India puts down UAE

ㅤINDIA (IND) vs United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Representing India, Gods Reign have secured a grand-finals appearance in Skyesports Souvenir 2023. India got off to a 3-0 start on the CT-side of Mirage but UAE's SHUSH narrowly converted a post plant in their first buy round, putting up their first at 1-3. UAE close the gap at 4-4 and had built up an economy to buy despite losing a few rounds. Both teams traded rounds back and forth for the rest of the half, ending it at an evenly poised 8-7.

India won the pistol round to start off the second half but UAE, with just a Scout and upgraded pistols, stole the anti-eco, breaking India's economy off the back of which, UAE strung up a couple of rounds to go 11-9. The trio of rev3nnnn, Ph1NNN and Crazy_Gamer came alive for India, as they strung up 6 rounds in a row to reach match point at 15-11. UAE clawed back one more round but India closed out Mirage 16-12, going 1-0 up in the series.

It was UAE who got off to a strong start on the CT-side of Overpass and it India 6 rounds of play to put up their first round at 6-1, off of a 1v1 clutch from Ph1NNN. With tr1, Lacore and kshkov putting up numbers for UAE, things did not look good for India as nearly all of their T-side plays were met with solid responses from UAE's defense. India could secure just 3 rounds as UAE closed out a massive 12-3 half in their favor.

India won the pistol round to start off the second half but UAE stole the anti-eco, breaking India's economy. Dropping just a single round on their T-side, UAE reached match point. India clawed back a couple of rounds but eventually UAE closed out Overpass 16-6, levelling the series at 1-1, forcing it into the decider, Inferno.

India won the pistol round and converted the anti-eco, starting off on the T-side of Inferno. UAE's defense was run over round after round, as everyone from India stepped up showing calculated aggression and coordination. UAE could not even convert rounds where they had the number and positional advantages. UAE had a great opportunity to put up their first at 0-8 but a low-HP rev3nnnn clutched up a 1v1, crushing UAE's hopes further. UAE finally put up their first round at 1-11 but India had built a bank strong enough to buy for the rest of the half.

Dropping just 2 rounds on the T-side, India secured a dominant 13-2 half. Even with the opening frag going in UAE's favor, they conceded the pistol round and an immediate force-buy meant that a round loss would put UAE against 13 match points with a fragile buy but UAE managed to convert the round at 3-14. India reached match point at 15-5. At 15-7, India shut down UAE with just a few upgraded pistols, closing out Inferno 16-7 and the series 2-1.