In a jaw-dropping quarterfinals match at ESL Pro League Season 20, Turkish underdogs Eternal Fire stunned the world by eliminating Team Vitality, the top-ranked team globally. The 2-1 victory in a thrilling three-map series secured Eternal Fire a place in the semifinals, marking a major milestone for the Turkish squad.
The Path to the Quarterfinals
Vitality entered the quarterfinals as strong favorites after dominating Group D, securing a direct quarterfinal berth. Meanwhile, Eternal Fire had to battle their way through the playoffs, finishing second in Group A and defeating The MongolZ in the Round of 12 to reach the quarterfinals.
Eternal Fire 2-1 Team Vitality: The Breakdown
- Anubis (16-14):
The series began on Eternal Fire’s map pick, Anubis. Despite a strong start from Vitality, who reached map point first, Eternal Fire pulled off a brilliant comeback. They forced overtime and, with steely nerves, won four of six overtime rounds to take the map 16-14. - Nuke (13-5):
Vitality fought back fiercely on their map pick, Nuke, with Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and Lotan “Spinx” Giladi leading the charge. They dominated with a flawless CT side, winning convincingly 13-5 to push the series to a decider. - Inferno (22-20):
The final map, Inferno, was an intense battle, with both teams pushing the game into overtime. However, Eternal Fire’s star, İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, delivered an outstanding performance, dropping an impressive 41 kills. Eternal Fire edged out Vitality 22-20, securing their place in the semifinals.
Vitality’s Missed Opportunity
This loss marks another missed opportunity for Vitality to capture a trophy. Despite their success at IEM Cologne, Vitality has struggled to maintain consistent dominance this season. Their elimination in the quarterfinals adds to a year of ups and downs, with this latest defeat leaving their fans disappointed.
Eternal Fire’s Rise in the CS2 Scene
Eternal Fire’s victory adds to their growing list of upsets, following their recent dominance over MOUZ at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade #2. With a strong showing at the Copenhagen Major, the Turkish team is proving to be a rising force in the CS2 scene. This semifinal appearance at ESL Pro League marks a significant achievement for the squad.
Now, the challenge for Eternal Fire is to maintain this level of performance if they hope to lift a major trophy soon.
Conclusion
Eternal Fire’s upset over Vitality at ESL Pro League Season 20 shows that the Turkish squad is becoming a serious contender in the CS2 world. As Vitality faces another trophy-less run, Eternal Fire is on the rise, ready to challenge the elite teams.
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