PGL Major Antwerp: FaZe defeats NAVI 2-0, claims Major title
North America’s FaZe Clan claimed the 2022 PGL Major Antwerp title after defeating defending champion Natus Vincere 2-0 in a tight final match on Sunday. Håvard “rain” Nygaard, FaZe’s only remaining 2016 original roster was awarded the Major’s MVP for his massive contribution to the team’s triumph.
For FaZe, the victory marked their first PGL Major title win. The team also became the first international team to claim the Global Offensive Major since its creation in 2010. FaZe also recorded a great track record this year, winning three S-Tier CS:GO tournaments, namely the IEM XVI Katowice in February, the ESL Pro League 15 in April, and the PGL Major.
The journey leading to playing the European number one seed NAVI in the final was not an easy one for the American team. FaZe sustained a slight slump in the first round of the Legends Stage after a defeat from ENCE. Despite this, FaZe bounced back with a 3-1 record and qualified to proceed to the Champions Stage.
FaZe vs. NAVI on Inferno
FaZe’s lineup comprised rain, team captain Finn “karrigan” Andersen, Helvijs “broky” Saukants, Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, and Robin “ropz” Kool. The team picked CS:GO classic Grand Final map Inferno in the first match against NAVI and started the game on the terrorist side.
FaZe went on to win eight rounds as the attacking team over NAVI, whose lineup consisted of skipper Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhaylov, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, Oleksandr “electroNic” Kostyliev, Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy, and Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi.
FaZe’s early-game dominance severed the opposing team’s fragging ability. NAVI’s trio of electroNic, Boombl4, and b1t made zero frags in the first six rounds. The Ukrainian team clinched a great play later in the ninth round via s1mple’s three straight kills.
NAVI’s victory in the ninth had the entire team regain their confidence and went on to win five of the last seven rounds. Despite the huge effort and huge sign of a comeback, FaZe already took a 10-5 lead.
FaZe switched sides to counter-terrorists later in the first matchup and rain had the stage mostly to himself after he pulled off successfully a 1v2 clutch win for the team in the eleventh round.
NAVI caught up later but FaZe’s T-side dominance was too much for the Ukrainian team to handle. Via broky’s 1v2 win, the team claimed a 19-17 first game win and a 1-0 lead in the Major’s final.
FaZe continues with early-game lead on Nuke
The second game took place on Nuke. The map was picked by NAVI, but CS:GO enthusiasts know that Nuke is a regular place for FaZe to dominate. Playing as CT on Nuke, the American team delivered, kicking off in a similar fashion to the match on Inferno, where they claimed an early-game lead.
Rain proved that he was FaZe’s top fragger after hitting five early kills in addition to a whopping nine multi-kills in the first nine rounds. The Norwegian professional made additional 18 frags and led FaZe to reign 10-5 over NAVI.
The Ukrainian team tried to regain their footing as b1t made four kills in one round. His effort had the team claim three-round wins as CT and made an additional two after sustaining a single-round defeat.
NAVI’s effort was no match for FaZe as the American squad dominated mostly in early rounds through rain’s opening kills. The 27-year-old Norwegian pro’s effort was substantial as he led the team on the front line to limit the opposing team’s defense. FaZe came to claim 16-10 on Nuke and defeated NAVI 2-0 in the Major.
