ENCE moves to New Legends stage after tight Winstrike series
Though it wasn’t elegant, the Finland’s top Counter-Strike team got the job done in Katowice.
In one of the wildest series of the major thus far, ENCE defeated Winstrike Team 2-1. That victory, coupled with ENCE’s wins over G2 Esports and Team Spirit, advances ENCE to the New Legends stage.
What this series said about their chances there is up for debate.
The first frame, Dust 2, started in ugly fashion for Winstrike. Despite playing on its own map of choice, Winstrike struggled with grenade placement while Aleksi “allu” Jalli tore the CIS team apart with exceptional AWP work. This frustrated Winstrike to the point that they began making more basic errors, highlighted by a sequence in which Jan “wayLander” Rahkonen forgot to reload his rifle and handed two free kills to ENCE. Winstrike pulled it together in the second half but didn’t come close to the win, ceding the game 16-11.
ENCE got a taste of their own medicine on the second map, Mirage. Winstrike dominated the first half, scoring 13 rounds as ENCE struggled to find any kills. ENCE went down swinging in the next half but still got handed a decisive 16-7 loss.
Deciding map Train saw ENCE settle down and leverage the CT side for a dominant 14-1 first half, with 16-year-old Jere “sergej” Salodrivin turning heads with one of the most impressive clutch rounds of the event. Winstrike gave little margin for error in the second half and while Winstrike managed to make ENCE sweat with a strong rally, it ultimately fell short at 16-13.
Though ENCE walks away with the victory, there were mixed messages sent here about how the team could fare in the next phase of the tournament.
During the New Challengers Stage ENCE proved itself to be one of the most mechanically gifted teams, with each player posting big moments. Allu’s performance on Dust 2 and Sergej’s best moments on Train would likely frustrate any opposition.
But when ENCE was slumping, it was a deep slump that lasted for extended periods of time. The Finnish side will need to shake that habit when it starts coming up against top competition.
Steven Rondina
About Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.
View full profile
Read Also
Counter-Strike
Team Spirit vs Team Falcons at BLAST Open Fall 2026: best predictions and picks
Owen Harsono
We’re in for a treat, as the BLAST Open Fall semi-final will feature a matchup between Team Spirit and Team Falcons, with the winner booking a spot in the grand final. It’s a battle between the world number one and number two, so this is a match you definitely don’t want to miss. Here are our BLAST Open Fall Team Spirit vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: BLAST Open Fall 2026 ...
Counter-Strike
Is CS2 Dying in 2026?
Owen Harsono
Counter-Strike is one of the longest-standing esports franchises, having built a loyal fanbase over the course of two decades. However, if you’ve browsed through social media platforms across the past few months, you might have seen people claiming that the game is dying or on a steady decline. Below we’ll take a look at why people are talking about this and answer the question of “is CS2 really dying?” One ...
News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027
Ben Boland
The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
Counter-Strike
CS2 at the EWC 2026 Preview: Odds, Details, Predictions and More
Owen Harsono
Top-tier Counter-Strike action returns at the Esports World Cup, as 32 of the best teams will take the trip to Paris to compete for millions of dollars. If you’re looking to watch the event, here’s everything you need to know and which teams to keep an eye on. The Esports World Cup is one of the largest CS2 events if we’re looking at prize pools, as $2,000,000 will be distributed ...
News
Opinion: Is Esports Tracing the Same Evolutionary Path As Traditional Sports?
Cecilia Ciocchetti
What happens when an industry compresses centuries of sporting evolution into less than a decade or two? Communities become global audiences overnight, rivalries spread through social media within minutes, and tournaments turn into entertainment products faster than ever before. And so what took traditional sports centuries to build has taken esports a fraction of that. From local communities to sold out arenas, and from informal matches to Olympic-style events, the ...
Counter-Strike
BLAST Bounty 2026 semi-final predictions: who’s making it to the grand final?
Owen Harsono
The top four teams we’re seeing at the BLAST Bounty 2026 semi-finals are far from what anyone would expect before the tournament began, but here we are. We’re only three matches from crowning a winner, so let’s take a look at the best BLAST Bounty semi-final predictions for both upcoming matchups. Starting the semi-finals off is a banger of a series between FaZe Clan and Team Spirit, which is one ...
