They said it couldn’t be done, but NAVI have somehow managed to topple the world number one.

Vitality are wounded.

With two thrilling first maps - including a one-frag-half out of ZywOo - NAVI made quick work of Vitality’s Inferno to take their first win against them ever.

Okay, not ever, but the first since August 2022. The last time NAVI won this matchup, they spoke Russian, and Vitality had dupreeh, spry as a spring chicken.

We have bittersweet feelings over this. On one hand, the loss closes the gap between Vitality and the rest of the world, in theory giving us a more competitive fight for the top spot just ahead of the Cologne Major. Or at least the illusion of one, anyway.

On the other hand, they just had to wait until 02:30 to close the game.

But also, doesn’t this win feel a little bit empty?

We want to be happy for them, we really do, but there are so many circumstances at play here where we’re not sure this changes the playing field all that much.

Can we really believe NAVI truly outplayed Vitality, considering how poor they looked in the groups? How about ZywOo’s performance, starting the game with just one frag in the first half and never really keeping up the momentum in the final two maps?

How about the fact that Vitality went into this event with zero practice, running on pure vibes and inspiration from the grand Yosemite scenery? The fact that’s what it took to make this loss happen?

Because really, that’s what it boils down to: Vitality lost - it’s hard to say NAVI won.

Anyway, on the other side of the bracket, another game happened.

GamerLegion took on paiN, and despite losing the first map, the Snax-led squad looked comfortably in command as they waltzed into the semi-final with a 2-1 win.

hypex continued his stellar Atlanta form with a 1.36 rating, and with REZ still in tow as their best performing rifler, we think they might have a shot at making this final.

That’s all we care to write about that f-cking game. It’s very late, and we’re grumpy.