We’ve reached the conclusion of the ESL Professional League S20 Group Stage, after Teams C and D reached their conclusion in the present day. It’s been an intense few weeks of motion, however we lastly have our full checklist of groups locked in for the Playoffs in Malta. Let’s recap how Teams C and D ended!
Complexity and FURIA struggle via Final Probability Brackets
Credit score: ESLCS on X.
Complexity have been made to work for it, however they’ve reached the Playoffs of ESL Professional League S20. After falling to the Final Probability Bracket in Group C early, issues have been wanting grim for the workforce, particularly with Astralis and MOUZ down there too. That stated, they got here via comparatively unscathed, solely dropping a single map to Astralis. This felt like a significantly better model of Grim and floppy than we’ve seen in a very long time for Complexity, which was an enormous issue of their capability to qualify right here.
They’ll be joined by FURIA, who made the same run via Group D. Their Decrease Bracket opponents of ATOX and RED Canids could not encourage an excessive amount of religion within the Playoffs possibilities, however you may solely beat the groups in entrance of you. FURIA have seemed markedly higher of late, they usually’ll take a Playoffs berth in Malta.
ESL Professional League Holders MOUZ crash out within the Group Stage
Credit score: ESLCS on X.
MOUZ‘s efficiency at ESL Professional League S20 is by far essentially the most shocking of all the occasion. This workforce are the back-to-back winners of ESL Professional League Seasons 18 and 19, they usually’ve usually been known as “studio retailers” because of this. Right here in Season 20, MOUZ haven’t even made it previous the Group Stage, in an uncharacteristically poor occasion for the workforce. Not since IEM Dallas again in Could have they seemed so mortal.
For MOUZ, tough particular person kind was an enormous contributor to their failure in Malta. Brollan had his first poor occasion shortly, Jimpphat put up numbers you’d count on from a mean anchor (versus a world-class one), and torzsi seemed extra like his 2022 self when in comparison with his much-improved 2024 kind. We are able to’t count on perfection, particularly from such a younger workforce, so MOUZ gained’t hit the panic button simply but. Reset, and go subsequent – there’s nonetheless a lot to play for in 2024.
Extra distress for Astralis and Falcons
Credit score: ESLCS on X.
Expensive oh pricey. It’s extra distress for Astralis and Falcons, each of whom have crashed and burned within the Group Stage of ESL Professional League S20. For Astralis, the dev1ce IGL experiment that started so nicely ought to be carried out and dusted now, particularly with HooXi remaining in the marketplace. Whereas Astralis thrived on the CT-side throughout EPL S20, their T-sides have been nothing wanting diabolical, with people taking part in with the selfishness of a mean FACEIT pug. It’s time for Astralis to mercy-kill dev1ce’s IGL period and herald an skilled caller for future tournaments.
Over on Falcons, the state of affairs isn’t any higher. This lineup is crammed with expertise and high quality, but successful a single collection towards anybody with actual high quality proves to be an issue. The continuing NiKo rumors definitely haven’t helped anybody’s particular person kind. In Malta, they beat ATOX within the opener, however each Virtus.professional and RED Canids took them down with relative ease. IGL Snappi described the state of affairs post-match as “rock-bottom,” and it’s arduous to disagree.
The complete checklist of groups certified for the ESL Professional League S20 Playoffs is as follows:
Quarter Finals
NAVI
G2
M80
Vitality
Spherical of 16
Everlasting Fireplace
FaZe Clan
Heroic
MIBR
Spirit
The MongolZ
Imperial
BIG
Complexity
Liquid
Virtus.professional
FURIA
