23:00pm : FCL has come to an end, and with our team being on top in the end, we couldn't wish for a better ending. FnaticRaidCall has brought down Anexis, with 2:0 score. The first map was de_mirage, where our guys delivered a great 16:10 win, while the second map was de_train. Even though this is not the best map for our team, they beat Anexis with 16:11 score and with that they won the entire event. Therefore, our guys are $2,500 richer, while Anexis earned themselves $1,000. The third place decider has not been played yet so we will have to wait and see whether eSrael or SK-Gaming will earn the remaining $500. We would like to congratulate the top four teams, and also say our thanks to all of you who were watching FCL throughout the recent weeks.
After weeks of intense matches, smaller teams taking down some of the bigger names and in fact one of the more exciting group-stages in recent times, the FnaticRC Counter Strike League is now approaching its final destination with the grand final taking place on 4th of June. The grand final will feature the home team clashing together with one of the most upcoming sides in European Counter Strike scene, the Danish crew of Anexis. Both finalists fought their way through the group-stage followed by the playoff bracket. The two teams also faced each other in group B, in which FnaticRC finished second with a 4-0-1 record, while Anexis claimed third finishing it with a 2-1-2 record. The Grand Final will go live on June 4 at 21:00 CET.
The Road to the Grand final: FnaticRC
In the first group-stage match, FnaticRC met the Russian side of Moscow5 on de_dust2, a map the Swedes approached by winning 16-6. In the second match of the group-stage, the second grand finalist Anexis was the team to face for FnaticRC. The match was played on de_inferno and concluded with a 16-12 victory for FnaticRC. The audience witness a classic match-up in the third playweek as FnaticRC and SK-Gaming met on de_train, and unfortunately enough, the match resulted in FnaticRC's first defeat of the tournament. The following two weeks resulted in victories over myRevenge and Finnish side of WinFakt.
ESC-Gaming was the first playoff opponent for the FnaticRC side led by Richard "xizt" Landström. The first map played was de_dust2, and despite being down at first, FnaticRC won the first half 10-5. The second half was just like the first one. A nail-biting one! ESC was close to make an outstanding comeback, but in the end, Fnatic closed it 16-12. On de_train, ESC took an early 8-1 lead and went on to win the entire map 16-12. The third and deciding map was de_inferno. FnaticRC started as Counter Terrorists and won that half 11-4. The following half opened with a win in the pistol round for the Poles, but FnaticRC was too strong in the end, finishing it 16-8.
FnaticRC was set to face one of the best Danish teams in the semi-final, eSrael-Gaming featuring former mTw player, Martin "trace" Heldt. The semi-final opened with de_inferno and FnaticRC being Counter Terrorists. eSrael managed to take a 6-1 lead but despite the good start, FnaticRC won the half 8-7. As Terrorists, MODDII took home an important 1n3 in the pistol round and FnaticRC was off to a good start, something which continued all the way through the second half as they won it 8-0 and with a final scoreline of 16-7. De_train was FnaticRC's pick but the player trace was one-to-watch in the first half and was also one of the main factors behind the Danes' 9-6 win in the first half. With the two teams changing sides at halftime, FnaticRC was now playing as Terrorists. The second half was once again going in favor of the Danes winning it with the total outcome of a 16-11 score. It was now or never. de_nuke was the deciding map. The first half finished with a close 8-7 scoreline, depsite eSrael being up 3-0 at first. In the second half, eSrael acquired three rounds in a row but with Finn "karrigan" Andersen really stepping it up, FnaticRC managed to come back into the game, finishing de_train 16-11. Not only had FnaticRC beaten eSrael, they were also ready for the Grand Final versus Anexis eSport.
The Road to the Grand final: Anexis
The Danes had a tough start as they opened the league with a close 12-16 defeat to Swedish side of SK-Gaming followed by another 16-12 defeat, this time to FnaticRC, whom they are to meet in the Grand Final. In the third playweek, the Danes faced myRevenge on de_tuscan and took down the Germans with a convincing 16-1 scoreline. Moscow5 was the next opponent which the Danes were to meet, and they sure did impress the majority of the audience as they managed to draw it 15-15. The Danes wrapped up the group-stage winning over the former Finnish squad of WinFakt 16-8. This secured them a spot in the playoffs.
In the first playoff match, Anexis faced the Swedish team of WinFakt, a team who began the season under the lemondogs tag. The Swedes entered the match as favorites but Anexis wanted it differently, winning the first half on the first map, de_tuscan, 11-4. In the second half, now with Anexis being Counter Terrorists, the Danes managed to overcome the Swedish side with a 16-12 victory. de_mirage was more or less a walk in the park for the Danes who quickly came up 6-0. The map finished with a convincing 16-6 victory and the Danes were off to the semi-final in which they would face their nemesis of SK-Gaming, who had beaten them in group-stage 16-12.
The first map of the match was de_train. The Danish team started out as Counter Terrorists and was off to a good start after winning the pistol round, which enabled them to a 10-1 lead. SK-Gaming managed to take eight rounds while Anexis was able to take home five more rounds making it 15-9. From thereon the Swedes made a comeback as they were able to claim five more rounds. But Anexis was able to finish it off 16-14 after Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer won a 1n2 situation. On the second map of the match, de_mirage, the Danes once again achieved an early lead, which resulted in them being up 9-6. During the second half, Anexis won the pistol round and despite a good effort from SK, the Danes proved to be the stronger side on the day, finishing the map 16-8. With the victory over SK-Gaming, Anexis secured their spot in the Grand Final.
FnaticRC
Anexis
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