North defeat Endpoint to set up semi-final bout with Gen.G

North are through to the DreamHack Open Anaheim semi-finals following a 2-0 victory over Endpoint on Vertigo (16-7) and Dust2 (19-17).

Endpoint shocked DreamHack Open Anaheim viewers earlier in the match day with a historic victory over FORZE in the group’s elimination match, which saw Thomas "⁠Thomas⁠" Utting spearhead his side into a group decider versus North. With both teams having been dismantled by FURIA previously in Group A, the British and Danish squads locked horns for a single spot in the playoffs.

Endpoint came out of the gates hot on Vertigo, their own map pick, where the British team stormed to a 5-0 lead on the offensive side. With a less than optimal buy, René "⁠cajunb⁠" Borg opened up the sixth round with two opening kills with a hyper-aggressive play through mid to break Endpoint’s streak and flip the half on its head. North firmly stamped their claim on the half moving forward as the Danes locked down seven of the following nine rounds to take an 8-7 halftime lead.

Proceedings went from bad to worse for Max "⁠MiGHTYMAX⁠" Heath and co. as a Markus "⁠Kjaerbye⁠" Kjærbye triple kill on the pistol ensured the Danish dominance continued throughout the second half as Endpoint failed time and again to shut down North’s offence. In the blink of an eye, Vertigo reached its conclusion at 16-7, with Kjaerbye ending the map with a 28-9 K/D to give his side a map advantage in the series.

An early lead once more went in favour of Endpoint as the British squad attained a 4-1 start on the defence of Dust2, but it didn’t take long for Endpoint to lose their grip on the half. A Desert Eagle round from North was all the Danes needed to ignite a fire in their belly, with Kjaerbye once again leading the charge as North closed out the half 10-5.

With defeat in sight for Endpoint, Joey "⁠CRUC1AL⁠" Steusel stepped up to the plate with numerous AWP kills to get his side back on the front foot. An exchange of rounds went overwhelmingly in favour of the British side, allowing the score to level out at 12-12. Now overflowing with confidence, Endpoint took the fight straight to North to force overtime with all players on point.

However, the gas in Endpoint's tank ran low in overtime as the British team could not recover a 15-18 deficit as North ultimately closed out the map 19-17 to take the series 2-0 and book themselves a semi-final spot against Gen.G