Team Spirit, The MongolZ, 3DMAX and G2 Esports each recorded a sweep on Friday in the first round of Group Stage 2 at the ESL Pro League Season 21 in Stockholm.
Spirit posted a 2-0 win over TYLOO, and MongolZ bested GamerLegion by the same score. Also, 3DMAX extinguished Eternal Fire with a 2-0 victory while G2 toppled paiN Gaming by the same score.
Also on Friday, Team Vitality bested MIBR, SAW nipped Natus Vincere, MOUZ edged Furia, and Team Falcons jolted Team Liquid — all by 2-1 scores.
The $400,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament seeded eight of its 24 teams straight into Group Stage 2: G2 Esports, Team Spirit, The MongolZ, Team Vitality, MOUZ, Natus Vincere, Team Falcons and Team Liquid.
The other 16 teams began in Group Stage 1, which featured a Swiss System format of best-of-three matches. The top eight teams will advance to Group Stage 2, which will also employ a Swiss System format of best-of-three matches.
Eight teams will advance to the single-elimination playoffs. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be best-of-three before the best-of-five grand final on March 16. The winning team will receive $100,000.
On Friday, Team Spirit posted a 13-11 win on Anubis and a 13-6 victory on Anubis. Russian Danil “donk” Kryshkovets led the way for the winners with 48 kills and a plus-20 kills-to-death differential.
The MongolZ swept GamerLegion following a 13-9 win on Inferno and a 16-14 triumph on Mirage. Mongolian Munkhbold “Senzu” Azbayar had 50 kills and a plus-22 kills-to-death differential for MongolZ.
3DMAX dismissed Eternal Fire with 13-10 wins on both Inferno and Anubis. Frenchman Lucas “Lucky” Chastang had 43 kills and a plus-13 kills-to-death differential for 3DMAX.
G2 toppled pain Gaming, courtesy of a 13-5 win on Nuke and a 13-8 victory on Inferno. Russian Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov had 40 kills and a plus-25 kills-to-death differential for G2.
Also on Friday, MIBR posted a 13-7 win on Anubis before Team Vitality responded with a 13-3 victory on Inferno and a 13-8 triumph on Train.
Natus Vincere also got the early jump Friday with a 13-3 win on Inferno before SAW countered with a 13-9 victory on Nuke and a 13-4 triumph on Ancient.
MOUZ sandwiched a 13-9 victory on Train and a 13-11 triumph on Nuke around FURIA’s 16-13 win on Inferno.
Team Falcons recorded a 16-14 triumph on Inferno and a 16-13 win on Ancient around Team Liquid’s 13-9 victory on Dust II.
ESL Pro League Season 21 Group Stage 2 standings
T1. Team Spirit, 1-0
T1. MongolZ, 1-0
T1. 3DMAX, 1-0
T1. G2 Esports, 1-0
T1. Team Vitality, 1-0
T1. SAW, 1-0
T1. Team Falcons, 1-0
T1. MOUZ, 1-0
T9. Eternal Fire, 0-1
T9. MIBR, 0-1
T9. FURIA, 0-1
T9. paiN Gaming, 0-1
T9. TYLOO, 0-1
T9, Natus Vincere, 0-1
T9. Team Liquid, 0-1
T9, GamerLegion, 0-1
ESL Pro League Season 21 prize pool
1. $100,000
2. $50,000
3-4. $25,000
5-8. $18,000
9-11. $13,500
12-14. $10,500
15-16. $8,500
17-19. $6,500 — FlyQuest, M80, Nemiga Gaming
20-22. $4,500 — HEROIC, Lynn Vision Gaming, NRG
23-24. $3,000 — Housebets, Mindfreak
–Field Level Media
