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GUIDES
Simple Radar
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A legend calls it quits.
TYLOO roll into Pro League stage 2 with some big wins, leaving behind a disappointed M80 and FlyQuest - but the good games come thick and fast now.
Stage 1 of EPL S21 is now behind us and it’s time to take a look at how the Swiss format shaped out. Given the not-that-exciting lineup of teams, we had to rely on the GOAT of tournament formats to save the day. It did not disappoint.
Going into the tournament, we placed our bets on Eternal Fire, paiN, and possibly HEROIC to go 3-0. As usual, we were wrong about all of them.
Instead, GamerLegion went undefeated, with their success largely resting on the shoulders of one man: pringl. Who’s that, you ask? Well, he’s currently going by PR, but pringl is an infinitely cooler nickname, so we’re sticking with that.
The other 3-0 team came, SAW, and conquered. The Portuguese org’s new additions AZUWU and cej0t took Stockholm by storm, taking down HEROIC, FURIA, and M80 on their way to Stage 2. Sure, we could talk about a honeymoon period, but no one expected this team to be this good this quickly. We’re excited to see if they can keep it up against the big boys.
On the contrary, the 3-1 pool was fairly standard, with Eternal Fire, 3DMAX, and MIBR making the cut. FURIA and paiN advanced at 3-2, and while FURIA’s inconsistency is no surprise, we certainly didn’t expect paiN to struggle so much against FlyQuest, Lynn Vision, and Nemiga.
The real treat came all the way from China, with TYLOO managing to qualify after 2 shocking wins against 3DMAX and Eternal Fire. We know who we’re rooting for in the next stage. Seriously, how can you not like this guy?
Nemiga, M80, and FlyQuest just missed out on a Stage 2 spot, falling in the final hurdle with 2-3 records, while Lynn Vision, NRG, and HEROIC could only secure one win.
Yes, you read that right. HEROIC went 1-3 in what was arguably their worst showing since the new lineup was formed, losing to SAW, 3DMAX, and Nemiga. Despite typically delivering solid performances, yxngstxr took a page out of broky’s book and went completely missing this event.
As expected, Mindfreak and Housebets got demolished by everyone they faced, only managing to win 41 and 22 rounds across six maps, respectively.
Honestly, the fact that 3 Australian teams made it to EPL is crazy and should be looked into.
Where’s ESIC when we really need them?
The Dallas Mavericks weren’t the only people to lose a loveable, apparently overweight, Slov- ah, different Slov-country.
Banter denied.
The world of Counter-Strike also lost its favourite Eastern European son. Yes, we are aware that some of you guys in Eastern Europe don’t like being labeled as Eastern European. Our advice would simply be to not live in Eastern Europe. Please don’t unsubscribe.
GuardiaN has called it a day in CS, which is significant even if he hasn’t been on top since… well, if we’re being nice, 2021, and if we’re not, 2018. That’s because he’s been playing this game competitively since 2006 - this was his 19th year of competition, and he’s only 33.
He’s been doing this for over half his life, and he’s finally walking away. That’s not easy to do. We struggle to walk away after a loss at 4 in the morning when we’re just going to wake up and queue again. Imagine not waking up and queueing again.
That sounded dark. We don’t mean like that.
This is a man who has seven – yes, seven – top 20 awards in CSGO. One of those was a second place. He won seventeen LANs in his career, though notably, he retires as a king without his crown. No Major. Not even a Cologne or Katowice.
GuardiaN’s career is a Greek tragedy; at times he was the most feared AWPer in the world, and yet he had no #1s.
He was consistently on great teams, but was injured in one of his Major finals and… we won’t talk about the other.
He’s won lots of trophies, lots of accolades, but none of the ones that truly write your name in the history books. Bizarrely, GuardiaN might be forgotten to time as a nearly-man; despite his obvious skill, the fear his name instilled in his enemies, his aura.
Fortunately, there’s some things you can’t take away from him. Every single highlights video of CSGO ever has to have a clip of GuardiaN.
We’ll take any excuse to watch this.
Is siuhy just a bit of a [redacted]? Which CS player would win in a sex competition (no context needed)? Is hallzerk hard done by?
Come hang out with aizyesque and AN1MO as they discuss these questions and more on Overtime on Inferno. They also get into:
Okay, the headline is harsh. ESL Pro League hasn’t actually been bad so far. There was just three Aussies teams. Three. That’s exactly three too many. Again, please don’t unsubscribe.
Thankfully, though, those teams are gone, and it’s time for the big boys to enter the arena… erm, we mean studio.
There’s no FaZe, not that we particularly mind after they let Astralis pick up 3rd place at PGL Cluj-Napoca, but there is G2, so at least we’ll be covered in the “currently underwhelming department”.
We jest. G2 are still fun to watch. But only if m0NESY and malbsMd are frying. Otherwise, it’s just a bit sad.
Also along for the ride are the two finalists of Cluj, MOUZ and Falcons.
Honestly, they’re the two teams we’re most excited to see here. They both made solid strides over in Romania and it will be good to see them tested against a tougher field - we just hope it wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Liquid will also be entering the competition in Stage 2, which may excite at least one person reading this. A sadly flat team considering their stars, Eternal Fire clearly feel the same way we do about them.
Of course, the three best teams in the world, NAVI, Spirit, and Vitality, will also all be in attendance. Their three way battle for the title of best in the world is not yet decided, and NAVI need this tournament to go well or risk being accused of lagging behind their closest rivals.
And finally, The MongolZ will be joining them, which you should know by now makes us incredibly happy. They’re one of our favourite teams to watch play CS, and given how TYLOO did in Stage 1, there’s even more intrigue around them for this event.
The MongolZ have no doubt elevated Asian CS in the past two years, but how will they react to a team coming for their regional crown?
We’re set for another exciting week of Swiss action, so we really hope that we get to see the two Asian teams face off at some point.
Well, that and TYLOO through to the playoffs.
Seriously, we love you, TYLOO. Thanks for coming back to us.
