G2 are through to the playoffs of the Esports World Cup after beating BIG 2-1, HLTV reported. The map score flattered the losing side: G2 took Cache and Inferno with room to spare, and their only defeat came in overtime on a map they had picked themselves.
Cache and Ancient
BIG had been 3-0 on Cache going into the series on their own pick, but found no answer to a G2 defense that repeatedly disrupted their slow pace. Artem "r1nkle" Moroz was able to step in front of smokes, take a kill and get out again before he could be punished, while Guy "NertZ" Iluz was a constant problem in the middle of the map on both sides of the half.
Ancient started better for BIG, who got a quad-kill from Jon "JDC" de Castro on his favorite map and pushed G2 out to a 5-10 deficit, with NertZ close to the only player fragging for his team. G2 then rebuilt on the same CT side that had carried them on Cache, and even a 1v3 ace clutch from Benjamin "blameF" Bremer left BIG behind at 11-12 before they forced overtime at the last opportunity. NertZ finished regulation on 127 ADR, but BIG took control of the extra rounds and sent the series to a decider.
Inferno decides it
That decider was Inferno, a map G2 are comfortable on and one they had already dominated against BIG when the two teams met on it at the IEM Cologne Major. G2 delivered on their status as favorites, winning it with ease to close out the series and confirm their place in the playoff bracket.
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