Mousesports became the first team to secure their spot in the New Legends Stage of the StarLadder Berlin Major on Saturday, while TYLOO became the first squad to be eliminated after the second day of play in the $1 million Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event.
The tournament features 24 teams with eight -- Astralis, ENCE, Natus Vincere, MIBR, FaZe Clan, Team Liquid, Renegades and Ninjas in Pyjamas -- already through to the second phase. The other 16 teams are competing in the New Challengers Stage, battling for eight places in the New Legends Stage.
Mousesports advanced with a 2-1 win over G2 Esports, with G2 getting off to a good start in the best-of-three series by notching a 16-5 win on Train. Mousesports pulled even with a 16-13 win on Dust2 and prevailed with a 16-7 win on Vertigo.
Also advancing on Saturday were North, who pulled off a hard-fought 2-1 rally over CR4ZY.
North fell 16-8 on Mirage, then battled to a 28-26 overtime win on Inferno before finishing with a 19-15 win on Train to take the series.
In the first elimination match of the New Challengers stage, Complexity Gaming first beat TYLOO in a close 22-20 triumph on Overpass before finishing them off with a 16-2 win on Vertigo.
Also eliminated on Saturday were INTZ eSports, who went all three maps against Grayhound Gaming. Grayhound jumped in front with a 16-5 win on Train before falling 16-14 on Nuke. They secured the 2-1 series win over INTZ with a 16-7 win on Dust2.
There were four Round 3 mid matches Saturday in the New Legends Stage featuring single games. ForZe beat FURIA Esports 16-10 on Nuke; Avangar topped HellRaisers 16-8 on Dust2; DreamEaters beat Team Vitality 16-14 on Inferno; and NRG Esports dominated Syman Gaming 16-4 on Inferno.
Round 4 of the New Challengers Stage, with elimination and advancement matches being best-of-three, continues Sunday and will conclude Monday.
Sunday's matchups:
Round 4 high matches
--G2 vs. forZe
--NRG vs. Avangar
--CR4ZY vs. DreamEaters
Round 4 low matches
--FURIA vs. Syman
--Complexity vs. Grayhound
--Vitality vs. HellRaisers
The New Legends Stage starts Wednesday and runs through Sept. 1, using the same "Swiss System" format as the New Challengers Stage: single-game matches until elimination and advancement matches are best of three.
The New Champions Stage (quarterfinals, semifinals and final) is scheduled for Sept. 5-8, with all matches being best of three.
The championship team will receive $500,000, and the runner-up will pocket $150,000.
--Field Level Media