ESEA GC groups first round over

The first round of the group stage matches have been played at the ESEA Global Challenge LAN in Poland, Katowice.

The action started off with a matchup between the American team Echo Fox and the Australians of Chiefs, who were known as ASDF until recently. What seemed as the most one-sided matchup of the first day turned out to be a tight affair, with neither team getting more than a three round lead throughout the match.

The map veto came down to Nuke, on which Chiefs' AWPer Alistair "⁠aliStair⁠" Johnston proved to be a thorn in the side of the Foxes. With the help of his consistent fragging and a high tempo T side the Australians were holding on in the match until Echo Fox kicked into a higher gear and closed out the map 16-13.

Echo Fox	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Shahzeb 'ShahZaM' KhanShahZaM	22 - 17	+5	93.0	1.24
Ryan 'freakazoid' Abadirfreakazoid	26 - 20	+6	87.0	1.16
Daniel 'roca' Gustaferriroca	19 - 18	+1	68.6	0.97
Sean 'seang@res' Garesseang@res	15 - 20	-5	66.6	0.80
Ronnie 'ryx' Bylickiryx	13 - 21	-8	56.7	0.72

Chiefs	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Alistair 'aliStair' JohnstonaliStair	30 - 17	+13	94.8	1.60
Tyler 'tucks' Reillytucks	21 - 18	+3	83.3	1.09
Michael 'Lightstep' HallLightstep	14 - 20	-6	66.7	0.88
Liam 'malta' Schembrimalta	15 - 20	-5	67.6	0.82
Joshua 'INS' PotterINS	16 - 21	-5	62.6	0.79

The second match saw the German side of ALTERNATE aTTaX take on the Finnish hope ENCE. It was never going to be easy for ENCE though, with the retired player-turned-caster Joona "⁠natu⁠" Leppänen replacing the recently departed star Aleksi "⁠allu⁠" Jalli.

In the end, it was Miikka "⁠suNny⁠" Kemppi who shined for them on Dust2, but he alone wasn't enough to stop the team effort of the German side. The match featured a few turnarounds and went the whole distance, with Kevin "⁠keev⁠" Bartholomäus's side managing to grab a narrow 16-14 win in the end.

ENCE	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Miikka 'suNny' KemppisuNny	31 - 23	+8	112.4	1.47
Niko 'naSu' KovanennaSu	17 - 21	-4	61.7	1.03
Juho 'juho' Lampinenjuho	20 - 23	-3	75.3	1.00
Mikko 'xartE' VälimaaxartE	14 - 19	-5	55.5	0.82
Joona 'natu' Leppänennatu	14 - 23	-9	56.8	0.77

ALTERNATE aTTaX	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Christian 'crisby' Schmittcrisby	25 - 19	+6	94.0	1.31
Kevin 'keev' Bartholomäuskeev	25 - 20	+5	89.4	1.26
Florian 'syrsoN' RischesyrsoN	19 - 15	+4	52.5	1.09
Oliver 'kzy' Heckkzy	20 - 20	0	82.6	1.08
Tizian 'tiziaN' FeldbuschtiziaN	19 - 22	-3	65.3	0.98

The following matchup featured MK taking on the unknown quantity of g3x on Cache. Lucas "⁠steel⁠" Lopes, who played in KaBuM when they first made a name for themselves internationally, proved pivotal in another Brazilian success - carrying his team to the victory with a 1.46 rating and +10 K-D difference.

steel helped his team upset MK in Poland 

The match itself was a hard-fought battle, with both teams unwilling to let the other side build a bank and continuous force buying - something the Bulgarian team is known for. In the end, the force buys proved to be the demise of Nikolay "⁠nkl⁠" Krastev and co., with g3x winning a few crucial anti-force rounds and closing out the match 16-12.

MK	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Kamen 'bubble' Kostadinovbubble	21 - 21	0	82.3	1.21
Viktor 'v1c7oR' Dyankovv1c7oR	20 - 20	0	92.0	1.09
Emiliyan 'spyleadeR' DimitrovspyleadeR	20 - 21	-1	74.6	1.06
Nikolay 'nkl' Krastevnkl	22 - 21	+1	78.6	1.06
Simeon 'dream3r' Ganevdream3r	13 - 19	-6	65.8	0.81

g3x	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Lucas 'steel' Lopessteel	29 - 19	+10	99.6	1.38
Rafael 'pava' Pavanellipava	20 - 22	-2	94.7	1.07
Jean-Michel 'mch' D'Oliveiramch	19 - 18	+1	73.7	1.06
Vito 'kNgV-' GiuseppekNgV-	18 - 21	-3	76.6	1.04
Caike 'caike' Costacaike	16 - 16	0	51.8	1.01

The last match of the first round saw two lower tier teams, Pnda and Crowns, debut at an international LAN. The Swedes, who qualified as Kalashnikov 47, had a great start - but Derrick "⁠LILMAN⁠" Boyne's team recovered after a first half timeout to end the half 7-deb8.

Coming into the second half it was Crowns who took complete control. They won the pistol round as Terrorist and cruised to a 16-8 win while dropping only one round in the second half.

Pnda	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Derrick 'LILMAN' BoyneLILMAN	18 - 18	0	90.5	1.14
David 'Toy' HanToy	17 - 16	+1	69.8	1.04
Kyuhyun 'blade' William Uhmblade	11 - 21	-10	64.8	0.76
Anthony 'mummAy' DiPaolomummAy	13 - 19	-6	50.1	0.68
Noah 'haptiiC' ChoihaptiiC	7 - 19	-12	46.9	0.45

Crowns	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Aron 'xajdish' Fredrikssonxajdish	30 - 12	+18	126.8	2.02
Mattias 'benny' Rosbackbenny	19 - 13	+6	75.3	1.31
Eddie 'zape' Härdemanzape	16 - 14	+2	70.5	1.20
Fredrik 'Krewmer' SvenssonKrewmer	15 - 13	+2	62.9	1.02
David 'Jayzwalkingz' KempnerJayzwalkingz	13 - 15	-2	66.6	0.94

Stay tuned for more updates from the ESEA Global Challenge LAN and check out the first photos from Katowice in our opening matches gallery.

Alistair 'aliStair' Johnston Age: 18 Team: Chiefs Rating 1.0: 1.10 Maps played: 29 KPR: 0.73 DPR: 0.63 Pnda #59 Kyuhyun 'blade' William UhmNoah 'haptiiC' ChoiDavid 'Toy' HanDerrick 'LILMAN' BoyneAnthony 'mummAy' DiPaolo g3x #60 Jean-Michel 'mch' D'OliveiraRafael 'pava' PavanelliVito 'kNgV-' GiuseppeLucas 'steel' LopesCaike 'caike' Costa Kevin 'keev' Bartholomäus Age: 24 Team: ALTERNATE aTTaX Rating 1.0: 1.12 Maps played: 302 KPR: 0.77 DPR: 0.66 Miikka 'suNny' Kemppi Age: 22 Team: ENCE Rating 1.0: 1.07 Maps played: 374 KPR: 0.75 DPR: 0.70 Joona 'natu' Leppänen Age: 31 Team: No team Rating 1.0: 0.88 Maps played: 187 KPR: 0.61 DPR: 0.71 KaBuM Derrick 'LILMAN' Boyne Age: 22 Team: Pnda Rating 1.0: 0.96 Maps played: 26 KPR: 0.63 DPR: 0.69 ENCE #28 Niko 'naSu' KovanenMiikka 'suNny' KemppiMikko 'xartE' VälimaaJuho 'juho' Lampinen Crowns Eddie 'zape' HärdemanFredrik 'Krewmer' SvenssonDavid 'Jayzwalkingz' KempnerAron 'xajdish' FredrikssonMattias 'benny' Rosback Nikolay 'nkl' Krastev Age: 22 Team: MK Rating 1.0: 0.90 Maps played: 584 KPR: 0.60 DPR: 0.66 MK #25 Kamen 'bubble' KostadinovEmiliyan 'spyleadeR' DimitrovNikolay 'nkl' KrastevViktor 'v1c7oR' DyankovSimeon 'dream3r' Ganev Echo Fox #26 Sean 'seang@res' GaresRyan 'freakazoid' AbadirShahzeb 'ShahZaM' KhanDaniel 'roca' GustaferriRonnie 'ryx' Bylicki Lucas 'steel' Lopes Age: 22 Team: g3x Rating 1.0: 1.00 Maps played: 249 KPR: 0.66 DPR: 0.63 Aleksi 'allu' Jalli Age: 24 Team: FaZe Rating 1.0: 1.12 Maps played: 703 KPR: 0.77 DPR: 0.65 Kalashnikov 47 ALTERNATE aTTaX #31 Christian 'crisby' SchmittOliver 'kzy' HeckTizian 'tiziaN' FeldbuschKevin 'keev' BartholomäusFlorian 'syrsoN' Rische Chiefs #66 Michael 'Lightstep' HallTyler 'tucks' ReillyAlistair 'aliStair' JohnstonJoshua 'INS' PotterLiam 'malta' Schembri