Cloud9 survive FaZe in OT, smooya wins the battle of the Brits at ELEAGUE
The ELEAGUE CS:GO Invitational kicked off yesterday, with the four-team weekend tournament having $150,000 on offer.
Cloud9 and FaZe started the proceedings, and old guard members Timothy "autimatic" Ta and William "RUSH" Wierzba came out blazing, leading their team to a 12-3 lead at the half on Overpass. Things looked dire for FaZe, as Cloud9 build on their lead by winning the second pistol, but the Europeans busted out two six-round win streaks to tie the game up at 15-15. Despite their efforts in regulation, FaZe were unable to muster a single round in overtime, seeing Cloud9 take the win 19-15.
Mirage was a different story, as it was close at half. Cloud9 again got to matchpoint first, and once more FaZe ground back to take the map to overtime. And yet again, Cloud9 had all the answers in the extra rounds, taking the map 19-16.
The next series saw the much-awaited debut of Ismailcan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş for BIG, and the Turk did not disappoint against compLexity, as it was himself and Owen "smooya" Butterfield who lead their squad over Rory "dephh" Jackson and Shahzeb "ShahZaM" Khan to narrowly take Overpass.
It was on Cache, however, that smooya truly came alive. After compLexity won the opening five rounds of the map, BIG's Brit shined as he and his team only allowed the North American side one further round, in a crushing 16-6 defeat.
The action in Atlanta resumes later today, with FaZe taking on compLexity in the lower bracket, and Cloud9 facing off against BIG.