Falcons eliminate GamerLegion: BLAST Premier Fall Groups

In the BLAST Premier Fall Groups elimination game, Falcons square off against GamerLegion. The Falcons had a rocky start against Astralis’ dev1ce and suffered a 2-0 defeat. On the other hand, GamerLegion stole the show with a close 2-0 victory over Vitality, despite faltering at the finish line. Which team will make it through the lower bracket? And which one will find themselves in the Showdown?

GamerLegion’s surprise success while the Falcons faltered

On July 29th, GamerLegion’s outstanding play earned them a round of applause. Armed with a well-devised strategy, they took on Vitality and excelled in every skirmish. The first map was won spectacularly by Timur “FL4MUS” Maryev’s exceptional performance. Mirage was also on the brink of being claimed by GamerLegion, but an overtime defeat interrupted their momentum, causing them to falter in the subsequent map.

If GamerLegion plays with the same strategy and power they showed in that match, they stand a good chance of defeating the Falcons. However, if they struggle to maintain their performance, it could open the door for another encounter between the Falcons and Astralis.

Falcons and GamerLegion: Fall Groups rosters

Map veto

Falcons’ CT side dominates: Anubis 13-8

Historically, Anubis is considered a map favoring one team (T-side), but during this game, it was difficult to tell that due to Snappi’s side playing exceptionally well on defense right from the start. Their victory in the initial pistol round set off a series of rounds where they dominated, leading to a 7-0 score. The AWP-rifle pairing of sl3nd and volt managed to achieve some success later in the half, but they could only manage 4 points during that time.

Switching to their side of the CT map, sl3nd’s skills were indispensable in maintaining the team’s momentum. He clinched the pistol round victory by successfully defending a 1v2 situation on map location A. This put his team just one round away from the Falcons. After a full buy, the Danish players regained ground but unfortunately lost five out of the next six rounds. The match ended swiftly with a 13-8 win for the Falcons.

Falcons flip the script: Nuke 13-5

In a map favored by Zonic’s troops, their self-assured demeanor grew even stronger. On maps where the attacking team usually has less advantage, the Falcons were on the defending side and performed remarkably well, scoring an astonishing 11-1 in the first half. An early boost from a successful pistol round fueled their momentum, and with each kill going their way, the Falcons seized control. By round 5, it was evident that Ztr struggled to counter Snappi’s strategies, and the gap between the teams kept widening. A single round went in favor of GamerLegion, but the map seemed to be slipping away already.

In the heat of the battle, it was another nail-biting pistol clutch, this time from sl3nd and volt that tipped the scales in our favor, giving GamerLegion a hard-earned victory. This small win provided some much-needed momentum, pushing us towards T-side, even securing the first gun round for us. However, with the Falcons dominating the initial half, they had the luxury to wait and plan their counterattack. And plan they did, launching a devastating double barrage in round 17 that sealed our fate, ending the series 2-0 in their favor.

Falcons set up Astralis rematch in Fall Groups after GamerLegion win

Following that impressive performance against Astralis, the Falcons appear more prepared for their upcoming re-match. After experiencing defeat at the hands of Vitality, Astralis will likely need to reassess and strategize for the rematch ahead. Historically, re-matches often benefit the initial loser. Will the Falcons leverage this trend and advance all the way to the Fall Finals?