9z, FlyQuest sent packing from Malta

The MongolZ and Sangal have continued their runs at their opponents' expense.

Another set of elimination matches have drawn to a close in groups A and B of ESL Pro League Season 20, seeing The MongolZ and Sangal stay alive over their respective opponents of 9z and FlyQuest.

Both of the eliminated sides struggled to make a dent in the opposition at EPL Season 20, with each team only bagging a single series victory across their four BO3s.

9z's single win came over Peter "⁠stanislaw⁠" Jarguz's Wildcard, who notably came close to stunning Spirit in their opening matchup. Beyond the win over Wildcard, 9z failed to bag map wins in their other matches versus MIBR, 3DMAX, and The MongolZ.

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 20
03/09/2024	MIBR Finished 2:0 9z	Match
05/09/2024	9z Finished 2:0 Wildcard	Match
06/09/2024	9z Finished 0:2 3DMAX	Match
07/09/2024	9z Finished 0:2 The MongolZ	Match

FlyQuest likewise struggled to find their footing in Malta, only managing to best Lynn Vision in a tight three-map series. That victory came after tough losses to Eternal Fire and FaZe, and was followed by an 0-2 defeat at the hands of Sangal.

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 20
03/09/2024	FlyQuest Finished 0:2 Eternal Fire	Match
04/09/2024	FlyQuest Finished 0:2 FaZe	Match
06/09/2024	FlyQuest Finished 2:1 Lynn Vision	Match
07/09/2024	Sangal Finished 2:0 FlyQuest	Match

The MongolZ's elimination match versus 9z kicked off on the latter side's pick of Nuke, where Garidmagnai "⁠bLitz⁠" Byambasuren's men surged in the latter parts of both halves.

Despite dropping both pistol rounds and their subsequent conversions, The MongolZ put in work on Nuke's gun rounds, rebounding from the early deficits to steal away their opponent's pick 13-10.

The MongolZ dropped yet another pistol round to start off their selection of Ancient, but managed to deny 9z a clean conversion, allowing the Mongolian side to build momentum early on their T-side, scoring another 7-5 half.

9z managed to snatch the lead with their fourth pistol of the series, but once The MongolZ's economy stabilized, it was only a matter of time before the latter squad closed things out with another 13-10 scoreline.

Group B's first elimination match of the day kicked off on Sangal's pick of Anubis, where FlyQuest got off to a roaring start on the offense, taking an 8-1 lead that was narrowed to an 8-4 scoreline by the time of the side swap.

FlyQuest managed to claim the second pistol round to launch themselves into double-digit rounds, but the Australians found little else throughout the latter half, as Sangal displayed an impressive T-side that allowed them to lock down their pick 13-11.

Vertigo shared a similar story to the map that preceded it; FlyQuest bagged a solid half on the offense and followed it up with a second pistol round to start the next half, but quickly had their lead whittled away by Sangal.

Although FlyQuest were the first to reach match point, Sangal remained undeterred, forcing overtime and quickly bagging the four extra rounds they needed to steal Vertigo 16-12.

Two more sides are set to duke it out in elimination matches later in the day, with HEROIC and Ninjas in Pyjamas battling in Group A while Wildcard and 3DMAX face off in Group B. The day is set to conclude with Eternal Fire's series against Natus Vincere, where the winner will earn a direct spot to the quarter-finals.

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 20
07/09/2024	HEROIC 16:30 Ninjas in Pyjamas	Match
07/09/2024	Wildcard 16:30 3DMAX	Match
07/09/2024	Eternal Fire 20:00 Natus Vincere	Match