ESL Professional League S20 is in full swing, and some days into the motion, there have already been just a few shock outcomes. We’re right here to speak you thru among the storylines creating in Malta, as Teams A and B hurtle in the direction of their conclusions over the subsequent couple of days.
NAVI and G2 amongst first Playoffs groups
Credit score: Igor Bezborodov | © ESL
As anticipated, NAVI and G2 have develop into two of the primary Playoffs groups at ESL Professional League S20 after profitable their first two matchups. For NAVI, it’s been clean crusing to date, making their run with out dropping a single map. Solely a single time beyond regulation towards Lynn Imaginative and prescient had NAVI worrying for a sizzling minute, however ultimately, they emerged from their LV and NIP clashes unscathed.
Life on G2’s aspect has been slightly harder. Their 2:0 opener towards KOI was simple sufficient, however they required a reverse-sweep to beat 3DMAX, requiring some heroics from malbsMd and m0NESY to drag them by means of. G2 have confronted loads of criticism of late, and their displaying in Malta to date will do little to dissuade the unfavorable opinions of this roster, regardless of the 2 wins to date.
NAVI and G2 are joined within the Higher Bracket Finals by Everlasting Fireplace and MIBR respectively, with all 4 groups having already punched their ticket to the Playoffs.
Heroic and NIP fall to Final Probability Stage
Credit score: Igor Bezborodov | © ESL
After two losses, Heroic and NIP each discover themselves on the verge of an early elimination from ESL Professional League S20. Heroic’s circumstances are tragic – solely shedding their first match to NIP after TeSeS was caught by accident utilizing Snap Faucet, leading to a decisive map win being overturned by ESL. Their subsequent failure within the Decrease Bracket got here by the hands of Sangal, and Heroic should now run the complete Final Probability gauntlet in the event that they’re to make it to the subsequent stage of the occasion.
In the meantime, NIP have been unlucky to fulfill each NAVI and FaZe to date within the event. Typically, these items are simply the luck of the draw, and destiny has not been on their aspect with some powerful matchups to begin with. Heroic and NIP now go head-to-head as soon as once more, a rematch of their opening match. This time, TeSeS will remember to triple-check that Snap Faucet is turned off.
Spirit and FaZe battle by means of Decrease Brackets
Credit score: Igor Bezborodov | © ESL
How have we ended up right here? Each FaZe and Spirit already discover themselves within the Decrease Brackets of ESL Professional League S20’s Group Stage. We all know each of those groups have been inconsistent of late, however this has been actually tough to look at to date. FaZe’s run obtained off to a rocky begin from the off, shedding their opener to large underdog Sangal. They’ve gained their two matchups since, but it surely nonetheless hasn’t appeared totally clear.
Then, there’s Spirit. An actual one-man military if we ever noticed one. When donk dropped 38 kills in regulation insuring their opener towards Wildcard and Spirit nonetheless virtually misplaced, we knew one thing wasn’t proper. Their match with MIBR to drop them to the Decrease Bracket was equally tough. On the ultimate map of the sequence, donk managed 36 kills, but it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient as Spirit suffered defeat on the map. They’re in an actual hunch proper now, with magixx, chopper, and zont1x all struggling to frag. Even this prodigy may not be sufficient to save lots of them at ESL Professional League S20.
