Last year, legendary cyberdiscipline went to rest Counter-Strike 1.6. The most popular among all command and tactical shooters, the competitive game has long held on leadership positions in the segment, but nothing forever, and even https://scarab-wins-casino.co.uk/ more so computer games. Every year interest in morally outdated CS 1.6, the organizers and sponsors fell, hence the sharp reduction in the number of large Lan championists.
[[Bullet]] Dreamhack is not only e -sports tournaments, but also concerts with large -scale laser shows. Impressive?
The situation could save the situation with modern graphics and the usual gameplay. Upon learning that the company Valve Develops the next version Counter-STRIKE, The community scraped fingers in the hope of a miracle, but a miracle, alas, did not happen. Hastily made Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Most players were disgusted on the move. Unlike the classical version, the new game abounded in all kinds of bugs.
The second chance
Disappointed, thousands of players switched their attention to Dota 2, World of Tanks And League of Legends, And some returned to the origins CS 1.6. There were also those who decided to give a new game a chance, hoping that over time she would improve. They sent to Valve Thousands of letters, telling the developers in detail about all mistakes and advising what needs to be corrected first.
[[Bullet]] A piece of game zone Dreamhack Winter 2013.
The creators took up the files, and the result was not long in coming: several major updates, and the mechanics of the game finally began to at least vaguely like the mechanics Counter-STRIKE. Fans slowly reached for the usual hearth, because the alternatives in the genre of command and tactical shooters, in fact, did not have.
As for large tournaments, almost from the first days the organizers supported the new game Dreamhack And ESWC , And then your gaze to CS: GO turned Electronic Sports League ( Raidcall EMS ), Starladder and other European leagues. So the legendary series again had the opportunity to return to the list of the most popular e -sports disciplines.
[Bullet]] Verygames-legendary champions in the game in Counter-Strike: Source and one of the strongest teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
The first tournaments were remembered by the dominance of the Swedes Ninjas in Pyjamas And the French Verygames. Most often it was they who played gold among themselves, although later they joined the struggle for the titles Virtus.Pro , Walking around everyone on Starladder Starsies Season v And beaten NIP on one of the previous Raidcall Ems One. After some time, several more teams pulled up, and CS: Go suddenly became interesting.
Valve is in a hurry to help
There is one "but". All the mentioned championships are about the same level, and the game for further growth of popularity required a tournament higher (Grand Slam, Major). During the heyday CS 1.6 There were many of them, but fresh CS: GO Until recently, I could not boast like that.
[[Bullet]] In Sweden, everyone loves e -sports! Even local television channels.
The company could help the game to a new level Valve , already having experience in conducting million-plus tournaments. In 2012, there were rumors that the “global offensive” would appear on The International IV , But they were not confirmed. But the "valves" were introduced in CS: Go-kits of multi-colored weapons ( Esports Case ), the percentage of sales of which went to the prize fund of future "large helmet tournaments".
The community liked this idea, but no one understood when the first historical championship will take place and how much money will be played there. Fortunately, I did not have to rack my head for a long time – on the leading profile portal HLTV.Org The announcement of the CS: GO tournament has appeared as part of the Swedish cyber festival Dreamhack Winter 2013. The total prize pool – $ 250,000! Fantastic numbers for this discipline.
[[Bullet]] Dreamhack festivals have always been distinguished by high -quality lighting.
Having rolled out an official announcement, the organizers began to send the first invites. In total, eleven teams were invited, the rest had to go through the qualifying. The vouchers were distributed as follows: two for network and Byoc -qualifications and the last slot to the winner TechLabs Cup Moscow.
Death Group for Na’vi
Group draws were held a week before the championship. On November 21, fourteen teams of sixteen learned their rivals, since the winners Byoc should have been determined only at the end of the first day. By the way, qualification was played in parallel with the fights of groups A and B – that is, participants in the last two quarters could find out the names of the third opponents only a few hours before their first matches.
Teams of teams
Group A: Fnatic, Natus Vincere, LGB Esports, Clan-Mystik Group B: NIP, Universal Soldiers, Recursive, Ibuypower Group C: Verygames, Complexity, Xapso, N!Faculty Group D: Astana Dragons, SK Gaming, Copenhagen Wolves, Reason Gaming
Houses and walls help
The first day was completely dedicated to groups A and B, in addition, two quarter -finals were supposed to take place. Since the first group were Natus Vincere , The eyes of most of our fans were riveted precisely to her. Alas, the "born to win" fell into a real "death group", to get out of which would already be achieved for them. The first test for strength was de_mirage : played against Fnatic.
[[Bullet]] Natus vincere won a very important round!
Although the Ukrainian team began for seemingly stronger protection, in the first half Daniil Teslenko ( Zeus ) and the company gained only three rounds (3:12). Changing the parties, multiple cs 1 champions.6 gathered their will in a fist and won several rounds in a row, but no more. The convincing victory of the hosts Fnatic (16: 9)! In a parallel match, ESWC champions Clan-Mystik beat LGB Esports (16:14).
Since the groups were played through the GSL system, in the second round Natus Vincere met with another Swedish team LGB Esports And again on de_mirage. We do not know what the repeated choice of this card is due, but the team from the CIS lost again. True, in the second match, the Ukrainian-Russian five performed much better and almost lived to the additional rounds (13:16). Two defeats were sent Na’vi in the last place in the group.
As a result, the hosts came out of the quarterfinals Fnatic and LGB Esports. The latter, having overcome Na’Vi, took from the third round from Clan-Mystik revenge for defeat a few hours earlier (16: 2). In this quarter we were counting on a completely different result, and ESWC champions especially disappointed us. However, for them in group B they took revenge Recursive , not letting in the playoffs Universal Soldiers. The first place was expected NIP.
[[Bullet]] The final location of the teams in groups A and B.
We mentioned above that on the first day two quarter -finals took place. There was no first struggle: Fnatic Easy to beat Recursive (16: 7 on de_inferno, 16: 7 on de_mirage) and went to the semifinals. The real meat grinder was waiting for us in the confrontation NIP And LGB Esports. The latter many considered a dark horse Dreamhack Winter , And they really surprised: Dennis Edman And the company took and won the first card.
On de_DUST2 LGB Esports showed perhaps the best Counter-STRIKE In your life. Having produced the first half of the game, the team brilliantly played in the attack and won with a score of 16:14. Three phenomenal frags became a real decoration of the first card Olof Caberaster (Olofmeister) , not without a share of luck. See how it was.
[[Bullet]] "Spray and Pray!»Probably, under such a motto is played by Olofmeister.
Danish test for strength
The next day we entered the game Astana Dragons – Our second representative and one of the main favorites. Although the Kazakh team fell into a rather complex group, the first match against Reason Gaming Didn't bode Kirill Karasev (Ange1) and companies of special problems. However, actually winning Byoc -The qualifying Danes delivered a lot of trouble to the Dragons.
[[Bullet]] Copenhagen Wolves – the strongest Danish team in CS: GO.
Naturally, it was impossible to lose the outsider of the group, because I would have to play either with Copenhagen Wolves , or s SK Gaming , And the second defeat did not leave Astana Dragons Chances. Fortunately for the "dragons" and their fans, the match was nevertheless brought to victory (16:11 on de_inferno).
Overdating in the first round of the Danes Reason Gaming , In the second, Astana Dragons also met with the Danes, this time – Copenhagen Wolves. The latter, in principle, could beat our last hope, but believed in it with difficulty, for the recent World Cup ESWC 2013 Three Ukrainians, Russian and Kazakh did not leave the "wolves" not a chance. However, a completely different story happened in Yyoncheoping, and AD lost 7:16.
But all the most interesting thing happened in a parallel match. Demoralized SK Gaming They lost sensationally Reason Gaming With a humiliating score 3:16 – of all the results Dreamhack Winter This is perhaps the most incredible. As a result, Astana Dragons was waiting for the third consecutive match with the Danes.
[[Bullet]] Group D: Astana Dragons against Reason Gaming on De_nuke
The battle for the second place of the group took place on de_nuke. The Scandinavians started more strong protection and won the first half with a score of 11: 4. The tournament life of the last representative of the CIS hung in the balance. Astana Dragons brutally needed to take a pistol round for CT, and, fortunately, they took it. Playing at maximum concentration, the “dragons” first equalized the score (12:12), and later won (16:13). Bravo!
Again twenty -five
No less interesting were matches in group C, where the French Verygames Suddenly lost to the Americans Complexity (14:16 on de_inferno) and went to the quarter -finals only from the second place. Verygames has played in the hands Astana Dragons , which once again ended up in a lighter part of the grid. Something similar happened on ESWC 2013 – Everyone has already seen the “dragons” in the final, but they suddenly fell at hand Clan-Mystik.
[[Bullet]] The final location of the teams in groups C and D.
Alas, in Yyonchoping Astana Dragons again stepped on the same rake. Having won de_nuke with a score of 16: 9, Egor Markelof (Markeloff) And the company lost almost immediately on De_Dust2 (7:16). The fate of the third semifinal ticket was played on de_inferno, and then the Americans prevailed again. Our fans accepted this result in two ways: some frankly rejoiced at the failure of AD, others were upset, seeing the stone faces of the players.
[[Bullet]] Sniper Astana Dragons Egor Markelov (Markeloff).
The last semi -finalists became Fnatic , overcome Recursive According to the results of three cards (16: 9 on de_inferno, 13:16 on de_dust2, 16:10 on de_train). With the advent of the black-orange team Marcus Valsteen (Pronax) Fnatic became much stronger and more united. They did not have abstruse tactics – they played simple, but reliable rounds.
Swedish triumph
We will not talk about the semifinals in detail. Let's just say that NIP Finally they took the u Verygames Revenge for a few recent losses (16:13 on de_dust2, 6:16 on de_inferno, 16: 5 on de_nuke), and Fnatic One left was laid Complexity (16: 7 on de_inferno, 16: 7 on de_mirage). The latter, it seems, have not been very upset, although the American expert in CS: GO and ex-manager EG Scott Smith I assured that this is not so.
[[Bullet]] fnatic against complexity: second card
The Grand Final has traditionally played in Dreamarena , spacious cinema, part -time – the main stage Dreamhack Winter 2013. They were considered obvious favorites Ninjas in Pyjamas , in favor of which two important circumstances spoke. Firstly, the “ninja” is much more experienced by Fnatic, and secondly, it was the hall that supported them. However, it is unlikely Fnatic heard this support in soundproofing headphones.
The first final card was De_Dust2, which gave us a full range of emotions. We supported theoretically weaker in the final Fnatic And at first they were upset when they lost half with a score of 3:12, and then rejoiced as children, when they managed to make a “Cumbek” and win with a score of 16:14. The smell of sensation.
[[Bullet]] Fnatic manager Patrick Sattermon (Carn) is nervous much more than his players!
Dilute discouraged NIP it was possible on de_inferno – a map that Fnatic prepared almost more than anyone else. Here Patrick Lindberg (F0rest) And the company began protection and won half again, already with a score of 11: 4. Changing the side, Fnatic They took the pistol, but immediately blew the second round, which, in fact, predetermined the name of the winner. Draw 1: 1, and we were waiting for de_train!
It is a pity that the first place is the largest in history CS: GO the championship was played on the map, which is now playing in large tournaments only a few times a year. Most professional teams de_TRain do not like it, but since it is in a pool of tournament cards, it has to play it. We will not describe the course of events on this map, look at the entire match in the recording. The results and the match are lower.
[[Bullet]] NIP against fnatic: Third final map
The final location of the teams on Dreamhack Winter 2013
- Fnatic (Sweden) – $ 100,000) Ninjas in Pyjamas (Sweden) – 50,000 $ 3/4) Complexity (USA) – $ 22,000) Verygames (France) – $ 22,000) Copenhagen Wolves (Denmark) – $ 10,000) Astana Dragons (Kazakhstan) – $ 10,000) Recursive (France) – $ 10,000) LGB Esports (Sweden) – $ 10,000
The entire championship turned out to be excellent. The teams gave us a wagon and a cart of beautiful matches, including a magnificent Grand Final. Although the finals are often boring, this is clearly not the case. And we also note the work of the English -speaking studio: commentators and analysts did a great job, it was very interesting to watch.
[[Bullet]] Cinema Dreamarena during the final on CS: GO.
We believe that in 2014 several championships with similar prizes will be held at once. At least the current situation allows you to hope for it. I wonder if we have a chance to see CS: GO On the fourth The International? While you reflect on the answer, we report that another material on Dreamhack Winter 2013 , dedicated to other disciplines of the festival.
The article uses photos of Dreamhack and HLTV.Org
