Three time in a row: Gambit brakes down NAVI after three map thriller

At StarLadder CIS RMR 2021 the current two best teams in the world faced each other in the group final of Group A.

Both teams had already qualified for the next stage of the tournament with a 3-0 record. The winner of the match would be paired with K23 in the upper semi-final, while Spirit was waiting in the other semi-final with a perfect 4-0 record from Group B.

With IEM Cologne coming up next week, the match served as an important indicator of who should be considered the top contender for the title.

So what did we learn from the match? Well, for starters s1mple is on fire! With a 1.32 rating within the last three months, the Ukrainian has found an amazing level which he continued to showcase today. Alongside electronic and B1T, s1mple found a way through the defense of Gambit on Mirage, which ended 16-13.

The same result was on the scoreboard on Dust2, only reversed. This time around it was only s1mple who fought back against the well-organized and structured Gambit roster, who kept their cool in the end and went from 12-13 to a 16-13 win.

Inferno was set as the decider. A perfect setting for the exciting matchup. The two teams delivered brilliantly and traded rounds until 10-10. From here on Gambit took four rounds in a row to set up their third win in a row against s1mple and NAVI with Hobbit and sh1ro delivering inspiring performances.

Gambit won 16-11 and is now on a 14 match win-streak. They will face K23 in the upper semi-final at StarLadder CIS RMR 2021. And yes, they are big favorites to take the title at IEM Cologne...