FURIA outlast eUnited; through to ZOTAC Cup Masters Americas final

FURIA are the first team to secure a spot in the grand final at the ZOTAC Cup Masters Americas Regional Finals after defeating eUnited 2-1 (6-16 on Overpass, 16-9 on Inferno and 16-7 on Cache).

Complexity and FURIA kicked off the quarter-final action with a three-map series that saw the Brazilian side come back after a map deficit on Inferno, earning an overtime win on Nuke before handling Train to advance, while Sharks saw off Swole Patrol in a tense battle across Mirage and Inferno to clinch their spot in the semi-finals.

The first semi-final pf this single-elimination bracket kicked off on Overpass. eUnited got off to a solid start as CTs, claiming the pistol and the following anti-ecos for a clean 3-0 lead. However, FURIA broke the streak in the fourth round to stamp their first of the half, but the move only tightened Skyler "⁠Relyks⁠" Weaver and co.'s defense to hold out for four rounds more and make it 7-1.

FURIA's offense quickly returned to chip away at the North Americans' lead with four of their own (5-7), but the two sides then went back and forth through the remainder of the half, with eUnited eventually claiming a 9-6 lead. The North Americans then pressed on through the second half, winning seven in a row to secure the 16-6 map victory and take the series' lead.

The series then moved on to Inferno, where eUnited jumped out to secure the pistol on the CT-side; however, FURIA returned to secure the following eco before winning nine straight rounds. eUnited then put their foot down, winning three of the last four rounds of the half to keep their comeback hopes alive.

eUnited continued their momentum into the second half, netting five on the offensive side before the Brazilians claimed their first. After that, eUnited struggled to find a chasm in the FURIA defense, with the Brazilians netting four rounds in a row to seal a 16-9 victory, forcing the decider on Cache.

On the final map of the series, eUnited came out on top of the pistol and the following anti-eco for a slated 2-0 start, but FURIA struck back with another strong approach on the T-side with five in a row (5-2). The North Americans stopped the streak in the eighth round, but FURIA wasted no time and came back swinging with seven rounds without response to secure the 12-3 lead at halftime.

eUnited managed to show some life in the second half, with the pistol and the anti-ecos going their way. Despite getting traded back immediately after winning the third round of the half, FURIA tightened up their defence and put together a small run of rounds to win the series, 2-1, and secure a spot in the grand final.