A few days ago in Kyiv, in the club Kiev Cybersport Arena , The lan-final of the online league ended Starladder Starsies Season IV. The main feature of the fourth season was the presence in the list of disciplines Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. In Western Europe, the brainchild Valve It is already very popular, and several small championships have passed in Moscow, but nothing large in the CIS has happened yet. The Kyiv championship was supposed to fix the situation.

► the Golden Polish five is so often visited by Kyiv that it has been feeling almost at home here recently.

If earlier, the “mother of the cities of Russians” was often visited by the strongest European CS collections, then recently ( Asus and the Finns did not count) they shot only at Point Blank And Call of Duty 4. Our viewer missed large CS tournaments, and this championship aroused great interest, although he went through a new, not familiar game for many.

In the previous series

Competitions by Dota 2, World of Tanks And Point Blank We have already observed the “star” league more than once, but the second most popular e -sports game from Valve (after "Dota" at number two) in Kyiv debuted.

► Znation player Nikita Kvochkin (Fabi) is trying to get used to a huge monitor on stage.

Since for workers Kiev Cybersport Arena and organizers Starladder Starsers This was the first CS: GO championship, it was decided not to experiment with the format, only four teams were invited. To determine the quartet of the strongest, on the open spaces of the network they held a circular league involving sixteen European teams. Seven to eights were played to the end-the rest either broke up along the way, or lost the chances of going to Kyiv after the first matches.

Thus, for the tour to the finish, the situation was as follows – the first place was occupied Virtus.Pro , Further the French were walking Imaginary Gaming and the Poles ESC Gaming, and the Germans from Mousesports. That is how the preliminary composition of the participants of the LAN final would be, if in the ESC match against Znation The judges did not see the violation of the rules. The Shlyakhtichi party won with a score of 16:14, but later it turned out that Philip Kubski ( Neo ) and the company used too many smoke grenades. Having noticed this, the Russians quickly protested, and the Polish five received a technical defeat.

► Jacob Gurchzhinsky-Tactical Leader ESC Gaming and one of the best players in the history of Counter-Strike 1.6.

The defeat painfully hit the Germans Mousesports – Now Znation It was enough to win the last game of the Danes, and they went around their points in the standings. For the tour, it would seem, already dead intrigue, but, in truth, she did not live long. Danes from Copenhagen Wolves They did not appear at the match and thereby decided the fate of both teams – Znation went to Kyiv, and the "mice" settled on their German holes. Below you can familiarize yourself with the full composition of the participants of the LAN finals:

Virtus.Pro (Russia) – Ange1, Dosia, Kucher, Fox, Adren

Imaginary Gaming (France) – Ozstrik3r, UzZZIII, Scream, ShOXIE, Aker

ESC Gaming (Poland) – Kuben, Loord, Taz, Neo, Pasha

Znation (Russia) – Evil, Kibaken, Wake, Aero, Fabi

It was this four that was supposed to play the championship title and divide the prize fund in more than thirteen thousand dollars. The organizers abandoned the group stage and made Full Double Elimination with games of up to three wins in the grid and up to five victories in the final. The winner of the upper grid traditionally received an advantage in one card, and the finale began with a count of 1: 0 in his favor.

► Captain Imaginary Gaming Steve Flamik3r – the eldest of the players in CS throughout the professional scene. He is thirty -four years old.

Because Virtus.Pro won the first stage, and Znation became fourth, it was they who opened the first semifinals of the upper grid. Then on the stage (and all the matches were played there) had to go out ESC And Imaginary Gaming. The favorite of the first couple were VP – the guys have been training hard for several months in CS: GO And almost all the strongest teams in the world have already won online, with the exception of NIP.

Their trump cards were Znation – The team last month attended the championship in Prague ( Mind Sports Festival ) and gained valuable experience of the performance "in Europe", in addition, the guys did not play a few days ago in Counter-Strike 1.6 on Asus Final Battle of the Year , Like Virtus.Pro. In anticipation of your indignation, let us clarify that Znational performed on ASUS-however, in the experimental composition exclusively from the "flared old people" from Counter-Strike 1.6.

► The first map of the Russian derby between Virtus.Pro and Znation

Derby of All CIS

By and large, the match Virtus. Pro and Znation was the confrontation of many years of experience and youth. On the first map de_inferno_se VP began for terrorists and in the first round rushed on an attack on a closed point. A series of equal exchanges occurred, and in situation 2×2 Dosia And Adren destroyed their opponents and opened an account. The next three rounds also remained with Virtus.Pro, a Znation their first point was obtained only with a score of 0: 4.

Gradually adapting to a variety of attacks of a more titled opponent, the “nation Zet” began to gain momentum and managed to win the first half of the meeting – 8: 7. True, changing the side, Mikhail Garanin ( Evil ) and the company managed to take only two rounds and lost with the final score 10:16. By the way, the identical account was recorded on the next card – de_DUST2_SE, where the events unfolded in a similar way.

► The second card of the Russian derby between Virtus.Pro and Znation

I must admit that it is difficult for us to evaluate the Znation game-on the one hand, it is noticeable that the guys give a fight to almost any opponent and never look like beating boys, on the other hand, the team constantly lacks something … We would say that it would be nice to managers Find a competent, and most importantly – an experienced captain. And borrow a model working in Kerchnet (Four young shooters plus veteran B1ad3 ).

The winners of the second pair were Poles from ESC. On the first map de_inferno_se, they hastily defeated the French with a score of 16: 1. The opponent more or less stood out only young Scream And Shoxie , A Aker (sixth player) and did not kill anyone at all. He did not even have a single “assistant” (they are counted if the opponent was applied 40% of the total damage). We still have not met such depressing statistics in CS: GO.

► Record of the second card in a parallel semifinal between ESC Gaming and Imaginary Gaming

A little cooled after a humiliating defeat, the French gathered his strength in a fist and showed a really good game on the second map (de_nuke_ve). The first half remained with the Poles (10: 5), but in the second Imaginary Gaming began to catch up that there is urine. Having won the pistol round and several subsequent ones, ex- Jas Close close to ESC. Reviewing those rounds, we recall a great shot from Desert Eagle Victor Voitas ( TAZ ), who inadvertently interrupted the life of a teammate Pasha. And he, by the way, managed to kill three rivals before and could well change the runa … no luck!

No more games were planned for the first day, and the teams went on a well -deserved rest. The next day Virtus.Pro and ESC had to clash in the battle for going to the final, and Znation and Imaginary Gaming – find out which of them will leave the championship first.

► A little upset Mikhail Garanin (Evil)-perhaps the best in Znation and ex-player Virtus.Pro in the disc of CS 1.6.

About the best match in the history of CS: GO

The second day Starladder Starsers The meeting of yesterday's losers opened – Imaginary Gaming against Znation. She did not give us a sensation; However, the audience probably was satisfied. On the first map de_DUST2_SE, the winner did not reveal in regular time (15:15), and according to the results of additional rounds, guests from France were stronger (19:17).

The result of the first card negatively affected the game of Russians, and they actually handed over without a fight to the French de_inferno_se. Thus, the “ZET nation” became the first team to go home after the first two days. And we hoped that Znation In Kyiv, they will perform better ..

Looking a little forward, let's say that the fight ESC Gaming And Virtus.Pro In the final of the upper grid became the decoration of the championship. The game of these teams most readers of the portal HLTV.Org called the best match in CS: Go for the entire existence of the game.

Although it was difficult to imagine such a thing first, because the gentry won 16:10 on de_train_se and led up to two victories in the series. Many may have turned off their broadcasts on this, and very in vain – Furore was waiting for us further. Map de_mirage_csgo played the second and, unlike the previous one, Virtus was chosen.Pro.

► Sopov (SL4M) and TAUFA Hidri (TAFA)-the most famous commentators of Counter-Strike throughout the CIS.

Emil Ahunds won the round of knives ( Kucher ), and our last hope for gold in CS: Go suddenly switched to the attacking side. It is not known what VP was guided by, choosing it, but hardly serious tactical blanks. In the attack, the Russian-Ukrainian five managed to take a total of three rounds. The Poles were especially stood out Neo And Kuben. The latter, for a few alone pulled rounds, we want to reward with the virtual medal "For cold -blooded solutions in particularly difficult situations".

► The game is now different, but emotions are all the same.

Most of the teams, having lost the first card and yielding to the second with a devastating score, would surely have a weapon and surrendered. But this is not about the current composition Virtus.Pro. Excellent team spirit, many years of experience and support for local spectators forced them to rise, and the advantage of ESC began to melt before our eyes.

A few in a row of round rounds, and the score is already equal (13:13). Further more – virtus.Pro took the most important with the economic (and moral too) point of view of the round and first came ahead on de_mirage_csgo. True, the Poles soon caught up, but this did not save them – VP won with a very slippery score 16:14. The first finalist Starladder Starsies Season IV had to decide on de_inferno_se.

► Record of the third game between ESC Gaming and Virtus.Pro. Mandatory to view!

All additional time for Virtus.Pro There was a small advantage, and they could finish the meeting more than once, having several “match-punts”. But the Poles, sensing mortal danger, time after time found the strength to return to the game. As a result, Iron will to the victory of the team ESC Gaming gave them victory and the first ticket to the final. The second was to be played between virtus.Pro and ADIL BENRLITOM ( Scream ) who dragged almost alone on himself Imaginary Gaming.

► Gifted Belgian legionnaire of the French team Imaginary Gaming Adil Benrlite.

Scream, what are you doing? Stop!

The confrontation of the French and Slavs began with an interview with Mikhail Stolyarov ( Dosia ), who said approximately the following: “We do not consider the French serious rivals – we played a bunch of matches on the Internet with them, and they could not win a single card”. Such a departure from template and political correct phrases about “respect for the opponent”, “the match will be difficult” and so on.

This is problematic: Almost all parties in CS: GO, except for the final, were pretty delayed. Especially from this suffered Dota 2- teams who were forced to start their games much later.

It was only necessary to confirm the words with the action of what was going to do Dosia On the first map de_DUST2_SE. The fact that the French voluntarily chose the strongest Virtus card.Pro, a little relaxed our guys, and they, having received a noble click on the nose, lost it with a score of 10:16. U Imaginary Gaming All the same Scream And Shoxie (perhaps the most talented youth throughout Europe), but others tried to keep up.

The defeat on de_dust2_se brought VP to life, and they, having ceased to underestimate the opponent, the next two cards played with full return. This coincided with the next "sag" of a weak three Imaginary , And the efforts of one scream’a were not enough. Virtus. Pro Won (10:16 on de_Dust2_se, 16: 7 on de_mirage_csgo, 16: 8 on de_inferno_se).

► Record of the decisive third game between Imaginary Gaming and Virtus.Pro.

Stay Calm and Be Esc Gaming

Since matches for third place were not provided (it went to the French), we boldly move on to the review of the final games. The final Poles as the winners of the upper grid began with an advantage in one card (1: 0). Their opponent needed to win three cards, and it was necessary to start with de_mirage_csgo. It was she who chose Ange1 and the company, hoping for the repetition of the result in the final of the upper grid.

THIS IS INTERESTING: Before you sit down at computers, the finalists spectacularly went through the whole club for their favorite songs. Virtus.Pro chose Down with the Sickness ( Disturbed ), and ESC Gaming is atmospheric sail ( Awolnation ).

VP, like the last time, began to attack and again played in an attack from the hands, taking only five rounds. It was necessary to win the pistol from the nose for the second side and give a serious “Cambet” if the team was still hoping to take gold Starladder Starsers. However, the Poles did not agree with this and, having won the “pistols”, calmly brought the matter to Victory (16: 7).

► Record of the first final game on de_mirage_csgo

The second card was to become de_nuke_ve. Upon learning of the choice ESC Gaming , The guys in light orange T-shirts were very sad-the team did not train this card, and it was necessary to play it at the Internet at official matches on the Internet. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the VP began in the attack – you can’t imagine worse for a team that has no idea how to play Nuke.

► Poles ESC Gaming – champions of the fourth season of Starladder Starseries in CS: GO discipline.

The first half ended with a score of 10: 5. Based on what was happening on the map (Esc Gaming was 9: 0), the result can be considered acceptable. True, a few minutes later this achievement was crossed out by the lost "pistols". If we are not mistaken, Virtus.Pro All pistol rounds blew in the final, and to say how important they are, perhaps, too. ESC Gaming Won-16: 5, won the final with a total score of 3: 0 on cards, and the gold of the Kyiv Lan Final Starladder Starsers It took them. Congratulations!

The final location of the commands on Starladder Starsers Season IV:

ESC Gaming (Poland) – $ 6,000

Virtus.Pro (Russia-Ukraine-Kazakhstan)-$ 3000

Imaginary Gaming (France-Belgia)-$ 2500

Znation Jammy Jack Casino (Russia) – $ 2000

Mousesports (Germany) – $ 500

Dat Team (Russia) – $ 400

Curse.EU (Finland) – $ 350

Copenhagen Wolves (Denmark) – $ 250

In the dry residue

Alas, all CS: GO games were held with long, sometimes one and a half hour delays, which is unacceptable for an authoritative championship. The fall of servers, rearrangements of monitors and other technical problems caused delays in other disciplines. In the end, a team player Team Empire according to Dota 2 Arthur Kostenko ( Goblak ) said that if their match is against Na’vi will not begin at nine o'clock, the team will simply leave the venue and go home.

► Dota 2 lovers were sometimes very difficult to wait for "their" games.

Now about good – according to statistics, decisive matches on the official broadcast Starladder Starsers About fourteen thousand people watched. And these are very good indicators for the game, which was previously perceived by many. However, something else is interesting – recently the game has relatively good views on views, and nevertheless, it recently fell out of dozens of most popular games on the Steam platform. This is a frank failure of marketing policy Valve , After all Counter-Strike 1.6 , And even Counter-Strike: Source Still among the best and overtake CS: GO for several tens of thousands of players online.

► You want a lot of fps and a game without lags? Running to the store for a new video card and a powerful modern processor!

The game in our area is not very popular, and most in the old fashion continues to drive in CS 1.6, and some were completely retrained at Dota 2. It is possible that weak computers are guilty of this – it is difficult to enjoy the game that your car frankly does not pull. Apparently, soon we all will have a serious upgrade of iron ..

The article uses photo materials of the Virtus team.Pro