Astralis qualify for EPL Playoffs
In a spectacular showdown, Astralis secured their spot in the ESL Pro League Season 18 playoffs by defeating FURIA in the Group A lower bracket final. The Danish powerhouse left no room for doubt, dominating on their chosen map, Overpass, with a commanding 16-7 victory. They then displayed their resilience on Nuke, coming back from a 10-13 disadvantage to win 16-13, sealing the series.
Astralis' journey in the ESL Pro League Season 18 began with an unexpected 0-2 loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas, raising concerns among their fans. However, they quickly turned things around with convincing wins over ORKS (2-0), GamerLegion (2-0), and finally FURIA (2-0). This successful run not only erased their initial setback but also earned them a well-deserved spot in the playoffs, scheduled to take place in the final week of September.
While Astralis celebrated their qualification, FURIA remains in the competition with a chance to bounce back. They now face a tough challenge in the last chance stage in Malta, where they must secure back-to-back victories to advance to the playoffs. Their first test awaits them on Sunday as they go head-to-head against Grayhound at 16:00.
The series commenced on Overpass, Astralis' preferred map. The Danish team surged ahead with an impressive 11-4 lead at the end of their T-side efforts. Benjamin "blameF" Bremer and Christian "Buzz" Andersen were the standout performers, each delivering 16-kill performances. FURIA managed a brief three-round comeback, but Astralis swiftly regained control and secured a comfortable 16-7 victory, setting the stage for Nuke.
On Nuke, Astralis maintained their dominance, building a 9-6 lead by halftime. Despite FURIA's efforts on their T-side, Astralis remained resilient. FURIA appeared to be inching closer to forcing a decider on Vertigo, leading 13-10, but Astralis had other plans. The Danish team unleashed a strategic onslaught, winning six consecutive rounds to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, securing Nuke 16-13, and securing their spot in the ESL Pro League Season 18 playoffs.
AstralisFURIA| Astralis |
K - D | +/- | ADR | KAST | Rating 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Benjamin 'blameF' Bremer |
42 - 23 | +19 | 88.2 | 78.8% | 1.42 |
| Nicolai 'device' Reedtz |
36 - 22 | +14 | 68.8 | 80.8% | 1.24 |
| Christian 'Buzz' Andersen |
37 - 33 | +4 | 72.2 | 75.0% | 1.15 |
| Victor 'Staehr' Staehr |
34 - 38 | -4 | 67.2 | 67.3% | 0.93 |
| Johannes 'b0RUP' Borup |
30 - 37 | -7 | 68.1 | 63.5% | 0.91 |
| FURIA |
K - D | +/- | ADR | KAST | Rating 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kaike 'KSCERATO' Cerato |
39 - 34 | +5 | 89.2 | 73.1% | 1.20 |
| Marcelo 'chelo' Cespedes |
35 - 41 | -6 | 78.8 | 63.5% | 0.93 |
| Yuri 'yuurih' Santos |
28 - 33 | -5 | 70.3 | 69.2% | 0.89 |
| Andrei 'arT' Piovezan |
27 - 38 | -11 | 56.1 | 61.5% | 0.73 |
| Gabriel 'FalleN' Toledo |
21 - 34 | -13 | 42.5 | 63.5% | 0.68 |
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