Sinners steal three points from G2 in huge upset

Tier-one CS:GO is back with ESL Pro League Season 14 and we are finally able to see just how the teams have improved and bettered themselves throughout the player break. Group A concluded with the favorites in Heroic and Vitality on top and the first Bo3-series in Group B was set to be between G2 and Sinners. Whilst the heavy favorites to win the first game of Group B were undoubtedly G2, it wasn’t as easy for the European giants as one would imagine. As a matter of fact, it was the Sinners roster to start the series the strongest after winning their own map pick of Vertigo. G2 retaliated with a victory on Inferno and the Bo3-series headed to a third and final map to decide the winner. The deciding map was Mirage and coming flying out of the gate were the Sinners roster. Having seemingly stunned the G2 roster from early the game quickly fell out of the hands of G2. A dominating performance on Mirage saw Sinners take home the first three points of Group B and start their journey in ESL Pro League better than one would have thought.

The first map was the pick of Sinners. Luckily for the side of Sinners, the G2 roster left open Vertigo as a possibility, and with a win rate of only 29% (7) in the past three months that may have been a mistake. Sinners have managed to win 71% of their official games (17 games) on Vertigo and once again they looked strong on the map. “NiKo” tried his absolute best to lead by example and topped the scoreboard from the G2 side. However, it wasn’t “NiKo” that was the star of the show on Vertigo. Sinners player “NEOFRAG” carried his team on his back with an exceptional performance. Sinners and “NEOFRAG” were ultimately too strong on Vertigo for G2 to handle and at the scoreline of 16-11, the underdogs were one step closer to making a huge upset.

The second map of the series was G2’s map pick. Just as Vertigo was for the Sinners roster, Inferno was an easy pick for G2. In the past three months, they have managed a 75% win rate (12 games), whereas the Sinners roster is sitting on a win rate of only 43% (7 games). As expected and intended it was the Kovač’s in “NiKo” and “huNter-“ to put on the pressure from the G2 roster. Despite a valid attempt on Inferno from Sinners, they would have to see themselves outmatched on the second map of the series. G2 closed out the game at the scoreline of 16-10 and forced a third and final map in the Bo3-series.

The third and final map was set to be played on Mirage, a map known for its open spaces and upset potential. The open space of Mirage allows for many individual plays, and it isn’t always the most strategical plays that are the most efficient in getting rounds on the board. Perhaps surprisingly with the star power of the G2 roster, it was Sinners to come flying out of the gate. With an impressive CT-sided half they managed to create an 11-4 lead going into the second half of Mirage. The second half saw G2 string together a handful of rounds, however, the damage had already been done. At the scoreline of 16-9, it was the Sinners roster to walk away from the Bo3-series with three points after defeating the heavy favorites of G2.

Map 1 – Vertigo

16-11 Sinners | NEOFRAG 1.57 Rating / 100.7 ADR / 33-17 K-D

Map 2 – Inferno

16-10 G2 | huNter- 1.60 Rating / 103.5 ADR / 26-17 K-D

Map 3 – Mirage

16-9 Sinners | oskar 1.36 Rating / 88.8 ADR / 22-14 K-D

Highlight of the BO1-series

MVP

Nikola “NiKo” Kovač | 1.34 Rating - 70-52 K/D - 90 ADR - 75.6% KAST