FURIA send Envy packing in Malmö

FURIA move on in Group A's lower bracket at DreamHack Masters Malmö after taking down Envy in a three-map series.

The opening elimination match in Malmö was an all-Americas clash between two teams attending their first event since bringing in new players. FURIA, who had succumbed to a narrow loss to G2 in the opening round, came out with all guns blazing and ran all over the Envy defense during the first half of Vertigo to take 11 rounds into the second half.

The North American team, who had been humbled by Astralis earlier in the day, then found a lifeline as they put together a string of rounds after switching to the Terrorist side, but FURIA regained control of proceedings and secured five rounds in a row en route to a 16-8 finish.

Envy looked a different side on Nuke and jumped out to a 6-1 lead despite losing the opening pistol. FURIA then finally woke up to bring the deficit to just three rounds before half-time, but the North Americans ran rampant on the defense and closed out the map at 16-10 after fending off a spirited comeback attempt from the Brazilians.

It all came down to Mirage, where Envy came out the brighter of the two sides before FURIA went on a spectacular nine-round streak that included a 1v3 clutch from Vinicius "⁠VINI⁠" Figueiredo. The North Americans were on the ropes but bounced back and put together a string of rounds, bringing the deficit to a solitary round at 8-9. FURIA would not let the game get out of hand, though, and set up a tight defense to take the map at 16-9 to seal progression to the second round of the lower bracket, in which they will face the losing side of the match between ENCE and Vitality.