Astralis qualify for EPL playoffs over FURIA

The Brazilians fall down to the last chance stage and will need back-to-back victories to earn their own playoff berth.

Astralis are the third team to secure an ESL Pro League Season 18 playoff spot after taking down FURIA in the Group A lower bracket final. The Danes drew first blood with a commanding display on their pick of Overpass (16-7) before wrapping up the series after recovering from a 10-13 deficit on Nuke (16-13).

The win over FURIA subsequently rounds out Astralis' campaign through the ESL Pro League Season 18 group stage, one which began with a surprising 0-2 loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas. The Danes rebounded from that initial setback, however, with relatively straightforward victories over ORKS (2-0), GamerLegion (2-0), and finally FURIA (2-0) to right their previous shortfall and secure a place in the playoffs, which will play out on September 26-October 1.

Regardless, all is not lost for FURIA, who now fall down to the last chance stage in Malta. The Brazilians will need back-to-back victories to join Astralis in the playoffs, with their first test being against Grayhound on Sunday at 12:30 .

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 18
03/09/2023	Grayhound 12:30 FURIA	Match

The series began on Astralis' pick of Overpass, where the Danes quickly raced to an overpowering 11-4 lead at the end of their T-side effort thanks to 16-kill performances from Benjamin "⁠blameF⁠" Bremer, who is currently the second-highest-rated player in Malta, and Christian "⁠Buzz⁠" Andersen. The Brazilians did show signs of life with a brief three-round spree once play resumed, but this proved to be all the squad could muster before Astralis waltzed to victory, 16-7, to send the series to Nuke.

There, Astralis remained in the driver's seat, prevailing in a bitter back-and-forth versus FURIA's explosive T-side to nurture a comfortable 9-6 lead by halftime. This three-round advantage collapsed like a house of cards once FURIA took to the defense, with the Brazilians shutting down whatever Astralis threw at them to take the lead and inch closer to forcing the Vertigo decider, 13-10. Alas, it was at this point that Astralis dug deep into their strat book; the Danes turned the map on its head, winning six rounds on the trot to clinch Nuke, 16-13, and qualify for the ESL Pro League Season 18 playoffs.