Astralis suffered a 2-1 defeat to G2 in the Round of 16 at the Esports World Cup 2026. Despite a dominant performance on Ancient, Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen and his team could not secure the series, dropping Dust2 and Inferno to exit the tournament.
Following the match, HooXi shared his perspective on the series, the current state of the team, and his own performance in Paris.
A strong start on Ancient
Astralis opened the series with a convincing 13-6 victory on their map pick, Ancient. The team appeared coordinated and well-prepared for G2’s setups.
We smashed them completely on our map pick and felt like the plan worked,” HooXi said. He highlighted the team’s ability to maintain composure during chaotic situations, pointing to successful clutches and clear communication as the primary drivers of their early success.
Struggles on Dust2 and Inferno
The momentum shifted on Dust2, where G2 claimed a 13-6 win. G2 continuously pressured the B site, putting Astralis on the defensive. Artem “r1nkle” Moroz and Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač led the server in performance across the series, posting 1.31 and 1.30 ratings respectively, which made the map highly difficult for the Danish squad.
When we found our footing it was just too late,” HooXi explained.
He dismissed the idea that international language barriers caused miscommunications on the B site between Gytis “ryu” Glušauskas and Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard. Instead, he attributed the issues to minor positional mistakes and missed opportunities for early kills.
The series concluded on Inferno, with G2 winning 13-7. Astralis faced challenges on their Counter-Terrorist side, losing key rounds that allowed G2 to build an insurmountable lead. Although Victor “Staehr” Staehr provided a highlight moment with a hero AK play, Astralis failed to capitalize on the resulting economic advantage.
We didn’t manage to convert the next round,” HooXi stated. “You cannot lose a second round and also not convert after winning a hero round and then win against G2 on a map that they also like.
HooXi took direct responsibility for the defensive shortcomings on the map, stating that he and Victor “Staehr” Staehr need to improve their site holds in future matches.
New coaching staff brings fresh perspective
Beyond the match, HooXi discussed the recent adjustments within the Astralis camp, including the addition of Filip “NEO” Kubski as head coach and the introduction of a new performance coach.
“Neo is coming in with a new perspective on the game and trying to fix some stuff here and there and so far so good,” HooXi noted. He emphasized that the team is still adjusting to new routines, spanning from map preparation to timeout usage. The new performance coach has also helped the roster maintain a positive mental state, ensuring high energy levels during high-pressure matches.
Regarding his own individual performance, HooXi explained that he took a more measured approach at the event.
Maybe I was better at this tournament at taking a breath when I needed to and actually play the situation correctly instead of just running in like a madman,” he said.
Astralis will now return to practice to refine their playbook as they prepare for the remainder of the competitive season.
