FaZe eliminate NRG to proceed to Lower Bracket Finals

After an intense faceoff between OpTic Gaming and XSET, VCT 2022 - North America - Stage 2 - Main Event’s schedule blessed Valorant fans with another matchup between two teams who have made a fascinating run throughout the event despite an unfortunate tournament history. FaZe Clan had failed to qualify for VCT 2022 - North America - Stage 1 - Main Event placing no better than 17th-24th place at the Open Qualifiers preceding it. Coming into this event, they lost their first two matches placing them in the lower ends of the Groups signaling an early elimination from the tournament. However, they managed to recover from that position to finish as the #2 seed from Group.

On the other hand, NRG had made the previous Main Event but finished at a 9th-10th place. Nonetheless, they managed to qualify for the event and were placed in Group A. After winning their initial matchup, their performance encountered unexpected deterioration such that their final match against The Guard was a do or die with elimination being on the line. They won the matchup in Decider and were placed in the Lower Brackets of the Playoffs. They have since defeated Ghost Gaming and Evil Geniuses to reach so far in the event.

VCT 2022 - North America - Stage 2 - Main Event

NRG

1

X

2

FaZe Clan

Lower Bracket Round 3 of 4, Best of 3 - June 25, 2022 - 1:00AM

11

Icebox

13

13

Haven

8

8

Ascent

13

NRG

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

eeiu

1.24

247

58/48/18

+10

1.21

78.6%

167.1

30%

67%

6

3

hazed

1.01

209

47/50/21

-3

0.94

70.0%

136.9

29%

43%

6

8

tex

0.98

202

50/45/5

+5

1.11

67.1%

134.4

40%

58%

14

10

Ethan

0.91

176

38/49/25

-11

0.78

72.8%

108.8

27%

44%

4

5

s0m

0.84

180

35/51/27

-16

0.69

70.0%

118.6

18%

36%

4

7

FaZe Clan

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

supamen

1.41

265

63/42/23

+21

1.50

77.6%

167.1

32%

63%

5

3

flyuh

1.01

185

41/47/28

-6

0.87

69.8%

126.1

24%

57%

4

3

dicey

1.00

210

50/43/7

+7

1.16

75.6%

139.3

28%

52%

12

11

babybay

0.99

204

48/46/18

+2

1.04

63.7%

135.0

20%

35%

7

13

POISED

0.95

196

41/50/24

-9

0.82

74.0%

126.5

19%

56%

5

4

Icebox:

FaZe has provided interesting matchups in the Playoffs, and a key feature of their performance is their 1st half run and the narrative managed to repeat itself in two of the three maps. NRG initiated proceedings with a quick pistol round but failed to follow through enabling FaZe’s defense to pressurize them in subsequent rounds. Before NRG could react, FaZe took 10 consecutive rounds.

It seemed like every offensive strategy NRG had drawn up was falling through against the brick-like defense FaZe put up. Regardless of repeated failure, they continued their efforts only to sneak the last round of the half courtesy of a 3K from Ian "tex" Botsch.Upon switching sides, NRG prevented FaZe from getting easy picks early and started their run to replicate the success FaZe had on defense. As rounds passed by, a pattern emerged. FaZe’s attack was able to plant spikes in almost every round and therefore the map’s timeline is lined with NRG securing easy defusals.

They took a total of nine rounds by round 23 elevating their score to 11, whereas FaZe’s roster had managed to sneak in two rounds past the opponents Defense to put them only a point away from closing out the map. Phat "supamen" Le and Andrej "babybay" Francisty realized the gravity of the situation and exerted all the aggression they could muster to put an end to NRG’s run on the map.

Haven:

It became clear that this matchup had all the ingredients for an entertaining experience and NRG’s performance on Haven further spiced up their interaction with FaZe. As discussed in several pieces, winning a pistol round serves a pivotal role in establishing an early run and each member of NRG stepped up to ensure their success in this particular endeavor.

Unlike the last map, they were able to utilize the momentum to their advantage and embark on a streak spanning seven rounds. FaZe retaliated and were able to take four rounds ending the half with a four-point deficit. NRG was in a similar position FaZe was on Icebox, but the former managed to maintain their foothold over the matchup in a better way and they started with taking the pistol round to themselves once again.

Even though they lost the following round, Sam "s0m" Oh came in clutch for the roster with his 3K in round 15, and then Daniel "eeiu" Vucenovic with a 3K of his own in the subsequent round. Despite losing three more rounds to FaZe, they still held a three-point lead, and stood only two rounds from tying up the series. Daniel "eeiu" Vucenovic saw his moment to shine and did not hesitate. His 4K in round 21 closing out the map as the MVP with a 1.49 Rating on 290 ACS and 1.69 KD.

Ascent:

Matchups going to decider are considered the peak of entertainment and this was no different as the Faze in true fashion started the half with a 10-2 lead once again. It was almost a mirror performance of Icebox’s first half except that FaZe had secured the pistol round and lost the second round towards the end of the half. Without Phat "supamen" Le’s contribution as an Astra, this run wouldn’t have had the same lethality it now possessed.

NRG was in an eight-point deficit to start the second half of an elimination match, the least optimal situation they could’ve asked for. Despite the situation they faced, NRG’s roster maintained composure and were en route to a breathtaking comeback until Quan "dicey" Tran took matters into his own hands using Chamber’s offense to break the opponents momentum and slow them down.

NRG managed to string together another attempt at a comeback by embarking on a brief three round streak putting them only three rounds behind FaZe. Unfortunately, this attempt was rendered futile and FaZe’s offense put an end to the matchup winning the series 2-1 and earning a spot at the Lower Bracket finals within an earshot of qualifying for VCT 2022 - Stage 2 - Masters Copenhagen.