mousesports through to New Legends; Complexity send TYLOO packing

MOUZ are first to make it to the New Legends stage after securing a 2-1 series against G2, while TYLOO are first to be eliminated, having sustained a 0-2 loss in their series against Complexity.

The first New Legends advancement match saw G2 face off against MOUZ with the series kicking off on Train. The French defensive commenced affairs with a striking CT side, whereby only after eight consecutive round losses were MOUZ able to get on the scoreboard. Struggles persisted for Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen and company, leading to a disappointing T side, where a total of two rounds were produced at 2-13.

MOUZ managed to secure the second pistol round to avoid complete decimation, but their end on Train was imminent, as G2 kept things brief, closing the map on a 16-5 note.

Dust2 was next on the agenda, where G2 continued their successful campaign on the T side. Initially, some turbulence was experienced, but after the four initial rounds had passed, the offensive started consistently converting rounds, with MOUZ only sporadically clawing rounds to an 11-4 conclusion.

The map dynamic turned upside down once MOUZ hopped over to the T side, as five consecutive rounds followed a successful pistol victory, closing the round discrepancy to a single round. G2 made every effort to get their feet back in the game, but were consistently blindsided by the offense, that let but two rounds pass their grasp in the latter half, pushing the series into a third map at 16-13.

The concluding map of the series, Vertigo, saw G2 leap back into action with an immediate three-round lead on the T side. Short-lived was the Frenchmen's dominance, as Robin "⁠ropz⁠" Kool kicked off an eight-round string for MOUZ with an M4A4 3k. Having accrued quite the deficit, G2 commenced comeback efforts, and off the back of a spectacular 3k from Audric "⁠JACKZ⁠" Jug went on to close the final four rounds, bringing the discrepancy to 7-8.

Consistent with their mid-half performance from the CT side, MOUZ continued to demonstrate a confident showing. The initial three rounds were converted, the latter courtesy of outstanding individual player from karrigan, who strung the CTs long enough to convert a 1v3 situation into a bomb explosion. Four additional rounds ensured map point for MOUZ, and a concluding 1v3 clutch by David "⁠frozen⁠" Čerňanský secured the team's participation at the New Legends stage as Vertigo folded in the team's favour at 16-7.

The first elimination match of the New Challengers stage witnessed Complexity take on TYLOO, where the two sides kicked off to a heated battle on Overpass. Initially, Rory "⁠dephh⁠" Jackson and his squad demonstrated a convincing defence, where a 10-5 scoreline was accrued, with a large portion of the T's rounds coming down to conversion of clutch situations.

Having switched to the offense, Complexity landed a consecutive pistol round, suggesting the possibility of a quick closure, but retaliation from TYLOO came swift and thick, leading to overtime. A single series of additional rounds was insufficient in settling the score, but Complexity subsequently pulled off a victory on a 22-20 note, thanks to a spectacular 4k from Owen "⁠oBo⁠" Schlatter in the deciding round.

Vertigo was next in the series, where Complexity demonstrated nothing short of an impressive T side. A successful pistol round was followed up by four round conversions, ensuring a solid early lead. TYLOO managed to claw two back-to-back rounds of their own, the prior solely thanks to a Deagle 3k from WingHei "⁠Freeman⁠" Cheung, after which issues persisted all the way to a 2-13 deficit.

Another pistol round in the way of Complexity spelled disaster for TYLOO, as the international mix extended their Major life at the expense of TYLOO with a convincing 16-2 performance on Vertigo.