ENCE take care of business, advance to semifinals at Antwerp

ENCE beat Copenhagen Flames 2-0 on Friday to advance to the semifinals at PGL Major Antwerp 2022. The third match in Round 1 of the playoffs was somewhat one-sided with ENCE proving themselves the better team.

ENCE go on to play the winner of the match between Natus Vincere and Heroic in the Antwerp semifinals. Copenhagen Flames head home after the organization’s first trip to a major playoffs.

“I feel good about this tournament,” ENCE’s Lotan “Spinx” Giladi said in the post-match interview. “I don’t know who we’ll face next but Na’Vi or Heroic right? I do think Na’Vi will win it but they shouldn’t underestimate Heroic.”

Spinx continued to impress, building on his massive performance in the Legends stage. He has slowly risen to be one of the best riflers in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at the moment.

“I feel good about my game,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m top five in the world right now, but I do have more confidence.”

The match between ENCE, who have risen to become the world no. 3 team, and Copenhagen Flames heavily favored the former on paper. Although the Flames had spots of brilliance and put up admirable resistance, ENCE cemented their status as a top five team in CS:GO.

Map 1 on Vertigo was meant to be a Copenhagen Flames stronghold, but ENCE had a massive CT-side that the Flames couldn’t crack. The Danes rallied towards the end, but it wasn’t enough. Nuke was kept closer, with the Flames leading for a large chunk of the map, but again ENCE had a dominant CT-side that helped them end the series with a 16-12 win.

“I think we are different from other teams because we do believe in each other more than other teams,” Spinx said. “Every one of us can pop off.”

If Na’Vi overcome Heroic, the PGL Major Antwerp top four will be the world no. 1, 2, 3 and then Team Spirit, no. 14.