FaZe Clan clashed with Virtus.Pro for a spot at the New Legends Stage at the PGL Major Stockholm.

Both teams came in hot with 2-0 results from day 1, giving them a chance to capitalize and make it to the next stage with a victory here. VP picked Mirage with FaZe opting for Ancient and Dust 2 was left over if a 3rd map was needed.

Mirage(FaZe 16-14 VP):

FaZe got off to a strong start, with VP unable to post a single round, not before FaZe garnered a comfortable lead. Bringing their momentum from day 1, FaZe looked well oiled and prepared for VP on Mirage. The defense for FaZe looked on point until VP put together a comeback that gave them a fighting chance. The half ended 9-6 in favor of FaZe.

The second half had VP almost making a comeback before FaZe pulled their socks up right in the nick of time. Mareks ‘YEKINDAR’ Gaļinskis and Evgeny ‘FL1T’ Lebedev helped VP cut it close, VP took the lead for the first time at 14-13 scoreline, where FaZe turned up the heat to turn things around before closing the map with a 16-14 scoreline.

Anceint(FaZe 16- VP):

Despite having a decent first map, Anceint is where Finn “karrigan” Anderson found his stride. With a strong start on the T side, FaZe managed to pick up 9 rounds on a map that is considered heavily CT sided. Thanks to karrigan finding unreal timings on the flank that kept VP watching their back all game long, and Russel ‘twistzz’ Van Dulken hitting nothing but headshots with multikills on several occasion that kept VP on their toes.

Moving onto the CT side, FaZe looked even better, as all the stars aligned that resulted in an absoulte flawless defense. A disappointing display from Jame and co. but given their roster change in mind, a 2-1 at the major is quite commendable.

FaZe secured a spot at the new legends stage with VP falling off and in need of another win to make it there.

Four Time Major winners, Defending Champions – Astralis have just been sent tumbling down to the 0-2 loser’s matchup on Day 1 of the Challenger’s Stage of PGL Major Stockholm. After Losing to Danish rivals Copenhagen Flames earlier on, Astralis lost in a similar fashion with a 16-6 scoreline, to become the first team to go down 0-2. They will now play a Best of 3 elimination match and need to win, or they are out of the Major.

MAP VETO

1. Entropiq removed Inferno

2. Entropiq removed Nuke

3. Astralis removed Mirage

4. Astralis removed Vertigo

5. Astralis removed Ancient

6. Entropiq removed Overpass

7. Dust2 was leftover

The ‘puggiest’ of all the maps in the pool, Dust2 was chosen – one that has always been a playground of CIS AWPers from s1mple to degster. 

Astralis never got things going and it was evident from the start as they won just 1 of the first 8 rounds. Viktor ‘Lack1‘ Boldyrev was on point with his entries as he helped his team rocket to an 8-3 scoreline. Astralis’ CT setups were all over the place, evidently still trying to gel together well with new signing Phillip ‘Lucky’ Ewald as they posted 5 CT rounds to end the half 10-5.

Returning IGL Lukas ‘gla1ve’ Rossander had all the fans’ hopes high for his return, and although he fragged out really well, the strats just werent there. Astralis won just 1 T round, one where they split the B site from mid, but apart from that single hiccup it was a complete lockdown from the Russians as they powered through to a 16-6 win.

Entropiq are now 1-1 after their 2 games today and will play an opponent with a similar record. Astralis are down 0-2 and will play an elimination game, a Bo3 to remain in the Major and defend their crown. 

Asia’s best team, Tyloo beat Brazilian team Sharks in a closely contested game of Mirage to avoid going 0-2 on Day 1 of the Major. Both of these teams were picked by the majority of players as the team that would go out without a win, and with them facing each other a lot of them may have messed Pick em’s by a huge margin. But that has little repercussions on Tyloo as they join Entropiq, Team Spirit and Renegades in the 1-1 club after they lost to Heroic earlier.

MAP VETO

1. TYLOO removed Nuke

2. TYLOO removed Dust2

3. Sharks removed Overpass

4. Sharks removed Inferno

5. Sharks removed Ancient

6. TYLOO removed Vertigo

7. Mirage was leftover

For the first time, Mirage was played at the PGL Major and it couldn’t have been any better. Both the teams brought their A game and it was difficult to choose a winner. Tyloo started off with a stomp, taking a lead of 6-1 before the Brazilians could get a hold of things. After a good start, they cooled off and could only manage 2 more rounds, spread sporadically to end the half 8-7.

After the switch, it was the Brazilian’s turn to pump up the gears as they went on a streak of their own to take the lead, 12-9.

But it was a great individual effort by YuanZhang ‘Attacker’ Sheng to power the Chinese to 14 rounds to Sharks’ 12. They traded rounds back and forth at the end to make it as close as possible, but the Asians reigned supreme as they ended the map 16-14.

Tyloo are now 1-1 in Challengers Stage while Sharks join the other 2 Brazilian teams – paiN and GODSENT and also defending champions Astralis at 0-2. All of them will play Bo3 Elimination Games to remain in contention for the Legends Stage.