BIG take down G2 to book semi-final spot

BIG are through to the semi-finals at ESL One Cologne after moving past G2 on two maps.

The second match of the day kicked off on Cache, BIG's map pick, with the home side getting out to a 4-0 lead on the Terrorist side, leaving G2's players strapped for cash. The French side still managed to get their first round on the board with an A stack on a very weak buy, however, and put together an impressive run of rounds, forcing Fatih "⁠gob b⁠" Dayik to call a tactical pause when his team were down 4-6.

After the pep talk, BIG were able to end G2's winning streak on the back of a triple-kill from Johannes "⁠tabseN⁠" Wodarz. The Germans ran all over the G2 defence for the rest of the half, with a 1v2 clutch from gob b with an AWP giving his team the lead heading into the second half.

The second half began with a successful A execution from G2, with Kenny "⁠kennyS⁠" Schrub getting three kills to his name. BIG came close to responding in the first gun round of the half, but Richard "⁠shox⁠" Papillon pulled off a 1v2 clutch on the B site to kick his team further into the lead.

G2 refused to take their foot off the pedal, with the scoreline blooming to a 13-8 advantage. It looked like the Frenchmen were ready to run away with the game, but BIG tightened up their defence, winning five rounds in a row to level the score and send G2's economy into meltdown.

After giving up the lead, G2 hit back immediately thanks to a triple-kill from Kévin "⁠Ex6TenZ⁠" Droolans in an A split. With their economy in shambles, BIG went for a risky force-buy and played around Owen "⁠smooya⁠" Butterfield's AWP, a strategy that paid off and ultimately put them on map point. However, the Germans were unable to put the game to bed as G2 picked up two quick kills near B to force their way through the site and set up an equaliser.

BIG did not let that get to them, however, and entered overtime brimming with confidence, winning two rounds in both halves to take the lead in the series.

The German side picked up where they had left off as they won the opening pistol thanks to a sensational 1v3 clutch from Tizian "⁠tiziaN⁠" Feldbusch on the A site. After losing an eco round, G2 tried to hit back in a third-round buy, but the move backfired as smooya got four kills to his name with a Famas.

The game quickly turned into a bloodbath as G2 simply could not find a way through the determined BIG defence. Besides losing most aim duels, the French team looked bereft of ideas, only managing to get on the board 14 rounds into the game. There was no follow-up, however, as BIG rallied back immediately to close out the half with a 14-1 lead, much to the delight of the German crowd.

More misery was to come for G2, who lost the second pistol of the game. The French side still tried to get back in the game with a desperate force-buy, but to no avail as tabseN pulled off a sensational triple kill with a Scout, sending the crowd into ruptures. Their next match, on Saturday at 18:30 , will pit them against FaZe, who swept through their group and will be heavily favoured for this match-up.