Virtus.pro against Na'Vi: the way it was before
Today Virtus.pro G2A and Natus Vincere will clash in DreamHack Maime's 2017 Group Stage. Below we present teams' rivalry history in the LAN-tournaments.
Virtus.pro [2:1] Natus Vincere – grand-finals of the Adrenaline Cyber League 2017
Match results:
- VP (16:2) Na`Vi @ Nuke
- VP (20:22) Na`Vi @ Train (Na`Vi's pick)
- VP (16:8) Na`Vi @ Mirage
Last meeting of Na'Vi and VP happened in the Adrenaline Cyber League's 2017 grand-finals. Both teams came to the match in remarkable form and in result showed great Counter-Strike. Train turned to be a real nail-biter, finishing in overtime.
Despite the loss on opponent's pick, polish players were able to bounce back on Mirage and claim the Champion's title. This victory was the last time VP played against former Na'Vi's roster (without Danil “Zeus” Teslenko).
Match MVP: Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski — 76 kills / 48 deaths
Virtus.pro [9:16] Natus Vincere — IEM Katowice's 2017 Group Stage.
In March this year VP confronted Na'Vi in Katowice tournament's group stage. Polish players weren't prepared to play on Train, one of the best maps of “born to win” [Na'Vi].
Weak defense (VP only managed to win 8 rounds) caused VP's downfall in the second half of the map. As a result, Natus Vincere's stonewall-like defense allowed them to secure a certain victory.
Match MVP: Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev — 22 kills / 13 deaths
Virtus.pro [1:2] Natus Vincere — ESL One New York's 2016 Grand Finals.
Match results:
- VP (16:3) Na`Vi @ Cbble (VP's pick)
- VP (8:16) Na`Vi @ Train (Na`Vi's pick)
- VP (19:17) Na`Vi @ Mirage
Virtus.pro G2A first encountered Natus Vincere's updated lineup happened in the grand-finals of ESL One New York 2016, which is considered to be the best Na'Vi's tournament to date. VP won their pick in a convincing fashion, but succumbed on opponent's pick.
The match was decided on Mirage – a comfort pick for both teams. Virtus.pro and Na'vi showed equal attack and defense and dragged the match to overtime. In overtime, Na'Vi claimed the lead and secured the Cup.
Match MVP: Ladislav «GuardiaN» Kovács — 69 kills / 49 deaths
Virtus.pro [2:1] Natus Vincere — SL i-League Invitational's #1 Grand Finals
Match results:
- VP (16:11) Na`Vi @ Inferno (VP's pick)
- VP (8:16) Na`Vi @ Train (Na`Vi's pick)
- VP (16:10) Na`Vi @ Cbble
Different tournament, same tension – endless teams' rivalry in the grand-finals. This is how great Counter-Strike is played – with thunderous applause in Kiev's “Olimpiiskii” football stadium.
Familiar course of the match: VP opened the series with the victory on their pick, and then lost on enemy's pick – Train. As always, the title was going to be decided on the neutral map Cobblestone.
Polish players secured 9 rounds in offense, and then showed confident game in defense. Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski's insane pistol clutch definitely deserves a highlight.
It's interesting to mention that in Kiev, Natus Vincere were playing without Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev, who replaced Daniil “Zeus” Teslenko on the 4th August, 2016.
Match MVP: Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski — 63 kills / 49 deaths
Virtus.pro [2:0] Natus Vincere — Gfinity 2015 Spring Masters' 2 Semi-Finals
Match results:
- VP (19:17) Na`Vi @ Train
- VP (25:22) Na`Vi @ Inferno
In 2015, VP and Na'Vi clashed in the semi-finals of the british tournament Gfinity 2015 Spring Masters. Despite the match finishing in clear 2:0 for polish players, it was remarkable by its keen competition between the two teams.
If Train needed only one overtime to be closed out, Inferno appeared to be a lot tougher with two overtimes. Important to note that in 2015, Train was considered VP's map, and wasn't Na'Vi's comfort pick.
Match MVP: Wiktor "TaZ" Wojtas – 66 kills / 49 deaths
Virtus.pro [2:1] Natus Vincere — ESWC's 2014 Third Place Decider.
Match results:
- VP (16:12) Na`Vi @ Mirage
- VP (11:16) Na`Vi @ Nuke
- VP (16:3) Na`Vi @ Inferno
Back in 2014, CS:GO's professional scene wasn't as full of various tournaments as it is now. So back then, one of the most memorable pages of rivalry between VP and Na'Vi happened in the third place decider of the ESWC 2014 in Paris.
After tying the match 1:1, polish players demonstrated phenomenal play on Inferno, which became one of the main Virtus.pro's maps for the next two years.
Match MVP: Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski — 64 kills / 40 deaths
Author: Anton Kozlov
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