ESL Pro League S18 group D day 1 results

Group D of ESL Pro League S18 started with four results that could have been predicted without too many difficulties.

Cloud9 are much stronger than Eternal Fire, so the 2-0 result didn’t surprise anyone. The only surprising thing about this match was the fact that EF got more than 10 rounds on both maps, despite the monstrous performance of Ax1Le (52K – 33D) and sh1ro (45K – 25D).

In the match between Complexity and 9INE, either team was capable of winning but in the end, the difference was made by EliGE’s superior experience and hallzerk’s phenomenal form (75K – 47D). The score here was 2-1 in favor of Complexity.

Virtus.pro were supposed to be much stronger than Team Liquid, so we expected a 2-0 or 2-1 result in their favor. But they came uncomfortably close to losing. The score on the third map was 16-14 in their favor.

The IGL role has started to take a toll on YEKINDAR’s ability to finish matches with excellent scores. This time, he only had 51 kills and 61 deaths. Against a lesser team, it might have been sufficient. But Virtus.pro are Major winners and Jame had no less than 67 kills in this match.

The fourth match of the day was played between G2 Esports and Lynn Vision, a Chinese squad that nearly caused an upset on the first map. After losing the first half quite badly (5 – 10), they managed to force overtime and lost 16 – 19. On the second map, G2 simply crushed them: 5 – 16.

Statistically, G2 Esports have never lost a game that they won. pic.twitter.com/szJhTLAwag

— G2 CS (@G2CSGO) September 20, 2023

First impressions

It’s starting to become obvious that there are no real outsiders in this race. Even the matches that should have ended quickly needed two long maps or even three in some cases to conclude.

The strongest teams are likely to continue to win, but only if they play their best CS. There’s very little room for error. Both Cloud9 and G2 Esports are expected to win their next two matches and then compete in the upper bracket Final for the best playoffs spots.

In the case of G2, HooXi and his crew are in excellent shape. NiKo and m0NESY are on their way to finishing the season in the top 5 at the individual level. However, they will need to outsmart Jame’s team and it will not be easy.

For Cloud9, this event is a big test and the two former Na’Vi players, Perfecto and electroNic, need to prove themselves.

Header: ESL