FURIA became the first team to clinch a semifinal berth in the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive playoffs at the Esports World Cup on Thursday in Paris.
FURIA outlasted G2 Esports 2-1 in the first quarterfinal match of the event, while the rest of the Round of 16 was also completed Thursday. In those matchups — all resulting in 2-0 sweeps — Legacy blanked Natus Vincere, Team Falcons shut out The MongolZ, Team Vitality beat FaZe Clan and Team Spirit eliminated B8.
A double-elimination group stage eliminated half of the 32 teams in the $2 million event. The playoffs, which run through Sunday, will consist of best-of-three matches until the grand final, which will be best-of-five.
The championship team will receive $600,000 and 1,000 Esports World Cup club points. The runner-up will get $340,000 and 750 points. Tournament organizers already announced that tickets for the final day at Accor Arena are sold out.
On Thursday, FURIA opened with a 13-3 rout of G2 Esports on Ancient, only for G2 to respond with a 13-3 win on Anubis. FURIA dug in and won 13-4 on Dust II to finish the job. Danil “molodoy” Golubenko of Kazakhstan was the top player in the match with 47 kills to just 21 deaths for FURIA.
Meanwhile, Legacy trounced Natus Vincere in the round of 16, 13-9 on Inferno and 13-2 on Ancient. Brazil’s Vinicius “n1ssim” Pereira paced Legacy with 36 kills and a plus-19 kills-to-deaths differential.
Team Falcons sent The MongolZ packing with a 13-3 rout on Inferno and a 13-9 win on Dust II. Russia’s Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin starred for Falcons with 44 kills on a plus-22 K-D differential.
Team Vitality edged FaZe Clan 13-11 on Dust II before earning a 13-6 result on Cache. France’s Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut paced Vitality with 42 kills on a plus-17 K-D.
Team Spirit scored a pair of 13-9 wins on Dust II and Mirage to defeat B8. Russian Danil “donk” Kryshkovets had 45 kills on a plus-20 K-D to guide Spirit.
The tournament continues Friday with the three remaining quarterfinal matches:
–FUT Esports vs. MOUZ
–Legacy vs. Team Falcons
–Team Vitality vs. Team Spirit
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive — Esports World Cup prize pool (with money winnings and Esports World Cup club points)
1. $600,000, 1,000 points
2. $340,000, 750 points
3. $190,000, 500 points
4. $110,000, 300 points
5-8. $60,000, 200 points — G2 Esports, three teams TBD
9-16. $35,000, no points — Astralis, Aurora Gaming, magic, GamerLegion, Natus Vincere, The MongolZ, FaZe Clan, B8
17-24. $20,000, no points — BIG, JiJieHao, MIBR, Ninjas in Pyjamas, PARIVISION, Lynn Vision Gaming, 9z Team, paiN Gaming
25-32. $10,000, no points — Luminosity Gaming, M80, K27, BetBoom Team, 100 Thieves, TYLOO, 3DMAX, Wildcard
–Field Level Media
