by Eternal Fire secured their spot in the next round of PGL Major Copenhagen with a 3-1 record after defeating GamerLegion 2-1 (4-13, 13-2, 13-11) in a series that showcased both their resilience and their flaws.
????????Eternal Fire???????? advances to the Elimination Stage after an edge-of-your-seat series against GamerLegion! ???? The battle was fierce, but EF emerged victorious! #PGLMAJOR ????" pic.twitter.com/lxD36D0Oz0
— PGL (@pglesports) March 19, 2024
Engin “?MAJ3R?” Küpeli expressed mixed emotions after the series, acknowledging the team’s subpar performance while also emphasizing the importance of winning Counter-Strike series even on off days.
Despite struggling early on Overpass and Mirage, where they faced a staggering 23-round losing streak, Eternal Fire managed to rally and secure crucial victories.
Their comeback was fueled by a sense of disrespect when GamerLegion called a timeout, igniting a hunger for redemption going into Inferno.
This map proved to be their stronghold, with Ismailcan “?XANTARES?” D?rtkarde? leading the charge in a dominant performance to secure a 13-2 map win.
The series reached its peak excitement on Vertigo, where both teams showcased their prowess.
Ultimately, it was key plays from XANTARES and Ali “?Wicadia?” Haydar Yal??n that secured Eternal Fire’s victory, despite a tense final round.
GamerLegion, though not eliminated, now sits in a precarious 2-2 position, awaiting further results to determine their fate in the tournament.
In another match, paiN secured their elimination stage berth with a convincing 2-0 (13-10, 13-7) victory over SAW, thanks in large part to Rodrigo “?biguzera?” Bittencourt’s standout performance.
???? paiN triumphs over ???? SAW in a two-map series (2-0), clinching their spot in the Elimination Stage ????!
???? An incredible performance that propels them forward. #PGLMAJOR pic.twitter.com/Pk8CDnYTUX
— PGL (@pglesports) March 19, 2024
Their success highlights their exceptional T-side play and ability to outclass top-tier opponents.
On the other hand, SAW’s momentum faltered as they suffered consecutive defeats, putting them at risk of an embarrassing exit from the Major.
ECSTATIC also secured their place in the elimination stage with a 2-1 (13-4, 10-13, 13-9) victory over Imperial.
ECSTATIC progresses to the Elimination Stage with a triumphant 2-1 victory over Imperial ????!
?? Imperial will fight tomorrow for their chance to remain in the tournament#PGLMAJOR ???? pic.twitter.com/ROqhLveY8C
— PGL (@pglesports) March 19, 2024
Despite being considered underdogs, ECSTATIC’s solid gameplay and strategic depth propelled them to success, led by standout performances from Tobias “?kraghen?” Kragh Jensen and Magnus “?Nodios?” Olsen.
Imperial, on the other hand, struggled to match their opponents’ tactical prowess, highlighting a need for improvement in their strategic approach.
Meanwhile, Lynn Vision, Apeks, and ENCE were all eliminated from the Major after suffering their third loss of the opening stage.
Wednesday’s matches
- Legacy (-112.36) vs TheMongolz (-112.36) @ 1pm CEST
- Imperial (-102.04) vs GamerLegion (-123.46) @ 4pm CEST
- SAW (+102) vs FURIA (-128.21) @ 7pm CEST
