The Major in the United States kicked off with explosive intensity: all 16 opening matches of Stage 1’s Swiss format were played on a single day. For every team, this was a chance to make a statement — some seized the moment, while others already found themselves on the edge after just one day. We witnessed the first upsets, standout individual performances, and one clear trend: there will be no easy wins and no “random” teams at this event.
First Wave (Round 1) — Opening Matches
HEROIC vs Chinggis Warriors — 13:7 (Anubis)
HEROIC’s revamped roster started confidently. They controlled the pace on T-side and shut down key positions on defense. Chinggis Warriors tried to keep up, but the skill gap was apparent.
OG vs Complexity — 13:3 (Ancient)
OG dismantled the North Americans. Complexity never recovered after losing the opening rounds. OG dominated in every department.
B8 vs Imperial — 13:11 (Inferno)
The Ukrainian squad overcame the experienced Brazilians in a tightly contested match. npl’s clutch plays and headtr1ck’s sharp aim proved decisive. Imperial fought back, but fell short at the end.
BetBoom vs Nemiga — 13:7 (Train)
BetBoom looked confident on the rarely played Train. Their coordinated executes and sharp retakes left Nemiga — who had a promising start — unable to maintain momentum.
NRG vs TYLOO — 13:5 (Anubis)
NRG dominated Anubis with strong executes and consistent AWPing from oSee. TYLOO couldn’t adapt to the pace and lost control early.
Lynn Vision vs Legacy — 13:7 (Dust2)
Lynn Vision maintained map control from the start. Starry was dominant with the AWP, and EmiliaQAQ posted solid stats. Legacy couldn’t break through the Chinese defense.
Wildcard vs Metizport — 13:1 (Inferno)
Wildcard crushed Metizport with near-flawless execution. A perfect defense, relentless aggression, and a 1v2 clutch from phzy sealed the deal. Nothing worked for the European side.
FlyQuest vs Fluxo — 13:7 (Ancient)
FlyQuest delivered a polished T-side and never let Fluxo gain momentum. Vexite was clutch, highlighted by his pistol-round ACE, while regali was reliable in trades.
Second Wave (Round 2) — First 2–0s and 0–2s
HEROIC vs NRG — 13:5 (Dust2)
HEROIC gave NRG no breathing room. Early-round dominance from xfl0ud and consistency from SunPayus secured the lead. The highlight: an ACE by xfl0ud in round 11. NRG never found their rhythm.
B8 vs OG — 13:9 (Inferno)
B8 secured a second straight win. Dominant CT side, followed by clutch rounds on T-side. headtr1ck and npl consistently found openings, while alex666 stepped up in key duels. OG’s attacks lacked synergy.
Lynn Vision vs Wildcard — 17:19 (Nuke, OT)
The most dramatic match of the day. After a 12–12 score in regulation, both sides battled fiercely. JBa’s four-kill Deagle round proved a turning point, energizing Wildcard. The Americans played cleanly in the second OT to close it out and go 2–0.
FlyQuest vs BetBoom — 13:6 (Mirage)
FlyQuest delivered another solid showing. Liazz and regali held down defense, and in the second half INS shut down mid while Vexite converted every key trade. BetBoom looked flat and predictable.
Complexity vs Fluxo — 13:9 (Inferno)
Complexity finally woke up. Grim and Cxzi were impactful, especially around banana. Fluxo had promising moments on CT, but once again lost every clutch. Their second loss of the day.
TYLOO vs Metizport — 13:4 (Mirage)
TYLOO dismantled Metizport with clean executes and superior aim. Mercury and JamYoung led the charge, while Jee held steady with the AWP. Metizport didn’t win a single T round.
Imperial vs Nemiga — 9:13 (Train)
Nemiga solidified their spot in the tournament with a confident win. khaN and Xant3r anchored sites well, and 1eeR remained consistent. Imperial started decently but collapsed mid-game to fall to 0–2.
Chinggis Warriors vs Legacy — 10:13 (Nuke)
Legacy picked up their first win of the Major. dumau and latto were solid on offense, and lux locked down post-plants. Chinggis Warriors lost both pistols and the crucial force buys — the deciding factor.
Standings after Day 1
2–0 (Advancement Matches):
- B8
- HEROIC
- FlyQuest
- Wildcard
1–1 (Middle of the Pack):
- OG
- NRG
- BetBoom
- Lynn Vision
- Complexity
- Legacy
- Nemiga
- TYLOO
0–2 (Elimination Matches):
- Fluxo
- Chinggis Warriors
- Imperial
- Metizport
Day 1 in Austin proved one thing — there are no “easy” games at this Major. B8 and Wildcard emerged as breakout stories. HEROIC are finding their rhythm, OG look shaky, and teams like Fluxo and Imperial are already facing elimination. The tournament has only just begun, but the level of competition is already intense. Tomorrow brings the first qualification matches — and the first eliminations.
