by Another day of intense action at ESL Pro League Season 19 saw GamerLegion and BIG clinch playoff spots in Malta.
GamerLegion secured their playoff berth by defeating ENCE in a two-map series (Nuke 13-5, Overpass 13-10) in the Group C lower bracket final.
Welcome to the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs @GamerLegion ????
From Group C, they secure themselves a spot in the RO16 ?? pic.twitter.com/niXD8gJthJ
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 3, 2024
The new additions to GamerLegion Counter-Strike 2 roster, Henrich “sl3nd” Hevesi (1.54 rating) and Andreas “aNdu” Maasing (1.40), showcased outstanding performances, overpowering ENCE with their firepower.
In the Group D lower bracket final, BIG triumphed over HEROIC in a thrilling three-map encounter (Nuke 5-13, Vertigo 16-13, Ancient 13-5).
“It was a rollercoaster for sure, but we are mentally very strong,” said Johannes “tabseN” Wodarz about BIG’s comeback after losing the first map.
“We thought Nuke is one of our better maps, but we got a big reality check that we need to work on it a bit more.”
BIG vs HEROIC started on Nuke, where HEROIC dominated, securing a convincing victory.
However, BIG rallied back on Vertigo, with Florian “syrsoN” Rische and tabseN stepping up to tie the series.
Despite a close match, BIG secured the win in overtime, propelled by syrsoN’s clutch performance.
On Ancient, BIG showcased their dominance, securing an 8-4 lead on the T side and closing out the series with a 13-5 victory, earning themselves a spot in the EPL S19 playoffs.
The German side, @BIGCLANgg are through to the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs! ??
The R016 awaits ?? pic.twitter.com/GeDm4f0kj2
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 3, 2024
Earlier in the day, GamerLegion began their journey with a strong performance, dominating the first half of Nuke against ENCE and eventually winning 13-5.
aNdu’s exceptional performance on Nuke, with 25 kills and a 2.04 rating, propelled GamerLegion to victory.
Overpass saw a closer battle, with both teams trading rounds.
GamerLegion, however, staged a comeback from a 6-10 deficit to win the map 13-10, with Isak “isak” Fahlén’s clutch defuse being a pivotal moment.
FURIA advanced to the second round of Group C’s last chance stage with a 2-0 (13-6, 13-6) victory over Bad News Kangaroos.
Despite a comfortable win, FURIA must win two more series to reach the playoffs.
Kayke “kye” Bertolucci impressed for FURIA, especially on Inferno, where he posted a 1.92 rating.
Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo praised kye’s performance, emphasizing his bright future with the team.
FURIA’s dominant display on Inferno and Mirage secured them the victory over Bad News Kangaroos, setting up an elimination match against ENCE.
With both teams facing challenges, FalleN emphasized taking it “game by game” as FURIA aims to progress further in the tournament.
