Cloud9 recorded their second straight sweep with a 2-0 win over Eternal Fire on Thursday in Group D action at ESL Pro League Season 16 in Malta.
Also on Thursday, FURIA Esports posted a 2-0 victory over Movistar Riders and Team Liquid notched a 2-0 win over Evil Geniuses.
Groups A, B and C action have been completed. Group D will be played through Sunday. MOUZ won Group C, G2 Esports cruised in Group B as did Team Vitality in Group A.
The $835,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event features 24 teams vying for a $175,000 first prize and a berth in the BLAST Premier World Final. Only the Season 16 champion will clinch a spot in the $1 million Final set for Dec. 14-18 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Season 16 winner also nabs a berth in the $1 million Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2023, scheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 12 in Poland.
The Pro League teams were divided into four groups for the initial round-robin phase. The four group champions advance to the playoff quarterfinals, while the teams that come in second and third in each group move on to the playoffs’ Round of 12.
All matches in the group stage and the playoffs are best-of-three until the best-of-five final on Oct. 2.
On Thursday, Cloud9 dispatched Eternal Fire following a 16-12 win on Dust II and 16-11 victory over Overpass.
Russian Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov had 46 kills and a plus-13 kills-to-death differential to pace Cloud9.
Eternal Fire was paced by Turkey’s Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dortkardes, who had 58 kills and a plus-22 kills-to-death differential.
FURIA Esports toppled Movistar Riders following a 16-3 win on Ancient and 16-13 victory on Nuke.
Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato led all-Brazilian FURIA Esports in both kills (52) and kills-to-death differential (plus-32).
Spain’s Antonio “Martinez” Martinez had 41 kills and a plus-5 kills-to-death differential for Movistar Riders.
Team Liquid defeated Evil Geniuses following a 16-7 win on Inferno and 16-8 victory on Dust II.
Latvia’s Mareks “YEKINDAR” Galinskis had 43 kills and Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski had a plus-16 kills-to-death differential for Liquid.
Evil Geniuses were paced by Vincent “Brehze” Cayonte, who totaled 37 kills and a minus-2 kills-to-death differential.
Group D action continues Friday with three matches:
–Cloud9 vs. Movistar Riders
–Eternal Fire vs. Evil Geniuses
–Team Liquid vs. FURIA Esports
ESL Pro League Season 16 group standings
Group D
1. Cloud9, 2-0, +24, 6 points
2. FURIA Esports, 2-0, +30, 6 points
2. Team Liquid, 2-0, +21, 6 points
4. Movistar Riders, 0-2, -20, 0 points
4. Eternal Fire, 0-2, -23, 0 points
6. Evil Geniuses, 0-2, -32, 0 points
Group A
1. Team Vitality, 5-0, +40, 15 points
2. Fnatic, 3-2, +36, 9 points
3. Natus Vincere, 3-2, +6, 6 points
4. Team Spirit, 2-3, -9, 6 points
5. Ninjas in Pyjamas, 2-3, -31, 6 points
6. Endpoint, 1-4, -42, 3 points
Group B
1. G2 Esports, 5-0, +73, 15 points
2. FaZe Clan, 4-1, +39, 12 points
3. Outsiders, 3-2, +27, 9 points
4. BIG, 2-3, +3, 6 points
5. MIBR, 1-4, -62, 3 points
6. FTW Esports, 0-5, -80, 0 points
Group C
1. MOUZ, 4-1, +32, 12 points
2. Heroic, 4-1, +26, 12 points
3. Complexity, 3-2, -4, 9 points
4. Astralis, 2-3, +14, 6 points
5. ENCE, 1-4, -25, 3 points
6. HEET, 1-4, -41, 3 points
–Field Level Media