Team Vitality is joining Team Spirit as the second team heading to the IEM Katowice Major. The all-French squad was able to take down North in order to secure their spot after winning the European Minor.
Everything didn't go perfectly. The journey has been tough. But we didn't give up, we didn't doubt and we're now ready to fight on the biggest stage #VforVictory pic.twitter.com/NiT6XaVxaP
— Team Vitality (@TeamVitality) January 20, 2019
Team Vitality’s road to the Major was a tough one, as they said in their announcement tweet. There were multiple obstacles in their path, even before the Europe Minor. However, they were able to persevere and work hard. They actually dropped into the Losers’ Bracket early after an 0-2 series loss to North. After taking down Valiance in a hard-fought three-game series, they would move on to face North in the Losers’ Final.
North also had a tough Europe Minor, first losing in dramatic fashion to Windigo Gaming, 6-16. Although they would manage to fight their way to the Winners’ Final, they would lose to ENCE Esports. This would end up sending them down to the Losers’ Finals where they would have to try to defeat Vitality once again. Their Katowice Major hopes were in the air, but only one team could come out on top.
North Takes The Lead
Game one would be played out on Mirage, where North had to mount an incredible comeback early. Vitality would jump out to a huge 8-1 lead on their T side, making it look like they were going to take the map with ease. However, North would launch a great counterattack and go on a six-round winning streak behind the efforts of Valdemar “valde” Bjørn VangsÃ¥.
https://twitter.com/TheNorthIsHere/status/1087033984402575361
Only down one round, North would take the pistol heading into the second half. However, Vitality would go on a four-round streak and threaten match point. Again, North would have to go on a miraculous winning streak and would end up taking the match. Valde willed his team forward with 40 kills to lead his team and the server. It was a legendary showing from the 20th best player of the world, according to HLTV.
Vitality Takes Over
Unfortunately, games two and three would be all Team Vitality, as they could not find the same success from the previous game. They would reach the halfway point down 11-2, a daunting task for any team. Even though they would win the opening three rounds of the second half, Vitality would end up closing out the game, 16-5. It was a horrible game from the Danish boys, as they now had to find their rhythm in time for Inferno.
Right when we needed it the most, we take Nuke by storm, including this incredible play from @RpKTANKK enhanced by the great Russian cast!
Inferno will decide who qualifies for the CSGO Major #VforVictory pic.twitter.com/HN2yd3Biog
— Team Vitality (@TeamVitality) January 20, 2019
And to the dismay of North fans, they would not find their groove at all. Similar to their play in Nuke, Team Vitality would storm to a quick 10-2 lead. Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye would try his best to lift his team to the victory with a server-leading 30 kills. Unfortunately, the rest of his teammates could not hit their shots. Kjaerbye would help get North in striking distance by helping North reach eight round wins, but it was too little, too late. Vitality was just too much for North, and now the French squad is heading to the IEM Katowice Major.
What are your thoughts on Vitality’s win over North at the Katowice Minor? Let us know what you think in the comments below! If you want more CSGO coverage, check us out here!
Published: Jan 20, 2019 09:21 pm