Marcos Gaming turn it around to secure finals spot at the TEC Arena Connect event

Marcos Gaming were 12-15 down in regulation against 2EZ Gaming in the second semi-final of the TEC Arena Connect, Pune event and were staring at defeat in the semi-finals. But led by the veteran DEFAULTER, Marcos Gaming turned it around and took down 2EZ Gaming to book their spot in the Grand Finals. It was particularly heart-breaking for 2EZ's Skwow, who went above and beyond, dropping 40 kills and yet ending up on the losing side.

The Random5 lineup, who were recently picked up by Marcos Gaming, were now competing under their new new name and were up against 2EZ Gaming in the second semi-final.

Marcos Gaming:

• DEFAULTER

• Mcg1LLzZz

• Rider

• Gh0sTTTT

• Zerocool

2EZ Gaming:

• NAIKZERA

• SpawN

• n1kace

• Skwow

• f1redup

The second semi-final was played on Ancient with Marcos Gaming starting on the CT side. A quad kill from Mcg1LLzZz gave Marcos the opening round but 2EZ responded right away with a force buy as Skwow stepped up. Two multi-kill rounds from NAIKZERA and Skwow gave 2EZ a 3-1 lead before the guns came out on both sides. Both teams kept trading rounds and it was 2EZ Gaming who tied the game at 5-5 on the back of another multi-kill round from Skwow. Zerocool's triple on the A site saw 2EZ once again take the lead at 6-5. Two quick A hits from 2EZ saw them retake the lead at 7-6 but Marcos answered with pistols as DEFAULTER's triple on the B site helped them steal a round and they ended the first half with an 8-7 lead as Mcg1LLzZz ended the half with a 1v1 against Skwow, denying him an ace clutch.

The second pistol saw n1kace and Skwow come in with double kills to help 2EZ tie the game and it was another multi-kill round from Skwow against the force buy to see 2EZ go 9-8 up. DEFAULTER's 1v3 on the B site helped Marcos put up their first T round. Both teams kept trading rounds and it was Rider's 1v2 on the A site that was Marcos Gaming put up their eleventh and Gh0sTTTT made it two 1v2s in a row for Marcos as they took the lead of the match at 12-10. A team ace from 2EZ helped them bring the score to 12-12 and it was a back-and-forth event. n1kace and f1redup's double on the A site, saw 2EZ get to 14 and Skwow's 1v2 helped 2EZ secure match point. Gh0sTTTT's triple on the A site in the very final round of regulation helped Marcos Gaming take the game to overtime.

Overtime kicked off with Marcos going flawless on their T side as they went 18-15 up, securing match point at the end of the first half of overtime 1. Skwow's triple gave 2EZ their first round in overtime but a strong A hold which included a double from DEFAULTER saw Marcos Gaming secure their Grand Finals spot, securing the map 19-16.

While Skwow dropped 40 kills in a losing cause, DEFAULTER and Gh0sTTTT were on top of the scoreboard for Marcos Gaming with 31 kills each.

Marcos Gaming will now face 7Sea Esports in the Grand Finals of the TEC Arena Connect, Pune event.