Imagine you have a team that's good, but it's just missing the last bit of magic. You're looking to qualify for a Major on home soil, and get offered the most consistent player in the world. What do you do?
Well, NiP decided to just go for it. That's it. Put it all on black, or whatever colour device is wearing, and go all-in. Almost like they did when they told f0rest and GeT_RiGhT to bugger off, but with a far better replacement.
And the worst bit is - it paid off. While Astralis are floundering around a 5-6th place with BIG, NiP managed to hobble their way through 2-1 victories vs Anonymo, FPX, Heroic and G2, before taking on Mousesports in the RMR Final.
Has it looked shaky? Yes. Has device hard carried NiP on his back? No. Has ztr been one of the 10 worst statistical players? Yes. Does anyone care? In the immortal words of Kai Havertz: "I don't give a fuck, we won the Champions League".
And neither will device.
Or at least, that's what we would have said if NiP had won. Admit it, we had you going there. Still, second ain't bad.
In fact it was mousesports' miracle run that should be highlighted - between dexter growing into the babysitter the mouz children needed, and one of those children (Bymas) finally showing the level we were promised, they have turned into a monster.
ropz and frozen though, man. ropz is legitimately the third best player in the world right now, behind s1mple and aizy, and frozen probably isn't far off either. ropz outshone device when it mattered most, proving that splashing money can't beat taking teenagers from FPL.
Seriously though, we hope this isn't a false dawn for mouz, a team who have been plagued with them over the years. This team is exciting, fresh and fun.
Flashpoint has been a hoot - and now Heroic and G2 are both relatively certain to be in the mix when the 11(!) spots for EU will be distributed. FaZe, OG and Fnatic on the other hand? Well, at least they won't lose too many points if they change players.