FaZe Clan send s1mple back home - IEM Krakow

FaZe and BC.Game played out an enthralling game that highlighted both why we love to watch these teams, and why they don’t win all that often.

Nothing says ‘wild game’ like seeing broky at the top of the scoreboard, and truthfully it tells its own story. s1mple was, once more, tasked with pulling BC.Game over the line, and fell short, but it’s still nice to see him popping off against top tier (just roll with it) opposition again.

He once more nearly pulled off an incredible clutch before being stopped by broky, nailing three of the four FaZe players before redirecting to Cave, but broky was too stoic to allow the full clutch.

s1mple was unstoppable on Nuke, though, which was always NAVI’s most dangerous map back when he was at his best, and this was as nostalgic as it gets. Unfortunately, it stopped there, as broky put up his own year-rolling-back game to end it there and then on Ancient in swift fashion.

Falcons barely survived against NRG, who gave them a run for their money, but the star power was just too much in the end for NRG’s ragtag bunch. Except oSee, who has made an excellent claim all tournament that he should probably be on a better team. Perhaps an NA based one in need of an AWPer who went out in stage one.

Just a pitch.

oSee dropped 55 as the rest of his team couldn’t touch 40, but he still wasn’t the best AWPer in the server. Those who say you can’t AWP in CS2 should watch this game, cause m0NESY and oSee were frying.

NRG took map two despite a massive choke from 10-2 up to 10-10, and were in map three for a while until they fizzled out right at the end. Falcons have some problems they need to solve, and solve fast.

Aurora have strolled into playoffs with barely a scratch on them, against all odds, by cleanly defeating MOUZ 2-0. soulfly has been middling against middling opposition, but excellent against both Falcons and now MOUZ to bring Aurora back to the playoffs.

It’s been a little while.

MAJ3R too had a rare stand-out map as he led from the front on Dust 2, and when that’s happening to you you know you’re having an off-day. This was uncharacteristically lacklustre from MOUZ, who are normally so reliable in the early stages of a tournament.

FURIA stayed alive once more over NAVI in a game that did not really deserve to be a lower bracket game - as long as one ignores the fact that both of them lost previously, of course.

It was a high quality game but just like most of the last six months or so, FURIA showed that they are just a level above, with YEKINDAR being the driving force for the win on Dust 2, and molodoy taking over on Mirage.

Those two have been a revelation, and must make NAVI wonder what they could do if they’d been a bit braver in the off-season. makazze has settled into this team and while he’s a reasonable piece, he’s nowhere near as good jL was, and this team just lacks a punch. b1t regularly finds himself at the top of the scoreboard, and as great as he is, he shouldn’t from his roles.

NAVI need a star - FURIA found two from nowhere. That’s the difference.

Predictably, Vitality bagged a playoff spot with a training exercise over the real French team, 3DMAX. ZywOo and flameZ had their way with them, and this one was pretty dead on arrival. Only the most insane, delusional French fan would have had 3DMAX winning this, and the delusional French fan still would find it hard to vote against ZywOo.

Astralis are looking surprisingly solid again - as much as it pains us to say it. Their 2-1 win over FUT showed everything they have to offer: resilience, an ability to grind out rounds and an ability to cut through a team on their T sides with HooXi calling superbly. FUT are no pushovers, and Astralis have once more found a way to win.

ryu went under the radar but quietly looks like a very solid pick-up, and phzy has done what he does and strengthened the backbone of the team. They’re not going to a win a Major any time soon, but this is the best looking Astralis in a while.