With the conclusion of ESL Professional League Season 17’s Group stage, we will safely say it’s been the craziest few days of CS:GO shortly. As ESL Professional League Group D was topped by forZe and ENCE, with NAVI and Liquid slipping by way of by the pores and skin of their enamel, it’s been an odd watch.
There’s loads to debate, so let’s check out the highlights of Group D.
Liquid struggled. Credit score: Helena Kristiansson/ © ESL
The GOAT is Again
Whereas NAVI didn’t precisely cowl themselves in glory, s1mple’s efficiency was again to his typical GOAT commonplace. We talked about earlier in our ESL Professional League Group D preview that NAVI wanted s1mple to step up. And step up he did, typically taking the staff by the scruff of their neck and carrying them to victory.
It initially regarded like a type of tournaments for NAVI after they misplaced their opening recreation to forZe. Nonetheless, the shut defeat would age effectively as forZe went on to 3-0 their means by way of Group D. Pushed by s1mple’s efficiency, NAVI went undefeated by way of the decrease bracket from that time on. Honestly, they by no means regarded in peril of leaving the match early, however even they’d say it wasn’t their best hour.
In the end, s1mple can’t do all of it, and if NAVI are to have any likelihood at successful ESL Professional League, they’ll have to see extra throughout from their roster of stars.
Liquid Should Enhance, Quick
Liquid shall be making an look within the playoffs of ESL Professional League, however they’ll’t be comfortable about how they obtained there. After the primary match, a defeat by Uncommon Atom, it appeared as if the justifications for already starting for Liquid. YEKINDAR publicly attacked the staff’s preparation for the match, and he nearly regarded checked out.
After shedding to Crew Spirit, they dropped to the Final Likelihood part of the group. They obtained their revenge on Uncommon Atom and defeated an Astralis roster, whom the much less mentioned about, the higher. We get the sense that an unlucky draw may’ve seen Liquid exit ESL Professional League Group D, and there’s loads for the staff to work on.
With playoffs starting on twenty first March, there’s subsequent to no time for them to repair any large issues. It may work to their benefit although. Most of the greatest CS:GO groups who performed earlier within the match like Heroic and G2 shall be barely rustier, whereas Liquid are coming off the again of an intense few days of Counter-Strike. All they’ll hope for is that they’re in a position to play themselves out of any poor type they is perhaps in.
Uncommon Atom: A Wonderful Failure
ESL Professional League Group D was the story of the underdog. Uncommon Atom had been the last word underdog, successful hearts and minds by smashing Liquid 2-0 of their opening match. It was their peak second, shedding each different match earlier than crashing out, however it was enjoyable whereas it lasted. Successful their first map in opposition to NAVI, there was even a second when it regarded like they may go one step additional.
The truth that they misplaced each different match does a disservice to their general efficiency. Every staff they misplaced in opposition to, ENCE, NAVI, and Liquid, all ultimately certified, so it’s right down to an unlucky draw that they discovered themselves on an early aircraft house from Malta.
There was loads to love about Uncommon Atom, and are value maintaining a tally of going ahead. JamYoung and Kaze particularly offered a few of the most fun moments for followers of the majority-Chinese language roster.
The ESL Professional League Playoffs start on twenty first March.
