fnatic send G2 to lower bracket

fnatic won a three-map series against G2, sending the Franco-Serbian team to the StarSeries i-League Season 8 lower bracket where they will face FURIA.

fnatic’s map pick, Overpass, came up first in the upper bracket semi-final, and although it was G2 who won the first two rounds, the Swedes were quick to turn it around on the defending side to be the team to set the pace early on. Down 2-4, G2 pushed into site with a two-for-one trade, prompting fnatic to save, but they were unable to win the following round and remain cornered. François "⁠amanek⁠" Delaunay then won a 1vs1 clutch against Jesper "⁠JW⁠" Wecksell, turning around a 2vs3 disadvantage to stay afloat, 4-6, as the Swedish side called for an eco. A three-kill round by amanek, with another 1vs1 clutch inluded, tied it up 6-6. JW made a great play in the last round with the score tied, killing the planter and saving the target in the last second to take an 8-7 lead at the half.

The match got scrappy in the second half as fnatic won the pistol round, but then were unable to take the anti-forcebuy. The Swedes were able to stabilize and get a five-round streak, going up 13-9 before G2 could get on double digits. A lurk by JW in a 2vs3 afterplant coming from the A site through heaven allowed him to kill the defuser. Ludvig "⁠Brollan⁠" Brolin then plowed through G2 to get fnatic on match point and win the map, 16-11.

fnatic found their way to the B bombsite on the first pistol round of Dust2 at the expense of one player, and were unable to defend the plant from G2. A forcebuy worked for fnatic, who hit the B site, ending with JW closing out a 1vs1 afterplant. Once again fnatic found themselves in a favorable situation early on despite losing the pistol round, up 3-1 and planting on A in a 3vs4 even though they were unable to finally close the fifth round in their favor. More scrappy play ensued as both teams forced their economies and traded rounds. amanek won a 1vs1 with 5-5 on the board, but he got to the bomb too late to defuse it. Like on Overpass, the first half was a close affair, ending 8-7, albeit this time in favor of G2.

fnatic were able to take the pistol round, going on to reclaim the lead before G2 could win a round. A crucial 2vs2 by Maikil "⁠Golden⁠" Selim and Robin "⁠flusha⁠" Rönnquist kept the Swedes in the lead, which they were able to keep after winning an eco when leading by one to make it 12-10. With 12-12 on the board fnatic won a semi-eco with two rifles and several pistols as G2 failed to settle into the half. Both teams kept trading blows as fnatic took a late lead, 14-13, but the Franco-Serbians tied it right back up again with a split B play. They were finally able to overcome a forcebuy, hitting match point, and winning in the last round as Nemanja "⁠nexa⁠" Isaković downed two to stop his personal counter at 32 frags.

fnatic once again took hold of the map early on, this time Mirage, this time winning the CT side pistol round, the following round, and a 1vs2 clutch on B by Brollan. A few rounds in G2 were able to find their rhythm on the attack, tying it up 7-7 with Kenny "⁠kennyS⁠" Schrub leading the charge clocking over 100 ADR. They then went on to win the half, making it the third 8-7 partial of the series and the second one in their favor.

fnatic reclaimed the lead winning the first three rounds of the second half, and quickly put themselves in a good situation to take the series with a 13-8 lead. G2 finally held the Swedes off to tally their first round, and made it to double digits, but fnatic found match point after a play on the A site, eventually closing the map out 16-12 to bag the series.