The HellRaisers Are Back and Ready to Compete at ELEAGUE Atlanta Major
HellRaisers, the European team from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is set to make a comeback in a major tournament after missing out on the last four. Their impressive journey to reach the ELEAGUE Atlanta Major has positioned them to leave their mark in the competition.
A Promising Lineup
HellRaisers consists of captain Kirill “Ange1” Karasiow, Martin “Styko” Styk, Patrik “Zero” Žúdel, Vladyslav “bondik” Nechyporchuk, and Bence “DeadFox” Böröcz. Although the team has been together since September 2016, they have already showcased their skills in some of the best HellRaisers CS matches in recent memory.
A Challenging Road to the Major
Their journey to the major started at the European Minor championships. After finishing second in their group behind Epsilon Esports, HellRaisers defeated Space Soldiers and GODSENT in bracket play to qualify for the major. However, they fell short in the finals against GODSENT, making their qualification uncertain.
At the ELEAGUE Atlanta Major Qualifier, HellRaisers kicked off with a dominant 16-6 win over mousesports. In the second round, they defeated Ninjas in Pyjamas in a thrilling overtime match. They were one win away from qualifying for the ELEAGUE Major but faced pressure due to their relatively inexperienced lineup.
Their next opponent was GODSENT, whom they had previously split 1-1 with at their minor championship. Despite a competitive match, HellRaisers fell 16-11 to GODSENT. In the fourth round, they faced OpTic Gaming and, despite a strong performance, lost 16-10. This set them up for a winner-take-all qualifying matchup against Cloud9.
In the crucial match against Cloud9, Bondik played phenomenally, leading his team to victory and securing the major qualification. Although HellRaisers initially fell behind with a 9-6 halftime score, they made a remarkable comeback with a strong 10-4 T-side on Overpass, pulling off an upset.
A Potential Underdog
HellRaisers has undoubtedly faced one of the toughest paths to the ELEAGUE Major. Their consistent high-level performance, especially in the best-of-one map rounds, may result in surprising upsets. Advancing to the quarterfinals guarantees them a spot in the next major, which is a significant accomplishment for a team that has struggled to qualify in the past.
Notably, DeadFox and Bondik have been the key players for HellRaisers. They have displayed solid and productive performances, with DeadFox achieving an incredible 1.15 rating at the ELEAGUE Major Qualifier, his first major appearance.
Despite a slightly disappointing finish at the DreamHack Las Vegas Europe Qualifier, HellRaisers’ recent performances have been improving. With the leadership of DeadFox and Bondik, they have the potential for a strong showing at the ELEAGUE Major.
What do you think of HellRaisers’ chances at the ELEAGUE Major? Let us know on Twitter @GAMURScom.
Photo credits: ELEAGUE