tl;dr
Everything you gotta know from CS:GO without wasting time on news sites, reddit or twitter.
Everything you need to know, without having to visit every single news site, browse r/go and twitter.
Check your e-mail and try again.
It's free, forever! Get the latest edition today.
We'll tell you who's at the Major, who isn't, who's hot, who's not and why Copenhagen Flames might be the best team in Denmark.
A preview of the Major final?
Just when we thought NaVi had cracked it and Gambit had been found out as onliners, frauds and luckers, it turns out Gambit are actually still really bloody good.
Remember like 6-12 months ago when they were just obliterating everybody in two maps? Now imagine that, but right now.
Gambit eviscerated Entropiq, giving them just four rounds in two maps with a 16-0 in there, and then comfortably clapped those NaVi cheeks in the grand final.
sh1ro was back to his infuriatingly unkillable self, and picked up the MVP, while NaVi were back to their 'let's hope s1mple keeps winning 1v4s' self.
NaVi were there after taking down VP in two, which was an excellent game to watch with VP also looking like a threat again, while Spirit secured 5th over INDE IRAE, who wiggled their way into the RMR points after beating K23 in a not-at-all suspicious game.
Confused as to where that leaves the Major spots? Don't worry, we've got that covered for you later.
Here was the IEM Fall CIS top 5:
- 🇷🇺 Gambit - $17.500 and 2.500 RMR
- 🇷🇺 Na'Vi - $12.000 and 2344 RMR
- 🇷🇺 Entropiq - $8.000 and 2.188 RMR
- 🏳️ Virtus.pro - $5.000 and 2.031 RMR
- 🇷🇺 Spirit - $3.000 and 1.875 RMR
Want the next edition in your inbox?
- Get all the best stories in a quick read, twice weekly
- We're cheeky and snarky a.f.
- It's free, forever!
Europe is in a tizzy
There's been loads of games and results, but only a few of them really matter - so we're going to stay true to our name and just give you what matters. If you want all the results, check them here.
Group A ended with Copenhagen Flames going 5-0. Yeah, not 0-5, 5-0. We don't know how that happened either. Especially in a group with mouz, BIG, FPX and G2.
The former three have been very dodgy at this event, with mouz losing a huge game vs G2 yesterday, in which G2 qualified. In their defence, NiKo did this to them and JaCKz did this, so what chance did they have?
G2 and CPH Flames qualified for playoffs, and will be joined by Astralis, who went 5-0 too, just to make sure CPH Flames weren't the best team in Denmark, and Movistar Riders.
Hang on, Movistar? Yeah, apparently. They won their final three games to get into the tiebreakers, and got the best of Heroic and Sinners who also picked up three wins, and now will play in the playoffs. With Copenhagen Flames.
Say what you want about this BO1 round robin format, but it's exciting. Let's go with exciting.
You'll never guess who choked a playoff spot by losing to MAD Lions. Oh wait, you guessed correctly; it WAS OG. You're so clever. They got pulled apart by Woro2k, and now will have to duke it out for 9-12th with BIG, Heroic and FaZe.
ENCE ended up pipping Vitality to the top spot, but ZywOo did get the best clip of the group, so who really won?
Speaking of choking, let's talk about FaZe - they could have secured 2nd place by beating Fiend, but that wouldn't be funny, would it? Of course, they got soundly beaten by the Bulgarians who are, erm, in the playoffs with CPH Flames and Movistar.
Oh, and fnatic went 0-5 and Brollan had his worst event ever. Oops.
That leaves us with the eight best teams in Europe that are off to the playoffs. God bless BO1 formats:
- 🇫🇮 ENCE
- 🇪🇺 G2
- 🇫🇷 Vitality
- 🇩🇰 Astralis
- 🇸🇪 NiP
- 🇪🇸 Movistar
- 🇧🇬 Fiend
- 🇩🇰 Copenhagen Flames
No Major for fnatic
Illustration by NovaH.
"Dude, imagine being a staple in not only Counter-Strike but esports in general and not making it to the Major" - said no one at Fnatic.
This is the second time EVER, in the history of CS Majors, that Fnatic are not there. Worst part about it? It's become a streak.
Fnatic had already missed the last Major in Berlin, and with the legends of the organisation now long gone, it looks like Fnatic is missing its golden generation more and more. It's what you get for going for UK CS, Fnatic.
The RMR points combined with IEM Fall's format has made this entire "who made it and who's missing out on sticker money" thing kind of complicated, but there's a few teams we can say definitely will be there, and definitely won't be.
Here's a few notable mentions:
Qualified:
- NIP: The Swedish org is now even with its rival Fnatic in number of Majors attended, only having missed both 2017 Majors. Device also continues his run of attending every Major.
- Astralis: Xyp9x and dupreeh remain in the race for attending all the Majors as well.
- Heroic: Despite their recent dip in reputation, the org makes its first appearance at a Major in its five years of existence.
Failed to qualify:
- MIBR: Despite being a household name in SA CS and 1.6, old isn't always gold and the Brazilians failed to qualify. Lol.
- Complexity: Not only is this probably one of the most expensive rosters not to qualify, but this is also the first time jks will not attend a Major ever since he's been active. Can't make it if you're not smurfing in the OCE qualifier, now can ya?
In the meantime, keep an eye on Liquipedia so they can do our jobs for us and tl;dr this complicated mess that is the Major qualifiers. Valve, plz fix.
Pimp my G2
- Pimp thinks smooya could be a good addition for G2. Let's agree to disagree.
- Anything to flash people in real life. Okay that came out wrong.
- For those of you who speak Russian, this one's a breeze. For those of you who don't, translation: Akuma disbanded.
- Funniest thing is seeing Karrigan featured in this. "How to win a Major: why 15-11 is the most dangerous lead" - a book by Finn Andersen.
- Will we see GODSENT at the next WePlay Academy? If they are truly sent by God then yes, of course.
