⚠️ VOD is unavaible.
eslcs VODs on twitchPowered by audio-to-text AI. Inaccuracies will occur.
Broadcasts 30+ hours are truncated. View the Raw Transcript VTT for the full version.
Atlanta, tabletop, arcade, cabinets, D&D live on stage, but here on the Challenger stage,
there's only one thing that matters, and that's cold, hard, Counter-Strike.
It's time for day two of ESL Challenger Atlanta, without further ado, let's get it on.
ESL Challenger is brought to you in part by Intel,
Acer Predator
DHL
Kadea
Monster Energy
The United States Air Force 1x bet and
Logitech G
Chai to embody his his OJ for this. I'm gonna do it as well. Welcome to ESL Challenger Lancer
Let's get it on it is day number two of some of the best counter strike you're gonna see this weekend
All of our tier two favorites are in the mix and they are all playing to stay in this competition
We already have two semi finalists
We will find out who will be joining them during the course of today. My name is Sam
I'm going to be keeping your company and I got some people on the desk to give you some big-brain analysis
Jati and Alan are with me. I've got some North American representations and European representation
And we're going to be breaking down everything you have to see
Let's just run it through real quick if it is your first challenger obviously yesterday
You saw a lot of best of ones. It was a group stage set up today
It's elimination games and playing to try to get into the semi finals. What do we think of the counter strike?
We saw yesterday jrc
honestly
We got like how many bloods yesterday it was so many that came through and it was unfortunate because I thought we were gonna
Get a lot of close matches and even in the ones where you know wild card M80
I thought that one would go at least
21, maybe even 24 rounds. It just kind of fell flat and wild card didn't show up the way I expected
So yeah, even the one even the VO three kind of just one sided in favor of wild card
So I'm hoping and I'm thinking we are gonna get a lot better matches here today
Because obviously the competition is gonna be close and getting closer and more intense. I would say
room for improvement some
room for improvement
Fly quest played brilliant counter strike. I really enjoyed watching them
But outside of that a lot of one-sided bouts and hopefully today we just get more competitive affairs
Because yesterday it was it was hard to get engaged all the games because it just felt like we knew who the winner was after about round
Fight yes, and let's like we're playing because that was a surprise time and time again
Obviously we talk a lot about the teams we talk a lot about the players you get to see them on the screens
But there are some unsung heroes behind the scenes the coaching staff the support staff that don't always get their moments in the
spotlights so we thought, as soon as we have Mike on the ground, we would put that spotlights
on the support staff.
When we got very renewed from that point, something was going to change inside of our
team because we were playing bad.
But after the player break everything clicked and we put so many hours in the game and
we are qualifying for a lot of things.
We did the third place on AM Cologne, it was fantastic.
So, since he arrived a lot of things changed and it was a great addition.
When we go to the team speak, we just speak in English.
Just for him to feel integrated in the team, it's really important.
We are really happy with the decision to have made.
Deaf brings a lot, honestly, stability, telling people to shut up when they need to shut
up and just listen to things.
It definitely laughed a little bit that we didn't have a reward behind us at
this last Atlanta. His CT rounds are really strong. If we take a pause, he always cooks
up enough on CT if we really need a round to get back on track. It's really helpful
and beneficial on that side as well as T side, like kind of like a pace change around.
He's really important with those. I mean, he's just really good coach, honestly.
Since Kakaovo joined, I think it's like four months ago. And especially now with
Toby as well, the biggest change I would say is definitely that we see the game
more basic now. I think the the most true shinnings Zerzon we didn't also really
pay attention too much in the past that we told our upper basically you you can
of course do whatever you want but we didn't really pick him up we didn't
support him and this is something we did now more especially with the head from
Toby this is something we improved on. I had not known Vince prior but I spoke
to him in length before a green twerk together we just wanted to make
that our philosophy is aligned and since then I've been really impressed with his
not only his work ethic but the way he views the game and he's kind of opened
my eyes to a lot of things that I wasn't necessarily thinking about which is a
very good thing in my opinion. He makes sure that we all understand our role
within a setup or a strategy. You can have 1,000 different ways to play
Counter Strike but the most important thing is that your team is on the
same page and we make sure to make that happen.
Yeah, the Goat. He doesn't know much about CS, that's the main takeaway here but the main
thing was bringing him in for the mental side. We had a very unstable, very easily tilted team,
especially myself, I was really bad. And I think he's been really effective in that,
you know, I think as far as that goes. He's been the Goat of climbing the
KIP team down, hence the name. We prioritise the vibe in the team and the emotions,
you know, because we have, I think, smart enough individuals
about the game to know what's going on and recognise our weaknesses and moving forward
and stuff like that. That's the way I see it. If you've got an emotional,
motivating coach, I think it really propels your team as far as I guess.
And I once had a podcast together and I remember you saying we don't really know
what coaches do, right? That's not something that's shared and apparently
sometimes coaches don't even know about the game.
I'm not sure what's going on with
the team. It happens, Sam.
It's waiting since, uh, there's
plenty of examples of the past
of coaches that maybe didn't
know the most on the server. But
yeah, interesting words from a
lot of the teams. I thought was
Stanislaw said rings rings home
the truest that nothing in
Counter Strike is more important
than being on the same page,
and it is obvious watching teams
groups now just to give you updated on what's being going on here at Challenger Atlantis.
So we have two groups obviously, we had eight teams starting the competition. We've already
said goodbye to the Brazilians, Odyk, they are out. The group matches played yesterday,
it was best of ones all the way through to those elimination games. Today there will
be three best of threes happening and we'll pull up that schedule in a little bit but
basically the first game out of the box will be an elimination game, then we'll
have another elimination game and the final game will be to decide who makes it through to the semi-finals
tomorrow. I might have actually got that whole schedule wrong, but don't worry, they'll pull it up on
the screen and then you won't have to listen to me at all. But basically what we've got is some
exciting counter-tracks because Alan, no one expected Saw to be playing today. That's something
we'll get to watch and we get another North American Derby. Yeah, I mean and Big gets to sit on
what should they replace Saw in the semis instead of the finals they're expected. So
Yeah, some unexpected results, Betboom as well. Should they win this game against Rooster, which they should,
will again be disappointed to see a team that strong starting to team them in playoffs.
The North American Derby though, getting a chance to see that.
Well, I mean, one thing's for sure, we're getting a North American team in the playoffs.
So for me, I'm happy. I'm good to go there.
Are we getting a North American team in the playoffs? They still have to face off against Saw.
No, no, no, that's the deciding thing.
That's the deciding thing.
I thought we were going to have some fun, savage commentary happening.
No, well, I mean we still will but I think that M80 or I mean either M80 or wild card getting through is great
I'm hoping because yesterday I hyped it up a lot right that it should be a closer matchup and wild card
We're asleep at the wheel for the first seven rounds
So I think that really made it a lot less close than it should have been
I think that that matchup will actually be exciting today if it isn't I guess I'm gonna have to eat my words for a second
It'll be three three maps versus one so it should be quite good
But we are starting the day with that elimination game, a surprising one as well, BB team going
up against Rooster.
Now coming into this, no one thought that BB team would be dropping up because it felt
like they should have beaten FlyQuest yesterday.
They didn't.
So now they have to go up against the unsigned Australian org that is here to prove and
hopefully be seen by an organization that would be willing to pick them up.
I mean look honestly for rooster they haven't necessarily put their best foot forward here on the beginning at the beginning a challenger in terms of getting an
Organization, but I think that should they perhaps get a better performance here today
Maybe that will be a conversation that will be had
I just feel like there's too many question marks on that team right now for an
Organization to look them seriously because JHD is not necessarily a permanent player. They don't have a permanent fifth
They don't have a coach, you know, they have one, but he's just there as emotional support more than anything else
So for me, there's still pieces that need to fall into place for Rooster before they're going to get picked up.
I think my favorite thing about Rooster when you said there's question marks around this team is that if you go on HLTV and look at their roster, there's a giant question mark for their fifths.
Exactly.
There it stands. However, let's move the focus over to what we saw from Rooster yesterday, Alan.
Which was a lot.
More than Batloom.
More than BB.
They won more rounds than BB. So if we're going off results so far, John, maybe there's more to Rooster.
But yeah, I mean, for both teams, they never got a chance to get engaged.
Maybe we expected that more so from the Rooster perspective.
But hopefully today, we get to see more of Rooster
because we haven't seen much of them internationally.
That's sort of a few tournaments this year where they didn't play a lot of maps.
And we want to learn more about these players because right now,
based on what we've seen so far, we don't really know a great deal.
Yeah, I would argue that Rooster had a tougher time.
I saw Rooster.
BB team had a tougher time yesterday against FlyQuest
because let's not forget FlyQuest beats Saw afterwards.
And they looked amazing. So I think BB team had a very tough matchup and that's why they were overwhelmed versus rooster
Yes, they had a tough matchup to open things up with the loss against saw
But seeing BB team kind of get handled the way they did against fly quest and now facing off against rooster
I don't know. I feel like I'd favor BB team just based off transitive property because of how saw ended up losing to fly quest as well
Let's find out how rooster is feeling. We have an interview with T. J. P.
he's gonna chat to us and let us know what his experience in Atlanta has been like so far.
TJP here. TJP, what's Magic City?
It's a place where you don't want to be going, that's for sure. Unless we win, and then there'll be celebrations there, that's for sure.
I'm not sure I can exactly say what it is, but on this stream.
Gotcha, we'll keep it dark. Your coach keeps wanting to tell me about it.
But, yeah, what's the expectation here against Beppum?
I think we've got a good chance today.
I'm really confident coming into it. Our playstyle is kind of a match-up.
I think we, stylistically, I think we might have the upper hands
to how they play. We've just got to show up on the day.
Right from the get-go and hopefully get a map,
at least get a win. That'd be good.
That would be good indeed. Any expectation, you think you match up stylistically, is there anything?
They've not exactly been having the easiest time of it.
Do you think maybe you can exploit some of the communication issues?
Oh yeah, that's all I always plays a part, you know, in the game.
They're very chaotic, as you can probably tell on the stream watching them.
Just got to exploit that, most of all, but all in all, just by our own game, that's
how we're going to win.
Alright, looking forward to it man, good luck.
Back to you Sam.
Okay, so hear me out yesterday, I always try and wrap up games by giving myself like
just a word or two to describe what I saw from the team. So for Rooster, I said they
looked out of their depth for BB team though on the other side, I said that they looked
extremely disjointed yesterday. Alan, I'm sure I was the biggest fan of what I was
seeing from the Europeans. Oh yeah, when they played fly quest, they just got brutalized.
They were completely manhandled. Three round. Yeah, but it wasn't just the round
score. Sam was the fashion. They they were utterly dominated. Yeah. Whilst actually
Rooster it wasn't a brilliant game either, but they somewhat lost on their terms
I don't think that baby even got engaged in their game and yeah and saying I think Rooster in some ways actually might have played better counter strike
Do you think that there is a chance that Rooster comes in?
I mean we saw that interview they're saying well we'll play our own game
We think we match up to them stylistically we're gonna take advantage of these things
Do they have the firepower on the day to come in and actually give BB team a run for their money?
I I'm gonna be brutally honest and say no here
We broke him ladies and gents, we finally got him.
Just say what's on his mind.
I mean, yes, BB Team, destroyed you yesterday, absolutely.
Maybe some jet lag coming in there, because they're traveling all the way to Atlanta.
But at the same time, you have so many amazing pieces on this team.
This is why we were so excited about BB Team, since they formed up this roster.
So, for me, and even Magnoja's being added to the roster is also a nice piece,
a young rifler coming in to try and get things going for these guys.
So for me, firepower-wise, it doesn't match up.
BB Team should, on paper and in the server, have the advantage against Rooster.
Let's find out how they were feeding off to that last year today.
Coming into this game, Mike is with BB Team now.
I'm here with Nafany.
Nafany, first day, didn't go great opening matchup.
It's BO1s, but what do you think went wrong?
I mean, as I said before, we have the same problem as before.
It's our mental, like, weakness, let's say.
And we always try to figure out how we have to live with that.
So let's hope that we fixed with our team talk yesterday, so we'll see how it will be
tomorrow.
I mean, today.
And today, hopefully tomorrow as well, Rooster's your first match up here.
They've not had the best of luck internationally.
How do you think you match up against them?
I mean, as I said before, it's not really matter versus who we're playing.
more about our mentality and if we will play like we played yesterday we will
lose obviously so all what we need to just play our game just feel each other
and that's how it has to work. And is there one thing in particular from that
team talk yesterday that you want to see in the server on that first map? As I
said it's more like we have to be more free let's say I mean every time that
we're facing with such problem it's more about like we kind of scared about like
ourselves outside because we know that we are better than any team at this
tournament and all what we need just show it and that's the main problem all
right we're looking forward to see if you can today good luck back to you Sam
there's like a just a little it's way too early for me to use big words let's
just go on either side yeah we have a team that doesn't look that good
rooster in terms of the counter strike that they play right we say oh
Oh well, they look a little bit out of their depth,
but they have this coach behind them
that's meant to be giving them this mental support.
They seem a lot more positive in their interviews.
There seems to be a lot more balance and friendliness.
On the other side, you have a team that technically
on paper should be destroying.
They're not doing that in their interview.
They're saying, well, you're a men's team.
We're just not all there.
How much of this plays a factor?
How much of this is actually just them saying
what needs to be said in an interview to get it done?
I believe there's a trope in boxing
where everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face.
And that probably is what's gonna happen here
for rooster. Um they might be
feeling great, but funda
disparity mechanically i
these players, I think, I
the rooster guys too much
on BB can do numbers on s
players in the world here
them every day. And I th
just absolutely roll over
that respect. You mentioned
now he is our player to w
keeping an eye on this
solid rifle or even before he was picked up by BB team and then they brought him in to replace
Dennis and I think overall he's been right behind Kyron in fact only six frags behind coming into
the event in terms of over the last three months and also the top EDR player at 84.2 again coming
into this event so for me he's definitely a player to watch both in terms of his fragging
prowl power and also on entries on both sides of the map opening up CT fragging and entering
on T site so he's going to be everywhere on the map and if he's doing well then I think the
the rest of BB team can build up around it. Can we just have a bigger conversation about
BB team? Yes. This whole mental argument that they keep bringing up. I mean, how long does
this fly? It's also probably mostly a lot of crap.
Well, that's exactly. That's how it is. They didn't lose yesterday purely because
they came in flat or anything. They just played worse counter-strike than their opponents.
They weren't as well-prepared. I'm sure it's a factor, but it's a bit of confirmation
buy some placebo because it just feels like the thing that's going wrong. BB, when they
lose some of the better teams in the world, it's their fundamentals, it's their communication.
Maybe it's a bleed through somewhat from their mental side of things, but there's other
things they can fix on the server that should come in tandem with that.
I think that's my thing because coming into this, we spoke about how they haven't really
been performing to the level that's expected. So I just wonder how long this continues
before there is a serious conversation and it is the conversation that has to happen
of okay maybe this roster isn't working maybe these pieces together are not fitting.
Yeah I mean that conversation is going to happen no questions asked um you know I would say a couple
of months especially based on their performance here and as they move forward and I would say within
three months if we don't see anything meaningful from BB team they're probably gonna look for changes
and it's not gonna stay the same squad. We have to do predictions but it's pretty obvious
where everyone is sitting right now I think I can just say it for all of us we all believe
that this is BB team taking this one. Yeah I would say so I'm curious about the
Vito honestly because I think that BB team has swung between Vertigo and
Inferno so they're not scared of moving away from that so I'm thinking if
they're looking at Rooster they're saying look they only have one map on
Mirage that they're really strong on perhaps they banned that but yeah I
think maps. So the Vito did go up earlier but you were chatting I know so
that's what I'll walk you through so Rooster picked Anubis.
Okay. BB team picked us too which is what we saw them on yesterday and when
I say so and we didn't really see much from them yesterday the decided will be a mirage
Oh, really okay, cuz like you're looking at their their map pool mirage is actually not that great for them
And they've kind of swung between vertigo and inferno on Matt and bands. I was like, okay
Maybe they'll go for mirage, but that is actually kind of surprising
Rooster having their best maps map three could be a difference maker if they can get past one of them
They're not getting to a third map
Unfortunately that the first two are so good for BB and we're taking this sort of matchup
They're maps where the individual is going to have a lot of space to make moves.
So I think picking an UBUS was a mistake.
We all expect Rooster to lose, but hopefully if for nothing else, we can just see more out of them today.
There we go. You've heard what our analysts have to say.
You've heard what to expect as we move into our first matchup.
It is a best of three. It is an elimination game.
One of these teams is getting a ticket out of the USA.
Nioh Kai and Scroove are ready to jump into game.
you know, you're going to be
going to be. Yes, indeed. Very
much looking forward to our
first three here. I think you're
good fun. Um it is a difficult
game here as we've all kind of
highlighted. I don't want to
hark on them too much. I always
again in the joy, you know, you'll
get used to this because I know
you like to go in on teams. Um
I love it. I don't know, man.
Maybe there's something in this
a new basic does feel a little
I think Alan finishes with a
really nice sentiment of. Let's
just have a bit more counter
strike out from the Australian
contingent. Yeah, you know, yes,
they really did the best of
ones right, of course, for the
like recently got four rounds
against saw, but at least those
moments which felt okay. They
just lost a couple of clutches
which were very, very bad. We
were talking about the pistol
clutch now. Second half where
it was based on the
first half of the season,
but it's just a bit of a
bit of a bit of a bit of a
bit of a bit of a bit of a
bit of a bit of a bit of a
bit of a bit of a bit of
it was basically one and then
they over fight on the reload.
Weird one. That move did not
turn up at all. They only got
three rounds. Well, it looked
like a lot. It felt a lot in
the game. The difference in
terms of how competitive it
was and what was actually
offered up was was vast. So
let's see what we get.
Expectations are very heavily
leaning with that boom as you
can see, and I don't know
about you, man, but for
Rooster, it feels that the
vibes are very lacked for
what needs to be actually
quite an important
to play for trophies and
silverware rooster that
limited and it feels like
they're coming into this
for the coming slightly
half assed Zorte will get a
double of his own to give
them space and they're
cracking out in towards B
and they will take it as
well. Jhp left in a tough
spot. Yeah, trying to draw
attention across them to be
the side of the map has
worked successfully here
and walking for the two V
one. And it's just a stop
alone. His position revealed
he's got the jewelies and
it can indeed find the
find the heads fast. Just get
a quick one on the spin, but too
many fights, too many bodies. BB
start off well. Very simple
pistol round, a bit of, you know,
present shown over towards A. Just
have a little, little look in.
Let's get that first kill, but they
immediately kind of convert in that
position and answer back with a double
off the back of Zorta, but it's
all a roost. They're not actually
going here and they end up getting
a lot of space to work with on
come alive and actually in a way
play as a team because that's the one thing they didn't do yesterday.
It was all very individually based, which sometimes works,
but I don't think Rooster and his current iterations
and have the firepower to really work with that.
I think Slimy is a bit of a talent.
I think Chelyos has a lot to offer up as well,
but it does dip off quite notably
Mac 10 for a double.
A little gets another and in this low by,
they're going to mock up pretty clearly.
Flash was good.
Again, not enough weaponry for them
to do anything with so. Floor
comes in. It is not against the
grain. Always an interesting
conversation with the BB team
and where they're out of the
moment. To be honest, Nafi mentions
these mental issues of these sort
of kept saying himself, as I've
said, we've got mental, you know,
like it is there. I think it goes
a little bit deeper from from
what we're seeing and some of
the players that are on this
team that you know, there
the game. It's a bit deeper than
that. May I dangerously use the
T word toxicity? I think there's
a few players in here that make
it difficult to play as a team.
I think I will. I mentioned the
desk is one. I think it's just
excuse like this. You can only
use this so much, but we will
be in support with that
monsters. BD side not playing
to level that they should be
considering the talent they've
the game. It's been a really
tough run of things. Early
towards around a lot quieter
out the gates. That's funny.
Takes a bit of damage spammed
through the smoke, but.
Puffiness is no real commitment.
Those are the problems rotate
back over towards his B site and
well, this won't be a little
bit harder. The road is
coming through from Rooster
might be a ton of damage.
and well, this won't be a little bit harder. The road is coming through from Rooster.
It might be a ton later here.
Potentially. Smokes are also kind of late. They do block off quite nicely.
A follow of the traces, though.
This heavy, heavy bonus by may well come back to might be be.
We'll see. Bombs gone down.
There is no kit.
Yeah.
So that's pretty dangerous on the Rooster side of things.
They've got to move fast.
Yeah. It's not a lot available.
It's all going to come down to winning the fight.
something that we have questions in this series before it's even got started. Zortay and Siren remain to defend this post-plant Zortay known about. Siren doubled up. That's really well played in towards dark.
It's all going to be on Zortay. We can't find the shots. And there you are. Rooster will get themselves on the board early here now.
They needed that. They really did. I think if they lost that kind of full buy against the bonus buy over towards BB, then we would be asking a hell of a lot of questions. We're not, thankfully.
Now we get to talk about what hopefully will be a bit of a competition in towards his best of three whether it goes three maps
That feels for me pretty unlikely. Unfortunately, you know, if there's rooster silage
Don't think they have enough in the locker to push BB the distance
But whether they can make some of these maps competitive on like yesterday whether they can kind of push the distance as well
That's all we're looking towards again in that first gun round on the about his dude
But this is the first true gun round because BB that was a bonus now the bringing the AKs and they've got the all-pout
and Zorta is speaking off. The Orb sings loud in its first introduction here in
towards round number four. Good start for Zorta. He's always somebody that we're
gonna look towards. Try and light up the server. That's not a bad way to start.
Not at all. All right, let's see. Slimey. Right around this corner looking to make a
play, but it was sort of a bait there. Again, very well done. There's some good
Coordinated moves here from Rooster.
So, an even situation, the fells, the server.
Flash comes in towards A main. Rooster relentless right now.
Really, really putting their best foot forward.
Got the shoulders out.
Aggressive moves even though it could potentially cost them spots and cost them advantages.
Looking very, very good here. But...
Here he is one. Execution is another one-for-one trade steal again.
not going to be perfect. The
bomb sites are getting weaker
and weaker. Yeah, trades
generally in this situation is
all benefit. The T side. BB
now is the head back towards
B with a default to two. It's
pretty on demand. Only TJP
here to try and lock them out.
And he doesn't really have any
close sport. Nobody's playing
through mid or through dark.
So he's sort of going to go
huge here. He's not taking
contact or holding. He's
going to jump us off a bit
of a model. But just as he
this game. You can do it. You
can do it again. He will get
caught. Very nice time. He
played by Kyron. Smoke out to
conclude towards CT bomb. Going
to go down as well. This feels
like a very difficult Rita.
Yes, they have the kid this
time, but I don't know if you
want to give this ago. No, I
wouldn't have thought so,
unfortunately, it's painful
to be on the end of but has
to happen really. As you
talked about and touched on
right the start of the round.
Bebe have come in with the
the first rifle was not all
that deep. They've done
something very similar here,
but it's again a bit more
fleshed out. And I think there
is an argument to be made,
isn't it? It's early on in the
game. You're on the T side.
You can direct things also
coming in as that overdog.
Yeah, maybe you are going to
have one or two early sort of
bait rounds just to see how
your opponents react to the
basic ideas. Sure. And then
it's like, okay, they have
more aggressive tendencies so I
can adjust the call in a
from Nafini so far. Yeah, and so far so good. The round taking another belt as well now three to one.
I mean, we can start talking about this bb side building up a little bit of a t-side and that's
exactly what they have to do as well. I mean, this is an Ubers the most t-side of map in the pool
currently and we do need to see maybe probably guarantee a lead if not take what a healthy one
at that as well. Not that they're going to be you'd expect them to that much pressure
the second half either they this is a map that statistically very weighted over.
So what's the bb side mean even the rooster picked into it? Like we said, we were asking for a couple of questions. Why are we not gone to Mirage as the pick? I know it's come through as that map number three, but.
to get there. So the fact
that you haven't played for
yourself, as we like to always
say you've tried to maybe
counselor more throw a bit of
a spanner in the works. They
did that yesterday. I mean,
going against sore, right? They
went into new. There are be
one of the best teams in the
world on nuke right now, and
you think is why? Why have we
gone in? Yes, Mirage is new
is source partner, but it's
still other areas where they
felt a little bit stronger and
that they're the fact that
they allowed it down there
feels weird in the fact
that new business picked into
picked into feels a little strange as well. It does. I mean, overthinking things. There's
so many different permutations of why this sort of decisions come in, but maybe you feel
they would expect the Mirage pick. So you go for something slightly in the middle of
your pool. Maybe they spent all their hours just prepping an anubis for this series and
against his particular opponent. But with the quick turnaround of these events, I doubt
that they really have no time to put the prep work in.
Bit control has dropped in there.
We've got four on B.
Looks like it will be an A split, unfortunately.
So A-Stats gonna have his work cut out here,
looking to, again, make something happen,
just show that presence, tries to get an early frag.
Not gonna happen, Sorte holding down middle
gets one for the second, that's clean.
Really nicely done.
And this is where it's starting to unfold
little the BB individuals revealing themselves and you may have all the reads in the world but rooster unfortunately i'm not matching up
only a spot magna just doesn't and tjp of course that the anchor will just try to keep out of this rifle but even that might
actually be something we have to fight his life for it's starting to swarm a little bit
it might actually get towards his position as well just before this bomb goes off
He's got to keep on this rifle. They do not have money left in reserves and they're on the long term
Econ to fall back on just having a rifle to work with is better than nothing
But very simple rounds by BB to kickstart things
You're looking pretty good naff. He's playing quite well Zorta. Obviously looking crisp in the couple rounds
He's even with the AWP. He's looked very very on
Unformed which is always good to see the Zorta for she family fluctuates a bit in Tennessee's performances
He's a nice couple of quick shots and he's off the plane like that. You know, cellos to the side
He's a very decent all-prone self. I don't think he matches up to the skill ceiling of
This author on form
At the moment, of course, he's got all the locked through we haven't seen the all-part yet for rooster
So he has just all this benefit arranged once again a low back coming through for rooster
Attractations that BB take this one pretty clean
maybe a gun or two would be nice and attempt being made here does not happen siren on those
entries making it look easy and now they have the full control of that a bombsite as they
so desired but still it would seem greedy for both sites tyron has just given permission
to go hunting and go searching no one on the other end of his weaponry just yet but
I think they really want to find the 7-4, deny the save and just keep the relentless
weight on this rooster side.
So far so good, Zortay's been holding that one for a while, it pays off, all gonna be down.
Swiming, and he is best on the other side of the smoke, so...
Yeah, that's where it looks dangerous, right? When you've got these
half-by-rounds, there's a little bit in it for you, and you can't even get like one kill.
You can't even get some kind of a positive exchange. That's where it gets very very worrying exactly
Even just using kind of the pistols as cannon fodder to try and get that rifle in the action
Try and get TJP in towards a fight
Which maybe can drop another gun and then one of the pistols can pick it up something like that
But yeah, we don't even see that so tough tough predicament so far for rooster
But we will have that full bike coming out for them
Right at least now chair yos gets into was the AWP which is what we want to see the rifles along
the side of him in the full belt of Utah. So the positives to work with, but a bit of an early attack pause and a moment to
Have a conversation primarily over towards Rooster in particular
I think that's pretty neat to converse about how we're gonna get round to the floor here
Because I don't know we're five one down and we haven't really seen anything
Since it's been any sort of investment by the pistol round sure that had a bit of nice
He's behind it but yeah since then good work
It was siren of course walks away with the kind of MVP of that round a double kill to open things up
He knew it was a low buy, and he knew if he just punished them.
So quick moves here, actually, it felt like it was maybe a bit slower,
but when you look on that menu map, you can see how fast they have made their way
in towards Dark has been heard even.
So this looks to be a good setup for Rooster in all honesty.
We, we are not wasting any time breaking the smokes,
looking for this first fight absolutely in the heads of their opponents.
I mean, I suppose both metaphorically and physically hopefully with these AKs is what they're after
No kills as yet. They draw back. There's sort of this two-man
Hunting party looking for the first kill. They were in at darker few moments ago. Now they're looking over a day
They'll find success there. It's a move coming in from the CT sides or two
It's too fast. Chelyoste will get one misses the second shot and trade it out
So still looking very very good for the team side slimy put under pressure
They know where he's that can make it out the one thing they have is that bombs spilled right at their feet
So this is the time for well, it's gonna be a 1v4. I suppose JHD
That's the first a setup to trade him can't quite do it could get some quick headshots here
If he plays his cards roll down to the one versus one
he went for it. This or they
just didn't know where he was
at. It's unfortunate. A very
fair try from J. H. D. Who came
in last minute. Yes, team as
well. Not quite enough, though.
Those who do watch a fair quite
a few of the other events as
well. You know, J. H. D. is
primarily the guy who's in the
past being behind the side as
the coach. You might
size, but it's part of the bit. Yeah. And, uh, yeah, causing, you know, a player who was never
really seen as a kind of a quote, quote, top pro player in the scene, but it looked too bad there.
Of course, I had a bit of a slight knock on effect. I mean, I say slight, there's still plenty
of money, but now he's opted for this match and he knows the economy is going to be broken
over towards Rooster. So maybe the, the, I mean, maximum investment in this department,
a lot of cash, especially considering that TJP is completely unaware of that potential and
to get kills. He's sitting
that round. He's in behind second
anti eco. It feels like a good
spot and he's just so. Animated
Yeah. In the calling in the
communication and whatnot. It's
good work as well because for
Napoli. In a way he's at the
moment, slightly calling around
himself, and he's getting into
really good positions eight
and four out the gates, but
he's finding a lot of
information early and once he
gets that kill, for example,
you're talking about it gets
very animates because he wants
half a second a second to work with is a gap that they can exploit to get some control and tools be and they do
Really simple stuff that ultimately seven to one
Here's the score line BB will lock themselves in towards a lead already
That's guaranteed when heading in towards that second half and now it's actually starts to add more to the conversation of right now
We've got the lead. It's about how much of a lead can we get can we start pushing ourselves to the direction of you know
8-4 half and 9-3 half. And we saw yesterday they liked double digits in the first half and some of
those best of ones was not uncommon. That's just how one side of they were and both of these sides
were unfortunately on the tail end of a double digit half not in their favour. So they want to
get a bit of revenge off the back of what was a poor start to this tournament. Of course with
it being the elimination game backs up against the wall you're wanting to stay alive. Second
flash is good. Kyron can't hit that shot as well. Wasn't quite ready for it. Slimey gets
He gets one of his own as well.
Zorta spots one on that jump spot.
He knows that the smoke's in front of him.
It's not actually worthwhile pushing through to the fight.
Rister clearly have some rounds here, man.
That's a very, very nice CT aggression
with the deep smokes coming in to just stop the support.
Really well played.
May well give them a springboard.
Still got to confirm the round, though, of course.
Zorta's been playing lights out.
Magnajez.
Maybe not lighting up the kill feed as much,
but he is a name that we're all watching.
The JP will take the double, okay.
Fair enough. They will secure this one, then, for my money.
There's loads of money here. I think Zortay might even benefit him
to just try and drop some guns, honestly.
Yeah, I mean, they're still, for Roosa, their long-term econ
isn't such a weird spot that it is actually definitely
the way to go about it.
Try and get a couple of kills.
Maybe at the end, if you can.
If anyone comes hunting, most definitely.
of course, in the side,
Rooster do have an also not
in desperate need of it.
Sort of for him. It'll be a
bit of a nervy final 20 seconds
as he's it's for me. I think
the toughest map to save on
because it's just quite congested.
There's not a lot of corners. You can
tuck yourself into quite a small
map generally speaking as well.
Looks like if you give the luxury,
I'll say that. Yeah, no.
So leading by example really nice work coming through for the man in the middle
Will be a second on the ball for rooster. Actually a really clean round too, which is absolutely what they needed
They can't just do the thing of just getting around they've got to take them cleanly with a bare moon and three players
They're not either they're gonna be in this issue where and we see all the time the CT economies that
Finally when you break the deadlock and you get around in your favor
But you've taken like four casualties your money is destroyed and that's sort of the issue that Rooster now
don't have to deal with them a little bit of in reserves and they can hopefully build up a bit of confidence to
75 honestly, it's not a bad five on CT. I think he's generally accepted as being not too bad clean
There's a T side of that but even eight fours. Okay, you can't allow it to be like a nine three or a ten to two
That's where this can't be a flash of the planet. This has to be a bit of consistency coming through
They're in a good position. They are in a very good position to still turn this into something serviceable
will be looking to dig deeper and give some respect across to this team, I feel, so a lot
of time gone on the clock. We once saw the T side playing so very fast and a lot faster
than you may be expecting Nubis to function in the early stages of a round. This one much
slower, much higher level of patience from this team, trying to get the AWP working,
they're even sort of really doing their due diligence to make as little noise as
possible in terms of where they're peaking. I believe this is a walk through a late smoke here from the T side.
They'd like the idea of middle. It is a spot that Rooster have not really had much pressure on.
They've been heavily bolstering up a bomb site. Feels like a gamble.
In comes the attack however. Yeah, maybe too much space given across.
We'll see. ASAP doesn't have anyone pressuring him from the side quite yet.
He was good from there. He maybe looks away and gets taken down, but it looks pretty clean here.
The HPs are very very low bomb has not been planted. They're gonna come in could indeed land well
It doesn't quite unfortunately so they get that bomb they get that reset on the round and roost another pressure on for this retake
They know where both of them are as well. They've heard both of them. I
Don't think not this time at the release. They're gonna expect PJP to have gone for a rotation
He would have already about to be that move now spotted now dropped as well by Zorta
I shot for the first as well, Siren is barely alive, one foot in the grave,
Chelyos full HP and he might have got the calm as well to pull out the pistol
but he does it with the AWP. Great little two-piece from the Aussie right at the end there.
They needed that, they desperately needed that. That's a back-to-back round for Rooster.
That is going to keep them afloat. Five margins on the defuse but he'll get there in the end.
Beautiful work day. We're in desperate need of making that 2v2 stick in their favour and the fact that they do is massive.
still BB are at a point where they're not on the financial pressure just yet
But just in terms of the confidence now it is rooster hints from my shots
Yeah, to be fair a stop especially I think had a good individual moment there
I did get worried when that all shot came in from sort of they honestly
Maybe a bit of a needless peak you could argue as well in the 1v1 if we are to be nitpicky. Yeah
And again, is that the benefit of hindsight? We like to say it's true
It's true. He tried to tap the bomb though. Yes, true time. So I will stand by my point
to be honest
Yeah, no kid as well. There was a kid dropped
I guess it on that kind of a rule high pressure situation
But you see T's make that mistake all the time where they get on it, but it's actually, you know nine seconds left
You know the kid and you've missed your window
Maybe need to be careful on the center. Obviously they're gonna guarantee a lead in towards the second half
But if they allow Rooster to get five momentum has shifted that point of another point of they would have pistol game
Absolutely on yeah. Yeah for sure. It's got to be a comfortable a if not nine
I think with the way especially the BB began again
It's very much a trend this tournament with how
mismatch some of the games have been
The fashion in which the rounds were coming in, you know and how strong they looked on that winning streak
to show how strong BB of been
35 seconds left on the spot here
crossing camera and that really
sets up a lot of different
avenues. It's going to be the
wrap towards be again rooster
with the changing in resources.
They have guessed correctly. Three
players on the site itself
doesn't matter if we've not got
the mid control, but they are
looking at another situation
in which they're going to
looking at another situation where a multi frag potentially has to come in.
The rotations are on the way, TJP get overlooked.
They weren't expecting three to be in on this site.
A bomb, fake to draw some attention.
There's not a lot of time to get it down.
It's back into a two on two.
That's a big kill from ASAP keeps the dream alive here.
Both spotted now.
Oh, and Magno Jess, there he is.
That's what we've been talking about all over this weekend.
you're like. The man is man
himself. Beautiful stuff.
Beautiful stuff from Agnes and
they needed that on the flip
side. We spoke about how roots
of that previous round was so
important just to get. A little
bit of consistency. I get a
consecutive round on the board.
It gives you foundations to
work with, but the response
coming through managers that
won't be to be converted is
massive. That's where still
we get to look at this and
say on the other side of
to get up to a right for this
bb side with now in a spot where
we're feeling okay, right? I
think eight to four. It's still
a lot has to go right for
Rooster a pistol. A force by the
the first gun round or have to
go in their favor. And we
haven't seen that level of
consistency out for them yet.
So it's asking them to do
something which is unheard of
so far in this tournament
that was like two three kills. I think it might even have been 5v2 at one point, very very briefly. So
feels like almost the perfect spot and they can't make that work. You come crashing back down to reality, don't you?
They obviously understand themselves as the underdog.
BB back to their speedy rounds. It would seem
they've done well to find the first two openers. They've got the A bomb site. Obviously got to go for this
I would argue this is a normal saving situation, but
You've got to go for it here if you're rooster.
Yeah, although a perfect time to go for a bit of a quick around for BBs,
or just because they know that the money would require a bit of a force buy,
and they know there's going to be SMGs in the play.
So just actually just try and put them under that pressure,
and they have, you know, there's a UMP and MP9 in play,
and both get absolutely no mileage.
This one's done though, isn't it?
Some 20 seconds left on this bomb, and it's a 4 versus 2,
which feels like it's got absolutely no legs behind it.
Now, in 3 is a half, that's pretty damn good.
I think that's a top one to lose script.
Yeah absolutely, Chelyos can't get anything done down it goes and that will be BB showing
up today finally we'll see. T side on the other side of this.
I'll keep your picture in my womb, cause it gets me in the womb, you're still a flame through my head, you got me so confused, my mind is full of you, so won't you move?
Hope, there are moments of proficiency from Rooster, but unfortunately nothing to create the fire behind this team quite yet.
Maybe the T side of Anubis, their pick, or why have they picked into this?
You're saying this is now the time to show us.
Unfortunately though, Neo, it's got to start with the pistol.
Yeah.
And getting consistency there is so, so difficult.
So you're a man of much hope, you know.
Yeah, I'm going to say it.
That first half from Rooster, it was kind of awesome, right?
They didn't really give us a lot to work with.
I'm going to be brutally honest here.
And this pistol has to go massive.
Jumping around the corner though, we'll say that, JHD.
He actually had a nice couple of moments.
his clutch was pretty clean, but that's the bomb.
What are we doing?
What are we doing here?
JHD is going to get us killed, sure, but they lost the bomb.
He was the last in, but the fights are going in their favor.
And Siren and Zort have got to bail them out.
It was all part of the strategy down to just two.
Yes, they are here quite fast.
The bomb has yet to commit.
JHD just gets taken down, but I think they were playing,
maybe panically, but they were playing off this information
that the A bomb site should be vulnerable.
I don't know if you can hear
Siren, but unfortunately not
Really able to fully cut them
Off the bottom across. There's
A couple of fights to come down
As well. They're not really
Giving them. It is this flank
Sort of looks panicked in and
Of himself. This is an all over
The place kind of pistol. The
Glocks coming out on peers or
Say runs out of ammunition and
He will go down despite working
Against themselves almost. Yeah
Now we can talk about where probably be bigger for a lesser investment here is my assumption
Didn't really get a hell of a lot into was that first round. So that's the one thing they've got, you know, Jerry speaking force buying CT sides
You know, you know, I'm not a fan of them when you lose that pistol
But in this instance because they really get that many kills. They might not go for it here
I think dude, they're not gonna be a lot to the tables. Yeah, they are gonna go for that lesser investment
Which does mean Rooster should get up to a fifth and
to get the kill bonus. That's
good. Long term money to work
with, but a pop coming out of a
main here. Karen gets one, but
What a pop coming out of a main here.
Kyra gets one, but Magnus doesn't siren.
We'll also fall.
I like the P250 here, getting more and more active,
trying to catch another straggler.
It's already, though, the little differences
where the BB moved to drop one or two players is successful.
Rooster could never get these types of rounds
to really do anything.
Maphany will shoot the Galil into the hands of Kyra.
It is. It is quite a shrewd move.
Keep hold of it. I don't think we need to lose this here.
That's honestly not a bad gun to use in towards a full gun round.
You know, M4s alongside this pretty decent all in all.
So it looks like we'll keep hold of it.
I don't think that's the worst round.
It's basically a complete non-existent round
of what our expectations are from BB.
So to get a kill, to get a galil,
I don't think is the worst thing in the world.
For BB, it's about this next round.
the same as how that first half
started as well. Rooster found
the pistol. The force behind it,
but a double made will actually
make sure that nothing is saved.
Nothing gained for the BB side.
And okay, this is looking better.
You know, they spoke about the
go bringing the vibes and the
vibes looking a little bit
better now off the back of
what was a pretty tough first
half. This gun round is
everything. And we said if we
want to see anything of Rooster,
the pistol, the force and then
to make a bit of consistency.
You didn't see that consistency at all so far throughout this tournament. So it's now
the time to change.
You get this that it would be huge the Mack tend to come through for JHD and a couple of
glills and the hands of slimy and Shelly us.
You just have to work with a napheny so not a complete fall by in that sense with
the premium rifles.
I'd be welcome.
They want to move faster on the rooster side. It feels like where there was a bit more
of a split going on from the BBT side. Rooster are pretty much all together, lurking presence, maybe from Slimy.
But they are hanging around, keeping the control, and then a late round execute I suppose. Very, very simple. Maybe a slow build up, but once it gets going, it's all there about.
They've maybe drawn attention by not really making any noise in the site itself. It's not all that well defended.
Killed through the smoke for either side. I'm gonna come in here.
It's lovely and comfortable for the T's. Slammy does find his rotation on the back side.
As they will look to continue retaking in.
Two on two now as the dust settles. No kit available. Magnajez caught reloading.
It's down to just Sorte. Clean headshot on the first.
JHT not the healthiest. He smoked out as well.
Looking to make a bit of a break. Play.
to get the defuse in. It's
another clutch loss. Then again,
you can just feel it in the air
from the bedroom side of things.
And it's so unfortunate for
Rooster these final little.
Nix and issues that they have
just keep coming back. Keep
haunting them. It's really small
misplays that are actually
cost them in that sense. And
that stuff I think very well
played from Zorta. You know
from Zorta, you know, that's two big 1v2s that have been converted in this game so far that completely changed the momentum of a round.
Because the first round by Magnet is that one by Zorta, and that's a big, big round to be taken, and converting your first gun round is big as well.
But that was technically a bonus buy for Rooster.
So they do have a reinvestment back into the next, but actually a little bit better firepower in this one.
They're two glills in the last, just the one here.
to be able to do that. Yeah,
people chunk in a start things
off. Not what he wants to make
some very vulnerable to MP 9
Thomas, the M four is all that
one bullet head shot now that
they can drop on towards him.
Maybe you're getting closer
those three rounds away from
taking Rooster's map pick and
really throwing a bit of a
span of the works of any sort
of hopes or dreams of Rooster
it's not been a good map for
Rooster. The one for four on
it in the last three months.
That one feels like a lock in.
50 seconds on the clock again.
Rooster how just sort of bound
things down, not really looking
to go for the catchers. Contact
flash is successful. Return
frags are here. Bombs are
here. Bombs are here. Bombs
return frags are here, bomb needle
planting and it may not get the chance
Naphany standing strong at the back of
the site, he will filter out eventually
it's TJP who is in that rotation
position, they expect him, that's
unfortunate I thought he might get a
catch, it's created time and space for
the bomb to go down but now it's
close for Rooster that is required
and oh my, Jelios finds the head
through the smoke, incredible stuff
yeah that's big, that is a big 1v2
to be able to do on the flip
side as well. Chellios lines up
the first and transfers on
towards the second as a big one
to be taken. And now we get to
discuss about what this rooster
side have on the T side T side
of a new is generally seen as
easier, more workable than
that was a really nice little
play coming through. So massive
from him. Really, really
important. Got to kill early in
a fairly decent amount of cash
and of course, can mean a drop
coming over to the likes of
A-stop. So yeah, really nice
work. It will be a brief pause
to converse their railway to
enter the conversation for B.B.
to try and help them out, but
it seems like nothing is
primarily going to vocal here.
Yeah, it looks like you're
just going to let it play out,
but nothing is really vocal.
It feels like more than usual.
We touched a little bit earlier,
very emotive in terms of the
way he's playing. And maybe
they're going to fix. They're
quote unquote mentally. She
is getting naffani is a bit more
of a leading voice and saying
what I say goes that thing. Let's
not discuss and bicker about
what we think we should be
doing. I'm the ideal when I say
is what we do and maybe that's
one way they're going to fix
it. And then at least one
person, they put the blame on
a lot of little play, though.
Manly just with the flash
siren with a kill and he'll
take him back 10 and another
kill to come through and I
like this. Oh no.
There is presence behind. They now know they have to kind of figure out a way out of here.
In the same vein, not moving all that much on the rooster side of things, just hoping the mind games can work in their favor, and you know what, they may well have done.
The B boys went downstairs, tried to get ahead of the A rotation, but never happened.
Yeah, slimy has been very brave here watched all his teammates fall around him and ultimately has not moved a step
But quite a long time. They will maybe not discover it completely clear, but
This looks like a clean enough be entry to me
Yeah, they've not clocked on at all on the bb side, unfortunately
Yeah, I think the other of which thing is the guns they dropped haven't picked up
I mean they got the mac 10 but they haven't got I think it was a glill that gets dropped just outside of main
I mean, it's difficult.
Slamy didn't have a look into his darks.
He's nothing there.
And now they should know they're basically
can only really come from one or two places
in through Connector or on that flag.
And they do plot open for it.
So maybe not completely aware of those possibilities
just yet three players fighting at the same time though.
Zorta's low, but he's pretty crisp with the eagle.
If he can hear a shot here, we might be on for something.
Chaleos holding console still keeping an eye.
And they actually will pick up that AK-47 in the hands
of Nafi, he gets a kill. Last man in towards dark, Slamy's got to go huge here, Mike 10,
Mike 3, but it's awesome with the headshot. As predicted, there's just something special
about AWPers on the pistols, and that is it. You know, that's one of those rounds that you
should never be losing. And you know, 99 times out of 100, Rooster won't lose that,
but I just don't think they realize that they should be on that timing in through
main. It's tough. That's a really tough one to lose. That's the one that really
breaks the mental as well, not even just in terms of the econ or the flow of the game they
were feeling that just hurt. You're thinking, yeah, we just lost it. We lost primarily us
please. I think the moment though is when that kill happened in towards dark. You have
to have that protocol. You have to have that call to just freeze things up and they sort
of continued on with the V role. And that's what sort of let them down. No information
really. I think everyone starts to focus in on dark. Maybe the core came in as well.
I think there's two actually, you know, I heard two sets of footsteps stuff like this and that just allows the rest of the stack to activate so
More respect more patience required from Rooster in that previous round, but they do not have a lot of time
That's what patience is usually all about they rush straight in with the flash
TJP definitely feels like he's been one of the standout members of this team entries in
To begin the round for Rooster. Can they do anything with it though?
Now got M4 picked up as well. It was a hero AK from TJP.
If Rooster can flip this script again with a reversal of their own on a low play, that
would be pretty huge. So four players left alive for BB, not under the pressure just
yet, and of course Zorta with the AWP still alive too.
I think he's going to get a
double. Don't count them out.
Siren, though. Going a little
deep here. The other one could
be over one to one's not good
off considering take TJP get a
double that big. That is
massive. That's three kills
to it for now. And also the
site. Am I just safe? Yeah,
I think you probably should
here to be honest with you,
unless a kill reveals itself
in the next few moments.
the back by the looks of things.
Oh, maybe not. Maybe not. We are being teased by Kairon.
He will back off and save alongside Zorte.
So, Rooster, it's a really nice round to playing into their strengths, right?
Get an individual to take over.
Really simple team-based counter strike that I think they've kind of talked over
and they have made their game.
Just don't go too deep.
Don't go too advanced. Grouping up, playing as a pack.
and it works very, very well
there. So they've given themselves
a lifeline, a key lifeline losing
out to the ECO, but then winning
an ECO of sorts themselves.
Maybe not quite as harsh or as
heartbreaking for the BB side,
but this is a window of opportunity
for the Australians.
Yeah, super important three
bees coming through that from TJP
finds the first and
Nafini as well for back of
celliost as flash and then
that double spray down on
towards siren and magniges is
massively important.
Fleecey Nafi, he just sticks on just a tad too long over towards doors.
If he had tucked his head earlier and recovered from the flash,
he's probably still in a strong position that he holds.
But yeah, a little bit of no man's land.
He's caught in two mines, so I stick around and just expect nobody to swing
or do I dip away and he made that innate decision just a little bit too slowly.
Do you ever buy around what was saved?
I like this from Kyron.
I mean, it's a pretty good position to hold here
because you can cover mid once that smoke phase, but also if anybody tries to pressure dark, they just might not clear this on timing
Rooster seems to have a very similar style round-on-round really all group up choose an area and then make a late move
higher on great position for him such a hard one to clear like he say drops down
Was nearly there. I think as soon as he landed he hit a dink
Just one more bullet required to potentially win the round all by himself
himself. Not quite the case. The Rooster still alive. Nate doesn't make it anywhere near
JHD. The bomb undiscovered. So, we're almost definitely still on here now.
We're not going to count it out on either side. Especially with JHD being in low TGP up close.
That's MP9 territory. Didn't even get a tag. It's well on towards Naffony. And that
range, siren for the first. He doesn't need to swing. Patience is a virtue here.
The molly, the flash combo is brilliant.
The bomb spilled forward this round.
Surely dead in the water.
Another flash as well.
To me, slimy.
We'll get a shot.
Those ones over towards Cameron
has another's into war's heaven.
He's got the information.
Look at him.
I see the fight as well.
There's no things down.
He will find Siren.
Surely we're not letting a 1v3 slip through.
Surely not.
Bomb collected, bomb tapped, but not committed.
Time ticking.
We've got a plot here.
And he will be given that luxury
of getting it down.
Imagine a jazz patience for him.
He's just crept by as well.
Slimey's looking the wrong way.
I don't think he's spotted the gun barrel.
Slimey's looking.
He's trying to clear every angle.
I think they ring around the roses here.
It's about who spots who first.
Slimey spots him out.
He's running low on ammo.
Oh, he's got a bullet and somehow makes it work.
That is a monstrous three-fees.
Slimey, what a round.
What a player and what a play.
That is massive.
And Rooster, they're back.
Yes, that is huge.
That is huge. That will really do a lot of work for the mental as well to keep them in this game and keep them believing in this comeback.
It really felt like it was over. He's done so well, man. Those first few kills, just isolating it in the sense of timing, the consideration of everything.
He looked at a main. He was like, I've got to write that off and just, yeah, found the timing to not get pushed from behind, but also keep the information coming in.
really does speak to. Experienc
on this map experience in clutches like that.
Now we see why they picked it, right?
That's it. Experience versus age, 19 year old
Magnetges. I mean, three times the amount of rounds
playing this change. He's a grand.
Of course, came through spirit Academy was touted,
you know, pretty loosely by the next donk because
he basically just follow the same pathway with donk
move up to the main team. Magnetges came through
towards spirit Academy and played a lot of the similar
was very impactful rifle on his day and really talented when it came to spirit Academy.
He definitely wants to keep an eye out for the future as well. He's still, you know,
nowhere near kind of his peak level or, you know, his prime in terms of his age as well.
So I'm excited to see what he really can bring in the future. I mean, he's added
a lot to this BB side and the times has been quite this time in all fairness.
It's true. It's been primarily his auto has been
kind of the main part of fire power. Naphany, how does he win the fight
the game. It's a 3v2. Make that
2v2, but it's all down to one
of managers. He's only got a
USP slimy still dinkable, man.
They've really put the fear into
them here. They will manage to
group up and. Work together.
They know vaguely where he's
at, you know, and the fact
that he at this point can't
be anywhere near this day
bombsite. Very strange, though.
Rooster. I think 10 potentially
I think it's a good idea to
just loosen the muscles a
little bit, right? I think
there's a lot of really tight
grips on the mouse right now,
and it can obviously make you
sort of jumpy in these rounds.
Your own worst enemy, as it
were. Yeah, surely not going
to be a setup like this. You
will get the first, but there
it is. The trade is there. It's
still way too close for comfort.
You feel like the first guy's
So there you are, BB, never out of any rounds at the moment.
Rooster really having to work for this.
Yeah, I think, you know, in a way for BB,
I don't even think they're too upset with that.
You know, that's a more or less a mobile round.
They're kind of not like 300-dollar pistols,
but walk away with four kills.
They're like thinking, all right,
you can even see there, you know,
for, kind of, TGP and generally for Rooster,
it's a sigh of relief to win the round.
Not really as much of like, come on, let's go.
This is what we've got, like, thank God, right?
We did, you know, let's slip again.
I can't lose two eco's in the same map, man.
Oh yeah, exactly.
And now we go back into the biver BB too,
and back in towards the Orphazorta,
he was crisp as all hell in towards the first half with it.
And we get him firing at Orphazorta.
Especially considering that Chelyos has been quiet,
definitely by his standards, he's normally actually
the main player you look towards on this Rooster Saadi.
Definitely he's had his stints of times online,
even domestically.
I thought, he has a little quiet on line here in Atlanta.
Kairon Restless does not want to get locked
into any particular angle.
He's constantly moving around here.
They are on the approach.
Smoke comes in, timing on it.
Chelyos just rings off a shot,
hoping for something to land.
Rooster have once again wound this clock down
more of a mid-based default,
so it could still, in theory, go anywhere.
don't have a lot of time to do so though. The utility is enough for a clean execute.
So it feels like to me they might end up on this B-bomb side. Trying to get a dark control though.
And again they're still not really giving any sort of inkling. There's really little time here.
Flash comes in, it's in at best. If Chiron's got the easiest two-piece of the game so far,
up-trained in on B-main is enough and the kills keep on coming. Chiron is replaced by another.
it's all down to PJP. It's a clean find for one, but not enough. And maybe Rooster just
waiting too long on that one, you know, getting a bit predictable towards the tail end of the game.
Yeah, it's a really nice isolation of fights, I think, coming through from BB. I hope they just do
a very solid job of making sure that there's not really any preferential fights for Rooster there.
You know, they try and take dark control, that standard Molly sets up. The pot flash doesn't
do anything over to his current. So he lines up both of them. It does more to Rooster than it
it does to him. And he's
gladly going to accept both of
them. Zort is never missing a
shot like that. And I still
clean up at the end by a
Magrager. So get around all in
all it's a double up setup as
well. Magrager is going to pick
it up for the first time in
this game. Interesting times go
for double up as well. Wait, I
think you would understand that
money's a little bit feeble
over towards Rooster. They have
to force into this. What
which they could get
overwhelmed, especially with
technology and when they get
running, they're really
to be able to do that. It's
really difficult to slide down.
Again, the rooster, you know,
there just is not where we had
BB showing so much early presence,
taking an early fight a little
bit more in this round at the
moment. So they will open up
proceedings. More type damage
coming in as well. So really
clean start out from the city's
side should be able to work off
of this three towards be one
sort of starting to rotate
to pull up the slide. Is the wrong call at the moment?
They've got the numbers.
Oh, this first fight could be big as well.
Hand-spotted shot. Never going to be missed by Zorta.
He'll take that every day of the week.
And now we've got an AK Khalil and the Deagle to try
and salvage this round of the three versus five.
And Asap will be good for the first, the second.
Not so much.
Jelios and Asap to save the game then.
He's a nice find from Asap.
He unfortunately gets created out quickly.
Jelios is not far into a clutch.
She's managed to scoop up the big green as well here.
Just not ready for that main flank as quickly as it came,
and it will be BB to take it.
It takes a while.
I think we see some counter-strike out from Rooster,
which is exactly what we want today.
Good performance, one they can potentially be proud of.
In fact, I think a really, really nice second half
from them.
In particular, there are a few rounds
you can point towards where they shouldn't have lost them,
right?
The eco stands out as the big one.
There was a couple more in there as well.
They have that sort of 5v3 down to two situation
in the first half that potentially could have gone their way,
should have gone their way.
You might argue, but I really saw the tone from them.
Unfortunately, just too much to do with it.
Yeah, still trying to do the T side's not bad, right?
But it's still, you've lost your map pick
and you're heading on towards Dust 2 coming up next.
We know how good BB can be on it.
So a moment of task ahead of them
or we'll have to see what the desk make it up.
Okay, it's slow.
Let's be honest.
When we came into this, we painted a picture that this would be a little bit of a stomping on the side of BB.
We got to give credit to Rooster. They were able to get some rounds on the board specifically in that second half.
But now my question to both of you AlanJRT is, does this talk to Rooster's improvements in the game and what they can bring to the table?
Or does it talk to the concern we should have around BB team letting these rounds go?
I think a bit of bulls, honestly, like BB team letting a few rounds slip away from them,
but I was impressed with Rooster in particular.
I think what started it all honestly was round number nine.
In my opinion, there were two, and we'll probably see it on screen in just a little
bit for you guys as well, but there were two opening frags off of aggression by Rooster
out of B main, and they really started to push in there effectively and get into
the face of BB team for the first time, and honestly for me is TJP coming up with
a 3K as well.
that was when things started to rule along. And I think they built up a couple of rounds
off that one. And that's when they started to look more interesting, I would say.
Yeah, I think, I think baby will watch back that second half and not be overly impressed
with how they approached a few situations. It's fundamentals alert this team down. The
reason they run right on T side is because you set the pace, right? You can group up
and go in together. Just impose your mechanical advantage. You've gone to CT, need to
rotate, it's good communication. You need to play off splints together, which is
a bit of a struggle there at the end. And that for me, I mean, maybe because that's
not far ahead, you know, like a day's cool, but against better teams, they will lose
the map if they play like that towards the end.
Okay, so you mentioned round nine, we've actually got it. So let's bring it up. Walk
us through again, what you were saying there in terms of how it showcases Rooster.
Of course, no, it's just that to be giving it a round, right? You see this good utility
of flashbangs thrown, I believe, right before this, and they just charge out and then
they take the fight, get a couple of frags off of it. And after that, they just
start to lock things down. They lose a single player. You see they're waiting patiently
over in the box and getting a couple off that swing after just some good
aggression on two occasions and the last one pushing out again taking the fight
to be the team instead of waiting back and that's really important on a new
bus you can't sit back on your laurels and say okay well wait for no you're
gonna get destroyed if that happens so you need to take that space of forward
up and through a main or be mean you make make your choice and that's
what they did effectively there and after that it looked way more confident
in their play
BV team from their side. I mean, in that second half, Alan, what should they have done if
they wanted to keep that scoreline down?
Paused. Slowed it down, had a conversation. I mean, we've got to give some credit to
Rooster. I mean, the individuals did look pretty good there in moments towards the end.
But yeah, certainly for BV, it is communication. It's staying calm. It's staying composed.
There are some players here that have, let's call them aggressive tendencies. They want
to get in there and make moves and get a bit feisty. But yeah, I mean, you
can't get ahead of yourself, as I'm saying, against a fly quest, a sore, a big, they will
get punished more for leaving these gaps than they were in this game.
So we do have one more round that I know you, James, wanted to break down. So teach us something
about counter strike. Why are we focusing in on round 19?
Let's talk about slimy because he did play a brilliant, a brilliant map here despite
the loss on this round, John. He shocked us all, one on three to end it. And, and
honestly, after one miss, I was thinking over time could actually be a possibility.
Yeah, I was thinking that as well. I couldn't believe he managed to touch a sudden look nine impossible given the circumstances that shot is crispy
I mean he was playing it right and managing to locate the last player very effectively
I'm impressed with him and you're gonna see the results here
He was at the top of the scoreboard even though everyone kind of had their moment
I would say in the limelight for rooster slimy was the one that was consistently performing really really well
I think the biggest problem for rooster is those rounds that they lost in the second half that they should
enough and probably could have let you maybe overtime like you were saying Alan
or even a win around 17 comes to mind full eco for BB team they push out mid
and then managed to get I think three frags and just completely throw things
for loop and it wasn't the only time they full on eco almost upset them they
had another one to BB team they lost it but they got three frags so those are
the rounds you need to be winning if you want to beat a team any team I would
say in counter strike but specifically here BB team okay so now hear me out
we're obviously moving to dust to we did get a chance to see BB team on dust
to yesterday. It's they map pick here. I don't think they looked very good yesterday. Is it
going to be different? I heard the cost is saying that they're normally good on this map?
I mean, no, I don't think they are. No, I'm talking about BBC. Oh, sorry. I got lost in the mix there.
No, yeah, usually BB team are good. And I'm actually glad you brought it up because they
got stomped yesterday on Dust2. It was embarrassing for them. So I don't know necessarily if
rooster will be completely blown out here there's still confidence issues for sure on the bb team
side after what happened yesterday their match against fly quest so for me i don't think it's a
sure thing and if rooster can come through and continue to like build on that confidence they
hadn't that second half in particular something could happen and it is dust too right you think
something you'd have i'm just going to interrupt you there i'm going to be frank good on rooster
they got rounds on anubis i don't think that they're winning dust too no that's that then
I mean, I'm not. Um, the
first thing you have to do is
have to add the context, right?
How do they lose against fly
quest fly quest played aggressive
dynamic. They made move. They
got up in the defaults of BB
before they could get anywhere
near X King onto a site. Um and
Rooster haven't shown that
style of argue that they kind
of did on a new Miss Allen. I
would say that you know,
they were getting aggressive on
there on their city sides in
particular. That's what
I mean, it's it's looked fantastic yesterday and the players that make a move for fly quest are more skilled than the rooster guys. So it's not just having the ability to be anybody can run in and die. I mean, anybody to be aggressive, but there's a level of structure.
There's timing. There's you till there's there's being the same pages making aggressive moves when it makes sense
That's what happened. Yes. There's what flikers are doing doing to BB. I'm not convinced rooster has that sort of depth to their aggression
I would argue though that rooster look pretty effective on their executes at certain moments
I was impressed like oh, they have they have said executes going on your set plays coming through and it looked pretty solid getting on to that
Beeson I don't know if they won the round that executed in but like there were a few times
I said, okay, there's something materializing here
I just think that maybe based on what I saw there because I'm coming into this series
I thought no chance in in hell like ten rooster are gonna pull off as many rounds they did on newbis then they did so
Let's say we won't get surprised again on dust, too
We've got an optimist and a pessimist on the desk with us J.R.T. is the optimist
He believes that that rooster can pull something roosters don't wear hats
But if they did they would pull something out of their hats and then we've got the pessimist Alan
Who is pretty confident that BB team is closing this out in a 2-0 fashion?
You can let us know what you think in the chat because you're going to have a bit of time to do that as we wait to get ready to move on to map 2.
ESL Challenger is brought to you in part by Intel, Acer Predator, DHL, Kadea, Monster Energy, the United States Air Force, One X-Bat and Logitech G.
As far as I know, roasters don't have really good preparation because we checked their last
demos and they was playing with one guy who was playing with Ping like 250 and it's kind
of like word from my perspective but anyway everyone can beat everyone and here the momentum
only matter.
I mean that CS2 everything can happen for everyone.
a great leveler at one point in this game.
They will get back there as it does feel this map has
started to flatten off already.
We had maybe a couple of weeks of excitement.
Was it regressed?
Regressed back to go?
Sure, sure.
It just-
As a DOS2 hater, I like to say regressed.
It's the best way to play the map.
That's the painful thing.
But maybe a game like this with a few flashy individuals,
a rag tag bunch, on the rooster side,
they might give us something fresher to watch.
the first time. I think they
wanted to make their signature
coming into this tournament got
collapsed yesterday. There are
issues and there is very recent
tape that Rooster could have
gone back and watched about to
find out whether they have now.
Yeah, two for two in pistol
rounds to start off in that
previous maps. That's
something which Rooster will
potentially feel a little
confident about if they can
get a pistol to start on
towards the city side then
maybe. One of something to
of something to work with. There's
it. Nobody towards a but there's
two out towards long. JP going
to put it back over smoke Molly
flash. That's the commitment of
the play here. Some of these
shots are going to connect as
well. And JP is going to
completely double away and
going to leave a pair out
towards long house as well on
that T side. You know, for
magnitude, you can get a lot
information from here. Jell
for the blocks here. Headshots
spotted headshots landed as well
and Magna jazz strikes the perfect
time. You're off beautiful from
Kyron to close out the round.
That is BB on the board early in
a really decisive pistol, something
that we kind of praise Rooster
for was their pistol. So that's
now been scratched. This could
get dangerous. Yeah, I mean, we
already, you know, we've touched
this veto so much, right? The
fact that, you know, we went
very decent on and then DOS 2 being this next map up is so solid for this BV side where
they're just not expected to take it and to take it pretty comfortably at that as well. So
it's a big ask, that goes without saying, Mac 10, Nathony, how's your reactions? Not good enough,
he was a little focused elsewhere, sleep in the wheel, he'll get caught and J.H.D will happily
take a Mac 10 to work with. If they can make it a little bit expensive here, it's not bad
and Chellios gonna get away with another kill.
Okay, fair enough.
Again, in the context of a round like this, that's where you won.
Get some kill bonus.
Get some kills on the board, really, right?
Get everyone off that zero marker.
I'm gonna go down. That'll be the round pretty much secured.
We may well see another kill.
Potentially, JHD with this Mach 10 is what we keep our eyes on.
There is an early Nade. Doesn't really do an awful lot.
Actually, I think it bounces a bit funny,
to get him through that smoke,
but it doesn't really work out.
Chelyo is going to go down on the back side again.
A reapproach here from Rooster,
but round is secured by BB.
This is where we have to see what this Rooster squad
can complain towards.
One of the things about this too,
I think Mirage falls into this category,
maybe Inferno as well,
although it seems like Inferno is falling out of favor.
Everyone has a decent amount of knowledge
on how to play this map.
It's really not going to change your function
differently across regions, right?
There's not a lot of depth here to just two at the end of the day. So that is the small again amount of hope him that I will give across to Rooster is that this as I mentioned at the top of the map is the great leveler, right?
They could certainly just have a really good day. Chelyos on the all could start taking over.
I mean, as maps go as well,
Dust2 is fundamentally easy in
the sense, right? Compared to
maps like your nukes, for
example, or even, you know, as
we saw yesterday with like how
big by ancient is difficult to
break down a son of that, but
Dust2 does give opportunities
for individuals to shine. And
that is what we need to see
out from Brewster. We need to
see just a little bit of
really solid towards the tail end.
Chelyos had a good couple of moments as well.
PJP had a good couple of moments,
but it's about getting them really proactive.
Flash comes through round,
and Kyron actually gets a little bit lucky.
They just caught by the flash,
but they don't know if it's a fight.
Yeah.
So he's given the space.
Sounded like a herd, I suppose.
Probably thought there was two or three round
that corner with just how confident Kyron was playing things.
That's been a weird round, actually.
There was like two players in the tunnels fighting each other.
I think one bullet landed out of a total,
what would it be 50 shots. So that's kind of wild. And BB seems to have really put the
brakes on here. This is again going to be a commonality on this map keeping the attention
on both bombsites at the moment. Trickle smokes coming in by the looks of things, but
not a full committal. It is out through middle. And it is potentially a hit towards
B here. Nice find onto Maphany. They're aware of a man in the tunnels as well. So
I think they should be prepped out for this one could still get overwhelmed by the numbers
But not going to be the case really well held here all on to sort a
That's the native not ready for a sap to be so close and Rooster will indeed take that first rifle round
It is again something to touch on the mid to be to kick things off is a risky and maybe overconfident play from the T side
Yeah, it felt like for me the idea that BB caught on a spawn far part of it quickly
You know, they want to take some control in few tunnels. They wanted to kind of
Poke and prod I think over towards a and then it doesn't work
Now if we get clips dropping down towards CT and it changes the narrative and the guy I guess the pace of that round
to and unfortunately things do drift apart so
You see a buy back here. I wouldn't say a nice one for BB
We've got an AK, we've got a Guerrero, and we've got some upgrade of pistols.
And this is a sort of a buy, which as we saw in Tours and Ubers,
you cannot discount BB on it because they made it work a couple of times.
Tech 9 moving up.
Nafini seems to be a big fan of short at the moment.
Constantly trying to make plays over there in these early rounds.
Big fine from Sirenas, the smoke goes down.
UMP is up close. Surely dealt with.
And they're not what they wanted.
They need someone to sort of stand strong.
He does buy a fair amount of time.
I can't quite get there early enough. Big tech nine frag from naffany. There go the hopes of this round. Let me tell you
Save gonna come in BB have stolen it away on the lower weaponry naffany running ramp and that's short
Just slimy remaining and they might even go after him here. Yeah, exactly. They might start the hunt
Well both side. This is a you know a pretty important swing round because both of us don't have any economy left in reserves
So if you can make sure that nobody survives gonna make this very expensive naffany
He got us to but the third was maybe a tad greedy and he will get caught
But now they know where slime is and you can see
Sharks smelling blood in the water. They might continue to pressure him a little bit
But I think we're up there the time I left on this clock
It's all down to maybe where the Chiron can't get over towards pit in time. I think he actually
Will if he steps towards the end, yes, he will and he'll get the kill as well
perfect. Making sure nothing
survives for Rooster BB. Great
response off the back of a bit
of a poor round prior, but
the naffy. There's very, very
well that double kill. Yes, the
technology is super important
because if you may be knocking
that kill into his doors, there's
a bit of a gap in the armor for
that season execute with his,
you know, tunnels control that
potentially. I still utilize
his favor, but off the beat.
You'd mean BB get up towards four, if you'd hope.
Let's let this one slip away.
Maktain gonna come through for Nathalie.
Rifles across the deck.
And a decent amount of Utah as well.
And, well, at the moment, it was an MTA cyber.
Now they've quad-stacked it.
Deagle, setting up.
Okay, there is some damage done.
There is USP getting active.
This could be a scary push in.
They're trying to boost up onto the side.
Two elevator itself, not gonna happen.
All mode down.
There's too many bullets downrange for the unarmored opponents to deal with.
Cheleos is late to the party, of course. He's molotov'd off for the time being.
Again, there is definitely one name he could find.
Not going to happen.
Lanza Dink, but it's not going to do much on that USP, of course.
BB rolling through the motions, looking very good while doing so.
Another key round on the horizon.
Yeah, a little scary for a brief moment, but recovered quite quickly.
You know, the opening kill comes through that D.
It did look a little shaky, but in the end not to be
Wasn't expecting a lot out from rooster. We still haven't seen anything just yet, which has given us a lot of hope
I mean, this is a map and which feels a little bit more even in that sense and we do need
Something I roost. I mean, you know, we had a nine three first half in towards an Ubers
And while that second half really wasn't bad
They got six rounds and they looked a little bit more competent because they were the one setting the pace of the game
it was still such a mountain
that they had to climb and it's
a bit too tall of a task. He's
had no good for that first
current just trying to go contact
playing in the middle of those
smokes behind it, but you'll get
caught. They've been quite
confident without Matthews
doing it a lot around short as
well. So just keeping the
awareness up on the Rooster
side of things that there is
always a play around the
corner. It feels like keep
spot. It's a well done in that sense in advanced position in mid from TJP. He will hear a lot
of jump in, a lot of footsteps, etc. and seems to be ready informing his teammates that there
is an alien going on at the moment. They have pulled away from it though. Dropping
down a little again, making noise, could be heard here by ASAP. There's no real
cell. It's another mid to B player. Now, you remember the last time they did this?
it failed pretty miserably, actually, potentially because there was two in on the site, A$AP
gets caught, and now it is just JHD trying to find a gap to get into the tunnels, unfortunately
takes his eye off the all important doors position, and that will be that. So a bit
better this time around from BB, taking it slower, working the map a bit more before
they fully commit.
Yeah, good. Can I poke it and look it around and seeing where the fights open up and just
taking them, right? Simple stuff. I want to take his two kills, but as the round quite
cleanly gobbled up as well for this BV side. And now, in a similar way that we saw a little
bit earlier, they can actually go for a little bit behind here. They've got a bit of money
left over and they know that that's not the case for Rooster. You probably don't
as well want three players staying alive. Three players staying alive CT side means
you can read my back into this, especially with loss bonus. It might look for a bit
of the time it's too far ticked with
Nafini's Molotov. Nobody was behind it.
In that rooster, I think we do buy around this.
I think they've got enough money in reserves
for the players after live plus what they've got
kind of in the back pocket of the two who fell off
ASAP and JHD to actually try and
suffice some sort of an investment in here.
I feel like it's probably the right way to go about it,
especially around the AWP of Chellios too.
I wouldn't mind a pause though.
Just a brief conversation. How are we going to make
these CT side rounds tick? At the moment
It's not looking too favorable.
JT just gets completely caught in no man's land there.
And yeah, it's tough.
Head and hands type stuff.
What do you want to see?
Vibes are a little low.
That's one of the things that was going for them
in that second half of a new bus.
They started to get fired up a bit
when they got a few rounds in a row,
but a little bit quiet, a little bit timid at the moment.
And, Beppu, I think,
I did a really good job at the moment,
especially I think in particular,
Siren looking very active in the early part of these rounds as well getting a lot of space in Naphany and Kyra and also go for pushes of the road
You're getting so much information here DB
Up down ready to go to try and find this first kill the smoke unfortunately makes his life difficult
We got a long rush coming round from BB
And this is the T side's favorite position on this map to get out long
Have the entire team alive. It'd be nice to find a kill
Maybe two but they just have this space and this moment to collect their bearings and decide what they want to do
with this
Have a cross smoke coming in that is
slightly antiquated cross smoke you might even argue but they
Faking out a position here bold decision though from rooster to go for no long presence basically at all and not even the long use
Oh, you can throw that from spawn but they opt against it
No presence and playing retake
retake might not work for the
naffany for two and he might go
hunting for a third as well as
he knows he tagged up cellos a
lot. And that is that it is as
simple as that. No contest at
all there for BB getting in.
There was a quick trade, but
yeah, nothing to really speak
of naffany leading by example
something he did on the first
map as well. Maybe wasn't the
And maybe this is as well. Yes, something that he's instilled something that he's talked about, but you have so many
Star presences on this team that maybe they've said I don't want to go in first
I don't want to entry that might be a lot of their kind of issues is that there's a few too many
personalities a few too many
Goals on this team that are just getting in the way of themselves really so Nathnih is potentially swallowed his pride instead
Okay, well, if I've got a charge in, I've got a charge in.
It's working there.
Oh, yes.
Oh, that's a worst case scenario.
Ah, it is.
Allusioning all of that.
That is not what you want to be doing at all,
because that was a full reinvestment
back in towards that round, around what was saved.
That is really going to hurt them.
And you know, they were, you had to kind of look
at the little things, but they were messing around
with the football a little bit, and obviously conversing.
And even for a brief moment, Chilis wasn't even
looking at his monitor.
He was looking over to his teammates and just that flash comes over.
It's a bit panicked as he tries to recover and he was tight.
This time there's a bit of long press coming through from Rooster.
Magnet is already out.
Caramel chunk in age, sure.
Magnet just positions really strong here.
The fact that they don't know he's there.
Slimy, check your angles. Get ready for this fight, sir.
Magnet just takes it. It's crisp.
That's long control in a slightly different way than the previous round.
They'll now start to work off the back of it quick smoke quick Molotov, but
Magnitjez is so far up on this site already
There's a big old gap in the smoke.
Jettabab. Jelyos is not really around to capitalise unfortunately
Kill comes in as well from the rotating presence, so the bomb will go down, but they have lost some of their
Bites here I would say.
Siren with a mid flank has got to be watched has got to be cared for
to the right here. He's not
going to turn off the bomb.
He's not going to turn off the
bomb anymore. Does seem like
they have an idea of him. The
bomb wasn't fully committed.
Still not gone down as yet. Nice
trade coming in towards middle,
but Kyron has moved forward to
create space for a clean plan.
Chelyos in the mixture, and
that's a break on the smoke.
It hits him as does the
bullet, and he will hit the
deck down to this mid
presence that they had. He's
No reason for them to open the door. Yeah, you know, unfortunately, this is looking
hopefully less competitive than that first map did. You know, at least the new best
had brief moments and stints. You know, we saw Rooster get the pistol, the force, you
know, the three or two, two, one up and they start having moments of being slightly competitive
on the T side a little bit better in the second half. But at the moment we are not
seeing any of that. This is a really tough display. And I think unfortunately, and
sort of maybe expectedly with the backs up against the wall.
They one map away from elimination
and they're already off to a poor start, seven to one down.
I think they're just kind of mentally checking out a bit now
and it's not looking good.
You know, small mistakes they're making.
Magnitude is not even being expected out towards long.
These are small things, but incredibly costly.
And it's difficult. It's very difficult.
And this is where you look towards taking tack pauses
just to try and take a breather and try
the way back into this game,
but yeah, it's tough. It's tough.
At least we're getting consistent buys out for Rooster
because the last bonus bar.
Not doing anything with it.
GHD going in for a move here.
Not able to find anything,
but at least discovers the tools to be clear.
What the hell is that?
It's been quite a member to be fair,
but yeah, those were pretty clean.
You forget he exists on this team.
You forget sort of the past that he has as well.
a bit of a hopeful at 1.4 spirit from their academy system. Yeah. He was in the limelight
for a while and then sort of dipped out of it. I'm glad he can find his form once again.
He's still got it as well. TJP, Chellios, simple thing of just saving for them, but it's
about whether they're giving the luxury to save in it. It seems very much so that
they are. It's just relentless, isn't it? I think the last time they tried saving,
he talks about them, you know, not fully, fully concentrating. It's again another wake-up
the way they want to win the
route. They still want to win
via the frags. And there's
giving it sort of on the AK
range. Just demolishes that
final frag really well done
beauty of a shot that was all
take. This is such clean
counter strike. There is
absolutely nothing that we
can really do. So we've got
absolutely nothing that we can
really say on a negative tone
over towards BB. They're
playing for the most part quite
perfect. My siren these couple
of shots to open things up are
wonderful. Brilliant stuff from
him. And yeah, I mean, everything
else just slots itself into
what's placed. I don't even
think in a way that Natalie's
being required to call too hard
here, right? He's not really
having to anti-strike all that
much. They're just giving them
the fights and BB are winning
these heads up jewels these
50 50s. We're relatively
They're not breaking a sweat by any means.
He did beat his MP9 and it's so labored.
And the labored doesn't pay off.
Danny falls.
It's Siren who's barely alive,
but he'll take the kill every day of the week.
That is unfortunate, man.
They just cannot catch a break right now.
Really, really difficult stuff.
I mean, it does set up a couple.
Maybe there could be something in this 4 on A ready to go.
They've seen this round a good number of times.
However, Magno jazz.
Midway out mid.
It's difficult for him.
a bit of assistance required, Deagle of Slimy is all now that remains. He does what he can.
He got his, there was no one else to back him up though.
Time is running out for Rooster. At the moment as well, they had a 9-3 into that first half
of Anubis, that first map and they'd love a 9-3 I think now. Honestly the way these
rounds are playing out, it doesn't look like 3 is even going to be possible. Can
they even get 2 is basically the question that we're asking to ourselves. They just
haven't been able to show up on Dust2 and we knew this map was going to be good for BB.
We know it's a strong part of their pool by yesterday and generally speaking, one that
they always like to lean towards and Rooster have not been able to do anything to shot them
down and it goes from back to us. Chellioz going to get caught early. Karon relentless
as the word we've used and another fight showing over. Holds W and he's up and
towards shore fighting Daws in the first 10 seconds.
the game. It's a really solid
idea from BB. Rooster. However,
they've only got one round in a
total of 10 played so far. They
feel risks. Can be taken so
against the grain. Potentially
they are again fully moving
to the grain potentially they are again fully moving tjp in towards a the door of
b obviously still open here for bb a lot of time taken there's a late move into the
pit from slimy could get overlooked here but they will pay the respect by the
looks of things it's a contact play it's all about timing maybe slimy jumps
out at the correct moment they will check all their angles it's a nice
It's off from him again. It's only one. They need a bit more. They need an individual to stand up here
TJP peeks over with the flash eventually gets his reward
He's done some good damage to a bit more. They will both hold the line the three-name
Players looking good, but it's not for me trading back. What is happening in these rounds man?
Does he have enough time to grab this bomb and get back over? I'm not so sure definitely with a stop being in
in short already. He's surely able to cut him off here.
Nafini just charging for it. Flash goes high to try and create the space.
They start blinded, gets that final kill at his work.
Brewster keeping themselves somewhat in proceedings, getting their second round.
But you can see Nafini, but a smile on the face.
It doesn't matter all that much in the grand scheme to him.
He's not worried. He's all stressed at the moment.
9-2 heading into the final round of the half and nearly, nearly that recovery.
coming forward from BB, which would have been pretty incredible.
But I actually think TJP stayed alive
over towards Carthage as long as he did.
It was probably the only mistake that they made in that round.
They mullied him, and I think they maybe thought
that it went deeper than it did,
so that he'd fallen away, but he had him.
He stuck up, and he got his chiron jumping up.
Will get his, as TJP gonna be clipped early
towards the round.
The same, we said for ASAP though,
so an answer back on towards Napheny
as he now has to call for the grave.
Siren going fast and then he gets scared and runs away.
That's exactly what's happened there, ultimately.
There's nothing happening for him on B.
Chelyos...
Can't do anything about this smoke, maybe wants to try and make a play, though.
Rooster, after winning their one round, they've got some newfound confidence.
Some new shoes.
Trying to use them, trying to get in the face of their opponents here,
and Chelyos will get that good timing.
Four on three.
An advantage for rooster never thought I would say the words it has not happened for quite some time
But I'm gonna go down here
really clean plant despite the
Advantage despite the numbers looking good your shop misses
So rooster baby getting a bit of luck towards the tail end of the half here would be really great to end on a sweet note
Maybe not so much the sour one a lull in play here as they just get themselves together
particularly in towards CT Molotov breaks the play the shot lands on to the long player though
That's all they've now got to worry about. They know they're all in towards CT
Techman is out in the two versus two and they will fall flat
3v4 is lost and it's double digits for the BB side moving into half two
So they managed to recover themselves somewhat on the two side of a new best at their pick
But it still wasn't enough in the end another pistol hangs in the balance for them
down to the back of his head.
And so, Rooster, they'll keep
their pistols going. Three out
of four. We've got to give him
that. Yeah, it's not bad. It's
a good position here. Don't rush
the bomb plant. No need to do so.
It will go down, but. Quite
nicely quite clean leaders.
CT is coming in from everywhere
back up on the T side as well.
Really strange situation. Nice
find good kill gives them
keen control of the tunnels
area. Nathalie type down to
them that. Yeah, it's not bad in terms of the pistols. It's just unfortunately, nearly
all of the gun rounds have just been that great part. The main part of the game. Yeah.
You know, you know, counter strike, basically. But you know, the thing for us now is hoping
that with this pistol, and then you'd expect the force by the back of it, if they can
get just a little bit of confidence to lead to some consecutive rounds that you might
just have something on the cards here. So if it feels like it's asking quite a
a lot, but we'll see. It's
going to be a force by out
for B B and not a good start
for Zorte as Danny goes. He
does try and fight. He takes
that first time and I thought
he might just pull away from
that, but he sticks around
just a little bit too long and
or pays the ultimate price.
We love a double doors banger.
Really, really clean stuff
could give. Rooster the leg
up that they need have
slowed it way down there. We
saw this quite a lot from
them on their T side of a
new base where they just
group up, pick a bomb site,
go for it. Keep it simple. Don't get any other ideas, really. 5-7 does well to find one. That's
the key frag. Magnajews could have really done some damage from his position. Nafini and Kyron
coming in from behind. Nafini, he just holding W, takes the scout. Probably saying, see you later
here, actually. You can drop that 5-7 across. You know, you have something to present in
the next round now. And again,
this kind of a score line. It is
all about just the mental
pressure, not letting them have
any breathing room, not letting
them sort of calm down and
yeah, mellow in their thoughts.
It's constant paranoia, constant
high level. Gaming going on
really so BB gonna have to
continue that I suppose.
Looking for exit. We saw you
you know, I don't touch it on
the desk as well. It's a lot of
it down to them. You know, be
able to set the tempo of the
rounds and play the pace that
they want to kind of all hunt
at the end. You'll get himself
a gun as well. I think it was a
galil that. DJ appears a bit of
a laugh about it, but it's not
the worst sort of weapons to
work. Like you said, couple
of five sevens get dropped over.
They've got a scout and a
finger galil. It's not the
worst sort of thing to have
not in a round like this.
TJP is in the scene.
He has indeed Kairon set up for another all over the map.
Usually we would see this with like an orb, right?
Yeah, super dynamic.
Taking fights everywhere,
trying to create the opportunities for himself.
But he's on the AK.
He's not showing any signs of slowing down either, Naphthany.
They can mince me out of this one.
He's spotted all three of them at the very least,
but that could have been a kill.
They're trying to capitalize on it.
There's the AK again, right?
There is no escaping Kairon right now.
Nice find from Chelyos takes the tag, however, and Kyren's still on the cards for the ace.
He's in the right spot. Clean headshot. One more to go. Can't get it.
And now maybe recovery for ASAP. If he plays it correctly, he's taken the full HP player,
isolated it down to the one versus one nose.
Nafini's got to be somewhere around here, and he will win the fight out as well.
Round saved, and more time bought for Rooster.
Yeah, credit to Kyren. I think he does really, really well in that round.
I think the pistols that are playing around there for BB. They know that Karen's gonna be the the make or break in this round
He's gonna be the win or lose and if they want any Charles
They've got a facility and give him preferential fights and he basically taking nearly every fight bar the first maybe as
Catching somebody in the side or catching them off guys. They're focused elsewhere. So nice work
And of course because that wasn't a real investment. They have a buy-in towards an X or out for Zorta
And this is a really, really key round if BB can just shut it down before it gets going
and at the very first sort of proper hurdle, the steeple chase will end prematurely, rooster.
Showing a bit of presence but there's really not a lot going on in this round.
Again another very drawn out T side round from them as they potentially look to end
A, but as a late smoke comes in that might make that decision
I think so
Nathanie gonna play up close there just behind the smoke
It's got a bit of a timer on it as well
So he's got some space to work it there under a bit of pressure of this clock rooster
No room for error Nathanie and he good for the first dips away perfect
They're gonna come in behind it does a fair decent chunk of damage and Zorta now posted on the edge
the first set up for the second
will get it as well. The right
was just coming to mop up the
rest. Chillios all that left
call of the day, my friend. It
is not to be other ideas as
naff. He starts and closes that
round and BB get ever closer to
the map 11 to five. Pull away
from eliminating Rooster from
Atlanta. You have to bait that
you to see how outright you
to just sell a bit of an idea and they were just way too comfortable and then you've run into a smoke like it's not gonna happen at short
Did not give themselves enough time to make themselves known even
Shot is close
Oh, there you go. Chellios. He's got it man. He's got it on the scout for sure
Whether it's gonna have much of an impact is of course another question
But some nice kills for the highlight reel, you know the just to merchant potentially another one coming in for him
Okay, so we are asking BB to just hold off ever so slightly. They've lost
Control of mid in particular
Chelyos watching behind knows what's up knows the tendencies here. Oh timing
No, I would have said give it a chance at an easier fight, but no the deagle
Rips his head off and probably wins it for this is to now
It should be the round
Not really attacked off, but he nearly gets wall banged. He will again headshot wall bang another one for Chelyos
Yeah, like you said with the
Scout, he's got it to a T. Last
month of siren and no quantity as
well. He was spotted out. That's
the luck to say this one shouldn't
be getting off the ground and
gets a bit of a taste of his own
medicine at least. I think I
would assume we're just saving
the orp here, but it does look
like siren. I think we're
tempted to give it a go. Yeah,
I mean, of course they have
money in reserve. So why
not? Yeah, so many rounds to
work with as well. It's good
to see. It is good to see
He's taking an advanced position, tries to get in early.
The bomb's not really been planted yet, so...
As far as the semblance of control is not low, right?
He knows they're going to be low on utility as well, just the nature of where it's...
Ah, how's he taking no damage?
That's crazy.
I'm going to just to get away, get the reload off.
Now the round changes, though. The bomb has gone down.
There'd be no reason for them to peek into him.
Did he spot the leg there? I'm not entirely sure, but he's got some timing.
To work with, they think that he might have flanked around towards Long.
Got to be a planter in on the site, however...
I just can't find the headshots.
to be able to do that. Still
takes a player down in the end.
Again that relentless stress
that they are just really,
really displaying here and
keeping on this. Rooster side
of things. It is around, but
it's not enough for any of us
to really believe in the
comeback just yet. Exactly
good round, though, from
Charlie off. I think you
look clean as you got a
three K in that one. So
He's making that one sing.
He beat right back into a bite.
It's a better bite than what Rooster bring at the table as well.
They've got a couple of glills to come through in him.
A couple of hands, not a lot of you to...
Man, the Jazz might go overlooked here.
There's the first no, it alludes him.
Oh, that's a bad one.
That's a bad one to not hit.
Man, he does have all the information to work with.
Bit like a Jared headlight.
He just didn't really know how to capitalize upon it.
That's the site and it might actually be the round and I just call it
Yeah, I think so. Why not? Right?
This is more of a situation where you have a lot more reason to save one
player is not going to make too much of a difference as we saw in that previous.
We talked it over right. This one is where you've got, well,
three players with no money.
So you have to save, really.
The good thing is three saving generally means a re-investment back in.
I mean, potentially, I don't know, like MP9s.
It's only gonna be 1900 if I'm correct. Yeah, you know like the way I look at it, right? It's like I just feel like if you have
Well, you know five-seven armor or something now that it's two and it's not an AWP
Changes the conversation with three. I always feel like the best thing to do is try to buy it
But they're getting hunted and hard and now we're doing one rifle
Now we're talking about a safe here
It would just be Kyron similar to the earlier round when you have that kind of hair of a game
He'll just try to hero and for him. Okay, so it was 2900. It's actually a little bit higher
I think with with where the back and forth has been on the rounds lost bonus a bit higher than I expected
So three surviving probably would have been a fair buy
Either here nor there like you're saying get a taste of our own medicine. They get hunted down. They don't get saved for free
so
Really good stuff rooster again showing us a bit of what they are capable of
Yeah, tap was to come through as well called by BB
I mean, it's a real way to get
on the mic or the goat saying
something. They're the goats
talking. I don't know. Can we
ask for comedies in the goat
because I'd be interested to
know. I'd love to see what
somebody who as they put it
themselves, it's not my words.
This is Rooster's words and
PJ P said it. He doesn't know
counter strikes. What are we
inputting? Does he know ball?
Well, I guess not really at the moment, but not the hype but just just another voice. Yeah
Yeah, I mean they wouldn't bring him for no reason, you know, I mean maybe just go without a coach
Maybe they go without a coach teams do that. Yeah, but maybe it's all like let me just bring my mate for a holiday
It's like three or four days and you're mostly playing Counter-Strike. So true true
Well indeed well come on now. It's not over yet. It's not over yet
that. So I'm just going to go
after it just yet. Siren has
managed to find the first kill
on that five seven, of course.
That could be really dangerous.
Actually, Kyren's not gone
activated. I think they've
really had to sacrifice the
gun not going to go after it
just yet, but surely someone
recircles for that weapon.
Charlie is watching a really
dangerous channel if you decide to make the perilous journey. Smoke for the cross, and
it's off for the car. Simple stuff here as Rooster needs to be very careful in these next
few moments. Napheny gets another the M4, not quite chilly as he's looking to be on
1 HP. Could it make a difference? Could it make a negative difference? We'll find
out. Zortay trained in on the site. The M4 is behind him, a really good position
for these guys to be in here.
Sorta take first contact.
Just lose his head quickly.
Kyron got to play really, really well here.
Again, they've not quite dedicated into the site just yet.
Chelyos is holding for the inevitable rotations.
There is no rush.
There is still 20 seconds.
Tap onto the bomb.
Kyron does not peek.
He will give them that space that Slimy does not neglect
to check down to the two versus two
as Chelyos fell in at middle.
No kit available, of course, but we've had the weapons
recovered.
can fight back. 1v1 for Slymie to keep them in it. Gonna run out of ammunition. Run out of HP here as well.
Does not look good, but just play that clock. Just draw him in. Don't get greedy for the fight.
He goes a bit early, tries to hide his head.
And there is enough time for the defuse. Siren will get it done.
12th round comes in, and another tough one for Rooster to lose.
Yeah, that is not the one you want to be going for. After all, that is really gonna hurt.
And that'll be map and series point BB and they are just moments away from moving on tomorrow
This is the elimination game, of course or moving forward until later man. I say and it will be goodbye to rooster
Hey, I've got to go for this now
Try and take this towards over time leave five in a row
Something that we have not seen at all this tournament from Rooster
They have not once gone five in a row three in a row is the most they've got throughout this tournament in terms of
consistent rounds. It's big arse. It really is a sorter for the first as well. Nice shot,
full blind, catch a JAD on pure instinct. Yeah, that's tough, man. That's the classic
in spawn. You know, get me in there, guys. Get me in there. I've got the spawn. Get
it flashed. Get it flashed. And then you just get clapped by the orb. You know, it's
disheartening. It is disheartening and it leaves Rooster in this recovery position
once again. They have made it out middle quite fast. I don't know whether this
will be necessarily expected. Flash comes in. It's good for information, but they've
not been able to take any names down.
Nafini's in behind quite fast, firing with a really good spot.
Into the closet, gonna get it all done by himself.
Triple kill, rolls in.
And well, there was a moment where it felt like Rooster,
again, potentially could get themselves in,
but just not fully hooked into the game.
It is unfortunate.
It's a good showing, I think, to be honest with you.
And maybe an indictment, a little bit of BB,
that it should have been more one-sided,
on that first map all the same the result stands they get the 2-0 and they breeze through this
rooster team. Yeah commiserations to rooster as well as we have to bid them farewell here in Atlanta
and BB stay alive far from escaping the perilous journey back home just yeah but still an opportunity
to move into all playoffs to try and get that all elusive challenger trophy. Is there life
So for now, BBSlide is wondering whether we get to see more of them heading on towards
a test.
What have you got for us?
So Nehrukaya did my job there for me.
He basically wraps up everything that happened in this series.
Thank you for that.
Now we just get to talk about some fun stuff, which is what we just saw on your screens.
Obviously BBSlide is wrapping this up to 0-5.
I want to go straight into this and talk about the fact that as much as this is
a victory and that's great, they stay in the competition, we say goodbye to Rusta.
There were some moments, and especially the rounds when they were on CT side that they
were dropping, that give me cause for concern when BVC has to phase off against Thor later,
because that is not going to be something that they can get away with.
No, definitely not.
I mean, the fact is, some of these rounds that they were even losing up against Ruser
shouldn't have happened in the first place, and you see like round number 11, it almost,
it actually does get away from them completely.
Nathan is put in a 1v3 situation, by the way, who played amazing throughout this
entire series.
He falls just short of clutching it out and Rooster are able to get a second round. That's the most exciting round
I think we saw from Rooster. I think the problem is though that you shouldn't be in those type situations in the first place
They were in commanding lead of this match. Everything was going their way
And then they just let little things little details slip away
So in terms of consistency, it is absolutely still lacking here for BB team
Yeah, I think
The brand that BV plays on the city side is inherently risky. They like to make moves. They like to get aggressive
For me this team might have over disconnect screen
They want the individuals to be proactive to take space
But you need to have an internal dial when do I stop when do I not get aggressive?
When do I wait for my teammates?
And I like to the rounds when they get aggressive as a team
But there are definitely times where the individuals overstep the mark and certainly in this game
I would argue it is a factor that they are so
So, Uber confident in their fights that every individual feels like I can take individual
space and do damage.
And we saw in both these CT sides, they let a lot of rounds slip through just losing individual
jewels and having no help.
I think a good example is the pistol round on CT side.
They were at top mid.
They had two players posted up top mid at the beginning of the round.
You're like, whoa, take a step back.
They ended up losing that round, of course, just because of how aggressive it was and
they lost both players immediately.
So yeah, I agree with you.
I mean, it's just temperate at the right time.
go all out every single round.
I think my favorite thing about this is that Mike is on the stage right now with the player
from BBT News had to listen to your entire breakdown of how they performed.
They have indeed, they have indeed, but I captured the young phenomenon Magno Jez here
before he could escape from me.
Magno, how did that series feel for you?
Not kind of easy, but it is how it is.
How it is indeed.
A lot has been made, both from you guys, from the desk, from everybody, about the
problems that you guys have faced.
You felt a little more comfortable this time around. Do you think that there's been any solution from yesterday into today?
Actually it was for sure kind of a weaker opening, but we talked a lot yesterday.
We're trying to find some solution because we are playing online much better than LAN.
I don't really know why it's happening, but also it's my main problem in my opinion and we are trying to fix it.
Okay, well you've got one more match between you and the playoffs between you and Sunday. It's Saul on the other side a dangerous opponent
What do you think of them?
They're good opening but actually online. I think it's much easier to play versus stronger opening
Because they're more predictable than people who just playing like how hard feeling. That's it
All right. Well excited to see what your heart will be feeling that matchup. Good luck, man
What do you think, Sam? How's your heart feeling?
What are you talking about? I don't have a heart.
Alan, what did you think about what you had to say there in the interview?
Yeah, I mean, obviously, they keep harping on about how this is a mental problem, how it is a psyche problem.
I mean, everything a human does stems from the brain in that sense, so in some abstract way they are correct.
But I think it boils down more to as we've keep harping on about there is a time and a place for getting aggressive and making moves and even individually trying to, you know, take gaps and and make
And look for avenues to put in a find holes in your opponents, but you need to do them at the right time and here they didn't get punished that many times, but against so they will be punished. Yeah.
Let's talk about Rooster for a little bit. Obviously, we say goodbye to the Australians. However,
I do want to give them a bit of credit. They found the holes. They poked the holes. They got some rounds on the board
Yes, they lost. It's still 2-0
But I would say they got more rounds on the board than I was thinking for some of those games
Absolutely. I mean, well this one in particular, right? They managed to get eight in the first map seven here
At least I think it was eight previous map, right? Was it nine?
It was nine. See even better, right?
So I mean look that first one really impressed me what they were able to do their individuals
Chaleos and slimy in particular are the tunes up to players. I look towards like, okay, these guys are
somewhat legit here coming coming through and actually getting some damage done up against this BB team.
But again, I think we come back to the fact that they were given opportunities in some cases
that shouldn't have been there because of the way BB team were playing in particular on their CDs.
Yeah, I think, uh, you know, they played sore. They played sore and BB here. That is not an easy draw
team. A team like Rooster. They
wouldn't have faced anybody
domestically that plays like
evil. Those teams, especially
BB. They they would play a
very different brown account of
strikes the way a team like
FlyQuest, for example, plays, so
it is it is a it is a shock to
the system to compete against
these sort of teams. They were
competitive in this game in a
way. They weren't yesterday. I
also think they played in a
way that gave him the
much tougher opposition where a lot of teams just sit back and be passive and let the game
come to them. At least they tried to get aggressive, at least they tried to make moves. And we
had some nice clutches in there too, so they did, for the most part, the best they could
with the pieces available to them. I think we're seeing flickers of a foundation, right?
Flickers of a couple of players that could form the core of this team and become something
strong moving forward, but they need that fifth. I mean, JHD was serviceable, right?
He had actually one moment in particular where he clutched it up, but like, do we
Actually know if he's gonna be part of this team long term. They need a coach obviously that knows the game
Emotional side is is good
But you know you need that coach is gonna be able to help you out with the strategy as well
And maybe once that comes through there's something there
But I feel like these players could come together and make something happen in the future if the right piece has fallen
to place probably if you don't like the guards
But you know
I know that sometimes North Americans don't get the sarcasm, but I agree when you're in an interview saying that your coach doesn't know the game
Some things to work on but we send them back down under they're leaving. We start with eight teams
We're down to six
We continue to whittle away to see who will be joining big and fly quest in the semi finals tomorrow of ESL
Challenger Atlanta that
Investigation to find out who will be there continues straight after the break when we have our North American Derby
replay happening M80
Up against Wildcard is next.
I swear the comms I am saying shit is not a reply, even last time I was in college I mean four times, no reply, no what's going on.
This isn't the worst possible scenario. Everyone's going to fucking wake up and switch on. We're not playing for ourselves. We're going to listen to the fucking team and play as a team.
One more, two more, two more, two more. Swinging corner, they're not short.
I can push, I can push. One more, one more.
Get short. Maybe one more short and one more. Holding short.
Think you've seen it all? With Faceit Watch's point of view selector, you can experience
the game from any praise perspective, use the multi-view feature and customize the stream
with up to 4 angles. Control what points you see while earning rewards. Drops are activated
and lucky winners will receive Faceit points. And if you ever miss a match, mods are
And now available, get instant access to demos with multiple POVs and commentary.
Watch it, control it, face it.
ESL Challenger is brought to you in part by Intel, Acer Predator, DHL, Kadea, Monster Energy,
the United States Air Force, One X-Bat, and Logitech G.
We're in a pretty good spot. We're still growing. We're still teaching some people some more things.
But we feel pretty good. We've been making good strides. Pretty good progress.
It's kind of weird that we placed higher in our first playoff berth after losing Malb's, which was our best player at the time.
So it's kind of a good sign for us.
Our success at EPO definitely showed us kind of like our strengths of like never kind of backing down
Our super 71 map game, or round game against Fanatic, was one of those that we just never let up,
never kind of back down. I think even the map 2 against Inferno, we were down by a lot and still
had a really good T side showing. That's one thing that we definitely don't do, which is if we're down
11-5, down pretty, having a rough game, like we never let up and we always push and we've come
come back a lot and we're pretty grateful to have kind of that energy as a team.
We're in the lower brackets and it's time for the grudge match. Wild card up against
M80. The two North American teams, the hometown heroes are now fighting for their lives at
ESL Challenger Atlanta. They've already had a match up. M80 was victorious there but
it was a best of one. It's day number two though. Everything changes it up and
mistakes are far far higher because one of these teams is going to be going home
We've got apples joining us on the dish JLT's taking a little break Alan Hender is here as well
Let's get straight into this right now when we talk about M80
This is a team that I actually had a chance to do some content with them at IAM
Calvita and one of the things that they brought up at the time was that their goal and was a very different roster at that point was
To try and compete and be the best team coming out of North America
We heard swisher. They're saying and in their building they're putting these pieces together
It's a long-term project, but they definitely scout well
They definitely find good pieces and if they put in that work, could it be something they could do?
Yeah, I mean absolutely. I mean
NA's in a position the moment where you do have to scout you can't just dig down and say these are all already the
Goodest average players there isn't necessarily that hierarchy right now in their scene
So you have to be shrewd you have to have an experience in game media
take some risks on some players and try and grow them into these roles yet to
bring like in and make him into a star player. It's not easy but they have they've
already exceeded everybody's expectations a long way they've done that this year
but it is pushing forward into being a tier one team that is a big ask and
they got up against them. And of course though apples when we talk about big
asks and we talk about big expectations and we talk about the tough
road they have to to drive along it gets pretty tough when you put all
the American teams on the same side of the bracket right so we had both
American teams in group B and now this is where we find ourselves. One of them is going to go home.
Yeah, but that still means that one of them does get to go to semis a little bit later. So we will
still have a little bit of North American representation in Atlanta, but it's difficult
that we have to choose between these two teams because I feel like they have a lot to show
at this competition. They have a lot to prove. Wildcard coming in with a stand-in,
Not the best situation for them, but M80.
They have a lot to prove and yesterday,
I feel like they showed a lot against Audic.
Your Vito is currently running up on your screen right now,
so that is something that if you are an American fan,
you can take a look at.
Alan, I can call it now.
I mean, the wild card pick coming in for Dust 2.
What do we think about that?
They didn't want to play Ancient again.
I guess it was the move.
I mean, they play a lot of it domestically
And a good on that map, it presumably is one where bringing in a stand-in is going to be easier than others because it's so simplistic does too.
So I think it makes sense. I'm not sure they had a lot of other options, so no real surprise in this visa.
Okay, so now we've seen the whole view to it's up on your screens. What are you thinking?
Oh, that was a great response. We're both your analysts. Look at you inside.
I struggle to see a world where Wildcard wins this series.
Stand-in situation, so I didn't think I had a full lineup. I wouldn't take them to win this.
And honestly, MAD are quite a comprehensive map pool, and I will be taken in 2-0.
Fair enough. Let's talk about MAD though, because one of the conversations that surrounded this team going into pro league,
coming into tier as well, was that loss of mobs, and how were they going to replace their best player.
They then found Lake, and everyone went, eh, until we saw him play, and he was absolutely incredible.
He's done such a great job, but we haven't seen him show up here.
And you know what? I'm actually gonna stop my thought process.
I'm not gonna ask the question just yet.
Put a pin in it. It's like a corporate meeting now.
Because Swisher is with Mike.
Let's find out what he has to say before we hear from me.
I'm here with Swisher.
Swisher, it always feels like there's a little extra sum sum
for you guys against Wildcard.
Is that gonna be the case today?
Of course.
We have a little bit of rivalry going on with them.
We're gonna show them again why we beat them yesterday.
Now you did beat them yesterday.
It was ancient. Are we gonna see ancient again?
Not this time.
I don't think they expected that, but not this time now.
All right, changing it up.
There's been a lot of matches, a lot of online,
a lot of online.
Yesterday, I think it was,
Lake said that they can only beat you online.
Is that the case?
I mean, that's kind of part of the rivalry.
There's, that's back when Malibu's on the team
during the RMR, the whole water scandal thing,
watergate thing.
That's, he shouted that this isn't the Chicago server
after he beat them on land.
So that's kind of the whole thing.
But so far so true.
Love it.
I actually never knew what was the thing
that set them off.
That's interesting. Last detail, I mean, last year here in Atlanta,
this was your first time in front of a crowd that wasn't a fragadalpha.
You know, is it, is it feel good to come back here a year later, full circle kind of moment?
Of course. Obviously, this time we have the full roster.
We have higher expectations in ourselves and hopefully our fans have higher expectations in us.
We're hoping to make my officer and hopefully make the grand finals.
Looking forward to seeing it, man. Good luck.
Thank you.
Back to you, Sam.
We are going to circle back to the conversation around Lake.
Look at me doing all my boardroom talk here on the disc.
What do we think about his performance so far at Challenger Atlanta?
I feel like it's been a little bit lackluster.
A lot of his teammates I feel like have been stepping up to the plate a bit more.
We saw a lot of swisher in Wreck in the first couple games, a lot of sin.
But it hasn't felt like we've seen Lake be Lake just yet,
which we're expecting.
It's North America.
Everyone's excited in the crowd watching this.
but I feel like he has to step up just a little bit more here.
I mean, Wildcard did give them a bit of a harder time
when they were playing on ancient,
but we just heard that they're not going to be playing that.
They're decided against that.
But I feel he's been pushed into this Star Rifler role,
which Swisher used to be on when he was on Bad News Bears.
And he's kind of switched on over to a team support role.
So hopefully maybe this matchup
he'll help lake out just a bit more.
What do you think about Lake's performance so far in this tournament?
I haven't seen enough games to give a comprehensive answer just yet, Sam,
but he's in a tough position.
I mean, he's a player that isn't massively experienced at this level.
He's been thrown into star player roles.
And it's not in modern-day Counter Strike.
It's not like you just shove in a good aimer and just say, go.
You know, and you're going to run in and do a lot of work.
You have to make good decisions.
You have to prep your opponents to find the gaps in their play.
All things that presumably Malbus was doing.
So I know Lake might have not performed yet,
But this is, you've got to see this as a process.
You know, he's not going to arrive today and be as good as Malves.
And growing into being a player of that, that is pressure on the leadership,
on seeing on the coach to grow him into being the player they want him to be.
He definitely has the confidence, right?
I mean, he's quite a vocal guy.
He likes to tell everyone how rubbish they're playing.
We've seen this time and time again.
We saw it yesterday.
I think he was shouting at wildcards, up their stats and things like that.
I mean, so it doesn't lack for confidence, but is that going to be enough?
I don't know because like you just said, you can't just shove your player in and tell them to go kill like they tried doing that just a little bit against big, but they were shut down completely on dust to there was no room for them to get creative or do anything differently.
And 80 was just it felt like they were really lost against them. And that's just the reality of been a tier two tournament like this that you're going to fight against people against players that have been in here in the scene for years.
years and if you can't figure out a way to get around that it's just going to fall flat for you.
It is hard to believe though when you think about it because like I mean Mike just mentioned in the
interview there that the last the first time that we saw this lineup was a year ago here at
Challenger Atlanta. It kind of is very impressive for me Alan when I think about how far they've
come in the last year. The conversation we're having around M80 now is very different
and we're talking about them potentially rising up to be the best North American counter-strike
team at some point. So definitely you have seen a lot of progress. Do we give credit to the
organization for that? Absolutely. I mean, to build a new team without an existing core alone
is very difficult. And the organization invested resources, time bootcamping in Europe, getting
players over from Europe, putting confidence in sin to run the system. These are all things
that very few orgs in North America would do, even just investing the level of money they
would have is well beyond what a lot of teams around their level would have. So it's already
been an astonishing, honestly I already think they've succeeded the way they're playing at the moment.
I think going above that has been very difficult, but I already perceive what they've achieved. It's
quite amazing given where they were, or I suppose it's the least when this team was first formed.
And my favorite thing as well is the conversation I brought it up yesterday,
I'll bring it up again, there's the scouting on M80, because there's always this conversation
around talent in North America, the same players tend to get recycled and yet M80
consistently goes out of their way to find that new talent, to give them a space to grow.
I mean, I think a lot of people heard about Lake before he even joined M80.
He was like kind of the talk of the town on Twitter around a lot of North American Counter
Strike because he was a young talent that was seen and people were like, okay, where
is he going to go next?
Who's going to pick him up?
And M80 came along and holy, they picked him up and they brought him here.
They brought him here.
So, I mean, it's been good for him.
Is that what North American Counter Strike needs though?
I mean, a little bit more investment in young players, a little bit more of the
opportunities or do we just keep recycling nitro?
I mean sorry to throw kind of water on the fire but the best players are the Germans.
Sin is probably the best player on this team. I don't disagree with you.
I'm not disparaging North American players but this team wouldn't be successful without
Sin's leadership, without Slax's orthing. And Sin for me is the most surprising player on
this team. I'm not sure if it's because in the big academy systems he's always overshadowed
by somebody else, he's always taking the last spots. But here on this team he plays
middle of the map positions he plays rotator spots. He looks like a formidable player at least
regionally within North America. And that's something I wouldn't have expected from a player like Sin.
For me he was always a laid back supportive player that plays Zanka spots. Here he looks like a
completely different beast. He looks like Tapsin did five years ago. That's what Sin looks like
at the moment. So, you know, having made the decision to go for him and giving him the
space to be like that deserves massive credit. Okay, so let me recycle my question. I agree with
you on the Germans. But that's also pretty good for North American counter-shock. Bring
in Young Italian. Bring in these players. Let them play with guys that are really popping
off. It allows them to get all that international exposure. They're playing really well on the
bigger scene. Playing up against bigger opposition. That's a positive as well.
Yeah, it's also, if you go down the liquid route and you bring in huge international
superstar players that demand massive space and resources and that ultimately results.
It's a very different look to bring in Sin, who was let go by the big project.
He was in some way shunned, I guess, by Europe,
because he didn't get a good enough offer to stay there.
And they said, we're going to put our confidence in this younger player,
and we're going to build around him for years to come.
And clearly, that is a good direction that a lot of, I think,
the North American teams could learn from,
because it's a very different mentality of scouting,
rather than just saying, I want the most skilled player.
No, I want the players going to elevate my team the most,
and that's what Sin does for them.
So that was fun. We went off on a little bit of a tangent.
We'll get you back to the grudge match that you're watching right now as is typical North American style
They have adopted a South African and they are now using him to represent them
It makes complete sense to me. Of course Sonic is with Mike. He's from Wild God. Let's find out what he's thinking going into this. I
Got Sonic here ahead of their match against M80 look yesterday on stage
Lake called you guys on liners. Essentially. How do you feel about that? That's kind of crazy coming from that kid
You know it's the best of one everyone knows best ones can go anyway and
We started off that game 7-0 down
We almost brought it back to take the map so they're definitely kind of scared about that one and today's a bit three
It's a new day. It's different maps. Let's see. Let's see if we can put his money where his mouth is and
We'll take it home
And obviously there's a little extra challenge for you guys
You know you're playing with friends stand in don't necessarily have the full playbook
Is that something that's going to be challenging across the three maps here?
Slightly you know friends actually
Pretty smart guy, you know he he memorizes all the strats like you tell him once and he's like pretty cleared up
So I think we'll play kind of tour style
Maybe a little bit buggy, but so with a bit of a structured sense
You know these Europeans can shoot back and they definitely have a head on them and you're gonna get revenge now. Yes
There you go. He's gonna get revenge Sam. What do you think? I?
I think Mike was trying very hard to bait Sonic into some trash talk and I'm super surprised because I knew Sonic back when he was 16 years old and he was popping off on bravado before they went to the states and he had the biggest mouth on him.
If you thought Lake was noisy, that guy used to trash talk everyone. I'm pretty sure if you went on Twitter there's trash talk about every single player, every single broadcast talent and now he's so calm there.
He gave a little bit, but he kept it to himself.
I'm very disappointed in Sonic.
I expected more.
I do want to talk about what he was mentioning though
with friend and talking about that standing
because they are playing with the stand.
And he had said before in an interview
that they hadn't had a lot of time to practice.
We've now seen friend a little bit in the server,
Apples, what do you think of how they're operating
with friend?
So I feel like yesterday it was falling flat.
It was not going well for friend.
When they weren't utilizing him,
he was kind of going off on his own,
maybe holding a main on ancient.
and it didn't feel like he was really incorporating himself
into the structure of the team.
But once they started kind of letting him be a little bit free
or go for the picks, go and find some places
that they can make some space,
we saw a lot more from friend that I liked.
It was them kind of bringing back the rounds from M80,
especially on Ancient.
And on Nuke, it was a little bit more difficult,
but they just have to let him go free.
They have to let friend find the space
that he wants to take.
instead of just kind of putting him into a box.
So do you think that's the solution here?
It's kind of go, you know what?
We gotta throw what we know.
I mean, Sonic was mentioning that he's learning the strats.
Throw the strats out of the window
and kind of just play in a position
where we can let you dictate how you wanna move.
Yeah, because I feel like, because Stanislav,
we saw a lot of mid routing from him yesterday
that was good.
That was restructuring how rounds were going.
There were a couple clutches that I did
like how they were doing against Audic.
But if they just kind of throw everything
they know out the window, because it's a four stack,
It's not their usual five team.
It's they got to figure something out.
I think the key word for wildcard is pragmatism.
Yeah.
You can't change the situation.
You can't, you know, bring up in your full five now.
So it's a question of do you let friends do his own stuff?
Do you let him be on an island?
Was everyone else fills in the gaps
or do you try and fit him into your system?
And I tend to agree that you should just unleash him.
I mean, he's shown times on his European outings
and his Polish teams that he can be a pretty formidable
player in his own right.
So let him do his stuff.
and call around himself given the space and tell him I want you to make your own moves and then let your experience like we saw yesterday and Sonic and Stanislaw
Fill in the gaps those guys have played nearly every position on every map
They can fill in the holes and that ultimately probably will give wildcard the best chance in this series
Which is so puggy in itself, and that's exactly what you have to do. Yeah
If you try and play a fully structured game game game counter strike
You will lose to a mate in this series
So we did get a chance to see wildcard in the base of three yesterday grounds that they two zeroed
but my concern was is I didn't think that it was an impressive win.
Um, you can only beat the team in front of you.
At the end of the day, Audic didn't play brilliant counter strike.
Do you think MA played fairly good?
Maybe at times of ancient it wasn't all ideal,
but I don't think we can pull them down a peg from how they played yesterday.
It just showed more their true level is like, I guess.
So let's do some predictions now because obviously it's fun to see where everyone is sitting in this matchup wild caught up against
M 80 apples. How do you think it's gonna play out?
I think it's gonna be really interesting if wild card does figure out how they're gonna utilize friend and see just
Unleash them like Alan said, but I I think I'm 80 is gonna take this
I feel like they have the stronger resources the stronger team synergy together
It's their full five and if Lake really shows up today and becomes that star rifler that star player
It's going to be theirs. Yeah, I mean we're full lineups. I take MAT and especially with this veto and the styling situation
I'll take MAT comfortably 2-0
I'll pose another question to you
I mean I'm going to go with M80 so we can get that out of the way
But but they do this is two teams that play each other a lot
They know each other really well when you're playing with a stand-in and on the other side
You have a team that knows you intimately it kind of leans in the favor of swishers gang
Right because they know I think that they kind of know exactly what what they're going to be getting in that server
to win it. Maybe but if M. A.
to be a tier one team. You've
got to win these games. There
are no excuses. There's no
coming into this saying they're
playing some wacky CS. We
weren't expecting that. They
need to have solid fundamentals.
Good communication. Irrespective
of the situation, they need to
be a team of wildcards level
and I don't think there's any
excuse going to this series.
They need to win it. Are they
going to be confident enough to
be as wacky as they need to be
to play this wacky
go and just be as crazy as you want on the server but is he going to feel the
confidence to be able to do that on a stage as an important as this matches.
Those are the questions that need to be answered and they will be answered as we
move into game. M80 up against Wildcard one of our American teams is going home
you know he's not going home is Umi and Tita and they're staying right here
to commentate this game for you. I hope we're not going home it'd be pretty
difficult to cast from home right now you know we've got to come through
over here in the studio get all of the magic do Hickey's going in the biggest
magic is gonna be on the server wild card can they bring together a bit of
razzle dazzle make MAD look less than what they did like yesterday yeah I mean
you know there was a point on the desk about Lake not living up to the
expectation that has been set with him as this star player on this team and
when we really dive into wild card and how they performed you know you have
Sonic almost doing a better job of being Lake than Lake himself and with
the amount of smack talk they were giving each other given the long
rivalry, you know, they have a lot of reps against each other within the region. I do think there is
a bit of beef between MAD and Wildcard coming into this matchup. Whether or not you have your full
five or not, you know Stanislaw, you know JBA, you know Sonic, really do want to set that tone.
And I actually think it is going to be the sweet that still remains on Wildcard that actually
could be that hidden ace of the sleep. And at the same time, will he show up, right?
Because yesterday, even we could talk about it, Nuke, for Sus, fantastic, perfect.
When he's speaking in, this is something you talked about, when he's speaking into players,
he looks so comfortable, and then you switch over to Ancient, he's dying, he's dying, he's dying.
That B bomb site, that's supposed to be where he's doing his best work.
It turns out, Stanislaw's showing him up instead.
But maybe if Stanislaw can show up, if Sonic can come through, if Sus can surprise,
we can have the triple Ss coming through over here on Dust2.
It's a decider game, and it's two American teams here on home soil, but there can only be one in the playoffs.
First map, Dust2, and with M80 starting on the CT side, Wildcard's pick in the series.
It is all going to be about how they set the tone here on Wildcard.
And Swisher started off by taking their heads off. This is a good sign, but he's not able to continue.
And JBA on the lurk, always good for one. At least he'll be late to rotate in, and the CTs are looking to punish,
But Sonic is turning it right on their heads friend worried about a flank to come through but singin slacks of collected inside to be bombsite
This is straightforward from the CTs
But as the bomb starts to go over Sonic knows he might need to take a dual slacks taking it to the looking for fights
But he can't get any more heads to roll its wild card to get the plant in yeah
That's actually a such a shame from swisher
He made such a good first opening kill but didn't take that space and wild card just are so happy to run with the punches
a nice push from Frenzy, the smoke as well, and they will completely overpressure the MAD squad in defence.
If Swisher had gone the heads up or had an inkling that it was going to be that B bomb site,
he would have created more room for those rotates, but really nice job from Wildcard to dispatch of him quickly and take the site as well.
And that really nice thing to see, and look, it's just round one, but JBA being this comfortable to just be the lurker,
even if the bomb is very clearly going to commit over to the B bomb site, Wildcard are here to play their own game,
They're here to let a lot of the individuals be loose, and again, it's a pistol round, it's a lot to read into, but if it's a trend, I'm all here for it.
Nades to the face of JBA are hardly helpful, but fortunately for him, they don't quite...
...piss him as much as they could have.
Yeah, that smoke is very late, and it's actually the scout shot of friend, just as that smoke blooms.
That catches the first, so a little bit of presence towards Long, they have sightlines on it, they can come through that smoke, no problem.
and maybe you're gonna have a very hard time defending this bombsite.
Just flat with this.
Shout on the corner, and yeah, his timing on the jiggles is inadequate to take a shot.
I think it's just something that we credited Wildcard with a lot yesterday as they played a very patient game.
Dust2 is a map where a lot of map controls often seeded to T's,
and maybe you have to be ready to pick up on that kind of rhythm.
There's a lot of stop-start action with Wildcard. They know that they have to try and play it a little bit more sporadic and play off of information.
Even this low buy from MAD can be threatening. Flax, getting the trade onto short, it's a one-on-two and he's got his hands on an AK as well.
This is not an easy path to cross, especially with the bomb at Flax's feet.
You've got no utility to help yourselves out either beyond just that one smoke, but you're not going to feel comfortable throwing it for friend.
His only job is to cover off as JBA moves forward.
They know that this can go anywhere, but with time running low it does feel like Slacks is giving up a bit of that advantage.
The smoke will bloom and he realizes the bomb might already be lost, but rotating back to A long will take too long.
Slacks will dry and fade in through. They're jumping forward. He knows they're in front of him. They're turned around.
Slacks wants to make the push, but it won't matter. Friends' Glock shuts him down, saves the day.
Yeah, just had the thought. I mean, there was so much time for Slacks to reposition, but he was just clearing top towards top middle.
he hears that smoke, I think he realized as well.
He could have either committed to that flank,
but then it maybe becomes a little bit too readable.
And he had a timing where he could have challenged
past the smoke, but really nice heads up there from friend
to just get his Glock ready.
Cause if he had nothing else to look at,
you know, his teammate was carving out the path towards
that A bomb site, may as well check behind.
And look, let's not forget one of the problems
where MADS versus BKAN was this ETS side,
it was where they just felt like they couldn't get
anything going.
They did all right on the T side, right?
They started to recover when they were down 7 to 1.
He started to get into the groove of things, but against Wildcard you were sort of expecting
and hoping that their 5-hour itself would be enough to overrun and overwhelm.
Anti-Eco goes as you would expect it, but Wildcard loses even fewer players than normal,
keeping everyone alive in Stannislaw, getting 4 kills for that Mac-10.
And I think there has to be maybe even a chip on the shoulder of Stannislaw, you know,
Returning, singing so much praise about Sin and how much he offers in terms of his
difference in calling and the style he brought towards his MAD team.
So I remember having a conversation with Stamina once upon a time, the analyst for M80,
and when Sim was just getting first integrated, it wasn't like he was trying to make M80 like a big clan.
He came in with a completely different outlook on the game, and it seems to really work for this North American squad.
And the thing is, Sim brings a lot of things, but Stanislaw is the one with stage experience.
Yeah.
And a lot of it.
But at the highest levels of Counter-Strike once upon a time led the best team in the world,
the last North American team to actually get the number one in the world rankings.
What a time that was, Evil Geniuses on number one HLTV.
That's why so much of the credit for Wildcard and the way they bounced back yesterday was
about the calling.
First gun round here for M80, but already some presence being made here by Wildcard,
a smoke and a wall talk deep as well.
also break down the crossfire may have set up from spawn, but lec does deliver on that
first kill, the instant headshot for suspe and it will be easy clean up for sin, swisher
even rotating into the action and just making sure that there is no more presence out from
this mid B split.
JBA has to make this lurk work now at this point the bomb is very much lost and if
he can provide distraction maybe friend can look to reclaim but it still all comes down
to what the AK can find and friends being flanked remember rex still alive and coming
in from behind.
Wildcard will have their round street stop in a way where MAD can feel very good about
it.
Four players kept alive, very straight forward shut down despite a decent call coming out
from Wildcard.
Lakers holds down the line.
Yeah, and they trust their procedures as well.
As soon as Lakers take in that contact and the crossfire breaks down, Swisher gives up
his position inside of that B bomb site.
If it is a split, they're fighting for one side of it instead of being split in their
decision-making and offering up these one-for-one duels, try their best to play as shoulder-ish
to shoulder as they could.
It's a team ace from MAD in that first gun round, and I expect to see a lot of slow builds
from this wild card squad.
And that's exactly the kind of round where Slack should be succeeding in doing his best
working.
It's also in a way, you know, counter-active, you know, you have a player like Lakefack
is so, I guess, intuitive in the way that he wants to, I guess, attack in the mid and early rounds.
Well, I'll just make sure that they keep tabs on everything.
And it's necessary, right? I mean, you look over towards Lake.
Lake's had this tendency forever, and they know it as well.
Yeah.
And Lake is, to his credit, he might seem intuitive, but he's really a researcher.
Slacks, however, he's got the boost to try and play off of, but he sees the hand.
he knows what's coming in for him. The flash will not matter, either. Friend is gone.
Listen, on the fly decision, and that orb, it's actually, I think, what majorly gives him away.
See a glimpse, sure, but seeing that orb redeployed.
It's not exactly a very graceful animation.
Time is low. Lake in front of the smoke.
Stan is low with an orb in his hand, waiting for this push to come through if Lake is gone.
But it could be big, but Stan turns away, worried about a closer push.
Swisher in the meanwhile, a flashbang to help him peek mid, but not able to do so.
Time's running low. Wildcard have got a choice to make, but a choice might be stolen away from them right here.
Lake looks to wait for first contact to be made from the car player, and Swisher is right here to act as insurance.
Rec is gone, and so was Wildcard.
Yeah, I mean, 10 seconds by the time they start actually making their way into that mid-beam split,
and they just realize they simply don't have the time to fully flush out that bomb site.
20 seconds when they get past the doors. It just simply wasn't enough
That's job so far from MAD as soon as we get them on rifles
They are doing a good job of quelling what wild Carter even just trying to pry into they're losing
Players and they're unable to get efficient trades
This is the type of composure you I guess would want from it all from an MAD. They've had
more chances more I
I guess exposure to the international circuit
slacks
Fantastic first pick and then not gonna be ready for Lake at all at this rate. He's starting to push forward
It's all about one of the second man JBA known to lurk and everyone knows that tendency can be exploited Lake
He's played against this team a million time. He has that expectation
It'll seem so simple as well
Just the fact that slacks took that fight from the deeper angle that the internal timer there for JBA is gonna be all
over the shop. He was going to probably reclear towards lower and another half or another second
maybe, but that's what having that secondary player in lower tunnels can really do for you.
And regrouping back into short means you've got full mid control and that will be maintained
continually. Wildcard know that it's all about this A site. Slacks is covering off
the B tunnels right, so you don't have to worry about that at all. Having four rifles
there. Wildcard honestly, you just can't say if it isn't the weapons you have,
You feel like if you didn't know about that this is the exact sort of position you say maybe we think about next round. Yeah
But an attempt has to be made
Let me see exactly how wild card are playing it. They're not taking risks
They are playing together and they're setting up for flash play swishers straight through that CT smoke just as it blooms
It's not it getting that trade right back
It's not as though they also be an easy pass still three CTs in defense and just finding good timing the spam from thin as well
it's immediate shutdown after shutdown wild card falling flat as a card and in
front of the home crowd all rivalries will really come down to this match of
a hair you when's the next chance you're gonna have to face off against each other
with your own countrymen sitting in front of you with your own regional
supporters sitting in front of you this might never happen again maybe not
in front of their countrymen but America's RMR isn't too far away you
You don't have a problem.
Yeah, that's true.
And it's in Shanghai.
How much Chinese do you know?
I can't give that one an answer.
Better start learning.
No.
It's a full eco here for wild card.
These two kills for slacks are certainly nice.
It's okay.
Fun times!
Fun times, it's for sure.
And look, it's time to have those fun times, start to put more pressure on to wild
cards throws as well. Remember as much as I might talk about the experience in the hands
of Stanislaw and Sonic, it doesn't mean that the rest of them quite come in with the same
level of relaxation in situations like this.
When we painted that picture for Wild Card against Audic, you know, it was very much
when Stanislaw was making calls, a lot of it was going right, and you have a lot
more leeway as an in-game leader when your calls are succeeding, you can actually
offer up more sporadic decisions and a lot more variants.
This is a nice play out for Fred though.
A good spawn for Long.
He challenges past the smoke
and even while Blind catches one,
Flaps a missed shot, but he actually gets away.
He gets his first and he's able to get back over
and redeploy it, even a chance for a third.
But there's Sid as well to alleviate
all that pressure on Short.
And it's desperate moves here from Wildcard
to get these trades back,
but it's Sonic in the clutch.
Bomb on back, Link will immediately delete.
M85 straight. I mean that is just such a disaster. You're climbing up short
You've already got the long pick you're hoping that reinforcements will be coming out towards long because of where you got the kill on Wreck
You're hoping people already be there, but slacks never moved away from catwalk
He never went out to deploy you to the he said long be damned
I'm going to just find the one lurker turns out there was more than one right
There was more than one but guess what he gets more than one to and that should never have happened
But I mean even from Wildcard's perspective they would think they should have traded him
You know there was definitely more than enough of an opportunity to have killed slacks before he got a second kill
As incredibly
Disappointing round for Wildcard, especially when they go back in with a full buy and they are dispatched
As fast as it could have really happened
All the other routes have been slow developing and this was actually a chance to change the pace
to get trumped by that AWP.
This time it will be Slax providing a little bit more of assistance.
It's Tec-9 from the other side, maybe the scariest weapons have fallen.
You can see why.
They're running down Slax, but he's more than happy to take the exchange.
Molly on A-Randa stopped them from speeding up after him, but the Flashers are really
what are acting as a deterrence.
Yeah, and that smoke on the bomb site as well makes all these gunfights so awkward,
but it can allow the Tec-9s to get up close and personal.
and they go, Slacks picks up another one looking for the repeat,
hopes him for a flashbang, hoping for a shot and he's given it all over!
Slacks is feeling it, might not have had the stand-up performance
versus Therson yesterday, but he's here to rectify.
Last kill in for him as well.
It's the full ace and it might be against Deck 9s,
but it started off as a four versus five.
I mean, these were a pinpoint after it shots from Slacks as well.
You know, heads offered up on headshot angles,
Even though they knew where he was, they couldn't quite deal with him.
You know, coming in on a low buy was insufficient,
but they really wanted to be able to cross that gap,
trade effectively as they can against an AWP that is pinned into this spot.
That's three headshots out of the five, but two headshots out of the five, yeah.
But like every one of them was, a headshot angle though.
Lake takes a tag early on.
So at least there is AWP damage being dealt from either side,
but you really, really desperately want the kill.
I'd have to say, the move that he made to come to North America has done so much for his confidence.
This is not the same slacks that we would have seen so long ago within the German domestic scene.
And you see the confidence is brewing off him now, especially after that round he just had.
Wildcard is not going to move past the CT smoke, they had a window to do so but now they may be assembling two in from behind.
Swisher is just hoping to flush out JBA and make sure that they don't have to worry about this side of the map.
A redeployment with smoke into long means that Wreck will start to explore, and if Wreck pushes, that's exactly what Sonic is waiting for, but the CTs are looking to do the same in through short as well.
There's so many angles of aggression that they can take, and a flashbang to start it off, friend will get the kill nonetheless.
Slacks, a molotov that is improperly deployed, there's an angle to move past it, but the other side don't actually want to show it off.
How much presence there is, good name, but look at this receding backwards, but Sin will quickly regain ground.
Yeah, just re-aggressing it to short even after the first one didn't work
They call the bluff of wildcard that they're looking to reposition and reassert themselves elsewhere
30 seconds and wreck the flash does catch him friend there with the trade
Long control permeated now by wildcard as they look to progress into this a bomb site
But there can be no delay a flash man is perfect
They're peeking out there both broad
Sins got the easiest frags in the world and dust will trade for sure
But guess what the bombs too far away your feet don't move so fast
but you got one on one, but Trash will never fall!
He is not missing a shot on this AWP.
That's where pressure starts to really be felt.
M80 gets so many good reactions, some great kills.
They read where Wildcard are headed, and it still comes so close.
This dry spell for Wildcard on their map pick in the series.
I don't know where Stannisville takes this now.
You'd want to see a timeout called, you'd want to see anything like it, but at the same time, giving him maybe the mental satisfaction when they're already on this confidence run.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
And I don't want to see Wildcard just taking out like this.
Resistance has been showcasing individual rounds, but that doesn't make the score up top any less ugly for a Wildcard fan.
M80 in the meanwhile they're cruising, they're grooving and Swisher's got the music playing, but little does he know his dance might be coming to an end
No, Lake comes in he's got a part of the tango where Stanislaw might respond but Lake still A on the floor
Swisher a flashbang out and he's just trying to back off
Not an opportunity to pull out the gun and reload and it feels like Wildcard's cards have run out
This deck is gone. Lake comes in with another ace
the game. And then the
game. And then the game. The
face. Two rounds where these
star men on MAD have simply
demolished wild card, and this
was a moment where Swisher did
get caught out. It wasn't like
MAD had this forward thinking
Reed. A contract play into be
it was certainly a different
look, but they did. They just
simply couldn't deal with
Swisher's position that lake
reinforcements arrives on time.
to play up against him like this in the meanwhile the double off has been pulled out and it's
glass and sand of both Germans hoping to showcase performance but performance will now go back
to the water body but now it's been dried up finally late put down something they hope
to do in the previous round but guess what that was a little bit harder slacks has to
be careful he's not ready for stand to already be back in suicide advantage found but can
wildcard do anything with it.
Stanislaus is going to challenge me.
That kill from Swisher is certainly nice.
JBA already low health.
A quick little tap from Swisher,
and he will seed that middle control.
I mean, a headshot angle, but
clip to shoulder.
Look at the re-aggression, though.
I mean, they're ready to burst,
and actually deal with wildcard on short.
They know the damage is good,
and Finn finally finishes off the meal.
Susp, a nice quick burst and a headshot,
but comes down to a one-on-one bomb.
One bomb still separated from him and so there's time for swisher to get a read on this
Oh, so she's also got utility as well. It just feels unfair. He's calling a bluff. Oh, he's coming in all the way out from long
Sus will figure this one out eventually because he doesn't really have the time on the side
He has to make a movie has to make a play as well. This is where swisher's veterans. He should come in
Susp is terrified. There's so many angles to consider you could be CT as well long might even just be the last thing on his mind
And the peak might come in before the bomb plant does trust is going to be spotted out
but Swisher reveals his position without getting the kill.
Stop challenges! It won't be enough!
Nine for MAD! They're looking good!
And they're gonna hope to continue that in the second half.
The game of the disaster was flax.
Denzato is also a bit of an aftershock.
Lake coming in as well. Aces on either side.
And it feels like MAD can draw nothing but from that deck.
Yeah, the tremors might not only be felt in the server,
but in the hands of Wildcard as well.
They start 3-0, they don't even get into after-plants on that T side. They need to really turn the ship around here on CT.
Maybe it's Sonic the one to stay at home, but Lake has already detected him. No kills found. Initially, Suspice was trying to get aggressive and he could have a nice little flank inside, and the problem is it flanks and flanks and M80 has dissuaded him from pushing through.
Mid side will be taken over. Let's not make any mistake about that. M80, however, just want to come through to the B-Bomb, said overrun. It's Sonic. We'll stop that from happening.
and stand as well as responding to veterans putting their heads and hands together.
And there's two players who won't have tremors, Michael.
It is these two.
I start to go towards another bomb site,
especially with the cold start of JBA.
But here in this pistol, wildcard do convert.
They get the first piece of the puzzle on this long track right back.
But they cannot just rely on the pistol, the conversion,
maybe the anti-force buy didn't work in the first half.
will be very nice to get another three rounds in of the back of it let's not
make any mistakes about it but that's not the end of the world M80 has proven
that many times over slacks in the meanwhile I just expect him to hit every
shot now to be honest yeah there's gonna be a dead player pretty soon yeah for
short yeah this time not an AWP so I think maybe too much yeah I'm unknown
for his scouting. You'd say an organone for their scouting too, M80. Coming through over
here showing off who the real young NA Dalons are. JBS still has a chance to turn that fate
around over here. CT side, new half, new me. Time is long. A little bit more farming doesn't
hurt anyone. I thought you would do more damage there really. I think he did too.
you can see that there's still a lot of respect
you give it over to MAD.
It could have a hero AK or this dreaded scout.
They definitely know about the scout purchase.
It's not as well being hyper mobile with that SMG,
just to keep tabs on the round and as well make sure
that he has an informed decision for how MAD wants
to finish this one off.
It's a bit of a nothing burger,
but MAD could still catch them off
on a weird timing if they decide to proceed
towards a bombsite the wildcard do not expect I mean you can see them split to
into a pop should it be an A side attack they they play retake but they've got
some good positions here on B I am also hoping that no matter what happens over
here we get to see a decent performance on the CT side because that is where
he struggled yesterday on the entry right where you pointed this out when
people are peeking at him but like he didn't really have full control over
everything but it was a bit more static less mobile can take the fights
on his terms. Yeah, the struggle will certainly felt.
CT side initial defense, maybe a little questionable, but then retakes. Game on for Sass.
Game on for Mady right now. They're coming through with the full buy. Sure, they're missing a couple of bells, a couple of whistles, but that doesn't mean they can't be pretty damn loud anyway.
Early Util out from Sonic just trying to catch Swisher off, hoping that he'd be going for
something more staggered, but he's gone for the straight run down towards Xbox, they will
be getting far short control and only have friend to deal with a friend without an awp.
And no, I'm not talking about slacks as current buy.
Oh, friend!
Shows off those headshots, but only just the one, maybe Swisher can come through
and rectify that 1v1 that...
Well, he did end up winning, but missed a few shots in that one.
the game. You know, you're
going to have to make sure
continue to be forward, making
you look easy, comfortable
sprays and long range. You love
to see. I'm not sure what's what
the plan is here for wild card.
You know, you come into this
round with three SMGs, a scouting
and M for and you prioritize
long control where the fights
are not suitable for these
SMGs whatsoever. The AK's
that are out for M 80 simply
overpowered them in these
long-control players to do anything to stop the A-side attack.
The problem is, I think they just weren't ready for how fast Wildcard came out.
Sure. Sorry, M80 came up short, right?
Because they're probably thinking,
well, if it's a long rush, we have to fight them, otherwise we lose a round.
We're going to come back to short and fight them from there.
That's why they're using a delay and utility early on on top mid as well.
But it just didn't really delay anyone.
Yeah, M80 reading right through it.
It's not as long.
I'm going to find a quick kill up ahead.
But again, it's just the early aggression not really paying off.
I'm not often critical of bonus rounds, but when you are trailing as heavily as you are in this map every single decision like that actually could come back to bite you
You opted for dust to and we're embarrassed in that first half
Still time for wild card to wake up
And I like the idea of potentially setting two players to push through long because wild card do need to go for some sort of aggression
aggression, the map evolves pretty much all map control. They won't be able to defend from
a mid to B split if Sonic only has an MP9 and Susp is alone on the B bomb site. It's basically
impossible. You don't have a flashbang to push yourself through either unless Sonic is
self deploying, but the problem is you don't have a flash to push forward from long either.
It's a wreck. Should just be holding this one down, making it look easy and that's
exactly what he does.
Oh, I mean that second kill is just so clean as well. Full anticipation of a
double push. Sack's taken down to one health, but that is not the full job completed. Wreck
as well with that long control, it's just so simple here for M80 to proceed into A. Sack
actually managed to get his kill, especially that bites the bullet.
Looking a little bit untouchable right now, unfortunately. And guess what, you can
say the same about Lake. Long range shot, you can see the incredulity on his face,
like, what? You can't kill me?
Well, I love to see all these MAD jerseys in the audience as well as clearly support for
this team that have served as a bit of a talisman, maybe even a blueprint as well. Wildcard
weren't always looking to import players into their own roster and looking towards EU talent.
There's a lot of parity now with the way that they've, I guess, restructured, even
bringing in friend. You know, they have two EU players. It's maybe not the player
that they would have, I guess, picked first. Obviously, they would have preferred
to be here, but they are clearly looking for that inspiration, that extra firepower the
tenure on these developing players in the EU region. And maybe I think opens people's
eyes to that opportunity again. Yeah. It's not the first time in North America has tried
to import players from the other regions. I still remember all the way back when Mongolian
players were settling the conversation and joining North American organizations. It
didn't really pad out but you saw the potential was out there for projects like it.
I'm sure Atlanta's very happy about M80 doing what they are both internationally but also domestically even if it might hurt a little bit to see them putting wildcard down the way they have been so far.
But wildcard just haven't really put up showing it all beyond the rounds that they have gotten through pistols.
They have found nothing, not a single gun round conversion, not one.
friend shots landed kills all day but that one looks a little bit better
that's all takes down slash they are gonna continue to put forward JBA hoping
to end that dry spell and sure he might have found a third kill but that's not
much in the grand scheme is really kind of eating him alive in the moment
Sonic a nice kill but he retrieves the weapon and doesn't continue to proceed
the rack underneath his ankle, but Sonic a nice quick flick even here on this low investment wild card will be able to
String a round together Sonic a triple kill to get to their first here on CT
As any might not be the same shit darker than he was when he was 16 years old
But right now he can still take heads like the best of them Sonic has been
Pretty good consistent be all across the event so far. I have to say he's been a
Hey, reminder to everyone about what he was doing once upon a time, even on the likes of Cloud9.
This is the first proper threatening round that Wildcard had to dispel here on the defense, you know, pistol conversion, you know, we skirt on by those.
And, I mean, given the way the rounds are developing, how close MADR to closing this map, you needed something like this out of a low investment round.
And this is, I mean, to be honest, it's actually exactly what I thought they would do on their bonus round with the SMGs and Scout.
You know, you've got three of them. You may as well look to overwhelm and disrupt.
And they know that one misstep could cost them this map.
And maybe even the series with it.
That misstep won't be coming up from JV's hand, saying,
Taking down early on, friend continues to look to contest in middle.
And that's exactly what we want to see him being unleashed,
But that AWP has never really touched his hands on the CT side.
and that will continue to be the case if they don't win this one out.
5 vs 4, it's a great start but they've lost these before, they can't sit comfortable.
But neither can M80.
They know how quickly these games can devolve into madness.
Trandom, headshot angle but not the headshot found.
And with short control gain, M80 can at least look to make a play
but they will have to do it with very limited utility.
This A bomb site the players are on islands though. It's not like they can provide much support to one another
There's a flash available for JBA. So that could
I believe he ate some strain, but
Might be that he's the one targeted instead
It's a good angle to be in especially because I made he don't want to be throwing flashes out
They're going for dry peaks and JB on the off angle should be finding success
He's good for two and that's exactly what you needed
Should be the seal on the round and they made he are hoping that it doesn't get stamped
It's only rec who can prevent the wax and they put on the envelope, but JBA is already sending it in. He's a modern man
He's sending emails. Yeah, fantastic work from JBA and just calling over friends
I think as well at impeccable timing of lurks smoke thrown out towards short and instead of friends lingering seeing the if you can find
A kill around the edge of it
He just reinforced that position that JBA had over at long and it really just sells the idea that
but that long control could be taken so quickly in an effort to split this A-bomb site.
I'm good timing at the start to just a nice quick comm.
4K for JBA considering his, I guess, quieter performance on this map actually could get
the engine roaring.
And that's the first gun round that Wild Guard has actually won all game long, funnily
enough.
And now they get themselves that nice little bonus, courtesy of the Force Spy earlier
on that weakened M80's economy.
This is always a problem of losing to four spies, right?
You can get into a position where very quickly you are one more gun run away from equalization.
That's a nice shot.
Yeah, it's very nice.
Really trying to get information on how friend is going to be playing a lot of these rounds
as well.
His position seems to be changing.
You know, that's the advantage of being an AWPer.
You can float and often, you know, they even talked about it on the desk.
The idea that Sonic and Stannis Law have played so many different positions.
friend wants to go for a different type of play. They will be happy to fill in the gaps.
Stannisthal, a nice set of kills, in fact quick headshots, but one is thrown right back his way
and JBA can't handle the deeg himself. Still a 2-on-3. Weapons are going to be difficult to recover,
but it may not matter, Sid is just finding head after head here with this deagle. And Rex also
found one on the scout. One HP on Sonic and he has to come in clutch here for Wildcard,
But Wreck will also give him a short-lived endeavor on the retake.
It is just coming on these low buys, but Wildcard get one.
M80 answer with one themselves.
That's basically an eco. They didn't have armor.
They slacks is the one who buys the scout.
He doesn't get a single kill. It's a 2v5.
That is nuts.
Stannislaw feels like everything's been done,
but then Sinsdeagle comes in and Wreck's finisher.
Right when you think you're safe, the German surprise in sin shows up the party.
And ain't no party like a German party.
Slaxen comes up, shows up and shows Susphop.
Friend will be able to respond sure with the B-bombs that has already been penetrated.
That bomb all the way back can spawn so Wreck will have to do it with violence instead.
Yeah, minor fumble there from Slax could have escaped.
But they do secure some pathways into this B-bombs site.
the titles is fully controlled here by emity just they left the bomb in spawn so
quite a long road to get that bomb planted. There's a lot of guessing work here for wildcard
because they're thinking they take the site but they're not actually making any moves from it.
It is silence here on B but everyone waiting in anticipation of what the next step is a fresh
smoke that blooms and that will give a bit more affirmation here to the wildcard that
this B bomb site is going to be the entire day.
I thought this wrecked to give win and made it take it away.
Fantastic work throughout all these gun rounds.
MAD just showing an asserting dominance on Wildcard's pick in this series.
The House of Wildcard comes crumbling down on top of them.
And now we'll have to see how they do on Anubis to pick up MAD in this series
to see if they even stand a chance of continuing in Atlanta.
So many massive moments but it's all time for the best to break them down.
How did that go wrong for a wildcard?
I mean, let me explain how it went wrong for a wildcard
and then the analysts can judge me.
So how it works in Karnashark is that you need to shoot people
and a wildcard didn't shoot as many people as it maybe did.
You could coach Rooster.
How do you rate your game, Sam?
Yeah, I mean...
That's a good one. I like that one.
Thank you.
M.A.C. played a brilliant first off.
That CT side was aggressive, was proactive, slacks.
the world now. Based off the
information I have in this
game, so that was superlative
second half. Wildcard put up a
much better city showing, but
that anti eco round two rounds
before the end was a death
wish. It was a scout and a
flico and somehow wildcard
managed to lose it, and that
unfortunately doomed them on
dust. You were your thoughts
on the game apples. I was
really excited to see slacks
pop off. I feel like we have
been talking a lot about
the first half of the season.
It's important, especially on
me, but I'm happy that we saw
that one here today. Let's
have a look now if we go all
the way around back to the
beginning, though, because M.
80 did look a lot stronger in
the first half. Then in the
second, I would argue that
maybe wildcard had a little
bit of a better time when we
moved into the second half.
M. 80 went down zero free
and then won every round on
the move. They're aggressive.
They're proactive of playing a
star of Dust2 that I think you
need to in the modern day by
getting aggressive. It was just
like FlyQuest actually. Very
similar CT side. So I was
impressed. And if they
maintain that over the series,
they're going to do well.
What we saw from Slacks and
the op-ing that he was doing on
CT side is what we wanted to
see from friend from the start.
And we saw it a little bit
at the beginning of the CT
side. They got a couple
rounds on M80, but it was
just not the amount that we
saw from Slacks. That was
a beautiful, beautiful game from
from him and he should be proud of himself. So we do in fact actually have some highlights of
Slack. So we'll pull those up for you now because obviously both my analysts have been talking so
much about this player and what he was able to do. Yeah, I mean let's just go back and talk about
Slack's career. I mean for a long time was in the shadow of Cersen, was seen as a player that
maybe his ceiling had been reached on those sprout teams and who knew how high it could
progress and obviously he's let go by those German systems and find themselves in this team.
team, but if you have slacks is
he was never bad. He was always
a competitive player at the top
30 level. I think he's showing
that in this team that he's still
got it. He can rifle as well
to he is of a caliber and has a
consistency that they struggle
to find in office in North
America, especially in the
obviously the top guys in
coach by the top team. So a
shrewd pick and obviously
proved over this game. How does
he work? But I mean,
because this is something Alan
spoke about in the pregame
right is finding these pieces
that work within the team
dynamic. Why do you think
you work so well with M.
able to take the CT space that was needed. He would go in peak lower tunnels, he would peak cat,
and he would always fall back. And they would put his trust in his teammate to be able to fortify
those walls, make sure that they weren't able to come through. But even if he was tested,
if there were three people swinging at him, he would know how to hit the shots. There was
like one round that he got a 3k with an AWP. And it was just off after off of it off. He
was able to like just pop off and he did get run down. But I think Lake was right there to
to get the trade it was the spacing the positioning for the opera that was really shining for me.
Let's break down on that second half. And what did you think specifically of in the 80s T side?
I thought it was fine. I mean, they lost some rounds, but it happens. There's there's
timings. There's nades through smokes. There's spams. Maybe they had a few small mistakes
was around where they ran to eco and they made some slightly bizarre moves, but I
the way you are. You know,
you can see the logic behind
it. So I think it happens, Sam.
It's the reason we play, you
know, not m R two or whatever.
You play a few more rounds
even out. I thought they're
perfectly fine here. And
obviously overall, it was
pretty comfortable school line.
You also spoke about that
specific ground towards the
end of dust does to what
what did you think about
that? I think the round we've
got actually is the one a
little bit before where M. A
I thought Wildcars were about to get it back into this game from winning this round.
Sonic goes absolutely nuclear, and basically what happened was the T-side felt like maybe
he was less defended, but Sonic was just such a monster that he taught them a lesson on their
way in.
So it was almost Wildcars' route back into the game, but not to be undustued.
Sonic is looking really good.
I mean, I'm going to call it out because this is a player that obviously we've seen
over the years.
The cast has mentioned him in-game as well. We saw him on Cloud9.
And then he had this sort of dip. I think he mentioned that he was going to retire.
Now he's back, and he has really performed for Wildcard throughout the course of Challenger.
Yeah, he's been the one player that we've been talking about other than Stannis Law
that has been showing up for Wildcard, and they kind of need that right now.
They need their anchor players, their core players other than friend,
their offer to really show up so they have the people to lean on.
It's not just one opera that's trying to go and get really aggressive.
They need these players like Sonic and Slannislaw to be able to get aggressive and get the kills that they need to turn the round.
And that's exactly what happened in that round that Alan pointed out.
He was able to shut it down, use the utility exactly to how he needed to, and finish the round.
And it looked like Wildcard was going to take it back.
You never really know with North America.
If it's 11 and 7, it can still go to the lesser rounded team at that point.
I think the question we ask with
wildcard is who are the
star players and he's going to
shock a lot of people. The
Sonic is looking like the star
of this team. Yeah, he's playing
probably his best. Yes for
several years at this point. And
as you mentioned, Sam, when he
went back to South Africa and
was playing with some of those
teams, it felt like this is
the send off pretty much.
It's the end of his on it,
but he's back. He's been
great counter strike and it's
a bit of a shock. It's a big
jarring, but I'm loving seeing
him in these roles. It's
been a pleasure to watch so
far. I do believe there is,
in fact, a tweet somewhere where
he announced his. I swear,
you need to need pleasure
announced his retirement. I swear, didn't he play with those guys saying this is my
send off tournament? Yes, he did a whole thing. He did a retirement
tweet. There was a whole thing and then all of a sudden he was in wildcard and I was like,
okay, that lasted long. They have lost their map pick, right? So this is a big thing.
We're now moving on to Anubis, which is what M80 has selected. My concern here is I
just don't think we've seen enough from wildcard for them to be able to turn
Anubis in their favor. I think CC Anubis is rough to play
you need to make moves. You
need to make very, very fast
reactions. Dust to his map was
pretty easy. I mean, they take
long. We take short if they take
mid. We take long whatever. Um
so that would be my biggest fear
is friend in scrims over in this
system. We've seen it have some
issues before out of all,
especially CT Anubis. That is
a tall order and massive
pressure on Stanislaw to make
this work. Yeah, and M 80 is
They have the longest running game encounter shake and it was on a new best and they won that I think of the ending score was like
38 to 35 so I wasn't costing them. Yeah
Sorry to those who were casting but no
I feel like I'm 80 is gonna be able to use their team shots their team energy and everything that they need to on this map and I
Feel like wild card have a tall order ahead of them if they want to get this map
And then the third as well on vertigo and 80 has claimed dust to the question now
Now is can they claim a new bus and wrap this whole series up to zero we're gonna find out after the break
So beautiful when the Sun is low
Harvesters learn their cruelty to my people is all I've known
May thy most whip
That's better and a double kill. It's all on to a lexic
He's got 19 bullets everything he needs
Did he swing off the name?
Did he go back?
For fuck's sake!
Can you listen to any cocky?
Hey, is that nothing, Team Liquid?
Hey man, big fun!
Arms crossed, now give me a big smile.
A little more smile.
Can I get a quick selfie with you?
And now the winged smile.
Why do you never smile?
Smile?
Smile is body form.
Resolution is my voice.
And she's ending the world!
Never stop! Never stop!
Never stop!
ESL Challenger is brought to you in part by
Intel
Acer Predator
DHL
Kadea
Monster Energy
The United States Air Force
One X-Bat
And Logitech G
And they're a very strong team.
their core together for a while. They've been building for a long time also prior to us making
our roster changes. I feel like they were the number one NA team behind complexity and they've
just had a lot of time and experience together so we're a little bit behind. They're definitely a
really good team and it's going to be a tough match. They may not have been able to do it on
Dust2, their own map pick, but now Wild God enters the halls of Anubis, M80's most successful
map, their most played map and frankly speaking, only partially because they had that 175 round
long game versus the map. Also another map that Wildcard themselves are
favored on, they definitely have put the reps in, they have a good win rate on it themselves.
It is not like this map can be as simple as how that Dust2 ended up playing out. ESL
Challenger Atlanta, one American team into the playoffs is guaranteed an MAD one notch
in their belt for it. Two more to go and you can see the odds really don't favor a wild card but they
want to try and fight up against them. Stanislaw lies in wait and he's hoping that M80 is going to
get Esporatory down middle. He's just wanting information. This is not an angle where you
look for a kill with a Glock. I can tell you that much but he sees the elbow jiggle a few times
over. You never know what you're going to get away with. A very slow developing pistol.
Definitely something that we're taking away from Stanislaw so far at this event. They
like to run on this slow pace but it does mean that there's a lot of information denied here by MAD.
A lot of emphasis thrown towards middle which will mean these bomb sites are right for the picking.
And you might want to try and play it slow but you really need to speed things up as far as just
getting yourself into the game early on MAD. They lost out both pistol rounds in the previous
one but it doesn't really matter. This flank from Lake it actually could be so well timed
They're just starting to line up this attack on B and he finds that first kill it throws chaos into the comms of wild card
But they do deal with that sight anchor. They just know their backs exposed
And everyone else is going to be incredibly slow to rotate back in so CT's been taken control of it's going to be both the
Lake and slacks coming in from behind, but they might be
Unpleasantly surprised to see that their teammates might be falling, but shots being missed in JBA
Maybe some nurse coming into play and really after the previous game you could say that's almost guaranteed
There's no kick but there is the smoke and trying to stick inside of it is wrecked
And this is the real chaos in the comms. They cannot locate right they cannot shoot him down
You might get a steam make when you can't get to the fuser and maybe steal that pistol round
Oh because that flat came in so quickly they don't even plant properly for CT as soon as they deal with that man from long
They think they can take that deep control and to be honest
It says though maybe we're fine to play around with it because they knew they had that smoke that little off-axis
diffused from REC so important in keeping himself alive as well for the full 10 seconds stick.
So damn close and you know you're right on the money wildcard you can play these slow rounds but
they cannot continue to go on these late timings because M80 are not going to simply sit and
let a wildcard always operate on their own time schedule.
So in the meanwhile early tags coming out courtesy of friend scout he was
Really unable to get an AWP for a lot of that Dust2 CT sign, so I do feel like we haven't seen the best from him.
And Enduvis might not be as AWP conducive as Dust2, but it's not like there aren't a lot of players you can't make with that weapon, even over here.
Yeah, map where we've seen many an AWP highlights, funnily enough.
Even with all the close-range angles.
There are just so many bits of cover that you can play around with really an emphasis on how smooth you move.
And Lake is such an incredibly important piece especially of this inferno but Wreck is no different.
His A-side anchoring lets Lake be a lot more flexible and free around the map.
This combination don't really play bombsites together but they play off of each other from across the map regardless.
They do it very well and look at this the aggression now comes through
Wildcard's four-spy feels like it's just being pinched upon they've already lost two members without getting really even information of what's going on in the bombsite
A flashbang to push through but Lake is gone and that MP9 Ago's swisher
Sweeping them all away, but it's still back to a two on two somehow Stasper's found him and with friend USB
Sticking in and taking swisher out. It's only sin left. Sin gets a sideline
But he can't get the kill too quickly instead with 10 seconds wildcard are running out of time
Friend who can't figure out what to do. He's down low on HP and Sins USB that should put him to bed and indeed it does
M80 look like they were going to lose control, but they restabilized.
Yeah, Suspending those two kills so quickly. It was a very desperate move there from Sins to just move past that smoke
But they treated it as a wall there on Wildcard. Give it all the chaos
Maybe just hoping that rotate hadn't come in on time
But again, it's another instance where Wildcard are busy setting up and in the meanwhile
MADF found this time to flank. Two rounds straight when they've been shot in the back for the opener.
I mean the fact that you take that three versus five and you bring it back to a 2v2 or one-on-one is impressive.
Don't get me wrong. So wild card going back into this with the four-spire. You can see where they're coming in from
But it's not going to be easy.
Utility is atrocious. And one of the things that makes B-Sides so difficult to defend is the theoretical idea that you can just be completely
completely utiled out of every single position.
And with the prioritization of them Galales and AKs, that's just not going to be an option.
Yeah.
Such an important map for Wildcard.
They wouldn't have wanted to start their campaign like this.
Already coming in on an extenuating circumstances.
Fielding friend, but they have found ways to win.
They need to dive deep into the pocket now.
Great flash timing.
just set up for a flash himself but they're thin to try and get that trade
sus to the double and even with those two kills towards A there is no immediate
move from Wildcard to accelerate they're anticipating and playing ahead of the
rotation and they've gone and turned the other cheek. And I'm 80 at this point
might even need to start considering the save. Lake is the only conversation
you can have against it as he starts to make his way back over but a smoke
will interrupt his play back into the bombsite and as he recedes its gun
bullet chasing him down forcing him off. The problem is even saving these
This feels kind of bad.
You're taking two MP9s forward into the next round.
Sure, it's better than nothing, but M80,
that previous round, and the consequences
for letting that five on three go down as low as it did,
is going to be very real.
Yeah, absolutely.
It may not feel good to save these weapons,
but it's better than the buy they'll get.
Should they lose all these guns?
So a great job from Wildcard setting up
and attacking on extremity of the map.
and just making use of the quick rotations that are available via those canals.
And it is nice to see them try and isolate out that A-fighter.
I'm wondering if that ends up being the case more and more later on as well,
because Wreck is honestly really good at holding off the angle,
but because of that, M80 also tends to leave him alone more often.
And yes, that's definitely something that a lot of teams do, they're anubis A-side players,
but considering that then across the rest of the map,
the more Wreck is pressured, the more the rest of the players want to make a move,
it leans into Wildcard's slow style of play. Oh those nades are fantastic by the way. Wreck
and Swisher are not feeling good at all. Yeah, I don't even know how they've managed to take
as much damage as that, but all of me while Swisher getting himself into B main, a chance
for a kill, but there's a trio of frags that happen in sync here for Wildcard. So those
just make quick work of this B bomb site and call it a day. The saved weapons don't
bear a lot of impact for M80. The great news for Wildcard beyond the fact that
they're actually winning gun rounds is that Susp is alive now because as much as the point of criticism might have been JBA in that previous map and rightfully so right he was 1 and 8 at some point really didn't have a good game.
Susp wasn't the standout man. There will always be that extra pressure on him. He is the import. He is that European rifle coming in to take maybe a local talent spot you need to show up.
It's also the validation you'd get in making the right roster move for yourself, you have to take the risk and go over to another continent.
And it's such a stark contrast too, right? I mean, he goes from a fully national team, he's not even in an international lineup like it.
He's changing the language that he's speaking, he's changing his continent, he's changing all of his culture, and he needs to find success.
It's a massive risk to his own career at this point. If he doesn't do so,
You can't come back to Europe and say well, I was okay in America
Yeah, it doesn't quite bear the same weight to it
And I think as well we we've seen these these players that do take that risk develop whether it's actually going over to Asia in
foesie the the opyr that
friend replaces
Or whether it's flax and his journey to North America
Triple made lined up there by wildcard, but one did miss the mark
Doesn't seem it's going to be of much consequence
Everyone lined up at B and they do swarm towards the canals
Suspend able to control his spray to even get one in that duel, but that gun is very far away from playing the smoke
And it's so perfect two quick kills coming from M80 right off the get-go and JBA is now going to be the one
Thrown under the microscope. It is definitely labored. He takes the dink
He's down to four HP, but they don't stick around to see if JBA can get control for a second
I can't watch please don't lose another antigo
Well, I'm begging you this one would certainly feel bad. I mean just one M4 was brought forward
Stanislaus stabilizing but the problem will always be JBA's HP
And it feels like you do kind of want to save these M4s and the rifles on the ground and the slacks tries to pick it up
Stanis here to pressure and punish feels feels like what was happening against Audic as well
you know, while you're in these awkward situations against low buys and then you can rely on stan or sonic usually
They get a couple of kills right back
All right, bomb is planted and there's
The nurse the nurse it's okay. We're fine
There's a case to be made to just go back and try and save these weapons
And I hope that I made he does go for it
But also that kind of damage you can deal to the T side is significant. You will have a bind the next round regardless
It will just be a little bit better. Maybe
The thing right now is also when I see Sonic downs you're in for I don't really care
Yeah, I know he's gonna show up again later on right and this is one of the big differences between
Sort of tier two lands in tier one, which is that in tier one
It's concerning if anyone at all is offline because then that normally means that they're having a bad case of form very often on this
level I mean I personally think JBL was only having a case of the nerves in that previous map more than anything else
I'm not especially now from Sonic. Yeah, and you can't get caught up in your feelings like that
You know even for a wild card, they've played this matchup before many times online. It's not like M80 or any strangers to them
Wild card definitely to channel that energy
And so nice that there is some energy in the crowd as well for these local heroes
There was some smiles out there and maybe there's a lot to be smiling for but I will say that Brown did make me a little nervous for that.
A little bit scared.
Yeah.
Why do you think they felt?
Terrified?
Yeah, maybe.
But the good thing is you do have Stan the Talisman.
Because it really is every single comms video we've seen from him.
Stan has lost shit.
He's relaxed.
Nothing will faze me.
I am Zen.
Raising my voice.
What's that?
If there was ever time to make noise for Wildcard, this could be their last appearance on the stage.
They definitely need to answer back here on this map, finding three rounds at the start.
It can't all be MAD fans in the crowd.
It was a little bit of cheering for Wildcard as well, because they certainly might need it being down a map,
but they're looking to stop this one off strong, 3-2 right now, but Slacks is off not on the field.
Maybe there's a world where this round could be easier than some of the other ones
Still a lot to deal with don't get me wrong. Yeah, and even with the interview
Well, you know Sonic saying that they might have to play a bit more of a puggy style
They I mean by and large are still playing out structured game
And you know, he's gives us a very informed and a very accurate answer in that they're they're deviating but not
drastically from the system that they've developed
Lakes also had a bit of a slower start, both him and Wreck, hitting them just the one kill
and it's early days again, so it's not too concerning, but it's something to watch out
for and see whether they both could maybe try and make a move to change that.
That can come back to haunt you though.
Yeah, Lake, I mean he's in the most star position on this map.
The connector has that secondary anchor and also one that can challenge and stop
rotations, but he gets burned to a crisp.
It's a great youth kill and fast paced aggression in from JBA even Swisher will deny the kill.
This is immediately letting loose of that grenade, the damage from JBA was enough.
But that B bomb site crumbles so quickly, MAD just calling the save.
And this is the problem is that because of how slow Wildcard is playing, MAD can't really make a move.
They also can't really get information out. Normally you'd hope that Slacks would be able to
get an all peek forward of the Flashbang or two because that's sort of the role that he
He started to fulfill on this team, but right now, both him and Sin seem so mitigated.
And I mean, if you go backwards, MAD and their campaign at Pro League, it came to an end versus MIPR,
and Slack says, Sin will be finding more damage, the hunt is on, and Rec might be able to do the same,
but here indeed he does, but Slack said in an interview afterwards in the post-game interview that,
oh well, we just felt like we were making decisions a little bit too slow.
That is potentially there for MAD, and that generally on Nubis happens when
There is maps where Lake doesn't feel like he's able to have input because he's a very vocal part of this team
He's very clearly a secondary caller in the mid-round who is able to make his own plays and the team crops themselves around him
It's a lot of pressure for someone who spends so little time on this team and who really has spent so little time on the
International waters of Counter-Strike, but it's pressure. He's normally taken on his shoulders very comfortably
So it's also kind of the ego you want from a star player and I mean Lake definitely has that
That's what we were looking for before slacks takes down friend the aggressive
peek out middle because they don't smoke it off friend was hoping to fly in
contest in his own favor but Sonic reminds everyone that he too once wielded
the big green. It's a great kill to find back. Right on the money. Sonic the
deterrent of these German imports. He really is Wildcard's hedgehog you put
hand on the team and suddenly ah that tricked me what's going on still get a
real a little weird here for wildcard and quick and early kill especially towards
middle it's something that can be compensated for by m80 but there's
aggression on one of the extremes so sure it's getting a lot of information
for this m80 squad and as they clear out B I mean they'll take the heavily
reinforced state bomb site he's gonna miss the timing unless it goes back
to bridge right now it's gonna be very difficult to do too much wildcard
don't have the time to slow down and wreck the one who's making them.
You will end up dying to the Molotov, but it feels like he's bought enough time
for Swisher to now become relevant.
Swisher should find the skill of a hand. Indeed he does, despite JBA
starting to get conscious about the possibility of a flank coming through.
It really does feel like Wreck has saved the round for M80.
Wildcard, their last man standing will not be standing for long,
a watery grave for Stanislav.
Yeah, I mean this ghost in Swisher just haunting them from behind.
from one angle and then the
immediate reposition is just
fantastic there from Swisher.
Just seems some nice positional
play from him really a lot of
sort of risk limitation that he
seems to take in these late
rounds.
Knows not to give many of these
players on wildcard an
opportunity to fight back, but
that heroic play from from wreck.
He knew he was going to get
Molly down if he tried to jump
off of the platform likely to
simply go down by the presence
of those two players, but
it's a fantastic shooting
Flaks in the meanwhile is right back after exploring. Remember, he found that early kill before and right now he had his chance.
Holds his knife out.
Spend all that money for a reason. He wants to see that skin.
It just becomes slow revelations in so many of these rounds.
Is M80 gonna find the right timing to strike?
A wild card?
All that does is revolve around the clock.
block. It is basically as close as you can get to full in-game leader vs in-game leader
reads on the map.
Stanislaw is hoping to find Sin out. Sin only thinks there's one player here because of the
exchange with JBA earlier on. Stanislaw is going for that exact shake before as well
and although Sin was worried about a peek he wasn't ready for it.
There's such a confidence swing there from Stanislaw.
It's going to really cause some problems in through mid. It has not been picked up appropriately.
Oh my goodness, they'll have absolutely no idea that Jiggle peeks in from that A bomb site didn't reveal this flank available.
Slacks pushing forward and further into the inside of the connective. A status quo is activated on B and Slacks missed the shot,
but there's that reinforcement from the A side push. Slacks has to be that stopping power that prevents them from getting access to the site,
to the site but the smoke that blooms at his feet is Lake that takes the fight in
temple but Stan it goes in for a triple 5 HP on the in-game leader but he's the
one that does all the heavy lifting. That is such a fun play from putting JBA in
his own position that keeps him unaware and then taking control of the map.
Of course M80 still felt like they were able to get a sideline into the
camera it was just too late. Stan had already moved past it and comes in
with the flying. That round is all him and despite Slacks' best efforts
despite Wreck coming in and coordinating very effectively to find that canals lurk as well.
It was too late.
Yeah.
And especially, I think the nameplate is definitely important.
You know, had JBA gone that kill up close, there was a very likely possibility the A player
is a little bit more committed to the duel, trying to prevent any extra space taking, but
wasn't expecting Wildcard to just walk across the sight line.
He's so chill as well immediately after that one.
one thing I know Stan is always cool. There's such a veteran level decision there from Stan.
And the thing is this is about the time where I start to wonder whether MAD are going to program a
play for Lake because so far we've seen Lake displaced away from Dark a couple of times over
as well. We've not seen him getting aggressive even once so far. It feels like Swisher obviously
went for the early info play. Lake's not had anything set up for him. Yeah. I think the
The problem though is that like you talked about earlier, the fact that Wildcard are playing such a slow game, going for early round aggression is kind of exactly what's tailored to that slow style.
But does that mean you just lean into it and let them play their game completely, right? That's always a question on your mind.
And what is the response going to be? This is your last gun round before Wildcard maybe just push for a 7.
Last route, it's time. A friend is watching out for this exact play to be made, but the smoke is bloomed and Lake could even think about going past it.
He reveals position and sin needs to be worried because they are once again taking fast control of middle Stanislaw
Has caught a taste of blood and he wants more of it
Yeah, he's really puts it on notice. I mean sin really not sticking around for that one-on-one
Maybe not expecting it to be as limited as that
The other concern is that wreck doesn't have any backup because of how three occupied sin is with this a wreck
Won't have a flashbang. He's spotted out on the jump.
They know he's trying to play close, and this is where Sin really needs to put his head together.
But where's the stopping power? Where's the utility? The mollies might not be enough.
They just fly from inside of it. Sonic will die eventually.
But now, Stasma's taken too much damage.
This angle for Wreck is so good though.
It's gonna be impossible to read, especially with Slacks taking all the attention, friend.
High-tailing it away back through that smoke with the bomb.
Resh kept tabs on A main that whole time, and so now with this re-aggression,
Friend may be caught completely unaware.
Yes, it's such a deep position already taken up.
Great reposition, the stalling util out from M80 as well.
Even with that initial catch out inside of AMA,
that, I guess, speed up that wildcard had planned,
trumped by great grenade usage.
Unfortunately, Slax wanted to kill him.
The JBL over there, they could start vacating away from the B bomb site
and not earlier on, despite the fact that they didn't have mid control.
It makes rotation just so much easier.
Otherwise, you're always thinking, ah, Stam could be here, et cetera, et cetera, but when
there's not the potential of a pincer, you're okay.
Friendo, now getting aggressive early on the shoulder is not enough, and Stonic's Deagle
is a tough buy, but it's a weaker weapon to find the first.
Oh my goodness, they blow open the smoke, and Stonic finds another shoulder to shoulder.
There was Stuspin, it's a double kill off of the aggression that M80 had lined up
themselves sin does get one before they break B but they have to try and bring
this back to versus five this was not a pristine buy four round straight for
wild card and they were on the cusp of having their money shattered would have
opened the door wide open for M80 to recover this CT half and this is why I
wasn't concerned that Sonic hadn't put up the numbers because you know he's
going to have a round in him where he flips on its head that first kill
on the rack that's crucial and M80 they serve themselves up on a silver plan.
Yeah. This is the thing they're always looking for counter reactions you know
we've seen many times already where wildcard have been shot in the back of
the head even if there's players in front of them and that was the counter
reaction you know lose some A side pressure you have to get some
information in towards those canals maybe even take it from the Ts.
Not saying that that had to be the exact reaction but it's what M80 opted for and
But it turned to be a poor choice.
And the thing is for Wildcard, this is also still great
because there's still a chance to potentially reset CT
economy over here if you kill everyone, right?
Six rounds is already fantastic on the T side,
given the sort of hop they were having on Dust2
when they were on their home T side, right?
They, you pointed this out to me, Michael,
that they didn't get a single post plot
after the first three rounds,
and that one, on a single bomb down.
So already you can see the changes coming in,
maybe just shedding off some of those
initial game one nerves is enough.
It's so much easier to back that philosophy and that idea.
If we had those traditional stars show up so far,
not so great.
Slacks are nice opener and Wreck playing
that close range angle as well.
They are maintaining their setup.
And they call the bluff that it would be unoccupied,
but Wreck rounds the corner with a smokeout.
So it's free pickings there for Susp.
Big punish.
All of Slacks' hard work initially
just goes to not basically you don't have anyone to be able to get aggressive and
outside of be either swisher wants to play a bit more defensively and with
wildcards still having Stanislaw threatening out a mid push with a
smoke in his hand he's gonna redeploy action go that's out towards the front
of connector no ninja smoked off okay that's a fun angle limitation franken
just holds the re-aggression swisher doesn't want to fly blind in defense of
that bomb site and they had already cheated rotations to defend a stop any
progress in from mid here to lake. You have to say it feels like you just have to
I know it's a three on four but the try and commit and lose everyone might be
to lose the entire game over here but sin is certainly showing off his position
Stanislaw that's not a fun angle with the McDenfand.
It's retake it's on absolutely they have a kit available they have maltovs as
well they have a couple of flashes they could really line this up to be
uncomfortable for the wildcard defense. They don't want to give them seven
for free but with the flashes going in you still have to move past the
the AWP of friend and he is at a very difficult to deal with angle.
But if he misses the shot, then you've dealt with him there and then JBA back of the bombsite now standing loud.
And that's exactly what I wanted.
You know, when we're talking about wildcard and the composure shaking off those game one nerves,
I want JBA at the forefront of that action.
He has had misses versus MAT so far in this tournament.
That first map was not a great display either, but now in a post-plant three on three,
he finds and just rips off two heads immediately.
A very successful T-side campaign already here from Wildcard, this slow pace, it is paying dividends.
M80 all they save is...
The gun that started the round.
Yeah, and he's gonna need to do a lot more.
Port Slacks has found opening kills from every single part of the map where it feels like you can.
Yeah, where next?
His form hasn't really taken a dip from Dust2, but it's just...
Not as much to do over here, and unfortunately, Lake has still been quite quiet.
on the CT side 2 and 7 right now it's about the worst thing that can happen to
the CT side as well these rounds are inspiratic from MAD win the pistol and
when a gun rounds lose the next win the next they are able to get a couple of
rifles around that AWP some util alongside it as well but they're still
I mean there's short change for this last round of the half.
Sinn also feels like even if he has gotten some of the numbers he's never
really had full control over middle and again it's just credit out to what Wild
Guard has been doing. The amount of conditioning that has been
set. Lake has been nullified in this defense. Bush might be coming out from
slacks and we've asked how many angles he can find an opening pick with. It
feels like he wants one more. The deep nade keeps us low and Lake is going to
have an easy one but the flash it connects regardless. Lake is going to
to have a little bit more space to move backward.
Doubling up inside Dark feels like it's a perfect play because you've also got the same in A main
and Sonic who's looking to re-aggress into it is going to have to do so without a flashbang
unless us is the one to turn around and throw it in. The smoke means that you have to deploy it.
The grenades aren't really gone deep enough and it feels like you've already lost this round.
Wildcard are lost. They're headless.
And they can't do the same to their opponents. Still two players to move past and Lake has been stopped in each game.
Swisher up next gets the double the mp9 comes alive swings out and clears it all five for M.A.E.
They get bare minimum as they move to that second half
Wildcard and M80, Wildcard hoping to take it to map number three, giving you guys a little bit more zest.
We've already a nice little recipe that we've got going on between them.
And just a nice tactical counter strike. It is a battle of brains here on the stage, here on the map that could eliminate Wildcard.
They go in with that seven to five half, but they need a amount of successful defense.
Anubis a T-sided map. And M80 right now unchecked in the way they start this pistol.
they go slow, but they start creeping into this B bomb site that has been left wildly
vacant.
The retic will have to come without a kit over here as well.
Wildcard really putting all their eggs in the fish site basket.
Eggs and fish don't go well together unless you've kicked them first.
So in this round, that's not been cooked out very well from Wildcard.
They're taking their time to come back over to the site itself.
They will have a flash and a smoke and a sus to try and aggress, but that smoke
timing from M80 is fantastic.
and it's all. Going up orange.
Yeah I mean this this decision
to go for such a quick stack
just seem like they had a hard
read or some kind of anti
strap, but it is simply not the
case. You wouldn't go for a play
like that full retake of a bomb
side if you didn't have a smoke
and a kit or something along
those lines, but then a smoke
flash. They didn't have kits
information maybe plaguing their CT pistol before they know it that the bombsite is completely
overwhelmed and there's you to let their feet that's why they're trying to challenge
through these smokes they know that time was of the essence that one will definitely
feel a little bad for wild card especially after that first pistol round as well let's
just wreck retaking all on his own right smoke down gets a full defuse out maybe
they're just hoping to do the same yeah if they can get a 10 second defuse we
We can do it.
Yeah, but they were aggressive.
We don't talk about that part.
It's a team building exercise now for a wild card.
Yeah.
And a build.
Good communication and chemistry, teamwork.
And most importantly, cheerleaders.
Orperate buzzwords.
Now listen, they've at least put themselves on the right site.
This could be a little bit more damage being dealt.
This could be a little bit more money taken forward just based off of kills.
And that's something we forget.
Yeah, the problem will be that Wreckage is going to be that first one in and he's going to spot everybody and send his team the other direction.
You see the immediate retreat, Slaxie even has to take it a challenge, but...
They're not retreating, I'll let you know that.
Wreckage immediately backed off, he took a headshot, but everyone else went in the pieces of pie.
You need to understand, this was the call, seeing it programmed this, right?
Wreckage, you see five people, let Lake get the kills because he's having a bad game.
Also, you know, SMG is going to farm out money, and that's the primary objective.
I want that SMG to pay for itself.
Alright, we have a little bit of wooing going on.
Feels like we might have more M80 fans in Wild Card.
Ah, I think that is definitely the case.
We are local hero invites to this tournament.
And they are getting all that love and support.
Already a map to the good, and now equalizing to that 7-7 scoreline,
they will be challenged versus the Wild Card full buy.
But I think one of the problems that you'll have always on wildcard is that your options will be limited
You need Molotovs you need in Cindy areas to actually enable a lot of
Aggressive moves even even sort of mid to late round aggression
It's true
But you also need to make an aggressive move regardless when you're like this
You don't have a kid and Sonic just speaks out with sauce
Exactly what you needed starts off in a five on two and because it's dropped the bomb and maybe also can't try and get a fast
trade response either. Swisher has been smoked off on the B bomb site and one thing that they didn't
really lose out too much on was smoke. So Sonic, aggressive again and this is what I mean.
Sonic comes through in critical rounds, starts to lead aggression when he needs to the most,
he's not afraid. Yeah, good recognition of exactly what they needed to do to catch MAD out
just as the smoke was about to bloom inside of connector. Just incredible timing, still two
on four and a plant in towards the same bomb site I'm all talk down that they're looking to double challenge into the lineup
Was certainly there and wreck able to convert on the double kill
But there's friend that third man waiting in the wings to guarantee a trade
No problems here for wild card first gun round on the board an MAD a little soured by the double aggressive move through
Con and be main all the same. Oh look there is a bright side
The bright side is that you do get them down to two players and you get the bomb on him
So you still have a chance of resetting money
But the less bright side is the fact that you did also lose out to two players right peeking you from connector
Yeah
They threw a smoke so you know
Maybe could have been seen as a flash at that distance. You don't really hear the the audibles as clearly as well
It's the most copious
It's true. Yeah, these are my predictions that every player has to make it's not a flash
but in a turn is it a smoke and should I be paying attention and
Well, I made he actually just couldn't hit their shots when they were presented with fights
This is a very brave decision for me.
I love it, Swisher knows his friend is dead, our friend is gone!
Swisher also realizes that there's multiple players like the inside door because the rest of the site is empty and friend was setting up a new kill.
They bob open the smoke to provide a bit more threat and Licks cleared it out from close range.
So even if the CTs wanted to return, that Nade is good.
But can they move into the site?
Did they have any room to do so?
Licks back in, but another Nade right in the street will not matter!
Licks found it, traded away short, but advantage maintained by M80.
Advantage launched now.
Sus is the one to provide damage and death.
Slash, missing a shot, and it's critical.
And they do have a kit this time over, don't forget.
Slash smoked off, already having lost his teammate.
Four on five or not, wildcard will recover.
Yeah, great job from Sus throughout.
I mean, even with them being smoked off inside of Connector,
just constantly applying that pressure, the utility was great.
even the trade into Lake that was playing around that smoke. He waited long enough for JBA to be close by.
They had Util available for that post plant. They never gave up. Even with that first entry being so swift and easy there for MAD,
the deep control that Slacks could have actually allowed for them.
But it starts off as a three on five, but the 4k from Susp is very well placed.
17 and 10 is our solitary Swede.
Okay, that's what I want to see friend getting involved as well
Obviously he did have the couple of head-to-heads with slacks and dust two out over here that didn't necessarily go in his favor
But it doesn't matter if you're the standard or not the freedom of an op is unchallenged
Once it gets going
Another kill there for friend and there's a company by JBA in his attempt to pick towards a
No problem stealing with these deeds
Just don't lose another 2v5 for the Beagles, guys. All we're asking for.
Swisher wants to deliver what the only Germans have so far.
And maybe it is him to take the mantle on, but it's such a heavy mantle to bear.
Damage is decent and friend is low. The bomb will be planted. Nothing to prevent it.
And suddenly things are shaping up to look a little bit more challenging now.
Remember, Stan is going to be late for the party and that's what they're waiting for.
They don't want to get the music going before he's here, but the rest of the CTs are also taking their sweet time and thin
Try to take a sweet duel doesn't really find it's a swisher. This is a bit much to ask for
The answer starts with the D. Go
This would have to be outrageous and they're sticking that bomb the lineup isn't too far off the mark and the boys
They're just turning on by for that defuse, but he opens up a hole and he gets them off the defuse
They have a kid on Susp though. They have a kid on Stad. It is definitely far closer than this round ever should have been I
Got worried you said don't lose another two versus five, but they come damn close. I'll buddy my nails. I'm not
The first person to stick it 10 second defuse. Are you insane?
Well, listen insanity
Fortunately does not prevail and it is double digits for wild card
They are potentially going to be able to return the favor delivered to them, but I made me get the pump on that so forget that that's crucial
They also keep the CT economy a little bit more honest
So there's always going to be that chance if you start them out a comeback to reset it completely
Even though we're all happy that wildcard is just getting these rounds. You also have to keep in mind
That's three diffusals in a row, right? That's three rounds where you've lost a lot of personnel. These are not clean rounds
It's the activation of one or two players who could change it around and unfortunately right now
It's your best performing rifers historically who are littering the bottom of the scoreboard both sin and lake have been heavily mitigated
Yes, what can be really turbulent as well about that CT side as soon as the
The success for MAD is actually converted upon suddenly the the gap is closed very quickly
MAD have won both pistols in this map, but wild card is setting the record straight as soon as they get onto rifles
Another string of three rounds last half day we're able to pull together four
Again and slacks is now caught between two and that means us might even have a chance to be able to back
Oh, sorry Sonic might have a chance to be able to back off and indeed he does
He goes all the way into the V site and Stanislas never really receded so he'll hair late dropping down if that's going to be the call
No, there's a smoke down inside of the connector as well even if he did drop
No fight available. No sight line
So I guess that's sound cue over
The wild card, willing to play within the bomb sites.
Slow builder, but they've got more than enough utility to take one of these sites for the next acute.
And friend has started to rotate over too, so even if they have the utility, friend actually provides a lot of stopping power, not just with the AWP, but also with the grenade and the molotov.
Time's running down low, there's 45 seconds. The longer you wait, the more useful this is going to be.
JBA is set up for success. He won't really have too many flashes to help out, but he just pushes through.
through friend trades himself, but Stanislaw does the same, and you're down to a 2 on 4.
Swisher wants to be a hero again, and although he put on his cape before he wasn't able to
fly away, M80, bring it back down to even, and with Sonic Grow from the earlier exchange,
it might just be in their favor.
They get out through Cam'ral.
They waited for the plant, they waited for them to be free occupied, punching in
those ditches, but it was a free kill.
Swisher low health, and they can't quite connect on the shots.
Sonic that finally finishes the job, Susp to the high ground, but Slacks has his dreaded
AWP, but Susp is just too damn quick.
It was a quick turnaround there from Swisher, but Susp dispels any chance for M80 to break
that streak.
Wild card, 11 rounds, two more needed to force us into a third in the series.
I mean, friend and standards of Vining kills while blind is just unfortunate.
I don't know how blind they were, right?
I mean, the UI always shows you a little bit more than maybe it is, but at the
the same time bringing it back from the two on four as well, just not being able to convert
and again and again. Unfortunately, when rounds are this close, four rounds in a row, the question
will always be asked who's missing. It was a great forward decision as well. They started
with three towards that B bombsite two on A and just as the A side executes coming their
way, they actually pull that extra man over in time. Had Stanislaw not been there,
had Friend not been there, suddenly the pace through which M80 would have taken
that bombsite the control they could have gotten as well would have been maybe
even kind of an insurmountable task for a retake. And you can see the contrast in
how the CT sides are being played right we never saw aggression from dark unless
it was slacks holding an AWP coming through from M80 we've seen it almost
every time now from wildcard every time it feels like they're in a pince that's
what they go for and they make it work. Zonic and Susper the ones featured in
most of it if not all. Yeah sometimes it's a bit of yin and yang you
know you have to be aggressive when the other team is being aggressive and
sometimes in the more defensive positions, you actually can be a little bit more greedy
with your utility. You can play a little bit more defensive inside of sites. But I mean,
the big advantage that the wildcard had is because of that aggression, they found find
that opener and it just becomes that much more threatening to move into a B bomb side
that you already had guarantee of two players and maybe not even guarantee on how much
damage was done to Sonic in the exchange, given that there was a lot of tagging
through walls, the fight was awkward. And Atlanta, I know you guys might have
win for wildcard earlier on but everyone wants to see a third map of a wildcard hoping to deliver
it to us right here and now they've been super powered by the sweetest savants sus has been having
a game 19 and then right now a hundred adr yeah he's he has really proven to be a powerhouse
especially when you're enabling him in these aggressive decisions yeah don't make this man
and stay on a bomb site to make him stop moving his feet.
His favorite key to press is W.
We know that.
But it helps when Sonic's there to hold his hand right there
with him.
Been a fantastic duo between them.
And not necessarily always the thing we look to on Sus,
Peter, what we're thinking about,
the development with Metasport,
a bit more rigorous, a bit more structured perhaps,
less independent duels,
but Susp is showing that he can have that versatility to him.
Like had a struggle defending the B bomb site,
fighting in from Khan, he often didn't find ways
to enable himself.
He's exotic, not having that same problem.
It is kind of a head-to-head between those two.
They play a lot of important positions
on a lot of maps for both these squads.
And you can also contrast out Sin and Stanislin
what they were able to do on their T side as well, right?
It seems like Sin especially has really quieted out
even if Lakes actually started to pick up
some of the numbers, it just looks worse because of where he started.
Sin's just gone radio silent.
And not willing to be the one that takes that first challenge.
Yeah.
Not willing to just take a dry swing through mid.
And maybe that's where the relative inexperience does come through, but look at this stuff
again.
Thinking of that aggression, but it's team damage, flax and Sin not feeling great about
it.
Sonic will fade away.
He knows how many players are here.
But no, they want to double up.
They want to regress 30 seconds coming in.
They know the hit has to be coming forward onto the V-side.
Stuff starts off strong and Stonic is still here.
Might be traded but they've found more than they've lost
and Friend is hoping to finish it off.
A Molotov to back him off and Friend will still find one
as he fades into oblivion.
Swisher, how many times will he be put into clock situations?
15 seconds has to commit to the bomb plant
but he puts it down, he pushes forward,
finds another and time's running low.
This is where he looked for the deal.
JBA however just wins it 12 for Wildcard.
I mean that's the composure you won a one-on-one where Swisher is really just holding all of the initiative
He can drive all of these fights. He caught a little bit of a glimpse of JBA just as he was diving back through that smoke
That's why he went for the tap. That's why he went for the swing
But JBA able to steady his hand for that kill Wildcard
They may have lost their own map, but it's looking like it may be the same here for M80
They pick into an Anubis that they currently trail five rounds behind even if they find themselves on this T side as the favored
More traditionally in statistics
Doesn't matter when you're in the server and wild card are coming up with so many of these ideas that you yourself couldn't pull together
This time it's a boost gold after lake watching out at slasps which is full
He knows what's going on can't get the two but he's gotten so much space in the mid because of that one frag still
M80 will occupy it. Is there going to be aggression through A? It feels like that's in the program.
And I'll be going to get to watch it. Will there be any penalty for losing middle?
Bucard have been happy to take an advantage and give up that control and play bombsites
very frequently going for a late round aggression. They've been doing it so more
so in the mid round. And once again, they'll kind of see that mid control. They realize that
that their rotates are going to get there a little too late and will be burdened by
the fact that mid has been occupied for so damn long.
But now they split.
Just as MAD start to compose themselves for a hit, things can get very awkward very quickly.
There's a lot of utility available here for MAD and not a lot to stall with here on
Wildcard.
Flashbang's been missed as well, but Sonic's at least been able to clear out dark.
He knows where they're going to be coming in from.
If they're coming in, no.
Suspice started to rotate away.
Sonic's all alone on this site.
So he peeks out and he loses and head for it.
Lake on low HP somehow manages to cross despite the spam through the smoke.
And honestly, at this point, CTs might even want to consider backing off if they can't get an immediate kill.
Friend will be trying to facilitate that 4JBA who pushes forward after the flashbang,
but with the smoke blooming on top of him rather than Molotov, singeing him down.
He'll be in an awkward position and the CTs, with their money where it is, really don't want to fight.
Yeah, South Swiss is trying to contain as best he can, but yeah, now they are backing off.
JBA needed to effectively find that kill. They realized they maybe wasted a little too much time.
But in a way, I thought Wildcard were just going to fully commit to that retake as a statement.
You know, for themselves, confidence bursting back into the series.
They know they've got many opportunities to swing at MAE, but it's also a great decision from
the T's to actually vary the way that the B side actually would look.
Wildcard trying to cheat an extra rotation by having a player playing deep spawn and there was a full smoke wall that he just actually
Couldn't do anything about you know
They were anticipating temple and deep CT and it does feel like because they got mid control early on in the third round
It becomes so much more easier to make wildcard sweat and force out those late round rotations
You can't have suspense on it together committing on the B bomb side the way that they have been again and again
They actually have to second guess what they're doing for once because Stan is dead
as well we see so many in-game leaders that play mid and it becomes so important as a
position because you have the easiest auditories to listen into the canals you
can hear steps outside of a you make so many more informed decisions but if
Stanislaw is to lose those fights he could be a burden aggressive move from
friend and the jump spot the friend so damn close to hitting that shot I
I thought he had it.
But after that one flash, that one boom of the AWP,
they regressed back into more defensive positions.
Auditorium is being given over by slacks outside of AMA,
but it doesn't seem as though Wildcard are making too much of that.
They've heard Sin for sure,
and they know all the prices of one and canals,
and this might be time for them to go for that patent and swing out and clear,
but it's friend to find that first.
But Sonic being forced away by the incendiary at least they can't get information but J.B. has got kills and wildcard bring it back to a 5 on 3
J.B. might be low and he'll be found as he fades away but Wreck still can't scale onto the site yet
His friend and Stanislaw right next to him to try and force him off flashbang is good but Stanislaw blind and he's still alive
The pharmacies that come into play, the CT counterflashes are good and Susp has been great
All on thin, a 1 on 3 and with time low
He's down too, but it's not going to be enough while card will take it. I'm not number three
Yeah, I mean a real struggle throughout just for emmating getting engaged on some of their star players the
Relevance of some of these flanks the fast timings that they were hitting in the start of this game just seemed to
Effectively disintegrate into a relevance while car making some good adaptations some nice reads as well on on how to dispel
Players like late that can be proved to be such a big problem
But we have no problems sending it over to our analysts that will break down exactly how the rest of the series couldn't pan out
I think my favorite thing about this matchup is in the pregame Lake said that wild card never beats them on land and wild card
Just took them epic from it. So that's funny because trash talk sometimes backfires in your face. That's what we're looking at, right?
Yeah, I mean that is the question right now and what the hull just happened to M80
They were meant to be the more structured team. They were meant to be the team that could take their map pick and
They were beaten by wildcard who's playing with a standard
Comprehensively be it. They had no traction in this map M81 and converted both pistols
That is that that if you do that is something like it's something like a 70% win rate on a map
You're doing that and they never look competitive CT side for a T side for them
That second half was a bit of a nightmare CT side the first up didn't look a whole lot better
I don't know what happens to them between the maps, but they it kind of mentally on the server in terms of their play
Everything look wrong. We're gonna we're gonna dive into what we think may have happened
Yeah, but first we have a little bit of fun because Mike is in the audience at ESL challenger Atlanta and apparently
He's having a good time and he wanted to share that time with us. Oh
Hello there. Look who I found in the crowd. It's one mr. Mr. Pone alone. How you doing man? It's going on doing pretty good
What do we think? What do we think?
And a crowd that we know what this guy is and I know what this guy is.
I think they know you are some of them do you played in a couple of these challenger events.
What do you think them other pretty fun? I mean pretty competitive.
Not many in 18 to go, but it's still pretty fun.
Couple of them. We got a couple on stage right now.
We're going to map three. Who do you got in 80 and 80?
Why?
Just looking at the better team right now. I mean, I had a slow start on the new best,
But I think they'll pull through on vertigo.
He thinks they'll pull through Sam.
What do you think?
I think we don't even know if Mike was talking to who he says he was,
because no one could see anything.
It could just be a very good voice over artists.
I know we have those there in the States.
Let's get into talking about what exactly we just saw on the server though,
because hearing them, one of them saying,
oh, M80's got this in the bag and they can bring it back.
I don't know, Apples.
I'm a little bit concerned after seeing Anubis.
Yeah, and I feel like their mental also suffered a little bit.
We saw the reactions and they felt like they were maybe fighting a bit on the server.
They were pushed into a lot of uncomfortable situations, but I feel like Wildcard was also
pushed into a lot of those situations as well.
Obviously, I talked about it a little bit earlier, M80 has played a lot of Anubis and
they have played the most Anubis in Counter-Strike and CS2.
Maybe that just gave Wildcard a lot of leeway, a lot of room to go in any strats, see
I mean, for me, Alan, I don't
think well caught had a plan.
Do you think they had a plan? Um
I think they did. I think I
think they came into this map
throwing the kitchen sink at it.
I think they were aggressive and
they tried to make moves and
they played in a manner that
games as a chance to win. I
mean, they caught a made off
guard, especially with the
way they played there. They're
CT side. It was so disruptive.
I'm not sure, um, sin would
come out of this game. Feel
like he got to call all of
his rounds from start to
a lot of people are
trying to get into the game.
Call all of his rounds from
start to finish in the way that
he wanted. So I'm fairly
impressed with wild card to do
that with the stand in,
especially is is a huge
testament to probably stand
a slot and the man of
micro managing you have to do
to pull off that sort of
counter strike is enormous
because you can't fall back
on. You know, your set
round. You're just your set
defaults. That doesn't exist
for this team right now. On
the other side, though, with
that wild card could take
advantage of. Before I talk
about that I want to talk
about something that I did
see from me that I really
liked. It was in round 12.
They were playing on their CT
side. It was last round, their
CT and they effectively push
all wild card into canals, and
they felt like they both
both sides had they had Lake
and a swisher on V side. They
were holding them in E box,
not letting them anywhere.
They had their offer on a
to make a decision and. M. A.
shut them down completely there.
Yeah, I mean, it's worth saying
though, I think that round was
somewhat the exception that
proved the rule. That was the
one about where M. A. T. On
their CT side. Got aggressive
with proactive and did it at
the right time and actually
caught the other team of guard.
They really struggled to
actually make a proactive move
with information. I mean, it's
a hard, very hard on CT and
it was pretty the hardest.
Probably the hardest side of
probably the hardest side of any side in the game to make correct reads and the right moves.
But that for me was one of the only rounds where they got it right every other time.
They just couldn't predict World Cup. I didn't understand in the second half why MAD seemed
to struggle even more so. In the second half. Yeah, it perplexed me a lot of that second
half. They had some really strange after plants. Communication looked all over the shop.
It might have been the fact that they were on the brink of making playoffs,
I'm not sure if you can see
the map. It's not like I was
getting in their own heads, but
that didn't look like the M. A
t that I've seen in other games
in this tournament and other
events. They looked really out
of sorts. Yeah, Yeah,
absolutely. Ellen. You mean you
mentioned some of the strange
moments. We've had those around
as well on the screen right
now. This is one of them. They
go five or four quick entry
and then in this after plan.
The only thing you need to
focus on guys is how
disparate every single kill
from the cities onto the
plan. When you go into an after
plan, you need a plan. It doesn't
really matter what it is. You
be passing me aggressive play
into one area or out of another,
but you have to be on the same
page. I watched that live. I
watched it again. I was like,
for the life of me, I can't
work out what the plan is here.
And that is not a good
indictment. Do you think they
underestimated wildcard? Um,
no, I think I think M 80, uh,
has proven in this game to
be fallible. I think I
players. They're led by a
younging game leader. Um I think
their communication fell apart,
and I think the one person is
going to come off that game. I
think I could have done more is
actually death. I think he's
going to come off that game and
think I should have burned
through all of my pauses on
that second half. Slow the
game down, get them to talk
more because we're saying they
didn't look like the team that
we know they can be and it
was honestly bizarre to watch
that was so left field the
way they played that second
half. I was shocked that
they didn't call attack
now because the map has been lost. It's one map apiece. It's all going to come down to
Vertigo. Apples, how does this play out?
I feel like this is a much stronger map for Wildcard. In the past, they have done a lot
better on Vertigo. This is a map that you do not see in like tier top tier Counter-Strike
anymore just because of the new updates and everything. It's a little bit difficult,
especially on T side, to be able to clear so many angles, especially on A. But with
the offer with friend. I feel
like he's flotted in really,
really well on a new bus. He
was able to get a lot of mid
control. E boss control. Um
but I don't know how it's
going to go on vertigo. I feel
like that's a wild card.
Honestly. I like the little
play on words, Alan. I'm I'm
looking at sauce. He played a
monster second map. The way
he was playing that a new bus
he side is he just decided
that everybody in the box was
There you go. The upset could occur. We had all sort of bangs on an M80 grand final
But that might all change it is at the hands of the American the plucky guys from wild card trying to figure this one out
We'll see if they're able to do an able to ultimately get themselves a spot in the semi-finals after this
ESL Challenger is brought to you in part by Intel
Acer Predator
DHL
Kadia
Monster Energy, the United States Air Force, One X-Bat, and Logitech G.
Lump could have been playing pretty decent recently. They've had some good results in NA.
I don't think they picked up a win in Europe, but they played Spirit pretty close.
So it's going to be a good matchup. They don't have their 4-Auster, unfortunately, for them.
We've run in that issue before, so we know how that feels.
But we're excited to play them. We have a good rivalry between us, which is always fun.
I'm pretty excited to go into this game.
Three maps in home soil from homegrown teams.
Sounds pretty damn good to be going into Vertigo in the M80.
Hoping to fight back from a stunning loss on a new best super powered sus.
He's looking very good for wildcard.
Yeah both teams trading map picks in this series and we find ourselves on a
peculiar finishing zone in Vertigo.
Last round of the rotations in bands M80 decided to stray away from Inferno
and opt for a multi-floored Vertigo instead.
This is a map that has fallen out of favor at the top end of Counter-Strike,
but MAD decided that this was gonna be our final battleground.
Sos will have a chance to feature off that skill that he showcased earlier on as well with the Duwili's early.
Into this map.
Sonic waits and watches. Good damage being dealt, but Sos isn't able to finish anything off.
Sonic is the one who has to get the dirty work done, but he's pushed off the building,
And that's where Stan's flash will be critical.
Friends waiting in for it.
Well deployed and well placed.
Shots between JBA and Fran have taken back this B bomb site.
Swisher.
Danger of dropping to his death on 4 HP.
Will be looking to reposition.
He made a lot of those glutches look decent,
but never won any of them on Nubis.
Yeah, and also it's just going to be incredibly difficult.
He takes one tag and he is simply gone,
even if it's through the edge of a wall.
Doesn't matter whether these shots are clean from wild cards,
so long as they're able to get security on this round.
I mean, great procedure as well to have that flash
lined up in defensive B and try as Swisher might
to make something more of this round,
bombed off to the feet of those CTs,
and so they will not move a muscle away
from this B bomb site.
At some point you start to wonder about that relocation
and indeed that's what they're already doing.
Stan is watching out for it.
Benefit of having a very high building
is you can throw weapons off of it
and no one's gonna know.
Except for the people underneath.
Swisher though has found the first and always has been able to bring it back to a 1v1, but time zone on his side and the bomb isn't on his back.
He's got no idea where Friend is, he's worried about a push through from B stairs that might have been coming forward to hunt for him, but now he's hurt it.
Now both players know where the other is, and with the time where it is, Swisher has to fight, he knows it as well, but it's a fight he would never have won.
Full HP or 4, Friend would have gotten it done.
Yeah, I mean knew exactly what he had to do in that situation play the clock swisher as well
It's just hyper conscious even with that very big reposition
He did given that he caught that first player off guard
He was very suspicious that the reason he wouldn't be looking at his flank had to be that there was a player inside of middle or
Fodding towards a but just didn't have the right read a nice attempt there from swisher to bring it to the one-on-one
But like you said time was against him
Okay, there's a fun stat about this series so far, I believe that every single team that
has won the pistol rounds has lost the map.
That feels like a non-correlative stat, but...
I didn't say it was a good stat, I said it's a fun one.
And Rex been a fun player to keep an eye out on, and he started off with a very strong
entry, Smisher provides a second.
It's simultaneous kills, they're from M80 on both extremes, I mean just losing
in the first half of the
season. We're seeing tracking
and capitalizing on this laps
in the rotation there from
wildcard. Maybe getting these
two quick picks and B bombsite
taken. They come in with this
force by and they find immediate
success. We're seeing a faster
pace out of MAD. You know, the
anubis was slow from both
teams. In fact, on their T
sides. Maybe we're really
showing a lot of pace at the
but with M80 veering into Vertigo as this decider map does leave you curious about what
M80 have prepared or what they saw in that demo after the fact.
And this is one of the maps that M80 does generally do pretty well on, normally courtesy
of Lake.
Lake Lustre on the T side, especially Lake Lustre, go aggressively up through ramp while
the rest of his team is making a huge amount of noise in mid and B. So very often you'll
you'll see Lake being able to take advantage of CTs having that fast rotation timing where
he's expecting them to be reinforcing other parts of the map and he just goes up around
completely alone with no utility or anything like it.
Now that's something Wildcard's going to be expecting.
Last time they played up against M80 on this map, they actually did very well.
They took that map away, Stanislaw led the charge there as far as the scoreboard
was concerned.
And now it's LAN, now it's pressure, but Stan's never been the one to feel
takes out initially, can't finish the job off, makes the meal of it, and JBA's done the same,
but friend and JBA have at least picked up one of these, friend makes it two, and it's a two on two.
That wildcard find themselves in Sonic here to turn it around, he's heard that U-Till but he's
not expecting Swisher inside the tarp. Ah, that could be a big oversight.
Suspie is coming in on this flank, and the first player is low health, Wreck.
Eventually Suspie's able to pull it together, but down to nine health,
and now Swisher has all the information he needs to now play out this clutch.
Even coming in and trying to find these rifles that have been dropped off by either his teammates
or the opposition will be incredibly taxing Susp trying to play mind games.
This feels like an impossible round to recover unless Swisher really fumbles it and
he's been the one consistent force. He's not really feeling like the player who would do that.
You don't have a kit for Susp and look at least the gun might be a little bit more accessible
at this plate. Is he taking it? No, no, no, no. He doesn't have the HP to try and go for
anything like it, but they have to be scared, right? The M80 side needs to be concerned,
and that's why you're going to probably see Swisher come through, maybe try and get some
spam out as well, but no Swisher's decided completely against it. His stuff could actually
suck it. That's the worst part he would have taken at home.
Yeah, and I think as well, you know, after the taps, Swisher repositioning and
then looking at that smoke thinking, wait, why don't I see him anywhere? He actually
could have been inside of it you're absolutely right but probably would have
offered up a little bit of spam as it was approaching that 10-second mark but
really nicely controlled there from swisher it was just a lot of back-and-forth
trades in this fast ramp attack from from MAD. Unfortunately JBM and Sanislav
both looked like they were set up for potentially a multi-kill but a lot of
damage doesn't convert and friend had to be the one to finish it off. Yeah and
if Sonic had maybe not gone down so quickly maybe that flank finds the
They find the advantage again. It's timing that that really comes to bear there for wild card
That's that you don't really want to be a maybe baby and wine about it
It's all about this one and as they've reinvested forward the MP 9 to 5 7 swing out
There's that double and beyond that
Stan will
Lose his life and out of his teammate, but not the advantage Sonic's the one to contribute one more
That's what they needed the bomb as well is down and wreck is the
really only player who can look to recover at Sonic.
Reface is what he shot the swishers head.
Gets paid back and it's twice over. Wildcard even.
Yeah, I mean they go and commit to another force buy.
They got it so close last time over they know they could very quickly reset the MAD squad immediately
and you know you should probably anticipate a force buy right back from the MAD squad
given that there's I guess their faster aggression that they're going for.
B bomb site has, I guess, been targeted in these, I mean, the pistol as well as the following
four-spy.
They're able to sweep together at least three Galils, so it's not like it doesn't have stopping
power.
But so far, I mean, a lot of these investment rounds from either side has just come down
to good trades, good openers.
We're not often getting to mid to late rounds through tactics.
for a lot of violence.
Isn't that just the best?
Why not be the best for the players on the server?
They would really like to have the scaffolding
around them to climb up and build this foundation,
but sometimes you just
gotta go in with a
step ladder and a dream.
And right now, speaking of ladders,
Swisher boosted up,
hoping to hunt down
Susp over here who's very loud
and proud. He's brazen and friend is
providing him back up elsewhere
They're on the map, that's a missed shot and it is critical.
Sonic will have a lot to do, but he does have reinforcements coming.
All of the troops are en route here for wild card
and so they're able to double swing out from the generators.
Sonic will get his one and even converts on a second
with that extra presence, able to alleviate that strain here on the B bomb site.
Bomb spotted and dropped, but they don't know where Sin was last seen.
Eyes made to noise now.
Sonic is just ready and waiting, beautiful round from him, the big triple.
Playing off of Stan's position as well, very effectively, and despite the fact that they lose out that initial duel between the boost and the default boy,
Susp's demise will not be capitalized on by M80.
Now wildly enough, you know, we think about teams and, you know, even the way that M80 are likely to play on their CT side,
CT side, Lake is going to be that aggressive man even on the defense as well, challenging
in from short.
Stanislaw is often the guy that does it for wild card and he's had some great success
on the 5-7s.
Look at how aggressive Frank is also just getting ready to be.
It's not as hard for me as I thought.
Run boost around the corner if I'm not wrong.
If you had a Zeus you'd get that, that's the worst part.
Oh, how are these bursts not connecting every ball that is dodged by friend, but while he struggles, Susp does not
Nicely handled the AWPer getting four kills on an SMG. That's exactly what you want
But I think it is gonna be about who sort of backs away from going for those faster timings
Given the early precedent that MAD have set, Wildcard are willing to greet them and at the ramp
They're willing to take those challenges themselves and if honestly if Stanislaw is able to puff out his chest enough and deter them for this
Fast a place that you were talking about that lake is often going for
Then you would wonder how the rounds are supposed to develop from there
It's are they going to be able to line up other place for Lake to take part in or maybe it might not not even be necessary
If rec is able to find kills one so quickly like this
Stan also feels like he wants to get aggressive with the flash on the other side
It's certainly going to be countered upon immediately friend nading open the smoke flashes or dodge
And he's going to be able to continue to maintain sightlines, but putting away the AWP. I know it's to deploy utility
But makes it really uncomfortable to re-scope into that position
It's the first real clean advantage that I made even had so far on this attack
And they've frozen right as if they've gained it hoping to
Bend off of any aggression to come through from Wild Garden. Well friend has given him that and he's faded away
He's just exuding so much confidence
in so many of these games, friend
is often left to his own devices, you know
it felt like he was detached from the pack
but right now I mean channeling some
great energy, 10 kills so far
and opening a pick right back that
equalizes the affair into 4 and 4
and MAD they're going to have to start
making their moves soon enough, 35 seconds
and they're just starting to get into positions
where they can make that a possibility
friend can have another chance and he's taking it
beautiful second shot with the AWP
and it is time to find another as well.
Flax responds but time is low and the bomb is nowhere near a sight
and lex's presence will at least make the CT start to wonder about going back over,
but the problem is Flax's backstab. He's made noise and Fred turns around, gets the shot off,
but it's frantic and the bomb can be planted now because of it.
Forward position and great time for that as well.
JBA pulling a nade and lex will double up just as that bomb goes down.
fantastic driving of initiative, taking space away, but JBA just completely unbeknownst to him.
Lake was in his face just as he pulled that HE.
It's so much done by a friend and you'd expect them to be able to take that round away,
but that's the advantage of getting that initial five versus four right.
It doesn't matter even if someone like friends come through them with a quick multi-frag.
Yeah, it might have just not been communicated effectively enough as well
Well that middle was a potential gap that friend had to be concerned about as soon as he heard that step like you said it's frantic from him
ill-considered
But MAD are not surviving with many in any of these rounds
Hell while guard aren't even in the rounds they're winning
Stan quick wall top out to prevent a quick B side hit, but he's pushing for the smoke
He wants this he wants it so bad, but wreck will not let him receive
And as Sonic and Suspin already pushed forward, they now need to regroup back into the site.
Sonic could for one, and Suspin's dealt damage on the second, but Reg's recession is guaranteed by the rest of his teammates being aggressive back outwards at A site.
Damage dealt again, but it's Sin who's able to find the kill despite his weaknesses.
smoke down as well. Friend just
going to a position where I could have prevented any progress through elevated
towards that a bomb site sonic re-aggressing as well. But Sin is behind the
smoke and he catches a glimpse some damage but Sonic certainly had the health
to trade while Sin did not. Swisher last man standing again another recovery
position for him. But a one on three and that smoke fading they double peek and
they double hold the angle in from spawn and they prevent any possibility
swisher looking down the line just curious about how on earth they pull these routes together because
those spots were awkward from MAD. Once they breached into spawn and they realized that both
the B players were willing to fight, they maybe even thought that there was a third player there,
given the amount of confidence they had, they weren't going to get wrapped from the B steps.
And I have to say, it feels like MAD are just really struggling to get that initial bit of
map control and get something off of it. MAD, of course, was pretty much a late vacant over
there but the immediate repeat and the immediate retake off it because Suspin Sonic had already
gotten that aggressive control over stairs so they knew that they can quickly come through
and only focus down on the mid pressure that was being asserted on the B bomb site.
I think it's fair to say though you know what we look at M80 and the way they're structured
around Lake and facilitating his aggression that hasn't really been the case at this event.
You know it doesn't feel in rhythm with set Lake up, take the space and fight forward
Aside from, I guess, the opening round they played at this tournament, it has been a little lackluster in that department.
And look, Michael, I'm with you, but one of the small pieces of pushback I'll give is Daneslaw's trying to push back.
This eco feels like against us, but in Sonic, you should be able to get this in control.
The small pushback I'd give is, and maybe don't set him up with set rounds, almost ever.
Sure.
It's very often, there's pressure elsewhere on the map, and you do your thing.
But maybe this could even be on a map like Vertigo Lake saying that I'm not feeling that comfortable doing something like it right now, right?
Anubis he had the freedom. Yeah, so I'm in positions like it
He just very often was overrun by suspense on it pushing when he was on the T side
I'm on the CP side. It just felt like he was being countered out stylistically
So I don't even want to say that this isn't a maybe setting him up this could very much be him saying
I've got to play my b-game and right now that might not be enough
Friend is certainly bringing his a game another great pick on this AWP
This time it finds the advantage immediately here for the side of Wildcard, MAD trapped behind Smokes.
But where we ask for Lake to rear his head, he peers through a smoke and he catches Sam with a smoke.
JBA, a nice double from the Sam bags though, and so as soon as they think they have a glimpse of hope,
suddenly it's just dropped.
Radish while revealed, but they still have two players here.
players here. Wreck, did they
anticipate JBA to still be in this
position? A multiple bloom at his
feet, but JBA gets nothing for his
troubles too on two to play out.
They've been very good at bringing
things back to even, and that's the
scary part. Despite Wildcarts
advantages, they never really seemed
to be able to comfortably maintain
them. Friend has been the one with
a magic hand, but he's now looking
to maybe even overreach, thinking
about being the one to fight for
information, but a flash overhead
should not be blinding him.
Friend's got the close range angle,
but he can't get the shot.
It's difficult sure but it was necessary regardless and with such smoked off. He needs to get that extra verticality
Turn away, but Stephen will shut it down
Despite the two on four and made he bring it back. That is actually crazy
You know it comes out to the micro there as well
It's supposed to kill the far player first the extra part is a better chance of of killing wreck just as he's clearing towards elevator
sometimes the devil is in the
details a one on two that's
certainly looked doable given
the timing that's us pit, but
you know for the fast shooting
the friend is offered up. Maybe
it shouldn't have come to that
two on two. But I'm with you.
You know, this this idea that
even when they're getting
advantages there, it's hard to
keep them clean. And the money
is dried up here for wild card.
If you win this round, the
is is incredibly feasible but at the same time it feels like wildcard can say the
same for themselves right it's if you win this round well I guess we can
probably walk to eight don't need to be going full sprint mode on it but
incredibly crucial round this might be we just have to see how both teams want
to play it Sonic has not actually reinforced the B bombsite they're much
more worried about it late mid play in this one Susp is also playing very
defensively they want to stack into A.
Smoke is incredibly deep inside of elevator but three decide to play past it.
Oh exactly a lot of progress being made here by MAD in this feigned A aggression but B has been left incredibly vacant.
Right now Wildcard are a bit down on this idea but that's because they've got
at least the lingering presence of friend on that op on B.
And I mean if this is stands call it is fantastic, JBA is as well, peaks out quick double, the
empty 9 delivers and M80 are left wondering, was that the solo man, was he only looking
for information and there's a nasty surprise behind, it's more and more CTs.
25 seconds, Sus knows his position is crucial and was seen on the other side already taking
damage.
Sus makes stuff for the previous round, Swisher alone might have been impressive in
is a great spot, but wild card
are in full control. It's
comfortable as they win with
four and made he chose this
map. So they're in this
position now where you know
some things that they may have
planned or in the locker ahead
of this potential third map in
the series. It has not come to
pass. Every single round is
incredibly tenuous every time
they're trying to fight in
towards these positions that
always traded their down
numbers. Aside from like the
They were able to burst successfully on the four spies when they've been in gun rounds
I mean right now wildcard are are simply holding all of the drive in this map
And right now I'm a media holding the steering wheel short, but it's all connected to anything wreck
Push away as he fails to find the punish on the off sonic nearby it distal weeds him from pursuing
sure
Elevation is gonna be useful, but it could also lead to a false sense of security SASP is moving past
Sasp is moving through. A flashbang would decimate them. But it doesn't look like they have it. None of them having any defensive utility.
He smokes to refresh and Sasp has to do it on his own. HP is low. Maltov is there. Sasp moved away and Svaks to put him down.
It's friend who tries to take up position. It's a very dangerous friend as well.
But dangers might be avoided. Rex Demise though will move Sonic back over to the B bombsite
while A will be reinforced not just with players but also aggression.
You think how simple the last force by looks for MAD but I mean the first force by we saw
in this map but it is just turmoil. They look discombobulated here on this T side and
JBA where he may have died away once before and the best of ones he is here to stay.
It is an eight round half from Wildcard as we go into the last half of this best of three.
Banta all boisterous but MAD right now do not look all right down four rounds on a map
that they have picked before in another match versus Wildcard.
Right now they look lost on Vertigo.
Real struggles on that T side but here on CT Wreck is just lapping them up with
these duallys.
Two quick headshots and you'll finish off Stannislaw as well.
started taking a headshot but Wreck is there to make sure there are no more
problems friend trying his hardest to win this round single-handedly a couple
of kills but they've got the plan on B he starts playing forward and Wreck finally
dispatched off Lake on that low health becomes incredibly relevant they've
doubled up together they're trying to guarantee the trade they'll try and line
up the double swing and they'll take the high low approach one jumping across
and slacks will finish off this round here for M80 it is not a clean sweep
here for wild card they have to reach some turbulence but given the way the last
pistol went and was met by a force by there's no guarantees of that sort of
conversion round after look at the same time I made he just have to celebrate
that win and see what they can do with it right if they've been much more
effective at converting on the rounds where they have big advantages in
across the series they've been much more effective at making sure the
4v2s become you know maybe 3v0s or something like it overall so if they're
able to get some of that momentum back in their sales you could see this
working out for them especially if his friend is no longer going to be oping on that CT side
and he was the one who was really just an absolute monster.
Yeah I mean maybe maybe not oping is heavily but he's a big damn good so I mean it don't
matter what he has in his hands.
Those hands were made to smash and it doesn't matter what they're holding.
Yeah and it's well armed as well here for the wildcard side but they are going to be
missing a lot of utility in favor of the weaponry that they employ.
And 3 Mactams means that the 2 Flashers might be really useful though, but there's a lot
of players to move past.
4 on the A site and M80 are hoping that dodge bullets right now.
They haven't.
Losing 2, losing 3, and Stan makes them lose 4.
Swisher comes back into it.
The late round surprise that M80 have had in store has never really been more than
a 2 little jack in the box.
Never been able to actually win it out.
But there's 1 B3.
He's got information of one, an inkling of the other, and as he moves back towards the bombsite,
he's found his way into yellow and back behind.
Swisher's position might not be expected, but with Wildcard playing where their cards
held tightly against their chest, not revealing any position, this is going to be nearly impossible.
Swisher.
I mean, there's just no resistance.
He doesn't have a kit either, so he really needs to find a kill very quickly.
And you can see Sadek, just as soon as he hears any steps, just willing to
the game. They may have come
in as the local heroes. The
direct invite here to ESL
Challenger Atlanta, but is the
North American qualifier team
in wild card that find
themselves with all the
advantages here on this map.
Arrivalry built within
North America.
They're going to have to
A rivalry built within North America.
First chance to play each other online and I think a surprising set of circumstances M80 find themselves in.
And right now if Wildcard can just shut down this one round
it feels like they can really just taste victory.
But they have struggled before
and so did M80 on their own tea side but a grenade to the body of Swisher
is not how he wanted to start things off, friend.
Maktain on the other side, hoping to capitalize on the earlier damage
and that's exactly what he does.
Will be traded courtesy of a flashbang, but the destination has now changed to A
and the same can be said for the CT side as they rotate back over.
Coming up short real quick and staying able to play that close range angle,
but they lose a couple of players so rapidly and stopped eating,
journeying the smoke as well. Slacks, the last defender of B is late to the party and Wildcard
continue to deter these force by attempts here by M80. They will have to bend the knee in favor
of a save Wildcard already at double digits. And Wildcard could feasibly have been a team that
people from the eastern side of the world, from the European atmosphere would have thought
that maybe these guys even go out last. Who knows? Of course they're not going to beat
Of course, they're not gonna be lighting up a candle to the team that went so deep in the ESL World League,
but Wildcard are showing that American dream.
And we had a lot of talk between Lake to JBA about going missing or being an online er.
Sonic was trying to dispel those saying, why is he the one that's saying those words?
Lake has had struggles in this series finding activation,
Whether that's multi kills or just even these aggressive moves that he's become so known for he wanted to model himself after Malb's
But it's just not the map of the team that Malb's left
11
One gun round realistically it is one gun round separating wild card from taking down
Potentially what was earmarked as their region's finest
Behind complexity. I made a big complexity ideas of Rolly
It's not that there isn't an argument, but it's not the strongest one.
Yeah, they are, I mean, they certainly seemed like they were on the cusp of even taking that away from the star of North America.
They have to put a stop to it right now.
M80 need this round. It is of critical importance, but again, it is friend.
The stand-in that we had limited expectations for has really shone here on vertigo from pick to pick from ct to t
It's this european driving force here on the side of wildcard friend finally dealt with
They might have started with a clean advantage, but it's back to four on four and given that they lose him at an awkward time
They were actually sort of tailored up towards b but they reassert themselves in at ramp sin getting a jump spot out
Susp wants to move through the smoke of a head, JBA's found Swisher and Susp is hoping that maybe that'll be turning away the default flare, even if it doesn't.
Red brought down low and brought down completely. Susp's got one HP and that's all he wants as the rest of his teammates start to quickly hurry back to this B bomb site.
Susp holds on but not for long. Slacks will force him away from this mortal plane.
2-1-3, Slacks has a chance over here to be able to come to and deliver where
friended as well but Stanislaw shuts them down only Sin remains. The last gun
round that I made we're going to have and Sin wants to bring in more but with
Wildcard playing as safe as they are Stanislaw and JBA on the other side
Sin might just be stopped before he even has a chance Stanislaw elevates
himself and some would say he's been doing that with his team all
series long and as you find sin inside the smoke continues to push him away sin is down wildcar at
our at 12 and stan will remind m80 that the only great lakes are canadian seven rounds needed seven
rounds straight from an m80 that really had their best buy just that round just gone by a great
util set just as i started to link up with susb inside of that b bombsite the smoke and the
all tough combo so incredibly disruptive. You saw Slacks did not want to hang around, didn't want to
take massive gambles, but realized as well they kind of needed the space to come back in for that retake.
A lot of hope lie on the shoulders of those two Germans on the side of M80,
but can they actually pull things together? Like a great kill they even journeyed, the
The smoke sin does get one before friend immediately flicks back.
It's good damage and an advantage found off the rip.
Leic continues to jump forward, friend is hoping to catch him out as he attempts to do so.
And NAD have found that firm advantage, but is it a little too late?
Not to say that Wildcard still can't make this round work out.
The problem is going to be that NAD is reinforcing the debomb side.
Destination is very much known.
There's just got so much utility here on Wildcard. They have options.
They can make this a full-on exec even with the three players that remain.
One well-placed Flash could completely crumble the defenses here of M80.
They still run with MP9s and FAMASAs, and they have very little to stall out the execute entirely.
Swisher forced forward by Amal to have Wreck and him playing so close to one another, trying to make use of these MP9s.
That Flash is fantastic. Stan is not able to convert stuff. The trades are back,
back, but there's a player out towards the generator, Stust delivered a one on two, and
while the Util is up there going to respect that entirely, it's the Nade that finishes
off the job. It will be around registered here for M80.
They keep themselves alive and it is with early aggression coming in through the smokeout
towards Ramp, just making sure that they can find that first skill and just keep
things in their favor. It's where they've found fortune before as well with the early
conversion, only once on that first half. Is it something you can continue? Is this
a road you can even look to build.
And are they going to be inspired to do it on actual gun rounds?
You know, part of the reason they would have gone for that is because they knew they had
inadequate weaponry to fight at these long-range angles with a ramp, or the B-steps could
often provide you, but to close that gap as much as possible and increase the lethality
of the hyper-mobility that MP9 offers you.
Slash will have the AWP as well, so at the very least he won't be able to say
he didn't have a chance to do what friend did in that first half.
Slash will face out and that's exactly what friend gave but now turn back to him medicine bitter as it is swallowed by more than
Just the one and it feels like it was quite some time ago
But the first map in this series dust 2 you saw how slacks could took control
We had bad we had aces from both slacks and lake on that very same map
sure wild card are
centimeters away from the finish
But if these players start to activate,
Walcott could maybe find themselves just as stumped as M80 were on that T side.
Rack and Swisher continue to hold off this B side aggression.
Rack not able to trade out a major piece of stand.
At least has a chance to deal damage if nothing else,
but with Rack being unwilling to reveal himself over here,
it feels like M80 will have run away with a very clean round.
It's nicely handled. A very
boisterous swing from Slacks at the start of it, considering the success that friend has had in these opening duels.
But you cannot shy away from that head to head.
It's a play you have a good spawn for,
especially as a player that has been on such a massive rise since he's made the journey overseas.
In front of a crowd that are largely supporting you, MAD,
There's a lot of representation in that crowd.
We gather here at Dreamhack Atlanta.
ESL Challenger Atlanta has been a thrill already,
but it is going to be happiness and sadness
simultaneously given the North American Derby.
And although Wildcard are at the space
where you can trip over and get a win,
sometimes you can find yourself a bit too even-keeled
in these situations.
Sometimes you're just telling yourself,
it's okay, guys, we just need one more round, it's fine.
Just play normal, play normal, play normal, and in the pursuit of normalcy,
you can lose out on even the biggest leaves, but it's still a far stretch from that.
This round should be a gamey.
Some damage would be nice just for the confidence, just to reduce some of the confidence from M80
because that is building up right now.
Yeah, prospects of this round weren't exactly high in the first place,
but then they tanked at native at the very start.
Yeah, it's very well placed.
Now these players have armor, so it's chewing them up, bullets doing the rest of the job.
But they'll bleed this round dry.
It's time for them to set themselves up, reacquire focus.
They know that there are chances for MAD to come back into this game, but there are
also many chances for Wildcard to finish it.
So it'll be a guarantee of an 8th, so MAD bring it within 4th.
So you're round straight, and it's courtesy of some nice aggression to, I guess, spark
could be an irradiated STT side and the money is good so despite the fact that
you are down at the very least you'll never have to worry about oh if we just
win around with one player alive we won't have an AWP we won't have this you
will have all the bells and whistles to try and make a melody together that gets
you to a comeback but can you actually get there still a couple more gun rounds
to go past but you can start to smell it in the air
friend is hoping to be challenged out by slacks once again the one-on-one
where if he just gets a straight-up dual heal, at least be able to take responsibility for the round
and the way it starts, but it's Wreck who's going to be having that low foot on his shoulder,
and it's no heads on the shoulders of Wildcard, not at this rate.
I mean, that was fantastic. Just instant deletion of what was supposed to be a targeted attack,
his direction. Sonic does find a kill back towards the A bomb site as well. Still three on three,
bombs detached and not really actually with any of these players probing for more.
But it is so difficult to read how M80 are going to continue to approach this round given the success of Wreck
Like he's in position and that's hope he's not gonna last forever and even just there to give him a nice little bit of support
May not even need it. The shots are lovely
And it's the big two from Wildcard who are still alive
But it's a big job for them to do friend is hoping to find out and with sauce providing pressure
They might not be expecting someone to come in from behind friend comes to a it's a freebie there goes like it's a shot
To the head and now he's gonna be peeking forward to try and disable anyone inside the elevator
They're so afraid and with the smoke down the bomb can be planted sin can't cast them off friend
Will shut it down and this might be a kill away switch the device guarantees it wild card will go forward
Eliminated the underdogs coming into this match up sure they go back and forth online
But when we see them on land there is so much talk so much chatter about is it too soon?
Is it too bad the lights may be too bright for wild card
But they show up where they need to the decider game coming out of their group
Sure, they have to go against these North American heroes that are touted to be
But it's status law and the troops that rally in this final map and they answer back after getting
Brutalized in their first map in the series their pick they never let up
And at this point the desk has got to be the one to pick this up and break it down because we just saw M80 break down.
Horrily Sherbets, I did not expect that one to happen. No one did.
We have American representation making it through to the semi-finals but it is not M80.
One of the favorites coming into this.
It is in fact Wildcard with a stand-in, Alan.
Quite a shock.
Wildcard.
Right-time shock's enough, dammit.
What a shock!
I didn't. I didn't see this
coming whatsoever. I mean, M. A.
T for everybody was a log to
make deep into the level of the
playoffs. They come into this
series and we say before it
French is the stand in their
limited. They can't run their
standards setups. Their map
was hampered and they play
their most convincing map of
for the stand-in for friends, for everybody,
are quite incredible moments.
And obviously, of course, it was all done
because they have a South African on their team,
because that is how it works.
Americans pick us up, they put us on the teams
and we win things.
I already ever get to do this on American events,
so I'm just gonna keep riding at home really hard.
While I do that here on the disc,
you know what's gonna happen?
Mike is gonna check to the South African
from Wild Cards to talk about the victory.
Hello, Sonic.
The South African indeed, you know,
he told me this morning that for this particular matchup,
he'd do the first interview, he'd do the end interview,
we do all of it. So Sonic, what do you think, online or?
Definitely not, man. I think it made me need to really look
at the statement, especially since they call this online.
And plus, if it's such online as we came to land with the
sub, how are you going to do the arm all against our full
lineup? No one knows. No one knows indeed, but I do know
you guys have now done it. I mean, speaking about the
sub, speaking about friend, dude stepped up massively on
vertigo. You said at the beginning, he's learning
He's picking up things quick. How far can he go?
Dude, he's such a calm collector guy. Even in the most intense rounds, he's so mellow.
He takes control of the round, and he's a great aggressive AWPer.
And he opens up a lot of the starts of our rounds by the very clear communication of where we should be for him
and what needs to be holding for him. And he just opens the rounds up, and he's a great ender too.
You love to see it now. How about this crowd man? It was packed to the gills
You got a got a little fan base form in here
Yeah, not a lot of wildcard fans, but we love you guys and many fans come over the side
Might be changing might be changing tomorrow you've booked a spot now into the playoffs. How does that feel feels great man?
you know we had high expectations coming to this tournament and we were pretty
we found out that our AWPer Lover couldn't make it due to some issues. But luckily we
had our friend here, Stepin, friend. And he just pulled up a miracle for us. So I'm really
happy that we were able to do a deep run and we wanted to carry it as far as we can for
the fans.
You heard it here, Sam. Everyone needs a friend.
I was telling you what that felt like. I have no friends. I love the trash talk though.
I like it when there's a little bit of bands that gets us excited for the Americas are Mars coming up if there is this regional sort of battle going on.
Let's break down what we just saw go on vertigo.
Alan, what was it that wild card was doing right?
They played to win.
And they did that second map of this series.
I mean, quite astounding.
They come off dust too.
And we're just thinking, you know, this is going to fall apart.
M 80 or more structured team.
They have a full lineup.
They're calling great counter strike, but second and third maps here.
the first two games in the
first two games. They played
absolutely committed this
firm up. If I was such
conviction, friend was
everywhere on that CT side. We
said it before this is we'd
love to see him unleash and he
was and it was it was honestly
for a team with a standing
that was fabulous counter strike.
Yeah, and I feel like friend.
I feel like he needed to really
warm up to this. It took him
had to call the util, call everything, and I feel like maybe you just need to get that
communication ready and going with the team. And that takes a minute. You need to be able
to be comfortable with them. And the fact that they didn't practice before they came
to this tournament was probably the reason that that was lacking at the first part.
But now that they have that going, they have that starting, I feel like it's going
to be good for Wildcard going on.
A little bit more than just clicking heads in the server. They were also controlling
the economy a little bit Wildcard, or at least using it to their advantage in times.
I mean, it was this factor that never let their opponents in the game.
They won the four spot wars in the first half.
They did in the second half, just coming off that pistol.
Round 14 was a critical juncture to secure this map and where it's heading.
And be a good preparation, be at least the aggressive tendency of these players.
Winning these rounds was beyond pivotal.
It never lets their opponents in the game.
They lose one of these times, and we are, you know, we're in 11-11,
we're in overtime territory.
winning these never gave, uh, lake and company an opportunity to get into this map.
Let's walk through some of the players.
We've got the, the U.S. Air Force aim high that'll be coming up in a little bit.
We have had to hit two wild card players because both of them obviously stepping up.
What do we think?
I feel like both of them were obviously on the server as much as we could have seen them.
Susp had so many entry kills and we just saw him at every single corner.
And you said a little bit earlier, friend was just moving around the map with his op on CT side.
So effectively getting the side hall on a ramp and it was completely shutting down a ramp for m80, which is a big problem
That's a big part of the map if you're trying to enter onto any site and just kind of effectively shutting them into a box
In lower, which is not great
That kind of only gives you one or two entryways onto the upper part of the map and sus with 21 there
I mean their ADR is very very close, but 7 to 8 multi kills they were on the server every single time we could see them
Yeah, I thought Sus was sensational this series
Um, and also obviously in the situation that wild card is playing in you need your individuals to do something special
You're not going to win a series over a team of structures M80 by playing default by playing standard
These guys came into this and they said, you know be damned if we go out in the groups
We're gonna give it everything we're gonna make moves
you know, put it on the table and just say we're here to play and obviously some choice words afterwards from sonic about about the trash talk to
Wildcard frankly wanted this a hell of a lot more than 80 and 80
They made you just fell apart. They weren't they weren't ready to play this game on stage
Under that sort of pressure and thank you so much for joining us
I know that you're heading back to the hotel
So we will see you again tomorrow for the grand finals and talking about tomorrow
It is the semi-finals three of those places have been booked wild card is joining big and fly quest
Who will be our final semi-finalist for ESL challenger at Lanza?
Will it be sore or will it be BB team?
We're gonna take a quick break and when we return those two teams are fighting it out in a best of three to determine that
Who takes I was gonna say who takes that spot my brain was working faster than my mouth that backfire
We all need a break clearly me the most
One more.
One more.
Two more! Two more!
One is long, and the one with short.
Yeah.
Okay, shoot, shoot, shoot!
Last.
I'm going to the side.
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
I think that'd be it.
Hi.
Hello.
Thank you.
We're on our side.
What?
I'm close to the spot.
I'm close to the spot.
Okay.
What are you doing?
How?
We're in the car.
We did it.
I'm jiggling a little bit
Two pull up
Nice!
Two outside
Just one now
Check it dude
I'm having a chance
One by one down
One HP
Nice!
Only one
I'm full, right?
Yeah, I'm full
Right
I'm just gonna pull up that one
I think I can actually kill him.
I don't know, I think so.
I'll give you someone.
I think I'll get him.
Can I shoot the elevator?
Let me read it, baby.
I'll get it, son.
That should be one.
I'm going to the car now.
A hunting for a luncheon may interest you.
We are not about to do anything.
Don't listen to him.
I know the most authentic fish and chip calzoni in town.
You are going to love it.
Well, I'd love to.
I've got to meet with the guy from the water company.
The water company? What is that?
It's the people who deliver the water to all the homes and businesses in the country.
Apparently, they've detected race amounts of lead in the water.
So they've got to send a guy who's going to make a whole song and dance about it.
So let me give this straight.
You can no longer have lunch with your best friend because some water guy
is denying us access. I don't want to get a lunch with Trace.
I know, it's ridiculous isn't it? I mean, I'm not some nine to five Andy like you or Trace.
I'm the regional manager. I don't have time to talk to some deadbeat, salt of the dirt, water guy.
Oh, he's so important, the water guy. Coming all the way down here to lecture me about our glorious office water.
Now I can't spend precious team building time with my employees.
Oh, this guy's got some nerve.
I've got a good mind to stick a lead pipe right?
I'm Alex.
Sorry, one of my friends here was just telling us.
He was just telling us about a friend of his whose name was Walter Guy.
And he's a real annoying guy.
One of these guys are just singing it?
Yes, I'm the manager of this here establishment.
They weren't the ones just talking, then?
What do you mean?
Dude, stop doing the voice!
What voice?
Why are you trying to flex this in gaslighting?
What do you mean to flex this in gaslighting?
My friends was talking!
Can you just talk?
No!
This is my normal voice!
Okay, okay, I'm just gonna mark this problem as fixed and go.
Ah!
Goodbye, what a guy!
Pleasure meeting you!
I know.
Wow, indeed.
But you do know what this means, right?
That there's light in the water?
No.
It means that lunch is back on the menu!
Yes!
Woo!
He's going to isolate any of these jewels and it doesn't matter when he's just managed
to find you.
I've just got Ron and now Brokie in the clutch.
He knows where he's coming from because he want to take the fight, it looks like
he does.
Volt in the clutch now, one versus three made two.
He's got a kit, he's got next to no utilt.
And the angle is horrible for Volt.
He's halfway there though, that clock is ticking, and Karagin has it, showing himself, he finally has it, he's clutched it!
And Monty know it, this is so tricky for JT, he catches it so in different places, the trigger discipline has one.
Looking for the second and finding it, masterful on the bomb site.
See for traps to a great timing, Bonlust and Grimm is about to lose an AK to these CTs.
360 no scope, this could be it, surely it is for G2.
oh god this is a lightning round to finish things off but there will be a trade
drag a fast one for g2
but that is a complete robbery
it's first from Krasnol
but third now getting this bar up on the turn he goes back to the world for more
to be the ace in a death row but the flash comes in
Krasnol gets the ace for blind
1v2 for Demkut
he's been dangerous in this series
oh boy which one does he go for first
he is toying with them
so walker i can't believe it
It's a team that you can see them a lot of times because they play a lot of tournaments
that we are in.
So they are a very strong team.
The Russian teams, they are very tough, but let's see if we face them.
So if we have to face them, for sure we're going to study them, but they are for sure
a great team.
Welcome back to ESL Challenger Atlanta.
If you are a North American fan enjoying what we saw a little bit earlier
when Wildcard beat M80, then make sure you hit on Ritz X
because I believe there is a bunch of trash talk going down.
But if you're not about the trash talk
and you're all about what's happening in the server,
then stick with us because we have another game at our hands
and we will be determining who our final semi-finalist is here.
It will come down to BB team up against so
Both of these teams have very different stories about how we found them here in the lower brackets
But there's a similarity as well. So let's break it down. So
Was the favorite coming is this I argue they still are the favorite
Nothing less than lifting that trophy will do for this Portuguese TV who had that miracle run at IEM cologne
Absolutely. I think that they're like you said Sam still my favorite to kind of take it all in a lot of ways and at least make it to the grand final
At the very least that would be disappointing for them. I think if they didn't get to that point
It's just that what we're seeing right now. It's just to be a ones right so we can't really judge too much from it
But I think what we're seeing right now is a team that might be lacking a little bit confidence
You heard in the interviews earlier. They're saying oh, we're already ranked top 10
But you know, we don't really feel it and I think that's a bit of an issue for them right now
So there's a bit of leveling off, you know, there's always whenever there's that meteoric rise
There has to be a little bit of a fall off to balance out and I think afterwards they'll rise up again
So maybe we already saw a little bit of that fall against fly quest, right? Because that's a team
They should be defeating I think any other day of the week given
You know the way they performed over at I am cologne
But it's just it had didn't happen for them there, but just to be a one now
We're gonna be a three and I think that changes everything
Let's take a look at this particular group and how we found ourselves with these two teams in the lower bracket
and while we're looking at that group,
Apple's on the other side, they've got BB Team,
who not the favorites for sure,
but a team that has a very similar story
and the fact that they've also looked a little bit,
they've lacked the sparkle
that we've been expecting from them, right?
Yeah, they really have.
I feel like we haven't really seen anything too special
from them.
We have a lot of really, really great players on them
that have been in this industry for so long,
but it didn't feel like everything was connecting in a way
that felt awesome.
They were playing, they were winning,
They got the great 2-0 win against Rooster, but it was against Rooster, the lower seed in
the group, and it felt difficult at times for them.
There were some points that it felt like Rooster could have taken a map from them, could have
figured out a way to kind of win against BB Team, but they were able to come out on
front on top, but it just did not work out for Rooster in the end.
BB Team, it wasn't a convincing win for them.
It was very, it felt difficult.
I just I rate BBC my don't think that they've done anything to get me excited
I think we can talk forever about how on paper. They should be good
They're not good on the server at the moment. No, it's it's very puzzling to me
I mean Nafini was very strong against rooster
I thought his performance was incredibly highlighted him in our head-to-head. He had a hundred plus ADR 40 plus frags
I mean everything was going well for him
But it was rooster and even then it wasn't convincing rooster came out and and to their credit
Of course they actually did come out with a nice few rounds and on top of that it was mostly individual efforts
But still I think BB team left way too many gaps in their defensive side in particular the CT side
Was the least convincing for BB team and we understand it maybe on Anubis
But when you move to any other map like dust 2 for example, that should not be the case
Like you should be stronger talking about Anubis that is their pick
Yeah, BB team the video is up on your screen right now and then of course we all see saw picking new
No surprise there the decider is ancient. How are we feeling about the video? Honestly?
This is great for saw it's their top three maps that are coming through
I mean you got new ancient anubis in that order are their top maps and maybe ancient isn't that great in terms of their record
Right, they're sitting at a negative 10 round differential, but they're still it's a map they're familiar with so I mean
I feel pretty good for saw in this video on the other side of BB team
Yes, nuke is also their top map
So I think that's why they left it in for saw to pick into but still like even if it's your top map
You have the new best of all back on, you have Dust2, you have Ancient as well.
I don't know, like sometimes I wonder if teams should move away from their perma's a little bit more
and say, okay let's gamble a little bit, let's see what we can do and maybe we can
kind of counter pick against the opposing teams, which doesn't happen as often as I think it should.
It's fun to have the Portuguese team as feeling coming into this, they've only played
best of ones, it's their first best of three here at Challenger Atlanta.
I've got you jerks here from SAW, jerks, you gotta match up against Betboom on the line,
how you feeling about this one?
I mean, when did the play go with it?
better than we did yesterday, if you want to win.
They are a great team, of course, but we won't win the tournament, so we've got to play good.
Now, speaking about that game yesterday, right, this is kind of a different tournament for you guys,
coming in as the favorites, FlyQuest playing above expectation, what do you think went wrong?
I mean, they played good, but we kind of played bad in some situations that made the game bad for us,
so we need to play good today in those situations.
And I think if we do that, it's going to be a good game for us.
What do you think the key is? Who's going to pop off? Is it going to be you?
I mean, anyone can pop off, so I'm not going to say a name. Doltim.
Come on, just give it to me. You're going to pop off?
Doltim, Doltim.
Humble King out here. What do you think, Sam?
I think I'm going to ask Apples what she thinks about the loss to Flyer Chris.
Were you surprised, as everyone else, that that happened?
happened? Well, I was there.
I was watching it, and I was very surprised because as much as I do love FlyQuest, I do
feel like they have some limitations in Sall coming in as the top seed.
The favorite to this competition, I was expecting them to really, not school FlyQuest, but
like kind of put them into a situation that would have them go and take a lower bracket
run. But FlyQuest kind of surprised us. And I think also surprised Sall a lot as well.
We saw in the interviews before that game, Sall was like, yeah, we're going to
We're going to do good and I think we can beat FlyQuest because FlyQuest is a sleeper pick most of the time
It is because they don't really pop off if they're not in their own country
But they've been showing it this time and now I feel like saw has a wake-up call that they have to take into this next game
I think FlyQuest had speaking wake-up wake-up calls. Excuse me
They had one recently. They're like we can't keep playing so passive
We can't we have to change our style and I think that makes demo review less effective against FlyQuest because they came
into this with an entirely different approach, going to get aggressive and getting into the
face of their opponents, which they did very well up against Salk, right?
They completely caught them off guard and Salk had zero response.
Yeah.
We're taking a look now at that saw lineup though.
And this is the thing.
This is a team that did the unthinkable at IEM Cologne, they're a team that have
pushed their way into the top 10.
And I would say that the very reason they've been able to do that is a lot
in parts to the gents on your screen right now.
Yeah, absolutely.
like story has been very solid for them on the AWP. I mean, you're seeing a stats on screen right now, 0.31
off kills per round is actually very good. And also he's opening up rounds effectively, especially on CT side.
And that's super important to have your opportunity doing that because it gives you quick 5v4 advantages,
especially on maps like Dust 2 and Ancient as well, when you're talking about Red Room and trying to take that quick mid control.
So like having an opera that's great at mid control like story is, helps a lot on all maps.
I feel like they're gonna from how BB team has been playing earlier today. I feel like saw is gonna at least school them a little bit
Which is their mechanics to how they have played in the past
Maybe this event hasn't been great for them a little bit of jet lag
I feel for both of these teams, but saw has the pieces in place
We've seen oppers are so important from all these teams and story is no different and it's gonna be good for them
We've spoken a lot about Seoul, so let's speak a bit about BVT before we do that though. Let's hear from them themselves
I've got Kairon here ahead of their matchup against Seoul
Kairon it looked a lot better today. Are you guys feeling like things have clicked overnight?
I mean
It's most important to like win against ourselves like mentally if we can handle like all of the pressure on the event
I think we could show even better CS that we did today in the morning because we
We made kind of stupid mistakes in a couple of rounds, but if we don't make them and handle
the pressure as I said, we're going to play like definitely a competitive and a better
CS.
Now it does feel like this is a matchup where you might not have that same margin to make
mistakes, right?
So it's been really good lately.
Do you think that there's going to be some particular key in the server to this
victory somewhere where you guys have the edge?
I don't know, click hat, and like, if we click hat better than the enemy does, then we'll win.
Like, if they do better, then they win. Like, that, that is the basics.
I think that was in Sun Tzu or something like that.
Uh, you gonna, you gonna pop off individually today?
I hope so. I'll try my best.
They'll try his best, Sam. What about you? You gonna try your best?
I'm gonna try my best not to flame players from the interviews.
I'm gonna try my best not to flame players after the interviews.
I'm gonna try my best not to flame players.
Come on man, give us something.
I am a little bit tired of the mental conversation
that keeps coming up.
Okay, I hear you.
You've not told us day in and day out
that there's a mental issue in your team.
Tell me what you're gonna fix about it
or how you're gonna fix it.
It's concerning that they keep saying it
but it doesn't seem like they even have the answers.
I mean, in a lot of ways,
clicking heads and getting frags
is somewhat the answer.
Having more confidence.
Right, I know that obviously
it wasn't the most insightful interview, right?
But I think that Alan was looting to it before.
It's not really a psychological element
that's the problem here.
which is that they're not playing good counter-strike as a unit, and I think they have to come together
as a team, which hasn't really happened.
I know in the interviews that we saw before the event started that were being pre-recorded,
they said, oh, we have good chemistry, things are going well, calm-wise, I don't personally
see it.
Like, I haven't seen that come through yet at all for this team, so even against Rooster,
like we saw, there were some breakdowns for them, and those breakdowns Sol will
absolutely pounce all over you for.
Yeah, it's been very scrappy counter-strike from BB, and going up against Sol is someone
who this team they're really really good at mechanical counter strike that is just perfect good
I mean that was their first best of one against rooster. They just completely dismantled their opposition and
Against the team that in that interview it just seemed like they don't really know exactly
What was going to be happening in this server not like oh we have all these shots. No, we're gonna go click heads
That doesn't give me much confidence for them. It does. I'm gonna jump on to the other side of the fence. Yeah
This is a team of players that if they did click heads would be absolutely freaking terrifying because they have firepower and the potential to be very scary
I agree. I agree 100%
Naphany for example is not necessarily the top frag in this team was a top frag in the previous series against russian
If you have Naphany kind of clicking around doing really well in Chiron and Magnoges also doing the same then I agree with you Sam
This team becomes exceptionally scary, but we haven't seen it. So that's the problem
When when was the last time you saw BB team?
Be scary. I honestly like when they were first formed and Naphany had like a lot of energy
I guess given what happened on cloud nine. That's when I saw the fierceness in that team
I saw them having something to prove really want to say we want to come out here and make a statement
And they did make that statement at the beginning when they were first formed
And since then it feels like it all has kind of started falling off
and they haven't really done much of anything.
Even at the tournaments where they were going to,
the lead events they did go to,
it was just quickly out of the picture.
So it's been tough and I don't know when it's gonna come back.
When is that fire gonna be reignited?
Does it matter if you get reignited now?
I mean, there's definitely always a chance for that to happen.
I mean, on stage, they have this last chance effort
that they can make to make a statement here.
Beat saw the favor of the tournament
and get themselves into semis tomorrow.
I mean, that would be a huge one.
That would be something that would be great for them,
and that would be great for Nafany,
not rebuilding this team.
And firepower is always great on all of your teammates.
But if you're not working together,
bringing the fire exactly where it needs to be,
is it going to fall flat?
Let's do some predictions.
Apples, where are you leaning on this one?
I'm going to go with Saw, because I feel like we've
only seen two best of ones for them,
and they needed to get comfortable.
They needed to adjust to the time zone.
Maybe they needed to get some barbecue in Atlanta
just to chill out a little bit
and be able to take this one. I feel like the maps are all in their favor as well.
I'm going to go with the underdog pick. For me it's saw that that is the one that has to take
this one. They have a lot more I would say potential on their side right now. Everything
is going well for them overall picture. Maybe not in the previous BL1s that we talked about.
And I feel like their trajectory is closer to being an upwards one even further than they
are right now over on then compared to the Bat Boom team, BB team.
I'm going with Saw, Ben Julio, you know, you know, makes complete sense, Barry I believe.
There we go, I mean it's pretty much all of us going with Saw, but I can tell you that
a couple of days ago we did the same, a couple of days ago yesterday we did the same thing
and it didn't play out as well.
So we could be wrong, analysts and discos really know nothing, we just had to talk.
Just kidding. Okay, we're getting into the game now.
You, me, and Tita, I'm ready for us.
Cast is no even less than we do, by the way.
Why do we get thrown under the bus in the end?
Just because GRT is wrong every single time
he predicts about the underdog or against it?
What? Just because you guys keep messing up
the predictions doesn't mean we have.
I said FlyQuest would beat Snoss,
so did Michael, he didn't, but so did Michael.
Listen, we're talking about Twitter dramas
that are developing.
We're not trying to create drama in the studio,
not quite like that.
But I do think that our analysts and our desk
at least have at least I guess underestimated the the mental side of this game. You know so much about
about the the BB underperformance as I've best been focused around the mental. They played Australian
team after Australian team and when you're playing a big underdog regions like that it can be very
easy to just think ah we'll brush them aside. We're some of the best prospects out of the
Russian region in the past couple of couple or even three or four years. These guys were
heavily developed as stars on a lot of their respective teams, and then they come together
in this amalgamation, the Nafini comeback story, and it falls a bit flat. They don't actually get
that team cohesiveness that Saw have in space. And these teams are absolute opposites of each
other, right? One is way better than the sum of their parts. One is a classic national team
that's obviously Saw coming in with that super veteran IGL. The other is this incredibly
explosive lineup with an IGL who and this is just factually true was the captain of the number one
team in the world only two years ago right that's what naffany was and this is three years ago rather
and this is where it just feels like it should be so clear cut after you hear those facts yeah
bbt should be the ones to come out on top it's just not going to happen that's what our analyst
is saying but it doesn't always turn out that way and this is the thing about saw michael it's
at saw come in waves so go up so go down and we don't really know so far it hasn't
been their best showing can they come through and start to enter into their
era of trough or is this going to be a crest.
Vade 2 of ESL Challenger Atlanta and the final best of three before we start talking about the playoffs
it is BB versus saw to duke it out here on a new base and already you see BB getting aggressive
three four players actually clustering the side of a main to go for those fights
and they take a lot of damage across the board, but they come away with a kill.
They are fading back, but there's still four players in this A bomb site, and Ara's
Dosh is hoping to at least pick off one of them. Saul have really been able to find so much control
in the B site, but they've traded it with Magno Jess, who's in a position to be able to get a
quick flank out. The problem is that they're coming in through the carols. That's a safe
passage way forward. So despite the fact that Saul haven't really gotten a kill on the damage
they've dealt, it's really just going to be a quick bomb plant, and the kid has been
displace. Remember that it is far away in middle and that makes his retake all the more difficult.
That makes Magnus is even more urgently needed and he has delivered two big kills and he's got
plenty of spotter to try and work off of. Arosdosh however takes one of those pieces of meat down
he's got three more to deal with and it is not going to be easy. Three players for this retake
two are so incredibly low. Like you said it has to be Magnus Jez and he's done well to find
and finish that kill. Arostos finishing off both those fries and Magno just how simply just this
doesn't have the time. He needed that extra manpower to make this round possible and sure he'll come
away with three kills but Arostos triple is that much more important. And look it felt like an
even exchange early on you know damage being dealt for the kill that's had shorts of 514
but you're pretty much okay with that if you're BBT but then completely leaving the B bomb site
like that and Magno just thought he was setting up for a flank they were so sure it's going
to be the A side commitment and then when the diffuse kid is also caught off it just went from that to work
I think that's the problem though is that because they were all so low that it didn't make a conscious effort to go and
Reget that kid just in case that Glock was gonna still be at those close range angles
It wasn't gonna be a favorable fight. It just really does cost them
I'm the bombastic boys have decided to force buy into things as well
No surprises there with the players and personnel that they have
But picking up on that mentality story
I was trying to paint for you. If you can't get your mental together, you know
Maybe you underestimate the Australians, but you come into this matchup understanding that so are likely favorites for this entire event
There can be no struggles mentally
There is nothing but pressure on sauce shoulders and muters will cave into it Kyron
Once again delivering and receiving an achy for his efforts of re-smoke back out to be main will stop off
most of saw but it arrows douche is still
the right flank. He's not
able to flank. Still trying to
stand behind, but he's been
cornered off Magnus. Just the
sole purchaser of a rifle is
able to flank in and saw our
losing members a bit too
quickly. Yeah and these weapons
were being recovered as well
siren a one on one, but not
able to connect on that five
seven. That's an important
kill. You just had the bomb
as well, but you also can't
go too far without the rest
of his team joining in
Roman bringing it back to a
to pick a target.
Nafany has been left to be the only person to take care of the B bomb site and that's
why he's got the AK-47.
If it's going to be a mid to B push, it will be received by weaponry, but guess what, there's
weaponry on either site.
Chiron, the one to wield the second, and he's found his second frag.
But 15 seconds are all that remain, and so no, a commitment is necessary.
Zorte will be able to receive story and despite the bombtron that will give Saw
Space to be able to buy a game, there isn't space to win this round.
finishes what he started with a magnificent triple and a lot of space on the server being taken by.
Another one versus one. I mean a post plant position where players are low. It was definitely doable
but yes a nice clean shooting from Chiron. It's a great timing as well to catch Roman
transiting through the canals to try and link up and perform a split on that A bomb site. So
they had some nice forewarning but they're already leaning over towards that A bomb site anyway.
BP having a good read on how school would react.
Karan looks fierce in the camera, he looks angry.
And honestly, I understand why he would be.
In a challenger event, a team like this should always be a contender.
But in order to be that, they need to eliminate the best from the event.
We started off this show on Friday talking about how Saul will only settle for Silverware.
The only team with the expectations to do so.
Think about FlyQuest and the Turbulence, Bake, the integration of Ragon.
Yeah.
And Story right now is hoping to accelerate the tech dive!
Finds one, Arrasdors makes it two, and Mewr is providing the backup necessary!
So the explosion comes through absolutely demolishing the B bomb site.
And this is the thing, you know, BBs throughout this entire tournament have actually kind of had struggles on their CT side.
Even in the game where they start off very well against Rooster,
On their defense, they get caught in surprise by some of these faster pace changes.
It is so nice to see Sorks built up for that B take, even with our eyes on story as that man running distraction, him getting that first kill.
I mean, all the tensions are drawn to him, and it makes the B main presence so much easier for those guys to just come out and find a kill.
Incredibly well put together by Sork.
And it is a back and forth swing of things here on our opening map.
One more slot available in those playoffs and are waiting to see who they
have to receive in the following day. Anubis and its force by wars have been
really entertaining so far we saw the same in the previous series as well let's
see whether or not maybe maybe dbt still have it in them to be able to
respond with those two saved weapons. Now listen what I do like is the fact
that saw do come through with an ice set piece over there the question is
Are they going to be coming in with more?
The buy from BB is not terrible and our is Josh has been caught out tyrant and siren
Okay, I mean the first two kills for BB were great, but you just just couple bullets through smoke and
Suddenly it's probably comes a lot more threatening Zorte is well getting spammed through it
The nade could finish the job Zorte hanging around for it. It's a good catch
And suddenly that boost seems a little bit unnecessary
Why are you pushing me?
We just kill.
They are willing to wait to see if there is more where that came from.
We never know where the reinforcements will come in from.
That is one of the things about BB team that you have to remember.
A lot of analysts have talked about, hey, this team might be less than some of their parts,
but that also means that in frustration sometimes these parts will very much go on solo missions and take over rounds.
I don't think Magno has sat still the entire CT side so far, and all three of these rounds have been hyper-mobile.
Siren?
Very annoying angle, but it is expected by users. Expectations be done. He gets the frag anyway.
Repeaks up for the second, and information garnered. Now it's Magno who's been called in with a scout to see if he can locate a head.
I'm sure it's presented to him, but Roman survives with four. That four about to dwindle down as he backs out of a smoke exposed.
exposed and it's going to be Muteris all alone. Good for the one. Needs a headshot. Fades away.
Blades a defensive.
Has to bleed the time as much as humanly possible. Kairon doesn't have a kit.
And with Muteris taking this deep position, yeah, this round is simply unwinnable. It is so well done here by Muteris.
But with the smoke, this is definitely going to get interesting. He recovered the kit on route to the bomb site.
So, I, I lied through my teeth. I was not expecting to see one so easily accessible there for Chiron,
but it is well communicated by his teammates. The extra utile down as well, Muterus,
tried to play around the fact that there maybe wasn't AK in play.
And that early scout shot just comes in and makes it to Muterus, just never felt comfortable,
felt like the fight would be taken before, but just a straight commitment and right where
we start to expect, hey maybe Salk can run away with things. He really can't.
that this shop was just it was something yeah kind of an outrageous way to start
clawing your way back into the rounds I mean they get two kills without actually
seeing the players but the fact of the matter is it goes from a five on three to
a two on two BBT are happy and they're happy to have taken it yeah it's around
that maybe they should have converted a little bit more simply but these mid
players put on notice slightly and so I'm probably going to be coming right back
in with another force by of their own you know the bombs been planted why not go
for it especially when the last low buy situation just looks like there's nothing
BB can really do to stop it it's all a case out for sore of early utility
deployed in a faster play as well inter-middle with the humbling off
of the mid control now for me trying to back away you jerks even thank you a
bit of the damage by the Molotov, but they get access to the middle so rapidly. The reaction
has to be quick here from BB because so aren't intent on slowing down.
Timing missed.
What siren will not do it? Oh my god!
What siren? Absolutely absurd. This is the man who carried a major for spirit.
Might feel like an age ago, but you can see it in his hands even if you don't necessarily
they always see it in the stats.
Now, two on four saw still hope to recover
an impossible round.
They almost did in the previous, let's not forget.
And with the B bomb site accessible,
the bomb plant is guaranteed.
It just can't end up in so many
of these man disadvantage post plants.
Two on four, there's a lot of options for BB.
They've got so much utility.
I mean, they've got so many attack angles too.
But Kyron's gonna be an isolated duel
if they turn around and look for this one.
You turn it into a two versus three,
very quickly. Roman is very wary of this and the shadows spotted but Kyron wins it.
Arrows goes all alone and very similar to the Pistoron. It's an impossible
situation but he may have delivered once it will not be twice.
Yeah and there wasn't a kit that they could pick up and recover so they
actually needed to find these kills quite rapidly but allowing Kyron to
activate on that flank it is a damn close defuse but BBR happy that they
had the manpower to spread out and fan out look for those remaining soul
members in the after plant. I think there was even a possibility if you're playing 16
by 9 on the side of Chiron that you could have caught a glimpse of Roman just before
he prepped for that duel. Roman did see the, I guess the flank coming, but yeah, Siren
does so much for BB in that moment. He is on an island on that A bomb site. There
were three on B and it's a single handed triple. Didn't even have like a flash or
a smoke that could have made those fights awkward.
Nafini pushing forward, squats right ahead, but it's Magno to take you jerks who's elsewhere,
and he's going to be given an opportunity to find the bomb as well as story moves forward.
Control maintained, Magno pushed away, but it's sired to meet his death and Roman hoping
to deliver it to more than just the one.
Nafini?
I mean, that might be terrible, Roman still doing so much interference into Ward's middle,
Just as Naphany seeds his space in A, Muterus is taking up that exact same territory.
Bax are turned towards A main and Magno, he's not quite heard.
The steps behind him, Muterus does find that kill a little labored.
And still, the story is this lurking presence inside of mid, but they need to get that bomb that's on Story's back.
Kyren getting ready and he will spot out that bomb.
He knows that there's more than one player over here, but he'll have to settle for the package.
indeed he does. 35 seconds and the burning baddies have regained control of this round.
Zorte, however, might not be expecting a player behind that smoke and as he's turning away,
it's Muterus who will be given a chance, but when will that chance come in? The smoke still
feels like it's got time and Zorte knows it. Muterus and Zorte both low HP and Zorte's the
one to find the kill. Only the sweetest of rights remains where it's gone bad and Kyron
It continues to look fierce, continues to be ferocious.
Yeah, Chiron is absolutely fired up.
You can tell with the way that he is playing
and just being so active around the map,
this man is not stopping.
When there is chaos ensuing elsewhere,
he is taking space, he is looking for flanking opportunities,
and once again, that extra presence that he provides
ends up being the linchpin on the round.
It is just so good to see Bibi actually put together
rounds like this as well.
We're getting individual multi-kills as well, start to rear its head.
Something that has been just noticeably absent from a team with so many prospects of delivering in moments like that.
And with the force by war's over, it feels like now you have a chance to come in for five and maybe even more beyond it, right?
I mean, we haven't seen an AWP actually come out so far for Zorty, and look, as much as Kyren is definitely performing over here,
I came into this event thinking in my head Zorta might be the best player at this entire event to be perfectly honest
Well, it certainly not looks like that's the case. He's not even the best player on his team damn it. Yeah
No, right now at least it's the Ferum brothers between Kyren and siren
Also, I mean you jerks that would like to have a conversation with you about that
Listen if we're letting anyone get a word and then everyone's gonna want to have a chat
But you gotta show it in the server and currently saw struggling to do so
Go back and forth a star and I shot from story
And he's found a second kill with this big
But as he switches to the M4 siren able to lap up what remains of so on that low investment
Sirens also been real good on that a bomb site. You got to say
Helps as well that the positions are being a little dynamic as well by the the BB squad in
in previous officials, and I wonder whether the fact that things went a little pear-shaped
at the start of their campaign here at ESL Challenger Atlanta, that they might have just
said, okay, you know, Magno is actually the one that's primarily taking all these fights
in through middle.
Napheny has been, again, another one of these space takers, and he provides some extra
assistance where Siren definitely needs it.
Magno, Jez?
They don't know.
They have no idea.
And this is going to be a slow setup.
Look at where the canals players are.
You have a solid 5-6 seconds, but Magno's gone the wrong way.
He thinks it's going to be an A-setter that he wants to flank into, but maybe the Canal
Splirers are going to be delayed.
No, the commitment coming in, and Kyron has got the first head.
Magno accelerating back to dark, but Kyron's lost his life in the meanwhile.
There isn't going to be more support.
The rest of the CTs far away, but the bomb is not planted yet.
It is on the floor, and Magno knows it as well.
He wants to full commit, but Nura's finally shuts him down.
It has to be story to cover, but there's three players to cover off.
with a smoke having only so long left in it, they're thinking of pushing through, they find the first to free, and that might be giving up too much story, now only has to wait and nearest rotates.
No, he's only threatened it.
Yeah, he made the steps, and you can see the immediate reaction, the pull away from the B bombsite there from BB, just trying to limit options, but it does mean that story has an uncontested sightline.
And it's another
2 vs 4 that it feels like the busted beavers might be letting through their fingers Zorta and siren are going to have to
Repeat back into this crack angle from story and he's just not missing this round
Great cover five, but now he's going away. It doesn't matter story is here to write his own down a
Complete 180 a quick scope to I mean that is lightning quick there from story not missing a beat and
some of that is just hard enabled by that micro decision there from uterus just giving some audibles away
Immediate recognition of the amount of presence there from BB deep CT
Even with the flank that Magno tried to operate with the double kill that he's allowed to get away with inside of con from a deficit
saw answer and
That's a hell of a shot from the orper from Portugal
And there will be real dangers. You know, this T side is expected to come away with an advantage or at least a quality out of the half
So have been trailing they needed around to spark it again
They they end up in these positions where they have post plant situations and a man deficit or they have access to the bombsite
And they're you know constantly fighting from behind
Maybe you've had a lot of wind conditions so far here on the CT effort, okay
Maybe it's time Thor started expressing their own wind conditions.
Ah, this is bold opening up the smoke and you, Drakes, will show him.
It's best not to be too bold of a boy.
Naphany, however, he's got no choice and he's not got any life right now either.
Unfortunately, the fortunes of his
compatriots haven't really been shared into his hand siren.
Cornered in position revealed and I'm sure that Saul would like to go hunting.
I find it so curious as well, you know that when Magno was first coming onto the scene
and when he got his opportunity on Betboom, a lot of people were calling
and I guess directly drawing parallels between him and Donk.
You know, they played together a fair amount. Their styles when they were coming up were fairly similar.
But, you know, positionally, that's actually not what Magno does for this team.
You know, Chiron's actually the one in the more contested sort of star positions for BB more consistently.
Magno is that insurance policy, that if our first star doesn't shine, we're expecting the second one to show up as well.
And you can see when they found themselves at a deficit, he is that first guy that is willing to make a play as ill-advised as it may have been in more parallels.
BBR, the only Russian team that seems to have problems handling mentality.
So after this game, a little back and forth, they know they're against one of the big dogs within this group, within this tournament as a whole.
And now they're encountering a little bit of turbulence, so rearing their head, and especially after the crazy round the story had,
that's the type of thing that can really fire up a squad. So as a team's team.
And the thing is, you know, I mean, Tech Girl of the desk did say, hey, I'm really tired of hearing about how teams are having mental issues.
What are they doing to overcome it? I don't know if they know how to overcome it, right?
This has been the problem, consistently. It's a very young squad, and it's a lot of players who've played with great IGLs,
or in NAFME's case, been considered a great IGL at one point, but that doesn't mean you have the experience of having seen these problems being solved in your past career.
It's also, if we want to look back at that Cloud9 journey, that was the same thing that they were saying, you know, dealing with the pressures in the transition to land.
And it's not something that they really overcame, even after Japanese departure.
Pressure.
Challenges with having success online and just not being able to get the same success when you stare down your opponent person to person.
Adjusting expectations can be incredibly difficult, but that transition took place nine years ago, and if you still haven't done it, it's you to blame.
And right now, Siren might be caught up with utility in his hand, after he smoked off the cover fire.
Siren comes too late, and Arrow's Dosh might be traded, but the site has been taken.
Saw only need to wait to plant the grenade to try and open up things to have at least a chance to fight back, but that chance will not be used.
used. The engine is roaring, sore, asking for more. They faked the plant initially expecting
the reaction from BB, but now they finally punch it in four on four and there's maltals
available here for BB, but they lose another player, Magno, coming out through camera.
Nafni using that maltop too is advantage, but Roman journeys to smoke and it's prayed
to the Lord, it's U-Jerkz that fights within the site and flanks out these players
heaven. It is well done in the end there from sore, even if it got a little static,
a little stoic inside of that B bombsite even with all these players waiting in the wings.
So we're ready to pounce as soon as BB went into the retake.
And it's just a picture perfect execute coming through right there, right?
Just the spacing that you're seeing, the fact that Aris Dosh has to be shot through the smoke.
He's able to chase past Asairne who thinks that he has company.
I don't really blame him for having you kill on his hand.
He thought Napheny had him covered, but saw have every single small bit of timing
down to a T. And right now, despite the big advantage that the Bangabong was
were able to find five to do up and then they just haven't been able to take it
further stopped in their tracks but they will need to hoof it if you must no be
incredibly difficult to get a read on this round maybe didn't come in with a
lot they come in with four from us is an MP9 but they are information starved
they know that there is presence but they have no real read on the round to
triple setup that they're relying upon and it places a lot of importance on
these anchors on the extremities that will merely accelerate the pace you
start losing his life inside of big tyron needed one though back to four and
four and sort of access towards that B bomb site but look at how fast this
rotation has come true and sure you needed the speed because you don't
have a kid you don't have any utility to get back in but the boost is what
I'll assist magno jazz able to bring the numbers in their favor but you still
have to get past story he's the one who started this campaign for salt and he
He wants to end it with 7, Nudus right there next to him as he has been too long, and Story
may have missed, but Nudus and Arisdose are right there with him.
Arisdose, back in dark, he cornered in, but he fights back a one on one, and Siren found!
Saur will get 7!
Valiant's turns out to be a little bit more difficult later on, 5-2 up, and Saur still
turn it around off of a massive Story round up to 7, and they hope to close on their
own CT side of a current who never failed to have a hot hand leading the charge over
here with the clock forward. It's a flash to worry about Magnus just caught out, but
it's Roman and you just with the push forward who are able to get not just one but three.
Yeah, they may have breached the bomb site, but they've lost the bomb and you just didn't
find another one through smoke on the reload. It's a little labored. It's only gets his
hands on that USP as well as the package still for all the hard work that BB put
into the start of this round. It only gets harder from here. One on three, and they start
to even push in behind him. He turns and sees exactly what's coming his way, but a rose
dosh puts him to rest. You jerked a lovely round here at the start of the second half.
And that's exactly what you want to see, just responding in with their own set plays,
their own attempts being made, and you know what that energy, we know where that
comes from. Come from our wiser red monster. Just got to remind them sometimes.
Yeah, yeah, gotta keep the people on notice.
So it's exactly the way you want to start.
We just cannot end up in the trials and tribulations
that we had at the start of the first half.
You know, there's a little back and forth
with all four spies.
BB will not decide that that route is for them.
They find themselves trailing and getting AKs out.
Well, it would be nice.
You can see Thor as well,
if not dove too deep into getting MP9s,
but how much damage have they taken to Glocks?
And that one P250, it's actually a little outrageous.
Story meter is within an inch of their life.
And you've come in with an objective purity of damage
and trying to get the CTs to use all their utility,
but at the same time,
so really would just like to make this very squeaky clean.
Especially when you buy four rifles,
keeping four alive is pretty important.
But when anyone's short changed,
his pistols are making their presence known
towards being you just starting to call the troops
over, but he cannot cannot actually stop them from getting into the site and actually allowing a plant so I mean with
Delox and a couple of p250s this is already job done. And Neurus is low, but he doesn't matter. He's mowed them all down
Zorta is wondering where his team went and he's well he's found out.
I I think I think Magnus to blame for that one. He had the Zeus who's trying to play up close and had
Muterus peeked it a little closer to the quarter. That's a maybe a free kill there for Magnus
but they just kind of weirdly lined up for Muterus in that instance.
Robbs, I think,
taught people that Zeus was powerful and then the range got nerfed
and people are still trying.
Like, guys, if Robbs stopped using it, maybe you should as well.
You know, he's the one who brought it into existence.
He should have been the one to take it out of it.
Yeah, it feels like the SG inspiration
and then Niko picking it up after it got nerfed.
And even Muterus is scratching, he's like,
guys, you know why they're lined up like this?
Well, I don't know how to take it.
They were staring at me and none of them shot back.
Is this what it feels like to be simple?
It was about, I mean, all jokes aside, BB got more than what they really bargained for out of that round.
And they have so much coming into the first gun round, but just a little sliver of Naphany showing round that smoke.
Muterus gets a clean kill.
Naphany will be an important man to fixate on from that CT side into T.
He is the guy that likes to take and show presence in through mid, and he is currently 3 and 13.
And unfortunately so far he's been less of a presence and more of a present who saw a muterous.
Wow, that is insane.
Just a sixth sense.
It's a just in case spray, right?
It's, hey, he might be there.
This smoke has just faded. He could have actually climbed through to the window and been ready.
Whatever, I might as well fire and he picks up an AK for it, but it's not one that finds a kill.
Magno at least responds and the bullet bandits will look to steal away a course in through to middle.
AWP the round is gone. It's double digits for so and it feels like your hopes might be slipping away as well
Just to remind everyone right this is this is the map they coming out from BB team and you've got Shaw
Counting out with nuke immediately after a nuke that they don't really lose on yeah
I mean it is by far their most comfortable map even with them
Maybe losing a little bit of confidence in it with some turbulent. I guess results
Against teams that maybe they feel they should beat on that map
know against a BB that I mean expressed quite a bit of firepower in the start of
this game but have since slowed they're not gonna feel too threatened they know
that this Anubis has a lot of weight behind it for them but where Kairon was
once fiery hmm screaming between rounds he kept on finding that impact now the
hard questions have to be asked about what do we do next and unfortunately it
It feels like Mr. Hyde has been put away and the timid Dr. Chekel has been brought back
into the server.
If you're going to be all raging and roaring out in the beginning of the series, then you
kind of want to have that energy even when you're down.
But I guess there's just nothing to be happy about in the same way.
And as someone that has really been interested about whether or not Nafni makes the redemption
arc as an in-game leader when he was scapegoated from his previous team in my eyes, there
is a lot riding on him as this guy that actually when he does have the struggling individual
performances, he actually does have a lot more difficulty getting back into the game I found.
BB, I guess, had a really surprisingly inconsistent path so far in Atlanta,
but they need to get it together now around this saved orb. It's in Zortay's hands.
You'll peek right into the orb with Story ready and rearing to go.
story has had a fantastic map already and if this is how he's going to be looking to continue
the series on I'm going to be a little bit where a little bit scared rather for the benign bulls
oh god he's just gone and picked up another one and they saw the bomb uh Roman a little inquisitive
do some damage to Kyron, Clarins already have evacuated with that AWP but it's not a minute
left to play and they will look to re-engage but this is the problem so know that there is
reason for BB to re-investigate so the flash play lined up Ujjurks close to the angle but not actually
committing to the swing. Even just continuing to delay again it's very valuable but Ujjurks is
just waiting for the flash on the other side doesn't want to swing too far forward he knows
the AWP is still in the hands of the T-Sides of Siren who's gonna be just guarding it off
is hoping that tech 9s will come through with success that success is limited even if it
is found initially. And finally the AWP brings in with its first siren. Had still got three
more to deal with and with 20 seconds of flank and the bomb far away from him, there was
never a world where he was going to take that AWP into the next.
Yeah, I think even in the panic, just jumping and so he's just a sitting duck for the
final kill. Didn't have a lot to really hone in on there for BB outside of that
AWP. And if story is going to be in the right place, holding the right angle, especially
Honestly, I'll lie, that's a difficult shot for any AWPer really.
A lot of chatting coming up from Barry, and obviously he's one of the big, big figures
for this team that's really started to make them a little bit more of a consistent force,
right?
I mean, I talked about how Saw's always been a team reputed to come and go in waves.
It feels like they've been a team that'll win in ESL Challenger League and then two
seasons later, not even be contentioned for top four, but that's the story of
the past.
This is the story of today, by the way.
I think the big thing for store is always about consistency like you said it comes in waves and they'll they'll have this breakout tournament where they'll surprise everyone think oh this is the soul this is so fixing all of their problems they're back they're here and they're they're ready to win a trophy or or contend for one.
This is really their, their clear shot at it, but it's about maintaining that form.
You know, they start this season with the surprise at Cologne.
They started the last season with the surprise at Blast.
But for the rest of the season, it was a little lackluster.
Yes, Barry is definitely a big reason as to why there is higher hopes.
This team to just drain out its act, BB are the ones that need to
actually be seeing and shooting straight, though.
They trail six rounds so are two away from taking Bebe's map in the series.
And so you tell that to Al-Muterus is looking to get a little inquisitive.
Yes, friends behind him as well.
That flashback really was Nathalie's only hope of finding a kill story covering off the angle
and with two more right next to him.
It's now Muterus and Roman who try and re-aggress into middle.
into the middle, Ujerks covers off dark, and with the smoke revealing intentions, Magno
just has to be incredibly careful.
Now they're scared, they've got an incendiary on one side and a flank that could be coming
in on the other.
But if Müros is flanking and Ujerks is falling, Müros could cover off Kyron, who's just
not expecting him to already be this close.
Story is just putting the AWP away, flashed off the angle and now forced off it by
Siren's AK.
Still a three on three.
And with Roman who's just waiting to allow Irish Dorsher pathway back into the site
being so far away these might be isolated use but they're not isolated
terrorists it's BV who have three huddled in together in the dark just
waiting for the swings to come through. The plant is not exactly ideal even with
just this diffused position they can't contest it from there and it is far too
wide. That is a massive fumble from the the mist flash inside of mid at
court Naphany just as he was going for the swing and then now this plant
position 3 on 3 where there's only one flash available there from Saul. If they wanted to
get them off that diffuse they actually had to commit out from connector. That is a disappointing
way to lose a round. It was it hung in the balance and so had many reasons as to why
that it actually could have fallen out of their favor. When they see where that bomb
is planted they can't quite believe their luck.
This is sort of the worst part about watching the BB team, right?
It's the fact that Mjolnirus is sitting on 16 kills right now.
It's a very even distribution across from Saul, and every single one of the Saul players
feel like they're comfortable in going for a single man plays.
Right?
Like, you saw what is happening over there where Mjolnirus is pressuring Magno.
He's threatening the flank to come through.
He's taking Kyron down as well over there.
This should never be allowed from a guy who's not reputed for his mechanics, going
up against players who that's sort of all they're muted for. Yeah all that fire, all the
ferocity, these fast peaks that BB were going for, these boisterous stools, it is really
full and flat. Full have quelled them. They brought a fire extinguisher and they're the
ones that are looking to take space away. They serve to disrupt BB's attempts to get
their head back into this game. That's a good clear there for Magno. Went up close
and personal nujurks cannot handle it's story to recover the angle and with not
really maintain pressure into canal there's a word where he pushes forward
and is able to get them as they turn back to check for a flank now will that check
ever come through is a separate question but aris dos has at least cleared out
close a so he only has to deal with one angle and he's dealt with it
perfectly a smoke deployed a kill found and recession confirmed aris dos is
able to get back behind the pillar. And now without flashes it has to be dry piece. And
BV should be good at this. And Kyron shows us one, but Alistar is not able to trace out
the right player. Zorty soaks up the damage in the smoke, but it's his teammate to trade
and it's A site to be occupied.
That is such an opportunity there for Morozovich. I mean he played his position perfectly.
The, I guess, misdirection with him just dropping that smoke and falling back towards the
bomb site. They didn't actually spot him before that smoke bloomed, crossing back.
And he knew that he had access to just two kills where they emerge out the smoke so they
can get activated on that split.
It is a really good position, but it is effectively well handled as well.
As much as there are chances, it is about damage mitigation in instances like it.
Maybe we're trying to play as close to each other as possible for those trades, and
even if Arosos got those kills, no guarantee the round falls the way of saw.
The BB have to be counting their lucky stars that didn't turn into a more awkward situation.
I mean considering that initial kill that really could have been worse, felt like it was a
multi-kill guaranteed.
It's still a long way to go but if at the very least you're able to continue to pressure
out on saw, maybe the nuke isn't going to be as immutable as what you might paint it
to be, right?
I mean saw themselves have been losing some confidence and they saw themselves up
against Rooster as well.
I don't I didn't feel this but they felt like they were making mistakes
And if they feel like they're making mistakes versus rooster
I would certainly believe that they can do the same up against the benevolent Bambis as well. I
Would definitely say every team makes mistakes, you know
Everyone in game leaders as well are always gonna be the most critical of every little minutiae
Especially when they have convincing results for thinking. Why couldn't it be been more convincing? Why did they get the four?
How dare they?
You're a southern hemisphere team. You shouldn't be getting the four rounds against us unless you're from Brazil.
Well, this is a much faster plane from BB2 as well, start controlling through mid.
Nafni has gotten this territory where he has struggled and some of the rounds gone by,
but they have thoroughly scared off Mutaris.
It's a lot of mid focus that has been forced out to be held by Saw,
But you do see the T side rotating back and maybe even setting up for a B side at execute now
If this comes fast enough then eudrics will be quite far off
But you can see saw don't wait around they're re clearing out middle and they'll be able to call for the rotate and reinforce
There's a very small timing window and honestly
No one's really in position to be able to capitalize on that. Yeah, and I mean it's it's also a very hard window to hit. Oh
Oh dear, step by Rose Dush. Just as he's starting to re-clear mid, this position from Naphany is just devastating.
And they had two players sitting at the back of mid, even if Naphany should have been a fallen.
They would have liked to have Naphny have got that kill, and they've gotten to realize the numbers,
but Muterus is in a perfect position. They don't clear close door.
That's bomb dropped inside of middle, and Story is playing round smokes.
Magno, he's permeated past that first player, but I mean, Magno's got sandwiched.
And I've never had a mango sandwich, but I don't imagine it's the most savory thing in the world
This will be a very bitter pill for BB to swallow
They pick into an anubis and they get devastated by sore a one-on-four for sorry
But there is no time and no hope it ends in 13 to 6 10 seconds
Come on you may as well just go down without a spike a very assertive start from the Portuguese
I didn't the last part of that map and felt like it was indeed without a fight
They find one round the bitter butter cuffs went one round in the last 13 that is absolutely
Insane and saw sure us exactly why and our analysts are gonna show us exactly why
I have to say I was a little bit worried for the first year
There was a little bit of concern honestly when you saw what was happening BB team are going back and forth that trading blows
were like okay maybe something's happening here and you saw Kyron actually ten and two was at the
top of the scoreboard so the energy as well he was excited and super emotional and then he had
that huge crash afterwards because things didn't go his way. I love that he said in the interview
he was going to click heads and he started doing that and I thought oh this is we asked if it was
too soon for them to kind of level up and it seemed like they did but then there was that
moment when Saul kind of figured it out and that was it. There was just no answer to the
questions they were posing. Yeah they kept kind of they started to punish Kairan. He would kind of
get a little bit too aggressive outside of B main and then there would be a player from SAA that
will always be able to check Slank, be able to check something because they kept getting run down
by him. That is someone who had a lot of firepower in the first half. That CT side was
very convincing from BB and I thought it was going to be theirs at this point but saw they
were able to calm down. I feel like they took a little bit of a breather and able to kind
of reconfigure their play style around how BB team was playing against them.
So what's kind of cool is that obviously when we get to do these Challenger LAN events
it means that we have someone on the ground who can kind of get the skinny for us on
what's going down. I do believe Mike is with someone now.
I'm with myself, me myself and I and a few of my favorite friends. But I did
I didn't get a chance to chat with Barry as he was walking off the stage.
Of course, he immediately said, well, it could have been cleaner to start,
a little bit of a force by force by force by, but they felt good about it.
They're super confident in their nuke, guaranteed me the 2-0.
Didn't talk to Batboom, but I think their faces might have told most of the story.
They do have pretty fantastic faces in that regard.
You can kind of read how they're feeling, and they look like they were feeling very,
very disappointed with how that played out.
Yeah, like I was saying before, you know, Kyron's expression went from,
yeah, pumped up to, oh God, what is happening right now?
Why is this going so wrong?
And I mean, we already know why it's going wrong,
because things aren't gelling within the team.
And we saw that.
We talked about it so much in the pregame,
and I just didn't see that happening again here for BB team.
Even though we got some close rounds,
once Soft figured them out,
there was nothing that they could really offer.
Yeah, and there were a couple of times that I think even Naphany
trying to like be the entry position being going into doors and trying to take fights. Yeah, but
there were a lot of times that he was getting team flash and caught out and then the op would find
him on saw and a he did not have a great game. It was I think he ended with three kills and
that is something that you don't want to see from someone as big of a name as Naphany.
Talking about the op on saw I mean it was pretty damn impactful. It was beautiful honestly
we're gonna highlight round number eight here so you guys can see what's going on because
story was absolutely unbelievable. And this is what really started saw in a bit of run. They were
down 5-3, I believe you're a 5-4. And so it was like, hold on a second, 2v3, don't care,
nailing every single shot, even just to flick around here. A 180 to hit the final shot on that
3k. An impressive highlight there for Story, who was important for them throughout the entirety
of this map. I mean, yes, he finishes at 15 frags, and Mutaris kind of went above him
towards the end, but I still feel like story was the most important player.
I do agree with that. That story was the most important player, but we have to talk about
materials. I if he's hold on mid, there were like a couple rounds where he was able to get
doubles. Like even just through the smoke, it wasn't just a double spray down. It was
he knew where he was predicting where BB team was going to be found ahead. Somehow moved
back, found another head. Somehow then there was that great. It was the last round
that he was kind of holding for his teammate back towards doors and the trade was almost
instant they're like oh BB team made it through killed the first two players and
then they're like oh it has to be clear now no materials was there waiting for
them with the FAMAS was able to mow it down and that just completely sidetracked
their entire yeah honestly it was a good job of playing through the smokes as
well from saw like taking those gambles at the right times what I love about
what we saw from saw here after the first few rounds was that it's that
clinical clean counter strike mm-hmm the fundamentals of the basics are
there and they just play it well that's it that's what they do the
question is, are they going to keep doing that on Nuke?
I feel like absolutely yes. I mean, this map has been phenomenal for them. They even doubted
themselves a little bit. I think it was against Rooster. They were like, oh, we weren't sure
about Nuke, but they got the win 20 wins over the last three months for them there.
Excuse me, 16 wins over 20 maps played over the last three months. It's been a master
class from them on that map. And I expect absolutely nothing to change even though
BB team are good on Nuke as well. Saw us a step above them.
I do agree with that as well. And I feel like DB team, they must have run out of stamina at that point.
We saw so much from Kyron at the beginning. We saw him whooping cheering and everything. And then at the end of that game, it was like so still on that player table that it just felt like it wasn't great.
I think they got the life sucked out of them. And that's when Naphne has to come in and get it back, like energize them a little bit.
And I'm not sure if the way he's coming to the event, if he's got that in him.
Talking about the mental game,
Sol has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the world on Nuke and they've beaten them.
That is the mental mountain BV team has now got a face,
knowing how strong this team is.
They've lost their map pick, now they need to try and take Sol's from them
if they want to stay here at ESL Challenger Atlanta.
We're going to take a quick break so you can get some refreshments
because it's about to get very hot.
We are bringing the heat with some exciting Counter-Strike.
Think you've seen it all? With Faceit Watch's point of view selector, you can experience
the game from any pro's perspective, use the multi-view feature and customize the stream
with up to four angles. Control what points you see while earning rewards. Drops are activated
and lucky winners will receive Faceit points. And if you ever miss a match, mods are now
available. Get instant access to demos with multiple POVs and commentary. Watch it,
that face there. ESL Challenger is brought to you in part by Intel, Acer Predator, DHL,
Kadea, Monster Energy, the United States Air Force, One X-Bat, and Logitech G.
map and saw hoping to make them down and out of the tournament. You jerks in
story, start off strong, but maybe you can say that for all of saw,
Napoli at least is able to get a backstab, but it's not twice over and that
means it's a 2v3 for BB team to try and recover.
We just get thrown into the thick of it and Sorte fighting from door, but he gets shot
straight ahead. Napoli able to flank out a player, but they are planting towards this top
side. They still haven't accessed, but this player in this fight Roman has to delay
as long as it can that elevation change too much for Nafity to handle it's Ujjurks with a double
a rose-dose delivering on two himself for a quick finish on A and as far as BB Tima concerned they
might be thinking that it feels unfair to be going up against a Titan like this in the lower bracket
in group A's decider but you have to deal with the cards that you've been dealt and sure it
might be down on one knee in front of them that only puts you in a better position for
for an uppercut on your opponent's map pick. Do they have the strength in those arms to
deliver it though? Yeah, and you know for them as well coming into a nuke they'll actually
be pretty confident with their online results that they have on this map but I mean clearly
what has been working online has not been transferred well here in Atlanta. We saw them
rejig positions, they start to have Magno play more mid than Napheny on Anubis given
that they've actually been able to play Anubis at this event and have identified
weaknesses. This will be their first time foraying into Nuke since coming to the
States. They'll have to make on-the-fly adaptations if there are some to be made.
So, being very patient about how they approach this anti-eco, those USPs around
the corner that could be more than that, Magno with a D. Revealing his
position, taking even more damage, he's already low, but still surviving on 15.
and goes near this and listen he's a very critical part of saw on this map in
particular it feels like because obviously he's playing so many of these
rotation positions be it on T side or on CT side it feels like a lot of their
calling is predicated on him having a good game and that's not necessarily
true for all other maps but sometimes when they're a little bit down and out
you look over towards their leader and he's not doing too well yeah but you
you know, at the same time as much as you're maybe highlighting a way for BB to come back
into this series, Eurus does actually very frequently have a good time when he's playing
on this map.
Looking a little bit sickly on the BB side and I'm not just talking about what we see
on the cameras, it's also on the server, right?
You saw Kairan looking so damn good in the beginning of that previous map and
a Nubis who starts off 10 and do what he ended on just 13 kills.
I think it was very astutely put by JRT on the desk, just the burnout that I think Kiron
seemed to experience after all the highs of the early rounds into the disappointments afterwards.
And if your energy was finished before, I don't know what you've got left of your head.
If I were Kiron at the very least, has come through a renewed man, and that renewal
will not continue true for a double frag running out of bullets, the magazine feeling a
a little bit less than ideally even if he's got 30 bullets in it.
Yeah, unfortunately those fights were just not clean.
They have got rotates down towards that B bomb site, but it's maybe one or two, too many.
Because there's three.
Reclearing is NafiNate.
Ujerks all the meanwhile is finding a very vacant A bomb site.
It's a little bit reminiscent, in fact, of what happened in Anubis's pistol round
initially where Ujerks did just go back to the B bomb site with a glock.
They're like, well, this is empty.
I'll take it.
Thank you very much.
Happy to oblige.
Is this what land grabbing is?
Story in the meanwhile, grabbing Magno and shutting down.
I mean, this is the first gun round.
And for them, especially after Chiron gets that kill,
he did need some support, some kind of a rotate.
But it was more that Chiron was that first line of defense.
They weren't going to try and save him in that spot.
And this is where Chiron, as well,
as a player that can have these pop offs and have these multi kills, sometimes as well as a ramp player in particular that's a star position for quite a lot of teams, you actually sometimes have to be able to to call off your own plays.
You know, you get a kill, you fall back, you play a bit more reserved. And as you know, we see Naphany recleared ramp from the lower side of the map.
If you're Kairon in that position you could do that a lot quicker and a lot sooner and get your team in the right
Place to I guess towards any T side attacks
I mean now that you talked about it
It is kind of weird to think of Kairon and ramp just based of like sort of their visceral emotions that we've seen from him
Normally ramp players are you know these stoic silent guys who know exactly when I back off
But having that explosiveness could be helpful. Sure if VB run into a brick wall
Well, maybe that's where Kairon can't run headbutt through it by a ramp pusher too
That's always something that you have to be incredibly careful about and sure
So are generally good at taking care of something like it, but it's why the role conversation is always so important when we're talking about teams
You know, it's it's more a mindset than it is just about experience in a position. You said that
Very outgoing attitude. Hmm can be as much a boon as a weakness
It's a volatile spot. It's very
Results-based as well. Yep
And if you want to quiet down quickly after having a few bad rounds, well that's definitely
not the place for you.
Magno however, really wants to get nice and loud.
He's got himself a crossfire over here as well, but closing the doors doesn't really
make it any easier.
Quick flash overhead, but no one's speaking out.
They're just waiting for the T side to come in and Kyron delivers Magno as well, adding
the last necessary bullet to turn it back to a 4 on 2 and now just a 1.
This will be able to at least pick up some steam and pick up some kills even if this round
will be very hard to recover but in a one on two it's a single kill that separates him
from a bomb plant.
That's a lot of reason to read the positions and right now without getting a glimpse of
Zortay he might start to piece it together that if he's not going to reface in this
gap, it could be nice on the higher ground, yeah time is definitely a massive issue here
for Muterus 10 seconds before he starts to make his move and revealed in that top position
Muterus needed that instant headshot he was running out of bullets and Zorte is able to
finish off the round here for BB. They came in with three saved rifles, a couple of pistols
but really I think shout out to Magnosjez and just drawing all the attention away
from what was a crossfire built by BB.
Yeah, very nicely done. The sol was not ready for it at all for the double deagle
setup. And fighting those two kills was massive. Now listen, what's also massive
is that you're taking the weapons forward that you are because we saw that force by Warfare and
what happens when you lose out to many of those and at this point sure we're still in gun round
versus gun round territory but something tells me if Saul gets a bomb shot even if they're losing
they might want to pick up those Galeel's and see if they can run it right back but
New Churchs will be hoping to stay away from bomb blasts. However, Zortay now comes in to
deliver was a little bit absent on map number one and that cannot be a trend if you want to
to get a win out versus a saw who showed a super charged story muters in the meanwhile
though will get a response skill one that is quickly countered out by siren and one of his own.
Yes as soon as there's one kill found it's answered right back so even with saw hoping to find these
gaps it's very quickly plugged by the the bb side. How does slow their roll? They knew that
BB wanted to actually go and force some fights and take control of territory very early in this round.
And Story is unable to work a pick. Once again, it's an immediate answer. Magno in at ramp.
But is there confirmation on more than that? Muter has dealt with enough story.
The last man standing bomb detached from him. It sits at the feet of Magno.
He's just going to say, yeah, most likely. It would have been impressive to pull a clutch
like this together. But as you're so aptly describing, you know, this world in which
So, should they lose this round? They might dive into those galils and if they have an AWP in storage possession, then yeah,
they'll be more incentive to
investigate that as a possibility.
One of the cool things about BB having made this a little bit off their own map is obviously that
Nafini never really played this in the past, right?
This was the old Cloud9, the old Gambit's Furma ban.
But when you look up to literally every single one of the other players on this team,
they all come from teams that really like to prioritize this, right?
You're looking at Zorte and it's time to force it.
You're looking at what works out in it.
It's time with Spirit, you know, Kyron maybe a little bit less so,
but even Magnus just has had a lot of really good moments on it.
So this is very much a map that has come through,
not necessarily out of the mind of Nathalie.
So you can see some changes at how willing and proactive
this team can be on their individuals.
And look at this reface from Zorte.
It's such a tiny angle, but he just makes it work.
Yeah, again, it's just a lot of the sort of carry over weaponry
that has been able to perpetuate in these past couple of rounds.
So really nicely handled so far.
They don't buy into this one.
I'm very surprised.
I am, too.
Second stage loss bonus.
Of course, they do have a buyer on the corner,
but you won't have an AWP, most likely, unless the idea is
see what story can do and then prioritize saving.
Yeah, a double save never feels good,
but it does feel necessary in a situation like this
where the T side realistically, I mean,
even just having another rifle,
the last fight fifth rival is quite important. A boost to be set up to try and find Zorta
over here though. He's expecting it. He must have seen the dip of a toe or maybe it's just
his sixth sense, his finding sense coming into play. Yeah, I mean, a good read on how
that round was going to develop. They knew that story did save that AWP in the round
prior and given the lack of activity towards outside and no shots being rattled through
smokes or any of the utile, even with BB having made steps towards Outer, and I think he was
able to put the pieces together. So yeah, it was, it's likely going to be
Roman saving that ult. Or else they're trying to hone in on a kill, but it's not happened.
Um, and Roman's got ulti, that's the cover. Yeah, I'm, yeah, it's definitely not.
So now I'm a little confused by that, but yeah it'll be fine, there'll be four rifles,
one maybe a little short changed in story given that he did save that up the first time.
But important that BB are able to stop that without any real issues.
Oh well he didn't even see anything before, wow.
Just expected it, you're right.
Foregassing.
the one AWP saved up and that's one of the clearer plays you can go for.
Zordy has a chance over here to shut down what looks like a very fast play, but a flash
catching in full blind, Naptity's the one to cover, Siren up, Doppel keep them at bay,
but Zordy's still unrevealed and goes Dory, roll them through the smoke, just firing
away, and only Kyron left and it's left for long.
Just an immediate pace change.
So rapid in through door, even with that smoke that's down they try and blow
it open on the side of BB and even though naffity gets that first kill they just get swarmed
after the first kill i mean naffity just was not prepared for any more action
you see him turn he's caught in the flash and there's nowhere for him to run there's a malt of
as well it is uncomfortable a nice cripple in from one of the vets that saw still hold on to
Okay, that's kind of ridiculous. Goodbye to that man.
Well, the other one at least I suppose. Magno is the trade, but unfortunately with Siren
keeping the skills, BB does still come out on top and they can feel incredibly happy
about that. Zorte has faded all the way back and all in the meanwhile, Siren's doubled
up.
Oh my goodness, Utrecht has still been able to fish for another kill. Zorte was
is actually considering the big garage. But while you just
have struck success outside, it is elsewhere that we'll need to
be having problems. He's just ready for another play. I've
already voted back to suit you. Kyron is there to end things
and end things he will. Yeah, you're starting to see that
energy start to come back here for BB Kyron throwing his
fist around just in a little celebration. And what's
reassuring right now is and as as where does this might
sound there isn't that sort of bluster on their faces are
not getting over hyped about this. They know the job is very much not done at this point
and they can't be getting overly excited. It's always been the criticism of North American
team of old, right? Not so much anymore when you've got players like Kaleesh, players like
once upon a time Nitro and everything. Eekoran from Saw, this one should be a gimme. But
the bomb's actually down lower so maybe you can just guarantee yourself a plot. Kairon
reveals position and with the flashbang blinding both him and his opponents it's really
You need a bot time for the bomb to go down.
This is job done.
The soul has really bad loss points.
Oh yeah.
That bot bot is really important.
I know a lot of people will be thinking,
well who cares is this part of the game.
This is the only way where they can have a fair buy.
Yeah, they'll be able to get ults out.
Every bell and whistle they can desire on this T side.
Kind of similar to Anubis.
Soul had a round where they seeded the site
and Beppu only had like 2P250s and Glocks
You know, that is the primary objective when you don't come in with an investment tree. You're still trying to win
It's just the expectations are set so much lower that all plan first. See if you can win after
Let's all have to have the
Conversation about where is the weakness is there one that can be exploited and to be honest with the way that Nafini played in that first map
Having his struggles individually as it may be that the the A bomb site is something that could actually be
targeted by Saul if Naphany is going to actually hold his own in that position as
well it's just this sort of like the double-edged sword or I guess it's a
very different circumstance right where Zortis continually been reinforcing
A site as well do you really want to target a site that almost every round
ends up having three players there as well yeah sure and it's not like fire
rumors any such other yeah the other A site player
Naphany right now is really just wanting to contest continue the spam
Make it to Salkon, sneak Roman down into the lower bombsite as they did in their eco, but as he repositions back up to Hutt, he needs to be careful the smoke is dissipated and the second one is going to be doing the same very soon.
That's what Saw is waiting for, and Naphne's now been spotted out. They started to creep in, but again they're just not ready for Magnus inside Mini.
This is the problem of hitting the A site. Siren's still alive at the back of it and as Aris turns the corner, he'll be able to change that fact, bring it back to a 2 on 2.
But Kyron is getting ready to flank. Mute is watching out for it, but he doesn't have his crosser in the right place.
The sweetest of rights will continue to completely dominate that ace site.
So, lining forward.
And Zorte swung with a pistol.
Yeah.
He had the AWP inside of Heaven, and he was trying to get a foothold back on that bomb site,
but Nafni got information on that last man, and Zorte had his pistol drawn.
It was an ill fit for that duel.
that. You know, it's a good
opportunity to get into the
next round, but it's a little.
Would have thought he would have
better chances on that all, but
you know, Zorte can't hit stuff
like it. But the initial defense
here from BB actually looking so
promising. They built that cross
fire just as they're coming out
through door. The timing for
Magno from his probing outside
back to main was right on the
money. And yet still it's not
enough. As a thing with the
get a foothold back on Lobby and service is another attack avenue before that bomb is planted.
That is something that can be read into. That's why Meters was, I guess, checking his rear.
Oh no. Magnum just wasn't ready at all for Story to be in Marshmallow and neither is
Naphany prepared for the opposing IGL to already be down under.
It's got to their position so late. No expectation that Soul would take these
faster timings or maybe even hover as long as they did, Sory has even found another as
he crosses to secret steps.
And Zorte getting aggressive over here is surprising but Siren gives him reason to believe a Molotov
to his speed while displacing but Arosloch as well is out in the open where Zorte is
waiting for him and now with Zorte knowing where the bomb is, Sory who felt like he's
done more than enough for this round is now entirely reliant on Nura's to make
a play, all he can do is serve distraction and deterring.
a little bit of a jiggle by
story. Sort of say will not
feel confident to reface into
that, but she goes for a deeper
line and he goes right into the
Alps story. It's a triple for
the Portuguese or per siren. He
has done so well to get to and
bring them back into that round,
but they needed to hold on to
that bomb control. They needed
to hold on to lobby. It
couldn't afford a one on two.
What if they've been feeding
story? Yeah like you look back
might have given up a 5 on 2. That's crazy. It was so very close. And I don't even blame
Zorte by the way for trying to refee out with a deeper angle. What else is he going to do
just back off and not cover anything? You can still hold door without peeking the deep line.
There are other ways to play it, but yeah, I mean, this is the thing. Zorte is not going to be
fearful of another AWPer on the other side, even with how well-stored he played on that first
map you know especially when we again this conversation about that boom and all
the previous roads these players have taken in star positions and what's kind
of concerning to me right now is I'm just a technical there are no chains
moving yeah no one's talking on the bb side and I don't want to see that you're
you have five rounds I'm gonna hope we just looked at the coach a little too
late because if Nathalie's chin isn't wagging the coaches lips aren't moving
Well, these fingers better be doing the talking pretty soon and Kyron at least starts a conversation
But he's got the AK now to make it a little bit loud and proud
Zordy at his side Kyron in the front
It's a four-on-two a solo to recover with aggression from mutress
He's able to respond in kind but it's still a disadvantage as they head back to the lower bomb site
Where siren waits to contest all these poor these two Portuguese old heads are gonna really bleed this round try
They are going to weigh in on that inexperience of some of the the BB side
Peter is smoked down and he'll tap the bomb just try and bait more more players his direction
But he disregards the control room and Roman is just too far detached
Well had made no conscious effort to link up inside of ramp
You see Nafini
Prepared for a slow drop the five seven already put shooting the feet and Nafini will find it six to six at the
is successful attack there from Seoul but this is the last chance potentially for
Naphany and Betboom to come back they need this map we'll see in the second half
Difficult side, the D side of things where they are going to be truly challenged.
Can they rise to the occasion or will they fall in the ashes of the group stage?
Well, already starting very well here for Meteris towards outside.
Magno dispatched off before the hit is even really set up by BB.
So we'll come into his favourites into this matchup.
They've played, I think, a sounder game, but BB on that defence, to be honest,
was creating some very quick crossfires.
They have some nice rotates.
It didn't always come together in the way that they had hoped,
but there are chances available for them
to still swing this the other way.
This T-side pistol will be very important.
Molotov now out, and they decide to dive those vents
because the bomb doesn't quite make it all the way.
Chiron, the package carrier, does actually
drop that bomb towards those vents
so it is recovered, and they permeate into this B bomb site.
Siren's caught off by a falling muter.
It said it's terrifying.
And now in the 2 vs 5, you might
have some consolation of the bump off of map and he has a chance to maybe get a
double maybe is gone and it feels like there's only one idea who showed up to
party and it is very much the Portuguese side Zorta looking for a number to be
added looking for a little bit of more money because that's really all he
could have hoped for so we'll take the pistol yeah I mean he's the the man
that invests utility for for BB on that attack he's throwing all of it
and he's wake it he's really hoping that his teammates can stall and buy
sometimes so that he actually can't serve as this lurking player. You don't want to end up in
straight gunfights when you don't have armor. I mean some really nice clean shooting on these
opening attempts brought it to a 5-on-3 very quickly. With that bomb plant, he may be incentivized
to commit to a force buy and really try and rock the soil house. And without a favor to success
from these force buys, right? Let's not forget about that. Across this entire scene. Resetting
CET money afterwards. Maybe that's even better than winning a pistol round. But all of that
That is Cope Human unless it happens, right?
They're coming in with what looks like an upper sight hit being flanned out.
The Tec-9s are the weapons you want for it, but Aaron Stoche is just waiting.
He's not been flashed off at all.
He's not been molotoved either, and he's just getting aggressive in their faces,
taking them apart one by one.
Yeah, the Molly missed.
I mean, it did not spread towards the top of heart quite like they'd hoped.
It was sort of for a reverse Mustang position.
But I mean, there's just that massive gap that Aaron Stoche can capitalise on.
And so he goes from SMG to now a Galil, and so all the rifles that BB brought forward in
this round have been either Steed or Eric Trevable.
This might be the most unsuccessful force by we've had all tournament long.
Maybe not.
Well, a one-on-one that we had.
Ujurx.
It's not even him.
It's not even him.
Damn it.
Yeah, I thought for sure that was a guaranteed Ujurks frag, but
An immediate shutdown, fast A-side attack that BB had planned. They want to make use of those tech mines, those rifles, the ones that led the way
But just immediate recognition, I think, is what's key there from Arostush, that he has that gap to play with and it was completely disregarded.
In a panic sometimes, I'm all tough, land to your feet. You might just evacuate the whole position.
I don't I really don't like the beagles and the tech 9 dream purses into I know these players are able to get the kills
I know all of that stuff, but you're also gonna be down
6 to 9 most likely at the CTs are gonna have money to buy because of how little damage of your damage that you dealt with the previous round
This feels like a luxury economy of four and it magnos. Just will be taken down mirrors and
My mirror story of home and all of them getting simultaneously these frags and
A, E, again, just the one kill from a lot invested, sure you have money to be able to
buy the next one regardless, especially if you're only going for AKs, but it just feels
like the carryover would be nice too.
Yeah, and you know, we see the damage that story is able to reap when he has that AWP.
We know Zortake can be that guy as well if you have it for BB, and so you don't
want to kind of short change your AWPer in that way.
Especially when we saw him getting pretty active early on on the CT side and looking
like yeah he is feeling a little bit more comfortable on this map even if his
numbers don't necessarily reflect it every time and also not to take away that
source it cannot be a great rifle or as well but stories the one who's getting
aggressive with the upright and this is exactly what you meant by short-changing
story however not ready for the shallower angle that is fantastic from
Chiron it's anticipation I mean expecting some sort of disruption story
There's been a very confident player for the Soul Camp.
He gets caught being a little too rampunctious.
See if there's anything that Soul can do to recover that advantage that BB find themselves
with.
It's a very cheeky angle there from you jerks.
With the deep flash, a lack of steps, they may think he's actually on the ramp itself.
Surely they check it eventually, so it's really a game of chicken about whether he
He will! He almost gets to! If that was an M4, it would have been a guaranteed double demise.
And you're right, they probably weren't going to check it, in fact.
Yeah, he started making those steps way too early, and yeah, if Zortay wasn't in a position where he could actually trade,
or at least guarantee that Siren survives, then the round is combusting in front of BB's eyes.
Well given that that didn't fall their way so are already moving to save and it's good to see baby being able to pick up at least the one immediately over here right
It comes really off the back of not just sort of his response
But I think more than anything else Kyron is and it's fantastic expectation
That is sort of the angle you were talking about obviously when you said that Zorta could be holding off in that one
Do we two versus story and muterus and
Kyron chose us exactly why it's so strong. You just don't expect it
He's already gone so far and you've not seen a glimpse or a jiggle. Yeah, so
And I expect such a defensive position
So a good read all in all from a BB team that have been caught off by some of these micro
Aggressions thrown at them by either the orper or you know, muturists doing some
Dastardly stuff
It shows their heads are screwed on the right way
For this peace I come back
That was actually a lot narrower than I thought it might be, the time I've been called.
And we've had quite a few of these in fact so far, which is nice to see for both teams.
I mean, for so obviously, there are teams that has been known to use them quite a bit.
Barry's been able to get so involved at Muteus as well as really good at calming down the troops.
And that's always been the case even before Barry came into play.
Yeah, and I think the cool thing about Barry's integration is, I think we've talked about this before,
but the Soul Camp are players that actually like to go for moves like that,
like that even though on their rise they weren't really like initiative drivers at any given point
I think Barry is often there to reel them back when things don't go right when they go through
those aggressive moves maybe maybe because like it affects future rounds.
So are letting Eujerks try and go for outside secret contests but they've used a lot of flashes
early in on outside so they don't really have many left. Eujerks has also been interrupted by a
multiple that might be why they started expending the $200 utility pieces earlier on
But now it's the peak for Magnogess is able to force you to reveal positioning
His retreat will also have been audible. Yeah, and the good thing about what Magnogess has just done is that it doesn't actually
Confirm any numbers for sore. I mean there could have been more than just the one man
You know a single dry fight is maybe not how you expect BV to always play out these sort of situations
Especially when they have the possibilities across
So feigning some additional presence with that deep smoke is good to alleviate some of that strain
And it does look like it might end up being an upper side hit which feels like the perfect call with the man all the way back in Ramp 1 in Hell where he's not going to be able to come through for the initial immediate contact.
But it's 40 seconds time getting low and there is an incendiary to meet them on the way.
This is a great position for Siren to be in, especially with them looking to target this A bomb site.
The timings are going to be weird or rostosh even looking to investigate and Siren has a great angle for it.
It's missed on the initial bullet, but they find a flurry of kills in an instant.
BB have options now, and that A bomb site is not much weaker for it.
It's interesting by how Saw decided on three different players all together on three different angles.
The aggressive ones for information, despite the fact that it looked like they're reasonably comfortable.
You know, they've got utility, they've got decent positioning.
But maybe because BB hadn't used their flashes and they realized that, I mean, look at the inventory, right?
You still got five left and some of those might be picked up, but it would have been hard to actually defend an upper site push because of those flashes.
I just think that because we have these positions where we can round these corners
Just as BB are setting up for that execute they can catch players off guard
You know the the five fingers are so looking to strangle BB before they actually get that execute underway, but hell
I mean, I mean hoping to maybe cast some of utility in the horse things like that, right?
I mean, we had their guns raised ha all of them
They surely one of them's gonna have you doing the hands right with three people put the look at the clock
Come on now
Signs of life and signs of what it's being depleted the iron fist or would I rather not say the tyrant fist
Yeah, I'd rather you not actually damn, okay, I was checking. Yeah, this
Thanks for the confirmation. Yeah. Yeah, this is what focus groups are for it's gonna catch you on it
Hmm, baby has a cat saw over here on their lore by there isn't an AWP for a story
But even though there's m4s across the board
That lack of ult might be important. Roman, however, is a sneaky boy.
He's tipped out across and while Muterus is playing a little bit more defensive out of necessity,
Naphany and Magnogess might be put at risk. Naphany by positioning Magnogess by HP,
and Naphany has been caught out. Muterus finishes off what story started,
and now things are getting a little bit confusing for BB.
They don't know where to go and with siren caught out by his own teammate spray Kyren
Well, there's that current
Yeah, I don't even know how that happened. I knew that was gonna come back
Yeah, I mean they try and play close enough together that can trade right but
Just a little bit awkward. I guess on I guess a multitude of those angles on the a bomb site
There's so many elevated positions, you know top of the site itself
even harder to clear.
And the problem is this was really the conversion you needed.
Because you got this one, it's not just nine to nine.
Saw's money is pretty much in the bin and they're not on that five round loss
with us either. Yeah.
This would have been a reset really for for so on a transfer.
Maybe to even take the lead.
Instead you have saw keeping five alive.
That's the worst part.
And so what chances you had of breaking their funds are now
accompanied by a healthy buffer.
Hmm I really suck at doing this, but I think saw our technically also at a $1,900 loss
bonus and no matter what happens it will be able to buy the open the next round
1400 now I think because they were they lost two rounds straight and then they went around back so I
Did say I suck at doing that. I was just yeah, I
Started off with the disclaimer for a reason it's a lot of plus ones and minus ones
But BBR minus two to what so I brought to the table ten rounds attained here by the Portuguese on their map pick in the series
They already a map to the good with the devastating start to this series on Anubis
Maybe have a little bit more fight in them
I think coming into this path, but they need the kills with it Magnus does find his isolated duel towards lower
But there's eujerks to immediately rectify any lost space
Zorte really wishes he'd been able to find that frag as well
It would have made things so much easier in the meanwhile though. Naphany has done just that
Butters who was given a second life will not be given a third one, Zorte will take down
Story and Saul in the round where they felt like they would find a bit more comfort are
looking less than so. The CTs would like to save here regardless of their buy in the next round
but Aras Dosh would be very happy to find a kill and make this a bit more possible and
because BB is playing a lot more passively, Yuji are spotting out players and outside
repositioning back to A. Arrasdorsh's one kill could actually make a difference.
Naphany is going to be up next. He won't be checked for though, and that should guarantee the round win.
Yeah, Ujer's making a lot of steps as well in his re-navigation of the same bombsite.
So Naphany knows where he is headed and knows that he's also missed the window.
Good thing that Kairon gets the kill, because Zortay being on that 4 health,
it was not looking good if somehow he got away with more kills.
current I say yeah they could have been really really bad but really bad has been pushed away and
again unfortunately it's not a reset so we'll have the money to be able to purchase up again over
here but bb are making this incredibly close right they are really still keeping themselves in the
game off the back of some great picks being found in these mid rounds and so I decide not to buy I
like this they're not going to have the awp so they decide not even really buy into it beyond
a couple of pistols here and there just to see what they can find and some spokes as well to
actually make BB question about whether or not they have invested into it and BB have been playing
pretty defaulty and pretty much four players sticking very close together so you're very
liable to being taken down by a stack if you've got a bad read on the opponent economy at
situations like this now of course the stack hasn't really completely materialized but it does
look like Saul wanted to give it the ramp lead and that's exactly what BB are doing as well
Tyron might think this is third out, but with Eudrax dodging the flash, the Deagle shot misses,
and Napheny is still focusing on the second player that he knows is going to be there.
Mirus is just not being given a chance, and when he is, he loses it.
Very nicely spaced out from the BB boys, as they find an advantage, but Roman's found an AK.
Yeah, they don't have any problems as well dealing with Arozdosh.
I don't know what to say, it can be a problem, but...
Z Magno, very confident in tracking him down.
We find ourselves tied 10 to 10, and sure there's a buy around the corner here for Sol,
but this is a chance for BB to express a lead.
The Sol map that we looked at earlier on in the tournament was thinking, Rooster, why
on earth are you allowing Sol to play this map?
And while it is picked in this series, some extra confidence may be under the belt
of saw that they may have fixed some of their problems, they find themselves within an inch
of losing even their map.
They do not want to trade map picks, we had that earlier on in our series and you end up
in I guess more, not necessarily unfamiliar waters, both these teams play a lot of Counter
Strike but not quite your strongest ground.
And the worst part of this for Saw is that BB Team as they equalize it feels like
this is the only round that really matters for the fate of the game.
Yes, you'll have a chance to fight back down at 10-12 if you're going for an eco in the next,
but fighting for overtime is never fun.
Yeah, they'll be able to sweep together another buy if they should lose this round,
but their loss bonus would also be in the bin, right? So there's
a little worry, I think, trickling down the necks of both teams.
From an inside the smoke and our resource has done the same without any barriers between
him and siren. I don't know what the plan is there. I mean, you're in a smoke, Magnus
starts spraying through it and it's not as if he's hyper focused on one angle. He's almost
like carpeting through that smoke and it makes the job easier there for Roman. Maybe it's
just trying to play distraction for siren. Considering we know you note they've been
playing a lot of very defaulty kind of rounds. The first time we see BB actually try and
go for a very quick opening pick, maybe to change that pace and it has really
quickly disintegrated. I hate saying this but if they don't find a kill soon I would honestly
like the CS8. Yeah, I don't disagree with that. It may not be the most exciting path
but now that Kiron has found a kill the round is suddenly a little bit more in flux. You
don't want to repeat that one, you just trust me on that Zorte is lethal and you're back
to a tree on tree and guess what that lower bomb site is suddenly occupied both by a
CT and a T side player. While that dance of death occurs underneath though, up above is
still a couples party. Who blinks first, the problem is the clock, and with Zorte rounding
the corner knowing Roman should be nearby is able to bait out Roman's position, but
the Molotov forces into Naphanie's crosshair, Naphanie doubles up and B Define 11! From
a 3 on 5 they lose not a single man!
have saw managed to lose that I mean they get given two kills effectively for
free I mean Romans one was definitely free there was a lot of writing on that
round for both of these squads arose no shell with siren but then it's it's
Chiron you know it is only his kill towards rampant even found that kill on
the lower side of the map while math it is finding these perfect times to
strike out from door it is frustration for saw in that round and
this is where you will have that timeout called. They need to iron out those creases as fast
as possible. They will not have a bye to combat this. Do not let your eyes deceive you. It
is BB that find themselves with an 11th round already added to their tally.
These are not a team that are not susceptible to losing to these types of buys, but
Yeah, you you might shortchange yourself in the most important round of the game for yourselves
They need to get value out of this if it's not
Kills and winning the round that it has to be carried over. Yeah
And you're not positioned to do that right you're not positioned with that
Let's trade off of each other in a way where two of us stay alive and run away and to be fair to them
I'm not sure how healthy the bio would have been in an S round regardless
So maybe this is the best way to get to rifles
but that's a mathematical equation I do not have the variables for
BB and the meanwhile do receive Arizona spotted and dropped that's a very cautious
approach here from BB it'll still be a pretty healthy buy from so but again you
might miss out on a Molotov on your orper sound all the extra bells and
whistles let's go from Roman and a lot of damage on to Chiron but he had
friends inside of door story does get Magno all the meanwhile and
The meteorist has snuck into the A bomb site, he's descended from heaven and they need to clear the back of this site
No, they're starting to plant and that player that covers off this planter is so low health
But he needed to start with him
It's Tyrone that gets his double story
The spam is on the money and it's Siren in a one versus one
Story round the edges that smoke and Siren needs to start thinking about that plant
The time is all the essence as a malt of available there for story as well
RETASHED! And Siren takes the fight as well! Siren has been lights out in critical moments
for BB, but none more important than that! After winning a 3 on 5, they almost lose out
to what is effectively an eco, but they keep it together. They find a matte point.
This is exactly what BB needed, and the weakness of Saw is now being showcased.
next round you didn't save those rifles you didn't get your objective out of it
and Roman is just wishing he is just looking back and hoping that oh man if
only I've been able to finish off some of those kills and some of the damage I
dealt but can you really blame him now I mean meters have the same
opportunity exactly I mean he won't obviously know which player is the low
health one but you know the player that doesn't have his gun at the ready is
That's the one you want to shoot anyway.
Yeah, and he's also the player that is most susceptible to not having his gun drawn by the time you deal with his teammate.
But it's a snap decision, and his buy is enforced.
The story will not have maltops or flashes, but he has that AWP in his possession.
The leader is playing close towards his fork outside, but the spam for Magno is right on the money.
That's one of the first times we've actually seen the leaders go for a play like it, but it's still expected.
It's something that BB know he is the guy who likes to try and make things happen when so are down and out
Well, they're not gonna be out of it if they lose this map, but they are really gonna have their chances dwindling Zortes boost will find him
No opponents to contend with Roman
Lies in wait. He'll be the first man to make contact and contact has not come with kills a
A flash to delay, but both sides still vulnerable and you jerks make the lower one less so, but
look at this, Arasdosh.
Will the position be revealed?
The legs are certainly spotted, and an incendiary at the feet of Kyron, but he's moved past.
He's behind Arasdosh, a dink at the verliest guarantees more damage, and Kyron will fall.
Story comes in with another one.
They're not done with this one yet.
The bomb attempting to be planted, and there's no one to interrupt, but with
Roman flanking.
This has to be a kill and he's found it.
It's the in-game leader.
Nafini trying to play into the heads of Saw and he's going for a crazy play.
He gives up the sight.
Saw will not anticipate such an outrageous move, but he has cut all sound.
He is a ghost.
Okay.
And they are chasing absolutely nothing.
Nafini sees that first.
He sees him on the defense, but he didn't realize the story is right beneath him.
Story goes out and doesn't even see Nafity himself.
It's the in-game leader that pulls through and now you start to see the light shine in the eyes of BB.
They realize that this is now a series that is on entirely a full best of threes, still to play.
And it all now lies on ancient map that our desk outline that saw have also had shaky ground on at times.
It is not going to get easier from here.
It is only going to continue to be struggles, but still there's a chance for them to ring it together.
Agarra has said, will they take that chance?
I'm not sure about that, but what we will do is we'll go right back to the beginning of this.
I mean, we've spoken so much about what Thor has done on Nuke.
We've spoken so much about the level of opposition that they've been able to beat.
It was their match to lose and they lost it.
And there was so many little mistakes that they were having along the way that I think
kind of led to the situation we're in now, which is the fact that they've allowed BVT
to even out this series.
Yeah, I feel like a lot of the things they were saying at the end of the last new map
were like, oh, we haven't felt that good here.
They started to come through as we were watching this match unfold, in particular towards
the end on their CT side.
I mean, they just weren't aware, one, when Story was trying to go for that
1v1 clutch on the eco.
really felt like he should have had that and then he peeks too soon around the
corner with a Molotov in the sense of not even ready to take a fight just a
Molotov out even though he didn't hear the bomb being planted I'm sure it wasn't
even baited out so that was very very strange in terms of the decision there
and he gets shot before the bomb is even down to dirt very very odd stuff from
from saw so we do know that Mike he's had a chance to chat to the
coaches he's on the stage right now in Atlanta tell us what did they have to
say after that I'll tell you they were much happier in the BB camp caught
some quick words from the other B Barry. He said that you know just a couple
later on situations getting away from them they'll have to look at it but he's
still very confident in the preparation going into ancient still very confident
that they've got all the maps locked in. So Saul remaining confident but some
rays of sunshine there in the BB camp Sam. Definitely some rays of sunshine. BB
team looks revitalized. Yeah I feel like their energy levels it kind of
exploded especially when they got on their T side on CT. I feel like
they were taking fights that weren't needed. They were really not isolating 1v1s. They were
trying to click heads just like they were saying in the pre-interview. They're like,
oh, let's just try and kill. But once they got to their T side, it felt like they started
playing together as a team a lot more and letting Naphany kind of do some really wacky
plays as well.
What did you think that I mean, let's go right back to the beginning. If you have
to break this down, where was it going right for BB team?
Honestly, just the fact that they stayed in it right in that first half of action
And we're going back and forth from between just getting some nice round victories and finding the momentum during the force by period
So you felt like they were staying in it back and forth eventually saw did get that momentum and and carried it forward for a lead
Into that second half, but I think there was enough juice there for BB team to build off of as they went to the second
So in that first half though, you do have a specific ground that you want to hide
I walk us through what we're looking at and why you feel it's an important one to double check
Yeah, so for me this is where I felt like saw we're gonna take things over right there was a tough moment for them
And just charge in and you get a beautiful 3k from Roman coming through and they just like the tech 9 and the ak the ak for
Roman as well on story supporting with the tech just beautiful blitz onto the ace site and
Taking control of it getting that bomb plant winning the round and after that
It's just BB team right on back and that they managed to get things rolling for them once more
So I thought that would be a difference maker of around but it ended up just falling flat afterwards because BB team continued to put
the pressure on. Do you think baby team can keep going though with the momentum that we've seen?
Because it felt very up and down during the course of new grads. Yeah, it definitely was. And I think
that saw was like Barry was saying like struggling with some decision making in the late round,
especially in the post plans. Those last two rounds were just unfortunately for them,
not the greatest decision making, not the greatest comms too, because you lose a player and stories
on the side. He's out of view from I believe was Nafini at the last last man standing,
But he doesn't even like say where did you get shot from where did you get killed?
It just goes straight to the bomb be lines for it doesn't look around to try and find the fight
Just weird stuff happening like I was saying for saw and that's where I think things went wrong for them
Just those little details in their CT side, which is usually quite strong. I feel like both teams though are kind of questionable up in the air
I feel like they both have the same struggles and difficulties and also strengths on their CT and T side
But ancient going to ancient
And I feel like it's more on saw side because they have a little bit more on their laurels
or a little bit more top rated BB.
They feel very up and down with their mental with their aiming ability and just their out
thinking out move out maneuvering ability.
And Nafini, this is the first time that I think we've really seen him and it was
this map and it is it too late, honestly.
I don't know.
I mean, personally, I think that there's still very much hope here for BB team to
come through and take this series.
I think they should I don't know I don't know what the answer is to that and will they be able to beat anyone in the playoffs
I have my doubts, but right here right now in this moment
They've got some momentum going into map number three and a chance to get the upset victory
Was there another example of a time where you felt like one of these teams was kind of
Showcasing what they could the level that they could potentially reach
I would say if you're talking about rounds Sam around 21 was a was a really good example
example, honestly, where you had two players trying to run into the A site immediately and
then it gets shut down by soft. But then there was this recovery afterwards, a fantastic response.
Nathany in particular gets a 2K going down in towards, I believe it was the B site if
I'm not mistaken. But no, actually excuse me, towards A. But either way, it's just
a great recovery in a round where they faced adversity. So that's also a good thing because
BB Team has shown like once they're losing the rounds, once they get into situations
where that man disadvantage situations they just fall apart and crumble this
time they don't they lift themselves up and it's thanks to their IGL who's
leading by example. We're gonna be facing off on ancient that is gonna be the
decider one of the things that I kind of liked about BB team and I'm curious if
you felt the same. Do you think some of those those more risky plays that we
saw I mean we saw from NAFNI right at the end there are you expecting more of
that from them because to me that kind of it read as confidence that they
were starting to feel a little bit confidence in their firing power. I
I feel like they need that, especially on Ancient, where it's so, so structured from
CT and T-Side.
If they come out of the gate, do something wacky, make Saw a little bit more nervous
than we have seen them in the past.
I feel like their confidence has been up and down through the roof and sometimes just
very, very low.
If they're able to kind of catch them off kilter and just get a couple rounds in,
especially on T-Side, it definitely could go in BB Team's favor, but I don't know.
I think Saw have the ability to shut it down.
They have a really really good opera. Moutur is crazy as well in mid
So I think it's probably gonna go more towards saw yeah
I think story has been very very sharp throughout the series even on you great
Even though they lose the map he still had some fantastic moments for his squad
So I feel like I agree. I think that saw it will still have the edge
But you cannot count BBT mouth since we've gone to map three
One more spot in the semi-finals remains two teams though remain on the stage by the end of ancients
only one will be left standing and they will be heading to our semi-finals.
We'll find out who that's going to be in a little bit, but first quick break.
It's pretty hard to be really consistent. Even if they have to, they can beat some good tier one
teams. It's pretty hard to play versus teams like we are, for example, because we have like
pretty good level, but we're not consistent at all. Especially in this tournament, here are
a lot of teams like that, M80 for example. I mean every team can beat everyone and that's how it
has to be. Slated as tournament favorite, Saul might find themselves knocked out in the group stage
itself. Everyone thought, hey it's just the best of one, the FlyQuest. What could it matter?
But the Dominos are falling and they need to stop before the last one does. Could BB Team
be the one to provide burial to Saul? Yeah, both of these teams struggling versus the
All these of all things that not even the policy team that have always looked like they have their chickens in order
So to speak, but they really came to play here in Atlanta
They enjoy a day off one of soul and bet and BB to find themselves duking it out into the late hours
Just to see if they can make a playoff birth
An ancient is what decides it an ancient which honestly for saw has been a little bit shaky as of late for
the BB team as well. I have to say their numbers might not reflect it, but sometimes
gameplay does. Aaron Storch, however, is not looking shaky at all. And if you want to make
a statement, that's how.
Yeah, Dually straight away, this pistol finding three, and this round barely got off the ground.
Naphany, for some reason, has gone completely unchecked, unclear for. He does find two
for free, but story makes sure this round doesn't get any more hairy than that. A
a lovely triple kill to start off the game in this final map to figure out who finds themselves in the playoffs.
And this is the one thing that I will give to Saul, which is that they are not going to just completely lose their pool because they've lost their map pick, right?
There was a lot of mistakes where you can look back and say, you know, we were kind of in favor, right?
You know, we lost some 5v3s over here. We lost some situations where it felt like the round was in our pocket already, and then maybe we just got pick pocketed.
Yeah, it's not like they didn't have chances to close that game, but they just need to make sure that they that doesn't affect them coming into this last map and yeah that
First round is certainly a statement some nice kills from you jerks as well to deal with this anti eco
Magno does get his hands on an MP9 and fights his hands on a secondary kill cannot
Even think about moving in for a bomb plant getting a crunched in by muterus
So losing a couple players saw at least stop with that round from getting again a little precarious
And I was talking to John. I mean that's grt. I call him John because we're cool like that
Okay, but I was talking to John earlier on and one of the things that I will say is reassuring
But saw even in their loss is that Roman was doing well and Roman is an incredibly crucial part of their CT side defense
because as a cave flare he isn't the highest fragging individual right and and it feels like sometimes that is your cave flare, but
Regardless if he's coming in and coming alive
He he managed to put up with some very good early round fresher as well
And that's what it normally late run but early on Chiron has found an arrow as large with his back turn and Roman is now called in
Very early not for me. I just spray it practically by accident
I mean he did intentionally, but I mean it's just pure instinct that takes over. Oh my goodness
And they've lost the forward play there from you jerks as well
trying to take space back on ramp story does get his kill in dealing with magno and red bomb is still very far away from this
Be bomb slide, but I mean the round is done. It's all just get picked to pieces
That seemed like miscommunication
Muterus was there to accompany our old story inside of that mid control and just as he started to fall back
Or else not just still scaling so he can't actually clear both ahead of him and behind simultaneously
Very strange for sure. Yeah, I think meter is maybe just getting ahead of the play
It's also the fact that while new dress is backing off. He isn't watching it. Yes. Yeah
Right like you can scale back, but still be I didn't already rounded it with the corner into doughnut
So even if you wanted to it really was very accelerating
Yeah, and you know what these fast rounds are exactly what we're kind of hoping to see more of oh, I mean, you know
I love that you're sort of pinpointing Roman as well because whether or not it's
Magno with maybe a slightly different look. You know, he's often the mid control guy for this team
But it could be Kyron. It could be sortie coming out with you with an AWP could be naffini as well with an SMG or
You know trying to throw in different levels of babies. I'm not even in the server
No, there's there's so many different threats to Roman in particular on in his position that
His performance will be pivotal
He says walks into a guillotine. Yeah, it's crazy
Well listen, they still have equipment.
They still have some hope to make sure that that was only a small mistake, but the Molotov
at his feet is not able to make the jump, and again some bumping bodies in the middle
and stories have been left all alone.
That's where he falls.
This is exactly what we saw in the last round, but it's slightly more intentional.
I suppose Murus at least does quickly fight back in the double man setup and Donut
was hoping to make it 2 on 1 versus Magno and realizing that Magno's back off.
You know, the way that we're sort of forecasting the threats to Roman, maybe that's even the
why they're starting to prioritize just getting that player ascended. It's not like it's uncommon
for CTs, but you really do want to try and help Roman where you can. You don't want
it to give that isolated fight every time. But yeah, the counter-actions by BB have
been great. They're breaking past that elbow smoke, so rapidly the flash from B is often
facilitating. It's still a 4 on 4, probably even setting up a nice little crossfire inside
of caves, so even if they lose the B bomb site, they will have this as an attack avenue
for the retake. Now listen, Nafini does have a grenade, which could make this a little
bit worse, but they don't want to reveal positions at this time in the round, right?
The problem is, even if they don't, so I'll have four players on this B bomb site.
You're walking into a guaranteed stack and now that this tax going for information
I don't think Roman was spotted turning back. He was was he talking for it at the very least so regardless of info
Zorke and siren still make quick work on the bomb site
Yeah, I mean saw definitely had the players in the right side of the map
But you could tell that they get a little bit antsy with how limited the information is the the fact that bb
Just simply stop freeze wait for that 30 second mark and are ready to actually punish the reaggression given that they
They find this kill so quickly even with muta is answering back
They they want to be able to get eyes on a player or at least some presence from BB that they just simply weren't willing to give on over
They are all singing the same tune here on BB
No one is over stretching and it's rounds like that that are also honestly really
demoralizing we've got four players on the correct bomb site where you feel like you've made all the right calls
But you just get shot down and those are exactly the kind of rounds
Which you're always at risk against players like the ones that BB team have yeah
And you know it's why when we came to this event it really did feel like an event where anyone could be anyone
I think that's an even sense so much in his interview just before we went to this game just this idea that
There is no team that has figured absolutely everything out
Sure, we will tout so as the favorites given the way they start each of the seasons this year
but
Clearly some growing pains
And one of the things I like what BB is that so far they've actually gone for a pretty accelerated rate of play an entry
He just taps him and then walks away
But BB ideas the pro league what we saw out of them was a much lower base of play where players were second-guessing themselves a lot
Hmm and it was very clear on the server even after they sometimes would get like a man advantage because you know
You know like a zortay or a kairon is able to find an early kill
They just pause too long or one player commits the rest of them aren't really there with him
So this faster pace of play does sort of bridge the
communication issues that can pop up and listen if you've got yourself the
Chiron way waving its fist about this early on if you've got yourself a little bit of goomba storm possibility
I mean, I'm not sure if I'm
going to be. What game, guys,
but thanks for being here anyway.
Love the costumes. But no, I
don't disagree. You know, there's
also I love this anecdote that I
have about Adam 9 130 used to
be an Indian leader for the UK
scene and but also had a lot of
players that like to go for
crazy plays and more stars on
their own respective UK teams.
At certain points, you just do
have to tell everybody to
shut up, stop and freeze
because everybody wants to be
And you know BBR not shy from from taking fights like that
So I imagine the conversation is almost even similar in there. Hmm like like the phenomena I can do this
I can do that. Can you just shut up? Yeah, I know you can do all these things, but no
Let's talk about how what we are going to do. Yeah, and look
Credit to them. It does feel like they right now at the very least they have been fighting a happy little middle ground
Can they continue to tread the title?
Yeah, it'll be very... I mean, it has been a pretty taxing series for both these teams
both losing their own respective maps and both feeding, I mean, big advantages while
they were losing, they were losing in those losing efforts.
No, they should have won rounds that they didn't.
Ujerk's early damage being received. Looks like a grenade being deployed.
This time BB used two smokes to take mid control as well, so they weren't trying
to go for a third as well. But the idea that they had gone for these faster accelerated
quick flash plays, they know that Saur are likely to make an adaptation and Saur are
respecting the fact that Bb can take that mid control. But Muturus does have a gap around
this red smoke and actually, oh my goodness, Kyra turned at the right time. Just as Muturus
went for the swing, he was oddly very prepared for that duel.
On one end, I'd like to think that that's a program. On the other end, they did also
miss a red smoke before they deployed the right one right side I don't really know
which side I follow Matt. Still saw our reinforcing the B bomb site and that's
what BB is leaning towards as well. Look at the patience. Yeah. Zortenos exactly
was coming in his way he's picked up only the one but that's enough. Maintains
advantage and the bomb is starting to make its way back over towards the A
bomb site. You denied them from pushing for more and Magnojes in the
meanwhile is also looking to put a little bit more pressure out into cave.
That means that rotations will be very far away and with arrows rush missing the first bullet. There is no chance of a assault
Yeah, he was always gonna be on an island you got that smoked out into words though
Not and even that was imperfect
There was a gap around the edge of it that he had to be conscious of but he wanted to reposition and maybe even clear towards a main
But and a timing on the burst there for BB is
very well put
Maffin as well will remove one of these rifles in souls attempt to save
But money is continuing to build here for this BB side even if we see a resurgence here from the Portuguese
it's
Really gonna be it's gonna have to be changed rounds of success and
At the moment, I'm not sure that they know how to create a solution when when BB are playing a lot slower to the pace
I guess to a different tune than we would have expected
They're very stop start start
What are the cool things about?
the saw side ever since Barry has joined in fact is it it's kind of an ego like I
could talk about this one the cool things is that we actually saw a
re-prioritization on CT side of who's going to go for aggression very really
streamlined and Romans found a nade kill and he's pushing forward with a 5-7 he
doesn't find a frag so maybe we put this on pause for a while because mid
control has been established and although BB have shown that they're
Comfortable playing slow, playing slow can also lead into some interesting timing from pistols.
So, Zorte trying to line up for the little pixel gap inside of Cheetah, but in the recent update, that was taken away.
Sorry, Zorte. Same as Anubis.
For the best.
Pixel gaps are never fun.
Yeah, hard to counteract, too, but...
Zorte will have quite a lot on his plate if he's supposed to link up with these players in an attempt to go towards B.
5-7 around the corner. It's very scary, but Zork is not scared at all. Yeah, really nice timing on that
Especially with his teammate sticking contact up from ramp Roman was not going to just simply sit on by while the site was
See big huge hurts a lovely shot
But too many angles to clear out Zork didn't carry on what combined for a couple as that plant goes through
And now only at Osdosh that remains a one-on-three where his best prospect is getting away with a rifle somehow
It'll be difficult to get there
especially considering just backing off damage I guess would be nice if you
ignore the fact that BB does also have a ridiculous amount of money being built up
at this phase but yeah he'll say we can find but first all what Barry did really
streamline is who's going to go for safety side opening kills they went
from a very interesting standard deviation that was very low right so
what that means is that all of the players went for opening kills at almost
around the same attempt rate. Everyone was involved early on pretty much equally. It felt like
no one was designated on the CT side to have that. But ever since Barriers come in,
Ujerks and Story have risen massively, right? Ujerks and Story both have like a 25% attempt rate.
Everyone else is way down below. So that's normally who you're looking out
towards to make things happen. But in a map like Ancient, it switches over a lot more.
Mutors ends up being one of the big focuses and I do think that awkwardness is one of the
reasons why they've not really found their footing on ancient the same way where they might have on other maps where on one end
You've been trying to adjust your role so that two of your star players are the ones taking deals
But on the other you're also still reliant on muturists because his position on mid is so influential on a map like ancient
It's one of the rare places where I think there's actually been sort of this internal
Not exactly conflict but internal strife and philosophies
Yeah, if I'm gonna try and hammer home a particular idea and then there's one map
that's the exception then it's yeah it's gonna be tough to to make that work is
streamlined as maybe some of your other maps that is definitely interesting as
a G BB trying to round the corner and meter is cannot control for a car on
getting to from just that one a T of the blow the smoke they find a flurry of
frags again so are falling flat here on the final map in this series Roman
will try his hand that it does find a kill but not for me even with the
The blooming at the feet of Roman does get his hands on that head
Karen does have a bomb
But I think they're worried about story being ahead of the rotation
Nafini is trying to contain but he might have been within earshot to a third at least a step of story
Nafini's pumped the brakes. He knows
I feel like the break breaks have very much been pumped on all of saw in general
that. Yeah, I mean, they win
the pistol in the conversion.
They lose two players in both
those rounds, but ever since
it's been investment, I mean,
mid has been a liability. We
see the regressions that store
trying to compensate with
they're getting caught as well.
These the initial look from
store and the counteractions
definitely worse for where,
but you can see Kyron. He
started with this series with
map, but you can tell that the light is back in their eyes. It's back on the server as well
forth and they see everything. It feels like they just know what's going to happen. Six
in a row is pretty nuts for BB Team. And no intention of stopping over here, applicants
is forced by as well. Early damage being dealt, Magno doesn't feel too good about
jumping up to receive that grenade. Never feels good to header an explosive. And
And first of all, the problem is that to actually do something about this really slow-paced style
that BB are going for, either you find an early kill or you play so passively that retaking
areas of the map is your only option.
And both of those seem really hard right now.
Yeah, and BB, it's not as if they're unwilling to go for dry fights and when you're holding
those angles, it can sometimes work to your favour, especially with the way the lights
end up working in your favour on the CT side.
plays can be trumped. Maybe a round like this could be a way that Sol start to spark a comeback
here on this defensive effort. Smoke is down in the time, but a lovely kill from Siren.
That's nice. He just mantled up and immediately fall over that smoke. Sory will be unclear
for it. The one kill that he wanted to get, still empty-handed, and it's a desperate
attempt through the smoke. It's a complete decimation.
This is not a time for fracking, this is a time for thinking.
Thinking about what the hell am I going to do to bring this back?
It's the next round which all of Soar's hopes and expectations honestly rely on this round.
It's fine if you're able to climb back to five, it's okay for a CT side on ancient,
but if VB gets eight, if VB aren't able to threaten for nine?
Yeah, you would be extremely nervous.
And this is the thing, you know, when we put into context this game shows us Sol's first best of three here in ESL Challenger Atlanta.
Of course, they went through the upper side of the bracket as best of ones to make it all the way through. They fought a fly quest.
But BB, this is our second best of three today.
You know, if we're going to talk about losing energy or tuckering out, BB were maybe the ones with more reasons for that to have happened.
BB have also found the infinite money bug of Counter-Strike very clearly.
They've got so much cash.
This round is, like you said, critically important.
And so have elected to go for the retake strategy instead of early aggression.
You can see that, but the utility you have to try and commit to it is limited at best.
And so what times do you give that control away and what times do you investigate?
Because, I mean, they've been getting caught on those investigations.
A good spam from Ujerx to have found a kill.
He does at least get away with his life.
He's another player that can be a nuisance on B. The elevation from Magno, that's not even your main AWPer.
A fantastic Peep, and Peek right into Dona, and Kairon will even take the space.
Yeah, he's been smoked off as well, even if they know he's there, it's not like they're considering him a factor.
They know a huge difference, while he was spotted, so Kairon's able to adjust fantastic comms from BV right now.
Coming through, and Murus and Roman look like they're really only going to have the choice of saving.
You got a blind entry pretty much, but maybe it's not the save that's on the menu.
They found the hidden dish and it is trying to go for it, but...
Always a danger to try the chef special. Can he actually execute on it?
Neuters with the AWP will be able to cover off Naphany, but there's a clear path of retreat and an even clear...
Oh no! That's massive!
That could be the difference maker over here.
They haven't been able to recover the kit that they bought coming into this, but I think it was in donor.
Yeah, it's probably L on their way, but
Even with the Molotov mishap the the round is just too far. Got it
They're a little slow going in through doughnut and naffety just delaying inside of the site
Even though he was offering up a duel was certainly a problem and sure though kill naffety on the exit
But again money is no issue here for BB. This is
Kind of crazy
Because like honestly, I really like the setup this time after they get the first kill
I'll be honest. I've got extra and I didn't even see Magnum coming
Get out so television into the idea of Cairo peeking down from underneath because that has been the consistent way that they've been going for
And it's all about when you give away position when you rotate how how how safe do you truly play it because I think BB
Is well clocked in on that round that no, they're not gonna give us fights. Let's let's look for them
And even with them losing Zorta for free through the wall. They were more than happy to oblige just a quick reroute
And like I said, the comms were very clear.
You know, Meter's got a kill through red, but they just smoked it off.
It's not like he's going to jump straight through that.
The last thing you want to do is seed over an advantage just as D.B. are starting to
make their move.
But I think Saul looked a little stumped.
They have not been able to deliver.
It is still a pretty equal distribution.
Sure, Robin has seven kills, but rounds are far more important now.
We had a rose nose start the game with three kills on the dualies and he is a critical
component to this attack, or rather to the defensive stall.
Mutaris a nice opener but there's trades right back and Roman and Rose Nose have continued
to apply that pressure.
Now it looks good for Saul.
This is old school Mutaris.
This is exactly what you would expect to see from him coming through where he's the
one climbing up the ladder and getting aggressive immediately trying to face down into the
B lane.
And maybe this is what they need.
that second gear that turned back turning back time to a place where honestly they did feel a little bit more confident on the map
But even if this ends 8-4 now
You are gonna be satisfied
Stated from this attack
Four rounds would just be a straw when you're out deep sea diving
But at least it's a straw at least its oxygen and they still look to find it
Yeah, I mean with the way that be you were playing the opening rounds as the first time we've seen so I guess go back to that sort of early aggressive maneuver on the on the CT side looking to
scale up towards ledge threatened and actually control away the b-lane and
Critically so hit their shots as well when they're presented those opportunities
Is it gonna be a little bit more of the same?
Molotov's grenades, it's a double Molotov actually for the CT side
It's the smoke from T's to block them off and Roman who's trying to threaten out some early aggression off his own
We'll not be able to start on Anthony, but Anthony misses his shots and Roman gets opportunity number two.
Saw are fighting indeed. They're not out of this one yet
One versus five now here for siren first kill is nice
But bomb is over in that B lane and you know, Saw are gonna start to try and contain him
Sorry hasn't pinned to position so it's at least four for Saw on that defense
But they're gonna need so much more. This could be the last time the Portuguese
It's played here in Atlanta.
in the double kill, and it's story that doesn't respond in kind. They breach into this B bomb
site, they still have a mid look to consider, but Kairon is stopping the B side assault.
Arosthosh doesn't commit to the plant, and so this flank from Muterus, it is just going
to be far too late, he has to do it all.
They're still not considering him to have come over this way. Now Naphany goes back
and tracks right, he gets ahead of me. That's kind of strange from Sol when Muterus
has found that much space, the fact that they aren't really waiting for him to
pair up with them but maybe just hoping that it's only one player inside cheetah not expecting all three of them to be there
I mean there were four players ready and rearing to go. They said one player towards long. They just wanted that fight
They had a hard read on the sole pistol
bb doing their homework ahead of time kairon clearly elated
Oh my god the knots don't stop
Yeah, they're feeling the groove now
I've never seen this many of Kairon's teeth until now
But you saw as well as soon as it came to a one-on-three
You see the the cam of of Muturus and he's probably just thinking where did it all go?
How did they read that so perfectly?
It's times like that when I said IGL especially it's like I'm
Having a good day. Yeah
Cold ahead of me. Not a good feeling to be had again might I remind everyone at home?
So, it was not just a favorite, they were THE favorite for this entire event.
Yeah, and it also means that when we were on that nuke as well, you know, if you were
going to do homework about SOAR on any map, it was probably going to be that one.
And I mean, for SOAR, it's just looking so shaky because from idea to idea, there
are so many contingencies in place there for BB, sometimes the contingency is just
We have the guys that will rip your head clean off and it took them a while to get engaged in this series
But for map 2 to 3 they have
Really shown sore that I warmed up into it
And the ancient shivers are not going to stop you're gonna be down 4 to 10 over here
That seems pretty insurmountable
Yeah, it becomes this question about whether or not it's even worth considering going for a force by one
the deficit is already the way that it is but so we're gonna keep to their true
form wait for weapons is blocks across the board a rose bush and Roman do make
some investments I'm hoping that the arrows people find something but empty
handed it's long distance by firing the SMGs close the gap and Roman
decimated by a grenade not a single frag found from the limited
investment there from salt but they look to turn the tide now that they're
on guns but BB are already at double digits they they need three more to close
out this map as this series and find themselves in the playoffs it really is
just this one round but honestly it feels like even that one might be a
little bit of a foregone conclusion so have so much to do before they can
convince us that they're really in it but look at what they have a UMP to
MP9s and BB this is
Gonna be countered out with zero utility from sauce with so hard to actually stop these guys from making a play
They just am just gonna be very active and even if what so want to play a slower round
They're going to have to consider all possibilities
You see siren probing towards that a side, but timings could get weird uterus rounding the corner
It's a lot of damage done to him, but he does handle sirens aggression
now they will have smokes and Molotovs for a sight hit but they will have no
flashes to make their job that much easier they can simply eliminate angles
as they move in and they move towards the man with the hot hand yeah on BB we
had the injury before about whether or not he'd pop off and he has been and
without the flashes it really does feel like it's going to be his time to farm
spots out the first Iris Josh is pulled out of the server and damage on
second and with the smoke underneath him he can just back off. The grenades aren't going to find the
weakened player but it does weaken up some of Saw. Look at the HP's on this D-Sign.
Kiron continues to push forward. Looking for U-Jerkz. Will have forced out the fight but it's
Tori to be the one to truly take it. They know U-Jerkz is nearby but Tori continues to let
him be baited and Nathalie now accelerating forward hoping the MP9 will provide velocity
but it has only provided death.
Saw will take the round away despite what looked like dire circumstance.
That is such a cute play there from Story in Ujjurks.
I mean, Ujjurks just continually baiting with his shadow back and forth around that light,
and then Story just peeking just as Ujjurks is about to be swung.
That is, I guess, a small little bit of chemistry between them in that moment,
even with Kairon actually mounting a pretty solid defense.
Just finding that kill, like you said, all that extra damage as well,
Well, given that they're SMG still in play, that round could have gone very ugly for Saul.
But I think Karon was maybe expecting a little bit more of a fleet-footed approach by the rest of BB.
You know that pressure is mounting when timeouts are being called.
Successively.
Yes.
You don't want to make that critical mistake, not when your life is on the line.
Life and reputation both, honestly.
3 to reinforce B and Story will have low key at the first contest, but not be able to really truly do so.
Zorta is taking a lot of damage, but Nappany and Zorta is found too.
In fact, this B site stack is really just done more than it's job saw.
Fall apart before they even have a chance to set up.
As soon as that ult is out, I mean Zorta is here to play.
Meters is not moving healthy either and both of these remaining soul players are on the extremes.
one on B. One on a meter is
is trying his best to create a
chance, but timing's poor.
Siren just jiggling back and
forth on the angle. And this is
not looking too good here for
those those spotted. They go to
the double swing and Tyron will
even move in for the crunch
and 11th found and it is
looking dire now saw. It
sustained a lot of damage. They
age for this hit they just get picked apart by the all
man don't just hate it when Zorty does that it's just about the worst thing that could have happened
when it rains it really does pour right now and so are flooded running through the incendiary is
roman a knave to try and chase boss but roman's been traded immediately that opening pick
doesn't give them an advantage for more than a second smoked off and looking to reposition
is Zortay. At least now he might still be able to make it to be in time. Magno trying to
fall back now for recovering the retreat but it's Meteris that deals with the opposing
in-game leader. Magno just encrunched in from both sides as he looks one way, he's shot
from another and Kairon very fast on his approach. That M4 does not shoot straight
while running and so now Zortay will run the other way.
It's nice that Zor at least are able to put up some rounds but the problem is
trading is just not an option when you're in such a deficit. You need to see them being
paired together. Another good thing is you clearly still have players who are willing
to be proactive. Arisdorsh is having a poor game. Eudras is not having a fantastic map
either. I think it's just important as well on this T side that so get the juices flowing.
At certain points they were maybe too sedentary on that CT side after they got humbled
very quickly at the start of the defense so for them it's maybe just about getting that extra
confidence of when we swing we will kill them you have to have that level of approach otherwise if
you if you continually play backs and bb will just keep you alive just getting the heart rate in
order don't know if you have a road long enough to get the cardio and necessary to do that though
it's not like uh there's any reason for bb to cool down it's a road with a lot of potholes yeah
But this one at least should be slightly smoother, at least on paper, right?
That's the MP9, that's the FAMAS, that's a lot of flashes in middle, and Arrows doors
finding one, MuteRus making it two.
Excellent double entry, and it should be a few more kills, so the CTs don't even really
have much to try and turn back to save.
That's why they're going to recommit into Red Room, and Naphony brings it only slightly
back, even recovers the weapon.
Yeah, that's really big for them as well.
He's gonna look to try and reinforce Magnazes, but just trying to play ahead of all
of all the spells he has Magno.
Maphany caught behind one.
Great clear from George, so...
First the great flashes out through mid as you saw Zortay's indecision about whether to retreat to Donut or actually stick around and get his one.
But...
So we're starting to push...
Be- uh, or- it's BB away from that mid control much the same as to what happened in the first half.
Yeah, saving an MP9 doesn't feel great.
It's what he's got.
Maybe it can be converted into an AK in the next round, let's see.
I think regardless of how you feel so have performed at this tournament, it is always
good to see that there is no despair crossing their faces.
And maybe you have a blank stare or two, but they're not getting wrapped up in their
feelings.
There's always words to be had.
Sure.
They're a team that talk it out.
I mean, especially when you think about their comeuppance as a Portuguese core
of younger players that preceded the old core of the best organization within the Portuguese
region.
And to then be joined by those veterans, you know, there's a lot of making sure that they
grow from every experience as well.
And here's the thing, despite so much recent success, one of the things that we have to
keep in mind is that this wouldn't be the first time where the younger players did
shut down a little bit in the early rounds, right?
So, Roman and Merus are no strangers in, you know, hiking up their sleeves, getting those
elbows dirty, getting some grease out on them, and then just taking the fights themselves
until the young ones come alive.
Now, it's not easy to do versus BB Team.
It's not easy to do versus the firepower that has been showcased since map number one.
Anubis might not have looked amazing from BB, but that's not to say that they didn't
have flashes of individual brilliance even on that.
And it's not to say that BB can simply sit on their laurels as well, given the lead that they got their hands on.
If Soar starts to really focus in and get these rounds together, then before they know it, this map could go a lot longer than BB may have forecasted.
Okay, Nearest is just checking just in case.
Soar has been very fortunate about some kills through the smoke, that one may be a little bit more expected.
Yeah, well, BB liked to play around smoke stuff, they so...
This may be hyper-conscious of those possibilities.
That's not great.
Exactly what BB wanted, and they get their hands on another rifle, so if those three on three AKs are covered,
our Oztosh doesn't eliminate one.
And the Molotov pushes Zortay right back into Cheetah, so they know his position over here as well.
Nathany, though, if he finds his one on one, it could work for him,
but Aris Dosh continues to be Mr. Insurance's plan himself.
He's going to call you up and regardless of whether you want to talk to him or not, he's going to sell you some insurance.
Right. The deficit is now within three.
Three more rounds and they are tied up here with BB CT side issues for both these teams.
And maybe it's too early to say it's issues for BB, but definitely liking the assertiveness of Soar.
It's a good change for sure.
Is it going to continue or do they want to add another dimension?
That's also the other thing you always are kind of overthinking in your head.
What is the point of it to change? Is it after a loss or is it preemptive?
You jerk's early damage doesn't make him feel too happy about this round already.
And despite the fact that BV do have the body coming out, remember, they don't have 8 of the pieces.
Horta is somewhat mitigated just naturally.
And this B-side defense might be a little bit weaker as a result of that as well.
But look at what they're doing. They're completely vacating mid and they're pushing out on the A side
This is going to let them have a duel versus Arrasdorsk, but it might come too late
Nidus is already on the bomb set and he's found a critical kill. Naphne's demise isolates out Magnoj's
And that's what Roman was looking to punish and that's exactly what comes through and Arrasdorsk
Be able to locate these pushing players even finding both kills means that Bibi will not save a single map
That's one of those worrying rounds that you have to be really looking out on the side of Bibi
you have your players in a position. They're going for a driving play through the through
a main and just as they go and decide to do that. So also pull the trigger on that B side execute
a lovely entry from uterus. But as soon as they dealt with naffety, they knew to lock in on magno.
If naffety is going to be playing as deep as that, uh, magno is not going to be nearby enough
that he could have actually provided immediate assistance. Oh dear. In a collision course,
in absolute collision course to these pistols.
Story does answer back, but Siren has crossed that gap
and has that 5-7 in play. It's close range angles,
but a rose version story keep a handle on things.
Thank God. That was very much an odd like this moment,
but saw keep their cool and keep their members alive.
Story will shut things down with three,
and although they might be anti-ecos,
honestly, they were really necessary.
But that's a round to be forgotten,
And this might be a round to remember
Yeah, there's a buy coming now for for BV a
Final stand before having to concede an 11th
They get themselves close
Zorty has an op this time now as well. So you are fully equipped. They are going to be no excuses of a hair and
So know that as well. This is their biggest hurdle in the comeback. They are so close
They've made themselves relevant, but relevance will not matter if you fault their hair.
It's a really good molly there for Roman as well. We'll keep Magno back.
Again, they've lost so many active players here on BB. If you are able to contain them into their spots,
suddenly these executes become a lot more threatening.
That's what Saurabh been trying to build into these late rounds with.
Magno heard those jump spots from Roman and he really wants to try and aggress forward.
Is there a setup to let him do that? Zorka doesn't have a flashbang,
So going out they're gonna have to push through a smoke and that's a deep smoke
So at the very least it gives you a large potential, but you don't have any mid presence over here
That's what story is watching out for is also a lack of yeah
The just these lack of smoke so it's mean you have to play a little bit more off angles or play together
Maybe set up for flash plays
No idea about what's going on in the map right now either Romans made so much noise consistently
But beyond that they have no information
So they can't really move away from this B site the only ones who can go for information are these cave players
And they'll still have to contend with Roman Magno will be taking out immediately that is critical
But the A site rotation been called for Kyron
Nathalie will be able to trade and find out that there is no one else here
It's time to commit and so we'll be going in and they go in with successive headshots
That is beautiful and that means baby have to turn back and save
Okay, now we're really talking this all have been able to
successively get now a sixth round straight an
to be able to do that. An 11 to
five score line and we're
thinking BB may have just done
it. They may have broken soul,
but they rebuild at the right
moments. They get their hands on
weapons. They are assertive. They
take fights. They are willing
to take individual duels against
a BB team that have been
winning a lot of those head to
heads. And in the attempt to
save BB will lose one of their
That may have been a step too far.
They will be very satisfied if this all comes out
of Zortay's hands.
A nice nose poke there from Zortay because I have bullets.
And you just guns him down with the glock
that is absolutely worth it.
And Michael, maybe there is a conversation
to be had about something.
I don't think you've said on air yet,
but you have mentioned to us behind the green room,
right, which is that BB have had question marks
around their CT side.
And it is very clearly visible right now.
And you can see adaptations in the way
that they played in Nubis earlier on.
even in this series alone, but I think it's so different to make changes on maps where
you've played it at least once at this tournament, you see the weakness and you can make that
adaptation, but when you're flying a little bit more blind, yeah, it becomes more complicated
then you go for the force buy, then you want two rounds at this to at least get themselves
re-engaged.
Story and Ujerx though are able to quell the initial flames of BB.
At this rate, overtime might not even be needed.
Completely expected as well. You see story playing so much more defensively because he's worried about a faster push
It could have just been pistols are half by right that might also be what story is watching out for but with BBs by being what it is
It just ends up working perfectly
But still that doesn't mean there isn't threat available the 5-7 can be
Destructive at these close ranges and there's two players should try and fight up against
Zorty gets one and with a knife in the hand of Ucher
Zorte could have made it too, but Eugenius' fade away means that despite his low health, he maintains advantage.
He made steps, and so that's why he's holding for Zorte's re-aggression. He knew he was likely to be hot on his heels, but Zorte gets his one.
Aggressive that AK, the smoke that's down is definitely complicated for him to deal with. They trade places in that smoke,
and so Zorte will be none the wiser. They should still anticipate something towards that A bomb site given the information that Zorte has,
but Karon has to deliver.
Chiron gets the damage but not the double kill that means it's still a one-on-one
offers an eye to their side but one with the AK and I would favor him with the HPs
being where they are but Zorty is going for the long play coming in from A main
and story's never going to expect this. Zorty doesn't have a kid though so he
doesn't really have the advantage. There's time and story's taking one!
Story's thinking about it but he's missed his shot and as he missed his shot
repositioning to the back side and again that lack of the kid will be
Everything but story will not miss twice. It's 12 and somehow so will be the first to get the match point
I cannot believe story read that I mean so many different positions or they could have been in last seat inside of cave
And he could have simply retreated through be gone through spawn
But he fought for a main control and man the timing could not have been better
So he might have missed that first, but he got exactly what he wanted
Holy heads
And I did not believe in this comeback.
Not at all.
So it's fallen flat, but here they are delivering.
Everyone is so damn blind in mid, but Arostos does deliver on his kill.
There's Magno to strike in from cave, so it's not as though that kill is untrated, but
the momentum, everything that's sort of been putting together here on this T side,
any given ground BB will be terrified.
And Kairon's gone from having 17 kills at the turn of the half,
about after 13 rounds or so to now be on 20 but he might still have a chance to shine in this one
last bit of hope that BB have for overtime. You can see BB are flying blinds they're having to make
just hard calls and they don't have utility to try and do anything with it has to be a pride
peak if they want to have visibility on anyone on saw but saw as well they are running out of
utility it's going to come down to a game of firepower and that's a game story he's been
playing all this time. Kyron will trade but will it matter because Magno is already six
feet under and with Arous-Dos threatening out an ace-like push if this is going to be
Siren to rotate it will be game over but Siren is not bit down yet. He's still waiting.
He's still haunted by the specter of a Roman that might be long dead but teammates that
are still nearby 25 seconds and now Saw has committed and with Siren's death BB are
going to feel about life going out of their veins. Their blood will run dry, their attempts
will come to a close, but maybe Kyron still has a chance to use that fist one last time.
U-Chirks and Neurus. Playing impatient, but the swing will put them to bed! Sore, prevail!
They're in the playoffs of ESL Challenger, Atlanta!
11-5, the scoreline at one point and another. BB may have thought they'd already completed
the tough task of getting rid of Saul, one of our favorites for the tournament and it was not pretty
but damn did Saul persevere throughout. Fantastic work from the Portuguese just maintaining a cool
head but when we talk about the problems for BB they really reared its head towards the end of
this series. And it's a game, it's that cooldown, it's that quick little cold combustion, they
completely get ripped apart and Saul prevailed, they showed that veteransy and we've got our
veterans to break it down over here. So he just called us old. I am not old.
Anyway, what the hell just happened? I mean it was shocking enough that it went
to a third map, right? We were all surprised with the BB comeback, but then
it's sitting on 11-5. As far as we're all concerned, BB's wrapped us up.
they're moving to the semis. What the hell happened because they weren't the
semi-finalists? So is. Absolutely, yeah. And first thing's first, T-Time was
absolutely wrong. I'm always right on my predictions and he can't get anything
right, it seems, on his side. Good stuff. Came out with an impressive comeback even
though it looked like everything was going completely wrong at the end. Eight
rounds in a row. They were just powering through these rounds on pure
momentum and they were taking control of mid so very effectively great crunches
coming through and BB team just didn't know what to do I mean their CT side
felt completely flat I think after an opening couple of rounds and after that
it was just all saw all the way even when it felt close it just felt like
saw had that little bit more to give a little bit more to give and of course the
the main story of the soul story is story because he did some incredible
things and I believe he's with Mike right now he is indeed I've got the
last chapter of this particular story, this series. Man, I mean, you got fans in the audience
right now. Talk about a comeback eight rounds in a row to close out on ancient. What propelled
you guys forward? I think we, we did our best. And I don't know. It was a really hard game.
They played super well on the, they deserve the comeback on the, on Nuke and we deserve
than on a chance. It feels like you in particular have been in fine form, right?
You've been on fire with that. Do you feel like you've just become that level
of player where everybody in the server needs to be aware of you? Yeah, I mean when
I'm having really good games I think I'm a really good offer but I need
to be more consistent and I'm working towards that and yeah like I think when
When I'm really OP on the game is when I'm reading everything and I'm communicating a
lot and eating my shots of course and helping my team.
Now it may not have been the path you envisioned but you've made it into the final day, you've
made it into the playoffs.
Now that you're here, tell me, you're going to take that trophy next to us?
Yeah, I mean it's our goal so tomorrow we are here to play our best again and
if we play our best I think we can take it home.
They play their best, they can take it home Sam.
What do you think?
I think that is actually correct.
I love the fortitude that so shows time and time again
and we saw it here when the comeback happens,
it's incredible with what we see
and how they're able to play.
Yeah, I feel like we saw Betboom getting upset
about it too, Kairin taking a lot of aggressive peaks,
aggressive movements and Nafini had a couple rounds
he surprised us as well. But they just kept getting very aggressive when it wasn't needed.
And that CT side just fell apart for them. And when you have a lot happening, a lot
getting thrown at you, especially when you are a CT, there's not much that you have to really
pay attention to other than where your teammates are and where your spacing is.
And I feel like saw just kind of kept them a lot of question marks were happening.
Yeah, I would even say like they were not aggressive enough at the right times on their
Yeah side right because on ancient you have to get into the faces of your opponent especially towards mid and even though they were coming out
It just felt like the moments they chose were the worst times because saw was coming through and one in particular
I think it was Zorte coming up from cheetah
He goes out to the left and then they slip out the right through the smoke
So it's just like yeah, you maybe you should have come out
But just a touch sooner to try and get this engagement because it was actually looking quite favorable for him
And yeah, it's just one example of many. Let's take a look now at your US Air Force aim high
Two players that I think were the difference makers for both their teams
Power on did that interview in the pregame where he said we're just gonna click heads
He did click a lot of heads at some point
I was like this guy is planning on carrying this whole team all the way to the semis
You got a lot of energy honestly
And I mean yes
We did see a bit of a lull after that first map when things kind of fell silent on his side
But he continued to try and pump up his team get excited when those big plays were coming through and I think he
Carried them through map number two just with that and even on map number three here
Everything was going so well for me see the stats. I mean those are incredible numbers coming through with 92.2 80 hours
Well, but he was impressive for a squad. I think story is just that much better on the other side, right?
I mean, yes, he has less frags
But I think his impact in terms of the off frags in terms of plays he make in particular that 1v1
I think it was to get the 12th round victory where he misses the first shot
But the movement and everything get back behind cover and reposition for the follow-up was beautiful
And then he nails it to give his team the advantage and I feel like story
Well, Karen we did see him click a lot of heads
He was the one that was getting really really aggressive especially on CT side
It wasn't consistent enough and he wasn't able to hit his shots as consistent enough
But we saw story doing that he was able to get that aggression
I feel like he had a lot more and not game sense
But it felt like the the creativity was falling more on the the side of saw and not on BB team
And that's just where they fell flat today was all about finding out who would be going through to the semifinals of ESL
Challenge Atlanta
We now have our four semi-finals before we go through how they got there and how they made their way into the playoffs
It might be a good idea to celebrate what we got to see today
So we have some incredible plays that you've got to watch. Maybe you missed some of them
We're gonna recap here. They are our plays of the day. Let's get it started. What are we talking about at the first time?
Yeah, number five is cellos from rooster
He got a 3K in the round, but the more impressive part was the 1v2 clutch that you're going to see right here
I mean just spamming through the smoke beautiful shots finding both headshots
And then at the end is able to clutch it out of course in the beautiful fashion
Honestly, this was really well done from cellos. Next up
We have ASAP a 1v3 clutch on Dust2 and we didn't see much from Rooster
But I did feel like when they were playing on Dust2
They were giving a lot more aggression especially towards BB team and this was a great showing from him
Yeah back to rooster again for number three on a new bus again on that ace site and this time
It's just a great clutch coming through from slimy headshot to open it up for himself
It's just playing this so marvelously right just pacing himself
Well making sure they setting himself up for three 1v1's and then this brilliant piece of maneuvering
Sponsor player out first guess is right where they're going to peek and gets the friend in number two
What is an ESL challenger event without a lake highlight?
This is ace on dust 2 unfortunately out of the tournament
But able to reposition on to the beef and just use those flash flanks from his teammate perfectly and still on
M80 or unfortunately out of the tournament, but they had some nice highlight real plays with the aces
We're going to go to number one with slacks on dust two and you see him just hitting these shots for the ace with the
Op in the end. I mean absolutely brilliant stuff coming through from him to wrap up our top five
Those are our top five for today just a small taste of all the action we got to see and now let's find out how far
Along we are in the tournament. We're going to take a look at our two groups because we're moving into the playoffs group a
This is where we're sitting our two semi finalists
Fly quest and so I would have been pretty surprised if so wasn't in the mix
I am pretty surprised that fly quest is there. I
Feel like they showed a lot, but it was also only two maps from them
It was only the first one against BB team where they did defeat them 13 3 you can see there
And they have already defeated soft once again, but they could do again
Now we take a look at the two semi finalists who will be joining fly quest and so it is of
course, big and wild card, not the North American team. Many were expecting, but I'm presuming
we're still happy. Right? Yeah, definitely. Honestly, like my picks for three of the top
four teams to make it through did get through. The only one that didn't was M 80. And wild
card was my dark horse. So it's okay. I got everything right as far as I'm concerned.
No, honestly, wild card are looking very, very strong. M 80 that matchup I expected
to be close, but Wildcard pulling off is something else, especially with the stand.
Two semi-finals tomorrow. You've got FlyQuest up against Wildcard and you're gonna have Big
up against Saw. That is what is to play for. By the end of tomorrow we will have our champion
for ESL Challenger at Lancet. So we're gonna finish up, make sure that you can get some good
wrist and you're ready for all the Counter Strike action tomorrow. Thank you so much for watching, we'll see you then.