Astralis ease past GamerLegion to reach EPL Group A lower bracket final

Astralis are one victory away from the playoffs, whereas GamerLegion now have only one life left in the triple-elimination group stage bracket.

Astralis' star duo of blameF and device stepped up against GamerLegion

Astralis sent GamerLegion to the ESL Pro League Season 18 Group A last chance bracket with a 2-0 victory. The Danes showed particular prowess on the defensive halves, setting themselves up to take both Vertigo and Inferno off the back of solid CT sides.

The series kicked off on Vertigo, where Astralis got off to a flying 11-1 start on the defense before giving up the final three of the half. GamerLegion tried to make a game of it on their own defense, winning four in a row to make it 8-11, but ultimately let the comeback slip as Benjamin "⁠blameF⁠" Bremer flexed his muscles with a 1.48 rating (27 kills, 108 ADR). He was followed closest by Nicolai "⁠device⁠" Reedtz with a 1.27 rating.

If GamerLegion’s attack on Vertigo left much to be desired, their default-heavy Inferno was even weaker. blameF and device, once again taking point for their team, finished a 14-1 CT side with 19 and 16 kills, respectively.

The Danish side hit match point immediately but were made to wait for victory by GamerLegion's second-round forcebuy. The European squad shouted and smiled after the round, knowing that they weren't just going to be wiped out of the server.

These few extra rounds allowed for a nice four-kill round by Isak "⁠isak⁠" Fahlén, who was defending A Short from Graveyard during an execute, but ultimately it was just applying makeup to the scoreboard in what ended up being a cosmetic comeback that ended 16-8 in favor of Astralis.

The Danes are now just one best-of-three away from rectifying their opening loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas and making the playoffs through the lower bracket. Their final series will possibly be a grudge match against Hampus "⁠hampus⁠" Poser and company if the Swedish-majority side can make it past FURIA in their own lower bracket semi-final.

GamerLegion, who have one life left after losses to Movistar Riders and now Astralis, will play the loser of the aforementioned series between Ninjas in Pyjamas and FURIA in the last chance qualifier semis.

ESL Pro League Season 18Best of 3 GamerLegionMatchpage 0 2 1st September 2023 Astralis 12Vertigo 16 8Inferno 16

GamerLegion	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Isak 'isak' Fahlénisak	40 - 36	+4	87.2	1.17
Frederik 'acoR' GyldstrandacoR	35 - 36	-1	66.4	0.92
Sebastian 'volt' Maloșvolt	26 - 38	-12	59.7	0.82
Nicolas 'Keoz' DgusKeoz	23 - 40	-17	56.2	0.62
Sanzhar 'neaLaN' IskhakovneaLaN	24 - 39	-15	51.4	0.58

Astralis	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Benjamin 'blameF' BremerblameF	51 - 30	+21	107.9	1.62
Nicolai 'device' Reedtzdevice	43 - 25	+18	84.5	1.36
Johannes 'b0RUP' Borupb0RUP	36 - 31	+5	67.6	1.13
Victor 'Staehr' StaehrStaehr	31 - 31	0	75.4	1.05
Christian 'Buzz' AndersenBuzz	26 - 32	-6	60.2	0.84

Isak 'isak' Fahlén Age: 21 Team: GamerLegion Rating 1.0: 0.97 Maps played: 768 KPR: 0.65 DPR: 0.66 GamerLegion #7 Frederik 'acoR' GyldstrandSanzhar 'neaLaN' IskhakovNicolas 'Keoz' DgusIsak 'isak' FahlénSebastian 'volt' Maloș Ashley 'ash' Battye Hampus 'hampus' Poser Age: 24 Team: Ninjas in Pyjamas Rating 1.0: 1.01 Maps played: 1454 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.69 Nicolai 'device' Reedtz Age: 27 Team: Astralis Rating 1.0: 1.16 Maps played: 1941 KPR: 0.78 DPR: 0.62 Ninjas in Pyjamas #11 Kristian 'k0nfig' WieneckeFredrik 'REZ' SternerHampus 'hampus' PoserLudvig 'Brollan' BrolinDaniil 'headtr1ck' Valitov Daniel 'djL' Narancic Movistar Riders #71 Alejandro 'alex' MasanetTiago 'JUST' MouraAlejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo CanoAdam 'adamS' MarianAntonio 'MartinezSa' Martinez Galder 'bladE' Barcena FURIA #23 Gabriel 'FalleN' ToledoMarcelo 'chelo' CespedesAndrei 'arT' PiovezanYuri 'yuurih' SantosKaike 'KSCERATO' Cerato Nicholas 'guerri' Nogueira Benjamin 'blameF' Bremer Age: 26 Team: Astralis Rating 1.0: 1.16 Maps played: 1091 KPR: 0.77 DPR: 0.60 Astralis #6 Nicolai 'device' ReedtzJohannes 'b0RUP' BorupBenjamin 'blameF' BremerVictor 'Staehr' StaehrChristian 'Buzz' Andersen Peter 'casle' Ardenskjold