Eternal Fire send 9INE to Last Chance bracket

Eternal Fire clinched a tight win on Anubis before outclassing Vertigo specialists 9INE on their home map.

Eternal Fire have sent 9INE to the Last Chance bracket at ESL Pro League by virtue of a 2-0 victory, taking down the Poles on Anubis (16-14) and Vertigo (16-11).

An Özgür "⁠woxic⁠" Eker hard-carry was needed for Eternal Fire to get things over the line on Anubis, before they shocked 9INE with a powerful CT-side on Vertigo. 9INE will be left scratching their heads as to how they were so poor on Vertigo, a map some call them the best in the world on, particularly on their toothless offensive half.

This result means Eternal Fire move on in the lower bracket to face the loser of G2 vs. Virtus.pro, whilst 9INE head down to the Last Chance stage to face off against Lynn Vision in the first round.

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 18
22/09/2023	Eternal Fire 16:00 Virtus.pro	Match
23/09/2023	Lynn Vision 12:30 9INE	Match

9INE kicked off Anubis, Eternal Fire’s map pick, on the CT side, and won the pistol to start 3-0. From there the Turks’ well-drilled T side began to take over, earning a flurry of rounds thanks to the variety it showed as well as some good fragging from woxic. 9INE adjusted their defense and managed to find some success grabbing opening frags, but Eternal Fire had enough in the tank to clinch a narrow 8-7 lead.

Eternal Fire won the pistol to kick off their defensive effort, and then broke 9INE after the Poles won the first gun round, putting the Turkish squad firmly in the driver’s seat. An impactful round from Olek "⁠hades⁠" Miskiewicz relieved the pressure on his team and allowed them to tie the score at 12-12, and there was nothing to separate the two teams for the rest of regulation, leading to overtime.

9INE appeared to lose their composure in overtime, once losing a round due to a teamflash and once losing a favorable afterplant scenario. Eternal Fire duly closed things out 19-15.

Over on Vertigo, 9INE grabbed a pistol win to go 3-0 up on their CT side, before Eternal Fire strung together five T rounds with some slick middle and B takes. 9INE got themselves back into things with stellar ramp holds powered by Kamil "⁠KEi⁠" Pietkun, but could still only muster an 8-7 score at halftime.

9INE seemingly put themselves in pole position to win the map by taking their T pistol, only for Eternal Fire to force up and successfully catch the right timing to crush an A ramp attack. This allowed Eternal Fire to take economic control and they never let go, with Ismailcan "⁠XANTARES⁠" Dörtkardeş coming alive on the A bombsite to help ensure a comfortable 16-11 victory.