Astralis defeat G2 in Group B upper bracket semi-final

Astralis beat G2 in a three map series to assure their presence in the Group B upper bracket final, where they will fight for a spot in the ESL Pro League Season 10 Finals semi-finals.

Following their championship run in Arlington, Texas, at the ECS Season 8 Finals, Astralis have now secured another playoff performance by beating G2 in the Group B upper bracket semi-final, and will play the winner of the other group stage semi-final featuring MOUZ and Liquid for a spot in the ESL Pro League Season 10 playoff semi-final.

G2’s map pick, Dust2, kicked off the Group B upper bracket semi-final, but it was Astralis who took the lead on the CT side after the first pistol round. Having won the first gun round, the Danes were quickly building up a lead early on, and it wasn’t until the seventh round that with a split B hit G2 were able to win the round in a 1vs3 afterplant. The Franco-Serbian team were then able to get on a roll with Kenny "⁠kennyS⁠" Schrub at the helm, and although they didn’t win the half, they brought it back as close as possible, 7-8, before switching sides.

The second half was a mirror of the first, except it was G2 who tallied the first four rounds on the defense to take the lead for the first time on Dust2. They then only gave one round up before hitting match point, making it 15-9, as Astralis started to make a push for the comeback, but they would be unable to as G2 closed map one out 16-13.

Inferno started out going the way of G2, who won the pistol round and took an early 3-0 lead. It didn’t take long for Astralis to tie it up once guns were in play, but they would be unable to find creases in the Franco-Serbian team’s defense. G2 went on to take double digits, 10-3, and it was finally then that the Danes were able to get the last two rounds in to stay in the game and not give G2 an insurmountable lead.

Peter "⁠dupreeh⁠" Rasmussen and Emil "⁠Magisk⁠" Reif locked down the A site in the second pistol round to get Astralis back in the game. The Danes then took five in a row to tie it up before G2 could get on the board to keep their lead, but it would only be momentary as Astralis tied it back up after 22 rounds. Ultimately it was G2 who were able to get to match point, but they would be unable to close it out in any of their three match points. The overtime went quick, on the other hand, with Andreas "⁠Xyp9x⁠" Højsleth clutching a 1vs3 in the fourth round to make it a clean sweep for the Danes.

Once again G2 started out with the upper hand, winning the CT-side pistol on Train, although Astralis answered immediately and took an early 3-1 lead. Both teams evened out the half, going 5-5 after ten rounds, and although G2 went on to win the half, it was just by one round, leaving Astralis in prime position to take the map and series on the defending side.

The last half of the series saw the Danes retake B to kick it off, tying it up 8-8. Down 8-10, G2 were able to win their first round on the attack to keep the decider close, going so far as to tie it back up. Astralis made a last push to reach match point, and although G2 took it all the way to the very last round, it was the Danes that closed it out 16-14.