Astralis edge past G2 to secure a spot at the BLAST Premier Fall Finals

Astralis won the series against G2 in overtime on the decider map, Inferno (19-15), after winning their pick, Nuke (16-12), and losing Dust2 (11-16).

Astralis made it through to the BLAST Premier Fall Series grand final by winning two straight matches in the Group C upper bracket, Andreas "⁠Xyp9x⁠" Højsleth's first since returning to the active roster, including today’s winners’ match against G2, which also secures the Danes a berth at the Fall Finals without having to go through the Showdown that will take place later this month.

G2, who faltered in overtime on Inferno after going neck-and-neck all through the decider map, could have a chance at taking revenge on the Danes, but to do so they will first have to go up against the winner of the Brazilian MIBR vs. FURIA lower bracket derby in the consolidation final where there will also be a spot at the BLAST Premier Fall Series Finals on the line.

G2 won the CT pistol round on Dust2, and although Astralis weren’t able to win the glock eco the following round, they did plant to set up a successful B play in their first gun round. At 2-2 the two teams then traded rounds vying for economic control early on, but G2 pulled ahead 8-3 before Astralis could retaliate. G2 didn’t slow down despite the hiccup, however, and closed down the half in dominating fashion, 11-4.

G2 planted on the A site prompting a 5vs5 retake situation in the second pistol round, which ended in a successful defense of the bomb. After giving up the first three rounds, Astralis set up a solid defense to win their first full buy, which they were able to follow up to start charging towards a comeback. Astralis made it all the way to double digits, but G2 hit match point right after. Xyp9x showed his clutching prowess winning a 1vs3 to keep the map alive, but the Danes weren’t able to stop the inevitable and G2 closed their pick out 16-11, with Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač hitting a monstruous 38 frags.

Nemanja "⁠huNter-⁠" Kovač took down three Terrorists in a 5vs5 retake on the A site of Nuke to help G2 secure the first round of the map. Astralis exploded onto the A site in a set piece on the forcebuy to tie things up. Xyp9x then won a 1vs1 clutch to get his team ahead, after which Astralis didn’t look back, going on a rampage on the attack to lead 7-1. G2 then successfully stopped a play on B to get tally another round, and although they couldn’t win the half, they brought it to within one, 7-8.

Astralis quickly settled into the defensive side on their pick, winning the pistol round and hitting double digits ahead of the first gun round, which they were also able to win in a 3vs2 A retake. The Danes got ahead 12-7, but G2 then started to find their stride on the attack winning two rounds, but François "⁠amanek⁠" Delaunay wasn’t able to stop a defuse in time to keep the momentum going and the European team deflated as Astralis tied the series up, 16-12.

Astralis won the first pistol round on Inferno with a successful retake on the A site, but were quickly on the back foot as G2 won the forcebuy and went on to take a 5-1 lead. Once the Danes were able to build up an economy, they retook the lead, 6-5, and although they lost a round to a clutch by NiKo, Astralis went on to win the half 8-7.

A massive A defense by Nemanja "⁠nexa⁠" Isaković with four kills tied it up after the second pistol round and the two teams stayed neck-and-neck early on in the second half, tied up 9-9 until an A execute by Astralis gave them double digits and forced G2 onto an eco round, but Kenny "⁠kennyS⁠" Schrub and company stabilized to bring it back to 11-11. After back-and-forth round Astralis played a 3vs3 fake on the A site and were able to hit match point, but weren’t able to close the map as G2 took it to overtime.

Astralis abused the A site in the first three rounds of OT, taking all of them to hit match point going into the CT side, where they didn't need more than a single round to close the map and series out, 19-15, to secure a spot at the BLAST Premier Fall Finals.