As a long-time fan of Fnatic, I can hardly contain my excitement after witnessing their nail-biting victory against ECLOT. The tension was palpable, and the match was a rollercoaster of emotions that had me on the edge of my seat!
Stepping into the game, we, Fnatic, were seen as clear-cut favorites. However, the underdogs from ECLOT gave us quite a run for our money, making us sweat it out until the very end to secure a hard-fought victory and narrowly escape an unwanted upset.
If BetBoom had knocked out SAW earlier in the day, Fnatic would have only needed to win their match to secure a spot at the Major directly, avoiding the seventh-place decider due to their high ranking. However, Fnatic’s journey to the Major was far from straightforward.
The Alexandre “Bodyy” Pianaro-led team began powerfully, snatching ECLOT’s map selection of Ancient (13-4), demonstrating the overpowering performance that spectators anticipated. Yet, it appeared as if a sense of complacency emerged during Inferno, the map choice of fnatic.
the nawwk + blameF post-plant >>>
— FNATIC CS (@FNATICCS2) November 20, 2024
Initially, I thought I had it in the bag with a seemingly easy 2-0 lead. But then, ECLOT started pushing back, turning the tide on Inferno with a nail-biting score of 13-11. Suddenly, we found ourselves needing to play a third map to decide the series.
In the game on Nuke, both teams exchanged hits equally, neither managing to gain a significant advantage. The match ended at 12-12 after regulation time, pushing it into overtime. During the first half of Overtime 1, ECLOT took the lead, scoring up to 15-12 and securing three series points for themselves.
Yet, fnatic clawed back, leveling the score at 15-15.
WE STAY ALIVE IN OT
— FNATIC CS (@FNATICCS2) November 20, 2024
In this scenario, ECLOT found themselves under increased responsibility, while the Czech-dominant squad struggled. Fnatic took advantage of this, clinching the map 19-17, thereby earning their spot in Shanghai.
In the match on Nuke, it was Benjamin “blameF” Bremer, the previous captain of Astralis, who significantly shifted the momentum for Fnatic. Remarkably, he won all 12 of his initial skirmishes!
I’ve finally qualified for the major, and boy, am I overjoyed! It’s been quite a struggle lately, but seeing the hard work pay off feels incredibly rewarding. #AlwaysFnatic
— Benjamin Vang Bremer (@blameFFFFF) November 20, 2024
The team’s win was greeted with palpable relief by the players of fnatic. For their captain Bodyy, it was an especially satisfying moment since it represented his first Major qualification in almost six years.
Veteran Freddy “KRIMZ” Johansson, the sole survivor from fnatic’s golden era, is all set to compete in his awe-inspiring 17th major tournament!
Simultaneously, our Slovakian standout, Matúš “MATYS” Šimko, marked a significant achievement in his budding career by securing his first major tournament qualification, a landmark event for him.
It’s hard to put into words, but finally, a dream I’ve been pursuing throughout my life has become reality – thank you always fnatic!
— Matys (@matys176) November 20, 2024
Fans of fnatic, who have endured many hardships, can now taste victory. Although they boast a distinguished past – such as winning the inaugural CS:GO Major in Jönköping in 2013 and holding the second-highest number of Major titles – the organization has faced challenges to stay current recently. A series of lackluster performances, team restructurings, and the loss of their Swedish identity in 2022 left fnatic grappling with their purpose and form.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel a surge of optimism with the recent addition of “nawwk” Jonasson as our new AWPer and blameF joining forces with Fnatic this year. After missing out on the Copenhagen Major, their inclusion has rekindled hopes for our team. Now, with a spot secured in Shanghai, Fnatic stands poised to restore its esteemed reputation on the grandest of stages.
WE DID IT! SEE YOU IN THE SHANGHAI MAJOR OPENING STAGE #ALWAYSFNATIC
— FNATIC CS (@FNATICCS2) November 20, 2024
What do you think? Can this fnatic side make a deep run at the Major?
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2024-11-20 20:09