The hometown heroes of Germany are going to the grand finals of ESL One Cologne.
BIG eliminated FaZe Clan with a 2-1 series score to advance to the grand finals of ESL’s $300,000 event. BIG picked Dust II, FaZe selected Train, and Inferno was the match decider left from the veto phase.
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On Dust II, FaZe’s fortified defenses helped them gain an easy 11-4 score. After losing the second pistol round, BIG mounted a huge CT-side comeback from 12-4 to 13-10 thanks to a force buy clutch from in-game leader Fatih “Gob b” Dayik. Both sides inched closer to game point with traded rounds late in the map, but BIG forced overtime with a massive A long defense in round 30. Overtime went back and forth until FaZe won round 36 to close out map one 19-17. Johannes “nex” Maget also dropped 34 frags in his team’s loss.
BIG opened up Train with a strong 6-1 T side lead, which was assisted by a successful post-plant defense via molotovs. FaZe clawed their way back, tied the game, and led at the half at 9-6. The German-majority team then won the second pistol round, knotted the score, and continued to keep up with FaZe’s T side pacing. A momentous ace from Jorgen “cromen” Robertsen at 11-12 reset BIG, but somehow BIG won a two-vs-four eco round afterwards and streaked their way to the map win at 16-13.
FaZe looked extremely nervous going into Inferno, losing seven of the eight opening rounds and a pivotal two-vs-one vs. Gob b. BIG dominated their CT side, while FaZe floundered in frags, concluding the first half at 12-3. FaZe won the second pistol round and tried to stay alive with a few round wins. To no avail, BIG finished off FaZe with a 16-6 scoreline.
BIG are moving on to the ESL One Cologne grand finals, where they’ll be playing against Natus Vincere. Gob b and crew will be looking to finish their Cinderella story tomorrow at 9am CT.
