After BIG failed to close out Nuke, it looked hopeless for them to come back into it.
After BIG lost Nuke with a match point, they fell apart on Mirage, and lost 12 rounds in a row to NRG. It looked like it would be the first 13-0 ever at a Major, instead it was the first 0-12 comeback.
Down 0-12, BIG typed in the server chat while looking down the barrel of elimination.All NRG had to do was win one terrorist round against the local team to go through to Stage 2.
After winning 12 rounds in a row, BIG stayed alive at their home Major. There were close rounds, and BIG had to win two 1v2 clutches, one from tabseN and one from faveN, to even stay in the match.
However, they won 16 rounds in a row to close out Mirage and go to Stage 2.
BIG players typing in [ALL] chat at 0-12
The players were typing to each other throughout the entire match in freeze time.
After a disastrous 0-12 T-side, various BIG players were typing in the chat with opposing NRG players in jest, while playing at their home Major in Cologne.
It was an unusual gesture from a home team a round away from humiliation, but they proceeded to do the impossible.
Player of the match: faveN
While tabseN and JDC were statistically stronger than faveN, the latter came through with clutches and opening kills that helped clinch the series. He had an incredible 7.9% round swing on Mirage, the most important map of BIG’s campaign at the Major and the entire season.
Issues closing out at Majors remain for BIG
BIG have notorious issues closing out important matches at Majors. They have not reached the playoffs of a Major since the FACEIT Major in 2018, and have been on the cusp several times.
With this win, they may have ended their negative streak, and can go further than expected. However, they also shaky at Stage 1, so they will need to step up if they want to see the Lanxess Arena.
