Vitality beat NiP to keep race for first place in Group A wide open

Vitality have defeated NIP 2-0 to secure their third victory in the round robin and join the race for first place in Group A of ESL Pro League Season 11.

The Frenchmen have now joined the Swedish side and Astralis atop the group with a 3-1 record after everyone in Group A has played four matches, leaving the race for first place to be decided in the last round. There, Vitality will lock horns with the Danish powerhouse in a match that could see the French side solidify their spot at the top, while NIP will face the winless ENCE.

Vitality's newest member, Kévin "⁠misutaaa⁠" Rabier, was a key player in the series against NIP as the best fragger of the opening map, Vertigo, where the 17-year-old and the newly appointed in-game leader, Dan "⁠apEX⁠" Madesclaire, spearheaded their team's comeback on the Terrorist side from a 5-10 deficit.

Nuke was a much more comfortable affair for Vitality. A great start on the offensive side of Nuke allowed them to secure a one-round advantage before switching over to the CT side, where a dominant showing saw them close out the series in convincing fashion at 16-9.

Although the third victory gives Mathieu "⁠ZywOo⁠" Herbaut & co. the chance to fight for the top spot, they are still not out of the woods when it comes to a top-three finish due to their loss to Spirit, who would have a tiebreaking advantage should the two teams finish the group with an equal record (3-2).

After four rounds, Group A's standings of ESL Pro League Season 11 Europe look as follows: