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G2 Esports have been eliminated from the BLAST.tv Paris Major after losing their third series of the Legends Stage to Fnatic on Monday.
G2 entered the final CS:GO Major as the pre-tournament favourites with most esports betting sites, but defeats in their first two series meant they could not afford to lose another.
The reigning BLAST Premier World Final and IEM Katowice champions began their series against Fnatic with a hard-fought overtime victory on Inferno (19-16), before they lost 11-16 on Ancient to send the series to a third map.
On Vertigo, Fnatic jumped out to a 9-6 lead in the first half and appeared to be in control of the map.
Even though G2 won seven straight rounds on their CT side and took the lead at 13-12, the world no.15 levelled up at 13 apiece before rattling off three more rounds to take the victory and send G2 home.
Due to the loss, Nikola “NiKo” Kovac will never lift a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major trophy.
NiKo came close on several occasions in his seven years of professional play — notably at the 2018 ELEAGUE Boston and 2021 PGL Major Stockholm Majors when he made the grand final, but his team lost on both occasions.
ENCE and Bad News Eagles joined G2 Esports in being eliminated from the Major, while Monte, Team Liquid and GameLegion advanced to the Champions Stage after taking their records to 3-1.
The final day of the Legends Stage will feature three cracking series, opening with a sudden-death blockbuster between FaZe Clan and Natus Vincere.
The other two series will see Fnatic meet Into The Breach and Apeks take on Ninjas in Pyjamas in do-or-die best-of-three series to end the Legends Stage.
Day 7 matches
- Natus Vincere (+100) vs FaZe Clan (-138.89)
- Into The Breach (+162) vs Fnatic (-227.27)
- Apeks (+150) vs Ninjas in Pyjamas (-200)
