NAVI join FURIA in Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Playoffs

NAVI have joined FURIA as the second team to secure their places in the Playoffs of the Thunderpick World Championship 2025. They beat out Aurora in a 2:1 series, which was competitive right until the final round, with twists and turns galore.

NAVI lock in Semis at Thunderpick World Championship 2025

The Turkish Aurora CS2 team have had a mixed time of late, but you wouldn’t know based on how they flew out of the gates in this Thunderpick World Championship Group B match. They raced to a 9:3 start on Nuke, a lead far too large for NAVI to overcome. From there, the result felt like a foregone conclusion, and Aurora saw things out without much fuss 13:4.

NAVI clapped back immediately on Mirage. After losing it to Imperial yesterday, they showed a much better face here, and excellent maps from w0nderful and makazze saw them tie up the series.

It would all come down to Dust2 again, a map both teams are comfortable on. Aurora were able to establish an 8:1 lead fairly early in the decider, putting NAVI’s Playoff odds in slight jeopardy at the Thunderpick World Championship. And as the second half got underway, Aurora continued their impressive showing to take an 11:4 lead, but it was all downhill from there.

NAVI would go on to claim nine consecutive rounds from that point onward, perfection on the CT-side to lock out Aurora entirely. Following their ESL Pro League struggles, this is just more disappointment for Aurora, who should already be set for the Semi-Finals.

Aurora can still reach Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Playoffs

This result means Aurora require a win against the winner of Imperial vs. Venom in the Thunderpick World Championship Group B decider match. Now, you’d fancy them to take that series comfortably, regardless of opponent, but it’s important that Aurora do not underestimate their opponent.

This kind of collapse can take a mental toll on the team, and Aurora have faced heartbreak after heartbreak of late. It can’t be ignored.

Still, I expect Aurora to reach the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Playoffs handily. Mixed form or not, you’d still have them among the favorites for the event. There’s just that pesky issue of tomorrow’s match.