SK take down ESC and advance

The second semi-final of 3rd Intel Core Challenge by Inferno Online saw SK Gaming and ESC Gaming face each other in two maps that saw the Swedes come out on top in a 2-0 series (16-7, 16-13).

First map was de_train and it saw SK Gaming continue where they left off at the World Cyber Games last year, scoring five first rounds of the half as terrorists before Filip "NEO" Kubski's team started fighting back. The half was very back and forth from there on out after ESC scored three in a row, but the Swedes ultimately changed sides with a narrow 8-7 lead.

The second half pistol round looked to be going the Poles' way, but Patrik "f0rest" Lindberg's two USP headshots turned it around. ESC had multiple close rounds, but individual plays by Marcus "Delpan" Larsson kept them at bay as he hit one shot after another with his AWP on the way to a 16-4 half, winning de_train 16-7 overall.

NEO's efforts weren't enough 

Next up was de_dust2 where Larsson's entry frags secured SK another pistol round win as terrorists. The Swedes went on to win the first five rounds, but ESC replied with five of their own to tie it up at 5-5. The half was very back and forth with Christopher "GeT_RiGhT" Alesund being a second too late on his peek last round and ESC escaped the half at 8-7.

Patrik "f0rest" Lindberg took matters in his own hands in the second half, as the aced the pistol round's B retake and scored three more frags of his own in the second round. Third round reminded viewers of matches between the two years ago, as it was Kubski who scored an ace to make it 1-2. However, Alesund's knife kill propelled SK to  win an eco, forcing the Poles on a save round.

SK finally take down ESC after multiple close losses

The game continued to be back and forth, as Kubski's entry frag gave them a partial buy win and forced SK on a save round, but SK won the next one back, 11-11. The Swedes continued good form and jumped to thirteen rounds with Larsson at 17/6 and Lindberg at 14/4.

ESC won one more round in the half and looked poised to go to the last round of regulation, but a nice retake by SK Gaming secured them their ninth round of the half to win 16-13 and 2-0 overall.

SK Gaming will face fnatic in the 3rd Intel Core Challenge by Inferno Online grand final which is scheduled to begin any minute. The entire prize purse of $10,000 will go to the winners, so it's do-or-die for both teams with no consolation.