G2 with Taz are one step away from locking playoffs at PGL Astana 2025

Somehow, someway, G2 are still breathing at PGL Astana 2025. With their win today against BIG, they have put themselves at a 2-2 record, but more importantly, are just one win away from a playoff spot.

Now, why is this still commendable, you might ask. Well, let’s start with the fact that they lost a star in m0NESY, losing huNter, dragging in a rusty Taz to play, and having to show up with two new players is already jumping through hoops, and it doesn’t help the cause when the  the shots is Snax. Taz has been trudging forward with a 0.87 rating so far, and Hades is barely keeping up with  a rating only 0.02 higher than Snax. These are far from ideal circumstances. And while most of these matches were against teams hovering around or outside the top 20, these wins have still been hard-fought.

And the only reason G2 are still in the race is because of malbsMd and HeavyGod, and only malbsMd and HeavyGod. The rifler duo has been single-handedly dragging G2 across the finish line, kicking and screaming.

G2’s success factor

The tournament didn’t exactly open with fireworks for G2’s two saving graces. The start for malbsMd and HeavyGod this tournament has been slow, but underway. The first game against MIBR was a rough one, G2 lost 1-2, going for Ancient as their pick and leaving Nuke as the decider. Not only did HeavyGod get outfragged by Taz, who is playing just his second official in two years, but the whole squad got outfragged by Snax.

Next up was ODDIK, and while malbs was alive and kicking in the decider map, HeavyGod went missing in action. Sure, it shouldn’t have gone to a third map against a team ranked 79th in the world, but G2’s T-sides have been unsustainably flatter, and Anubis against ODDIK proved just that.

Down 0-2, G2 faced M80. Once again G2 won Dust2, lost Nuke, and sealed the deal on Inferno. malbsMd was once again the frontrunner with his 95 ADR and a 1.37 rating, with HeavyGod hot on his heels at 1.26. It’s no surprise that on these pug maps, where you can survive with a loose structure, or no structure, and individuals can pull the team across using sheer force, this duo ensured G2 thrived.

Today they faced BIG, and fortune smiled on them, as BIG is a team that’s right at home on Mirage. The two G2 riflers were once again unleashed, and that alone was enough to win on Dust2 and Mirage, leaving the world’s top-20 German squad stuck in single digits. malbsMd went nuclear with 120 ADR and a 1.87 rating, a donk-esque display, while HeavyGod backed him up with 90 ADR and a 1.49 rating. Funny how Snax thought removing Mirage for Nuke against MIBR was the better call. 

The road ahead

The win must spark some beliefs in the G2 camp, given their two prospects are able to perform despite the circumstances. It’s already a crucial confidence boost for the duo, and should they make the playoffs, it’ll serve as validation. Still, G2 find themselves in hot waters. In the 2-2 bracket, their next opponent is going to be NIP, who have been on the rise this year. NIP is a team with a deep map pool. They play Train, Anubis, Ancient, and are going to use those maps as punish picks against G2. With G2’s strengths and weaknesses laid bare, taking the next leap is going to demand more of the same resilience they have shown in the last couple of series.