FlyQuest dispatch NIP 2-0 to reach playoffs at EPL

INS starred once again with a 1.61 rating in the series.

FlyQuest have shown that their IEM Chengdu showing was not just a flash in the pan, and have now secured a spot at the ESL Pro League Season 19 playoffs — the first Australian team to do so in 11 seasons — with a resounding 2-0 victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas’s patchwork lineup.

"NIP played really well versus HEROIC and I think they definitely got into their heads yesterday, it showed, and we prepared for those kinds of mind games," Christopher "⁠dexter⁠" Nong said when asked if he believed that he and his team could be as solvent as they were against NIP. “We were in a really good mood, and just smashed it out."

Declan "⁠Vexite⁠" Portelli, who at times struggled to show his best during the EPL group stage, flew out of the gates on Ancient with 130 ADR in the first six rounds against a wobbly Ninjas in Pyjamas defense, although star player Joshua "⁠INS⁠" Potter ended up being the protagonist, particularly on the CT side, where he posted a 2.08 rating with 134 ADR in eight rounds.

Outside of the server FlyQuest were also pumped up and AWPer Alistair "⁠aliStair⁠" Johnston was vocal from the get-go, providing motivation for his teammates as they ran off to a dominant 13-7 victory on their map.

Ninjas in Pyjamas’s Vertigo pick was quite the gamble, giving FlyQuest the opportunity to pick sides on a map that they have a 100% win rate in the past three months, with nine maps played. The caveat is that it’s mostly against lower-tier Australian opposition, but the likes of Lynn Vision and Virtus.pro are also on that list.

The Australians dominated on the CT side early on, and although their European counterparts won four on the trot to keep it close at the half, it was just a mirage, as after the switch dexter and company were cruising.

Vexite hurled one last taunt the way of Ninjas in Pyjamas upon hitting match point. "Sit down, you fucking bots," he shouted before he and his teammates turned a 3vs5 around against a forcebuy to close the map 13-6.

"It’s just about putting band-aids everywhere and trying to fix stuff,” Richard "⁠Xizt⁠" Landström said of Ninjas in Pyjamas’s run in Malta with two youth players standing in. "It’s keeping it simple, I think that has been key for us, especially with these young guys."

Ninjas in Pyjamas’s coach also opened up about how he likes working with Alejandro "⁠alex⁠" Masanet and how they have a great relationship despite how hard it has been for them to deal with the moving pieces in the team.

The Swede didn’t want to say much about when an announcement regarding the team’s full roster will be made, but he did let on that it could be just days before everything is settled.

Ninjas in Pyjamas will now travel home to get their new project up and running with all of its pieces in place. Meanwhile, FlyQuest, the first Australian team to make the EPL playoffs in 11 seasons, will continue their run in Malta with an appearance in the first round of the bracket.

It will also be a perfect time to continue evolving under pressure and keep building structure under in-game leader dexter. "Before Chris we lacked a lot of structure and with no structure, you can’t expect to have confidence," Vexite said after the match.

"Our confidence was never really an issue when it came to aim or ability, I think we’re pretty sick players, but with more structure, more theory, and more ways to finish rounds, we have something to believe in. When we’re playing we have a style, a way we want to play, and we’re trying to further develop that in every game."