NIP keep Fall Final hopes alive with close win over C9
From the upper bracket of Group C to the lower bracket, our second game of the day saw NIP take on the new Cloud9 roster.
One of the two teams would walk away from the game needing to play in the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown, and it was Cloud9 who will now suffer that fate after falling to defeat in what was an incredibly close series.
Cloud9 dominate Mirage
Despite the loss, it was Cloud9 who got off to the stronger start in the series by winning map one 13-4.
Ax1Le was on fire in the early rounds, he picked up four on the A site to help Cloud9 get their first round on the board after losing pistol.
However, in the very next round he was outshone by his new teammate, interz. The new signing was spectacular as he pulled off an ace on the A site.
r1nkle fried to try to keep the scores closer going into half time but he fell just short as ICY took him down in the 1v1.
The second half was clean for Cloud9, they closed out the game 13-4 thanks to an incredible 2.37 rated CT side for Ax1Le.
NIP bounce back on Ancient
Ancient started off and was close from the get go, it took a 3k from r1nkle for NIP to get a two round lead.
NIP took control from that point, ending the first half with an 8-4 lead.
They quickly extended their lead and took match point but HeavyGod was on hand to keep his new team in the game.
That round wasn't enough for overtime, however, and NIP took us to a third thanks to a 13-11 win.
NIP clinch the series on Anubis
Once again we had a close start on map three with the first four rounds being split evenly.
REZ enjoyed the even split, it meant that he could get a lovely eco spray down in round five.
The game stayed even and ICY hit this nasty no scope to set Boombl4 up to clutch in round nine.
Cloud9 then took an advantage going into the second half but it was the turn of the NIP captain to keep his team alive with a sick 1v3.
All tied up at 10-10, REZ shone again to claim and 11th for NIP.
Cloud9 won one more round from there but NIP claimed another two to take the map and the series 13-11, keeping them in the competition and still with a chance to make it to Fall Final.