sh1ro shines as Gambit take down NiP to qualify for playoffs
Gambit become the fourth team to secure a playoffs spot at the Major in Stockholm.
Hobbit and company from Gambit are through to the playoffs at the Major, following a 2-0 victory over the Swedish Ninjas. On the first map of the series, Gambit pulled of an incredible comeback from being 4-11 down, with sh1ro playing a massive role as he completely ripped apart his opponents and finished off with an immense 1.71 Rating.
Gambit was considered a favorite from the start, especially to win their own map pick of Dust2, but Hobbit and company were shocked on the iconic map by the Swedish squad in the first half. The Ninjas stormed to a 9-1 CT-side lead and made the Russian squad struggle on the offense by not giving away any mistakes. Late in the half, Gambit managed to break their opponents in three rounds but NiP ended up taking the last two remaining rounds of the half to end it with a 4-11 advantage. However, thanks to an absolute monster performance from sh1ro, who ended on top of the scoreboard with a 32-15 K/D, Gambit was able to turn the game around and close the map 16-13 to draw the first blood to the series.
Inferno was picked by NIP. One of the weaker maps in Gambit's map pool. The Russians had only won one of their last four matches in the last three months including a defeat to NIP at ESL Pro League. But Gambit is currently at another level when things are clicking for them. After a 3-3 start to the map, it was all Gambit in the rest of the first half with Ax1Le, nafany, and sh1ro all delivering above 100 ADR each during the first 15 rounds!
Despite a pistol win in the 16th round for the Swedish Ninjas, it quickly went downhill for NIP. Gambit was simply calm and collected and ran over NIP's defense in the few rounds, that the second half lasted.
With the win, Gambit is through to the playoffs, while NIP will need a victory tomorrow on the last day of the Legends Stage to secure a spot in the playoffs on home turf at Avicii Arena.
Gambit – NiP 2-0 | PGL Major Stockholm 2021
16-13 (Dust2) | 
sh1ro – 1.71 Rating / 32-15 / 109.3 ADR
16-6 (Inferno) | Ax1Le – 1.78 Rating / 22-10 / 97.5 ADR
MVP: Dmitriy "sh1ro" Sokolov - 1.66 Rating / 51-23 / 100.6 ADR
