Ninjas inward Pyjamas defends its championship in addition to ends its slump at IEM Oakland.
In many ways, in conclusion night’s CS:GO grand terminal at IEM Oakland was a battle betwixt 2 opposing philosophies on how to gear upward a top-tier esports team. On 1 side of the gibe you lot had FaZe Clan, a squad created yesteryear buying out contracts from other run yesteryear teams in addition to assembling an all-star roster of talent from across Europe. Playing against them you lot had Ninjas inward Pyjamas, a Swedish squad alongside 3 veterans of the game who guide maintain been playing together for years, in addition to 2 immature up-and-comers who they’ve scouted from lower-tier teams in addition to given a shot at competing inward the highest marking of professional person Counter-Strike.
On paper, it didn’t aspect similar much of a matchup. FaZe Clan’s dazzling roster of star talent has been consistently winning large events over the in conclusion few months, piece the novel NiP lineup has struggled throughout the year, culminating in conclusion calendar month inward a failure to qualify for the side yesteryear side ELEAGUE Major inward Boston. Before the gibe got underway, NiP was beingness sold yesteryear the analyst desk every bit an underdog alongside a slim peril at making it through all 5 maps, in addition to judging yesteryear recent performance, this was a fair assessment.
There was, however, roughly early on alarm signs that this wouldn’t live the walk inward the commons for FaZe that many were predicting. Throughout the grouping stages it was clear that NiP had constitute a novel chemical scientific discipline alongside their recently-acquired immature teammates, in addition to whatever remaining uncertainty virtually their competence should guide maintain been expelled when they walked through the #1 squad inward the basis in the semifinals.
Through all 5 maps of the grand final, the old guard of NiP proved why they’ve been at the run yesteryear of the game for in addition to thence long, landing incredible shots in addition to making smart put plays that kept them winning rounds fifty-fifty when outnumbered or outgunned.
Many of the rounds were in addition to thence closely-contested that huge private efforts were required from virtually every fellow member of both teams to snuff it along the games close, which resulted inward roughly exciting Counter-Strike to watch, in addition to a handful of stellar highlight-reel plays.
All all of a abrupt the score was 15-9 courtesy of a string of inventive rounds from NiP. After a brief rally due to a large play from karrigan, FaZe was defeated 16-10. One of the most severe slumps we’ve seen a top-tier squad larn through inward modern recollection was at an end, in addition to NiP’s novel lineup proved themselves to live a strong combination of old-guard sense in addition to tactics, in addition to new-school talent in addition to energy.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the tournament was the surgical physical care for of 19-year-old REZ, the newest improver to the NiP lineup in addition to a novel confront inward the upper echelons of CS:GO generally. He was consistently a run yesteryear performer for his team, dropping 24 frags inward the start game against FaZe in addition to earning himself HLTV’s MVP abide by for the tournament.
The Swedish squad silent won’t live tending the Boston Major inward January, precisely they’ve shown that they silent guide maintain the potential to compete at that marking alongside their novel roster, in addition to the $129,000 they’ve taken abode this weekend should live an effective relieve for the hurting of their weaker performances before inward 2017.
Thanks PC GAMER
