Complexity Gaming and Natus Vincere Secure ESL Pro League Season 19 Playoff Berths

On Thursday, Complexity Gaming and Natus Vincere clinched playoff spots in the ESL Pro League Season 19 with thrilling come-from-behind victories in Saint Julian's, Malta. The two teams showcased their resilience and skill, overcoming tough opponents to keep their championship hopes alive in the prestigious Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament.

In the Group D upper bracket semifinals, Complexity Gaming rallied for a 2-1 win over HEROIC. After losing Nuke 13-5, Complexity bounced back, winning Vertigo 13-11 and Anubis 13-7. Norway's Hakon "hallzerk" Fjaerli led the charge for Complexity, move on in the ESL Pro League Season 19, racking up 54 kills and an impressive plus 18 kill-death differential.

Natus Vincere also staged an impressive comeback in their match against BIG, winning the series 2-1. Despite dropping the opening map Anubis 13-9, Natus Vincere regrouped and dominated the next two maps, taking Nuke 13-3 and Ancient 13-7. Ukraine's Valeriy "b1t" Vakhovskiy was the standout player for Natus Vincere, amassing 47 kills and a plus 16 kill-death differential.

With their victories, Complexity Gaming and Natus Vincere have set up a highly anticipated upper final matchup on Sunday, with playoff seeding on the line. Both teams will be looking to carry their momentum forward and secure a favorable position heading into the playoffs.

In other notable matches, ENCE swept Monte 2-0, with Poland's Olek "hades" Miskiewicz leading the way with 37 kills and a plus 19 kill-death differential. GamerLegion narrowly defeated FORZE Esports 2-1, thanks to a strong performance from Sebastian "volt" Malos, who topped the scoreboard with 43 kills and a plus 13 kill-death differential.

However, not all teams enjoyed success on Thursday. Ninjas in Pyjamas suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to Pera Esports, who secured their first-ever LAN victory as a team. Russia's Danil "Porya" Poryadin and Poland's Brajan "DGL" Lemecha were the stars for Pera, each registering an impressive 62 kills in the series.

The ESL Pro League Season 19 features 32 teams divided into four groups of eight, with the group stage following a triple elimination format consisting of upper, middle, and lower brackets. All matches are best-of-three, except for the grand final, which will be a best-of-five showdown. The tournament, which runs through May 12, offers a $170,000 prize to the winner, along with a coveted spot at the IEM Cologne 2024 event.

Tournament action will heat up, promising fans more exciting matches and potential upsets. The Friday schedule includes the Group C mid bracket semifinal between ENCE and GamerLegion, the Group C lower bracket quarterfinal featuring Bad News Kangaroos and FURIA Esports, and several Group D mid and lower bracket matchups.

With the playoffs on the horizon, teams will be giving their all to secure their spot and keep their dreams of lifting the ESL Pro League Season 19 trophy alive. As Complexity Gaming's Håkon"hallzerk" Fjærliand Natus Vincere's Valeriy"b1t" Vakhovskiydemonstrated with their standout performances, individual brilliance can make all the difference in high-pressure situations. The action continues to unfold in Saint Julian's, Malta, where the globe's top Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams battle for glory and a place in esports history.

Key Takeaways

• Complexity Gaming and Natus Vincere clinch playoff spots in ESL Pro League Season 19.
• Complexity Gaming defeats HEROIC 2-1, led by hallzerk's 54 kills.
• Natus Vincere beats BIG 2-1, with b1t's 47 kills and +16 K-D differential.
• ENCE and GamerLegion also advance, while Ninjas in Pyjamas suffer a loss.
• The tournament continues through May 12, with a $170,000 prize and IEM Cologne 2024 spot at stake.