G2 secures EWC playoffs with victory over BIG

G2 has advanced to the playoffs of the Esports World Cup by defeating BIG in a 2-1 series. The match showcased G2's dominance, with commanding performances on Cache and Inferno sandwiching a narrow overtime loss on Ancient.

Despite BIG's previous undefeated record on Cache, G2's solid defense effectively dismantled their slower pace strategies. Key plays came from Artem "r1nkle" Moroz, who adeptly navigated smokes to secure crucial kills, and Guy "NertZ" Iluz, who excelled in Middle during both halves.

On Ancient, BIG opened strongly, highlighted by Jon "JDC" de Castro's stunning quad-kill. However, G2's lineup had a rough start, primarily relying on NertZ for early frags, leading to a 5-10 deficit at the half. Nonetheless, G2 showcased their resilience on the CT side, rallying to a close 11-12 score before eventually taking the match to overtime after a clutch performance by Benjamin "blameF" Bremer, who managed an ace in a 1v3 situation.

At the end of regulation, NertZ held an impressive 127 ADR, yet G2 struggled in the overtime period, allowing BIG to push the game to a decisive third map. The final battle took place on Inferno, a map that G2 has proven to be highly proficient on previously, including their earlier matchup against BIG at IEM Cologne. G2 reaffirmed their status as favorites by decisively outplaying BIG, clinching the series and ensuring their spot in the playoffs of the Esports World Cup.