There was a repeat of the 2021 Stockholm Major final in the first CS:GO tournament of the new season at the BLAST Premier Fall Groups, even though there have been massive changes in terms of the roster of both organisations since then.
Nevertheless, two big stars still remain from that final two years ago between NAVI and G2 ESports as it was basically s1mple versus NiKo again, but it was the Ukrainian who emerged victorious once again in the tightly contested series.
Furthermore, it was all about, and all eyes were on the performance of a newly assembled except set of Navi players with two Ukrainians remaining from the big components of the organisation with s1mple and b1t, carrying the team and rating a 1.35 and a 1.25 HLTV 2.0 rating.
On Inferno, NAVI took a massive 10-5 lead on CT but dropped almost immediately, only to find their rhythm to close the map in regulation at 11-11. It was a bit more balanced on Mirage even though it was a similar sequence to Inferno as it again ended 11-11 as NiKo and huNter championed it.
NAVI then managed to convert a third of three match points. S1mple then praised his teammates as he projects a better future if the relationship between them doesn’t get toxic.
“I’m so proud of each of our players […] the whole team is cheering everyone up; if I’m not going to be toxic, it’s going to be awesome.” s1mple said.
However, for G2 esports, NiKo was full of respectful NAVI players who he believed were better on the night while blaming his teammates for a chaotic TeamSpeak, which he also felt contributed to his team’s loss.
With the result, NAVI will be in the Fall Finals with this victory, while G2 ESports are consigned to the shadows of the Showdown.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
