This article is part of our CS:GO Recap series.
With Astralis already securing its spot in ELEAGUE Season 2 playoffs, earning a big upset win over SK Gaming Friday night, there was only one spot still left to win from Group C. That spot was secured by SK Gaming in one of the best series of the season to date.
The day started out with Natus Vincere facing off against Alternate aTTaX in what was more of a formality than anything. No one on the analyst desk or the casting chairs thought that Alternate had any shot in this series. After it took the opening pistol round on Cobblestone, it looked like maybe the team would prove everyone wrong. But then Na'Vi joined the party and pushed ALTERNATE into the dirt. Na'Vi would take the first map by an incredibly one-sided score of 16-3. The second game on Overpass would prove to be a bit closer, but Na'Vi still didn't leave much up to chance. It would take the map 16-8 to move on to face SK Gaming in the Group C decider match.
The stage was set for what was sure to be quite the closely contested series. The old rivals would be meeting once again to see which one would follow Astralis into the playoffs of ELEAGUE Season 2. In the first halves of both games, the audience was treated to a true tug-of-war between two of the best teams in Counter-Strike today. In the second half of each series, however, it was one team exerting its dominance on the other.
SK enjoyed a 9-6 lead in Game 1 on Dust 2 before going 7-2 in the second half to take the first map pretty handily. Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo and his AWP was the main catalyst for his team, racking up an impressive 24/11 KD and 106.7 ADR in the game. Game 2 on SK's favorite map of Train didn't get off to the best start for the Brazilian squad. It was Na'Vi that came out the gate hot this time. Na'Vi enjoyed a 5-0 lead to start and an 8-7 lead at the half before SK came roaring back. The team went 9-0 in the second half to take the map and show everyone that it's still got what it takes to play dominant Counter-Strike.
With just one group yet to be decided, the ELEAGUE Season 2 playoffs are rounding into shape. So far, in addition to SK and Astralis, Virtus.pro, Ninjas in Pyjamas, mousesports and FaZe Clan have secured spots in the playoffs. Group D action kicks off next Friday, November 18 at 6:00 PM ET.
