Extra Salt send BIG to FunSpark ULTI Europe Final lower bracket

Johnny "⁠JT⁠" Theodosiou and co. secured the series in the decider map with a dominant performance on the CT side of Nuke.

Extra Salt are through to the second round of the FunSpark ULTI Europe Final upper bracket after defeating BIG in a three-map series that marks their first victory on European soil.

The match started on Train, a map BIG let through the veto in an unexpected move, for which they were quickly punished as Extra Salt won it convincingly, 16-6. BIG tied things up on Dust2, 16-10, but it was finally Aran "⁠Sonic⁠" Groesbeek and company who were able to muscle their way to the upper bracket semi-finals with a solid 16-8 victory on Nuke.

Up next for Extra Salt will be the upper bracket semi-final, where they will face the winner of Dignitas vs. Evil Geniuses, while BIG will meet the loser in a do-or-die match in the first round of the lower bracket.

BIG kicked things off by securing the first pistol round on Extra Salt’s pick, Train, but were taken out in the second round by a forcebuy as the North American squad went on to take a 5-1 lead. The Germans won another after a pause, but were quickly on the back foot as Justin "⁠FaNg⁠" Coakley had a big round with an ace to make it 9-3. Two impossible AWP shots in a 1vs2 by Nils "⁠k1to⁠" Gruhne put BIG back in contention as they secured the final three rounds of the half, but Extra Salt steam rolled over their German rivals on the CT side, winning seven rounds in a clean half to close the map out and take the lead in the series.

BIG came out much stronger on their home map, Dust2, taking a vast lead early on the attacking side, 6-1, although Extra Salt regained their composure and brought it back to within one, 5-6. Despite keeping it close early on Extra Salt were shut down as Johannes "⁠tabseN⁠" Wodarz and company ran away with a 10-5 half, further extending their lead to 13-5 after switching sides, and although Extra Salt linked five in a row with guns in play, the German squad were finally able to close their pick out 16-10 to force a decider map.

Extra Salt got off to a flying start on Nuke, taking a 6-0 lead on the attack before three opening kills by Ismailcan "⁠XANTARES⁠" Dörtkardeş with a FAMAS in the seventh round stopped their streak. From there on out BIG brought it to a tie, 7-7, but weren’t able to take the lead as a triple by Josh "⁠oSee⁠" Ohm gave his team the edge at the half. Extra Salt wasted no time on the CT side and quickly picked up momentum, taking the first six rounds and sprinting towards the finish line, 16-8.