FaZe triumph in marathon series
FaZe took down G2 in a classic series that could easily have gone either way.
In typical FaZe fashion, they stood tall to deny G2's match point with a crucial post-plant before levelling up in overtime to clinch it.
"Yeah, I don't know" replied rain to a question of how FaZe keep doing it. "We're pretty cemented as comeback kings, right? We turn it up a notch when we're under pressure".
NiKo was in irresistible form for G2, but such is the way in a series like this, there were huge moments for every player. nexa had multiple huge rounds, ropz was superb as ever and m0NESY remained sharp.
Credit: Michal KonkolLa Familia
It was the Kovac cousins who took over on Inferno, with NiKo dropping a 1.64 and huNter a 1.56 to give G2 the perfect start to the series on their own map pick.
G2's T side was brutal as they sprinted into an 8-1 lead, helped by a tidy 1v3 from nexa from pit, and despite losing the final three of the half got themselves to map point quickly on the CT side.
FaZe were slow to start in both halves, and paid the price.
Credit: Michal KonkolClash of the titans
Both ropz and NiKo put on a masterclass in what was undoubtedly one of the best maps of the event so far.
NiKo dropped a 30-bomb while ropz' 27 kills would make him the topfragger in nearly every other game of CS2 - but he had the final laugh as FaZe took Nuke in round 23.
Everything seemed to be hitting for NiKo, including a particularly silly jumping headshot to close out another multikill round, which G2 somehow conspired not to win. Meanwhile, ropz crushed G2 at the ramp to post a very quick ace.
This map had everything - there was some vintage m0NESY AWPing, an important 1v2 from nexa and even something for the more masochistic fans among you, if you want to watch HooXi's demo.
It wasn't his best game, but he didn't get the rub of the green, either.
G2 once again started quickly and put up a four round lead at the half, but FaZe locked them out of both sites time and time again, despite NiKo finding openings.
Credit: Michal KonkolFaZe do what FaZe do best
It wouldn't be a FaZe game if there wasn't a long, drawn-out conclusion.
G2 looked to have all but won a very close game, but NiKo just missed out on the defuse in round 24 to keep FaZe alive in the series.
rain kicked off the game with a remarkably clean pistol 1v2, which was a sign of things to come in terms of the level of play.
It was back-and-forth the whole way through with every player having stand-out moments, but none were greater than karrigan's in overtime.
After G2 found picks in regulation with well-thought-out CT aggression quite consistently, FaZe managed to adapt and ground out an ugly, but very important, 3v4 post-plant in round 24.
"I thought we'd lost it at 12-11, so it feels pretty good!" You weren't alone on that one, rain.
The most experienced man in the server, karrigan, then stepped up with seven kills in two rounds to put FaZe in pole position. He cut through the G2 defence on B to break G2's spirit, and FaZe closed out in OT.