Dust2 India - 1XBET Masters 2 Semi-Finals Recap

The Dust2 India - 1XBET Masters featured two gripping semi-final matchups, with our esteemed broadcast partner Blink Entertainment 2 showcasing clashes between COHESION and Team ANO, as well as Gods Reign and Random 5.

Team ANO vs COHESION (1-2)
The action commenced on the Nuke map. Team ANO, starting on the T-side, wasted no time establishing their dominance by confidently securing the first three rounds. While COHESION, featuring n1kace instead of ELVIS, managed to notch their first victory during the subsequent buy round, thanks to a stellar 3k performance by Cyclone, they struggled to maintain their momentum as Team ANO continued their relentless assault, stretching their lead to 5-3. Nevertheless, a remarkable resurgence by COHESION, propelled by standout performances from Cyclone and f1redup, enabled them to stage a late-half comeback, ultimately limiting Team ANO to just 6 rounds on their T-side.

As the second half unfolded, both teams engaged in a series of back-and-forth exchanges. However, following this sequence of rounds, COHESION encountered difficulties in finding their rhythm on the T-side. With Cyclone's performance cooling down, COHESION faced challenges in creating openings. Conversely, it was hattyg0D and Benzene who seized control of the match in the latter stages, delivering crucial multi-kills that paved the way for Team ANO to secure a hard-fought victory with a final scoreline of 16-13.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the second map, Ancient, as COHESION's offensive firepower on the T-side overwhelmed the defenses of Team ANO. COHESION secured an early advantage, and with Rossi delivering a standout performance, they successfully captured 10 rounds during their T-side play. The match remained fiercely contested during their CT-side, with both teams vying for control. Nevertheless, when the dust settled, COHESION emerged victorious, sealing the map with a 16-10 scoreline, thus extending the series to a decisive third map.

hattyg0D and R2B2 kickstarted the T-side of Inferno in prime fashion as they secured 2 kills a piece to claim the pistol round. Their momentum extended further to 4-0, as Banana seemed to be easy territory for them. Some excellent crossfires allowed them to find their way back into the game by tying score at 6-6. As the half came to an end, COHESION saw themselves going forward with 7 rounds on the board. In the second half, they turned their comeback narrative into a stunning reality by dominating on the T-side. They conceded only 2 rounds, ultimately closing out the map with a commanding 16-10 scoreline.

Gods Reign vs Random 5 (2-1)

The opening map, Vertigo, delivered a stunning upset as Gods Reign, considered one of the world's premier teams, struggled on Vertigo. The first half ended with them claiming only 2 rounds, as Random 5 dominated the server. While they started to make a comeback in the second half, the small error for margin left after the first half became their undoing, as Random 5 secured the 3 rounds left to win to notch the first map 16-9.

Moving to the second map, Overpass, Gods Reign made a much-needed resurgence. Spearheaded by reV3nnnn and clouda, they seized control with a commanding 11-4 lead during the first half of their CT side. However, Random 5 refused to concede easily, putting forth a valiant performance and extending the map to its limits. Yet, in a heart-wrenching conclusion, it was Gods Reign who sealed the map with a narrow 16-14 victory.

The third map Inferno once again saw Gods Reign established a strong foothold in the first half by claiming 10 rounds. It was once again reV3nnnn leading the server, as his 28 kills enabled Gods Reign to effectively close out the map 16-11, and book a spot in the final.