EDG takes down XLG to reach top three

EDward Gaming has defeated their regional rival Xi Lai Gaming 2-1 to reach the upper final of Masters London.

These two teams have a deep history back in VCT CN, with XLG being the first team to dethrone EDG last year during Stage 1. One year later, EDG reclaimed their place atop CN, and affirm it again on the international stage as they take down their rivals.

XLG picked into their signature map of Lotus, a map which they had yet to be defeated on by a domestic opponent. However, with two recent losses in London, it seems their Lotus is getting figured out, with EDG coming out strong and shutting down the opposing defense. Running up the score to 7-2, they looked on track to put the half to bed, but a fully thrown 4v1 scenario gave XLG a way back in.

EDG feed WsLeo a 1v4.

Winning the second half pistol and bonus rounds, XLG tied the score up at 8-8. From there though, EDG managed to take the lead again, and clutched out some narrow 1v1s to secure the map 13-10.

The second map was Breeze, where XLG took early advantage. Forcing EDG to back off and save several times in the first couple rounds, XLG took a 4-2 and built up a huge economical advantage. However, EDG chipped away at it as they won round after round on retakes, streaking five in a row to take the lead on the half.

Winning their fourth pistol of the day, XLG once again started out the half in their favor, building momentum and taking back the lead. A couple sloppy rounds let EDG take back a pair of rounds, but XLG managed to recover and close out a 13-10 win of their own.

A mess of a round keeps EDG in the map.

This left Split as the decider, where XLG won their 11th pistol round in a row. That was just about all they would get in the map though, as EDG completely steamrolled the rest of it. On their attack, their site executes found success after success as they dominated XLG in aim duels. It wasn't long until they won the map 13-3, proving themselves once more as the perpetual rulers of VCT CN.

ZmjjKK fearlessly runs down XLG in the clutch.

XLG are knocked down to the lower bracket where they will face LEVIATÁN to fight for top four. EDG advance to the upper final, securing a top three finish, and a chance to reach the grand final against the winner of Paper Rex vs. Team Vitality.