Vitality lose to Imperial: BLAST Premier Spring Final Day 1 Recap
We promised you exciting action and you got exciting action. With four games and some surprising results, let's take you through it all.
A Major hangover for Vitality
We kicked off the day with a game between Major champions Vitality and Brazilian legends Imperial.
A game that many would have expected to go the way of the international team, the result was easily the biggest shock of the day.
Starting out with a 16-3 loss on Imperial's map pick of Overpass, Vitality failed to ever even get out the gates as the Brazilian squadron rolled them over on a map they had previously looked strong on.
They faired much better on Vertigo, managing to earn themselves 14 rounds, but it still wasn't enough to stop FalleN and co. from reaching the magic 16.
All smiles for Imperial. Photo: Stephanie LindgrenDark clouds for Cloud9
If Cloud9 weren't already disappointed by their recent form, they'll be even more disappointed by their slow start to Spring Final.
Granted, they did have to face the giants of G2, but considering G2 have also been on a bit of a downwards trend, the Russians may have hoped they could take this one.
With G2 winning 16-11 on both maps, a lot of the credit has to go towards G2 own Russian, m0NESY. A lot was said on the desk before the game about his role in dragging the team out of slumps and he did so with ease.
Vitality and Cloud9 will now face off in an elimination game, while G2 and Imperial will face off to see who will be in the semi finals on Saturday.
Feels good for HooXi. Photo: Stephanie LindgrenA complex start for Complexity
NA teams haven't been having the best of luck recently, and that continued in D.C for Complexity on Day 1.
We'll give them the benefit of the doubt, they were playing Heroic and they did have a stand-in, but they'll have to do much better in order to stand a chance of playing in front of their home crowd.
stavn, cadiaN, and jabbi all starred for the Danes across Inferno and Mirage, with the trio getting a combined 119 kills across 45 rounds.
A great start for Heroic after their Major heartbreak, they'll be looking to carry this momentum forward now and bring home another BLAST Premier trophy.
Is a trophy on the horizon for Heroic? Photo: Stephanie LindgrenFaZe up
At least Complexity have Astralis to thank for not having the worst day 1 of the event, right?
Many fans would have expected Astralis to come into this event hot following their showing at IEM Dallas, but they quickly met a stumbling block as they faced a peak performance FaZe Clan.
Not only did device have a career worst Overpass performance, but the entire team struggled as FaZe breezed past them 16-5. Mirage was a similar story, and Astralis will now have to face off against Complexity in the losers match tomorrow.
FaZe will face Heroic in the winners match to advance to Saturday's semi finals.