32 matches of Counter-Strike have been performed at ESL Professional League Season 20 thus far, as Teams A and B draw to a detailed. Malta is presently taking part in host to probably the most thrilling CS2 tournaments of the 12 months – right here’s how the motion has unfolded after the primary week of play.
Unconvincing Spirit and FaZe make Decrease Bracket runs
Credit score: ESLCS on X
Within the Decrease Brackets of every group, it was FaZe Clan and Spirit who made it by way of to Playoffs at ESL Professional League Season 20. These are two groups which have gone by way of a turbulent interval of late, and you can see indicators of battle in each by way of the Decrease Bracket. Nonetheless, neither bombed out in disastrous vogue, making this an enchancment on a few of their current outcomes.
For Spirit, you’ll by no means guess who the star of the present was. That’s proper: donk. Alongside NAVI’s iM, donk has been the most effective participant of EPL S20 thus far, and his staggering efficiency by no means fails to amaze. FaZe have been helped by an incredible event from frozen thus far, though a resurgent ropz additionally makes a large distinction to their wilting kind recently. Each groups will begin the Playoffs from the Spherical of 16, however after their current performances, neither will complain an excessive amount of.
Heroic and The MongolZ scrape by way of to Playoffs
Credit score: Viola Schuldner | © ESL
Throughout any ESL Professional League occasion, the Final Probability Bracket is all the time probably the most intense. Season 20 has confirmed to be no totally different, with Heroic and The MongolZ qualifying from Teams A and B respectively. You must give plenty of credit score to each – these Final Probability Brackets are all the time a marathon, and the groups who make it by way of have needed to grind laborious by way of the gauntlet to qualify.
Heroic’s remaining match got here right down to a rematch in opposition to Sangal. Final day trip, the latter gained out in a detailed 2:1 affair. However when it actually mattered, Heroic got here out on high in a tricky 2:0 collection. Heroic gained’t essentially be finest happy with how they made the Playoffs, however all that issues is that they’re there. Then, there’s The MongolZ, who lastly managed to beat 3DMAX 2:0. In current instances, 3DMAX have been considerably of a bogey workforce for the Mongolian roster, and what a time to beat it.
G2 and NAVI safe Quarter-Finals
Credit score: Igor Bezborodov | © ESL
As two of the Higher Bracket groups in Teams A and B at ESL Professional League Season 20, G2 and NAVI have already managed to safe their spots within the Quarter-Finals of the occasion. Whereas G2 confronted MIBR and NAVI needed to beat Everlasting Hearth, the tip outcome was the identical, with each groups placing down a convincing 2:0 collection in opposition to their respective opponents.
From G2, we noticed one other NiKo masterclass, however what number of instances have we stated that through the years. Some issues by no means change. NAVI had a monstrous efficiency from jL to thank for his or her spot within the EPL S20 Quarter-Finals, standing head and shoulders above his teammates on this collection. It was simply the 60 kills throughout two maps for jL – not unhealthy from the PGL Main Copenhagen 2024 MVP.
With Teams A and B now full, subsequent week will see Teams C and D start, the place we’ll see groups like Vitality and Astralis take to the server in Malta. Keep tuned for our protection!
