Complexity showed character with a tense 2-1 victory over Astralis in the deciding Group C match. This victory leaves them with a chance to qualify for the ESL Pro League Season 20 playoffs. The last chance for the American team will come on Sunday, when they will face a rematch against MOUZ.
Complexity did not show a confident game from the very beginning of the tournament, losing to M80. However, the team was able to find their strength and defeat Astralis, showing that they have the potential to make the playoffs.
Backstory
Complexity started their ESL Pro League run with a loss to M80, but then turned things around with a 2-0 win over Astralis and MOUZ in the bottom group. However, the loss to BIG denied them a direct entry into the playoffs, leaving them with only a chance at a last chance match. Astralis, on the other hand, also experienced difficulties throughout the tournament: despite a win over Rooster, they failed to prove themselves in games against stronger opponents.
In the first match of the lower division, the Danish team lost to Complexity in overtime on both maps, which was a wake-up call for Astralis. Although they dominated the second map of the last series, problems on Vertigo and Nuke, including lost eco rounds, led to the defeat.
The course of the match and key moments
The match between Complexity and Astralis in the last chance stage proved to be quite intense. Complexity started off strong on Vertigo, where Johnny “JT” Theodosiou set the pace with an early 6:1 advantage. Astralis managed to close the gap, but the decisive moment came when Håkon “hallzerk” Fjærli kept the team in the lead with a 1v3 clutch win. This allowed the Americans to win the map with a score of 13:10.
On the second map, Inferno, Astralis dominated, taking a series of important rounds and finishing the game with a score of 13:6. However, on the deciding map, Nuke Complexity was back in the game, taking the first eight rounds on the offensive side. Although the Danes attempted a comeback in the second half, a series of lost eco-rounds at the most important moment cost them the victory. Complexity was able to take things to overtime, where they won two of the three decisive rounds, clinching the series victory.
Conclusion
For Complexity, this win opens up their last chance to qualify for the ESL Pro League playoffs. They will face MOUZ on Sunday, and that will be their ultimate test. Astralis, on the other hand, leaves the tournament after showing many problems in their game. This defeat emphasizes the need for further work on the roster and strategy of the team, despite having experienced players.
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