Team Vitality and G2 advance to lower bracket final- ESL One: Road to Rio 2020

Team Vitality and G2 Esports qualified for the lower bracket finals defeating the Ninjas in Pyjamas and Team Heretics respectively. Both these matches had it all: overtimes, comebacks and some crazy plays.

Vitality and G2 now face each other in the lower bracket finals and will play the loser of Astralis and Faze Clan’s match.

Here is a recap of the yesterday’s lower bracket matches in the European division.

1. Team Vitality vs Ninjas in Pyjamas

This was a game for the ages. 3 maps with 3 overtimes and more than 100 rounds of Counter Strike played. What more can you expect from a game?

The game started with Vitality picking Mirage, NiP picked Overpass and Inferno as the decider.

The first map was a trailer of what was to come ahead as both squads went toe to toe fighting to gain an upper hand. The result was a scoreline 8:7 in NiP’s favor. The second half followed same suit and it was Vitality’s turn to edge the half by a solitary round to take the game into overtime. NiP won the first OT round and then almost converted a 2 vs 4 situation only for “shox” to spoil their party. Vitality converted the following round and defeated NiP after shifting to the T side. The match ended 19-16 in Vitality’s favor.

Overpass was up next and NiP started on the T side. They looked comfortable on their best map with Vitality failing to cope up with them. The first half ended in a 10-5 scoreline for the Swedes. The second half was expected to be a clean up for the Swedes but Vitality had their individuals showing up. Both “Rpk” and “shox” cutched up when needed to take the game to overtime. This time though NiP avoided committing mistakes as they did in the first map and clean swept the CT side and also won the next round on the T side to take the map 19-15.

Inferno as the decider always does something special. Ask Cloud9, ask “Stewie2k”, ask “tarik”. This was no exception.

NiP started on the CT side after winning the knife round but were put straight on the back foot as “zywoo” took matter into his own hands. The half ended with a 10-5 scoreline in favor of the French. Vitality also secured the second pistol and converted the foloowing round to almost put NiP to the brink. NiP converted 4 rounds after that but Vitality reached map and series point first with score at 15-10.

If this would have been a normal match, it would have ended in regulation time but it wasn’t to be! NiP countered Vitality’s defense and manged to extract yet another OT. “Lekr0” tried to rally his troops but they had run out of gas. Vitality took the overtime victory 19-17 and the series 2-1 to proceed to the lower bracket final.

As for NiP, they have had a heartbreak in both of the previous series. Out of the 6 maps they played 5 went into overtime, out of which they managed to win only one. There is no doubt about the talent in the squad. “Rez”, “Ploplski”, “Twist” and “Nawwk” all have shown they can be a top level team under “Lekr0″‘s leadership.

2. G2 Esports vs Team Heretics

This was supposed to be a straight forward victory for G2 but who cares about normal counter strike any way. This series too delivered it its own way.

G2 were up against their former players in “kioShiMa” and “Lucky” , so some fireworks were expected. Heretics picked Nuke, G2 picked Dust II and Mirage was left as the concluding map.

Nuke started off with a bang for G2 who demolished Heretics on the defensive side of play winning the half 10-5. They won the second pistol and converted the following round to put them on the brink of victory. But as you can predict by now, Heretics won the gun rounds to make a comeback and take the scoreline to 13-14. It required a 1 v 2 “Nexa” clutch for G2 to take them to map point and then convert the following round to take Map 1 16-14.

Dust II was up next and G2 were again able to manufacture a giant lead, this time playing on the T side though. They managed to take a 11-4 lead. G2 again took the second pistol and converted the following round too and then similar suit followed. Heretics won 5 in a row before G2 replied back with one to have a 14-9 scoreline. The next round was almost a lock in for G2 who were in a 2 v 5 situation but “Lucky” wasn’t giving up. He managed to tun the tide to make it a winnable round for Heretics. It seemed like Heretics were motivated after the round and forced an overtime.

G2’s head were down and they faulted in the map to lose 19-16.

Mirage also followed the trend it’s predecessors had set. This time though Heretics were the one to gain a lead after the first half with them leading 10-5. It was deja vu for Heretics as they translated the second pistol round victory into two more rounds to take them into a formidable 13-5 lead.

Now is was G2’s turn for a comeback. They won 10 rounds straight to take the lead and reach map and series point. Heretics replied by winning the next round and the match was crying for yet another overtime. But G2 were kind to the commentators and managed to win in regulation time itself, winning 16-14.

G2’s victory puts themselves against Vitality in the lower bracket final and they stay alive on their Road to Rio campaign. Heretics had a great showing and with them now in contention, we have a formidable thrid French team who can rock the scene .

It will be “kennyS” vs “zywoo” in the lower bracket final, a battle for the ages and one were we can expect even more fireworks.

Make sure, you read our report on that one too! Until then, to keep with regular epsorts update, click here.

Note:- The Rio major was scheduled to take place in May 2020 but due to the ongoing pandemic the major was shifted to November 2020. The prize pool of first Major will be added to the November Major. ESL on its part have decided to host three qualification rounds in order for teams to remain at their peak. Each qualifying stage will have Regional Major Points(RMR) which will be added to determine the qualification order. Each qualifying stage will have a prize pool of $255,000 divided across the six regions. To read more about this, click here.