Chapter 47: The First ACE of the Play-Ins

Looking at the warm and cheerful scene among the team members in the lounge, djL felt reluctant to break the mood. Yet, as the coach, he couldn’t help but remind them, “Purgatory Town is GL’s map pick. We can’t take it lightly. We need to win two maps to secure this best-of-three.”

Upon hearing this, the Nip players toned down their enthusiasm slightly, though smiles still brightened their faces.

“Is GL strong on Purgatory Town?” Su Zhe asked curiously.

Beside him, es3tag nodded. “GL had a 73% win rate on this map last year. Even though they changed their in-game leader and key players afterward, they’ve still beaten top teams like Faze here. They’re pretty formidable.”

djL agreed, “That’s right. But ideally, we should try our best to take Purgatory Town. Compared to Purgatory, we’re even less comfortable on Death Playground.”

K0nfig stood up, stretching his joints. “What’s there to be afraid of? As long as we play like we did in map one, a 2-0 is no problem! Let’s go, guys! Time to get on the stage!”

After a brief halftime break, both teams returned to the arena. GL had patched up their morale somewhat after their collapse in the first map. After all, they still had three players who were runners-up at the last Major, plus the seasoned veteran snax. Losing one map wouldn’t make them give up.

Their deficit in Desert Mirage had just grown too large, but Purgatory Town was their chosen map. There was no reason to lose the mental battle before the fight even began.

On Purgatory Town, Nip opted to start on the defensive side.

“Let’s aim for seven points on defense! Eight would be even better!” es3tag encouraged the team before the match officially began.

Purgatory Town is one of the few balanced maps in CSGO where both attacking and defending sides can thrive. Securing six points in the half is considered a pass, but having won map one, they weren’t content with just a pass mark.

“This round, we’ll start by giving up the Faze smoke and gamble on a four-man A-side push through the side path,” es3tag briefly outlined their defensive strategy for the pistol round.

The Faze smoke, developed by Faze after the removal of the utility wall in CS2, is a tactical deployable that blocks the mid-section of middle, preventing the terrorists from gaining immediate mid control and aiding the CTs in gathering information on the side path.

“Arrow, you’ll push forward directly via the rotating stairs. K0nfig, you’re in VIP to bait them,” es3tag continued.

“REZ, you and I will take the mid-side path together for support fire.”

After giving the pistol round instructions, the countdown ended.

Except for headtr1ck, who started alone moving toward B site, Su Zhe and four teammates proceeded toward A site together.

K0nfig peeked mid and, seeing the Faze smoke deployed correctly, the team confidently took their assigned positions.

“Two terrorists upstairs! Two more by the red door!” K0nfig, inside VIP, wanted to grab the first kill but hesitated seeing so many enemies.

Es3tag circled around the side path and peeked. The moment he revealed himself, bullets flew past.

“Don’t lose health, just buy time for Arrow!” he urged.

Though he wasn’t at a disadvantage in the long-range duel, es3tag preferred a safer approach.

“Nip’s opening is well planned; it counters GL’s aggression perfectly. GL’s best response now is to fall back and speed up for a B push.”

“But snax is bold at the terrorist entrance! He’s trying to sneak through the smoke! Anyone covering the smoke? No one!”

“Snax timed it perfectly! He stole two backs from mid pushers! Nip’s coordination is still lacking! How can they give up chances like this?”

Masi, watching the broadcast, didn’t expect such a promising defensive start to crumble due to internal discipline issues. Es3tag and REZ focused on side-path defense, preventing a sudden push, but overlooked that a smoke grenade isn’t an impenetrable wall.

With two players lost mid, K0nfig’s position became a death trap unless luck was overwhelmingly on their side.

The fallen es3tag and REZ shifted their views to Su Zhe.

Whether the pistol round could be turned around depended entirely on how many kills Su Zhe could secure at his advanced position.

At that moment, Su Zhe silently crept up to the second floor of the terrorist site. AcoR, setting up in VIP, sensed something off.

“I lost the gunline at VIP. Checking the side path... Incoming!”

Before AcoR finished speaking, a CT figure emerged. He hastily adjusted his aim but couldn’t fire in time.

*Pop pop!*

[Arrow used a USP headshot to kill AcoR.]

“He traded the face-to-face duel!” Masi, watching the live commentary, grew tense with the unfolding situation. “But that position is risky, and the terrorists at the side path are already alerted. Let’s see if he can get another.”

After the kill, Su Zhe peeked to gather intel below the side path. Confirming the enemies’ positions, he held his ground confidently and pre-aimed a wide angle.

*Pop pop!*

[Arrow used a USP headshot to kill isak.]

Volt, outside the red door, immediately tried to retaliate but noticed the CT on second floor suddenly turn toward him.

*Pop pop!*

[Arrow used a USP headshot to kill Volt.]

“What the hell! What kind of monster is this?” Masi couldn’t help but curse watching Arrow’s first-person perspective from the broadcast. “They must be plugging something into his computer!”

Just after that kill, the camera swiftly shifted as Arrow’s crosshair locked onto another target.

How was this any different from having aimbot?

Even the referee behind him leaned forward, unable to look away.

“Arrow took out all the terrorists on the side path single-handedly, and not even from the back! But snax, who sneaked through the smoke, circled to Boiler Room and took down K0nfig!”

“After getting three kills, Arrow still left a 2v2 scenario!”

K0nfig shouted immediately after dying, “No bomb spotted! Might still be at the entrance!”

Hearing this, Su Zhe held VIP for a few seconds, and seeing snax had no intention to push, quickly moved from second floor toward the entrance.

Headtr1ck had already pressed banana path and peeked inside the entrance but was caught by snax’s timing as he returned.

Su Zhe reached the lower stairs, pulled his aim out, then spotted a terrorist aiming at him from below and quickly fired.

*Pop pop!*

[Arrow used a USP headshot to kill Keoz.]

However, he also took a headshot, leaving him with a sliver of health. The good news was that the flashbang dropped to the ground.

Positions were now fully revealed on both sides. Snax, under pressure, started to feel the nerves, telling himself that just one body shot would secure the kill.

Upon entering the entrance and spotting the flashbang, snax peeked a small angle toward the stairs. Seeing the CT hadn’t moved, he crouched and tried to avoid the headshot line.

Su Zhe quickly flicked his crosshair downward upon seeing the terrorist’s silhouette.

*Bang! Pop!*

[Arrow used a USP headshot to kill snax.]

The moment he secured the kill, the tense Nip team finally erupted. K0nfig shouted excitedly, “Arrow! You’re fucking amazing!”

The rest of Nip cheered wildly, calling out Su Zhe’s ID. This point was won purely through individual skill!

A five-kill ACE! This was the first ACE in several matches of the Katowice qualifier!

And it came despite such an unfavorable start!