BLAST Pro Series group stage comes to an end; Astralis pick Cloud9 for Stand-off match

The group stage in Copenhagen has come to an end with NiP and Natus Vincere making it to the grand final while Astralis secured a spot in the Stand-off, in which they picked Cloud9 as a rival.

The last round of matches saw Natus Vincere and Ninjas in Pyjamas go head-to-head, although both teams were mathematically already through to the final. It was played out on Inferno, with the CIS side taking the pistol round on the defending side. The Swedes won the second round with pistol, though, and took the lead in the next round. Ninjas in Pyjamas then went up 5-1, but Oleksandr "⁠s1mple⁠" Kostyliev & co. were quick to even it back up with a solid defense, taking the lead into half-time, 8-7.

Ninjas in Pyjamas then retook their lead, winning the pistol round and the follow-up round. The match once again got turned around, however, as once the CIS side were able to get their hands on weapons they retook the lead, 10-9. Finally, it was Natus Vincere who grabbed the reins of the match and won it out, 16-10.

Astralis, who were fighting Cloud9 to secure a spot in the BLAST Pro Series Stand-off, started winning the first three rounds on the attacking side of Inferno. Cloud9 then tied it up, 3-3, but the Danes were quick to run away with it early, winning round after round in the first half of the map for an 11-4 half.

Astralis then won the second pistol round, trying to smooth out the way to victory, but Cloud9 didn't make it easy by winning the forcebuy. Slowly but surely, Cloud9, now in control of the economy, were able to start winning rounds to try and mount a comeback. After eight rounds won in a row, Cloud9 made it to 12-12. They then took the lead, but Astralis were finally able to get on the board again, to keep it tied late in the match.

With 14-14 on the board, in a nail-biter of a match, it was the Danes making the crowd at the Royal Arena roar, taking match point into the last round of the match. The Danes were then able to bring it home, 16-14, for a spot in the Stand-off and the shot at an extra $20,000.

MIBR where the first to strike on Cache, securing the CT pistol and following that up with an anti-eco win. In the third round, FaZe bought and struck back to win their first, although MIBR responded to keep their distance, Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen & co. marched on, winning the next ten out of eleven rounds to claim the 11-4 half.

With MIBR's back against the wall, FaZe continued their run into the second half, locking down the T pistol and the following anti-ecos, before the Brazilians came alive to add three to the board (14-7). FaZe eventually got their wits together and reached map point, where they would go on to lock down the map 16-7.

Ahead of the 1vs1s BLAST Pro Series Stand-off played for 3rd place and $20,000, as well as the tournament's grand final, the group stage standings are: