TYLOO edge past FlyQuest to qualify for ESL Pro League Stage 2

The Chinese squad took the classic APAC grudge match in the final round of regulation on the deciding map.

TYLOO punched their ticket to the second stage of ESL Pro League Season 21 with a 2-1 victory over historic regional rivals FlyQuest in the Swiss stage's 2-2 pool.

Questions over whether TYLOO had run out of steam arose after they went from 2-0 to 2-2 were kicked into overdrive when FlyQuest stole TYLOO's Ancient pick (16-12) top kick off the series, but the Chinese squad bounced back on Anubis (13-8) and secured the Inferno decider in the final round of regulation (13-11).

TYLOO avoid going 2-0 to 2-3 in the Swiss group

TYLOO had to work to get past the finish line against FlyQuest, beating a regional rival to secure their spot in the next ESL Pro League stage, but even then nobody could take away their victories over two teams that started 2025 hot, 3DMAX and Eternal Fire.

It got dicey as they went from 2-0 to 2-2, but along the way they did take a map off of a red-hot GamerLegion before losing the decider map in the last round of regulation, and only MIBR beat them convincingly, before beating a regional rival for qualification.

Ultimately, they managed to pull through and will now have the chance to show if they can kick it up a notch against the best teams in the world.

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 21 Stage 1
01/03/2025	3DMAX Finished 0:2 TYLOO	Match
02/03/2025	Eternal Fire Finished 0:2 TYLOO	Match
03/03/2025	GamerLegion Finished 2:1 TYLOO	Match
04/03/2025	MIBR Finished 2:0 TYLOO	Match
05/03/2025	FlyQuest Finished 1:2 TYLOO	Match

The team's chemistry also seems to be galvanizing as they make their way to the tournament's next stage. "We went 2-0 at the start and lost two consecutive best-of-threes, and yesterday after the loss, I expressed some negative energy towards my teammates, which I’m very sorry for," a teary Dongkai "⁠Jee⁠" Ji told Tres "⁠stunna⁠" Saranthus on the broadcast after the series. "I apologized for it before the match, and I’m very thankful to have teammates like this."

The foundations are set for a renewed rivalry

The top Chinese team and the top Australian team facing off was, for a long time, the premier Asia-Pacific rivalry in Counter-Strike as they clashed in regional tournaments, particularly the Asian Minors and RMRs. That was, of course, in days before The MongolZ took over Asia and Lynn Vision made a bid to become the best team in China.

Now, TYLOO and FlyQuest played a tight series for qualification to the main stage of a Big Event and brought back the classic match-up's rivalry. The Australians, distraught after losing grip of the series in Sweden on the T side of the Inferno decider and losing it in the 24th round, will be waiting for the next chance they get to exact revenge on their regional rivals.