The all-Western upper bracket semi-final between G2 Esports and Team Vitality was always certain to be a belter. While the series didn’t go to a third map, it certainly did not disappoint.
Team Vitality was in the ascendancy for much of their opening map pick, at one stage leading by 12 rounds to 8 on Bind and needing just a single round more for victory. But G2 turned things around, winning 7 of the final 9 rounds to earn a 15-13 overtime win and gain the momentum heading into their own map.
On Lotus things were tight once again, 6-6 going into halftime. But G2 held strong on defense in the latter half, taking firm control to win 7 of the laster 10 rounds and close the map 13-9, finalizing a 2-0 sweep that sends them into the upper-bracket final against EDward Gaming tomorrow.
Vitality subdued after defeat
The usually lively Team Vitality retreated into their shells during the post-match press conference, appearing somewhat somber following the superteam roster’s first taste of defeat since it was assembled for this season.
IGL Sayf was the recipient of an early question around the first loss and if it can be used as a point to strengthen for the remainder of the Bangkok run.
“Yeah, it sucks to lose, but I think the healthiest thing that could have happened since this team started is us losing on official. Yeah, simple as that.”
Head coach Faded was able to provide more detailed insight, putting on a brave face after a difficult loss to give his thoughts on the defeat.
“We just weren’t in sync. I think we were on a couple different pages. I think we gave them too much respect and I think we ended up playing too many different ideas of how to play against them instead of just playing ourselves.
“And I think it was a good learning lesson for us too, a good reminder. I think extending on the loss aspects, we kind of need to get our butts kicked. And I think it’s something where we all have talented individuals, experienced individuals. And we will bounce back. But I think today it was just not our game. It was just not our day.”
The coach later had positive words for Kicks in particular after being quizzed on his stellar Skye performances.
“The thing about Kicks is that he fits into the system. So he is always willing to work with the tools that he has and he adjusts himself. And I think Kimmie always kind of adapts and learns and it’s really nice because he’s always a steady, consistent force. I think the mistakes that he has, he learns very quickly and is able to adjust… I think one of the things that Kimmiie does for us is he sacrifices his comfort and roles and he learns new things and he’s really willing to do so. So I think it’s a very, very important part, especially when you have, like, Less, trexx, Derke, and Sayf as well.”
G2 shows why they’re favourites
For G2, a win over Vitality’s super team was the perfect way to regain momentum following the tournament’s two-day break, and the crucial win showed exactly why they’re the tournament favourite.
Facing Vitality means going up against global stars like Derke and Less. During the post-game press conference, G2 was asked how to prepare for such players and find the balance between opponent-specific prep and focusing on their own game.
In-game leader valyn revealed how — on a global stage — they preferred to focus on themselves, discussing how this differed from their preparation styles while playing regionally.
“I would say usually, at least back home when we play against teams like KRÜ with keznit or C9 with OXY, it feels a lot more player-focused into countering. But this time around, playing on the international stage and being against Vitality, we know that as a whole they’re all on the same calibre. So we didn’t really dive too deep on like player focus. We just knew kind of how to approach it versus them as their team versus ours, which is, yeah, it is a bit different.
“Sometimes we do focus on players. But I would say recently, especially when we step on these high-pressure matches, it’s just been like; ‘How do we adjust our macro to match theirs and what can we abuse versus them rather than just shutting a guy down?’ Because, you know, players like Derke are always going to get their kills. They’re always going to find their footing in a match.
“So you got to be a better team that day to win.”
The win moves G2 to the upper-bracket final, where they’ll meet current Champions holders EDward Gaming. Valyn was asked on the friendship between the teams, which he said started due to jersey swaps and continued as EDG’s players are “just really friendly and nice people”.
“They wish us luck before our game today. The whole team is really wholesome. So it doesn’t feel like they have any, you know- they don’t really have any hate in their heart, it feels like.
“So they’re just being friendly with us and we’re just being nice back because that’s what you do as a human being. So they’re just they’re chill and we’re chill. So it’s like a mutual respect type thing.”
