Counter-Strike 2 is perhaps right here, however aggressive CS:GO has a bit of left to provide simply but. The ESL Professional League Season 18 Semi-Finals are right here, with simply 4 groups remaining to vie for the crown.
We needed to check out these groups: Monte, NAVI, ENCE, and MOUZ, exploring their runs to date, and their possibilities of profitable out within the ESL Professional League Semi-Finals.
Monte vs NAVI
Credit score: ESLCS on Twitter
Who noticed this coming? Pre-tournament, Monte and NAVI have been two groups we knew had severe high quality, however that is next-level. After we spoke to NAVI’s jL at ESL Pro League Season 18, he claimed the staff had gamers that thrived in huge conditions. Now, he’s only one best-of-three away from his first Grand Remaining with NAVI. It’s a severe achievement for the roster, this early into its lifespan. Glory is inside attain, and now, NAVI wants to know it with two palms.
The staff are but to drop a single map at ESL Professional League Season 18. Some could complain concerning the high quality of opponent, with solely FaZe proving to be an enormous scalp, however NAVI can solely beat whoever is in entrance of them. To this point, they’ve achieved simply that.
Credit score: ESLCS on Twitter
Then, there’s Monte. The Ukrainian staff made a reputation for themselves of their Paris Major Cinderella run, and have since established themselves in Tier-1. Make no mistake. Reaching the ESL Professional League Semi-Finals is already an enormous overachievement for Monte, who’ve been spearheaded by the type of br0, the younger rifler just lately bought from Astralis Expertise.
We’ve cherished seeing Monte persevering with to impress in Malta, however proper now there’s an excessive amount of particular person high quality at NAVI to take this additional. Beating Fnatic, Complexity, and Vitality would nonetheless be an unbelievable run for Monte.
MOUZ vs ENCE
Credit score: ESLCS on Twitter
How apt for this youthful MOUZ roster to have their enormous coming-of-age second at ESL Professional League Season 18. Heroic, FURIA, FaZe, G2. They don’t care who you might be, they’ll ship you on the primary aircraft dwelling. It’s an enormous win for the MOUZ NXT expertise pipeline, which up to now has introduced by a number of the top CS:GO players.
Now, there’s a brand new technology of stars. Jimpphat, at simply 17 years previous, is enjoying with the arrogance of a grizzled veteran. In the meantime, frozen is fragging like a top-10 rifler, and siuhy is proving why he’s thought of to be the highest IGL prospect on the planet.
Credit score: ESLCS on Twitter
Comparatively, we all the time anticipated ENCE to be within the ESL Pro League Season 18 Semi-Finals. They’re a top-three staff at worst, and have proven no mercy in Malta to date. They’re enjoying some easy CS, the place it looks like every part goes proper.
On paper, this rematch of the IEM Dallas 2023 Grand Remaining ought to go the way in which of ENCE. However the way in which MOUZ are steamrolling elite groups proper now, we’re all in. We need to see MOUZ go all the way in which, and provides them their first style of silverware.
