In the Ukrainian derby between Monte and kONO.ECF, Monte won with a score of 2-1 and advanced to the semifinals of the Elisa Invitational Spring 2024.

The match started on Dust 2, the choice of kONO.ECF, who managed to win 3 rounds in a row, while Monte worked on their mistakes and this time improved their game on Dust 2 in defense and managed to take 4 in a row. The first half ended in a 6-6 tie between the teams, which added interest to the game. In the second half, Monte outplayed the team in class and won 7 rounds out of 9 and won the first map 13-8.

Mirage, Monte's choice started like the first map, with three rounds won from kONO.ECF, in a similar way to the first map, Monte were again able to win a few rounds before, but this time they took 3. The teams shared the next 6 rounds equally and added interest to the second half. Showing a good strategic game, kONO.ECF managed to outplay Monte twice in a row and took two rounds to their chest, to which Monte responded with three rounds of their own. In the following rounds, kONO.ECF showed even more structured play, taking 5 rounds out of 6, and eventually won 13-10 on the opponent's choice and secured the third Anubis map.

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It should be added that during the break between Mirage and Anubis, the captain of the team byr9 lost power, and this is how he commented on it:

Anyway, the power went out before the 3rd map, but I have a generator and a battery, all the lights work, but there is no internet. When there were blackouts, the Internet was available, I call the provider, but the provider does not pick up the phone. They don't answer the phone, and the router is working, showing that the Internet should be available, they used to have batteries, 100%, because when there were blackouts I was connected. It's just a horror. 

 

Anubis started off with a pistol round won by kONO.ECF, but despite this Monte managed to win 7 to a row, giving themselves a large and comfortable lead in the rounds, resulting in a 10-2 first half victory. The second half started with an attempt to seize the initiative for kONO.ECF, but unfortunately they failed and lost with a score of 5-13.

Thanks to this victory, Monte advanced to the semifinals of the Elisa Invitational Spring 2024 where they will play against the winner of the Guild Eagles/Sashi pair on Saturday. kONO.ECF left the tournament in 5-8th place and earned $1,000, they qualified for the playoffs from open qualification, which is a very cool result for them.