Vitality is through to the quarterfinals of the BLAST Open London, having outlasted FaZe Clan in a test of endurance. Vitality beat FaZe 2-1, but the latter did manage to pose a tough challenge.
VETO
- FaZe removed Train
- Vitality removed Ancient
- FaZe picked Mirage
- Vitality picked Nuke
- FaZe removed Overpass
- Vitality removed Dust2
- Inferno was left over
Map 1: Mirage; Pick: FaZe; Winner: FaZe
FaZe took charge of the game with a fast-paced pistol rush to A site to open up Mirage and continued with the momentum to go 3-0 up. While Vitality did manage to win a few rounds in between, FaZe kept a grasp of their lead to close the first half with a 7-5 lead. Winning the pistol round, FaZe went 9-5 up before Vitality’s offence went on a tear to hit map point before FaZe could hit double digits. Winning the first full gun round, FaZe, by the skin of their teeth, managed to push the game to OT. An unbelievable 3-5 win kicked off OT for FaZe Clan, but that was all they managed on the defence, leading to Vitality closing the first half of OT with a narrow lead. Winning the first Vitality hit map point, but FaZe retaliated to push the game to another overtime.
The first half ended with ropz narrowly edging out a lead, but it was FaZe who hit map point with a stellar retake of the B site. A total shutdown in the following round saw them take the best team in the world apart to win Mirage. With 36 and 37 kills to their name, Broky and FrozeN delivered in aces and spades to take FaZe 1-0 up in the series.
Map 2: Nuke; Pick: Vitality; Winner: Vitality
Winning the pistol round, FaZe dropped the ball on their defense as Vitality’s slow and coordinated offense managed to dominate them the entirety of the half. Winning the final few rounds, Vitality closed the half with a narrow lead of 7-5. Winning the first pistol round, FaZe went on to level the scoreline and move on, taking the lead, which lasted as long as the next round. While Vitality did manage to snatch back the lead, it was FaZe who hit map point first, but Vitality pulled the game into OT for the second time in the series. It wasn’t until the 3rd overtime that the map gave us a winner, with Vitality pulling ahead with a 19-16 scoreline.
Map 3: Inferno; Pick: Decider; Winner: Vitality
Starting with a bang, Vitality pulled into a 4-0 lead before FaZe hit the scoreboard. Things looked bleak for the FaZe Clan roster as Vitality stacked rounds up rounds till FaZe fell 8-4 behind by the end of the first half. The hopes of a comeback were crushed by Vitality right from the start of the second half. FaZe did manage to win a round, but it was Vitality through and through to close the series with a 13-5 scoreline.
FaZe may not have come out on top, but there will still be a chance. They will be at the LAN Finals in London. As FaZe keep improving, only time will tell if Karrigan can make something out of the pieces at hand.