G2 Esports, NRG Esports and CR4ZY earned their spots in the New Legends Stage of the StarLadder Berlin Major on Sunday, while HellRaisers were one of three teams eliminated on the third 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. North and mousesports earned their spots on Saturday.
G2 posted a 2-0 win over forZe in their best-of-three series but had to battle for a 28-25 overtime win on Dust2 and a close 16-12 win on Inferno to earn their pass into the New Legends Stage.
NRG enjoyed an easier time of it vs. AVANGAR, pulling off a 2-0 sweep. After opening with a 16-8 win on Train, NRG wrapped it up with a dominant 16-4 win on Dust2.
CR4ZY assured themselves of a top-16 finish thanks to a 2-1 win over DreamEaters. After falling 16-12 on Inferno, CR4ZY rallied back with a 16-11 win on Dust2 followed by a 16-11 triumph on Mirage.
In Sunday's Round 4 matches, Team Vitality sent off HellRaisers with a 2-0 sweep, beating them 16-8 on Inferno and 16-11 on Mirage. Syman Gaming eliminated FURIA Esports with a 2-0 series win. Syman first took Train by 16-9 before winning 16-7 on Inferno. Grayhound Gaming lived to see another day thanks to a 2-0 win over Complexity Gaming. They opened with a 16-11 win on Dust2 before eliminating Complexity with a 16-4 win on Inferno.
Round 5 of the New Challengers Stage, with best-of-three advancement/elimination matches, concludes on Monday.
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 best-of-three.
The championship team will receive $500,000, and the runner-up will pocket $150,000.
-- Field Level Media