AVANGAR top Group A over Heroic; advance to DreamHack Open Rotterdam playoffs

AVANGAR have booked a place in the DreamHack Open Rotterdam playoffs after a 16-14 victory on Inferno over HEROIC in the Group A winners’ match.

The matchup witnessed AVANGAR take the fight straight to Heroic on Inferno, with the CIS squad securing the pistol round on the offensive side. A swift follow-up round subsequently ensued and AVANGAR eventually increased their led to 4-0 off the back of a 2v4 success. HEROIC soon posted their first round on the board after Marco "⁠Snappi⁠" Pfeiffer held off an A site hit with a double-kill with just a P250 in hand, which ultimately lead to the clock running out for AVANGAR as the CIS side were unable to get the bomb down in time.

The Danes appeared to have found their footing in the matchup moving forward as they levelled the score at 5-5, however, AVANGAR kicked their game up a gear in the remainder of the half to lock down all but one of the last five rounds to head into the halfway mark with a 9-6 advantage.

An Aleksei "⁠Qikert⁠" Golubev double on the second half pistol ensured control stayed in the favour of AVANGAR as HEROIC were unable to answer back for a number of rounds. Staring down a 6-12 deficit, HEROIC, spearheaded by Martin "⁠stavn⁠" Lund, buckled down to kick off their T side and lock down a string of five rounds, narrowing the score difference to just a single round. A back-and-forth ensued as both sides dealt heavy blows, with the matchup coming down to the wire, but AVANGAR came out on top with match point. A Dzhami "⁠Jame⁠" Ali AWP double-kill secured the map for the CIS side and a place in the playoffs.

The loss for HEROIC sees the Danish side drop to Group A’s lower bracket where they will face off against the winner of Beşiktaş and Hard Legion in a best-of-three decider tomorrow at 16:00 .