GamerLegion best Passion UA to make top 16

A standout T-side performance by FL4MUS on Ancient secured GamerLegion progression to the next stage of the Major.

GamerLegion's youthful side have secured an Elimination Stage spot at Perfect World Shanghai Major, taking down an even younger Passion UA squad 2-1 thanks to wins on Inferno (13-6) and Ancient (13-9) either side of a loss on Mirage (5-13).

Before their RMR campaign, GamerLegion were considered an outside shot to even make the Major. A side full of inexperienced talent that had just swapped a player less than two months, and started their campaign 0-2, seemed unlikely to succeed, but they did so regardless.

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GamerLegion carried the momentum from their RMR exploits into the opening stage and used it to blitz past higher-ranked opponents FURIA and paiN in BO1 play, before The MongolZ gave them a reality check. Passion UA were, to some extent, a fortunate draw for the 2-1 bracket, but GamerLegion still were dealing with a side that also had a considerable amount of momentum behind them.

The series was a strange one, as both teams were poor on their own map picks. Passion UA were disjointed on Inferno and their individuals struggled for impact, whilst GamerLegion played too loose on Mirage and also saw their individual form dry up.

Ancient was more competitive, but still ultimately a comfortable GamerLegion win. The European combine got off to a flyer on their T side thanks to some trademark marauding aggression by Timur "⁠FL4MUS⁠" Marev, who was a menace taking map control and finding openings, usually on his own.

A pistol win in the second half set GamerLegion up to seal their victory, and although Passion UA put up some admirable resistance with their backs against the wall, it was too little, too late for the Ukrainians.