Na`Vi, C9, LDLC win ESWC openers

The first stage match of the $50,000 tournament pitted Na`Vi against k1ck on the CT-favoured de_inferno map. k1ck, who played as Terrorist first, actually came out the brighter and won the pistol round but were then punished on the eco by the Ukrainian team, who picked up eight rounds on the trot.

k1ck then reduced the deficit to 2-8 following a B push, but Na`Vi regained control of the match right after that as they strung three rounds together. The Portuguese team then won the last two rounds of the half to take the scoreline to 4-11 going into the break.

Na`Vi eased past k1ck in their first match in Paris

An archway-B split from Na`Vi in the pistol round as Terrorist piled more misery on k1ck, who would win one eco round before losing the match 5-16.

Following a disappointing showing at the FACEIT Finals, Cloud9 got back to winning ways and defeated EPS Germany champions Planetkey Dynamics 16-10, also on de_inferno.

The North American side gave a really good account of themselves on the Terrorist side and went into the second half up 10-5. On the CT side, Jordan "⁠n0thing⁠" Gilbert's team kept that momentum going until they picked up their 16th round of the match.

The last match of this first round was a pretty straightforward one, with LDLC overrunning Indian side Virtual Impact 16-0 on de_inferno in what was a complete frag-fest for the Frenchmen.