FURIA, PARIVISION, and Spirit Complete the EPL S24 Playoff Field

<p>After five days, the ESL Pro League Season 24 playoff field is complete.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia/" target="_self">FURIA</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/parivision/" target="_self">PARIVISION</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit/" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;secured the final places in Katowice on October 7, finishing 3-2 and eliminating&nbsp;<a href="/teams/9z/" target="_self">9z</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi/" target="_self">NAVI</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/m80/" target="_self">M80</a>. Catch up on the decisive maps, player reactions, and Friday’s quarterfinal schedule.</p><h2>FURIA Sweep 9z to Book FalleN’s Final Spodek Appearance</h2><p>FURIA swept 9z 2-0 to give&nbsp;<a href="/players/fallen/" target="_self">Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo</a>&nbsp;one final shot at a Spodek trophy before retirement, ten years after&nbsp;<a href="/teams/luminosity/" target="_self">Luminosity</a>&nbsp;lost the 2016 Katowice final to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/fnatic/" target="_self">fnatic</a>.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Key moments</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-7</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA recovered from a 1-4 deficit and took control.</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Inferno</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-3</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA answered&nbsp;<a href="/players/meyern/" target="_self">meyern</a>’s pistol clutch with a force-buy win, reached halftime 9-3 ahead, then swept their CT half. FalleN opened that half with three&nbsp;<a href="/skins/usp-s/" target="_self">USP</a>&nbsp;frags.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/molodoy/" target="_self">molodoy</a>&nbsp;powered the sweep with 36 frags against 14 deaths, finishing with 108.8 ADR and a 1.94 series rating.</p><h3>KSCERATO Opens Up About FURIA’s Mental Fatigue</h3><p><a href="/players/kscerato/" target="_self">KSCERATO</a>&nbsp;estimated that FURIA had played only about 10 practice maps in a month because of constant tournaments and travel. “Because you're so tired mentally that it's like a snowball,” he said of the team’s frustration.</p><p>A discussion after the&nbsp;<a href="/teams/aurora/" target="_self">Aurora</a>&nbsp;defeat helped improve communication against 9z. Qualification also earned him his first appearance on the Spodek main stage, although Thursday’s media duties leave limited time to rest.</p><h2>PARIVISION Rally From a Map Down to Eliminate NAVI</h2><p>PARIVISION recovered from a map down to beat NAVI 2-1, earning their current core’s first series victory in this matchup.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">PARIVISION score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Key moments</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Inferno</td><td style="border-style:solid;">8-13</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/im/" target="_self">iM</a>’s defensive multi-frags repeatedly shut down PARIVISION’s attacks.</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Cache</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-10</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/fl1t/" target="_self">FL1T</a>’s mid control and&nbsp;<a href="/players/xielo/" target="_self">xiELO</a>’s A-site holds helped level the series.</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-11</td><td style="border-style:solid;">PARIVISION’s 5-0 start became an 11-10 deficit before they won the final three rounds, with&nbsp;<a href="/players/jame/" target="_self">Jame</a>’s late defuse proving decisive.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>xiELO led PARIVISION with 63 frags, 45 deaths, and 98.8 ADR. NAVI’s&nbsp;<a href="/players/w0nderful/" target="_self">w0nderful</a>&nbsp;matched his 63 frags, but PARIVISION secured the playoff spot.</p><h3>HObbit Welcomes Another Chance on the Big Stage</h3><p>“For me nowadays it's like a dream,” HObbit said about returning to the Spodek. This was PARIVISION’s first event since making his signing permanent. He described Jame and dastan’s detailed system as difficult to learn, while explaining that his contribution involves simplifying decisions and offering solutions that worked earlier in his career.</p><h3>Aleksib Reflects on NAVI’s Missed Opportunities</h3><p><a href="/players/aleksib/" target="_self">Aleksib</a>&nbsp;pointed to a lost 5v3 after two opening frags in mid and felt NAVI should have closed Mirage after moving ahead 11-10.</p><p>“I think we need to enjoy the game more, feel the passion more,” he said, explaining that repeated setbacks were causing overthinking. NAVI’s Singapore Major qualification remained unsettled, with PGL Bucharest and IEM Beijing still ahead.</p><h2>Spirit End M80’s Run to Claim the Last Playoff Spot</h2><p>Spirit converted their third qualification attempt after losses to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz/" target="_self">MOUZ</a>&nbsp;and 1win, beating M80 13-6 on Dust2 and 13-10 on Cache. M80 won both Dust2 pistols, yet Spirit controlled the gun rounds.&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk/" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;ended the series with 41 frags, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/sh1ro/" target="_self">sh1ro</a>&nbsp;recorded 33-21 and a team-leading 1.43 rating.</p><h3>magixx and sh1ro Deliver Crucial Clutches on Cache</h3><p>Cache looked dangerous for Spirit at 4-8, but two earlier rounds had kept the deficit manageable:&nbsp;<a href="/players/magixx/" target="_self">magixx</a>’s 1v4 ace in round five and sh1ro’s 1v3&nbsp;<a href="/skins/awp/" target="_self">AWP</a>&nbsp;clutch in round seven.</p><p>Spirit then won nine of 11 CT rounds, repeatedly recovering through retakes. For M80, the defeat ended a recovery from 0-2 in the Swiss stage one win short of the arena.</p><h2>EPL S24 Quarterfinal Bracket and October 9 Schedule</h2><p>Vitality, MOUZ, Falcons, Aurora, and 1win join the three qualifiers in the eight-team field. All four quarterfinals are BO3s at the Spodek on Friday, October 9. Times are Katowice local time, CEST (UTC+2).</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Time</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Quarterfinal</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">10:30</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1win vs. Aurora</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">13:00</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/vitality/" target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;vs. PARIVISION</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">15:30</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA vs. MOUZ</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">18:00</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/teamfalcons/" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;vs. Spirit</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The first two quarterfinal winners meet in one semifinal; the final two meet in the other. Falcons and Spirit renew their rivalry after Falcons won their Cologne Major semifinal and Spirit answered 2-0 at BLAST Open Porto.</p><p>Semifinals follow October 10, with the BO5 grand final scheduled for October 11 at 17:00 CEST.</p>

1win, Aurora, and Falcons Reach EPL S24 Playoffs as G2 Exit

<p>Day 4 of ESL Pro League Season 24 brought major results in Katowice. 1win,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/aurora/" target="_self">Aurora</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/teamfalcons/" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;secured playoff spots with 3-1 records, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2/" target="_self">G2</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/betboom/" target="_self">BETBOOM</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/legacy/" target="_self">Legacy</a>&nbsp;were knocked out. Three more places are still up for grabs. Read on for the biggest matches and moments from the fourth Swiss round.</p><h2>1win Sweep Spirit to Complete Their Group-Stage Recovery</h2><p>1win pulled off the biggest upset of Day 4, sweeping&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit/" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;2-0. After losing their opener to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/vitality/" target="_self">Vitality</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/nafany/" target="_self">nafany</a>'s team bounced back with three straight wins over G2, Legacy, and Spirit.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Standout detail</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Cache</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-5</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/belchonokk/" target="_self">BELCHONOKK</a>: 18 frags, 1.70 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Anubis</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-9</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1win held off Spirit's late comeback</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/ax1le/" target="_self">Ax1Le</a>&nbsp;led the full series with a 33-26 K-D and 1.51 rating. Spirit had a rough day individually, with every player finishing below a 1.00 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk/" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;posted a 29-31 K-D and 0.85 rating as Spirit dropped from a 2-0 start to 2-2.</p><h3>nafany Reflects on the Rise From TDK to Playoff Contenders</h3><p>After qualifying, nafany credited the work done during the former TDK project and his familiarity with coach groove.</p><p>"We know how to use Ax1Le," he said, adding that the rifler may not have reached his peak yet.</p><p>nafany also encouraged benched European players to form their own teams and attend LAN events instead of waiting for organizations to make the first move, pointing to TDK's development as an example.</p><h2>PARIVISION Hold Off G2’s Comeback to Stay Alive</h2><p><a href="/teams/parivision/" target="_self">PARIVISION</a>&nbsp;ended G2's EPL run with a 2-1 win. G2 answered on Anubis and nearly stole the Inferno decider after fighting back from 9-3 down.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Ancient</td><td style="border-style:solid;">PARIVISION</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-7</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Anubis</td><td style="border-style:solid;">G2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-9</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Inferno</td><td style="border-style:solid;">PARIVISION</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-11</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/jame/" target="_self">Jame</a>'s&nbsp;<a href="/skins/awp/" target="_self">AWP</a>&nbsp;made the difference late on Inferno, stopping G2's comeback and moving PARIVISION to 2-2.</p><p>G2 finished the event at 1-3 with only one win, against ShindeN. New AWPer&nbsp;<a href="/players/r1nkle/" target="_self">r1nkle</a>&nbsp;ended the tournament with a 0.91 rating, the lowest on the team.</p><h3>HeavyGod Takes Responsibility for G2’s Early Exit</h3><p><a href="/players/heavygod/" target="_self">HeavyGod</a>&nbsp;accepted responsibility for G2's performance after the loss.</p><p>"But we didn't perform and then it means we don't deserve it," he said.</p><p>He explained that G2 must review why their level dropped during the event and admitted that integrating r1nkle into&nbsp;<a href="/players/hunter/" target="_self">huNter-</a>'s system will require more time.</p><h2>9z Sweep BETBOOM to Reach the Deciding Swiss Round</h2><p><a href="/teams/9z/" target="_self">9z</a>&nbsp;kept their playoff run alive with a clean 2-0 win over BETBOOM. The South American side stayed in control across both maps:</p><ul><li>Dust2: 13-8</li><li>Mirage: 13-9</li><li><a href="/players/dgt/" target="_self">dgt</a>: 1.36 series rating</li><li><a href="/players/luchov/" target="_self">luchov</a>: team-high 39 frags</li></ul><p>BETBOOM never found enough consistency to turn the series around. After the loss, Boombl4 admitted the team had struggled to fix its problems during the event.</p><h2>Wicadia Powers Aurora’s Comeback Against FURIA</h2><p>Aurora bounced back from losing Dust2 to complete a 2-1 comeback over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia/" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;and secure their playoff spot.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-8</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-9</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-9</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/wicadia/" target="_self">Wicadia</a>&nbsp;delivered when Aurora needed him most. He closed Mirage with a 1v2 clutch, then posted 23 frags, 109.5 ADR, and a 1.51 rating on Nuke while also winning a 1v4.</p><p>The victory moved Aurora to 3-1 and sent them to the Spodek Arena playoffs. FURIA dropped to 2-2 and must now survive the final Swiss round.</p><h2>s1n Leads M80 Past Legacy to Keep Their Playoff Hopes Alive</h2><p><a href="/teams/m80/" target="_self">M80</a>&nbsp;stayed alive with a 2-1 win over Legacy, recovering after dropping Mirage.&nbsp;<a href="/players/s1n/" target="_self">s1n</a>&nbsp;was the main difference-maker throughout the series:</p><ul><li>Cache: 2.30 rating in a 13-4 win</li><li>Series: 54-30 K-D and 1.56 rating</li><li>Dust2: another strong performance to close the decider 13-7</li></ul><p>Legacy played without&nbsp;<a href="/players/art/" target="_self">arT</a>, who missed EPL after being diagnosed with meningitis. Analyst Pedro "bobz" Rocha stepped in for him and finished the event with a 0.68 rating across ten maps.</p><p>The loss ended Legacy's run at 1-3, while M80 moved into the final Swiss round at 2-2.</p><h3>Swisher Raises Concerns Over Major Sticker Revenue</h3><p><a href="/players/swisher/" target="_self">Swisher</a>&nbsp;said the win should secure M80's invitation to the Singapore Major, but he also addressed concerns about Valve's changed sticker system.</p><p>"Everyone is hoping that Valve rethink their stance on the stickers," he said.</p><p>According to Swisher, smaller organizations have felt the financial impact particularly strongly.</p><h2>Falcons Overcome NAVI Behind NiKo and m0NESY</h2><p>Falcons secured the final playoff place available on Day 4 with a 2-1 victory over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi/" target="_self">NAVI</a>.</p><p>After winning Inferno 13-6 and losing Anubis 15-19 in overtime, Falcons closed the series 13-8 on Mirage.&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko/" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;led the decider with 26 frags, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;added 19.</p><p>Across the series, NiKo finished 65-48 with 96.0 ADR and a 1.37 rating. His strongest stretch came on Inferno, where Falcons broke a 6-6 halftime tie by winning every round after the switch.</p><h2>Six Teams Prepare to Fight for the Final Three Playoff Spots</h2><p>Vitality,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz/" target="_self">MOUZ</a>, 1win, Aurora, and Falcons have already secured playoff spots. That leaves six teams at 2-2, with only three places left for the final Swiss round on October 7.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Deciding match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Stakes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA vs. 9z</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winner qualifies</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">PARIVISION vs. NAVI</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winner qualifies</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit vs. M80</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winner qualifies</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Every series is win or go home. Spirit are getting a third shot at qualification after starting EPL 2-0, while M80 have fought all the way back from an 0-2 start.</p><p>The three winners will join the five qualified teams in the Spodek Arena playoffs, which run from October 9-11.</p>

EPL S24 Day 3: MOUZ and Vitality Advance as the First Teams Fall

<p>On Day 3 of ESL Pro League Season 24,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz/" target="_self">MOUZ</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/vitality/" target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;reached the playoffs, while ShindeN and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/tyloo/" target="_self">TYLOO</a>&nbsp;were knocked out. MOUZ ended&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit/" target="_self">Spirit</a>’s 32-match winning streak in Swiss groups, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2/" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/m80/" target="_self">M80</a>&nbsp;stayed alive. Read on for the key results, clutch plays and next matches in the fight for playoff spots.</p><h2>MOUZ Stop Spirit’s 32-Match Swiss Winning Run</h2><p>MOUZ booked their playoff spot by sweeping Spirit 2-0, ending their opponents’ 32-match winning streak in Swiss groups. It was Spirit’s first loss in the format in 668 days.</p><ul><li>Dust2, 13-5:&nbsp;<a href="/players/spinx/" target="_self">Spinx</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/pr/" target="_self">PR</a>&nbsp;repeatedly shut down Spirit’s attacks on B, helping MOUZ take control of the series.</li><li>Mirage, 13-11: Spirit fought back from 12-6 down with five straight rounds, but MOUZ stopped the comeback in the final round of regulation.</li></ul><p><a href="/players/xelex/" target="_self">xelex</a>&nbsp;led MOUZ with a 1.56 series rating, while Spinx finished with 40 frags and 20 deaths. Having already beaten M80 and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia/" target="_self">FURIA</a>, MOUZ completed Swiss with a 3-0 record and all six maps won.</p><h3>torzsi on MOUZ’s Reset After StarSeries</h3><p><a href="/players/torzsi/" target="_self">Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás</a>&nbsp;described StarSeries as “a nice slap in the face,” admitting MOUZ had approached that event too casually.</p><p>Their preparation against Spirit included grenades targeting donk’s familiar Dust2 crossings and better coordination between PR and Spinx on B. torzsi felt his own missed shots delayed the Mirage finish, but welcomed the confidence boost before the playoffs.</p><p>“We are aiming for the trophy,” torzsi said.</p><h2>Vitality Recover Against Falcons to Finish 3–0</h2><p>Vitality recovered from a map down to beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/teamfalcons/" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;2-1 and reach the playoffs with a 3-0 Swiss record.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Anubis</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-9</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Vitality</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-4</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Vitality</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-8</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;won 10 of his 11 opening duels on Anubis, but&nbsp;<a href="/players/flamez/" target="_self">flameZ</a>&nbsp;helped turn the series around with a 2.10 rating on Dust2. Across all three maps,&nbsp;<a href="/players/mezii/" target="_self">mezii</a>&nbsp;led Vitality with a 1.36 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/ropz/" target="_self">ropz</a>&nbsp;finished with 51 frags and 30 deaths.</p><p>The comeback ended Vitality’s five-series losing streak against Falcons and brought revenge for their Cologne Major quarterfinal exit. Their previous win over Falcons had come in the EPL Season 22 final, almost a year earlier.</p><h2>G2 and M80 Stay Alive as ShindeN and TYLOO Exit</h2><p>G2 and M80 kept their EPL runs alive, sending ShindeN and TYLOO home with 0-3 records.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Series result</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Map scores</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">G2 vs. ShindeN</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2 13-6, Ancient 13-9</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">M80 vs. TYLOO</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage 10-13, Cache 13-7, Anubis 13-8</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>G2 finally found a win after defeats to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi/" target="_self">NAVI</a>&nbsp;and 1win. M80 had a tougher escape, letting a 9-5 Mirage lead slip before taking the next two maps. Both winners moved to 1-2.</p><p>TYLOO’s exit also hurt their chances of a direct Stage 2 invitation to the Singapore Major. Their Major spot was already secure, as was M80’s, but the early EPL departure could affect where they start.</p><h3>huNter- on Integrating r1nkle into G2’s System</h3><p>“We cannot change everything to make&nbsp;<a href="/players/r1nkle/" target="_self">r1nkle</a>&nbsp;comfortable fully,”&nbsp;<a href="/players/hunter/" target="_self">huNter-</a>&nbsp;told a reporter.</p><p>G2’s captain said the team was adding the AWPer’s preferred plays while retaining parts of its system from&nbsp;<a href="/players/sunpayus/" target="_self">SunPayus</a>’s time. He stressed patience on maps such as Ancient and Inferno, where aggressive opportunities are limited, and argued that stronger team play would help r1nkle show his best form.</p><h2>NAVI, FURIA, Aurora and 1win Move Within Reach of Playoffs</h2><p>Four more teams moved to 2-1, putting a playoff spot just one series win away.</p><ul><li>NAVI 2-0&nbsp;<a href="/teams/9z/" target="_self">9z</a>:&nbsp;<a href="/players/b1t/" target="_self">b1t</a>&nbsp;led with a 1.51 rating as NAVI won both Nuke and Cache 13-6.</li><li>FURIA 2-1&nbsp;<a href="/teams/parivision/" target="_self">PARIVISION</a>: FURIA shook off a 13-7 loss on Ancient to take Mirage 13-5 and Inferno 13-10.</li><li><a href="/teams/aurora/" target="_self">Aurora</a>&nbsp;2-1&nbsp;<a href="/teams/betboom/" target="_self">BETBOOM</a>: Aurora won Mirage 13-4, dropped Nuke 7-13 and closed Anubis 13-8.&nbsp;<a href="/players/jimpphat/" target="_self">Jimpphat</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/wicadia/" target="_self">Wicadia</a>&nbsp;each finished with a 1.18 rating.</li><li>1win 2-0&nbsp;<a href="/teams/legacy/" target="_self">Legacy</a>: Both maps ended 13-8, but Dust2 required a comeback. Trailing 8-4 at halftime, 1win won nine straight CT rounds before taking Ancient.</li></ul><p>For 9z, PARIVISION, BETBOOM and Legacy, the defeats left no room for another slip: all four dropped to 1-2 and now face elimination matches.</p><h2>Day 3’s Standout Performances and Clutch Plays</h2><p><a href="/players/matys/" target="_self">MATYS</a>’s 42-23 record and 1.59 rating drove G2’s survival, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/slaxz-/" target="_self">slaxz-</a>&nbsp;delivered 60 frags, 33 deaths and a 1.57 rating for M80. PARIVISION’s&nbsp;<a href="/players/xielo/" target="_self">xiELO</a>&nbsp;posted a remarkable 2.30 rating on Ancient and led the series with 1.44 despite his team’s defeat.</p><p><a href="/players/fl1t/" target="_self">FL1T</a>’s&nbsp;<a href="/skins/tec-9/" target="_self">Tec-9</a>&nbsp;1v4 against FURIA came with a tense finish: the bomb timer secured the post-plant round after he died to the final defender. Spinx added a Dust2 ace, while guty landed four&nbsp;<a href="/skins/ak-47/" target="_self">AK</a>&nbsp;headshots defending Ancient’s B site.</p><h2>Round 4 Matchups: NAVI Face Falcons with Qualification at Stake</h2><p>NAVI face Falcons on October 6 with a playoff spot on the line, following earlier meetings with G2, Vitality and 9z. All six Round 4 matches are best-of-three.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Record</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Stakes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">NAVI vs. Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winner qualifies</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit vs. 1win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winner qualifies</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA vs. Aurora</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winner qualifies</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">G2 vs. PARIVISION</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Loser eliminated</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">9z vs. BETBOOM</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Loser eliminated</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Legacy vs. M80</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Loser eliminated</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Three teams will advance and three will go home. The remaining six will enter the final Swiss round at 2-2, fighting for the last three spots in the Spodek playoffs.</p>

EPL Season 24 Day 2: Four Teams Stay Unbeaten as G2 Fall to 0–2

<p>After two days in Katowice,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/vitality/" target="_self">Vitality</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/teamfalcons/" target="_self">Falcons</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit/" target="_self">Spirit</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz/" target="_self">MOUZ</a>&nbsp;remain unbeaten at ESL Pro League Season 24. October 4 left&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2/" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;in danger at 0-2, while 1win found a response to their opening defeat. Read on for the decisive performances, all eight results, and October 5 matchups.</p><h2>BELCHONOKK Leads 1win Past G2 in Three Maps</h2><p>1win beat G2 2-1, dropping&nbsp;<a href="/players/hunter/" target="_self">huNter-</a>'s team to 0-2 after their opening loss to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi/" target="_self">NAVI</a>. G2 now need three straight wins to reach the playoffs.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-11</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Ancient</td><td style="border-style:solid;">G2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-1</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-8</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/ax1le/" target="_self">Ax1Le</a>&nbsp;led 1win on Dust2 with a 1.72 rating. G2 have now lost six of their last seven matches on the map, which&nbsp;<a href="/players/nafany/" target="_self">nafany</a>&nbsp;called “their great weakness.”</p><p>G2’s Ancient blowout forced a decider, but&nbsp;<a href="/players/belchonokk/" target="_self">BELCHONOKK</a>&nbsp;took over Mirage with a 2.09 rating and seven multi-frag rounds. He finished the series with 52 frags, 40 deaths, and a 1.41 rating.</p><p>“I feel much more comfortable now,” BELCHONOKK said, crediting his new roles, the atmosphere around nafany and coach groove, and lower expectations than at&nbsp;<a href="/teams/parivision/" target="_self">PARIVISION</a>. Still, he warned that bringing the players’ different approaches into one system could take at least a year.</p><h2>Falcons Overcome Aurora to Keep Their Perfect Map Record</h2><p>Falcons kept their perfect map record with a 2-0 win over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/aurora/" target="_self">Aurora</a>, following their opening sweep of&nbsp;<a href="/teams/tyloo/" target="_self">TYLOO</a>.</p><ul><li>Mirage, 13-4:&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko/" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;powered Falcons’ CT half before&nbsp;<a href="/players/teses/" target="_self">TeSeS</a>&nbsp;landed a 1v4 in the second-half pistol to put the map firmly in their hands.</li><li>Dust2, 13-10: Aurora led at halftime, but&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;helped Falcons win eight straight rounds to close the series.</li></ul><p>m0NESY finished with 37 frags, 20 deaths, and a 1.44 series rating.</p><p>For&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyxsan/" target="_self">kyxsan</a>, the first match against Falcons since his departure ended in disappointment. Aurora dropped to 1-1, taking a setback after their runner-up finish at StarSeries Fall.</p><h2>Vitality Defeat NAVI to Set Up a Falcons Rematch</h2><p>Vitality beat NAVI 2-1 after the teams traded each other's map picks. Vitality took Anubis 13-5, but&nbsp;<a href="/players/b1t/" target="_self">b1t</a>'s 20 frags and eight deaths helped NAVI win Nuke by the same score.</p><p>NAVI's recovery stopped there.&nbsp;<a href="/players/zywoo/" target="_self">ZywOo</a>'s 1v4 in round six helped Vitality take control of Mirage, which ended 13-4.&nbsp;<a href="/players/ropz/" target="_self">ropz</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/mezii/" target="_self">mezii</a>&nbsp;shared Vitality's best series rating at 1.33, while NAVI dropped to 1-1 despite b1t's impressive Nuke.</p><p>Vitality now face Falcons for the first time since their Cologne Major quarterfinal loss, a series in which all three maps finished 13-11.</p><h2>Spirit and MOUZ Move Within One Win of the Playoffs</h2><p>Spirit recovered from an 11-13 Ancient loss against PARIVISION to win Dust2 13-6 and Anubis 13-5. donk delivered 66 frags against 35 deaths, including 31 frags in just 18 rounds on Anubis. Spirit's remarkable Swiss winning streak reached 32 series, stretching back to their last defeat against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia/" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;at the Shanghai Major.</p><p>MOUZ had a much shorter day, sweeping FURIA 13-4 on Cache and 13-7 on Mirage.&nbsp;<a href="/players/xertion/" target="_self">xertioN</a>&nbsp;led with a 1.48 series rating, while torzsi posted 31 frags against 13 deaths. MOUZ joined Falcons with four map wins and none lost. FURIA managed only 11 rounds across the two maps.</p><h2>Legacy, 9z, and BetBoom Bounce Back to Reach 1–1</h2><p><a href="/teams/legacy/" target="_self">Legacy</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/9z/" target="_self">9z</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/betboom/" target="_self">BetBoom</a>&nbsp;recovered from opening losses to reach the 1-1 pool.</p><ul><li>Legacy swept ShindeN 13-8 on Nuke and 13-11 on Mirage.&nbsp;<a href="/players/latto/" target="_self">latto</a>&nbsp;posted 39 frags, 22 deaths, and a 1.54 rating. Analyst bobz continues to stand in for&nbsp;<a href="/players/art/" target="_self">arT</a>, who is sidelined by meningitis.</li><li>9z answered their defeat to Aurora with a 2-0 win over TYLOO, taking Nuke 13-10 and Mirage 13-2.&nbsp;<a href="/players/luchov/" target="_self">luchov</a>&nbsp;opened with a pistol-round ace and finished with a 1.69 series rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/huasopeek/" target="_self">HUASOPEEK</a>&nbsp;added a 1v3 clutch.</li><li>BetBoom edged past&nbsp;<a href="/teams/m80/" target="_self">M80</a>&nbsp;with a 16-14 overtime win on Cache and a 13-11 finish on Anubis.&nbsp;<a href="/players/s1ren/" target="_self">S1ren</a>&nbsp;led the way with 43 frags and a 1.31 rating.</li></ul><p>With all five players available again after visa problems,&nbsp;<a href="/players/boobl4/" target="_self">Boombl4</a>&nbsp;stressed the need for consistency. “We just want to feel the game and the competition,” he said.</p><h2>Day 3 Matchups Put Playoff Spots and Survival on the Line</h2><p>October 5 will produce the first two playoff qualifiers and the first two eliminations from the 16-team Swiss stage. Three series wins secure a playoff spot; three losses end a team's run.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Record</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Matchups</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Stakes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit vs. MOUZ; Vitality vs. Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winners qualify</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">1-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">PARIVISION vs. FURIA; NAVI vs. 9z; Legacy vs. 1win; Aurora vs. BetBoom</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Winners move to 2-1; losers fall to 1-2</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">0-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">G2 vs. ShindeN; M80 vs. TYLOO</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Losers are eliminated</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>G2's margin for error is gone. Beating ShindeN would only keep them alive, with two more series wins still required to reach the Spodek playoffs on October 9-11.</p>

ENVY Ends Counter-Strike Hiatus With French Roster Signing

<p>It’s official:&nbsp;<a href="/teams/envy/" target="_self">ENVY</a>&nbsp;is back in Counter-Strike after nearly six years away. The American organization signed&nbsp;<a href="/teams/3dmax/" target="_self">3DMAX</a>’s former French roster on September 29, 2026. The five players are expected to debut in October as they chase a spot at the Singapore Major. Meet the team and see what’s next for ENVY.</p><h2>ENVY’s New Five and Their Departure From 3DMAX</h2><p>ENVY has signed the former 3DMAX roster, keeping all five players together:</p><ul><li><a href="/players/maka/" target="_self">Bryan “Maka” Canda</a></li><li><a href="/players/lucky/" target="_self">Lucas “Lucky” Chastang</a></li><li><a href="/players/misutaaa/" target="_self">Kévin “misutaaa” Rabier</a></li><li><a href="/players/graviti/" target="_self">Filip “Graviti” Brankovic</a></li><li><a href="/players/kursy/" target="_self">Jeremy “Kursy” Gast</a></li></ul><p>The group took shape earlier this year. Misutaaa replaced&nbsp;<a href="/players/bodyy/" target="_self">bodyy</a>&nbsp;on February 24, and Kursy replaced&nbsp;<a href="/players/ex3rcice/" target="_self">Ex3rcice</a>&nbsp;on June 24. Kursy switched to rifles, while Maka kept the&nbsp;<a href="/skins/awp/" target="_self">AWP</a>.</p><p>The move follows months of payment problems at 3DMAX. On August 27, Maka, coach Damien “wasiNk” Dufour, and former coach Pierre “YouKnow” Marco publicly addressed the situation. Their statements followed French reporter Sébastien “KRL” Perez’s allegation that 3DMAX owed players, staff, and other parties more than €1.5 million.</p><p>Maka described “a different type of pressure” and asked for help getting the team to upcoming LANs. Both coaches spoke about unpaid or delayed salaries.</p><p>ENVY’s announcement did not reveal contract lengths, financial terms, or coaching appointments. There was also no confirmation that 3DMAX’s reported debts had been settled.</p><h2>Reconnecting With ENVY’s French Counter-Strike History</h2><p>French Counter-Strike gave ENVY its only Major title.</p><p>The organization entered CS in February 2015 by signing the former LDLC squad. Later that year, an ENVY team featuring Kenny “kennyS” Schrub and&nbsp;<a href="/players/apex/" target="_self">Dan “apEX” Madesclaire</a>&nbsp;won DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca, establishing the French connection that this signing renews.</p><p>“I hope we can achieve a similar success,” owner Mike “hastr0” Rufail wrote on X following the announcement, as reported by Dust2.us. He also expressed appreciation for French supporters.</p><p>ENVY later fielded North American and international teams. Its previous squad last competed in December 2020, and the organization suspended its Counter-Strike division in January 2021. The distinction explains the nearly six-year competitive absence behind this return.</p><h2>October Debut and the Push for the Singapore Major</h2><p>ENVY is expected to debut at Stake Pulse Beat III, with two October LANs on its schedule:</p><ul><li>Stake Pulse Beat III: October 12 to 17 in Stockholm, Sweden. Sixteen teams will compete for $80,000.</li><li>Digital Crusade DraculaN Season 7: October 19 to 23 in Bucharest, Romania, featuring 24 teams and a $35,000 prize pool.</li></ul><p>At the signing, the French squad ranked 21st globally and 16th in Europe in Valve Regional Standings. With 18 European spots available at the PGL Singapore Major, ENVY is in the race, but qualification remains open.</p><p>Both LANs offer a chance to strengthen its position before the November 2 cutoff for Major invitations.</p>

French Counter-Strike Mourns maleK After His Death at 35

<p>Across French Counter-Strike, players and fans are mourning Malek “maleK” Bennouioua, the former competitor and content creator who has died at 35. Known online as MalekCSGO, he reached thousands through his videos and streams. Read on for his career and the tributes from those who knew him.</p><h2>Death Announcement and Request for Privacy</h2><p>A statement published on maleK’s X account on September 28, 2026, asked the community to respect his family’s privacy. It urged readers to avoid spreading rumors, false information or speculation, while thanking everyone who had sent messages of support and affection.</p><p>The statement did not disclose a cause of death. Its focus was on protecting his loved ones during an extremely difficult time.</p><h2>maleK’s Playing Career With beGenius and Epsilon</h2><p>maleK began playing Counter-Strike: Source in 2011 before becoming a familiar name in France’s domestic CS scene. With beGenius, his team earned top-four finishes at Gamers Assembly 2015 and the DreamHack Tours qualifying tournament.</p><p>On March 1, 2017, Epsilon announced a French squad led by maleK alongside&nbsp;<a href="/players/jackz/" target="_self">Audric “JACKZ” Jug</a>, Valentin “VKLL” Bartolomei, Théo “LoWkii” Téchené and Léo “Kan4” Intronati.</p><p>For maleK, the move offered a chance to compete full-time. He described the project as a dream becoming reality, with salaries, a gaming house and long-term contracts providing the conditions to pursue professional play.</p><h2>From Competition to YouTube and Twitch</h2><p>Streaming was already part of maleK’s life during his playing career. Coverage of his Epsilon signing described him as an established streamer, years before content creation became his main occupation.</p><p>His output included tutorials, coaching, match analysis and Counter-Strike news, giving French-speaking viewers practical ways to learn the game and follow its competitive scene.</p><p>By the time his death was reported, his main YouTube channel had more than 130,000 subscribers, while approximately 155,000 people followed him on Twitch.</p><h2>Tributes From apEX, shox and the French CS Community</h2><p>“Rest in peace, maleK,”&nbsp;<a href="/players/apex/" target="_self">Dan “apEX” Madesclaire</a>&nbsp;wrote.&nbsp;<a href="/players/neityu/" target="_self">Neityu</a>, KRL and Ozstrik3r were also among the French Counter-Strike figures who paid tribute.</p><p>Richard “shox” Papillon shared a more personal remembrance: “I have no words, I can’t believe it.”</p><p>He recalled knowing maleK for 20 years, from PxL events to a restaurant visit together roughly a year earlier. His message also remembered maleK as a father and expressed condolences to his family.</p><p>Alongside those memories, shox urged people struggling emotionally to reach out rather than remain alone, expressing his sorrow that he had not known maleK needed help.</p>

HEROIC Rally Past 100 Thieves to Claim Stake Pulse Beat II

<p>After surviving two championship points,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/heroic/" target="_self">HEROIC</a>&nbsp;defeated&nbsp;<a href="/teams/100thieves/" target="_self">100 Thieves</a>&nbsp;2-1 on September 26, 2026, to win Stake Pulse Beat II in Stockholm. A double-overtime escape on Ancient set up a commanding finish on Inferno. Read on for the decisive performances and the victory’s impact on the Major race.</p><h2>HEROIC’s Path to the Stockholm Final</h2><p>The 16-team Stockholm LAN ran from September 21 to 26 with $60,000 in prize money. HEROIC collected $20,000, while 100 Thieves earned $8,000.</p><p>HEROIC swept their group before back-to-back three-map playoff wins.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Stage</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Opponent</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Group opener</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Johnny Speeds</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Group winners’ match</td><td style="border-style:solid;">BBL</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Quarterfinal</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/fnatic/" target="_self">fnatic</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Semifinal</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Sangal</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Against fnatic, HEROIC recovered from an 8-13 Cache loss with 13-11 and 13-6 wins on Mirage and Inferno. A 13-8 Mirage decider then sealed their semifinal against Sangal.</p><p>100 Thieves advanced through the other side of the bracket, beating BBL 2-0 and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/astralis/" target="_self">Astralis</a>&nbsp;2-1 to book their final spot.</p><h2>Three Maps Decide the Title Against 100 Thieves</h2><p>100 Thieves struck first on their Dust2 pick. A 7-5 halftime advantage disappeared when HEROIC took the opening three rounds after the switch, but six consecutive rounds secured a 13-8 victory.</p><p><a href="/players/rain/" target="_self">Håvard “rain” Nygaard</a>&nbsp;finished with 22 frags, eight deaths, 100.3 average damage per round, and a 1.84 rating. His performance left HEROIC facing elimination heading into their own pick, Ancient.</p><h3>HEROIC Escape Defeat with a Double-Overtime Win on Ancient</h3><p>HEROIC extended their 7-5 halftime lead to 10-6 before six straight rounds put 100 Thieves on championship point at 12-10. With the trophy slipping away, HEROIC denied both chances, forced overtime, and edged Ancient 19-17 after two extra periods.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Player</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Ancient performance</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/brollan/" target="_self">Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">1.46 rating, 79.1 ADR</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/martinezsa/" target="_self">Antonio “MartinezSa” Martinez</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">1.17 rating, 83.5 ADR</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/sirah/" target="_self">William “sirah” Kjærsgaard</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">1.27 rating, 80.2 ADR</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>MartinezSa later admitted that HEROIC sometimes went quiet when rounds turned against them. He recalled a pause during the comeback and praised the team’s resilience under pressure.</p><h3>susp Leads the Charge as HEROIC Dominate Inferno</h3><p><a href="/players/susp/" target="_self">Tim “susp” Ångström</a>&nbsp;gave 100 Thieves little chance to recover. HEROIC stormed into an 11-0 lead, with susp surviving every round until the last of the half. He reached the break at 15-1.</p><p>The decider ended 13-4. susp finished with 19 frags, six deaths, 112.3 ADR, and a 2.14 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/nilo/" target="_self">Linus “nilo” Bergman</a>&nbsp;and MartinezSa closed the series by winning a two-versus-three clutch.</p><p>HEROIC completed the tournament unbeaten in five series, with a 10-3 map record.</p><h2>Brollan Finishes as the Final’s Highest-Rated Player</h2><p>Brollan led the final in Rating 3.0, while MartinezSa topped the frag count:</p><ul><li>Brollan: 1.34 rating, 51 frags and 43 deaths, with a 1.19 K/D ratio.</li><li>MartinezSa: 53 frags and 45 deaths, 78.7 ADR, and a 1.14 rating.</li><li>rain: 100 Thieves’ highest-rated player at 1.12.</li></ul><p>MartinezSa also praised Brollan’s role as a second calling voice alongside&nbsp;<a href="/players/chr1zn/" target="_self">Christoffer “Chr1zN” Storgaard</a>, particularly on CT sides, and credited his positive influence on team morale.</p><h2>Second LAN Trophy Boosts HEROIC’s Position in the Major Race</h2><p>The victory followed HEROIC’s July success at Stake Ranked Episode 3 in Barcelona, giving the team two LAN trophies since Brollan and MartinezSa joined during the summer.</p><p>HEROIC gained 117&nbsp;<a href="/wiki/how-cs2-team-rankings-are-formed-and-what-vrs-is/" target="_self">Valve Regional Standings points</a>&nbsp;across the event, reaching 1,482. They rose from 27th to 17th globally and stood 13th in Europe after the tournament. The result strengthened their chances of reaching PGL Major Singapore before the November 2 invitation cutoff, without securing qualification.</p><p>“It’s not tier one, but it’s the way to tier one tournaments,” MartinezSa said in his post-final interview.</p><p>HEROIC planned further appearances at Stake Pulse Beat III and DraculaN, with a place at IEM Beijing already secured.</p>

BCGame Secure Final Stake Pulse Beat III Spot

<p><a href="/teams/bcgame" target="_self">BCGame</a>&nbsp;finally broke through after a tough run in online qualifiers.&nbsp;Magisk’s team beat Sashi 2-1 in the final and secured the last spot at Stake Pulse Beat III in Stockholm. The lineup includes&nbsp;<a href="/players/s1mple" target="_self">s1mple</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/electronic" target="_self">electroNic</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/senzu" target="_self">Senzu</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/mzinho" target="_self">mzinho</a>, with $80,000 on the line. See how BCGame turned the series around and earned their LAN spot.</p><h2>BCGame Reverse-Sweep Sashi in Second Open Qualifier Final</h2><p>BCGame’s run to the second open qualifier final began with a setback. Sashi edged out the opening map 16-14 after overtime, leaving Magisk’s squad one map from another early exit.</p><p>BCGame answered with a clean reverse sweep:</p><ul><li>Dust2: 13-6</li><li>Ancient: 13-6</li></ul><p>They built an 8-4 halftime lead on Ancient and shut down Sashi’s comeback attempts to secure the series 2-1.</p><p>The semifinal against Phantom was another close affair. Phantom led 7-5 at halftime on Inferno, but BCGame stabilized after the break and finished the map 13-11 in the 24th round. Senzu powered the recovery with 25 kills. Earlier in the bracket, BCGame had also dispatched BRUTE 13-8.</p><h2>s1mple and Company Recover After Difficult Qualifier Run</h2><p>Qualification mattered after BCGame’s recent run of early exits. Their first Stake Pulse Beat III attempt ended with a 13-8 Inferno loss to Xcity, then ranked No. 325 in the VRS.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Qualifier</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Result</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Stake Pulse Beat III, first attempt</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Lost 8-13 to Xcity</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">PGL Masters Bucharest</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Early exit</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">IEM Beijing</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Early exit</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Stake Pulse Beat III, second attempt</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Beat Sashi 2-1</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The results reflected a difficult online stretch, though several losses came before VRS-impacting rounds and did not significantly hurt BCGame’s ranking. The second Stake Pulse Beat III qualifier finally broke the pattern: BCGame edged Phantom, then recovered from dropping the opening map to Sashi before completing the reverse sweep.</p><h2>Stake Pulse Beat III Team List Completed for Stockholm LAN</h2><p>BCGame's victory completed the 16-team field for Stake Pulse Beat III, scheduled for October 12-17 in Stockholm, Sweden. The event carries an $80,000 prize pool.</p><p>The field includes&nbsp;<a href="/teams/astralis" target="_self">Astralis</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/b8" target="_self">B8</a>, MIBR, Alliance,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/liquid" target="_self">Liquid</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/3dmax" target="_self">3DMAX</a>, Inner Circle, HOTU,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">Ninjas in Pyjamas</a>, JiJieHao,&nbsp;<a href="/teams//heroic" target="_self">HEROIC</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/100thieves" target="_self">100 Thieves</a>, fnatic, Betclic, Sangal, and BCGame.</p><p>For BCGame, Stockholm now offers the squad a LAN opportunity after weeks spent fighting through online qualification brackets. Their place is secured, and the next test arrives in October.</p>

Legacy Dominate G2 to Claim FISSURE Playground 3 Title

<p><a href="/teams/legacy" target="_self">Legacy</a>&nbsp;crushed&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;3-0 in the FISSURE Playground 3 grand final in Suzhou. Led by&nbsp;<a href="/players/latto" target="_self">Bruno “latto” Rebelatto</a>, the Brazilian squad controlled the series from start to finish and lifted another trophy in China. Want to see how they shut down G2? Read on.</p><h2>G2 Survive BETBOOM Test to Reach the Grand Final</h2><p>G2 entered the final after a demanding 2-1 semifinal victory over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/betboom" target="_self">BETBOOM</a>. The series started badly for&nbsp;<a href="/players/hunter" target="_self">Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač</a>&nbsp;and company, as BETBOOM took Mirage 13-7.&nbsp;<a href="/players/matys" target="_self">Matúš "MATYS" Šimko</a>&nbsp;produced a 1.62 rating, but&nbsp;<a href="/players/magnojez" target="_self">Kirill "Magnojez" Rodnov's</a>&nbsp;late 1v3 helped BETBOOM close the map.</p><p>G2 responded on Anubis. BETBOOM forced overtime after&nbsp;<a href="/players/zorte" target="_self">Aleksandr "zorte" Zagodyrenko</a>&nbsp;won a critical 1v3, only for&nbsp;<a href="/players/nertz" target="_self">Guy "NertZ" Iluz</a>&nbsp;to answer with a 1v3 of his own after selling a fake plant. G2 escaped 16-13 before taking Ancient 13-7. NertZ finished Ancient with 21 kills, 110.5 ADR and a 1.54 rating, sending G2 into the championship match.</p><h2>Legacy Take Control of Ancient and Mirage</h2><p>Ancient initially looked competitive, with G2 recovering from a 5-2 deficit to lead 7-5 at halftime. After winning the second pistol, they seemed ready to take control, but Legacy answered immediately:</p><ul><li>A force-buy win shifted the momentum.</li><li>Five straight rounds put Legacy back in front.</li><li>At 10-9, latto found two kills in a crucial 3v3 to preserve the lead.</li></ul><p>Legacy closed their pick 13-9.</p><p>Mirage started even more decisively.&nbsp;<a href="/players/try" target="_self">Santino "try" Rigal</a>&nbsp;opened with a four-kill USP round before adding an AWP triple, helping Legacy surge to 5-0 and take a 9-3 halftime lead.&nbsp;<a href="/players/r1nkle" target="_self">Artem "r1nkle" Moroz</a>&nbsp;salvaged G2's third round with a 1v2 clutch despite starting the map 1-11.</p><p>G2 mounted a response after the break, with huNter- delivering an ace in round 17. Legacy repeatedly denied the comeback, however, turning an 11-8 lead into a 13-10 win. G2 were suddenly one map away from elimination.</p><h2>Dust2 Rout Seals a 3-0 Championship Sweep</h2><p>Dust2 removed most of the remaining tension. Legacy opened their second map pick with five straight T-side rounds and carried an 8-4 advantage into the break. G2 never won another round.</p><p>Legacy shut down the second half 5-0 to finish Dust2 13-4 and complete the sweep. Across the best-of-five final, the Brazilians posted wins of 13-9, 13-10 and 13-4, claiming their third trophy in China after their CS Asia Championships victories in 2025 and 2026.</p><h2>latto Powers Legacy to Another Trophy in China</h2><p>latto was the difference-maker in the final, topping Legacy's scoreboard on every map and finishing the sweep with 69 kills, 34 deaths, 102.9 ADR, 80.6% KAST and a 1.67 rating. His Dust2 performance was especially brutal:</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Rating</th><th style="border-style:solid;">ADR</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2.25</td><td style="border-style:solid;">131.6</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1.67</td><td style="border-style:solid;">102.9</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>NertZ was G2's best player, posting a 1.23 rating and a series-high 107.7 ADR, but Legacy's firepower never let the comeback develop.</p><p>The MVP award was latto's third in as many title-winning trips to China. He finished the event with a 1.31 rating and called the grand final the best match of his career.</p><p>"I think it's number one because it's a grand final," latto said after the victory. Asked about Legacy's remarkable record in China, the 23-year-old pointed to the crowd before adding: "It's China magic, I think." For Legacy, that magic once again ended with a trophy.</p>

FISSURE Playground 3 Day 4

<p>To start, Day 4 of FISSURE Playground 3 on September 10 cut the field down to six teams in Suzhou.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/9z" target="_self">9z</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/tyloo" target="_self">TYLOO</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/parivision" target="_self">PARIVISION</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/astralis" target="_self">Astralis</a>&nbsp;were eliminated, Legacy and BETBOOM skipped directly into the semi-finals, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;and Alliance survived the lower bracket to complete the playoffs. Read on for the results that decided the bracket.</p><h2>9z, TYLOO, PARIVISION and Astralis Exit the Tournament</h2><p>TYLOO fell 2-0 to Alliance, losing Inferno 13-11 before giving up an 11-3 lead on Ancient. Alliance won nine straight rounds to take the map 13-11, while Jonatan “bobeksde” Persson finished with 42 kills and a 1.46 rating.</p><p>9z took Dust2 13-11 against G2, but G2 answered with wins on Ancient and Inferno.&nbsp;<a href="/players/heavygod" target="_self">Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko</a>&nbsp;led the series with 54 kills and a 1.40 rating.</p><p>PARIVISION were swept 2-0 by MIBR, who won Ancient 13-11 and recovered from a 12-6 deficit on Inferno to close the map 16-14 in overtime.</p><p>5star produced the biggest upset, beating Astralis 2-1. The Mongolian side won Inferno, lost Ancient, then secured Cache 13-11 after winning a final-round 2v4.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">Series</th><th style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">Result</th><th style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">Key moment</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">Alliance vs TYLOO</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">Alliance overturned an 11-3 deficit on Ancient</td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">G2 vs 9z</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">G2 recovered after losing Dust2</td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">MIBR vs PARIVISION</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">MIBR completed an Inferno comeback</td></tr><tr><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">5star vs Astralis</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-color:#000000;border-style:solid;">5star closed Cache with a 2v4 clutch</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Legacy and BETBOOM Advance Directly to the Semi-Finals</h2><p><a href="/teams/legacy" target="_self">Legacy</a>&nbsp;secured the first direct semi-final berth with a 2-0 victory over FURIA. Both maps reached halftime at 6-6, but Legacy pulled away after the break, winning Mirage 13-7 and Ancient 13-9.&nbsp;<a href="/players/latto" target="_self">Bruno “latto” Rebelatto</a>&nbsp;posted a 1.34 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/n1ssim" target="_self">Vinicius “n1ssim” Pereira</a>&nbsp;finished at 1.30.</p><p><a href="/teams/betboom" target="_self">BETBOOM</a>&nbsp;joined them by beating MIBR 2-0. MIBR led 7-5 at halftime on Mirage before BETBOOM took eight of the next ten rounds for a 13-9 win. On Anubis, MIBR led 8-4, but BETBOOM forced overtime and prevailed 16-14. Legacy and BETBOOM therefore received quarter-final byes.</p><h2>G2 and Alliance Claim the Final Playoff Spots</h2><p>5star’s upset run ended against G2, who won 13-9 on Inferno and 13-4 on Ancient.&nbsp;<a href="/players/matys" target="_self">Matúš “MATYS” Šimko</a>&nbsp;led the way with 38 kills, 106.3 ADR and a 1.63 rating.</p><p>Alliance completed the field by defeating M80 2-0. After letting an 11-4 lead slip on Ancient, the Swedes recovered in overtime for a 16-13 win before controlling Inferno 13-7. Sean “eraa” Knutsson and Simon “twist” Eliasson were central to the finish.</p><p>The quarter-final bracket was set:</p><ul><li>MIBR vs. Alliance</li><li><a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;vs. G2</li></ul><p>The winners would meet Legacy and BETBOOM respectively in the semi-finals, closing a Day 4 that combined heavy favorites with two of the tournament’s biggest surprise runs.</p>

BLAST Bounty 2025: Day 3 — fnatic and NiP fall, FURIA dominates

<p>The third day of BLAST Bounty Season 2 brought intense emotions, comebacks, and a few major upsets. Some favorites are out, while others gain momentum.</p><p>FURIA 2:0 BIG<br>The Brazilians of FURIA confidently crushed BIG, leaving no room for doubt. Their aggression and clean coordination pushed them forward with ease.</p><p>MOUZ 2:1 OG<br>OG put up a fight and took the first map, but MOUZ came back strong to win 2:1. Special mention goes to&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/xertion" target="_self">xertioN</a>, who once again proved his world-class level.</p><p>paiN 2:1 Ninjas in Pyjamas<br>Huge disappointment for NiP — despite a close series, they fell to paiN.</p><p>Legacy 2:1 fnatic<br>Another upset: Legacy eliminated fnatic. The European squad started strong but couldn't handle Legacy's pace. The win secured Legacy's spot in the next stage.</p>