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GUIDES
Simple Radar
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karrigan’s back.
karrigan’s back, xertioN and magixx are good IGLs, and NAVI finally got a win over Vitality. That means we’re either all about to win the lottery, or the worst thing imaginable is going to happen. If that’s exclusive to us, that means Liquid will be winning the Major.
The PGL Astana quarter-finals are finished, and so is MAJ3R’s time as a tier one IGL. Or at least it should be.
As good as MOUZ have looked with xertioN in piping hot form, it’s hard not to criticise Aurora when they consistently underdeliver on their talent, and when the aforementioned xertioN is brand new to IGLing.
Despite XANTARES underperforming, Aurora’s firepower was enough to keep their map one loss against MOUZ respectable at a score of 13-11 on Dust 2. But, with an IGL like MAJ3R, even peak-level firepower can only take you so far on a tactical map like Nuke.
Aurora won a measly three rounds on the T-side before being sent packing after a 13-8 loss.
O Captain, my captain…
Next up was Spirit versus G2. Unlike in Rio, G2 didn’t have to worry about playing with a stand-in. However, they did have to worry about Spirit actually using flashbangs, which practically never happened before Hally’s break.
The first map wasn’t even close as Spirit’s new look Dust2 T-side crushed G2, earning them a 9-3 lead at the break. An advantage easily converted, Spirit swiftly ended it at 13-6.
G2 - read: SunPayus - fought back hard on Ancient, he boasted an impressive 1.56 rating and 26 kills. Unfortunately for the Spanish sniper, this was offset by MATYS and his 0.50 rating, which held G2 back from pushing further than their eventual 13-11 defeat.
We didn’t know what to expect coming into 9z versus magic, and perhaps that was the case for each team here. magic claimed a 13-9 win on 9z’s map pick of Dust2, before 9z bounced back and did the same to magic on Mirage in a 13-2 stomp.
If it wasn’t for an AW masterclass, the third map of Ancient could have gone either way. His CT side wasn’t anything special, but on T-side he carried magic to a 13-11 triumph.
The best was saved for last as FURIA faced off against Falcons in a nail-biting series that spanned three maps and multiple overtimes.
It was hard to see Falcons coming away with a positive result after their 13-9 loss on Mirage, and our feelings didn’t much change after m0NESY dragged his team to a 22-20 win on Nuke - especially with karrigan playing like prime Hellen Keller.
But as much of a bot as karrigan is, we have to give credit where credit is due.
Immediately upon the Danish IGL’s arrival, he’s unlocked kyousuke in playoffs. The wonderkid was instrumental in Falcons closing out the series 19-17 on Dust2, dropping 32 kills and going 6-2 in opening duels.
Looks like jcobbb and broky really were the problem. Not that we didn’t know that already.
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.
xertioN’s absurd CT rating, or S0tF1k’s Spirit, who actually know what a flashbang is? The two teams will do battle in the semis of PGL Astana today, and although Spirit are firing on all cylinders, that MOUZ new-IGL bounce has our nether regions tingling.
MOUZ are 3.00 to beat Spirit, which, in our opinion, is great returns for an outcome that is far more likely than those odds suggest. Squeak squeak.
Get your bets in before the games begin at Razed.
Note: Odds at time of writing.
FURIA may have lost, but we gotta give it to KSCERATO for this Nuke 1v3. He had us believing.
Now, it might be because we’re all f-cking horrible at the game, but our AK doesn’t do that.
In between games, our video essay extraordinaire, Fuffy, caught Boombl4 for a quick talk in the musty press area at IEM Atlanta.
How are you enjoying the US?
I really like the US My first time in the US was for the 2018 ELEAGUE Major, and last year we were in the Austin Major, so it’s a really great time when I’m visiting the US.
How did it feel to be one of the only teams to beat Vitality?
In the first few hours I was really shocked. Of course, Vitality said in interviews that they didn’t practice a lot for this tournament, but still its a great result for us. We are a mix with FL4MUS and we showed we can beat them individually.
Your last big playoffs were with NAVI in 2022. How does it feel to be back?
It’s like four or five years without playoffs or semifinals. The new guys, the new team around me, this is crazy emotions because I’m back to tier S tournaments.
You’ve already made the semi-finals. Do you have any other goals for this event?
I don’t think so, no. […] We’re already in semis so what we can do is we can try and win the tournament.
You recently had zorte swap for ArtFr0st, and FL4MUS standing in for d1lidez. Has it helped bring new energy, or is it just pure chaos?
The first thing is we are playing without pressure. We have four or five days practice with FL4MUS. For me, the purpose of this tournament has been to feel the competition at a top-level tournament because the next tournament is the Major. I just wanna feel the game and show the best result we can do.
Would you rather face NAVI or Vitality in the semi-finals?
I wanna face NAVI, this is my ex team and it’s every time fun to play versus B1ad3.
Speaking of ex-teammates, we saw s1mple at this event. What are your thoughts when you see him play? Is he back?
He has a really good chance to come back when you see him play, but the first thing he needs to fix is to play like a team better. It’s a lot of roster changers and they are trying to find the players they want to play, so I think they just need time.
Watch the rest here
This is it, Aleksib. This is what you've been waiting for. IEM Atlanta is the tournament that finally counts.
You’ve beaten Vitality, and now only BetBoom and one of Legacy or GamerLegion stands in your way.
You can’t f-ck this up.
It should be easy - not that anything in CS is ever really that easy - but given that BetBoom will still be creaming their pants that they even made it this far, and the fact that neither GamerLegion nor Legacy really has the juice to take down this NAVI team in a big game, we’re happy to call this one here.
Legacy, GamerLegion, we’re sorry. But at least you can take solace in reaching a final. Good for you.
Over in Kazakhstan, Falcons also have an easy run to the final. They impressively edged out FURIA in the quarters, and the karrigan boon is already showing. Now that they have to take on magic, it’s time to take those youngsters to Salem and put them on notice.
On the other side of the bracket, xertioN’s new MOUZ squad will be taking on a Spirit that looks terrifying now that they’ve been cut loose from hally’s puppet strings.
donk is more dangerous than ever now that he actually gets flashed for, whilst tN1R is revelling in his freedom from the hally-born haramball.
magixx even looks like a competent IGL, too. Which is a punchline in and of itself.
That’s not to say MOUZ should be counted out, though. xertioN is just having one of those tournaments, and Spinx finally woke up during their game during Aurora. Add in the jL vibes boost and the fact xelex is actually finding some impact, and the power of friendship could edge out Counter-Strike’s most frustrating roster in what could be a very exciting game.
We can’t wait for the classic MOUZ bottle job to sh-t all over our excitement.
PGL Astana kicks off the day with MOUZ vs. Spirit at 12.00 CET and about 8 hours later we get BetBoom vs. NAVI at IEM Atlanta.
