Complexity complete surprise run to Bucharest playoffs with FaZe win

No EliGE, no problem: Complexity pull one over on their former teammate on the way to their first playoffs with the new lineup.

Complexity have completed a run to the PGL Bucharest playoffs stage following a 2-0 win over FaZe and their former teammate Jonathan "⁠EliGE⁠" Jablonowski.

After barely missing out in their first attempt on Tuesday in a narrow loss to G2, Johnny "⁠JT⁠" Theodosiou and company made their second chance count.

Håkon "⁠hallzerk⁠" Fjærli was the star of the show with an immaculate Dust2 performance and a crucial clutch on Anubis, but everyone turned up with big moments in a controlled victory against a struggling FaZe, who fell to the deciding 2-2 round.

Clip: hallzerk's Scout 1v2

From 10 consecutive map losses to the first playoffs in two months

After scrambling to find a replacement for EliGE at the turn of the year and conceding with the gamble local additions of Danny "⁠Cxzi⁠" Strzelczyk and Nick "⁠nicx⁠" Lee, Complexity seemed to be on their way out of tier one with just one win in their first three tournaments.

But less than two months after they exited PGL Cluj-Napoca in groups with only a win against Imperial Valkyries to show for it, the American-majority side has finally clicked. A win streak on the regional scene and in YaLLa Compass Qatar has sparked new-found confidence in JT's team, which has now beaten two top-ten teams in Bucharest.

Clip: hallzerk 1v2s FaZe on Anubis

Watch all the best highlights from the group stage here

With a massive jump in points, the team has ensured its survival in the tier-one cycle, and has now guaranteed its best Big-Event result since ESL Pro League Season 19 nearly a year ago. And with upsets galore in the group stage, there's no telling how much further Complexity could go in Bucharest once they hit the bracket stage.