Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2017 - SK Gaming crowned champions!

SK Gaming have overcome FaZe Clan in the Grand final best-of-five series with a 3-1 map score to secure the victors' title of IEM Sydney 2017, as well as $100,000.

SK Gaming vs. FaZe Clan

de_Train - 16:12 (12:3, 4:9)

The first map saw an incredibly dominant performance from the Brazilians. The team kicked off on the CT side of the map, with Marcelo "coldzera" David grabbing a 3K to start the series. Further rounds were built off the back of such a momentous first round, up until FaZe's first gun round a 3:0. A single digit was accrued with decent equipment by the European mix, however a determined SK Gaming followed up with another string of three rounds, extending the team's lead to 6:1. Through the mistake of Epitacio "TACO" de Melo, who ended up dying to fall damage on the B bombsite FaZe were able to accrue round two of the half, as the Brazilians' In-Game Leader, Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo was indeed able to dispatch the final members of FaZe, however he did not have sufficient time to defuse the bomb, leading to a round loss and a 6:2 score. The remainder of the half saw some more of the prior, with six rounds to one for the Brazilians, as FaZe are faced with a rather disappointing 3:12 deficit come half time.

In the latter half the European mix was able to show quite an impressive performance on the defence. The pistol round was secured, the Brazilians did however manage to secure a bomb plant. What ensued was absolute chaos - the CTs were desperately attempting to defuse the bomb, all the while the Ts were spam shooting through a smoke and attempting to knife the defuser. The aforementioned malarkey ended in favour of FaZe, as the team eventually bagged the defuse and consequently the first round of the initial half. Another post-plant was secured by the European mix in round two, however due to being able to secure the activation of the C4 two rounds in a row, the economy for SK was looking pretty. The team made use of their money in round eighteen, able to once again secure a bomb plant and force the CTs into saving their equipment instead of attempting a defuse. Following this exchange FaZe go on a roll, accruing four rounds, two of which were granted thanks to dispatching all members of the opposing team, and two were secured via defusing the bomb, a situation way less favourable for the Europeans. As the score was edging closer and closer to overtime, SK decided that 14:12 was enough, slamming the final two rounds of the half to close out the initial map at 16:12.

de_Cache - 16:7 (11:4, 5:3)

A T side start from SK saw an initial struggle, followed by total domination. FaZe got off to a strong start by securing the initial three rounds of the first half. No bomb plants, no opportunities for economy development meant that the Brazilians would have to wait a bit to show their true colours. And so they did, as rounds four and five fell in favour of the team after team aces in both. FaZe fend off the Brazilian menace in round six to secure their fourth round of the half at 4:2. Astonishingly, this was all the team would see over the entirety of the half, as SK Gaming absolutely demolished the opposition consistently, snagging round after round. Whether a 1v2 clutch by Epitacio "TACO" de Melo on the A bombsite or a 3k from star player Marcelo "coldzera" David in the following round, the latter half was the SK show by far. A dominant stint from the team meant an 11:4 initial half finish.

On the defence the Brazilians were able to grab the second pistol. Assertive aggression from FaZe in the following rounds meant the team was able to clock three rounds in their favour, bringing the score to 7:12, definitely a salvageable situation. As heart-breaking as it was for the European representatives, salvation was not found, as FalleN and co. went on to dispatch the entire team and secure three post-plant victories in the final four rounds of the half, securing their second victory in the series at a dominant 16:7.

de_Inferno - 13:16 (5:10, 8:6)

FaZe Clan strike back after getting off to a strong T-side start. The initial pistol round was secured by the European mix, as Nikola "NiKo" Kovač landed three kills for his team, greatly contributing to both the team's morale and early success. On the back of this show of excellence FaZe were able to gain momentum, crashing the Brazilians round after round. Not only did the team secure six consecutive rounds, four of them saw bomb plants. As a consequence of the aforementioned they were able to build up a strong economic situation in the event that the team went under down the line. Rounds seven through nine saw victories for SK Gaming, however two of the rounds once again saw bomb plants from the Brazilians, bettering their situation greatly. The Brazilians were unable to pose much of a threat against the European mix, securing but two more rounds in the latter portion of the half, faced with a 5:10 deficit by its end.

Having switched to the T side, SK Gaming started getting back into the game. The pistol was accrued by FalleN and co. leading to the development of a strong economy, reminiscent of what FaZe demonstrated in their T half. Five rounds are secured off the bat, three of which saw and explosion. FaZe were able to break up the streak by securing two rounds, only to meet resurgence from the Brazilians as a string of three falls in their favour at 12:13. In what proved to be a nail-biting conclusion to the map, FaZe managed to shut down advances from the Brazilians on three seperate occasions, closing out the series at 16:13.

de_Overpass - 16:11 (6:9, 10:2)

What proved to be the final map of the series saw an initial weakness from SK Gaming, followed by a monstrous performance on the defence to secure the Championship title. Despite winning the initial pistol, the Brazilians were unable to pose a threat in the following three rounds, falling into a 1:3 deficit come round four. A constant back and forth from the teams meant an absolute brawl throughout the latter portion of the initial half, finally concluding in a 6:9 deficit for the Brazilians.

Having switched to the CT side, SK Gaming were able to get comfy and start accruing rounds. FaZe managed a bomb plant in the pistol, however the device was subsequently defused by SK to sway the round in the team's favour. Off the back off this success the team went on to crush in the following four rounds, leading to a round surplus at 11:9. FaZe were struggling greatly on the T side of affairs, as the defence was working with not only a strong economy, but also the preferred side, meaning an uphill struggle for the European mix. As disappointing as it may sound, FaZe were able to score but two rounds on the T side, despite taking quite a few rounds to post-plant situations. SK Gaming showed a superior performance, one that culminated in a 10:2 half and consequently a 16:11 victory, closing out the best-of-five in four maps at 3-1.

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