ALEX, Mind Your Timing When Pushing onto A Site

There were no major upsets in the first round of the PGL Major Challengers Stage.

Vitality, who played at the same time as Fnatic, easily beat Bad News Eagles 16–8.

As for the matches that followed, G2, forZe, Team A, Spirit, Outsiders, and ENCE all beat their opponents. There were almost no upsets.

With the first round over, the schedule for the second round was announced right away.

At 11:30 p.m. China time, Fnatic would face G2 from Europe.

"We're still the first team to play, and our opponent is G2."

In the lounge, coach Samuelsson showed the Fnatic players the official matchups.

"Why G2, damn it." ALEX pursed his lips helplessly.

Of the sixteen teams in the PGL Major Challengers Stage, G2 was undoubtedly the strongest on paper.

What's more, in their previous practice matches, the team Fnatic had lost to the most—besides Vitality—was G2, their upcoming opponent.

Niko and m0NESY. Just those two player IDs were enough to put considerable pressure on the Fnatic players.

"It doesn't matter. If we want to win the Major, we'll have to beat every opponent anyway." Coach Samuelsson took on the role of rallying the team. "Besides, if our opponent this round isn't strong, we'll still have to face teams like Vitality or G2 in the 2–0 group."

As he said this, coach Samuelsson suddenly smiled.

The players all relaxed a little, too.

Even though they knew they weren't strong enough to win the Major, the laughter in the lounge dispelled their nervousness about facing G2.

"Let's go!"

11:30 p.m. China time.

The G2 versus Fnatic match was assigned to the PGL Major's main livestream room.

Viewers at home and abroad alike eagerly awaited the match.

No matter the competitive scene, the rise of a dark horse always gave fans something to talk about.

Everyone wanted to know whether Fnatic could keep up their previous dominant performance against COL when facing G2, led by Niko and m0NESY.

The broadcast was once again hosted by CSboy.

"Let's take a look at the map veto."

"Both teams played it pretty safe, and we ended up on DUST2. G2 will start on the T side."

"Let's see if Aether can keep up the form he showed against COL."

"All right, the Pistol Round should be starting soon."

"..."

During the warm-up.

Qin Feng stared at Niko's ID on the Terrorist side, feeling a little dazed.

There probably wasn't a single CSGO player who didn't know Niko.

Thinking back to 2018, the Major final between FaZe and C9 had been what got Qin Feng into CSGO.

It might have been the most exciting match in esports history.

"But look at the time!" had also become a lasting regret for every FaZe fan.

No one could have imagined that after years of moving from team to team, Niko still hadn't won the title he wanted.

That Deagle kill while facing away on Nuke's third floor had once again become an indelible scar for G2 and Niko.

Now, with Aleksib and m0NESY on the roster, G2 seemed to have regained the unstoppable momentum they once had.

Niko seemed to be at the peak of his career.

Qin Feng looked toward the G2 players on the other side and tightened his grip on the mouse.

"Even if we lose, at least we'll lose without regrets!"

"Come on, G2."

"..."

As the warm-up ended, the first round began.

Against COL, Fnatic's players had been in a very relaxed state.

But against G2, everyone was so tense that they seemed to be straining every nerve in their bodies.

Fnatic narrowly won the Pistol Round, but G2 went for a force buy in the second round without mercy.

Everyone knew G2's team culture.

Even though Qin Feng carefully used a Flashbang and a Smoke Grenade to push into the pit below A Door, Niko still caught him through the smoke, completely blinded him, and took him out with a Deagle headshot.

This time, the Deagle hadn't betrayed its prince.

The FAMAS at the back, held by ALEX, couldn't stop Niko's advance either.

Another precise Deagle headshot instantly tore through Fnatic's defense at the A Site.

ALEX didn't even get a chance to fire.

It was suffocatingly hopeless.

"My God, Aether was being so careful when he pushed A Door."

"He waited until the Smoke Grenade and Flashbang popped before dropping into the pit."

"But Niko sprayed through the smoke while completely blinded and got the instant kill."

"Steel Helmet, I swear!"

"After taking out Aether, Niko swings straight onto A Long. Can ALEX at CT Base make them pay the toll?"

"No, another headshot. ALEX didn't even get his gun out."

"mezii, trying to rotate from mid to A Site, also got tagged by Little Qian's sniper rifle."

"It's over."

Fnatic were down 3v5, and mezii was badly hurt. They still tried to retake, but Niko easily stopped them after picking up the M4 Qin Feng had dropped outside the pit.

With Niko's four-kill round, G2 quickly tied the score at 1–1.

Fnatic went for a force buy, but this time G2 gave them no chance to turn things around.

Although Qin Feng's Scout Rifle got a mid headshot on m0NESY in the tunnels, G2's push up A Long was already underway.

ALEX, scouting between the first and second boxes, was taken out by a single AK headshot from hunter, who had entered the pit.

Two Smoke Grenades at CT Base and a Molotov on Short completely cut off the CTs' route back.

Fnatic had no choice but to keep saving their guns.

In the next few rounds, nearly every G2 player except JACKZ stayed in good form.

Qin Feng's sniper rifle could hold one angle, but only one.

Besides, it was difficult for a sniper rifle to deal with the barrage of Grenades blanketing the Bomb Site.

After several rounds, Qin Feng's KD was still 8–4, but Fnatic had fallen behind 1–7.

poizon and KRIMZ looked especially grim.

They knew there was a considerable gap between their aim and G2's, but they hadn't expected it to be this big.

Team captain ALEX quickly called a timeout.

"Come on, wake up, guys."

"Like we said earlier, play loose and leave no regrets."

"If we can't hold the sites, Aether, take your sniper rifle to the tunnels. We'll make an aggressive push through mid."

"We can't let G2 keep dictating the pace of the game."

"..."

At the same time, Ma Xixi and Mo in the livestream room sighed.

"1–7. Is the origin of everything about to begin?"

"Aether's sniper rifle is still performing as well as it did against COL."

"But the others on Fnatic are looking a little off."

"poizon and KRIMZ are nowhere near as composed as they were against COL."

"How is captain ALEX 0–8? Has G2 completely rattled him?"

"It feels like Aether's back to playing Retake Mode again."

"Fnatic's biggest problem right now is that they can't contest A Long."

"Aether's sniper rifle can't really take A Long without utility support from his teammates."

"But letting G2 take A Long so easily is really hard to play against."

"Let's see if Fnatic comes up with a new strategy during the timeout."

"..."

[0–8. ALEX, mind your timing when pushing onto A Site.]

[God A did all he could. His teammates are in the CBA.]

[Niko's amazing. It feels like Fnatic can't contest A Long at all.]

"What? Aether has taken off his mask. He was Jame all along!"