Grayhound send Complexity packing; NRG to New Legends Stage over AVANGAR

Grayhound won 2-0 against Complexity, knocking the Dallas-based team out of competition, while NRG made quick work of AVANGAR in a short series to move on to the next stage of the Major.

Dust2 kicked off with an A defense by Grayhound to get ahead after the pistol round. Up 4-0, the Australian team denied Hunter "⁠SicK⁠" Mims a 1vs2 afterplant clutch to keep their roll going. Complexity were able to tally a round in the seventh, but a triple by Christopher "⁠dexter⁠" Nong in a 2vs3 retake scenario denied them a second. Despite the early blunders, Complexity were able to find their bearings and turn the half around, ending with an 8-7 lead after starting with a 1-7 deficit.

Having taken the second pistol round, Grayhound regained their lead, going up 10-8 before the first gun round. Liam "⁠malta⁠" Schembri got two players in a 1vs3 afterplant situation on B, but was unable to down the last to keep his team's streak going. Complexity were unable to find their form on the CT side, however, giving up five rounds in a row before winning two to momentarily deny Grayhound the first map before capitulating 11-16.

Grayhound kept their pistol round roll and secured a hairy second round as three players were taken down by pistols in a B play. Grayhound then won the following two before extending their lead to 4-0 thanks to three AWP kills by Simon "⁠Sico⁠" Williams and a double by Erdenetsogt "⁠erkaSt⁠" Gantulga. Complexity managed to pull off a round win after Shahzeb "⁠ShahZaM⁠" Khan beat Ollie "⁠DickStacy⁠" Tierney in a duel to defend a plant on the A site., but the team from down under kept the pressure on, not giving Complexity space to develop their attack. Three MAG-7 kills by malta pushed down underpass on a forcebuy sealed the half, as his side went on to close it 12-3.

A fast short play by Grayhound with a successful afterplant made the second round do or die for Complexity, who forced as much as they could to keep the game alive. Unable to make anything of it, Complexity tried to force a second time, but were once again crushed, putting Grayhound on match point. After giving up one round a 1vs2 afterplant on B by Sico sealed the deal, 16-4.

AVANGAR opened procedures with a CT-side pistol win on Train, but NRG were able to win the forcebuy to destabilize their opponents early on. The Americans were quick to impose their pace, pushing their way to a 7-2 lead early in the match. AVANGAR managed to win three in a row, but NRG retaliated, including a big 1vs3 by Vincent "⁠Brehze⁠" Cayonte to make it 9-5 and clear the path to take a tenth against a forcebuy.

NRG kept cruising along after winning the CT-side pistol round, making it 12-5, but were unable to win when AVANGAR got their first guns. Fully bought, NRG put their foot down, but they then gave up a 5vs3 lead as Aleksei "⁠Qikert⁠" Golubev got two entries for his team to plant on B and secure the round. NRG were able to strike back, going on to take map point and ruin AVANGAR’s economy, as Ethan "⁠Ethan⁠" Arnold ended it on a high note with three kills in the ladder room to close map one out 16-8.

NRG kept it up on AVANGAR’s pick, Dust2, winning the pistol round on defense. Taking the first gun round, they were then able to further increase their lead round in and round out as the CIS side had 5 frags split among two players after seven rounds of play as the rest all had 0-0-7s. It was finally in the ninth round with a fast play down short that AVANGAR were able to win a round. Both teams then went back-and-forth late in the half, which ended with NRG leading 11-4.

NRG all but sealed the deal after winning the second pistol round as they were able to take the first two rounds following it as well, making it 14-4. Against a force, the American side hit match point and then breezed through the last round to make it 16-4 and qualify for the New Legends Stage.