Aurora limp past device-less Astralis into PGL Masters playoffs

Astralis put up a valiant fight with coach ruggah standing in, but Aurora just about survived.

Aurora have booked the final playoff spot at PGL Masters Bucharest thanks to a laboured 2-1 win over Astralis, who were playing with Casper "⁠ruggah⁠" Due in place of Nicolai "⁠device⁠" Reedtz. The Turks dropped Nuke (10-13) before coming back to take Train (13-8) and Mirage (13-10).

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device misses Astralis' elimination match in Bucharest due to medical emergency, ruggah to stand in

Considering the circumstances this was a win that was barely worth celebrating for Aurora, especially since it was so hard-fought, and Engin "⁠MAJ3R⁠" Küpeli spoke on Aurora's recent poor form in the broadcast post-match interview with Jacky "⁠Jacky⁠" Powers.

"I think this tournament we're disappointing a lot of people, to be honest. We're very far away from our level, individually and as a team," he said.

He went on to clarify, stating "mentally, physically, individually, everything, we are in a tough time... I feel like we are less confident a lot, individually, and our best strength is to be individually confident. I feel like all my teammates are a little low."

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Aurora gave up Nuke due to their abysmal T side efforts, a stagnant and simplistic offense put to bed with ease by Astralis, and Emil "⁠Magisk⁠" Reif on the AWP, time and time again. A sense of doom seemed to settle upon Aurora as the map wore on, Astralis' boisterous and joyful reactions setting up an intriguing series.

Astralis bring the good vibes on Nuke

The Turkish side recovered on Train, but it was hard work. Aurora got off to a torrid start on their offensive half, Astralis running away with things for a 5-0 lead off the back of the pistol round.

Sezgin "⁠Fabre⁠" Kalaycı then stepped in, calling two well-placed timeouts to help Aurora grind out the five offensive rounds needed to set them up for the second half. The Turkish side were bolstered by their success, picking up the CT pistol and closing out with ease.

woxic 1v3 clutch bails Aurora out

A scrappy affair ensued on Mirage, Astralis relying on Jakob "⁠jabbi⁠" Nygaard to pull off individual heroics to bring them round wins, whilst Aurora enjoyed the benefit of a more even spread of performances. Aurora had taken control by the second half and picked up six rounds in a row on their T side, largely thanks to Özgür "⁠woxic⁠" Eker and Ismailcan "⁠XANTARES⁠" Dörtkardeş, to put themselves on series point.

A disastrous moment struck, however, Rasmus "⁠HooXi⁠" Nielsen pulling off an unlikely 10 second smoke defuse, allowing time for Magisk to come alive and put up some strong holds alongside jabbi. It was all for naught in the end as Aurora eventually found the round needed to close the match.

HooXi pulls off 10 second smoke defuse

Aurora labour badly despite stand-in situation

Aurora may have won this series, but the look on their faces at the end displayed relief more than anything else.

Their weakness on offensive halves reared its ugly head on Nuke and cost them the map, and they still required so many individual heroics to get the series over the line, woxic's clutch on Mirage the pick of the bunch.

They may have made the playoffs, but Aurora will be far from happy from their efforts, as MAJ3R's post-match interview indicated, and they need to pick themselves up if they are to make a deep run in this event.