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This night, just a few short steps from this hall, the Atlanta Falcons brought this city
to their feet with a stunning victory over the rival Buccaneers.
But now it's time for our eight challenger teams to rise up all their own and make their
case for this trophy just beside me.
The destination is clear.
The journey there, anything but.
But it's time to find out who will land on their feet.
It's time to get ESL Challenger Atlanta on the road.
Let's get started.
ESL Challenger is brought to you in part by, Intel.
Acer Predator.
DHL.
Kadea.
Monster Energy.
The United States Air Force.
next bat and Logitech G.
the action unfold in Atlanta and joining me on the desk to keep you entertained to showcase these
teams we have Alan and JRT our North American representation you came all the way here if you
don't know they actually put the desk in Sweden uh we're always in Stockholm which is kind of weird
so they took the Canadian and instead of flying into Atlanta they flew you all the way here to
talk about Atlanta yeah I mean it's fine you know at least I still get to talk about Atlanta
and North American Counter Strike we got a couple of exciting teams here obviously an M80 and
wild card which I'm curious to see how it's going to go for M80 who have really competed
well with top tier competition and wild card who I consider a bit of a dark horse here at the event.
Alan, North American Counter Strike is a little bit of a sad conversation that we could have.
It's had its ups and downs but the one thing that's always on the app is the fans. North
American fans come out in their droves. Are you expecting that here at Challenger at Lancer?
Do you think that they're all going to be there to watch some CS? I mean we certainly
hope so. We hope the NA teams do well. Give us a shout about it but yeah they are. Now
Nothing a bit of a rowdy bunch and hopefully this event is no different
song. Let's jump into North American Counter Strike though because there was
COVID and there was that other game that everyone went to. Lol jokes on them
they'll be coming back soon. Have you seen a resurgence? Do you think that
that it's growing again? I would say so. It's been a very slow time and
growing honestly and that's taken a lot of investment in the scene. Most
recently you have Jason Leigh coming through with the NA revival series
Which has really been amazing. I mean he's a he's amazing in general for North American counter strike going back purchasing complexity
And now he's really been a driving force and bringing things back flam as well
You know the mythic side those guys have been amazing
For NA and then you have like a lot of tournaments that are starting to come back
I think there's still an issue right now in terms of competitiveness among teams
You still don't have those teams that are reaching levels where you can have good pugs
Amongst teams in North America
So they kind of feel like they have to come to Europe to do boot camps
But I feel like that could slowly be changing and that's why I was talking about wild card
You know, then you'll maybe have a fourth team
You'll have liquid complexity and made a and wild card
But there needs to be more and and it is growing though
You have stars that are coming up mobs for example, you know
I mean he's South American technically
But I consider him North American because he was there for so long and he went to G2 and just won his first land final in less
Than three months with the team. So I mean, I'm hoping that there will be more players like that
I think JBA comes to mind Lake as well and they're both here competing at Challenger Atlanta
You mentioned liquid. I mean the reason that they're so good those because they don't base themselves out of North America
Alan, I mean is that the answer to the North American teams need to jump across the pond?
I mean you hear from a team like M80 they bootcamp for ages in Europe. They're over here for months at a time and
I think it's just a fundamental truth
You're gonna play a spince probably in Europe to get our practice under your belt
But there's more and more any tournaments. There's more and more competitions in there. There's top five six teams
teams, a lot of the qualifiers are there now as well. So you do need to be in NA for a good
chunk of time, RMRs too. And I do think the quality of practice probably has improved
over the last two or three years.
So do you think that that's going to improve North American Counter-Strike though, more
of those teams?
Yeah, I mean, fundamentally, I mean, as good as the top teams are, you need that
to bleed through, you know, down through the scene. It's no good if complexity
and liquid are always in Europe. You need homegrown competition, homegrown teams
and some of those players to look up to as they go up through the scene.
He has an opportunity though because we have those two North American teams.
is a South American team in the mix as well. You know what? Let's actually just pull up
our groups here for ESL Challenger. We have two groups. It's going to be a pretty long
day today. You're going to see lots of best of ones. Group A and Group B will be playing.
We are going to start the day though with Group A because I believe the North American
contingent will come out a little bit later in the day. So let's take a look at your
schedule and what you can expect from today. It is going to be kick-starting
we'll have this is an
interesting one. The
Australians because we flew
them all the way to North
America, so we'll focus in on
Group A and obviously you'll
get to see saw and Rooster
saw arguably the favourites of
this competition, Alan. That's
really where I think a lot of
people's eyes are going to be
is to see how the Portuguese
team is doing. Absolutely. I
mean, the first game is a
mismatch. I mean, it
shouldn't be a particularly
close affair, but as a
site or good way to get into
the tournament. We're just
excited to see what sort of
CS or producing. Do you
think it's going to be a
We've got the Australians and one of the Americans on the other and I feel like for
both of them it's a very similar discussion of we need more time playing the top teams,
we need more lands, we need more experience to lift the scenes in our respective regions.
Yeah, no, definitely.
I mean, it's a problem in any minor region, I would say.
I don't want to call it any minor, but compared to Europe, I think the rest are all
minor and I feel like, yeah, the NA needs more of that practice.
I think they're going to get it here, you know, BB team, big, you know, a
couple of names that come up to come to mind as teams that you want to play
against and get some experience against but m80's already gotten that right by
playing in pro league and proving themselves so I think it's more on wild
card and you know maybe some other any teams like the lower tier any teams that
need that experience um and those teams to play against you know what let's find
out exactly how all our teams are feeling as we kick start the first day
of ESL challenger Atlanta we caught up with them to find out what their
vibe is like coming into this competition what's up gang i'm here
It's day zero here at ESL Challenger Atlanta.
We're here at the DreamHack Atlanta,
where things are very much still being built.
Things are being walked around.
People are coming by with mats and suitcases
and whatever they've got in that box.
As you can tell, audience hasn't quite filled in yet.
Neither have the chairs, because we're not open yet.
But the players are here.
They're setting up, they're doing their first
media obligations.
They're setting up their SSDs on the stage.
So we're gonna track some people down
and stick the camera in their face
and see if they'll talk to me.
I'm here with Sonic.
Mr. Khrusbek himself?
I mean it's Khrusbek, I don't know if Americans will get that one, but it's a little bit hard.
Khrusbek? How are things going, wildcard? You got standing?
Yeah, we're doing good. I mean, honestly, I only knew something like a week ago.
And friend. Is he a friend? Does he live up to the name?
Yeah, he's very nice. He's the third Polish person on our team, so at least he feels like he's at home.
Feels welcome.
What are we can't extend? Yeah, we are I didn't know they guys spoke Polish
But he's breaks out out of nowhere is having full Polish conversations with our coach
I was like what I thought I was the most cultured one on the team. They're clearly none no more
Do you fear that you're gonna lose your identity? I do I do I feel lost
All right rating the flag question just to harass them a little bit
You guys have I'm in roosters here, right?
They're kind of like a little brother team right now
You guys dunk on them fairly frequently domestically little bros. No, they're all right actually good black
So it's whatever I don't know Australia's a really small region. So everyone's I mean the team chicken was that we didn't want to hear from the Australians
I'm kidding. I'm not making as many as he jokes as I once also. I think if I had to give Mike a rating
It's a solid four out of ten for his South African accent there
I love how the Americans claim that the South Africans though. Let's talk about group a okay
We mentioned it with the Australians
I I want to say that I don't think that there is a specifically like heavier group in this breakdown, Alan
Yeah, reasonably even I mean this one is a very clear favorites in store, but between
BB team and fly quest. I know a lot the talent is split
And it'll be very hard between those two teams even if even if one team officer is going to win today
If they rematch in the decider game
It'll be a very close affair and hard to predict
Let's jump into that first game of today. It is a best-of-one, of course, BV team up against FlyQuest
You want to finish the top of your group?
This is the matchup that we are about to see a team that, for me, on the Fly to FlyQuest,
struggling a lot, and then on the other side with BV team, a team that
has to do something to get me excited.
Yeah, I mean when they first formed I was actually really excited about the roster.
There were some early success and you're like, okay, Naphne's managing to prove himself and things are looking good, of course,
But then there's just that middle of the road where things are just stagnated
They made one change right to bringing Magnoges onto the team in place of the NIST
And well, we'll see if that yields any fruit, right?
Because they haven't been playing that much Counter Strike over the last three months
Think only at 32 maps something like that and it's actually the same flight was on the other side
We'll talk about that after but really I think that BB team has a lot more to prove and they could punch above their rank
I'd be curious to find out if BB team is feeling the same way. So let's find out
I mean, everything is fine. We're preparing for RMR. I really have good expectations on it.
We will see how it will go, but in general, I think everything is fine. We skipped ESL
curling because of visa issues. Then we played with Boomdacha and we fasted it up again because
of mental problems. It's pretty nice to have such heat before important tournaments. So
I hope that it was like pretty nice light for us and we will a bit grow up from this.
I mean the vibe inside the team pretty nice, but it does not matter when you're on the
server because like everyone has to fight with like themselves. And that's the thing.
trying to help each other, but again, it's usually it's fighting one we want.
I do like it when a player is just damn honest, right, Alan?
Because it hasn't been great for them recently.
Not knowing to mince his words is nothing, but yeah, interesting to hear from him.
I mean, the team's a little bit in flux.
They peaked last season.
Looks like they're going to get into that top 20 in the world.
Has slipped out of it now, but as we're saying,
they haven't played a commensurate amount of Counter-Strike for us to really gauge this team.
So this event will be a very good litmus test for where that women is right now. So they've obviously been playing the the cct series
They were playing with a standing but they've had a they had a good run of form there against tier two opposition
Which Alan I would argue here challenge. It's pretty much the same level. So could that be a good sign?
potentially
Different environment though offline now playing on a stage best of ones where preparation probably becomes even more important
So, um, I don't think they're gonna be a teams in bad form.
They're probably a little bit underrated ranking wise by lack of playtime.
But, uh, yeah, I mean, certainly coming into this one, they have to hit the ground running.
What do we like about BB team?
I mean, just you got a lot of really strong players on this roster, all kind of
outcast from their previous teams, right?
So, you know, players that all have something to prove, right?
And I think I kind of like that all underdog stories trying to come through
and find that success and prove their detractors wrong from the past.
Let's find out how BB team is feeling because Mike is there and I know he wants to poke the
bears a little bit and get some insights.
I'm here with Kairon from BB team ahead of their matchup against FlyQuast.
Kairon, these are the guys who knocked you out of EPL playoffs last year or this year,
last season.
Are you looking for a little revenge here?
Yeah, definitely done underestimating them.
They're a good team, so we have to show just the better CS this time and that's
it.
Expectations for you and the team coming into this event here in Atlanta to win. I don't know if we don't win
It's it's fine, but we expect we hope to win. That's it simple as that back to you, Sam. I
Mean that is the correct answers to that question, right?
What is your expectation to win it has to be and obviously now getting a chance to see this lineup on your screen the lineup of
Misfits like you mentioned JOT they have a lot to prove Alan
the team. You know, what's
the game plan? Yeah, I mean,
start with naffani is the
obvious choice. You know, he
is a criticism for an against
him for his latter days in
cloud nine. The team that's
formerly gambit and whether
that was founded unfounded. It
doesn't really change the
position that he was dropped
from that team. He has to
come down a level and lead
a team back up. And I think
going through that process, a
lot of introspection probably
changing the way he calls. I'm
sure he's learned a lot about
even call them back to that sort of form again.
This is a really important event for BB Team.
I mean, they mentioned it there
because it is leading up to the RMRs.
This is their preparation, right?
And if you look at traditional sports,
if you look at teams like Navi,
you need to plan your trajectory, right?
So at this point, you kind of want to start peaking.
For them, a grand final is imperative
if they want to do well in the RMRs.
Absolutely, and I think if we would look back
a few months, right, we would have said,
oh yeah, their BB Team's gonna be
in the grand final, no question.
These guys have the talent, they got the skill,
they got the fan, he is looking great
and kind of on the up and up
It just didn't really follow that. Well, there's it ever any sports right didn't follow that typical trajectory upwards
It's kind of been more of a roller coaster ride
But I think that they've certainly and they've got the confidence and it's good to hear that
You know internally the team is happy and everyone's looking good
And I would have to take that at face value because Nathan he was literally just giving us everything straight up
I felt in that interview. So yeah, I mean look BB team
I think our team that can certainly find success here and like you were mentioning build up to the RMR
It's absolutely critical for them
Alan, for you, what is it about this team in the server that's just not delivering as yet for them?
Counter-Strike falls apart very quickly.
Small errors, communication, team play.
This for me is where this team lacks.
If I look at the lineup on paper, there's so much skill here
that if they're not having results, it has to be on the structure, the restructuring side of the game.
So I think for them, communication fundamentals, this is what in the past maybe is done against top teams.
Maybe that's a little bit worse with lack of playtime, but if they can clean up a little bit,
They can win this tournament. They can beat Saul.
Would you say, if you're looking at BBT, that the player to watch is Kiron?
At the moment, yeah. I mean, he's been in great form recently.
Control player for this team takes space on T-Side.
We'll get really in and amongst the opposition.
T-Side, a bit more of a mixture of roles.
But Kiron certainly is a player that can crack the game open and make a huge difference.
Yeah, no. Definitely agree with that.
I mean, you look at Kiron, and like Alan said, on T-Side, in terms of entries and stuff like that,
he's making a ton of space for his team.
a little bit less it's more a Zortay that's taking care of business with the AWP
That's typical, you know of T and CT side and he's also supporting
I believe in terms of flashes maybe not as much as that's more Zortay, but either way
I think Chiron
Fragging wise is the player to watch 579 frags over those 37 maps
And he's also had multiple three kill plus rounds 48 leads a team by I think 14 in that category. So yeah
there we go we've had a look at BB team but they are going up against the
Australian team owned by the American organization it is fly quest let's catch
up with them I'm here with inns from fly quest ahead of their matchup against
BB team inns how you guys feeling about this opponent feeling confident we
played him before they're obviously a good team but we beat them before and
it's the best of ones I mean anything can happen we just got to be on an
air game and that a game how far do you expect it to take you here in the
town how you guys feeling about this event pretty good I mean it's a good event
to show what we're capable of obviously not a lot of not the best tier one teams
but tournament where we can show ourselves and prove that we can do it to
ourselves as well like we're probably low on confidence the last few events
so we probably just need to form well here and get that confidence back up
going into the RMR all right well best of luck man back to you Sam thanks
It's back. Flak was mentioning their low on confidence and not surprising considering their
performances of late.
Yeah, no, absolutely. I mean, they've had great performances recently, right, in Australia.
They're 16-0 in the ESL.
Doesn't count, Jarrah. He does not count. Australia is far away. They're in a different time zone.
Doesn't count.
Well, I mean, it does, in a way. Right, it's important for them to find that success.
Even though some teams like Talon aren't necessarily competing, so we don't know
how they compete against those ones. But when they went to pro league, they didn't win many
series, but they did play closely against FaZe, against Eternal Fire, and did get the
win against LinVision. So there's something to build on here for this fly quest roster
for sure.
You're way too positive. I'm going to break you before the end of the week.
Alan, they're not delivering. They're meant to be the top team from Australia. They're
meant to be the team that upsets people. That's what happens, right? We send the
to Europe or to North America and they upset the status quo.
FlyQuest, for me, is not doing that as of now.
They're not dangerous. You don't come into an event like this thinking they're going to take down a big name.
And so in this slip for this team, obviously formerly Greyhound, they're not even the best team regionally.
It's Mongols or Lin Viginal, Rare Adam at times in the past.
So for them, even getting up to that pedestal was difficult.
And certainly, recent form hasn't been brilliant.
They said after their clone exit, they felt a lot was wrong in terms of how they were playing,
how they're approaching the game. And certainly this event for them, just as a reminder, they
can play top counter strike is the goal. That is the goal for them.
Has it been the change to CS 2 that's made them struggle? Because when they were, Graham
Hans, the core of this roster had, they had that scary factor. You didn't really know
what you were going to get from them. They could upset the Apple cart.
I'm going to be a little isolated to phrase this, but I think they play boring counter
strike. I think it's very cookie cutter, very simple. And maybe they lean into
that because they want to play
really kind of good, clean
Europeans. Yes, but they don't
excite me. They don't get
aggressive. They don't make
moves and Dexter said that
after around a clone. He said
we're not aggressive enough. We
don't play wild enough on the
CT side. So maybe it was a bit
of gap since then. Maybe
they've changed it. But
certainly in the past for me.
They've lacked the inspiration
of some of the other teams
around themselves in the
rankings. Yeah, I think
Dexter was a little more
blunt than that when he was
We won't repeat it here on air, but yeah, Dexter, I don't know if he had like a negative view in the way he was tweeting out
His opinion on the way things are going right now in Counter-Strike 2
But certainly there's an adjustment required to their playstyle like Alan was saying they need to get out of their shell a little bit
In order to find success against teams like the ones competing right here
Can they do it though against BB team in a best of one?
Yeah, that's a that's a really good question. I think it'd be a one
I think there's a potential for upset here. Um, but in a BO3, I think that's when the questions might start, uh, rising. I mean,
that version is a better team. I think they have, uh, a better, better structure to an extent. I think they can play better counter strike.
I think they have better players. And certainly if I'm looking at fly question this game, I think I'm looking at the individuals. I'm looking
at inns, formerly in game leader for this core of players now for us into star player positions. Vexite, who was on a trajectory to be the next
next star of his region and it's fizzled out a little bit. These two guys need to be superlative,
Sam, because they're not going up against weak individual players. Even though Betboom might
have some issues, none of these guys are pushovers. We have to do predictions, or it's difficult
in a base of one. I mean, Alan, I think you've pretty much made it clear to all of us where
your allegiance is lied is with BB team, right? Yeah. I mean, I foresee it being quite
a close game, but I think Betboom have more advances than their opponents. Yeah, is he?
I'm still 50-50 on this match up honestly coming into it because of the struggle
Well because the struggles BB team like they haven't necessarily found their form again
And you even heard them talking about it, right?
They know that fly quest definitely has a chance against them
So I would say I'm leaning fly quest actually for this one. I think they could pull it off here in this BL1
Okay, that's fine. I'm with Ellen
I really worry about fly quiz. I'm not gonna lie. I just I feel like there is a and they were always a little bit
I mean, and that was my thing that there was a an attitude to them aggressive counter strike and Alan
Like you said it might be boring counter strike if you play simple counter strike and you play it very well
You would still be winning the problem is that they're playing simple counter strike and it's it's not good enough
They don't have JKS anymore
They don't have a player that's gonna go in there and take over the game individually
So I mean Dexter said he feels he himself has to take on star player moves
They have to get aggressive, be proactive and it shouldn't be Dexter. Dexter's not mechanically skilled enough to do that with consistency.
So if you look at this team, I need a star player.
That's why I need Inz or Vexai to do something exciting because I don't think the system works without one of those pieces.
Does it work this weekend though? Because this weekend we are working with the pieces in front of us that are on the stage right now.
I mean they're building towards their major cycle. They have to make the team work.
They can obviously make a move now and maybe they're in a region anyway that has a restricted player base.
So it's using the piece they have I do think in and vexite have the skill to be really brilliant players
They have a new coach in an hour cast for the last few months that maybe can push them that direction
But it's it's a big change up in the philosophy from what they've been in the past to give the individuals that space and then get
The individuals used to taking that space. That's that's the crux Sam
You can give them all the room in the world, but you know horse to water not as you're gonna drink
Yeah, no, I mean entirely with Ellen. I don't have too much to add there
I think instant and vex side are doing a pretty good job
You know at the top of the board there
But there needs to be some other elements needs to be some side of kind of spice added to their gameplay
In order to get things going I agree with you
I don't know dexter is necessarily the answer to that but there needs to be something more
I mean, it's worth saying in's has played brilliant domestically. He's played incredibly domestically
Just as we keep harping on about
Australia's not in a good place at the moment as a region. So is that gonna translate I need to see on the service
Yeah before I believe it bigger picture for a moment with ESL challenge
And only we always have that one tier one team that's in here kind of messing things up and this time
I mean yes souls on a good run, but for the most part
Could we say one of the most evenly matched challenges?
We've had in a little while all of these teams are kind of sitting on a level where it could be any teams game
Yeah, honestly like I feel like this event lives up to the challenger namesake the most of any other
Challengers that I've been at personally or seen personally. It's like yeah
So it's such a level playing field. Yes, you mentioned saw and you could argue big as well
Maybe that tier one team, but they've had their struggles recently as well. So yeah, it's gonna be exciting
I feel like it's anyone's tournament to take as well, which is also
Look, maybe there's some teams that might have some more issues than others
But I feel like there's a much wider pool of teams that could take this
So it's the favorite because they figured that team out. Yes, because they have a cohesive way to play the counter
They didn't necessarily have a lineup that's, you know, heats and bounds above the opposition.
Batboom's probably a more skilled team than they are.
So if you look at these other squads, a team like Big, a team like Batboom, FlyQuest as well, they have good pieces.
Can they do it on the server? And we haven't necessarily seen that up late.
Can they do it on the server? Can they do it on the stage at ESL Challenger Atlanta?
We're about to find out as we kickstart day number one here.
We are done talking. We are going to hand on over to our two casters.
I'm going to change his name.
That's what we're going to start calling him.
Thank you very much. Yes, indeed excited to get into this.
I think it's always a privilege to open up the tournament, right?
And get a real feel for where these teams are.
There's all this excitement in the air.
You know, the tension of like, we can say all these things.
We can predict how teams are going to perform
and look at what they've been doing in their recent history.
But when they get on the server against each other,
a lot of teams at these events don't have the LAN experience.
have the Lan experience.
Right, sure.
Truly never really know what to expect.
Yeah, let's just talk a little bit
about recent results in a way, right?
So you look at a team like FlyQuest
and they're sitting on a, what, you know, the overview.
You'd be like, hey, much wintry.
That's great, but it's domestic.
So it doesn't really count.
Last European side, they played Zangal, who, Betbu,
beat them, literally just the other week.
So you look at that already for me,
and that's when maybe you can look at Betbu
a little bit and say they might have a bit of an advantage.
I'm sticking with what John was saying.
I'm gonna go with FlyQuest here,
for me, and towards this one.
I'm not a huge fan. I bet we haven't been for a little while.
Because I just think this is the side that came together
and had all the ability to be a really good team.
But then unfortunately never really lived up to, I think,
the potential that they even had themselves.
So I'm interested to see how this one plays out.
Because it's the best one, it does spice things up a little bit
as well.
Like they spoke about on the desk,
they did play it pro league.
And it was a win for FlyQuest in that sense,
which obviously very good to come off the back of that
and say we've got a decent, you know,
mapple under our belt.
It was a three mapper in that one.
But we're not even playing on that map.
So in this sense, it's a little bit of new ground and it might change things up a tab.
Let's take it back underway.
We are live in towards our first game here at ESL Challenge at Atlanta.
Thank you for joining us and Inns joins us over very quickly.
Yes, indeed. The rush out towards long does not net any success for BB here.
PT-50 reloaded.
It doesn't really land any bullets with that, to be honest.
So, yeah, not getting off the ground at all.
Like, no, Jez will be the first one to find a frag for this T side.
I mean, I'm not going to be
happy with that. But that's
about all he's really going to
get, you know, clutching at
straws in the end. Like less
an explosive start from them. No
it is. I mean, that's sort of
the exact start you want to get
on dust to come in towards it,
set the tone nice and early
and just give yourself a little
bit of room to work with very
crisp coming through a nice little
flash from Alistair as well.
Dexter comes and joins the fight
and they just take long
control is the most classic
You take that long control, you shrink that map massively.
And that's just what we saw right there.
Scout out, some quite here, Zorta.
The only kind of wealthy investment in a way,
like, do you also have a little bit else,
but a bit of a deagle investment, a PT50 coming through,
but it's not a full buy in towards this end.
So maybe if you get a couple of kills with a deagle,
with a scout, might be something to work with.
Yeah, it's one of those as well,
again, when you're in the LAN environment,
that first, very, very first game that you're playing,
also first ones up to bat for the day. I think you want to warm yourself into it. You want
to keep some pressure on your opponents. It's not a full send on the buy, but it's also
trying to stay in their heads and win out the mental game. Yeah, nice tags coming in
here, especially with that scout. So could be a kill or two on the cards as yet nothing
too impressive from BB, but it is going to be a really tough map here. I think, you
you know, just to we've talked
about as being the great level
but also to touch on a point
from the desk about the simple
counter strike. I think just
to it's very quickly. Yes.
It's coming back into the pool
just gone back to what it was a
couple years ago. Boring. Well,
yes, that would be the rip the
bandaid off kind of phrase game.
What do you have done? Yes,
indeed. They indeed they even
invented the smokes, of course
on this map. So yeah, the
DNA is everywhere, which is a
They are looking to end on A here now.
I'm just looking at this setup as well.
There might need to be a bit of a rotation coming through from Dexter in towards CTV.
He's going to get caught, some in's under a bit of pressure.
Good for the first. Looks for the second. Will nail it as well.
Third just around that corner.
Scalpel miss. Second time of asking. Doesn't.
But Lee has out range. Will clean it up.
For a moment, it was a bit of a can hold your breath type scenario there,
because it could have been a lot more expensive.
But exactly as we said at the start of the round,
with that level of investment, a couple of kills,
I don't think that bit with top set. Yeah, it's like the
Handshake moment really both teams gonna be satisfied. They recovered the m4 that got dropped. So there's no expensive weaponry
lost by fly quest feel like we may well have a small
Breaking play but ultimately back underway. It's also back on to the scout as well
So deprived of his or early on still on the scoped weaponry, but this is what it's about
What a baby gonna show us there. Yeah next up. He's lining up this made any in doing so
It takes a hell of a lot of damage and the Nade does absolutely nothing.
So, little awkward there.
And Nafri's now already got a pretty advanced position up towards Kahi.
I mean, he can start really creeping up, play a bit of contact, shoulder spotted.
I think Inz would have relayed that over.
Seems like, might not have though.
Didn't seem to react well too much.
That Nade could do a chunk though.
Oh, it does. It does.
It forces them forward as well.
Molotovs come in, splitting them up awkwardly.
Nafri will manage to...
do a bit of damage, but not really much.
I think this leaves B. B. now in
a very, very awkward position.
The weaker weaponry is going to
start to haunt them, but they do
have a lot of utility remaining
here. It's true. The big thing
right first gone round for B. B.
And you know for them when you
look at it, you want to try it
and out the gates. Make sure
this one is settling all the
nerves you have coming into a
land. You can be your first
And that's the thing, we've got them going on, they're still looking a little bit timid in terms of some of these fights they're taking, yes they're getting good control, but speaking of control, I'll just look at this, he's got pretty good timing here, he should spot them going towards cow, even so that information is going to be relayed over.
Yeah, we'll see, is he even going to be needed at the end of the day? Oh, the answer is yes, some Chris cracks coming in from BB, this is exactly what we were expecting from them.
I'll step through the smoke though. Good timing. Catch all reloading. It's the double on the MP9.
And now just down to Magno Jazz, that planter. Trying to isolate the fight. It's not going to happen.
Traded out by Dexter. And there you have it. Fly Quest will manage to pull that one back, honestly.
It looked like it had slipped away.
And it does come down to that flank as well. That flank, he didn't know it obviously, but the timing is absolutely exquisite.
He just catches one of the reload and the guy who was basically holding for the potential of a flank
chooses the worst possible time to reload, goes through the smoke, gets through, bit of damage on towards the third as well.
And then for Magna just here, I don't think he does terribly, he just makes one mistake, he goes on top of the box.
He's really trying to ice hit the CT5, but actually exposes him through it.
So really big clutch, and you can already see as well, the Aussies get allowed.
That's what we want to see, we want to see FlyQuest come in towards this sort of game
game and showcase why they are a tier one team and one of the best in their region.
Alistair, he's a lot of question marks up off his head. His style of arping, his
status consistency, that's a nice way to start it.
Oh, it continues as well. They just roll in through the smoke. I mean,
committing to the idea at the very least, but yeah, not the best man, not
the best. And it does really feel, that's actually something that, you know, we
we talk about doing how it's shifting through.
That's a relatively key difference it feels like from go.
The long rushes, because of maybe the lack of skyboxes,
you're like spawn smokes and things like this,
like actually a hell of a lot harder
for the T side in this situation.
It's one smoke in particular,
because of that lack of skybox,
you can throw it more or less immediately off of CTs.
So it completely changes it.
You know, back in the day,
I mean, we've all played our Pugs of Dust 2
where you do have to be right,
who's got that spawn?
You have to get a molotov down.
You have to be the one to risk your life,
basically just to try and fight for a bit of this control.
But now you don't even have to.
You know, you can get a smoke down there.
And these days as well, there's even a Molotov that
can be thrown from Karst, you need to peek,
and you can molly doors.
So in ways very, very early, you can kind of take control.
And it makes the T side considerably harder,
which is now why a lot of teams have started to kind
of change from what, you know,
if you're watching old VODs of back on go,
it was always about long control.
Now it's about mid to B split,
seems much more popular.
And actually, because of those volumetric smokes,
much harder on the CT side to sort of deal with.
Really good shutdown liars Alistair combined perfectly real nice couple of shots and yeah
These is the exactly the sort of performance live press one flawless out the gates
And just showcasing again right this is a side who are meant to be considered one of the best of the best
But I mean play like that, you know bombed out of I am cologne play ins wasn't good pro league finishing in that second to last category
I mean it's not a good showing for a side who's meant to be revered as to look at this
So interesting push into one looks for two reasons. I'm going to pressure here catches the shadows and catches three
Oh ins mowing them down for is on the cards and he'll get it
Ace is the question mark
We know that it likes to get stolen away and naffy is nowhere to be seen
So liars mops up the scraps bins. This is a guy who since root kind of relinquishing his calling roles
I mean really come into his own it
This is a player
I've seen a lot of people talk about it
If there was someone from Australia to come over to EU and play in tier one, it would probably be him.
Yeah, but he's still believing in the countryman in the organic route.
That's exactly what happens there. When you get him off 80 ping, they actually play pretty well.
So I think that certainly felt crisp, you know, very, very fresh, thanks to the connection, of course, for him.
But yes, wonderful, wonderful way for him to just, I think, maybe even turn a few heads for the rest of the tournament.
You know gotta keep an eye on him. We're hearing about this guy and there is a flash of what he can do
We'll see if it kind of continues for him
Lee has also not too far behind in terms of performance so some pretty good individual looks at the moment
They damage on drops quite able to follow up their dexter, but it's good information
Taps out a few more feels pretty comfortable here. Just got to be careful
There's no take cutting off the flank that was to find an even situation now must be
The east side does too, one of the hardest sites to reach, A just one, stuck in towards doors, Spam is good, but Kairon walking over the kill, now is he still alive, gets tagged up again through the doors, but still remains breathing.
This is dangerous, Nafini's in behind, I don't like it man, I don't like it, Nafini's gonna go walking through the smoke as well, no one watching for it, complete disregard, just really hoping.
It's not impossible here. You
know, they're both relatively
low. Kyron looking like he wants
to make a play. They're opting
for this crossfire ready and
waiting his in sky. I don't
know. It's still wins the fight.
It's a dangerous move, but the
risk indeed gets the reward of
that first round. That's one of
those plays. I think as a coach,
you know, if you lose that
fight, it's afterwards. What are
about that as well, but that's Kyron in a nutshell, right? He's always been a little bit wild and wacky
in the server, and he loves to take these fights, heads up Jules, and that's why I'm very, very crisp.
I think Zorta does really well in this round. He cuts off a lot of the controller,
flagwriters are trying to get, shuts them down very, very early, and actually really limits
how much they can rotate and at what pace they can rotate. So I think Zorta, very solid
job from him. Makes like, this is risky. I don't know if you want to stick around for this.
Molotov down, smoke behind it. He's going to be fought here, and Tyron walks over the first,
Inns in for the trade-out with the orc.
Oh god, this is very awkward. They've lost control of a B bomb site. It's the big thing.
I think you kind of just have to give this. They're trying to make a play ahead of time, though.
They have indeed sent inns through.
And he's not getting it. There's a smoke in the way.
Frag for Halis there. Evens up the numbers.
No.
Inns with a big one. The bomb is yet to commit, and now it can't, because the Molotov's there.
So there you have it. There you have it. Don't just instantly save, guys. Indeed, try and go for it.
to get Magnazes is out long.
Desperate attempt to regain a
frag or some control he may
well have slipped through, but
the bombs on the other side of
the map. So this is just all
over the place. Yeah, the bomb
can't rotate here. You've got
wanting towards doors now a
second coming to join them and
wanting towards CT. The bomb
has no way to clear path. I
mean, this round is one or
lost by Magnazes. He has to
go huge here. I don't really
know if he can. He starts
like a move up towards short,
but clock is ticking here
the game. It's a very good
game. We can have bombs or
it's bottom is shot round done.
No chance now for Magnet is one
versus three 30 seconds has to
recover the bomb and it was
losing his head to Alistair with
the USPS talk about confidence.
He's looking great out the
gates, but. I mean, we've got
to talk about that round, though.
Five fights on five different
fronts and they just lose most
I mean, it works. It's seen as
genius, but in that sense, when
it fails, you will have just
puzzled by it. Well, I mean, it
all comes off of that be play
from int, right? Sure. He maybe
gets a few parameters that go
his way like a weird smoke to
work around. But ultimately I
even had in my sort of auto
pilot and you know the flow
chart of how it works. It's
like, Oh, they've lost the
site for v3 doors smoked.
That's gonna be that, you
know, and there would be a
good number of teams. I
like we can't take any risks don't take any chances we got to chill we got to play the game how it's supposed to be played
Yeah, but they go for it in that moment
Maybe it's because they have a lot around maybe again as we've talked about as the desk touched on at great length
This is a team that is looking to redefine itself and they know what they have here
It's just about getting those pieces working and maybe indeed. Yeah, maybe they have taken a slightly
More run by committee kind of style. That's what I felt like
I think in Swiss in a good position. He was like yo, can I get a flash someone says yep
And then they go for it right whereas again, maybe in the past you've got Dexter
Deciding everything and as an IGL as a percentage base kind of role. He probably would have said I think it's a save guys
Yeah, and even a small thing here as well
You know for in she started on the orb gets the first and then his teammate dies into walls million
I want to give this ago. I'm gonna go and get his rifle doubles buckets small little plays like that
But really well done attack pause attack pause out
We've got four BB, but nothing's really changed.
And for Railways, desperately trying to rally the troops a little bit, not looking good so
far.
We're outdoors long, though.
We've got out with all five alive, which we'll take.
It's a bit of a haphazard buy.
One Galeel or two Galeels, a Mach 10, a Tech 9, and then there's also nothing because
he wants the AWP in towards the next round.
So a lot of reliance on these Galeels, and hence why even then they swap it over
to Siren.
He's taking a lot of damages.
Right.
There's no point.
I'm basically dead already.
the long control group to up.
It's really tough to kind of
decide what they want to do with
this. I think they have that one
smoke as soon as it goes down,
they have to commit.
So they're cooking. We've run
boosting it. They're having a
cook. Oh, yeah. Oh, okay. That
looked a little dodgy. That
looks a little dodgy. No one on
the other side of it doesn't
really result in very much,
but we see the city side wake
up to peace for liars backed
up here looking very, very good
indeed. Maybe something for
four and I mean I have them going getting grouped right I don't have faith in this BB side. I mean I've caught them too many times
Sort of feel like I know at the moment where it feels like the fly quest at least at the moment
It just feels like there's an extra level to them
You know even though there's only a kind of five rankings different for example between these two sides
It feels like there's a world of difference in the server itself
I mean even though fly quest performances at Cologne for example weren't great and just recently in general
I still feel like they've got just something else a pro league wasn't fantastic either for them
They just got something else under their belt, which for me, for BB, I've just not seen for a while, right?
This is a side that had a lot on paper that looked great.
It's like a young CS core that might have potential to really upset teams like, you know, Roar and kind of take that crown from them,
but doesn't seem to be the case.
Lee Ars going for three. Oh, that's beautiful.
Carlyle on the back for a double.
There's a round, not completely out of the works.
I mean, this was something that was just never really talked about in this matchup,
is the fact that the individuality from FlyQuest is it going to be able to overcome BB?
We probably wouldn't have assumed so, right?
There's so many amazing fraggers on this BB team
that we were not expecting to have these multi-frag moments.
This is a good handful now that FlyQuest have had.
And BB are just not able to match up.
It's a little bit of a chiron in this round,
but I don't think it's going to result in very much at all
The 46 HP between the two players is just not enough if they can take another gun if they can squeeze a bomb plan
Then maybe it could be a happy recovery, but surely not. Yeah near right
Vexa
I'm on towards short this round the Vexa he should shut it down here. They're so low
Any peak out he should actually catch both always turn around though don't turn around this could be the worst timing
He jumped on towards the site. Honestly going to get one and now he shoots for Karen. So should be at that by more kids and is
eight to one my god
What a show when we're getting fun fly quest they are kick-starting Atlanta at a rapid pace and the vibes look far from adequate in that
BB side right now. This is a tough tough time and speaking of somebody's probably got a pretty easy time her cast coach over towards
It doesn't really have to change anything and you know going back to something they spoke about on the desk a bit
And I think you know Alan was spot on with this
He was talking about how it does feel for fly quest that they need just that true hero rifle in that team
Maybe Vin's not doing it as much and Dexter shouldn't be the one doing it
Then they do sometimes lack firepower especially against the top tier one teams. It's very evident
But here we've got you know when me Vex size having his moments in does have a moment
But it's liars liars looks great
12 and three out the gate is not normally some of the that we look towards to put up serious numbers more of a
Supporting element more of somebody to kind of help out the pack
But yeah at the moment. He's looking fantastic long control has been really good from him
He's always get good for a couple in all fairness and
Super solid to see so
Make a stuff as we talk about earlier Alastair will drop that long smoke thrown from CT spawn or misses
Bit of a half by here for BB
a little on AK and hoping a dream as well. I don't know this one's gonna get off the ground.
Yeah it's going a bit crazy. Dexter's on the AWP. It's going a bit crazy out here. So we'll
see whether he gets any kills with it. I suppose we'll check back in. Straight up towards
short from BB, not really wasting any time to try and get this control. I think maybe
this is part of the mission directive into this round. Just pick the pace up a little,
I'll go for one of these classic CIS bursts.
Alice Fair makes a work for one.
Tech nine, net surprise for Dexter.
The Orphe still has yet to see action.
All the same, looking good for the CT side.
But maybe I speak too soon.
Kiren with the control has created the space for the bomb
to go down.
Still not got the numbers, but they'll
be happy with where this is at so far.
They're still in the running.
Still have an opportunity to steal away a key round
and keep your eyes on this AK before I even get
the words out, he's a goner. It's all gonna be down to Maffony, the IGL. Does get overlooked,
a little bit strange, but all the same. They know where he's at now. One versus three,
utility reigning on in. They should be able to get the tap on the bomb. It's planted so
well for him. He knows there's no one around here. Takes another one with him. He just
needs to get a player off the bomb. Not gonna happen. Alistair steals the deal and
up to nine now for the Aussies. When will it end? Yeah, honestly, this is a absolutely
really tough. It's not really
tough. It's not really
tough. It's not really
tough. It's not really
tough. It's not really
starting showing two kickstart
things and not, you know, for
the most part not really having
to break too much respect. That's
the first round. We can really
talk about where it actually
feels like it was semi
competitive. At least I had an
opportunity for BB to take around
second on the border and maybe
kicks out a bit of immense
and tail ended as half. But
once again, retake good. And
I think a lot of that comes
down to the lack of fire
power. They're all
wielding an AKA double
Suicide control and Alistair is in the open here. He doesn't realize it just yet
He might get betrayed by a scope in just a second. Yeah, and there it goes
Auto peaks are and takes a freebie. It's kind of fair
I think it's a bit unfortunate there for Alistair in terms of the reeds
They've not really played anyone down in the alley like at all on the BB side
And then the one round he decides to play off of that they do
So semi-unfortunate in terms of the thought process
15 on the clock here. These are usually the situations, by the way, for a T-Side on Dust2
that they end up winning most of the time. Early pick up, full run of the action. So they kind
of know that on the fly quest side. Vexite, sent through a smoke, gets the upper tunnels.
Information should be able to send Dexter to go and bolster somewhere else. Looks like it'll
middle that is indeed a good call but I think this one is going to end up being an ace play.
I think you're right. The presence now be shown out towards short and via long so
that definitely looks like where they want to go. Lias, can we first contact Flash at the
angle though so that's going to rein him back in for a second he'll just drop down he knows
it's probably not worth it for the moment. Smoke dropped Flash behind it as well but it's
It's this fight from Magnages. Crunching down on this A control, Lee Hasenins, one of these
on. A lot of trouble. And Inns, 180 as well. Brilliant work. And the B250 pulled out. Nate
doesn't quite connect either. Inns will get caught, but a really nice shot down. Once
again, double digits in the first half. Screwed. This is a massacre. And unfortunately
Betboom still haven't fixed what feels like any of their problems at the moment.
Dog, this is legit. This is some serious outgunning going on right now.
That is around, like I had set up, they just should not be winning.
Those 5v4 conversions for T-Sides are so effective on this map,
and they had everything going for them, but just, yeah, outguns.
Absolutely incredible stuff to see.
From FlyQuest, another quick, long move coming in from the T-Side.
takes a lot of damage. He's feeling confident, rightly so, after his performance in this first half.
Not going to be able to net anything just yet, though.
So, Dan, towards CT.
Well, the smoke on the site as well, for Inza to try and play around, he'll start breaking it with a little gap.
Lee has good for one.
And he'll answer back as well, and Inza's going to reclaim that space, and so expertly done.
And he doesn't overfight either. He just dips away off the back of that first kill,
and knows that keeping the numbers alive and keeping the advantage of this situation is everything.
to the right. Yes. Absolutely.
from him brings it down to the
three V three. The flash is
pretty effective. Dexter takes
his time getting through there,
but he will indeed line the
frag. It's Alistair gets caught.
Fortunately, that's right. Also
going to go down. So maybe do
finish it 10 to two a clean
showing from them overall on
that fly quest side, but we'll
FlyQuest powered by double digits for them already, so the pistol could be the beginning of the end here now.
Yeah, very much could be one of the final nails in the coffins.
I mean, it says it all when the top fragger over towards the BB side would actually just be bottomed over towards FlyQuest.
So for me, it speaks volumes of what has been an absolutely dominant showing it coming through.
This is interesting. A bit of a proactive move, and it will net them the first.
Yeah, could be dangerous. I don't think they're going to expect this many years to problem now.
Now, I can adjust in particular on the jewelies looking really, really good. Drops a couple. It's a lovely crunch and maybe clearly know what flyquests like to go for.
There's quite a common kind of move there. Let's crunch a little bit or even let's send two through the upper tunnels.
That felt like an amalgamation of a lot of different B pistols coming in from the CT side. Still not over just yet.
So maybe don't talk like it is indeed finished. This could potentially still be on.
I mean he's barely alive so you can even really kind of consider this round at the moment as a bit of a two versus two
Might be a little bit something behind this and a flash in a Molly to work with as well
It's decent. Are you told that there might be something still on the cards here?
Very possible in
Slowly creeping forwards could get some pretty good timing flash does come in but they are able
the ball. He's got a lot of
people. To cross that bomb in
spaying out the footsteps of
his teammate as well, but his
teammate loses his fight. Just
a moment. We were maybe back
on. Molotov pushes it back. He
should be able to recover the
bomb, but he's only got 20
seconds. So definitely corralled
into a here one would assume
they have however split.
They're playing a super safe
game on the BB side of things.
Do not want to mess this one
There's plenty of time to get the plant in it's down to just Kyron for V2 turn 1v1
Where has this come from Kyron has no information no idea where he's at in spain. It's simple just hold the headshot angle
But just cannot find the head. Thank God for the early damage Kyron
Makes a meal of it, but he will win it out BBs their life. Oh, that was nearly one of those where they had lost out
We are gonna be saying, you know really having a strong conversation about what is going on
that would have been absolutely.
I mean, to the point where there's no more excuses. There's no more. Oh, you know, it was just a bad half that would have been so bad. Thankfully, it's not to be. But even the fact that went down to one versus one in itself was slightly concerning and just the decisions by BB in this situation to split up, you know,
a 4v2 situation, very easy, could just play 2-2 essentially, maybe one playing via, I guess, HCT or Shaw, but very interesting decision and it nearly backfires.
Of course, didn't have a bomb plant, and with a bomb plant, means that Inza's got himself an AK-47 and a few upgraded pistols.
Another round that you can completely count out either, Deagle, Valista, Vexi. I mean, Vexi's been pretty quiet so far, but if this AK can get active, get one, drop a rifle,
a little bit of. Of an idea of
how we're going to make something
work as a bit of armor as well
on liars. Not really giving
anything at all, though, BB. No
chance is being taken here to
one to set up very safe. Lots
of standing in corners. Hoping
they get overlooked, which again
in a round like this, you would
generally expect. But like
are so off here that mid to B smoke has come in so it is somewhat ready but not ready enough
he will get slammed that's going to be a gun recoverable that's going to be the bomb plant coming
in as well just a really nice piece of new ones tactical play from fly questers throwing things
up in the air here like a jes and karon keep the dream alive but then the pistols come back
in we're back and forth at the moment it's all down to that initial 1g making the difference
and since with the trade and they've done it on the low by not even fully spending they will feel away that follow up round absolutely unbelievable scenes here for five words. It's also so well played as well. You know, the thing you briefly mentioned that mid to B smoke comes the exact same time they're popping up on towards short. So they already pulled out a position and an attention drawn in the wrong area and they get completely overwhelmed and then obviously Alistar that first shot on towards the site.
He has no armor, so he has to hit the headshot there and it's brilliantly done really really well done 11 to 3
Flyquests are on track to closing this out and closing it out quick as well. The force bite out for BB and
Well, it's asking a hell of a lot out of just a few pistols that goes about saying a lot more 5-7
And I think at the pro level as well in the right hands, it's going to seriously scary
But flyquests look considerably scarier
Once it's in the air though the force by a back and forth can begin
So, he shall see.
Zortay tries to take an aggressive stance, doesn't quite land the head shot, but he lives to fight another day.
Oh yeah, three round the corner, dangerous move from Vexite.
He will go down, there's a fair trade of damage, there's a kill back, which is obviously the important thing.
Naphany and Gang will pick up the AK, they've lost the man advantage in the interim, however,
I mean, this is just being a
want out of show in an absolute
crowd right now. And they
really just because of that, like
AK recovery and everything lost
so much information. Unfortunately
you do have to save it. It's
going to be 12 for fly quest.
It's going to be nine in a row
required from the city side,
but at least they have an AK
for the next round, I guess.
I don't know. I think you
like we're doing what, uh,
the gang like to call
clutching it straws. Yeah,
and an absolute credit to FlyQuest.
What does this play from them?
They've looked fantastic basically all the way throughout.
Everybody's having their moment in the sunlight.
I mean, maybe Bar Vexi, you know what?
Bless them, he's not really needed here, unfortunately.
You know, he's maybe dipped off
in terms of individual form, but 21 and 8 for Inns.
Lia's looking great, he did it in the first half
and closed out by none other.
Speaking of Devil, what a show.
12-3 in a side who are absolutely loving their time
the limelight kickstarting, you know, so challenge Atlanta and you know, see, they've got a lot to prove it.
We already touched about it at the desk, touched about it too, where it's been a rough time for them
internationally, domestically, he's fine. But obviously that means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of
of kind of strike internationally has been a tough all time. I am clone playings, bombing out in large pro
league in that second to last grouping, like 21 to 26 or whatever it was. I mean, it's not a good spot for
them to be in potentially the final round. We've got a little bit of an investment basically,
whatever we can bring to the table, which is a Scout, an MP9, a Famas,
a Deagle, and a 5'7. And dementia is well no kits.
So if that bomb goes down, it's going to make things very difficult.
Magnus may be crept in a little bit here.
Vexite seems quietly aware and we'll find the headshot.
OK, so well found.
That worried me for just a moment.
First kill netted for the Australian contingent.
Imagine they will probably drag this one out
and just really forced BB to play to their tune.
Exactly what's happening here.
All four of the CTs are gambling on A,
and I don't know that the bomb is necessarily
going to end up there, to be honest with you.
I think maybe eventually,
but it's not going to be like the quickest run in the world.
And now, BB are doubting themselves.
So, yeah, they're just firmly in there.
Napheny's made the complete wrong call.
They pop flash in, two swing.
They don't see anything bar in,
so they just assume it's a lurker.
I don't realize he's actually starting the attack.
Starting the execute for the first.
Oh, and now there's a spray control to see it off.
Even he's celebrated.
He's normally quite stoic.
Scream, what a showing.
What a start for FlyQuest.
Not even for a second did they break us
waiting for that game.
And if that's how they're going to start,
I'm really excited to see what they can do here in a long term.
Yes, absolutely pure magic coming in from FlyQuest.
It has to be said.
I think it excites a lot of us.
This is a team, again, out of the region,
the strongest looking team for sure that Australia have had for a good while.
And I feel like this is a team now that maybe if they are able to bring that kind
of energy to an impressive team in BV, then maybe just maybe we are in for a really,
really solid show. Yeah, absolutely.
I really now wonder what the bounce back is going to look like for this BV side.
I mean, a lot has to be done to kind of recover from that.
Menti is going to be a really, really tough one.
It feels like quite a difficult day, uh, games gonna break down guys, because it was pretty one-sided.
We're gonna throw it back to the desk, Sam, take it away.
I mean, it's always difficult to break down the one-sided games, but the reason this won't be that difficult is because we get to break down how our analysts got it so wrong coming into this,
because we were not expecting this at all.
Helen, what was it about Blackwests today that just made them unstoppable?
I mean, we got it wrong, Sam, but we got it right.
And we got it right because our criticisms of fly quest, the things we said they had to work on, was exactly the difference in them in this game and them in their previous international outings.
Incredibly proactive, aggressive, making moves, Inns looking like a world-class individual player. Every single thing we criticized going into this game got reversed.
They looked like a team revitalized and let's find out if they're feeling revitalized because Mike is with them right now.
you guys are going to be
great. Thank you, Sam. I'm
here with Alice there. Man.
That was a good opener for
you guys feel nice on the
server. Yeah, I felt real
good today. Everyone was on
the comms and nice fighting
together. It was a good day.
It's mentioned in the pre
game. It's a familiar
opponent. These are the guys
you bested in pro league
playoffs season 19. What is
it about Bibi that's
comfortable for you guys? I'm
not sure. I think we just
it's just when we play them
or a good read on what they're doing.
Maybe it's Nafini, I'm not sure, but we just feel like we have like a good idea of how the rounds playing out
and we're always in the right spot.
Now there were a couple rounds there where you guys were manned down.
Not very many, to be honest.
But even in those moments, it felt like at any moment you guys were flipping it on its head,
taking control, keeping calm there on Dust2.
Is that the fly quest we can expect going forward?
Yeah, hopefully. We want to be going to every game like that, playing pro-active.
If we're down a man, pushing for info and doing stuff together, that's the goal.
That's a goal indeed. Well, definitely goal accomplished today. What do you think, Sam?
What do I think? I think winning is winning and they won.
There we go. But it was a much more aggressive style.
Yes. More confidence as well.
They looked like they were making definitive decisions.
Absolutely. I mean, you saw them charging down mid with an op at one point,
just like going out and taking fights.
Ended up losing that fight, but that's not the point.
Like they were getting in the faces of a BB team round after round.
I mean, there are just several instances of it.
You saw ince not even getting afraid to go into that B side in one round
where it felt like BB Team were going to take B and manage to get control of it.
But no, he hid behind, the smoke comes out completely unexpected by BB Team,
and he retakes control of the site.
And that's like one of many moments where you thought,
okay, BB Team's got a chance, you're going to get into it.
No, you know, they talked about already Alan mentioned productivity
and interview as well.
They were always trying to find a way back into rounds.
There was a very definitive moment though as well in this particular game orchestra.
Yeah, just round number nine, right?
You know, you see that BB Team's like,
Okay, they're going to be aggressive. We're going to go out quick, fast, try and take Long A and immediately it says no, no, and no again.
A complete shutdown, and he sets it up for the rest of the team. You see a little bit of a recovery there coming through from BB Team, but after it just pick apart the remaining pieces and shut them down.
And it's just like, it's unbelievable how well FlyQuest played here.
And I kind of feel almost like they wanted to get to Dust2 because if you look at their map pool, Dust2 is the least played map they have.
And you look at BB Team, there was 6-0 on Dust2 over the last three months.
That was completely shattered.
I feel like there was some kind of anti-stratting coming through before for FlyQuest.
So, yeah, we're sitting. We've got FlyQuest.
And I'm going to throw a JRT end of the bus a little bit because
when half-time hit, you said to me,
yeah, I think BB Team 8 rounds, 8 rounds.
That didn't happen.
And then they weren't even able to get it back in the second half.
Well, yeah, they had the anti-aiko in the second half.
that was the end for sure. But
the game was lost on the first
half. They let way too much
slip and they had no point had
control of this game. Fly
quest, as they said, were the
proactive team. They were the
team always making the moves.
Betby were trying to play catch
up and, uh, yeah, maybe there
was some hesitation. Maybe you
could point some individuals
they didn't play their best,
but fundamentally. Fly
questions did a number on them
and they weren't ready for
and they went ready for it.
Ins had 184.9 ADR.
I just saw that.
That is absolutely ludicrous how well he played.
And I mean you say I was wrong in that sense, Sam,
but I was the only one who believed
in FlyQuest on this desk.
So, you know, I was sort of right.
Definitely didn't expect this to be a 13 to three.
I will not take credit for that at all.
I thought that BB team would be able to come back,
especially after a tight pistol round victory.
You're like, okay, something's happening.
Like Alan said, just the anti-Eco doesn't work
all in the follow-up branch the pistols and the hero AK that managed to get
things done so yeah master class from fly quest up against the BB team today a
good way to start the day your US Air Force aim high is coming up on your
screen right now and while that is up there let us actually talk specifically
though about the fact that this is a best-of-one format okay so the groups
are all best of ones and while this is very exciting for fly quest I think the
question we need to pose Alan is does it continue when we move into tomorrow or Sunday and it's and
I'm already giving them leeway had to say that they would win the next best of one but when it is
A little less of a sprint and a bit more of a marathon
Yeah, I mean
Fundamentally the brand of CS they played on the CS on this game was risky. They made moves. They stacked sites
They got aggressive and you're going to lose some of those in the long run here. Everything worked
everything worked every move.
There was even no resistance or
Inns just killed everybody
immediately. So if you average
is out over us over a series
over a tournament, it's not
going to work like that every
time. But what they're doing is
giving us those chances to win
then in the past, they did not.
Ozzy Ozzy. Yeah, yeah, there's
a chair or something in there.
I don't know what it is, but
I'm trying. We have another
matchup coming up. And it is,
of course, the real underdogs
of this events rooster up
against the firm favourites in
So that is our next best of one.
We're starting out early in the
morning and making sure you get a
huge of amazing counter strike
coming your way.
So don't go anywhere.
Yes, I'll challenge it.
Lanza will be right back.
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I think that one month ago was for sure the best momentum in the team, so I think that everything clicked on that moment and we kind of followed everything and it was magical.
I'm gonna say that inside of the game we didn't change so much because of the tournaments that we had, but I want to say that we are not on the same level as Cologne.
We know that it's possible because we already did it, so that's kind of our mentality right now.
We know that we are very high in the rankings and how people are watching us.
Well, in some tournaments you just go and you know that you are the underdog.
Right now maybe you are one of the favourites to win, so we need to embrace that pressure
And we need to do our job. So, my expectation is to win, but let's see game by game and let's see what happens.
Let's jump on and use all the overused tropes, shall we?
Going into Cologne, this team saw the underdogs. No one expected anything from them.
Coming out of Cologne, well, things are very different now.
The most remarkable Cinderella run for this team.
for this team. And as we come into ESL Challenger, they are the favourites. Not by a little bit,
but by a long shot. In fact, them not being in the finals would be somewhat disastrous,
especially with the RMRs so close to us. They're going up against Rooster, a team who
no one really even knows anything about. They have a new person in their lineup and
Naokai actually mentioned he was speaking to one of the Australian casters who went,
I don't even know the guy that they're playing with. So that is the situation we
find ourselves in. It is of course group A here at the ESL Challenger at Lanza
competition. You've seen the first match up already where FlyQuest was
victorious and now we get to see Saw take on Rooster. The Portuguese have to
win this, Alan. It's not even up for discussion, really. No, they will win this
game. It would take a catastrophe beyond what we'd expect. So yeah, I mean, we
have to set the stage that way. Rooster, they are a long way out of
that they're playing a game like this. It's just by virtue of the Australian scene, not
necessarily having a lot of depth at the moment that they're here in the first place
and FlyQuest obviously are already in attendance. So it's going to be a very tough game. And
for sore, it's not just about winning. It's about cleanly winning.
Yeah, it's well, yeah, it's been really tough for Rooster. There's no questions
asked about that there. They had a pearly grunt that didn't really yield much of
anything and danger was determined to be a problem on that roster. I saw it
was Chelyos doing an interview with Dust2, and I mean it was just really, really not a
rosy picture that was being painted there, unfortunately. Now you mentioned the new player
coming in, JHD. He subbed for them one time in January. I think they won that series,
but either way, he hasn't played outside of those two in quite some time, Sam, four
years.
I don't really like to pull your attention to best of one map videos, because I feel
like they don't really matter. Everyone kind of plays up, but we are playing on nuke.
So is one of the best nuke teams in the world.
I was like, I just got a nuke to stand right now because I saw it.
They played a qualifier last week for the next challenger, and they did lose a few games of nuke,
looks a bit more vulnerable, but it's such a comfort place that I'm I am surprised.
Rooster didn't take more of a gambit in the Vita.
I mean, what are you going to do if you're used to you have one map yet, Mirage?
I'm not trying to be mean or anything here, but you got 15 games played there 11 and 4 and it's the perma for saw
So you have no chance of seeing mirage at all you look at it and say well
I mean whatever else we get will hopefully work out and you know ending up on you isn't terrible
It's their third most played map 2 and 3 and they do have a positive round differential there
But again, we have to talk about a lot of this stuff is happening
Locally it's regionally
It's hard to even justify those stats at all right. Yeah, like they just don't play in here
However, we'll get into this conversation a bit first though. We do want to hear from
This incredible team that did magical things and I am color and let's find out how they're feeling max with them now
I'm here with Roman ahead of their matchup against rooster Roman
This one's got to be a little different for you guys
You're used to being the underdogs at a lot of your matches now
You're coming in heavy favorites in this match favorites in the tournament. Is that changed the swagger you guys bring into the server?
I mean, no no
The goal that we always have is to win the tournament
no matter if you are the underdog of the favorites.
So our pressure is the same.
We are just here to do our best and let's hope we do it.
Now your opponent here, Rooster, they're coming in right?
They've gotten batted around
in international competition a little bit.
How do you rate them?
I mean, I've seen Rooster playing
for a really long time because
usually when I play a couple of cup really early
and sometimes they are playing their Australian matches
and sometimes I pop up and watch them.
And I think they are pretty good.
really skilled. I actually watched the game against Miles live and I was surprised by that level
so I feel like it's not going to be an easy match and we just got to be prepared.
Well excited to see how it goes on the server. Good luck man. Back to you Sam.
He's not disrespecting his opponent. No, not at all. That was very respectful.
It was good. Now very professional interview obviously that's what he is told to say in a
a lot of situations I'm sure but looking at the numbers purely here and you know the way rooster
has played as of late maybe if you looked last season in challenger league they were much better
in oceana this season it's just been such a mixed bag sitting at seven and seven and it just
hasn't been pretty for them and fly quest has kind of dominated in oceana so rooster's kind of
falling off obviously danger not there anymore jhd coming in and I think shell is just saying
we're not even sure if he's going to be a permanent fifth so they don't really know
what's going to happen there in that regard and like I said or what I was saying before it's been
four years since jhd has had an official outside of that one series that was played so I'm not
sure what kind of performance we're going to get here and I think he's been doing some coaching
on rooster at times but yeah I mean let's not focus on rooster for now let's focus on the men
on your screen this portuguese team who did that miracle run at iam cologne who shocked the world
and who took down some big names allen and doing it they themselves have said though they're not
to come into this saying, you know, respect the opponents.
If you're going to be a good game, I guarantee you the young guns
are thinking. Time to farm.
Yeah, I'd have to say the same, honestly.
Like they have to be confident coming into this one.
They roll through the close qualifiers, by the way, for both this event
in Atlanta and in Canada.
So they're in Canada as well after this.
They got a lot of prep coming up leading up to the RMR,
which is for sure what they're thinking about in their minds as well.
How do we get some practice and reps in a what better way than two challenger events?
Can we give a bit of credit to the man sitting behind this team because I do feel like since they've bought in the day
Things have changed here. Barry has clearly made a huge impact. Are we allowed to call him Barry or do we have to call him Juliana?
I never know. I don't know where that's come from, but yeah
Okay
The hub of all factual information. Yes, obviously Barry
He said himself when he came into this team. He didn't see this coming
I mean, he actually said he had to check the message twice before he believed it, but it's a very interesting match.
Obviously felt like in the Portuguese scene, obviously very kind of insulated.
There wasn't someone of the caliber they wanted.
Barry, of course, there's going to be communication problems, but he brings a very different perspective.
He can show them how to play fundamentally.
He's come through so many different Danish systems.
So he gives them a different angle, whereas most teams just pick a coach that's already in tune with their play style.
Barry can bring a very different look.
That man on your screen though,
as well the players will watch for this lineup, JLC.
Yeah, no, I mean, he's been absolutely phenomenal
for them over the last little bit.
I mean, you're looking at the numbers here purely.
I mean, it's hard to talk about his frags.
It's been over 71 maps, so it's like 1000 plus,
but that's not really relevant.
We're looking at about 15.8 frags per map
coming through from him.
A great impact rating as well.
And he's really quite effective
in terms of dealing damage, of course,
with those types of numbers,
leading the team with an 85.8 ADR.
And that all comes largely in part thanks to his ability to open up space on both the T side
and even the CT side, even though Story takes a little bit of lead on that side,
it's still you jerks that's running the show at this point for his squad.
So they're going up against Rooster.
JLT's mentioned a little bit about this Australian team.
We've touched on it, but let's actually hear from them now.
What a way to start their challenger run.
You knew you were going to get Roosters in the server, but how about a goat?
I've got the goat here.
You're standing behind the boys.
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? How did you come to coaching?
Ah, coaching. I used to be a pro player, and then Essex decided to end that
and give me the nickname The Goat, so now I'm here. Coaching.
Coaching indeed. Alright, how are you guys feeling? You know, in the server, in Atlanta,
all those things out of this matchup are sore.
We're loving Atlanta. We're in the big Atlanta spirit right now. ATL whole.
I love it. I love it. Well, we'll see if you guys can rise up. Good luck.
Right up. Back to you, Sam.
Well, they're obviously taking this very seriously.
We don't even know anything about this player that's come in, this DHD.
The coach is clearly on the same level as Barry, as we can see there in his interview.
Hal, Hal has to freeze over for this to be a win for Rooster, surely.
Is that where we're at?
Yeah, he kind of feels like it.
I mean, I try to be, I'm trying to best be positive and think about this
in a good light for Rooster. I mean, it is good experience for them one way or another
going up against South.
So I'm going to go off on a tangent here because I come from South Africa and this is something
that we did for a lot of the time with these Challenger events. The South African team would
come and we would talk about what great experience it was and the South African team would lose
and then we'd talk about, hey, you know what though, they almost beat ends. They almost
did it. And there is a point where I get it. It is great and it is great experience
But there's also a point of is that enough for you to go home and say you almost beat saw
At this stage for rooster. I I feel like the answer that is actually yes
I mean things are so rough for them at this point. I mean, they're trying to find their roster. There's clearly discord going on
You know that they're bringing a coach there to try and kind of wrangle things
But it feels like the attitude is very relaxed very casual which might play in their favor in some ways, right?
Because maybe that'll lead to something happening for them
you get signed with an
organization. Get the
sponsorship you need to travel
the world and play Counter
Strike, Alan. If you're not
taking it super seriously when
you go up against so the
biggest way to get noticed
Yeah, well, they're not under
an organization. They're not
salaried. I'd assume the line
up change. Isn't management
move from above or anything
like that. So you have to set
the context appropriately for
this team. They will lose
this game. They're not going
to make it through to play
us in this tournament, but
it's a chance to play on a
big stage. It's a chance to
the best team in your domestic region is in this tournament. If you have a great game, a great event,
maybe if they need to make a move, you're in the headlights.
It's made our predictions now. I mean, they're pretty clear where we're lying. So we can say this
to production straight up. I think we all are under the same impression that it is going to be
a sole victory. No changes there from anyone. No one's thinking of jumping on the other side.
Could be a good opportunity though if you are a rooster. If you get the opportunity to play
against FlyQuest. If you beat them, that's a really good sign, right? That's something
that you can go home and use with? Yeah, maybe. I think that would be at least
something that they could say, okay, we finally found a way to overcome FlyQuest, which they
weren't really doing in Challenger League either. So yeah, I'd say that's something to celebrate
if they get to that point. But yeah, we'll see. The Australians hate us. We are not welcomed
down under. We know. So is growing up against Rooster. Let's get into game.
that this is about saw. You know, if you let this opponent get double digits on your best map or if you lose out like a 5v3 or something like this, they're not great signs. You have to roll over this team. You have to be the overdog. And I think it is a really, really good look at saw. And what kind of team we're going to get here moving into the rest of that on.
I don't want to completely discount this kind of Rooster side, but obviously this is a matchup
where all eyes for us are on Rooster and it's all in the kind of the context of this tournament.
We're looking at this side, we're coming at the number one seed ranked eighth in the
world currently right now. It's been absolutely crushing. It came in towards this year, 2024,
and everyone just told them, you know, we do a lot of the tier two seed and they're
a top tier two team, but nobody expects them to nearly be in the position of commencing
to be able to get to the
top of the map. You know,
you're not going to be able to
see yourself as tier one, but
one thing that would cement
you say, well, there's winning
a land like this. And of course,
I guess they got the backup of
Kato to run for three. Luke is
a wild map to pick into
against Thor is Alan. You know,
quite rightfully mentioned
they are one of, if not the
best team in the world
currently on this map. It's
always been such a strong
part of their map pool. Let's
see right the assumption. The
just doesn't seem to work. It's
a big ask. We'll see if they
got anything up their lock. It's
very good start as well. For
story gets his first tjp gets
caught. That'll be now everything
going quiet and to make matters
worse for Rooster as well. Not
only are they playing on
arguably saw his best map or
maybe even inarguably saw his
best map but also starting on
the T side to on the most
CT tattered map. So it is an
uphill battle and then some
indeed. But the vibes may
well be immaculate here.
Julie's struggling and he
We're into an advanced situation with Ujerks still being low.
It's led you a very, very good look for Rooster right now.
There's no kit available, a severe lack of really anything for sore.
So clean headshots.
That's about all they've got in the strapbook here.
Tentatively trying to find some space to slow Creep up for Muterious.
They want to get him into action here.
I don't think he's been keenly watched.
He may well have just been spotted there,
of the game. They are drawn
out now for the fight. Still
looking pretty good. It's a
what's up of sorts from a stop
in the end, Rooster will kick
off with the victory. Yeah.
All right. Fair enough, Rooster.
I mean, for them, they've
basically got nothing to lose
in a matchup like this. So
it's all about just playing
to your game, not falling
into kind of the traps that
saw are going to set and
things that I will for store,
but is this this awkward
So the mileage there and fortunate way to start things off
You know a bomb plus a round in favor of roost. I mean a nice buy for them
We are gonna see a force by the coming through from source. So we see how that goes. We got a scout with a famas a
Few eagles as well wanting to mention no kit in play for sore as it was in that last round
So the bomb goes down. It really makes things very very difficult for sore
They don't have a lot of time to kind of work and get fights back in your favor
You've got to go towards that side and go on the bomb
This is dangerous, man. There is a small pebble that has formed for Rooster.
If they win rounds like this, they win that first-wifery round, suddenly, you know, it turns into that boulder.
And you might not be able to stop them, so this feels against the grain from store, but also, I think, they will believe in themselves, yeah, for the potential of this fourth-by-muteris.
Comes through, first kill, big damage onto TJP. It's actually a very good start for the CTs.
Hello Roman
Smells around a bit. He's got the right idea
Smoke will beat them there too. So JHD forced it rain it in just a tad
DJP tagged numbers advantage for saw on that clock starting to tick
So decision has to be made here
Where do we go? How do you make this work for us?
to be able to do that. It's
one lurking towards outside.
Ramp is the main port. We want
to go attacking the scout as
well. Story can do some decent
damage from here and they're
starting to look a little
nervy. Time's running down. The
TJP comes in at the right time
and he's opened up the bomb
site. So it all works out
very nicely. Sell the ramp
angle store had three over
there. I think we're both
looking at that like, Whoa,
beautiful find on the Acom site.
Yeah, I think we just save it.
FAMAS, MAC10, SCAL, three stay alive.
Just use this buy-in towards the next.
It's better than trying to give this a retake.
Retaking the top side of Nuke
is very, very difficult.
Not a lot of teams go for it.
And so, I'm going to join that cohort.
So another round for Rooster.
Fail force by two is
obviously going to give them
a nice bit of foundation to kickstart Nuke.
kickstart new we said they're probably gonna do some more crap in towards this
much specifically there's no reason why you float if you hadn't it feels quite
outlandish so so far so good I mean generally when I cost new you know we
always talk about it I would always say five rounds T side I think you're pretty
happy with that that's a workable amount to be and I think at the point
of a car currently I if they can get in that region who knows I still could
be under a little bit of pressure here that T side is pretty strong but it
definitely asked a bit of them.
So to say, we're going to reuse this by a little bit Irish Dosh.
Our farmer he will wheel the back to scout the farmers.
Little Diggle Dodd in there as well.
So we'll see.
Scout has some eyeballs towards ramp.
Maybe a peak to come his way.
Not quite yet.
New tears looking for something very similar to the previous round as well.
Send himself downstairs and maybe creep up.
We're reeling at the opportunity on this map.
I think one of the things that, you know, maybe we didn't go into super deep and it's always a tough angle because you're going to start sort of contradicting yourself, but we can pull it out a bit more in the broadcast.
There's a good chance to prep for this map, you know what I mean? There's a lot to learn from this all side, so that is an angle for Rooster that they could be very ready for what so specifically bring to Nuke, whether that stretches into a full B01, whether that serves them later on in the tournament.
Obviously remains to be seen
That's the kill it was
On the edge for a moment Moutyrus will manage to find one could drop another here
But surely with low HP and no kit. There's not really much that he can do to enter the site
Yeah, I don't actually think saving is the worst thing in the world here
He knows he has no real chance of making this work for him
He doesn't want to be leaving things too late either where dropping up out of heaven could cause a little bit of fall damage
obviously so low, so not worth the risk. Get out of there. Got his kill, got his damage,
and that'll be that. Three nil start for Rooster. But this next round is the main one. Both
sides can have money. Both sides can have full buys, and this is where we've got to see
what sort of got up there, you know, obviously, right, and what they've got in the locker
to really, once again, regain a bit of a foothold on this CT side. We want to
see them kind of bare minimum take a leaf, right? And so far, you see that is not
looking so good they've been struggling in the early part of this map something
they usually don't that's what makes so so scary on this map they usually start
very very well you jerks has very proactive story gets a lot of space
with that AWP in the case speaking of the orbs are in play let's see story
gonna go all the way over to his back red it's nice proactive position as well
you know that story likes to get it to fight so what a shot from him ASAP
Gets clipped. Yeah, that's nasty. That is nasty story making himself known here Roman quick switching a little restless
But it's all good because he wasn't looking at me
5v3 quickly to two
And this one is falling apart quickly sore
teaching Rooster what it's all about the guns have come out the
Conventional Counter-Strike and they have not put a foot wrong after all in this round. Yeah, brilliant
a lot to do. Not a lot to work
with a minute now on the clock
to try make a decision. Good
noise made there by you, Jerks.
What is now all down to one man.
TJP.
The lead by example here. This
one is most definitely not
getting off the ground.
I can't get a consolation kill.
The answer is no.
So talk about a response out
from sort.
Ends with the first gun round.
Make sure that they find it
find it with what in this case no casualties to which is absolutely going
to help the economy can help the confidence going to really start to
spiral them in a positive note and now we have to look at the flip side as well
when we look to the rooster now that they've got the guns out and now they are
trying to take fights and you know we're seeing players like story look how
actively going towards this map all the way over towards back red pushes
outside gets us killed doubles back immediately takes a fight in towards hot
mere seconds later I mean that is what we want to see coming through from
So how are we gonna punish them with that?
You know, they've got something to fire themselves, but unfortunately, it's not the most bountiful of fire.
We've got one ATO, one Galeel, which is dropped, and I'm acting on a few pistols around it.
Roman's going through that as well.
He's feeling good about themselves.
Ori! Blinded up!
Oh! How's he not dead?
How does he not go down there?
Roman has slowed them down from behind here.
It does get traded, but the space has been created.
The ball versus two definitely hangs in the balance.
They still saw looking advantageous here.
They're ready for the A hit as well.
They stopped trying to find a catch.
Doesn't quite happen for him.
Loses his teammate.
They spot him as well.
The bomb will be on that minimap.
So batten down the hatches here
and well making as flawless as possible.
Saw stringing them together.
Yeah, me recovery as well.
Thereby saw just in that round when Roman falls,
It did look for a moment like it could be actually a little bit awkward.
Like they could lose a bit of space and maybe pop in towards that topside.
But not to be.
So, we'll see now, sort of up to their second and where they can start developing.
Snowballing across the way. Starts well for Robin.
I don't hate the productivity from him as well.
Just, oh no. And he's sort of individual.
Got a base that's pushing through a single door, trying to get some lobby control.
Doesn't get anything in terms of the kill.
It's my information. You get a lot of it. Ace that could be a trouble and some house is alive.
You've been watching me like World War one documentaries, like a lot of shells raining down.
I guess exactly what a steps just been through. I'm like just bullets everywhere running through.
No man's like making the heroes charge. Yeah, you've read Battlefield one. Yeah, exactly.
Exactly that. And he is well all by himself. Oh, team of sacrifice himself to allow
It's all worth it's all worth what a mission. He completed it, but you know, they're not going to win the war off the back of it
Even Stevens now saw with three you type, you know got mine in chat and he's all right
I must hide square though three of these and this is once again while it was a little bit of slow start
Sure, this is where saw really start to showcase just a level
I think you know the desk touched on it these youngsters were looking at that core that came from FDW to saw
of Aristosh story and Ujerks.
And for them it's about, can we get some good stats there?
Can we really showcase our prowess and so far, so good.
Ujerks four and two, story seven and two.
Aristosh plays all those anchor roles and support roles.
He's still up to four as well.
The old guard just make sure they can basically
just facilitate them.
A pause in play from Rister
as they opt to take a slower approach into this round.
He's had once again in the yard
Will look
For some aggression. He's got enough ground that they feel they can do something with this
Execute
Being set up the bomb just crosses their dangerous angle of course
Income the smokes nice and wide
They're moving a bit early and the orco searching he misses the shot
But he's revealed that there is some action behind this mysterious ready a tough angle to beat
No one really there to trade out either. He's gonna keep pushing forwards made in big damage
He will fall but not before he's an awful lot
JP thank goodness knew he was on fire while blind that might have been an embarrassing end for him
But I like the moves here from rooster. They've left themselves very little time now though. It's very true
They've got to make a commitment
What is this decision? It looks like it's
I say it looks like it's down towards us like a fight, but
I'm still up top and just get
blocked apart and getting caught
outside one by one. They're
dropping and slimy probably to
see it off. Yeah, unfortunately,
I think they just get caught in two
minds a little bit and they split up
with no actual clear path of where
we want to go. So unfortunately does
not pay off for them. One player to
keep an eye out for in towards this
game. If you get active and starts
playing while you're slimy, he's
actually a bit of a talent coming
recently very very good player when he gets going and if he can have
individually come up online you could see him a little crisp he's been quiet in
the early part of the game. Chellios is another one as well very efficient offer too.
He has to just get his moment. Tech 9 rush should a Tech 9 shut down.
Muteris, Aristosh, Roman all having a piece of the pie here and the matter of
moments TJP and Chellios left with nothing really they've got no chance
one in this round. The goal is damage. The goal is maybe bomb plant as well. I think that
will be taken away from them. TJP playing a patience game inside the smoke. I'm willing
to wait to get his reward. It's the right idea. Do it. Is there a... Oh! Oh! Oh! Okay,
there it is. Finds him eventually. Knew there was something going on. You know, where
else is he going to be? And they guessed correctly. So a flawless one coming in,
So they are the ones that's got the ball to going and maybe made that little analogy for Rooster early on. Unfortunately, it didn't quite get off the ground. So I'm now taking over the game. Is there going to be a response available for this tea side?
Yeah. And the real issue that, you know, we're starting to see as well as that. I mean, Rooster barely even getting killed, like a kill, right? That's kind of been as good as it gets since the guns have come through for store. This is just what they do best. Really nice showing.
Smoking a molly combination. Just to shut them down if they will go over that single door pop.
You jerks will play up over towards ramp, happy to lurk behind their smoke.
The issue with roosters, they're obviously making a call out of spawn and the second anything throws a bit of a spanner in the works, they struggle to adapt.
Story does want a fight here.
Oh, question of how far he goes, they just get off the boost at the right time but they've unwittingly determined that it must be clear.
be an orper rounds and it will of course be the wrong read. It's fine for Muterius, very
scholarly held up side solo move here for you Jirx, he's got the permission to do so.
And he left that kill on purpose, he wanted a mate to find it. Of course this is getting
unbelievable, nearly the teammates but not a single point of damage man.
Yeah and another round where we're not even getting a kill, we can't even get step one
the game plan. I feel like
attack port is going to be
called there regardless of what
the goat can bring. Yeah, I was
going to say, what's my guy going
to say? You know, I think if
they're winning, he's the
perfect coach because he's like
amazing job guys. Love it. Keep
it up. But now it's like, man,
you're not doing good. You need
to do that. I don't know.
Unfortunately, he's got the
Exactly that. Jaycee, they'll walk at the first, towards our side. Smoke broken open, but not enough to give them a kill here.
I mean, Storm is going to completely double away. I think he's worried, and rightfully so.
I don't think he realizes how deep they've gone, and I think probably with a lack of steps.
He might have actually wanted to go into that double doors control, but he's not up to playing towards Cobbie.
The only issue of Cobbie, especially as an AWPer, is very difficult to get more than one kill.
Oh, a step.
Yikes.
I will have been heard it is only one doesn't quite confirm everything but they'll start to set themselves up more solidly here for this B-bombsite.
Ujjurks.
Getting closer to the action now.
Wanting to hold out single.
They are winding this clock down again.
Just looking to catch their opponents off guard. Noise now being made, they'll move in.
Smoke comes around, Ujjurks do shoot a little early. The ult gonna get taken down. A Rosdosh is here to join the party.
But he can't get involved after this nade-age comes in.
Your foot coast will take him. That's the big kill as well. It's all on to Roman.
One versus three, bomb will go down momentarily. Why not go for it? You're so much cash.
And he will indeed stick around, but the AWP takes him and a heck of a pickup from A-Sat there.
Really, really big kills from him. Two solidify that one on Rooster with a half by win.
There was one big gap in that B-Site setup there as well.
Ujeks is playing Opponzor's Rathas holding Singledore and the reason why he plays exactly where he is is because he knows the window isn't broken.
The second the window breaks, he needs to shift a little bit over to the left so he's got a pillar covering him so he can protect Story.
The Story gets overwhelmed. Two tech minds jump down and towards his position and the second they fall, it's asking way too much.
Ujeks basically gets overwhelmed so his one thing he had to do was protect Story.
He then essentially covers his Singledore and his Double Door as well.
But what's the case slimy tries to go out single but not to be quite into a speaking
I'll be the first once again something that saw a very good opening kills
Rooster right back to the drawing board unfortunately
After winning a really nice one in the previous to be fair. Yes, it is very different rules of engagement, but it's still
Look very good in terms of the coordination in terms of how they played that. Yeah be hit with like one smoke
But this round, not starting off well, nothing much coming, so much U2 to remaining, this
is one of the big things as well for a game like this, so we're going to be less inclined
to throw that default utility, they actually will probably beckon the fights, win them,
and then save their U2, you know what I mean, they're playing a very very winners mindset
type setup, and rightfully so, another find from U2 is here, so, honestly 40 seconds
with nothing in. I think you
probably just save if you're the T side here. They are against that idea though. They'll go for it.
I think now. Yes. Especially that. Okay. Okay. We are. Yeah.
Chelyos pro for a minute. I think one real small thing as well,
that Molly that goes actually past the smoke and squeaky that completely shuts down the support
route that Rooster were trying to set up there. They're obviously trying to go through lobby
with on the roof setting up a top hop Molotov and somebody was meant to break out
through squeaky, but the Molotov just stops Chelyos being able to support. So really well done.
And we'll just be a relatively quiet 10 seconds to see off the tail end of this. Oh, hello. Yeah,
guess his. The one's not there, but TJ, please not exactly escape the troubles. We'll get one.
Tuck your head, my friend. Oh, it's a little awkward, but no dice. No dice. So that's all that
matters. It will be. So locking themselves into a lead at the bare minimum. That's all
that we're really looking towards.
It's more just on the other case now about whether Rooster
can hit R5, right?
Even though it hasn't felt comfortable,
five rounds is still workable.
Eight to four is not exactly impossible.
This is the most CT-sided map statistically in the pool
right now.
But I think the real issue for us
is just that when the guns have come out,
Rooster's already got one round since.
Story, aggressive roll here for the AWP.
It's something that he's not ready.
Moves for an awful lot.
He's had those angles, but getting in the face
of the T sides. Nothing comes of it. Big damage on to ASAP, thanks for the nades. Story takes
a bit from the Molotov himself. Smoke blown open. He didn't see the player. Doesn't seem
like he's prepared for a fight there. Another smoke blow comes in. They've actually gone
down this time around. Story absolutely gagging for this first kill. It is escaping him at
the moment but the gaps are everywhere. Roost has not made it down, getting caught
out in the open deer in headlights chicken headlights one might say and saw once again in a winning position
The bomb made down there. That's the important one, right?
So now they've got an idea of what we're gonna try and do here
They're gonna leave one up towards topside to lurk and I mean TJP is drawing attention to them
So the very least they might read this slightly wrong that might be an opportunity two pounds
But Roman's gonna go huge and they're gonna double back up towards the topside
How is you guys got away with three? What a way to close the half eight to four? We'll see you after the break
He said so if it kind of feels bad that wasn't a competitive first half if it wasn't for the pistol
And then the following force by round we could very much be talking about like a 10 to 11 one half
So one all but one of the gun rounds since they first invested in and I mean the odd show that exactly right
It was a very one-sided showing and saw a showcasing why they're one of the best new teams in the world
The numbers are there, maybe Rooster can pull off the impossible, this is where for me it gets a bit tougher though, you're going to have the full force of Saw coming at you, they will look to run this game and probably pull out a few of their wackiest strats that they usually say for a rainy day, but why not, ooh, give them a try against Rooster, nice find from T.J.P.
I did don't change off slimy gotta be on that swivel in between angles me while downstairs one more army cellos
We'll manage to find a couple of his own they have
battled for the a bomb site
Where's the bomb? Where's the bomb though? Yeah, it doesn't matter. It doesn't really matter if you've not got the bomb
They unfortunately can't do much with this. Yeah, and another really unfortunate thing is just where it is
it's one of those incredibly difficult positions to try and recover the bomb from.
I mean, they've got so many angles of clear. Not a lot of time here, 40 seconds.
We've got to try and find this bomb and then try and find our way towards the site.
A lot of things got to go right. This first fight will probably determine
it. Chelleoste will lose it. All right, now we're potentially on for something.
Bomb is sort of uncomfortable here. They're going to fight up together.
Do we go back towards topside? Surely we do. Yes, Muterius, get running my fella.
He'll get up there just in time and he should be able to get a safe one. Oh, he's making out drawing them in
Gets the first goes where the second is looking for this ad running out of ammo
He's out of panic leave the door. It was the move. It was the move you made it away, and that's so rough
I think you know got the reload off. He feels like he's got a
fight just caught in it just caught in the energy and
Gave Ruterious that chance with maybe the final bullet
What are we doing? What are we doing?
LizaDawg getting open back up again.
Oh, Kostyn is life the round,
and that could ultimately lead to potentially
the beginning of the end on the map as well.
Oh, I mean, there was some nice moments in there from Rooster.
It was just that last little mistake that Kostyn...
Everything else felt quite good.
I mean, the lobby crunch was really nice.
The double from Chelyos downstairs,
this is what we want to see from them,
but fortunately, the one thing they had to get spot on
was just in that one versus one.
play time and they don't. It's a non-existent fact ever being honest. It's a minimal investment
coming through from Rooster. One eagle for TJP to try and hope to find something, but
it won't make a difference. There are spatterings of clean counter strike,
I would say from Rooster. It just needs a bit of polish, you know, and unfortunately
against saw, you're not going to be able to figure that out in game. You know what
I mean, but maybe if we can keep this kind of energy in these close rounds and into your future games
You never know we might get a BO3 out of them. Yeah, exactly
I mean they took a map of miles right at pro league and that was pretty good
It was a mirage their best pick which is just by chance
Fully shafted here, you know lowest feed
Against the favorite inform and then they don't play the map you like it's like
Yeah, what am I supposed to do here?
They're actually probably, right now, you could make an argument for being the worst possible team for them to play against.
I mean, that's simply how it goes.
That's like control taken.
A lot of smoke here from both sides.
J.C.T. playing anti.
So, he's gonna start to make a move, but again, it feels like a bit of a ruse.
You should try and draw attention towards his top side, but they're down towards B and they're down quick and...
Well, Scripps, no one's here to meet them.
Which is sometimes problematic.
I think even Sora confused like sure
They're just they're just not read it at the same time
TJP's down ASAP is
Later, so we've got some weird sort of flanks forming him the tears has missed
the timing on this I think so
Yeah, they might not really have an idea especially of two coming down behind it
It's actually a lot of control of back holes for the CT side have ended up with to really strange round going on here guys clean flash
the way. They're going to be
able to go down the stairs.
Can they do anything with it?
Yeah, they go straight into the
lion's den and. Come out. Alive
They will have to back off. They
will give that save. It's a bit
awkward for Rooster. And again,
just one miss little hiccup
results in the win. Force
awesome. I'm starting to feel
sympathetic for the Rooster
position. Unfortunately, sympathy
me he was the second person to die and the kit rolled forward so to make matters worse it rolls on
towards the site which felt completely impenetrable and my stuff coming through from sort feels like
you know they've really understood sort of how Rooster play and especially even coming off the
back of this halftime break great obviously we know that guy that was just your screen there
big man Ben Julio as they say I know the Portuguese have been massive fans of him I
I did see something on Twitter explaining it and they were essentially saying Julio basically means like the dongle the boss
And they call him the boss and Ben means like good. So
They they love him though
They absolutely love him every single tweet that saw do Ben Julio is in there in the comments there the boss and he
I really feel like has actually revitalized this side
They went through a bit of a dip in form things will look a little awkward and he has made them a real contender at the top
level. And again they've been yo-yoing for such a long time where they'd have
tournaments like this where they look good but didn't quite win it or they'd
have an early playoff game sometimes but then would get you know as soon as people
like okay this is where Saw should lose. They indeed lose. But things seem to have
changed since the addition of Barry. One for one downstairs there for looking
to take control of this B-bomb site once again. They are a bit more prepared.
He makes, you know, additional noise and they don't track him. It's still only one still not good enough still not around winning position here for Rooster. Is there a lurk? We don't quite know. The bomb taking its time to go down. Let's see how they respond to this loss of the site.
They will scoop it up digits in a few moments. One would assume really nice find from you. Jax exactly what he was waiting for and now he's on the hunt for the ace.
for the ace if they don't get a
kill in the next 10 seconds,
then I just call it and if one
more falls, I think the M4 might
to call it. And I think now I
missed the price. He's already
gone. That was the orc thing.
If he hadn't peaked a little bit
earlier from cellos, I think
he probably just caused the
same because their money is
not in a good spot. Generally
speaking, I was a full
investment and more much
doesn't pay off. It's a lack
of directive from Mr. Yeah.
Last round. They're saving
this round. They go for it
when maybe they shouldn't.
You know, they just don't
quite have the feel and we
talk a lot in the last
round. They're saving this
round. They go for it
And we talk a lot in this game about identity.
You're a team that maybe recently have just discovered their identity
and the approach to the game.
What is our niche, you know, that we like to take?
Rooster are missing that, yeah?
A lot of teams there that be like,
OK, it might go up to 12, but we're going to save,
because that's what we do.
We save, we approach it in the next round.
Or they go for it in both, because that's what we do.
We're confident like fly quests we're doing, for example.
Exactly.
But not quite there for Rooster, few too many ideas.
Something's got to stick, something's got to work.
It's very directionless, unfortunately.
Yeah, I think you're right.
I think you're absolutely right.
Unfortunately, this is something that
the GOAT hasn't been able to help with, it seems.
I mean, there's been actually a real lack of tag pauses.
They've been letting it play out.
Yeah, we joke about it.
I think you probably do just want to take one
to even just talk as a team.
Just go to a breather.
What are we thinking, guys?
Lesson is gross than my idea, isn't it?
Bobby Crunch, guys, you know, change it up a little bit.
Go in with a bit of a plan, but it's not been the case.
Arrasdosh, Roman won a piece.
Roman will slightly mess up the second story there to try and clean it up.
This mate should do the job, but it won't.
Oh, my goodness. Two points of HP survives.
He's dodging them all.
JHD falls, though.
That was the only hope.
ASAP gives it its best go.
But what's he going to do on two HP locked out at Mini?
That will be that.
Soar looks good to me from the first investment that saw had in round number four
If you force for the second round didn't work out from the first investment they made with guns
13 and one was the score line. So there's an argument to be made there that if
Soar had won the pistol won the force we could be talking about something like a 13-0 or a 13-1
But unfortunately it was not to be for roosters there
They've got the hardest draw the number one seeded team in this tournament and
And while Rooster's best map was their permaband, I mean it started off on a bad note, but really really good work from the store all the way through out there.
It looks fantastic, they played fantastic, and that is what a favourite should look like.
Guys, that's pretty good for us.
I mean I've done all the analysis, so I've got this idea that we should just go to a break so that I can...
It was playing out exactly as was expected for takes the victory.
Rooster just struggling to find any answers to what the Portuguese were putting out there.
Yeah, there are a couple of rounds where there was zero damage done by Rooster up against
Thodges, completely cleaning around victories and, I mean, yeah, once the guns came out
it felt like there was a complete mismatch, which, I mean, we drilled into you guys
before we got started into this one that it would be one-sided, and it absolutely
was.
There was that one round though from Rooster that looked pretty effective to take onto
the B side, they get the opening frags, they're not much of, and then they actually
jump over onto Rowan, I think it was, towards the B site. They get that frag and then explode
outwards and actually get a pretty solid execute going, but outside of that it was nothing really
right. I like how JRT still finds some positives to talk about. Yeah, Alan has nothing. So
you know what, don't worry. I'll figure out a better question for you. First, let's
just go to Mike on the stage with the winners. Thanks, Sam. I got Mutearis. Talk about
that pistol man 2v5 what do you guys say to each other well I don't know we were
just playing the pistol and when we killed the two guys we I mean I felt it
was possible to win the round so we just eat some headshots hit some headshots
indeed sometimes that's just how pistol rounds go I mean look confident on it
when you saw that they took it to Nuke what were you thinking there that's
that's like your home map right yeah it's a map that we are very comfortable
but we lost the last two games so I think they thought it was good for them to go nook
because lately we are not so dominant I would say because we are winning but we are not winning like for so much
so yeah I think it was their comfort zone we didn't have a lot to watch and to analyze from them
from them, so we just played our game and everything went well.
Yeah, I'd say that it did. That one will help the round differential.
One more question. You've now got a date with FlyQuest.
If you win that B01, you're through to the playoffs early on.
Get yourselves a day off. How do you feel about that matchup?
Yeah, it's going to be difficult. They played really well in the first game against Betwom.
So, I don't know. We are okay. They are feeling good too, so let's see what happens.
All right, we'll best of luck, man.
Thank you.
Back to you, Sam.
Crick and easy work for Saw there.
It's as simple as that really.
Like you said, they just shot them in the head.
Yeah, I mean, if you want to look at this matchup
a different way, this difference between
some very good players and one of the best teams
in the world at the moment, a soft-send team.
Rooster, I'm sure in this game,
they look to our class.
Compared to the average player,
they would absolutely dominate them.
They are a well-versed team.
They have defaults.
They have strats.
But this is difference
between a team and then a team is playing
proportionate against some of you know in some of the best events events against
some of the best teams. I'm glad that you did that though. I'm glad that you made
that distinction because I think it's very easy to watch something like this
and meme on the one team without realizing that actually if we threw you
in the server you wouldn't stand a chance. I wouldn't be in that server so
yeah that's as simple as that but you know yeah it's a good point to
bring up I agree and it's just that unfortunately for Rooster it's
It's another thing to pile onto a lot of problems that are happening for them lately.
So, you know, they're going to go into another matchup.
Hopefully it'll work out better for them.
But at the same time, I'm not necessarily expecting much more than what we saw here.
Let's take a look at those store players now in our US Air Force, aim high, and walk
me through what makes these two players so impactful.
Well, the funny thing is they play not necessarily the sports you'd expect me seriously
the Alta player on both sides on Nuke.
you know, you're going to
play a lot of games. You're
going to play a lot of games
and if you look to this team
on baby say is definitely you
jerks aggressive young
fragger. It's got to be him, but
it's not, um, Muteeris. I mean,
this game play brilliantly. Um
you just plays ramp and to get
20 20 to five is the ramp
player. You're having a hell
of a time. So Muteeris across
a lot of maps does play a
lot of crucial positions
against the best teams in the
world. Maybe could be a bit
the start of Challenger so I feel like we can throw this question out now. I mean we obviously
all saw them in Cologne and it felt like Lightning is never going to strike to us or I think it's
the playoffs it's amazing but do you think this is the start of that upward trajectory for this team
or was that the Cinderella sort of moment where we probably won't see that again? No I think it's
the start of the upward trajectory no question I mean they performed so well on such a big
stage against top teams like that's not something that I feel is the one and done and it's
It's kind of continued like I mentioned throughout the qualifiers.
They continue to look strong.
They're not getting big heads either.
You see them being very, you know, humble about their success and even they're saying
we lost last two on you, Craig.
We haven't necessarily been that good.
We understand why they picked into it.
You know, so that's important, especially as you're making that rise.
And that's why your egos get too inflated and I feel like saw are well on their way
to continuing this trajectory.
So all passes the eye test.
Yes.
When you watch them play, they just play a good Counter Strike.
They're cohesive.
They're on the same page.
he's blossoming into an international star player. So whilst the clone form might be unattainable,
there's just too many other good teams with too many advanced years.
Top 10, top 15 in the world staying there consistently, they could do that.
So group A is done, which is a surprise. We've already seen those matchups and now we get ready
for what is coming up next, which is of course, our group B playing. We're going to have the
American Derby a little bit later wild card up against M80, but first we get to watch the
the South American team, Audic, take on big from Europe.
That will be coming up in a little while,
but first we're gonna give you some time
to go and refresh yourself, get some drinks,
get some snacks, and then get right back here
for the counter strike.
I guess.
Nice to meet you.
Yeah, nice to meet you.
All right, go.
Just watch.
Knock, knock, knock.
Oh, my God.
I'm down, bro.
Dead.
Come on, come on, come on, come on.
I'm dead, bro.
I'm coming, come on, come on, come on.
I'm coming, come on, come on, come on, come on.
I'm coming, come on, come on, come on, come on.
The last one is like...
They went two down, Red Dust!
A, A, B, don't be a...
Come on, Red Dust, B, B, B!
They're late, they're late, they're late, they're late!
They're left, they're left, they're left!
Heaven, Heaven, Heaven, Heaven, Heaven!
Heaven, Heaven, Heaven, Heaven, Heaven!
One lobby, one lobby!
Going through, going through, maybe no push, maybe no push!
Holy evil!
That's not gonna be odd.
Two down B, B.
Going down, coming down.
2, 3, 2, 3, you're alright?
Alright, come on, come on, come on.
It's like this, we are a bit more motivated to do well in,
well in because we know that if we do well in these kinds of tournaments,
we always get other chances to play at these events,
which are really good for Brazilian teams to show themselves to the world in general.
And besides that, it's also really fun to look and see a player that you don't think you would ever see.
And that when you started playing, it was a big figure.
So yeah, but in general we are more motivated to do well this time.
There is some extra pressure on our players, but I think that it's normal.
You can't try to hide from pressure being a professional player.
players so you have to learn to kind of embrace it and do your best like everyone here is also
feeling a bit of pressure even the most experienced players feel a little bit so yeah.
Welcome back to ESL Challenger Atlanta it is the first game in Group B our third game of the day
it is the best of ones as we go through these group stages and the Brazilian team
Oddyk is facing off against the German organization B. That is the matchup here and the first one that
she gets towards this group. And I am going to now be completely freaking honest and I'm sure
someone's going to flame me about this but whatever. When I looked at this team list I went,
who the hell is Oddyk? And I have no doubt in my mind that there are a lot of other people
feeling the same. They are not a South American team that you see a lot in international
competition. They are not a South American team that has spoken about a lot. We know the mainstays,
the Panes, the 9 Zs. Those are the teams we talk about, the MIBRs, the Furious. And now here they
are, Odex. So, Alan, who is Odex? Odex is, as you say, a team in the shadows of the bigger teams
of the region, led by Woody, who everyone would have seen in the past. Breaston and Fluxo,
but more known for leading MIBR. So there are some pieces here that we've seen before,
But this lineup, this matchup of players, definitely new look and as you said, they don't get many
opportunities, so they have to grasp this with both hands. Yeah, I think Odyk's an interesting one,
right? Their team that performs regionally okay, I would say. I mean, like all South American
teams, they play so many maps, 124 maps over the last three months. They're grinding it out
in South America, but does that lead to success when you actually hit the international stage? I
I don't really think so so at least it's something you know
I feel like they've got more of a chance than maybe some people will give them credit for
But we'll have to see on the server and we'll talk more about it as we get into it
It's a little bit of a clever move from them right because obviously there was two tournaments
One is running after this it is I am Rio and you weren't able to qualify for both because there is an overlap
Right, so you have to choose the event you played for and obviously it's Rio
So every Brazilian team and their mom was trying to qualify to play at Rio, which allows you a space. Yeah
If you're out it going hey
We can get into the South American qualifiers and all those big teams that we normally have to face off against might not be there
This might be a shot for us
Maybe maybe that was an angle mean everyone a favorite Red Candies cold zeros team to win that qualifier maker here
So they still had to fight for it. There was still some decent opposition, but perhaps
Um, yes, some crafty scheduling came in handy. Well, they had to be red tenants twice too. Yeah twice
They had to come up with victory there and they absolutely did so I mean, there's something to say about that like I was saying
I mean, there might be something here going on with Audic right now. There's no question
So I'll take back what I said that because obviously I actually raised red cannons quite highly
I think they're a really impressive team, which means if Audic's beating them, they've got to be bringing something to the server
What is it that they bring? I
I mean honestly just that that kind of South American aggressive style that you typically see and I mean
It's just kind of wild the way they play their counter strike right now
It's hard to predict who's gonna win what maybe because they play so much against each other
But Audic is no exception to that rule in terms of especially like Brazilian counter strike. I would say
Coming through there, but yeah, there's there's some concerns that I have for Audic
I don't think it's all rosy right now. I feel like Woody as the agile offer
this has been kind of a recurring trend throughout his career. I don't necessarily feel he's strong enough on the op to be an
IGL or as well and oftentimes it kind of falls by the wayside and creates problems for them. So there is still that that I keep an eye on
Yeah, I mean
That said though, I do think some of the teams Woody called for they felt like it was an easy game to get rid of him
And then get someone in that position and that they didn't immediately look better
So that's true. I think I think Woody does bring a fair amount to the table and also CS 2 or pink
Maybe not quite the beast it used to be so certainly at this level of competition Sam with these players
He can do tremendous things for these guys that are bringing them up through the ranks
They've had some tweaks to this lineup. What do you think about those changes and as and what the lineup is now?
Yes, so their best players are the new guys. It's it's talks and then we're going with case locks
I believe heard it might be case locks, but we're not we're not really sure
that one. So yeah, I mean, the
previous call the team did play
earlier in this year. They
played the Americas are more. I
would assume that they decided
we need some fire power upgrades
to compete with the best teams
of our region. So yes, only
seeing the new young guns. That
for me is the storyline for
this team. Togs in place flocks
are they are they here to form?
Could they be on top teams in
their regions? You know, in six
months and a year, two years.
We're already talking about
their moving to other teams.
Sorry. No, I think this
little larger show hero. No,
Definitely like it's a couple of players that this is their stage to shine on right and we talked about the fact they passed up
I am Rio in their home country right to try and compete in
That in this event instead so I mean obviously they feel and like Alan was saying like you were saying as well
Sam there's some sort of element of strategy perhaps here and then attending this event
But I think it's also to showcase case locks and togs maybe a little bit more
They might have gotten over shadows at a bigger event like I am real and getting them on the stage right
This is the opportunity when you do a new ESL challenger. It's a LAN event you're not playing online. You're not in your bedroom
It's important stage time experience that is
So so imperative for these young players. No, absolutely. I mean we talked about it before and I mean
It's it's always something that we've got to mention. You know these young guys need to get stage time
I'm gonna mention as well for the next NA matchup are gonna have there's a lot of players there that really do need that
That stage time to perform at a high level. So yeah
Yeah. Right. So, this is the the Brazilian team. In terms of when you take a look at how they stack up to the rest of the lineup of teams here at ESL Challenger, Allen, where do they sit in the pecking order near ish the bottom. I will say the difference in them and a team like Rooster is, I feel like I have a much better
better barometer for where Rooster is internationally because they play in the same region as FlyQuest.
For these guys, I know you can look at their world ranking, you can look at the teams they played,
but I have a much tougher time nailing down how well they would perform against the likes of, say, Big in this sort of game.
Yeah, because they're just like that tier 2, tier 3 level team that's competing only in South America.
You look at all their tournaments, just South America, South America.
Yes, they're winning them, they're getting first place in three of them over the last three months,
But like what does that actually mean? I agree with you like how will that translate here to the stage in Challenger Atlanta?
Here we go big on your screens right now the the European team that are dick is going to have to face off against
What do we think about the addition of this gents into this line up?
I
Like it. I mean they were sort of painted into a corner. They've made a lot of different moves over the last few years
They go into national they go back German they go back international they go back German and
and the first of my initial reaction when they signed him was does he speak German and then they turn they use play for some German team. So that's not a problem. Um, but yeah, Regan's a very different player to a lot. A lot of their recent movies been through their academy system. They've been structured individual players. They really know a system.
Regan isn't necessarily that sort of player. Regan's aggressive. He's unhinged sometimes and they're having to now rein him in and decide when to use those aggressive tendencies. Yeah, he's strictly a role player in terms of entries. That's his job on this team is to go out, open space, especially in the
especially on that T side and get some give their team a little bit more breathing room to try and perform so
Yeah, I think he you're right often times over aggressive
But I still think that that's his role and he needs to excel at that
But it's about timing it right for sure
And I think you know that that type of timing also plays into some of the inconsistencies
We've seen from big over the last few months as well
They haven't been able to find that that success on a regular basis
Do they get spare that we we do these these matchups and we do these heads to heads of these these teams
But when you look at the level of team that big is playing against and the results that they pull versus the level of team
Yeah, that anodic is playing it's it's it's like comparing apples with oranges. I
Would say yeah strawberries. I mean I would say tiny tiny fruit big fruit
Yeah, definitely
I mean when you look at to the fact that big of course we're in pro league and they were facing off against fanatic complexity
They'd be complex to make the plus loss of the Mongols who are actually performing quite amazingly lately
So I don't know if that's necessarily showing that they're not that strong, but they made the round of 16 and pro league
Which in itself is impressive and you can't really like you said
So there's nothing you can speak up on that level with Otis at all
And then of course you can also chat a little bit about this player on your screen right now
He is our player. So watch he's been having a pretty good run
Yeah, he's been he's been in good form. Sirson has a slightly bizarre career, doesn't he?
Well, he did play for big for so long. Yeah, there's best stay against this best into his career
probably was in 2020. The data system now comes back in again as they flip back to full German.
I mean he has been he has been in good shape but can he champion them to a tournament victory?
That's a very different question because there are some heavy hitters also in this tournament.
Yeah I was speaking to actually T-Time and he was mentioning how Toby leads the success for
Searsson. He was on the team when Searsson was doing well as a coach and now he came
back on the team as a performance coach and since then Searsson's rating has gone from 0.96
to 1.19. So that is something to keep an eye on. Maybe that's the key to success for this roster.
Do we think that, because I'm just gonna say, I think that this is probably the
base roster Big has fielded in a long time. Do you think
Ellen's really pulling a face at me? I love it.
It's argue with me. Tell me where I'm on.
I'm just considering the prospects. There are a lot of good pieces here. The big difference,
the team that we, you know,
fantasize which would have been
the 2020 team during the online
areas. Tapsin was an absolute
monster during that period. He
might have been the best part
on this team alongside
Searson. Tapsin is not in that
form anymore. So that for me
would be the difference. I think
I think if you put that aside,
yes, his pieces are better, but
tabs are not necessarily the same
player. He was a few years
ago. Yeah, I would agree. I
mean, again, that probably
is favor a factor into why
that's so important. I think
And that probably is a factor into why they're losing to teams like it was ecstatic and Monty
and straight maps and it wasn't really that close in their most recent BO3s.
And I mean by all measures because they're ranking and everything they should be beating
these teams and they didn't.
So that's where my concern comes along.
Yes, they did well in Perleague and yes, Audic might not be at the same level as
them.
But we're seeing teams that are at lower rankings coming up with success.
So that gives me a little bit of hope for Audic on that side to potentially come
out with an upset here and it would be a big one.
Okay, so let's do some predictions, JLT. Are you of the mind that Audic can have sift Big?
I think I am, actually. I think I'm going to go with Audic, honestly.
Like, I've been kind of leaning in that direction for a little while,
and I think that Audic can pull this one off against Big, who might have those consistency issues.
It's going to be a long shot. I feel like this is my longest shot call for today.
But I feel potentially like Audic will be able to do this, Alan.
I mean, I respect your opinion. I just agree.
But I respect your opinion. Big's going to win this game.
Okay, as as Sam was saying there is just a disparity and level of competition and
And you know the average teams they play against the expectations for these teams big big big didn't win this game
We'd be asking some well, maybe we will we'll be asking us serious questions come the end
You know, I was getting ready to flame jrT and then I realized that so far he's got all his predictions correct
Alan and I have not to think about that for but I am gonna go with big though
I do think that they bring out a level of structure that that audix gonna struggle against and I I also don't think that
Audic is as aggressive South American style as everyone talks about I I don't see it, but what do I know because I'm just the host
Here we go. This is what is going down. We are gonna see Audic take on big
We are having a slight delay though, which means we're gonna jump to a quick break
Which is perfect for you can get an energy drink and when we return we'll get straight into game with neokai and scruff
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you have to get back to the
right side of the bullet.
Base it. Have to strike back on
your screens momentarily here,
folks. Thanks very much for
bearing with us on this delay.
Short delay. It does happen day
one of the land. You know how
it goes, but we've got big up
against Odec. I don't know you
with JRT or I see the priors
you're a little crazy for
this one. Hello. I'm not with
Jati, but I can sort of
understand the vibes behind it.
especially more casual watches might not actually know this side, but we've covered a bit of them
We've been doing a quite a bit of SI ECL South American ECL recently and you know, they're not a bad side
They've been actually playing some pretty decent games and at least taking the quote-unquote good teams the distance
Right, you know, they're having games like you know losses to like pain for example
I'll be one of the best teams if not the best team in South America right now taking them 1311 kind of thing
So they're definitely a side you can't sleep on, but as Alan mentioned, if they were to lose this, we would be coming back to the desk and asking quite a few questions.
What went wrong? Why is this going wrong? And is this a more fundamental issue?
For me, Big O, one of those themes that I consider at least a shoe in for playoffs in my eyes, and unfortunately for Audic, coming towards his competition, it's relatively stacked.
And I don't know if they have it in them to be able to get out of this group.
you know, I'm not sure. I'm
not sure. Yeah, no, I'd be
inclined to agree. I think
that there is potential for
this map to be brought close.
It could be a danger pick for
big if they're not warm and
unfortunately, you know, kind
of a delay like this getting
them into the game might take
them out of that headspace
out of that kind of presence
that you need, of course,
especially to be a one. Yeah,
right? Um, but it has felt
in the past that big have
been a beatable side have
like a good time for them to be
playing against an underdog. I
don't think that is the case at
the moment or hopefully as we all
love big and you know the tactical
play style that they have.
Maybe I would say it's not the case
anymore and they continue to sort of
climb and look impressive with
of course a bit of new blood, a bit
of new energy, a completely different
mindset coming in
from rig on, of course. So yeah, I
think that this could be a very
very, um sort of good tournament for big and maybe a breakout opportunity for them. In fact, I know that, you know, we've all talked who's going to take it. The top end feels heavier, but actually not quite as secure and bigger. Definitely in that conversation. So we kick off on ancients and big are going to have to indeed put there.
where their mouth is for sure. Let's see how this goes down. There's a couple of good moments from
Big App Pro League as well, right? The 2-0 over Fnatic was pretty solid. The 2-1 against complexity.
They're both pretty respectable wins in their own regard. And of course, a 2-0 over Rooftop.
We won't delve into too many of those details. JDC will start things off. He's definitely
wants to keep an eye out for us. The fact that he's got case locks as well,
he's a pretty big frag to find. Jullies, however, don't get the same luxury.
It's wild here from the T side to be honest in and around these smoke bomb has been dropped a little bit of team damage there
Never nice. Tog's gonna go down bomb gets dropped again
It's JDC that cleans up house three piece from him there on the pistol
Yeah
I really feel like for me big as a side of the moment that was starting to
Fix a lot of the errors that were very evident for a while
I think you know they stay struggled where they would have you know play like Crembo basically trying to do it all
Tabson's no longer that like super high impactful fragger as he once was he's not no longer that guy who can
You know be a bit of a hair rifle or anymore. I think they really did struggle and I think one of the big things
They showed that it was all pink
You know no offense to Searson when he first came into the team. He did look very rough
I mean for the first like four months you average like a naught point nine six ray
I mean it's not a good statistic too hard
But recently he has looked incredible and I don't want to see this guy get active
Does it go ding? Can he might decide to dip away?
If he actually decides to go forward,
then that'll cost him his life.
Togs takes that one for free.
We're going through the smoke.
He'll be taking down.
Are we going with Nate, I think?
Yes.
Yeah.
I've heard a few different variations.
To the Nate on 90.
I've been calling him Nate.
I know a few people call him 90,
but I think with the AI, it kind of goes Nate for me.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure, to be honest.
We'll have to get Mike on the case.
I'd say Portuguese is low down there for me.
I'm not very knowledgeable in my know to be honest. No, I know Ben Julio and that's really
I think it stops about there to perfectly honest, but um, yeah
It is definitely a place to keep an eye out for plays a lot of the hero roles very talented when he gets going as well
I mean I got to catch him a bit at the previous arm on he was really somebody who for me was very impressive speaking impressive
This one should be pretty clean and it is a double forum the third might just gift itself over an honest silver platter
That's who does that for me exactly what we want to see out the gates nice and clean pretty comfortable rounds for the most part
I mean obviously the pistol took JDC to get a 3k
But these are good rounds to take and they're not breaking too much of a sweat
Which is always a good sign being the overdog not race to come into the pressure and especially you know being on that stage in
Itself so yeah good rounds so far the big test though is gonna be this first time
yeah absolutely I mean a flat one to be expected in the seconds see what Oric
have got though this is one of those maps they have in the back pockets and
really close matchups as we're sort of all mentioning recently so they should
have some stuff prepared here they have to mention make and a drop early on
big are trying to get their claws in good timing catching the players I'm
turned away. This has gone a bit sideways now, JDC as well. Not getting checked. Seals
the deal. Oh, absolutely seals it. So this is simple. This is very simple. Audic just
running into guns and losing their fights. Not really anything too flashy from anyone
quite yet. Yeah, very individual fights as well and nothing really working out for
them at the moment. Yeah, a little bit puzzling. I think it's safe to say, but we'll
see maybe how Audic progressed. I think right now maybe JLT is breaking a bit of the sweat
after that prediction, but they look good at the moment, playing very, very well. We
are low by coming through for Audic, but not expecting a hell of a lot in this one. Jay-Z
has been doing really good work through mid, whether he's been passing in towards Red
Room or up close and personal and trying to get up in their face. And Jay-Z is only
familiar who, when he does, starts to come alive a bit. He's really impressed. One
One that's absent. Maybe should have got his and dipped away. It's Matthew or Sue will trade remember this position very strong
The shadow betrays the tee player as they start to make a move through so he'll have
Bit of insider knowledge before the fight comes through. It's so simple when that shadow betrays you
There's nothing you can do one by one. They get picked apart as they have in most of these
Yeah, really good. I don't think you expect them in there off that they killed one of the cave players
to be able to do that. I mean,
it's a great idea. Thankfully,
the customers like for this is
Yeah, I think a perfect time
to call attack for you know,
honestly, because this has been
as you right, we put it
incredibly flat. Yeah. Yeah. I
mean, all the other games that
we've had. Yes, we might have
had some one sidedness in
terms of the score line, but
at least you've been like, Oh,
I've only 50 51 here or that
full HP player had been
tagged slightly. You know,
there's all these sort of
caveats that you could read
And that is never a good feeling not nice to be on the end of and I would argue ancient at the moment is probably like the most
Momentum based map. Yes, can't get in the rounds just fly at you, bro
Like they can be over in 20 seconds if you could not get in that lane control
Then the CT side just runs the show, you know, so this could get very very dangerous
So that is heads up for sure for modic to get the time out
Potentially one of only like two timeouts we've had across the course of the day.
Well everyone else has been playing through.
Roll into the motions.
If I can come through Caster and he will dip away.
First fight missed. Costed his life from JDC.
Crossbow gonna get clipped as well.
Toxin, Case Lock, good work from them early.
And in a match of moments, we're down to two for big.
I mean this, a perfect time for attack pause immediately as you lose your control.
It was really only Woody who was entering the conversation as the IGL
the game. But, uh, the neck
didn't really even get vocal
there. But whatever what he's
called is obviously works. Yeah,
really well done. Again, keeping
it simple. I don't believe we
got the interview on stream,
but Mike did have a chance to.
Talk to Matthews, and he was
saying they like to approach
the game very conventionally
for Brazilian counter strike at
the least, which is in your
face, and that's exactly what
they've done. So I think
what do you maybe just
waking them up a little bit
you. You know, you're going to
be able to play a natural game.
Oh, come on. Could have been
a knife. Yeah, I'm gonna cross
around that corner. I think. And
miss the opportunity. Still. Big
round product needed off the back
of attack pause, but probably the
worst thing for your mental state
off the back of attack pauses is
take attack person just immediately
get done straight off the back
of getting their faces. It's
reliant on what is actually quite
an impactful rifle call, right?
They're relatively young core in
a sense and they're the ones who
do like to take heads up jewels.
And when they are in a position of
confidence, they pay very, very
well. And I think it would be
just about activating them. And
this is really good work. Dogs
and case locks. Nice week. Start
things off when you get me
control and ancient as well,
you've basically got 80% of
the map of that point. It's
where you dictate all the
rotations through all the
controls. Yeah, very nicely
an immediate response out from Vegas.
Let's make sure we shut down Elbow.
Oh, I like the idea of the break.
Doesn't quite work for case locks, unfortunately.
It's a cool move, but yeah, doesn't pan out.
JDC nag another multi-frag round here.
A name that I don't think got any mention
of that or anything like that, just because he
fits in so nicely, fills the gaps usually.
But right now, playing like a big name on campus,
to have some will drop another
big are back to their winning
ways, potentially even a save
from these final two. Let's
tack is Yeah, not all might not
tend fate in a honesty. It's
quite a long time to save as
well. There's most definitely
you know, probably a bit of
mingling for big where they're
like, we could come here. I
mean, for the most most the
way across this team, they've
got money left in reserve so
they can absolutely consider
So, yeah, this will just be a
very, very long save. So, now
we get to look at on the other
side again, right? We've been
talking about Odeck and trying to
find momentum, but for big, they're
a side who haven't been broken by
what was a quick round up in the
face. They lost it and it hasn't
really kind of left any kind of
shell shock or anything. The
straight back into it and
also so far so good. So I do
want to see for the Odeck side
I shot from Togs, Wulcash Tabsin. The hunt. Unsuccessful at the first. I don't know if
you're the four already going for it. JDC's low. Quimbo taking a bit of a tag. I don't
think you really want to risk it. Especially if Quimbo hasn't died yet. Now's the time
to throw that little stat line away. So it will be picked up to a fifth after a quite
lengthy pause there. And unfortunately, once again, another one of those quite flat
rounds. They lose the first couple of fights to JDC. Does really, really well in Torz
Elbow and that's that I mean it basically has shown that so far every single round is be one of one thing who gets elbow control
Yeah, well, I think ultimately it just feels like there's also only one idea in the round from it
Yeah, yes, it is elbow, but if you know you're sort of looking to extrapolate it
It was a slightly different play around elbow, but when that doesn't work they just don't have a
contingency
So we'll see a change up for short and they're not really banking on it this time big no what they're doing around elbow
It may even be pretty firmly locked out
We're going again in slightly changes a lineup on it
It's crimbo this time, but they are able to crunch around JDC goes down before he's able to get into the rounds
So this looks a hell of a lot better from Odyk same as last round a slightly tweaked
There are positives to it tabs him looking to make a play would he misses the shot that drops the bomb
They know about him. Does he know about this next player? It looks like not he's somewhat ready to fight that could have been the round
It really could have been
Advantage swings back in favor of the Brazilians now this round feels like it's all down to rig on an orange
The season is absolutely nowhere near the action. I say that though
And the bomb on the back of togs is holding for this flank
What do we do here big?
It's all goes quiet and looking for some information to come their way and nothing really being gained, but it is still
Searson is being held here. I don't know if he's gonna be ready for this
But that has been dealt. You know Nate's not exactly healthy togs in that kind of
Relatively low state at just shy of 70 HP
I think they've perfectly alluded to them though. They've doubled back in towards me
They're gonna go through don't on a force. He says it's just gone the wrong way. They might just say yeah
it is unlucky. There's some utility raining in. Rigon is nearby. I think it really is all down to him,
isn't it? Whether he can find one through this smoke. He's playing. He is playing. Oh, they may well
expect you to save. And Rigon says, nope, I'm still here. Remember me? Matthew's nearly one left.
And Rigon takes his head clean off. It's a 1v3. What's he just done? I can't believe he's got
away with that. Odyk absolutely asleep at the wheel. What are they doing? They completely
fall apart. Then I think, you know, in the same way that we were saying, oh, they might save here.
I think they thought that. Odyk completely let that one slip for nothing. And they get caught
with their pants around their ankles and they get punished. Brilliant work, though, from Riggon.
You know, as a player, when he got added to this team, there was definitely question marks,
as I mentioned. I didn't even know he spoke German, but went back into history. He started
his career on the German side of German mixed team. I guess he can speak some as well. A lot
a lot of people speaking German, French.
They have a couple of languages dotted in there too.
But honestly, I think he really has come towards this big side
and actually kind of found a bit of form himself.
It looks like we're going to get another pause coming through
as we can see Woody there, bottom right, getting pretty vocal.
An echo as well, coach behind.
But yeah, you can definitely, the vibes are not here.
You know, when I caught this odd excite doing pretty well
at the RMR for the Americas, they were very online.
It was like when they got fired up,
So difficult to play against because they kind of bounce off each other with the energy
Yes, but I think that the bad thing you see that you see there's got a few South American teams is when the vibes are up
And the love in life they bounce up each other so well and it spirals a positive way
But when vibes are off if they also bounce on each other and it does seep into their gameplay a little bit
You can see it now
He certainly can
another chance with another time out though to
recover things back
Not looking likely
They've read them already. Great rounds in and I think big got this one figured out a bit of luck in the previous
Don't get me wrong, but the way that
Things are panning out. It looks very similar round upon round Woody has slotted himself in
Might get another one here as well sis and looks severely
Caught doesn't quite spot the head there but ready for the fight on the left well top comes in smoke on top of it
He will live and they
Only have two left here Woody flanked out all down to Matthews
Maybe one or two, but around itself not gonna happen JDC in with a 3k. This guy can't stop fragging right now
Look at the smile on his face. Yeah, even he can't believe it to a certain extent
evidence to
For him but one small mistake made there would he gets that first kill into his temple when he doubles back
He just doesn't catch Searson coming out of that doughnut position
Searson was completely tunnel visioned in towards main and
Unfortunately in this slight little timing display it allows Searson to get this kill
And then to drop a smoke on the Molotov and stay alive and that's where then JDC rotates back in so really really well played
And a solid a kind of adoption on that situation and yes seven to one normally a scorelander
Sort of the German teams like right now at the moment off the back of their previous World Cup Escavades
But they're loving it here in Atlanta and unfortunately for Brazil 7-1 scorelander
They don't like and obviously feels it right now
This is the rematch, but in the counter strike server, and it's going exactly the same way, but woody other ideas
Potentially awakened here
He's taking matters into his own hands tried to make a play in the previous round entry into this one
But crimbo makes light work of three
That's bomb that will be that it feels like rig on catches the straggler and it is all down to Matthews
Could take a life
Will he win the round?
Potentially, there's always a chance, of course, with the eagle in hand.
Searson denies at the very first hurdle, and Big keep on winning.
This is incredibly comfortable, isn't it?
There is really nothing that Odick are offering up that even remotely makes Big feel, you know, on edge at one point.
You know, they've got that one round.
Sean Riggum was calling for that one versus three, but for the most part, it's been so clean.
Like generally speaking, Crembo shouldn't be getting away with two, never mind three in that situation.
he should be getting traded.
Pheasen, his awareness, excellent as well.
Eight, so one is where we're at.
Yeah, big, absolutely loving life.
He's also gonna try and get behind that Molotov.
He's in the open and a blind JDC will get that kill.
Nonetheless, who needs vision?
Get's his blocks to Molotov to just add insult to injury
and he's posted in a very deep.
They've got a flash surely here.
We're not gonna peak dry, are we?
We are.
The flash has come through.
He's not gonna clear it.
How are we not clearing JDC?
He's gonna get away with yet another kill.
What is the communication there?
I don't know.
Please, please don't ask me.
And this is all over the place, man.
Last player going to get eliminated easily.
And like I said, bigger figure it out.
They like playing through middle.
That seems to be about all they've got in the back pocket.
We need, like, an A execute in here.
Yes.
We've had a big of an A play.
Can we get a ramp take?
Yeah, exactly.
We just go for ramps.
One round where we just hit B
and just go for something quick.
because they didn't be exact, as you mentioned, the same play.
It's a little bit of shelf control, a little bit of elbow control,
but we're fighting through our smokes and we're just dying.
And it's just kind of like, it is mid,
but which area we put in slightly more resources.
Which area is going first, you know?
And that feels a little bit R and G, where it's like,
okay, we're banking on JDC or whatever,
watching elbow this time,
but we're sending three from shelf.
And so we can trade them easily.
Like, it's not much in it.
And you see in this round,
we do get a bit of the kill feed and everything.
JDC's first in, but the AWP is there.
PC is a doughnut player as well helping out. Three in the middle from the CT side is so
rare.
Yeah. You know, especially getting that far forwards.
They've just got him down to a T, haven't they? Speaking of another two that have come
through elbow here and, well, they met with a Nade.
Down he goes. Oh, they line up again! But, GDC, he can't confirm the second, but
a real healthy amount of damage dealt there togs is barely alive. One foot in the
grave for him and obviously this buy isn't exactly great either. We've got one AK,
I'm going to go in on a couple of tech nines. This is the perfect bite to go for a rampage towards B. But again, it's the same relentless play. Let's try and take mid control. Oh, we've all died.
We're gone. Running into two. Oh, no. Splits the difference. Can't find either.
to be a very good player. It's
going to be very careful with
how he plays this ultimately
needs to stay alive. But there
are so many tantalizing
frags just on the other side of
this smoke now spamming away
trying to find something. Here's
a few footsteps, but he will
indeed keep his life as that
main plan. Oh no in for a
couple. It pays off the
going down at the very least
product. It is like, yeah, no,
but I can do that. A K grab. He
will make it out. They'll waste
their time and utility here
trying to find him. Surely someone
going to get on the bottom
eventually. They got the smoke
down. Okay, here we go, and it
will be the full holds. You
know, I'm watching ramp. Don't
worry, guys. I got it. I got
it. Don't worry. He's not
And this is another masterclass
kind of performance and I think
is adding to our storyline.
Unfortunately of this event where
there is such a monumental
chasm between the top
and the bottom crop.
Yeah, I mean, unfortunately, I mean,
even if you look at like in the
center of the top four of top
four versus the bottom four, that
gap is massive, right? Like and
we are feeling it at the moment.
10 to one
did just in the first half. I mean, that is the grave already being dug there.
We're being completely honest.
There's nearly finished at this point. 11 to 1 surely is unrecoverable.
The smoke going to come down.
I think Tubs and a rig on are actually doing really good work through cave
because, you know, we've been talking a lot about this elbow control via
mid and but a lot of it has to come from relatively strong shelf control.
So I think, you know, both rig on and Tubs are being very good work
JDC is fortunes continue to favor him 15 and four
Crimbo is behind
Gathering information which way will he go he turns left at the crossroads that would be the correct
Call but he's pulled away. They might not be ready for them. Oh, no to be this deep in
They've even made a call that it's going to be be just off the little look. I mean
It's unfortunate. It is timing. I suppose however, Crimbo is going to drop the bomb and that
I think that drops the penny.
This is not a B plate. They are
now much more ready for this
presence. J DC just can't stop
fragging out of his mind. Togs
alone with 35 seconds to go. I
think there is no chance. There
is no hope. He's going to run
in kill three, get the bomb,
get back to the site. It's
not happening. He will go down
I say more see you after the break
Listen man, I like casting Counter-Strike today. I've not had much opportunity to do that
I'm not in the line. There's been so many one-sided games coming out of Challenger Atlanta here
And this looks set to be another big our closest team in one half to getting the victory, I suppose
Is maybe the title they can take for today. Can they finish it here with a pistol victory?
You can see those odds
That's cool
JDC will manage to find that first.
Bond going to go down, a bombsite taken.
It might just be as easy as that, would he?
Trying to keep the dream alive.
He's got some support behind him as well in the form of the wow, wow West.
Case locks will go down.
Woody trades him out.
Three versus two now, the blocks.
They are advantageous at this kind of range.
It's all on Taxton.
Three heads to find.
They're escaping him right now, but they still have to chase after him.
He's got a bit more HP.
It lasts only a brief second.
and Toggs will indeed take the second round for Odyk and they're a bit excited about it.
Yeah, obviously, Tamsen wasn't to really know in that situation, but there's no kid.
If he just bought up a bit of time there, he probably would have won the round off that alone.
But not to be, he tried to take a fight, doesn't work out.
This is a shot, and yeah, a couple of scrappier ones.
And obviously, Woody getting very, very vocal, good to see.
And a bomb plant does mean a buy for Big.
We're going to get the triple glil coming through. We're going to get a deagle attack nine and a fairly decent amount of utile
Especially in the back pocket of those two pistols of tabson and crimbo respectfully seems like a slight head for an issue
For the moment, so but at times the chopper what we just saw it was that first off
There was one round that came through from on it. Is it going to be enough for them?
If you've been completely honest, probably no right. It's going to require something absolutely miraculous
We'll see. The way you've basically got to approach this is just one round at a time.
You can't think long term. You've just got to go bit by bit and hope that you can find
a way back into this. For Big, obviously they look great all the way through our JDC. Fantastic
first half from him and even with his little kill in towards the pistol there, 18 and
540 ADR at the moment, which is absolutely insane.
Big taking a moment to just relish in some downtime.
It is unfortunate here, I'm sure they are chomping at the bit to try and get this return round.
There must be a really weird kind of headspace to be in.
No game, no noise, no sound, and you are just sat in your own force.
especially especially if you're on that team where there's like no issues you
Just I don't know in your own thoughts and it's a really weird place to be I think in a game like this
It's maybe less difficult, but yeah, it is definitely some food for thought in those big games
When the tech pauses come in
Leave my guy nearly just fell off the chair. I think he's good. You know, but that's shock
You know, yeah
Some of them do lean back like you know, you don't really realize you just kind of put a bit away on and bang
You're like already all the way back
But yeah for now
There was a slight tech issue before you get hopefully back on the way in just a second still plenty of counter strike though to bring you over
the rest of this I
Guess often evening wherever you are in the watercourse
Mardin Atlanta for this one this is our challenge of cat of eaters working up at the end of the month
Which we pretty sick as well
You might for those spots and the lion share of some pretty decent prize pool as well
You know coming up after this we've got wild card m80 which should be real spicy like that kind of
Homegrown Derby and a game that really obviously the crowd can get behind as well
So that was should be pretty good and if like a store to follow up
It's two back-to-back pretty years. We've like a store. It should be very interesting. They are
Arguably regarded as kind of to the best teams at this tournament at least in that kind of like upper grouping your teams
So that was be very very interesting both looked very clean in their opening games
We spoke about how fly quest sort of changed up their game for a little bit saw played theirs and played it perfectly
so this
semi-clash of the Titans in that sense and then as we kind of
Further on into the evening that boom rooster that loses game when we get played out a little bit as well
He's yeah old to play for here. It's a quick tournament through I only a few days
So, you know if you're a side who take a bit of time to activate towards tournament
You know you get the luxury of that maybe with you know a pro league or a cologne via play in zack and a vibe
You can warm up into a tournament same of like the rms for example, but it's three days
If you don't turn up on day one you can already be in a really tough spot
You could already be out. It's a lot of what we're getting. I think is the fact that like
The more experienced teams that have played lots of lands in an environment like this
They look a lot more comfortable. Yeah, and then it is on the other side of things the teams that
that. Whether they do that as
a squad. It's just natural when
you've not really been in these
high stakes scenarios to feel
some of the pressure. On it being
one of them, but we're back into
the counter strike here. We
don't have to wait too long. We
got a good job of buying some
time. JDC will catch. Case box
that is indeed blind and that
is big winning out the elbow
battles. Yeah, I guess a JDC
showing on account to win elbow
It's already off to a bad start. They're gonna take the A site. Yeah, this looks really clean the execute coming in Matthew here shadows
Do help him out a little bit the weaponry maybe lets him down
We've got the rotations in JDC looking to cut anyone off
It is a two-fold position if no one comes this way they'll feel pretty confident about mid in general
We're gone next up to bat does go down flat. So my advantage now for the T side is getting a little thin
They've called it and that will be 12 for big netted early on they get that return force by in their favor a really really good look now of course exactly
One more round is all they need. Renate's already long gone and they might have a little look over but I don't think I'm going to commit to too much of a fight here
Both sides don't exactly have the real wealth built up. They don't have the reserves left over to risk that.
that but it's on it now in a tough spot. 2M4 is an MP9 or whatever else they can force up around this
maybe even in some cases the likes of kind of a 5-7 armor and U2 just to try and have something
in the back pocket but big on the brink of closing this out and it all starts with JDC once again.
He was a menace on CT side elbow control really doing God's work getting that but then on the
the T side, there's exactly the same thing in reverse. Brilliant work from him. 12 for
two. Ten match points to close this out. Safe to say which way we're all in.
Give us a bit of something though, what a campaign they'll need it for the future of this tournament.
JDC is looking to get an early finish though. We will of course lose his head, but it's
set up. It's hailed up. They will look for the a bomb plant. They will absolutely
get it. Nate's got some information in his favourites. A clean headshot situation, but
Mattius now discovered the bombs pretty far come in towards A. However, he thinks it might
be B. Yeah, he's just desperate for something to go his way. Give me a break. Give me a
break, he says. Not gonna happen. Riggon will find the final frag. And another quick
game coming in, another expectant victory. Big looking clean. And now the conversation
around these pop teams is very much up in the air because none of them are looking weak right now.
Exactly, and this makes it very, very spicy. Just before we first to the desk is one of JDC
credits him 9-2 in opening jewels, 7 multi-kill rounds. What a showing. That was a brilliant
brilliant performance from Big and unfortunately, Audic didn't show up to play. Des, what have
you got for us? You know, at the beginning of the day, I said, I did this whole beautiful
speech about ESL Challenger and how it's like a great thing to have two teams
and how this is the most evenly matched challenger we've had.
There's no big team coming in here to dominate,
and yet what we've just seen is game after game,
whether it's Group A or Group B,
these dominating performances extremely one-sided time and time again.
And here it was, Alan, just another one big owning on it.
Yeah, I mean, they just ran, Roy.
I'm not sure Big did anything particularly special.
I think they ran a fairly standard CT side from their perspective. It was quite aggressive. They made moves. Yes, but fundamentally
Audic, I'm guessing they're not presented that sort of CS domestically because they ran a source big to do whatever they like and
JDC was absolutely destroying them in mid honestly
Yeah, that was part of the reason why they had such good aggression going into mid
They were bullying Audic at one point like there was just no way that Audic was able to find success
And there was one round where they pinched in from both sides on mid and they got that round
But that was that was it like they didn't see anything else outside of that and it really was a lot more one-sided than I expected
I think big outperformed my expectations in some ways. I mean, yes, I know they played pretty standard
But in terms of their mechanics and everything that was coming through looked very solid
There was one missed off shot from Searsen that led to Audic managing to get mid control as well
But overall I felt like yeah, it was fantastic from big and we'll see how they continue to if they continue to perform
at that level against some tougher competition.
I'm going to call him the bully because it's fun.
JDC the bully is with Mike right now.
I've got JDC here. Man, it felt like you were in the flow state that map.
Every round you're in the right spot, you're getting multi kills, you're entering on T side.
What was going right for you?
Well, I think first of all be a very good preparation.
So a big shout out to the whole team.
I think we did a good effort in like making me comfortable.
But overall I think Ancient is my best map individually and I really liked the position.
So, I was just having a very good game.
Now, you guys looked a little different in EPL coming into this, a little bit more dynamic in your face counter strike coming in here.
Is this the new big clan?
I wouldn't go that far, but I mean it's a mixture of philosophies.
I think I'm a very aggressive player, but you need to have both in order to be good, right?
So we have to find a balance between it, but I'm a big fan of aggressive, so if you face me, probably, yeah.
And what's the expectation here? What are you doing here in Atlanta?
For me, it's very clear that we want to win the tournament.
Win the tournament.
Simple as that. Do you think they can do it?
Yes. Yes, I do.
But they would have to beat M80, and they would have to beat Saw.
Because I think M80 and Saw is ahead of them on the leaderboard.
That's where I'm standing actually.
If I had to make like a tier list, Saw to lift the trophy, M80 to be second,
Big sitting in a third, fourth place.
That's how I would lay this out after what we've seen.
17 M88, but I hazard a guess that's where it's at. Where do you think big sits on the tier list?
Um, I had them either third or fourth, honestly
I had to saw an M80 ahead of them as well right here
I literally wrote it down and then I was like fly quest maybe I mean they already
What is with this fly quest obsession that you have?
Look, I mean you saw it in the first match right? They got the upset victory
We didn't expect them to come out with it
Maybe some people said it wasn't an upset because BB team's kind of been playing a little poorly lately
But still, like I think like first has something special cooking on their side Alan wants to talk about
Who's like stop this actual
We're just having fun and joking around no we're gonna talk about what we just saw
So let's talk about what we just so we're gonna pull up the the US Air Force aim high these two players on big
We're putting them heads ahead, but Alan both of them. What do you think about their performances?
I mean JDC obviously just phenomenal in this match
Yeah, well the thing is crimbo is the anchor
So they're going to go in mids together on the CT side and take that control and if they're going to have school lines like this
It's safe to say audit didn't get mid many times in this map
The thing that interests me about this team is JDC and this is roles because I associate JDC with anchor positions
But he used to play on mouse. He's playing rotator spots on every map. He said himself that interview lights get aggressive
That actually surprised me a little bit based on what I know him in the past
Maybe on mouse
he was chained up a little bit when other players got the space. But JDC in this map
looks brilliant and it's a bit jarring to see him play like that because it's not what I associate
with JDC in the past. Yeah, his numbers are starting to go up in terms of openers and entries
as well. He's sitting third on the team behind Searson and Ragon, but I mean there he had plenty
of openers. I think that he's climbing those ranks. He's kind of being slotted more into
the role, like you were saying, of taking those opening fights, even on CT side when he's
Obviously charging down mid but agency decide you're almost always going to have two players pushing down mid to try and gain that control
Quickly and to me to be honest
I was kind of surprised that audit were running into that repeatedly instead of trying to mix it up and go in different directions
They kept trying to take them head on and big were you know happy to oblige and in camp now does have some fun
We're as big in your tier list
second
Yeah, I mean
Obviously the recent form might not bear it out, but it is have so many good pieces
They can call very good counter strike and I just think they have advances that other teams here don't have so
It's a little bit bold
But in terms of teams that could make a final could beat saw big for me might be the only one
I'd also say actually BB because their ceiling is so high. They're the other I know they look terrible earlier
But they're there for me the only other team that might be able to beat saw and not m80. I
The female M80s I haven't actually watched them play that much
That's why for me the jurors still out. I need to see them on the server
They certainly have some good pieces, but fundamentally
It's it's sit
It's the Academy team of big up against big if you're not much up. So
Big as big as better pieces. Oh
Big should be a better team than that. I don't know about that. Honestly, we've seen a matey perform quite well at Pro League
I mean, they may playoffs they want to match and play. I it's like there's so much going on for a matey
That's positive right now and I've had a chance obviously watching a little more than you have
But I mean one question I had for a matey and I'll talk about them or to get into that matchup next
But is if mobs could be replaced by Lake and I feel like Lake firmly answered
Yes in pro league when they played there
So that's why I feel like if everything's working out well for a matey
They could absolutely challenge us all and a big to take it all here
That's fun. I like it when you chew on you we should do that
There we go. Big is now victorious in group B and we have one more group game to start us off
It's so cruel that we did this but so damn fun as well
The two North American squads are going up against each other in their opening matchup M80 up against wild card is on the way
We've had stompings every single game. Is it gonna be the same? We'll find out
ESL challenger is brought to you in part by Intel
DHL, Acer Predator, DHL, Kadea, Monster Energy, the United States Air Force, 1xBet, and Logitech
G.
Current state of our team, we are in a building phase, you know, we're qualifying for tournaments
which is good.
Now it's about getting the most out of these tournaments and getting as much experience
under our belts.
The only way you can get better as a team, in my opinion, is to lose and to put yourself
in these kinds of situations.
So step one is to qualify for the tournaments.
Step two is to attend them and figure out all of your weaknesses and then, you know,
step three, you're going to fix them and as fast as you can and just, you know, keep
on progressing.
So that's the current state that we're in.
We're just building, trying to get as much experience as we can and hopefully this
is another step forward for us.
I feel like our expectations are matching the reality at the moment.
We're having a few hiccups here and there because of some out-of-game circumstances.
But I think with everything that's been going on, we've done pretty well, especially in the region that we're in.
We've shown consistently that we're a very strong team.
And I feel like overall, we're definitely painting the picture that we're becoming one of the best NA teams we've done.
Back to ESL Challenger Atlanta. Three of our group games are done, and now we move into the final one.
final one if you're in the crowd in Atlanta if you're from North America and
home-washing right now this is the biggie it's the American Derby going down
wild card up against M80 my name is Sam I'm gonna be your host and joining me on
the desk we've had a little shuffle we have JRC and we have a new face joining
us as well apples is here you might know her from ESL Impact she's joining
us here in the Challenger crew welcome to the studio welcome to the
Thank you. I'm very excited to be here. And what a better matchup for me to be starting on then the North American one
Of course
We got to put all the North Americans on the desk for it and I know you're thinking Sam
You're not North American you're South African
But of course if you watch Counter-Strike, you know that the North Americans like to claim South Africans as they own on the regular
To carry their teams to victory we know how this goes and there's a South African playing today
Actually, you want to try do Sonic's surname?
I I don't know what is this
They're failed, but I'll work on that one.
Let's take a look at the group B bracket real quick.
You obviously just saw big annihilates,
Audic in convincing style.
So now we'll find out who they'll be facing off against.
Will it be M80 or will it be Wildcard?
Wildcard has Sonic in the team.
Aaron Khrusbek is his name.
I don't even know if I said it right,
because I can't speak Afrikaans, but there you go.
Let's talk about this Wildcard lineup,
because they're in a little bit of a difficult situation.
This is SO typical with events in North America.
We had visa issues and they are missing one of their players.
Yeah, I mean, Fuzi's not gonna be here.
He's absolutely, you know, showed himself to be an effective AWPer,
especially against North American competition.
I know he had his struggles coming from Europe,
but I really feel like he's hit a higher ceiling now on this wildcard squad.
And even when he was playing from Sweden in events in North America with 140 ping,
this applies to Susp as well.
He was top-fragging sometimes.
So for me, especially with Counter-Strike 2, right?
With Hyping being so difficult to work with sometimes,
that was impressive.
To not have him here, it's gonna hurt a little bit
for Wildcard, but I mean, Stan was talking about it.
You're gonna face adversity sometimes
and you need to find a way to power through it.
And one way or another,
they're gonna learn something from this event.
I don't necessarily know
if it's going to be that much of a hindrance.
It depends on how Stan deploys a friend.
Talking about friend,
what do you think about this addition
to Wildcard as the stand-in?
Well, I think it's pretty interesting.
I saw Sonic was actually talking about it.
They almost picked him up to be their offer
when they were forming this lineup.
So I was taking a little bit of a look at his gameplay.
It seems like he does play a little bit more aggressively
as well, just like Fizzy does,
especially on CT side with that op.
So I think they're gonna be able to slot it in,
but they haven't really been practicing together
as a team.
They've been focusing a little bit more on the RMRs
with Fizzy, which they've been deciding
that that's a little bit more important than this event,
but they haven't practiced together.
All five of them right now.
So they're gonna plug it out, gonna see what it goes,
but what is more North American
than plugging it out, honestly?
It worries me, but I also get it,
it's cause the RMRs are where your priority needs to lie, right?
So you're gonna choose between prepping for challenger
or making sure you prep for the RMRs.
That is where your focus is.
But how much of a difficulty is it gonna be
if you haven't had a chance to practice with the stand-in?
I'm not sure, because like,
There's a system in place for Wildcard. These guys have a very nice structure that Stanislaus
built up, so I feel like friends should be able to slot into Fuzi's role without much
of a problem. And friends, you know, thanks to Trav, who's my resident VP superfan, has
told me, has played with a lot of really solid players throughout his career. You
know, from the legendary VP roster, he's played with 4 out of 5 of those, Nioh and
Taz, when they founded Honoris back in 2021 and 2022, and Snacks and Biali and
and snacks his mixed team called Let Us Cook.
And so like when he was trying to get back
into the swing of things.
So honestly, that is some really good company to have.
And I think that will help friend perform quite well here
with this wild card roster.
And he's played a ton of Counter-Strike lately
with Permit.
I think he's like, I had to double check it
because I was like, really, is this right?
I checked it three times.
Yeah, 136 maps over the last three months.
It's ridiculous.
So how does he fit in with the race
of this wild card lineup?
Apple's, what do we think about the other players here?
There is actually like a couple of players that worry me a little bit, JBA is a player
that I have an eye on a little bit.
He hasn't really been performing as well on LAN as he should be recently.
And it feels like this could be like a proving tournament if he doesn't perform to where
the rest of the team needs him.
If he doesn't like support this offer that's coming in, no practice with the team
and doesn't really do what he needs to do to help them out, could be on the
chopping block. I'm a little bit worried about that.
But this is specifically why, friend, is that player to watch though, because I think if
the rest of the team finds a way to basically activate him and support him, that'll be their
win condition.
Yeah, absolutely. I think I just corrected 122 Master Friend over the last few months,
but I agree with you, Sam. Like, honestly, having a way to activate friend and keep
their structure in place is the key to success. I wouldn't go as far as apples
to say JBA is on the chopping block. I think that was a step too far. He is
way too talented for Wildcard to drop off the map here and I don't think there's
anyone else that could replace him on that roster with that level of talent so
for me I I know that I've actually had conversations not only with you with
Tea Time as well about JBA not being the player that we think he is but I am of
the opposite opinion I think JBA is a stud and he hasn't even come close to
hitting his ceiling. I like that we bought it to the desk it's her first
segment and she's already like I'm gonna just drop this super spicy take
right off right off and also you know the players can hear you in the
arena. So you do better.
Wow.
Bam.
Yo, all right.
This is so this is a conversation.
Let's just go completely off kilter.
Yeah, because why the hell not?
This is a conversation that I've had numerous times.
And it's one I'd love to have with two North Americans.
Like what is the issue here with a lot of these teams
in terms of trying to find talents in North America?
Because it's clearly there.
We've all seen the likes.
I mean, I know he's technically not North American,
but the likes of mobs getting picked up and then going to G2.
They clearly exist. Why is it that some teams just seem to struggle with finding it?
I think it's a matter of trying to recycle a little talent a lot of the time.
And you see this maybe a little bit on complexity.
I don't want to necessarily like flag them in that way.
Ah, but I mean you can, because that's exactly who it is.
That's what's happening. Like, Elyge, he's a great player.
And I mean, don't get me wrong, but we already know what he offers
and they're not necessarily going in that.
I think they maybe need some changes to some younger players.
The fact of the matter is there's a lot of teams that just don't look to the advanced teams or to the up and coming teams in North America say hey
These guys are great. Like what? Why don't we take them and bring them on to the team?
And that's why I really we're not talking about them yet
But I have to say it on M80 they have had ridiculously good scouting
They've taken European players who might not have been looked at like
Like sin along with flax and brought them on board sin and guy gel roll which you didn't do well in Europe
But they said let's give him a try here
He did well and then Lake in particular talking about the North American side was incredible
And I mean just a fantastic scouting and pick up on that side. So it's about the scouting
It's about looking at the right levels of talent
How did they get that right though?
Because this was the thing that they had Malbs and then when they lost to my friend was like lol jokes on you
And then they find Lake and he delivers and he looks fantastic in this lineup
I feel like also a lot of it is the talent
But it also you need to find people that are likable as well because egos are a big thing in North America
Even just like at the normal like ESEA main level if you go all the way down
There's people that always have a big head about how they're playing they think that they can really make it to the top
They can make it to ESL Challenger if they can you know find a team that it respects them how they're doing
But sometimes that's not really the case. So maybe they're just really really good at MM
And then once they get here, they get 13-3 by a team that's from EEO, so...
That felt like a dig at three teams that we've seen today.
Some of them are from EEO, just saying.
Do you see, like, as we look at this M80 line, they've had such a good run of late.
They're looking really good.
It's a slow trajectory, but it feels like there is a trajectory.
Yeah, I mean, you saw them at three straight EPLs, right?
The first one, you're like, oh, nothing really happened.
It wasn't that great.
we see signs it's it's starting to materialize and mobs part of that roster and then they go to season 20 mobs is just a
Absolutely unbelievable star that's formed for this team and then g2 steals him away
So then you're like oh no what's gonna happen, but then late comes in honestly
I thought they were gonna target JBA that was my first thought JBA is going to M80
But he didn't they get lake instead and it's looking like a great decision because they had their best performance at EPL ever
5th to 8th they finish with 32k prize pool. That's got to feel great for these guys and they've been building up to this moment for quite some time
So for me honestly, this is the way it should be for North American teams being able to build up find local talent
Yes, I mean you do have some imports coming in as well, but I feel like all teams are growing global now, you know
Yeah, and something I feel like that North American people or teams don't have a lot of experience on is
International lands and this is a stage that I'm 80
They haven't really been on with this roster, with this lineup.
They've been playing in EU and playing all these EU teams,
but now they have a North American team that they're playing against.
In North America, with a North American crowd, watchers,
and everyone here is to support them.
Are they going to be able to deliver like they need to
when they are watched by so many other teams?
I think it's really fun that it's two teams that know each other really well.
It's an opposition that's well thought out.
They've played each other a lot.
They've got a good feel for each other and then you've got that home crowd
That's going to be shouting both ways. Let's let's get into the prediction side of this now though
Because you got to put your money where your mouth is so Apple for you. Where are you sitting?
Who's gonna take this? I'm gonna be sitting with a matey, honestly
I really like the vibes that this team has together and I feel like they have the firepower and lake behind them and
Everything to be able to take it to the next level
This one's a hard one for me, honestly, you know
Maybe you had some struggles in Challenger League leading up to this event losing the nouns and party astronauts two teams
They should be I mean they won a map and lost maps on a B03
Maybe they would have won anyway because it's B02 right now in Challenger League. So it's a little tougher for me
I wish they weren't playing each other because I want them both to offense to playoffs to be honest selfishly
But I'm gonna have to say wild card here. That's I'm gonna go against the grain
I'm gonna go against the grain because I feel like wild card are an underrated team. They're my dark horse challenger for this event
There's no question in my mind. They're the ones that I feel I could really impress and upset
They've got that upset potential to come up with a win here, especially in a B01 against them 80
So you think that the team that has publicly said that they haven't even practiced with their stand-in and that they are
Focusing on RMR prayer can beat in 80 who seems to be on a really good run
Yes, because of Stanislaus because of how good he is at calling because of how deep this draft book is
I think that's the reason why Wildfire can come up with a win here. Have you had enough sleep?
Yes.
You have dead lag.
No.
Trying to figure out what we're seeing.
I'm not the only one that thinks it's a little bit insane, right?
No, I do think it is a little bit insane, but you know...
I'm just leaning, I'm leaning heavily towards M80.
I have watched so much NA Counter-Strike that I can tell you this matchup is a lot
more even than you think it is.
I guarantee you.
There we go.
Fair enough.
Okay, so I'm going with M80, but JRT's making me think maybe I'm wrong.
The point of the matter is though, is that we are in North America.
We are in Atlanta and we have two North American teams on this stage.
I know that North American Counter-Strike went through a little bit of a drought.
I know that it wasn't looking too good for a while, but I feel like in this particular
moment it's something to be celebrated.
So you know what?
Let's get str- I'm going to be in so much trouble for that.
Let's get straight into game M80 up against Wild Card.
Nier, I got a script saved me from myself.
Hey, it's all good, man.
Listen, they might be in North America.
Yeah.
GRT might be on the moon, you know.
I'm down to earth with this one. I think yeah, it's got to be a matey
I will give the slight caveat. I think it's gonna be close
It's on a decent map actually wild card
So, you know, they've really gone for it on both sides of this really plague into the North American matchup could go
Anyway, etc
And they're on a map that really falls in a good spot for both of these teams rather than maybe M80 taking away
Such a high rep map in ancient. Yeah people
in the end. I mean, you know,
I want to talk about, you know,
Cope him and hope him. I think,
uh, he's on something very
different without that. There's
a man to say they're all going
to do it. Someone's got to
prove it's all wrong. You know,
they're a dark cause for the
tournament is that is bonkers.
But you know, I can respect it.
I can respect. I think with
who's they could have been.
Is it so sad into situation
could have been with friend.
I don't think so. And this
is not this respect friend.
Let me just just talk for some
stats for you for the for those
I mean, it's been a long time
and I've been really killing it
and tier two reasons. Permitted
side on no joke. And just to
show you so far this year, they
have played 407 maps of
Counter Strike this year. That
is insane. That's more than some
tier one teams were playing
the last three years. It's
insane how much CS they have
been playing. So you know, real
credit to them. They're
absolutely grinding. When you
consider that, you know, the
number one team in the world,
that day of play. So, yeah, you
know, he's part of a team that
really do grind a lot of
counter strike and they normally
do pretty well and he is one of
the main factors in what makes
up in its side quite scary. But
there's the exonautics. They're
not cracking for this for this
tournament. They're not playing
really. They're not coming in
expecting a win by the judgment
of them saying that we know if
you haven't done any prac with
friend. We're not playing with
him. We're just getting
ourselves ready for the RMR.
And in a way, this is sort of
what we like to call kind of
quote unquote official pranks.
In a sense, I mean, it
it really doesn't spoke as
I spent but the other side from
80. They're aside. Do I come
with the back of a quarter
files are probably looking
incredible in terms of their
form right now. Lake has been
actually killing us since
coming in towards this team
and yet. Absolute mammoth
shoes to fill for Malm's and
he seems to look really
comfortable. So I don't know
for me, this feels incredibly
lopsided, maybe even more
lopsided than some of the
previous games looked on paper
before we go into. Okay
that's fair. That's quite a
heavy statement. I think
it's going to be a very
important part of the game.
It's a very wild sort of matchup.
I think it will have a lot of
tension behind it. One of the
things for me around M 80 is
the fact that they have, um so
much kind of. Vocal org support
a lot of movements for them as
well with like boot camps and
stuff like this, and I think
that in the North American
scene that is often something
that is really, really
valuable. Obviously it's
expensive. It's difficult. A
lot of people are in and out.
the game. It's going to be
a very, very important. Um
when it comes to making a
career of this rather than
being 1718. Let's give it a go.
So also very curious talking
about organization and what
not. Um the M 80 model
was kind of for the
players. So it's going to be
a very, very important
thing to do. Um when it
comes to making a career of
this rather than being
that's not necessarily. Home
grown, but also not fully grown
in the places that they've come
from. It wouldn't have what I'm
saying. Yeah. That's fair
enough. That's fair enough. You
got me, but it did just pop
into our head. The little
speed of thought that like, yeah,
the players like slacks and
sin. You know, it's not
the players like slacks and sin and mobs in the past not necessarily behemoths within their own scene or like
International let's bet loads of money and try and get them in or
The other side of things maybe stand on the other side where they've had a bit of a career
And now they're trying to revive themselves or they're trying to instill their knowledge and experience on the younger players
It feels like someone like slacks especially
Has much improved since moving over compared to his input at his performances. Excuse me
over in Europe. Yeah, he looked very underwhelming for a long time in Europe and actually I'll even say as well for his
Initial stint when coming over towards NA same thing
He did look a little bit like it was kind of like just the same thing just a different region
But he's really coming to his own and it's also massively helped him internationally as well
But I think it's what I think both these odds I've really done the right thing in North America where there maybe isn't that
Incredible talent of pool to come a pool from there's a few players at that kind of the top end
They're making their way through ECTL for example, but they're not quite on that tier one international level just yet
And then I think they've got international they've got a ball they've brought over a lot of great time
I think sauce was an incredible pickup. Why metasport let him go
I don't know but look what happened to that sport now. They're a non-existent team these days
So I think while God have got away with an absolute free beat. So
Midtake is where we're going for here
And they just flying in towards the fights JBA gonna be this first contact
This is a big ask for a dinked down early.
So after a dip away, Jules can't come up for the first,
as Sin will light up the server.
Sona gonna get caught, and already off to a good start.
Leite gonna add to the tally as well, and one by one.
They're really just taking this ace out with ease.
Kills all over the place.
Cheers all over the place from the crowd as well.
Susp will battle back, bring it down to the three versus three.
There's a kit available. There's a low HP player.
His name is Sin. M80 have got their work cut out on this one.
good risky move from such to gather the information double peak comes in though
They will grab the all-important kills still this kid
But this feels like a really good setup to be honest a lot of keen headshots need to be landed friend
Yeah split between two what's he gonna do?
I'm 80 will indeed take the pistol and the number one thing you don't want to do when playing up against
M80 is let them get loud don't allow Lake to talk his talk because he'll also walk the walk as well
We saw in a pro league calling out players like a lead, for example, and then beating them.
You know, these sort of small things can fire up a team.
And since he's come in, you know, you see a lot of players when they join into a new team, they come in a little timid,
you know, you don't want to upset the Apple car, so to say.
But he came in loud, and he's really been a fantastic player so far.
So, yeah, great round coming through.
Sin with a 3K, Lake with two.
M80, of course, first one on the board.
And probably going to be the second as well.
the game, but it's not going to
be a good game. Well, there is
a no buy out for wildcard and
as a four of them they've got
ground control. No one's here
towards shelf, but nothing's too
late. Fellas. They basically
just about to pop on towards a.
Yeah flash came in. Could be
in cave. Unfortunately, so
they're not really going to
figure out the a play until it
is far too late. Still any
damages. Good damage here. Take
a gun. Especially if it's
that next round. It's their
first outing all four USP's in
from behind slacks knows what's
up. He takes one. But he is
very much aware that. There's
multiple around this corner.
Still feeling excitable for it,
though. It's open for some
support to come his way. Let's
try and you know, take these
players down. You can see the
M 80. No messing around full
discipline here. Do not give
the chance at all. It's going
I think unfortunately just a small thing there
I mean brook credit to slacks on that best of them because he knows the usp's and he knows they've not got armor
So you could so easily if you're a player with you know, he's a little bit more fired up
You could very much go I'm trying to get some stats here. This is you know, these are free kills me
I can at least get maybe three and then get traded
But he realizes there's a much longer term outlook towards this game. Let's build up our economy
Let's not give them any rifles for free and let's make sure we have all the positives with no sort of downturns at all
So I like that. I think it's a really good way just to kind of raid himself back in he very easy
Could have stuck around for a couple more there and he probably would have got a couple more
But he knows that the risk and either side of dropping a gun maybe having his economy out of line with the rest of the team
It's not worthwhile. This is the first round though that we're looking into and it's an important one wild card
First four by one player that I want to see get active JBA
Apples a chop and block after disagree. I think for me
He's one of the brightest futures in this North American scene. He's a real talent
I've been enjoying him at the top 10 list at the start of the year and he was number 10 on my kind of wants to watch for the future and I think
He plays this level. He can be good when he gets one, but he will get traded. Yeah, the mid crunch successful from m80
Stan still close to the action and a full freeze here from the T side as they
Do not look to waste their advantage
Just trying to keep the tension up maybe wildcard will reveal their hand reveal their locations
This is where it gets a bit dangerous. There is such a thing as too much respect too much
Discipline I guess you could argue so as you can see wildcards are getting good timing clearing information
Might be a player they could catch in transition here. Unfortunately, it's done is fully trapped away. So a bomb site
It's well defended here
couple of wires
A lot of this I feel like for me really comes down to whether sin once the test done I he does
and now a friend. That's a support as well, stuff smoke close. Asked to get at least a
couple here if they want a chance in this round. One-to-one might not be enough. There's
the furthest. Second eludes him as Rackle trait. And now a friend, the new boy on the block.
Not a really time to play with this side and he's stepping into a big roll on land.
Spam just above where that bomb was going down and now it smoked out. There's a world
in which they just keep out of the guns.
of hours of practising and
playing officials together is obviously not going to be there.
Doesn't quite know such tendencies,
what he's up to, what his plans are.
So we'll see here, certainly something to
discover in that round.
It might become an issue for them.
It's true.
Oh, yeah, unfortunately in that sense,
JBA did get us one, but he's got
overwhelmed. They're really nice mid-take coming through.
Two separate flashes get thrown
over that wall and towards me.
So, they're both players. You can play
They're playing over towards Red Room or somewhere in around Donut.
You don't really get that much control. You're flashed off and saved.
You're playing up close towards Shelf.
Henthal happened to JBA.
So far it's been tough, though.
Sonic and friend yet to get a kill.
JBA on one.
Stan and Suspone two appeased it.
They're really struggling to get active here.
Specially yet to frag, but not really being required at the moment.
There's a buyer who will cause around what they did save.
Double MP9 brought to the table.
I guess thankfully they have a kit this time as well.
have a lot of utility there,
so they can't really afford to
use it that early and toward
the round. They've got to keep
hold of it, but that works
because M. A. T. Be playing very
slow out of the gates in the
rounds. Must have been a pain
point in the previous round.
Potentially if they did have
that kit available, they might
have gone for the two V three
and now it seems they've
really made sure they've got
the kids. Which on your sort
of low by round as it were.
Feel like that's where you
would neglect them slightly
for a bit more utility. But
here we are. I think it
is well when you see around
like this, we're like such
round like this where like Suspence for example has 650 wide just doesn't get
another bit of youthful coming through or
same as Bonnie for example she's got a HG something along those lines but
the way into the round and Swisher gets out in front of the smoke
peeking here that's a bad decision from Suspence
I don't think he expected the map close but across his life and stand back turned
surely the expectation was that they were going to swing but they are
overwhelmed Sonic will get one but this is a big ask
Yeah, that that's communication kind of going sideways and the fact that the
Proposed unfortunate timing as the line goes smoke not a brick wall
But they put that smoke down and the fact that they start walking through it before it even bloomed, you know
I knew the
position that they were in and
Such a large chunk of the T side. I would argue they get a bit lucky with that timing
well
I'm not feeling very lucky at
the moment. Oh, and four still
a really tough predicament that
they're in. Keep all of these
three guns as two rifles and
one SMG for JBA. Unfortunately,
no real ability to upgrade at
the moment unless he makes a
lot of a run for it, but
doesn't seem like he's too
tempted. It's a favorite
breeze. You know, doesn't
really look all that
for them to be competitive, right? For Wild Guard aside, you know, we already kind of
delved into it, but this obviously doesn't seem to be the competition that they're focusing on.
The RMRs is where they're looking, they haven't practiced with friends, so M80 for them, this
is a tournament that they want to win, because for M80 it's about cementing where they're at,
you know, there's even still despite probably what was an incredible performance,
you still get the few people who were like, yeah, it was a fluke though, it was a one-off run,
but winning a challenger like this really meant them saying, no, we actually are a side
who can compete with top teams, we can actually win trophies and get them silverware under our
belt. So that's what we're looking towards for M80s. We're starting to build a bit of
their own legacy and actually becoming a certified tier one team. And I guess for us as well,
not money on your screen, just now in the background, deaf, UK, we've got to support
him as Brits ourselves. We've got to back up. You say he's an American. America of
all the places as well, you know, like the British flag on HLTV. He's British.
That's fair. That is fair. Also, I don't know. I think when you're called Rory, that's very English. True. At that point, no matter you can change your nationality and you're still English at heart.
So as a Brit, we've got to support him. And of course, it's really good to see him kind of a back into Counter-Strike obviously with his M80 project, but then also succeeding as well.
It's been a hot minute since we've seen him in the CS scene before this M80 stint. So I'm glad that he's doing well.
the next game. It's a tough
one. I'm not going to be able to
win this game. Well, M 80
are doing well, of course, all
vine for that trophy there.
Tackles turned tech pause. It
seems, but I'll be back on the
way in just a moment. For no
for M 80. Again like
unfortunately, like most games
you've had in the best of all
today, not really too much
competition just yet. No
really broken a swear. Have
you winning a series of
expositions today? I think
in play again is never nice in your first game on the first day.
The man in your screen source has been...
shaky.
And this...
It's not a good look, is it? Not a good look to have the laxadaisical swing,
the slow communication, so standards of really understand
how close they are or what's going on, you know, cave is quite a big place
if that was all your call-out was.
back into the action, though, of
course, couple five sevens in
the mixture, but the pie
considering the expense is not
all that bad for wild card.
Eventually one of these rounds
has got to fall into place.
Surely right. Two rifles 257s
and an MP9 hoping to make
things work. Who's over the
slack? It's not anything. Who's
that? Couple of teams already
be trying to implement, but it
just get counted quite a lot.
Now a lot of teams hold that
to come and creep through. It's a bit of an early A presence, but they're no commitment.
And the leaving swishers is lurking sort of anchor over here. At least to a degree to these
geologists, keeping attention drawn. You can see actually friends farting to rotate over,
but so is the bomb.
It's coming back. They're still indecisive here. I don't know. This is a weird look
for MAT. They feel some pressure, I think, after attacking to attack what our wild card
It's not cooking up a lot of utility used by this T side as well if you look at what they have left some one smoke. Yeah, which with the be lean and it would seem to be finished. That's not going to cover everything. They've up to the right hand side. Are they faking though the bomb is
side of the map right now. This is a wild kind of cult. 25 seconds left as he starts this sprint.
They are not quite fighting just yet. Maybe as the kills come in and the pressure is being applied,
it's actually a nice spin here for M80. Clearly, it works out round. And let me tell you, it's
worked very, very well indeed. Advantage in their favor. Maybe a little bit more going to come here.
I doubt you expect anyone in the donut. And another save for the CT side. It has to be.
to the second as well. I
mean, they're getting up on
down with like six seconds on
the clock basically. So.
Credit to M 80. It's a big
mid round adjustment from sin
there to call them back when
they're already so far forward.
He got one booster towards
box. One is really pushed up
rampant towards B and then
they rain it back and they go
for the C T rotation to so
yeah, real big call, but it
works perfectly and especially
the second a killer to start
to come on towards that B
site immediately drags the
whole pack over because
they've got a bit of a
game and hope that they can
trade and. Yeah. Fortunately
works against them. Maybe in a
bit of a fall by situation, you
still leave an anchor over
towards a like Sonic, for
example, who was playing towards
boxes and he maybe tries, but
it ought to be soft flush died
at the end, which is definitely
not anything else you want on
a side that's already really
struggling, but. In a similar
vein that we had in our
previous games, unfortunately, you
know what it's one side.
It's also quite a flat game,
right? It's just very run
the way. Yeah, it's tough. You
can't point back to a moment
where you're like, Okay, this
is where it broke apart or this
is where. If only they clutch
that they could have broken the
bank and then they'd be forced
into a weird kind of ecosystem.
You know, et cetera. We're just
not getting any of this
conversation right now. It's
like. M 80. Playing a better
game. What I will say compared
to maybe a couple of the
openers. It's not just
that's going better. We have
just seen in that previous
round saw in the first rifle.
Some good ideas. Some good
tactics are still a lot of
respect from M 80 that wild
card as we like to say in the
UK scene can shoot back. Yes, I
think that they are playing a
very solid team game. Therefore
could see a good crowd out here
in Atlanta as well. Everyone's
enjoying it so far. Normally
those dream hack events. They're
things. And obviously got a
decent little showing out there
in Atlanta. He's got plenty more
counter strike over the next few
days. So of course, make sure to
continue joining us. Best of three
to end the day and then tomorrow,
Sunday, of course, with that
grand final. So we're looking
forward to it. You guys join us
all the way throughout the back
underway. Five and out for M. A.
T. Lightwork for them so far
friend got out of AWP yet to get a kill now would be a pretty good fight mate it's we need to see you get active
Slacks gonna all by himself. He's at all pink ancient can be a little bit uncomfortable at times and they control taking as well
Which is big but those names are gonna rain down as Stan just chip down a little bit by the three that were thrown over
Slacks on the search switcher looking for this first opportunity as well
It feels like good lane control from a matey, but it could really fall apart
very, very heavy mid-presence
from wildcard. Good timing is
going to be everything. Swisher's
jumping. Stanislaw will be
communicating that. I think
Sonic is waiting to hear another
sort of queue before he goes up
for this peak. As well. Wildcard
seem aware of the fact that
makes you're playing this slow
game. So good timing. Pete
comes in on really around the
corner. Okay, so let's not
change too much up. Swisher
could overlook this corner
angle if he tries to go
player steps being made stand with the frag and a full confirmation
I would argue that there's no one out towards be let's prep for the a
Good patience has to be set from stand there as well doesn't be a console. Well ends up being absolutely perfect
JBA
Smoke thrown towards CT you call a rotation over his friend comes to back him up bomb
Eating this direction
Now we're gonna start making equipment as well as bomb on the back of the IGL JBA gonna start ticking up Molly swings that down
the back of it. I think this
will be another same situation
for the wild card squad. Yeah,
really nice move from wreck.
Because even if you go down
there, you've traded info, I
suppose. Yeah. Well found good
Traded info I suppose yeah
Well found good gap
They are sticking around here looking to just
Keep the pressure up. You never know late retake. There's not a lot of time left on the bomb only 10 seconds gone
It's not planted anywhere near default either so they're getting kills Sonic is able to dip away should get away from the bomb not
Taking any damage while being in the site so a little close, but he's all good
And so they do take some guns away, which is relatively valuable
are becoming. But a few m 80
jerseys as well in the crowd,
which is good to see. It's a
little conversation. With the
gang in obviously so far. So
good. Really simple showing
good to see that friend of the
very least guys killed with the
aid of repeal. Maybe you can
see him good active. We've
got something to work with
going forward. But at the
have to play. These two teams
have played ancients there.
And that's as combined. Yeah,
it is both of their first picks
generally in vetoes more often
or not. Both of them will pick
into it, and I think is one of
them with they've had quite a
bit of confidence on. I mean,
for. I got him ticket 25 times
last few months for them. M 80
in 50% of their vetoes. So
hang on half. They pick in
towards this map. So basically
probably only time they don't
pick into it is a real
to come through, but 8 is always be very good for them. We've seen it by the top level and play it well.
There's a lot of tape though, my dog. There's a lot of tape, so it seems like MAT has potentially watched it all.
Cannot stop winning right now. Another opening frag goes their way. Stan trying to mix things up with some aggression.
Goes south, just sticking around. I think taking a few licks from the fire.
to make a move if they want
to get back into this. Yeah
this North American Derby is
not offering up a lot for
wildcard at the moment. And
now it is numbers as a
advantage. We've got to get
active. You have to try and
bring the numbers back in your
favor. You have to try and get
up in their face a little bit.
Can't allow M. A to continue
dictating the pace of every
single round and getting very
easy map control and not
really getting into the
map control and not really having to work for too much space. Once again, mid control taken,
no commitment of the bomb, but we're early rotating here at the wildcard side.
And it's wrong. Well, this is the move they're trying to make, right? This is the
risk. This is the attempt at finding some kind of a reward. Friend in an advanced position,
he will get a smoke down. He has maybe seen this round and that cuts them off completely.
a lot of noise being made. JBA is in position to hear them to cut them off potentially. It's
only one for him unfortunately. Nothing happens in on B, but Sonic, the lone defender, is at
least ready for A. He's braced down one, can't get any more. So every time they take a step
forward they lose two steps back. It's another close plant. It allows us to get in, can't
win his fight down to the AWP and the flick is too wide. Rex feeds it off. Flawless.
the game. It's been very, very
easy. You know, we're going to
talk about it earlier. I thought
this was a game that might. In
terms of the round differential
feel a little more even, but I
always thought the game with
itself feel and look very one
sided. I made to your side at
the moment, I think, especially
without Susie. You have to see
you know, you can't really
have a sense of the game. You
can't really look very one
side of the mat or a side of
at the moment, I think,
especially without Fuzzi. You
have to see him 80 as the
clear favorite in towards this
game for me. And yeah, I
think you know, foodie's
also been so important to the
successes of wild card and.
Unfortunately, not the
anything, you know, bad
about friend. He's a very
solid player, but he's
just not part of this team.
You know, they don't have
the reps when they don't
know that innate
and yeah, it's a shame not to have him here or is it visa issues as why he isn't present, but
it's a tough old showing at the moment. 7 to 0 for M80. Slight tech issues seems over the
wildcard side. I figured I fixed ASAP. That wonderful challenge of trophy that we are playing
for. Some pretty fall-all places there over towards the wildcard side too. Of course,
was like share of $100,000 US dollars is on the line here.
Probably season 21 spot as well.
I wonder like laid out $100,000.
That probably looks crazy.
You know, like physical.
You know, like in a break in baths,
you look like that was definitely more than 100 grand.
But at some point you try to do that, right?
Yeah, you kind of want to see it.
I think that would be very like, you know,
that must be really difficult to split
between six people.
like if it was all physical.
Yeah, you know, so it's, it's, it's like,
Oh, baby Trove will take in duffel bags and that.
Yeah, but that usually just all goes to like one guy.
True. Rather than a team of guys.
So yeah, we'll leave that idea in our heads potentially.
Well, slight issues, of course,
hopefully going to fix as soon as,
I thought it's not be having issues though.
MAT, my God, this is looked very comfortable.
And you know, super late round calls
being this successful, this
consistent. It's actually about
showing towards wildcard. They
are getting yo yo between the
sites and they're always getting
it wrong. They're not reading
about how to break down this
side. And it gets to a point
where we do have to look at
standard example at the corner
towards the side and say maybe
there's a little bit more of a
gamble to be played here. I
think the way things are
playing out right now, we
very much see an MAT. Take the
control out the gates. Map
control the pace of the game
is all dictated by them and
to be able to do something. We
have to be able to do something
that we're reacting. They need
to actually product needs to
get up in their face. I feel
like at the moment we're getting
to a point where especially now
with seven no down what have we
actually got to lose it? We
have to have some sort of
foundation on our CTC. We've
got to do something. I will
say. Standard China in the
previous rifle and got flattened.
So you know it's really
difficult for him and the team
to find a way in. It does
game up. It's a great question,
mate. I haven't got an absolute
scooby, but we're waiting for
them to come on the server.
Seems like friend is fixed. I
mean, heaven's back on. That's
good sign. Dapper month. Come
on. Let's get let's get hyped
up here. Let's get some of
his rubbing his hands and
everything, man. He was
ready. He wants to he was
warming up puppy up. He wanted
the connection, but it seems
like I must go back on the
way in just a second.
the second headphones on. Everyone's getting dapped up and it's time to get the show on
the road. But things are doing. I think they're going very, very well. Plus M. A. T. side round
about eight. All right. If we know more of those pesky tech issues, get a yeah back in
the way, then back out with the other repeat as well. Gotta give us something. They're
a complete fresh slate after a break like that, right? Mental reset. And I would
imagine Stan's been thinking it over. What kind of changes can I make to the calls and the set-ups?
Felt like that orb was a big one. It was not super aggressive, but far forwards to begin with.
It's going to be an A hit here from M8C, a different taste to it than they've previously had though.
More of a straight-up approach rather than this late round playing it down to the clock.
Switch up. Just the ones from Earth though. It feels like a fake, doesn't it?
It's which is going to go down towards be again. There's a gap for information over there potentially. We don't overstep the mark
I don't think they will fall into the MIT boost trap quite yet
Such a weird situation isn't it? You know, you've got a player out another one ready to go now
Everyone's been smoked off in a main you're
Being it's a missed shot from friends. He will create some space. However double force sonic JBA gets one before going down
It's a little messy, but it looks like wildcard have met it there first. Yeah, so
That's per that guy's question in the crowd. This is wildcard
I'm thinking about the first on the board. It seems the less slacks can go. Absolutely insane
But no standoff angle. We'll see it often. That's exactly what we needed
It's wildcard what maybe late but better late than never. Let's get in towards this game now
Let's start to snowball. We need to that can't be a flash in the pan
the worst thing that can happen to them here is
Start to get a you know a round of their bells and immediately get a little bit hyped
And now the door gets shot right back in their face just as they open up. That'd be the worst thing now once again kill the momentum
But also hurt the econ as well. We know that
It's easy economy can be very difficult, especially when you don't have full loss burners built up for that consistency
So see cause friends standing at the moment for Fuzzi
They didn't get too active though with your just then they get caught off guard
Yeah, yeah tunnel visioned in and you didn't expect the aggression off from her. Yeah
I mean he missed the shot as well. I think I think he had it. I think he had it
It was a little bit of unfortunate timing as he's kind of lining it up where he stood and then he went wide
Yeah, but still he had a chance
Did not rightly take it but he's gifted the AWP back into this round
That is so much damage to open us up
Maybe wildcard are indeed back in to the argument friends
That's one with his take his kills all over the shot. The crunch comes together nicely down to just two in less than 30 seconds
Yeah, switch and wreck have really got to dig deep here. This is not an easy round
Bomb is recoverable. That's fine. It was never dropped into enemy hands, but
It's not where do we finish it? And they basically they want to rotate over towards the A site. They've got a long way
So it's surely gonna be expected here. No, maybe not stunned
and it's a good start. It's
not a lot of time. You've got
to make sure that you don't
let them get like a 75. For
example, that'll be a really
good recovery. Yeah,
absolutely. So they kind of
have to wait themselves back
up. It does seem that this
awkward pause in between is
just. Yeah, absolutely. They
have to wait themselves back
up. It does seem that this
awkward pause in between is
Or could pause in between is just taking some steam out of the M80 attack
They still have plenty of cash. It will run dry after this
But all these nuances lost bonuses built up get a bomb plan
You could make something happen into round number 11. Should
That is a leg the boost work successfully nearly does cost friend is life
However, it's a lot of resources into that as well
So the site control itself doesn't look fantastic. You've got to fight your way out
And they do just that so it will take one worse for where players. It's another good look for the CTs
Yeah, it is the son. I'm gonna get one of the node as well make that two look at the three JBA there to mop it up and
well said
You got a lead by example now, buddy 1v4 and surely even the first is not going to be given over behind a smoke
This one feels impossible and now by throwing that Molly his position given away dead man on arrival doesn't clear as close left
Down he goes to the hands-off stand
three
Pretty decent rounds out now from this wall card side
They look completely revised and I took a bit of time for them to get it awakened towards this game, but now they're here
Just as that guy was asking who are wildcars. He's now found out
He jinxed it
If wildcard end up winning this game everyone there in Atlanta, you know who to blame
Well North America wins either way true. That's all that really matters
in this game at least
We throw a bit of a sparrow in the works though of M80 were to very immediately go on to the shop and block
and aside who yeah, you know we had a conversation about this and
Even spoke about them pretty much even winning up the group
I am and even being one of the teams you could consider a favorite coming towards this one
of them and
Yeah, they were to go down into the losers bracket would very much change of that conversation quickly. Yeah one way or another
We both see them in the final. Yeah
And then maybe ask me on the final day. Are they gonna win it? I might I might indeed lean that way, but
Sonic
Taking a heads up fight here is trapped in so it's another fight your way out kind of situation and again
Binding success the tech nine slips the net. It doesn't really matter all that much wreck trying to look out
On to A, hope for a bomb plant not gonna happen, sin left.
With the impossible situation,
riding his time here.
As he hopes to just take one, soften
this final round of the first half that is on the horizon.
Flash comes in, he is spotted, he is revealed, and surely his days,
moments, seconds, are
a big trend with the creep, will take him down.
So I would say four rounds is already a pretty good recovery.
Yeah, 75. That's a respectable half. And yeah, there is a world here where wild card pick up the momentum moving into the second half. No, very true. I do actually done a very good job of I've got a getting back into this and looking competitive. And there's a lot to like even see, for example, someone like friend who at one point he was really
It took him like five rounds to get a kill and then even after he got that kill
He was still looking a little timid and now not so much getting active there as we saw making that big up from donor
Speaking of fight into war Delbo here like full blind on the edge this
Spoke they send him through a good for one pretty well JBA gonna get caught so does friend that it might be more bodies to drop behind this
It's that touch that's behind that smoke.
It weighs position, but don't think he wants to stick around too much for a fight.
Brett is so lucky that he only shot one bullet.
Yeah, literally, that's crazy.
Right in the cranium.
It still does a lot of damage that could be useful later on in the round.
I'll drop in and he takes the fight alongside it.
Clean kill, but clean trade.
And Wildcard just do not have the numbers to go for those even plays.
to be a bank on B as the utility comes out slowly from M80. It could be another late
swing towards A. That potentially might be overthinking the situation if you ask me, but
all the same, taking their time about it. So the two-man dynamic duo of Sus and Sonic,
which is a bit of a tongue twister to be honest, they are all together. They are
Somewhat ready for this, more top comes in, no kills through the smoke, I think they needed one of those before
bomb went down, before mounting this retake to be honest, yeah, because they're just gonna get chipped away at
by the foursome here, feels pretty good, flax and sin, the German! Dynamic S's will get it done,
8 to 4 at the turn of the half, let's see how things pan out in half too.
After this, let me tell you, but it is indeed a serious, serious matchup right now, while
Karrg have managed to salvage themselves, it is still not quite out of the woods just
yet, they've got some work to do on their, indeed, T side, they're very quickly going
to work their way out towards B though, Sparks has really given them too much room,
loses his head as the Glocks close the gap and they will continue fragging out so it's a simple execute
M80 potentially expecting of more of an A sided play
Julie's getting to
Julie's get into action late can't make the jump, but it's hard
Yeah, I've done him day in the 4v3 though wild card looking like a whole situation
He's going to keep him coming.
It's all on Stalin's law.
He's in behind.
He was flanking around.
He was the last man in.
His teammates have potentially let him down here.
He will have to make noise.
Sim takes his head off.
And where the hell did that come from?
Oh, Lake, talk your talk, my king.
Tell him.
Tell him.
Miss the jump.
I don't miss them shots.
I'll tell you that.
My God, that was crisp.
And Stan looks shell shocked.
How have we lost that?
He's probably thinking,
How have we lost that? He's probably thinking to himself a five versus three and they threw it away
What a way to find your way back in towards that round
How have they even done that the execute on towards the site on to be brilliant
But these shots coming through from like afterwards a perfect and sin also has a bit of a moment of his own
He gets a kill at the same time and and then obviously gets the last as well to make sure that stand cannot deny them
On that bomb site brilliant work coming through
going to come out for a while.
Of course, they're going to bomb down.
They did get some kills.
So you do have a bit of funds to work with.
It's one AK-47, one gillil, and a few great epistols
to have a bit of a hope and a prayer.
But we're talking about you lose this and the next buys
are like 11 to four.
At that point, surely it's too little too late.
Yeah, it is true.
They've got to have a game plan here.
I mean, look, the execute, the approach
was pretty much perfect in the previous round.
It is just those final few moments
and potentially the fact that M.A.T.
Just got the edge in the firepower today at the very least.
I'm sure this rivalry will continue into the annals of North American Counter-Strike,
but this best of one M.A.T. seemed to be on that extra level.
Slow start for wildcards.
This smoke is going to go down soon.
So they've got to get a step on before Slacks has an opportunity to isolate a frag.
They will all group up in the donor. I mean totally unexpected. You can see like he nearly gets caught off.
He will eventually pay for his lack today's coolness and well, the rifles come round.
They will secure the site three versus three on the retake. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Molotov will come in towards Donut. The Spam does good damage as well.
Friend of four. So will JBA. Gets one before he hits the grave.
But put softness. Serious difficult spot here.
to look to the first. He won't
get it soon. Patience is a
virtue and they made it yet
another round. A bomb poll on
might facilitate a buy again for
wildcard here. But I mean, it
is a bit of a picture poison
type situation right? You can
buy in here and go for a
similar type of buy have like
glills coming through. Maybe a
few Mac 10s if you want a
bit more util and make another
force and say we got close
And the smoke works in favour of Stan.
Stim unfortunately is not tall enough to see over it, it would steam.
Four versus four, recovered right.
Oh, that's the kill, that's the kill.
That turns the tide doesn't really give any information across either.
JBA has taken a massive head with that eagle.
That is a beauty of a shot, my god.
But Wreck gonna start stepping.
What's the try? Get into something and it'll lose his head.
Just as his teammate did as well.
The slacks might do the same thing as well
Looks over but no no commitment just yet swisher playing the pixel peak over from deep short
Doesn't spot the information just yet and then met with the smoke as well. He'll tap away JBA
Actually, just get a little tag on towards him and he takes a serious one himself
This looks off to be for do we actually want to give it a go? It seems slacks is saying no
So hopefully it continues for
them. Give us a bit of a game
here that we wanted for our N. A
matchup, marquee matchup of the
opening games at the very least.
We'll see the save doesn't
actually facilitate a lot for
M. 80 just bought the money a
little bit there at the end, so
they might even. Save again,
but then they've got few
players on the low by so it's
a really good chance for
wildcard to break the bank
rack up some rounds. Yeah,
exactly. It's a you know a
big round that actually turned
It was only really upgraded pistols. I was a half bite. It was not much of a commitment behind it, but
It worked a matey not gonna go for that force the only reason they could basically go for the forces because
Slacks and Lake have just shy of 2k so for them. They're thinking we can sort of try and drop around this and
Facilitate an okay ish by and they'd they have
Okay, I'm slacks good for the first sauce will get clipped. He's really struggled to get active sauce bit. Yeah, North American team
he's not going to be able to
get to the top of the team.
North American soil. He hasn't
found his form just yet. Strange
to see as well. You know, I
think he was one of the sort of
standout factors with that mess
pork run. Showdown and
everything that you know, really
surprised a lot of people are
called, though as a squad will
manage to bring it back
completely open in. You can't
give like chances like that.
He will take them. He will
He's got it on his belt. He's
only got. 29 points of HP
those sin. Remaining calm in
this situation, not moving.
Maybe it's her to step or two
as well. JBA trying to clear some
angles. He really wants this
fight. Sin. IGL might not be
his wheelhouse. Doesn't want
to give him that fight. Just
looking to edge out the
information. More comes in.
There it is. And that's the
brains beating the brawn. JBA
frustrated. He couldn't get
I mean, I'm not sure if he's
going to be able to get it. He
couldn't get it. Yeah, well
played. Really, really well
played there. Oh my God. That
was around. I really feel like
wildcard needed. They had to
break the economy of M 80 if
they wanted any chance of
making this work and it's
not to be and it goes close
right because they go down to
one versus one. There is still
going to be a tough
conversation about the
towards M.A.C. He has a bit of a spot.
Either way, what have we got to work with here?
Mark, our chances are slim now to get back in towards us.
Game, Ney breaks open the smoke,
and they will get hit before.
Friend, pot flash, bounces in his face,
but the instincts are lively, and we'll get his kill.
Sin wants a bit more, and he will get it.
Quick flick, really big kill.
That cages them in now as well as the difficult thing.
I think you would have been close enough to hear
the bond drop sound potentially as well. So really could make a difference into the
attitude of M 80. It does seem like they are starting to bolster up around here.
Friend creeps in an angle that he will win. So close to the action. The MP nine
though, does not want to take this fight around the corner, just holding the
mid information. So his teammates can join in. This could be a double swing
here that works nicely. Slacks going to go digging for it, loses out. It's
the next couple of years and
they're not going to be able to
get that. They're not going to
get that set up for Lake,
though. Don't quite call it just
yet, of course, it's the
support of JBA that's coming in
late, trying to pay out the
shot, unfortunately, just wasn't
ready for JBA in the mixture
and they will clean it up. So
I'll card right back on the
board still along road to
close this gap, but they're
staying in things in the
second half economy broken now
as well. Four M a T. No,
they're not going to buy in
it. Well played. I think friend
does really well just to make
sure that he doesn't let things
slip away from him. Prickman
and exactly as cool. Yeah, Lake
will go for that force by. I mean,
actually, the father's a force by
is interesting. I thought they
would should have gone for hero
rifle on him or hero by of some
saw, but the father fully
invested into this is quite the
big call and sin. That was not
the big brain play. He gets
that. There is still. This
big question around whether they
can match up whether they can
be. The dark horse that J R T
feels they may well be. I think
he is manifesting a little all
that and. It is unfortunate
without Fuzi. I think with
Fuzi. There's a fair argument
with Fuzi. I would talk like
that potentially getting our
group. Yeah, it's just such
is the game has gone on. It's
true. He's actually looked a
lot more comfortable as
come through the first like.
Six or seven rounds. You can
definitely tell you're a little
nervous. I mean, I really don't
know how much land experience
he's had in general, right? You
know, it doesn't quite young. I
mean, obviously permitted a lot
of counter strike at the moment,
but it's 99% if not 100 all
online. So. How many is he
played? How many times played
in front of a bit of a crowd
to we pop on towards the A
site and while car to
to come through a frame 80. It's
a full say they fully invested
in the gambled. The thing for
gamble. Sometimes it doesn't pay
often this time. It hasn't. They
lost in. They will lose anyone
else. 90 climactic finished to
the round as wildcards will not
want to risk losing anyone at
this sort of poorer venture
ultimately. It's not that far
the gap now, actually a couple
I think we were due in overtime
now. Yeah, be too quick of a
day in the office. I think for
closing the commentary booth.
Another one sided affair, so
let's just see about 13334132 so
far. So it's been pretty one
sided games. This one has some,
you know, sustenance behind
it. I mean, I feel like I've
got my app. Exactly. I feel
like I finally got a bit of
me today, but we will have a
tackpaws called by M80 and I
think this is a good time to
have a conversation, right?
Because they're in a bit of a
weird predicament in terms of
they forced more into the last
round, but yeah, they save
four out of five investments,
but they don't have one
right force though.
It's, you know, three upgrade
epistols.
It's not exactly a great buy,
but you don't want to
reinforce again into this run
because you want up to 2K
at least to buy in towards
the next.
So at that point, I'll
give you 11 to 8.
11 to 8.
it's a close game. It's much
closer than it felt even five
rounds ago. And I think as you
spoken about a couple of times
as we've seen, you know, a
number of the teams have false
starts on their tea sides in
terms of comeback. You just
have to ignore the top of your
screen and grind those rounds
out. This is where the value
of someone like Stanislaw will
really come in to keep calling
the rounds. Keep up the energy.
you know, you sort of turn your
rules off and everything and
they can scream for like 30
rounds or half whatever because
they're just going to be running
a executes is potentially what
we're doing today. Um and
ultimately that is a good
mindset to take into a situation
like this. So I am very, very
curious if they can keep it up.
Time out from M 80. Of course,
that puts a bit of fear into
nothing from our standpoint
expected into this round, but
it is that next rifle that
that next rifle that is just
around the corner. Yeah. A
stack. No one's going to at
least for now, unless wildcard
decides to pivot, which is
entirely possible. Well, we'll
see. Stand so far, though,
leading the charge in terms of
opening jewels 401 families do
already decent job. Cracking
open sites and giving his team
just a bit of space to work
with this one, though for
We do have to once again look towards time of it because there's zero presence showing the map
There's no information for them to work with
Never gambles back towards there and they've pulled them over towards being this is the right call
This is where we're finishing here. I'm as boosted up. We'll get one stand
We'll still get another opening kill now putting a five to one
He has traded immediately
Bombs built forwards though. It's the big thing here. They again just have to not panic execute comes out like normal
it's going to go through. It
is protected. So they get the
plant didn't need it in the end,
but it could have gone sideways
gone upside down even that was a
panicky moment for a few there
all the same 11 eight that we
were banking on. It's really
close. It is really close. Cannot
It's really close now. It is really close. Cannot reiterate enough. A good clean rifle. Just wipe them off the board.
It is going to be the key swing round.
Absolutely. This is arguably the most important round we've had of Karstrake today.
So far, 11-8.
And it makes you back into as a bias. Still requires a farmhouse. A couple of them and an MB9 too.
So it's not the healthiest, but they lose this, they're broken. They win it and they're back.
It looks like so far, so good. Wreck. Lake combined for a killer. Peace, but sus.
We'll take this A site and he's scratching his head. No one's home wreck. I don't think he's spotted about like in a bit of trouble as well
Try to shoot off the back of the shadows about a cost of his life
Wrecks still here though Wrecks still in a good position. That is a slightly deeper smoke than you might want and wreck will
Capitalize miss shot from friends
Again could have swayed things not gonna be the case Spanish law is still very far away from the action
Holding the flank is there anyone
to give me a kill. You percurious approach here from MIT. I have to say, right? They take
the time out before the half by before the low by that kind of puts wild card on edge.
Then into the rifle round, wild card are expecting something different from the team that's lost
momentum. Just taking the time out. But actually MIT kind of keep it simple. Yeah
mid aggression. It's not that deep. And wild card are the ones that feel they have to
to react to the incoming reaction and maybe have overdone overthink themselves ever so
slightly. So I think whoever's called it, I would imagine maybe that's like a bit of
a death read. Really, really smart, really, really intuitive stuff to just confuse wild
card a little. I'm going to go down here. Still definitely on for the retake. Yeah, the
best thing Rec can do here is just stay alive. Don't peak by time at the very
least, maybe make a bit of noise. They know he's there because he obviously just
through that Molotov, but do not die.
His position is super strong.
Now the fact is getting support as well.
Friend, miss shot.
Molotov will come down.
No trade bolleys, but he somehow gets out.
Not much longer.
Swisher on the swing and speaking of another one
going to come through as Wreck gets caught.
Starr also fall to the hands of Slack's match point M80.
It feels like it's been a long time coming,
but my God, these last few, they've been made to work for it.
Yeah, and really tense.
So it's a four versus two.
really really tense getting into that retake so they certainly are feeling it but it works out the
methodical play the time taken to get that retake going is very clean in the end yeah it's unlucky I
think the mid round doesn't look too bad from wildcard it is just that initial loss of manpower
that ends up costing them with yeah potentially a play that's a little out of pocket incredibly
aggressive they go for it once again into this one though and success and
found son of the blind spray down takes the head of Lake there's a return back in
it's all over the place once again as to be expected from this game and as it
starts picking up wild card of the ones picking up the kills advantage nearly
solidified not quite wreck his case soon he's taking fights and he is
win them four headshots in a
row on that a 1 s. And it's just
down to two to save the game for
wildcard friend might be. Really
needed to get get try and made
this all sing loud here. He's
already got one, but this is a
tough two versus three. They're
still committed to this be hit.
JBA as well. Start a little
slow, but he has come alive
Had his moments, had his time, and they're going to call on them.
Spoken to a shot, they're big flanking him, but they might actually overthink it.
No, they've caught it perfectly.
Wreck should be able to close it right here, right now.
Down goes the bomb. Down goes JBA. Down goes Wildcard.
M-80, taped an all-american derby, and they take it in style.
But my God, it's a short day.
We're actually made to work for that more than we thought.
Yeah, for sure. I think, actually, I think that fits pretty nicely.
it's a good map for wild card. They put themselves in a relatively good, uh, sport scoreline wise.
There was a moment there where they were able to get back into things where they were able to give
themselves ourselves from hope. But ultimately, for me, it was like a 70 30 65 35 waited in favor
of m 80. And that ultimately is how it feels and how it went down. So a very, very fun game
to watch Unfortunate for Wild Card, but enough from us, and back to the desk.
Thanks Scrooge, we're going to take some, watch some highlights of that matchup.
Of course, the North American doggy going down, and I got two Americans on the desk to break it down.
There was an appointment, M80 had a 7-0 lead.
Apples, what the hell happened?
So, basically what I kind of saw happening is that
a lot of Wild Card, specifically,
his Phonics and their other B players played it for nothing in here, but they were not really
taking the site how they needed to. They were relying on his off, relying on something
that would happen. His aggression was a lot more than they were able to, honestly.
Yeah, I think Wildcard were just too passive in the early rounds. On ancient, you really
can take that aggression down towards mid, or at least send someone scouting up. Stan
was playing it super passive, super late back, and M80 was as well. So it was just
like who's going to go first?
Eventually, once M80 does take the initiative,
they were winning most of the rounds relatively cleanly.
And then afterwards finally, Stan activates,
says, OK, let's get some aggression going.
And as soon as they do, they win four rounds in a row,
and they get themselves back into this map.
But even that second half, it actually
felt more push and pull than it was in the previous half.
And if half one had been like that,
I feel like we would have ended up maybe in an overtime
or a much closer match here.
So I wonder how M80 is feeling if they're happy with the score.
I mean, obviously, everyone's always happy with the win,
But maybe it could have been closed out with a much more dominating performance
Let's find out because Mike is with Lake on the stage right now
Maybe it could have been but a win is a win is a win. You guys started strong. You ended strong feeling a little good here in Atlanta
Yeah, I'm feeling great the team. I mean looking good. He has some great calls right now. Honestly the mid rounds they're instant
They're perfect whether it's freezer to explode. It's very good
Good indeed now you guys come out with the dub, you know domestic rival
You were calling them a little something you want to you want to repeat that?
I mean honestly, they only beat us online
I mean this is land they shake a little bit on land I guess I mean it's just one of those things
But I mean it's all it's honestly a good rivalry even though that Mario left and that was kind of the main part of that
Right really I'm gonna I'm gonna keep it going for sure. Well, we'll see if we can find the many water bottles for you
But going in this next matchup right?
Expectations of playoffs here expectations of that trophy perhaps what are the expectations for you here in Atlanta?
Honestly, we're very confident right now we're starting to really hit our stride as a team
I think we're playing big right if that's big got to do it for the Germans for that one
We beat them the Americans we did that for us. We're gonna do that for the Germans gotta do it for the Germans Sam
Who you got to do it for?
Mike I can't answer naughty questions like that
Let's tell a little bit more about what we just saw here obviously you heard the talk from Lake there saying well
of a really beat us online.
Ah, I mean this was, you know, there was a moment
where you felt like Wildcard could get back into this one.
Obviously, Lake's trying to trash talk, and I appreciate that.
You know, it's good.
It's healthy for the team to get a little bit under their skin
to your opponents and create that rivalry,
which is clearly what he wants to do, as he said.
But definitely Wildcard, you know,
they haven't had that experience online.
They've got some younger players that do need to get it,
so maybe they were a little nervous.
I mean, it's not necessarily out of the realm of possibility,
but I feel like it's Stan, like he said before, you know.
You're going to learn more on your losses than you are in your wins.
And I think that's it's just about getting the experience here.
They definitely got that here in their first map.
And that's just kind of how North American Counter-Strike is right now.
There's not many lands at all, especially for tier three, tier two.
I mean, tier one, you go to Europe, you don't go to North America.
There's really not many tournaments happening other than ESL Challenger
for a lot of the teams that are on the lower end that need to learn,
that need to figure out how to be bigger teams.
Let's take a look now to head to head and have a little bit of fun
We're gonna pull up two players. It is the US Air Force aim high
We've got Lake on one side JBA on the other. Why are we comparing these two?
Well for me
These are the two young guns in North America right now that are at the top in terms of like prospects and for me
Like I mentioned before JBA was that player I thought and maybe would pick up
But if you look right here at the head to head and made he clearly made the right choice in this situation
Situation like look sharper JBA had his moments, but Lake was unbelievable with his reads and like he said
I think you know sin was setting them up really well in the mid round
They like Lake was saying to explode on and like is a player that likes to get aggressive
He likes to get into the face of his opponents and he was able to do exactly that throughout the entire mostly the entirety of the match
And you see it there in the results with the 21 frags the 108
Adr versus JBA who was a little quieter, but we saw his deagle pop off there and round number 15
I believe it was where he was able to
just propel his team forward in an eco round and get a round victory.
That's when things start to look promising for wild cards.
So, you know, both players have their magic,
their potential to come through with important rounds,
but this time it was like just overcoming JBA.
I feel like there were a lot of rounds though,
that we were waiting for a lake to explode
and they didn't get called in the mid round.
And that's when the wild card
were able to take that opportunity,
take the space that he wasn't.
And while that's really good that wild card was able to find that,
that's also a problem for M80.
if they're not not on the ball of figuring out when lake needs to explode
you've got me that's going to be i think a lot of the problems early on for
maybe when they picked up like as well as they weren't necessarily raining in
and he was going all out every single round it wasn't necessarily benefiting
him so they had to
you know pulling back a little bit and say okay we have to be more calculated
about our approach here and i feel like that's why you're not seeing him
go out as much as i'm sure he would yeah if you unleash them
There we go, we have got through our initial games here at ESL Challenger.
Lanza, both of the groups have all played, we've seen all the players,
and next up we have two best of ones, it is the winner best of ones.
Let me just explain how cool this is.
If you've just joined us and you've never watched a Challenger before,
the winning teams from each of those groups will face off against one another,
and if they win they go straight into the semis on Sunday,
which means they get a day off to explore the states
and go watch football with my friend Mike.
That's the vibe that's going to be happening.
So up next is our first winners match from Group A.
It is going to be FlyQuest going up against Thor.
That is a mountain to climb.
We'll see if they can trek right on up in a little bit.
You're killing it.
I think we're in the middle.
Hey, push, push, push.
You're doing it.
I'm fighting a couple of companies.
I'm fighting, I'm fighting, I'm fighting.
Fighting?
I'm taking down.
I'm killing it.
I'm pushing.
Close big ones.
Yep, one alive.
Together.
No!
dashing now
have it one
that's it
have it done
i'm in cave please
i'm in cave they don't know
i'm coming through here
they're peeking right this way
what do you need
oh short
they don't know
they don't want clear
one short
one short
i'm smoking draw
three two one
short
we'll go A okay
we'll go A guys
i'm in poke so
it's no problem
it's not in six
no at the top like to do not
get your fucking stats up
Holy shit, you need him!
I'll be a junior, I'll be a senior.
Smashing up us now.
I'm doing Godfrey, wait inside.
Go up, go up, go up.
One more, killer.
Up your life.
Up on my feet.
Run, run, run, run, run.
Right there in the box.
One on north.
I'm sure of it.
Double-serve, go.
Keep keep.
Last guy.
No!
So elusive, only a few can say they've raised it.
an unassuming force. First champions in Rio Outsiders claimed the major title and was in
the Insoil at 22. Outsiders, they improved indestructible.
Defending champions of Rio, momentum of team vitality's success in Cologne could mean
another IEM title for Adex and his band of troops. And is it time? Getting to the
a stage before and short of a big lift in front of their friends, family and nation.
Can this team go all the way?
For some teams, there is little to no excuse.
Not to be laying your hands on the silverware.
Navi, Vaze Clan, G2, who can finally reach their potential in front of the Brazilian
fandom.
It's no easy task to gain glory in this arena.
The stage is set, the teams are ready.
Let the party in Rio begin.
I was disappointed to have you run in with the authorities.
Just a misunderstanding, Father.
I had nothing to confess then or now.
Then why are you here?
I've heard concerning rumors, Father.
that you're losing faith. It's true isn't it? You've played the beta I presume? Of course.
Who hasn't? Many have been denied access my son. May the Lord save their souls. Father,
the Lord rewards patience. We're merely being tested. Unlike the closed beta? Not you
Well father answer me this if the Lord truly loves us
Why didn't he attend the last CS go major?
Because the Lord move some mischievous ways like the CS to movement
And they can't even get that right can they?
Father please they will fix it with a patch on the 10th patch from you know the patch dates
Father and but quite the expert. I think there's two types of people special connection with
Finding an expo smoke, two days after CL underscore showpods is removed from the game.
Fake plan to develop a port of themselves.
It was you.
Just embrace patience, Trace.
You shall be next on the list.
Seven?
Four though.
What happened?
Current state of our team, definitely a little identity finding.
For me as an IGL I definitely know how I like to play but there's also a lot of
aspects about how individuals like to play and trying to give a lot of space for
people to grow themselves and be comfortable within their own roles
without me tampering it too much. Here in Atlanta I think our expectations are
not like low but they're just not there like as in we want to be real
focus on ourselves and make sure that our growth is definitely showing and what not and if we
go out in the group stage then we're definitely not going to be happy with how much we've worked
and everything like that and if we go into playoffs and further then definitely we can
take a review and be like yeah we actually did a lot better than what we would have
thought we could have. So right now it's just kind of keep the expectations low but also know that
we can definitely do a lot. The ESL Challenger Atlanta and the group stages those first matchups
are done. We are moving into the winner bracket part of the conversation now in our first
winner matchup on your screens. Surprise, surprise! It is FlyQuest going up against the Portuguese
powerhouse that is Saw. And let me tell you both of these teams won their first games in
convincing style saw obviously 13 for their opposition but on the other side we
had flag rest to 13 3d BB team completely unexpected for most people
except J.R.T. for some absurd reason he guessed that one right I mean Apple were
you surprised by the results? I am a flag quest fan unfortunately for you I'm
sorry but you have to deal with this but I am a flag quest man I always
believed in them and even though it did look not convincing when you were
still first looking at this matchup. It felt a little possibly not in their favor, but I
wanted them to win.
Me too. I'm a FlyQuest fan too, obviously, because it's always easy to be a fan in hindsight.
I mean, it wasn't luck, by the way, Sam. It was a careful analysis of stats and, you
know, breaking things down and looking at everything, and that was the...
Exactly. I do predictions as well. We don't just make them up as we go along.
Yeah.
All right. No, but all seriousness, you know, I think FlyQuest performed, upreformed
what we thought they would up against BB Team.
BB Team should have put up more resistance.
They didn't.
I don't know if that was the fact
that Fly Quest was better.
BB Team didn't really reach their potential.
I feel like it's more of the latter.
But either way, that opponent is in the past for them now.
They're going up against the Saw Team
that, like you mentioned,
is looking absolutely ridiculously good.
Everything's clicking on all cylinders for them.
And I don't really see...
I consider Fly Quest to be good in this event,
but not at the level of Saw.
I want to talk about, so let's pull up group A's bracket, though.
So you have an idea of where we're at in the competition.
It is a long day.
So I imagine if you've just joined us, you want to know it is, like I said,
the winners bracket carrying the underway and it is sore up against fly
questions, the one we're going to see.
He has the big thing.
Whoever wins this goes straight into the semi finals on Sunday.
It's awesome.
You get a day off in Atlanta, which is pretty cool.
I've heard the food there is really great.
You kind of want that day off to run around, eat some good food
and have a chill time.
Let's focus on sauna apples because they are a team that nothing
less than silverware in this particular event is going to do. They have come from competing
against some of the best in the world. They are aiming at beating the best in the world
to get to majors as well. I feel like this is simply that moment in time where they know
that nothing more than winning will do.
Nothing more will do, especially for them. I mean, you saw the first game, 13-4 ending
for them. They came to win. And that's exactly what they showed in the first opening.
I mean, granted, they did have a little bit of an easier matchup as they were
the top seed in the group, but it was a perfect counter strike that they were playing.
There were a couple rounds that Rooster didn't even get a lick of damage on them, and that's
what you were saying actually right after.
They did not do anything against Thaw that they weren't seeing coming, and it was just
exactly what they needed to do.
It was a complete mismatch, and every player on Thaw was doing exactly their role.
Jerks was popping off, as he usually does, getting those frags.
Story, not always implicated, but getting the key off shots and helping out support
in terms of utility, and just everyone clicking at the right times on that squad.
They didn't even look fuss though, right, up in that matchup.
It just looked like it was business as usual, almost like they were practicing rather than
actually in a legitimate match.
It was pretty wild.
They did say that they weren't 100% happy, and they mentioned this as well.
It's crazy, yeah.
And I think coming into this said that they've had a few shaky moments.
Yeah, I mean, I admire that, and I said that before, right?
The fact that they're always looking within and saying, what can we improve?
How can we get better?
because we got that dominant win. What else can we look at? How can we make ourselves improve?
Especially on Nuke, right? He was saying like, oh, we struggled on Nuke a past two times,
so we understand why they picked into it. And even their confidence wasn't necessarily high,
but I mean, I don't see why not the way they played in that map.
So you saw the video a little bit earlier. They'll be playing on Inferno here.
Let's find out though, how the players at Seoul are feeling. Mike is with them now.
I've got a rose dose ahead of their matchup against FlyQuest.
Now you guys came out and slaughtered in the opener feeling strong here, but they did the exact same thing
So based on that based on the Aussies looking good. How you feel about this matchup?
I feel like any other match. I'm just ready to play
Yeah, I feel like a lot's been put on you guys is preparation taking some time off
You know redefining things ahead of Cologne doing that again Barry was talking about
Do you feel like that's helped you as a player develop who you want to be? Yeah, of course
Of course, having time to practice, I can focus on a lot of stuff I can do individually.
And like Barry said, I think we got so much stronger individually, because as a team,
you just can only add strets, and individually you can focus on yourself and improve.
And that makes you, there's some rounds you need to win individually and not as a
team.
So, yeah.
It's a good thing redefining all the things. Is this gonna be domination again? Let's see. I hope so
He hopes so. What do you think Sam? I?
Think it's a really interesting strategy to have there if we're gonna work on the team
We were gonna work on the teamwork and we're gonna figure out what our strategy is
But at some point I'm gonna need you all to level up and individually take these rounds
That's a really important thing is to know when to rely on the team and when to
Realize that the buck stops on your shoulders. Absolutely. I mean it's gonna happen in many matches where you're you know
You have that teamwork coming out and there's rounds where you're just completely isolating the other team making the perfect calls perfect pinches
And everyone's getting in on the action, but then there's moments
You're in a 1v2 or 1v3 even and you have to find a way to clutch it out and those individual moments can define a match
And it's great to see saw recognizing that and something that you said earlier about fly quest was that they play
Simple counter strike and they do it well, but I feel like saw plays perfect like story counter strike where they're able to really
do exactly what you just said. They're able to find the clutches, the clutch
moments, and while they do rely on the team they have the 1v1s, the 1v2s that
just really expel the team energy there. Yeah and I think Jerks is
obviously that player on saw that's going to deliver in those moments time
and time again, so it's certainly one to watch out for. So much damage done
already was effective in that previous one like we mentioned. And yeah, no,
I mean saw has everything they need coming at the challenger and they
You're my favorite to take it all, to be honest, with you, with M80 as a close second.
So I've fought this up so many times, but it is one of my most fascinating conversations.
Something that Barry said we need to go over this team was how much these tier two and
tier three teams are expected to grind these online cups.
So they spend more time competing than what they do actually, being able to take a step
back and watch and go, what am I doing wrong?
What do we need to work on as a team?
Having those moments, and I feel like that's something he's obviously bought to
the table where he said, well, you're going to stop doing every single competition
We're gonna focus on what needs to happen. It works in Cologne, but it is I think it speaks to the bigger conversation here
A challenger with so many of these tier 2 and tier 3 teams
Where do they find the time because you are literally grinding every day sometimes you're playing in two different tournaments on the same day
Yeah, it's really tough honestly
You know and you see you teams like spirit just passing on big events and people like why are you doing that?
Because you need that time to reflect on previous things that are happening
You have to also factor in travel and how fatigued you're gonna be and also of course practice like you were saying
So I think this is going to become more challenging in the next year because there's going to be way more counter strike way more
Opportunities and teams are going to have to seriously take a sit down and look which ones do we pick?
How are we going to be most effective in both our practice and our actual matches and also not get ourselves?
So fatigued that we can't perform at the level we need to this is interesting because we all come from regions
Where this is very relevant and we're going to be talking about an Australian team
But one of the things you mentioned is the travel because we've all got to leave home, right?
So, if you're in North America, you've got to get into Europe.
If you're in Australia, you have to get into Europe.
That can also weigh very heavily.
And then when you are in Europe and you've played all these tournaments, the last thing
you feel like doing is now bootcamping more.
You want to go home, which can cause this issue we have where we don't see enough
prep getting done.
Which, I feel like esports is such a very, very hard thing to really get into because
it's such, it's a time sink.
It's a lot that you have to do to grind.
It's basically a sport because you are working every single day to get better.
And FlyQuest especially, I feel like they have slowed down a little bit on more international
competitions, which I feel like that we did see, I guess, a little bit more from them
earlier, but that 13-4 map that they played, and maybe that's just like what they need
to be doing.
We'll have a talk about FlyQuest and how much they play in it, but first I think
they should talk for themselves, let's hear what they had to say.
Lee has saw coming in as a very strong team,
team that's been on a meteoric rise.
How are you feeling about them as an opponent?
They're all right.
We've been fisted by Aros Dolce before, sweet rice.
So we want a little bit of payback,
but I think we, it seems like we're in good form, right?
So maybe we'll do okay today.
Yeah, I mean, that was a strong opener.
I felt like everybody was firing on all cylinders.
Do you think it's something in the water today,
something that's really gelling,
or is it just expectation?
I don't know, bro.
to my hotel room and passed out for three hours after that game. We're so jet lagged, as always.
Same old fucking story, but I don't know. We'll see what happens.
Well, that might be the story, but there'll be a story in the server. Best of luck, man. Back to you,
Sam. Yeah, he said what you thought he said, and it was by me. Don't be shocked, Yanks. Come on.
Like, that was a good giggle. Guess the problem, right? FlyQuest is not delivering. They don't
play enough, in my opinion. We see them in a couple of tournaments, but we don't see them
enough international tournaments they are meant to be the golden star of their region and when they do
play they're not and then sometimes they're just not playing at all yeah exactly and honestly I feel
like they're all just buddies kind of hanging out sometimes because they're all just really good
friends and while they are really representing Australia here maybe they need to be representing
it more just like you said they should be playing in more international tournaments they
should be at least playing in more I guess the smaller ones too that really help out Australia
maybe there's something there's gotta be something they got play in Europe and
they've got a camp and they've got an hour go toe-to-toe with the best in the
world that they want to be considered the best in their region and the best in
the world yeah and I mean honestly they've had their opportunities in
Europe while bootcamping to play events but they've declined them it's very
strange you know I think this is where we talk about that balance being
competing and not and here we see I think a little bit more required from
FlyQuest if they want to be taken seriously at this level of play but
here's the thing now they go up against all this is when it's gonna
become really tough right because you're now playing against a team that does play a lot
and not only do they play a lot they play against the base in the world and they beat.
Yeah no no question. I mean look I think Saar is my pick for sure to take this one. I don't think
that there's going to be an upset happening here. I've been trying to predict the upsets and
watch it happen this time because I'm moving away from it but honestly I feel like Saar
just too good right now for FlyQuest to compete. I'm going to have to agree with that as much
much as I am a fly quiz fan, I feel like that first map may have been something that just
happened that they are happy with now, but they are able to go lower bracket run and
figure out how they can win this next time.
This is Alastair.
He is your player to watch.
Apples has already written them off.
The reason I say he's the player to watch is because he hasn't delivered recently,
but he started to look a little bit better in that last game.
Yes or no answers.
Can he do it again?
I'm going to say no.
Apples?
Yes.
She's just saying that because she knows she doesn't have to defend it.
I don't think so. It's up against
flyquist in the winners brackets.
T time. You me. It's jumping to
game. I'm disappointed. I'm
disappointed that we don't have
more faith in the moustache men.
We don't have faith in in and Alice
says, Sam. Thank you so much for
breaking everything down, but
myself and Michael. We've got
other opinions. Don't we, Michael
about fly question? Yes, Michael
is like we're sticking this
Michael. I don't think so.
Listen, stop raising your voice
at me because it's not me
We had a great opening first round from FlyQuest.
They demolished a bet boom that I had high hopes for coming into this tournament,
but they needed it laid on the line with the favourites for the event.
Thor on the defense, jumping into Inferno.
Going to be keeping an eye out on Inns all throughout the game.
You obviously had a fantastic start to the tournament.
Unsustainable, but listen, if you can even do half of that,
then you've got a chance to be a one, never forget.
And on Inferno, no less.
Yeah, FlyQuest grouping themselves up in this pistol as well.
It'll be a hard and just cold call here from Saul, but they've got their stack in the right place.
Starts off worse though, it's Vex' site to get the first hour as Josh responds good to one, can he make it three?
No, only the two and he'll settle for it.
In the meanwhile, rotation's being called in, Roman will be late and Nuraus doesn't want to let that happen, trying to buy time, but he's only bought death.
And Enzo and Alistair are the ones selling it.
Yeah, timing working great there for the FlyQuest guys, they just got themselves in position, ready to burst into the A bomb site,
And then they find this opening first kill into brackets and they're just able to scale with that so effectively
Roman now in this one versus three where it'll be incredibly taxing even if there was a kit available
It would just be so far detached from the action and now they've spotted him Alistair will start hot like he did earlier against
Betboom this is the man that has the most scrutiny about him not the man on screen
But Alistair as this individual orper for fly quest, you know
We've looked at Dexter is the in-game leader the implementation of him and he was supposed to raise the bar for the Aussie scene
But now we have another team that's waiting in the wings
We have talent within that region that are hot on their heels
They'll have opportunities at the arm are as well to demonstrate whether or not they're as good or even better than flight
quests are currently and
They know that there are going to be many teams like for or better that they're going to have to beat and
And this is your best chance to try and make a mark right you beat so out of a hand the best of one
You're true to the semi-files. You don't have to play them again
Yeah, radically to the grand finals
This is where you want to capitalize and it might be up against these Eagles where if you clean these out comfortably start off
And at 3-0 we know how important that can be now they get control over banana
But like us will be receding for now. This is one of the things that
We did see a lot in Pro League actually fly quest takes their time
Sometimes they take too much of it
Yeah, and I think that's them trying to adapt to their philosophy and maybe as well rain players back so that they're
They're not always on extremities by themselves or getting isolated by investigative peaks.
They have changed their style quite a lot outside of their even just domestic competition
and it does transfer quite well.
One of the things I always love about SOI is that they go for these stacks and these
four supplies as well.
This time stack doesn't really work out, but usually it's still good for the one.
Draven away also swiftly.
And the rest of SOI might as well look to save at this point.
isn't really that much utility available for flyquats either actually so maybe you want to stick around
see if you can get a eagle shot or two but they decide against yeah i mean may as well just treat
this round uh similarly to to how the their start against rooster went where okay we pick the wrong
side our stack doesn't work out and you've got weapons that can do some damage into the following
can't exactly critique the philosophy especially on a map like inferno
you know i think when we when we see into that second half as well there's gonna be a
lot at stake and a lot of scrutiny, maybe levied to I think the anchors of likewise. I think their
CT side is going to be more taxing because Sawa has actually been a team that I think many will
see and look on like I think even Alan mentioned earlier that this team passes the eye test and
it's on those T sides that they can actually be the most fearsome even if you get opening
advantages there they're very good at immediately springing for gaps. But that's the thing,
Sawa is a classic national team right? You're not necessarily looking at all of these players
and saying oh my god this is you know like this prodigal CIS talent type of player. As far as
individual skill is concerned I would even argue that man for man saw might be less mechanically
skilled than a team like BVT. Okay right you know and FlyQuest are fragging out versus them too.
Now obviously so has got a lot more structure they've got a lot better rotissues they have
much better communication it's a huge difference. I would fight back in that Ujerks at a rostosh
No, it's not.
It's the Flaps Takeover games.
Oh, they're fantastic.
You know, you're looking at players like Zorvi
and everything, right?
It's a conversation.
And when there is that equivalent, there's maybe hope,
right?
You know, Flacos can at least have that idea
that if we lose, it will be off of our structure.
It will not be because we got out clicked.
Yeah.
And at the moment, they're doing a pretty bang-up job.
But even the Flash play here from Zor
with the limited investment that they
had from that previous round, unable to get an opening.
Hmm. I think as well, you know, so funny to hear from liaz and just say yeah, listen
We've we've played a rose dos before and it did not go great for us
Maybe looking for a little bit of revenge, but that was also two years ago. You can't hold a grudge forever
But there's a rose dos that man that we just mentioned he finds a killer towards a it's gonna accelerate the progress over to be
And with only a usp at the back of this bombsite. It's difficult and there's a dink there from you jerks
but flight quest break into be no problem thing is that event I mean we just looked that one up on a show TV as well as
Two years ago Michael you were working about it. Yeah, maybe you are just an omen for the
You know, whatever will happen over there. I'm not gonna say the words. He can say the words. I can't what say
Yeah, I mean if I was some kind of talisman for Osdors, I would take that and
You know someone to advocate. Yeah for me. I guess more
The sweet rice has gone bad right now though and it's okay. Next round's where things really
get started so I was going to be looking into that one. A story can pick up a kill away,
it's nice, you get a bit more utile with the AWP but no harm no foul. Honestly even if
you save it's the same thing because it's $600 for the Kevlar or the kill so it really
doesn't matter. I think what's most impressive about
this fly quest team right now though is we look at this inns character on the
squad, you know, from in-game leading to then taking star rolls, and even through all
the turmoil and turbulence his team has had.
I think he's the best Australian player in the world.
He plays like it very frequently, even in the losses.
So, yeah, I have a lot of hope that this FlyQuest team can actually sort of get it together
towards the end of this year.
But it will be demonstrated by wins and reference points in other tournaments and
tournaments like this where it still have expectations of lifting a trophy,
Flypust are looking to deny as best they can.
Oh, Nades to the feet of Roman, he is feeling a little bit loose-headed.
Yeah, not exactly a comfortable start.
So some nice opening volley of utility here from Flypust that make no urgency
and going over towards that B-bomb site, but sorry in the meanwhile
is caught just the glimpse of Vexite, I guess improperly peeking out from Boiler.
of course it's an off angle there from story and even if there is a player there
you're maybe hoping it's a rifle or you wouldn't have just died instantly but an opening advantage found by the Portuguese
The question is as the as well. It's why I'm a game, but you just turned around looking at him
They're trying to clear our first orange is in you just takes full advantage of it. That is disaster right there fly quest
I don't know. That's a read that they have. I don't know
That's an expectation for them to come in with but if the thing is even if there was gonna be a player there when
And Romans been double-naded off early on as well. They don't know that worked, but I
guess it just doesn't work for them in that way.
Yeah, and it's also just the timing of having these two smokes down, one CT, one of the mouth
of B, where traveling through it is a risk, but they wanted to try and beat that timing
somehow, especially with the opening kill that Story got on that A bomb site. They
lost habs on it for a moment. Lea's was still nearby, but he couldn't guarantee
that they hadn't cleared mid, for example. So a lot of justified decisions there from
Fly quest but as much as you can justify it. They cannot pull the round together now that saw on rifles
They will be a much more difficult beast to tame
Arizzo should end up going down over here, but Vexai will need that adjustment. Well, I'm harsh clear new forward story
Should be fighting this first kill and that's when the Vexai wants to make a move
Spots out the shoulder but loses the duel Arizzo
Takes it away. Yeah
I mean a beautiful setup there for saw just picking apart those two apps players and now fly quest are left with
questions to answer, Dexter just wandering the smoke and he actually managed to dodge the
opus story, but second time over, a story will rectify his mistake. Come on in,
you've only got four players to kill. Yeah, bombs nearby too. True, but unfortunately,
Eujeric is one of them. Nicely done from solo. Again, these small little setups of what
characterizes them so effectively as a fun national team to keep an eye out for. This
This is obviously one of the things for Sol where they are not ridiculous grinders, right?
They're not playing every single online cup and what and you can actually see it in their
gameplay.
You can see these small little setups that they've got in mind.
They have a lot more of that than maybe every other national team might.
You compare them to something like, you know, for example, a bait, another national team
that's, but they're the grinders, right?
So I expect this more from Sol than compared to a team like B8.
So it's just a fun little thing to see it work out when they're going in towards
top level where normally speaking the underdog is on pulling out oh hey let's try these little
two-man setups let's try this let's try that but how the meaning is not the meaning how defeated
do you feel it's like oh my god they've got set strats for us I think as well you know soul will
have had expectations for even just the start of this year I mean what they did well at Blast and
they made it through the group only for them to really struggle of the following up following
events and then you know start of this season cologne they get to the semifinals so
So I guess the question for us all is the longevity of how much energy they bring to these games,
and actually stepping away from a tournament soon enough will benefit.
That's a great HG to blow the smoke.
Fantastic assist there from Ujer, Roman just positioned perfectly for it, and FlyQuest
quite quits from this B probe.
Only bringing in that one rifle, it's, yeah this will be challenging to crack into,
Hell, FlyQuest did a bit of it against the BB earlier on, they made a hero rifle work,
but Dust2 I think maybe simpler to get that accomplished, especially with no use at all.
Oh no.
All right, Lee has your turn, and he has greater success in dodging the AWP.
But there is no ego on these challenges, there is no lingering pressure there from
saw it once they know that they've lost the advantage on the angle. They let Lea's have
that space, some nice taps, again, beating out this all-per-story, but Metaris, the high
ground on the boxes on site, saw it will find their way to a tie score line after losing
the opening three rounds.
And I'm glad that you're bringing up the fact that Sawz obviously had some of the
fortune stand, despite the fact that they've always been a team to find sporadic success.
But it does feel like now that they've gone away from that Portuguese coaching system
and gone into more of like, okay, we just need something new, right?
Barry's coming and he looks like he's completely changed his scheme around.
In terms of the numbers, there's so many interesting stats that you know what,
I'm gonna prime pepper across the entire town.
I'm not using more of this one, but hey, it's just really cool to see this
theme now come through with a revised vision considering how long they've
been together, but now Roman starts off with some spam, he's been taking a
lot of early damage many times over U-Chirks, however, as a void of the grenade.
Another slow builder here from FlyQuest, it's a team that can at times maybe get carried
away when they do find openings, but you know as of late they have reined it in quite significantly.
Yep, that's all.
It is.
Added to inferno.
Don't forget that.
And our lovely partners at Monster.
Hey, we're really all lovely.
wants to be a monster himself, but trading the smoke he faces through death. It's Ujerx
to deliver it. Ujerx to keep them all. It's a bit sloppy, but it doesn't matter. Vexlite
will trade. They're still Molotovs. It's still utility. And most of all, they're still
the all-power story to go through. Alistair taken down, and Roman has added another to
the tally. He feels lonely.
They really were expecting that, you know, as soon as Ujerx goes down, that they
would have a little bit of a gap. Only have to deal with Roman, but the fact
that story is there on time just to relinquish any sort of a prospect of
flight by staying past this smoke very timely rotation so are making few
mistakes so far on this CT half now that they've had they have guns in their
possession they are building money quite comfortably
it's like us to be honest with this without slow a lot of the pace has
been I wouldn't be surprised if you start to see them maybe speed things
up a little bit. You'd hope so at the very least. Maybe a timeout to come through and
see if there's anything of that nature to be called. Still, it's going to be a bit of a
half fly slime shaker around over here, so maybe not the best place to call it.
You will need it soon though. If so, continue their winning ways like this. Flyquests are
going to run out of their very short leash. Yeah, and it's not like this idea actually
couldn't have worked for Flyquests. I mean, with the users playing that close wall,
had he not deleted that first player, you know, we saw how long his spray was to get a second.
There was a real fighting chance for FlyQuest had they maybe just gotten their timing right and
a suitable flash to take huge jerks off that position.
But that does feel like it's been the case for a couple of these rounds, right?
FlyQuest come through with the game plan that feels like, hey, I understand where it's coming from.
It kind of makes sense. I could see it working as well, but then you lose maybe one too many
players. You've lost an aim deal. You don't pick up huge jerks when he's gone for that sloppiest
I mean, at the moment, he is
feeling confident a very hot
start as soon as he's had that
openness possession. He has found
picks consistently. Well, that's
been to rectify some lost
ground. Or just to take matters
into his own hands. I mean, he's
got a lot of, you know,
he's got a lot of, you know,
he's got a lot of, you know,
he's got a lot of, you know,
he's got a lot of, you know,
he's got a lot of, you know,
Or just to take matters into his own hands, deny space for fly quest.
And the thing is, even when you look over towards sauce players, I mean, in Muterus and Roman, who would be considered, hey, these guys aren't your heavy headers and whatnot.
When sauce starts to get into the flow state, they will make moves. They will play like they've got, quote unquote, better aim than they do.
But because sometimes they just start to pop off. Roman can get out of those clutches, Muterus gets out of those mid-run plays.
plays and this is the worst possible way to get sauce started on a tournament if
you're going to be going up against them everyone already knew that the
favorites but you're hoping that Muterus and Roman won't get a chance to heat up
either and honestly Roman's looking fantastic. Yeah funnily enough I actually
think that's where Barry's acquisition makes the most sense is that you know
when they do get heated and they do start to see that momentum building
they can often get carried away but they rain it into the right times now.
So aggressive down middle and Muterus going down so quickly, Orozos does
well to find a trade but they are losing life so quickly this is another new idea implemented by
Thor but it has not worked out. Aggression like that is exactly what FlyQuest has been waiting for
these slower pace rounds is one setup for just waiting to see to see what's all wants to get
going right. So many of these situations it's just early grenades afterwards banana and they're
not contesting for control late flashes through after the first month's already expired great
shot from Dex of the ending as well and this is what FlyQuest has been waiting for now it
doesn't come at a time where they could have reset source economy, right?
So I've been saving every single one of their players pretty much for the past few rounds.
So you will have a hard time running into it.
But this is the start that you wanted to kind of kick the start of the engine again.
This is exactly the type of decision that I'm kind of expecting or exactly what I was talking about
just that round round ago.
They call a timeout as soon as they go for this more aggressive line where, you know,
Barry will offer his two cents, maybe dial them back a bit.
You know, the things that they've been doing on the CT side so far have been working splendidly,
You know, allow story the time to get that alt-pick, and FlyQuest are going to be left with very few answers when it comes to a lot of these mid-round decisions.
No in-game leader wants to operate, always being in the 4 vs 5.
But they take that moment.
FlyQuest...
May be the biggest team in Australia.
But I...
Shut it to think that they could be dismantled by so after this three and
zero start this one round where they're able to dispel that aggression get out a
bit more stride to their step. It might be Elias is trying to make the play back
to his apartments he's gotten in very quickly there's been no contest from
saw this time over outside about one two man push apartments has been free
real estate for FlyQuest. Whether they can do anything with that real
state is a different matter all together.
Raikos will maintain slower pace, they will not be speeding up and accelerating.
And with the Alicera being prioritized, of course you understand that, right?
You want to give him time to make a pick happen, you want to give him time to work these angles,
but you also let Story do the same.
And he's found the shot, might not have found the kill, but it's already somewhat
incapacitated on paper, your best player.
He's also real positioned though, so Arches could be a focus.
Dex slide tries to poke and prod into short, but Murus is the one who's manning the hell
not long.
That's where the duel might come through.
But Alistair is just waiting for the repeat, waiting for Murus to try and go for information.
It seems inevitable, but it will come through with a flashbang.
Alistair gets that first kill, and now it's time to see what Alistair says in mind.
The archers play coming forward, Ujix pushing in, Lealus trying to defend, Dex slide
gets the one in the slide, Ujix is all alone.
a flash forward and try to take the fight to them before they can push through Dexter will punish.
That is fantastic patience, especially from Alistair in that moment.
So many grenades throw it over towards Short, a Molotov first and a flash, you know, from...
if you're flying blind on the side of FlyQuest, you could fully have anticipated that they may be
trying to retake brackets and aggress through Short. And by Alistair holding onto that position,
Sol were really trying to play this mind game where they may be expected FlyQuest to have all
attention's raised to short specifically. Amidar is wanting to get that probe, get it
get a shot in the back of the head and then fall back. It's that first domino to fall.
So by FlyQuest playing it patient, not fighting down so heavily on that micro fake that saw
through their way, they pick apart that a defense. And it's even more fun because when
you consider how long it took, Alistair might have even been expecting Story to have
rotated back to Arches because that's been the place he's been going for.
And Story's having a great game. So if Alistair is feeling confident enough to say,
You know what screw it. I'm gonna challenge him directly in the head-to-head where he's speaking into me
That's exactly what you want to see from the man who's been having so much
Screwed in the other shoulders. Yeah, I
Think the the focus from Alistair already at the start of this tournament is looking quite lethal
I mean if this is the type of way he's gonna play consistently throughout and you know, hopefully we have many more rounds of fly-quest game play
Yeah, Steve can I think increases its lethality so much so
Once again, a passive approach here from S.O.A.L after that timeout, they have slowed things down considerably, but Flycruiser started to accelerate their own progress, doubling up inside of Oily, group up inside of that smoke inside of mid as well.
But with that Molotov, that's down.
S.O.A.L funneled back. He's not done.
He's trying to repeat back in the flashbang though forces him away. He's shipwalking!
Vexite punishes, spots out the second as well, and Aris Dosh's head is on the floor.
Maybe more to join it right there. Vexite adds muturis in it as well.
It's a nice collection of trophies and so I need to say they do not have the money to buy in the next round.
But is that going to be the call? Eujerks reveals position.
Vexite not done with his initial injuries. He wants four.
That's so much room. You'll hear the retreat of Eujerks as well.
the ball. And just like that.
They know that this round is
completely done just about how
much damage extra that they can
do to that economy of soul, like
you said, they do not have the
reserves available. But what a
fantastic move after the mall
top, maybe even anticipating that
reaggression in from story. The
flash was perfect. And story
story tried to call their bluff.
You know, he didn't think that
flash meant anything. It was
just simply to take that that
shooting. Especially with the timing being where it was in flyquests is the
first time they've got on a faster note right? Absolutely. They've been so slow.
The first contact when they've been taking it themselves has been coming in
around that 35-38 second mark. This was far before that so like I said he tries
to call that bluff but sometimes they hold all aces. And continuing the
amount of respect that they were they were giving in some of those earlier
duels where they knew they'd lost the advantage or they'd been taken off the
angle from story himself. Given the success he had earlier on, maybe feeling like he could
go for that peek, but it's so good to see FlyQuest adapt around a player that could have
been a massive problem in that round.
And as much as story is fantastic now, he's without the awe of you jerks, though, is happy
to come through and pick up a mantle. Finds in early on again that aggression attempt,
but this time it's in the very beginning of the round, Dexter however will find
more success and maybe more to it. Roman trying to trade but a flash from Alistair that was
preempted. Both lined his head. Still have Muteris locked out into the bombsite, but
FlyQuest are now more than comfortable to slow things down. Remember, Leaz is the
hidden agent. When will he wake up? Muteris, that's a good kill. Thanks to that man that's
probing and Alistair does find that trade on the bombsite, but with these smokes
that are down story playing around the edge of it. The Nate, he had to get away from it
and the spam from Alistair is right on point. A one-on-one now presented for this AWPer and
he's caught the take. Oh, he thought about it. He was going to take that risk, but something
or someone called him back. Now full on clutch where a rose dosha approaches through that
smoke and there's another one that Alistair can actually use to segment angles. He
has gotten so much information, he has time to reposition all the same.
He also has a molotov and a grenade. Now listen, the grenade might not be the
most useful but he's got the scope out turns away he's worried about a smoke
bush to come true but Aristo is covered you do it in his hand. The molly miss, the AWP makes the molly miss and now
Alistair might be missing shots but he knows it's all about the time and Aristo doesn't
have it molly on the ground. Tech nine in his hands. Alistair will be down but will they have died?
It'll be righted that Nick the Mortar has been missed from both sides. It's six to six.
Soar will be even but will that remain true in that second half? End things off what more could you
You once all are being challenged early on into the tournament. Narratives be damned.
But will their run be over here by FlyQuest? Let's find out as we head into the best run
around Utrecht's one set of utility.
Yeah, they weren't given the safety of playing an Australian team on their best map.
Not this time.
And there were fumbled mollies at the end of that half.
But all forgotten now that we're into this T side.
And I said, FlyQuest may have difficulties when we see them on CT.
Saw creeping those apartments, one player just making a bit of presence,
or it was those firing off these shots, and an immediate smoke that greets him.
But they're split 3-2 here on the side of FlyQuest.
It's not like this A bomb site is as reinforced as Saw would have had in their own pistol.
Saw might be looking back off of ahead of him, but he...
Oh my god! Look at that fadeaway shot!
Into his perfection!
Disgusting.
If you can have a player like this come alive on the CT side, all weaknesses will be shored.
Arasos knows that there's still a player to deal with Alistair right around the corner
and Inzi's cornering them off of Arches. Alistair, the sole defender, Lee has his corner and so is Arasos.
So, advantage maintained and information gained.
It's Dexter to now come through in the surprise. Only Roman left.
And he's got a lot to do.
Yeah, and immediately Saw tried to get something back as soon as they lost the player inside of middle.
Roman going the smoke and actually catching off Dexter.
He treated it like a wall and now Roman left in a clutch,
a Roman clutch for Saul.
This guy loves to pull these together
and it's another head ripped.
Vexite, late to make that rotation.
They had reinforcements here on the side of FlyQuest
but they rely on these doolies given to that young emerging
player out of the region.
But Roman has other suggestions.
It's those doolies though that catch him.
Aim a little too high on the side of Roman
and great patience behind the malt of Vexite not deterred.
A little bit humbling, I'm sure.
Right. I mean, Dexter turns around.
Understandably, he's worried about an archer's push
because they don't have that covered,
and then he doesn't hear anything,
because obviously they're talking, they're chattering.
Man just comes up behind him, dongs him on the head,
picks up his USB, kills his teammate,
uses his incendiary to court on all Vexite then.
God.
That is a scary man in a clutch that is Roman for those a great start to the pistol for for fly quest
I mean they they understood as well as soon as they got that pick still to play defensive and not make any sort of rash
Decisions even those B site players refuse to investigate the B bombsite just in case it was a lurker around
They know so like to stop freeze and wait for continued aggression when they lose that opening man
I mean even honestly didn't actually drop down from balcony at any point even despite so much early pressure
pressure but that pressure has taken Dexter early on but now I'm a bit more exposed in the
fruit looking a little bit more easy to eat so is feeling hungry.
Yeah and immediately pouncing but a great set of flashes but they're not able to capitalise
but there's a gun relinquished to the control of the T's as well as the bombsite itself.
They may have come away with that pistol but they even lose ins around the edge of
the smoke the aggression into into church as well. It's not as though there are
many safe havens, flyquests off of that, that one opening pick and that all just comes
down to a malltough that Dexter has misread in that he thought it would give him actually
the safety around that half wall instead. So just come right back in with this four spy.
It's also, I mean, you just guns it for church immediately. Inns was not ready for that at
all. This is the problem with it, you know, getting your force anti force by is right.
I think it's one of the hardest things to do as a team that isn't playing many
officials like you know when you're looking at fly quests a lot of these gun rounds will look complete to you very often
But anti-force flies even if you're in scrims even if you're going up against the best teams in the world a
Lot of the time people aren't trying as hard or maybe they're trying their own specific thing
Maybe they're not necessarily going for full strats
They let things get a bit more buggy because you've got an entire day of scrims
You don't every single round to be draining you like that, right?
So getting anti-force by experience really only comes from officials to get it effectively
And that is definitely something with like West fall short on you can sort of see it coming out right there
And it's not even like what happened in that round was exactly how so I'd planned it
You know that just able to get you tricks ahead of the Molotov and he took a peek and Dexter's head was right there
So why not click it?
well
So by Braliste, he's been taken out of Egypt via some all talk to do it
But at least Dexter's been able to trade and fortunately MP9's are wielded by both teams
So ours Dosh is happy to do this
That's a great opening to U-Tilt set. Molly straight into HE, Alistair just wanted a quick peek and instead he doesn't even really get to see anybody.
I think they might have spotted Vex right there, but yeah.
Likewise as calling over more of a B site, Lean. Just want to get something out of these four spot weapons, but yeah.
If Alistair wasn't able to find the kill over there and distract the Dexter, it becomes a whole lot more difficult.
still. Flashers out, Ujerks will be able to fade away. Saw that very little risk, especially
with Vexxide eliminated.
Ins is still playing around the edge of that smoke, but it just simply not to be. That's
a little unfortunate for FlyQuest. Sall got caught by their own Flash trying to entry
the B bomb site. They have one that was actually primed from CT in Ins's possession
that was setting up so that Vexxide could take a favorable set of duals towards the
mouth of B. But simply because there was a team Flash, Sall hadn't rounded that
corner just yet sometimes it is the little things but serendipity yeah what
happens happens and what isn't happening right now is flyquests being able to
convert off in that pistol round you're gonna end up looking at them being down
realistically seven to nine I'm then there's the entire conversation of well
one gun round at seven to eleven you basically have two more rounds that
you can lose in terms of real gun rounds in the game if that ends up
being the case. So you better start thinking. And one of the problems is that Alice is doing
pretty well, sure, but we aren't seeing the kind of huge performance from Inns that at
this point, FlyQuest have come to rely on and it's not reasonable to rely on it every
single time. But then it always feels like FlyQuest might end up with one player who's
kind of not doing too hot right now. It's Leiaz, two and eight. He's had his facial
opportunities in the first half as well. But on the CT side, we're going to see
this being magnified more and more. As much as Alastaz had a few good moments with the
AWP as well, I can't see him getting the same sort of impact that Story did.
Yeah, to be fair, Leaz was having a rough go of things from the apartments, either
meeting the Op of Story or just ending up in this like awkward fighting on the edge
of corners, spam battles. You know, even though he had chances, they weren't always the,
you know, they weren't ripe for the picking, so to speak. Yeah, definitely some challenges
I had here for FlyQuest. They were able to salvage together, I mean, three gun rounds
on that T side, and sure, there was a little sporadic, and there was always chances, I
think, for us all to come back into those rounds, but they were very quickly dispelled
by either players like Vexite or Alistair in the way that they were playing, either
aggressive or with that Alistair patience. But are we going to see that, you know,
the bravery of Alistair that I think FlyQuest have come to, I guess, stylistically revolve around in a certain degree.
You know, I personally, you know, watching FlyQuest as they've developed Alistair at times maybe needed to stop being so aggressive
and maybe they've had conversations about that.
But he is a guy that, you know, when they go domestic and, you know, when they're fighting other teams within the region,
You can get away with plays like that and you know you almost want to have that same level of confidence that oh, yeah
European opposition it's gonna be fine
Yeah, I'm especially as an offer. Yeah, and especially because he he can be and has been fast when he goes for picks like that
but something about that transition has been difficult for him and
You know that is more I guess easily expressed when you're on on the the T side or actually no rather
Sorry, when you're on the CT side where you've got these many different openers that you can go for where players might be just going automatic with their utility
It could be quite simple to catch up on with a grenade or just maybe not expecting an all-brown recorder expecting a rifle instead
I think we have a bit of a tech issue at the moment and it will
Slow the progress of this best of one, but today has actually been quite a
for two inches yes I'll take ones we generally you know expecting our you
iron out a crease or two always a little bit of something but right now the only
creases we see are in gameplay which to be fair might be the worst time yeah
we are fighting to see who got the most round as a losing team in the opening
games here the winners match it is as close as can be likewise of course not
coming in with a lot just what little they say in that prior round and their
Groups up heavy, but even that team kills thrown in the mix. They're just so heavily clustered
They fall right into the clutches of a saw that were ready to greet them with open arms. I
Just hope you can laugh it off. I know it because it is insignificant right?
It really doesn't matter sure the minus $300 whatever who cares
You laugh it off this might end up being the exact kind of morale turn around round that you sort of want
Especially next time I'm getting killed up to your nose. It's okay
Yeah, it's not like these players are the healthiest so that yes, you could have still been some some threat to so I
Think they're happy that they had all their guns at the ready to to meet this contact play
And look at the end of the day no matter what we might have said about fly quest their firepower
No matter how much I might have appreciated the mustachio men's performances in that first map
So is a giant my comparison. Yeah, right?
Soar has been a staple of Europe, no matter what lineup it is, no matter who it is,
it's always Murus and Roman corralling together a couple of youngsters and making it work,
and right now they've found the right mix.
New Jerk Salt has been eliminated from that mix.
Can they still bake a cake without one of your main eggs?
Yeah, aggressive B side utility there from FlyQuest.
They take deep control already, and so now with that opener,
they're going to be comfortable in leaving Dexter.
And looking for more, you know, Saul are very infrequently just going to abandon you jerks
But now that he's gone the reaction is through brackets and fly quest to have the right read on this
Both of should be flushing out Lee as he's already used all his utility
So it's down the story who's found vex site still
Delayed by an incendiary. It's not quite a last much longer
So I've plenty of time to make a move and arrows doors. She's moved on to Lee as a space is however
That is now back into it farmers dust back into coal
But he's only good for the double a two one two a retake to be taken and Alistair in position to look for that first shot
Story though playing up top might not be expecting the flank to be this soon
He will not be dropping down that would be a surefire giveaway, but now needs a no stop
No, it's just quick, but man. He is so fast Dexter
Left alone HB not on his side has got offensive utility
But he did not deploy it an impossible crossfire to move boss, but he spots out the elbow
He gets the first a Molly deployed a grenade to the feet new rule should be low, but he's
Dexter has it and onto the ball he goes and it's the in-game leaders after Duke it out for this fight for this round
I mean fantastic work there from Dexter taking that elevation getting an angle advantage over story and then just
perfect set of you till you know, he's eliminating all these close angles and funneling
Nuderus into a position where the pre-aim is perfect from Dexter and
Story wasn't expecting him to already be that close to the carp
Which is why he's got that elbow exposed with a dexterous happens to be faster
Maybe stories is right in there. Hey Alice is up top if he if Dexter was gonna be there
He's heard me drop down. He'd want to trade me anything like that Dexter stay patient
He takes his time the 1v2 and it really does pay off
That's an excellent round to be finding even if your economy is not going to be doing too great after that one
You at least give yourself some breathing room
To try and get back into yeah
I mean how do you how do you not made his way up short as quickly as that?
You know, there's this kind of no chance that
Dexter could have been in that position. So yeah, I mean right on the money
And they are going to be
Pretty saddened about how that round ended up developing you know in skating that double in the bomb side
Of course gives the the round some legs there. They're on the side of fly quest
But still a two-on-one where they've got pick control and a story that's that's caught out this crazy flank timing
Even when he puts himself in a compromised position story can be so so very good at bailing himself out
Not that time. Yeah, clearly not
And listen, this was always why Dexter reuniting with the Aussies was always going to be a threat
You know people always talked about him as being the fragging in-game leader and you know
He had glimpses when he was in Europe as well
He still had maps where he would actually do quite a lot when we we compare other in-game leaders within the region
But then the the reemergence into Australia. I mean he does
He does find his kills
But you want a level of veterans see alongside as well. You can't go across the pond and
Bring only the strategies or mindset that can be tough to implement when you're the only one trying to push for that
Go show them hands. Yeah, and he's got them
Probably real vascular as well. It looks like he hits a gym. I
Appreciate that I struggle with that. I'll be honest right I I try really hard
But then it's like oh well you've got an event and this time's only oh well
I guess I can't gym anymore, but yes you can
There's always time to be healthy. Yes, and right now Dexter on the server is showing us just that
Yeah, these boys professionals have been very good at increasing the level of activity because I think we're seeing quite a few
Players that hit the gym do quite well when we get to events. So about leap releasing in Dorfins or something
I don't really get it
Now Endorphins are the ones you release when you win though.
Nothing quite like it and both of these teams are really, really wanting those Endorphins right now.
Things are tight and I don't just mean in the rounds, I also mean in FlyQuest's money.
A farmer to an MP9 out, but at least Alice's op was saved from the previous round dexter's been able to give that one over.
He needs to make it work now though.
I think there might have been a discussion
You know whether or not Seoul start to target players be highlighted Lee as as his player that has
Struggle to find kills so far in this map, and it's not because of the difficulties he's had on CT side just yet
But there can be conversations when you are in a rut. How do you get yourself out of it?
Do Seoul look to capitalize on maybe an underperforming Lee as
You've got a full build of utility on Vexar on the B bomb site, so he's not going to be the one to rotate.
Alistar's pretty competitive. You're not going to get rotations here.
These three players on the A bomb site need to be the ones finding a kill.
And they're not going to be aggressive. They don't have the utility to try and go for it, but the time is running down low.
Saw is hoping for that aggression, but FlyQuest have shown that they are patient in the clock, if nothing else.
Dexter has a really clear spawn either, so it's gonna really sow a lot of doubt into those D players, and there might be just a weird timing, yeah, Dexter goes back to look spawn, but it's only now that Muterus has permeated into the arches, saw it's getting short, and it's a great splash from Vexite.
The Astila top of this box, it's in just making all attention, and so they will be none the wiser to his elevated angle.
Uterus too late to activate in from those archers, one already skirted on by.
And FlyQuest will shut down what was chalked up to be a very late finish by the Portuguese.
And that's the advantage of being so confident in your late round play and your individuals,
because you just see Alistair's holding on to the B bomb site.
Sure, he might miss, or sure, whatever, it might be.
The one thing you can never criticise this team for is not having trust in their teammates.
They have full faith in that.
Short Dexter misses a timing maybe, but that's where that flashbang comes out.
Inns is doing so well, holds on late round, so has already used most of the utility.
They don't have the flashes to scale on the bomb set either.
And now you're suddenly 9-9, you're the ones who are strapped for cash.
You're the ones who are on tight on funds.
But Ujix has done some of his best work in those situations.
All revealed but do they know it's a secondary Dexter the one who has his
hands on it. Alistair yet to show his own off. Yeah a bit of a feign. As long as
Alistair is taking any significant space with his AWP, starting to progress up
through short and with Baristos sitting around those angles you know kind of
akin to what was happening on the side of Saul with how aggressive story was
being. Alistair has denied a lot of space this reaggro into the banana is
He's great though, U-turns, he's ahead of the Molotov, but he eats the Flash, and Dexter will happily take that one.
It's Vex'ai that's lingering though, as they're continuing the swing, but it's the double trade right back from S.O.L.
Very quick rotation, Album in's and he finds a perfect timing.
Story did not have his gun prepared, they're sitting on low health, and a rose dosh.
He's to relink some help, but he's caught Alistair while in transition, for the bomb at the feet of Inz now.
And then he's gonna keep on peeking. He's gonna keep on asserting himself three kills for the round
But really it's Dexter and Vexite who felt like they wanted for fly quest
Beautiful training coming through there Dexter getting the first but then Vexite continuing to fight again and again
Sure, it's a two for two, but it inches so fast on that rotate and
Where you said maybe the CT side play is the question so far it has really been looking a okay
Okay, you can tell FlyQuest, one of the advantages of having so much time between events for them
is the fact that you get a lot more time to rehearse, to study, to readjust, and considering
from all of their commensals over the past few months, they knew they had to, and looks
like it might be worth it.
Yeah, gotta say that second kill from Vexxite was disgusting as well.
The round was not exactly comfortable for either team, the timings were weird, but
so now with Tech9 trying to just scale quickly, it's Alistair with the AWP and they
don't have support from Long as well.
They can get wrapped, but it's all on timings.
It's distance with that Tech 9 meter
is struggling to kill Alistair.
They've lost control of this A bomb site, three on three.
They're still ahead of these folks.
They're fighting in for brackets,
a Rostosh running straight through it.
They have not prioritized getting that bomb down.
These rotates are here.
They blow the smoke right open.
These awkward looking rounds from FlyQuest,
they have dispelled another.
And as much as you might be haunted
by the spectra of the half by Ulossu,
this is the one that matters.
they're not able to get the bomb probably not able to get that extra money and
you're able to recover the AWP. Two players alive is never enough but you know
what if one of them is the AWP it really does make it a little bit more
stomachable. And also for Saw you have to keep this in mind. There is gonna be a
point where they start to scratch their heads maybe a little bit more they
start to think man it's a B01 dammit we know we've been upset before. We lost
to Encilio a couple of months ago what's going on over here is this
happening all over. Yeah even you know coming away from the win on Nuke you
know not satisfied knowing that they they struggled on that map in separate
instances as well a complacent team perhaps. And that is something they just
cannot afford to be when they know it. Running out of flashes I saw and there's
a minute and twenty on the clock watch out for these dry peaks and Roman is
trying to go in for them traded out too quickly. Lias make sure work of it
Deploys the smoke early on. The CTs are looking to reinforce. Dexlight will be starting to rotate over, but maybe Saw has read into it.
How often do you look to Roman as that guy that goes in for entries? You know, reading the nameplaces as important.
FlyQuest are continuing to re-aggress, and with the information that they gather, it is not as though they are flying blind.
They do have some presence over towards his B-bombslide. I was timely smoke, Amaltov down too, but Alistair, he's continuing to probe.
Oh, he doesn't round that corner. Arrozdoche is waiting so patiently for that time to strike,
but Thor caught behind Util, and now Arrozdoche finding that AWP.
He's just trying to find a path back for Thor into this round.
There still isn't a call, but there's Alistair moving back into it. That re-aggression was crucial.
Thor can no longer make noise in between these seconds left.
That means that the FlyQuest has such a massive advantage.
Alistair's even trying to bait out for Leia.
Now they decide to settle for a crossfire instead.
All pressure coming in from short.
Alistair watches down and he gets the first.
Leia's docks down.
gets himself a second, and now in the one and one of the bombs,
iMutress has a chance to do what Roman could not,
but he doesn't have the HP to do it with.
Just enough time to plant the bomb,
Dex and Vexlight in hot pursuit,
and Mutress's feet are on the fire.
They know he has to be trapped inside of this fight,
they got there to short so quickly,
the AWP, and then the immediate switch back to that AK,
he's trying to bait out, like,
they have to go for a double swing in some capacity,
but even with the backwards position in the site,
it's not as though Vexlight is going to be at a disadvantage
on the dual. A 12th round here for FlyQuest and where Saul may be caught in the mind of
two years ago. These cores fought against each other and we demolished them. A rose-toche,
fantastic work all throughout. It's not like the Australians could hold a candle to them.
But this FlyQuest team is far different in their temperament, in their control and
in their trust, in their setups. Right now the CT side is all about setups and they are
doing a fantastic job of converting. Even when we're talking about liabilities on the
server, when we're talking about the underperformance of Lee as he is getting his kills when it
comes to the defense of this A bomb site.
And Alistar as well, he might have only gotten two kills on the CT side. He might have
been some of the most important decks and now trades one for one. The flames will
do what the bullets could not. But little do they know, that side is right behind.
He's right behind the smoke. He wants to get ahead of it.
More damage through it.
Vex, that leaves.
But for how long?
It's awkward here for FlyQuest, even, as well.
It's not like they have good positions
inside the apartments or anything from short.
You know, for them, they're trying to feign and bluff
and puff their chest out that there is a secondary player
outside of the one that's already fallen.
The great boost, though, implemented by FlyQuest.
Just around that smoke, Roman just
trying to get some extra space so that they can burst
B that comes down to three here for the Portuguese.
FlyQuest could already be looking to cause
what is our first upset here in ESL Challenger, Atlanta.
Still one more round to get past it'll be toughings.
Trave's out one, but he needs more.
His company will be so far in assisting him
and he just can't find it.
A full two on two, a smoke for CT ready.
This is not going to be easy saw.
Planting, smoke sources slightly delayed,
so you've got extra time on it and it's deep
so that grenade doesn't pop it open either.
It's Alistair to take charge and he has done so!
Mewter is down and Aras Dosh leading the server,
only behind Dexter, but he needs to do a little bit more.
Two kills to just keep themselves alive,
Aras Dosh is asked for good angle to be holding down.
Alistair will not be getting aggressive.
That's what he's banking on, a flash forward.
Alistair's position revealed.
He needs to go for the trade, running on the bullets!
Alistair with the AK will take it!
And FlyQuest on 13 will take down Saw.
And it is with an open fist that FlyQuest
answered back against the Portuguese.
They find their way all the way through Group A,
and they get to enjoy a beautiful day in Atlanta
as well, all to boot.
The Australians are back, and Saw are really saddened by it.
And they don't know what hit them right there.
Alisson Company is coming through so many good calls,
so many great moments, and it all comes off the back of,
Like you said, really good teamplay. This is not a one-man carry performance. It's not a 2.6 over men's.
I mean, just fantastic work throughout. Even when, you know, players are struggling to get consistency.
Again, they just fall back on what has worked in their preparations ahead of this tournament.
I really do think it was just this stylistic clash where, so we're not quite ready with what FlyQuest were ready to bring to the table.
But we're ready to throw over to the desk.
They did that. They threw over to the desk and there was a bit of a push and a pull and a roll over there from FlyQuest.
I am shocked. I mean, we had all sort of put so on this pedestal. They have now fallen down into the lower bracket of this tournament.
Unexpected, of course, they'll be fighting for their lives tomorrow.
The FlyQuest, a team that's coming into this,
he said, look shaky, we were concerned.
How? At the start of today,
you all are on this guest talking about
who should be replaced in the team,
and now they are, they're in the standing finals.
Yeah, no, I mean, hey, look.
Not you, you don't have to say that.
I didn't say that.
Yeah, FlyQuest was fair enough.
Sorry, Alan.
You are, I mean, it's FlyQuest in the top three
right now, and I was saying they're leaning
in the top three, and they might be better
than what big is bringing to the table today,
and I mean, we don't know that yet.
I mean obviously we still have to wait for the playoffs to start before we can start making those conclusions
But honestly FlyQuest impressed me in that one a lot
I didn't think they had what it takes
But I mean there were a couple of key rounds
So we'll probably get them later that it felt like they just kind of took over this the
Play completely. I feel like the difference maker is Alistair
When he is online and when he is performing
They are just a better team and I do think that this is what a lot of the criticism aimed at FlyQuest
coming into this was was that Alistair wasn't really they changed the game here though. He
was definitely here for this one. Yeah, there were a couple rounds that he seemed like a
little bit shaky, like it's still like on some clutch moments that could have gone in their
favor a little bit easier if he maybe calmed down just a little bit. But still when he
was playing with the full five with the full four, it felt like he was able to
execute onto the site, especially that last round. He was able to just go completely
into that b-site, kind of disrupt whatever Saw was thinking about trying to do for that
last round, that last possible round that they could have had.
And I'm very impressed by Alistair.
I love like-west, but I do know that there are some limitations to a lot of their skills,
but they really impressed me this game.
I tell you what, let's hear how our first semi-finalist here at ESL Challenger Atlanta
are feeling.
How are you feeling?
First semi-finalist at ESL Challenger Atlanta.
Yeah, it feels good.
Feels great.
You love to see it six rounds in a row on inferno to close that right to take it to map point take it over the line
What clicked what settled in against all I?
Think we're just playing our own game just taking the space and making it difficult for them to play and yeah
I don't know I think everyone was just hitting the right shots and had a lot of composure and the right moments
So that that's what mattered the most you've hit all the tropes there. You've got a day off now. What are you gonna be doing with that?
Be really healthy you go to the gym the spa get a
facial yeah I think well deserved well earned there well congratulations on the
win look forward to seeing you Sunday man back to you Sam thank you so much Mike
okay let's talk about what they did right there and how they were able to
top all the Portuguese yeah I mean I felt like they obviously weren't playing
like they were afraid at all like it they were right into the face of saw
round after round I think it was a lot of individual efforts even though like
the casters at Umi was talking about you know it felt like it was a
contribution from everyone. It was just a lot of individual plays that were coming through and you see
looking at the scoreboard. Dexter, IGL, 18 and 15 and on top of it all he had a really important
clutch and we're probably going to see it after but I have to talk about it now because round
number 17 you know Dexter was a beautiful 1v2 they came through. It just story wasn't aware
of the fact that he was over at short and Dexter gets the first and then immediately
swings around. We might even see it here coming through. It was way very back and forth in
this round and even you see this right before that in skits that important 2k to set up Dexter for that final blow
After story whose outlook can come very crisp. I would say throughout the entire map
But here it is Dexter great utility usage had it as disposal may put so much pressure on the last player alive there for soft
And well, I mean you saw the result
It was a critical round at a moment where the the match could have gone other way, right?
Yeah, and I really feel like on their t-side too. It was kind of still either any teams
either anyone's game, especially like it was like 3-3-3, but I feel like once
FlyQuest really started to speed up their T side, they were able to really take Saw
off of the hinges. Like, they saw at first they were taking a lot of space on
banana, but once FlyQuest got there quick, started executing top banana a
little bit quicker, they learned that they needed to probably step back so
they don't lose all their players at the first part of the round, because
when you have more players on the CT side, it's a little bit easier, obviously,
And FlyQuest did perfectly there and obviously Dexter was a really great, really great top
friger this year.
Absolutely. I mean Dexter has had his success at Challenges before. I'm thinking a couple
years back actually when he was with Mous and his early days in 2022 and he pushed
them into the playoffs. They didn't end up making it to the Grand Finals but they
still had a very impressive performance and now he's here again putting on an impressive
stuff and I do have to criticize Saul a little bit though. I think that they
made a mistake in one round in particular. Muterus gets into arch right and then
They just don't do anything with that. No one was there.
They had three players executing on the A.
Instead of calling a mid-round saying,
whoa, I have all this space.
Maybe we should readjust here and pull back
and perhaps pinch towards the B site.
They just go and execute on to A.
Muterus doesn't get used at all.
He's literally standing there, the last one alive,
even though his positioning was the strongest in the round.
So that was a tough one to watch for Son.
It wasn't the only moment where I felt like
their mid-rounding was a little lacking.
Let's pull up your US Air Force, aim high.
Just to show the impact that we brought it right back
to the beginning there though.
But talking about Alistair and him being able to go toe-to-toe with story from soul
Yeah, and I feel like it honestly if I look at the better opera in the series
I probably lean story it just felt like he was getting some better shots and more impactful ones with the AWP
But Alistair was able to despite the fact that his op wasn't necessarily clicking
He's getting frags on pistol rounds finding that last round he actually got it off
I picked up the rifle and clutched it out right that apples was talking about but overall like I feel like Alistair has
managed to, despite his struggles with AWPing lately, still step up his game and help his team.
Also, he's not to mention very strong in terms of his flashes. He's got 0.13, I believe, flash assist over the last three months,
which is very, very strong for any player really. So he's been able to do that.
I think most AWPers kind of have that
requirement to support with utility, and I think Alistar is doing that, but he also needs to be AWPing a little better.
Being the bottom-rated player on his team is a little bit tough,
But at least here in Challenger he stepped up to the plate when he's been needed
I think it's a process for him to because half almost half of his kills were with pistols
Yeah, and while like that's not great. Obviously you are the primary offer on your team
It's getting better than it was before like obviously he performed a lot better than we thought he was going to
he was the player to watch for us because we wanted to see what he could do and
Obviously he was able to do what he did and he was able to kind of dismantle a couple of rounds and yeah
maybe not get the clutches that we hoped that flight was good of, but I feel like he showed
up when he was really needed.
So we have our first semi-finals, it is the Australian boys, but hear me out, it is a
North American organization, so are you claiming this one?
Because you have a tendency to do that, yes.
Sure.
So we have an American in the semi-finals for ESL Challenger Atlanta.
Let's find out who else will be joining them because coming up next we have another
winners match. M80 vs Big, could we have two NA teams? This is ridiculous that I'm trying
to play this with the RGZ and NA. But here we have two NA organisations claiming those
spots. We will find a quick break for you to get refreshed, get ready, and when we
return the Germans take on the X
Russian pilots, first, second, second.
Together, one even.
Ah!
To close in.
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The current state of our team is unfortunately very inconsistent.
We have high potential to beat, I would say, consistently top ten teams.
But to be fair, I think we worked really hard.
I think we are one of the teams which work the most, I would say.
And therefore I think we definitely have the potential to work people off, I would
say.
But work doesn't mean you achieve.
So this is something we definitely try to work on, that we achieve also, what we definitely
have improved on or worked on.
I can only speak about myself, seeing myself here on Atlanta and also on the stage, it's
a flashback to all these events we have played in the recent past, like a few years
ago which were smaller tournaments, but also they put me back to the ground, you know,
like this is something where we grew up with.
So this is something I will definitely look on, but I will bring the positivity,
It doesn't matter how it will work out because as I said we work hard and this is something
now we can show and can just leave our feelings alone and just do what we can do best and
this is playing Counter-Strike.
Welcome back to ESL Challenger Atlanta, our final best of one of the day is here.
It is a winners' battle between the German big and the North American M80.
This is the fight of the ages because on M80, there are a couple of Germans as well.
So this is going to feel a little bit fun because it's almost like a little bit of a,
you know, you're fighting your countrymen who have decided to leave and jump on that
American ship.
Yeah, they made the right choice by jumping on the M80 roster, right?
So yeah.
No, it's...
Sin and Slacks have been absolutely incredible additions for M80s.
Had a lot of discipline.
Sin's calling has really elevated their game.
I thought when Manx kind of stepped away from the roster that would be more trouble for M80
But this goes back to my point from before where they have amazing scouting and they brought sin in who was overlooked
I would say on the European side and has absolutely been a stunner for M80
So it's really great to see on their side and I'm personally thinking like M80 is hitting their stride
They haven't hit their ceiling yet and they're a team that could easily threaten against teams like big any other day of the week
This is going to be like a biased cast is on the disc the whole way through isn't it absolutely because I mean even if I made
He lose this a matchup that just means we get to see them more tomorrow. So that is true. I
Hate Americans sometimes
Here we are obviously you saw that this is a winners
Winners battle and what happens is if you win this particular best of one you go all the way through to the same
you get Saturday off. There is an advantage to that. It gives you a little bit more time to prep.
It gives you a little bit more time to rest because these days are very, very long.
And obviously you're playing less games, but you're far closer to the trophy.
Yeah, absolutely. I think it's a key for both teams, right?
And you were hearing them talk about on the big side.
You know, inconsistency, they're unable to find that rhythm
and winning matches on a regular basis against teams.
They feel like they went against. We already talked about that.
You know in pro league and recent results actually more so that they weren't getting the wins that they were expected to find so
Yeah, I mean it'll be a test for big to see if they can get that consistency and for m80 to show
If they can also on a regular basis find wins against teams that are considered at the top of counter strike
Yes, so let's be frank and not mess this around
M80 did not look convincing against wildcard big on the other hand looked extremely convincing in their first game
that is yeah fair but I feel like you put two North American teams next to each
other playing against each other it is going to be a North American matchup you
were talking about it literally in the green room you're like oh it's totally
good they may come back they may come back because even if it's 11 to 5 there
is always still a chance and you don't see that more often than you do in
North America absolutely yeah and I think what to your points I'm I think
Audic is a much lower rated team than wild card in my mind anyway I feel
like Wildcard is a notch above Audic right now.
So that's why you saw them give Emady a little more trouble.
But I felt like all the tests that Emady were put up,
you know, a little bit of adversity mid-round,
or I should say mid-game, and Lake, you know,
seeing if he can still frag out on land,
which he absolutely did,
and Swisher even having some really good rounds.
And I think Swisher's an important piece
to bring up on Emady,
because sometimes you might look at his stats and be like,
well, what is Swisher bringing to this team?
Even though like we were once touting him
as a Starfrager,
which I still think he has the potential to be,
but the thing is right now,
He's embracing a different role on the team supporting wherever you can playing the tough spots on the maps and also
He's a positive influence all the time. He's that's what his teammates love and they love to play with switcher
He's a hard worker. He's positive and he always keeps them pumped up
So it's the intangibles that switcher brings to the squad as well that really gels the whole squad together
Let's talk a bit more about MAD but first it's here from them themselves
I'm here with sin ahead of his matchup against big
This is the first time you've played big since leaving the organization. It's a little something extra in this for you
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, it's been a long time to it feels like an eternity for me a new environment for me
I'm the I gel in this team and just them meeting my old
teammates and Tufts and Crembo and my old organization of course which gave me like the step into process and I'm here to beat them
It'll be them indeed now
It does feel like maybe some of you exiting big was
Conversations about philosophy what you want to do what the direction was who was gonna lead it was gonna take the helm
They've started to maybe adapt to make some changes. Do you feel like you're going to show them how you should play CS?
I mean for sure, I have a lot more freedom on this team. I feel like a different player for sure.
Just also how I play with my teammates, it evolved a lot. Just another person to be honest.
And Tabsin in particular, right? Old teammate, old friend, mentor figure perhaps.
You want to show them what you're doing now?
Oh yeah, for sure. That will be the head-to-head, right? That is the IJ.
That will be the mind games on T-Site.
And yeah, just looking forward, he's a legend.
I grew up with his style of playing, his and Goffy's, you know?
Like, not always like, he didn't teach me like, step by step by step,
because I've been in the academy team, but he showed me like,
how to get better, how to evolve yourself.
And that was just my philosophy, which I guess I got from him.
And but now I'm here, now we are head-to-head, and I'm looking forward.
And I'm looking forward to seeing it. Good luck, man.
Thank you.
Back to you, Sam.
It is like the young part of one's left, you know, and this is his opportunity to come back and
turn to the dark side, slay his master, whatever.
North America, the dark side?
Yeah, I just got really dark red for a minute.
It's not, it's the other way around, but yeah, no, but really, like, if you look at it, you know,
biggest kind of the old garden, a lot of ways. Average age at 25.4, their youngest player is Crimbo at 22,
but everyone else is 24 or above, you have Capson 29, Searson 28, they've been around for a long time,
and Sin and Slacks are well Slacks at 25 but Sin in particular you know that young
Padawan like we're kind of looking to want to go dark side and light side young
Padawan coming over to M80 and just really showing what he was made of that
he wasn't given a chance to do when he was part of that roster. What do we
think about the the German imports on this M80 roster? German imports I
mean I like it I do enjoy it but I don't know I feel like even the
entire team really does add a lot of value to everyone. I feel like they
work a lot better together, honestly. Yeah, I think like it's easy to overlook
other players like I was looking to when you look at Slacksonson, how much they
brought to this team. It's immense. They're top-rated players for the squad over
the last three months, but you can't overlook a player like Wreck, for example,
who's oftentimes, again, similar to Swisher, you know, playing those tough
roles, but I've been watching him play throughout his career, during, through
advanced, moving up to ECL and even now at a tier one level. He's a small
player got a great mind on his shoulders and really can change the result of a
round in a way that you might not even notice sometimes he's just that player
that managed to slip in and find the right spots on the map. If people overlook
him a lot yeah because of Lake and Lake kind of how big of a star power that
Lake has and I feel like we can see him a lot more especially against big. Do
you not think that when you watched M80 up against Wildcard the moment that
wildcard to control the pace of the game and slowed it down. M80 struggled and didn't really know
what to do. Is that their kryptonite? Just control the pace. I don't know if I would say that the
slow play was the problem because at the beginning in the first seven rounds it actually was a lot
of slow play that M80 was going up against the wildcard and they were doing quite well for
themselves. They kept waiting out wildcard saying nope we're going to play the waiting game too,
we're going to make you guys guess when we're going to go as well. I think what happened was
one stand mixed it up and got them into a lull. They started to have a little bit of
trouble once then decided they were gonna go for that push and they get to that
aggressiveness. Let's find out how Tabsin feels about his young protege's and a
little bit of smack talk they were talking there in that pre-interview.
I'm sure he's got something to say Mike. I've got Tabsin up ahead of their
matchup against M80. Now does this one feel a little bit like the Padawan
coming back to match up against the Masters? Sin, your former protege in
the team perhaps now gone to find his own roster? I wouldn't say so. It's
It's just another game. We are good friends and finally we are meeting because they are
pretty good at the moment and I'm looking forward to just show what we are capable of as well
and hopefully we will be a better game.
You sure there's nothing extra in it with an old teammate on the other side?
Nothing, to be fair, nothing.
Alright, keeping it clean. How do you think you match up against them stylistically?
I think we are much really good. I think also it's a kind of domestic match up as
well. You know like they have two German players and I'm looking forward to how
they actually want to play against us you know how the mindset is going on and
it's kind of different as well if you play against German players but as I said
before I think they're really good at the moment and I'm just looking forward to
play against them also here in the stage because I think they will have many fans
as well so yeah I'm excited to play against them. Play against them play
against the crowd well good luck I'm excited to see it. Back to you Sam.
So he skirts at the question but I won't let you do that Apples how do
you think these two teams match up stylistically? So what I really think
is interesting about this is that it is like the new young players coming into the scene
on M80 and it's all the fresh minds that are like, ah, I haven't been playing Counter
Strike for 10 years. My brain is like, okay, right now, like mentally, they're not run
down. They're all good. But like, I'm not saying that big is, but I just think you're
playing-
I was like, you're just cool, everyone is old.
No, no, no, no, no. But I mean, I just think, I mean, you're doing the same
thing for 12 years. You're playing Counter Strike for so, so long. You have to be,
have to have a couple of ruts that you've gone into. Like, it's a little bit easier to get better
when you have less than 10,000 hours in the game. Once you're, you have all this muscle memory,
everything there, it's a little hard to shift and change your play style.
I actually argue that Lake is like that game changer right now with the aggressive style
that he employs, trying to get into the face of his opponents. And, you know, the Germans
on big, they tend to be more disciplined, more efficient in their play. Very typically
German I would say the way they like to play the game so that's the type of
upset style that I would say is gonna make a difference here for M80 and then
even Swisher as well I think he did a good job in that previous one of getting
into the faces of wild card and coming up with some big plays a key moment so
for me it's it's all about you know seeing if M80 can employ that tempered
aggressive style against the big roster that can really punish you if
you even make a single mistake I play to watch is on the screen right now
JDC he has been really outperforming on big we saw that in the first base
of one. He is fantastic. How does MAD shut him down? Yeah, that's it's not going to be
easy. It's funny, you know, JDC brought over with Searson onto this roster when they were
playing with zero zero nation. And I mean, obviously Searson might have even said, Hey,
this guy might be worth picking up and bringing over. And it was a great decision because
I think that he is certainly just similar to like, I'd say like someone who's going
to get into your face, maybe not as much, but very, very strong in terms of his fragging
and for the MAD side, it's going to be difficult. I think maybe a little bit
more patient play like we saw against Wildcard waiting for JDC to maybe try to make that
first move, shutting him out of the round and then you can go after the rest of the pieces.
Yeah, it's definitely going to be a lake versus JDC, two top fraggers, two top players that
we see a lot happening. I mean, they both had like not very contested first matches.
I mean, Wildcard did give Amity a little bit of trouble in the second half, but it
was overly easy for them from what I saw. Big, it was very easy for JDC. One of
their team. A lot of them were less than double digits for their frag count. JDC kind
of carried the entire team with 21. At that point it's a little bit easier when you have
one player that's just kind of going crazy, which is exactly what Lake has done in the
past. Yeah, I think Big was just completely mismatched. Like a complete mismatch against
Aulik as well, and JDC was able to farm them out. I mean, they're obviously growing
with him, Adi, but I think that Big is probably one of the best teams. Yeah, so there
we go. Let's find out how this plays out. T-Time, Yumi, are you on the side of the
Europeans or are you going with the X? I'm not. I'm not too surprised that the only person
who's right is the one with right in the name. Of course, the analysts don't listen to them
guys. They're NA biased. We all know that I'm Tate, I'm as much as you can see. Mark,
are you any biased? I kind of hate the only one for your. Listen to our broadcast. Listen,
listen. The problem is big themselves have recognized that they are in a rut. The integration
of rig on has not gone as swimmingly as they had hoped. Whether whether you want
Do you believe it or not? M80 have done a better job of adding a star rifler into their mix than Big themselves.
It is the young buck that has suddenly become the master, but M80, the master of their own fate here on Dust2.
And Starks is the one who's leading the charge, but Wreck is the one going down for it.
Crimbo takes him and he's looking for a re-peak. Of course Crimbo, the big man, the star who's supposed to be sort of taking over.
the back of the bomb site. It's
been just trying his best to
pin him against the wall, and
he'll finally get that kill, but
it's so labored and it takes so
long that big crowd is going to
be able to get to the top of
the bomb site. It's going to be
a lot of points placed on Ragon
in this pistol. He left B, but
he gets himself back in in time.
He loses the support of JDC, but
Rigo still fighting for the
back of this bomb site and
seems just trying his best to
pin him against the wall, and
And it takes so long that big could have already rotated MAD still slowing things down at the same time MAD have control of the entire map
Should they want to acquire it? Of course, they don't know that but
This one big have been playing bunched up both sides playing off of each other and
Cersen and Tapsin looking to get aggressive down middle Cersen has an old
Fold that's water slacks taking that first bullet position revealed and they should know that sin should be close behind
After having seen him initially in that shot
to the left. There's an
angle. You're going to see him
holding this one a lot with the
AWP as well. But why don't start
off early 30 seconds and maybe
is going to run out of time.
They're hoping that big will
bite, but with captain's
positioning, Daphson has full
clue of what's going on in the
B bomb said surgeon has no
reason to rotate. They don't
have time to have moved all the
way back. Daphson goes back to
the bomb site slacks and
the John for a backstab
surgeon is turned around and
the last two matches, and
it's not. They're not there
destination 10 seconds and
slacks is here because of
rotation. Oh I don't think
he's going to make it. He was
caught on short as he was
going up. I think there was a
bit of fumbled movement, but
it comes down to that content
killed there from slacks. They
knew they have to find that
final kill. Sin just not able
to get that timing right. It
was so damn close. M A D a
great reposition that fake
towards be big, fully bought
could have won that round. And one of the other cool things for me to also keep in mind is this is
last talked about but Slacks vs. Sursun is a very old rival. Oh yeah. In fact I mean you're going back
I remember 2019 I was casting ESL Meistershaft in the summers it was always alternate attacks
versus Sprout in the grand finals every single time Sprout had Sursun auto attacks at Slacks
and Slacks actually bested Sursun so many times until when it mattered the most.
December 2019, Slacks loses.
Big picks up, Sersen. Everyone forgets about Slacks.
He's been marked off. He tries drawing different teams.
He feels like he's been left behind.
And M80 is where he's found that second win.
America, the land of dreams, but Sersen wants to wake him up one more time.
Yeah, I love that angle for this particular matchup between the two AWPers
because Slacks was just left to just try and salvage,
You know a way back into his career and maybe it's been a great home for him
But you know big went to Searson not once but twice they cook him off the team
They went for other prospects and they bring him back so they can have a German Alper when slacks is just thinking
Come on man. I've been here all this time and I've been pretty damn good. I mean slacks poor guy
Even though she picked up on two from his feet
He's not the best of luck but neither has seen over here in this round and maybe
We're hoping for damage and let's be honest. They were hoping for a round. They were assuming damage, but so far assumptions and hope have all been dashed
Yeah, really nicely handled there by big getting a little bit aggressive
You know some presence towards those lower tunnels and then just continuing to pry into mid at differing times and catching several the M80 players off guard
Nice tempered way to approach this round even with the aggression
But you want these SMGs to farm up some cash or catch out players that have committed to that force by so maybe we'll have to bend the knee
It didn't get really much out of that secondary round. I just always find it so curious
You know we think about teams that that bring in star players rig on was I think in my opinion
It's supposed to be another star player that they out implement
But he's not in all the star positions, you know, he's given anchoring roles and sure on the tea sides
They'll look through them, but they have not done what other teams will in that, you know
You are stars to decide and you are starting tea sides as well
And it's such a stark contrast when you look over towards how Lake has been integrated, right?
Yeah, you mentioned this, but Lake's been given every single role that he wanted now obviously, you know
Vulcan has sort of talked about a little bit. Vulcan of course used to be Lake's former coach
She's talked a little bit about how oh well, you know
So, Lake's actually been modeling his game off of Malibu since the very beginning, sort of, it felt like.
So, it was a much more natural slot, but you can see the contrast in, hey, new guy, flashy, hot shot, right, Flurk.
Who's done better? It has to be said so far. It's like, but so far, Big's been doing better in this game.
It's wrecked a fall. Dabson Wildline comes through, and he wanted more, but that's where the big man, Lake, himself, will respond and maybe look for more.
around the corner goes at MP9. It has scuttled away to safety.
Yeah, they have to be very careful here, though.
They've gone for a very quick investment into the AWP,
but with Styrson missing that shot, he
has to seed that ground, a smoke that
is going to disrupt some of the long pressure here for M80,
but they slow down.
They even permeate right past it.
They got that CT smoke down as well,
but Styrson has struck in with that AWP.
And there is information here for M80 to play around,
but big are seeding the site so that M80 can play that man
down in the after plant.
The boost being prepped up, but the smokes run out on the other side.
Slacks as AWP is yet to find blood.
Bombing Flanter, the jumping MP9s will finally find it, but Swish has got the package down
and now Slacks looks to defend it.
JDC down and out as he rounds the corner.
It is thin from behind to come through with a double and now Surson left.
A man with question marks on his head, the Sun praise by himself.
But can he give us an answer, not in this round?
And Mady, bring it together in the two versus three.
Yeah, and immediate capitalization, you know, wreck was was willing to take the risk and journey out towards long and lake comes in right behind him to guarantee that trade. You could see that they weren't comfortable in the side of be continuing to fight for that long control, given that there was still SMG's in the mix as well.
Even if Searson wanted to be there as you know, on that long corner, just to sort of cover that fallback, he didn't find himself in that position quite quick enough. By the time that volley of utile comes up for M 80 there, they're able to break into the bomb site.
when they were down, they were certainly not out.
Fantastic run from Sin.
And that is the thing about Sin,
like it really does feel like he is a spiritual successor
for Tapsin, right?
Fragging IGEL, who's managed to set up people for success
who you might not expect it.
That sounds like Tapsin to me.
Rex though, always been a consistent man,
but right now too many men to deal with.
Crimbo will eliminate and Slax looks to cover
and cover he will.
Yeah, Lake as well, trying to probe in towards
the B side of things, Riggon finding him through the smoke,
barely got out towards those tunnels,
but they're finding kills
and they're just continuing to press a few
from Cripo getting one over at Longhouse.
Now it is the tunnels that are threatened.
That's a bad news eagle's life I've ever seen.
It is very much a flow state decision,
just, oh, I got a kill on the extremity.
They fight so early.
There's no way they can cover this in time
and MAD are prepped.
And it's such a, in my opinion,
an odd thing for for big in particular to do, you know, a team that are, I mean, habitually, one that converts advantages. But after they find openers, they still find themselves in a three versus three JDC.
B bomb site is occupied and Tapsin is cleared out middle. So MAD are on a timer 20 seconds by the time they start threatening this B site
GDC are in a turn from so many flashes, but they get caught by their own set of utile MAD a little labored on that trade
But this flank is just so damn quick and slacks just cannot get into the site in time
That's that bomb dropped
It's seen it left in the clutch and they know that he has to go into this plant
He is covered from both sides. It would have had to be a fantastic shot
But it is great pro activity from tabsin the in-game leader of big again JDC
Just so impressive though you had five flashes from MAD that they deploy over there while he solo anchoring with 22 seconds
That you're not expecting one flash sometimes at around four or five and JDC not only managed to dodge all of them
He takes advantage and gets a multi kill of theirs. Well, that is it's just really good stuff makes up for the fact
That we're gone loses the advantage early on and it is just setting up for Tapsons Frank as well a
a fantastic stuff on the anchor position.
Yeah, I also think that that might have been around where M80 have a bit of a read on some of the habits of big, you know, for them to have thrown some threatening you till over towards B.
I don't think they were expecting long to be covered off by two.
And maybe that timing is just slightly mismanaged from wreck because otherwise, you know, him sort of late challenging long dry is a little bit of a curious decision,
considering so often, you know, a lot of the aggression and these these hunting
kills are, I guess, funneled through Lake. M80 are gonna be hunting for some frags to
come through on Wreck and Swisher as well, though as much as we might be
talking about the victory of Lake Slacks and Slain, these are incredibly important
pieces, they're incredibly capable pieces as well. M80, however, fast up Catwalk is
the call and it is Crimbo to try to interrupt the flashes overhead, but he
He spots out the player coming down.
Slacks has found one, but JDC inserts his regain control
and stabilize the round one more time.
Crimbo may have let a player go past him once.
He will not let it happen twice and soon straight.
Leans it all though the round is honestly very expensive.
A big, they have the money to spend.
Yeah, I was just, I was so caught off guard by,
by Slacks actually getting that instant kill
into towards spawn, you know, jumping down tech nine,
the inaccuracies that come with it,
sure the the tech man can sort of give you kills in certain situations, but that
could have very quickly spiral off control. It wasn't as though MAD had
implemented a drop smoke as well to actually allow slacks to be a part of
the play. They actually wanted to fight that guy, so you'd see. Right back into
Rifeballs, RMAD slacks on the corner, and he'll be smoked off.
Seriously, being a Crestman, nobody hits the leg. Just a bit of a reminder.
Just a bit of a reminder. This is why I'm here. And your flight was only
two hours long. Yeah, really nice attempt and definitely capitalizing on a gap there
in the default for MAD. No one keeping tabs on whether that was a possibility. So bigger
already throwing in a couple of differing moves that actually could disrupt MAD and
how they see this, especially when you have that conversation about sin as this defector
to the MAD squad. I've no doubt he would have chosen to be here, but he has found
so much success in his new home hoping to continue it or honestly at this point
find it in this game though down four rounds and if you lose over here the
CTs can really get out of control it's a map that big really stake their claim
on from years ago and it feels like even if their ways have not been winning
every time they are very often defining on the map itself double smokes down
mid from M80 and big with 28 seconds deploy their incendiaries they've
still got that one crucial piece of utility left, but they don't know what's going on in the middle,
and they want to try and get out of sight line. Regan unsure as well, he's worried about a B split,
but it will be an A hit. Dabston lies in wait, a Molotov to flush him out of position,
he will look for the deal, but not find it. Cersen instead, combines with Crimbel,
and again the clock is against them. And Slacks will be forced to save,
but might not be given the option to. Yeah, this is another 20 second choice
here for MAD, whether it's on the pistol and the weird things that they're doing over there, or
you know, for them to collapse on B when JDC is still there, you know, they don't have the time
effectively to clear out Goose, especially when, you know, Searson is able to get that pick on
the cross as they're transitioning into the bombsite. It really does just alleviate the
extra manpower that MAD were really hoping that they could use to secure a plant.
It's been some nice shooting for Searson right off the rip with that AWP.
And at a certain point there will be questions and conversations about how do M80s shift their
game plan.
These late round finishes that they're maybe expecting could serve as some kind of vulnerability
or big over-rotating has not been fruitful so far.
And the thing about big has always been, look, they call the King of Tier 2 very often
I don't think that's entirely true given that they're silverware their trophy cabinet, but what has always been true is they are the gatekeepers to the top sure
It's never gonna be easy to move past big if you are going to have any holes big we'll find them there was a time
Right, let me be let me let me have some fun. Yeah, but the gatekeepers have found their keys again
Even if it is a dodgy lock
I'm gonna scale it off there and it was a tow truck to bring it in
The rig on, however, is...
I'm gonna bring this one in as well.
Comfortable spray down.
This is a good time.
Yeah, nothing all too threatening.
Throw in his way, dodging Util,
and then channel through a smoke.
Sin does catch Grimbo,
but as he gets his hands on this rifle,
he will very quickly lose it.
Tabsin there to secure the round.
But a fantastic hold there from Riggon.
And you can see he's yelling right at them,
thinking, you can't come into my bomb site.
Not like that, at least.
He's just turning a reminder over the Senate.
Bro, they chose a Swiss guy before you.
He's having a good time, and so I'll be right down on the server.
This was not one of the maps that really I think any of us expected would be one-sided,
but so far, Big has made it just that.
He just sees some of the chances that Searson is willing to take.
A smoke down mid, but he's spotted.
Slacks definitely knows he's round that corner, and Searson this time will not stick around.
Doesn't even rattle off a shot just knows that he's been face checked
They've breached along. It's a lot of given ground here for big
I'm they're looking to retake it in fact. Yeah three players ready. They've got the flashes on Sirson way past the smoke
Okay, the double flashbang to be count words. It really just depends on the timing. It's a fake initially
They're hoping it may be comes forward and aren't expecting it, but Sirson cannot put his up away
What's going to happen? Slacks is going to find the first. They continue to peek forward, but the flashes are now on Tapsen as well.
It needs to be a one-on-one and again.
Thurston will dominate.
Absolutely dominate that scope battle. And they're running straight away.
Trying to find a gap and there would be space to take.
Rigon had a lot of responsibilities as his team were fighting towards that long side. Amalto from the back of the side,
They know exactly where he is, but he gets that Molly down and then he cannot chase through it
How annoying is this big always have the perfect single and sendery ready right?
You look back that taft send and sendery on shot you look over with what Ragon just did over here
JDC's now been given space to rotate back to B as well
It's not a 20-second call
Might be even later than that. I mean they've realized what they're doing over here
But sin will not be relevant unless his rotators to be found JDC watches out. He's been spotted
They don't know about a double man setup, but they'll check it at least. JDC traded and the site has been taken by M80.
Tanza has six seconds when they start to punch in the digits, but Big still want to go for it.
Thurston had found sin.
There'd be value in saving this AWP. There'd be value in saving these guns.
It's not as if it's out of the realm of possibility that M80 starts to apply that pressure
and salvage what they can out of this half.
But Big are confident.
that man to lead the way,
Molotov he'll drop at the feet
of Wreck, he'll bypass it.
Searson gonna try and fight out,
but I mean just didn't have the help
and Squisher will cover up high all the same.
MADR back in it and this time
that late call does work out.
Yeah that long flashbang where
Tapsen ends up getting blinded
as well really did help them out massively.
If not for that, Slacks probably ends up
going down and sure there is an
of the end, but a lot easier to navigate a 4 and 4 than a 3 and 5.
It's more the information that Big would get from it.
Tapsin would be closer to the angle.
He could clear out long completely.
They would have a little less doubt and a little bit more strength and security in getting
that V set up there quicker.
Oh, Tapsin's worried now.
He knows what's going on.
He's right into his perfect leg.
He's going to have a knee to his legs.
And this is the thing.
M80 love to play this slow style predominantly because they want to enable this man on
your screen. Lake likes going for individual plays but it's very hard to get them off when you know
that's what's coming for you. And after Pro League, no one's missing out on MAD in their radar.
Tapsen, smoke comes through, Swishes found Ragon, there's still JDC to be concerned about and you
really should be concerned. A one-on-one Maxine does not want to take Tapsen's found Lake in
the meanwhile but the trade is there, Slack should commit to it and now the double-swing
to beat. If he got one, it was no guarantee of big coming back into this round. But I do
think, you know, when we're really putting it under the microscope, if there is anybody
you're going to look at as a pressure point that MAD could exploit, I actually do think
it is Ragon. Like, regardless of whether he speaks German and his integration, like
the culture that he has, I guess, invested a lot of his Counter-Strike career into is
so different and so wildly I guess slower or more reserved than the versions of Counter
Strike that he's been playing for most of his life. They've reigned him in weirdly and I thought they
would actually want that extra inspiration to spark something more out of big but really a lot of the
opening challenges and a lot of the initiative drivers at the moment are what Tabson and Searson.
It goes back to the conversation you were having right about the roles that have been
and a lot of to rig on that B side anchor on dust too.
No, I hate it's not a, it's not what you expect
for a guy who's trademark move was I will run down ancient
made him get two kills every time.
Yes.
Right, that was the rig on play.
There's not much doubt cast about whether Lake would fit
with MAD on the inverse, but hell, does he fit?
Oh my God, swishers out and guess what?
There's more where it came from.
like, you know, he is really
the champion of this round,
even with Lake on those three
kills, just creating that
space, getting that info
across and they were cognizant,
I believe about, you know,
the fact that he's not done
yet. These guns that are being
jiggled and juggled will all be
dropped big. This is not a
circus like this is counter
strike. Yeah, a little
awkward with all of them
trying to get their hands on
that weapon, but that smoke
and along just having this
to leave about, you know, two safe weapons and not a lot left behind it.
Yeah, they'll know seriously is pretty far away from the action.
Even the quick time, you know, jump peak there from from slacks.
I love that. I'm kind of surprised
Thurston is being this active about it.
But listen, I mean, he knows his position has been given up earlier on.
Now he's taken down.
You're not going to have an open that last round.
He can he can go glass cannon.
But it is one of those things where considering his how active he is being,
Maybe that's you know, even more challenging to do when you have the prospect of getting spammed a cheat
I'll tag through the edge of a wall before you actually rattle your shot off
It has its vulnerabilities, but even the way that he's been shooting
I don't think he'll have any problems investing into that and he'll go go dive right for it last by the half
And last round I made E turning the ship around given big fantastic start to this map
Therson starts off with a deep angle into the bee tunnels.
If he holds on to this one and lets Ragon rotate away, you could see what this glass can and op can maybe do in terms of enabling that rifle aggression?
I think as well, they have very little utility on the side of big, so Ragon might even give that smoke over to Therson and just start walking it while Therson has it covered.
Or actually, just kidding, it's Therson that's probing.
that's probing flashbang timing has been missed and sirson's past the smoke he's not going to be worried about this and that means an
M80 could be losing out on that bomb and revealing it at the same time
Swisher is the one wielding it and he moves forward the ratings sirson's found it lake on the close angle was the one found but
Bomb wasn't seen. Yeah perfect to catch M80 in that as well. They hear that smoke blooming
They think it's completely covered off and sirson is just on the edge of it
And they heard that flashbang into tunnels as well, right? So sirson knows exactly what's being set up there
It's a great read, but there's still more to do.
Bang back flat and letting Rigon take over middle is where JDC very often does reign supreme.
JDC is waiting with the flashbang nearby to not forget that.
That could be important because Crimbo's demise means that middle is where they would have
thought of aggressing.
Instead though, with Serson and Rigon both revealing positions, it could be back to
A, but that bomb will be slow.
They have to go B. They literally have to go B. The bomb is inside of those tunnels
and it is not safe passage there for Swisher.
Split being lined up here by M80. They have that man advantage. It's called another one on the road to the piercing that is still denying
He could actually move in to try and cancel this plant, but M80 have it in time
Only two that remain here from big M80 have done this so well to salvage this half so far and there is no kit
There is little utile big need to show some urgency here
But they'll try and nobody gives an inch. No one peeks out even the slightest and M80 will get five at the turn of the half
German team might be too happy at 7-1, but turns out Kalishtrait doesn't end there even a football might
And maybe on the other side know that very well bringing it back to 5 and hoping to quickly
Even further. That's European football by the way that he's referencing
We're in America
because they wear socks. This pistol is starting slow from big. They're maybe kicking their
feet up a little bit, but they do catch thin and he takes a hard fall. So it's about as
much as the damage will reflect. Smoked down towards CT though. There is a little worry
here for MAD, but they do have three on one of these bomb sites, and Bigger heading that
direction.
Swiss is open intercept. He has found the one but Tavson's returns with a smoke the bombs behind big need to turn back to get it
Before the smoke starts to dissipate rec wheel. However interupting if that wasn't going to be enough the rest of his team was already
Made short work of bigs attempted claiming that B bombsite success will not be found in the pistol round for either one of the T sides
Yeah, I mean they got that mid B smoke down so early that
Unfortunately comes down to you know losing that one player with that bomb that you're around the money
They need to get it before the dissipated but it dissipated as you said that so it's not like there was much to salvage there for big
Right now. I mean this is quite the run for me to now five rounds straight coming out of a four round spree at the end of the half
Big are feeling nervous like you said started seven one and they're still at that dreaded seven
They had the safety of winning the pistol the subsequent rounds
They dealt with the force by and then when guns came out, you know, I made it got their first round
You've got company, you've got cover, you've got a lot of blocks running down at you.
And it's just perfect utilization as well of this extra angle that CTs are able to use
by courtesy of the fact that you can jump short yourself these days.
You know, they just flooded the angles and as soon as they heard those steps top
middle, they knew that they could all reveal themselves.
Slacks does steal most of the glory with his peek from short.
But he also did as well get the information true
Still a lot more glory to be had right now, and it is certain to continue
To look like he might be a dangerous man to deal with
It's been completely abandoned by the CT side. They are relying on the keys to be using that early
Tower smoke but that tower smoke might be disrespecting it. Wait the whole I need a replay of that if I can get it
I'd be very happy JDC. However is overjoyed
I mean exactly what you could ask for you know around where I made you have SMG
So try to be proactive and JDC's that man is supposed to be overwhelmed and instead just rips their heads clean off
I don't know how he's managed that. That's crazy
And was what one bullet between each for each player that sort of counteracts him that will certainly not do
He's on one
This is the thing before rig on came the fourth year sin
Actually to be fair even with fear sin
But it was criminal and JDC that we always look to is the sort of main driving forces on this team
They can still be that and they've maybe been a bit a little bit of a backseat taken by Crimbo
I think in particular
You know statistically he's not performing as hot since rig on his implementation
But a man can still clutch like I he can still win rounds through you and yet
Decache for a flexing on them in the first gun round and the thing is I I actually think a lot of that is
because
Ever since Toby was reintroduced to the team as well
GRT mentioned this as well, but basically Cersens numbers have gone from zero point nine six in the past
You know the first six months of it. Oh, wow, that's
Come on. Actually a little bit unfair
That's what I'm talking about. He's going from zero nine six point nine six to a one point one one average rating against top 30 teams
he has been fantastic. And a lot of it comes down to, you know, re-jigging focus away from
Crembo a little bit afterwards. Him at times as well. And you can see it playing off.
And also to cast your mind back, you know, if we're thinking about players that use the scout,
I mean, it was seriously a game during the online era that when the pioneers of just,
yeah, I mean, Chris Jay, yes, but we're talking like they would actually use a scout instead of
of an AK given a lot of different situations. These guys, you looked at
AWPing and scouting stats and you just think, well, how do they have so few
kills with an M4? Great display already. A lot of the focus in this round has to
be on Lake and it's not just because he's a big man. He's also got the big
gun. But a mid-B smoke that's been refreshed and it's threat to B that
is going to be reasserted perhaps by JDC, a solo lurking man.
Swiss is getting a maincling of what's going on over here though, Swiss knows that this
might just be a quick push in through the mid-doors, and Lake will be unable to find that
first shot, taking damage and it's Ragon to finish him off, Sin won't have that extra
comfy in from Karr and Ragon, that's what I'm talking about, quick end through through
the D-Bones side, that's on the A-Bones side rather than that, is a specialty.
I mean, really fantastic work there from big dead multiple ways in which they could have won this round whether or not it was the flash timing and JDC going in through that CT smoke. He was going to be at an angle that Lake wasn't going to anticipate. And you know, as good as Lake is, he is not an orper. You know, you're not looking to him to hit crazy flicks like that. But even in spite of that, you know, the flash actually catching the big members as they went for the burst.
Lake was also caught by it and just able to scale so effectively. It's fantastic entries from Ragon like you know
but M80
having to bend the knee
here on USBs
and that's not exactly a
This is not the most proactive approach as well when you're gonna buy like this, you know, so many teams will
stack sites or go for pushes and
try and overwhelm you but
They decided they were going to wait around, and well, Spirit Fun's will simply lap up
for catching them with a Glock as well.
I think Eco-Frag should count for more if you did it with the pistol yourself.
That sounds...
I mean, you've got head armor though, it doesn't...
Yeah, but there's three of them!
Yeah, but...
They've got no armor, they've got nothing.
That's a three out of one!
Yeah, you're talking like an Eco-Frager.
I wish that was an Eco-Frager.
Either way those kills matter, you know Susan could have very easily fallen their up could have been maybe saved here for m80
And so they will notably not have that weapon of play with
This is having a salmon of auto for a while that flash is good with the trade is right there Riga on takes him down
And I'll make it trying to cover off a quick jump up means that Susan has completely cheated past his crosshair
And it's frustrating
At the very least they shouldn't know what's going on over here. That is an
interesting smoke. The Depot one towers up and gives you space and lurk behind it
I do believe but it still blocks off the vision that's pretty cool. Actually
this is what he's been waiting for they shot him down the deal with. SIRSEN has it in the pocket.
It doesn't matter what gun he's got. This time they have armor. You know all that
Oh my goodness. How on earth does he get away with that look like a trade to be but right now for MAD it is simply not big are happy to live in the luxury of getting multi kills out of players they want to be stars and driving forces.
where Crimbo had inconsistencies in his game, yes, that Toby acquisition, hell, he is the whisperer of Thierson.
Shout out to Maui Snake for it, sort of catching on to that one as well. He really did bring that one up in a Snake and Bander.
I have to say I have been very happily surprised by how right he was.
And happily reminded of the kind of play that Thierson absolutely can bring to the table, because for a while you're just...
It was a shell of its former self.
I mean, he looked gone.
I was ready to ride him off and be like, I bring him on to him.
Or bring some axe in, you know.
That's names off the market.
Rago now, however.
Another acquisition that looks like it is paying off.
Some of those calories he's got on might be slightly empty, but listen.
It doesn't matter.
It's muscle all the way.
Is he finally going to be overrun? Finally the raid boss is down.
That's actually a pretty saveable up as well. So I made it the very least will be going into the next one with a lot to work with
I mean you think about how cleanly big have been winning these rounds. They have money to burn
They will want to get this all part of their hands
You'd hope so but it doesn't feel like that might be the case of ahead
It also worried about losing more weapons that even dead right like you know what I end up with an op and an AK being
Saved up on the other side for these days all of the jazz
thrown forward
the game. And at the end of
it all that will just be a
saved a WP for stacks. It will
not see anything beyond it. I
really thought they were going
to continue to press the issue.
They find themselves at map
point. Big looking to be the
first team out of group B to
make it into the playoffs.
Showing a very strong game in
that opening round as quite a
their hands on rifles and AWPs alike. MAD are struggling to serve up a match for them.
JDC will not reface but that Molotov's gonna force them forward! JDC could have gotten to him
said he gets nothing into his Molotov and most humously will finish off slacks.
But an advantage for MAD? Do they realize how far Crimbo has come and I don't just mean
in his career, I mean in this round itself.
Crimbo, Blackstar, Crimbo, Double, Crimbo, Flound.
Still a 2-1-2.
Yeah.
I mean, but look at what Tapsen's trying to do.
While that smoke was up, he was trying to hunt down Wreck, and now they know exactly
where he is.
There is no chance that he could be inside of spawn.
Tapsen would have caught a glimpse of him at the very least, and at Maltov, it's
just going to draw all the attention away from Searsid on the flank with his orb.
Right now, M80 are getting shot in the back, and they don't know quite what
hits them before it is finally staring them down. It has to be Swisher to keep hope alive
for the local heroes here at ESL Challenger Atlanta. It is not going to be a simple task.
Amaltov available, he can eliminate one angle, but it is planted for long in such an open
position and it's all just about playing with time and playing with Swisher's feeling.
Hp and it is just simply too far gone tabs been found, but they're there since a swing
13 to 7 there might have been turbulence in this match
But big when they gone that T side never let go
Consistently under control sirs and consistently fragging
Ragon showing up in crucial moments
This was a team that was in control all throughout and I have to say it really shows
You know that slacks and sin versus the German side matchup
It really did feel like it was very clear who the favorites were
But you know what I want to have from tech girl and the lot out of the field
We only run right on the best tackle. I
Mean it happens a lot so
There we go a big
Sixth the victory make sure that they get a spot in the 70 finals. It's not good by CM 80
their top is at the lower bracket zone groupie. We're watching some highlights. It felt like
they were desperately trying, but they just weren't quite sure what they needed to follow.
Yeah, I mean, look, in that first half, it felt like MAD had finally figured things out, you know,
they were going for that B-side of using Ragon's anchoring position on the B-side,
and I was really happy to see that honestly for them because they were able to finally get
that rhythm. But then the second half, it really serves into both. He was doing such a good
job towards mid with the AWP, continually doing damage, refining frags, even with the scout
and you saw there, just beautiful work towards Cat. I didn't see a bad round from Searson
honestly in that second half. Unbelievable stuff. He's really changed the way he played
since that Toby's come on to that roster as performance coach. It really is true that
he's, you know, the whisperer for, I'm forgetting the word, his name now. I'm so tired of
that they've had for uh...
it's okay you've had a long day
because any loss and i'm trying to get that out of my mind right now but
searsons honestly been amazing
you know what's really funny is before these segments we have to choose certain
players right so before in the pre-match we choose the player to watch and
uh... there's a little jane's behind the scenes his name is newton he knows
all the the stats and whatever he said he wanted to go with searson and i said
no i just do jdc
wow was i wrong i should have i should have listened to the statsman uh...
But instead of listening to the staff, we're going to listen to the man himself because Mike is with Searson now.
You're going to listen to me instead, Sam, and I'm going to listen to Searson because holy cow, that was quite a dust too.
What did you eat today?
Nothing. She bought the... nothing else.
There you go. There you go. Alright, so in this matchup, you got Slacks on the other side, right?
There's some Germans in the server. There's a German opera on the other side.
You guys have been playing each other for a long time.
Does that give you a little extra motivation?
To be honest, no. I just play like my own game. I don't care who's playing like an enemy team, you know
Like this can be simple. It can be valuable. I just don't care. I just play my own game. I play with the team
I mean, yeah, that's it. You've been looking much revitalized recently, right? Your numbers have been off the charts
You've been having great performances on the off. What's changed for you?
Yeah, I changed quite a bit. I would say nowadays I'm not like
Like, that much into the game, I would say.
I don't make that much, like I don't think that much about the game, like as before.
I just play my game, I just, if I miss a shot and I say, fuck, fuck it, it is how it is like.
Back in the days I was like, really like half with me by myself.
But now I just don't give a fuck and just play, you know?
Don't give an effin' just play, Sam! What about you?
It's pretty much the motto of my life, so I get it.
Let's talk about Big, what they were doing right, I think, is the conversation I want
to have.
What was it that they were getting right in the server that allowed them to take this
victory?
So what I really saw from M80, I'm going to switch it just a little bit, but I feel
like M80 didn't have the space to really get creative.
Big was kind of turning that down in every single corner that they actually saw them
move.
And a lot of things happening with M80 that went wrong.
They were trying to go to cat and weren't going to have a long lurk, were really taking the
space that they needed to on the map to be able to go onto the site.
Losing their aim battles just big was really able to cross fire really, really well against
them.
And while there were some really close rounds, it just felt like big.
They were playing better and it was the veteran spirit that they had, the German EU spirit
that they had that really triumphed over M80.
We did not see the same confidence that we saw earlier today.
Yeah, I thought honestly big was doing a good job of on CT side getting in on the flanks against M80 going and taking that aggressive push
And I think Searson once over in lower tunnels found one for free at Xbox and then you had the cap play that we already saw before just
Creating chaos right for M80 which they finally found a solution to which was just send it be every round and try to take B
And that's what was effective for them
But that was there were one trick pony at that point on their T side
Then they switch over to CT side, and I mean they tried to get a little creative
I would say pushing in towards those tunnels and that's when you saw JDC just get that ridiculous 2k
Which under any other circumstances shouldn't happen
But the spacing wasn't good for a matey
Maybe a little bit of panic setting in but you can't have the players that close to each other because it's such an easy like my
Accident almost you can get a spray that just gets both players instead of having just a bit more of a gap
And then the second player can swing in and find that trade
So little mistakes were happening on a matey side and big like I said in the pregame
They will punish those every single time
I mean this is a map that's been around for ever right and the we talked about a little bit in the pre every show
Analysis that these are players on big. They're a little bit older. They've been in the game for years now ten years
So they know how to play does to maybe it just recently got back into the pool
I know there were a lot of teams that were instabanding it
but now it is a regular map for a lot of teams and having a really strong one against someone as big as big
Would have been really great for our matey, but they just fell flat
Yeah, all I can say is I would love to see a BO3 between big and M80s
Oh, you will get that you want to go through that last all over again and feel that again
I don't think it'll be a loss next time Sam
Do you watch the same game that we okay?
I'm going to start.
So let's call up your US Air Force aim high just to wrap some salt into the wounds of our
North American analysts here.
And of course, I mean, Searson just heads and shoulders above everyone else in this map.
Yeah, no, Searson was absolutely incredible.
You're going to see the ADR a little bit higher for slacks, but that's just because
I think he was rifling more often than not, couldn't get the op up because of the situation
for M80.
But on Searson's side, like I mentioned, the scout, when he was playing T side on
Met.
He was very mobile very in the way of flax and the rest of a matey throughout pretty much every round
And you saw him finding frags on to be one of the rounds not the ones when I made you want it
He just found one and managed to push them back long enough to even get into the site and find himself a second
So just consistently making life difficult for the M80 squad. They're now the semi-finals. Are they a favorite to make it through to the finals?
I
Would say yes, honestly, I feel like big and and sorrow the two teams that
But look, the most impressive right now, based on the eye test and what we've seen so far
throughout these BL1s, so, yeah.
And I mean, to be fair, the two of the four teams that were my top four teams have already
made it through.
So I feel like M80 are the next ones to make it through.
And then we'll see if the last one is going to get there as well.
But yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I mean, I feel like, yes, saw and big are the favorites internationally from all
the people that are watching around the world.
It is still a North American tournament. We are in Atlanta. Everyone there
I not everyone there, but most of the people there that are watching our North American counter. I was like everyone there is
No
Everyone there is interested in watching North American Counter-Strike because they're there, you know and
Having the M80 wild card game on the first day that it was a great great showing
I feel of North America, but I mean we need to see a little bit more. We have to see more M80
We're gonna be able to see that tomorrow. So they're my favorite. We're gonna get a lot of M80 tomorrow a lot of M80 on Sunday as well
Because they're gonna make it and I saw as well. Those are my two picks to make it through to Sunday
It's like a story that I learned from my mom a long time ago, which is that if you are caught in a lie
And you just keep going harder and harder and harder at it. It's pretty obvious that that you're not telling the truth
Is it a lie if two people agree?
I don't know, JLT, I'm just saying you're going very hard on the whole, I'm just kidding.
I mean, I rate them to be in the finals.
But now, we're moving away from the fun stuff and who's making the finals and we're getting
into our first elimination game of the tournament.
This is it.
Two teams are playing for their lives and one of them is one of these North American
teams.
Wildcard goes up against the Brazilians in a little bit.
Who is going home?
Who is staying in Atlanta?
will find out.
Goose red, goose red!
Go on, I can push right
I can push
Updoor, low, going to be safe
Door still
One second
Door, door, door
Hit the door
Pushing up
1, 2, 2
Holding one more
Pushing again
Just react
Upper is 50
I'm turning off, Mike
Ahhhh!
He got it
He got it
Let's walk double cat
There's a lot of smoke.
Quick to turn on there.
One out, maybe one following Nova.
I don't think there'd be a box there.
Is there not an outp?
A walking carrot.
He hasn't seen anything.
Tiny people, you have to come in.
Oh no, just kidding.
One was long, one was with guys.
Okay.
He's walking from outside long.
He's good.
Acre!
Here's the last one.
Okay.
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Kadea, Monster Energy, the United States Air Force, One X-Bat, and Logitech G.
A wild card, I think they are a team that has had some impressive results with their new lineup.
Of course they are with the complete roster here, but I think it's a good team, like a tough opponent,
but we don't have really that much information really on them for now, I think.
Welcome back to ESL Challenger at Lanza and it is now time for our first elimination game.
One of these two teams is heading home. Will it be the Americans, Wildcat or the Brazilians?
Are they going home? They don't have time to watch IEM Rio so that's going to be going through. I'm kidding.
Here we are. They're facing off. This is always the tough one because to play for one day
day and then go home is not
going through to the semifinals.
But now in that lower bracket,
Audicat up against Wildcard who ever loses this goes home.
The winner will have to fight M80 to survive.
Let's get straight into this.
If we take a look at these two teams,
neither of them for me,
Apple's really delivered earlier today.
Yeah, they both had a little bit of a struggle.
I would say against their opponents,
Wildcard against M80,
obviously the more powerhouse of North America.
And then they had to play against big.
had a big problem that they had to get taken care of, and it didn't really work out for them.
But I feel like both of them have the same amount of proving skill that they could bring
to this BESA3. I mean, it's a BESA3. There's three maps that they have to get through. Both
of them chose a map that they think themselves can finish and win, so it could come down
to the decider.
What do we think about these teams now that we're mixing into a BESA3?
Um, I mean, it would certainly be intriguing. I still question for Wildcard how much
the game. I think if they
were the full strength lineup,
I don't think any of us would
pick on it to win this series,
but, um, would help them in the
visa would help them in many
aspects. How do you call your
standard rounds? So that that
alone should make this a very
compelling matchup. You
mentioned the video. It's up
on your screens right now. Um.
Is it is it something we need
to focus on? Do we even have
enough tape on these teams?
Like you said, wildcard has a
stand in, so I mean, are we
really going to put too much
you're going to be able to
play a lot of matches on on
this particular play out and
if I'm wildcard, I'm just
playing comfort maps. Now I
don't know enough about their
veto normally to say if it is,
but if they've gone a wacky
direction that wouldn't make
any sense. You just play
maps. You and particularly
friend is comfortable playing
because you're just adding way
too many complexities in the
mix. If you go for a more
left field choice. I mean
earlier we thought we talked
about Sonic talking that
for their map and I feel like that is a very puggy map that they're able to slot friend in if he's
going to go outside if he takes ramp control but that would have to be a very aggressive start with
an AWP especially if they switch on to CC side if they're starting T side depending it's going to be
very up in the air I feel for wild card for both of these maps starting the next map is Ancient
I like to say that Ancient is like the new overpass because I feel like it's very very team
base very timing coordinated you have to have your utility down your spacing down
especially for CT which was exactly what overpass was so with a stand-in you're
not gonna have all the practice that you need on ancient and we saw that
earlier when they were playing against I'm 80 let's find out now exactly how
the American team is feeding I know that Mike is with one of their players
at stand us all here stand that first series got away from you a little bit
you guys nearly brought it back it was starting to get interesting what
What do you think went wrong in the first match?
Not really sure what you're talking about.
This is our first game of the day.
No, I mean, we just started very slow.
It seems to be a theme with our team.
So we're trying to work through that.
We're trying to figure out why that's happening.
We have some ideas, obviously,
but it's just about implementing them.
And the more experience we get, hopefully,
the better we'll get at it.
So I'm hoping it doesn't start in this match
because I'm going to be pissed.
Obviously, a little bit of an extra challenge here.
Playing with a stand-in friend, stepping into the server.
Are you changing up the calls at all?
changing up the approach with a stand-in offer?
I mean, you kind of have to.
Our original whole strategy and game plan
is very intricate and detailed.
And we're really missing our offer.
But I don't think I could have found a better
stand-in, to be honest.
He's really good.
So hopefully we can just give him the platform
to show how good he can be.
And I have to change it up a little bit.
But yeah, we just got to play more cohesively as a unit.
Now, looking at this matchup specifically, right?
You've got Otaku on the other side.
They're a team that haven't necessarily
had a ton of international experience.
This is kind of their first international stage
and certainly a very long time.
What do you think of them as an opponent?
I mean, I never underestimate any opponent,
let alone a Brazilian team,
they can always shoot really well
and they got that X factor.
So yeah, we have our prep done,
we're taking them seriously
and yeah, we just got to show up today.
Well, I'm looking forward to seeing it.
Good luck, man.
Back to you, Sam.
How much prep do you do against Alec
when you're working with a stand-in
and at the same time,
any prep outside of the server
also needs to be focused in on the RMR
with your normal runner?
You prep specifically for each series you'll play.
It might not be massive prep, but they'll certainly
be focusing on their games in I-Station.
Now there's value in that, even for MRMR
to go through that process now.
So even with a stand-in, they can definitely do that stuff.
And if not just as a team, the individuals themselves
need to see how their counts parts are defaulting
or the names they're using.
There's definitely a lot they can learn
just from watching a few demos.
If you think about the best of one that we saw earlier today,
Wynwald called lost against M80,
what do they need to change coming into this matchup
to ensure the results is different?
Definitely not get overconfident with your picks,
making sure that you are playing with your team
and especially playing with your stand-in.
There was a lot of times on H and especially on CT side
that the op wasn't utilized,
how it should have been, especially on like these sites.
They were not taking the ramp picks
and maybe they were pushing out of cave too early
when the ramp push hadn't like connected
and that just comes down to timing
I mean, if they're not breaking
that work here on ESL Challenger,
how is that going to work in the RMR's?
You're in agreement now. Yeah, I mean,
yeah, potentially I think I think
both of these teams this this game
they'll both feel like it's winnable.
So if I was audit come into this and
I've been looking at the wildcard squad
and saying they looked not brilliant
earlier, they got the standing situation.
Who knows where the map pool is at?
So I think I think the both teams
very achievable victory here and
I think he's a great player.
He's a great player. He's a
great player. He's a great
player. He's a great wild card
at Stanislaw says he can't call
his standard rounds. He can't
do all of his standard stuff.
So maybe someone like Sonic
some of the other good players
they need to step up
individually to make up for
the team wide gaps that are
definitely going to be there.
We've seen Sonic in the past.
I mean, he stood in for
complexity at one point. He
has that incredible fire power.
I'm not biased at all. I've
known him for a very long
time. He was one of our best
players in South Africa for
many years. I think from
to do that freedom. Um and I
feel like he is given that on
his team on this team. He's
probably playing some of his
best. Yes, for several years
right now. Um he's a great
domestically for this squad. So
um that's all a good sign
though doing it online in a big
environment is is a different
stage and um yeah, I mean he's
got he's got the skill set.
He's turning up the experience
but translating that to land
in a big game uh takes a
different kind of person.
We've seen him do it before
so maybe he can do it again
for wild card. But in order
order to do it, they're going to have to face off against the Brazilians.
Odyk didn't have a good start to the challenger and as Mike mentioned there as well they don't
have a lot of international LAN experience so I'm curious as to what they're going to
be changing up coming into this matchup.
I'm here with Woody, head of the game against Wildcard.
Woody, oh here we go, there we go.
Woody it's elimination on the line now for you and the boys.
You've got a lot more competitive experience internationally than a lot of your teammates
so what are you telling them?
What's your message based on what you've done before going into this game?
We need to play Sass. Sass is kill people in the game. We need to kill. That's it. We need to play Sass.
It sounds so simple when you say it like that. Wildcard on the other side, what do you think of them as opponents?
They are great opponents, but they have a complete. We need to play our best game. That's it. I think it's a good game to fight.
Now, shifting into the BO3s as well, you got a little bit more time.
Do you think that gives you a little bit more cushion to maybe make some mistakes and settle in?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We have young players, they need to play more, more, more, more to sit down and...
Yeah, I'm prepared.
Absolutely. I'm looking forward to seeing it, man. Good luck.
Back to you, Sam.
I have always wondered why when I'm doing these desks, if I pose a question to an analyst, they never respond with just click heads, forehead, legs.
I mean, he basically said that. That's what they're going to do. They're going to play CS. They're going to kill some people.
It comes in handy. It's undeniably a part of the game, but if that was the case, mixed teams would win every tournament.
So there tends to be a little bit more. There's a bit of strategy, a bit of communication, and maybe a little sprinkling of that could help them along the way some.
I mean obviously we're also asking the Brazilians to do the full interview in English, which
is probably where it was simplified to the extent it was.
What do you think of this team's particular playstyle though?
I feel like a best of three is if we're going to let them stretch out there.
I mean they have a mix of young players and older players that have been around for
a while and especially Natty.
I feel like we've seen him play a little bit more on the higher end, especially a
little bit earlier when we saw them against Big but just was not able to really
to connect only two rounds against that opponent and it's going to be hard for them. But if
they are able to take their time, play CS just like they did, just like they did, they
have been. They've been playing 124 maps in the last three months. So they definitely
have the time, the experience in the server. It just depends on if they are able to do
it on LAN in Atlanta right now. I mean, it's also whether or not they're winning
those maps, right? Because for me, watching them, they weren't the, you know, when
you watch presenting counter strike and then they come to these they come to a
challenger there there is a certain passion and dynamic and the pace is a
little bit more faster and there's a lot more aggression in the mix I didn't see
any of that with other well that's the other side of the coin what happens when
that doesn't work if you have a very defined you know if you're if you're
one-dimensional as soon as you play an international team a team that plays a
different kind of CS and you're used to domestically maybe a bit pushed out
of your comfort zone I think fundamentally earlier individually
Structurally everything was was such a mismatch for them. They couldn't get engaged
This one should provide them a lot more opportunities to feel like they're in the series
According to the analysts, it should be a little bit closer
But let's find out if this goes all the way to three maps
It is our first best of three and our first elimination attic taking on wildcard
Thank you so much Sam
It's two teams that both come through with most of their presence being domestic
But now they've taken their steps into the national water first step didn't go that well for either one of them
that helping the second can actually lead with some swimming rather than thinking.
Yeah, it was nice to get insight from both the in-game leaders, both them saying and expressing very much the same thing.
You know, the first game didn't really feel like they were actually in Atlanta.
They didn't feel like they were actually at land.
They just got battered in the opening round, and it's not as though that is how you want to experience a LAN event.
It's not how you want to experience being in America in front of a crowd that may or may not be backing you.
You know, these are guys that want to continue on within this tournament, but yeah, that's the harsh part.
I mean, we have this experience where first day of the tournament, you can just be knocked out, and for wild card,
I think the stakes are a little higher given that they are on home soil.
Absolutely, and also not to mention, listen, at the very least you might have some sort of consolation that, hey, well, we don't have a five and everything,
but the stakes are always going to be high for a player like Stanislaw, right?
For a player with as much experience as him, he knows that every single one of these lands is another chance to showcase that,
hey, I'm going to be able to corral together like troops, I'm going to be able to make something work no matter what,
and you can't afford to lose to Audic if you're on that side.
Same with Audic, you can't afford to lose to a team with a stand-in.
And a team that is going to be at the Americas or more, that Audic failed to make.
They got to 2-1 and just couldn't find their third win.
lost a cold Zera and the bunch but here on Nuke we start off and Tog's already
pressured at ramp taken out by Sus but the rotate from Matios is timely a nice
quick headshot but he's still probing for more he doesn't have backup coming so
quickly but there is a player that has rotated towards that lower side it is
not exactly safe territory wild card actually just pushing the boundaries
even finding a following frag.
Brinks it back to a three on three but that's where 90 comes into play.
Oh 90s doubled up 90 and Matios for this team have been such a consistent two-man force across
Well, obviously opposite ends of the bottom side and that's sort of what audit really relies on as they pick up the pistol around as well
There's generally it feels like they've actually
Set 90 and dogs up to be these anchors on either side of the map and then used it to be very mobile with Woody and
Ks locks right and it does feel like it's a bit of a spiritual succession to what Woody used to do with Turtle
once upon a time. Sure. We both really enjoyed. Kia Sons a little bit more passive on the CT side,
similar style of rotating and all that stuff. So it's going to be interesting to see whether that
ends up being the case for here as well. Or whether they've had some change of hand at some other
man. Yeah, I mean 90 is like this aggressive kind of rifle. If there's going to be someone that
finds aggression in the mid-round, this is the guy that you look to. I mean, he's got big
muscles and he likes to flex them in the server. It's true. Intimidating man. Yeah,
and to play against that. And so rightfully when we got the interview with Stanislaw,
You know it's not to underestimate a Brazilian foe, you know, Audic may not be the criminal crop within the Brazilian scene
They they've struggled domestically against teams like the red cannons, for example
but that's also
One of what is one of the best of what Brazil is kind of often like they'll lose to pain as well another team that
We have you know have a lot of promise for and at the end of the day
They are absolutely grinding right and everyone is in South America
but it feels like Audic amongst the most of them because they make it deep enough to not get eliminated early and not play too many matches
But it also feels like they never get the respite of oh, we're gonna take two weeks off because we qualified for a LAN, right?
Because it's none of that. Audic are amongst the
hardest-working players in terms of just number of officials played and while Wildcard also has actually quite a few reps in, right?
Any team that's playing domestically will, it's not the same as hey, when we get to the top, we're playing up against Spain
We're playing up against red. Can it talk you mentioned we're playing up against look so
It's very different to wild gods case where you don't really get to compete with liquid and complexity
Yeah, for the top of your scenes like the exposure to them, right?
You have limited I guess reps against teams that will have more of these international opportunities. That's
That's actually something I haven't even really considered but I mean with Audic
Custling as much as they have yeah
And for them to already find these opening rounds and do so fairly unthreatened
Walk on while I have a lot to answer for, now that they're on rifles.
I think I'm already taking a lot of damage in the opening bout towards outside, and they do clear the close angle, even specifically flashed for.
So, set up for success, you'll find even more outside.
Lovely, absolutely lovely.
There was a chance tonight, it would come through and ask for a flashbang peek out behind you, but it just can't be put together.
JVA and Suspurd pretty much secured this round for Wildcard.
this point it's all a matter of finding that one last M4 and putting it to bed.
Rods will put up a fight and makes it do so at least some damage being dealt to
be keeping things honest but that's all they can do.
Yeah I mean really nicely done there from Wildcard not to get caught out by this
forward play. I think you know if you're thinking about it from the
perspective of Audix they want to set that precedent early that nothing is
going to be given to you for free. Outside control you throw all these
smokes down we will play ahead of it we will try and challenge you and
And just a good attention to detail here for Wildcard to flash those angles and minimize risk while also still showing that presence.
Not exactly a clean buy here for Audic either. Just after they lose the first gun round we see KS locks on a 5-7 and MP9 out for Matios as well.
Wildcard will still take a cautious step.
And then it's about repelling the potential aggression of Audic 90 is about to pose that very aggression and Sonic has
anticipated it perfectly
Last thing you want is Audic feeling real confident getting a stride to them and taking all of these risks
I mean you see wild card just nice and slow on their approach never giving info away for free
Audic have to face check these angles and where they're facing they're fighting bullets
It's not a great trade here for wild card
And they're just going to collapse on the A bomb site. I mean with how many players they they killed in the transition to towards main
This night is ripe for the picking. I'm very curious to see whether or not this ends up being to continue
Five men together. Let's maybe at most leave one player behind
Just try and play off of each other set up that wild card have shown us so far
It's early days, but if this is what the gun rounds are going to look like well at the very least
It's it's very straightforward counter strike to play with the stand-in and it's also actually leans into what was classically considered one of stand-in store
Stretch which is mid-round calling and making individual lurking plays based off of reads now if you're playing all together
Especially on a map like new you don't even have to make the play yourself
You can just call for it for someone else as well. I think that actually leads into the strengths of JBA very effective
Hmm. All right, so it's a very
Interesting thing to just keep an eye out for wild card and see how exactly they want to make this work
kind of best case scenario you could I mean best thing you could really ask for here on the star of the T side you find immediate success
You've set a nice comfortable amount of control towards outside and when you have gone there
You've been there in heavy numbers, you know before you saw the reaction from Audix a clear lobby
They don't find the lurker they they struggle to get anything
I guess back for losing all this long control and so from Stanislaus perspective, you know
There's gonna have to be some respect to put on
the wild card name, so to speak,
Odec are maybe going to taper back slightly
or seed a bit more space and play for where wild card
are headed as opposed to where they are currently.
But that's the kind of versatility
or I guess the freedom you want as an in-game leader
to know you have options and that Odec are the ones
having to plug up the holes in the ship.
I just love that they're so dead silent
and everything that they're doing,
you know, not even staining steps or anything.
are really gonna be stressed on information while card and giving anything away for free and especially when you've already been punished that early on into the game for going aggressive, right?
And it might not feel like much, but are your players going to be as willing to do the same four rounds from now?
When you always feel like you don't know what's going on, when you always feel like, well, we did get aggressive and that didn't work, I don't know, maybe I just want to hold my sight.
There is that legitimate fear that creeps in. Let's not forget, I mean, it's not just about
International Land for Audic. I mean, for players like KSLocks, this is his first International
Land ever. This is his second Land ever, according to Wikipedia. That includes, like, locals.
His first land was a couple of months ago, also with Audic.
Yeah, we're not talking about going to your local internet cafe and just playing a few
games, where there are stakes. Yeah. I guess, foreign waters in more ways than
more ways than one for chaos locks
and everyone around him is pretty bad right like these guys have been
on the grind for a while i've even talks over in sharks
yep
has had his own shots maybe not without a chore but
in death
regardless so
and see whether or not wildcard can continue this success matthews will be
saving this ak-47 as we move forward
that will be the lead found by the north american side for the first time
For both of these squads, a lot of the reliance is going to come off of how active and how successful the riflers are, you know, for them, they don't want to put too much responsibility on the stand-in and friend on the side of wildcarts, so they would, I'd rather have, you know, their full team, but the circumstances are how they are.
you know for for Audek it's not as though we look at Woody as being this guy that you know continually creates opportunities for his other
Riflers he is a fairly sedentary orper
Take a huge amount of risk
And it's interesting because Woody's actually tried to make his playstyle a little bit more conducive to enabling the rifles by being aggressive
But that never comes in the off and it's understandable, right?
he might not have confidence in himself for that very same role, but it also means that
there's a big disparity in playstyle when he has the op compared to when he doesn't.
So chaos locks doesn't feel as unlocked in that situation.
So let's see whether or not there's other compensation, right? Maybe someone else has
assigned that task to help out, go aggressive, let chaos locks be the one to trade,
let that young talent come out. I was finding it so curious though,
you know, the Brazilians have put out so many open in-game leaders,
and yet I think few have tried to mirror what Kadean did with like a heroic for example but
that's I think what he tries to do. Let's pass there here from wildcard and I said they don't
give anything for free. Stannislaw, he won geez. Ends up running into his own mall 12 after getting
lost inside the smoke and Sonic has got nothing to do to trade. They have got a lot of control
down towards the lower bomb side but the bomb is isolated in friend's hands. He's still outside
and he doesn't have an escort to take him forward it has to be a play made by the
lower players to try and maybe go back to ramp you can't really go up vents let's
be honest so that feels like there's only one way and you can actually attack
the site I'm not gonna try and be cute here at JBA or not but I mean with him
down it's it's gonna be hard to activate him without giving away sound
cues maybe they'll just wait for those smokes to bloom but it's just about
linking up with the rest of the squad. Sonic is able to transfer over as is the whole wild
car team ready to pounce on this B bomb site.
Naid is coming into Flank as well and Tog's position is not bad at all. He's got the grenade
to pop this smoke open so he'll be able to spot the face out but it's gone too deep
and Tog's even takes some bullets for it. Friend now goes for the Flank and Sonic's
found Naid, he's flanked. He's ready for the second but Naidios will have delayed.
Tog's still worried about Ram Presence and it's Woody to find Susp, Mario adds another
to the tally.
Sonic turned away at the wrong time and with friend now to cover off.
He needs to break that egg and he wants to do it by breaking Woody's head.
JBA however steals the kills and they will still be in the round.
Both players on a sliver of HP, Tog's without a kit and he's still one to be picked up.
It doesn't feel like it.
Time's running low, JBA's position revealed, shots being missed and is he going to commit
to it?
Jumps up, spots it out, plays it smart and Toggs will lose around the time, even if it had not been that bullet to take him down.
Yeah, I mean, JBA really making a meal of that one, one on one where it's not as though Toggs was going to, it wasn't anticipating that position either.
A very, very uncomfortable clutch, but JBA will deliver. I mean, he got the critical kills that really swung the round, even with friend serving to delay the ramp pressure.
If not for these frags from JBA, the whole round was in jeopardy. Wildcard, I mean, that's the first proper afterplant they've been in.
And they did still working off of deficits. Stannislaw tied without really even contributing much, aside from calling from the grave.
Your first death is one of the rifles that you'd take and enter this one, but...
That's a weird buy.
The investment is strange, I'm actually trying to figure out, this is a full 5 fat loss bonus
so I'm guessing Woody's just decided that he doesn't want to prioritize the op, unless
Toggs is the one dropping for it.
It'll just be something like that.
In which case, I'd rather just team Toggs with them for it.
Yes, that is fair.
What are you saying?
It's okay, you can just drop me.
Go on, go on.
I'm not the best rated player on our team.
What do you mean?
Oh, well, you know, I've always been a big fan of 90 and he does just fell a couple towards outside
But he did need some help that position for Matios was a little deep while car were caught off guard
And they shot 90 unable to get anything further
Five rounds on the board for wildcard despite a couple of hiccups in the middle of a day
This is looking very very smooth
It's a good time
In Atlanta. Yeah, I mean also just
Good to see some life
from Wildcard. Good to see life from both of these spots really.
And...
You know, right now it is looking as though Wildcard are keeping the cards close to their chest.
Oh, okay. That's a beautiful play.
I mean, they go for the run boost, they get friend on that box and it's just an angle that is unanticipated.
But he needed the full kill. He got legged back.
And I wouldn't expect there to be a player up top on the marshmallow.
Will he be able to spot out JBA or not is a question that challenge is never given
And that's the one to receive it wild card this time received backwards. They will not be
competing for outside at all
Beyond that initial pick unless they want to go for a late set of smokes outside. They certainly got the utility to go for it
But the bomb is down so it does feel like a ramp commitment
And that's exactly what Toggs is waiting for. Flash goes over and Toggs will be spotted out of her. At least it's a one-for-one trade.
Sonic happy to commit to it, and the rotations are late from the CTs. They go down to the lower bombsite instead.
Fairly similar reaction as to what happened in the pistol, but they got crunched from hell last time over.
Walcott are not making any sudden moves as of yet. They cluster.
And with that Molotov in friends possession, they do set themselves up for an A-side attack, but the timing for the peek is perfect there for Mavios.
The Molotov will flush him out, but they're stuck in at that door. They need to look for other avenues, but to lead the way is friend on low health, and JBA taking low against Susp just keeps on finding these critical kills.
And with KS locks diving those vents, he does emerge, and Susp just keeps on finding head after head.
They are put on notice. There is a sweet and missing from this wild card roster, but it's not sus
He's been starting honestly. He has been fan
fantastic and it's really
Gonna be such an important thing because the other point is obviously wild card
I've also got a lot of these inexperienced names usp is all it is one of them
But just getting him going getting them ready going forward into the tomorrow as well
If you are going to win over here, it is so important to know who you can bank on in a position like this
Who you can say stand up and say listen guys, don't worry forget about the first game. I carry the second game
I'm going to do it again tomorrow and right now Audic would really love to have a play like that stand up themselves
But unfortunately it feels like whatever they've had plan the aggression has stopped early round aggression is just not happening over here
Pogs was set up for potential success. He feels a bit nervous as well shoots out a little bit preemptively
They know where he is. What could have been an overlooked angle into a double kill ends up being a one-to-one trade and from that point onward
It was just stuff taking control
And it's really all just about the LAN experience, you know stuff's the guy that
Hostile grinded actually got it very high up with this metasport as well
But you know expectations are different when you're the import
But he is delivering on the goods right now for wildcard
He's been at the forefront of the action. Stanislaw this time will just catch Nidie probing outside.
The flashes are decent, but they're getting crunched.
Tog's taking some pressure away by rotating quickly to hell, and Woody's AWP will also collect another.
Bombs on the ground as well. That's the important one, and they're not ready for the push-up from Chaoslots.
He picks up Sonic immediately, backs off.
4 vs 2, and if there was any round to tip your head on his turn, it is this one.
Wildcard looked like it's already lost friend the only one with HP and he's going to try and make a gander for it
But with an open the other side he's peeking into it. He had the right idea, but the man with all the ideas takes him down woody a
Very big round for Audic to have stolen right back and it's JBA to deal some damage, but damage is not enough
Yeah, and it's just a patchwork buy from from the Audic side that they finally find success in Audic
I mean with with wildcard getting that kill so quickly considering the temperament that they've displayed in the mid-round by slowing things down
Waiting consistently walking into a lot of their plays. They try and speed things up and maybe catch Audic off guard
expecting the play to be safer and
Well, I mean the smokes fade on them in opportune times
They try and jump through it and it just turns out to be the wrong decision a real chance for Audic to get something back out of this half
half. Run boost forward one more time, Suspin is going to find nothing. Woody's taken over
the ramp mantle and said it's 90, up top on top of the credit card to get the first damage
law. A game trying to be the one to lead forward but it's 90 to double up this time. Suspin
stand both out and Woody is in ramp just waiting for the other prong. The other shooter
drop.
are not scared whatsoever about lower pressure. They could have crossed with those smokes,
but Audic would rather play the 5 on 3 if Wildcard get a free plant.
Timely Molotov in from Woody, he just starts to rotate away and Toggs is set up for success.
They run through those flames in anticipation, try to catch them while swapping between Util,
but just leaves JBA in the dust and in the wake of Odyk salvaging the CT side some great timing there from Woody
Tonsil will give him a nice high five. I'm sure
You'd hope so
This is where again one of the fun things about this matchup is how many parallels there have been these teams right?
I mean we talked about how Stanislaus obviously this legacy IGL with the tenure and everything and
And Woody hasn't been on the same level,
but as far as Brazil itself is concerned,
being on the MIBR brand,
means that you've caught yourself some chops,
means that you were considered one of the people
to potentially replace Fallon.
And he's legacy at the time when he came in, right?
So he's got a very similar pressure on his shoulders
and he's got a very similar role in this team.
He needs to get everything working
when it's all breaking down.
And look, this might be what they need
to get themselves up to a six six,
but this is also just a CT side
Wildcard should be content with what they have maybe not happy with it considering how early they got it
But six is great
I mean it feels tough explain to her, but you know the game leader is the brain of the team. You know, it's your core identity
So much talk about you know elite level teams and how they make roster moves and how they change their philosophy
It starts at being game leader right now the round started with both IGLs as well
One with their hands the other with maybe a little bit more of the brains
I guess that's what I think of utility damages, but
Sonic's just misreading that that Molotov duration
It's an unfortunate way to go but it's time. They will pressure ramp and they'll spot tox immediately no quick reinforcements this time over and he'll just get
Overwhelmed swarmed ramp is open
a chaos locks
Could lock down this be bomb site. Are they committing to it though is the question they aren't at least threatening it
It's gonna be a rampside hit into B and chaos walks his goal to order and gets himself the first nose with the second is as
Well, he knows as a turn around he smelled blood in the water and it's only sus left swimming in it a
One-on-two that's very achievable with the time as it is, but he's hunting for a frag
It's woody around the corner would be a good kill to find it's an all-put-the-pistol in his hand
He's not gone far enough
Commitment to the bomb plan over here would just guarantee pretty much a loss.
Mattios and Woody can then put their heads together.
It feels like it's your only option to commit into.
Woody continues to trail forward.
He's getting closer and closer and now with 20 seconds left, the bombs dialed in.
You'd have a chance to take this duel initially.
The door is opened up.
He spots that Woody, but Woody's not missing his shot.
Might have been a missed opportunity for Dogster to pick up a multi-killer game,
but regardless it is some good work being done by Woody and K.S. Rocks.
I mean that rotation towards the lower bombsite, they've been doing that consistently.
Anytime there's pressure towards ramp, this player is dropping down the vents
and trying to get as far out towards that B bombsite as possible.
As soon as Toggs is taking that contact, K.S. Rocks already is on the move
and able to capitalize on a wildcard that thought they would have a little more time
before they'd have to really deal with any of these CTs rotating in.
a fantastic time for that particular rotation or protocol to rear its head and when chaos
locks was given the opportunity he did not falter already six on this city side it can
feel like enough but when you hold a lead for as long as you do it will feel like it
should have gotten more nighty and nice opener but they just build the wall and JBA able
to get a kill back, but when he can see right past it and the smokes that faded, that is
inopportune.
At the very least Sonic is able to find chaos locks and it's back to 3 on 3.
I believe that might be a recoverable weapon, but that one surely is.
Oh my god, he doesn't need one.
And now Maddy is all alone, all smiles in that previous round.
High fives to be given, but now he needs to give him a straight punch.
One on three, that's the first and the bomb with it.
And he knows all he needs to do is protect it,
but how can he?
He doesn't have any information about where Stanislav is.
Could have been coming in on the flank,
but it's starting to take them to seven wildcard.
We'll maintain that lead into the second half.
Challenger Atlanta, and we are sending a team home
right off the rip.
This is the first map between wildcard and Odyk,
and the team with the stand-in missing there,
Swedish star orper has the one that has come out on top a successful T side campaign by Spanish law
It's not over yet though. They need to do it on CT as well, and they have already conceded control of hell
Over to the Brazilians gas locks underneath JBA
They both try to hide away from each other
But first contacts that comes through for the ramp play on a Spanish law on an angle
He's just not used to talks to take him down such an awkward fight
You know you could be effectively crunched from both sides, but also like you said the duel is so unfamiliar at times
This is hardly a comfortable setup here for wild card even with them having the information about seated grounds
They're gonna have to find something back
They do push Lobby but even then again these these duels are not exactly comfortable and they've got JBA all the meanwhile
This a bombsite is now open for the taking and it has indeed been taken over stuff trying to respond
But it's so little to work with it feels like Audix already done the job
But Saspers coming in with a little bit of a try at the very least friend missing opportunities
But it's going to be now Audix is hiding away turtling in
Saspers got it only enough HP to be trained to be baited out. No, he's getting it done
He's got nothing to work with and the world on his shoulders
He will carry it only chaos locks a one-on-two the flares without kids
But they need to commit chaos locks wanting to take the deal. He's getting nervous
Fred takes them down and stuff and friend to bring it back
I can't believe they've managed to get out of that situation stuff on his low health the whole time
You know after the opening couple of duels he gets he fights back from hut
Just able to provide so much more and there were labored at gun battles for for friend as well
Hell across the map. It felt like that pistol was incredibly labored
but it is so very difficult for them to get a handle on just how well this
Swedish player is playing so far for a wild card right now. He's been a saviour, he's really
a driving force. And he doesn't know that there's a brake pedal in this car as well.
Look at him going all the way forward all over again and well listen right now it's wild
car that are all over AudicFriend. Finding those first two kills with a nice cozy
flashbang as well. Audic Force bought into this round let's not forget this is not just
a hey it's an anti-eco. Yeah I mean the amount of damage that's been done it it does look
like that but Caselocks does show his hand is four positions you'll get one but that's
all she wrote for the Audic Force buy. They end up with four rifles in that one as well
that's basically best-gay scenario. Thanks for buying these rifles for us. A kid
Good deal. This seems pretty nice. Yeah
Thank you very much
Another reason to say thank you very much is the eco round that's around the corner of a hair as well and wild card
Who look like they might have been letting sliver of some of that advantage that they had early on right six years seven five
That's not really the best finish to a half that starts off as splendidly as a dead
But right now the continuation is fantastic
Yeah, I'd like we'll have quite a lot to answer for
You know we're looking at these in-game leaders and these teams coming into this event
I actually think you know ESL Challenger Atlanta with the I guess with the projected big favorites we have
There's a lot of open ground that could be taken by teams that are on the come-up. So
For me, I always thought you know one of these teams maybe more on the fringe
Actually just had a lot to really answer for that's an unfair statistic
It was a bad game. All right. It was a bad game. Yeah
And KS walks in at his moments over here that one particular one that allowed them to actually start turning things around on the lower bombsite
Off nuke was beautiful that being said beauty cannot be ephemeral
It must be a little bit longer lived if you want to win out a map of Counter-Strike
Yeah, getting trophies is I guess the biggest thing about this challenger event for basically all of the teams involved
You know whether or not it's it's players that have come from success or come from
You know big teams like like Naphne with cloud 9 for example, you know this caliber of tournament actually is
Is out of the cabinet for basically all the teams in attendance?
You know the the only ones that I've really touched that silverware
I guess is is big as an organization, but it's been quite some time and it's really only what here's thin. Oh
That is as a deal and taps it. Yeah, and Mattis does have a deal. He's very
willing to show Wildcard what he's got.
Matt is tonight, his Deagle is actually very impressive, I remember it very fondly.
That said, you don't always see it work out and it's a difficult angle to work with.
It is still the anti-eagle, Wildcard's only job over here is to keep as many players alive as possible
and Susp is damn impressive.
Just a mechanical display that he keeps on putting up for us here is fantastic.
Yeah, I'm sure he's loving the output he's putting on the server himself as well.
Now when did these kills be so free-flowing like a bar and tap?
Unfortunately the bar only opened from match number two onwards.
Yeah, that's fair actually. Very fair.
But now it's open!
And let's see what they continue forward.
Matios of course, short, cute shot, very nice to see all that good stuff.
But now is really your only chance of bringing it back.
down five to ten they're already on double digits and one gun round away from pretty much securing themselves a map point and
Yes, this is wildcards own map big, but it's not like audit themselves are unfamiliar with it
They've played this 19 times in the past few months. Yeah
It's a thing though, you know coming over to and playing other
Regions on on maps you're very familiar with I feel I feel nuke is always a it's actually a pretty good example
For example, Mirage is the biggest litmus test in terms of like a differing version or a different style that you're maybe unfamiliar with.
But, you know, especially when we look at the South American region, in terms of development and even when they cross those wars and they play American teams,
often we will favor the South American squads given how much they play against each other and even the different styles within their own region.
JvA hoping to start off with a quick kill on 90, it's Dan is low, he's taking his litmus and his height away,
triple kill as they're pushing out from behind, and all of the hopes of Ordex are coming to a close.
If this is what that T side is going to look like, I don't want to see it.
And having these investments are just being dispelled. It's not like Wildcard are particularly stressed in any of these moments.
The pistol was the most stressful experience they, I guess, have had so far on the CT side,
And then they went 2-1-4-2-1-5 this year, that's the type of CS that I guess Wildcard are experiencing
when things are going wrong, it's not as if it's going so wrong, you can't get out of it.
Force by Aphromota, they know they don't really have a choice over here, they need to get something now.
I thought it doesn't want to let that happen.
Already past the smokes before they've even bloomed and he's relying on Audic to be feeling tenuous,
huge all-day utility on the T side the grenade to pop open the smoke and friend
to find Woody as well Sonic is bumping bodies inside the smoke but he's gonna
come out on behind them will they be mad at you shaking it away will not matter
he's back in this smoke like a ninja this man is Sonic finds more before
finally being put down yeah I mean this this actually was just pegged up
to be a crazy play from Sonic from the start on it using all of their
checking the idea that they could have kept the site, so that is normal time, but JBA will
just simply trade.
And KSLoxx with that bomb on the lower side of the map has a one on three on his hands.
Is there a duel to isolate?
Will Wildcard give that up?
JBA is accelerating forward and KSLoxx has moved back into decontamination room.
JBA however, despite having descending down quite quickly, is still going to be slowing
down as well.
He has lost his position. No, he is going to continue the slow creep forward.
It's not a great sign, but maybe they're expecting him to be coming in from Deacon,
still not really sitting out the defuse, needs to open the door.
Now spots them out, but it will not matter.
12 has been found. Wildcard are an inch away from their first win on home ground.
Yeah, I mean, really nicely done, even in that 3 vs 1.
You know, JBA not exactly like trying to take that fight independently.
He always wanted to relink with his squad there, Util as well.
Well, so the options were incredibly limited in that clutch situation.
But you know, all these ideas, all these, these AKs and glills that they're buying on the side
of Onyx, it's just every round is blowing up in their face.
And we're all saying you got the luxury of all these options and all these different
ways you could play out the T side if you're a Spanish football given the early precedent
they set.
Onyx don't have that.
Everything they've tried has failed.
anything to save face as you move into map 2 is your goal at this point.
Right, KS locks flying that first skill is massive, gets control over outside,
and it forces friend to make a move, but friend is happy to get his feet going.
4 on 3. Again you just don't have utility here on the side of Odyk, so you're gonna have to
try and slide out and hope you're still unclear, and that's exactly what happens.
Good timing for Matios, but they have lost another member all the meanwhile.
friends AWP has really been singing on this CT side.
And the man whose voice has never gone down is right here on Ramp.
Good for one and honestly it's all he wanted.
A one on two is not terrible for Toggs.
It's honestly one of the best situations Oric has been in on this T side which is kind
of sad to say but the truth is what it is.
Going back to the A side does give him a one on one versus JBA but JBA is waiting
for this exact peak it will not matter.
has been delivered and the bomb can be as well. Friend, rotating up will have his hands
only on the AWP. It's not a great place to be in this singular duel. The flashbang keeps
dogs away and friend is holding down the line. Wildcard will get it done. They will find
13. They will break first blood as we head into that second map. They'll have a chance
of finishing two.
Hey Future Pros. Ancient could be a great map to play but taking space on lane can
can be tough. Let's look at a util set you can throw to help you take control of Kay.
It's always good practice to have a teammate go mid and molly to jump up, or have them
getting info so you know you can't be peaked from heaven. That is pretty much a requirement
if you want to go for this play. For this, you will need a molly, smoke and a flash.
First let's molly into the cave doorway. I won't lie, this is pretty hard to do,
so make sure you practice this molly a lot. As you run towards the doorway, try
position yourself a bit wider to the right. Quickly aim in the middle of this brick and
running jump through the molly. You'll have to line this one up very fast to get it off
in one motion. Then, if the enemy team knows what they're doing, they will likely molly
into lane as you are scavenging. So use your smoke to extinguish this. Finally, throw
a flash off this section of the wall to land inside the doorway. It will take
you a few attempts to get all this in one smooth motion, but at the end of the
the day, practice makes perfect.
Sipski?
Oh no, no, thank you.
I'm good for now though, thanks.
Missus, what can I bring for you on the spore this afternoon?
Well, Hector, here's the game plan.
You're going to bring us two BO3s.
You know how I like them, 30 rounds.
And then precisely one desk segment after that,
you're going to bring us two more than two more every five
minutes until one of us can't talk anymore.
Excellent strategy, sir.
Oh, I'm good.
I'm good with BO1s for now though, thank you.
since first day on the cast of Desk.
Give him time.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Byron.
You're able to drink energy drinks during the day
and still do your job, still function?
How the fuck else would you do this job?
Monster energy and bananas, my friend.
Right, I gotta say, I'm incredibly excited
to be a part of your broadcast.
I mean, the fans are absolutely-
Fuck the fans.
Your only responsibility is to put viewership on the table.
You got a cast and partner?
I do.
I do have a duo.
His name is Moses.
Congratulations. Thank you. Think about Moses name of the game
Move the viewers from other e-sports into Counter-Strike
Right, but if you can entertain the fans at the same time, it's advantageous to everyone, right? No
Number one rule the counter-strike. I don't care if you're Henry G. I don't care if you're Chad virtual
Nobody knows whether a series is gonna go two maps three over time will be fucking forfeited
Least of all the casters, right? Mm-hmm. It's all a fugazi. You know what a fugazi is
Yeah, Fugazi, it's uh, it's, it's fake.
Fugazi, Fugazi, it's a Woozi, it's a Wazi, it's fairy dust, it doesn't exist, it never
landed, it's not fucking real, right?
Right.
Stay with me.
We don't create shit.
Right.
We don't build anything.
So you got a fan who watched One I Am and now Pro League is live and all of a sudden
he's all fucking happy and he wants to go outside and socialize.
You don't let him do that, do you?
Right.
Because that would make it real.
Okay.
What do you do? You get another brilliant season, a special season, another segment for him to watch during the break.
And he will, every single time, because they're fucking fans.
And you just keep doing this, again and again and again.
Meanwhile, he thinks he's watching CS, which he is, on paper, but me and you, the casters?
Right.
We're taking home cold hard cash via content creation, motherfucker.
right that's uh... that that's incredible sir uh... i can't wait to get
started
you should be
it's two keys to success of the cost of business
first off
you got to stay relaxed
you play parks
play plugs yes uh... i i do play plugs i i for i got
how many times a week
two three four maybe five those are rookie numbers you've got to pump those
numbers up see me personally i play parks
twice a day.
Wow.
Once in the morning after I walk out
and then once again after lunch.
Really?
Why?
I want to, that's not why I do it.
I do it because I fucking need to.
Think about it, you're dealing with numbers all day long.
First to 16, overtime score lines,
economy management, high frequencies,
bang, bang, bang, bang, bang,
ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee, ee,
fucking digits, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick,
all very acidic, above the shoulders, mustard shit.
The grind can wig some people out.
Right, so you've got to stay focused and stay in the game. Keep up to date with HLTV and Reddit.
Done.
This is not a tip. This is a prescription. Trust me, if you don't, you will fall out of
matter, glitch your differential and tip the fuck over or worse yet and I've seen it happen.
Implode.
No, I don't want to implode, sir.
No, no, you don't.
I mean it for the long run, you know.
Implosions are ugly.
Pop off to the gaming PC. It's Winsomilo anytime you can.
And when you get really good at it, you'll be fucking clicking your mouse and thinking about commentary.
Right. Yeah.
Second key to success in this racket is this little baby right here. It's called Monster Energy.
Right.
It'll keep you sharp between the ears and will also help your voice books talk faster.
And guess what? That's good for me.
Revolutions, you follow?
Revolutions, yeah, so...
Yeah.
Keep the fans in the stream and it goes 24-7, 365 every decade, every goddamn century.
That's it.
Name of the game.
Nominator.
C.E.S. Go.
The frags go in.
We go three maps.
Triple elimination.
It's a five week league.
No matter where we go.
X-Bat and Logitech G.
I don't know too much about them.
Haven't played too much against them either.
I've played against a few of their players in the past.
They definitely have the Brazilian Flare, which, you know, every Brazilian team has.
They can shoot really well.
They have some good explosive tactics, so definitely you can underestimate them at
all.
Now, this is all about the stand-up performance from Starspin Wildcard, powering them through
that first map.
What a victory to find.
Audic was stunned on the other side.
Yeah, I mean, a fantastic calling from Stannisville throughout, but I think that extra oomph, that
firepower that you're mentioning, that stuff provided, was definitely a massive benefit
to them.
So, I mean, when we really look back at that map, we'll just look at it as this Audic
floundering and the, I guess, the raw potential that stuff showed us in that first.
But that may be the last memory they hold.
Audic will try and answer back on their own pick, ancient, what they are hoping
will keep them alive here in the lower bracket.
incredibly well programmed maps for them to know exactly what they want to do on their T side and right now
They're starting things off with a V side hit, but look at what wild card have planned
It's a double push forward from cheetah and friends already got the first
That's more than what you could really ask for
Blind peeking out of smoke starts picking down and that's raid boss over
Stallions are just the boss. Maybe not so much for a raid
Has also been taken down to despite the early advantage. It's gonna be a three on four for wild card
friend will try but he's making steps over towards long it's
attention's raised that direction but the duelist Sonic again empty end up
empty-handed and with friends starting the affair he hopes to get at least a
couple more but Audic cracked through that B bombsite and they convert on
this pistol we really did need more from Susp over there right he set up for
success completely yeah use their utility they've used their flashes
you've got the first kill via friend he's also a threat to push through the
smoke theoretically. If you can't find that first right, you're just not going to get anything
done. Yeah. I mean, maybe as well, it's one of these positions where you're not sure whether
or not to try and support Susp by making that play through the smoke or leaving to his own
devices. I mean, they've left Susp to do his work on that previous map. It's not
like he didn't deliver, but unable to get his hands on those goods. I love that
we're diving into an ancient straight after that nuke, which was a little slow and
little bit more sporadic and we're gonna see a lot faster fighting especially from a team like
Audix that love to take space quickly. Here against these pistols they are venturing into many domains
just to get information in some of these picks. They do lose 90 for the chance at that but they
know that those weapons cannot, that weapon cannot be recovered it's not like it will be
a house of cards to fall. Friends trying to move in from behind the smoke he has a chance but
But he's not able to make good use of it a very hard shot to miss my trip to land rather. Don't get me wrong
But it did feel like it was really your only opportunity to cause a bit more chaos
They will have to settle with just the one frag and sus will be just another casualty
That's to make sure that they don't get ahead of themselves though
This is how they started off on nuke. Yeah, we're a pistol
the follow-up and
Then suddenly guns come out and life gets difficult
Oopsies.
Don't want any of his head. Just want some smooth sailing for Audic, make it a map number three.
But this is where the first real hiccups begin and can you actually
quench your thirst fast enough to stop them. Not any aggression out in middle.
It's going to in fact be Sheeda focused one more time but blocked off by a Molotov and a MAK 10.
I think it's as well. It's an area that they should be targeting.
Stannisville has a lot on his plate as that Sheeda player.
And it's by threatening that control it becomes harder for Stannis to get a read on the map as this player that wants to get active and hunt for information.
Stannis moved down the ramp and as that smoke fades he gets one and dinks up 90 as well.
Big. Stannis all good for the one, make it two!
MP9 picking up more than what it's worth, Brandon as well on the other side, good for the single and 90 who's been low.
No.
He's suspect, put him a little bit more miserable, willing to fall in, bomb not planted either,
Orduk will not be able to take that extra kaching forward.
Yeah, Niddy had to plant in that position as well, fearful of the spam from Stannislaw,
but JBA really nice that he spams the other side of that wooden pallet.
The site is pretty permeable in terms of denying the bomb plant, so long as you maintain
cave control.
So a good read on what the options were for Nidie.
That's it. Get onto the gun round and Walcard are right back into it, Odyk, coming in with a deagle on Matios, but AK's for the rest of the squad.
Woody is playing with fire and death, but he's also delivering in friend trades elsewhere.
KSLock's trying to get aggressive in the middle.
It's not necessarily something you characterize for him, Nidie finds Susp, big kill, and well, big kill's going both ways.
The box is generally one of the biggest performers in late rounds for Audix side friend, boost
boss of smoke another Molotov and 90 will be eliminated.
Yeah, I mean, fantastic move there from friend for him to have found a pick, you know, as
they were going for this B side attack, as well as to make use of the Molotov that
was already down and get that follow up by his teammate.
Often moving past that CT smoke, it's the biggest vulnerability you have is getting
peaked along as you're emerging the smoke. Woody has given himself access of the bomb
again and with plenty of time there's a thread of rotation. It's a wildcard never will feel
safe just sitting on their laurels. Picked up another smoke as well. Use this smoke
just to make sure you can get control of ramp. And you can see wildcard are still
kind of hedging their bets. They're unsure about whether Woody will reposition drastically
after retrieving that package.
Tom's running low now, though, and the thread of A will not really have been considered
too much by Wildcard.
Sonic said, you know what, as long as I'm not being flanked in from CT, I'm okay if
it gets planted as well.
Ten seconds and JBE has started to gravitate back towards the bomb site, and the second
it starts being dialed in, JBE will also be doing the same.
Does actually reveal position, that gives Woody a little bit more information to play
with.
Remember, his HP is low from earlier on.
They've got a grenade for the smoke as well if they want to risk it, but JBA decides I'm
going to double peek and double swing.
Woody will be given the ISO 5 versus Sonic, Sonic however just wins it.
Yeah, I mean if Woody had maybe a little bit more health to trade in that duel, there
was certainly a chance he could have brought it to that 1 versus 1, but you can see Wild
Carbure's fearful of giving him isolated duels, even with that smoke that was down,
with having a cheese. They didn't want to get timings by awkward moves by Woody in that
situation. In game leader of Audic trying his best to make that round feasible, but wild
card weren't going to make a boisterous error just to get him off of that plant or even
just, you know, there was no ego, I guess, to hunt down this final kill. It was all
about trying to play off of each other and guarantee that trade.
It's going to be the nades down middle, JBA has been double lading up himself and now he'll throw this very little HP left on JBA.
Is it enough meat to have a meal with?
I want to finish off this kill, Stannisville is there to cover and that's a perfect angle to support JBA's ascent through the ledge.
And even JBA taking the next fight, I think he was setting up for Stannisville to trade, but he's found success.
Yes, the Glock of Mattias that finally finishes the job.
One of the things to keep in mind though is that Odyk has actually been juggling around
some of their positions on the T side, right?
This round is a foregone conclusion, but looking over towards the gun rounds again, I'm curious
to see whether Toggs and Kers Locks will be playing together in the middle more often.
Toggs earlier on, they were trying to have him play the B extremities a little bit
more often, and keeping him alive for the late round, Kers Locks would also not get
aggressive in mid-finally enough, even though he was playing it.
He would rather actually reverse back and get aggressive with the death ball for the rest
of the team.
But it feels like Audic might have tried to change up that style a bit on this T side
for Ancient, maybe expecting it to be read into, maybe already feeling like it was insufficient
at places.
And you have to love the approach though from JBA in that round, even if it gets double
needed down to 5 HP instead of thinking, oh, I'm low health, I should play it a
little safer.
It's kind of, well, I'm already all the way out here.
I may as well give it a look and he fights two kills from his five health.
The plan is the plan. Don't deviate from it.
And he is rewarded.
I think it's what when we're talking about prospects in the region,
there's a lot of talk about JBA as a young, up-and-coming star player within the region.
And given the way the campaign here at ESL Challenger Atlantis started for Wildcard,
actually he's got that confident stride to him.
Absolutely. A lot of people out of the audience on shows do really want to see him succeed,
than a lot of people back at home do as well.
But a creep and crawl forward from Orduc into Donut
means that it's going to be JBA put to the test
one more time and early incendiary will singe no one
and a deep grenade will be doing very little as well.
Woody, a single point of HP shipped away.
That's not exactly value.
Yeah, the problem for Orduc is that
they don't just want to attack a simply from Donut.
It'll just be too difficult as well
with the possibility of A main being explored
by wild card.
So after they show that presence, they start to move away rerouting through red.
Sonic knows what's going on, he shot a bit too quickly, but it doesn't matter.
Position revealed or not, Sonic will win nonetheless, it's in fact, friends of, that ends up
being sacrifice.
Gaeus Klotz will be able to put the bomb within arm's reach, but as he turns back
to the B bomb site, he's not ready for the Daryl Stalin's Law.
Takes him down.
I really thought Sonic was going to be caught shadow boxing but the reason they do that
is to prepare for the real fight. Sonic able to get those two kills, just immediately shutting
down that reroutes that Odyk had planned.
Feeling good about himself right now. And Sonic Zorz is one of those players who obviously
he has such a strange level of veteran so when you look over towards his resume, when
you look over towards who he's played with, who he's played for, does end up being
a bit of a forgotten veteran in the NAC but he wants to be remembered and right now he's
going to be remembered for some easy frags down middle and a fade away with a limping
foot.
Yeah, I actually can't believe he escaped. I mean there are tech nines running him down.
There's enough bullets in those tech nines usually to hound down that kill. 15 health
will be enough. Nice double setup inside of cave. They get friend involved. As much
is that the man to look to inside of cheetah just having that extra support can be a nice
way to alleviate the strain especially when they know they're on a low buy. This is like the third
time he's actually called for this as well now friend is making his way back over he's very cognizant
that they could already be in the bomb set and that's the adjustment he was looking for but
stanah has now called i think trice for someone to come with him to cheetah he's expecting to
to retarget it. He's expecting that they're going to say, well, this guy's the weak link.
Well, I think it's probably because of how some of the early rounds started, you know,
Mario's getting so aggressive with the SMG, the deep mall toms as well. So for them, if
there's, if there's a lack of that presence or lack of that pressure, it actually might
just be a vulnerability that could be explored in the late round. If not, a chance to
shoot some T's just walking into their crosshairs. That helps early nades and
I'm gonna do some good damage. No, I'm lying through my teeth.
Thought that one would go deeper.
Oh, this is weird.
Yeah, a friend going for that deep hit and 90.
Just perusing the edge of the smoke. This is the problem.
Stanislaw could not protect that ledge position.
That feels bad for Sonic. He does at least get a dink out,
but you can't do anything when 90's on the other side with an AK.
Sospus got one of his own, but there's so many players to deal with.
They're turning around.
He's going to find the target, but it's not the kills.
Mario's able to recover, and he recovers with two.
That's fantastic. I mean, they're just going to accelerate immediately off of that.
And finally, finishing off that kill, that Sonic teed up, and Stannislaw gets two.
Even having support, he'll be teed up for a third.
This in-game leader is fighting back, but it's now a clutch offered up.
A one-on-one KS locks. There is no info on where this player was.
Stannislaw's going to have to try and take something at some point.
He knows he has to vomit his feet.
Backed off, this is perfect.
The problem is it's gonna be his read of force,
but at the same time for KS Locke's,
he's dealing with a ghost right now.
Stan could have feasibly come in from behind,
but the reload gives away the gig.
The games went spotting, and it's over.
Stan and his teammates get given in the call.
I think you saw him, and now he knows.
The moment we plant it, Stan's in pursuit.
KS Locke's cannot peek out.
He also has no idea what...
Outstand shows it and he just stays patiently.
Veterancy at its finest, four kills for Stan.
And look at the way that this in-game leader has started.
12 and three on Stan is small right now.
Sure he gets four this round,
but it's not as though he's not finding success
in some of the other buys.
The weak link?
Who?
This is the thing, Stan was actually famous
for being one of the players in North America
who when he turned out towards IGL-ing,
he did have these maps where he popped off, right?
He's one of the classic quote-unquote fragging IGLs.
It's one of the reasons why their teams always felt like they had a good match of us as Trialists as well.
Right? You're looking back to what Stan's teams would always do well because Glaive felt like he was sort of an extra man compared to what every other team had at the time.
Stan could actually rival it very effectively both with the calling and with the fragging.
Yeah, and maybe in the past few years that hasn't really been his acclaim.
But, I mean, the big thing you get in IngaBleader 4 is the brain.
If they can get some extra kills alongside it, that is a luxury.
It's a luxury, a very happy to have.
Yeah, and Stan is living lavish on that round.
Oh, no!
Sonic turns on him!
He wasn't blinded because he battles and tries to run away.
even when it's going wrong it's still somehow working right it's still okay
for wildcard so inside of cave did need to provide something I mean stand as a
forward position outside of cheetah but on it do have the site and you know
given the way this round started stumbled moves and you know especially with that
last round coming down to a one-on-one money is not in the healthiest
position here for for wildcard and a few of their players and so given the
way the round starts they'll simply say listen we made a couple mistakes or it
can take this one I'm not one to draw conclusions but this does look a lot
like neocrite now six two they start to bring it back six three maybe look at
seven five let's hope the trends aren't too clear-cut but still and listen the
one advantage you are gonna have is I think stands performance is a lot less
sustainable than sus four sure right and sus has not shown up to this
map is three and seven so far. And that's not for lack of opportunity to frack. Yeah,
I mean, they've been attacking the B bombsite fairly frequently and he serves us. I guess
the proper anchor, you know, ancient is a bit of a weird one where the bomb site kind
of has two anchors. So long as the cheetah player isn't sort of pushed away from cave
too far. So it's the guy that will be last to rotate very frequently. And yeah, the
B bombsite has seen siege. Yeah, just taking the time, I think to just grew their
head's on straight like you're sort of aptly describing the parity between this map and Nuke
in terms of the storyline, they're just making sure it doesn't fall out of their favor.
It's definitely a conversation to be having both for Wildcard and Audic, right? Because
of how often Wildcard has been concentrating their double cheater setup, Audic gets the
great call of the head where they not just get the kill but they accelerate into
the site. They recognize what's been going on and now it's a change of, it looks
like fast day is the call but that smokes were to be slightly slower at least maybe it
just feels like it. It's gone out to the back of donors, Sonic's found the first, JBA is
right here with a flash to his name as well and Sonic's just adding more to his tally.
Five on two and all of the score has been toward it faster than it was even dialed
in.
It's crazy as well because you see so many games from Wild Carbohydr, they're just
so aggressively pounding in towards the middle of the map and you know this time JBA
starting close towards Dota. He's there to respond. He gets a Molotov down in time, and
he thinks he's going to get all the kills. But yeah, Sonic providing a lot of help. But
the round's not finished as of yet. Woody left alone, 90 taken down after leaving in
some screen, but just keeps applying that pressure back into the site, and Woody is
ill-prepared.
I haven't found a little bit earlier than it was in Nuke, and I have to say, this
is what wildcard are going to look like. I am here for it.
and you know for them they said it forget about that first game. This is our first game properly at the ESL Challenger Atlanta
They get a best of three and so far looking very good
I mean that's a great round from JBA just in the way that he reacted and called for sonic support
The boost up from Otik
But he find nothing they've been disassembled and it's been heard inside the smoke so I just given the call
be careful we know where one of them is at the very least. Susp, Traden, JBA the one to commit to it
and the friend repositioning back for a peek in with the AWP he has been found,
Nidhi the one to put him to bed but the 3 on 4 is still very concentrated. Another duel
a bit from Stonic but it's Nidhi to continue to succeed on this V site. He just perforced it
he genuinely just perforced it he runs up ramps, finds it opener, just keeps on finding
and frags. 90 was done with all of the tactical misdirection of these fast calls. He just
decides he's going to take the duals himself and he rips their heads. Sometimes it can
be as simple as that. And this is why, you know, even when we were talking about Nuke,
we were looking at 90 as the guy that is supposed to be effectively a playmaker. When
things are going poorly, this guy does take ownership on rounds. He does try and
drive some initiative for this team. That round is just fully accredited to him.
And we talked about in the first map how we didn't have a player to look towards to take ownership
like that. If 90 will beat the man, I'm all here for it. But Woody's the one who starts off this
round again with the kill and assess the continual problems in the B site for Sus. Do continue
what Woody is the real problem. All right, 90 had his turn. Is it Woody's time to shine?
I mean, those are great picks. Amaltov as well that will flush Stanislaw forward.
Woody will know that he should have a simpler duel ahead of him.
And he actually hits the flick instantly. Sonic though, in the cubby, a double.
But JBA cut down on the rotate. It does end similarly to Nuke, 7-5 at the half.
Audic fighting for their lives.
We'll give you a chance, and that chance has been found. Woody and Nande fight for more.
This is where Audic found themselves cut to a stop on Nuke,
Nuke, but now they'll have to defend a fast ace like push from Wild God who looked to close it out in this half
Madios starts off with his teammate already down
Tox hits the deck and Madios retreats and just as the first pistol started its friend that finds that opener
And they even get woody as well in transition. Madios being that low health will not help them in this retake
Wild card are just continuing to find player after player this fast call to a the immediate smoke
they get down towards CT. It's
just too much for Audic to handle.
And just as it was a struggle for
wildcard on the retake, the
numbers that the wildcards still
have available, it will just be
too much for locks and madios to
deliver on. And it'll be as
simple as that. It's all on the
entries and that snap decision
from spawn to just go with that
fast a call. Wildcard. I
of T-Sides pistols, but Wildcard do it in a much more convincing fashion.
To keep in mind as well, I mean, I talked about how Stan's performance isn't really sustainable,
maybe Sonic also doing a little bit too well for what his role, theoretically, is, but
I would also say that Susp's sort of underperformance shouldn't be sustained either, right?
I never expect him to be gone for that long in a game to be out for an entire map,
and the T-Side is the perfect chance to flip it around.
He set him up for a couple of anti-eco kills right back in the day.
To be honest, most of the success we saw from Sus was when he was being aggressive.
Not so much sitting static in positions like he was often having to do on that CT side,
reacting to what Odyk were throwing down.
So yeah, I am expecting a bit of a Swedish bounce back.
At the same time, what I'd love to see for Odyk though, is Togs to come in and perform.
Togs is such an incredibly important part of this team.
Yeah, and really struggling so far.
It's not just about his aim, it's also about the fact that a lot of them made aggression.
Comes off the back of calls that frogs is clearly making.
Frogs and KS-locks will come through together, and if both of them aren't doing well,
if you're going to be struggling on Middle and Ancient, you're going to be struggling on all of it.
Once again, an appreciatable amount of respect given over to Oddyk on this low-bi,
you know, it could be a force for which they are stacked.
I'll have you know what kind of very much out there computers, okay guys? Don't worry.
Yeah, yeah, that's may not be there, but...
Wildcars certainly are.
But they do lose a couple of players, even though they take a free bombsite.
Again, it's really about limiting the amount of...
I guess opportunity you give Odyk to break your money as you move further into this half, but...
Even Susp, you know, talking about setting him up for some anti-ecos.
I might have jinxed him a little bit.
Yeah, he doesn't even land a bullet with that Mac.
Gun being retrieved over here as well and JBA might be using another one. That is disaster. In fact, that is really the worst-case scenario.
Is no one going to go back for that Galil that they dropped?
Oh, they're going to try and jump up as fast as they can to retrieve it.
That bomb radius, especially when you don't have armor, you know, H1 has to be respected for that.
I think 90 just didn't drop the gun towards his teammates, unfortunately, as well, so that's never going to be good.
Regardless, you get away with an AK saved and a lot of damage dealt.
You now have a chance to reset economy for the T side,
which is very rare on the CT side this early into a half.
If there's ever really a sign for you to say,
okay, we can make this work, we can start to come back, this would be.
Yeah. I mean, you can see it on Stanislaw's face.
I mean, just the fact that they lose so many players for that.
You're having to come into this round with so many Galils and lots of Util,
but yeah, Togs trying to take that mid space,
it's Thonix that finds him.
great flashes through from spawn. This is what I meant if you're going to be losing out
mate you're losing out so much Sonic so loses his life and 90 is happy to deliver death twice
over. Thank you so much for that AK huh? I mean just fast headshots and with the M4 that
would have been a lot more taxing to perform. It's a like wildcow reportedly spaced for
it just 90 some clean shooting. He's had that all game long now. 17 frags,
locks will be running, gunning it. Trying to get himself in a better position he
at least gives himself a chance to be defended by 90 90 off angle is not enough sauce puts him down
There he is it took him a while, but there is sauce for right back into it. I
Mean fantastic kills. It's woody that comes in on the flank
And I think he just gave up one too many steps status law within earshot
And so you'll have what is he starts to emerge from these B doors
And it's just purely punched in even with the success of 90 his misstep in trying his best to reinforce
cheetah he actually I don't think he plans to get into that off angle, but he knew he just got there a little too late and
Offering as many fights as they did. I mean to be honest
He's just such an awkward rotation coming out from locks over there, right?
The fact that he's coming in from middle into cheetah once again that late when you're in a foreign three advantage
Like what are you looking for?
Yeah, are you hoping that nighty can then come over the smokes and the last one that it will and you can double peek out
If that makes us and it's something I know I talked to you about but it felt like save a buddy syndrome
where because of that mist that everybody felt like they had to do something to help in some way and it ends up going from bad to worse
Worst is the right way of putting it right now, but I didn't care so it's will at least
Make things possible one more time. Oh, dick
Have shown how deadly they can be on low buys and listen. This is where
As much as I said the previous round was the best chance of them things around this would be the second best to be fair
when you're staying they looked good on low buys the last time they got a lot of kills
it didn't even have a buy that's a lowest buy of them all yeah on your given for free
regardless of how this series goes all card rule look at these rounds and think they should
have done a much better job still ways to recover it sonic nice wide swing has the shoulder
to shoulder play as they emerge through mid but unable to get anything further from
Mario's sitting inside of the smoke as well and he'll wait for contact as soon as Tox fires a bullet. No, he just emerges the smoke himself
That's insane. I can't believe he's done that 90 needs to save it again
And he's just not going to be able to do it. It's a three on five
It's a three on five where you even get the first kill to make it a two on four
Every single Domino was set up for your success
All you had to do was tip it over, that's all.
But you tripped, you fell, your nose broke, and now you're hoping that Woody's got a medic
in his pocket.
This is another man advantage seeded, this was 3 on 5.
And then a 2 on 4.
Yeah.
You just burst the smoke.
It's bold, but it did not work.
I think it has really become evident.
I mean, even towards the end of that T side half, Odyk were desperate in quite a few ways,
whether it's Niddy taking responsibility and just running up Ramper or Woody in his continued
activity with that AWP.
But here on CT, when they're in that five on three, they don't know where it went
to let go.
And Sonic and Stanislaw have continued to have success over here.
Really have to credit them so much for that.
the most veteran players yes on this team and yes there's going to be people
saying well they're unbounded by pressure they've got a standard this I can
guarantee you those two have pressure on their shoulders because how many more
lands are you gonna get in your career international lands lands with prestige
lands where you get to go up against top European opposition lands when you
get to prove yourself friend he's just happy to be here he's happy to be
having a good time. Especially on Nuke when he just started to light up. No one wants to
come into Atlanta and fall flat. But this man that you play so much importance on Toggs,
it has been a flat delivery so far. And it's looking like he may be pressured, especially
with stuff being found on the extremity like that, Wildcard will have lost all possibility
of routing back to B. The rotations into A are guaranteed and Toggs will fly number
3.
The Molotov as well should be keeping JBA away.
He's just looking for a duel anywhere at all that he can find it, but no.
Will not be the case.
Yeah, could move here to go for the reboost as well.
They do it silently.
See JBA was hunting to see if they'd jump on the sign.
It's really not that a lot that the wildcard can do aside from hope that a duel is given
to them and that has happened in similar situations like this.
There's no smokes to push through right now for the CT side, so maybe it's a little bit less hot.
JBA is still really honed in on this angle. If KSLUX steps a little too far, yeah, feet shown, they know exactly where KSLUX is.
They'll maybe have been close enough to have heard it, but what he has found elsewhere, JBA trying to reroute Wildcard.
They called this round off at the 25 second mark.
They were really hoping to save the AWP, but unfortunately just not able to do so.
So if you take that one forward, maybe there's still a play to try and put together with your money
It's terrible right now. A force by is pretty much mandatory
And as much as they're
Realistically our rays of hope and rays of light that I do see right you force by over here
Probably lose that one. Maybe you're an eco afterwards. It's 11 a right this is these cases I can make but to be honest Michael
after that five on three I
I need to see audit convince me rather than the other way around. Yeah, and that was a great display of what they what they can do in a
5v3 where they play with a little bit more control and they're constantly keeping tabs on areas
They're not over rotating. They hear a mall tov in middle. They're not
Leaping at the opportunity to catch a player out when they already have this significant advantage
Maybe what they should have done in the previous five on three, but they they learned their lesson quick
And I think you could see Stan was
be preying on the idea that don't worry guys don't make a mistake but Audic
didn't oblige the call is straightforward the site is a and the
plan is simple go in get some kills at dogs in the same position no doesn't
want to let that happen friend will finally trade but chaos rocks has been
given plenty of time to come back in the smoke in the middle of the bombsite
is creating so much chaos but deep days opening in the smoke so it takes
advantage offered, can look to block the bomb despite the advantage. It's a three on three
and the smoke dissipating with the CTs. More trades coming in. Yeah, they didn't feel comfortable
to get that bomb down because they knew that doughnut smoke was going to fade. Sonic already
rerouting, but Sus didn't quite get the memo hanging around and seeing if there were still
players around on the side of Vodik. It's Sonic that will make a very, very lengthy
rotation towards his B bomb site that is open for the taking and give it the way that
Sonic has been playing this map currently 20 and 9 he is hoping to find two more to find wild card at map and series point
If there was anyone to do it it would be him it would be the South African man
He knows he's got the clock to play with
Maybe he doesn't expect Audic to have given as much ground as this you know, he's he's cut sound
They don't have information on him whatsoever, but Woody is not moving a muscle keeping his eyes on the prize at red
That price is mobile though as Sonic could still come in from the side and just tap him out
What he should start to think about it though. It doesn't matter. It's a little bit too late
But Sonic is also gonna be treated back to the B bombs that he needs to go. He needs to realize this
He thinks about it. Well, if what he's watching Red Room then surely he's not worried about an A side push that means
It has to be someone on A
bomb now planted
Could be a quad kill for Sonic
Stanislas already found one in similar circumstances.
Matios now hoping to hunt him down.
So far, success for Otik has largely been in the hands of Nity, but maybe those aren't
the only hands that can show stability.
Sonic holds off the off-angle, waits for the push to come through, and he loses it
out.
Matios will buy them just a little bit more breathing room.
Yeah.
I mean, Matios plays that very slowly.
The fact he had to smoke as well, I thought was going to be his biggest friend, but
just the timing on that for Sonic, he just wanted to make sure that he could even maybe catch out
Matios thoroughly clearing all these angles, but just as Matios is prepared for that cave fight,
that's where Sonic decides to swing. It is, I mean, it actually couldn't have been
timed better for Matios. That said, the amount of damage they did just here for the CT side
is not exactly reassuring. Yeah. If Sass hadn't gone down without getting his Eagle kill,
right that that's different but now again fast play into b tech nines to overrun
sonic every single round it feels like he's always good for one and now with
a bomb the big blunt it with sprays coming in they can't get it down but
jba brings down madios instead three on three sure but chaos locks and dogs are
back in the site and they are letting this one look a little bit more comfortable
yeah really nice job there from chaos locks as well playing ahead of the
utility and just making sure the players couldn't jump into that smoke. They just prevent an
AK default from falling into the hands of wildcard while all the utility is still up.
So even if that first kill is seeded, it's not as though Sonic made any grand mistakes
in defense of this bomb site. They got the players there and they were willing to fight
for each other as well in defense of long and short control.
This is the part where you do kind of start to think about the worst case scenario if you're on the American side, the North American side.
Guys, gotta win this one. This is the important one. And you stop putting on pressure, you stop putting more things on your own shoulders.
That's how things can go wrong and I'm sure Wildcats know it as well.
But the fact is, this could be the pivotal round to decide the fate of ancient here and now.
And it will be Wild Guard looking to try and go for a late mid take.
Contest him to Woody's arm again and Woody's been able to ring off a few shots.
One of them finding blood but KS lost but loses his own head.
That's a great shot from Sonic. Took a lot of damage for it but it will just
plaster KS locks against the wall. Woody again just re-peeking out from
doughnut and Togs finds his as well just re-aggressing through mid. B-bombsite does have some space taken
but the bomb needs to cross and given the activity of Otick in middle this will not feel
safe for JBA, friend, a nice kill through spawn. 90 starts to gravitate over and given the low
health on friend it was never going to be favorable but JBA at least has info on where
this B player is. He's the man who's been touted by many of his domestic scene many of
of the talent from there as being a clutcher.
And right now it does feel like Wildcard kind of needed these past few rounds.
I've all been so close, but the finishing stamp has always been bearing Audix's logo.
Deep Molotov will at the very least end back into the side, but he doesn't know the 90s
road to get all the way out from B ramp back to the side and take him down.
Yeah, that was always going to be his biggest issue.
seen you know close towards cave or the site and given how much room he had wouldn't have
expected 90 to find this timing behind him. He's repeating what he's just been deadly
doing. I will say that's a great risk to put yourself in. You know baking in the shoes of what
before Trogs was kind of struggling with like let's be honest about it and it did feel like
Wildcars trying to target that late mid-play to try and find CS walks and Trogs.
and one ready for the op. And
I felt as though as well when he was kind of stepping out of his comfort zone as
yeah just to make sure you know 90 will hear all the the presence and know that
their players on legend so we took that gamble and it's perfect we are starting
to see that resurgence here from togs came to this half with two kills it
has been able to deliver on a couple of occasions for multi frags starting to
is confidence back and that is fearful for the Americans. I don't feel like I need to specify
North Americans when you know we're talking about Swedes and South Africans, you're right.
Yeah. And the thing is, I mean, we talked obviously about how Sonic and Stanislaw,
these two veterans, you know, how to change things up who really have seen it all.
You can't kind of say the same for 90 and 90 as well at this point. So nice shot.
This round might still have a bit more conversation to be had about it
Kiosk lock certainly being low as the only rotator who's close to the side itself is risky JBA a body shot could be enough
But he's not really making any secrets about it
More worried about a push through the smoke than what could come through temple that push does come in and Matthew shows
Them why they were worried
Matios with all three shots it all down. Yeah, all just the confidence of a flash
Even if those players weren't fully caught by it just able to get so much space out through spawn I collect on these players that
predominantly had pistols
Some nice shooting for Matios. It's a nice smiling afterwards as well. Orteca really looking like they are right back in it
I know which way the wind is blowing and it feels southern
And the scary thing is right. No one ever questioned
ability to frag, they question ability to show up and right now Audic has done
just that but Tray's in middle did not go their favor not this time. Woody will
try to rectify with 90 on his side but the problem is they've left the B
bombsite completely open. And 90's been caught as well, starts to find him and
right when Audic was knocking on the door of equality of 11 11 the door
was opened up and they broke their nose on a wildcard decided to remind them of the difference
I mean a fast playthrough made and the way back in was nighty getting a kill on jba who didn't feel
as though he was gonna get much coverage from that ledge aggression out from cheetah but very timely
from susb save jba's life and save the prospect of this round i think as well do you go hunting
is the question. You know you don't have the best money, but to be fair you also will have a buy in the next run
and I'm not sure how much it makes a difference there. That being said though,
decent money on the CT side as well, right?
It does feel like you want to take the AWP out of their hands and that's very hard to do.
I think even from their perspective though, given the
run that Audic have been able to pull together, they may think they just might be able to buy anyway.
Right. And so the value in it, it doesn't, I guess you don't see the
You yourself reaping the rewards. It's all that's clearly visible. Yeah, we should be right
Plus let's be honest the other thing to keep in mind is for especially for a younger team
Having a conversation about the next round is also very useful. I just extra 10 15 seconds to just chill out and make sure everything's working
It's a good time. It's basically a nice little fake time out for yourself
Also, your economy is far more important given that you are right about to close the series, but can you close it?
Odyk, this is elimination point for them. Do they want to change things up? Do they want
to go aggressive? It does feel like it might be a plan with a double man setup inside Cheetah.
This has not been as much of a priority for them as it was for the wildcard side,
90, out in the open begging for a duel. But instead he's been given a smoke to
coordinate off the grenade his feet is not really helpful he's done well to not
take really much damage given the util that surrounded him
they were on it were desperate they got individual plays can you look at 90 to
be that guy right now when you're fighting for your life your first day
at the tournament here at ESL Challenger Atlanta it's a lot of
responsibility where others have shied away on this Brazilian roster there are
few you can look to to be your star man but the time is running out for Wild
God a 90 every second that crosses it's another chance for him to get it done but
the chances are gone the dink for dink and sus comes out on top
Mario Stowe and Woody are able to keep it competitive the B-Bomb side
should be enforced by a leader, a leader! Now with his head removed!
Wild God, two kills away from the first win on stage and Sonic wants to deliver them,
but with the smoke in his hand he needs to be careful, locks back in the site, backs off to the smoke as well.
Sonic betrayed, only dogs remain, he wants to find salvation, but instead he finds death!
A fantastic row of performance and confidence built here by Wild Card.
You know these opening rounds in groups, teams were embarrassed with how poorly they played.
We had a nice back and forth here on Ancient.
We had Star step up, we had great performances from Woody from 90 that tried to keep the minute.
And even with Susp overperforming in Expectation there on Nuke, you had Stannis Law, you had
SONIC, you had these veteran players that stepped up and really delivered the goods.
Even when Audic had all the advantages.
And it's exactly what you want to see going forward as they get ready to face domestic
rivals of MAD.
The question though is, can they show that form tomorrow?
Can Stanislav and Sonik do it all?
The questions will all be answered by three people, much better doing it than we are.
The South African leads the Americans to another round in ESL Challenger Atlanta.
I got to do that because I'm South African, got to claim him a little bit, which is
ironic because if you spoke to Sonik you'd tell your buddies Canadian passport and
you got my British one. But there you go. They stay in the competition. What is this
to really say about this game? Audit just looks like they were struggling in a few rounds
on the board, but it was never quite enough. They looked outclass, they looked out of sorts
at plenty of times on this series. I especially thought the first half of this ancient,
there were a lot of odd moves slightly disjointed. Yeah, I mean, they were not competitive
in this series overall and the better team absolutely wants to on a key note. Um, it's
a learning curve. They came to this tournament, not expecting necessarily to win the whole
thing, but I think, um, they'll be disappointed that it gets her more. We're going to go
to, I'm going to let apples talk very soon. But first, we're actually going to go to
the stage because JBA is with Mike now to celebrate the victory. He is indeed. I
got the man on the scene. JBA double on the stage in front of the American crowd
here that's got to feel good yeah it is does feel good to win in front of the
crowd and now you survive into the day to most importantly you got a rematch
with M80 I don't know if you heard some of the things like we're shouting at you
specifically I didn't know I didn't know well let's just say you might need to do
some talking in the server tomorrow it's not really me but you know I might
need to shut talking a little bit I definitely think you should you got
to give it as good as you get you know get a little revenge there is that
matchup you're looking forward to in particular? Yeah I always like playing
them we have kind of a rivalry going on so just feels nice to beat them
sometimes and hopefully I'm land it for the first time. And now into the best of
three right last time was to be a one things can get out of hand you feel a
little more confident in this one? Yeah definitely. We'll have a day to rest. Well
night to rest and then yeah excited. A few hours to rest at the least. Well
I hope you enjoy the rest. Congrats on the win. Look forward to watching
tomorrow. And I trust Sam. We could all use that.
That's not how these events work, Mike. You know, we don't get to sleep. It's our
punishment for being fans of Counter-Strike.
Apples, what did you think of your American brethren and their performance
there?
I, I feel like my pep talk at the beginning of the day when I was the
M80 and wild card game and I said, do better to JBA. I feel like that
must have worked somehow because almost every single time that he was in a
clutch situation, it worked out for him in the end. He was able to hit his
and I think it's really important
to have a lot of shots figure
out the place around audit in
that has to also go into
Stanislaw and how he was
calling the mid rounds and
everything as well and Sonic
like I feel like everything
kind of fell into place for
wildcard and we weren't
expecting their ancient to be
as strong as it was. You
know, focusing on the M 80
and wildcard ancient that we
saw a little bit earlier, but
they must have done some kind
of work. Some kind of
the game. I'm not going to
against I deck. But there were
holes that you could quite
really poke right in some of
their place. Yeah I mean, it
will not be as easy for wild
card in their future games in
this tournament. Um but there
were positives they called good
counter strike suspect looks
absolutely monstrous or new
could just walk into any on the
map and decide it was his
Sonic played the best. Yes,
I've seen him play for years
that was the end. Um Stanis
rematch competitive, but you struggle to take them as the favourites moving forwards.
Let's jump in and get a feel for what was going on in that series. We've got some comms from the players.
I'm gonna kill you guys
I see you
You guys wait for me a little
That's hot
I'm gonna come up heaven
Where's Don?
I'm going to see you guys
I think
Outsecret
Threat
I'm going up heaven
Yep
I'm thinking from heaven
I've been there
It's
I'm coming to you
Just walk off this
Nice
So close
I'm gonna kill you
I'm gonna pick
I'm gonna pick at the beginning
I'm up
Nice
I'm gonna get
I'm last I think
Ahhhh
Flash!
Flashing
One moment
Let's search for you guys
One day he's flashing over for me
I'm looking down on off
I'm coming through
I'm on your cover!
One B right now
I'm respawning
I'm staying on default
I'm respawning a lot
Yeah.
Short?
I don't know.
Short.
Yeah.
That's it.
That's it.
Right there.
Nice!
Right, when you take a look at that game, when you see the players and who stood up,
who didn't stand up, what does Wildcard need to take away from the series and bring
to the Challenger stage tomorrow?
Calm composure.
I think you just heard in the replays there.
you know, I'm not sure they're
going to win any more series in
this one. I'll be honest, but
if they if they give those
intangibles, it can absolutely
be. He sounds so mellow. He's
like, Yes, what can be, you know,
take some take some heads, you
know, take some space. And
that's important to him. It's
because you could hear on the
contrast. All the young guys
making a lot of noise and
getting a little bit flustered.
So I think is on it. Stannis
law, their experience. You
mean, they play great
individual in this game, but
we're talking more so the
intangibles, the
communication that is what
they can bring to these
younger guys and you know,
I don't. I'm not sure
they're going to win any
give us in time to was it can absolutely be, you know, still a successful event for the
noble. Yeah, and I feel like the, at least the second half of ancient, it felt a little
bit more like situationally organized for them. It felt like they were utilizing the
utility a little bit more maybe since I was able to be like, all right, guys, it's half
time. We need to all calm down. We can close us out now. We have a map on them. We
don't need to be here all night. We can finish this out. So definitely I feel
like it was the veteran that like helped them chill out.
Let's take a look now at both your groups. So you know where you stand at the end of day one of ESL Challenger at Lanza, of course in group A we have our first semi finalist fly quest, Alan.
Yeah, it's not so. No, I'm going to be surprised. I mean, obviously the best of ones potentially played a fact about fly quest earned that position and that has thrown our playoff brackets into flummox.
into flummox group B our semi-finalist big not a surprise because definitely one of the favorites coming into this absolutely I feel like
the rematch at least for the lower bracket for a median wild card is going to be really interesting to watch but obviously big
Gonna be the big top tier player in this in this group
We're gonna give everyone lots of North American counter strike right and then of course if we need to take a look at today
If you want to recap the whole damn thing and you go, okay
There was some standout moments.
There's some counter strike.
We really loved.
I know that there's five specific moments that we enjoyed.
Should we break him down for everyone watching at home?
Let's do it.
And there were plenty to choose from today.
We're going to start on the map we just saw.
Stannis Law on this round went nuclear.
And given how close it went at the end,
if he didn't make his aggressive move
and hauled back the round, we might still
be playing counter strike.
And the next one is on a dust 2.
this game. It's a great
game. It's a great game. It's
a great game. It's just
here since 4 K. It's just this
was an absolute slaughter for
this game against M 80. They
won this map, and it just goes
the show the skill level that
in a number three. We have
Dexter and his retake on a
side inferno is a one on two
on the end. And of course
up against up against already
on a pivotal moment in this
the first game of the day. He
was a monster and this round.
He absolutely no prisons in
played a great battle counter
striking in both of his games.
And we said come into the day
that we need to be a star
player and that round exemplifies
that he was a beast. Those are
the five best players from today,
but you still have two more days
of action. So we're going to
have to get to the end of the
game. We're going to have to
get to the end of the game.
We're going to have to get
have two more days of action here at Challenger and at Dreamhack Atlanta. So keep in mind that
tomorrow we kickstart the day with an elimination match. BB is playing up against Rooster and
then we go into that American face-off which is going to be tons of fun playing for their
lives in the hope of staying in the tournament and then we'll end the day with the winner
of the North American battle going up against Saw. So lots to play for, lots of American
Counter-Strike if that's your jam. So make sure that you wake up bright and early
and you join us. If you're not in America, sleep the whole day and join us in the evening.
Apples, Allen, thank you so much. Thank you to everyone else. And if you stuck around,
thank you so much to everyone back in Atlanta as well, because obviously we're all in different
places. It's been a vibe and we will be back tomorrow. So good evening, good morning, good
night. We'll see you later.