Chapter 319: Studying Major Opponents in Advance

"Congratulations to Vitality!"

At the moment the match ended, Ma Xixi sincerely praised in the live stream, "Map two finally defeated FURIA with a score of 16:10. Added to the victory on Map one, Vertigo, they are already 2-0 and have successfully won this match against FURIA."

"Although the state on the first day of the group stage wasn't very good, Vitality adjusted back quickly afterward. Today's BO3 against FURIA, even on the not-so-proficient Nuke, was won with a 2-0 score, which is enough to prove their recovery in form."

MO also echoed on the side: "Today's match was mainly a collision of systems, especially Map two, Nuke, which can be said to be a model of the collision between tactics and individual ability."

"Although it's clear that they are not as good as FURIA in tactics, Vitality is far ahead of FURIA in team discipline, handling of winning and losing streaks, and most importantly, individual ability."

"On a map that focuses more on tactics, using individual ability to provide a solution is still very exaggerated."

It wasn't just MO; many high-ranked players watching the match result also felt it was very incredible.

Nuke was once a strong map for CNCS, and the "bombing the door" tactic that is now very common in professional matches actually went out from CNCS.

The complex map structure and the crazy game of information are the reasons why this map became a tactical map.

They had also seen too many star players play very exaggerated data on this map, but ultimately couldn't win the game.

Vitality is currently ranked first in the HLTV world rankings. Viewers who watch matches often also know that Xu Beifang and Zywoo are definitely among the best-performing players in the first half of the year, and their strength is definitely powerful.

FURIA had previously defeated Astralis on Nuke.

Before the match, seeing the final map selection, everyone thought this BO3 would go to the third map.

But who would have thought that even on the tactical map chosen by FURIA, Vitality had always been in control of the match's rhythm.

Where exactly did the problem arise?

Many netizens fell into memories—

Although Xu Beifang's pistol round at the start was outstanding, arT's sudden charge also took the rhythm back.

Then it was in the ECO round, Vitality's heavy defense on the A site gamble, plus Xu Beifang's eye-catching performance with the FAMAS, disrupted FURIA's formation, and FURIA's early rhythm began to be lost.

Afterward, having finally adjusted, FURIA took a few rounds in a row, but arT suddenly had a "brain fart" wave, allowing Vitality to find an opportunity to successfully flip the game.

To be honest, this script made domestic players feel very familiar.

【Why is FURIA playing so 'Tyloo-like' today?】

【I was just thinking why FURIA's rhythm is so familiar, now I finally understand, isn't this just Tyloo.】

【Having an advantage and then having a brain fart, FURIA always makes people's hearts stop.】

Domestic audiences were very familiar with this.

Tyloo didn't always disappoint people; at the beginning of their matches, there would also be one or two eye-catching performances.

Making the audience hold expectations in their hearts: "This early stage is played quite well," but afterward there would always be a sudden brain-fart operation, making people feel like their blood pressure was going to spike, sending the rhythm back to the opponent.

Didn't expect that now in the professional circle, there were not only the "Euro-Tyloo Brothers" but even "Brazilian-Tyloo Brothers."

If they were watching Tyloo having a brain fart like this in a match, domestic netizens would definitely have high blood pressure; they were already gathering in the 5E comment section.

But this was Vitality's opponent, so the final result was very satisfying.

In the CSBOY live stream, the audience quickly expressed their views after the match:

【Using individual ability to crush tactical ability, our 'daddy-relying' ability is really too strong!】

【Normal, the later CSGO gets, the more it will enter the 'daddy-relying' era. Vitality's two big daddies are indeed fierce.】

【That injury-free 2v4 in the second half made me stand up.】

【I actually think Beifang's triple kill in the first half was more terrifying. There was really no vision at all, he cleared it all by himself.】

【Understand, my Beifang played CF before, so what if he bought a smoke helmet?】

【That coordination was really top-tier, I feel like I can see it on AYCSGO in a few days.】

【FURIA is also really having brain farts, being flipped by an ECO in the first half, and flipped again in the second half. Otherwise, if they played properly, I feel Vitality really couldn't win map two.】

【But if they played properly, would that be FURIA?】

【...】

After the match ended, the director's camera gave it to the match room.

"Got it!!"

At the moment the match ended, all Vitality members took off their headphones and shouted to celebrate together.

Even though Vitality had been in the lead on Map two, after entering match point, FURIA called a timeout and chased back several rounds in a row, which still made them nervous.

The greatest charm of CSGO is that there are always unknowns in the match.

FURIA, in the ECS Season 7 league, could overturn Astralis on this map, and once they found their state, they might not be unable to defeat them.

FURIA finally found their sanity and had signs of taking back the rhythm, fortunately, it was dangerous but without disaster in the end.

"Successfully won this match, win the next BO3, and we can go to the big stage." JackZ reached out to Xu Beifang.

"Slap!"

Xu Beifang high-fived JackZ. "Once we reach the big stage, we can start enjoying the match. Cologne is held at the Lanxess Arena, which is a venue that can accommodate 20,000 people. Don't get weak knees when the time comes."

"That must be very exciting." JackZ smiled.

Xu Beifang turned around, and apEX had already given him a big hug.

"Dou Dou, I think our team must hire a team doctor in the future."

apEX was puzzled: "Why? Are you sick?"

Xu Beifang handed out his right hand, which showed apEX's illustrious achievements.

He said viciously: "My right hand is swollen from you hitting it! I'm going to reveal in the post-match interview that you are a team bully!!"

apEX smiled awkwardly: "Once in the match, I'm just a bit excited."

Mainly because from the second point today, he was knifed by arT, and he performed too passionately afterward.

"Awesome!" Zywoo came to Xu Beifang and said a piece of plastic Chinese, then switched to French, "That 2v4 in the second half, our coordination was simply too great. FURIA's thoughts were completely seen through by us."

In that 2v4 confrontation, they didn't have too much communication, but the two of them could understand each other's meaning.

Zywoo knew that even if Xu Beifang was low health, he still wanted to operate.

He also understood in his heart that after Beifang caught the timing, he, the full-health one, had to break the situation.

The two of them pulled each other, instantly taking out two members of the opponent, and then Xu Beifang used the black smoke raised by the grenade, coordinating with Zywoo to take out arT, completing a perfect exchange in K1.

That black smoke technique was taught to him by Xu Beifang.

Xu Beifang always knew some strange little techniques.

Now facts have also proven that these little techniques can also play a role.

The display of individual ability is definitely pleasant. But team coordination, the two of them using their respective tacit understanding to solve a problem, also made them feel physically and mentally pleasant.

Zywoo's joy was on his face, again highlighting his advantage as the world's number one upper-gum user.

"Today's Nuke still has to be you." Xu Beifang naturally wouldn't be stingy with his praise, "FURIA played the Inner Site so frequently in the first half, thanks to your sniper rifle, otherwise today might really have been dragged to map three."

Of course, he wouldn't forget the contributions of others on the team.

Although he complained that apEX's active skill "hand-hot" was released too frequently, he had nothing to say about Dou Dou's command in this match.

"Dou Dou is also not bad today. When it's time to adjust, he adjusts very quickly. I think arT has to learn the art of command from you."

Hearing this, apEX's expression didn't change, but his slightly quickened pace revealed his inner little joy.

Nuke, this map, they originally played relatively little.

Plus FURIA is a team with a very extreme style.

At the Katowice Major, FURIA's style was already beginning to show. At that time, FURIA was still playing a more mainstream set, using fast attacks plus slow attacks to constantly pull, making opponents unable to figure out their thoughts.

But after the Katowice Major, arT seemed to have had an epiphany and greatly changed his playstyle.

He abandoned the previous variable playstyle and changed the style to a more pure fast attack.

This playstyle is very easy to drag the team into their rhythm.

Only in a few rounds would he use slow attacks to set up, releasing some fake information for the opponent to play with.

But even facing this suddenly accelerated playstyle, Dou Dou was not anxious.

In the Nuke confrontation, he firmly controlled the rhythm and was not too much influenced by FURIA's fast attack.

He clearly knew what had happened in the game between IGLs, and then made targeted adjustments.

Anyway, playing all the way down, Xu Beifang felt that today's match was quite smooth.

Coming to FURIA's match room, Xu Beifang saw arT with a "pissed-off" face, recalled this guy playing his own memes before, and stretched out his hands toward him, "Quickly say thank you Nice."

Hearing this, VINI on the side couldn't hold it, and then realized his teammates next to him all had bitter faces, so he could only suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth.

arT turned his head, not wanting to see Xu Beifang's face, and said helplessly: "If it weren't for those few mistakes, today would really have dragged you to map three."

He was already convinced of Xu Beifang and Zywoo's strength in his heart.

Whether it was Xu Beifang's triple kill through smoke in the first half, or Vitality's twin stars' 2v4 clutch in the second half, he had nothing to say.

But arT's main thing was his mindset; if you wanted him to admit defeat verbally, that was absolutely impossible!

KSCERATO, however, was a good guy.

Compared to arT, this childish guy, he was actually more like the team's leader. At this moment, after the match, simple conversations with Vitality members were also completed by him.

"You played better today. Hope to see you on the offline stage in two days. I'll go cheer for you then."

Because of Fallen, the godfather of Brazilian CS, the entire Brazilian CS professional circle is very friendly to the outside world.

He didn't think there was anything to be stubborn about.

The problems that netizens watching the live stream could see, as professional players, their feedback in the match would only be more intuitive.

In FURIA's playstyle, he was the one responsible for following behind arT, ready to cover the bottom at any time.

But today, arT's flamboyant playstyle was difficult to achieve good results.

arT couldn't get much information on the front, so it was difficult for him to perform.

Plus, there were several times when they finally got the rhythm of the match, only to be interrupted by Xu Beifang and Zywoo.

Vitality's individual ability brought KSCERATO extremely strong pressure.

When leaving at the end, arT was still a bit unconvinced and shouted at Xu Beifang: "This time you're lucky, but don't die in the group stage."

Xu Beifang nodded and agreed, then waved his hand toward him, "Looking forward to the next encounter, don't have a brain fart like today then..."

arT curled his lips; it was hard to imagine these cold words came from Xu Beifang's mouth.

But what Xu Beifang said was also the truth.

After today's match ended, FURIA had been eliminated from ESL Cologne.

No matter if Vitality could kill out of the group stage later, in this Cologne, they had no chance to meet again.

But after ESL Cologne, it was the Berlin Major in the second half of the year, and they might still bump into each other then.

"We can also be considered to have studied Major opponents in advance." After arT finished his harsh words, he turned to face his teammates and hung up a helpless smile again.

arT was among the batch of people with a relatively good mindset in the entire professional circle.

Before, when Vitality came over, he could still hold on and joke with them for a few sentences.

Turning back to face his teammates, his expression inevitably had some desolation.

The last second Xu Beifang walked into the player tunnel, he looked back at the match area.

In FURIA's match room, there was no communication; they were just hurriedly packing up their peripherals, dealing with those messy peripheral cables, as if they wanted to straighten out their irritable hearts.

In the distance, the Group B match also started at the same time. Xu Beifang saw his two good friends sitting in the match room, operating seriously.

ropz raised his hand and shouted excitedly, then quickly threw himself into the communication of the match.

NIKO was leaning on the gaming chair, already wearing a "pain mask."

Xu Beifang walked forward, and the two Group B teams also walked into the match area.

Everyone was paying their greatest effort for the appearance in the group stage.

Xu Beifang's idea of exposing Dou Dou as a team bully in the interview after the match was not completed.

Because today's match confrontation was relatively intense, except for arranging interviews for some new players, the rest of the time was compressed relatively tightly.

"Beifang is not good today, why is the average rating so low?" After returning to the backstage lounge, shox looked at the post-match data on the screen and teased, "Why is it only 1.28 on Map two? I clearly felt you were killing people all the time in the match."

A 1.28 rating, for all players, is a very good, very good data, and Xu Beifang is a breakthrough player, his position is often in the front row, and kill data is more important than other positions.

"No way, in the second half of the match, I was constantly clashing with them Outside, and died relatively many times." Xu Beifang leaned on the sofa, "Plus after switching sides, we played several fast-attack tactics, and FURIA's trade speed was also very fast, so I didn't take much advantage."

The KD ratio of a breakthrough player is already relatively low, after all, walking in the most dangerous place of the entire team.

If he was allowed to sneak slowly by himself, sometimes he could rely on one-on-one to gain an advantage.

But the problem is that after switching sides, they played several collective offensive tactics. Although Xu Beifang was always killing people, he also had several rounds where he gave away his life because of pulling the gun, resulting in killing many and dying many, so the rating wasn't particularly beautiful.

"But my trade speed is also very fast, right." shox hung a confident smile on his face. His information gun was really good today. As long as information was obtained, he could basically kill people immediately after going out.

"Don't talk about your information gun." apEX frowned directly when he heard this, "You defended the Inner Site today, you sold us several times, you know? In several rounds, you could have clearly peeked out to help trade, but you just had to wait until the opponent fired at us before going to catch the back, which made us play very uncomfortably."

Although the final result of today's match was a win, winning is winning, and problems are problems.

"I think if you want to play like that, you can communicate with us in advance." Zywoo also felt that this playstyle couldn't be used.

Today in the Inner Site, there were several waves where shox at the bomb site peeked out to play the information gun only after he and apEX had clashed first.

shox indeed played very comfortably like this, but it also put great pressure on other teammates.

This kind of "selling people" playstyle, although the lower limit is very high, it makes the upper limit of a team unable to pull up.

"We didn't play like that often before..." shox said his thoughts, "Mainly after that ECO flip, I felt that FURIA's playstyle, we could play very well with a one-buy-one-play."

Analyst swani reminded: "This playstyle, when encountering some teams with sufficient discipline, just can't be played."

shox's "selling people" playstyle is more based on the opponent's negligence in clearing points.

But when truly encountering NAVI, Liquid, Astralis, this group of people, most positions not cleared completely will be held very tightly.

The lurker's playstyle does need to be a bit more "old six," but shox's playstyle today was a bit too toxic.

"Why don't you watch Olofmeister's recordings recently to find a feel." Xu Beifang gave a suggestion, "xyp9x is actually more powerful in late-game clutches, his mid-game positioning and playstyle are all standard, Olofmeister's playstyle belongs to the kind that won't be criticized. You can watch his recordings to adjust."

As a former TOP1 player, Olofmeister, at the age of 26, could still carry Faze from time to time.

Most importantly, besides his state not being as good as in his youth, he didn't have many problems in his play, which is worth talking about.

Olofmeister belongs to the kind of hexagonal warrior, no item is particularly prominent, but the comprehensive ability is very strong.

But in the lurker position, his choices are all very good, at least in professional matches, he is rarely called a stinky old six.

Xu Beifang added another sentence: "Watching GeT_RiGhT is also fine, this guy is also a pervert, at such an old age, he is still frantically carrying the team."

He would take out the recordings of these two old guys to reminisce from time to time.

As kings who once stood at the peak of CSGO, Olofmeister and GeT_RiGhT both had their levels decline to varying degrees due to injuries.

What level was the peak of these two?

First is Olofmeister, 2015 was the peak period of this CSGO "big evil person."

In that year, he was like Xu Beifang in the match today, able to maintain carrying the team while being stable in state.

And in the year of his peak, Olofmeister once completed the outrageous record of "one green leading four reds" to win the Major championship.

Olofmeister had a nickname in his peak period: "One man army." When Fnatic couldn't open the situation, the IGL would shout that it was time for him to get kills; he was just that terrifying.

It's just that later because of hand injuries, he couldn't even press the gun down. After the hand injury, he basically relied on understanding to play.

But relying on understanding to play, he could still be so active in Faze, one can imagine his terror.

The one behind is even more heavyweight, a top-tier player who has been active since the CS1.6 period until now.

A saying circulated in Europe: if GeT_RiGhT were a few years younger, there would be no business for these genius teenagers behind.

Even in this ESL Cologne, this old guy was still frantically carrying in the match, mainly "the older, the more demon-like."

The ideas and understanding of these two top-tier lurkers were all of the terrifying kind.

However, Xu Beifang also consoled: "But shox, don't blame yourself too much, you are just splitting hairs now."

Hearing Xu Beifang's consolation, shox then followed the steps down, saying he would go take a look later.

He actually didn't feel he had any big problems, just that his playstyle was indeed a bit "old six."

But it wasn't one person's feeling; several teammates said this problem, so he wouldn't feel it was anyone's illusion.

However, he felt what Xu Beifang said was also very right. He was already an old player, and many playstyles had already been formed.

Now it was unnecessary to learn by force; it was more about using their recordings to make a reference for himself.

apEX saw shox agreed to correct, finally let out a long sigh of relief.

But before he could relax here, he heard analyst swani say: "Today's confrontation actually matched our previous ideas, which is that we must clash with strong teams. Only by clashing with strong teams can we see the problems."

"Although FURIA is not a strong team in the true sense for us, Nuke is their specialty, and we still saw quite a few problems."

swani looked at apEX: "For example, in this match today, I found quite a few shortcomings of apEX."

Hearing this, apEX instantly became nervous: "I played quite well in this match today."

swani shook his head, then looked at the data in his notebook, "Let's put the problems in defense aside for now, I'll mainly talk about the offense."

"apEX, you really don't like playing A on this map. In all the rounds on the offensive side, you only had one round where the goal was clear at the start to play A. The rest were either feints, or pincer B, or a wave of Iron Plate rush."

"Your tactical choices on this map have appeared with big problems."

Although the original tactical library was not very rich, always applying pressure to the B site on the offensive side was a bit wrong.

Vitality's members were fully focused in the match and hadn't noticed much.

Now after the match ended, hearing the analyst say it, they all reacted.

It seems it was indeed like this. At the start, apEX usually called default, or said they wanted to play B in the second time.

Directly putting the goal on the A site was really rare.

Basically, it was them clashing Outside or getting kills in the Terrorist Hall, then rotating to A in the second time.

These details were completely different.

Hearing the analyst's words, apEX also reacted.

He didn't talk back, thought about it in his mind, and indeed felt he had a problem.

If he was specifically targeting tactics, then playing like this was no problem.

But today these tactics were basically judgments he gave subconsciously; his brain was still a bit lazy.

"I'll actively change it later, it really can't be done like this," apEX replied.

XTQZZZ saw the atmosphere was right, and directly pulled out the problems he recorded in the match to talk about, directly conducting a post-match review in the lounge.

Review is always painful, but it is also the fastest way to grow.

Vitality's goal is set very far, naturally, they have to work hard to become stronger.

... ===== CHAPTER 320 =====