Cloud9 beats Ence 2-0 after close first map thriller!

The BO3 series between Cloud9 and Ence is not only a match-up that will display both rosters’ great individual skills. Cloud9 seeks to establish themselves as a real contender in the Counter-Strike scene, whereas Ence still having difficulty with finding their prior success, has to show the world that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

Ence, surprisingly to many, picked Dust2 as map one. A map that the Cloud9 players are no strangers to. The last time Cloud9 played Dust2 they won 16-14 against Complexity. It was also Cloud9 to start the series the strongest. It seemed almost easy for the international roster as they found themselves in a 12-3 lead going into the second half.

Cloud9 carried on with their winning ways in the early stages of the second half and secured map point at 15-4. However, the Finnish Ence found their footing in the second half and managed to muster up a miraculous comeback to force overtime at 15-15. The first map thriller continued its entertaining fashion and it took a third overtime for Cloud9 to ruin Ence’s love-story comeback by defeating them 25-23 on Dust2.

A great part of Cloud9’s success in the first half was their in-game leader Alex “ALEX” McMeekin. Whilst in-game leaders often get stick for not pulling their weight when it comes to fragging the British in-game leader managed 54 kills on Dust2, proving that his skill set extends beyond just understanding the game and leading a team.

We head to Nuke for the second map of the series. Being Cloud9’s map pick, Nuke was a difficult task for Ence. Cloud9 came flying out of the gate and secured themselves an 11-4 lead as t-site at halftime. A promising start for the European roster, as Cloud9’s t-site, has been their weakness since forming the roster.

Just as map one Cloud9 presented map and series point at 15-4. Whilst Ence refused to give up and managed to claw themselves back a handful of rounds, the comeback of dreams wasn’t meant to be this time either. Cloud9 finished what they had started and defeated Ence 16-9 on Nuke, meaning a series win of 2-0.

Cloud9’s victory over Ence means that they will face the loser of Heroic - Spirit on Thursday.