ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 1 has concluded, after three final matches to determine the last precious slots in Stage 2. In today’s matches, we saw a few teams involved that should have no business being involved in this last day of action. Teams like G2, Astralis, and FURIA, who all should have been duking it out to make it through 3:0 a few days ago.
Yet, here they were, fighting to stay alive right until the finish line. Here’s the story of how some of the best teams at ESL Pro League S22 had to cling to life for another chance at success in Stockholm.
G2 stay in comfort zone vs. ENCE
The final day of ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 1 began with G2 vs. ENCE, in what proved to be the most straightforward contest of the day. It was a clash that went down exactly as you might imagine it would on paper – a total mismatch, man for man. No ENCE player was able to stamp their authority on the server, and G2 ran away with things in a quick two-map affair.
IGL huNter- led the way in the fragging department, looking extremely sharp against a mechanically talented ENCE. To G2’s credit, they secured their win without coach sAw behind them, after he missed out due to personal reasons.
But for G2, reaching Stage 2 of ESL Pro League Season 22 has to be the bare minimum. They’ll celebrate this win and go again, but that they even found themselves in the 2:2 bracket to begin with after losing to Gentle Mates and B8 should raise some alarm bells. Not even a month ago, they were beating Vitality to win BLAST Open Fall, so they’ve hardly set the stage alight in Stockholm so far. More will be needed for a deep run at ESL Pro League.
Astralis made to sweat vs. Legacy
After adding Magisk in place of stavn, it feels as though Astralis‘ momentum has somewhat halted. It’s a win over Legacy to secure their place in Stage 2 of ESL Pro League S22, but let it be known that this very easily could have been a 2:0 in favor of the Brazilians.
After losing map one, a reverse sweep became mandatory for the Danish team to stay alive in Stockholm. After already going through tough losses to ENCE and GamerLegion earlier in Stage 1, it felt like Astralis were staring down the barrel of what would be a pretty disastrous result at ESL Pro League. A tight win on Overpass kept the series alive, and that was where Legacy really should have ended things.
Instead, we got an Ancient decider. We got an 11:1 T-side half. We got vintage dev1ce, who rocked a 2.13 rating to save Astralis’ skin when he needed them most, as he so often has over the years. Legacy gave Astralis too much time to play their way into form in this one. While they may have looked impressive to close things out, this kind of form will still see them punished against better opponents. Much like G2, they need to show more if they’re to survive a tougher Stage 2.
FURIA back from the brink vs. B8
FURIA are another team that, having lifted a trophy just weeks ago at FISSURE Playground 2, were just one series away from a brutal exit from ESL Pro League Season 22. B8 were the opponents, plucky underdogs that always provide more than a potent challenge for just about everyone. And for a moment, it really looked like B8 were going to make FURIA pay for their poor form.
The Mirage opener was brutal for FURIA. AWPer molodoy was locked out from finding any impact, as was YEKINDAR. Stop that duo, you stop FURIA. B8 took it 13:5, but from that point forward the wind started to blow in FURIA’s direction.
Inferno and Overpass were the molodoy and YEKINDAR show. Neutered on Mirage, but alive here. Thriving in the chaos as the stakes ramped up. YEKINDAR’s map three deserves particular mention – a 27-12 showing that ensured B8 had no answers. While B8 are excellent dark horses, FURIA were eventually good value for their 2:1 win, even coming into the series as favorites. Stage 2, locked in.
