First match of Masters Europe ends with victory for Team Heretics

In the first matchup of Stage 1 Masters in Europe, we had First Strike champions Team Heretics facing the Polish upstarts Ballista Esports. It was a tense affair, with Ballista running a very aggressive style, but ultimately went the way of the favourites. Heretics will advance to play the winner of Ninjas in Pyjamas and Acend next week, while Ballista will face the loser of that match on Sunday.

The first map was Bind, and immediately we saw very different compositions. Heretics ran an Omen, Sova, and Cypher, while Ballista went with a Brimstone, Skye, and Phoenix. Both teams went for Sage and Raze. While Ballista took the pistol off their signature aggressive play, they very nearly lost the follow-up, allowing Heretics to take some momentum back. It didn’t last long though, with their quick site hits giving them a 4-1 lead to start off the match. Heretics took a round back, but Kamil "baddyG" Graniczka’s 3 Phoenix ultimates in 7 rounds helped Ballista keep their foot on the gas. With baddyG and Michał "Buld" Sokal entry fragging gorgeously, the half ended 9-3 for the Poles.

Heretics were certainly not done yet, though. With Ballista on the defense and more unable to play the relentless aggression that had served them so well on the attack, Heretics’ superior experience, set pieces, and postplants began to show their worth. They took B site seemingly for free any time they wanted, and despite Ballista making a few rounds close towards the end, as Heretics won more and more the momentum and confidence swung very far towards their side. The half went 10-1 in their favour and the first map went to Heretics.

The next map was Haven, Heretics’ pick, and compositions again differed with Ballista going for double duelists, baddyG on Phoenix and Jakub "qxv" Sawicki on Jett, as well as a Killjoy. Heretics took Cypher as their Sentinel and opted for a Sova and Sage instead of a second duelist. Heretics started out on the defense, and immediately showed they had adapted from Bind, managing to control Ballista much better than before. Žygimantas "nukkye" Chmieliauskas in particular was crucial, shutting down Ballista with aggression of his own. However, Ballista did manage to make things come together towards the end of the half, switching their focus to A site and grabbing 5 rounds. It was 7-5 in favour of Heretics as the sides switched.

Heretics took the next pistol and follow-up to expand their lead, though Ballista countered with an explosive few rounds of their own to keep themselves in it.

The two teams would continue to trade rounds, with Heretics playing the map very well and Ballista routinely pulling off big aim plays, and Ballista would eventually edge ahead thanks to qxv pulling out the Operator to great success. Haven headed to overtime.

Ultimately, when it came down to the clutch, Ballista couldn’t match Heretics. nukkye picked up a few kills to get himself to 30, and Heretics held sites well to secure the 14-12 map win and 2-0 match win.

VCT 2021 - Stage 1 - Europe Masters

Need4Food

0

X

2

Team Heretics

Group A - Opening Match, Best of 3 - March 12, 2021 - 4:00PM

10

Bind

13

12

Haven

14

Need4Food

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

baddyG

1.24

274

45/40/10

+5

1.13

0.0%

174.1

25%

56%

10

8

Buld

1.03

224

37/44/13

-7

0.84

0.0%

156.3

28%

40%

4

6

MORFAN

0.90

173

30/39/16

-9

0.77

0.0%

114.3

30%

67%

2

1

KEREME

0.78

148

26/31/12

-5

0.84

0.0%

99.8

24%

50%

2

2

qxv

0.77

163

26/35/10

-9

0.74

0.0%

89.7

26%

43%

6

8

Team Heretics

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

nukkye

1.64

349

58/35/12

+23

1.66

0.0%

221.6

24%

67%

10

5

lowel

1.07

206

35/27/16

+8

1.30

0.0%

152.5

26%

20%

1

4

AvovA

1.02

209

38/35/6

+3

1.09

0.0%

138.7

26%

67%

8

4

RUBINO

0.93

174

29/31/17

-2

0.94

0.0%

144.0

27%

0%

0

4

pAura

0.91

192

29/36/21

-7

0.81

0.0%

122.6

33%

46%

6

7