FaZe send G2 to BLAST Fall Groups knockout stage

G2 put forth a lackluster showing and were swept in two maps.

G2 and FaZe faced off in one of the rare match-ups between teams that made no changes during the off-season. In their third bout this year — G2 won a series at IEM Katowice, FaZe one at IEM Dallas —, it was Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen’s men who dominated in the BLAST Premier Fall Group C consolidation final.

The series started off on G2’s Nuke pick, but Russel "⁠Twistzz⁠" Van Dulken’s backbreaking multi-kills on the CT side got his FaZe to a flying start. From there on out the trend continued as Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač and company struggled to find pace. A 1vs3 clutch by the Bosnian with a last-second bomb plant was a show of what massive plays were needed for G2 to get on the board.

After a 4-11 half, G2 won the second pistol round in hopes of kickstarting a strong CT side, but the second guns were put in play FaZe won five on the trot. It ended with Robin "⁠ropz⁠" Kool clicking two heads in a 1vs2 after-plant situation from B site towards ramp to close it out 16-8.

Four kills by NiKo in the opening pistol round on Mirage were not enough as ropz got four of his own. A 3-0 start in FaZe’s favor quickly doubled before G2 could even get one on the board. The Estonian rifler, on fire with 17 frags at the half, set the pace for his team’s 9-6 lead after attacking in the first half.

Four kills by Helvijs "⁠broky⁠" Saukants in the second round anti-eco with a Desert Eagle almost shocked G2, who went on to tie things up after the first three rounds of the second half. The two teams then stayed neck-and-neck to 11-11, but from there on out FaZe easily settled into the defense to run away 16-11.

FaZe now have the chance of a rematch against Liquid, Group C’s big surprise and a team they lost to in the upper bracket final, for a spot in the BLAST Premier Fall Final. The two will play on Thursday at 18:30 . G2, on the other hand, are now seeded in the knockout stage, which they will start with a series against Evil Geniuses on Saturday.