Get to your stations, this is not a drill, I REPEAT, this is not a drill. Maximum alert, put away the fridge gifs, we have an actual Operation on our hands here!

Santa still exists, and his name is Gabe Newell. Counter-Strike is getting it's 10th Operation! And we can tell you right now, from what we've seen so far, this is like ten Christmases in one. Here's a rundown of some of this Operation's new features:

• A new and improved statistics page
• A retakes game mode
• Operation missions
• New agents
• Three new Defusal maps
• A new Danger Zone map
• A new chat command wheel
• A new case
• New stickers and patches
• A new collection

and the list just goes on and on and on...

But most importantly: A premium matchmaking service with a map veto.

What kind of Willy Wonka world have we entered.

The operation seems to be centered around a jungle theme, with Valve's own new map, Ancient, at its forefront. The Operation Pass can already be purchased, and your 2.2GB update should already be queued when you read this. We don't say this often, but pog.

It's that time of year again, the wind howls in the night, and the rain tickles the kitchen window. You're inside, comfortably under a blanket as you warm your hands to a cup of hot coco. And you watch people shooting each other.

Admittedly it doesn't really fit the season, but we're gamers. We don't care about seasons.

And neither does Gambit apparently. They went flying through the group stage like they were a MiG 28 trying to shoot down Tom Cruise.

Hot out of the groupstage, they face a tough first opponent, Astralis. Tough, but not unbeatable, as demonstrated by GODSENT earlier on in the tournament. Godspeed Gambit. At least they got the CIS upset factor like Spir... oh wait.

We're glad to report both the Colossus and the Juggernaut are in the playoffs as well. Like an old diesel engine, they both sputtered and stuttered a bit on start-up, but managed to recuperate, and now face a revitalised mousesports and a strong as ever FURIA respectively.

Perhaps the most interesting matchup will be Heroic against GODSENT. Heroic had a very good showing in the group stage, with the only close matchup being the last map of their Bo3 against Team Spirit - which saw a staggering 54 rounds being played.

GODSENT on the other hand, had a good start beating Astralis, but falling to their rival for the *"budget FaZe"-*nickname, mousesports. In the end maden and co. managed to squeeze through to the playoffs by beating North.

Quarter finals

• Friday - 13:00 CET: Heroic vs GODSENT
• Friday - 13:00 CET: Mousesports vs Cloud9
• Friday - 16:30 CET: Gambit vs Astralis
• Friday - 16:30 CET: FURIA vs Complexity

Sooooooooo remember when we said OG were our favourites for Flashpoint 2's title, and that mantuu would be the shining star of the supposed victory?

Yeah, never let PHedemark make predictions again.

OG immediately flopped against MIBR in their first game of the playoffs, and mantuu was able to expand his small list of games he played under OG where he went negative in rating. We really messed up on this one.

But, there is a silver lining. OG still have a chance in the lower bracket, and that now officially makes them the underdog. According to every Disney movie about sports ever, and OG's track record in major competitions, there's no way they lose now. They just need a five minute training montage accompanied by a vague rock song from the 80s.

The competition is fierce though, with either a repeat of the MIBR match, or MAD Lions being next, if OG even manage to beat BIG. Can't always be the star of the film, OG. Meanwhile the Upper Bracket has taken its course already, seeing Fnatic and Virtus Pro through to its final stage. Who wins? Who's next? You decid- wait no, that's up to the players.

• Israeli CS fans rejoice, there's some new boys in town, and they're here to stay.
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• Brutal. Savage. Rekt.
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• What do you get when you mix an outdated CS scene with one that's never taken off? Valhalla apparently...
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• We think SPUNJ might be the most happy with the new Danger Zone map, that way he can have a new challenge.
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• Poor Liquid...
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• Esportal was quick to work with Valve to resolve the issue with the false positive VAC bans, and all of those have been cleared up now. Krimz is saved.
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• "I'm not a criminal" said the convicted criminal.
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• Forgive me Lord for I have sinned. He's gonna need one hell of a prayer if he wants to realise his promise of being in the top 30 next year.
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• Sprout are repotting, as dycha and snatchie are placed on the bench in favour of new, yet to be announced, German players.
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• It needs a quick translate, but according to this article North are saving an absolute fortune by letting go of MSL and aizy. Now don't go spending all of it in one place.
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• SJ have transferred their rifler jemi to HAVU, as the latter looks to reform their roster.
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• 2020 certainly has been an eventful year.
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• MIBR should stock up on spinach to make up for their iron deficiency.
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• Ooh boy, child labour!