. Things
were starting to line up for
Astralis. They felt like they
were starting to build what was
going to be a really strong T
side. Look like they're putting
into eyeball is you're like
calling for a time on it. It
definitely felt like we're
hitting that point in the game.
And then all of a sudden it's
trullers give a golden chance
back over the eyeballers. Yeah,
are the eyeballers yeah this is this is brutal it looks like he's actually going to try and go
for this and the one which is fair play yeah he's caught jw yet again nine and two what a start
from jw what a start from eyeballers shocking everyone today hey it might it can be called a
start but it might just be the end coming up here the straws are knocked off their feet at the moment
Yeah, they are they do feel like they're just kind of swaying standing up
And if you're eyeballs, you know, we can start getting ahead of ourselves a little bit
Magnally when this is the center you go to the semi-fals you got 3d max
That's a beautiful team in the semis. I told you dingo keep your heart open for a surprise. He's got to be ready
Especially when jw's in the mix. We had a little conversation between maps you casted jw once
And your very first event of commentary and never again and now you're getting the treat
Yeah, many many years ago. I couldn't really call that cast me either back then but I
Was giving a microphone and we're now a ball xd
Let's go break open that smoke and start tapping away as foosies starting to cross over the bomb does make it safely at least
But you've got to be aware that that's a gap that's been opened up
Yeah, I'm surprised no one's falling back from the people could find dexter's comes out of the smoke and now now the map just shrinks
Yeah, therefore Bob you're being held good shot from stair now
they feel like the B bomb site is opened up and off trying to pick them off
closing misses the shot. He's gonna cut them off though, sever them off from JW.
Alright JW, you're on your own. You're on the island on this A site. And the
inexperienced players have to make a decision if they want to bail him out
and alleviate some of this pressure on him. He's got three different choke
points, four different choke points he's got to be concerned about.
What a five seconds hearing the steps. JW cast away alone on this site. Plants
is coming through.
Team makes rotating over J.W. making sure he doesn't step out and make a mistake.
He wants the numbers to be even.
When the attempt is retake, this is giving time for us Charles to get back into position.
Fuzi, he knows you're going to have to deal with temple players, so he's got the scope
up.
He sees the shadow.
His prime zoom shot, he's ready.
Stairs taking the kill on Rolf.
J.W.
and Texter with kills.
Fuzi missing shots.
It's all on Fuzi.
And he missed one again.
Utility and that deep use coming through I ballers retake of strollers can't hold on
Piling on the pain piling on the pressure and piling on the round wins
I hope y'all didn't forget about Jw because he's a champion here holds on to temple the whole time
Orchestrates that retake brings a teammate over with him trades every kill that comes out from Astralis and pins down fuzzy in a main
An incredible performance from one of the all-time greats and they've primed themselves for a huge upset here in PGL
Brucker has playoffs and he's got the rest of his teammate showing up as well. Max through the decks doing some real heavy lifting at the moment
Obviously Max through it with the player that had the turning point
Shutting down that a main person. They're all coming through the smoke
I've just killed Astralis
There's Yabbi trying to force himself into the fight but Max through the decks again. Okay, it's just over
They're just dead. They're making them look so pedestrian aren't they?
They're making Astralis just look sooo mid. This is what I thought. Astralis were gonna do to iBall. Exactly.
I mean, it's clear that Astralis has just been so knocked off their game and out of any mentality.
You know, Astralis may have one sweet on the team, but iBall is the sweet they want to lose to the Danish organization right now.
They're bringing in the pain. And this is fantastic to see.
Fuxi's just, I mean he's just got to be feeling so disappointed in the performance
this team's putting in right now. You got one kill on Ryu, two for Fuzi, two for
a Fuxi, they're just not hitting back.
The only player that's had impact here is Stan. True. One kill on Ryu, two on Fuzi.
Yeah this is, I mean you kind of mentioned the engine on the previous map
had not come online and you hit tab and like they had the number of kills they had the
Quantity just not the quality here. They don't have either. Yeah, like you said pedestrian. They don't have an engine. They're walking
This is exactly what hooksy does not even one and they're not even celebrating anybody guys. It was actually
Easy right now
Let's go. They're having so much fun on the eyeballer side of things
Especially when another time out comes in you just know the pressure
You probably you probably aren't even talking too much about tactics right now. If you're eyeballers, it's all mentality
It's all about keeping those vibes up
This team is just rolling with momentum leaving her maca it is post game interview Apollo
He was like yeah, the Stralis the heavy favorites in that game
They look like the best team here at the event favorites for the tournament
They should get through eyeballers. Well, they clean swept the Stralis the group stage beating MIBR being bait being Mongols 2-0 for eyeballers
I mean they labored through it even even with the even with the forfeit went over phase
They had to play in the last day to qualify through
Well my ball is knock out a straw list then
They've saved us from having to watch the possibility of foot versus the straw list again later on in the tournament
So I think that's also a small way
Like eight times
Yeah, we've seen that one a lot
Look at this situation for a straw for the real tell you what watching eyeballers how they're playing right now against foot would be a very fun game to watch at some point
Not gonna happen here most likely
Be the grand final, but I don't know like would would you sit here and say that eyeballers can't beat 3d max in the semi-final? Nope exactly so
High ballers. Okay, that's an awpness. We're gonna we're gonna give that one up jw
Just narrowly off maybe just moving a little bit, but the bullet whizzes past there
So again the man who's been having impact first Charles finds another opening kill flashbang in good turn from yabby playing antsy
At this point because you've given away couple of kids you kind of have to keep going at them I pull something back
So Rolf gets himself
position at the bottom of the B ramp and he's gonna watch as Ryu walks onto the open and then
folks he was waiting for that trade attempt. No, Sasha shouldn't let this one go. But Max there,
he's going on over and I guess when he's alive there's always a shot. They have the money so I
think they're just saying why why wouldn't we come over here at bombs not planted. Let's go let's
go see if something can happen. Even if we don't win the round to do the damage. Well considering
the way they've been playing I'm not even against the idea of them coming and fighting for this.
You don't necessarily you don't need to save the AK would be nice to have but not the biggest
you on the world like go see if you can continue creating the magic you have been all half long.
Yep, there we go.
Go on Plant and Isle, 15 seconds left. Now Panic Stasis for Astralis,
Max draw around and now they're planting again. He comes out of the open, needed that fight if
he was to win the round. But Bob XD, we've heard great things about him. Maybe this is the moment
he shows us it. It's gonna be three. It's gonna be coming through the Jag.
Position of Fosy makes this pretty much impossible.
Well, I mean damage would be good too, right? Like Astralis don't have a...
Yeah, they'd be fine. They'd be fine regardless. This is this is I mean that's some tech nines in this round
So they've gotten some free upgrades as well. They're gonna be all good in terms of their investment Bob's just gonna try and be a hero
There's the first skill. All right, Bob
Howdy goes and dad's the ace so
With a side take in and a good round to pick up here for a straw list
You can't leave the half after that turning point, you know if max was a shut down not winning a single round after that
I would have been absolutely devastating
Yeah
I was primed and ready to pop off if Maxtor made those plays.
If he got that one more kill, that would have been very doable.
Eight to three, final round of the first half.
Full buys for both squads.
JW is back on that AWP.
Four kits for the CT side, well-equipped.
For anything that happens in this round.
Yep, last round of this half.
Let's see if I baller to get a ninth.
Ninety-three on the CT side of ancient.
Four rounds, definitely enough to pull back here for Astralis.
Ryu.
In the opening fight, in the middle, Yabbi is pushed up through the smoke.
A lot better here towards the end of the half with Astralis.
Again, it's a similar conversation though.
It's all about punishing aggression rather than creating the opportunities,
which is obviously still very valuable.
OK, well, our ball is stalled out towards the end of the half.
Four rounds to play with for Astralis.
Ice by the time out.
Yeah, I mean, four rounds is definitely enough here for Astralis.
Win the pistol and you can close that gap pretty quickly.
I mean, it's definitely enough, right?
But these two rounds is just gonna be like the sigh of relief. It's gonna be like that's more like it
That's how we should have been playing this whole half
I don't think they've gotten over the mental hurdle and the focus that they've been like clearly knocked off of right like that's gonna
Take a little bit more time and a little bit more confidence to build up through a string of rounds
They're very brutal as well. So if there's any other rounds, yeah, they've already they've already experienced enough heartbreak
Backbreak whatever you want to call it devastating turn of events
It's J.W.
It can't be another moment like this.
Yes, it can.
It can't be another one.
Yes, it can.
Smoke is up, J.W. goes inside of it.
35 seconds left.
Okay.
Well, you know, you have to make that move if you're J.W.
So, because after the smoke can die.
So, Max, 1v3, here he comes.
Last round, all of the half.
He's going to give it a good go.
Yeah, Fosey's watching this smoke walk out.
He should be dead before he even sees anything at all.
Astralis playing a little game of cliffhanger.
Fingernails dug in and just barely holding on throughout that first half.
At one point, just getting ran over eight to two.
Thank God they won those last two rounds.
They better have some performances to open up their CT side
that get some energy and life back into this team.
Well, Eyeball isn't a good epistorence, in particular J.W. who's been doing a lot of
work in those.
Inferno would be the third in deciding map in this series if Astralis managed to take
us there.
Still quite the campaign they're going to have to run, although switching over to the
CT side, I think they're going to be pleased about that one.
However, remember on the first map in this series, it was Eyeballers getting an opening
kill and escalating.
They were playing in front of Astralis's rotations, in front of Astralis's protocols.
They were so decisive that Astralis could never have a good timing to cheat over to
a bomb site, to stack a bomb site as well.
Let's see what eyeballers come out with.
Mentioned it earlier, this is the map in Astralis's pool that they want to play.
For eyeballers, it's a 46% win rate, and it's a 46% win rate against like tier two or three
teams.
It hasn't been a great map in their pool.
So crazy to see them have this kind of a performance
against Astralis at the moment, but they still
need to continue it on this T side.
All running straight through middle.
They're becoming at stair with that USP.
He spots the targets, and he gets back to safety.
Wanting to be in a position where he can actually
play with his teammate, Thuzi on the foos.
He's been taken away immediately.
OK.
Eyeball is breaking into the A bomb site.
plant is in, JW is cutting off the rotations. There is no losing this pistol round.
Dax gonna get contacts. Two players here in temple hasn't swung yet. He's holding them out. Yeah,
but now you know, Interolfster to shut one more down. Hooksie in the 1v4.
Yeah, not one in this zone. 9-4. 9-4 pry ballers. I mean, having the strength of being able to win
pistol rounds like this has got to feel amazing. You're getting good starts at every half.
We'll see what Strauss decides to do, whether at this point the 9-4 down, do you force buy or do
you prioritize getting the first buyout quickly? I think you prioritize getting the first buyout
quickly. You can't go down 4-11 and then get your first buyout. You have to save here.
You absolutely have to. 20 kills on the first map for JW. He's got 13 here and good impact,
but really the star on ancient so far has been Maxxer it was his quad kill behind the smoke at the A bomb site on defense
That saved the day for eyeballers from when that half was about to spiral out of their control. He just re-established dominance
On the stack of pistols counter B landfall next to the information
He's gonna get overwhelmed the better weapon now available to his trawlers on the ground. Yeah, good first kill
It's all good. This shouldn't be any kind of a significant problem. They have control of the a bomb site bomb is being planted now
There's a Molotov. There's a couple smokes they can use and obviously the rifles at range are just gonna be far superior
Yeah, you get that bomb planted for the donut post plant position too
That should be the insurance policy here to lock any 10th round for eyeballs
They get a send all the pistols at this see what they can do, but it's just gonna get far
There's a healthy crop here for eyeballers and one of those Mac tens will get upgraded to the AK-47 as well
Rolf grabs that 10 to 4 6 round lead by the time the first buy comes in, but it's gonna be a little bit labor
There's no op available to the side of Astralis so all in fours no kits good amount of utility
But they're starting the CT side campaign comeback on the back foot
Got a win immediately. You just have to start winning instantly if you're an Astralis, so
bring some attitude to it. It's the move that gets up onto the legs, sprints for the first
timing to catch J.W., ball XD also taken away. So, Astralis have rose to the occasion. They
have won the first two fights without getting traded and they get it backed away.
I think this is going to be the recipe for Astralis' success as well. Executed pieces
of aggression like that, especially pressuring towards the B lane.
The inexperienced teams on this map and the teams that haven't really figured out this
map to any crazy degree, it can feel very suffocating on your T side if you're not able
to control B lane.
So depending on how Astralis plays this and mixes those pieces of aggression into their
CT game plan, eyeballers can encounter a lot of difficulty in this half.
So yeah, it looks like eyeballers is marching towards this victory, but Astralis is going
to start putting up some resistance now that the guns are out.
Yeah, and if you're forcing the less experienced team into 3v5, expecting them to play the mid-round,
it's more likely going to go the same for all the Skullish, but then a couple of kills
coming right back.
Maxter, it's a 1v3.
He taps, they're running him down, they really shouldn't let this look on!
Yo, help!
That is incredible!
How has Maxter come away with it?
He can't even believe it, look at him!
Everybody's having their moments and that is surely it!
I saw this can't survive that
It's all eyes on the bollars because everybody's having a moment, but it's max to time and time to get it
What are they doing? How is there no trade? Look at his face, man
Bro, he's he's not even put himself in a good position to win it they can swing on both sides of the box
He should have no chance
What a transfer of the spray!
This hook's he stole on the server man, like, I feel like he's just, if he was mad about
that first half, like that's two of them now, you've just bet Max to two massive rounds
that you just can't lose if you're a strawless.
I'm like, oh my lord, this is rough.
Oh my god Max, what the fuck is that?
Ah!
I saw what I had to do, you can speak a little bit.
I thought I put it on the saw.
You're taking the time to let them stew in it as well.
I love that. I actually love that.
But, I mean, you get JW on it, like saying that to you.
You make a play that gets JW saying that.
That's going to make you feel so good as Maxter.
And yeah, dude, call all three.
I mean, do you remember they used to do that, though?
Like, back in the fanatics house, when they were the best team in the world,
they would have one of these tilts.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
that we just call the time on let you just sit in that.
I believe it was they did that at the Columbus major,
wasn't it?
It was at the Danes who might have done that one.
Either way, the Swedes are doing it to the Danes now.
So it's absolutely crazy.
Oh, this is insane.
Now, I'll say this.
We were talking about like it's funny.
However, Astralis called the timeout first.
And I'll tell you right now, that timeout had probably
no substance to it.
That was everyone mentally checked out.
That timeout was to get them checked back in.
Eyeballers do call the follow up timeout,
But that timeout probably had a conversation to it.
Alright, walk 11-4, Eyeballers, looking like the semi-finals is theirs.
I don't know how you come back from this would be Astralis, I just don't think you do.
Eyeballers is doing to Astralis what Astralis did to Spirit just like two weeks ago, probably.
Just lifegames across the 43 and 5.
Oh my gosh.
A straw is just stacking the wrong side of the map.
It's just Yabbi and Donut.
Well, they're figuring it out at the very least.
Stairs on his way over.
It's just like once again, what are you going to do?
All you really have is these tricky plays.
The Hooksy Flank is going to take attention away.
Okay.
Now into the A bomb site.
They haven't found Stereo yet.
He's waiting patiently.
One player and Donut.
They're going to go, put Yabbi down.
Good kill from Yabbi.
Holding strong and Donut.
Everyone can't transfer over to stair. Astralis survive a little bit longer keep eyeballers off series point
Okay, that's why they bounce back from that fair enough, but
Bob what can you do to them?
No round is
Unloseable no, and this is around where I mean yeah, you had to feel that way certainly
I see where you're going with that one if this is around though any damage you can do to the economy is huge
All right, Bob. Let's see what you got
Nothing, nothing so far. He's getting at least one. You think so? He's getting at
least one. Unless he saves. Doesn't count. Technicality. 11 to 5. It had one on the
round. Yeah, that counts. So Astralis survived a little bit longer. They get
some free upgrades to AK-47s which is which is so nice that's gonna alleviate
some of the pressure on the money in the economy that they're gonna be working
with down the stretch and that's just the first healing step of many that they
needed this second half six rounds back
it's eyeballers who hit the economic issues not able to convert against the
low by here I'm gonna look at it from the other perspective imagine a straw
despite all these BS rounds and all these mistakes and how terribly they
plays from these situations and the pop off my ballers. Imagine they still pull it back.
Jason, sure. Then the faith you get in your team that you've okay that we've hit an old
time low of that, but we come back and find themselves to win. I think it I mean, I think
it's very possible. I don't think that's outside the realm of possibility at all. Second time
out for eyeballs. They talk things over might want that third one back that they used to kind
of humble Astralis on the other side might have even been, you know, we were printing it like
like they tried to like, you know, really let Astralis do it.
Maybe they're trying to calm themselves down as well.
That's a ton of adrenaline going course and through the team.
Second one burns, so one remaining for eyeballers.
They can hold onto that for quite some time.
Ball to save the AK.
Yeah, and he's got the armor, which
is why he's keeping it rather than passing it off.
It's not the hero, OK?
It's the one brought forward.
So any damage he can do with that is going to be important.
But not picking up any utility to go along with it
to try and activate that AK so it's just gonna be Bob trying to find his
fights and over to the A-bomb site we go. It would be Yabbi he's up against and
Astralis doesn't want to sit back and wait in a round like this. They push and
find JW and now they're gonna start shifting over to the A-bomb site. This
move has got to happen right now. Max is the Eagle. Is he gonna do it to him?
Yabbi? No. Okay. He's all good. Bob though, certainly going to find one of the AK-47
Get back, get back to safety to hunting him down and stares at a protective.
Yeah, that's that's due to the information that they had with that B push earlier to allow that player to be there to for some backup.
So really good timing on the rotation.
Astralis creep up to six.
And eyeballers this is the next round they buy.
AK-47 on Bob and Max, there are Galil on Rolf.
I just have a feeling, even though there's been some crazy moments, I still have a feeling
these last couple rounds are going to be really tough for eyeballers to find.
It's just weird, it feels like every time Astralis, they're still pretty far back.
But every time they win like two rounds in a row, it's like the momentum feels like it's
been taken away.
This is usually when eyeballers get it right back, but again, this is what I mentioned.
When do you mix in this disruptive style?
It can be so effective.
for one over and B lane with that push. Such an important flash to come in there. Oh, walking
through the elbow smoke, Riu's ready for Max dirt. So, 3v3. Been two for the Dex here.
Can he get another one? He's coming over the top. They're sandwiching the players for Yammie's
hand over pressure, and Dex can't get back to Riu. So, Rolf is in a 1v2 with Winnable.
He's jumping up though, and that's a really important round for Riu. Having to dig deep
and handle pressure from multiple sides, but he makes sure he stands up. Those are the
rounds there to get Astralis locked in though. A lot of pressure, one for one, a lot of activity
coming in the direction of their aggressive play down middle, and both players in mid handle it
perfectly. Playing off of each other, making sure you're recovering each other's back,
that's going to start getting Astralis fired up, especially now that it's a third round in a row.
Excuse me, second round in a row. How often have we seen another team get to the finish line though,
Jason and just stumble. I know and eat the dirt
Concerning back to pistols hoping they could keep level heads
It's that factor too with the underdog of
As you talked about during first map through the series you get to play without a whole lot of pressure as eyeballers as you've already exceeded expectations
With that pressure comes roaring back when you're in a position to actually win the series.
Comes back tenfold, so I baller sitting back with pistols waiting for the pushes behind these smokes.
folks. Fuzi drifting the ult back over towards CT. Watching for the A main play. It's got
Yabi with him. Should be strong enough to deal with any pistol antics. Even if Fuzi's
to miss a shot or rotate off and leave yabbi alone all right you got to rely upon the yabbi
then with the rifle shouldn't be making too many mistakes here so it's basically the exact
low buyer oh my god what the hell that was over at b that's gonna pull all the attention to the
b bomb site is he gonna go for one more yeah he is okay oh shit here we go dex finally called by
but they're coming down. Yabbi has to step up.
And yeah, he will get four kills.
So yeah, you start to worry a little bit.
Now Yabbi is left in an island.
The rotations are very far away.
If Yabbi misses and goes down there,
then you have a tough round ahead of you.
Shout out to Yabbi.
He never even thought about moving.
He never even budged.
So much confidence in the three players already stacked up
at the B bomb site and rightfully so.
Quad kill and shuts down any attempts at snatching away
arounds.
OK, that lead is cut to three very quickly.
Eyeballers running out of real estate to work with in this map
Four in a row now for Astralis
Heavy play towards the B bombsite it feels Jw wants to punish this aggression that Astralis has been dealing with them
And there's the first kill double swing
Jw has the angle, Fuzzi was to step back into it but he won, he's transitioned over to his
cave, hooks it, his kill is good, and forcing them away, eyeballers now no longer hold the
player advantage, the bomb site feels impenetrable, got some nades left, they don't have a molotov.
Look how concerned they are with the amount of aggressive looks they've had to play against
from Astralis.
They're so worried.
Someone has just kind of camped out and ready to pounce on them from behind, but Astralis
has just disappeared from middle.
It's chewing a lot of time off the clock.
It's going to be alleviated by Bob as he starts peeking elbow.
He's going to see that it's clear and let him know there's nothing to worry about.
The defense has spread back out.
At the moment, Astralis, it seems like they feel like eyeballers has gone back through
T spawn, readjusting elsewhere on the map.
It's just going to be a re-exec at this B bomb site.
So all eyes on Fosy and it's off.
He's just starting to backtrack so he's gonna be behind the utility once it comes in and the smokes are now arriving
Oh Jw's been so patient he's waiting all rounds long for that opportunity
He takes it, hooks he's playing away getting one in point kill, but then Bob gets caught Ryu flanks him out
So a 2v2 and you know where they're coming from
Jw and Dex
Yabbi and Ryu now arrive.
They've got the health advantage.
Yabbi's also moved deeper than J.W. would expect.
He's beyond the scope.
Oh, my God.
He's going to take the shot.
The barrel.
The barrel's shown, and J.W. going back into the peak, but now could be exposed, so he's
letting Dex play next.
J.W. waits down the ramp, here comes the peak.
Yabbi with the headshot.
It's all on Dex.
He's burning.
Time ticking.
Can he get the lineup?
He's not spraying yet.
He's playing yet, he's off the mark, and he will get taken down by Ryu.
Astralis coming on the retake.
And they really are fully back now.
J.W. never had the information that Yabi stepped through the smoke at short and got that advanced position.
And they didn't know where the second player was.
I thought maybe they did because he was going through CT spawn.
That was where the lurk was supposed to punish.
That player got killed from behind.
I thought that information would be too there, but you have no idea if they split up.
So during all this, there's no chance that he can be involved, Dex, and kind of helping J.W. and never spotting out Gabby himself.
Alright, there's a quick punch towards the people. I'm sorry, I worked out here for Eyeballers, but we're gonna find out because here they come, running up the ramp, into Ryu.
It's a one for one, not exactly the start to a homebola. Here comes Hootsy, good flash out, one kill, traded again, and Eyeballers move in with three, but the bomb is loose, and that's the double kill from Stare that'll pull it right back and rein this one in.
11 to 10. Astralis on fire. They're completely back in this one and I both of us have stalled out effective initial punch on that attack trading one for one into the bombsite. But then you see the missing details of that kind of a fast paced play. No smoke towards short gives there the exact angle the line of sight he needs for a multi kill.
Bring that round back under Astralis' control. And now they've built up to the Astralis we expected to see.
Now I'm just curious from your perspective, Jason. We have that big round from Maxter.
There hasn't been a round win since then, but you called a timeout right after that.
Do you feel like there's a world in which maybe you don't call that timeout and you just keep
rolling with it? You might have been able to continue the win into a 12th round.
That's what I would have expected to be honest with you. That's why I don't know if it was actually
meant to like kind of like, I don't think I'm always the team at this stage in their career to
really let them do it. Yeah, to let them do it. I think it was more to calm themselves down because
because the clutch is so incredible.
Well, they're coming to B again, they're rushing in again,
starting to run thin on ideas,
and really starting to run thin on kills
because Ryu just pops out,
as well as do not care about the pace change.
They were handling it easily.
Another kill comes through, at least a 2v3,
but it's just the damage done,
and the fact you haven't got the site,
you haven't got the plan.
This is the right call though from JW and Rolf.
If you actually want to try and win this,
you've got to back away from that,
back away from where they expect you to be attacking into,
and let the time and the lack of information be your ally.
Let's see if you can find a really nice timing to surprise somebody.
They're gonna get over to A-Quick, but Yabbi's already here.
And he's been playing excellent at this bomb site.
21 and 15.
Yeah, he's not gonna miss you here. JW's running knife out.
It's gonna be an easy kill for Yabbi.
And we got a tight game.
All right, Bolo, is there a choke in this one away?
I don't think it's... I don't think it's... I'll tell you, I don't think it's a choke.
It's just a strong force feeding him.
I think it's... I think it's like...
It's pretty good.
I think more than anything, it's just...
They got to play with momentum and they got to play with a lot of energy and they got to play with a lot of excitement and now
That's been stalled out
You go back to remembering that this is not a good map in their pool
40% win rate against tier two and tier three opposition
They should have they should have never even been into the position in some sense
It's incredible clutches individual efforts a wild 1v3 for Maxter
That's what got them here
But now that Astralis has locked in you actually got to beat him at counter strike and it comes back to what I was saying
after that big maxed around was, if Astralis can have terrible rounds here, terrible start,
so many mistakes, and still come back all the way and win it, I mean that's just got to make you feel like,
despite the fact that we're playing badly, we still have such a high level that we can
pull back any game.
And then what does it lock you in for in that third round, which would be Inferno when you come in for Astralis?
11 to 11. A seven round run from Astralis to cool off this eyeballers team. Back to
back B rushes. I'm with you running out of ideas that playbook not deep enough. Since
they might have had some opportunity since there was some space something they could
work with over there but Astralis just keeps shutting it down regardless of what happens.
Yeah, now you've forced them into a long, drawn-out round with weaker weapons.
It's going to be pretty easy, but that Glock kill comes in, that's an M4 available to Rolf.
They've been able to find that kill on Hooksy a number of times in rounds like these.
It feels like at this point they're just kind of targeting it.
We saw Dex get that 1D, got him a few rounds back, kind of an eco.
So they came into this with a single AK-47.
At the moment, they've got two rifles with that M4 recovered.
The issue is the A-bombsite feels closed with how good Yabi's playing,
so you almost feel like you have to go elsewhere.
Hey, Natsur was playing pretty good at one point as well.
There he goes.
Pressing decision.
Yeah, that's a bit too risky for Fuzzy.
At this point in the game, you're making that move.
That has given iBallers the advantage.
Starr is inside of the smoke.
This is a tense, tense moment. Max is going to kill.
Starr tries to turn around, but Bob has got the tech-knight kill.
And like this, that's how iBallers find my point.
Oh my goodness, that is still...
well the eyeballers are looking for the fact that you have one rightful and they've managed one extra round out of this
Okay, eyeballers series point
And this is the best chance to do it with how many issues they've been creating
for a straw list
Nothing is just coming nothing is coming easy for this team right now
There's always gonna be one more thing you have to overcome the jump from foesie man
and that's a brutal way to give up a kill.
I think if this goes to overtime, Astralis win it.
So this has to be the opportunity for iBallers.
They have just had nothing on this T side,
but magical moments.
They get one extra, gotta take this chance now.
Astralis have a good bye.
And we might be saying goodbye to Astralis.
We'll have to wait and see.
iBallers, they've got JW out middle.
I dare you to give JW another chance.
Double dog, there you go.
All the time it doesn't spread to Stare though, so he's going to get caught off guard, you
imagine.
KW taking point through Rudd.
Yabby, there he is.
Michelle, oh, JW's missed it.
Astralis have come through charging with a triple kill.
Kim Axter saving him again.
He's had so many of these miraculous moments.
Wait for your teammate, he's coming for the jump up, oh no, you can't get there, Rolf.
Not ready for the swing.
Bomb has dropped here, he must come in.
And Astralis, they have brought it all the way back.
seem to lost multiple times. They had to go on an incredible streak to even have a chance.
A seven round run, eight of the last nine rounds of play in their favor, just to make
overtime.
Yeah, Fuzzi looks so stressed right now. He thought he was about to be the MVP, sweet
for eyeball as well. They're giving that up. I mean, that kill was just ridiculous up
in red. I mean, you're just so happy that your team actually able to close into overtime.
This is Yabi's good start, all going down, Yabi able to get the second, he's just reliable
once it comes towards him.
But I do stand by what I said, I do feel like now it's going to be...
I mean I think it's already some kind of an indictment on Astralis that has gotten to
this point but if they don't win it in overtime now, it's a real question.
Another deep smoke, eyeballers want to pressure mid.
To be fair, it didn't bounce off the wall, but the way they wanted it to.
Oh, you know, it's tense, needs some comedic relief.
Ooh, stepping around, Hoaxy, as you mentioned, that's been a real problem here for us trawlers,
him going down inside of Jack, and he's going to be forced back by the Molotov this time.
He's gonna re-clear mid. This is all on bomb. He's got to be very careful looking for this exact piece of aggression
But how long does he keep his focus here? He's gonna start making his move. Oh turns back and that had to be a kill
Had to be one. Yeah, they're losing fights now as well
That's what I was looking sharpened
Clean cuts right through the attack
Don't step in front of the scope Jw's looking for the shot
you breaks down Ryu it doesn't matter like I said any round is
unloosable for Astralis this is insane the patience and confidence they have in
those scenarios JW and Maxter just waiting not trying to overextend not
trying to swing too much and be the hero this is so perfectly played you get a
little bit of JW magic mixed in there ducks beneath the follow-up shots quick
response cleaned up and this former NIP player of Maxter is just dominating 30
He kills now, he's got in overtime in this elimination map.
Gonna start from Yabi. Can the train come in from Taks? Yes it will. Ryu, it's a silence max.
And then if follow up, okay, that's a bit too easy for Ryu to get away with three there.
No, but this is what I was talking about, that aggression, just attacking them, being disruptive, especially towards that point.
Very tough sometimes for these inexperienced teams to handle it, and it's been a problem for them all throughout the half.
throughout the half they're not gonna solve it today and look there's been
some cool magic and some cool clutches it's not happening surely not he's
getting flanked out at the moment there's a timer on this yeah that the
flank is the winning piece it and Ryu is going to confirm it around the back
good round from Ryu being quiet but showing up when we're quiet he had an
important round where he shut down the B rush. Now he's got one here.
It's got to be one of the most stressful games. This is Stralis lineup has played together.
Absolutely. I mean, for eyeballs, they've got a map under the belt.
It's one of those games where it feels like a Stralis is like winning in like
the strategic department, but then eyeballs is winning the clutches, you
know, the magic.
Just winning some of those clutches has just kept them so alive.
20 kills on decks now.
Timeout taken from eyeballers. They really really want this final round of their T side campaign
I bet they got to be pumped to switch back over to defense
Yeah, I think just get another round somehow on this T side
I'm gonna be loving indeed fast place towards the B bomb site haven't really worked. I don't think we'll see them go there
I think the quicker and aggressive A attack would be available to them, but I think you've
made the point earlier and you're probably a little bit right.
They might be dissuaded from that dude, Yabi, having played so well.
He's shot them down a number of times and they've come in that direction.
27 kills on Yabi.
Yeah, here they come anyway.
One player stepping into A.
I think Yabi senses it because it's been so long.
Oh, I mean, this is good.
Look at the setup.
They're so ready for an A play.
Dex is clearing this.
I mean, yeah.
But it doesn't matter.
Yabi's still gonna win the fight.
I mean, if dodge the scope, so the setup isn't as deadly as it could have been.
No, but you need the donut portion of this attack to get into place.
If you're actually going to continue and try and finish here,
you need the other players to be in position.
But actually, I thought there's this happy to gain control of mid.
Careful now.
Fuzi goes into the main.
That's an important fight to win for Bob.
Puts pressure here on Fuzi.
Huxi having to try and release the pressure by coming out through Heaven.
Oh, he's got a deep wrangle and J.W. is ready for it.
So Huxi takes that kill and Rolf just hasn't shown enough to really believe this is possible.
Oh, there's a headshot.
Maybe, just maybe, some more magic left in him.
1v3 total.
There's the second, and OK, maybe he
doubting off a little bit early as he brings it down
to just stare in the side.
Oh!
So close.
So, so close to an unbelievable clutch again.
That would have been the individual heroics they've
been riding throughout this whole map,
and that would have been a critical second round
to get an overtime.
Oh, he was one bullet away from that, too.
Yeah, now they've got to do it the hard way,
over to CT. You can see Yabbi shaking his hand like he's just got away with one again.
These guys can shoot man. Mastralis having such a tough time containing them. Ran over
on the first map. An incredible comeback here on ancient and still not done with the battle
yet. Well the defense is where they did their
better work. Still possible to win. Just need three rounds here but Fuzi goes out middle.
start. That's Max, they're gone. You know that's the A player. Remember that all too well. Now here
comes Rolf down the bottom of the B ramp. Yabi ready to punish that aggression. Eye ballers
providing them the kills. Dex trying to pull it back. He gets the dink. Come back to back rounds.
Now they've come so close to getting essential kills at 2v3 now. And I think the position
and the kill from Yabi really sold a fake. Eye ballers believe the ending play is going to be
towards the B bomb site where Yabi was positioned. Utility is chucked out elsewhere. Bob now calling it out now. 9 HP. What's he supposed to do?
No chance he's going to set up a launching pack for this retake. That spam was maybe the only hope, so it's all on JW.
Sponsor target. Now they're going to be so primed for this. Astralis, you can be letting this one go at all.
How do you fight your way out of the temple? Time ticking on the bomb as well. Not able to get the shot off.
So Ryu on the clean up, final couple of kills came in, and Astralis reach map point.
Two chances to lock things out and take us to map three.
That roll of clutch, man.
That might have been the one, not only the win in the round and two for one in the first stage of overtime,
but just the momentum it gives you.
And again, it feels like with the way this happened, the first two maps have played out
as strong as I feel like they're just like one stiff breeze away from just another mental
collapse.
But they've been playing so well that they've avoided it.
It's been some time since they had to encounter and deal with that, and now against their
same lineup he had to get the double kill earlier.
This time that's one.
Yeah, great map for Counter Shrike, lots of magical moments, but it's not enough.
Surely.
They're not done.
Every time I go to say something, Rolf just steps up and does something special.
I know three kills coming in for Rolf. It's now going to be Fuzzi and Starr on the back foot. They still can close this
But very difficult now. They've been smoked away from the bomb like that. They're far far away
Yeah, you need to you need to back off and find a new angle of attack at least for the moment
You know, Fuzzi is gonna stay stay here with the off and make sure nobody pushes once that smoke clears
But stare he can create the opening Jw just tucks his head down. I don't think you want that fight
No, you definitely don't get away Rolf. There we go. Well, I feel off of the ace. He's off of the ace here Rolf
this is one of those rounds you don't chase it though don't give him chances
can spit can stare pull something special there's three targets coming at
him so single kill for him in the end Rolfe does very well 4k everyone is
stepping up here for eyeball has happened the moments and okay one more
round left the the issue for eyeballers is it's been a long time since I feel
We've been able to watch them get consecutive rounds.
They have a moment like that, but that Ashrafs have been able to answer back quite consistently.
And Ashrafs are going to use their overtime timeout to make sure they close it here and now.
That is beautiful from Rolf.
It's a lovely sequence.
I mean, we're getting a glimpse throughout these two massive play of every single member of eyeballers contributing in some significant moment.
Rolf here to keep them alive, almost with the ace.
The feeling of relief Astralis will have if they win this, it's gonna be immense as they head off into the reset for the third and final map.
What are we gonna call here? There's one overtime timeout for Astralis. You call your best round, the round that you're most confident in getting you the victory.
Early smokes out towards elbow and window room. Early Molotov down to prevent any peeks from elbow. And Astralis send in number of bodies towards B lane.
Smokes are in already, not going to be hitting the site just yet on this first timing.
Waiting for some responses. Get trying to get Fusey up.
Now, he hasn't done much on this map. He's eight kills now at the end of overtime.
He needs her off, but to chime in a little bit more.
Risky jump from Rolf.
Closing nose all about those. Dex is going to back off in towards Cave as well.
So the defense while it postured a little bit more aggressive,
aggressive, now happy to fall back at about the minute and twenty second mark.
He'll gain control.
And on top of the boxes, Dex is going to make his stand.
He's got Rolf here, not paired up with him underneath, but he is going to swing into the fight.
Rolf and Dex, that's two.
Three kills away from another overtime, Ryu still fighting.
Trying to get another one, Ryu has stepped up and he's grabbed the bomb.
They're gonna try and slip away and that A bomb site's just opened up
Bomb has moved off. It's a double hop. Can Bob get one? No
Denied by Stan Bob dead. Perhaps the dreams of another overtime with it. Hey, hold on. Max is arriving right now
Putting himself in the right spot
Who's he caught stare looking to try trading damage done to his back
stare looking sharp
Maxter low HP, that Grenade won't finish him off though, and it's JW and Maxter coming back.
What a combo this is being.
Stare sparing down through the smoke, saving Astralis.
Another only player that could do anything about this is JW.
He's gotta hurry up before Stare gets into cover.
Out of temple, must pray that he can win this one.
And Stare knows where he is now, jumping out.
JW can't do it. Stare saves Astralis.
Astralis, they will take it to map through size of relief. Astralis pressured the entire map. Magic was not enough for iBallers to close it.
I tell you, we're always blessed with these crazy games at PG Elements and this one, no difference. iBallers, they're going to be feeling super disappointed here.
I think there were 11-4 at one point.
I really had to get that one over the line,
but Astralis, they just kept battling and battling
and clawed their way back into that one.
We got overtime, and even there,
I thought double overtime was on the cards.
Bob sort of had to hit that upshot at the end,
and here we are.
That was a lot of shots, Bob, needed to hit this game,
if we're honest.
I mean, the thing is, is like, credit where credit's due.
Eyeballers make a show of this.
They nearly two other series,
but it's one of those situations
where to me it came down to kind of two things.
One, when it came to eyeballer CT side,
it was really reliant on big individual playmaking.
And Astralis making some huge fumbles,
peeking one by one through smokes
or just not playing situations appropriately.
And if we're honest about it, when we switch sides,
eyeballer's T side, it was lacking.
Like they ran out of patience and play both pretty quickly
and they were kind of trying to force the finish
to that game by going for like these KC plays.
And you know, Astralis as bad as they were playing,
they're a, you know, poise enough ancient team
to be able to handle simplistic things like that.
It's kind of reminiscent of that Mongols game again,
where Astralis went down, excuse me,
8-1 on the A-T side, and CD-Side completely turned it around,
right?
And 1, what was it, 39 or 13-10 is something of that nature.
So my worry for me is not that Astralis wouldn't be able
to bounce back, that's like an half.
It was just the individual messing up,
coming out from a lot of the players.
They screwed up so many times.
There's our foe Z jumping over the red smoke,
getting picked off as well.
So many individual mistakes.
But then on the flip side, you have Max,
performing the way he did, but our boy Stare and Yabi, the two players we touched upon DUS they
really did deliver and they really had to. Yes, I mean it took them a while to get going,
but when they got going they were going. I mean Stare less so, Yabi had a bit of a slow start,
but this is why they have pretty much put him in the positions they put him in. They believe on
this guy to deliver. Yeah, Stare's the star for this team. There's no question about it. He's had a
a huge blow up, already a solid player before,
but what he's been doing this year has been a level above.
And when you look at this heat map, you can just see,
you know, how he's dictating the pace
at middle on both sides of the map,
how he's able to rotate into these retakes
on the A bomb site or help them with these entries on A as well.
And just be that flexible rifling star
that put up a crazy rating in ADR set
throughout the course of this game.
He was there one constant force that kept them in the game
with all the different things that got thrown at them.
Yeah, he was absolutely solid.
This is the first round they get on board,
which is a crazy space for this smoke.
Getting a couple of kills, getting them on board.
But yeah, overall, he was just a very solid rock.
Gotta say though, even though Fozy was extremely quiet,
I would say even the liability on this map,
Ryuu had some very, very important kills.
He warmed up, yeah.
Especially in overtime, what looked like
it was gonna be another round going the way of Eyeball,
as we're thinking overtime number two's coming in.
He gets us two very crucial kills inside the cave,
allowing them to win out the round.
So yeah, I feel like Eyeball has definitely
had their opportunity switch to close this one out,
but as I pointed out, you know,
If at the end of the first half, they hadn't let those two gun rounds slip, it would have been the game.
But they gave a little bit of buffer to Astralis to work with, and that's all they needed at the end of the game.
Yeah, I mean, I do want to say as well, I haven't watched Astralis for a long, long time.
I do feel that if this was the previous iteration of Astralis, they would have just let that one go.
They were very brittle in terms of mentality and very easy to kind of break.
That is an unreal comeback.
I mean, you are going out of the tournament there.
It's not like you're just losing a Swiss game.
You're out.
And you're 11-4 down on a map you're supposed to be dominating.
You can see here, the round history,
to sort of get your way back into it.
And also, so convincing, because you look at Astralis' CT side
over there.
They got the bomb down only the one time, right?
For the side of Ibalis.
So very, very convincing shutdown coming out from them.
But yeah, like, they just get the job done.
And that's what matters.
Because coming to map number three,
look, Inferno is a map,
not very much mistaken over here.
It could still be kind of 50-50,
but at the same time Astralis,
they might have a little bit of winning the sales.
But I won't lie, Matt,
till the second half of map number two,
they look so flat individually,
tactically in every department you could think of.
I mean, the thing that worries me as well,
more so than anything to do with tactics,
is the adrenaline dump that's involved
in something like a game like that.
You know, you heard it on the comms, you know,
when you feature PGLs brought in where we're, you know,
translating so you can hear what people are saying.
And, you know, they're screaming, they're shouting,
they're so hyped, they're saying like, you know,
we can't lose here right now.
All of our clutches are coming off and everything.
And then you, Stralis, take a timeout, you take a timeout.
There's this weird little pause.
You know, all the adrenaline's gone now
and you've got to get it over the line.
And unfortunately as well,
you've now got to go to a third map.
So it's like how can you get yourself back up there?
You know, how can you find something to give you a boost because I've seen this time and time again
You have an epic middle map and then the team that you know essentially blows their adrenaline
They're gone in the third map. They don't make it competitive true
But again, you got to remember you got to contextualize it with the pressure you touched upon as well rich light for
JWN is men again
This is zero pressure game right obviously they're looking to win
and they have Astralis shook, that's a thing.
And overall from the context of both the maps
put in together, sure, they ran out of pages
in the notebook over time for the side of eyeballers,
but individually everyone still looks very, very sharp.
They still look very honed in.
So I wouldn't necessarily say the danger's done
and dusted for the side of Astralis here.
No, definitely not, and obviously JW knows
a thing or two about inferno, so let's kind of set
that one up then.
What's the record like how are they doing on this right now? Yeah, I mean, this is one of the less played maps for Astralis when it comes to this five
I think they've only played it three times ahead the win over gamer Legion and then they lost to energy and
I think they had a close lost or Aurora if I'm not mistaken. So it's not been the best
I would say for eyeballers good, but obviously not the same level of competition right playing more small Academy teams regional lands things that nature
But they are a well versed team on this map.
And I think that, again, this mask
is going to come down to Bob for me.
I mean, Bob has had a really good game on Mirage,
really poor on Ancient, plays really critical roles
for them on this map.
I think his entering and then Max's ability to trade off
of him is going to be what really kind of dictates
how well they're able to play.
It's also just for me, are they able to have any more fuel
left in the tank?
Like you said, the adrenaline rush,
but also it's just like the dumping of all the different
things that you have in your game plan.
Are they able to have that reset and come
into Inferno looking polish. I'm looking at I'm looking at Rolf for me particularly because I've always yesterday against a focus game
Where the amount of that comeback right? I think with trailing massively
They they came back all the way on the T side as well. It was Rolf kind of leading the charge
He was so he I think it dropped over like a 1.5 rating or something
So he's gonna be very pivotal but also one thing you notice yesterday on the T side was JW again
T T side arping on inferno very very hard even for the best out there
But he was doing such a good job as finding his opening picks abusing top banana getting early picks towards mid
So that's gonna they have to replicate that and they will have to replicate that early on instead of allowing Astralis to get up to a
Monumental lead. Yeah. Well, I mean, how do we feel about it? We've got about 30 seconds before break. So I
Mean, you're betting favorites those rows. Obviously, I mean
My heart says JW my heart says JW
If you I just want JW to kind of get back in amongst it and you know, all all seriousness
You look at the VRS rankings. I think they were 26 the last time I checked
It makes every step of the way they go and boot the rest gets the minute contention of being at more events
Yes, but the second see look a Strauss has not played this map very much and they have lost to energy another weaker opponent
So like it's in the cards and what we see on the series
We can indeed see about our viewers do it and yeah
I've already gained a lot of ground but a lot more could come of this for sure. Yeah final thought blood for break
Look, it's all that's good, but not the best, J.W. Best.
Okay, there you go.
That's all we needed to say.
Of course.
And with that, I'm just gonna leave it there.
We'll go to break.
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But she can't love me.
But I love you!
I
Won't play window anymore
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Oh
Come on.
This quarterfinal decided on Inferno, Astralis managing to scrape their way here after two
rough maps, gaining momentum on Ancient taking the win in overtime.
3D Max waits in the wings in the semi-final for the winner of this to see who they're
going to face off for for a spot in the Grand Finals here at PGL Bucharest.
And after the first two maps of play, I gotta say, I don't know, it all seems up in the air.
It does.
I think the positive here, I mean, it was pointed out by the desk as well, and we were
kind of saying it during the cast, the fact that if you come back and you're a straws
and you're 11-4 down at one point, you come back, you have to deal with all those crazy
rounds and clutches going against you, you're in Ghibler's asking you, are you trolling
me?
And you still come back to win.
I mean, it's got to show that you can get through anything, but also, I guess the positive
is for eyeballers on one side is that they have good starts. You know winning
pistol rounds they can get good starts so if there is any way to shake that off
and the most likely reality being a strawler is coming in and winning this
one at least you can have the opportunity for some good starts. Yeah
this third and deciding map so frequently where the underdogs stumble
well same that second one right they win the first map and the close affair in
the second and normally we see the favorites come in and just kind of
batter them on the third and get everything back to normal but Maxter
having an incredible day. JW is having an incredible day. Dex also is having very good impact for
eyeballers. This has taken so long and they've decided to make an audible JW. Oh my god.
He's just chilling in the underpass. He's going to be cleared. Yeah, but burst fire.
Old school. Say 1.6. Good kill from Rolf. Three more players to find, but no one's really being
aggressive on coming back from the ramp and now oh now Astralis is trapped oh
yeah but Ryu and foosie fight the way out of that trap putting Max turn to 1v3
and that positive I was talking about winning the pistols getting good
stars eyeballs not gonna be fine the pistol here to kick it off but you can
get to the B bombsite that even that is denied for the smoke through shots
coming through so Astralis the fist monster happy enough they won the
pistol round they can get this rolling now yeah they can that's I mean that
That had to have been a conversation for Astralis in between.
I imagine Hooksy, Raga, someone just said,
guys, can we win a pistol?
Can we get out to a good start?
Let's not have to play this comeback game.
Just all the stress of ancient.
Just avoid it by starting out hot and just carry on
with the momentum from map two victory.
Wanted nothing and not even close to the bomb site,
so eyeballers stick back on two clocks.
Because if you think about it overall in the series,
you kick off Mirage, and what happens there?
Eyeballers come out hot, get a good start.
Everybody's fragging, JW in particular, he gets an A.
So you have everyone have a big moment and you ride just a great game of counter strike all the way through to the wind on
Ancient another good start also when things start turning as Charles's favor
You have a pivotal moment where Maxter shuts down a terrible as draws play where they all walk through the smoke that they're on
The game is clutches here and there
What happens if it's draw let's get out to a strong start and they're just in control of the game
You don't have a big clutch like that
That's the point
I mean we saw what happens if they build up to that critical mass on the CT side of ancient where it was just like you guys you guys
because you guys aren't the answer for this.
So Iballers is going to have to be able to disrupt the streak
and put a stop to any momentum building.
Easy kills in this round for Astralis, two to nothing.
That is the, they won the first pistol round of the series
back on Mirage, lost the ensuing three.
This is the first pistol round they've won since then.
So looking to carry this one into a strong beginning.
AK is coming out for Iballers.
For Astralis, he's still up two MP9s in a FAMAS.
So I wonder if we'll see some aggressive banana play pushed down towards the bottom with one of those MP9s.
Risk the weaker weapon to see if you can get a cheeky kill or a cheeky positioning for later on.
Nothing yet. Looks like Eyeballers wants to get a mid-quick though, coming right at Fuzzy.
He's just jiggling the corner.
They're going for the tap, Foosie.
They're going to start backing off here.
They're going to keep some range between him and his opponents.
Hey, really economical take of brackets for eyeballers.
Don't use a single piece of utility on that swing.
They didn't have a lot bringing into this round, so good that they're able to save some
there on the initial take.
Yeah, smoking up the archway as well.
Let's see Dex start to progress up through long, Foosie.
This guy's just waiting, he's chomping at the bit trying to get involved with the fight here.
Finally Flash is going to come through.
And it's not really all that effective, Rolf is able to turn away.
And Fuzzi goes down without a kill.
Now Ryu's turned off the balcony, they nearly line up for him there.
But yeah, he's now under pressure, eventually cleared out by Maxter.
And Eyeballers move into the bomb site.
Maxter's no joke with his AK-47, he's so sharp today.
Unbelievable performances he's had for Eyeballers, especially on map 2.
42 kills total and the two completed maps for Maxter.
Reading the way for eyeballers and stairs just going to grab the AK.
Hooksies able to upgrade as well and they're contempt with those upgrades moving into the next round.
So CT side bolsters their defensive loadout with a couple of AKs.
Those instant headshots could be so effective but eyeballers is going to steal this round away.
So two to one, they're on the board early and Astralis they can't get out to that crazy hot start.
So plenty of money in the next round and they'll have the AWP out as well.
So first gun round is taking brackets control with relative ease.
Two players attacking rap side smokes and arch smokes and library.
And being able to constrict around the A bomb site.
So, Fuzzi has his AWP out. Stare with an AK, hooks you with an AK. We go live into round 4.
I mean, I'm glad to see Fuzzi having a better stark 4-1 right now. He was pretty much non-existent over an ancient.
Of course, the end had a couple more impact kills going into the Overtimes, but we're good to see him firing from the get-go.
He's going to be under a little bit of pressure now. Actually, he doesn't realize it.
Bob XT should have walked around the half wall.
I'm actually kind of surprised that Bob hasn't taken that timing to a little bit more aggression.
Gonna test it over the top, okay.
Yeah, but he forces him back.
No one's gonna clear this boost, so it should be an easy, at least one kill.
Not easy.
They did spray it down.
It's a stack, two players here.
J.W. with the trade.
Now a player in Boiler as well.
Are they ready for Hooksy?
Coming around the back.
Now J.W. is the bomb carrier.
He can separate his teammate off and put J.W. in a clutch.
J.W. is actually just gonna go and prioritize the plant.
He's got plenty of utility here.
Hooksy trying to make things a little bit uncomfortable,
but J.W. goes out into the open.
It's one quick kill here on Hoaxing,
with the series he's having.
I don't believe in a JW chance.
Fuzzi behind that motor smoke,
knocks himself in the cubby.
JW feeling very suffocated now,
trying to somehow isolate these fights,
but Fuzzi, as soon as he peeks out from the cubby,
lands the shot in the AWP.
Yeah, JW, I guess, never felt the safety to move,
despite the Molotov in towards short,
the smoke in towards short.
He had some cover to get away.
He had a short timing before that smoke faded,
but I guess it didn't feel like he could make it in time.
Hooksy may be a little bit early on his attempt
to keep JW locked down inside the bomb site,
almost puts him in a winnable situation,
or does put him in a winnable situation, thankfully bailed out.
Three to one, and with the bomb plant,
Eibullers can squeak together a buy right on the edge,
but Mac 10 on dex, AK-47's coming in,
and JW dropped one over.
He'll sit back with no armor and just utility.
He's the supportive element for the team leading from the back.
Oh, well, that's a great start for us, Shrullers.
Sharsh is whizzing down through the banana smoke stairs to collect him, and trying to
speed things up into A's dex, Maktan being sent forward, but just handled.
And early, you know, I think he's trying to like be kind of first layer and then have
the halls players kind of pop out as he's going, but the Maktan's not going to be able
to create you all that space on its own.
They were probably a good three to five seconds behind him anyways.
So three versus five.
I'll tell you what, the first initial gun rounds here on Inferno haven't started out looking too clean for eyeballers.
No, it's just being really easy for Astralis.
Picking them apart and we're starting to get into that gang that we were worried would happen.
Astralis coming to map three, a clean start, keeping eyeballers in control, keeping them in line.
Fosy looking much more comfortable here on Inferno as well. Mischot there, but it's all good.
Yeah, Rolf just couldn't find any sort of opening. Astralis not letting that happen.
He backs into the apartment, so there's going to be a 4-1 lead for Astralis.
Saving in the next round regardless, he's going to have to just go try and find some kills.
Go take some of these weapons away, force the revise out, see if you can start setting up that economy for a break.
25 seconds on the clock.
stairs pushing down banana so there's going to be no escape for Rolf so he
pushes forward
and he dies at the hand of Yabbi
Yabbi's had a good game even over on ancient there he was the player who
highlighting just when they went towards A he was so reliable yeah he was
It felt like he kept them his presence alone and his performance alone and just a couple rounds kept them from attacking that a bombsite
He's got a long of that half so he continues his good play same with stair on the T side stair was the one really kind of the only one
At least in regulation having impact finding some initial kills giving them opportunities to win rounds
Which bodes well for Astralis you combine that with foesie having a good start and having the off out early and having impact with it already
Things looking good. That feels like for the first time in this series for Astralis
Yeah, I think this is for the first time. This is the Astralis we expected to see coming into this game
Fuzi was a top mid pick. Wolf walks right into it
Do you think what we've seen from Astralis today?
Obviously it worries you a little bit, but you know if they get through eyeballs, which looks like it's gonna happen now
Do you think it's something they can just
Fix going into the next day. Yeah, I mean, I think sometimes we make too big of a deal of like individual bad games
Like you're just gonna have those with the amount of counter strike that we play at the professional level teams players
We're all just gonna have they're just straight up gonna have bad games or bad decisions are made
This shots happen and it just occurs now
I think it'd be a bigger issue if maybe like this trend sort of continued if they make it to the semi finals
Yeah
But I think you know if Astralis kind of go through and kind of clean things up and handle 3d max get into the grand final shows
It like we're gonna forget that this particular performance
Was this bad?
Okay, so we're not going to have Rugger have come through a podcast on the couch after this game and say some levels and mistakes
Well, except the ball and we have the major and I can't kick them right now
You know what? He might and good
I don't even think it'd be out of line and after this particular series
But we also I mean look we I think we have to say there's shocking performance from eyeballers in terms of them playing some of the best
Counter strike you'd imagine this team has played certainly like the toughest opponent they've played
And then on the other side of things for Astralis not not a great day in the office
But look at teams at this level everyone's got to find all the teams when you when you get to this point have to find ways to
Beat teams on your B game on your C game sometimes and they're certain currently in that search right now Astralis and looking good for it
You know time out for eyeballers
And I mean I think I think to like focus on the positives to some extent as well
And that's what you'd want with Astralis at some point
There's a lot of things to clean up so in that sense you do have to touch on the negatives
But focus on the positive that you brought up multiple times is yeah, you guys did outlast all the crazy rounds
You guys that's so much stress placed on you on those crazy 1b3 clutches from Maxter and
Outlasting it all to force it to a third map. That's a great positive to hang your head on out of this series
Yeah, there was actually never a moment on it. You know, they could relax. No, it's a even take a breather at all
It was just pressure the whole way through
We they were stewed
Now they're looking to send foosie into middle to try and grab it open and kill
He'll drop back in behind the smoke when he doesn't find it
Couple of smokes down in banana, but they're actually gonna boost their up on the half wall from the CT's
Perspective and he's gonna walk away with one kill basically to he drops JW down a seven HP
Yeah, being really disruptive similar to ancient
I mean shaving a player off bringing JW down low before
Eyeballers is really even able to make a call or get into a position to execute
Really good start from Astralis.
Does that net go deep enough to catch J.W.?
Yes, it does. So J.W. Down, they've lost two players in banana here, eyeballers.
Max is a lurk over towards the A bomb site, but none of that's going to matter if they can't find a kill here at the B bomb site.
If you don't do anything to pull those defenders in, because now Max is in a position where he can't wait.
He has to help make a play as well.
Close it with one kill.
And Max has already been spotted. There's no progress there. 50 seconds left.
All you got is to join up with Maxster and try and break into this A bomb site where you have a two on two.
Now you know where the players are, it's just about dealing with them, so you get rid of Yabbi, but dealing with Ryu, it was a little bit too difficult.
He survives on 5 HP.
Even he had a little exhale after that one, he was like, oh, 5, huh?
Survived that one.
Yeah, a little bit close.
Yeah, well, not close right now at all.
No, I mean, the Eyeballers haven't really...
Outside of the one round they win in round 3 with those AK-47s, they haven't got any...
They haven't really gotten any great openings. The kills are all going the other way to start, right?
Just at the top as you're about to chuck utility to start taking past half wall to put some
pressure on the B bombsite, peeked and tons of damage done, one cleaned up by the grenade.
And then every option you have after that is not a very good one, just disadvantage
fights all across the board.
And I've always been super impressive in the first two maps playing with the lead,
from the front playing with momentum, but now that you have none of those three things,
they're struggling to kind of break Astralis' grip on this map.
And now you start feeling the pressure of having to make some heroic plays and heroic
moves and overextend to be the one that alleviates the pressure.
out of the balcony. Yabbi and Ryu seemingly impenetrable right now on this A site.
You're running out of bullets. Yabbi's actually died as soon as I say that.
There's too much of a perish. Get into the site. Fruzzy pulls out the side on,
dealing with a low HP on the P2K. And I said, well, let's come in on the rotation to make sure
that one doesn't get out of hand. Yeah, shout out to Fuzzy. Just sacrifices his life to protect
his teammate over in pit. Good kills with the P2K. They don't recover the off because Fuzzy had
like 13,000. So he's just like, keep the AKs. I'll, I'll rebuy it. It's all good.
Seven to one, six round lead and, uh,
an unfortunate turn of events to start out this third map.
Pita is going to try and rally the troops, give JW a break from having to
come up with all the ideas. Timeouts called Rugga.
Brian, the first time he's been pleased with what he's seeing inside the server.
Although I betcha, betcha he's not comfortable in any sense.
All right now.
Just exactly what we were expecting coming into this map and
Really hoping the eyeballers could have come into this one the pistol been able to convert it
Look, I think the conversation during this time out for eyeballers
I mean outside of any tactical conversation of strats
They're gonna call has to be something along the lines of like eyeballers saying
Like Astralis is T sides and this aren't like God tier we've seen them struggle on the T sides of this map
So give yourself a chance in the second half to recreate and reignite some of that fire that you had on Mirage that you had to start out ancient
Put a Stralis in a situation where they're gonna have to put a good amount of rounds on the board on the T side to win
Gonna move comfortably into the mid-round now with all 10 players still alive a luxury eyeballers haven't always had a
Luxury JW hasn't always had to be able to call a tactic with five players surviving
And one's picked off first to get an opening kill the foes he's up
Minute on the clock yabbi backing off into the arches
Astralis is setting himself forward, it's going to be Hoxie who has taken Dex out of this, and the full-on kills him Yabi.
So, no breaking through for iBallers, even after a timeout.
Bob looking for his first kill off the map.
He's close to it, committed to it, and unfortunately for Bob it will be a woeful start. 0-8 for him at the moment.
Can't catch a break.
No, I mean Astralis is coming to the show switch.
I mean look at the teamwork on Rapside.
backs away until his teammate arrives at library library takes contact yabby
swings after the fact library swings with it for the follow-up flights it's
perfect and eyeballers isn't finding a clean look at any one single individual
player they're turning corners either either at the opera two-man setup or into
utility getting shut down all across the map at the moment
six rounds in a row for a strahles
Blocked at top mid, and Fuzzi is just going to take this time to fall further back.
Now, what do you get close up and personal against what could potentially be tech nines?
You don't want to be in that scenario where you're the AWPer, you get overrun or you don't
to be anybody on the Astralis defense and be an overrun by these tech 9s.
So, Fuzzi begins his rotation, he's drifting over towards B, but the execution's coming
in towards this A side again.
Breaking open that smoke, you're going to see players trying to get through the archway
so you pull Fuzzi's attention over towards Arch trying to deal with it, but once you
get that kill on Yabbi, you actually just think, okay, why don't we just try and head
towards the A side.
Fuzzi just moved out of pit, it's like a wild decision, but it's worth out for him.
He's dropped back to a bigger pit position, but it hasn't been able to get a second kill,
but Fuzzi, edge of the smoke, gets one and then they overwhelm him.
So into the site here, eyeballers.
Yeah, good rebuttal to make sure that kill comes in from Rolf,
swinging wide enough to make sure that kill is secured.
2 AK-47 salvage for eyeballers.
Looks like a second round.
Yeah, I mean, that starts with Yabby going down and then it's all unravels.
They're gonna give this a look.
Halfway through the bomb, here's utility out to activate.
Back in the heartbreak you way to lose and they have they've just lost it
They can't have to break it all now for I ballers seems like the shoes on the other foot
Hey, yeah, now. Let's see. See how you guys like a taste of your own medicine clean easy retake. I
Really enjoyed the failed run boost into the block. I don't know if you caught that
Try to run boost over to library and the bottom guy didn't realize it failed
Top guy tries to get back and the bottom guy is just standing in his way
Well, a little bit of coordination practice needed that
But nine to one up for Astralis. I know
No, no, we wanted to we wanted to enjoy the JW nostalgia just one last time. Hey, we got it on Mirage
We got it on ancient. No, but I always want more. Yeah, that's fine
look, I mean
Well, let's see all this half turns out
Let's see if Iballo's can scrape together these last two rounds. Good opening kill provided by JW.
Five on four.
And no...
Opportunity to trade here for Astralis just yet. They're going to hold this crossfire towards top middle between Ryu and Yabi.
Hooksie is going to jiggle, look to pull attention and some information towards him.
It should be enough for Yabi and Ryu to shut down Eyeballers if they were to pounce through top middle.
They're getting hungry for a little bit of information.
Yabi is going to peek out with the grenade. Then they're focused on Yabi so they walk in and don't consider Ryu.
in a Ryu, but he's worried about the balcony, so he looks away, J.W. is able to punish that
for a second, and then going back out for the peek is Hoopsy, he gets two. So Bob XD
still gets the frag, steps into the smoke. Now, he's going to be looking for his first kill.
I mean, that's going to be a small victory in this scenario for Bob.
Oh, he's got Yabi at low HP. I mean, Yabi's taking a gamble that he's going to move in
in front of the default boxes, and that gamble is going to pay off. Oh, he does not.
Rich off from Yabi. Yeah, Bob can't find it.
Oh, poor Bob.
Yeah, a tough game to start for him
Ten to one nine round lead. It's just a sponge right now. Yeah, well, this is the Astralis we expected today. I
Think this will go a long way seeing them snap into place on this third map to dominate to the point
You were talking about earlier is how much does this actually change perhaps your line of thinking or your feeling about Astralis?
I think the dominant win like this on that third map
Just goes to share they still got it first two maps a little bit rough first two maps
I made great performances from guys like Max or from JW that they had to contend with
But Astralis strong enough to outlast all of it good kill from Hooksy to open things up got it back away with 14 health
Oh, they're about to come out of the balcony.
No one's looking at it.
So, hello.
Surprise, Stralis.
There's Max there.
Ryu, trying to get back to the top mid-flight.
Yeah, but he's going to deal with that, but the A side's still open up for grabs here.
Yeah, but this is the payoff of Hooksy getting the open and kill.
Even though the trades here in this portion of the attack are in the favor of eyeballers,
still down a man up until that point good job from Max serve gonna back away
and disappear down mid two more coming on wrap side one low HP and they're
actually just gonna go back and attack in for the retake JW holding strong with
the AWP posted up here blinded down cuz up for the peak gets the one so stare
now won't be one up against Max so thinks he's gone towards the balcony
it's got some utility to make this uncomfortable but Max is wrapped around
long and stare will be knocked over so a second round secured here for i ballers
Nice play from Maxter as well, wrapping around the exact position Yavi didn't expect.
A little bit dangerous with timing, if you miss that and he's in front diffusing inside the smoke,
you really don't have a whole lot of chances to spray that down and win that round.
But they at least have two. That's as much space as they could carve out in this half.
Astralis just so dominant.
Fundamentally strong setups in great positions.
Fosey's AWP gets tons of impact throughout the entire half. 15 kills he ends on.
J.W. gonna try and rally the troops for one last push. They get to switch over to the CT side,
Get a look at how this defense is going to operate.
And it is going to fall all on JW, not only as the leader,
but I mean, just as the CT center point with that AWP,
I think he's going to need to kind of be everywhere,
at least at the start, at least to get these guys
clicked back into this game and locked back in.
But I mean, it might be a while before you get there.
Pistole round, all important for eyeballers.
One last good go.
I think we're all very excited to see iBallers make it to this event.
It's been a long grind of online counter strike to get into the VRS positioning to be invited to tournaments of this level.
and certainly the name for themselves. Bob pistol out. He's got his teammate JWM
roll right beside him. I'm going to try and take a kill to start off this pistol on his JWM that's falling
first. Bob will get his first kill and then we see roll take two right like that. Maxter has put
themselves in a position where they could win this out and start with a pistol bang with a
Maxter steps into the open and sets up Fuzi. That's such a sick read for Fuzi like realizing you
have time because that fifth player is going to be coming from the B bombsite to just be patient
as Dexter's walked through it.
Yep.
Yes, he does.
And Fuzzi's just waiting for it.
So confident.
A much better map here from Fuzzi.
Night and day compared to a second map performance.
And that's the difference here for Astralis.
11-2 up.
With Eyeballers losing their pistol round,
that seems to be the final nail in the coffin.
Eyeballer's going to have to invest in this round.
They just have to fight for it, obviously.
Trades the whole way through came right at the format stack
at the A bomb site, just fozy as the difference right at the end.
Double kill to clean up the round and potentially close out this series.
3D Max awaiting the semifinals.
Probably starting to leaf through the opposition research binder and find all the Astralis
pages they have.
Honestly, are they 3D Max to be pretty happy with how Astralis played today?
I don't know, I think you'd rather get that Astralis when you're playing them.
I think now that they play like this, okay, well, we use just killing anything that happens
on a screen, hooks, you get sprayed down.
Well, like to know that they can drop to that level.
Well, also, I mean, and then rise to this level, you could see them snapping into shape
on this third and final map, you know, you can imagine there's going to be a very intense
conversation about this, about how the first two maps were played.
I think if you're 3D max, there's no way you're going to ever think that you're going
to get that kind of Astralis from Mirage, the Astralis from Grum ancient to show up in your series tomorrow.
Astralis is thinking and hoping that this kind of a the slow start to this series is the the
bucket of cold water splash on their face, wake them up for the rest of these playoffs.
Because as an organization and as a team they have to be thinking trophy, they got to be thinking
championship. It's right there for them for the taking. I love being able to listen into the
calms as well because every time we do so and it shows you playing badly hook see is not the kind
of leader that is just gonna mince words right he just tells you straight up he's got that apex
quality too yeah guys this is terrible are you trolling me right now without we're playing it
and you know we heard it back at pro league when rug it was asking him not to stop whining he's like
i'm not gonna stop whining because there's so much to whine about you know so he does demand
excellence out of the squad and i mean it's great to get that insight and putting the pressure on
on the players to perform and they are performing very well now as they reach
a series point. And on the other perspective as well for eyeballers you
know elimination here is gonna sting it's gonna hurt but I don't think if
you're the players the coaching staff anyone involved in the organization I
don't think there's anything but pride you got to feel about the run they've
had so far at this event exceeding expectations getting into the playoffs
showing an incredibly good level against Astralis on these first two maps. I
I mean, you just plan online tournaments after online tournament effect.
You get to come to a land of this level, then make it here and have a real shot at
taking down a Stralos to move into the semifinals and seeing the performance at a
Maxter, seeing the performance at a Dex, the way Rolf and Bob have been able to step
up in various isolated situations.
J W getting back here.
This is one of those runs at a tournament that I think for a team like
I've all ears and the someone at the helm like J W is only going to make this
squad hungrier.
So yeah, sting of a loss and certainly the quality of the loss here on this third
map, but.
Positives for them, increase of the VRS points throughout their run here,
the good showing against Astralis in these quarterfinals,
the confidence and belief that you're going to gain out of a performance like this.
And perhaps most importantly, Bob will not end this third map on a goosehead.
Team kill.
Don't do it to me.
that is the most small victory we take it where we can the side storyline for
side show ball here when you're done 12 to you take it all under a minute on the
clock made landing towards JW
Stroll is getting ready to play the eyeball is off as they get ready to go
to be out through banana they will go ball team put under pressure balls is
gonna die and now the site is wide open max you're trying to come over and
patch up the gap you just can't do it
okay there's a little bit left a little bit left in the eyeballers looking like
Laura coughed out there yeah just gunslinging on an adventure straight
through that smoke but still a 3v3 I mean you have damage that hoaxy as well
he's 17 health but they're just gonna sit back in banana now bomb is planted
They're just going to organize themselves and get ready to make sure this one doesn't slide away.
They want to close it here and now they want that 13-2 win.
And they're going to the semi-finals to play against 3D Max Astralis.
It was a stressful quarter-final here against the eyeballers, but eventually they get it done.
A 13-2 win handling business on in furrows, snapping into shape just in the nick of time.
But it was damn good to see JW back on the server and see that there is a little bit of that wonder child
still in him. Yeah, not enough, unfortunately, for them, but Astralis, they bounced back
on that third map and showed why so many people had fancied them to potentially lift the trophy.
It's a rough one for iPallers. It was within touching distance to get to the semis. They
should have got it done on ancient, and then as we sort of anticipated, you come on to inferno.
There was just nothing left in the time. You can also look at Immuted Celebrations from Astralis
as well, then you it shouldn't have to come to this. And I'm glad to be better. Oh, they're
going to be definitely reviewing what went wrong today because a lot of things went wrong.
But I'm glad to see that they woke up after they come back. They took care of business.
Disappointment you could see in the faces of the eyeballers side. But yeah, they had
to get it done on ancient because this was as well as finally waking up and showing his
boss on a server. Yeah, good resilience from Mr. House to shake off those first two maps
and shake off the almost O2 elimination and just be able to, you know, put nose to grind
Stone, take care of business on ancient to turn the tides and then how the turns
table here on in front of because it was an absolute dominant performance from
start to finish. I've always could get nothing going on the T side is stalwart
defense across the board for the Shalas organization and they will be moving on
to the finals. Commissarations to eyeballs. I'm sure right now this hurts
a lot because of how close they were to making the cities and two on the
series. Yeah, there on JW space, but I I bet you this I bet you after some time
passes and they'll realize that hey we made top eight we made playoffs we have a chance to
Now use this VRS game to get some more tournaments like there is still a positive I know the image is
really hard right now watching JW being so dejected and disappointed but I love I also love the fact
that it means so much to him right coming in right you everyone's like yeah you don't want to just
put up a no key fight even if you lose it's okay no it still matters a lot to JW and you got to love
to see it look at a scoreboard man look Bob he had a good map one but there's this less more XD
one and a 13 and we've seen too many of these sort of scorelines from Bob in a lot of the maps
have seen so far. I haven't seen what all the hype is about at this event which isn't to say
there isn't something there but didn't really come to life for me. He's like the Swedish peeping at
his farm at this point right? Well let's not let's not be harsh. Let's not curse Bob that.
Joseph's side it's been a bit of a learning experience for iBallers. I've been genuinely
impressed with what they've done so far so yeah hope to see them in more events down the line.
They have indeed got all those VRS points right and look Ryu
Getting his flowers having a good map of solid hadouken there on this map for sure
Yep
We've definitely
Highlighted some of the other maps that he has high impact on and I guess moving forward you can see from the heat map
This is someone to watch on inferno when his father's a planet moving forward
Yeah
I mean re is an interesting cat because I mean obviously he was kind of the new additions to the team that people didn't know as much about
You know coming over from Monty
obviously did a couple of things there, but nothing super notable.
And when he first joined this team and he kind of had his debut, he was very
interesting to watch because he was a guy who's a side anchor defensively.
But even though he kind of plays the more passive rifling positions, he was
actually going for a lot of openings and going for a lot of big plays and
he could really trade frag wall. So he's definitely still want to keep an eye out for.
All right, guys, I'll just put a pin in there because we're going over to Paula
and he's with Hoopsy. Thank you guys. Yes, down on the floor with Hoopsy of
Astralis Hootsey just before we went live. What did you say to me?
You were you were perhaps thinking of doing a disdain right now and doing a 15 minute monologue of what just transpired
Yeah, I mean we have the major coming soon. So I can't kick anyone. She probably stopped by kicking myself
But yeah, just so everyone does okay. Okay. Yeah, Hootsey. This was a very interesting best of three
I think a lot of us
Saw you guys going into this as clear favorites. Maybe a two zero
score was possible, but that's not what happened. What went wrong firstly on the Raj?
It's hard to say as a B-player what exactly went wrong on the CT side because I'm just standing out there jumping and then
I'm not really exactly sure. I think we lost them to us early and then
That could have like swung the round in our favor or at least like made different situations for us
Then I think we didn't adapt fast enough to how they played. They played really fast
And I think we should have maybe shut them down in the middle a bit more, but yeah
was the quality of eyeball is a surprise at all who see no no there was no no
like underestimating from our side I've been preparing all night yesterday and I
know that they they know how to play and it's my former coach in pizza as well I
know he's a smart guy so no no we were not surprised at all then you go into
ancient one little down it's your map pick but at one point eyeball as well
11-4 ahead. You really had to grind to get the W on map 2. How did it go from your perspective,
Hoeksee? I mean, I think we lost some very unfortunate rounds on T, to say the least.
We've had some trouble on our T side, both now and against Mongols, but then we show our
quality on CT and I think that we are very confident that no matter the scoreline we can
come back. So yeah, I think it's just good resilience from the guys and I'm happy we pulled
control. Yeah, and then we get on to map three in front of finally a very
comfortable affair. How much of that was momentum from ancient? How much it was
just being the better team? I think it was maybe a bit of both. I think not so
much momentum for us, but more like loss of momentum from their side. And then I
think that yeah, maybe they don't feel as comfortable of the map as we do. And I
think that showed a little bit. All right, final couple of questions. Hootsie.
I've got to say congratulations on making it to the semi-finals.
What are your initial reactions to knowing you secured top four?
I mean it's of course nice but as I told you in the interview we did before the tournament started
it's not so much about what placing we get but more how we play and I think right now
none of us are happy with how we how we play and what we show. I think we throw away a lot
of advantage rounds that we should close out so we'll have to go home and do better tomorrow and
yeah hopefully I'll have a bigger smile on my face tomorrow.
Yeah, and Hoekse, you'll be playing against 3D Max.
It's a team that you've beaten a couple of times recently.
What are your thoughts on them as opponents for your semi-final?
I mean, I think they can be night and day, they can be super tough to play against,
but they can also have days where they're just not showing up at all.
So I think if we meet them on a day where they are feeling it,
it's going to be super tough and, as I said, we have to be more ready than we were today.
Awesome. Well, Hoekse, thank you very much for your time.
Anything that you'd like to say to the fans watching at home?
Well, sorry for maybe giving some hot problems. It was a bit of a shit show
but
Yeah, hope you'll keep supporting and
Yeah, I hope you enjoyed the game. Definitely a stressful best of three for Hootsie and the strong spot
They make it through to the semi-finals
Yeah, if you're a glass half full kind of person you go look man
We played like trash today on two maps, but we were still in the semi-finals
If you're a glass half empty you go wow if we play anyone better than eyeball is wearing big trouble
I think this is just an anomaly of a performance of Astralis
I think the one thing I've got to give them credit to if you look at the recent results
I've had not just over here, but over in EPL as well
They've just been they've been beating really good teams consistently, right?
So sure they got choked on Mirage
Ancient they bought the comeback in and in front of just completed demolish them
I'm not really worried for them heading into the semi-finals and 3D max is unknown entity
I guess we'll see pointed out can be very up and down.
But Australia should still be backing themselves
as a favorite.
Yeah, some of those things where when
you get some a new show of what happened on ancient
and how they were losing, evitator situations are peaking one
by one and just making basic errors.
Like, yeah, that is a little bit worrisome.
But if you look at it from a more zoomed out view
and how just they generally approach the game,
there's a good game planning there.
There's definitely good thoughts there.
It's just about tidying up some of those little pressure
moments and things of that nature.
I think this team still displays a lot of the same promise
that we've seen throughout the course of this year,
but just a bit of an off day.
Right?
Just on running through smokes in a 4v2, 1v1, 1v1.
Simple things, easy to fix.
Yeah, so we've had a theme for today, guys.
It's regret.
Obviously, the underdogs in both of the series so far
were so close to victory, and then were beaten
by the favorites.
Let's see if that trend continues.
We're going to be bringing in, well,
it's HLTV confirmed minus sponge plus tech go.
So it should be a banger.
Make sure you join us after the break.
What is going on everybody and welcome to Wingman,
where myself and a CS Pro play Wingman together
and we get to know our pro friend a little bit better.
Today I'm joined by Grim of NRG.
Great to see you Grim, how are you?
Good man, I'm ready to get in here.
Excited?
I'm gonna farm up again, yeah.
For you it's around one month now in NRG, right?
Yeah.
How's the experience been so far?
Well, actually firstly let's go back to the very start.
How did you get involved in the team?
Yeah, so my agent, Richel, just said energy might be interested in exploring options and then I spoke to Babs a bit, figured stuff out.
Yeah, I mean, I just decided I think it'd be best for me just because I was getting a little mental burnout from the option schedule.
I also think they're great players. I would really want to play at Nitro for a long time now and just see how he is. Captain America.
America. That would feel like at least from an outside perspective, you've
just seen that's like every younger American player's dream growing up.
Yeah.
To play with someone like Nightmare.
I did. I watched Nightmare when I was like 14 and I was playing this game.
So yeah, that's something very interesting.
Yeah, the team from now, let's talk about stuff from the past.
So at this point, you're 25.
You sort of entered the scene at the highest level in what 2021?
Sort of when we met.
It's late 2020.
It's like a real day when COVID started.
Yeah.
At the hotel events.
Yeah.
Talk to us about how you got into that position.
You know, your kid, how'd you find out about Counter-Strike
and then start playing it and stuff?
Give us like the real primordial,
the story of your genesis in CS.
Well, I was in middle school
and then a friend of mine asked if I wanted to play CSGO
after school and I was like,
at the time I just played like Cod and like GTA IV.
So, yeah, I played for like 10 hours, and then I'm like,
I don't know if I like this game because I can't scope in
because I just like, I'm caught.
So I quit for like eight months after that,
and it started up again in 2015.
And then, yeah, I was like watching a switch stream
and it was like Nip versus Fnatic or something
for some event.
And I was like, wow, this is actually kind of cool.
I don't know if you can play this game on a stage.
And I like, I kept playing it more
and just kept grinding.
And then when I got global, I joined ESEA
and then basically joined my first open team
and got up from there one main
one premiere my first season playing both and yeah basically got it from there yeah oh here we go oh
wingman nuke all right um so then you've got yeah you get good you join a esa team um when you
start getting attention from some of these bigger guys or like bigger teams etc i say well my friend
group actually was really good at the start because i knew like uh the old guys like motm
and voltage, all those guys back then.
But yeah, basically I got like,
I was averaging like 14 RWS or whatever in pugs
and then people based here like game off that.
And then I just like joined the main team
and played with the same core people
for like months, four years.
Yeah.
That was basically that.
Oh, whoa.
All right, we'll have to lock it out.
And off of the story right now,
we've let's lock in for the first round.
We gotta, we gotta.
Bro, I'm like, holy cow, man.
Yeah.
I can bait for you, let me just run.
You can jump across.
I don't know, where are you even at?
Where do they spawn?
I think they spawn a ramp.
I don't know the correctly, I'll play just a one.
Let's see, let me clear a double.
I don't have a headset so it's gonna be a chance to hear.
I don't know where it was going on.
Get up and seek.
Yeah.
Right side ramp.
Ooh.
Yeah, right side ramp.
Big ramp.
Alright, let's see what happens here.
Now I can jump on board and watch you do it for real.
Let's go.
Oh, dude!
Man, these guys were on point.
These guys are messing around man.
It's gonna be tough to like chat watch.
We've got to win but we're gonna give it a go.
Yeah.
Maybe that's what we need to do.
Maybe we need a stage.
Yeah.
Yeah, so let's fast forward a bit now.
Like your first big team was 2020.
My brain's going blank now.
Complexity.
Liquid.
Liquid then complexity.
Yeah, yeah.
What was that experience like getting on that team?
How huge of a moment was that for you, etc?
I mean it was crazy because obviously they just won the Grand Slam when I
would know. They just won the Grand Slam when I joined and I was really nervous
when I started playing because obviously I've been watching them for so long so
it was an experience for sure. That was really nice they're all very
welcoming and I had a good time there. I won a lot. And that's where you spent the
majority of your career so far? Four years there. So it's very weird leaving the
I've been enjoying energy as well since I spent all the time there.
How do you feel like you've developed as a player as a past lover that longer period?
Yeah, I mean I joined, I feel like TC helped me a lot, mature as a person.
He's just a really good, cares-not guy, and it's nice being around him for so long.
And yeah, obviously there's a lot to learn as a player too, because we were all basically rookies on that team.
So, I'm gonna smoke him.
Oh my god! Dude, I'm even getting mated.
I think it's my last one.
Oh, nice shot.
Alright Paula, it might be time for a headsets, man.
Yeah, yeah, let's get the headsets on.
I don't know what's going on, but...
Yeah.
Alright, let's see now.
We're not gonna lose this thing.
This is probably one of the hardest interviews I've ever had to do.
It's just...
This is tough, man.
It's tough.
Well, we got two more rounds.
Yeah, yeah, maybe we can make it come back here, dude. Let's see if I can you here these guys
I mean they're trying pretty hard so they might be walking around everywhere. Yeah, I think we should rush
We can rush something next round. What are just double smoking everything. I'm like peeking double. Oh, dude
He's a toxic on your list. This is tough
probably right now
Yeah, dude, I mean, all right, you know these guys honestly they deserve it
Yeah, they won it pretty bad, I mean, they're, uh, yeah, I'm gonna leave it there, I'm gonna flash out.
Let's see if we get our first round, that's nice.
I see, we're in!
That's it on, locked in, they're coming back, coming in.
Alright, I have an idea.
Have you got an idea?
We need you to get a smoke, Paula.
Smoke?
Five seven armor five seven. Yeah, Alma
Yep, and then we need you to smoke double door. Okay, and then I'm gonna go close single and hold for you
I don't rush out
We're doing with the whole you're holding this
Dude, I mean honestly, I'm global ring and I don't know
and I'm like, this is so hard.
Honestly, I just year of some saying that.
I mean.
Ha, ha, ha.
What was it like leaving complexity?
Was that tough?
It was because, I mean, I've been,
I was at the same core for a while with Halzerik,
but then he got benched.
So it kind of sucked, because I really liked him,
and I thought he was a good player and a good person.
But obviously, it sucked leaving JT and TC as well.
Have we seen the best of Grimm yet?
Like, where'd you see your ceiling?
like, because you're still young bro, 25, like, I guess I'm asking your general
thoughts on yourself and where you see yourself going in terms of individual
performance. I mean, I personally think it's not for me, but for everyone, like,
you can get better every year than you were last year. Like, last year, I feel
like 2035 is my best year individually, especially towards the early
start of the year. Like, this year, I obviously want to try and improve on
that and be a little better, but that might take some time since I'm like
adjusting from being with the same core for like four years now and you know I
don't know what my prime would be if I'm in it now or when I'll peak but
hopefully uh someone's in turn as soon I know it's really close so few now.
Well is there anything else that you'd like to say to the fans at home?
Um especially um just thank you for supporting and hopefully I can do better
than I did last year this year and we can do good things for the North American scene
and do get on energy and you know we have a also have a lana I think coming up and that'd be great
to make play upstairs so you guys better show up as we're making it. There we go you heard it here
fast everybody uh grim once again thanks for being here and best of luck to you personally and to
your team energy. Thank you.
guys, thank you. Ladies and
gentlemen, boys and girls,
Counter Strike fans around the
globe. Welcome to another
episode of HLTV Unconfirmed
Prof and Striker on the couch.
And if you ordered sponge the
podcast host from Timur, you
get me. James, is this the
first time you're on an
or couch together. This is true. This is true. What is the first time we're on a couch together?
Yeah, we definitely have shared couches before. I don't know if you've seen, we've reworked the
branding of your show. This is just a pitch for me. If you ever decide to get rid of sponge,
just saying that the job pitch is there. Pretty good job. Great work. And I also love that
striker is like this picture of striker with a beard. It's just the only one that is being used
ever. Even though I would say I have had more beers in the last three years than you but
you know I feel like you stole in my thunder in this way. You've probably had more beers
in the last month that I have in my entire life to be honest. I'm requesting the champagne
shot. There's a great one on HLTV for the for the next PGL announcement. Thank you very much.
Okay we're ready for that one. We'll make sure that's sorted. You need three of these,
so three analyst castles together and then you can become a casting duo and follow in
and Spongy Machines Footsteps.
I'm just planting those career seeds there for you.
But before we do that,
we do actually need to speak about the quarter final
that is about to take place here at PGL Bucharest.
Bait up against Foot.
And I've really got excited about watching Foot,
the last few events.
But what I've started to see is obviously
a lot of other fans like me,
we don't really wanna get behind this team
because the general consensus is after the major,
this team is gonna be picked apart by the bigger teams.
Do you think that that is the case?
I don't know.
I'm not 100% sold on this idea.
Obviously, it could have maybe happened already,
but it didn't.
They seem to have fended off some approaches.
And together, they have definitely
this year been the breakout team of the year, I would say.
Like Super Young line up with a lot of interesting pieces.
Late last year, for me, Demon was a standout.
Now, maybe Long's, Jude's are other players
that are standing out a bit more.
but definitely there is potential for other teams to look into this.
This is something that I was setting up when we had our first segment on this tournament,
where I thought that foot are under actual real pressure to actually win some of these tournaments,
exactly because of this, right?
Because a lot of teams will come and try to pick this team apart.
And they've spoken at the beginning of the year how much they enjoy playing together,
they really wanted to stick together.
That's why nobody ended up saying yes to any of those approaches in the season before that, right?
But obviously, for that, it kind of needs to continue along that path.
Like, in this season, if they pick up a tournament like this,
that could be another reason why they were like,
okay, why would we go to a struggling phase or a struggling mouse now,
or whoever would be coming to approach them, right?
The only problem I see is, you know, if it's Navi coming,
then those guys, considering they came from the academy,
I wouldn't be surprised if they had a clause in the contract
where Navi have the first approach or the right of the first approach
and maybe a slightly better buyout, that's what I would be maybe worried.
Yeah, I mean also, I mean you're saying a struggling phase, but Kerrigan is the highest rated player of the tournament, I don't know about that.
That would be pretty exciting to join that guy.
Do you know how that just threw me off? I can't, I'll just admit this because now we're having a good time.
It came up and I still was like, did they make a mistake with that?
And then I remembered, but in a moment I was like, why is Kerrigan doing that?
He did drop a pretty good rating in that one game that they played at this tournament against Inner Circle.
Two of the four players obviously in the top four in the top eight or nine
So pretty much everyone is doing a great job on foot them. They're having a great time here 3-0 in the group stage obviously so
Heading towards that title. I think the the issue for me for this team is like the big games
I've seen them in the in the games that qualify them for the playoffs or in a in a big playoff third place the side or even in
In some scenarios, when they have a lead, they let the lead go.
It's 11-11, they lose a round that maybe they should have won.
That is where I'm trying to see a bit more development from this team,
but I don't think this game is that kind of a game for them.
I think this is a game where they're a huge favorite,
even though it's like only five spots in the VRS between them and Bate.
I think they're huge favorites, both individual, form, map pool,
everything is going in their direction.
Yeah, I mean, this tournament has been a lot more convincing
than some of the previous ones. Obviously, you know, we have to take it in the context of the
opposition that they've had to face. It hasn't been top team, but even the pair vision game
that they played to qualify for the playoffs was pretty convincing, and that's kind of
sold me on the idea that foot are ready to take that next step. Yeah, we still haven't seen them
tested though, which is the part that worries me a little bit, because exactly when we saw them
being tested, they didn't really withstand under that pressure, as Prof was talking about. So,
I could see that happen here, to be honest, because I think as much as, yes, foot are the
favorites. I do think that Bates results at this tournament are maybe a little
bit better than the score suggests because the only game that they really
let out was the 3D Max one. Okay so if you were a top team and you were about to
try and steal someone from foot which player are you taking? I mean take your
pick. Yeah Longs. Longs has been fantastic and if you need like an
aggressive hype man on the team both you know delivering the frags, delivering
divides. I think he is a fantastic piece. Krabeni has the IGL, but also a pretty good
traggler for the IGL. Now the question is, you know, what kind of team can he fit in?
If we're talking about the Navi side, I don't think he really fits in what the Navi is doing
right now and how Blade likes to play, but he's definitely someone that has a good career
in front of him.
Yeah, I mean, again, take your pick. No matter what position you would like to fill, you
you would find a replacement in this foot team.
The only realistic kind of question mark still for me
a little bit as demon because a couple of years ago
he was the one that even blade was kind of happening up
when he was around 16 years old,
that he could be the next big thing to come out of Ukraine.
Since then he hasn't necessarily shot it up to service.
So I think there's still a little bit of improvement
made from that side, but I do still think
that he's a very, very solid anchor
in a lot of those positions.
And then cemetery, I think he's more of a stable
and more reliable upper than anything else.
He's not going to be a star that you're going to build around.
So it just more depends on what you're looking for.
They are obviously going up against Bait.
This was the previous matchup that we got to see.
Yeah, I mean, this is what I'm talking about also in the veto part,
where Bait are one of these teams that are kind of like playing seven maps.
And I generally dislike this, especially when you're not like the best team in the world
or the top three is like, what are you even trying to do with playing seven maps?
You're not even good on four, most of them, right?
And in this case, it's Anubis and Overpass that they both play, but don't play well.
And in the last matchup, it was just a pick from Foot,
and it was an easy win on Anubis, and then 2-0 after that.
So, a rough situation for them.
It's been really weird, because nobody's even been calling them out on it.
Whenever they ban one, nobody picks the other against them,
because they just run into the right position,
where that map hasn't necessarily been a strong suit for the opposing team.
I do think that this, we'll get into the veto a little bit later, but I do think that in this match-up we might be in that same position, you know, because Overpass isn't necessarily a map that Foot is particularly well known for, but I do think that they could easily punish it, punish Pickett, you know, and putting Bait on a pretty bad backfoot already.
I think Prof is right though as well, like if you're not a top tee contesting for a best of five grand final, like maybe you should be focusing when you're trying to climb the VRS, you're trying to get more invites to these tournaments on really perfecting a smaller map pool.
smaller map pool? Yeah, I mean, you don't really have that much time to practice as well.
You know, their schedule has been crazy at the park in Challenger.
I think they played like 13 games over three days, right?
That's an insane amount of games that you're playing.
And then you're coming straight here.
There's no practice between these two tournaments for them.
You don't really have any time for like refresher map pool or like work on maybe maps that are not that good.
Or maybe if you are, then you're not working on the maps that are good.
So generally speaking, I'm not another big fan.
Rarely do I see teams pull it off phase.
We also tried to pull it off this year. We saw how that went.
So I would advise moving away from it.
Maybe behind the scenes they are moving away from it,
but we need to see that tested, right?
I think realistically they might be,
because they have been tending more towards the Anubis ban lately,
and the only time that they do let it through
is against the teams like Astralis, who don't play it,
and then later they let the other team ban it,
because they effectively have to.
They know they can play it, they don't play it to a high level,
but it's better to have it in your map pool than not play it at all.
So it's always going to be a risk if you're coming up against them to try to pick or to try to let it let the map through
You know if you're not put up if you're a team that perma bands one of those two
Yeah, realistically, I do think that they've probably focused more over paths because that's been the map that they've been letting through way more than
Than an oobus just again haven't been called out on it. We'll take a look at the Vita in a bit
But first I mean I asked you this question about
Forth so I'll ask it about Bates as well if you're a top team trying to find some new talent. Who are you stealing from this line up?
I'm not sure. Ascentiel definitely had a good tournament. I just wanted to highlight here
There's a lot of numbers a lot of things but the key thing is he had one bad map one kind of
Not great ancient other than that everything has been great
And this is a guy that's not really used the usual suspect for them
He's kind of lurking gank ring, but he came up really huge in a lot of key moments yesterday against legacy had a
MP9 4k right and stuff like that that he's winning rounds
they shouldn't be winning, which is helping them close out games pretty easily.
Other than that, it was always MPL for me on this lineup.
But I don't know, since he moved away from the IGL role,
I don't think he has... he's been okay,
but doesn't have as much impact calling around himself like he used to.
And he's a good player, but they don't have, I think,
that depth of talent to move up on the rankings.
Obviously now the Vita are coming in.
You saw that in Nuvus Band, which you mentioned was going to happen.
Yes, ancient pick from Betis was expected.
They've been picking it pretty consistently.
They've been really good on it.
So that doesn't surprise me.
I'm curious if we're going to see the overpass punish
and there it is.
So that's exactly what I was looking for from Foots.
They not necessarily one of the maps
that they have high up in the map pool,
but knowing that Betis had played it twice,
I think, in the entire season, and they've lost both maps
pretty convincingly, then it's kind of an easy pick for them.
Yeah, and just moving towards Nuke then.
Yeah, and so it's a Mirage. It's a handshake Mirage. Both teams really like it. So that's again, very, very expected to be, too.
Yeah, I think a huge, huge advantage there with the overpass coming in for the second map. And I mean, the rest of the map will pretty good for foot as well. So it is leaning that way. I mean, nothing, no real surprises there.
I think I want to say for Bate, realistically, it's a domestic lineup that has been pretty stable in the top 15-ish right in the world. They're going to the Major again.
They made a swap for the for the upper with a super new guy that has pretty much no experience coming on loan from Spirit Academy
That's dizzy. He had a good showing yesterday
But they're they're quite limited you also have to think about
Trying to find Ukrainian players when you have now the Navi Academy who's gonna be by default where people want to go
Spirit Academy is also picking up some of them. There's inner circle also offering chances
There's not that many options that they can go for so that's kind of where they are right now
Hedrick didn't really move the needle for them. They tried out
Segu Kava, right? That was horrible that they went for Sizi and now they're finding some some footing with him
Which is proving to be okay. I guess I think this is a good tournament for Sizi really to get a little bit more experience without having
The crazy amount of pressure on him because obviously you're not playing all the best teams all the early teams were they're gonna be prepared for everything
That you do they're gonna look into all of your tendencies and they will know exactly how to shut you down in this kind of level of
competitions. He's actually found a couple of really good games. And yes, that's great,
but the problem is you are now going up against Foot, who we do consider to be on the brink
of becoming one of the elite teams if they can just break through the glass ceiling.
So I am looking towards him because I think it is going to be hingeing on whether he can
provide the sort of output that he has been so far at this tournament, because I do think
without him that depth is probably not going to be there against the Foot that is just
top to bottom, really, really strong individually.
We have a quiz.
We always have a quiz.
People that are on PGL in chat, if they want to win, follow from me.
And the fun fact, if you get all three correct.
So we have three questions, ABC answers. Let me find it.
Hold on, we've actually got Henry and Anders with us.
So let's all get involved in the quiz.
I want to get involved in the quiz. Yeah, let's do this.
Take it away.
Question number one.
Highest rated player of these two teams at this event?
Cemetery.
Long's essential or semi-chips correct 1.29 rating and the offer is delivering Henry is on fire. Okay great question number two
Obviously two young teams. What is the oldest player on these two teams longs?
NPL longs Alex 666 or Krabeni. Maybe we want to think about this together
No way. I'm just gonna go with Henry's answers. He's never really wrong. I'm with Henry. Whatever he says longs
That's what I'm going for. I think it's not any. Yeah, I think it's Krabeni
Both of you are incorrect.
Really?
Lance is 20 years old.
Krabbenik21, Alex666 is 24.
He's not 66.
Oh, Boomer.
OK.
There you go.
The Boomer on this line, for sure.
And the last one, which group of teams did
Lance not play on?
Sprout, Falcons, and Bleed, Game Agents, Infinite, and Nexus,
or Revenant, Bleed, and Into the Breach?
I think he played for Sprout almost certainly.
I think everyone played for Sprout at one point.
So yeah.
I'll go see whatever that one was that what that is that's correct you did not play on into the breach you played on all of these other three different Romanian line-ups Falcons two times
Fantastic, well, what a great quiz. What a great way to throw into the quarterfinals Anders
I hope you guys are ready at home
We're gonna try and bring this one the level of excitement it deserves as we will see you foot
Starting on the CT side here bait the underdog that has to be said. I'm looking for more on a scissorlanders
I want to see him pop off. I want to see that star power
I've been told so much about well now would be the time to deliver that's this is where it gets really real for Bates
They've been improving throughout the tournament. They came in looking a bit flat perhaps, but um, let's see if they could do something here
Stack of the B bomb site as foot. They have a really good read at the moment
Cemetery playing towards that cave long so the bottom of the B ramp the bomb is alone and that's gone down
Alex 666 the first casualty here at the quarter finals
That is not exactly great, now they have to slow it down and they're going to try and push anyway.
Kevani gets one, Sementree with the follow-up, and MPL and Sizi left the whole plan.
Has come undone here as bait to get caught even trying to get to the site.
They don't even see him shooting them! Nobody dies on the foot side.
I think we're going to see a lot of that. My prediction for this game, Anders, might be a
hot take, a controversial opinion here. No one.
foot to blow them out of the
proverbial water.
Well, I hope it's going to be a
slaughter. Henry, because I
picked foot to win the tournament.
You did. And I picked the
Strahlers. And you picked the
Strahlers. That could be the
final. There's a chance here on
different sides of the bracket.
OK, well, that would be what a
great final that would be. I'd
be very excited. The thing is to
add is the winner of this game
goes on to play Paravision or
Mongols. Oh, that's rough.
So either way, that's rough.
Just bear that in mind, but
they've already taken down
Paravision. So that's it.
Yeah, it's a week of
Paravision, we'll see how long Dostan will let that live like he's coming for them, his own team that is.
That is the next quarterfinal, the one that closed out the end of the day, ladies and gentlemen, Mongols.
That's the Paravision game of the day for sure, so make sure you stick around.
For now though, no force by, I'm afraid, it's going to be one of those rounds where we can just say
they're trying to bleed down that CT utility, fill out the map, see if any mistakes are presented.
We've got an MP5, my favorite weapon in the meta right now is good to see it make a heroic comeback
from the 1.6 days, that should be quite a simple and clean procedure here for the foot boys.
Well, I've got some stats for you Henry. What kind of stats before we get into it?
Just statistics on, let's call it, map tempo. Okay, so going then. Where do you go? Both these
teams are about 10% rushes on this map and it's about both for the A and the B ramp obviously.
They just, just to say both teams on the C side, they love rushes. In the meantime,
It's been a lot more damage than anyone expected here. They don't get the bomb hunt.
But it's just to say, there could be some of those B-Rap pushers.
Sometimes it'll be the A-Bomb side instead, where you throw the smokes and everything else, but
it's a lot more than some teams. There are some teams in the world that almost never do it.
Like, they just don't like the idea.
Well, I love the idea. And I welcome the rushes here, and hopefully we'll see a lot of them.
This is the sort of round where you might deploy that sort of method all of the time.
It's because, you know, it's a bit of a bonus situation.
Not much of one considering they get a couple of kills there with the Glocks.
We've got AKs across the board here, round number three.
Let's see which kind of game we're going to get.
Will Blake Bates get absolutely smashed here, or will they start posting rounds early?
It's all about his mid control and his D lane fights and jugues going to town right now.
He's got a nether player isolated, a demon will find a second killer around,
and it's an absolute massacre.
I'm afraid we have got a five on two before we can even get into the analysis of the opening sequence.
just a really a perfectly executed protocol here from from foot they've got
two people that are holding the T side in the middle then they got dukes like you
said running in towards the B bomb site and taking that fight and they had also
Kravani who's pushing this ramp all at the same time bait get blown out the
water now I've heard we've got a lot of audio only listener fans that's so I'm
gonna make sure that they are very well informed as to what's going on today
Beautiful. So this is the map pick of Bates. It's ancient right now. They're playing on the T side
They're currently in a 5-1 one and it's going to be a 3-0 in favor of
Foot, it's not a great start lots of money. That's gonna be three AK-47s recovered on the CT defensive side here
Bates are yet to really make a dent. This is not looking good at all
And they've had a pretty rough tournament. They've had some pretty terrible maps. It's great
They're in the quarterfinals, don't get me wrong, but the way they got here, there's been some very questionable performances from Bates.
It feels to me like a lot of those maps that they ended up winning after all, it was NPL that sort of dragged them through the map more than anything else.
Yeah, and I don't want to see that. I want to see the whole squad come together. Like you said, Sizi has to really show us something here.
Just because I had to hide around him. Before I ever got to play, you've got to see this kid with you.
Like he's the next Monosir. I was like, okay, well, let's see it, but I'm not saying he's played bad or anything
I just don't think he has that star level of someone like Mologoi or Monosir, for example.
I would agree with that.
Incendiary down, I was worried for Deming because he was very close to the entrance of that A bomb site.
They are going for it and they'll get the opening. They even take down Jutsus coming in next.
Cemetery finds a kill for the smoke, so it is a 3 versus 4 now.
The bomb being brought a bit closer to a plant here, but they have nothing really going into this round.
Shocking that bait were able to just walk out here.
In spite of the fact that the demon saw it coming, he threw down the incendiary.
He still couldn't land the kill, needed launch.
A ridiculous line up through the smoke, just guessing.
But it was the perfect guess.
Ascential goes down, 3 vs 3.
And now lurking in from the same A-Hallways that bait just came through.
It's Grubani with an AK.
He goes down to NPL.
There's that work I was talking about. A second bait!
Wow!
He takes down the last remaining player of foots.
That is stunning.
No problem for MPL, the Desert Eagle to mow them down at the end there.
The partial by victory in towards the A bomb site.
Core, their trousers round the wrinkles there.
One kill, and that snowball turns into an avalanche very quickly in towards the A site.
They are locked out.
The PG-50s are reigned.
Cemetery managed to get one through the smoke.
I believe they got an upper as well with long spurts.
No way near enough as MPL takes them to town.
Move the Desert Eagle and now a bit of a force by on the other side of the server two pistols with even a cemetery three rifles in total
Jugs feeling they heat that not the best spray with the five seven couple of kills now for bait coming to life here
They can look for many
Not gonna be able to find much the Desert Eagle runs out of bullets. That's unfortunate
And it's a pretty clean finish in the end as a chaotic round for sure
But it will be bait now posting potentially three rounds in a row
It's three and two overall, but that's the money drained from the bank accounts of foot on their CT side. So now fully go
It's the only option going forward. They'll be getting
$2,400 into the next round. So sure you can justify a few upgraded pistols
But even a 5-7 might be a stretch around as I'd say a p250 is probably where you're at if you're going to invest anything
They look way more focused than some of these early rounds how they got the the the rifles out
I'm excited because this is one of the things that I feel like they've been lacking
that early firepower, that early feeling like they're really in the game but it
looks that way at the moment and I appreciate that, so we all, I don't want to
see Bates you know sleeping their way into the quarterfinals here, I want to
see them sharp like they are right now, Alex you see a bunch of people you don't
really have to commit to this fight, Sensual's on the other side, yeah just bring the whole
team in if you're gonna fight them, exactly what they're doing, shutting it down in the
middle like you said can't even afford to invest into anything here not a single
casualty on the bait side they take a bit of damage but nobody dies and that
will tie up the scoreline three to three wow that's it's changed so quickly
it is very one-sided at the beginning now bait kind of in control again
kens is all at five at MPL at five and then goes down a bit from there they
cannot afford the AWP on the CT side either so seven trees gonna be without
that. This is a bit of a shame really. He's pretty good with it.
Sissi will have his T side AWPing on Ancient. Do you like it?
Well there are plenty of options for it. You have the option to pop open the smoke towards
middle. Your teammates can provide multiple HEs to keep looking. Obviously you can boost
him towards the B bombsite with the big box outside. So yeah, I think to answer your question,
yes I do Anders. I like the AWP on the T side of Ancient. I think it'd be very impactful
You're not going to be having the highlight moments.
It's only if the opening kill and then closing round out with the clutch.
So we'll see whoever you can have some impact.
And as we said, yet to really see one of those magnificent moments from Sizi.
He's a capable AWPer.
Don't get me wrong, but we get to see that star power.
Let's see what he can bring to the table here in round number seven.
He lay new till, not necessarily landing here for boots.
And in my constant, there's the opening kill.
Towards the Cape, he goes.
You will find Krebbeni to open things up.
That's Sizi.
Five out of four advantage here for Bates.
3-3 overall after posting 3 in a row on the T side here.
That incendiary landed behind him, so he could just stand still with the up ready, then they monitor
off out Krabani and it worked from there.
Turning your time around, I think Alex is waiting for a potential push out of the hallways.
That is something that that foot loved to do. They love the aggression in those A hallways.
So it's good, it's good research, good homework for Bate to know that that could be happening.
and that's why they've called this big freeze in the middle of the round here, just saying,
let's just see, is there going to be someone demon or somebody else pushing?
Well Counter-Strike protocols suggest you need to start reclaiming territory,
need to get some information, or you turtle up on one bomb site and go for a gamble stack.
It looks like they might be going for the latter here, three players cemented here,
into order B bomb site for foots. In terms of residual utility, quite a lot to be fair for
bait, they've got a ton of control, three players towards a cave, two towards a ramter,
So it will be that B finish, smokes to be deployed, or maybe it's a straight up contact play here.
But longs, cemetery, nice crossfire. We'll see if it works out for Amanda's.
He's ready with the AK, needs the first shot.
You'll get it, actually, to the M4. Sorry about that.
It's essential. He'll take another one down, but Dukes has shown up in the meantime to stack.
At least it works to even up the numbers a little bit there on the bait side.
The bomb is being planted.
There's not a single grenade on the CT side.
They just have to cross their fingers and hope that someone's going to work out Dukes.
He managed to get through, which is actually impressive that he even lives through the smoke to begin with.
Sizi was there, finding himself a second kill as he goes into the cave.
And just a demon now.
Too far away, like I said, no utility.
Even in the 4v5, they had no grenades on the CT side.
He's gonna make a run for it.
8 with 4 in a row.
It's just really good work.
It's very good work.
Getting that opening pick.
we said we wanted to see a bit of star power from Sydney. That's how you get it done. He
certainly likes the open to the T side here. So one more kill for demon, but he's the only
player that survives. This feels like tactical time out territory now with the lost bonus
accumulating all five players going down. Maybe not so much anymore. If you say that
1 and 4, there's definitely a buy available, but now it's just going to be partial territory.
We're talking five sevens, maybe an MP nine or two. So probably will forego the tactical
time out of this particular round, but it is bait as you mentioned with four rounds in a row here.
T side looking quite good. Nice change of pace. The B lanes looking very comfortable. I'm seeing some
missed U2 on those B lane. Grenade for a city analyst. And there's incendiary.
But in terms of investment as we mentioned, just going to be seeing five sevens. Cemetery
going to be saving his pennies for the AWP. It's demon on the MP9 and they're trying to look
for a bit of a backstab here. Not the reference for the shot but he certainly makes it work.
Will be Crebeni with the P250 backstab. Finding MPO and there's the USP. Okay now it gets very
interesting. Maintain that man advantage. Cemetery gotta be found out here from the elbow. Trying
to stay alive. Ducking and weaving. This is the moment here. This decides the round. Ascentiol
will be finding the shot. They know multiple players in towards B so you can take an educated guess
that A is wide open, and KZZOR would be right.
Longs with a 5-7. He's close.
Maybe if he can get around the corner, they don't have any more smokes here.
They do have a flashbang, and in a pinch that'll do just fine.
I think it's double-flashed. It longs. No chance to activate on that one.
Now the bomb is going to be planted, and surely this AK is worth more
than the attempt to try and do this 2v3 retake without a kit.
I just don't think it's going to be possible.
Maybe Dukes wants to take a bit of a look.
Big fan of this guy myself, but I feel like this is going to require some kind of a miracle if he could do this.
Taps away, doesn't get the hedgehog in the box, pens his own, he gets one of the turn, he's going to go down, but yeah, the time has already run out here.
No kit, so five in a row for Bates.
And I'm noticing on that mini-map now, you sort of even try to push out.
Yeah.
He's, they were looking for it again. I think Beta had a real big conversation because I remember some of the games here from Foot earlier.
Yeah.
They love being impressive in rotates always and I think they notice like I think they'd know yeah
That's a very good point actually they'd love to go for those back stabs
You can see they are on high alert each and every time
And they're round deciding kills as I mentioned as well
You get that back stab you find that rotating player back towards T spawn and that's it and it all starts in PC 50 and a dream
The USB getting stuck in as well at this range
That is the knowledge but still
No one near enough, I'm afraid, to find the round of victory.
Still pretty decent efforts, he did some financial damage, but the headline will read,
5 rounds in a row for Bate here, he underdogs for short, there's the B-Lane utility, that's
landing nicely, not too much damage, and we are going to see a crash in here, and it's
going to be punished, MPL, we're alley-euped by Alex, and his flashbang, but Jukes fighting
back, what a round, this is so far.
Rockham, Sockham, Counter-Strike, 3 vs 2 though, in favour of Bate, it's going to be
Sizi finding control on the B-bomb site, brave manoeuvre with the AWP as well.
He cuts sound, he knows his players all around him who go into a 2 on 2.
Yeah, he's no idea that demons would be here either because why would he be?
He was so quick to rotate from the A-ank position, so the fact that he's already over here.
I do like the attempt from Sizi, I mean like he says, very brave to be doing that.
But in spite of getting a double opening, he was a sick flashbang into the world's cheetah
to get that double opening bait.
Yeah, absolutely.
They try to change things up there for going for a hyper aggressive maneuver in towards
the cave position.
It looks like they were punished but they are on their feet.
MPL with three kills but Kendi's on the two on one clutch.
Plenty of time to work with with 45 seconds.
Cemetery unsculpted.
Exactly one second before Kendi's all peeked up out of the ramp there.
Otherwise, I think he just has to kill straight up.
So, gonna drop the smoke.
Yeah, go for it.
Get that bomb planted quickly.
Okay, he's gonna plant inside which means it's a nice open plan, right? Yeah, you probably can't go back and play the ramp
Well, it'd be hard to do that, but he can play like this
And it might throw them off waiting back there cemetery great relations good communication
He's waiting for demon to come in from the other side. That's a good point
We always talk about the fundamentals
You never want to be exploring these sort of clutches by yourself
No, hold a tight line make sure you can't claim territory like the back finds there and it will be foot bouncing back there after
recovering a 5-on-3 scenario. Crazy work to make that round work, considering that they
lost two players towards Cade after their aggressive maneuver.
Maybe worth pointing out for anyone that's joining us here in the middle of the game,
the second map is overpassed and that is very interesting.
It's a very big punish, isn't it?
Yep.
Baytou only played it twice and they've lost it twice and it's a very comfortable map,
generally speaking, for foot. So I feel like this has to be where it's won, at least to
decide what we're going to get for the third map.
bait can convert this we have right now I think we almost certainly go to three
Let's see though if foods managed to bring it on this one back. I would say two zero is looking very well
Yeah, that should be the case unless baits have some sort of genius move in the back really maybe
Practicing it nobody knows about it something like that. I guess you're right. There's a lack of data like a tape out there
That's what I've played it twice. I'm a secret weapon. It's very hard to do that kind of thing obviously very rare
We always talk about it almost never happens, but
Maybe we could be wrong. I would love to be wrong and see bait come out with a strong overpass somehow
somehow some way
One round game here for now though. Yes
This is the pick of Bates. There are five to four on their T sides, but even Stevens
We'll see the orb on both sides of the server here as then the on high alerts
He knows how aggressive this foot team can be and that's about to say playing for the pixel gap
It's always risk you in an orbs out on the field. That should be enough to win the round here
It should should be the operative word but says could be Sizi
Confirming things there as you go into a five on two for Benny and longs nothing to do nothing to say I but to save
essential got the kill on the all-per-n-b with an AK like you just keep the straight up look at this
The desk were talking about it. He's had some very good maps in this tournament so far
Deadly accurate getting the double CZ picking up the other two obviously the first kill very important to open up that
Donut position which controls like half the map at this point
Brownie back here
Just would love to save well, you're gonna let him we are seeing some very influential high impact kills from CZ
Yes, that's what we wanted to see as you got another one in him
He at least takes the aggro away from the penny there to finish things off six to four and money
somewhat broken. There is actually a decent buy available. There will just be concessions.
So this might be a tactical timeout we were looking for as we enter round number 11 here.
Foot's feeling a bit of pressure. They will be fully investing into it. Let's have a look
at the replay though. Sizi, he sets, playing that pixel gap. Deming gets punished. A couple
of frags found. And for Betty going down with the AWP as well. So I have to make do with
the Famous in the anti-Semetry. This round is not too bad otherwise. Like we said, if
a few concessions in terms of grenades, they've got one to fuse kids, and here's that boost.
Yeah, instant boost up.
They get a kill, they've got four people here, so they could just jump on the bomb site almost immediately.
It is a three-man defense though, so you've got to be a little bit careful.
Duke's holding middle for only a while longer.
He's going to have to back out eventually, forward in the cave.
It's been easier.
And he's going to smoke it up.
slows down the T side maybe a little bit but they don't probably can because they
are busy waiting for this they still have kensasaur who's holding for any of
those long pushes over from the A bomb site they're well aware that could be
coming it's not gonna be in this round but just the fact that they are aware of
it shows you they've been they've been in the lab for a bit under a minute now and
the utility on the CT side Henry it is non-existent they got one smoke one
flash left that's pretty rough if you're gonna retake or anything else like
that. Well that means you can't really allow a retake to even be initialized. You have
to play on the front foot as it were. I like that. It's really good work. 40 seconds. So
you're back here. Zero defensive utility available. 30 seconds remaining. We've got plenty of bits
and pieces here on the T side. Double smoke going in. Molotov towards the pillar. CTs
have been said to have to play in front of this Util. They can't afford to retake this.
They wish they had just one smoke right now to slow it down.
17 seconds, they're running in very late though, Bates.
This is risky.
I know there's no grenades on the CT side,
but now they finally planted the bomb with 11 seconds
on the clock, NPL with the opening in towards the cave
and cemetery.
Gonna be shot in the back by Asentheal.
They did have a lot of time,
but they executed this one to perfection.
We've seen some very ropey performances from Bates
throughout this tournament.
It's great they're in the quarterfinals,
but this is the bait you like to see.
Let's see if this read is for anything left to say
and apparently not it's very clean it's very concise a comprehensive victory
there for bait we go seven four recovering the huge deficit they found
themselves in there was zero three down there's only been one follow-up victory
four foot since the pistol they better pray that overpass is still weak
for bait to this point because it's foot that hasn't really shown up so far
Yeah, not at all. They won the pistol and the first couple of rounds.
One of which was a full eco and they won the third, fair enough. That was a gun round.
Ever since there's one-way traffic, that's a nice opener, though. Desperate for that aggression.
It worked out before. We'll see if Jigs can find a double kill once again. Does he dare push the smoke?
With any he's thinking about it, he's just gonna pass through them and find a sentheal.
Another player, though. MPL behind enemy lines, Anders.
They lose kensis or for this to work for MPL. He does need somebody else in esteem to be alive
They're picking up the ball now in T spawn. They have no idea. It really don't
It's trying to wait. He wants to wait because the bomb is coming and he wanted to make it a double
Jukes knows everything gotta convert this first last round at the first time
And it looks like they will four versus one Alex 666 with the bomb in his back
That means it's really not over like five rounds on the CT side, it's not amazing, but you are still gonna be
in this one Alex. He'll take down Dukes who was walking through the smoke. He
was no one health already. Now another three left here for Alcatra and do this.
He actually has grounds to win this. Okay. That Molotov guarantees a plan, locks off
the rotation, allows him to focus on the CT spawn fights. See if he can move in.
Once again, playing it very disciplined down here. The backup is showing up. Very
good to see that. Five rounds to secure for foot. We've seen it plenty of times
today. If he rushed those sort of sequences, saw it in the Astralis game.
Yeah, obviously against max to right unless you wait for your teammates and actually coordinate the retake even in three versus one
It can fall apart very quickly need to be very disciplined even in those moments where it feels like an absolute lock-in. Yeah
Max the water
What an ancient yeah water names what it's already
Sounded off quite slow, but it's a water lot of stages the last group case group stage game and the quarterfinal
Wow, we're already made a name for himself
By the way, Susie peeking into the middle there
I actually think it makes a lot of sense to pick around like this one to do it in because there's a good chance that CT's just wouldn't have the economy to get all those grenades out.
But they did, so he gets grenades instead, but I kind of understand why he'd pick this round to do it in.
I felt like Foots needed that one. They remain combative here. There is a water difference between 8, 4 and 7, 5.
Here's something to look for in the second half, Henry.
Okay, what have you got for me?
Foots have this really interesting way that they attack the B bombsite on this map.
Yeah, and they're on the T side sometimes when the CTs throw down a smoke at the top of the ramp
Yeah, if that smoke is too far on the CT side foot immediately notice
They'll essentially use that smoke as a platform to jump through and they'll jump in and at like three different directions
They're so hard to stop so they don't even pop it open with the age. They don't even pop it open
It is jump through. Yeah, we'll use that smoke
So I've noticed a lot of teams make this mistake that they'll throw the smoke like way too far on their own side instead of a little bit further
down the ramp. Okay, interesting. Something to look out for as foot do switch over. It's
going to be a B-side attack here. More of the same relief, but the molotov for the pillar
or the cave entrance, two smokes for a long and short couple of flashes, splitting things
through cave, you'd imagine. It all comes down to this initial fire. It got joules on
this side of the map. Sizi baited in and showing that presence. They're going to slow things
right down. They are set up for the execution. You can see Semature will be providing the
utility from the double doors. That's smoked for long. Molotov deployed as well. He'll
be fighting the flashes as they make their way forward. Oh, they've double smoked. Sure,
I'm not for sure that's a problem, man. I don't think it is. I think that is a mistake
for sure. Now, they don't get shut down immediately from it and they get to refrag as well. Lots
taking down a senthyle. Oh, no, you really would like that smoke here. Yeah, that's exactly
the problem, isn't it? The bomb is going to be planted, so half the battle's won. Once
trying to see if he can get these two ones activated.
It's actually Krivani's going to get the kill, MPL and Kenzo sword.
They don't have a kit. There's not one anywhere on the ground either,
but they've got plenty of time for it.
Oh!
We had the double headshot to watch the end saving the team.
They needed this one desperately.
Absolutely. Fumble the Util, but they stick to landing.
I was going to say, normally in those tactics, Anders,
you have the player who was cemetery at the back there behind the double doors.
He can throw both smokes.
I guess they're trying to be as efficient as possible,
having one player from the Molotov and the short smoke,
but I guess they got their wires crossed as it were and double smoke towards shore.
That's not what they were going for at all. Enable this sort of peak coming in.
Very close, very dangerous and it comes down to a two versus one.
Thankfully though, Krebbeni in-game leader, very capable fragger has to be said.
He saves the day as sigh of relief.
Huge fumble on the execution but we'll take the round victory all day long.
It's going to be the quickest minutes. There's only one player here.
This could be a really good call. Smoke goes down and it's deep enough that
They can't just straight run through like, oh, they're doing Alex on the other side, punishing them!
Double headshot with the 5-7.
A little bit too eager to get through that smoke, apparently.
Yeah, well, Alex threw it perfectly. This is the smoke you want every time.
Yeah.
Don't want it to be too far to the CT side. He's done it again.
It's such a small detail. It's really worth watching in high level Counter Strike.
You get punished so hard for it. This was beautiful.
Okay.
Really sure why you're taking that sort of risk.
got a huge advantage you're trying to bleed out that CTU tell you've given
them a double kill in the 5-7 the man advantage is 7-6 overall or 6-7
depending on which way you're looking at Anders nice and 50 seconds remaining
here bait trying to hold on to their lead another smoke push is on the menu
if any with the bomb on his back I would not recommend that right now my friend
I think you should have smoked to pick up the bomb yeah you actually had to there
There we go. Recover's up.
And now, lots to play. 30 seconds. Don't really have the resources to go back towards A.
I think they just have to continue with the pressure into what's B and it's all three through the cave.
They're flashing it. That could have been a bit of a mistake potentially. They know there's some miles of the sights.
They'll know that there's two and there's still a really mean crossfire to be set up here.
On one side the pistol goes down, jumping through. We talk about that jumping back to it all the time.
It's all about averting in the crosshairs, making sure multi-kill potential is minimal.
Now they are low on health.
So Kensesaw, it's not easy to watch this one, it's already tagged down.
Yikes, it's down. It's such a long spray.
Look at what it means to them. They're loving it here on the foot side.
But with a sigh of relief there. Not only did they fumble the utility in the pistol and get away with it,
they lost two kills there to start going through that smoke.
You said they would give this a go. I don't think that's the play you really want to be bringing to the table in a
Second round against the force by both still winning another clutch
Coming out on top it does not matter as we always say no harm no foul
So up against the eco here a chance of foot to take the lead at 7-7
The leader of the squad top fragging into server number 13 kills
I think he is one of the best fragging gameleaders we have right now, kind of nuts to think,
but some of the things he did, especially at EPL, you go back to that scout ACGOR, one
of the craziest sequences, if not the best play of the year so far in 2026, you inspire
the whole new generation of IGLs to play with the scout, yeah, we'll back, officially
back again, let's get into it shall we, is there anything left to be said about round
15 as we mentioned foot an opportunity here to take the lead first time they
have really since their pistol conversion in the first half four on three
just a few deagles no Kevlar so nice clean finish here but any extensive
fractures of the 15
yeah just a formality they're looking for some exits with the beagle maybe you
I'm going to use the rifle, demon will not allow it.
And Schwann play left.
I'm enjoying this game so far though.
No blowouts here.
Some chaotic moments, a few mistakes.
It's foots with quite a bit of stage experience.
Now they are making these deep runs,
it feels like each and every tournament they attend.
They really are a contender for the trophy here, to be honest.
They're putting so many teams for the test.
And with this being a studio event as well, I think that probably helps him in our regards.
No pressure at the big stage, it surely does.
Let's have a look whether they can hold their own though.
Still anyone's map here.
Quarterfinals here, PGL Booker has 20-26 been a great tournament.
Lots of chaos, lots of exciting games, unexpected results.
Top teams dropping off in form.
Honestly, they keep running at it right now.
Long she hasn't got a kill but he's he's dragged so many people under this mid-fight at the moment contact playing towards a yeah
I think this is a really good call. They know how many people were there. They even take the time to boost up
There's nobody home right now
How do you make the most of this for now smoking CT spawn Molotov behind to stop anyone pushing through
Trying to get a cheeky alley you play with the flash bang
Okay, and it all comes down to this fight MPM is multiple kills gets one can't find the second does damage
The bomb should be planted no problem here.
It could be risky trying to take full control or do nothing like that, but also the downside is if you don't do it, you could shut down trying to plant the bomb.
So there's no risk-free way to do it.
Four versus four now.
Bait. They're starting to lack some round-hanging.
See, that is massive on the kensasaur before they even really set up that retake.
Longest going down.
Now it's a three versus three.
Spray down Krippani, he's taken two.
So ascent, oh they're trying to run away, they can't even do that, Kens is all shot in the back by Cemetery and Ascentiol
Last one left. This is gonna be 9 for Futs
The call I think Longs and Kravani, they realize how many people are in middle
Yeah, and they made that walk to the game on site. Worth noting this is both pistol victories going in favor of Futs
Conversion number 3-0 on either side and now 4-0 on their T-Sat campaign of their opponent's pick. We're now at 9-7
They saved one rifle
With maximum loss bonus, sure, there's definitely a buy there, but take a timeout, discuss your options here.
This is like a crucial moment in this series.
Going on to overpass, Bates did not have a great track record on it.
They played it twice and lost it twice with this lineup in its entirety.
You're not feeling too good about their prospects going into that second map.
They have to win here in ancient, currently down in the mud financially and with the scoreline.
It's such a it's so dangerous when they throw in that second map because the handshake map between the two would have been dust to
Yes, right, and so they would have played ancient dust to mirage all like both teams play those three maps
Yep, but a big fake out for foot to instead
Go for the pick of overpass. That's exciting. Well, these sort of rounds even though you're up against the little guns
There is a big opportunity for bait to steal it away
calculated aggression
Pins are maneuvers required
We'll see if they can find the gaps here as first will be hoping there's a mid control smokes down towards don't have a red
vaulting up towards the heavens as long as
No, real aggression just yet. I'm just adopted for or there it is okay
I'd like to say this this is the kind of place you do need to be making but obviously you'll be watching
You know that money's like you're aware of that possibility. Yeah, the oldest trick in the book
But even if you fail on some of those fundamentals right, that's where you can get punished.
So, I guess good to see that they're on top of that as well on the T side here.
Oh, you love to see it.
They're going to try and retake middle here on the CT side.
The 1 and 4 tip the spear, sent the ult.
Trying to find an advantage here, but it looks to be like the B bomb side will be their final
target here, but they're taking their sweet time.
molotovs in towards a cave trying to flush out that close range position that's a
good idea but it also tells them that they're coming like sure you don't get
shut down by the 5-7 in the corner but they have an ass warning that's the M4
yeah I'm gonna call it out immediately you notice everything launched turning
around the communication flowing very fast here on the foot side not being
allowed to run in the backs have anybody Alex should the smoke of the A box
So let's run out of bullets as well.
Karine's up to 18 and 10.
He's doing very fine work on the server tonight.
Yeah, we call this captain's performance.
Yeah, he's doing it right now.
And like you said, what are the best
fragging in-game leaders that we have on top level
at the moment?
For sure.
Difficult to think of any other names that.
Well, that is in-game ability.
I mean, that's a quick shout out.
I will say this for this tournament.
I feel like Namani approved, maybe not at the same level, but that's totally fair, he really surprised me with his individual level.
He was the one person in the Hero8 games and more often than not finding one or two kills.
Very good to ShadowMounders, I like that.
Unfortunate for them, didn't make the quarterfinals, but they certainly impressed us, they're playing some good CS.
They could have.
They should have.
Yes, they could have.
Quite frankly.
Too many mistakes, they're a new team, but they are neither the team or them, so we'll move on.
on. We've got the round of rating here. It's currently 10 to 7 for Foots and it's going to be
Bate desperate for a round here. Get to post one in a second half, but they have got a nice
man advantage. Shutting down his B lane should be a nice clean victory here. 4-1, Jugs will have
it all to do here with 62 points of health. Plenty of time, but no bomb. That's the first round
that Bate pick up on the CC side. Yep, and it's a clean one. It's very clean. And you know what,
Credit to bait for doing this foot were actually ready
They were anticipating that there could have been a B-Wrap push there because they could see that I think
Corbini was the first one he was looking towards the bottom of the ramp
So he definitely knew that someone could have been walking down. They just win every single fight. That's well played
That should spawn some confidence here
They're not really known to be a team that is
Celebrating wins shouting, you know in that sense like that. They're a little bit more muted, but hopefully
the comms inside of the server are going to be a little bit happier, people are going
to be a little bit more ready to go because they look so sharp at the beginning, it's
really delightful to see when they were on the T side but they've been quieted down
a bit now. See, getting the coach activated too. It's still a close game, right? A 10-8.
Oh, it's very close. It's far from over. But the money reserves are strong. Futs will
have plenty to work with here at round number 19, 10 to 8 on that T side of their opponents pick.
We'll talk about countermeasure regression, this is a perfect display of it, punishing this B lane.
Fantastic work from Ascenti, all good spraydowns there with the M4A4.
Let me get into round number 19.
Up来 this could be a fantastic series here. Foot, not looking their absolute best,
That's for sure, mate. Not looking that worse, which we've seen a few times
throughout the story when some massive evidence came up. Yes, I think that was
that's exactly the feeling that I had at one point. So Duke's, look at the
smoke at the ramp, they're walking right through it, they're setting up inside of
the smoke. This is pretty much what I was talking about. That's the CT smoke that
they're running through, especially the way over. It wasn't even a bad smoke, but
Foot, love, exploiting the CT smoke against them.
You caught that early and that's exactly what they did.
And there is zero chance you're winning this round.
If you're very careful, hold onto that AWP.
It's Sizi that had that impressive first half.
Yet to really post anything in the second, 7 and 13.
Looks like that's all he can do right now.
Hold off the hunt.
Hold the wolf from the door.
I mean if they can hold on to the two AKs in the AWP they will be competitive in the next round
They can do some damage with it
But the problem is there aren't that many more rounds left here before foot walk away with the victory on ancient
pick-by-bates
Bomb's gonna go up here. Obviously no one in existence
The whole team though is playing well. It might be that the leader is ahead with 19 kills
But nobody's lacking so far behind that they're letting the team down either
and really enjoying this tea side so far from foots.
Krobeni chomping at the bit to get through that cave.
He heard the reload on the other side.
Yeah, it's himself an absolute freebie of a kill.
At the side of the outcome of the round,
as we see round 20 coming up next,
never tactical timeout baits can feel this one slipping away.
As mentioned though, and as they saved two AK-47s,
yes, they have the AWP.
They need to show us that they can hold their head
above water. Sissi, like we said, hasn't really got going in the second half. How do we set
him up? How do we find some impact from him? Does he just go tar at the A bomb side by
himself, enabling us to stack our resources in towards B, which is being a massive issue
right now? Or do we go for a boost at the back of B with the orb? Try and get him online
at some point. But plenty of options. Let's see which one they go for. Yeah, might be
it. Yeah, it's gone to war day. This is a nice call. It means you can spread the resources
around and have a much stronger middle and on the bomb side. Yeah you're right you're
right they've got three people basically fighting for the mid position right now one of them
from the B bomb side but I like that. They set up that smoke that's potentially dangerous.
Oh they're going for a double boost there above the smoke. It's a really cool idea.
Okay we don't get to see this all the time Henry but you're exactly right. On top of
it he's got a fight visible back there but he could have been close. NPL putting one
Those same AKs to great use shuts down really and then walks back. I love the disconnect from that fight
You've already won that you've got the lead don't do any more than this disengage. Yes
So what I was looking for. Yeah, I got you
Always always Henry
So one minute remaining we did say that all that is over towards the a bomb site. He's got a nice aggressive angle
We're not too aggressive. It's enough to take that one shot. Thank you for that. Let's have a look at it
they walk into him he's just going to go for one kill knife out try and get
towards donor that's all he's playing for right now and you can see he's deep
enough that he will get the advantage on the wide swing as well so he can handle
both he also gets a shadow advantage on the left side so it's actually the
perfect angle to hold for this sort of play it makes a question there's a
shadow advantage this is it this is it Sizi play one you step it up oh it's an
easy kill on the first one throws down the incendiary they are hunting down though
he stayed too long he did stay too long he did one double take it seems running
That's enough of them to hunt him down, unfortunately.
Had the knife out, jump into the smoke, you want it to maintain control, slow them down, I get it.
You now have, like this bomb site, collapse and there's a chance that they can win this three or four.
See what they can do there.
Almost had a grenade, just one on the T side here, it's connected to the wall, flying A-kid with a headshot on Jukes.
All the retakes looking hot right now, Jukes the last one, left piece also running out of bullets, trying to reload.
It gets the triple, it doesn't get the round.
They're gonna go pick up everything, got the kits.
Oh, that is very close to falling apart there.
Good shot from Sisi at the beginning.
We'll give him that, but in Counter-Strike,
the margins are so small that one millisecond is enough.
Absolutely.
I think he's absolutely fine.
If he went with the original plan,
my foul dive into the smoke, I don't think he's taken down there.
But the fact he second-guessed himself,
brought out the incendiary, 180, try and drop it.
Sure, I can understand what you're trying to go for there,
but there was a real world where
Futs went out in that clutch.
But again, no harm, no foul.
Absolutely fine.
We go 11-9, and it will be foot now.
We've still plenty of resources going into run-up at 29,
but it's a two-round game.
Bait desperately needed that.
We said we needed a change of setup as well.
Yes, she does a nice remedy.
Coming city over there towards the A bomb site.
Now you don't have to do that.
Now you've already suggested that he's over there.
He probably won't be contacting that bomb site.
So now you want to move him around again.
We want to see him in a different position,
going for an opening pick.
We need high impact from the young sniper,
this time towards Donut.
I'd like the picture you painted for us move around that the x-factor of where the AWP is.
Oh, this is a classic, though.
Yeah, foot-doodle like this.
They, they, they, what, think the third-mooshu strategy on this map is that A-split?
What they do love going through this red room.
It should be a B-finish considering the position of Demon, trying to get in towards Cave.
And it all comes down to this MPL very well of their Antwell Cemetery.
No problem at all. The world is their oyster right now. They don't even have to go B. Alright, they can choose wherever they want to go.
They've got so much control. This is a nightmare. Alex, what have you got for a small top in the face for now?
Shut down. He's alone back here. There's nothing you can do. They're coming in as well from the cave. Demon's about to be there in a couple of seconds.
Yeah, this is so tough. Look at the comms. Look at the play.
Just so good.
So much discipline there. Instead of rushing in, they're like, oh, we've got two kills. Let's get in there.
They wait until they clear the angle from the cave position as well.
Yeah.
That is textbook counter strike coming in there from foot.
That really didn't look more like it was somebody who had been studying chess, playing, sort of like, they just move all the pieces and you can't do anything, you're just locked in in the corner.
Yeah, that was really, really nice play.
Guaranteeing the victory there, not taking any chances.
A lot of teams would just run through with those couple of kills and they might just trade them out, whatever happens.
No, they confirm the cave is clear, they clear out the angle correctly and give them no option to find even a single frag there as they find a map point.
It's 12-9 to Foots here on their opponent's pick.
Overpass up next, where we no bait a week.
This is the ticket into the semi-final
in the palm of Foots hand right now.
Yeah, they put it together nicely,
and it was a tough first half for them as well.
Seven to five, like you pointed out,
that's, it's not great getting five rounds on your CT side,
but then you swap over here,
and you see the kind of comms
and the kind of calls that have been made
for the
for being a make it work
placing the foot soldiers as a
were Henry into great positions
OK that's your best work yet that's
all the prep I did for the day really
like those are the lines you've been working on
I love it. I've got more don't worry
OK. Launch very aggressive out
towards middle speaking of aggression
we're going towards a main it's going to be
ready to open things up but he is shut down
four and four I would say favorites of T-Sat
especially the way photo playing right now
It's a sponsor from MPL, the star player of Bates, keeps him in this one, Man of Vantage, maintained by Sizzzy.
MPL, this is an audacious maneuver, one that's not required, I would say.
Yeah, he was so smart, there's a disengage as you pointed out.
Yeah, I feel like that maneuver right there.
That could cost a map.
It could cost a map, yeah.
You because now-
You can let them have the A-bomb side, especially if you have no intel as to what's going on there.
Yeah, you'd much rather do a 4-on-2 retake than whatever this is.
It's the minute of the clock, the boar's been planted, and cemetery, he's got the line.
He's gonna get shot at the back, you're right, oh, they make it work.
That's gonna make it 12-10.
They need one more round, Henry, but that last round, what do we normally say?
The hardest one of them all.
Number 13 is the hardest round in the world to pick up.
I noticed Dinko and Jason didn't mention that.
No, they don't believe in Henry's law.
They don't believe in it.
We're trying to bring them around to it.
But bear in mind, I said it many times before,
I've commented on a lot of football games.
They are not closers.
You have pointed this out.
They are not a team that does well at finding round number 13.
I've seen it many, many times.
And I guess now we're later in the tournament,
the pressure is even higher.
So that could affect it even more.
And the money's not great either.
Speaking of Jason and Dinko, if you guys missed the game they were doing earlier, with J.W.
and Maxter and all the rest, so if you go back and watch it, the guys did a great job
and obviously, you know, the game was really fun.
It was, it warmed your heart.
You're saying J.W. on the server, Moses casting it, what more could he want?
And it went to a three map barn burner.
And apparently the first time Dinko's casting J.W. as well, which I mean.
That made me feel very old when he said, oh, I've never even casted a J.W. games.
Oh, man, I built my whole career.
Commentate tonight, guy.
Don't say that again.
Yeah.
Don't bring it up.
Partial biver looks things here from Foots as we will see Tech Nines and a nice galil.
So not all is lost, but it's looking very likely that we go to round number 24.
All the rounds here.
They said they're not closers, Foots.
They're going to be going for another A-play here.
It is kind of open right now.
We have Kendi Zaw in towards a donor and Mork's going to try and deal with them as the smokes
goes down, but speaking of smokes, NPL will pop them open and find the opening kill.
That's good work at the moment.
Ensar saw towards the donut, NPL takes four in very rapid fashion.
By the way, he's up to 24 kills behind his round.
So once again, it's another game where NPL is trying to drag the team through it, trying
to see if he can get everyone else to follow.
Somebody's got to help him out.
Can't just be him.
I mean, it's impressive.
speaks well of him as an individual for the tournament it's the fact that I've
seen like three or four maps so far whether it's been the case but if they
really want to win then somebody else is to get locked in final round of
regulation but one to get the hell out of here they're missing their mid smoke
you don't love to see that they will have no idea as well they got a wide
swing out not knowing the CTs will have full vision here they take that time
There is an option to re-smoke it I suppose
You know they're gonna keep from all sides though
Beanie's gonna be here as well. Oh, it doesn't even matter.
Long struts him down the laser from the middle
And this is not gonna get one of a turn but now all the grades are running in there
They can't burn him out because the smoke is up but demon he's taking the backline. He's on the A bottom side
Oh
Double headshot
Sizi lands a good kill on the juke. He's back around the corner. Let's see if he get activated.
Fenty's dead. We've talked about it so much. You're right. He's super dead. Now it's all on Sizi.
He's half HP. They know exactly where he is. That should be GG, Anders.
It should be on any normal day. You can't really get through this smoke,
because you just walked straight in. Demon to headshot him.
And foot. You thought they were going to get cold feet on this opening map, but they didn't.
Okay, he has a fun drinking game for anyone watching at home. I don't encourage this,
but it could be a good time.
Get your favorite bottle of hard liquor, make it tequila.
Prof, if you want to do water, it's not as fun.
Get yourself some tequila.
Every time Anders makes a very dad joke foot pun,
take a shot.
You won't know how this game finishes
or who makes the same finals because you'll
be blackout drunk, but it could be a good time.
There was no good ones.
I actually enjoyed the Henry 671.
down down was good this kind of subtle it was kind of throwback to a mean
like he was shaking his head a few months ago but because of that I feel like he
found that it's like playing meta that's like two years old it's perfectly dated
to be to be reintroduced and catch people off guard and that's what he does
perfectly fitting for Henry and Anders casting me yeah yeah that's all throwback
two or three years off meta talking about this game though for me this this is a
game that describes foot to fate as a benchmark team.
They're a team that has like a level that's pretty solid.
We saw the T side, they lose the pistol, but they get back into it.
They have some decent frags, NPL has a good round,
and then they have, you know, they call a bit around it,
but they lose both pistols.
And also in this last round, we just
see Krabeni taking some heads off, also longs.
And that's just going to be the difference maker.
They don't have maybe that next level that
is necessary to win a game against a top team.
But realistically they had the upper hand when the kit came down to the gun rounds, especially in that first half of course.
But even second, if they don't go down with the pistols, that could have been a really dangerous game.
It could have been even fairly one-sided going to Bates, right?
I thought just first half they did a really good job kind of limiting foot in terms of...
You know, they're just the type of a team that on the CT side, they would like to make these aggressive plays.
Bates were always doing a good job waiting it out and then just making their plays towards the sides of the map late round, right?
when Foot have no no no utility to work with to stop those pushes I also thought that Foot
went for some kind of uncharacteristic plays some of these retakes like 2v3s, 3v4s that
you normally don't go for and that actually ended up binding them towards the end of the half because
they didn't have the money to defend against some of these pushes from Bait right so actually you
know in the end I thought Bait could have won this. Do you think Bait could have won it as well?
Yeah, I mean, I think overall a pretty good game. Again, it's the details, it's the pistols that make the difference in this one.
But, unfortunately for Bay, this felt like a must win considering the map, considering the overpass is coming in.
So that's why it feels even worse that they couldn't make it happen.
I think also Sizi was highlighted as a guy that is needed for them to win this game.
I feel like on the T side, he had a few good rounds on the CT side.
and as the game progressed he was kind of getting a bit colder and that could
also have been the difference maker in this game.
Let's have a bigger conversation. You brought this up in the pre-show and
Henry mentioned in the cast as well this idea that foot struggles to finish and
it is something we see time and time again. Hell we almost saw it there as well.
What do you think it is that's causing them to not be able to to push to that
13th round? Well I think it's a classic young team problem right? I don't
I don't necessarily think that this game, this map was a map of choking, I think it was just a game that went close, because it was, but obviously they also missed us more kind of late in the game, which shows that the problem that young teams have is like, pressure comes, they're like, okay, we need to win this, we're favorites, and then the communication is a bit off, the trade is a bit slow, the aim is a bit shaky, and that's what causes some of their problems.
I also do think that beta are the type of team that you would think would have a problem with because they're quite slow pace
They're always gonna play for their utility and all these things
They're gonna be good at limiting some of these some of these aggressive pushes from from foot
So yeah, I don't think this was necessarily any sort of a problem in terms of closing
Otherwise, yeah, I mean it's it's it's more proffsets today if they look this is the youngest team at the tournament
You know, obviously we think of them as kind of one of the favorites to win this
but they are still based haven't won anything so far you know they don't have the experience of of a lot of these other teams
Frankly, they don't even have the experience of baits who have been around for an extra season
Compared to foot you know other than Sizi at least I just came in for this season
They went to two majors these guys haven't been long has been to one and that's that's pretty much it for me
He said it was the rear major as well. Yeah
Yeah, yeah
See the kisses there for a part of it. So that's how long it will go. I have so many jokes, but I'm just gonna move on
Let's leave moving on. Let's leave moving on. It's not even good on that road
Let's talk about that overpass now though because you mentioned time and time again. This is a problem for bait
It's here. They're gonna have to play a planet. Why do we think it is such a problem? Well, the problem for bait is they played it two times this year
13-2 against Furia was the last game that they played the 13-10 against Aurora. That's that's it, right?
They haven't really been, it hasn't been in their map pool for long.
We don't know how much they played it on the other hand, foot played it 11 times, 5-6 win-loss.
Which isn't amazing, but all of their, pretty much all of their games are against top 10 teams.
Astralis, G2, Fury, or these kind of squads.
And even if they lose, they play them, they get like 10-11 rounds, right?
So think overpass for them is a pretty decent map, and on the other hand, pretty much we don't know what to expect from Bate.
I think that's the key part, though, for Bate.
What do you even expect out of them?
If you're a foot, how do you prepare for them?
If you're a Culeo, yes, you have these two games.
One of them, they didn't even get to play one half.
So you have three halves to look at from this entire season.
And the last one that they played is a month ago,
and that was the 13-3 game.
The previous one is two months ago,
that they played a 13-10 game.
So whatever Bate comes up with, foot
are just looking to play whatever they have,
rather than trying to play reactionary.
And a thing like that, that is a strong suit for foot,
to be honest.
I don't think they're a particularly heavy anti-strap team or anything like that.
We saw it even on ancient.
A lot of the rounds that they run are very simplistic.
I mean, it is very strong solid counter-strike, but it is very simple.
I mean, if I pick out the round where they got match points or map points, it was the
one that they got the smokes in middle.
They pushed the red room smoke in four people.
They just got to pick off on B. There was a lurker working from the other side.
You have the bomb side.
Very, very simple round, but very effective.
And that's just how foot plays.
So I think, regardless of them maybe not having the most review possibilities for this map,
I think they're going to be comfortable regardless.
Yeah, I mean, it's over fast.
You can just pretty much win the T side by just doing B hits, if it works, right?
Especially if you get the pistol and you do like three success ones.
That's, you know, five rounds on the T side, I would say is one T side on the overpass.
So I think it's going to be a hard battle on that side, right?
if they can stop that, then the game can open up and actually be, you know,
oh, what is up? What is Sizi doing on A with the AWP and how are they kind of
countering the map control and stuff like that? Because I feel like Foot could
just, could just go to doing a super simple, you know, wait around a bit,
execute B, rush B, and then, you know, and the eco go to A and mix it up like that.
It's not down and dusted for Foot though. I mean, this isn't going to be a very simple
close out in 2-0 because like you said, we don't actually really know what
fate could bring to the table here? Yeah, I mean that's kind of the I don't
want to say the scary part but they're going a bit in the unknown and that's
always the the can be the problem when you're picking into a weak map that is
available but 90% of the time it just ends up being a dub and also the fact
is they're one all up already so they have nothing to really fear in worst
case scenario they're still a third that they can bounce back on. Yeah I do think
that this is a foot to zero coming to be honest just because as much as they
don't know what's coming there. It is a comfortable map in terms of how much
they've played on it. You know, it's not like low and on the low end of their
map pool. Well, it is, but they just play a lot of maps in this season already.
So they're just comfortable across the board really. So yeah, I just think
it's it's going to be fine for them. Let's see if Striker and Prof a right
how this is going to play out. Foot up against Baytia at PGL Bucharest in the
quarterfinals. One of them will be going through to the semis, but we're going
to take a quick break before we find out who it is.
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fans across the world. Welcome back to the playoffs here at PGL Booker S 2026. You joined us in the
third quarterfinal of the day and it's looking very good for Foots. They might be booking themselves
a place in the semifinals, joining the likes of 3D Max and Astralis and there's a movement
to Overpass and that doesn't seem like good news for Bates. We have very little data but the little
we have is not looking good. They're probably hoping that they were going to play Dust 2 here
instead but it's turned out Overpass. Surprise pick for Foots. It's actually their best map
But like the desk were pointing out. Yeah, they're plenty enough
I think they got 11 maps last three months with this one
So they've they've got some drills on this they know what they're doing
Well, whichever way you look at it. The good news is I suppose that's starting on the CT side
Okay, they can set the bar things if you lose a pistol and things get out of control. We go down zero four
That could be a death sentence in its own right kind of like a must-win pistol here
When it's a mapping all very experienced on and we're getting ready now to get into the second map between a foot and baits
feels like a foregone conclusion would love to be proven wrong maybe they've
been in the lab all week working on the potential of overpass being played here
in the quarterfinals but time will tell. Fertz will make their way over to be
bombed side setting up smokes for heaven flashbangs available as well four of
them in fact handers. So here come the smokes, they get a bombarded with flashes
make their way through we'll see whether this three-man stack can fend them off.
It has to because the other two are so far away. Senki or that's about perfect, isn't it?
Another headshot. Kensazor will take down Demon. And now Krabini, cemetery on the other side.
Two versus five. Bombers lost the towards the monster tunnel.
The setup is great. The whole plan is there. The execution like all the grenades are landing.
But once you run into those headshots coming through that choke point, it is over.
Rubinius here. It is one versus five. Yeah, well whatever they had in mind they're completely
shut down. They said it might be a must win pistol and they certainly deliver. It will
be baited with a flawless first round here. Five players surviving and a senthule mowing
down three of them. No problem whatsoever. No bomb planted. Should be the full eco. So
crisis averted. Should be two zero no problem unless a surprise force by presented around
Which I doubt you probably want to be ringing out the AKs in the third on a map like overpass. It's a very large and long-range map
I don't think the tech 9s are that weapon for the job right now
You know that's a good point
so
It's one of those rounds where you're hoping for mistakes in the CT side to be presented
Should be no problem here the baits to zero all day long just one deagle to
to take down here, it's in the hands of Krebbeni.
Yeah, just don't give over any kind of a rifle
and then everything will just fine.
MPL briefly investigating, he's aware that in theory,
if they'd run long, then they could be walking out.
That is important to know that timing on the TT side
because you don't want to be giving it up.
It's gonna be easier to get my kill with the MP9,
that's good news.
It's gonna buy the AWP later on,
which surely is gonna be a big factor here.
The bomb is by party,
so they won't be planting that necessarily.
maybe there's a chance of some around the world antics either way found out
Del we've just one kill given over its MPI I think it's dropped not a big deal
and to zero confirmed in a clean fashion foot though as mentioned taking that
full eco all have the AK 47s going to run over three the true test now you've
got a bit of a bonus situation but they're actually taking some upgrades
here under cities bringing out the early AWP I like it he orps again we don't
don't have a lot of data, but he does, like,
open towards the restrooms on this map.
Okay.
And then everyone to know, I think we have the B pillar
and the B bomb sites.
Like, those are two of his big positions.
Well, we noted it on ancient.
He has to be active, nimble.
It is gonna have heavy amounts of impact here.
Good grenades at the start.
They're gonna swing off that.
Z's one ready for it, but Crepelli will be able
to find the trade, at least with a little arrange.
Four versus four.
It doesn't take much damage for his troubles either.
So now the CT defense, a little bit questionable.
Not Sizi, not in towards the flowerbed right now.
Yeah, needs to be careful.
Knows he's exposed for as long as well.
Can't hold that at this position.
Jump peeking.
It's having a look around, wants a bit of intel.
Always nervous when the CTs are jump peeking
the boxes on the site itself.
You're more, you're higher up than you think.
Easily shot out of the sky.
That's a flick, that's what we want.
Launce goes down,
Sizzino that looked clean.
I want to see more from him exactly like that.
He's the only one defending for a minute.
He misses the next one though.
At least Kanzo's all shown up.
And nobody's checking the bomb site.
That seems very careless.
Cemetery gonna go down.
Surely you want to be able to check the rest of it here.
Ascentfield.
Crab spraying against Krobini.
And Duke's grenade forced into the fight.
Look like he was ready to take that follow-up, but he won't and that means
Bates are gonna pick up his next round very nice shot there from Sizi has to be said slows them down
This allows the pounce and towards the a bomb site
Overlooking the CT defense behind the default boxes there
Let's them down and there will be three in a row now for Bates on their CT campaign here on our opponents pick
I brought up something that I enjoyed about fruits tea side on ancient
Okay, I've got some criticism for them on this map. Oh, right. Let's hear it
I don't know why but they have a tendency to not Molotov the barrels on the B bombsite when they go for those executes
Okay, look at they don't throw that Molotov and I think that could be a big mistake
Give me could be risky to not throw that Molotov. Well, let's see if that trend continues
For now though partial by maximum loss bonus round the corner
Yeah, they can make a dent with the tech nines and
single pt-50 in the hands of cemetery is trying to save his gold for the AWP
going forward. That's some decent map control here but the CTs are allowing
them to have it so partied under their remits. Two players it's time towards A
it's gonna be Sizi joined by MPL the star player of the squad and then we go
one quick kill on MPL. Things can get off hand very quickly but seeing the
utility fly over the rotation to the cool down that's what we're talking about
overwhelmed by those pistols and there's been a chance not to get a bomb planted
as they recover the orb trying to give in the hands of cemetery as well that's
full plate throw it over yeah the fact that they got the long range shot there
with the tech nine that's unbelievable it's even cemetery with no kevlar yeah
they trust him so much here do well the sniper they say yeah here you go we have
all the weapons on the bait side but they're a man down
sprays looking good nearly could have been the double I can't believe that's the
the other side cemetery but that's stolen AWP will bring down Alex and it
leaves essential he's got the kit and basically all of that smoke is not going
to be good enough yeah he knows it as well it has to land on top of the bomb
everybody knows that
that's not the round you want to be losing cemetery will get out with the AWP as
Well, Longst goes down with the explosion, but that was their partial by, we talked about, that pounce mentality.
You can get close enough towards the 8 bombsite, drop a couple of smokes, overwhelm the defense, it's exactly what happened.
First kill was no problem, a little bit of response there, but as soon as the AWP is recovered for cemetery,
he holds the defensive angle towards Long, hits the money shop, and they are on the board.
Good news is for Bayfans, they've got plenty of cash in reserve.
Say plenty, they've saved an AK-47,
Kendi's all have to make do with the MP9, there's no orphe to scissi.
He fought around here.
Loads of money.
Now for the footside.
Fully equipped.
Full speed ahead for MPL.
Pushes in towards our party position, smoked down towards the T-steps.
Wanted to show that he was out there.
Could slow down launch quite a bit, like he's on the other side of that smoke that went down.
So he has to be aware that someone could be out by the fountain, that could be anywhere in the playground.
We'll make it a little bit harder for him to clear out that part of the map.
The rest of them are the sewers outside of the B bomb site, cemetery waiting for a mistake.
Alex is playing on those barrels like they talked about. They actually double-nade him.
If you're not gonna molest off it, double-nade is a pretty good alternative.
Significant damage.
MPL will have to try and inflict some of his own.
waiting towards long looking for that backstab but aware he could be backstab
himself in the bathroom sir all comes down to this frag if it's clean from
foots I feel like I'll be a real chance they convert this round at least MPL
gets one nice shot from cemetery though they nearly lined up for MPL to get the
double there oh certainly did but unable to convert it a little bit of a fake
towards beaver looks thing smoked down towards heaven flashes going over but
it's all a ruse. We're focusing our efforts towards long with the bomb.
And Jigs will join them from the connector.
CT's not biting down on the fake at all though.
They're ready, I'm waiting.
Yeah, Crypto Ghost, CZ's back in.
Not with EWP this time, he's gonna get the spray down.
Oh! Two for one!
Cemetery! Put some in the ground!
And now Senthiel is a bit closer. Eight seconds on the clock.
You have to fight, we win the fight right now.
Otherwise you pop down the bomb.
And that's not gonna happen.
That was a moment.
essential he shuts them down he's up to seven and oh he hasn't died yet in this
match holy moly though the double kill the collat of the AWP yeah and you're
right he knew he had to go for that kill which is certainly possible his teammate
able to frag as well if he finds that shot with a tech nine the round is over
didn't even need the bomb part of that stage true it all started here and the
elder well to get one in that push but going above and beyond their cemetery
Finally, binding the collat. Nice try, 4-1. Their money's still pretty good as we mentioned,
but concessions to be made. We've got a Tech 9, Anamak 10. Suggests we see him something
a bit punchy, a bit faster. But he's pushing through the util. Very important round in terms
of the finances on both sides of the coin here. It'll be an easy frag for Krebbeni.
Makes a bit of a meal of it. Take to Dinkford's troubles. The long-range spray works out though.
Five on three. Round certainly not over.
They're going to push out.
push out for sure. And if they find a couple of kills here, the round can be turned on
his head, but everyone is waiting on the other side. That's unfortunate. And like we said,
such an important round, the money is now busted completely for bait. They have to save
its AWP. It begs the question, do you go on the hunt or do you maintain your own finances
here? You know it's in the AWP. We know that for a fact.
Yeah, it's tempting. I mean, it's a big weapon, especially on a map like Overpass to be left
out there in the wild. They are hunting. Cibani's already out looking for him. Yeah, he's gonna get it.
Cizzi goes down. They will cover the orb. I'm glad he brought it up. The same would have been
true the other way, right? You have the T side had lost this one. They would have had no money.
Yeah, that's the most important round of the game so far and it will be foot to find it. Probably
get some a couple more on the board here. You're at bottom of the barrel loss bonus,
which means you do have the four spanners. If you only enter with $1400, even if you take the full
is sent and partialed by territory. Either way, so you might as well force by into this one,
which is exactly what they're going to do. So, fantastic opportunity, some open runway here for
Foots to tie up this game 4-4. Previous round had so much weight behind it. It's launched,
and we said, Mac 10 and Attack 9, they caught that smoke open, get a couple of openers here.
There was a chance, the four players waiting to have a stab at the smoke, and they removed the AWP
DANGER going forward as well. So what have we got to work with? No MP9s, 5-7s and D-goals,
but...foots? There's definitely a world where they can lose, as they'll have to push smokes,
they like to take risks. They enter 5-7, but that would be a disaster. Speaking of which,
they're going straight in.
That is so mean. You know they're not going to have anything defensively, just jumping
in with the SMG was a main for this kind of an entry. Good work from Longs. They'll take
to and the round is already over perfect weapon for the job is enough yeah
that's that's the dream isn't it mp9 running gun a few players of our helmets
as well mulling them down another clean sweep here for foots on there in that
pick we did say if ancient doesn't land in favor of baits feels like a golden
ticket opportunity for foots to book themselves a place in the semi-final yes
so far that is looking to be true it's going to be 4-4 after this one it's full
eco into the next round. Sissy hang around if you want hope maybe someone exits this way but
that is not going to happen either. Good call. So far from what I can tell they're actually
not big fans of doing that for the Russian generals. Obviously this is based on the on the economy on
the CT side but in normal rounds they they try to shy away from it which is interesting a lot of
teams do love it even was clinical yes what do you want okay can they get back
on top here CT side they do need a big win at the start T side for foot as
well as their weaker side on this map as it is with everybody just means
they're gonna be better this oh yeah this is by far the most CT-sided map we
have the pull. 4 already feels like enough. Again, you know they have nothing.
Russian B again. Krebeni doesn't need to open this door. You don't know what's
behind it. Just hold the position. Oh dear, it does fanciest chances, it does come out
on top, it takes a lot of damage on route down to 13 points of health. That's the
round though, so as mentioned it will be 4-4 guaranteed. This begs the question now
as to whether they can find a few exit kills, but they seem to be very aware of this prospect of
CTs hanging out in T-Sport, using that MP9 to great effects. It's gonna say you've got a lot more
to lose than that, you know they're full eco, but it's not a problem recovering a deagle and keeping
four players alive. The nightmare scenario for Bait after winning the pistol and are going up three
and zero. Now it's up to four four on a map you're not comfortable on.
Can't stress enough. Such a CT-sided map, allowing them to have this great start-up.
Losing the pistol does not bode well for their prospects here on Overpass.
Yeah, in the last three months, right, this team has played 24 rounds of Counter-Shank
on Overpass for Bait. It's really not a lot to work with.
They're going to have the AWP back on Sizi. They lost it earlier when he was trying to save it.
I think it's a big deal that he can bring it out once again.
Going fast and towards B again.
Yes they are.
They are in the most of their barrel position but caught off guard a little bit deep.
Yeah I think he just got pressured off the angle, just trying to do some chip damage here with the AG grenades and going to back off.
Now the grenades have been very good.
Once again they prevailed down to 8 points of health, Alex having a nightmare in that spot.
Yeah, maybe we're learning why they don't molotov it all that much.
Yeah exactly.
I'm in that fair play, if that's the case. I don't know, that could be.
He double-naded instead. It's a very popular position to try and shut down those B rushes.
Speaking of Alex, he's 0-5 at the moment.
True, didn't even notice that.
Not had a fun time whatsoever.
Are they double-set up on the barrels now?
So Alex is going to try and get himself... if they showed up, right? Alex dies, and you hope that Ascentiol isn't checked.
That's the mind game. Not that it matters, because they're not going to be bombsite, but...
that's worth noting that
in theory
we have to let you know that eight of the p of scissi
he is poised
so i'm a little bit more aggressive this time
smart man once said
ganko ponovic so fine line between bating and teamwork
he did say that
the other time he eludes scissi
got the pressure from long
he didn't get a deeper angle so he didn't get shot in the back
fortunately he was shot in the side of the head instead
and that will be round they've stacked to be bombsite hoping the tarot at the
wp would be enough
but we said the grassy stars from scissor that
how do you plan the bombsite itself jumpy king one of had
more to work with
more time available to cover rotations he goes out with nothing enough
that's just around
it's getting out of control now
just to say when you go look at the positions again it's only twenty four
rounds so don't want to travel it too much but the position that they find him
in there
That is his number one position. Number two is the flowerbed like talked about back on the A bomb site and three is down at the B pillar
So he's got like those three positions basically that he's that he's really in
Good find what can you do?
Goes down they're gonna save the rest. I guess that's the good news
It's a problem. You're there or lower the AWP you can see him on higher light hearing you
So let's keep him deployed for the long area as well
He had to push deeper so he wouldn't be shot
Right in the back of the head, but then misses the timing as he tries to get into what that divide up
down he goes and sometimes that's the way she goes as one kill can decide the
outcome of the round and you just have to save as you know you're not taking a
bomb aside back
well Cropini is he's giving the orders now yeah he's got a solid game plan in
mind they do say four weapons talked about smoking getting stuck in Sizi
They're going for the boost, it's a nice idea.
Don't hate it.
Yeah, they took a little bit too much damage.
A lot of sound cues there.
Should be the kill for Longs, if not the double teammate cemetery there too.
Pick up the pieces.
Five on three, round on necessarily over.
Both teams will be high-tailing it towards the A bomb site.
Can they catch him on the rotation?
I don't think so.
It doesn't seem like they're there in time.
Kenzie's all the linchpin of this operation.
Maybe he can find a couple of kills in the back,
but it'd be terrible to think that no one's considering this push.
and he hits the leg shot nullifies his efforts and he wants a bit more of the action
high-risk maneuver from cemetery spots him yeah i guess it's fine he gets the head shot he knew
he liked them yeah i mean fair play but that says someone about it's a wild maneuver yeah
like unnecessary but i do like it
essential he is the one with the kids because i've had to say alex is close to the site at
at least, but he doesn't have a kit, so even any late and diffused scenarios immediately
wiped out.
Well, if you are just joining us today, it's Playoffs Day at PGO Book Arrest 2026.
We've already found ourselves with 3D Max and Astralis at the top end of the bracket.
This is the lower end of the bracket right now, but Foots will go on to play the winners,
if they win this map, I'm maybe getting a bit ahead of myself.
Foots will go on to play the winners of either the Mongols or Power Vision, which is our
last quarter final of the day coming up next, which, let's be honest, that's game of the
That's what everyone's waiting for game of the day. Yeah, we're all waiting to see what's gonna happen there
They're starting out some hard words for the team crazy one of the best things. Yeah
No, it was amazing interview just saying like if I could cut them now. I would but I've got the major around the corner
Lighting a fire beneath his team. I suppose those young guns. Yeah keeping it real. Yeah for
No doubt about that. But then the side Mongols have not looked perfect either super fun team to watch
Yeah, that's gonna be really interesting in this one. It's six to four in favor of
foot
Round number 11 is coming up again. You're the end of the year to be fair and as the wheels have already fallen off you are up
Three and zero you've posted one for the round of the six rounds on the T side is already a bit of a death then death sentence
And we're not even at the end of the half
So they could be an eight four score line on the T side which is in my book GG
I wish I could have disagreed, I'd love to see someone more out of Bates here, they started
so well in Ancient Blood, I'm not seeing it at the moment, yeah he is running straight
to the L-Bend down to the B bomb site, scoped up with the AWP.
Not uncommon for the CTs to simply miss this flash on over, Alex getting blown up, he is
one in seven right now, there's one defender left who's right now getting Molotov'd out
of the back of the site.
He has got the gap in the smoke to work if I suppose.
That is true. They're trying to get there.
There we go.
Alright, there's the spray down against Duke's at least.
And trying to help out here, CZ, up on the high ground.
He really wants to have an impact.
They know his sentient needs help.
Someone surely has to be on the bomb site to get him.
A bit of a hand here, and he gets shut down.
Good try.
Bring him towards the end, a good double kill.
About 1,000 on knife's edge.
So many players low HP, all it took was one nice spray down.
Now it's going to leave MPL, not known to be an all-part,
trying to save the sniper here.
as they will be ducking and weaving around CT spawn.
Three versus one, round already over,
seven on the board for Foots.
Just great coordination.
Good alley-oops, as we call them, the flashbang.
You could see how blind Alex was.
Zero chance of finding a kill there,
and for me, the round was already over
as soon as he goes down with nothing.
Because he can't play that barrel's position,
because he's getting double-naded each time.
So he has to play at a different spot.
This time, completely blinded.
And NPL, they do need this AWP.
They don't have enough money,
even with the lost bonus or whatever.
He can't even really scope right now.
Oh, it's over anyway.
Oh, they knife him as well.
So sad.
He didn't need to do that.
Oh, man.
He was going to get him.
And that's unfortunate, because now they're
going to have to play this round.
They can't foot the bill, Henry, for another AWP.
That's another shot for you playing along at home.
Yeah.
Do we keep going?
Oh, yeah, dude.
There's not going to be many more rounds there
overpass I'm afraid. Spend all night. You can see that's in front of replays. Zero chance,
essentially all trying to use their smoke against them, trying to find a few gaps,
but some beautiful shots. Krobeni, as we keep mentioning, one of the highest skilled in-game
leaders we have in CS2 right now. Fantastic game. Oh, quick battle. Wow. And light work,
made about a 666. He's been removed from the B bombsite, and this is it. Look, try and go
towards long. Yeah, give that a go. I need a new position. Yeah, I'm getting
destroyed. And so are baits in general here. 8-4 looking likely, but longs is low.
So there is a threat that this one could fall apart. They've got maximum loss
bonus, but still that's only yielded a Desert Eagle for Kensley Zaw, Famous for
MPL and a 4-3 in general. Desperate, ravenous for information. They will push
forward in towards shore, but jukes with the perfect little off angle here.
spots one he knows they're out of the B bomb site now. Good intel of the very least. He's
going to pump the brakes around us, let them play themselves, see if they'll explore their
options further on the CT side. Almost feels like they have to surely. Back towards B we
go. If they're going to go for it, still got 45 seconds. They can fully execute into the
B bomb site. And who have we got defending here? It's going to be Kandizor with a deagle
and it will be a sentiel with the smoke.
The thing is, you can't really smoke monsters in this position,
and that's where they're coming.
Yeah, they're already walking in there.
It's gonna come down to this smoke.
Can he get it down?
Duke's up the play in front of them.
Oh, that's the eagle chap, dude.
That's done plenty enough.
That's how he's done.
Like we said, that smoke is the only thing that's gonna save them.
He's ready to play in front of it.
Double kill.
Like, nothing you can do.
Eight full, as I mentioned, a few rounds ago.
I don't think they're recovering from this.
You've got one single gun round.
You are up three and zero.
You needed a pistol victory, you got that, and you can just see they're not ready for this calibre of play on Overpass.
Yeah, the brief dream that we had, that maybe Bait had something up his sleeve, been secretly studying and practicing this map.
It's not feeling like it at the moment, an 8-4 half.
Yeah, real masterclass there, no crazy clutches required, no massive mistakes made by Bait.
They were just getting thrown around the server, walloped in every single duel.
And, yeah, there it is. You go up 3-0, you end up losing 8-4.
I don't think they fancy their own chances here. That piece of paper.
Better have a prayer on it.
Yes.
That is what they need right now.
We are looking for a miracle.
Bates' second half is coming up.
Their opponent's foot looked destined to make the semi-final.
This is the golden ticket opportunity into the semi-finals here. It doesn't get much better than this a map your opponents don't play
You've just finished the tea side of eight rounds
You should be closing this one out. No problem. They've got a
Key player of theirs Alex 666 MIA. He finishes the half one in eight morale is low. We've seen it a few times here
Bait some maps that is don't turn up. This is one more forgivable considering that just don't play it
But yeah, if your Vito has that many gaps in it where he could be punished like this in the quarterfinal
probably not ready for
trophies just yet. I
Think that's an important take away here for Bates. They must broaden the map pool a little bit
Yeah, being vetoed like this is really hard to deal with. Well, let's see how this one goes ladies and gentlemen
We're into the second half now. It's gonna be on the CT side, Bate on the T side of our second map here
the third quarterfinal. What have we got then? Smoked towards heaven, flashes to go over, we saw a very
similar approach from foot in the first half, it's a nice smoke but not quite deep enough,
there's still that vision when they come through. Comes out of that first kill and
Krobeni is an absolute beast right now, finds MPL. Jumping as well inside of the tunnel,
I can't believe he hit that hatch, it looks so casual. Now they're boosting on top of the smoke,
that's a good smoke they've baked through down here, but bomb plants can they get it. Alex now
picked it up and they're running right through. They want to find him as he's planted the
bomb. It's uncomfortable to find a kill at least. They can't keep it alive.
Hens is ought to go down. Rabini, that first shot was everything to them.
It really was. He did the double. Moments. There, it felt like they maybe could pull
off the pistol victory. Now they will have to force by in the second. If you don't win this
round, I'm afraid it is over. Out of a run from Bates, managing to make it to the quarter final
here but it all comes down to this. You'll collose your tech nines. Oh, Trebeni, that was a very nice shot.
Well, handed this while boosting up on the sandbag there when he smoked off. You don't see that coming.
A little bit closer but uncomfortable. If Kenseth's all gets one there, maybe there's a chance
to close things out. But yeah, they can feel this one slipping away. Morale is going to be very low
in the bin. In fact, one of the golfers here must win round once again. Said that a few times in the
in the first half, now more than ever.
If you don't convert this four spy,
it's 11 to four on the T side of the bus.
This is also where I think Bate as a team just,
I think on all maps,
this is where they have a big problem with their lineup,
because there are some squads where even if you're down
like this, you have one explosive player
that could suddenly turn up, but you're sure.
Well, we've got a MacAze, and we're gonna send him out,
and he's gonna solve everything,
or at least he's gonna give it a chance to get back in.
I don't see that right now for Bate.
Thurts used to have a MacAze.
That is a good point.
And the fact that they brought longs out of what almost looked like a sort of soft retirement
into this high level counter strike because he was really hot topic at one point, it's
been years now but replacing Makaze and still looking this good is kind of crazy honestly.
Krapeni, this is a wild maneuver, I'm not sure he comes out on top here, yeah.
Little bit unnecessary, first fumble there for Foots, you can see the idea, you spot
one of the tech nine trying to overwhelm him but there's no back out plan there
there's no no retreat available and he kept the term from the flashbang and now
you've offered up at m4 and Amanda's advantage here and you're the IGL you're
supposed to try and stop the other people on your team from doing this kind
of thing yeah will it come back to horn them that is the question still
advantage four-footers in this round even in five on four don't get me wrong
okay but let's see whether they can make their way into all the A bomb site
smoke denies water bank nice little headbutt there at the cemetery can he
find a few heads of his own though but it's not good enough damage is
significant though they are so low there are no grenades on the CT side the
bomb has been planted here and let's see if they could do something Sizi I don't
hate this idea he's in front they're trying to bait men and it works on nice
that's what a spamming the smoke wise standing in that position they know he's
low HP but it looks like they've done enough here as we said foot not known to
closes and that's around they could come back to horn them here for Benny
getting a little bit too carried away there and towards the underpass position
you know we go down as well nice yeah we'll take down that's how rounds are
lost often you know that one little thing spirals into another and suddenly
it's all over and I was a fool reset at the economy as well now that's their
to get back into this game. This series is quarterfinal. That round right there. Over-aggression
for the in-game lead-up, sets him up, with man advantage, and so much damage inflicted
is unlucky that Furt don't convert those kills. Have an usual five members, and now,
bottom of the barrel-off bonus. Bay wants to make do with the pistols.
It's not really a conversation right now, but Furt map on Mirage is a map that they feel
feel very much at home on foot or fine on it too, they're good on it even, but just to
say that if someone to fight for here if you're baited, if you could somehow get through
this one, it's very hard to see how it's going to happen, but if they can, there is a potential
reward in playing a map that you're going to feel much, much better on for the decider.
You never know.
I need to go over Alex setting up some of the utility here trying to burn up some of these
positions this corner by the bench Henry go on you give me sort of a you know one to
ten rating how often is it over look oh it is one of the most overlooked positions in
all of Canada's track up there with shadow on the watch okay so those are it those are
the two that even after ten years of commentating those two maps no one ever
seems to check it is funny there's nobody immediately there now but they
are actually starting to stack this bombsite quite a bit there's a chance
it cemetery is known to have a dastardly eagle set up his teammate there
fortunately goes down eagle won't deliver the 5-7 similar story I tell a lie
there's a double kill the round is alive and well sure you've only got the
the pistols remaining, where it's coming in left and right, but still a dangerous moment
there. Bates will weather the storm and keep themselves going here on overpass. 96 surely
going to be 97 here with the full eco on the agenda here to Foots.
Just even surviving that round, I mean, yeah, that's a big stack even if they're just pistols.
You never know what could happen. So good job Bates. This way you need some of that leadership
On the on the bait side you have to keep the leaves not out of the question
This could be done again the fact that it's a bit of a punish pick is cool for foot
But it also means they're not playing a map that's super strong on the better than baits, but
You know, it's not the whole map here. So there's a chance that foot could also sound to be uncomfortable out of no
Well comes out of preparation as well. It's not much you can do to understand their tendency for this one's getting a little bit wild
MPL though
Closes things out in style spray down gets a double kill and we go into a tactical timeout gun unavailable
But they certainly won't have the AWP in the hands of cemetery
Can they solidify their chances at the semi-finals?
Right here right now start getting back into this second half
They win the pistol, but they lost in a second run force, but that's three rounds in a row
So, four baits. So, Blink, can you miss it? MR12, a massive 8-4 lead is now a two-round
game.
That's become a lot more interesting. Again, like I said, they're not really a team that's
not a celebrate a lot. They're locked in right now, focused on the next round. It's going
to be round number 17 coming up. Timeout is just fading out here. Let's see. Don't have
the AWP on the CT side. That was not going to be an option. Sizi does have his. And you
know, he landed some really good shots on ancient. He's up to 11. He's not waiting.
On the team down. On the T side, he did. For sure. CT sides didn't really have any
influence. That's true. But yeah, Stoad, I'm not taking anything away from him. T side,
he looked very good. And well, there it is again. Opening kill found. He finds his rival
Sniper in the former cemetery gives them a nice five and four here. This map is alive and well for baits. What's the response for Benny?
Bravely pushing the underpass once again
Does he take off the ladder though?
So risky if you do it early could be really bad
Seems like he's found perfect timing in fact you just making it look easy like it was hard as nice at all
He's gonna be walking up straight behind and could even be a double kill. Hello the first one
Oh, that's a nice turn around. He takes Praveenie down, but two versus three.
Now you have to completely reset. How do you win out when you're completely disconnected from each other?
Recovering the bomb and T spawn, they have plenty of utile between them.
And skill, it would seem as well. What a shot that is, and why Jigs is offering himself up in this sort of scenario is beyond me.
I really couldn't tell you either. I was gonna say the fact that he's still there. They even have the incendiary and the HE here on Daemon.
Now you've potentially given them free passage in towards B. Demon has played very defensively.
Just this first one, maybe it's on, but he doesn't. Alex will take them down.
He's got some revenge to dish out here. It was a miserable first half for him
getting double-naded down to the B bomb site, but now he's up to six.
They're going to win that round as well, and that was a two on three.
It was a five on three to kick things off as well. They got the double kill here.
Well, look at them go. And then you got this kill as well.
damn but yeah I don't know why you're taking that pitch ute I have I couldn't tell you what the
the reasoning is behind that one the round is yours if you just played the crossfires the
fundamentals has been the key word of this tournament a lot of teams lacking them
and taking that sort of race sure you you've got the hot hand you're feeling good you've
got a double kill towards sure you want to lock it down I understand but you are the reason you've
lost that round in the end. Well add that to the Crebini round where he was pushing
connector. Yeah those are two rounds that are worth thinking about. I think you're
absolutely right, the deeper you go in a tournament, the more you're going to be
punished for those mistakes. And yeah, you'll be kicking yourself. That's sort of
advantage and you just offer yourself up. We talked about they're gonna have to use
the utility, they have to link up. How do they isolate the jewels? You don't even
have to, the jewels will come to you.
Well it's of probably not that important when there's not going to be an
on the other side but you know trying to push out some of those positions so we're gonna go for
a pounce round long here on both sides. It's a very deep flash and behind two of the players yeah
you want to get out of there a lot of people at the SU don't actually have to. I'm gonna call
fighting. Yeah it's gonna keep going. I love it. It does work out. It's okay it's all fine in the end
a little bit scary but only one player goes down. Seven three, full eco on this one no
Kevlar, no nades, no upgraded pistol. It's very unlikely he finds a double kill here.
30 seconds though, that is one thing going in their favor. Maybe there's a world
with all three players coming out of long. If they can find a bit of chaos here,
and there is, I suppose, a chance. Yeah, I'm already nervous here. 5-7 there's the first one.
USB on the follow-up, you know what? It's a pretty good round, right? They get a couple of kills for
So they put an exhausting fight at long that is five in a row now after losing the pistol. We are all tied up
Futs are now sweating this felt like
The red carpet into the semi-final a map your opponent doesn't even play
They've never even won it with this lineup before they've played it twice and lost both times you get eight rounds on your t-side
Which as I said is a death sentence
No team should be recovering from that especially a team
there's not strong on the map and you've let them back into it with some silly plays.
The fundamentals weren't there in the advances you had when you were talking the advantage
towards underpass when you had the weapons against the tech nines.
You've given up a rifle for free.
Then in the three on two, you've peaked monster for no rhyme or reason at all and let them
into the B-bombside around collapses.
You have no one but yourself to blame right now for this position you found yourself in.
Sure, you're still on the CT side.
You now have a full buy.
It should still be fine, but no way should they have 5 rounds in a row at this stage.
I mean that's a perfect summary of how we got to where we are right now, but we've got
to show something more.
I'm expecting a boost on the other side perhaps.
Cemetery, not gonna get it, but I love the thought anyway.
Yeah, wait here to see if anyone's gonna be showing up.
They're taking these rounds, very similar openings all the time, which is, I mean, it's
It's an all-time classic anyway on the T side of Overpass, the 4-1 split.
Well, I guess 1-1-3 if you want to be super technical about it.
You sent the older one.
I would like to be super technical.
You do like that.
It's good to be completely accurate.
Let's have a look.
Very important rounds here.
If Bates somehow take the lead after being then 8-4 and losing the pistol,
I'm not sure, 4 or a cover.
We've said it a few times, we're known to be closers and right now they're choking.
Yeah, there you are.
On a map where they have the advantage, I think it's going their way, cemetery.
That's good intelligence, you know, the observatory towards A.
That's a good point, yes.
Kansas all gets to live.
Time is not on their side, though.
Yeah.
30 seconds and you're just about to try and make your way towards B.
Incendiary drop, that's at least five seconds you won't be pushing through.
through and if God's flashbangs well it comes a peek this is deadly beam and wide
swing with a lot of money the one launches back here trying to buy some
time behind the barrels he's shut down as well that's not bad all right you see
just step up here sent fuel cemetery actually the one to do the job instead
you okay that's right there and that will be enough my god I suppose wasn't clean
wasn't comfortable but by virtue of the clock there's no way to kenzie's or can
even imagine going for this one there's a human rubble that remains by the monster
tunnel it's actually a rat so longs in that barrel's position none of none of
them are CT's that have helmets and normally we don't care about that because
they're against AK's but he got shot for the wall in the head it's one of the
rare times so he gets gushed yeah where it actually makes a bit of a difference
that there's no CT helmet so probably not what made any real difference there
but it is fine I think about the problem is Anders let's have a look back at the
round timeline here the rounds have been relatively close are any surviving
two players each time. They have no loss bonus established whatsoever. They have the previous
round where only two players survive. Now they bring an AK over into this one, but my point being
you'll have a buy here, lose this round, it's 11-9, you'll get $1,900 into the next round.
So this is the moment where it's decided if Foots will close this out cleanly, no problem at all,
or if there's something left to be said here, you can see they're entering with a couple of
the Galils there. AWP for Sizi is great. They have to save AK, which is a saving grace.
But you have to win this round. If you'll bait, tie things up. Shut down your opponent's
money. Otherwise, it's cartons for them here at PGO Book Rest.
Okay, I'm glad you painted that picture. The economic forecast here for baits, you have
to score off the rails. It's just not going to end good.
You don't have the firepower, right? It's downstairs to those Galils. And there are
two players at our helmets. We always keep track of, so the Galils could have some potency
CZ AWP has looked very good here on the T side of the pass finding influential pics
Krobenny has been aggressive throughout their overpass campaign finding himself
by the T steps and Zoridzeb can't find the shot opening advantage now means they
have to go B and there's no two ways about it they know they're gonna be
backstabbed at this point while he's still aggressive he might have all heard
this is very dangerous if he dies it opens up the map but he's done one more
kill he's done very well risky but this time there is a big payoff at the end
massively aggressive but if you get super one you get into there's another
player there in towards T spawn worth its weight in gold here we've stressed the
importance of round number 20 here on the finances of baits longs will hear
them towards long he might be able to get a free kill out of this one he knows
he can't just run into war day he's got a free kill a free backstab the bombers
in T spawn. They're picking it up right now. Lawrence is going to get to put it out there.
Where do you even go? You've got nowhere to go. You have to hope a cent. You'll get this
killed quickly and you can just run knife out in towards A. We've talked about the fundamentals.
It's up to foot. The throw is round the way now. They've done that a couple of times on
the second half. You can even not then plant the barn. That sounds crazy, but you can even
miss a shot here. Let them plant and win the four on two. Okay. Well, let's see. Cemetery.
You've missed a shot. Yeah. There's some damage to Sissy, but doesn't quite kill him.
12 seconds now, peeps into it, misses another one, is Sentiel hunting them down!
Back into a two on two, bomb being attempted on the other side, is Sentiel landing a third,
and seconding headshot, juke's us out of the round and demon, he wants to hunt him down,
in the smoke, he knows he's in there, he's got nine bullets.
But already Sentiel is relocated, oh this is a big mind game for him, so smart as Sentiel,
he's got to spray down the quad kill and the clutch, he might have saved this map for bait.
A four versus two, we said if the shot was missed there should be protocols in place.
Let them plant the bomb, don't overcommit but unfortunately they go wide swinging into it.
Hearing game leader Krobeni set you up a success here, huge advantage, all the information, no time available, this kill here, you've got a four on two, that's it.
This is not required for long to kill, he's trying to save the AWPer.
I think you let him go down here, you attempt to retake that with a massive advantage but you've given them...
The game here. You've led them back in. We talked about the financial ramifications if you just close that round out and they've absolutely thumbled it.
One missed shot from the AWP has let bait back into this one. Crazy round to give up. Pressure getting to them.
A lot of mistakes presented here on overpass from Foots. And now they'll take the tactical timeout, discuss their options.
their finance is not great either.
Did they save any weapons in the previous? No, they did not.
So right now I can see a Krebbeny M4, but like I said, if there's win that round, it's GG.
There would be no way back into a debate.
Oh man, the desk are going to have a lot of rounds to think about, to highlight where,
like you've been saying, foot, they could have just wanted, it would have been fine,
and then we're already there.
Almost unforgivable that you give that round over.
Yeah. Well, add it to the list. The matches paused at 10-10.
It's that wide swing from long as well. Not so unnecessary.
Well, it was. It's been happening more and more.
Because he'd already molotov the bombsite at a default spot.
Leg Europa go down. I know that's crazy to say, but you've delayed the plans.
They had like 12 seconds to work again, and they were taking these fights.
It would have been an uncomfortable plan. You wait for your teammates.
The shot's been missed, Sematri's turned that to himself, he's going down.
That's already happened, but Long's trying to over commit to the fight might have cost
him the map here, because they'll be entering with, let's see if it's a 4-spy, it's not.
So a hero M4, partial investment otherwise, as we enter round number 21, this was 8-4
on the T side for Foots.
They have picked up two rounds, one of which was the pistol, they should have been converting
that previous as well.
The good news is I suppose, no one survived on the bait side of the previous round.
If you do somehow win it, they're back to $1400 lost.
Yeah, so the money's still in the shoe for baits.
So, the thing is though, they are very likely to win it against four pistols and a Hero
M4.
Lots of boosts you can do on overpass and we're going to see one of them right now.
This is an old classic and there's I believe one of your favorites.
One of my favorites.
It's actually one of the boosts I hate the most Henry.
Yeah.
because I spend a lot of time coming up with this
and you know who did it?
Like one day published it before I did.
Shroud of all people.
Shroud now.
I haven't, like, why?
Why is he doing that?
Well, it'll always be the Anders' boost in my heart.
I can't claim it.
I wish, if I got the first to publish it, I'd claim it,
but it's the Shroud boost, I guess.
Whatever, enough.
So the gimmick play, the poi, no one home.
It's gonna be that A-split,
slow and steady, confirming the connect up.
It's indeed clear that boost will not be doing anything.
They'll dismount.
Time has been a bit of an issue for Bates.
Been a few scrambles into these bomb sites,
but they're setting up the execution now.
One man, uh-oh, good work.
Good cover from Ascentheal.
Could have been a double kill,
but the backstab's coming in from long.
Should shut this one down.
I'm clearly trying to do anything
without all of the informed.
That was the real weapon that they handed around.
A real moment of horror when they double swing that position and it didn't look like the T's were quite ready.
But they do hold on, everything is fine, they're going to be up to 11. Bait in the lead now on Overpass.
A map, just to reiterate, they've got 24 rounds on this map in the last three months.
They've only played the map twice and got bodied. I think it was one of them.
Admittedly, losing a few rounds on this map, not the end of the World Fury, very good on this map.
And this is one of the practice.
practice. I know we're talking a lot about the money right now, but it's the
real trade now. We're having four players survive there, and it's not so much
compensation. Even if you lose this next round, you're going to be fully equipped
going forward. And we'll be the final tactical time ahead for Foots. Trying to
dig their heels in here on the CT side, but unfortunately, too many mistakes,
too many thrown advantages. I hate to say it, but they are choking the CT side.
Very nice play from Bates, running away with those opportunities, converting to
Two on four situations.
Can't believe it.
Just can't believe it.
And there's a stats on screen right now.
Zero wins.
They've played it twice.
Never won the map.
How are foot only got two rounds on the CT side?
One of which was a pistol.
And one of which...
And that was the round.
And that second round, that's where Krebbenny got.
But the clock ran out.
Or Gages in towards that lower or connector area.
Things this way.
Very wrong since then. Our wall bang at the starts. 5 on 4, Longs goes down. This is unraveling
at the seams for foots. Mirage looking likely now. That's some real thing to say, all things
considered. That's so unreasonable. The round starts with Longs. I'd love to see the camera
of him and his reaction to it. I'm dead. I think he was going for the counter wall bang.
There's a line-up he could do there. You jump on the sandbag and you can spam towards
sure as they're coming through. Yeah. That's what I assume he was going for. And yeah,
he gets punished for it.
They're out long pretty quickly.
Krabini's the one who's going to be up in the A bomb site.
When he spots them though, got to be careful as well. There's no up back there.
He's very, very calm and calculated from baits. Happy to run the clock down. I've
opted for a four-man attack from Long with the cover of Sizi and the AWP.
Bear in mind he's got the bomb in his back and, oh, lucky to be alive.
Krabani will drop the incendiary, try and slow them down, but they're not gonna respect it.
Wow. Not gonna respect it at all. That should be round five on three, map point.
What are we witnessing? They look so defeated, Pete, on this map. They look like they were
gone and out of it. And eight, four first half, it was misery on the opening. Couldn't defend
any part of the map really when the cells are on the CT side, but now they look revitalized.
Asentheal with 19 kills, Kensesaw with 20.
And now they're on the hunt.
Asentheal will find the first of three.
If he got anything left in the tank, he better believe he does.
Oh my god.
Going for the hat trick here.
Already got three kills to his name.
Can he close things out?
The grenade might even touch the demon here.
It actually hurts him significantly.
Not happy with three.
He wants all four.
And there we have it.
Bates will wipe the board here and find map point. This is unbelievable.
They'll have maximum loss bonus, nothing saved and foot.
So many opportunities to close this game out, so many advantageous positions,
but Bates have pulled the rug from underneath them.
Yeah, he was okay. He was going for that stab lineup.
Well, this, I suppose, is the other side of the coin.
When you try one of these prize vetoes, you sneak in a map that nobody was expecting.
And then suddenly you discover, well, wait a minute, we maybe not the strongest on this map either.
We've got some holes in our defense.
But they were A4 on the T side and win the pistol.
Yeah, that is true, and they have...
It's crazy.
They've undermined themselves with some of the previous rounds.
Your morale is gonna be in the gutter after this one.
How you gave this game up, I will never know.
And now we can have the conversation about whether or not, you know, Mirage is the third map.
You're right there. Analyst Eskiger gonna have a plethora of rounds to talk about.
Whether there's enough time to uncover them all on the rounds and advances they gave away is yet to be seen
I can think of three or four off the top of my head. It is ten to twelve Henry
It's not over yet. We're maybe getting a bit out of ourselves. Go to be careful here
This should be an easy round a weaponry there on the CT side. It's not very impressive
They're setting up outside of the monster tunnel another smoke flows down from the CT side
Dukes just taking a peek but that's a lot of the CT utility that was left is
already used. I think Dukes has 1 HE on the B bombs and that's it.
Cemetery though is running in with the last smoke so he's coming just let's see
if he can get it down in time. That smoke could be everything just like in the
first half. You get the timing down right maybe it's fine. They're on the other side
35 seconds. It's smoke. Smoke shows up. It goes pretty shallow. They're running
right through into the meat grinder on the other side.
It's a lot of damage, demon with a double
and cemetery, he can't find the bullets.
Anything would have done it
as they would have been dead immediately,
but he can't land it.
Hedge shot through the smoke though
and sees these out of the round and can't store.
Right.
Yeah.
Fundamentals here boys, play together.
They haven't been able to do that all half long,
but you're right.
They gotta wait for it here.
Longs, very passive.
He's got no chance here.
That's the fundamentals we're hoping for.
They'll get another round, but one step closer to overtime.
Yeah, absolutely right.
In the nick of time, they arrive on the server
here on the CT side.
Absolute calamity from Foots on their defense,
but that's around.
They convert comfortably.
Bear in mind, we mentioned that the finance is no longer
a problem, even if I've got a loss bonus,
they come in fully equipped.
AWP recovered, AK-47 as well, so FOOT will have everything they need to take it to overtime.
The fact we're even having a conversation though, that they're playing for overtime.
On a map like Overpass where you post that many rounds is just kind of unbelievable.
Now that's how it looks, once the smoke goes down, it defies explanation at the moment.
One more round here, FOOT, they would be in love with a few more.
like you pointed out the mental game of this if you lose the surprise pick that
you're the giant lead on and then you have to go in and play Mirage which
again is a great home map for baits but they're into that they're going to be
very excited would have been a very different story you posted the A4
scoreline in the CT half that's pretty powerful the course we we wouldn't
really be talking too much about it nope that is on the T side that's the
the biggest factor here. That's actually a really cool arc for the Molotov to land
way down at the bottom of Connector. If that helps that MPL, if anyone was there, they
would have been forced forward and it was thrown from the balloons. That's kind of cool. Classic
crossfire in towards the bathrooms here from Cabernet and Longs. Now, they shouldn't be
walking into this lineup that Cemetery's got, right? They should be flashing this one out.
It's such a common position with the AWP, but they've got to get past this first or they
Alex opens up. Frank comes in from Kensa-Saw and now Sementree alone.
They need to line up for the double.
Oh!
That takes down Kensa-Saw. Is it enough to get this one into O2?
No. He's baited out on this one. Sizi hunts him down with a Tech 9, 2 vs 2.
Oh, Demon, he might just have it here. 25 seconds. Another one for the...
Oh!
Sage them. The celebrations are in and overtime is going to be in effect.
It wasn't clean. It was by no means pretty, but foots have done enough to get a reset at least whether they deserve it
It's another question entirely, but
They managed to get it to overtime two rounds posted at the end
The all-percentetry saving the day here was an opening five on four
Look what they were done for here this kill the second frag. Kendi's all finds it. We're going to a third
Cemetery holds his nerves and we go into overtime a mental reset
that will raise morale you know you're back into this one you're on the CT side
let's let's look for a 2-1 here that's let's try and show we actually can't
buy the CT half and it's an opening kill from Juge so you'll find Sizzy orb goes
down early nice grenade towards shore there was no early smoke from the CT
side I wonder if that's completely you it's made Sizzy think something else like
I'm really confused Alex trying to go for a bit of a spray gets grenade in return
damage or the damage he just wants to throw that same grenade that they were
throwing against him yeah but doesn't have the same effects
really we've been talking about quite a bit and he's been very aggressive you
brought it up multiple times and if you look at him again he's on a bit of a
mission one more time and I don't mind it but don't push further than this would
be my recommendation. Well he's taking you up on that bomb on the ground. I don't know
how you get back in this round, he abates. Now you've done enough. No one needs to make
any crazy maneuvers, let them have the bomb site, you've got the bomb and T spawn and
there's no one has to commit to any fights here. Turtle up. Yeah. Say together. Looking
much better now. Krobeni single handedly wins a round with that nice aggressive maneuver
But not too aggressive was the point there. Yeah
Doesn't go all the way in a T spawn doesn't go further than that. They've got the lead once more 13 to 12 a
Wake-up call perhaps here on overpass
They've managed to crawl across the finish line of regulation to get us to overtime
It's all the way back here
You're gonna be so surprised when you run into Caribbean this position. Yeah, why is he back here?
He was just holding the bomb on the inside nice round triple get those AKs
very nice round that's more like it more of the timeouts still quite curious
about the first kill on CZ because it's tradition to throw the smoke into the
the monster tunnel every time and as far as I could tell there was no smoke in
the monster from the CT side and maybe that's how I think CZ dies right
outside of it so maybe that was just a bit of a mental error on his part maybe
it was part of an elaborate plan for foot regardless they are now in the lead
again in overtime first team to 15 well 16 but you're right I like what you did
that subversive expectations I'll be honest with you know numbers just don't
do it leave the numbers to me on this I guess thank you right let's see there's
That's the Smokin Monster tunnel.
Oh, he really did. Right, let's lock it.
Let's go.
Shot him in the foot.
He's down to 17.
There we go. There's the numbers. Now I've got it.
Now I'm on top of my game.
Lots of damage inflicted.
Looking much more promising here at the start for foot.
We're not seeing any wild maneuvers.
Wild maneuvers and I think that was by virtue of them having such a great start
They were going for the disrespect plays. They were trying to
Drive the the point home that the better team perhaps put their foot on the throat of their opposition very nice. Take it up a shot
Yes
Keep going Alex. He wants to punch this one down and he will be successful
I really knew he was in a little bit of trouble so he threw down the smoke
But they were already on top of him, but maybe you're right that would that could have been the mentality coming in for foot here
Saying which great start. It's our map. You guys don't really know how to play it
We're gonna crush you with a lot of aggression and it just didn't work out
Well, I mean it did it was the
The buddy four on Tuesday couldn't convert. They're the opening aggression was actually fine
Okay, it was it was the basic fundamentals that let them down towards the end of these rounds
But that's a different point entirely as we get into the dying stages here a round of a two of the opening half of overtime looking for 1412
Smoke with them hiding before
What a sequence that happened so fast. He couldn't have got the spray any better if you try it is
Come for Alex now
Fundamentals like you said
I could hear you losing your mind Henry, you know the backstab was always there
It was gonna be fine either way and we go to and zero and finally they've shown us they they can play the CT side of
Overpasses looking very promising now
Great set up there from Longs. Can't ask much more than that.
Cemetery to find the open-nose. A five-four disadvantage there in mind as well.
Opening kill is there for Bates. And then Longs set up towards the bathroom.
His teammate, the key detail there, has kept firing off all shots as well.
Spanning smokes. Trying to suggest they were holding defense through on the bomb site.
They walk straight past him as they've missed a bit of utile.
But still, doesn't seem to matter too much. Opening kill, that does matter.
Cemetery should be hitting that all day long. He knows it.
They want to put the pressure on. They're actually moving through the smoke to catch him.
That's more like it.
That's too much.
Kenzo saw. He thought he had him weak. He missed that shot. He missed the utility.
Thought I'm going to hunt him down through the smoke.
Oh, my God, you didn't feel comfortable, but he gets the job done. Five on two. You're
round to lose, Furtz.
The bomb is still really far back. I mean, you have times you can look for a kill and
still go back, but you found an opening. You couldn't really just jump on it.
Nice shot from CZ, but it is way too late in the round.
Where was this in regulation?
I don't know.
Where was this level of gameplay?
They just weren't feeling it, I guess.
Very, very different.
I mean, I guess when you lose that big of a lead
and you're playing the CTs out of Opus,
that will make everyone focus up.
For sure.
They're all gonna be ready now.
Well, scheduling fans will be appreciative of the 2-0 here.
been a long day we have one more game to go it's a banger as well mongols versus
paravision which could go the distance let's be honest 50 rounds in the first
map yesterday for paravision that was a crazy game a real slobber knock up is
the booster essential take down seven tree they need three in a row here to get
this one up into the blue tee otherwise they're gonna get knocked out of the
tournament and it will be foot instead to go to the semi-finals he's up here
Oh, and he's got shut down MPL. There we go a double for him this round. It's already washed away
You've spit of a spray longs now put into action
It's gonna say longs does enjoy a clutch
But that one a little bit out of his reach if he gets that third kill
Maybe he was on the something the two remaining players were over towards the a bomb side, but that's cool time
I has been called now
Surely Alex is not gonna get double native again
surely not. If I'm the T-shutter foot right now, I'm calling a set piece. I'm
saying that we've got an opportunity here to go for the knockout blow. Let's just go
with something simple. They're going to be hyper aggressive across the map. Why don't
we just go for the out of the spawn, be execution, get a bomb planted. That's what
I'd like to see. Let's keep it simple. Let's try and apply that
pressure, force out a clutch situation, but we'll see what they opt to go for
here second round of the second half of overtime as Anders mentioned its first
16 almost mentioned that you must as you get into a chance to have a paper
they're on the CT side their CT performance was not great in regulation
but they got the wake-up call as well they got warmed up here on overpass we'll
see whether they can actually deliver the goods and post a 3-0 themselves still
very possible
Going for the motions early on, clearing out the connector.
Demon there with Molotov. Molotov on the other side, so...
Krabini is throwing that one down.
Very far back on the map here, bait. Unlike where Krabini was pushing all the time.
Bait much more of a passive setup.
He's smoking monster.
Alex in the position. Oh, I think I'm gonna need him again.
Okay, he's a little bit... Maybe he's there a second ago.
That is very nice timing. He's gonna be so happy. He's low on his last zone.
Okay, well they cleared out all the map they need to go for this BX.
You said you wanted more of a set piece. Now they've gone through the fundamentals.
Yep. They've beat it out some utility. CTs starved of information, but they're gonna flash over what a flash it is.
But we cemetery do open things up, paint it into a corner, cemetery will get the double.
That's the cue now to make their way out towards Mondays.
It's enough, and this is where they close things out.
Man advantage.
Nice shot from Duke, since he's already low.
He will go down as well.
Gotta be Gigi.
Headshot.
It surely is.
30 seconds.
Sizi back here.
The bomb's on the other side.
They're gonna plant on A.
They're just leaving Duke's down here on 2 health.
If they want already winning, this is such a shutdown.
This is, yeah, and they've also got to cut off the rotation as well.
Yeah.
Oh, this is everything.
It's shot in the back of the head.
Probeena takes the kill and Foot marching into the semi-final here in Bucharest.
Okay, it is fantastic news for them. They are making the semi-finals.
That's a big move for this team. However, we do also have to be realistic and discuss what we just saw.
There was a very real world where they lost that map,
and it's concerning some of the holes that we saw in Foot's gameplay.
That CT side was as stupid as all of them having a number 10 on the back of their jersey.
What is that about?
That's what I was saying the whole season side.
What is this about?
I'm kind of tilted, to be honest.
Good for them to win, but they're not beating the allegation
of kind of being hard to...
struggling to close out.
Yeah, the second half was riddled with that.
The guys we're talking about on the cast,
about how many rounds we would have to go through.
There will be like six in the second half alone,
where the game should have been over at like 13-4, 13-6,
whatever it would have been at that point, you know, so so many four weeks to be forwards thrown away
You know after they've set themselves up for success in the first half with such a big T side
Just kind of a big wake-up call for foot with anything, you know, obviously great that they ended up closing it
But there's definitely going to be a conversation after this again. I don't want to I want to be clear
I don't think that anything that happened in the city side is like all baits surprise them because we don't have tape on them
If this is simply foot being in great positions and throwing it away and also crab any like
Bro the position underpass doesn't mean you need to go all the way to the end of underpass
You're a city side player you can you know be there for a bit and then fall back
Why is he three three four times in this half on the edge of in T spawn?
You don't need to be in T spawn like the first round that they lose to make this comeback even possible
It's 9-4 so they win the first half amazing win the pistol
They have a full buy preventing on them for solo and underpass gets a dual
The dual doesn't go either way. He's like now I'm going all the way in of course dies
Donates them for and then the comeback starts that kind of round we're talking about oh, maybe they can go to Navi
That's gonna get you in like in jail
We'll put you in in jail for a month after that kind of around that's the one talk to you for for three weeks
I think that was yeah
But I'm curious, do you think that this team, they are very young, they're somewhat inexperienced?
Almost lucky to have had this happen against Bates, who also is a bit inexperienced
because I worry against stronger opposition, they would have been punished so fast for that.
We've seen that in the past, you know, when they've thrown away some of these leads
and that's when they lose these maps like this, you know, where they don't take the opportunity
to close it as fast as they possibly can, right?
And so this will definitely cost them, this has cost them in the past several times, you know, as I think against Miles where they had a massive, I think it might have been over the past, I can't remember now, which map it was, but it was something like 12-3, they were leading and they ended up losing the map from there, you know, like 9 rounds straight.
So, yes, better teams will definitely punish them and that's something that they're going to have to fix or make sure that doesn't happen again, because next round they are playing one of the top teams, they're playing a parry vision or the mongol.
Okay so here's my next question and I suppose if you knew the answer you would
have Krulio's job but why do you think they're doing this time and time again?
I mean this game really felt like they're just trying to kind of show off a bit
and everything was going so smoothly for them and at some point it felt like a
deathmatch you know along so just you know going out there finding some duels
killing there's someone else to trade there everything looked so easy but I
I don't know, aside from that, I think it's just like an ego, a bit of an ego in this particular game that costs them the sharpness that, for example, on the pistol round you're like, oh, look at this, they're falling back and then they're retaking as a team and then the next round it's like, one guy just goes completely off and is trying to be like closing out the round.
I mean, this is it. This is the round that you see how many little duels Krabani takes here. Like, why does he need to go so deep? And then he gives away, that's the first kill in the round, right?
They're trading out on the bombsite now. It's a 4v2 and it's like, okay. Well, now this is a huge advantage for Bathe and they win the round. What else to add here?
But why is he alone there in the first place? Because his teammate was like back to where he went back to the bombsite. He's literally left alone against pistols and so like if they swarm you, that's a gun.
That's a gun. That's a gun donated or whatever.
So in a sense, I understand why he then felt like he needed to push,
because he needed to play for himself, because he could have been getting pushed from upstairs as well.
He had no idea what the information was there, but then, just don't be there in the first place.
Just play it back, play the anti-Eco, because it's a forced buy.
But play it together.
Play it to the advantage of having a teammate with you, play the crossfires, overpass.
You have so many opportunities to fall back, wait for your teammates, wait for the anti-flashes,
all that stuff. That's why it's such a heavily seated-sided map. Don't do that against pistols like
it's just so unnecessary. One of many examples that we have. We don't have time to get through all
the examples though because Pala is with the footplayers now. Let's hear what they have to say.
Thank you guys. Yes, I'm down on the floor with louse of Fert. Congratulations on making it through
to the semi-finals. Can I get your feelings? How is that? How does that sound? I mean it feels good,
But I can't be too excited about it, because we talked about it, we kind of expected these results, right?
So we want to take it one by one and see where we can end up, right?
Because, I mean, yeah, after we beat Paris Vision, and it is for me, I think it's pretty clear what I want from this tournament.
Longs, is the Romania buff real? Tell us.
I mean, yes, but I see now it applies to the team, because today I had an off-game completely, mentally and individually on the server.
I was not there, but the team got it, so I'm happy. I'm really happy.
Is that considered by yourself a poor performance in what way?
I mean, I felt I lost many duels. I think mentally I crumbled again in some specific situations where I shouldn't.
Especially in the situations where I lost a lot of endules or I died just stupidly through a smoke or in some random scenario.
I shouldn't get affected by it, but I think that's what I need to work on right now.
I feel that's a very self-critical way of seeing things, because at least from an outside perspective,
it looked like everybody was pulling their weight at times, including yourself.
Yeah, I mean, of course, I pulled myself out of the trenches, if I can say it like that, but
it's not enough. I feel I didn't do enough. I feel I let my team down again today
on a mental way, which is not good, because that's one of my strong points. So yeah,
I just need to work on it and keep it on a constant level.
Great thoughts. Let's quickly go through the map. You managed to win on Bates pick, but it didn't start so strongly.
You only got five CT rounds, but then you guys really came together on that second half on the T side. What happened?
I mean, I feel on the CT side, everything started being a bit bad after we lost that eco.
Of course, I'm not sure what it was, but I think after we lost that round, we kind of got in our head again.
over thinking what they're going to do and in many situations I feel we kind of had a good call,
we knew what they're doing most of the time but yeah it's just over thinking some situations by
each individual and yeah. Then we go into Overpass and the script was sort of flipped,
you started with eight T rounds but then going to the second half you only got three CT rounds,
what happened there on Overpass? Well I feel like I think that's the thing, I feel again it's the
mentality. I feel we lost some bad rounds. Again, we lost the advantage rounds. We lost some
impossible rounds, but you know, it's a game. Anything can happen, right? But yeah, I think that
was the biggest flaw of us today. It was the mental game because we had good preparation and when
we could play our game and be normal, we did what we do best and that's winning. Awesome. Well,
Lance, couple more questions before I let you go. So you've got the win now. You're playing
Mongols or Paravision? What are your thoughts on the potential semi-final matchup ahead?
I mean to be honest I would like to play Mongols not because I don't want to play
Paravision I think it would be a good matchup to play Paravision but I never
played Mongols in my life and I would like to play them so yeah I'm excited for
the semi-finals I think it's great opponents for the team so I think it
would be a good game indeed. Awesome. Lounx always a pleasure to chat. I had one
final wild card question. I don't know if you've ever seen the old sort of viral
very well-known video of the CS player Shox, the French player, where he's talking about
five fingers on one hand. Do you know the video?
Yes, of course.
What about for you guys the five toes on the one foot?
I mean, you can call it like that, I guess, yeah. I don't expect it, but yeah, you can
call it like that.
All right, great to know. I just wanted to run it by you. All right, Lax, anything that
you'd like to say to the fans watching at home before I let you go?
Keep watching, guys. I don't want to say anything because I might jinx it, but keep watching.
Real Dorbis and maybe we'll win the tournament.
Well, we will indeed keep watching. Congratulations once again on making it through to the semis.
I can't deal with all the foot puns.
I'm kind of sad that day one, just because of that, to be honest.
We were going to struggle through another day of that.
Get out of nowhere, that one. That one is a bit more elaborate.
There's some layers.
There's historic references.
Shout out to Sharks one time. Great guy, great player.
I'm so tired of it all.
So yeah, they're through, we're gonna deal with them even more tomorrow.
I mean, I also like the confidence of being young, you know, going, well,
the mental game wasn't great, but we won.
But that's it.
I don't want to jinx it, but maybe we'll do it.
Well, I mean, also good for him.
I mean, acknowledging that he didn't play a great game.
He didn't play a horrible game.
He had some good moments, but definitely I would put it on a team collapse
and some like team setups more so than him personally.
I don't really think Overpass was his bad map in any way.
I would definitely see some other players making some weird moves that ended up costing them more so than
obviously if Long gets three kills and around then you just win, but you can't really expect that every time.
Yeah, I think that just speak to the youth of this team, you know, because the mental game is something that they've spoken about several times, you know,
but it's going to take them a little bit more to get over some of these situations, you know, because we have seen it time and time and time again.
If you had an older, more experienced player in that interview, they would have been like,
they were some problems and overpassed.
But the youngsters are like, we won, we're into the semi-finals.
And to be fair to them, that is all that matters.
That's exactly what has happened.
There is one more spot remaining.
I would say it's the blockbuster game of the day, coming up next.
Paravision, up against Mongols, don't go anywhere.
I
Won't play window anymore
Not trapped at a desk in one singular posture for 12 hours a day.
It's time your chair evolved.
This is Secret Lab Titan Evo.
Ergonomically engineered for you.
Gamers.
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You're gonna die.
No!
Nice!
I'm never going to not win that Jorco one man, that was so hard.
We saw that live and we were all just speechless after that one.
Love diary, like really committed to it like that.
Anyway, welcome back to PGL Booker Race, it's the quarterfinals and ParaVision is up against
Mongols.
We have so much to discuss when it comes to ParaVision and it's all thanks to them really
because they were very open yesterday. Dastan was here on the couch sharing so much.
James went and did an interview with HLTV, also shared a lot. So I want to start with the conversation
around power vision plays better against better teams. Obviously Dastan and James have touched
on this, but the reason I wanted to speak about it is because I think this is actually a bigger
conversation at the moment in competitive Counter-Strike. We've seen it with FaZe. We saw it today
with a lot of these underdogs getting rounds unexpectedly, this is something that is going
to have to change for these teams that are used to playing the more experienced teams because
now with VRS you never know when you are going to find yourself at a tiny land having to fight
for points. Yeah I mean this is a team that's generally been playing up to the level of their
opposition all throughout their history or even since they entered the tier one circuit really
because they enter the season with a bounty that they end up winning, and from there it
just goes up and down, up and down, no matter who they play, they effectively play up the
same score line. We saw one of the explanations from James was that whenever they play the
top teams, it is more what they expect, it is more readable of what they're going to expect
as opposed to the lower tier teams, they just do sometimes things that they're not prepared for.
right? That makes sense, but I do think it's also kind of a byproduct of their
playstyle in general because because Paravigian is very reactionary in how
they play and kind of play up play to their opponents in terms of pace as
well sometimes you know so it's just it's something that they can't seem to
get over really it's it doesn't necessarily matter I think we have a
graphic as well along the same same lines you know where the only difference
when they play up to their opposition in terms of round win is against the top
And the only reason for that top 5 number being different is Vitality.
Against everybody else, they effectively win half of the rounds they play.
You can see 50.4% against top 10 teams, 50.2 against top 20.
And no matter who they play, it's like 50.8%.
And it just tells you everything that you need to know about Paris
and them playing up to their opposition.
I mean, this is all, it's a cool storyline.
It's really nice to hear from Dastan, from James,
that the problems are kind of what we were presuming they were,
That's also kind of not an excuse, right?
It's a team that has won a big tournament this year,
has made another final,
and now they're here again as favorites.
They themselves are saying our goal was a playoffs
and they achieved that.
Okay, that's fine, but you need to be moving forward.
You need to be getting better at this.
This is kind of the part of being a competitor.
You can't always be the underdog.
And when these opportunities show up,
it's like, let's make the most of it.
I think this is where this Paradise and team
we'll kind of make and break, make or break.
And Dustin has already alluded at that,
is like, we're going over the same mistakes
so many times, we're tired of it.
We can't really deal with this anymore.
I can't make player changes because the major is coming.
But after, yeah, that's on the cards as well.
I think James said this as well,
where he mentioned something along the lines of like,
well, sometimes when I call,
I don't know if they're gonna make mistakes.
And I was like, there is clearly a headache
that coach and IGL are having
with these young players and they are young and they are inexperienced. If you think about how
fast they've sort of risen up the ranks and become a team that we're talking about that is
meeting vitality in finals, it is a lot of pressure to put on such inexperienced players.
Yeah for sure and sometimes even though the round that Dustin was talking about yesterday that he
just wanted to somehow bring up we were looking at that round and we're like it is kind of harsh
to look at it that way because you know regardless of what if whether he did what Dustin suggested
if he would do, he could have died both ways, just as easy.
So he felt like, maybe you do need to lay low,
let him hit the lay back.
I think that just shows what, how
Paravision is as a team and Dastan and Jame
as the coach, IGL, do where the expectations are.
Like, what is considered a mistake
and to what degree it is criticized is huge.
You can't be allowed to make mistakes.
And I think, honestly, that one was so small,
but there are some moments where Nolta, where Zelo,
are giving away rounds and advantages in a way that's
unacceptable.
But now we move to Mongols, who, one,
were the team that used to upset these top teams
because of their erratic playstyle,
because a lot of top teams didn't
know how to deal with them.
They're also a lot more experienced now,
so they're going to punish those mistakes.
This could be really tough for Paravigion.
You don't think so, Stalker?
I mean, you're saying experience,
and they're going to punish those mistakes.
To be honest, they make a lot of the same mistakes.
They are a very dynamic team in the sense of, like,
they will just go for a play sometimes.
and it doesn't matter whether it actually makes sense on paper or not,
they will just be in your face a lot of the time, you know,
so that experience doesn't necessarily help them in a lot of situations.
For me, these are two teams that are obviously there in a similar ranking position
and similar results this year.
Obviously, supervision a bit better, but I think their approach is completely different.
I think Jayme and Dustin have this like we're bootcamping 160 days out of 170,
and we're at every tournament and we're working hard in the bootcamp
when we're arguing and we're yelling at each other,
or mostly the stun, it seems like.
I don't think the other way would be quite allowed.
But every time we talk about with Mongols,
it's like, did we practice?
Oh, we didn't really practice.
We didn't boot camp for a while.
We didn't do anything.
I was watching the other day, Blitz was streaming.
He was playing some game called Geek.
It's like a climbing co-op simulator or something.
He's just playing that with Holbrein.
I think Techno and some of the Mongolian guys,
they're just vibing.
Meanwhile, you could imagine your head just like cutting from that to where
Paravision is in their like bootcamp room just like why do you throw the smoke?
What is going on? You need to do you flash for me? You didn't communicate this in the end of sound is like
Why did you what did you do here?
And he's like, I don't know and there is like a hundred percent
Tension in the room while mongols are just like chilling. I mean at least mongols they were playing a game
So they were still doing a bootcamp with PCs. Yes, we know other teams have trapped
Let's talk about this on our screen right now, Jack.
Yeah, I just wanted to point out, you know, I feel this has gone kind of under the radar,
but Mongols have kind of slowly become one of the worst T side teams out of the top 20.
I mean, 40.5 percent, it is like the second worst after phase.
So that tells you kind of a lot about their two sides.
Yeah, exactly. And we were saying, we saw even the 5v4s, 4v5s, like, you know, these,
you know, these factors, they're effectively one of the worst teams.
And it is just down to, they are just very over exuberant, you know, if they're opening move,
doesn't really play out. The second guy will then try to make a play to make up for that,
but then they go down even further, you know, so a lot of the time they just kind of set themselves
up for failure on their two sides. Yeah, I mean, they lost Senzu obviously. Blitz is now taking the
most entry duels. Coppers here is doing some of it as well, but it's not to the same quality, I would
say, as Senzu had. That's without a doubt. He's a solid player, but it's not the same. I think we're
I think we're heading for the same thing.
Yeah, we're going then.
My notes were like hoping for Overpass Ancient maybe to be picked by at least someone, but no, it's Dust 2 and Mirage once again from Peravision.
They're showing it. Do you think that by doing this, if you are a top team watching who's maybe concerned about Peravision, you're very quickly seeing that their map pool is not exactly deep.
We're kind of in like a little splash pool at the moment.
I don't even know what to say about it. It's not like when they play these two maps that they're like fantastic.
Like every time they've been losing on them regular well in this tournament at least yeah
They've had quite a few losses on dust to amirage yesterday
We all know how that went like it was a victory, but it wasn't a pretty one
They got a lot of review out of that though. I
For rounds to go through that's that's a lot to turn to look at but it's like one of the things
James said in the interview as well. It's like it doesn't matter which map which opponent we can lose any round
any game at any point. It kind of doesn't really matter. I would think of it from a positive side,
it's okay if they played a lot of Dust2, therefore they're getting better on Dust2,
they're getting better on Mirage, but it's different things happening all the time.
I kind of noted that their T sides were looking super horrible, but then against Wildcard the
T sides were, I mean the CT sides were bad, but against Wildcard the CT side was fine,
the T side was more problematic. It's just new issues popping up because it is just about
individuals and the small details. We've seen three teams now, two of them take
Paravigion down on Dust2 and Mirage, one of them wild card for goodness sake.
There's like four and a half players in the server going so close with this team.
I think the half is generous to be honest sometimes. It's trying to be nice peeping,
but the Mongols is a very different level of team. I am concerned for Paravigion
and I don't know, should I beat them?
My kind of positive side, in terms of like,
oh yeah, Mongols looked better, but like their opposition was,
let me note, Wildcard, BC game, and iBallers, these are the three themes that they beat.
Number 102, number 71, and 36 on VRS coming into the tournament.
Like iBallers is like the most impressive win that they had so far,
and like half of these maps were like either super slow start,
but then they come back into it, or kind of close until the end.
till the end so it's not like Mongols did some amazing job so far either.
And they got slammed by Astralis in the one time that they did play one of the top teams
so yeah I'm nowhere near considering them anywhere near a favourite you know.
Okay so Henry, Anders, Striker and Prof have not had a nice thing to say about either teams.
I'm concerned, what is going on?
I was hoping for another game show to be honest with you but yeah we can get to the analysis as well.
I totally agree with the writers, I think both teams are looking shaky here.
Mongols for me. Yeah, they've got the results. They've had some good ones
towards the end of the group stages, but overall looking very shaky. I think
the same could be set for Parisian. Yeah, that's probably true. So the game
of who can make the least mistakes once again is my favorite game. I'm
glad we did a lot this time tonight. I'm still counting. Well, yeah, the way I
think we're gonna have some fireworks on the server and hopefully a very good
quarterfinal winner of this one goes on the plate. Foot's ladies and gentlemen,
buckle in because this could be a bumpy ride and a long one at that 54 rounds
played on Mirage yesterday against Wildcard.
Paravision always go the distance,
and they will be starting on the T side here.
Dust 2, it's an all-piz paradise.
And just to know, we have got Cobra Zera,
who's been fantastic on the secondary all.
I'm glad you bring that up.
That is, this is a map where that could be a really big factor.
Sello's going to be walking into the smoke there.
Old school Xbox smoke, no fancies on the door,
and they're moving right into MC Neal.
He's got the dualies of the corner,
but Squay will open up and get the first kill
the quarterfinals here on the side of ParryVision. And they slow it down. They're coming up long
at the same time. Belchinox just wiggling that corner trying to see if he could find a killer
yet somebody. Again, it's very disciplined right now. ParryVision, they're setting up both arms
of this attack, but it's also buying time. And 9-10, at least gets one. Smoke up towards CT spawn as
they jump across everything. Has gone according to plan here for ParryVision. No mistakes this
This time looks to be a clean and concise pistol round, three players survive and Cobra
Zera nothing he can do, you're thinking about the save of the dual elites already I'm afraid.
Hoping that a mistake is made but yeah that's going to be a nice A-split coming from Power
Vision, very clean opening kills towards Short, the players remaining on the A-bomb side being
pincet and Cobra Zera will not be saving the dualies, he'll give this one a look in and
yeah he's no longer this world as it will be a Power Vision.
nice opening pistol best way with four kills there. Very good. Something to
highlight. Oh go on I like this. So well this is a basic stand but I think it's
so impressive. So the Mongols they played this map three times or nine times
last three months. For paravision they played us to 25. They do love it out there.
That's an absurd amount. A lot of experience and it does have a lot of tape
available on this and we do know that paravision are polar opposites in terms
of the way they prep. Mongols don't even go to boot camp. They don't even bring a coach
to most tournaments. They just turn up and play.
They're apparently streaming peak in there.
Yeah. So, yeah, different ends of the spectrum here. But we do know that Mongols pack a punch.
I would say pound for pound in terms of mechanical skill. They've got power vision beats, but
we'll see if that's going to be replicated on the server today.
We are going to see a force buy from the Mongols. Talk about double orbs. I'd say about double
scout. There'll be 9, 10 and Blitz, firing off shots and connecting, at least towards
Zelo taking him down to 28 HP. That's how it starts. You get those scout body shots
in, it makes the vehicles much more powerful. There's a lot to work with so right now it's
just a Mach 10, not the end of the world. Some utility towards the catwalk here, Blitz
Revealing the other scouts. He does have some backup in Cobra Sierra who even has an HE
So after getting very close, I don't think you might have enough time to throw any grenades here
Okay, there we go around the corner. It's a really serviceable HE. It slowed them down. It's tagged them up a bit
They still have MCNEO on long and he has been really cool
I love watching him play if you can shut down the push from the Mac 10 and saw suddenly interesting geltion up's gone down
They'll find blitz though and now some backups needed
If you can see them senior try to get there with a deagle in time.
Oh!
First shot by the second is a straight banger.
Takes down Noether.
Twenty seconds now.
And unfortunately I think the scouting of the bomb on here is...
Oh! Wait a minute!
Techno's taking down James.
The bomb is planted, yes!
Paravision reeling a bit from this one.
They've taken way more damage than they wanted.
And those earlier scout shots could now come into effect again.
9-10, he just wanted the top of his head.
He can't land the shot though.
It's a low already.
I still get so they get it across the line here, but that's a scary round
Very scary indeed
Comes down to the two-on-two
Paravision players tantalizingly low Mongols knew it as well, but the round will not be converted
You're on the CT side. I think it'd be foolish to attempt another force by here even though you came so close to winning it
Two zero power vision should be the full eco, but that time will tell techno 4k will bring out the desert eagle
We've actually got three of them make it four as blitz will join them as well. So looking for those one deeks
Body blocking the smoke towards middle does give them a bit of vision
They are not
Immediately getting anything I like it was brought up on the desk this idea that at any given moment
They could lose a round like to anything on the Paravision side.
You can see how close it was in that last one.
Obviously fine when you win it.
But it speaks to the comfort on the scene.
So taking that vision away from middle, denying a push from short,
it will be a five man assault in towards the A bomb site from long.
You have to commit to this.
You've lost territory across the map now.
So no turning back at this point.
You will have to face off against the Desert Eagles.
It should be absolutely fine.
but let's find out.
Oh, might be the end of the ride here, Cobra gets one, but surely now with the bomb being planted in front of him
Should have no business. He doesn't have a kit as long as they wait
He can't easily get up here. Confirm that he's there. Jane will take him down. It's a pretty good triple
He got that kill for the smoke as well. It's another much more scary round than it should be
I mean if you're the mongols you're thinking well, he's done some damage. We've kept their economy a bit low. Absolutely
You invested into a few deagles. You managed to get three kills. You've kept power vision very humble
financially speaking. We talked about double orb setups on the CT side. That
won't be available to them just yet, but 9-10 will bring his out and looking
pretty strong overall in terms of their setup. But first going round coming in
here now as we enter round number four. Dust 2 entering that B bomb site. James
made a call out of spawn here looking for a B execution. There's a contact play.
Zelo to lead the charge here and take the 4K just playing for the information.
He's very careful his next jump, jame could take him.
They might be in trouble anyway, trying to rush it down, the flashbangs in the sky are just so good at techno.
He needs backup in the back of the bombsite.
Oh, it's a dink as well and now blitz running in.
A little bit one at a time here and jame jumps up on top of the box, they're gonna have to save this.
I like that lead.
Oh, they actually go back for it. They were running away.
Maybe they know that one of them is low.
The grenade not in the right corner there, no one's waiting.
Another smoke available for D'Orza which just goes down, makes this one so much more difficult.
You have no kits, you have an open arena take, I think you have to give this one up.
Really nice call though from game.
Textbook Dust 2 really, it's the first gun round they forced in the second,
they won't have that double orbs set up for sure.
Wait for your timing, wait for your opportunity.
There was no smoke down, he's the incendiary instead.
They flash over and it will be the Mongols called juggling grenades at the back
and unable to fend them off.
So you can see Leo could get some exits. He's hearing the steps.
Okay, they've set up the right side.
Yeah, maybe. Grenade in as well.
Belcher not dies to the bomb, and that's actually not bad at all.
So I have to say, both teams here, Henry, they love this heavy, upper-dark B-splits.
It's one of the things they love to do, especially the Mongols from there on the seaside.
They love doing the crisscross smokes, and then they do, essentially, what Caravision just did.
Yeah, this was one of our all-out B assaults with one player lurking towards middle.
He got found out, but the damage was already done, three on two advantage.
They considered going for it, and well, 9-10 considering his options towards middle.
He'll find in-game leader, Jame here, and give him the first advantage.
I think they've had so far here on Dust2.
Five versus four, and this is what it's all about, falling back, retreating.
Going back into a deep hole setup, now you have the man advantage.
I mean if 910 comes to play in this series that will change things significantly for the Mongols. He is a monster
He really is one of my favorite orpas to watch right now so consistent
Yeah, and that's the really important part. He hits all the flashy shots
But he'll always get you one or two on the shots
He has to land if he isn't for you watching at home one of your favorite job
But you haven't been watching enough you need to watch more 910. It's really cool. Nice
It's an HE on top
Got Basira at the back, by Goose, and it's a lot of bullets through here, and Selo just walking out in front.
He could have caught one of them off guard. He jumps down into CT spawn, and it's almost ready to take the fight there.
With the people in the B bomb site miles away, the bomb is back down in the middle here.
So they're going to try and turn this into a B attack while he's holding CT spawn.
Yeah, locking off those rotations will be key.
They seem to be very aware of this prospect. 9-10, there he is.
It's going to be Zello trying to leap out of spawn, but it has been found out and now with two players remaining.
You know the drill by now with Paravision, it's going to be a lovely long save.
Yes.
It makes sense under the circumstances of 2 vs 5.
But that will be more than four board.
All five players went down before. We talked about against those Deagles losing three players.
Oh yeah.
And then in the second round forced by lost three again, so money is going to be pretty much broken
They will get $1400 into the next round. That's what they have to save really
No criticism at all and that decision, but
Yeah, money will be very very low you decide to open the AK which will be enough and you'll be joined by I guess tech
Nines and some basic Kevlar barely any utility bear in mind no turner in his way
sure they save the weapons but you get no further cash. They'll take a tactical timeout here
and work out how they actually operate. Like they might have to even sacrifice the players
carefully to actually have a few grenades to work with in this following round.
So enough with this next round Henry, but in general, that catwalk position or short position
leading into the A bomb site, why is it important for the CTs to hold that right now in the current
meta? Like do they need to hold it? I guess another question is important. Do you want to see the
mongrels fight for this or can they relax in the A bomb site a bit more? I guess it depends. Like I
I like the CT aggression on Dust2 currently.
I like players getting in towards low or B.
I think there's really good viable options
of incendiary towards top or middle,
smoking it off, applying that pressure,
and disrupting the T side game.
Not allowing them to run their default strategies
is what it's all about for me.
And especially a team like PowerVision,
very regimented, very reactionary.
Not allowing them to have free reign of the map
and just go through the motions of the default.
I think that's gonna be crucial here
for the Mongols in the CT side.
So I'm going to keep in mind them, we'll see if they follow that idea.
Missed incendiary, not a big deal. This is going to be that 4 man B tunnel set up again, but bear in mind the bombs on the back of Nota.
So I don't think they finish up here. This will likely be a volley up towards Short through Lower B.
Let's have a look. Anything could happen.
Anything could happen.
Jame has got the AWPer, that's got me worried.
We taught about 9, 10 as an AWPer and he's definitely one of my favourite AWPer's to watch as well.
But Jame has got to be one of the smartest players in the scene.
Oh for sure.
And whenever you're in the server against him, like you can just, you can always tell by the people that play against him that
they're always a bit nervous, especially when he gets down into the clutches.
He's just got this aura around him.
So far, hasn't managed to find anything flashed out in the middle. He's got the right read, but I think Blitz is smartly disengaging from this one.
Bomb will join him towards upper B. James will be smoking off towards CT spawn.
Yeah.
Popping it open as Blitz should be able to get a bit of freebie here. There it is, takes down Noether and it's James now isolated.
top spot, his teammates don't take the opportunity to pounce towards that beat bombsite
hoping jame can find something, gets the intel on one
he knows he's got a window of time now to get close towards the bombsite
there it is, doesn't find the kill
missed opportunity, that cost them everything, yeah
they wanted to get through, they needed jame to open it up or they needed to be through
when they were already fighting glitz in the middle to begin with
nice shot from jame but it doesn't matter
they are all coming for him down the middle here
And no further casualties, the Mongols, slow start, but I mean now they're picking it up, they're stealing the AKs, they could even steal the other AWP I think, if they want it.
Just goes back to that point of every kill in Counter-Strike has a knock-on effect somewhere down the line.
The Deagle kills they found, those close rounds they managed to lose, sure, but they were close, means that there's absolutely no money left after that 4-spy.
zero impacts really there from ParaVision a chance now to really bolster the
defenses you've got AK's you've got the AWP and there you have against just
Glocks here so we'll go 4-3 for short and we are here on Dust2 the pick of
ParaVision where the Mongols waking up at 9-10 feeling himself as he goes with
that early information knowing there'll be no utility no Molotov down towards
shore he has free reign at the map. I want to overcook and we have got an
interesting boost there hoping a CT will push those double doors but why would
you and this sort of round you know there's nothing on the other side you're
the ones with rifles to lose it grenade and damage towards belch knock that's
up overall I can't even imagine a wild receipts considering that push right
now well we've been talking about it and the desk we're talking about it how
both these teams have made mistakes so far in the tournament and we want to see
those mistakes minimized and pushing into this definitely would be one of
those on the list and see those those downs actually some pretty good
glock shots coming up but they're gonna be careful in 910 yeah I'd say so
Jane if he's here I mean if he just stands up and gets a head shot there
the round is open again bomb being brought back this sway in the B bomb
site with just a glock and now he's flashed okay head shot they wanted to
be in the bomb back it's not easy holding it I suppose this all comes down
to blitz they've got an incendiary to flush him out of the car position they
stole that no armor though jame dies quick notar he's picked up the ak wants
to carry on the fight here see if you get the incendiary down in the corner
might not be easy smoke goes up preemptively so now you're not gonna be
doing much it's back here he got a cow this is getting weird now they had five
glocks there's no way you should be losing the five blocks over a zero he
He gets that one on cello and now it's noted with 10 seconds left, they're pulled from the catwalk.
There's one looking for the headshot, 5 seconds on the clock, makes the jump up, and send the area out.
He peeks into it! If he would have stood in the corner, he would have been fine, Henry!
What's on Earth is that? I assumed he thought he was going to be hunted down, knife out?
Or what? He thought he was going to burn alive in one second?
I have no idea why he peeks at angle.
That is an absolute horror show of a round for the Montblancers there.
Does the incendiary even land? No, it doesn't even connect.
Oh, no!
If he had just AFK'd in the corner, he wins the round.
There was no time to plan.
I guess he thought he was going to be pushed.
Hunter down and War Bank potentially.
That's all I can really imagine was going through his head about,
yeah, that's a massive fumble.
You've lost to Glocks there, boys.
Five Glocks and a stolen AK in the pits.
Oh, calamity. Wheels falling off now.
Yeah, that's crazy work to give that round over.
Techno, as we always send us to, you lose a frag, you lose some control, you need to react, you can't stay static in 9-10.
Bringing the fight to them as short.
Great shots on these rifles, recovering nicely, they got the man advantage here.
9-10 though in a difficult position, James you find him no problem.
As you're going to a 2 vs 2, long plants here, couple of flashes, and they're going to try and flash over and get to a long.
Yes, exactly what he's going for. Belchnock knows they won't have much in terms of diffuse contenders.
So if you can get a nice long position, you've got the perfect plan to defend from the pits.
The technos coming in, he's made the long rep around. I still love the move.
And I think they're hearing Belchnock out there. He's had a bit of a rough tournament the last game for me.
It's parry against a wild card, wasn't quite good enough.
The Cobra Zero are making the jump up here. They are a bit low, but the problem is they'll
keep no smoke, no nothing to get this done with, and all they have to do is wait it out,
and he knows it as well. He's hunting for the kill still. I mean, maybe he could find
Jayman, at least get the AWP away, but ultimately, it will be another round here from HarryVision.
They... there he goes. What a comeback for them. Five glocks then into this one. I guess
for the Mongols, the rounds that they won, the two rounds, they had so many people alive.
Well, let's see what they have to say, Henry.
Good. Oh, fuck.
The game is over, but fuck.
Okay.
Well, I kind of agree. You lose to Glocks.
That could be...
In that sort of fashion, and the fact that you literally had to be AFK in the corner to win the round.
That's gonna hurt.
Nice opening kill, that was elo, but, uh...
Yeah, that's a huge right to win.
There is still money available for the Mongols going into this one,
this one, but they lose everyone going forward. James, just to know you went down on the blast,
but the C4 blew the AWP all the way back to the pit, or where it could be recovered.
That's a good detail. Yeah. And you brought up another good detail, the idea of flashing
your way into that long position so that they could get out. I like that. I think Bell
Chalk is a promising player. Every once in a while, he disappears. But like you pointed,
you said against Wildcard, he was, I mean, the style was not happy.
was a rough game to watch. The fact that Mirage is 54 rounds and no disrespect to Wild
Cards, they're doing what they can. Weren't supposed to be at the tournament, but the
fact you had them on the ropes was very impressive. We talked about that double orbs setup and
it's Cobra's error, sinking his fangs into game. 5 on 4, opening advantage. Mongols now
I need to convert this one.
The fact that you can imply the double up after two round wins says something about how much they won those two rounds.
Then they give it back to Glocks.
Yeah, are we going to revisit that same heavy upper dark push?
This is the third time, and again, statistically, both teams love doing this.
You might see Mongols through the same thing. They're really big fans of it as well.
There's a smoke for the middle.
Flash going over.
D-Bolotovs towards the back of that plateau with the B bomb site.
As the Cobra.
Nobody's there.
Yeah, he's ready.
He's got the USP out, Techno.
It's actually going to be Cobra Zero who lands the kill against Belchinov.
They're back to winning again.
Okay.
Well, those couple of picks there from Cobra's error.
I bet you have a nice clean round there.
I think no one went down.
Yeah, all five players surviving.
Now you're kind of recovering.
Like, sure, you lost a glock.
Nightmare scenario, about as bad as it possibly gets, but having those clean
double or browns, this is their best and final form here on Dust2, Cobra's
there it seems to be an absolute beast on our secondary AWP, he always goes with
a mid-pick and more of a novel final kill, there it is. I'm glad you brought it up
right at the start of the game Henry because it's one of those things that
is worth watching for, makes this team a little bit more interesting when you got
that potential. Here we go again. Going to be very fast, Techno in the corner, he's got
The AK and they're coming through on the other side first killers brilliant the next what is taking all the bullets
But yeah, he did a job try to put down the smoke
Jumping around the flames 10 HP another clean sweep depth in the Mongols recovering
From that previous plumbed up well, then
And that's gonna be the money busted now for Paravish and they have to take the eco over the final round yet
felt like they were done. James said it was over.
Yeah, they're finished. Yeah, that's it.
But since CobraZera brought out the secondary AWPs up to 11 and 6, a solid B-hole, not a great spray from Techno,
a lot of chaos, a lot of flashes going on to be fair, but he survives, gets himself a double.
Yeah. Can't really criticize that at all.
Double Sniper, he's very meta right now to disavow the CTs popping it open and see he'll pop it up in CTop the middle,
can't see towards short yes one of those pieces of technology that had to be
invented once we got the volumetric smokes out mm-hmm so catwalk no one's
fighting for it I asked you question earlier it is glocks again it is glocks
again but just to say the Mongols aren't controlling this part of the map
maybe it's a good idea this time you don't want to be too close maybe to the
pistols. Okay, Molotov. Nice shot from 910. That's the beginning.
They come. Jump down. There's still a rifle there if you can.
There you go. Game gets a shot. No, please. It can't happen again.
Surely, MCNEO. He wants to hunt it down and Jim knew that.
Bombing planted on the other side. Shuei is in CT spawn with an AK.
If the Mongols usually lose another round just the pistols,
that is going to be unacceptable. Uh-oh. Uh-oh, he's low.
James got you he's so smart and Shway gets a headshot Henry how could they keep doing this he hunts one more down and
I'm senior oh he's low on health just unacceptable trying to get here you got the opening kill against four glocks in a p250
and you just lost the round Shway with four kills in this one it's about time we send the stand to talk to the mongols
on that like they need to borrow him and this bring this ties into the question of
the snort but my god you've lost to glocks and a pg-50 twice in one half you get the opening
pick yeah no are you looking blitz what are you up to that is just it's really nice
it's like don't get me wrong like he really has come into his own since he joined this squad but
just an absolute disaster.
Two rounds in this half.
You've lost a Glocks and a PT-50.
Well, to bring it back to...
And a 5-on-4 advantage.
Just to reiterate that.
It's so crazy that they could do it twice in one half.
But what is happening today?
But again, it goes back to the conversation
about controlling Cowork.
Yes, true.
They let them have it.
And the job follows.
It shouldn't be a problem still.
They have nothing to work with.
Yeah, blitz has caught napping down in CT spawn looking at the ground. I guess he was trying to dodge flashbangs. I had no idea but
Your protocols in place to disallow that five and four advantage. That's how you lose it
Final round of this first half what a half it's been
I was curious if Mongols were gonna over commit to defending B
Because that need to well be split speaking of which power vision
You're gonna see them stack the B bombsite so much in the CT side
Jamal Culver at almost every gun round that are three players tucked inside the V-bomb site. It's one of their cooling cards
Well, I look forward to but here we have again the Mongols not controlling catwalk not knowing what's happening and
Paravision are big fans of executing from this position. They're gonna throw the smoke into CT spawn and there's been so many B
pushes in this one that
Mine has to keep two people over on that side still three on the A side of it very quick with the setup here
I'm Celio's calling it out now. 9-10 trying to get back in position. It's an easy kill on the first one
But Jayman noted they're very fast on the return and now 9-10 out on long
No one's flanking you yet. Tresa's holding the position
He knows no one's coming catwalk as they're crouching busts tell seconds on the clock and the bomb is going to be planted
I can't believe he got there by ducking his head down low double open the retake really not what you're looking for here a
Backstab coming in eventually as well from Zway towards those long double doors more itself to make it a little more uncomfortable
the ball yeah take no one be forced to jump up but notice holding it he's
waiting you want somebody to show the top of the helmet here how long miss
spray on the first one but the flank from long shway comes in one more double
for him notice it takes the last and that is gonna be a very very strong start
here of Harrogation just looking good I mean sure that's accurate that statement
is correct you saying there's another side of this coin there is another side
of this coin, quite an ugly one. You've done some analysis, tell me about it. I just feel like it
writes itself. The fact that you've lost twice, like you've had some, all the gun rounds, you've
had a double-orbs set up or cover as errors by being able to find your opening picks, have gone
towards being a shutting that down, that's no problem. That's great. When the blocks come out,
you've lost to them twice. Like once and a half, sure, it happens. Like it occasionally
rounds can slip by, things can escalate. But the fact happens twice and you're not playing a great
and you're not known for your preparation and you're up against one of the most well-prepped teams in CS2,
you will be punished for those mistakes. And those are crucial mistakes.
Opening kills against Glocks and you can't handle it. It's too much for you.
A P250 at four Glocks shuts down one of the world's best teams here.
This is not a good look, but the game is not over.
You're going to have to mentally reset here. Four will have to do for the Mongols.
I'm curious if they're going to be allowed to play enough rounds here in the second half.
But if they do, watch how much Mongols can enjoy the crisscross smoke in the middle.
Let's see whether Paravision wants to get a little bit wacky with it.
Aggressive towards middle, but looks at things like the body block, the Xbox smoke.
Okay, not going to happen, but still
it comes to Molotov towards short, pushing back any... oh.
Maybe he did body block it enough. I'm not sure. Should it have been yeah, maybe either way the monitor doesn't work
Doesn't make a massive difference, but still
Here we go very important pistol here for the Mongols need at least a bomb plan out of this
They're on the catwalk right now
They have one more smoke which is on blitz
He's in the middle, so that could be the split coming out.
It's only Nota that's on the side of the map.
He's alone. Sorry, not Nota. Belchinok.
Nota showing up now. Flashes through.
He's got the dualies, but the entire team is coming for him.
9-10 gets the first one, but falling back off the box.
He's only good for the one. Techno.
He was coming in from the upper dark position.
Have they really saved it on the pistol? Okay. Respect.
They really are.
You don't see it too often, but the round is done.
To be fair, you're not going to win him.
I'll say the Kevlar in force in the second.
9-10, aware of these antics.
Will be on the prowl, on the hunt here.
Known for his precision.
Quite interesting round from Paravision, having four people at the A-bomb site,
but having absolutely no map awareness at all.
Like, they had no idea what's happening anywhere on the map.
So they do have quite a unique approach to Dust2CT side.
As I mentioned, they like to stack bombsites,
they like to take gambles, and they're more than happy
to save on rounds, even pistol round.
And there's that we're saving.
He's not saving.
That was one of the Kevlar's gone.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Damn it, that's a rest.
Rest are going to be fine.
But you said the Mongols had to win the pistol round.
And they did so convincingly.
Very convincing.
It's good work.
But saving, to be fair, they saved two players,
but only one had Kevlar's, there's not like a huge deal.
Zwei did just save the USB, no Kevlar.
So they don't have the force by here,
but I imagine they will with scouts and MP9s,
but an opportunity now to recover,
to wake up perhaps on the Mongol side,
some unacceptable rounds presented in that first half,
a couple of them.
Yeah, we hope that's the last time
that we have to see Mongols do something like that,
or we're just at the start of the series.
There's still space to make more mistakes.
It's been the theme of the tournament, to be honest with you.
I think that's true.
Just try and make as few as possible easier said than done.
Catwalkie in Belgium, he's thinking about it.
He's got Jane behind him, so if the scout could do anything, there's no flash to set it up either.
The best case would have been for a bit of a swing there with Jane getting the body shot and then the SMG following it up.
It's been nullified for the moment, flashes around, they actually recommit to this fight
here.
There's plenty of time and they've got MCD off holding long, they can do whatever they
want.
Stack at the B-bomb side this time, three people on over there with this force by.
What are the Mongols gonna be doing right now?
Who knows Anders?
Oh, Veltranos got an idea though.
This is the second round force by bear in mind pick a paravision first map
8 5 up
Loosen the pistol
Has put them in a compromised position and they've got the opening kill if they they run right into the stack though
There's another piece that I told you you did tell us did warn us Henry at the start
Bell Chinook and then Shway to follow it up the bombers down in the middle 910
You've got 18 seconds on the clock if you want to do something
It's gonna have to be very fast at this point still three people inside of the B bomb site just relaxing the bombs down
So yeah, it's round over save your AKs
And there it is you're gonna see a lot of that Anders mark my words you're gonna see plenty of three-man be holds I
Don't know if they even realize how many people are on the B bomb side of the Mongols when they go back and check the dome
It's not gonna feel great like it's a I don't think they go back and watch demos there
I don't think they do that.
I think they just turn up the blade.
That's kind of their whole M.O.
Kind of genius though.
They dodged the hard ache.
Yeah.
You know, the later I'm going to show you now.
I'm joking, of course.
I'm sure they're still there.
Well, they're forced by Comparavision,
working very well for them.
They're going to steal a Galil and a Mac 10.
They got all the weapons now on the CT side.
Oh well
We sit there's a must-win pistol the follow-up conversion though left a lot to be desired
Round number 15 here
Staving two AKs are very important for the Mongols. We know they're a hard-hitting team 910 and techno 4k to operate with the heavy artillery here
Whoever they can make this one work you're gonna have to keep it simple
Scouts in the hands of Cobra's error. We know he's capable sniper
Big shoes to fill after Senzu departed for reasons unknown, still to this day.
That's true.
We have no idea why.
Now, that port everybody off guard.
The Cobra Zera has been very good, especially in the secondary sniper role.
Very impressive.
Seems like a nice kid too.
Yeah, many people have said impossible shoes to fill with Senzu, but I agree, I think he's done a remarkable job so far.
And it's still early on. Techno, walking up on the catwalk.
Oh, they really didn't know, no Tegi could have gone down right then and there.
Now they realize, what is the plan for the Mongols here?
It's gonna have to be some sort of a finish, that's not bad.
Bad, we talked about the prowess on the sniper from young Cobra, stepping up, you will find
Jane, he had the M4 as well so, whether they want to change into a B-Split here, try and
recover that rifle, I think that's going to be the approach.
It's the repeat from the Saint from the last round, they throw the waterfall smokes on
Cat 4, last time they went down middle but now they've been slowed down with the smoke
going up, they're shuffling around back and forth so much, I don't love it, there's still
an incendiary here on Selo, and there's one on Belchnock, in theory they could hold this
off for a very long time. Chwey is pushing through middle, there's the one in Sendiri
into upper dock but there's another one behind it. The Mongols, they're waiting it out thinking
that must have been the last grenade. Now MCNU is going to be called. I think they could
lose this round to that one last Sendiri. We'll see. It's just gone up again.
They're going to have to fall back to Lava. Yeah, they have to run away.
So much noise. This is disastrous. Notes are going down. They're running and not even
wrapping with weapons out. Chwey is taking the round away surely. Two versus two. The
The bomb is in lower dark, there's 15 seconds on the clock here.
Even if you get this kill, doesn't think it matters.
You've got no time to plan.
Zwei can just run away at this point.
Perfect.
Wow.
Get the Molotov, survive.
They can't win, even if it's a 1-1.
Get out of there.
Run.
Run for the hills.
Yeah.
Just don't pull the Mongols and die when you've already won the round.
That's a good point.
Don't do that.
Xwei has got 17 and 70, just won this round to time.
And he's doing everything.
It just seems like utter calamity for the Mongols.
It seems like they're so disjointed right now, like with the time, the positioning, like Zwei's already got a kill on low B
and you're running knife out into the same position, making all that noise, assuming he's just vacated the premises.
Even before that, right, they get the kill on Jame in the middle, then, like you said, they wanted to turn it into a B split
but then a smoke goes up in the middle, so then they say, okay, well, it's turning into an upper dark push,
then the incendiary's keep landing, then they say, well, we'll go back, like, they're just getting pulled around the map
due to the utility of parry vision. That's not how you want to play, like, where's the commanding presence here for the Mongols?
for the Mongols.
It's to be seen right now, they know Zealots towards those mid-doors, going to try and
punish him, he's going to drop the incendiary and tuck tail in towards CT spawn, they're
taking a lot of damage on route, should be able to trade him out there, but no two arrives
in the nick of time to find the second kill of the round, five versus three, Grenade being
exchanged pushing them back, that confirms that no one else is home, they'll reclaim territory
towards middle as the Mongols desperately scramble in towards the A side here, hasn't
been a great showing from the Mongols so far. The scoreline tells the whole story. 11-5,
that was their eco, bear in mind, but no success found whatsoever. They get a couple of kills
sure, but that level will read 11-5, power vision, touching distance, picking up their
map pick of Dust2.
It's convincing at the moment. It is 11-5, they've got so many cases as well, and they
They got more important this way with 19 and 7.
He's so far ahead of everybody else.
And this is a player that looked like he couldn't keep up with tier 1 and Team Spirit, right?
That is true.
Game is done.
Absolutely.
Wonderful work.
Bringing him online, activating his ability that we knew he had.
Yeah.
He was...
You know, something's a-continous on point with pro players saying who's the next up
coming and a bunch of people had swayed like yeah our stonk or anybody else like
he was saying you know obviously Kisuke was the other one that people were
bringing up but many many pros thought Shwey's got something there we were
super disappointed we was running spirits and yep it felt like a right to
remove him but James saw that opportunity saw the potential in this young man
and he stepped up time and time again for them that round was no different he's
He's won them a few here, notes up, up against him now he's towards middle, but he's yellow.
Mowing them down he's got backup in the corner as well, but the pre-fire through the smoke
I think they might actually win this round with the Mongols.
Looking very good if you get one more kill maybe not, but yeah through the smoke and
the CT spawn as well, noted a go down.
That was nicely played, and for once the Mongols they disrespect the CT utility, they just
decide to enact their will in the round.
I think that's one of the things that's been really missing.
It's always weird, but I feel like they've been playing
this very polite kind of Counter-Strike,
where it's like every time somebody throws down
an incendiary or a smoke, they say,
okay, well then, we'll go somewhere else.
And then they show up again and there's more utility.
Like, at some point you have to make a choice.
Jane will find a kill.
Mongrel's gonna be up to six here.
And Jane just wants to save the orc, obviously.
Money, not incredible on the Paravision side here.
Brown-Los-Bolish, not really there kicking in.
They've got two players that could maybe put
something together, I guess.
With the ult of Jane, you can try and play around that
in the next round, see if you can find something.
Plenty of runway to close this one out.
A lot of work to be done on the Mongols side,
but that was a decent play-in towards that B-bomb side.
Around 18, money's okay on the Paravision side.
We'll have the AWP to work with of course safe in the previous round
They will be fully investing as you can see the rifles appear on the right-hand side of your screen
11 to 6 in his first map our final
Quarter-final of the day better reminder. We had MIBR versus 3D max earlier 3D max surprise
And they're coming out on top in the semi-finals considering their run this year
I've been surprised a lot of a lot of pundits out there and they might be a look better than I thought a lot better true
Very good point as well. We had Astralis take on Eyeballers much closer
Then you might imagine like Astralis arguably should have lost that second map. That is probably true
I was ancient they managed to win out though
So we're 3d max and Astralis waiting in the upper side of the bracket and the semis and we've got foots waiting for the winner
Of the Mongols of Paravision, which could be a rematch Paravision probably wants some revenge
Yes, I think I'm against foot back to be very fun. Yeah, absolutely
day. That grenade goes very deep on long. This way there, just wanted to check if anyone
that made his way out probably doesn't know 100%, but other than that, a bit of a default
start here for the Mongols. Business as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. Early stack towards
the B bomb site again. Set up on the scaffolding for the Nota. Hard position to clear out sometimes
If they go for those B splits, which again, just something both teams have been drawn towards.
I felt like that's the way to do it at the moment.
Taking past the minute mark, it is looking like another B split.
See if they do the crisscross this time or if they just settle for the CT spawn one.
There we go.
Yep, you called up.
They enjoy this.
The smoke we deployed earlier is another three-man stack.
Paravision
We all know it. We all love it. Oh my god. That's chaotic. He ran through shooting inside the smoke
Oh
It's it going this bomb site is on lockdown
Again
Paravision will stack three players of the piece of the map every single rounds and you keep trying to test them
I don't I don't know why teams always do it
They insist on trying to do these mid to be splits against them, but that will happen most of the time
Yeah, haven't learned yet and they're not gonna have a lot of time to learn now because it's 12 for paravision
Or it's about to be
You might die at the time. Yeah, that's a really will they're everywhere
Yep
So no money for 910. He'll enter potentially the last round of the game of 700 dollars his teammates averaging two and a half K
He can't even buy Kevlar
He's opted for smoke and two flashes. He'll have to be dropped like a PC50 or something should be GG here
If you get a key running into the three-man stack, I think you deserve this outcome
Dying after time really is the icing on the cake
So you got pistols pretty much across the board nine ten with no Kevlar
Well, good luck
Paravision have shown us though that you can win these rounds with pistols. Um, good point
I suppose I forgot that was the thing I'm trying to forget that in general
Trying to forget a little bit traumatized after those rounds miss smoke we'll see if it still does the job
Maybe it does. I don't think so though. No, so not only do you have nothing to work with you've missed a key piece of utility
It's costly the first frag and
He's like you as well. So one miss smoke has called the GG moment
What is going on this tournament? Why can't we throw a basic U2 right now?
I love it Henry. They are trying to take the joy away from you.
This is one of the world's best teams and that's the way you lose it.
I love it because you show up every day and you've got the great energy.
You're ready to watch good Counter-Strike. You've got the energy for it.
And then they start making these mistakes.
It's not wrong. You're right to criticize them. These mistakes really cost them.
them like right here like you said get shot down on the Xbox nice shot from
Jane that they just need three more and they walk away to win the first one here
no tough yet the rifle out he was gonna be ready for it 9 10 a senior no way
they could do anything at this point just a formality as they look for the
final one 13 to 6 paravision with a very strong performance in the Mongols
which is a little bit of mistakes on this opening map okay that was a
different paravigance yesterday. That's a little bit more cohesive as a team. Also Dastin didn't
start at Noda at the end there. So obviously he must be happy as well.
I saw he was going towards someone. I was like, is he actually upset again? No, it was just a high
five. He walked away, everything fine. Techno is, Techno and Blitz are queuing up the peak game,
I think, because, you know, what else to do after this match. Honestly, nothing really went their
ways and most of it is just their own fault. Yeah it was a pretty rough look
for the first half especially the couple rounds that they threw second half I
think was really well put together put together from pair vision from that
force by went on I don't necessarily think that was that was a big misstep
from Mongols as much as you know pair vision doing what pair vision does
does best which is kind of subverts expectations and yeah honestly a little
bit of a misleading scoreline because of that because obviously first half
have Mungo's lose 2-2 basically for Ecos.
Entertaining game, entertaining in some ways, you know, maybe frustrating in some ways,
maybe not some perfect CS that we're expecting when you have two rounds of practically no
Kevlar, a pair of vision winning on the T side of Dust2, but entertaining and very dominant.
And we were talking to the green room, it was like, is this now just going to be a pair
of vision stomp?
it just feels like we saw them struggle so much across this game that suddenly they're just going to turn around and make this game
The easy one against Mongols. We'll get into the map and the rounds, but I think just to touch on that
Some professionals cope
Well with having your coach sit on a couch and very publicly announced that heads on the chopping block
It's great motivation others kind of collapse into themselves
apparently for ParaVision, the best way to get results from these young guys is to threaten to kick them all.
Yeah, get a little whipping and some people respond to that.
It's been a huge point of discussion on the forums. It's like, how can you do this about young players?
It's like, you know, it's a different culture thing.
This is kind of what is expected from a coach in Eastern Europe and that's what he's doing.
that's kind of what he knows to bring the best results and honestly sometimes it is better to
remove a player early on and then just move on if you see this is not it you can't really
bring this to get results. I mean at the end of the day you know sometimes maybe you just need to
go to a different environment to blossom and Zwei did that. Zwei this this was a great game for him
as well sometimes where you are just isn't it and you can find more success elsewhere. Let us talk
about what we saw in the first half from the Mongols. We have some rounds that greatly illustrates
some points that I don't know if you want to make. Yeah, I was just trying to remember the first
one. All right, so Paris vision takeout. Take this long with basically four blocks. They overwhelm
the Mizzino and the lower bombs in long. They leave Jane behind and then they go B because
suddenly Zwei has taken control of the B-bombside without anybody dying there. You know, then
Obviously, there's some suddenly turning back too long because because Zwei dies and B what happened here
I don't understand zealot just drops the bomb to Dota who doesn't pick it up. The note that goes back to pick it up
Mongols are ready for this to be one and then somehow family because first of all cobers here
I just completely whiffs in that to be one and then he just peeks out even though the ball
He's not actually going to reach him with two seconds left on the clock
I even even if dropped directly on him it will take five seconds probably to kill him
He was full HP and he was just like I don't want to get wallbang to be like another get-right highlight compilation video
But literally there is no way for nota to win that if you just stuck in that corner
Unfortunately covers there are a bit of lack of experience in that one. We have another one
Yeah, like we're just pouring salts on those mongols wounds. Yeah. Yeah, and it's it's also the timings of these obviously
You finally break the economy if they're eco this is like two smokes in mid and then just dropping
you know, just dropping down in CT spawn, Blitz is looking in the floor for some reason.
Then, you know, the crunch comes out of long because Mizzinho and 9-10 are trying to handle this
short push. 9-10 is missing everything on the off. It's just too slow on the retake as well, not putting enough pressure on the
player in CT spawn. It just falls apart so easily.
And I mean, it is, we've seen these block rounds on Dust2 happen, but it is also a bit of just
not being on point individually from from the Mongol side even when Blitz gets
caught off guard you still have Mazzini in 9-10 on a long angle against blocks
and they get they get traded two for one that doesn't make any sense. Yeah I mean
realistically it should have been a pretty comfortable CT half for
Mongols once they got out of the 0-4 start because they actually did a
really good job keeping Paris money low because a lot of the forcebites before
that they actually kept them on one guy or even the first gun round that went
the other way they managed to pick everybody off right so the money's suddenly gone after one round you win
You set yourself up for the double up which we have seen from Cobra zero
What has worked really well, and then you throw a couple rounds to gox and the whole half falls apart like realistically
This should have been a much closer game. It wasn't all Mongols fun balls though
I think that there was some good counter start coming up from para vision. Yeah, and this is this is one of them
I mean the main one as an after the pistol round they lose it
They force by they just make this gamble stack in terms of two players being towards short getting the opening kill and then after that
Just falling back into this
Anti mid to be set up essentially three guys on B two guys trying to challenge
For the mid to be and that's exactly what happens the mid to B comes in and they just get the kills one by one crunching on the CT
But we actually missed a little bit at the start word word that I wanted to point out in terms of
of Paravision being really able to subvert expectations.
Because we saw them aggress shorts early in the rounds.
They even got contact with Mongols who knew that was coming.
The Mongols do the classic control of shorts.
They go, they do the Molly, they do everything in rights.
They got, I think it was Techno who actually ended up
on the, through shorts.
He sees nothing there.
You think short is clear.
And then five seconds later, Paravision repush it.
They pick up, pick that guy off.
They know it's not a short push anymore.
There's one person who's about to throw the fake.
They know it to be split immediately, they fall back to CT and this is actually really well put together.
Yeah, good utility usage also to block B when they're supposed to go B.
Whatever Mongols were doing, Parisians was one step ahead.
This is exactly the type of round when you see them pull off against Falcons, against Vitality.
Damn, this Parisian team is kind of good. They're really reading the situation, they're playing the macro game really well.
But we didn't really see much of this throughout this tournament and it's the whole story
We've been repeating about how comfortable are they against teams that don't know I mean Mongols
They don't know this two teams have never played against each other
So in terms of knowledge from actual experience, there is none but obviously the preparation has been there
There's the presumption that Mongols are gonna follow the protocols that Jane expects them to which is what he said
Maybe didn't expect them to fumble as much as they did
probably not. But that's what I'm talking about in terms of reactionary counter-strike.
Like, Jim is really, really happy to not commit to anything until he knows it's the right thing to do.
And that will be so even in the first eco that they won.
You know, guy takes over B bomb site, the bomb goes all the way from long one to go to B.
The guy on B dies, they're going back, it's like, okay, that's not working.
Jim gets the kill and they're still kind of fumbling like, are we going for this?
Are we not going for this? They're happy to take the entire round
before they make sure that that's what they want to do.
Yeah, but overall still, at least the utility was on point
unlike Mongols.
I mean, Henry is losing his mind watching those hinge smokes
and those door smokes just failing round after round.
That's the Molly also on the pistol round.
That didn't really matter in the end,
but it's just like these small things add up quite quickly.
We're going to Mirage and as much as we've hiked Paravizion,
it hasn't looked pretty for them on this map.
I mean, what are you talking about?
The last time they played, they won 28 rounds on this map.
It must be pretty good, no?
But no, before that, so that's a wild card game, 28-26.
That's like two maps there.
Then, lost 6-13 against Foot, 10-13 against Legacy, 7-13 to Navi, right?
They haven't been exactly world beaters on this map, but again, it is less...
I mean, it is to some degree about the map, because I feel like the city side,
the A-splits, they've been super susceptible to those.
but I do believe what I've seen on the first map now
is giving me a bit of confidence
that's not gonna look the same.
Yeah, I do think that there is a very, very big
comfort map for Mongols.
They pick it almost every time that they have the chance to.
So it is one that they have some of the most famous
wins on as well in terms of, you know,
even being able to be vitality on the map, you know,
towards the beginning of the year, I think.
And like it is just one that they really thrive on
because of their, you know, super high dynamic playstyle.
They're always ready to fight from multiple angles.
They're always ready to come back together.
So it is still one that I do think they have an upper hand on.
Do you think that Jayme will be able to call them on this map
because he's got so much that he can look at?
Or do you think Mongols is evening out the series?
I, after seeing just two, I feel like it was,
it was not very pretty,
but we also know Mongols to be volatile,
you know, from one map to another sometimes.
So I do think that it's going to be a tall task.
I don't know, I'm feeling more comfortable with the Paravision, I feel like this is going to go their way.
I feel like they're just turning it around after yesterday, after that tight game, the talks a bit of you know, publicly, for sure.
Public pressure and everything?
Going on HLTV to check her stats and just saying like, I might kick some players, it's just like you're no-tire, just like okay, I need to get my shit together.
I can't ever peek over a smoke again, always need to reveal the smoke first.
I think some things will stick a bit more and I think they played well off of each other.
Communication looked on point.
You don't win these eco rounds also without being close, trading properly and everything.
So yeah, high hopes for Paris.
This is the poster child for negative reinforcement apparently.
Sometimes it works.
ParaVision has taken the first map here in this quarterfinal of PGL Bucharest.
Mongols now needs to even out the series.
We're taking a break and when we get back we'll be jumping right back into the CS action.
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Oh
expectations were high for the game of the day it's Mongols taking on para vision and
the former not showing up whatsoever on dust 2 absolute calamity and many many rounds they're
losing to multiple full e-codes the Mongols do not look ready or poised for a semi-final
Anders. Not at the moment but like the desk we're talking about it was a real struggle
yesterday for Perry Vision to make their way through Wildcard on this very map. It took
I don't know how many over times I stopped counting it was 54 rounds. 54 rounds. I can
always count on you to actually count him. Yeah I've always got the numbers in my back
pocket somewhere. We'll see what the Mongols have got in terms of utility. Two smokes,
two HGs, you'd imagine those are the CT spawn-anders. Okay. And a couple of flashes, so it's gonna
be an execution. There's only one defender. They're stacking on the B bomb site in the middle of
a little bit. No one's looking for it. All right, the smokes are up. Oh, massive gas in that smoke.
There is a bit of a gap. You could definitely see that. Double HG on the T side. That's very
interesting for pistol round. I don't think I've seen that. MCMio goes down. Where is the bomb
plant they've got those two HEs for a reason what's the play at the end of it
here the bomb is finally planted there is a kit as well on the CT side so
everything is in play at the moment let's see what they could do with it
maybe they try and stop the bomb okay there goes one no damage does nothing
at all second one comes in there is no connection and they're coming around the
corner you've run they've got the confused kit headshots are good though
Oh, Techno with two, Cobra gets one more, takes down Beltianock.
He wasn't a good start to the round for the Mongols.
They lost the player, and they failed all of their grenades,
including the smokes, but they still land their headshots.
And that's enough as it turns out.
Oh, it's more than enough.
Looks like they had no chance there.
They were isolated into the CT spawn area.
You thought the trades were coming,
but they never arrived there.
And it will be the Mongols picking up
a very important pistol here on Mirage.
Paravision now begs the question if they want to force by in the second nothing too flashy for that based on the Mongols
As you said execution is massive gap
Did allow notes to get the opening frag but this
Tandem play into a CT spawn nothing by a headshots
Mumbling them down cobra and techno
Fantastic work from them and indeed we do see a force by here from Paravision
Mongols have not looked themselves as tournament especially in the previous map and they're going for the palace pop
As you see, three players make their way towards that position.
It's time to defend this. It's going to be poor old Belchnock alone once again.
The baby squirrel will have to deliver.
It's a sweet. He's already realized, yeah, they're coming everywhere.
Not ideal.
Oh, he's looking down.
I hate to say it, but you almost want to say this is your vision.
Yes, you will.
I'll be cool if I say it right now.
Another most exciting finish to the round from a viewership point of view,
point of view but it makes sense
probably not going to get five kills and a ten second defuse
so there we go
i don't know if i mean yeah belchak could have thrown a bit of smoke but
ultimately
it wouldn't make a difference probably wouldn't make a difference no
okay
better start for the mongrels
this is their map pick and
you know they're pretty good on parry vision played plenty as well
they were having a hard time as wild card i think they lost it
Right at the start of the tournament to foot and it was like a 13-6 type victory for foot
They blew them up on this one. It's our Mirage specialist
That's to be fair and they took that mouse board famous theater on EPL. Yeah, good point. But yeah, the point still stands
It's maybe a bit of a weakness for paravision generally speaking
But they do save
multiple guns here
In terms of players surviving, I think it was four, right? Yeah, four players. So still some bites here available in round number three
Well, I like the foot
You know perspective on it because they're waiting in the semi-final right now for one of these two teams
Yeah, no doubt Paravision would love to get back and like they lost that match two or the order to at the start of it
So they'll be looking for some revenge
They have some of the prep for I
I love the idea of that matchup in a semi-final.
Cropini, it's a very exciting idea at the moment.
James obviously one of the smartest that we have.
Again, Belch, not in the same position.
Just as tough on him this time.
He does get back from the HG. I think they would have killed him.
The bomb is in T-Spawn though. So right now it's off the show.
The bomb is indeed right back there.
Parking up Techno at the top of the air ramp.
Realising they've made a bit of a mistake here getting the bomber over, but it's absolutely fine.
They're recovering. A is technically wide open. We've got three players in towards the connector.
They get four now, dropping a defensive smoke to allow some punky play to use there as an extra angle.
Smoke's going down from the T side here. See if these ones land correctly.
It looks absolutely fine to me. Yeah, that's what we're looking for.
Corporal Sierra's gonna be in the middle watching for reinforcements.
Boosts on two different positions here
They're gonna get anything for it is the big question techno getting very close. Oh, that's so flashed, but
Tracel takes him down. So first casualty of the round is techno going down
Bombers planted and here comes over zero opening nice
Knocks out a couple of people towards the connect to grenade around the corner
Offer up one of them
Looking for the kill he gets it a triple and that will be the round so the long goals
They start this map with three in a row, things are looking a little bit better.
Very clean in the end, thought a bit scary for one moment there.
Feel like the CT pounds through the smoke was coming any moment, but CobraZero at the back stab
managed to find three impressive frags, third one a little bit laboured.
He was completely blind. You can see the first kill did go in favour of Paravision,
but ultimately, this is the moment here, nice shot of a second, quick whip around,
find that third, and see me to close things out, things going much better here, no massive fumbles,
bit of rage from Paravision as well. As we get into the first gun round here,
James of course, of his trusty AWP, but there's a bit of a bonus round here, you've got Mac,
Tent and Galils, and there are two players of our helmets, notably Belch, Knock and James.
See whether that's a reality. Knock on effect. That kill certainly will. No, it goes down with nothing. It's 9-10.
Up to his usual antics, goes for a quick pick towards the palace.
Finds that opening like a king.
Yeah, we highlighted him. Didn't get to see quite as many op shots from him as I would have wanted on Dust2.
But they kind of collapsed, so maybe that's the reason why.
Sello here. Not a bad conversion.
J.S.C.S.
Bombs on the A ramp, Harlan, so this is where they're going to be coming.
It'll be Belchnock close to the ramp to look for the fight.
He's 0-3 right now and already looking a bit frustrated.
Flashbang going in towards the A ramp momentarily.
Gotta go for a swing off this. See what's available.
Belchnock doesn't quite commit to the angle.
Could cost him. Need some backup here.
Could cost him one.
Yeah, James on the ticket booth as well. He goes down. The flash is amazing.
Well, she's not just taking down one more bullet with a hand against Shway at the big party.
He takes two. Once again, Shway, the only one here on the Paravision side that seems to be able to do any kind of damage.
And now, how do they make this happen? The boost on over.
Smoke fades, and they want to reposition.
Not quite trying to bomb yet. Just testing it out.
We're down to 13 seconds, and James alone.
Giving him nothing.
Really, yeah, I'm not showing you have to appreciate that
You know, James could be dangerous in these clutches
I don't know if there's a kid anywhere on the site
But he certainly doesn't have one at the moment trying to get up on the ticket booth trying to elevate this position
I'll see if you could look around the box. He does get the first one
He actually hit some of that one as well, but there's no reason to peek here
Wait for the bomb to tick away Jane now
He could have landed that flick this is dangerous nine tests
Up the clock, we'll deliver.
My God, that's a close round.
But now the Mongols are off to a very good start here.
Yes, they lose a lot of rifles,
but it's four in a row for them.
That's a good timeout called by Dastin.
Not happy with what he's seeing so far.
That's four-zero close around this time,
and it all starts at a 9-10 pick, finding those two tools to connect to.
I said I pulled one back though, four and four,
but it's all about that flash picking towards the round,
and he goes just an inch deeper,
just to see where he can find out
And there's a player tucked away. He could have been a very different round. He goes down with nothing and Jane
left in a very difficult clutch gap. 9-10 displaying fantastic discipline.
Didn't give him anything to work with. Made short. He lands that leg shot in the glock to finish things off.
And now maximum loss bonus for ParaVision. 4-0 here.
In the second map, the pick of the Mongols. And this is looking much better than Dust2 where, quite frankly, it was quite ugly from them.
Yeah, more mistakes than they could even cover on the depth. They didn't have time to go through everything that went wrong.
Would have needed a whole podcast just to do that.
Well, let's see whether this partial buy will yield any sort of success for paravision.
At the top end they have his way, M4.
Pistols and MP9s. Otherwise, some basic utility, mainly smokes trying to rot that clock.
Still got a chance of winning this one. It's gonna have to be down to his way though.
Interested to see where he's positioned right now. He's in the connector
Three-man stacking towards B. It's a calling car to power vision
Look at these molotov-ing off towards our ladder. Yeah, a bit of a classic
Everybody home, Trey gets one, top of the smoke on Cobra Zero
Puts down on the smoke as well. This M4 is really what they have to fight back with
that in the stack and the fact that he gets this kill they could try to push
them or they could be pushed in towards the site here the Mongols losing to this
kind of a buy here could happen the Korean towards B could happen walking
into the stack although that's very nice 910 surely pick that up 40 seconds
yeah there's nobody on the B bomb or in the A bomb shot at all right now if you
run you're gonna be fine techno though he's low on health just back on slowly
He's nearly at the site but he decides to wait. He's hearing them running over.
Do you want to change your mind right now? I understand that he's here. The footsteps, that's fine.
But now you're running back into this B bomb site with 19 seconds on the clock, maybe less than that.
I feel like this is a very dangerous call for the Mongols. No tear in the back. He's seeing them already.
10 seconds on the clock. They're trying to get closer. The time is running out. That bomb plan has to be right now.
If they get interrupted, the round is over and that's exactly what's going to happen.
happen. James, that's all he had to do. We'll get the spray down on the third four kills for him,
but that one killer the bomb planter, that was it. Absolutely true. They saved their weapons.
They gave themselves another chance in this partial buy and well, it worked out very nicely.
Indeed, it was way, yeah, the M4, you open things up. It's gonna be a good recovery though,
but just again, the mid-round call is very chaotic in and out of both bomb sites,
to the side where they were finishing up and this with 15 seconds you have to scramble get that
bomb planted no to did very well just to survive you get the opening information as they're coming
in towards B doesn't challenge any further calls for the backup they deny the plant and power vision
are indeed on the board now recovering and AK-47 and Jane back on the AWP round six here
first nightmare round for the Mongols they had plenty of them on dust too
Yeah, we don't really want to see more of them, but I am glad you bring up the mid-rounding there for the Mongols because I think chaotic is the attack of what we're seeing here.
Overcalling it, overcooking it, perhaps. And towards here we go.
And for James Reddy, he's got the AWP this time. Picked up the first one, way down in front. Good for the kill, but they're taking down Beltranok.
Oh, trying to wrap around now. One armour, the attack is already gone. 9-10. He's pushed up. He misses the shot. They didn't even know that he was there.
And soon I will take him down. Good stuff. Double kill.
Paravision started to wake up a bit themselves now. The money weird on the T side.
Recovering more and more AK-47s, that is a huge deal as well.
You've broken the bank of the Mongols, you've got three AKs, AWP, your own money's starting to swell.
Jane, even while blind, calm on the shot, doesn't pull the trigger instantly as a confirmed kill available.
Excellent work of the individual jewels here as well, Zelo.
Wrapping around from short.
Guarantees a third on the board here.
We're not expecting much.
They do not fully invest.
This is another ECO.
Blocks, Teagles, Tech Nines,
and one smoke and a flash to work with here.
And Sandro goes down, flashes out one.
It does give a thing to be fair to it, but shouldn't matter too much.
Jane and Zello fighting towards top of middle, but they have lost one player
Say it's worth wanting out
By rating this is the best position for cello on any map. Okay on this short position on on Mirage
So hopefully he'll feel comfortable bit of a shame with the deal in that round
I suppose but otherwise he's had some some decent defense over there Belchnock. She's yet to get activated
He's 0 and 5. We know that he's already on the chopping block Henry
I mean, except for the major, of course, but...
Hmm.
But in theory...
Let's see whether they can fend them off.
It's noticeably low, given the orb.
Not known to be an orb, but...
I'll bet I won't slip by. He's probably going down here.
Need some backup, and backup will arrive in the nick of time.
42nd remaining, blitz will have the Glock.
And like we said, should be a comfortable third round on the board, and that's exactly what we've got here.
Right, defend that AK.
Give them nothing.
vision fully online now. Money is going to be in a very comfortable state and you might
be considering the tactical timeout if you're on the Mongols side. I see the microphone
being flipped down so it looks like that's going to be the case. As we get into it, round
of rates, it was a great start for the Mongols. They were up 4-0 but now it's a one round
game. Paravigian looking to make a statement performance here today and booked themselves
a place in the semifinals against Foots, which will be going down tomorrow. We've had four
quarterfinals today. Two semis tomorrow than the best of five going down on Saturday.
Alright, you are a tournament where a bunch of teams that we normally don't get to see
have had a chance to play and I think many of them have kind of surprised. I think a
lot of people have maybe never seen focus play before. They look a lot better. Wildcard
suddenly in spite of looking very out of their depth suddenly they look good again.
Eye ballers.
Eye ballers. Can't forget about J.W. he's out there.
Oh, absolutely. Anyway, very good showing today as well, ready for the playoffs. Probably should have won the game, to be honest.
11-4 on our second map. Yeah, they were way ahead.
Yeah, that's going to be a frustrating way to leave the tournament, but they can leave with their heads held high, in my opinion.
Absolutely. And I don't know if you saw, but GAW immediately on Twitter saying, it's my responsibility as the IGL.
It was my mistake. I'll take it on me. I think that's great leadership.
Hey, they don't get to play these sort of tournaments very often. In fact, they even got to the playoffs
Pretty remarkable achievement in the process
We have got MCNL up in the palace
I feel like we see that a lot when Mongols are playing this map. Mm-hmm. He loves it
They're in mind now we talked about the AK-47s and save James Orton
Step up here was aware of this possibility, but a lovely flash bang means they get past the angle
Mongol's looking to bounce back after giving up Kui in a row that Nadal tickled down blitz there, but it's gonna be Cobra's error
Good flash bang in towards the ladder again
Almost gave it up, but he checks his angles correctly and Zelo goes down. That's the slowest peek of all time
Yeah, he was so flashed. It just didn't matter that looks so funny
The bomb is back towards the a bomb site
Oh!
Hit the head shot, that double kill almost gets them back in the round, there's 20 seconds
left here.
Wow, it's always about the time and it's paravision.
Yeah, that is very true.
That's a huge miss for Jane though.
Another miss.
He had chances to hit both those shots, they've lost sway at the same time.
plans it and that should be enough to win the round James a one HP I don't
think you're going for this yeah James hits that shot on the first encounter
it's a very different story it's on well Belcher not that is part this time you
can't really criticize that he gets a lovely double spray down towards the
connect up or felt like around that was already over brings it back to life and
James can hit his shop they probably win it but not meant to be long rules
after giving up three. We've got five to three now here on the T side of that map pick.
Well, hoping this goes a distance. This is a great matchup. Definitely game of the day in terms
of the quarterfinals. Yeah, these are some of the highest rated teams in the world right now.
Yeah. But like a lot of other teams, you know, it's the mistakes, it's the inconsistencies.
It's been said many times that there's vitality, then there's a real gap in the world.
it's so true and then there's everybody else
if you want to catch up to a team like vitality these mistakes that we're seeing
from these teams they just they can't keep happening
look at the replay unfortunately it's jame
you think by his standards especially on the second peak looks okay
looks like it's dead on him yeah maybe he was moving slightly
slightly moving i think they're probably right about that well then
The Mongols, they're on the T side, in that context Henry, 5-3, half-looking.
Oh yeah, it's looking very good, if they're reminded you could have a lovely start at the 4-0,
pistol conversion, but to be fair the pistol round was so good and so comprehensive in their favour.
You can't really argue with the result, but half vision, still a long way to go, they can still win
this half, so a lot of counter-strike yet to be played, it's time Jane positioned himself towards
short. See if he can make up for his shortcomings in the previous round. Flash over towards
top middle.
I'm seeing you back in the palace. Like I said, watch any amount of Mongols on this
map. You're going to realize he's there very, very often. So often that sometimes teams
will try to find him there. They should, you know, say, all right, well, we know you're
probably going to be there at the start of the round. So we can, we can double push you.
always easy. I would like to see more of MCD. I feel like recently he's been
looking a little bit better. I haven't seen it yet in the quarterfinals, him
really popping off, but it's still time. Under a minute here, we've got the bomb
in the B always. Trying to see if they can push down, Jane. The flasher on the
corner is actually really good. That's gonna put some pressure on right now.
You're absolutely right. Shrey also feel the pressure. He's forced back from it
and it's a double entry.
Notus managed to rotate it very quickly,
but he's got no back up.
Oh!
My techno!
OK, this is more like it than the Mongols.
This is the team we know and love there.
Brutal aim, good coordination, overwhelming their opponents
with the mechanical skill.
And you can see there is nowhere to run,
nowhere to hide on that B bombsite.
A couple of missed shots, and no one
goes down for the Mongols here.
Five on Super now, Anzelo and Belchnock are preying.
They can hold on to the little they have.
A couple of rifles remain as they both tuck themselves away
towards our palace position, a perfect round for Mongols and I don't think we've said that once
in the entirety of their campaign here in the quarterfinal. That's actually true, yeah. Finally
something that we really celebrate. Yeah, that was a lovely round of CS.
Droping incendiary for self-preservation, we'll get a smoke down on top of it, gives us that
position, sure, but maybe a madman would run through this smoke. Surely not worth it.
I notice as well that last round also around where they don't have a lot of mid-round calling
they make a plan and they stick to it and they get the flashes around the corner the
entries under the site like it's not as complicated as some of these other rounds they're trying
well some of the rounds and dust to where they were in and out of both bomb sites running out
of time yeah I feel like this is keep the game plan simple in our shot so that's probably
what they're going for right now shame in that right no absolutely not especially when
as talented as these Mongol players. Yeah, that is definitely true. Okay, spotted it out,
just hoping for the shots, but maybe we'll note it. The corner here. They've got Jing
down in the middle, waiting for a mistake. He wants Blitz to peek this and he's going
to get exactly what he wants. Patient as ever. Opening in favour of parry vision. It's all
we've got left. We have MZinho towards the palace. 9-10 was top of middle, but a nice
alley-oop set up there from Notus Flashbang. We'll set up James for a second kill at the
round. MZinho makes his position known from the palace. He's got to kill that, to be
honest, on the drive-by, but looks to be absolutely fine here. Power vision bouncing back, looking
for a six scoreline. Can't imagine a world where they give this one up, but let's see
what the Mongols can make of it. Sub one minute, it's down to Cobra's error. A very capable
Sniper is with one but this time no dice. 5 on 2, Techno and MZNEO, left with nothing
to do. Interesting switch up with Nota playing the short position this time and Celo playing
inside of the bomb site. Makes it a lot harder than nameplate anybody if you actually find
them. Jame, third kill. Pretty much one around on this zone at this stage. Still not going
walk out. No bomb plant being allowed for Parisian. One more round, like you said, half is not
over. They can still get this little 6-6 scoreline, still be competitive at that stage. We know
they love to play in overtime or two on this map, so.
They certainly do. If you missed it yesterday, it's a game that Parisian probably wants to
forget. Playing this wild card, they got the 2-0 victory, but it took 54 rounds on Mirage.
And shout out to Wreck.
Yes, he was playing very well.
was a life performance given them hell yeah very cool yeah I think Wild God have got a
really decent team for the future now with the new lineup I feel like they're gonna cause some
damage on the international scene deepest ages of 2026 yeah hope with a bit of luck it pushes them
to get more invites when they when they you know go a little bit deeper in these tournaments so
we'll see we'll see time I called we're back in the mix here James this is a good start like you
You said the flashbang over from Nota, but you want to point it again, he was playing in a short position.
It's not where he normally hangs around. He's normally a jungle top connector, right?
Or window, but...
Isn't that really just another part of jungle?
Let's have a look then, shall we? Notal arounds here.
Six to four, anyone's game still.
That's what we like to see.
We need to control Grants at this time.
There's Paravision.
If you're aggressive towards the end of the path in the previous round, Jane finally
got open up.
Let's put them on high alert.
They're dropping all the util now, deepening towards Connector and in towards Window.
Molotov down towards Short, suggesting we're going to boost in towards the Window room.
Okay, I don't hate it.
Note to back in his position.
The money for the Mongols is very bad here.
If they lose this round, then it could keep Paravision two rounds essentially.
Yeah, you're dead on.
9-10 hoping for a ticket booth beat coming in from Jane, but he's not there
Hard or put to read. Oh, he walks your back pedals into it. I don't even think he was necessarily he looked like he just kept on running
No, sir, sprays down one and now belt you're not back here finding his third kill off the half so far
Oh, no nearly gets the double that might have done it that might have brought them back into this round here
but he couldn't complete it.
Seller goes down and Tweet.
He's picked up the AWP.
Don't think it matters that much.
There is some money.
Jim could rebuy the AWP.
If he wanted to go for the clutch, he could.
And he wanted to.
9-10 that will take him down the Mongols.
They win that round, but I don't know.
It seemed like there were a few mistakes on that one for Paravision.
We'll see if they can recover from it.
It's the final round coming up next.
It was all about Techno getting him to a window position.
As soon as the aggro was taken away there, he comes in for the back stab, it looked like there was an opportunity for the shadow to get that double kill, to bring the round back to life, but techno shuts down that prospect.
As indeed we get into the final round of this first half.
Third map there are my ancients, which might be required at this stage to get the A4 scoreline, but there's still plenty of money as you mentioned.
They have a power vision, this one's much quicker.
Much more aggressive on the T side as they try to dominate this mid control once again.
Cobra's there are more than willing to take the fight towards the con and he'll come out on top taking our notes up
Bit of a shame that it was no more of a set up there some sort of a flash over a wall or anything
You can throw those flashes of the B bombsite in theory if you if you run
I don't know about it. Belle Chinook's gonna win the fight against them. Celio's finally made his way out of the palace once
They're in the middle
Bomb picked up and spawned just about now with 910. He's got the AWP looks like they
We want to investigate that B bomb site, but with this window position, I mean you could
even flank through the market, it's such a variable position to be in.
The bomb's in towards the apartments right now?
Yes.
They've got one minute to work on it.
You can go towards the underpass, they don't have to finish in towards B, but it's great
positioning from Blitz.
Does he dare go through the murder hole?
Named for a reason.
So I'm not playing in front of the smoke, we'll find Cobra.
That's smart.
That should be enough to win this round now.
It should be. Oh, they have no idea the back-seller's potential there.
Yeah, but the bomb's parked on the other side. That smoke is up for another 10 seconds at the moment, so...
Can you get the bomb through on that AWP?
James, nice cap. Shway is here. The bomb surely gonna be dead. Shway's just waiting for it.
25 seconds, Techno. The last one, but he does actually pick up the shot here.
And now he has to go back and find it. Belchenok, can you save your team on this one?
It's a clutch that's coming up. The jump over, he did pick up the bomb even though it was a bit slippery.
10 seconds left, he's faked it, and now he's walking out.
Did he see the gun barrel?
I think he's around on a time here.
Belchlock on the clutch, he gets the head shot,
and Paravision pick up another round.
It's been scrappy.
But you know what, it's not bad.
That final round felt like a necessity for Paravision.
Belchlock had a very slow start, but had some massive impact
towards the end there, and especially that final round
there, made it to perfection.
Knew he had the advantage in terms of the spacing,
the time, fake plan comes through.
he was aware of the possibility of Belchino being close but just run out of time and we will get into a 7-5 scoreline here
but still
Very good challenge. We see a third map
You bring it up
Ancient is that's a bit of a nightmare for the Mongols
Really?
Paravision I think are significantly better like the win rate of Paravision on that map with 11 maps played is 82%
For the Mongols this 8 maps is 38%
so
Maybe that would well, but because they've already won the first one paravision even because the third match they should be in a very strong spot
Third once they lose the bomb up there that just that would have been the end of the round
But it took belcher not to clutch it
Hey, I have a clutch
Double dualies indeed long goes with a convincing pistol victory in the first half
Dominating a bomb site will see or paravision have out their slaves
We'll see if we can work it out from the U2.
Double smokes would be deployed early.
So just something thick and fast, maybe
in towards that B bomb site, trying to get up towards Short.
The split, smoking our connector and window position.
So it will be the B finish, but as Affle mentioned,
Joula leads, ready and waiting.
It's down to Cobra.
We know he's got Faruta lane, but overwhelmed towards Short.
And as the bomb will make its way in towards B.
Lits in the back.
Can you get one of those early headshots?
They're already jumping through their Soul fast,
just down on the site.
But here come the Joules.
A kill for either player, no turn, Belchenok, always getting shot in the back at this stage, the bomb, no one's picked it up right now.
They're fighting for their lives instead, they're provisioned if they lose this round, and they might not have a chance on the map at all.
Tecna with one more kill, Aulac's a nice gush, they're very low on health.
He could do this, Belchenok, he clenched into the last half, can he do it again now to open it up with?
That might actually make a difference, he's just outdulled unfortunately.
Pistols on either side and the Mongols win this one.
CT side looking good. Oh, absolutely came down to the minutiae that
Gush is all around everyone low Belchnock could have been the hero but unable to find a bomb plant power vision now
Presumably take the eco and run number two extending the lead of the Mongols to nine to five here in the second map of play dust to
Pretty woeful by their standards, but they are bouncing back admirably as we now do at the full eco
is one people and how he lost
each people felt you know already must have stopped each other
as a miss some sort of massive deep grenade i think they did
miss all give a little slash in the back that little love stuff
the punishment in the map of the truth is pretty well i don't know what again
and is
but it cannot be allowed it just cannot be allowed to happen one more time
For context, if you're just joining us, they lost to Glocks and won P250 twice on Dust2.
There was no Kevlar, and they had a 5-on-4 advantage and they still lost to it. It was crazy.
That was twice too many.
Yeah. For now, though, this looks like it's stable, at least.
They haven't recovered any rifles there. Sure, you've got a bit of a dink on Cobra's error,
but unless Belchnog finds another ridiculous headshot, it should be fine.
Speaking of rifles, Jayme extends his grasp and will be able to find one.
There am I, no Kevlar. Brown's still very much alive for them though.
Look at, I'm seeing him out.
Yeah, he's all the way tucked in towards that A ramp and will boost Jame up.
Very far forward, but at the same token, very far away from being able to reinforce anywhere else on the map if he needs to.
It was going to be a long run over here, Cobra Sierra started to get there, Jame.
He slipped the net, walked in behind. Techno seems to know, but he's looking the wrong way.
He's dead automatically, all the supply fails, and then the aim punch on top!
Jane can't find it, was the access points to the round victory.
That would have been it, I think, at a minimum it would have secured the bomb plant.
Now there's a lot more trouble here.
Coming in with the last pistols, 15 seconds on the clock, the backup is coming in now.
MCNEO's 5 seconds away from shooting them as well.
Yeah, they needed this.
Felt shot.
Oh!
Okay, back pass.
That's a quad!
They're gonna get the bomb plant, and there is no way this could work.
Oh my god, they've done it again. One eagle, four glocks and the Mongols have given it all away. You have to say though, Belchinoch,
he's finally going to go down and see if he can close this one out, but Sillo, he's walking around the back, he's got him.
Guess the final knock, but it's the baby squirrel to make them squeal.
Oh my god, they've done it again. One eagle, four glocks and the Mongols have given it all away.
way you have to say though Belchnock hitting some ridiculous shots there it
seemed like the round was over when Jay missed the back stab before there's no
chance there's no way they don't get into this one but if this sequence right
here the second shot my god unreal starts with them knifing him in spawn like
some sort of a cold bloodletting that we yeah right so he got stabbed by his own
teammates at the start goes on to get four kills and now it might have got
them back into this game. Tough love works Henry. That seems to be a short of a tough
love kind of team. That was the second round but it wasn't a four spot. That was a couple
of eagles. Nice grenade just to know. A couple of eagles and glocks again. That's the third
round now. Longers have lost to pretty much four eagles. And it was Belchow with what?
The 0-5 star we pointed out? Yes. He was having a rough one. He was getting demolished on
the stairs. Oh, flick. You've activated him. Couple of misses for Jamie in that first half,
but they are firing all cylinders now. Good God. What's a moment for para vision there?
That Jamie backstabbery fumbles the spray allows the big bombsite to be held by techno and
it still wasn't enough. I don't know what I'm watching any longer.
I'm loving it. I'm here for this round. So still not over. This is the force by bear in mind
This is a huge amount of power vision. This will they get a taste of their own medicine and is that's the question
This smoke can actually work with 30 seconds. Yeah, they have to go through it
There's no two ways about it. You need some need to pin some maneuver to come through. It should be fine
But we'll see yeah, I'm glad you mentioned ever connect a play coming in that's gonna open up your right
They have to run through and they do it with style flashed over in from Jane. They're not worried about the time
time and techno goes down here. So they make their way out. Paravision once again led back
into the game by the Mongols losing to these pistols. I mean, insane shots from from Belgium.
I don't get me wrong, but yeah, that one's a bit different. It's not like what we saw
in gust two. It's not like it was massive amounts of errors and fumbles and missed shots
going on. That was just crazy individual mechanical skill coming in from Belgium. One of the players
of the tournament so far it's got to be and he got stabbed by his own teammate
in spawn that is 64 HP no Kevlar and just steals the round away yeah comes out
shocking that was the force by 87 the gap we're going to be closed yeah so it's
gonna be 88 for sure
just on looking Sen as ever yeah stoic nothing could just rock his thinking in
this moment here. He expects a high level of performance from his players and he let
them know it as well, let the world know in fact that this is what it takes to be on
this team.
James scoped up here. It's going to be some sort of a mid-crunch I think coming out. They
don't have the flashbang, which I think is a bit annoying when you're on the CT side.
I wish someone could have invested. They actually couldn't. They have so little money. I take
it back. They shouldn't have bought a flashbang. They wouldn't have had enough. But yeah, they're
We're all here ready to go, let's see if they can actually align the coordination.
Not quite.
There should be a kill here, but Blitz unfortunately dropped by Nota, who seems to be getting stronger
and stronger as the rounds go by.
They've allowed him back into this game and it will be James.
Close things out.
That is a problem.
Of all five players surviving, they are knocking on the door of five digits in terms of the
finances for four players and they are right back into this game.
It was looking like a bit of a nightmare.
They lost both pistols, bear in mind.
are down 4-0 in the first half. They've also pistol in the second, but then won a full eco again.
That simply cannot happen against a team like Paravis and they will punish you every single time.
Individual smokes going down, one towards short, one at the window. It's a difficult buy here,
you can see they've had to sacrifice a lot of the key pieces of utility, helmets, no warp,
no diffuse kits, and this is the perfect time for an execution and when you know they're struggling
financially this is when you drop in this sort of cool it's perfect whatever
it works out is yet to be seen but it's the perfect call when the money is low
it means a lot of the utility for any kind of a retake or anything else like
that's gonna be very especially that diffuse kid oh yeah that's point they
don't have anything at all with that Molotov up towards the sandwich double
smoke towards jungle and the top of stairs blitz he's breathing it they're
pushing in front nine handle they're gonna set him on fire inside of the bomb
So now Blitz, this is a bit of an off angle. They weren't expecting it. He actually pushed in front of it. MC Leo's there.
What? They're still fighting for it. A minute on the clock. And Blitz, he hasn't even reloaded. He's got five bullets left.
This is crazy. Oh, that doesn't happen enough.
He needed that reload. Noter gets to live, and that should be enough.
It's a long old spray, and he can't quite find him. Noter!
He can lose this.
or even third life, there's the spray down, now picks up another pistol, another rightful.
It's going to be the M4 and there's plenty of bullets in this one.
35 seconds, anything touches, no touch.
Oh!
The triple for Techno, finally!
Some in the goes the way of the Mongols.
Couldn't find the space in the bomb side there.
Paravision with all the advantages they could ask for.
Couldn't flush out Blitz, they couldn't find spacing on the bomb side.
They were trading out effectively, essentially a three versus one.
Look at how well it's going to kick things off.
They took so much damage on Roof.
The Saviour though, Blitz, Emsenia working in tandem.
You think this kill from Jayne.
That's got to be enough.
Tecno's Borkay ducking and weaving.
Knowing the last player was low.
Noter cowering in the corner.
Huge round for them to pick up.
They maintain their lead, but at what cost?
One player survives.
They get 32.50 into the next round,
and there's meaning you're going to have to make do
with the save draw.
MP9's Famous, and again, a lack of utility,
no defuse kits. Yeah, they still have their backs to the wall right now. One round separating
these two teams. Paravision, but the bomb dropped over on this side. They have a really,
they have a huge, like, love for going for this B bomb site. Like, they'll be from AAPS
strategy, something that they're into, and I feel like it doesn't often work for them.
Well, see if they can make it work this time. They are starting to accumulate over on the
the hallways, taking already, sprays down the first, it's actually called for a
zero with the FAMASA, the back to get the kill. They've smoked it off, there's
still two people here, it's a big stack for the Mongols. Paravision, okay. Back
and forth we go, very important rounds here, especially for the Mongols, you lose
this one, it's gonna cost you a couple, it's Wade checking his angles, easy spray
down an MZ, that confirms the A bombsite is wide open, rotation's coming
through, blitz towards shore, he was the savior of the previous round and now 9-10
having to do the heavy lifting. Both players towards that connector right now and Jane going
for the wraparound. He's got the bomb, 30 seconds here. Greg Renate, significant damage
to 910, takes him down to 20 HP, but he's ready for that.
Yeah, the best weapon if you are going to be that low on health. What could you possibly
do with 20 seconds? Trying to suggest he's made his way towards B with all the silence
on the map. I like the idea, you're probably right. Maybe slip the nets. He is that kind
of an elusive player, but that was 9-10 with 3, and they extend their lead a bit more.
It's a cool timeout. Felt like these rounds should have been landing in favour of Paravision.
They had the advantages, but snatched away at the final hurdle. 9-10 steps up massively
with the AWP there. Carmen de Presche up. Crosshair placed in the correct position each
and every time. Reads that plate towards the ticket booth, and there's no bomb planted.
But as we said, huge reservoir of cash available for paravision by virtue of their early success
here.
But that's two rounds in a row.
An absolute pandemonium.
I was told to be apartments.
Multiple kills through the smokes.
It was technically wet down before.
That killed from sway.
That's got to be enough.
A quarter transition.
Belchnock, 9-10 finds a couple, makes him three in the end as well, denies that plant,
and they have got one more full buy available.
Double digits now for the Mongols, looking to take us to ancient.
The third and final map of the day
Yeah, we might need it at this stage the way to the Mongrels
deploying some of these rounds together money's still in a weird spot, but
As long as they keep winning it's not going to be an issue 9 10 up here
It allows them or should allow them to worry a little bit more about the middle and that a bomb site
They got three people stacked on a but a triangular defense going on
He does have back up here though, he doesn't mean nobody's watching catwalk
So we'll see how that changes smokes are coming in towards the window again
They want to go back like I said, they really love this be attack. Yeah, they're win rate on it is not that high
Well, it's gonna be 910
It's looking absolutely fantastic right now
This is that first shot was waiting for the confirmed kill
But he will find it on the second interaction and get the quickscape through the smoke
He absolutely can't it's a no-score. What's going on? They're not also not just running right by him. Yeah
Oh, they lost track of him at one point now. We've got what glocks and knives inside of the smoke. It's madness in this round
James goes down to blitz and Shwae was meant to be the late lurker coming through this side
That's a great idea. Once the bomb is down. Oh
another pretty game
by any stretch the series has had
plenty
of drama chaos
For now it's way
After the three versus one the be attacked was a great
You don't get many opportunities with nine ten's gonna miss two shots and this that's true
He ends up getting three kills in total
Round not necessarily over but the bomb is pretty far away. So I say that it is definitely over
Okay, there's no way he can actually do anything with this saving is the only option
Well, he's gonna be covered and died after time as well three seconds left two of them
They're slowly hunting him now around the corner.
They'll come for you.
They'll get him in the corner.
They don't have any nature or anything else like that.
Just cowering away and they get him.
Oh dear.
Yeah.
So that is the way with $600.
Longle's now touching distance of victory.
He will get no further cash.
This is starting to unravel.
Third map looks like it's locked in.
I feel like at any level of counter strike,
Anyone can recognize the horror of missing that shot when you're 9-10.
Yeah, and you're getting hunted down. You know they're coming right after you.
You're just gonna be running back, trying to throw out the grenades and everything.
Surprised that he handled himself so well.
But maybe some of these shots as well from HarryVision.
Now we're back. Look at the Hero 8K coming out.
And some upgraded pistols as well behind it, but is very scrappy once again to HarryVision.
not looking that great on the map right now
bombers back
towards teespawn
belchnock hanging around up in the palace with his d-ball
we'll see once the smoke fades if you could find an entry
as i've seen like they'll be given up to pistols this time
nice grenade recommend against it
at this stage of the game
that secure map points but the thing is
Paravision known as one of the most tenacious teams in all of Counter-Strike even when you find map points
Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing is locked in. Yeah, they hang in there for a long time
That's the way
Yeah, precision if I'm senior oh
Okay, it looks like one of them is gonna come ramp instead if the bomb dies then there's not much around to play for here blitz
Just exceptional
Yeah, I think the rest of the humanity at this stage
It would have been cool to see them try and get out and cut the ball and everything else
Not gonna be allowed for MC Leo with a double and the Mongols now at 12
They just need one more in the next four rounds and we go to ancient which I think is a whole another can of worms for the Mongols
I think it's gonna be a rough game on that one. But if they can make it that far
There's there's a conversation we had. Oh, they're starting to look better and better
definitely a shaky start
One both pistols here then losing to the full eco again
in that second half. You thought they were done before you thought they were cooked
but they are back on their feet. Four opportunities to close us out
you won't get a better chance than this one Anders. Two Galils. No AWP.
No to what is he got? He just got a Glock.
No, he's got an AK. It's fine.
Yeah, he just forgot about it for a second.
very early with the bomb in palace so I feel like all they need is a bit of
intel and they can try and see if they could split it okay they're not going
to be going that heavy through middle I thought maybe they would they're going
back in towards a belch not with a bomb on his back and towards palace to be
joined by Zelo and it will be in a finish with his wavelark so some mid
utility thrown down and then towards window defense of smoke thrown in
towards B, Cobra's error, very aware of their tendencies,
knows the way it likes to lurk around this area.
So we'll be the palace pop,
we've discussed that multiple times throughout the tournament.
Basic U2 goes down on the A side,
three players flood out of the palace.
You hope for the best, you hope you can hit your shots.
Sometimes no U2 though, okay,
there is gonna be a smoke to set it up,
so that's a bit of warning.
45% of all that smoke really makes things complicated
for them now.
There's one of the palace as well, yeah.
You can wait it out technically,
but it's going to be such a scramble into war day if you wait for the smoke to dissipate.
His way will fall back.
I just don't like this.
For parry vision, this feels very awkward.
The smoke's faded down Palace. They're going to try and go through Shuei.
That's your Q to go.
I think they're putting that is going to be the Q to go 20 seconds now.
MC Neo, he's down in the shadows. They're still walking out so slowly.
Finally, they start to hit that button.
It's going to be 9-10 to get a kill on No-Tur.
and they're down to three people alive with 10 seconds on the clock.
Where is the bomb plant? Now it's too late.
Belchnock, the bomb is lost back there.
They can't plant it any longer.
It's going to be the Mongols sending us on to a third map here.
The time has expired and we'll see ancient in this quarter final.
We have a lot to talk about.
I do want to just talk about that last round there because why are they so slow?
That's perversion for you.
That's the question really.
I was like, come on, I was thinking, do something, dammit!
Yeah, even though Molotov comes after two guys die, and it's like maybe throw that before,
then you get the kill, trade out, and then go on site.
But no, it was an interesting game, an interesting game, but I think Muggle definitely showed
why they picked this map, why they picked it all the time, they were more proficient on it,
they felt more comfortable with some of these default-ish rounds that they did,
just ended up netting them the victory more often than not so didn't really need to
figure out any crazy plays or anything just did the basic senate work out. I mean also they won
both pistols converted both pistols until it was the fourth pistol round in the first half
it was like the half-bike goes the wrong way then I think the third round in the second half where
the fourth bike goes the wrong way but still I mean that's a six-year elite off of just pistols
effectively you know and that's that's going to do a world of good for you obviously. Other than that
I mean towards the end I just want to give props to 910 because he had back-to-back big rounds even last round another triple kill
I think four of the last or three of the last four rounds
He had triple kills and after being pretty quiet throughout the whole series so far. So props to him. Yeah
I mean for me, it's kind of the same story of television's like a side
Defense is just not good enough like Belcher knock. He started pretty rough. It's the same old story
He's always kind of on an island no one supporting him. He doesn't get traded. He doesn't get any support
he can't get the entry like entry on the bomb on the bomb side defense and then after that even if
he does somehow everything falls apart they can't get jame activated in some of these rounds and
it's just it's looking pretty rough because the mid control eventually would always go to
to mongols they do a easy pretty simple 3 1 1 split or something like that and get on the bomb
side just keep grinding that aside from some you know heroics from the individuals it looked pretty
one-sided. One-sided, but I mean it did look, you can correct me if I'm wrong.
Yeah. Better from ParaVision than what we've seen on this map in the last three days.
Yeah, they managed to get five on the defense which is kind of okay, but unfortunately you know the
second half after that one round where they're supposed to get momentum from an eco win, they
get in two very advantageous positions and don't convert them and after that it's
kind of the money is in the in the bin for the end of this game and Marcos pull it through there it is.
Yeah I mean I was just saying like there was there was 88 I mean it was not there was anything
but comfortable honestly and yes it was because of those couple of eco's going going the wrong way
and Perivision more relying on on on Browns that they shouldn't win rather than you know being very
proficient across the board but it did get dangerous to towards the end. For sure I mean they look a
little bit more inspired tough love clearly works in their favor they were some moments though as well
And I mean I think you have one of those rounds where you see the turning point starts to happen with para vision
You see some glimmers of hope if you like from this. I mean, this is all belcher not really
Yeah, I mean this is a bit of more walls being careless, you know, just taking all the duels and made
We have this situation where jame could have just closed around here
But he didn't and then belcher knock hits whatever the hell this second shot is
is puts his team in a 2v1 that Zelo is able to close out.
And at that point, you're like, OK,
this could go ParaVision's way, right?
And after that, they do an A bomb site hit.
They get into a 3v1.
They lose that.
Then in the next round, they're also going for a crunch,
and it doesn't work out.
And that's it.
That's it kind of from ParaVision.
I do think that it's sort of to do
with the clash of play styles between the two teams as well.
We saw a couple rounds where not just the last round,
but there was also one before that
but they ended up losing with, I think, Nota on the Tetris,
just kind of struggling to play off of Jame with like an HP
or something like that.
That entire round, they're stuck in ramp
for what feels like the longest time.
And Mongols are really always quick at rotating in.
And they're always super dynamic on the CT sides.
They're always ready to react off of information.
And they just effectively punish Paravision
for their super slow approaches.
They're always going to wait out until they
have the situation right, until somebody peeks into them
and stuff like that.
We can just sometimes backfire though.
Yeah, I mean, Kenry I think highlighted one of those rounds where it's like the executors coming in
Mongols have no utility for a retake. They have like one flash or whatever.
And they just keep running through the smokes and taking duels which, you know,
maybe are not the ideal way of winning the round, but it's the best option they have
and it's the option that suits them. And that's how they converted Mirage.
And Mirage is honestly the best map in the map pool and has been forever in CS.
Controversial.
This is what it offers.
I love how you presented that as a full-on fact.
You were like in the middle of an analysis and you're like,
I'm just going to drop this in and I'm going to do it in the same tone so no one sees what I'm doing.
You know, people are chatting right in chat, but I'm the only guy with a microphone,
so it must be accepted.
It must be true.
Just because you said it, it's true, right?
This is how Mongols, just overpower teams sometimes, you know,
they are just so quick at responding to information, you know, regardless of whether it's the right play.
Sometimes it is the right place because everybody does it at the same time, they just do it
together.
Sometimes it looks a little bit like high-level plugging just because they hear information
on one side of the map and everybody's like, ah, I want to go frag.
And that's kind of mongos in a nutshell sometimes.
But it does work.
They are so sharp, so quick, and they will surprise you with those timings a lot of the
time.
A bad call done with confidence is better than a good call not done with confidence, or whatever
the saying is.
As Flusha said famously one time.
things such as won't pay taxes.
You just keep going, but then I'm like,
stop now, Prof, stop now, and he just keeps on going.
Okay, we're going to keep on going to a third map.
So how do we think Ancient plays out for these two teams?
Well, it's a six-map streak, win streak from Paravision on this map.
There looked pretty good. I think it's a map that goes into,
obviously, there is mid, but mid is not that open.
There's a lot of, there's more ratty plays to be done
then going on and full-on brawling, which is something that Paravision is good at to just stack the right bomb site,
fight a bit, maybe get an entry kill and then fall back and just kind of gamble on the CT side, and then on the T side.
Obviously, this is something that I've noticed from the Mongols as an issue, is they're a bit careless sometimes,
and giving away free kills when the back patrol is not 100% clear where it is.
And this is a map that I feel like suits Paravision really well, especially on the T side, because the rotation can be so fast and they can react off of information so quickly.
And that's what Jame does really well, and that's what Paravision really play off of a lot, that seesawing, you know, where they pull on one side, they feel like, okay, we're getting some resistance here, we're going to pull to the other.
And then as they rotate from the other side, we're going to go back.
And this back and forth, that Paravision really excel at a lot of the time.
And Ancient actually does favor that a lot.
We sometimes even see them run like these half mini fakes towards A,
where they actually do send out a couple of guys just to fake it out,
see if we should commit, should not commit.
Meanwhile, you see Jame on T spawn with a bomb just still waiting.
Okay, what's the information over here?
Can I actually go there?
Can I not go there?
There's two guys on the other side of the map,
just still also like pulling towards B and seeing what's happening there.
And he's just happy in the middle of the map waiting for Info to come in.
Punishing aggression with the AWP, that's something that James is really comfortable doing.
Just sitting somewhere alone even and having the rest of the team try to find openings or whatever
and just punishing the easy kills with a scope.
So what does the Mongols need to do to shut them down?
I mean, I think the thing for me is Mazzino didn't really do too much,
especially on Dust2, he didn't really do anything.
Mirage was okay, I think he is on the CT side,
very important as like A to mid player,
that's where, I mean, you can't give away stupid deaths,
but also you will have those rounds
where five men execute is coming at you,
and you need to get like two or stay alive for longer.
So I think I want to see a bit more from him.
For me, it's all about the CT side
because I've been mentioning the two side struggles
for Mungals and it's kind of hard to get out of that.
It's more the CT sides that they've relied on, so I feel like they just need to get a good defensive half in.
I mean, the CT sides were a little bit better on the last map, we saw at least.
Yeah, that's true.
Yeah, Mirage, but I feel like Mirage is maybe not that problematic in the T side.
But here, I mean, it is a story about Blitz taking more of the openings.
Sans would not be here, the classic story.
For me, it's had pretty good game aside from that 1v1 against Nauta that he threw away.
I think he's been pretty impactful, so seeing a bit more of that is going to open up the map for them.
Well, there we go. Mongols winning on the base map in the map pool according to Prof,
and they've even batted the series. We're heading to Ancients to decide which team,
the Paravisional Mongols, will make it through to the PGL Bucharest semifinals.
Don't go anywhere, all the action continues after this.
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Ladies and gentlemen welcome back to PGO Book Arrest 2026 you join us for the final map
the final map of the evening,
the final map of the quarter finals here,
and it's going to be Mongols taken on
ParaVision here on ancient.
The winner will go on to play foot
tomorrow evening in the semifinals
and is and it feels like ParaVision
might have a slight lead in terms of
the data we have available when it comes
to ancient. I think Prof and
Striker broke it down very well.
Is grim picture of the moments will
find out these two teams have weirdly
never played each other. I know we
ever. That's so strange but still you look at the win percentages it is looking
very much like Paravision are gonna be off to to a good start. I'll say this
before we get into it Henry. The T mid position opening up on T mid super
important obviously. Sure. Best in the world right now in the top 10.
Makaze. Yeah of course. That makes sense. That makes sense. He's got a one two four
rating in this position. Blitz who's gonna be doing it for the Mongols is zero
64. Okay. 0-64 rating. I'm not saying that's the only problem they have on this map, but if you don't have a strong opener on the middle, this map becomes very hard to play.
I really like that, Anders. It's set to seem nicely. For now, though, it will be the Mongol starting on the CT side. We can see multiple decoys here for paravision.
So I'm assuming they're going to try and bait our utility.
Wow, pretend I do love decoys.
I feel like it's never spoken about at all.
But the fact they've purchased two of them here,
they're going to suggest it's some sort of execution
towards the A side of the map, throw those decoys over,
and then try and pounce elsewhere.
We'll see what they've got in store for us.
This could be a smoke first.
Interesting to see what they'll do with the decoys.
It's all part of the plan.
Okay, look over.
Decoy deployed.
In theory, if they had some kind of utility, they couldn't even throw it out.
But they're still coming with the bomb to the A-bomb site.
Let's found the opening.
MC Unio boosted up here. He's got the dualies. That's a good lockdown.
They need more of this, though.
Coming in for the donut position, MC Unio.
He's trying to juggle both positions at once.
I don't love this.
There's seven bullets left here in the dualies. He can't find it!
He nearly ran out of bullets!
And now it's CobraZera only good for the one.
No to find three.
And Krax opened the A-bomb site.
They have 50 seconds. They're running away.
the same. It is the old classic now. ParaVision never happy with the advantage they have.
They will reset the round and open up the door opportunity here. Techpad 4K had a fantastic
performance on Mirage, top frags by some margin. And now he's up against it in the two versus
one, tucks himself in towards doughnuts. Looking to take a bite out of ParaVision here, but
They are on their way to the B bomb site.
I don't think any risk here.
It's gonna be wide open for them.
That's why it confirms that
all will be planted no problem.
And honestly, that should be the run.
I don't see a way back in.
You're so far removed.
You can see on the minimap.
Couldn't really be further away if you tried.
Yeah, and what is he supposed to do, right?
If he runs and then all they've done
is wait outside of the bomb site, they come back in.
Like either way, he's gonna look like a fool.
So staying where he is, as good as anything really,
trying and hoping to find somebody,
but the ball has already passed a halfway point.
Because yeah, it's so deep into this one.
Running on that, you could even argue saving the Cavalier
might be an idea, but yeah, he can't even find them.
It's like, where are they on the ball side?
They're finally gonna show themselves
when it's already too late.
That's pretty well played.
Avangard approached there from paravision, the decoys, the smokes in towards A, trading
our kills effectively, get the 2 on 1 advantage and go all the way back towards B where it
felt like a foregone conclusion.
Do you think there's any chance Henry that if you're, let's say you were holding that
front position with the smoke or an incendiary in hand and you hear the decoys behind you
if you're not fully paying attention, do you think I'll direct you to the A and I'll throw
down my smoke early?
Yeah, I guess that's maybe the idea, the intention.
I guess I don't know for sure, but it's very rare, you see these decoys purchased, they're 50 bucks, you can buy Kevlar and a decoy, but for now, and there's we've got a full eco, so no decoy required here, and we'll be a contact A player to full on B stack coming in from the Mongols.
That's sad, we don't even get to see anything then.
No, not really, the round's pretty much already done.
The Mongols are not to know trying to get some info here realizing that no one's home
Smokes go down. Don't edit city spawn
Born his smokes little bit delayed, but the don't smoke all right eventually
They're making sure they are they have they have a flash on bits. They could flash their way through the smoke
It's a miss don't smoke. It is a miss one here. They can't flash on over. You can't see a thing
But at the end of the day, my nomads are not sure if anyone on the Mongol side could see much of anything either
They're dying inside of the smoke
somewhere
Okay, second knife out comes
There's a whole round where we can't see who's dying
Well, it's still very clean there for paravision suffering a single casualty
So money's gonna be flowing nicely
That's gun rounds here and fours across the board
But with such a successful round you could have the glills maybe a Mac 10 in the mix as well
I can't recall but yeah, it's gonna be a difficult one for the Mongols
They won't have everything they need they'll have to make do of an MP9 and two Famous is there
Yeah, I would love for an early AWP on 910 gonna be the mid fight coming in no
To try to find out opening bumping into each other inside of the smoke
It's a bit chaotic and I think they're gonna they're gonna pull the cord on this one
see they could parachute their way out. Nobody dies, you can take a lot of damage.
Half in, half out, there's been a lot of that today from Paravision but so far
not too bad, it's gonna be that Mach 10. So there is one available. Plenty of players
of our helmets. Techno is not one of them though, he is protected.
Gonna back up from 910. They said set off in position, there will be a B
execution with a late luck.
Okay, well what's the plan here, Techno?
For Mars?
Let's get the spray down, but I mean,
a rate of fire on the Mach 10 is nothing to scoff at.
Wait, is there still a kind of reaction to get out of this one?
I'm not going to be committing off the initial bombardment of utility.
Well, notice, way back there with a lot of grenades in hand.
I see. Yeah, final execution.
That's a really nice one. Look at how they set this B bomb site on fire. 9-10, over the
first spam comes out. Yeah, the 9-10, the fire rate is so high, the grenade on top of 9-10.
A disastrous start to the defense here at the B bomb site, 3 versus 5, and they're going
to go, uh, plant the bomb right away. MCO, heroic move, you'll get that kill. He keeps
He keeps around alive somewhat, but essentially it's over, a 4 on 2.
We've already talked about the concessions that have to be made here after the full eco
in a second, and there's not going to be saving much at all.
Let's try to see if we can get one, but it's very nice round there from PowerVision.
3-0, partial by territory for the Mongols.
It's been pretty smooth sailing so far.
PowerVision, very comfortable there in the first gun round.
pump on the B execution of the pub parking up Zelo in towards the cave. He manages to
win his duel with the MAK 10 even with the helmet in play. It seemed like a comfortable
kill for him. Yeah, super good work. It's not goes down. Nothing towards donuts but we
are going to be exploring the options towards A. There will be some pushback this time though.
Even on the ECO 910 pushing into a day name spots a few of them. Well that dissuaded them
from their attack time will tell. Gonna have his way setting up the utility once more.
Bear in mind they did miss the donut smoke before but that'll happen again yet to be
seen won't make a massive difference again even if he does. Yeah but it's worth what
we like to keep track of these things. Well yeah this tournament has been a little bit
questionable with utility for almost every team. That is yeah on Dust2 I mean you smoked
so we seen miss on that door. Haven't seen too many missed window smokes on the Raj
I guess we're improving that smoke is fine for them at this time. It's a shown up
They need to line up that could have been a triple for him two good kills nonetheless for it's great
I show catching them with their roots in the ground. There's nobody on P
They're running back now the desk thought about this too. They laughed a little they said James loves doing this
You know running back and forth when there's you know when he's got the opportunity
It must be very very hard to be on the other side
Your mongols you've no idea like what they just won the a bomb site. They're not even gonna plant here
Comes down to this interaction
And it's gonna be a 2 on 2 low HP good information
You might as well make you in towards a now confirmed that there's a rifle over towards the base at the map
Grenade
Does all the damage actually Cobre's error trying to group forces way into the water bomb site here M4
Expending a lot of bullets smoke goes down at the plant front of it
So much to do though and little to say
To all one second now. We already know he's been dinged. I
I actually think the only chance he had, Cobra Sierra, was to push in front of that smoke if they wanted the chance to take it.
In terms of, yeah, it was a huge gamble, huge risk.
Yeah.
Percentages were not in his favor, but that's all he really could do.
Yeah, if he waits around on the other side, his teammate has no health at all, that's never going to really work out.
This is a tough start.
The money not with the Mongols.
They lose all the early rounds so far, four in a row right now for Paris Vision.
having a hard time getting set up with all of the rifles that they need to finally
get that 9-10 on the AWP is yet to get a kill we're gonna see him senior as well
and I think Prof mentioned that he's pretty good at this mid-donut position
that he's playing and I agree that could be one of the things that could save
them hopefully it will be because they do need that at the moment this time he's
playing towards that red room a little bit early on gonna try and see if they can
Rush the middle try and crunch anything that's coming through its techno with two big kills. Here we go
Just what we needed that's what they didn't nine ten gets us first that's good enough
Five versus two no reason to find any longer. Well, there's one minute 20 now. Not only we saying Parisians should save here
But they've got
cash
Look at some kills, but the time Lord himself. He's happy to wait this one out
and towards T spawn but road away for now seeing if the inquisitive CTs will come a hunting
But yeah, just joining us you might as well go through what we've seen so far in a series Anders
It's been a hell of a day of Counter-Strike, but we opened things up with dust too, which was an absolute horror show for the Mongols
Losing to multiple full Ecos
Didn't seem like they ever really turned up to the map at all. I was picked by para vision
It was 13-6, moved into Mirage, where Mongols certainly woke up.
Techno and 9-10 especially had one hell of a showing.
It was fantastic to watch and there was a few fumbled rounds of paravision.
They were kind of in two minds as to where they'd finish things up.
They had huge advances.
They were giving away there as well.
But I think that was more of a case of Mongols playing very well.
Not down to like crazy individual errors or anything like that.
And now we're here on the third map of Ancient.
Bear in mind, we're now going to play Foot tomorrow and well, there it is.
They will hunt him down.
Gamecore nothing until he's spawned will lose everything.
But they should have plenty of money going forward.
James could even purchase the AWP.
He has just shy of $9,000.
Well, as we go into round number six there.
For the long rules, I think making the semifinals here,
I mean, they are one of the better teams
that started the tournament,
but they just haven't been looking quite like themselves.
Great news if they could make it a little bit deeper
for Paris vision.
another team that somehow looked like they're in rough waters at the moment they want the rematch
against foot who beat them earlier in the tournament 2-0 and I for one be very interested to see how
that plays out if you know how much can jean manager fix can they get this team back on track
foot they do look very very strong at the moment four to one as the timeout is expiring
see if they can start to make a dent on his CT side the Mongols need to close the gap here
opting for AKs across the board here Jane preserving his cash there's no he goes to
the tech nine instead of an AK okay it's a 3k residual yeah yeah 9k I mean could have been
bought more than that but yeah fair enough dropping over to the rest of the team I think
he just wants to save money to the teacher. Okay, well, I don't mind it.
So, hello, he's down. Maybe a little bit careless walking in like that. There's not
even any kind of a Grinch flashbang or anything to set that up. He just tries to face-check
it, gets dropped immediately straight on the B ramp, but we're seeing her right on the
other side of it. Oh my god. 10. That's just the perfect timing. They do wall bang him
down. True. So, at least they're still in the round. There are men down still, bound
Should I get you in this fight? It's not gonna happen. Techno will drop him instead. Well, they're low on health could be in a long save Henry
That's a three on two. I guess that's technically still alive. So
Yeah, doesn't look like they'll be doing much of this one 45 seconds remaining. You're right. They are both low flashback between them
Jamers 33 Henry once that although he's gonna have to die as counterproductive as that sounds, but
We'll see what he opts to do get 1900 into the next
I don't love how they wanted to get into that b-lane. I feel like once you're already a little bit late to get there
Kind of just walking in and hoping that you're gonna be able to do it
Well, at least you'll be able to drop the AK-47 if he does survive this one. So
Looks like that's gonna be the case. We've all seen this before
Paravigent saving the AK-47s here. Strange approach to the round
like I said 9k for Jane, opts for the tech 9 instead and
And doesn't really work out for them trying to hammer at home in that B bomb side, but it will be nice team effort there techno Cobra and 910 all chiming in with kills
910 really coming to life here
In the latter stages of this quarterfinal
Bit of a master on ancient whenever you see him always finds one or two
Let's see where the time reaching can bounce back here as we mentioned
and James can drop one AK, but does he want to do that?
Does he want to save the money for the AWP in the future?
Do they want to take a partial here around the two
save AKs?
These are the questions and that's
why they'll take the time out.
Yeah, difficult question because it's
one thing is that their own economy,
but another thing is letting Mongols back into the game.
If they go for a bunch of partials here,
there's a chance that the CT side will
start to accumulate more and more cash
and they already kind of are.
By the way, Parivision actually win more of their rounds
statistically on the T side of this map.
Okay. That's kind of interesting. 235 rounds played in the last three months.
And it's about 57% on the T side.
And a bit of a streak on Ancient as well.
What's the cool going to be?
James opts, he's dropped his AK again.
So James opting for the tech nine once more.
Fascinating decisions being made here.
So he's the one who saves the AK.
Look, gives himself the tech nine again.
Long gone are the days when he always had Sanju to drop the AWP.
Yeah, good point.
For those that remember, it's only the AWP slave.
Blitz, nice movement to get himself up towards the heavens.
Jumps up there alone.
And it is going to be that partial investment here for the two saved AKs.
Very noble of James to offer up one of the rifles to his star players, Nota and Belginog were to try and make this one work.
Okay, they're going back now
It's about to ask you what the protocol is for 910 if he lands the first kill like does he stay behind the box or run away?
But I guess we don't have to
Just running down that clock seem what's available to them that flashed into water middle
Stop from notes up that dropped a k worth its weight in gold so far. They've got the opening kill blitz goes down
That's what we're looking for
Belchnook left the bomb towards A main, it's 9-10 now.
With the defense.
Next kill will be for Notec, gets himself a couple, they have 9-10, needs to hit multiple shots,
but he's being ran down.
And it all looks fantastic here for paravision.
It does.
Two people left.
Pills openings in the middle for Notec making all the difference, and they smoked off the red room again.
It feels so satisfying for James to drop that AK and say, No to it, go kill.
Yeah, get this job done.
Yeah.
Yeah, and that's exactly what he does. Young gun delivering the goods, no doubt definitely making a name for himself in 2026.
Very capable rifle up.
Two clean kills.
We talked a little bit about Blitz, right, and how that was a potential threat to them. The fact that on the T side they're not going to have that same kind of an opening.
No, it's a doing really, really good work at the moment. And yeah, he is 106 rated opening T middle, so significantly better.
maybe that'll be a factor in the game certainly helps them out this time five to two they get to save an AK and
The M4 there as well on cobra zero
We have a Parisian. This is this is back to being a good start again
I was getting a bit nervous for a minute there one of these rounds that I lost looked a little bit
Confusing for Parisian like they were all the cooking things a bit, but time out now called for the Mongols
Not known for their timeouts last couple of tournaments without the coach
But he feels as one slipping away third and final map here and after losing the pistol they found themselves in the
04 hole
Magic to recover though. There were some decent be holds
Couple of rounds in a row, but then losing to the partial by by virtue of James dropped a K
He now does have his AWP and as any got it for free
That's that's efficient economics right there. Yeah, he's really optimized every part of it. He loves to do that
But their money is strong, he gets a free upgrade from his tech buy into the AWP, and
it's looking like another Power Division victory.
Really comfortable so far on the T side.
No calamity really taking their time, pulling the opposition around the map and their star
players stepping up lits.
His lovingness for Nouver though.
Really nailing the Nouver each and every time to give himself a sort of oppression towards
the B lanes confirming no one's homes.
Zellos are gonna have to wait on the other side smoked off from the double doors for now
Be joined by his way and they're more than happy to wait these smokes out
The full b-lane control so far for the Mongols
Jame looking to shut that down because of some presence here AWP
CT's refused to give up this control they'll smoke the double doors again
It's so efficient because they could keep throwing that smoke in those double doors
But eventually they will run out so that's what Paravigio they're banking on
Yeah, and if anyone's going to be patient when it comes to that time, it will be a game.
You might not care.
Still got one minute left. The smokes are now gone. They have one more remaining on Techno.
So does he smoke the double doors now? Or does he try and squeeze it out? There it is.
It's a nice sound to throw. It's still a very potent smoke.
Again, Paravision will be happy to wait it out, but you've got five players on this side of the map.
This is the problem, trying to wait out all the utility, because we're going to be at about the 25-second mark before they can even go through.
Look at the timing though, they don't have more smokes, but now they've got MCO.
So they're pulling in a third player.
25 seconds.
Yeah, surely he wants to join the rest of the team here. The crossfire is set up.
Do they have any flashes or anything? No, again, they're peeking at Ross.
Oh, that's a shot! And they take down MCO behind them!
Three man set up a giant crossfire and still somehow Parisian break through seconds. Yeah
They still have time to make the cross though smoke is up. He's making the job
He's gray down through but he will get the bomb plant do now they're in trouble. You just go to respect there
Yes, you do
He's gonna fall shoot James when it works out. It's a beautiful thing. I
Can't believe they waited out. They don't even flash their way through
three people on the other side ready to swing.
You start to doubt yourself. I say, oh, you're sat there for the entirety of the round.
Your mind is elsewhere. You're losing focus.
There's no sound cues. There's nothing on the map. Where the hell could they be?
You don't anticipate five players way to mind the double doors.
No, it's so unusual.
It is because normally you would say, if you have the entire T-Force in this little box,
you've no map control. Like, they could be pushing along.
There's like, there's so many reasons why not to do this on the T-Side.
side and maybe that's exactly why it works. By the way, I think Belchenog is sat
crouched waiting for M.C. Niels Peak. So he just has one roll in that push. He's
just waiting for the secondary ramp peak and it shuts him down. That is
really painful. You just hate to see that. You're thinking, guys, we've locked them
out the round. They might be saving. We've owned them here. They can't do anything.
Every 25 seconds, when this smoke finally goes down, you look at the clock, but
there was more than enough. Never doubt James and the clock. Crazy, crazy round. You don't
see any other teams operate by this. But this is like, it used to be called boring, but
this is like a spectacle. That's entertainment right now. Yes, we used to have been a lot,
I fully agree with you. I'm not complaining anymore. I just think James is such a smart
player is so much fun to watch him work this and they're just doing it again
they just make the perfect call the perfect read get your opening kill then
other defense and then slowly but surely creep on over towards that a bomb site
you've got James showing presence over towards be here we're smoking off the
cave they have no intel right now we do have cobras error what can you make of
He's in towards the temple right now, and I'll have to say a prayer if he's gonna pull this one off Anders
Yeah, this is awkward you'd love 9 10 back here with the or find the first kill easily a bit of an off-angle
But it's hard to get many kills in the molecule swing or so. He's trained to trade into it
Honestly again probably the only thing you could have done to try and really save the round here
He gets traded up by sway now more backup is coming
But they are getting knocked out as they come through the smoke one by one
He's there. He gets the first one. He can three people.
Okay, as you can see, if you get no scope there, maybe he's onto something.
The bomb was planted in smoke. Who knows what could have happened.
But, yes, another master class there from James perfectly played.
Timeout called by the CTs. That is the Mongols who find themselves 7-2 down.
He's getting that opening pick, pumping the brakes, waiting for your opportunity,
knowing that the CT defense is going to be spread thin and normally the bomb
side of the stat is going to be B. With one player there, now it's going to be
Cobra's Eric, it's Molotov out of position, wide swing, sure he gets one kill but
nowhere near enough and now they're desperate on the Mongol side. I'm glad
you mentioned a little detail though of Jane throwing the smoke into the B
bomb side of that short position because that short smoke is like that's the
signature move that we're going to be executing B you know, we're ready to go.
So, it makes it very hard for the Mongols to rotate anywhere.
And you just don't know, are they? Is it five players behind the people all together?
Like, he's like, are they doing the same maneuver? We have no information.
And like we pointed out, these two teams have never played each other.
It doesn't mean obviously the Mongols can study,
but you don't have that straight-up feeling of what is it like to play Jame in this way.
And now, he has so much control, he's inside their heads, he can call anything at this stage.
Now you might just want to change up the pace and go for a fast B-play.
You've been so patient, so slow and methodical so far. Maybe this is the opportunity to say, you know what?
We're just gonna get out that B-Ramp. We're just gonna start playing
Heads up counter strike, but for now we'll take that B-Lane control.
No CT tone this time. The Blitz has been more than willing to take this fight time and time again.
Does he dare swing around this corner?
Spots a couple, goes with the wall bang and does get the opening frag. That's not bad.
Well shot goes down again. They're all locked in here on the side of the map
Paravision last time they fought their way out.
No one's been tagged up even though he's been getting so many great entries on
this map. Now he's down to 44. He's eight and three. James eight and two.
Paravision with the seven to two lead. This is a well defended bombsite over at B.
The double stack in towards the cave very hard when you wide swing this.
So hello thinking about it. He sees this one player below. They might guess both of their the front bank
We don't even bet so but they're still finding a kill. I don't know how they survived this the Mongols
They couldn't see the opening through the wall again
Okay, 33 seconds. This is a chaotic round
What nobody's hitting any shots here in the cave at all and now blitz is flashed in good for the double and 25 seconds
They're again running away. They're doing it one more time Henry
Oh, I was gonna say James gonna try and fake in towards P but that is round
There's there's no way even James will pull this one off as there's not enough time which has been the opposite word of this entire
ancient map
Bomb down towards middle wild
Crazy round the flashbang there for the double-seed
I'm so good. Oh good. They couldn't see anything
I guess maybe Parisian could not either
But it felt like they emptied for three or four rifles in the cave with nobody even hitting each other
Well, the hero of the round is blitz
It's like I said, he's been trying to get involved with that B-Heaven approach each
and every round, trying to find the presence towards B-Lane.
Finally gets what he's looking for and gets a hat-trick.
As we get into the Finals round here, it's been a blood bath.
Paravision is pulling them around the map.
Is James still playing with that same stall on the WP after all these rounds?
I can check for you.
I wonder if it's the same one.
He's got a lot of money.
That's why I'm thinking that he's just been playing with that same one.
I think you might be right. Yeah, that's incredible financials. Yeah, why why buy when you can steal not financial advice, but
It's working out well, James
Okay, well once again, they were outside of the B bomb site in this tiny part of the map
Technos on the other side with an MP9
The Mongols need every single round they can get right now they've got to make this a 7-5
I
Said Paris are a bit stronger on the t-side that the CT size not that bad
So don't underestimate them. It's not like they're gonna flip sides here and suddenly do nothing
There's only one defender
Techno with an MP9 this and like okay, they're retaking me behind them. I get that for Mongols
They better be doing this very very fast. He needs help
Corporal Sierra has started to get there techno good for the one, but I don't expect him to get more than that
Now they're putting some pressure on. 50 seconds early in the round by James
standards. The cavalry is arriving for the Mongols. They're not even committed yet.
No, I know, right? The fact they don't actually commit off that, they're going to
wait until they have the utility behind it and they might not even finish up
towards B. There's a wild day just knife out and go to the other side of the
map. I don't think that's possible now. Maybe not, but this is excruciating. You
pulled this up earlier and I'm glad you did. On the CT side you must be thinking
what is happening? Why can't they just commit to a site? Surely they're doing
The MC Leo's in the middle. It's a good catch. At least he's making sure no one's running through there
But nine and he wanted to peek he goes down the boost on Jane and now a double set of in the back here deep monitor
10
Open it up again. No time left in the round bomb goes down with six seconds on the clock
This is a true J masterclass right now
This is when the game plan goes perfectly like nine ten just wants to peek
He he is itching for that bit of information. Yeah, you need a and James knows it
It's like the fact you're boosting up on the T side box at 25 seconds remaining the round that's when you decide to do it is
Unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it, but it's like as you mentioned. They're starved of info
They need something and he has to take a peek see what's going on and James knows that
Takes him down the floodgates open the Molotovs deployed locking in the remaining CTs to a horrible angle and they get blown up
the water. One more round to go with four players surviving. They even had Emsenio in the middle,
so if the Mongols didn't know, they must have been thinking maybe they've walked back through T
Spawn, like they would have to take that long way around to even be at the A bomb site. I really
think he's just completely mind game them. They're so confused right now that they're going into this
round with whatever they can buy. Last round of the half, scoreline is eight to three. Paravision
have probably done more than enough here in the first half already.
Just in terms of what he's done to their mental.
He hasn't had a minor score line.
That's true.
It's been so stressful just to work out what's going on.
They've had enough.
They're like, you know what, this is full centre.
Let's just start getting some into ourselves.
We can't read around for Jamie any longer.
We want to play this game.
Let's push some smokes.
This gets stuck in, but yeah, they've lost Cobra's area.
He's still in 10 right now.
9-3 looking very, very likely.
Techno just trying to get anything out of this one.
smoke off those double doors all you like we've learned now that they'll wait
those out no problem and while I do that so you've given them the B lane
control they think they have a good read of the situation but what's the final
play here paravision or resmoke red room courtesy of notar and they've stacked the
a bombsite they're assuming they're going towards A does James pull it out of the
hat again and go towards B I think he's going to I think he's in their heads so
bad right now this is why it's not even funny they're assuming okay it's more
than saying they've got the pig they got a contact plan towards it like they
have been almost every round but no it's actually the opposite wherever you've
stacked they go in the other way and you can hear the heaven from cave they're
coming from ramp you've got one guy to defend techno great showing on Mirage
to be fair flashed off though very uncomfortable needs backup right now
needs at least one kill here there's the first traded out surely that play and he
He keeps the round alive, Anders. He's done enough.
That's actually really impressive.
Oh, they're going to go...
No, they are going to go...
Okay, this one and two are nuts.
There's no way.
Litz is going to go down, but they can make it there.
This is a grotesque display. He is abusing the Mongols.
Why is he getting away with it?
Sway gets the last kill, but they would have planted on the A-bomb side.
What a half!
Absolute masterclass from Jane.
He has made them look foolish out there.
He is running circles around them tactically
When the game put game plan comes together, it is a thing of beauty. No other team plays like this
It's so difficult to manage if you were playing a game like this, Henry
You'd be pulling up the scoreboard to report people instantly and say this is no way they know every every time
He's conditioned them so well to feel like
Every time they get control he'll go elsewhere as soon as he's conditioned them
He's going back in towards B then he's going back into water
Even when he has full control of the B bomb, so you think Tet has got two kills,
we'll rotate him, we've got a chance of winning the round,
well, they just park one player up, and they go to the other side of the map.
Just...
Thanks, sir.
It feels like they're done.
It feels like they've been absolutely bamboozled here, would be an appropriate word.
Yeah, this...
I mean, it's a brilliant first half to watch.
You're not going to see this very often.
This really is a rare treat that we've been given by Jane,
pulling the defense all over the place playing round after round down to the
last couple of seconds but every time he's got the perfect idea he knows the
Mongols in a peak he knows they're gonna rotate he knows that they're gonna be
curious and just when they are that's when he strikes now second arm is coming
up in a parry vision close now to the semi-final they want that rematch against
foot and no turn will send them off in a good direction and senior goes down
there is another single defender on the B bombsite so you're fighting this you
You could just go down the bomb right now and that's what they're going to be doing.
There is no kit for the retake either, so still a little round here for the Mongols,
especially now that Cobra Zero's got that kill.
Nice kill there from Cobra Zero, he needs to pull his socks up here, they're going to
stand a chance in this 9-3 deficit, he's still looking very promising though, you're right.
But as we know, they are more than willing to buy their time here and we've got a backstab
coming in from those double doors, it's going to be nice of him making his presence known
And finally, but I don't think there's enough time to even defuse this bomb, just trying to contain, find a few kills.
But it is going to be a pistol victory here for the Mongols, and one they desperately needed.
Is there one more kill available? There is. So, no, I've got a 4-spider sycamore, I think it was after the last day regardless.
But at least get 4 kills. This could be an extra $200 per player in that regard.
you are quick with the math Henry yes I can add 50 to gather quite quickly that's
my thing well I appreciate that I try to avoid it don't want to make it full of
myself so start's amazing there are the shots
there's no way there's a big handle I suppose if it'd gone mid or a this would
have worked fine the thing is even with that extra cash if you're playing it by
the book which James only is today you don't need to force by this
We saw what happened to the Mongols like on the CT side you enter that first gun rounds and like you have very limited
Utility you don't have all the bells and whistles, you know, so
Then that's that's the key. They will have a strong buy
If we can get a couple of kills here keep adding up
That extra cash that would be great, but this is open nets for the Mongols
But that's a relief for them, I mean they're still far behind it's not going to be easy
And just to re-trade, one of the pain points here for the Mongols is the fact that one
of their entries into middle here is Blitz, and overall he's not having a lot of luck
finding those entries.
Improving his raiding a bit here though, spraying down three, you love to see that.
Five to nine.
But it means they're going to be more well equipped here in Paravision, they'll have
So to battle their way back into the game with
See if they can take over on the second half just as quick as they did
He side was obnoxious
And for the Mongols
One of the most frustrating games you ever get a play in all of CS like I've never seen anything like
Yeah, it'd be fun to interview them by the experience when it's all under the fast of them.
Maybe not right now, but right after the game.
When they retire.
When they retire, say, what was that like?
When you found out there were five players behind the B double doors with twenty seconds
remaining after you smoked it off the entire round.
Just what was going through your head?
Just Jane hacking their neural links.
Knows what they're doing at any moment.
Unreal scenes.
Speaking of Jane, he's coysed for an opening frag here.
First gun round here after losing the pistol, taking a full eco, and it means like we said,
because they've got those four kills in the pistol round, it means Jane can bring out the Orberley.
That's what they wanted to wait for instead of risking it all.
And force-buying the MP9s at 5.7.
Sure, you might steal that round away, but you want to be fully equipped.
You wouldn't have as many gun rounds as possible when you have this sort of lead.
I actually like this play from the Mongols. They do a very late retake of the middle,
but it seems like Paravish know exactly what the plan is.
Immediately when they see that smoke in red room, you know what about the minute mark,
they stack the B bomb site with four players.
So maybe this is a tendency the Mongols have that they just realized,
because this is such a crazy redig.
Again, there's nobody at the A bomb site.
Belchinox and CT spawn, they just know exactly what's coming,
even on the CT side now.
They're bringing it in to the second half, the madness just continues.
I'd love to see the replay, but that smoke in the red room at a minute, immediately they
just back here.
Let's see if it's enough.
You can still break through of course, especially when James is going to miss a shot like that
one, 15 seconds on the clock.
Celo gets a one, there's still a player on the other side of the smoke here.
The bomb being planted and they will see- Oh!
No!
The bomb not being planted!
Blitz went down with a wall bang!
Is he going to push through?
He wants to.
He's thinking about it.
It's way trying to negotiate this one, even jumping back there.
It's way too much, but he still wins the fight.
Pistols all out now, and he goes down.
Cobra, C.O.R.
Ridd3.
The Mongols survive.
The four-man stack.
Very uncomfortable round.
The Mongols, they felt like it was all over there
when the bomb was denied.
But they hold their nerve.
They don't panic.
And it will be CobraZera recovering his game.
Bear in mind, he was down to 3 and 10 at one point.
Yes.
Absolute pandemonium here on the B-bombside.
Koduzera finding some very influential kills
towards the end there, confirming the round,
and sending ParaVision packing financially.
Huge.
Yeah, absolutely massive.
This is the third and final map.
They were getting tossed around like a ragdoll
in that first half.
Had no response to the tactical prowess of ParaVision.
and they have techno on the tec-9 and, oh, they say to mac 10, we do love that
because you just, you, we've already talked about them losing to pistols
yeah that mac 10 is a great tool to avoid that
scout up the stacks, run around and jump through the opening choke points as well
yes you are exactly right don't, don't allow yourself to run into some of those
five sevens they can be pretty lethal on this map too
oh one of the most deadliest weapons in all of CS2 right now considering
It only cost $500, we've seen so many double kills throughout the tournament.
Code Rezera, some of the feel himself, now you can see it in his playstyle.
Garner and confidence.
The aim's improving.
And to be pushing towards that red room smoke.
As you dare go through.
As you get flashed in, as that M10 you mentioned.
Confirmed it's a force, well, confirmed at least as an MP9 on that.
Yeah, but that's pretty good information, right?
There's no one survived in the previous round right so you know at least there's some investment being made it true
Over a zero our blitz
Seven it's nothing turtle it's coming boy up stinked him already taking a chunk out of him
There's
Can you do it? All right, I'll convert the killer the minimum, but it's a very awkward round look at the damage
How much damage they've taken and their circumstances bomb site and there's a three-man stack
They found the right position Paris vision. I don't know how they always do this game is to go. He just must be I
Mean they should have probably won that last round with the four-man stack. They could look they could win this one instead
The long goals they don't know it yet, but they might be about to make a big mistake
Bell China gets awards me he brought away and MC Neil had the only health he was at 100%
He's dead instantly. They're trying to run back, but now Cello is here trying to join them inside of the smoke.
He's waiting. He's letting them up. It's genius! Another good kill.
Okay, the round's still on though. Sure, it's another super uncomfortable round, but Techno knows he needs to step up with AWP, nails the shot on Jane, brings it back to a two on two.
Bomb planted. Advantage Mongols, but they are very low.
Yeah, AK recovered. Pelch knock on the 5-7. This kill could decide it. 9-10 wants nothing to do with it.
We go. All his nerves should
be enough to win the round now.
Dangerously close once again,
but it seems like they've done
enough. I think they might have
very smart for nine tend to just
fall back and not recommit to
that battle against No, too. See
if we could do anything. It
doesn't have a kit. Obviously
so times running out techno will
land a second shot. What a
recovery here for the Mongols.
Well, giving them a taste of
the medicine there. Reading the
stack. True even after losing
and he felt like that play in the smoke as well, cutting off the rotations.
It felt like the giga-brain move that was going to secure the round, but only one kill found.
If he gets the double there and the bombs dropped, it's over.
It was the right idea, maybe overcooked a little bit by letting two go past.
Should have maybe took the first kill in hindsight and then caused chaos in the smoke.
That's, yeah, you're right. Definitely could have had the opportunity, I think, to get that double.
Double bomb is suspiciously dropped outside of the B bombsite
But that was just the partial by bear in mind that felt like a full gun round. Yeah, I did yeah
That's important to remember, but you know what?
This is such a bad first half for the Mongols and now they're up to 97. I mean this um yeah four in a row
They're doing some real work out here. You got to give them some credit for that. They were nine three down
They're actually three battling back
I'm looking very comfortable now cobra
getting stronger and stronger smoke doesn't do too much that for the
Mongols you get a lot of vision there for Zelo but we'll see.
James defensive angle AWP towards CT spawn gonna be investigating further is
anyone on the other side the certain years will they show themselves MZ
Neon needs to be very careful here as they try and re-control middle.
footsteps being made there in Belchnock trying to bait it in there for the
I think he's doing that on purpose to allow James to get the shot. That's a pretty nice idea
I do like it. MC. No, he's out
Didn't hit a shot though didn't hit the shots MC
You're hunting him down and now techno putting some pressure the bombs on the other side
He does go down MC. No in the middle falls to Belgium are there's nobody at the A site
Oh my god, he finds nine ten as well. So yes, they're gonna get the bomb plant. They did draw away all of the defense
Surely, Paravision can win this retake though. A 2 on 4. This should be where they finally
pick up a round here on the CT side. Cobra Sierra, like you said, he's been getting better
all the time on Ancient. Hating, waiting by the donut. He's let a 3 in the past and he's
gonna be a total no! He's cut them down! And Belcher not getting a 1 vs 2. His team is
gone and Paravision, they could be in deep trouble now. Somehow, the Mongols have found
way to revive themselves. I don't know how because they were getting brutalized by Jamest.
But the mental fortitude is back and the Mongols are back.
A venomous maneuver there from Cobra Zera. We said he was getting stronger and stronger
as this game continues. What a play. What a position. He waits for all three to walk
past him and what seemed like a guaranteed rather paravision. But no, no, no. Even after
The opening advantage, it felt like it had done enough here.
Paravision fighting back the double kill from Belchinov,
but this is what's still to show.
He sinks in his fangs and there it is.
It's gonna be another round on the board for the Mongols.
Huge work from Cobras there up.
And now, desperate times, called for desperate measures.
Another partial buy.
They are yet to win around and the CT side,
it's a one round game.
If Paravision's gonna lose this,
That's gonna be so hard to explain, isn't it?
With everything they've done, all right, Salo.
That's a very nice double spray.
Swings for another one.
He knows the backup wasn't gonna be there in time anyway.
They were gonna hunt him.
Obrac goes for the fight, he had the bomb on his back.
I don't know if I love that.
Belchunok takes him out.
Blitzen, Messilio, and Jim.
I like this camera out for the hunt.
Gonna be a long way before he gets there,
but because they peaked early, there's no bomb plant.
over serious or fired up behind that last round he wanted to go for the bit of a
battle here oh oh that's the kill on some damn son and now we've got a two on
one that never discount jayman this sort of scenario and is wrapped around can't
even swap out the weapons that'll give the game away blitz he's not aware yet
James slowly tracking him down hunting out of stead it turns around to miss the opportunity and the Monkles do it again
They bring it back this time. It's MC Leo with some very crisp shots
He's only got six kills this guy can do so much more
He's got way more than this and we haven't seen it yet
They found enough runway to activate him his best sequence yet here on ancient by far and God what a sequence it was
doesn't get much tidier than that in terms of one tax with the AK-47 it was
Cobra saving the day before and now it's MZNEO the young star the babyface
killer
that's another partial by her parents yeah money now fully invested
paravision have lost their massive lead and MZNEO he's getting activated here
you said he was MIA but looking for the double finds it. Techno 4k maintains a lead four versus two
Selle goes down. He's really gonna steal this game away after that first half.
Again it's gonna be so hard to explain they're coming for jame. I don't think it's a runaway voice.
You want nothing to do with this. Don't give him an opportunity to clutch this one.
Okay blitz is gonna be sticking around you know is that jame has later to try and follow all right
They spot each other out, and he doesn't hear.
Look at him on the comms down on the camera.
He's been bomb planted.
If they end up turning us around, knocking Parisian out after one of the sickest tea signs
on this map we've seen in a long time.
It was a tactical masterclass.
It doesn't get better than that on the tease out of Ancient, and you'll get to post a single
CT round.
And that was their full investment, Anders.
They're down to $3,500 per player here, going into the next round.
Think of the round of Mongols of 1. The first five rounds, Paraglidi stacked four in the A-bomb site and still lost the round.
Then they had the Paraglidi where they almost won it at the A-bomb site with the 5-7s.
And it's been a very different story. These haven't been convincing round victories from the Mongols.
It's individuals stepping up at the right moments.
They're saving every round. They're having to pull it back from the brink every time.
Yes.
What a game.
Okay, it's got a bit of everything. 9-10 boosted up this time towards a B-bomb site, partial
ambassador once again, power of vision, and a lot of trouble, frustration setting in.
It couldn't have gone any better in the first half.
They were running circles around them, they made them look amateur, and now unable to
pose a single round due to the individual mechanics that the Mongols are known for.
single advantage has been fumbled and stolen away. It really is the clash between two completely
different systems here. Yes, the rigid hard work of Paravision and in the Mongols this
momentum based team that when they get going they're really scary and they're really fun
to watch for that reason. There's Cobra Zero sneaking onto the bomb site, cellos down next
the bomb is coming.
They're running around in the bag.
To go crashing out of the tournament in this fashion.
Good Lord, there's going to be some stern talks tonight.
Yes, you'd love to be a fly on the wall when the stuns sit down.
How many rounds were fumbled? How many advantages were given away?
And you have to say it wasn't really down to mistakes, it was just individual brilliance.
from the Mongols.
I think that's the headline here.
It must be.
I mean, CobraZero from being relatively quiet at the start of the game,
now up to 15, Techno at 15, Blitz at 16.
And now they've activated MZ, he's only got 18-13,
but he's had crazy impact the last three rounds.
And if you notice as well, I mentioned, you know,
Blitz as an entry into middle wasn't good,
they haven't used him for that at all.
Now, whenever they've done it, they've done it late in the round,
which means they don't arrange all the utility,
He doesn't have to run for the smoke because there's no smoke when he gets there
Or they've had techno coming in from the b lane to help out
So they've had cobra and techno and blitz all taking mid at the same time
So they've actually they've avoided that problem by just not having blitz do those entries in the same way
If you go look at the demos you're gonna see blitz running through smoke a lot and getting shut down
But that has not been a problem
Eight rounds in a row here
I'm laughing
Don't know what to say
But it's very exciting
You can see blitz on the other side this is where you normally see him. Maybe it's fine. He's not doing that
He's not fine. Quick smoke up. I'll just run somewhere else. I gotta go for the B execution here
All five players this side of the map
If they go right now that actually would be strong
Sello playing towards the cave
Okay, but backup is coming though. He's got some teammates with him Shwey and Notar that are setting up behind him
And now they're pushing out of the doughnut
Could be the double pump, might not fully commit off this on the first wave of U-Til.
Got to boost up a player first, suggest they'll be looking for picks when a flush player's out.
Made them uncomfortable, but we're going in and this is an opening kill for Amzino.
That's all you need right now, he gets one more Techno.
And again, the default map point, serious point.
Map series point, in fact.
Paravision thought they had it, they thought they were ready to go to the semi-final,
get their revenge against FoT who are waiting for them,
But now instead they must fight for overtime. They cannot go for this retake the Mongols
I have no idea how they summoned the strength. They must have felt like
They were being clowned on in that first. They were there's no two ways about it
They didn't turn up. They were being outclassed in every facet of the game
It looked more like somebody had paid money to have like a parishion fan experience like I'll come play these guys on land
You can try it with your team. It's gonna be great fun
Well, of course, it's down to the save.
James and Belchnock will hold on to the AWP, but they are yet to post a single round in
his second half.
It's nine in a row.
I can't believe it.
Nine in a row on the T side.
And one away from eliminating paravision from the tournament.
Semi-finals look locked in.
Semi-finals were guaranteed.
They can't win anything on the CT side.
No rounds.
And every time they get an opening,
they get the first defensive shot.
The defense looks like it's working.
They cut a bit of a lead
and then suddenly the Mongols are back in the game again.
Here we go, ladies and gentlemen.
12 to nine.
Is it really gonna be the golden run?
No way.
9-3 to 39.
It, I don't have the answer.
Oh my God!
Woohoo!
The opening is in!
Flashed in from Blitz and see how it takes two.
And James fighting to keep us in this tournament.
They're pushing out the cave and they're ready for this.
They're waiting for the nine.
It's got to be GG.
And then Tecno with the headshot.
James don't know where to kill.
They know where he is.
They know exactly where he is, yeah.
It's over.
They've done it.
The only thing is the bomber's making its way.
It has to cross here.
Oh, that's the matter.
Tecno with the headshot.
No rounds in the second half, Henry.
It is a flawless run for the Mongols on the T side as they knock out Paravision and make the semis against Fats.
Please can I just remind you at halftime the dejected looks on the faces of the Mongols after what James had done to them in that first half.
And somehow the tenacity to change it up, have their individuals step up and drag themselves across the finish line into the semifinals.
That was impressive, man.
And this is, like, complete opposite of what I was saying before the game,
because I was talking about how their T-sides have been terrible.
They have to get their CT side together and everything.
9-3 is looking exactly like what I was saying,
with, you know, they're doing the push-ball game perfectly.
They're out calling mongols from top to bottom every round.
To be fair, they were out calling mongols in the second half as well.
It's just mongols were pulling back to back to back to back rounds.
They're not supposed to win.
They were beating the stacks, they were making the last second rotation, they won 2v4s, 2v3s, like crazy rounds that yielded them a 10-0 run on T side.
I'm speechless. I never make these tweets mid-game because it's like, ah, maybe I jinx it, maybe nothing happens after that.
I queued at 9-3. Zero rounds for Paravision after that. It's insane.
This round was...
Literally every round there's some moment of individual brilliance from Mongols which is
really gotta give them props. Like the individual stepped up even this last round.
Mzino coming out of the school. That's fantastic. It's fantastic.
Like really great moments. You can you can't say maybe that first actually the pistol round was kind of weirdly played from Perry vision
They're leaving the B site open. No diffuse kit going very slow on the retake. Okay, you lose that. Ah, you're 9 3 up
It doesn't matter then you know the the round where they stack stack the proper bomb site in the first by round
Four players there one guy quite quick rotate
James misses the first shot and then everything falls apart off of that and you just see this over and over again
I think after the five rounds that you mentioned that they probably should have won the belief in these young players and
Paravision just disappeared and I think that's that's what happened in this map because the after that point
It really did seem so easy for
After that mongols just were walking into empty bomb sites, you know
We just like taking the B bomb site
It just seemed free for the taking every round that they went there
It did definitely look like you know after the several situations in a row that they were supposed to win they lose
Yeah, the inexperience gets to them the pressure gets to them and and they just yeah
It just goes away. It's kind of what James said here
I don't know what to call because whatever I call there is gonna be some mistake some issue gonna happen in the process and
Obviously, it's not like he played a perfect game, but also
So it's crazy that they didn't win this round when they had a stack everyone's going into a they get the good
Good trades and somehow the rotation managed to come out on time and feels ready even for
For the smoke push and everything for the rotate back to be
This just like so many things have to go chest right for one goes to pull it off a clash of styles right the first half where
Now you go nine three up and everything seems so calculated so controlled so perfect
and there's no chance for Mongols in most of these rounds.
And then the other half is like obviously Perrigan had a lot of chances,
but in the mid, that's where Mongols come out on top,
that's where they're the better team, and that's why they're in the same final.
This is a team that's been together for a long time, playing at the highest level.
And I know, like, I don't think we always give them credits.
You called them Asian mouths, you know, recently, but I think it was a time,
I remember when Katie and was shouting at them, calling them noobs,
The Mongols was the para-vision then, but I think that this just showcases how much experience they've got under their belt now and how they handle tough situations.
I mean, Mazziniu had not very good first map, average second map, very bad on the third map as well, and then he managed to turn it around after being 9-3 down.
He's an 18-year-old player, but he's been playing on the top level for two years now, so he is as experienced as, you know, the next guy.
That's absolutely right down the floor right now with techno of the Mongols techno. Congratulations on making it through to the semifinals. How are you feeling?
I'm feeling very amazing and after a really tough match I think we've long time been the experienced like that and it was crazy.
We had a long time experience like that and it was crazy.
Let's get straight into the details. Going back to Dust2, a 13-6 loss.
That was a scary moment, at least from an outside perspective.
What were your thoughts after that map?
I think it's obviously because of the two-week rounds from the city side.
and it affected us mentally and the economy and rounds, we were supposed to win that round but
you know dates and just the glocks and the echo you know that should happen for us and actually it
was really bad day for us really bad day. And how did you adjust after Dust2? How did you mentally
reset before Mirage? I think to be honest we didn't fully record from them. 10 I guess maybe,
have to say that. And you know we almost dominated on the three maps, every map dominated by them.
and however we managed to come back on this last two map and I think it was
really crazy match. Let me ask you about the return of your coach Mara did he
have any input in the breaks between the maps? Sorry? Your coach Mara were there
any chats with him in the breaks between maps? Break? Yeah he always talks about
about our mistake, and what should we do?
What should have we did that round before rounds
and stuff like that?
And I think, to be honest, he's also
different from the ikorons, you know.
That's a deal thing.
Yeah, so Mirage 13-8, you got 70 rounds there.
It was a solid performance.
But let's talk more about ancient.
So yeah, ParaVision started off with 90 rounds.
Going into that second half, it's
looking pretty scary once again for the Mongols, but then you have a perfect T-Half.
Why was it so successful?
To be honest, also it was some kind of luck and some kind of our players' individual skills
really played good. Yeah, 50-50 of them.
Yeah, because it looked at times like you had good reads on Paravision,
but yeah, there were certainly moments where the timing was good for the Mongols
and that there were huge individual moments.
Does that inspire confidence in the team knowing
you can rely on some magic in certain moments?
Not really, yeah.
And that was around, I'm with AWP,
I killed three, I think, and on Red House,
that was a really important round, both of sides.
If we lost that round, we could have been
already lost in that game.
So, that round was the most important round of the Ancient Vegas.
All right, well now, Techno, you move through to the semi-finals.
You'll play first. They're a team that you've not played before.
What are your thoughts on that semi-finals matchup?
I hope tomorrow's not gonna be like today's.
like we were very unlucky and and on we were today we were on our bad side today
really bad and I hope we can we shouldn't repeat like that and the putt is I
think footwear putt sorry to that again foot sports foot yeah foot will be maybe
same like the Pirate we never played against them also yeah and final
question then how do you prepare for
will there be any preparation tonight
it's already quite late or will that
mainly happen tomorrow I'm not sure but
we will prefer and play our own
counter strike all right well very much
looking forward to watching that semi
final congrats once again on reaching it
techno it's there anything else that you'd
like to say to our fans at home and
especially your Mongolian fans back in
Mongolia I will just say thank you the
tournament not finished yet it absolutely
is not a lot more awesome counter strike action to be had. Techno, thank you once again for your
time. For now, let's head back to the desk. This gets me into trouble a lot because I like to watch
these interviews and then just assume what based on what someone was saying and the way they were
reacting, what they actually wanted to say. He looked just as excited and surprised as the rest
of us that he won. He was like, well, we actually played really badly. We were kind of lucky. We
shot wow yay I mean it is what happened to be honest and I mean I want to say
also props to Paula and techno that was maybe one of the most insightful long
goals interviews I've ever seen like he was very like I don't know we kind of
played like shit we're not a tilted we're and then you recovered on Mirage
actually we're still tilted on Mirage. Mara was tilted too. What about Mara? You didn't say something that makes you feel like she was tilted.
She was telling us I'm a sex. We really didn't play well. It was a little bit of black on
Here we are. He was so shocked. We actually got some on the inside out. Yeah, that's kind of crazy. Like why am I here?
Oh, yeah, we managed to win this game somehow. I don't know how but this is not a losing interview
There's a level of confidence that's gonna come to the Mongols now after that though
Because I think there is a moment where you go, right?
This was probably the strongest opposition in the tournament paper for sure. Yeah on paper for sure
We were playing his words pretty shit and we still did it's like
Like eight and a half years ago, like he understands that was not the way that they were supposed to like if they were gonna win
It was not gonna be like that. So that's that's not something that I think inspires a lot of confidence in you like yeah
We're gonna replicate this next time. No, we're not because that's not this is not how maps go usually
You're gonna be some tough words in the
In that I don't know want to be in that the preck room. Yeah, that stands tonight. I
I saw you saw James, he looked absolutely devastated at the end of that, like that is...
What did he say? I won't talk to you for three weeks, there we are, that's what's going on.
Yeah, I mean if they lost in like a, you know, if they got stomped somehow, or like if Mongols played some perfect game, I think it would be easier, but obviously...
It is just the number of rounds that they're going to look at.
Obviously, this is the game that you're supposed to win, and it is the same story of you get in a good situation,
situation now it's on the individuals to communicate talk to each other not get
caught off guard by a flank and these things that that happened in the key
rounds and just a tough one for them. Let's take a look at the playoff bracket
now because we've got two semi-finals tomorrow. I know it was really tough and
if you are a ParaVision fan you might be hurting after that but there is a
positive we can take from this which is they have a lot of lessons that they can
learn from this event moving into the major. Oh okay I thought you were gonna
to say about foot because that's going to be a completely different matchup for
Mongols. That's going to be a complete bloodbath. Nothing like we saw today.
I was saying Paravigion, there's a lot, have a bad tournament now
and prepare yourself for the matchup. Yeah, and the Stana as well, which is for
the Stam huge. But yeah, but foot, are you talking about
Paravigion? Foot, the Mongols, that's going to be, that's going to be a crazy game.
That's going to be a super exciting and nice game. On the other side,
Astralis after that, Scare against Eyeballers in the semis and 3D
3D Max is waiting there. I don't think I wouldn't have expected 3D Max to be anywhere near semifinal
after exiting the major qualification and then coming here, getting destroyed by Focus in the first game.
They looked completely out of it, but they definitely recovered mentally and they're back to being a team.
So that's nice to see.
Schedule is up. Of course, we're starting 5pm local time.
So you've got the whole day to prepare 3D Max up against Astralis.
And then the Mongols versus Foots.
If you had to choose a semi-final that you think is going to be the banger of the day.
I think the one that we are going to be working on, that's going to be the best one.
You don't even know which one you're working on yet.
That's why I will not say which one I think is going to be the best.
Okay fair point, fair point.
HLTV, HLTV, Unconfirmed is now done for the day.
Go get some rest because PGL Bucharest continues tomorrow with our semi-finals.
We'll see you then.
I