BIG fend off FaZe, secure Roobet Cup playoff spot

BIG took down the world's highest-ranked team in three maps to book their place in the event's quarter-finals.

Group A's winners' matchup between FaZe and BIG was a thrilling three-map affair which went the way of Johannes "⁠tabseN⁠" Wodarz's squad, who overcame their international opponents and wrapped up the series, coming back on Dust2, 16-14, dropping Nuke 11-16, and finally winning Overpass, 16-12. The victory sees BIG claim the top spot in their group, sending FaZe into a last-chance decider for the final playoff spot on offer.

After a strong showing against OG in their opening matchup, tournament favorites FaZe now have to fight for survival in their Roobet Cup campaign, needing to face off against either Entropiq or OG in their group's final playoff-spot-deciding match on Sunday.

Dust2 opened with BIG getting off to a hot start, attaining a quick 4-0 lead over FaZe. The international squad wasted no time in erasing their deficit and eventually taking a commanding 10-5 lead to end the half, only allowing the Germans to take one more round out of the next 11 behind solid site defense and fragging output across the board, with every member of FaZe bar Helvijs "⁠broky⁠" Saukants putting up double-digit killcounts.

The second period began just like how the first ended, with FaZe looking extremely comfortable in the drivers' seat, as Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen's crew took four out of the first five rounds and increased their lead to eight. Two rounds away from almost certain victory, FaZe collapsed as BIG put up a valiant comeback effort by impressively taking ten consecutive rounds, shutting out nearly all of their opponents' site pushes, and eventually securing win on their map pick which went the distance, 16-14.

Back-and-forth action was the theme early on Nuke, with both BIG and FaZe not letting the other pull ahead, as the Germans' round wins came courtesy of their ability to deny FaZe access to either bomb site, while Håvard "⁠rain⁠" Nygaard and company found openings at times, able to break through and get the bomb down as BIG converted the half's final round thanks to Florian "⁠syrsoN⁠" Rische's AWPing, and went into the break up by merely one.

A Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken pistol triple-kill greeted the second half, followed by a a two-for-two round exchange by both FaZe and BIG to once again level things up at 10-10. BIG looked set to take the 22nd round for themselves, however their slow-paced attack proved to be costly as FaZe turned things around and eventually sparked their game-winning run, closing out Nuke 16-11, and sending the series to a deciding third map.

BIG got off to a flying start on Overpass, taking an 8-2 lead over FaZe in a mesmerizing display of their defensive capabilities. karrigan's side bounced back from their slow start by clinching four of the last five rounds in the half, highlighted by multi-kills from Twistzz and karrigan, with the scoreline reading 9-6 in the Germans' favor at the switch.

Tizian "⁠tiziaN⁠" Feldbusch pulled off a last-second 1vs2 pistol round clutch to kick off the second half, along with BIG securing the next two, inching closer to that series victory. FaZe finally showed up after enduring their economic setback in the prior rounds, however in the end BIG were able to finish the job, take home Overpass 16-12, and cement their place in the quarter-finals.