Rough Start for American Teams at Counter-Strike Major
The first day of the final Counter-Strike major of the year wasn’t kind to American teams.
All three American teams at DreamHack Cluj-Napoca suffered losses on Wednesday, setting up intense elimination games on Thursday.
Cloud9 Shockingly Defeated by Luminosity Gaming
Of the three losing teams, the biggest surprise was Cloud9. They had beaten Luminosity Gaming in three consecutive games before the event. However, Luminosity’s new addition, Marcelo “coldzera” David, dominated the game and Cloud9’s star players failed to perform. Cloud9 only had one player with a positive K/D ratio.
Team Liquid Falls to Virtus Pro
In a much closer match, Team Liquid pushed Virtus Pro to the edge on Cobblestone. However, Virtus Pro’s experience made the difference in the crucial rounds, leading to a 19-15 victory in overtime.
Counter Logic Gaming Defeated by Natus Vincere
Counter Logic Gaming fought hard against Natus Vincere, with both teams’ star snipers playing a key role. However, Natus Vincere ultimately closed out the game with a 16-12 win.
Chance of Redemption for American Teams
Despite the disappointing results, the American teams still have a chance to advance to the playoff round. Cloud9 and Counter Logic Gaming will be favored in their matches against Vexed Gaming and Dignitas, respectively. Meanwhile, Team Liquid faces a tough challenge against Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Fans are also hoping for more variety in map selection when the tournament resumes, as five out of eight games on Wednesday were played on Cobblestone.
Cloud9 will kick off the next day’s matches against Vexed Gaming.