ESL Pro League Season 3 - Week 4 recap

Tuesday, 08.03.2016 - EU

Astralis vs. mousesports - de_Mirage & de_Dust2, two Bo1s

This matchup in particular did not do much to excite us, as Astralis managed to take the first map 16:12 and even brought the second map, Dust2, home with a 16:4 victory. Not a strong showing from the Germans, especially not on their favourite map.

Ninjas in Pyjamas vs. FaZe Clan - de_Dust2 & de_Train, two Bo1s

Unfortunately for the European mix, Joakim "jkaem" Myrbostad kept getting DDOSed to a point where he had to leave the game. This, of course, heavily damaged the team and their manager, Zebastian "zbM" Molinder could not live up to the task of replacing such a strong player. Eventually the Ninjas got both maps 16:7 and 16:9.

Wednesday, 09.03.2016 - NA

Renegades vs. Winterfox - de_Dust2 & de_Train, two Bo1s

A fairly linear match. Even with the scores from both maps combined WFX would not have gotten to double figures as they were simply crushed 16:4 and 16:3 by a dominant Renegades, that in the end boasted great KDs and were able to add another six points to their overall season standings.

Splyce vs. Team AGG - de_Dust2 & de_Inferno, two Bo1s

In terms of score this matchup featured closer maps than the ones before, but eventually turned out to be very similar. Splyce were simply the stronger team and showed that throughout, closing both maps 16:12 and 16:6.

Wednesday, 09.03.2016 - EU

Virtus.Pro vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas - de_Cache & de_Overpass, two Bo1s

The first map was a straight obliteration and although everybody expected Virtus.Pro to lose, the two points they gathered in total made it far more decisive than one could have imagined. Eventually they managed to wake up and find 11 rounds on Overpass, but nonetheless had to add another two losses to their standings, now sitting on 14 losses in total.

G2 ESports vs. Team EnVyUs - de_Cache & de_Train, two Bo1s

This match was hugely anticipated due to the recent roster change on EnVyUs, in which Fabien "kioShiMa" Fiey was replaced by Timothée "DEVIL" Démolon. Of course nobody expected EnVyUs to have integrated him instantly, so the two losses were not much of a surprise, considering G2 have been consistently strong in recent times. A 16:11 and 16:12 loss, however, are nothing to be ashamed of and it remains to be seen whether DEVIL can make the difference this team desperately needs.

Thursday, 10.03.2016 - NA

Cloud9 vs. OpTic Gaming - de_Cache & de_Cobblestone, two Bo1s

C9 continue their downward spiral by losing two consecutive matches against the Canadians. Whilst on Cache a 16:13 score line was no real shame, however, the 16:7 loss following was a bad sign for Cloud9. Interestingly the issues did not just centre around their T-sides anymore as they secured 9 rounds as the terrorists in the second half of Cache and on Overpass only one of their rounds won was as CTs.

Winterfox vs. Luminosity Gaming - de_Overpass & de_Train, two Bo1s

On the first map, WFX already had a surprising performance. Earlier this week they were crushed by Renegades, only to now acquire 11 rounds against LG on Overpass. On the second map then they made the ultimate upset of the week, finishing Luminosity off without giving them anything more than just three rounds on Train.

Thursday, 10.03.2016 - EU

Team EnVyUs vs. FlipSid3 Tactics - de_Mirage & de_Cobblestone, two Bo1s

The French fans were still waiting to see whether the roster change would have panned out positively, and it is fair to say that in this particular matchup it has. On the first map he was good, but on Cobblestone he simply went crazy. His performance on the B plateau was astonishing and he just piled up bodies on the pathway, leaving no chance for F3 to execute there.

Natus Vincere vs. FaZe Clan - de_Dust2 & de_Mirage, two Bo1s

FaZe really held sway on the first map and only let it slip out of their hands in overtime, making it really hard for Natus Vincere to get a map win. On the second map however, Na'Vi were able to, more decisively, acquire their victory under a 16:12 score board.

Friday, 11.03.2016 - NA

NRG eSports vs. Luminosity Gaming - de_Inferno & de_Mirage, two Bo1s

After an upsetting loss to Winterfox, LG had the chance to recover their reputation and in fighting NRG they did. On the first map they only gave away a very small portion of the game, three rounds in total. On the second map NRG managed to triple that count, but nonetheless Luminosity earned themselves two wins for their season standings.

NRG eSports vs. compLexity Gaming - de_Cache & de_Dust2, two Bo1s

It really was a long night for the NA/EU mix of NRG as they had to remain on the servers for yet another two matches. This time however, they were able to get some season points for themselves as they closed out both maps on a 16:13 score line. They will be flying out to Croatia at the end of this week to clash with some European teams at the Counter Pit League Season 2 Finals, but due to his broken ankle Peter "ptr" Gurney will be unable to participate.

Saturday, 12.03.2016 - EU

Team EnVyUs vs. Astralis - de_Train & de_Inferno, two Bo1s

When Astralis beat nV 16:10 on Train they probably did not expect them to bounce back on the second map, but another step in their recovery was to beat the Danes on Inferno 16:7, with their newest addition, "DEVIL" boasting a 2.0 KDR. This win was very important for the Frenchmen as it not only proves their slow resurgence but also put them ahead of G2 in the season standings, propelling into fourth place.

Virtus.Pro vs. G2 Esports - de_Train & de_Overpass, two Bo1s

On this day VP had a strong showing that reminded everybody of how things were just half a year ago. 16:14 was the score line for the first map, in favour of Virtus.Pro. As great as it was to see them play there, the more sad it was to see them getting crushed once again on Overpass 16:6.

SK Gaming vs. FaZe Clan - de_Cache & de_Mirage, two Bo1s

Nobody would have expected the outcome of the first map. The regulation time was a back-and-forth until SK got themselves onto 15:14, but FaZe made it through to overtime. Irrespective, the Danes did not want to let go of the match and eventually took the victory home on a 25:23, triple overtime score board. Unfortunately the Danes seemed to have spent all of their steam on the first match so they pretty much bailed out on the second one, losing 16:3.

Sunday, 13.03.2016 - NA

Team AGG vs. NRG eSports - de_Cobblestone & de_Dust2, two Bo1s

NRG yet again gained another six points for their overall standings as AGG lost the first map 16:10. On Dust2, however, they tried their best and almost made it, eventually falling short to a 16:14 score line.

Cloud9 vs. compLexity Gaming - de_Overpass & de_Cache,two Bo1s

C9 surprisingly took over 10 rounds of their first T halfm as their opponents struggled to string together consecutive rounds. Unfortunately this was pretty much the same situation all over again when the sides changed and coL brought it to a 15:13 lead. Cloud9 then pulled out everything they had to bring it to overtime and just crushed their opponents, not giving away one single round ending it on 19:15. The second map went by pretty unspectacularly with 16:2 as compLexity had simply run out of steam.

Renegades vs. OpTic Gaming - de_Inferno & de_Cobblestone, two Bo1s

Both matches were won pretty decisively, but not by the same team. On Inferno OpTic ended Renegades on a 16:7 score board, but suddenly had to face a much more aware opponent on Cobblestone and eventually lost 16:9.

Sunday, 13.03.2016 - EU

SK Gaming vs. Astralis - de_Train & de_Mirage, two Bo1s

SK had already brought an upset this week and Astralis had been subjected to one, but in that endeavour this matchup failed to deliver. It was the favourites, Astralis, taking home both maps, 16:7 and 16:5.

G2 ESports vs. FlipSid3 Tactics - de_Train & de_Overpass, two Bo1s

Just as their French brothers, EnVyUs, G2 were placed against FlipSid3 and did exactly the same as nV, ending the Ukrainian dreams, on the first map with 16:12 and even more decisively with 16:7 on Overpass.

fnatic vs. mousesports - de_Cache & de_Dust2, two Bo1s

Would anyone expect mouz to be able to bounce back after a 16:4 loss on Cache? Certainly not and after a 12:3 half in favour of fnatic the Germans were in dire straits. But this match proved that you should never rule them out on Dust2, as they suddenly switched it all over and were the ones dominating fnatic. They brought it to overtime which they eventually won, making this probably the most exciting and unexpected upset on European soil this week.

Monday, 14.03.2016 - NA

compLexity Gaming vs. OpTic Gaming - de_Overpass & de_Cache, two Bo1s

coL have really failed to make anything work for them this week as yet again their opponents crushed them. It however needs to be said that especially this week OpTic have been in a very good form, so it is no wonder they took both maps, 16:10 and 16:4.

Team AGG vs. Renegades, de_Inferno & de_Cobblestone, two Bo1s

AGG were, similarly to compLexity, put under heavy pressure as they had to fight it out once more and this team against Renegades who had shown up strong recently. There was just no chance for them to succeed in this matchup and though they improved from the first to the second map, they lost 16:6 and 16:12.

Cloud9 vs. Selfless - de_Train & de_Cache, two Bo1s

Even in just the NA competition C9's performance have been somewhat lacklustre and once again they proved to be hugely inconsistent. Whilst they won the first map 16:10 they suddenly vanished from the score boards and only brought home an upset for rounds on the second map.