Category: CSGO

CS:GO: Astralis win IEM Katowice 2019

Astralis defeated ENCE 2-0 to win IEM Katowice 2019. This marks the third Major win for the Danish team and their second in a row. Such a feat amidst the scenes most competitive era has many pundits now cementing them as the best team in history.

In the first map, heroically, ENCE understood the need to take the fight to Astralis and play with tempo, knowing that to play the game Astralis wanted to play would be suicide. Unfortunately, a few clutch moments stifled ENCE’s momentum and then they were strangled by the overwhelming pressure that the Danish line up can impose. Astralis are amazing at gaining control of the game and implementing their game plan. Across world sport that is a marker of a truly great team, to not only win but to win through control. The utility play on “Fortress Inferno” was a great example of that with H.E grenades constantly chipping away at health and effective smokes preventing ENCE from having any way into the game. Astralis are now unbeaten in 15 straight games on Inferno.

ENCE had been on a bit of a miracle run, getting to the final by beating Na’Vi and Liquid. ENCE had an all round level that was higher than Na’Vi. S1mple was playing like a god but the players around him were too inconsistent, ENCE’s level was lower but more even with different members of the team being able to contribute at different times. They will take huge confidence from this despite being swept aside by Astralis. There is no shame in being beaten by the best team in the world, none at all. It bodes well for the game to have such a competitive scene, despite the absolute dominance of the number 1 slot.

It’s a huge mark of professionalism that Peter “dupreeh” Rothmann was able to compete so strongly at this event having only just recently lost his father. Of course the game is a team game, but to be able to focus and perform with that extra horrible distraction is a testament to the professionalism of esports players. It also put extra impact on the heart-warming team hug upon their victory.  He gave an emotional interview, where he explained his father’s last wish was for him to win. He dedicated the victory to his father.

There are some among the CS:GO community that find the dominance of one team to be boring, it’s not really something I understand. The New Zealand All Blacks have been the dominant force in world rugby for decades. Watching them play is an honour, because their skill level is so much better than yours that they are able to play the game perfectly, and its awesome (in the true sense of the word) to watch. If CS:GO fans are getting bored imagine what its like for my country Wales to not have beaten the All Blacks since 1953. It adds an extra element to the games because at some point all records will fall and even the best teams lose. It’s a truth of sport that its hard to improve when you’re the best, and with everyone analysing the way you play it’s only a matter of time before someone works out a counter. It’s a fascinating process to watch.

CS:Go: Na’Vi  crowned champions at ESL One Cologne 2018

In what proved to be convincing fashion, Na’Vi defeated newcomers to the scene BIG 3-1. While BIG put in some…big performances they just could not stand against the firepower of the Ukrainian super-team. With s1mple and electronic consistently winning rounds, Na’Vi got ahead and were able to stay there.
Huge credit must go to BIG who have only been together for a month. They got themselves to the final and lost to the best team in the world. There is no shame at all in that and at times they put Na’Vi under pressure which in itself is a huge accomplishment.
The storyline going into the tournament was whether anyone could stop the tactical dominance of Astralis. In their semi-final however, it was Na’Vi that was able to stamp their authority on the game. Na’Vi’s aggressive playstyle with numerous force-buys kept Astralis from being able to build their economy and strangle out their opponents. Unable to play their game, they looked vulnerable, and cracked.
The evolution of Na’Vi is great for CSGO, making the contest for best team in the world a three-horse race. Na’Vi have clearly worked hard on strengthening their weaknesses, there are far fewer unforced errors in their game meaning opponents don’t get free rounds against them. Furthermore they are now a team. Na’Vi have been known for having the best player in the world but little else. They had to become more than a 1-threat team, and with electronic and Zeus both putting in huge performances in the tournament, they have done so.
The moment of the tournament for me was s1mple getting the enthusiastic German crowd to chant for Smooya, the young British talent. In the moment of his greatest win he decides to applaud the effort of a newcomer to the scene. That spectacle of showmanship was fantastic to see.
The narrative now, with three powerful teams, is who can be the most consistent team through the rest of the year. Bring on the Majors!

CS:Go: Astralis beat Na’Vi to win DreamHack Masters Marseille

Danish CS:GO Team Astralis have won the DreamHack Masters Marseilles, beating Natus Vincere 2-0 in the final on Sunday 22nd April 2018. This tournament marking Astralis’ first title since IEM Katowice in February 2017.

The pick and ban phase suggested we, as fans, were on for a 3-map thriller. Astralis and Na’Vi had picked Nuke and Inferno, respectively, almost guaranteeing themselves victory on their own pick. The decider being on Train. 

Astralis were expected to win Nuke. Few teams really put time into it and Astralis are probably the best in the world on the unpopular map. What pundits and experts may not have expected was the brutal 16-4 domination. Na’Vi wanted to make the game messy for Astralis and stop them building an economy, unfortunately for them they were unable to do so and were blown off the map. 

Before map 2, talk was about Na’Vi resetting and winning their comfort pick; Inferno. It started out well enough with them taking a lead. Astralis however, we able to win some key rounds to get themselves in the game. Once they built up an economy, giving themselves multiple rebuys and starving Na’Vi of funds, they strangled the Ukrainian team out of the map and out of the tournament. 

A special mention must go out to my tournament MVP Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev in this match. I can’t imagine someone putting up higher stats and still losing. He was top-fragger in both maps (22, 41) and close to 93 ADR on Inferno. He had some fantastic, shots such as out sniping Device’s AWP with a Deagle, and was trying to carry the rest of his team to victory.

Astralis were able to enforce their will on the game, keeping it a tactical affair and not getting drawn into 1v1 duels. Whenever Simple was beginning to unleash he was cut down and stopped from racking up multiple kills. Na’Vi showed flashes of their fierce firepower but Astralis did well in keeping those rounds to a disconnected minimum to prevent any build-up of momentum. 

It’s exciting to see this style of play achieve results. If even Na’Vi cannot find a way to fight through that, could we be on the cusp of the Era of Astralis?