NAVI defeat BetBoom to qualify for PGL Major

Aleksib’s troops looked off the pace on Anubis but picked themselves up on the decider map.

Natus Vincere have added their name to the list of teams qualified for PGL Major Copenhagen following a 2-1 victory over BetBoom. It wasn’t the best of performances from the international team, who came out with guns blazing and cruised to an easy win on Overpass before surprisingly letting their foot off the gas on Anubis. The final map, Nuke, seemed to be a tight affair before NAVI put in a masterclass of an offensive display.

“It feels amazing,” Aleksi "⁠Aleksib⁠" Virolainen said after the match. “It feels fucking good.”

Despite NAVI’s struggles on Anubis, the Finnish captain insisted that he never doubted that his team would prevail in the end. “I woke up feeling so confident. I had a good chat with the psychologist in the morning. Even though we lost Anubis, I am really comfortable on Nuke. We could have played a better CT if I didn't fuck up a few rounds. Getting to the T side with six rounds, just winning pistol, I have done this so many times with my past teams. If I feel it on Nuke, I just know what to call.”

Meanwhile, BetBoom drop down to the 2-2 pool, where they will face Eternal Fire for a spot at the Major. Even if they lose, Vladislav "⁠nafany⁠" Gorshkov's charges will have another chance to get to Copenhagen, via the last-chance qualifier.

Date	Matches
PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024 Europe RMR A
17/02/2024	Eternal Fire 17:10 BetBoom	Match

BetBoom came out on Overpass looking the livelier of the two teams, picking up a 3-0 lead after a solid start to their T side. But the landscape of the game changed once NAVI won an eco round off the back of a 3K by Ihor "⁠w0nderful⁠" Zhdanov with a Five-seven. Aleksib’s troops dominated the rest of the half and went into the break with a commanding 9-3 lead, with Justinas "⁠jL⁠" Lekavicius leading the charge with 16 frags.

Natus Vincere showed no signs of slowing down and quickly reached map point. It was only then that BetBoom finally managed to break their opponents’ streak, but it was simply too little, too late, as NAVI responded immediately and put the game to bed.

NAVI maintained their momentum on Anubis and jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but then they surprisingly ran out of gas and gifted their opponents a way back into the game, with the half ending in a 6-6 stalemate.

Three quick frags from Danil "⁠danistzz⁠" Roslyakov in the ensuing pistol round put BetBoom in the lead for the first time in the game. NAVI showed some semblance of life as they responded on a force-buy, but back-to-back clutches from danistzz and Aleksandr "⁠zorte⁠" Zagodyrenko put BetBoom in the driver’s seat and inspired them to a comfortable win.

The series came down to Nuke, where BetBoom enjoyed a spell of dominance in gun rounds before NAVI fought back late in the half for a 6-6 score. After switching to the T side, Aleksib’s troops shifted into a higher gear and picked BetBoom’s defense apart en route to a quick 13-7 finish.