NAVI secure ESL Pro League S18 quarterfinal spot

Natus Vincere (NAVI) took on FaZe in the Group C upper bracket final as both teams were looking for a direct qualification to the ESL Pro League Season 18 quarterfinals. While both had qualified for the playoffs, a win here would see them avoid the Round of 16 stage.

NAVI's pick of Anubis was the opening map with FaZe starting on the CT side. NAVI picked up the opening pistol and started with six in a row before karrigan's triple AUG gave FaZe their first round. broky denied iM a 1v3 to see FaZe get two in a row but NAVI ran away with the half and it was only broky and karrigan who helped FaZe salvage four rounds in the end as NAVI took a 11-4 lead.

The headshot machine was unstoppable on Anubis

b1t who was in red-hot form in the opening half, came in with a 1v1 against ropz to give NAVI the second pistol as well. It was b1t with another 1v1 against ropz that saw NAVI secure map point and it was b1t with a double opener to help NAVI take Anubis at 16-4. Unsurprisingly, it was b1t on top of the scoreboard with 26 kills and an ADR of 124.5.

NAVI started FaZe's pick of Nuke on the CT side and it was NAVI again picking up the pistol. It was a 2-0 start from NAVI before a double broky opener saw FaZe get their first T round. FaZe quickly tied up the game at 2-2 before an iM triple, which saw him open and close the round helped NAVI retake the lead immediately. FaZe looked like they would run away with a massive lead but it was NAVI who fought back and an iM 1v2 saw NAVI secure eight before ending the half with a 9-6 lead.

s1mple was in his element on Nuke

Twistzz and ropz saw FaZe take a clean pistol to kick the second half off and it was four straight from FaZe to take the lead of the map at 10-9. FaZe started with seven in a row before s1mple's AWP helped NAVI take their first round with a crucial triple surrounded with upgraded pistols. b1t's opener and NAVI turning around a 3v4 saw them secure match point and it was b1t and s1mple opening up a B hit that saw NAVI secure the map at 16-13 and book their quarterfinals spot after a 2-0 win over the defending ESL Pro League champions.

ESL Pro League Season 18

Bo3

Natus Vincere

2 - 0

FaZe

All maps

Natus Vincere	K - D	+/-	ADR	KAST	Rating 2.0
Valeriy 'b1t' Vakhovskiy	46 - 23	+23	91.9	81.6%	1.55
Mihai 'iM' Ivan	35 - 28	+7	79.6	77.6%	1.20
Oleksandr 's1mple' Kostyliev	38 - 32	+6	80.2	71.4%	1.18
Justinas 'jL' Lekavicius	32 - 34	-2	63.0	81.6%	1.01
Aleksi 'Aleksib' Virolainen	22 - 28	-6	57.8	71.4%	0.91

FaZe	K - D	+/-	ADR	KAST	Rating 2.0
Robin 'ropz' Kool	31 - 31	+0	72.6	71.4%	0.98
Helvijs 'broky' Saukants	31 - 35	-4	66.2	67.3%	0.97
Finn 'karrigan' Andersen	31 - 36	-5	71.9	67.3%	0.89
Russel 'Twistzz' Van Dulken	28 - 31	-3	55.8	61.2%	0.87
Håvard 'rain' Nygaard	24 - 40	-16	71.3	57.1%	0.76