BIG upset FaZe to qualify for PGL Antwerp; Dignitas eliminate GamerLegion

Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen's side will still have a chance to secure a Legends spot if they can advance through the 3-1 pool.

BIG have booked a spot in the Legends Stage of PGL Major Antwerp after scoring a surprise victory over world No. 1 FaZe in the 2-0 Swiss round, crushing the European combine on Dust2 before coming out on top of a tight affair on Mirage to take the series.

Meanwhile, Dignitas dispatched of GamerLegion in the 0-2 pool, sending Alfred "⁠RuStY⁠" Karlsson's side packing with no wins to their name after securing victory on Inferno and Vertigo.

FaZe took an early lead on BIG's map pick of Dust2 to start the series, converting a pistol victory into a three-round spree before coming out on top of a back-and-forth trade to go up 6-3. However, from there onward, BIG were unrelenting and had firm control for the rest of the map, coming out on top of all three clutch situations as FaZe won only one of the next 14 rounds as the map was brought to a swift end.

A 6-0 lead saw the German team remain in control at the onset on Mirage, but FaZe finally got back into the swing of things toward the end of the half, helped in part by multi-kill rounds from Robin "⁠ropz⁠" Kool. With just one round separating the teams heading into the side swap, it was sure to be a narrow affair, and that is exactly what unfolded, the lead being exchanged repeatedly between the two teams.

In the end, it looked as if FaZe would be able to force a third map after they tied the scoreline at 14-14, forcing BIG onto pistols, but three Deagle kills from Johannes "⁠tabseN⁠" Wodarz helped BIG secure an upset round win before another quad kill from the in-game leader took things over the line in round 30.

In the elimination matchup, Dignitas got off to an early lead, but were put on the backfoot by a resurgent showing from GamerLegion toward the end of the half as RuStY's side narrowly emerged ahead 8-7. The side swap turned the tides entirely though, and it was Dignitas who were in cruise control for the rest of the map, winning nine rounds straight to close out the map in their favor.

Vertigo saw much closer scorelines between the teams, although this time it was GamerLegion who came out on top of the first half, a strong individual showing from Mihai "⁠iM⁠" Ivan helping to power his side to a 9-6 lead. Again though, Dignitas were resilient in the second half and began to rapidly regain ground, with GamerLegion only adding four to their tally before Patrik "⁠f0rest⁠" Lindberg and company edged out a 16-13 win to close out the series.