NaVi eliminates ENCE in a nail-biting clash at BLAST Premier World Finals 2023
Early in the morning, as the deserts were still to warm in Abu Dhabi, we were given a matchup of Natus Vincere vs ENCE at the BLAST Premier World Finals 2023.
Both teams were knocked down in their previous matchups and were left fighting for survival, as the loser would be sent home.
What commenced was a matchup so intense that it was described by casters Anders “Anders” Blume and Henry “HenryG” Greer as ‘the most entertaining game of Counter Strike 2’ that they have ever witnessed.
With what can only be described as the best comeback in CS2, and closing out with a nail-biting finale, it indeed was the most entertaining matchup we have seen yet.
The Storylines Converge
ENCE's Struggle for Identity
ENCE has seen their share of changes during the CS2 rostermania madness. After losing their IGL Marco "Snappi" Pfeifferto to The Falcons earlier in the year, ENCE decided to bring in Lukas "gla1ve" Rossander as the new IGL.
They also brought in coach Jakub "kuben" Gurczyński to take the place of Eetu "sAw" Saha. However, this change did not become the Cinderella team they had hoped for.
ENCE had an unsatisfactory 3rd–4th place finish in the CS Asia Championship. And also at ELISA Masters Espoo 2023, where they lost their opening game against HAVU Gaming, a B-tier team at best.
These dissatisfying results from ENCE continue, as they were brought down by Cloud9 into the elimination matchup.
NaVi's Overhaul
On the other hand, NaVi underwent a complete roster rebuild in 2023. They let go of their IGL Kirill "Boombl4" Mikhaylov after the end of his contract in the beginning of 2023.
Later in the year, they also let go of star riflers Denis "electroNic" Sharipov and Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy, along with Andrij "npl" Kukharsjkyj. And in their place came Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen, Ivan "iM" Mihai, and Justinas "jL" Lekavicius.
A few months later, star player Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyljev decided to take a break. And to fill his shoes, Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov was brought in.
This rebuilt roster from NaVi was far from the super team roster that they once fielded. After a decent 2nd place finish at ESL Pro League Season 18, NaVi were nowhere to be found after S1mple stepped down.
They had a very disappointing 9th–12th place finish at IEM Sydney 2023 and a 5th–6th place finish at the BLAST Premier Fall Finals. And in a similar fashion, they were sent into this elimination matchup by Vitality.
In this crucible of change and redemption, both teams sought to prove their resilience and adaptability in the evolving landscape of CS2. The stage was set for a battle that would define not only their current standing but also lay the groundwork for their futures in the competitive Counter-Strike scene.
The Recap
In the initial showdown on Anubis, NaVi asserted their dominance by securing a solid CT-side, preventing ENCE from breaching their defense.
ENCE only managed to win 4 rounds in the first half. NaVi continued their relentless performance, executing a flawless T-side to clinch the map with a commanding 13-4 victory.
Transitioning to Ancient, NaVi maintained their momentum, bullying ENCE on their chosen battleground and showcasing an impressive CT-side, ultimately leading the first half 10-2.
However, ENCE, propelled by standout performances from Maden, SunPayus, and NertZ, orchestrated a remarkable comeback.
Despite NaVi initially reaching 11 rounds, ENCE, driven by individual player efforts, particularly from Gla1ve, staged a dominant CT-side display, mounting a miraculous comeback to win the map 13-11.
As the tension peaked in the decisive third map, Nuke, both teams grappled with immense pressure. ENCE, buoyed by their earlier comeback, displayed confidence in the first half, with Dycha's stellar performance yielding 14 kills and leaving NaVi in disarray.
Ending the half at 8-4 in favor of ENCE, the situation appeared favorable for the Finnish squad.
However, NaVi's T-side prowess shone through in the second half. As aggressive plays from b1t and iM, strategic plans by Aleksib, and w0nderful stepping into s1mple's shoes paved the way for an impressive comeback.
Winning eight consecutive rounds, NaVi secured the map 13-11. And the overall series with a 2-1 victory. Thus earning a spot in the Quarter Finals of the BLAST Premier World Finals.
Parting words from Aleksib
Despite a commanding performance on Anubis and a strong start on Ancient, Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen's squad faced a challenging comeback from ENCE, who rallied from a 10-2 deficit to level the series.
While NAVI ultimately emerged victorious, Aleksib expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of their performance. In a post-match interview with HLTV, he lamented that the team deviated from their fundamentals on Ancient.
"We played the exact opposite of how you should play T side on Ancient," he remarked, highlighting a departure from their usual strategic approach."
He also stated that he was glad that they could turn the game around in Nuke.
“But, you know, the best thing is that we turned the game around, even though we started Nuke down 0-5, I think. We still managed to win that, and I think a lot of teams might have crumbled in this spot.”
Aleksib acknowledged that the team struggled with maintaining a positive atmosphere during tough situations. Stating that they needed to wake up and meet the high expectations they set for themselves.
Regarding player performances, he praised iM's resurgence, attributing it to improved understanding and adjustments within the team.
He also discussed w0nderful's evolving role. Expressing satisfaction with the AWPer's increased initiative and emphasizing the need for him to continue developing in various situations.
Looking ahead, Aleksib acknowledged the challenges posed by formidable opponents like Vitality and FaZe. But he remains optimistic about the team's potential to reach the semi-finals by learning from each match and continuously improving.
Parting words from Gla1ve
After suffering a disappointing last-place elimination from the BLAST World Final, ENCE's Lukas "gla1ve" Rossander expressed uncertainty about the team's future.
Despite a remarkable comeback attempt from being 10-2 down on Ancient to forcing a decider, ENCE faltered on Nuke. Being unable to convert an 11-5 lead into victory.
The lack of practice and cohesion for ENCE became evident, leading to their elimination.
Gla1ve, along with coach Jakub "kuben" Gurczynski, now faces the challenge of navigating an uncertain roster situation. One that has destabilized their entire project.
In a post-match interview with HLTV, Gla1ve acknowledged the team's struggle to communicate effectively. Attributing it to a lack of understanding of the map and minimal practice time.
Despite an uncomfortable first half on Ancient, the team found their footing on the CT side, capitalizing on their opponents' limited stratbook.
Gla1ve admitted that uncertainty about the team's future impacted the atmosphere, with players potentially not working as hard individually due to negotiation rumors and the looming possibility of roster changes.
"They probably don't work as hard individually when they're a bit uncertain about their future."
The lack of practice and the impact of negotiations were evident at the BLAST World Final, affecting the team's performance and overall mood.
Gla1ve expressed his disappointment about the uncertainty surrounding the team's composition. He acknowledged the tough situation but remained optimistic about the potential for a rebuild.
Despite the possibility of players leaving, Gla1ve believes that he and kuben can create a competitive roster. But only if they secure skilled players quickly.
The urgency stems from the proximity of roster lock for the Major or RMRs. Emphasizing the need to work swiftly and expressing uncertainty about what the future holds for ENCE.
Watch the full nail-biting game HERE.
The action continues in Abu Dhabi. Currently, Faze Clan and G2 Esports are engaged in a first place decider that'd give us the seeding for the playoffs starting tomorrow.
Featured Image Source: BLAST Premier on X (formerly Twitter)
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