M80 ended their performance at ESL Pro League Season 20 with a disappointing loss in the quarterfinals against MIBR. This defeat undermined the team's chances of successfully finishing the tournament, despite the positives they showed in their previous matches.
It is of interest to see how such a promising team allowed a misfire at such an important stage of the tournament. Their defeat looks particularly dramatic against the backdrop of an excellent performance by Brazilian team MIBR, in particular their sniper Rafael “saffee” Costa, who showed a phenomenal start to the match.
Background and highlights
M80 have been performing well throughout the tournament, leading them to the ESL Pro League Season 20 playoff stage. However, in the quarterfinals, they faced MIBR, who had already established themselves as a formidable opponent. The Brazilians, with their experience and stable play, posed a serious threat to the Americans. Despite the efforts of M80, their efforts were not enough to keep the Brazilians at bay, especially against the bright play of saffee, who finished the game with a rating of 7.2.
The course of the match
The quarterfinal between M80 and MIBR started on Anubis, the map of choice for the Brazilian team. saffee set the pace from the start, finishing the first half of the match with an incredible 28 frags and just two deaths. However, even with this advantage, MIBR were only able to take the lead midway through the second half and won the first map 13:10.
The second map, Ancient, chosen by M80, also proved difficult for the Americans. The first half was relatively even, but in the second half MIBR regained control of the game, bringing the score to 13:8 and sealing a 2-0 series win. The loss sent M80 home, leaving the team out of contention for the tournament's top prizes.
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Conclusion and future prospects
Despite the setback at ESL Pro League Season 20, the season is not over for M80, while MIBR will continue to play in the tournament and they are expecting a Vitality vs. Eternal Fire opponent. M80 is preparing for their appearance at ESL Challenger League Season 48 as well as the ESL Challenger Atlanta LAN tournament in October. They have also qualified for the Thunderpick World Championship, which will be held in Europe. This experience could be an important lesson for the team going forward, and we'll be hearing more about them in upcoming major tournaments.
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