G2 eliminates Fnatic from Katowice major
Fnatic’s run in the 2019 Katowice Major has come to an end.
Facing G2 Esports in the fourth round of the New Challengers Stage, the Swedish team fizzled en route to a 1-2 loss. That pushed their record to 1-3 in the phase, eliminating them from the event.
Things initially looked up for Fnatic.
Playing on Mirage, the team opened the series with strong performances from its top stars. After a failed pistol round, Fnatic clobbered a fully loaded G2 with a Desert Eagle rush to take over the game. The French side never really recovered from that blow, and each time they got in position to slow Fnatic’s momentum, a clutch play from Jesper “JW” Wecksell or Simon “twist” Eliasson was there to leave them frustrated.
Some early success in the second half kept G2 from walking away with an embarrassing score, but Fnatic still took an easy 16-8 win.
While it was easy to wonder if G2’s struggles might have taken a toll on the team’s confidence, the squad gave a firm answer on Dust 2 by roaring to a 6-0 lead. Fnatic managed to find its footing courtesy of some strong eco rounds and a great play by Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin, who sprayed down three G2 members in one round. But G2 settled the game and rolled towards a 16-8 win.
Surges from Richard “shox” Papillon and Kenny “kennyS” Schrub gave G2 a massive early lead on deciding map Overpass. Whenever Fnatic found a window to move towards a comeback, a clutch play was there to pull the rug out from under them. G2 kept the pressure on and sealed up a quick 16-5 win to end the series and send Fnatic home.
This was a devastating blow for Fnatic. Fnatic looked shaky throughout the major despite entering the New Challengers Stage as the top seed. The team found itself on the brink of elimination by the end of day one after losses to Vici Gaming and Winstrike Team, and did not impress in its lone victory over Grayhound Gaming.
The poor result may lead to serious changes for Fnatic in the coming weeks.
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
Esports Betting
Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule
Hannan Mundia
The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has finally arrived, and here’s the complete schedule for the event to ensure you don’t miss anything. While it isn’t exactly the newest name in the esports scene, the EWC has quickly become a leading event for esports fans worldwide. It brings together professional players and fans from various games, combining them into one long event that everyone can enjoy. 2026’s Esports World Cup ...
Counter-Strike
XSE Pro League 2026 in China: Teams, format and prize pool
Owen Harsono
Counter-Strike is back after the IEM Cologne Major, as the XSE Pro League 2026 is the first notable event since then. 16 teams book flights to China to compete in the million-dollar event. Here’s everything you need to know about the XSE Pro League 2026 event. Top-tier Counter-Strike returns to the passionate grounds of China, as the event will take place in the city of Guangzhou. Teams will play in ...
Esports Betting
Will Valve add Cache in the CS2 Premier Season 5 Active Duty map pool?
Wasif Ahmed
Following the highly anticipated return of Cache to Counter-Strike 2 earlier this season, the competitive community has almost started believing that the legendary industrial map would soon make its way into the Active Duty map pool for Premier Season 5. This expectation followed a pattern set by Train, which Valve brought back late last year before quickly pushing it into the main professional tournament rotation. However, in a recent Twitter ...
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Grand Final: Team Falcons vs FURIA best betting predictions
Owen Harsono
Coming into the IEM Cologne Major, nobody would have expected a grand final series between Team Falcons and FURIA, but here we are. Will NiKo finally win his first Major, or will FalleN win another one before retiring at the end of the year? Here are our IEM Cologne Major Grand Final predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: Grand Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best-of-five Betting tip: Team Falcons ...
Counter-Strike
Team Spirit vs Team Falcons IEM Cologne Major: betting predictions and picks
Owen Harsono
We’re in for a treat, as Team Spirit will take on Team Falcons for a spot in the IEM Cologne Major grand final. Will NiKo finally get another shot at winning a Major, or will donk and company prevent him from accomplishing his lifelong goal? Here are our IEM Cologne Major Team Spirit vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: Semi-Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best-of-three Betting ...
Counter-Strike
Vitality vs Falcons betting predictions and best picks: IEM Cologne Major 2026
Owen Harsono
We’re treated to a possible grand final matchup here in the quarterfinal of the IEM Cologne Major, with Team Vitality taking on Team Falcons in an elimination match. These are two of the highest-profile teams in the game right now, but only one of them can continue their chase for the trophy. Here are our IEM Cologne Major Team Vitality vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: ...
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026 playoffs preview: matchups & predictions
Owen Harsono
The top eight teams at the IEM Cologne 2026 Major are set. Most of the favorites easily secured their spots, but we also have promising underdogs sneaking into the bracket. To keep you up to speed, here’s everything you need to know about the IEM Cologne Major playoffs. We started with 32 teams and are now only down to eight. After a grueling Stage 3, teams have been seeded into ...
