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The final Counter-Strike 2 event of the year, the BLAST Premier World Final, will move into the playoff stage on Friday, where the final six teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket.
In a thrilling three-map series at the BLAST Premier World Final, ENCE faced off against Natus Vincere, with NaVi emerging victorious after battling on Anubis (4-13), Ancient (13-11), and Nuke (11-13).
Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander’s team faced scrutiny amidst reports linking Pavle “Maden” Bošković, Guy “NertZ” Iluz, and Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia to Heroic.
NertZ emphasized that the team is working to understand the challenges they’re facing, both in and out of the server, affecting their performance.
Despite a shaky start, ENCE displayed moments of brilliance, but Natus Vincere secured the win and advanced to the playoffs.
.@natusvincere take the win to stay alive at the World Final! 🤯 #BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/2e6wDZze6b
— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) December 14, 2023
Meanwhile, FaZe Clan secured first place in Group B after a tight three-map series against G2 Esports (7-13, 13-10, 16-13).
Finn “karrigan” Andersen delivered a standout performance, leading FaZe to victory and a spot in the semi-finals.
G2, despite a strong start on Inferno, couldn’t maintain their momentum, leading to an intense series that ended with FaZe securing a 16-13 victory on Anubis.
.@FaZeClan are heading straight to the Semi-Finals! ✅#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/pU4hDRzhmf
— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) December 14, 2023
MOUZ secured their place in the quarter-finals by defeating Heroic 2-0 (Nuke 13-7, Mirage 13-5).
Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin and Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás led MOUZ to victory, setting up a quarter-final clash against Cloud9.
Heroic, experiencing a tumultuous season after Casper “cadiaN” Møller’s departure, ended their journey at the World Final.
The team, linked with ENCE’s star trio for the 2024 season, bid farewell with coach Richard “Xizt” Landström expressing pride in their journey.
.@mousesports keep their World Final dreams alive! 🐭#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/X4GwZURemV
— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) December 14, 2023
Vitality dominated Group A, securing a spot in the semi-finals after defeating Cloud9 2-0 (13-11, 13-8).
They continued their strong performance from the previous series against Natus Vincere.
Despite Cloud9’s efforts, Vitality’s superior play on Anubis and Inferno secured their spot in the semi-finals.
Say hello to our first Semi-Finalists, @TeamVitality 🐝#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/TTN1QqUZ7S
— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) December 14, 2023
As the BLAST Premier World Final progresses, FaZe and Vitality appear the favourites to take out the event, while others reflect on the challenges and changes that defined their journey in this competitive event.
Friday’s quarterfinal matches
- Cloud9 (-188.68) vs MOUZ (+137) @ 1pm GST
- Natus Vincere (+150) vs G2 Esports (-200) @ 4pm GST
