Virtus.pro defeat Spirit to win CCT Online Finals 2

The Russian-majority squad came out on top in a grand final rematch versus Spirit to take home the $100,000 cash prize.

Jame and fame combined for 90 kills throughout the two-map series

Virtus.pro have won the CCT 2023 Online Finals 2 and secured the $100,000 first-place cash prize after prevailing in a 2-0 victory over Spirit, drawing first blood on Overpass (16-11) before wrapping the series up in an overtime affair on Vertigo (19-16) after notably recovering from 5-10 and 11-15 deficits on the map.

Virtus.pro enjoyed a relatively difficult path to the grand final, needing to move past the likes of Apeks and OG before facing off with Spirit in the tournament's upper bracket final, where Leonid "⁠chopper⁠" Vishnyakov and company initially reigned supreme to send the IEM Rio Major champions down to the lower bracket.

Regardless, Dzhami "⁠Jame⁠" Ali's troops moved past Aurora in the consolidation final and were far more in control during their title-deciding fixture. Virtus.pro had a clear plan in mind when it came to dealing with Danil "⁠donk⁠" Kryshkovets, preventing Spirit from being able to rely on their 16-year-old prodigy, while the team maintained their composure at multiple times on Vertigo, even fending off four map points in their march to victory in overtime.

CCT 2023 Online Finals 2Best of 3

Spirit

Matchpage

0

2

10th August 2023

Virtus.pro

11

Overpass

16

16

Vertigo

19

Virtus.pro's win is their third tournament victory in a row, with the Russian-majority squad previously triumphing at ESL Challenger Katowice and FiReLEAGUE Battle in June and July. It also acts as their second win whilst fielding Aleksei "⁠Qikert⁠" Golubev and Nikolay "⁠mir⁠" Bityukov in their starting roster, the former of whom is currently on the organization's transfer list and has acted as a substitute for David "⁠n0rb3r7⁠" Danielyan, who is out of action due to injury.

The win will also serve as a confidence booster for Virtus.pro ahead of the Russians' upcoming run through Gamers8, the single-elimination, $1 million brawl set to go live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 16-20, with the side set to lock horns with FaZe in their opening matchup.

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Virtus.pro fielding offers for Qikert

Elsewhere, a number of high-profile names faltered in their campaigns through the 16-team bracket, with Apeks chief among them. The BLAST.tv Paris Major semi-finalists, who signed Aleksandar "⁠CacaNito⁠" Kjulukoski as a replacement for Natus Vincere-bound Justinas "⁠jL⁠" Lekavicius over the tournament break, crashed out of the $200,000 competition in 9-12th place following losses to Virtus.pro and, more surprisingly, SINNERS.

Other notable teams who floundered were Into the Breach, who are still down to four players following their sudden decision to part ways with Adam "⁠NEOFRAG⁠" Zouhar on August 3, and OG, who were unable to move past SAW in the lower bracket and ultimately bowed out of the tournament in 5-6th place.

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Into the Breach part ways with NEOFRAG*

The CCT Online Finals 2 standings are as follows:

1. Virtus.pro - $100,000 + CCT Global Finals 2024
2. Spirit - $40,000 + CCT Global Finals 2024
3. Aurora $25,000
4. SAW $15,000
5-6. MIBR - $5,000
5-6. OG - $5,000
7-8. Bad News Eagles $5,000
7-8. SINNERS - $5,000
9-12. Zero Tenacity
9-12. Nouns
9-12. Into the Breach
9-12. Apeks
13-16. Anonymo
13-16. Sojoga
13-16. EYEBALLERS
13-16. Movistar Riders