The article introducing all our partners competing in ESEA Main mentioned, among others, Constrict Gaming. They finished the regular season with a 9-5 record and were just one win short of securing promotion to ESEA Main via Pot A. However, that didn’t happen, and now they must fight tooth and nail in Pot B, where they’ve had a tough time from the start.
Not the best start – Constrict Gaming vs M4
The first opponent our partner had to face was the Russian team M4. They finished the regular season with an 8-6 record, so our partner team were the favourites. Nevertheless, such predictions don’t always come true, and Constrict had to overcome them to make their task easier in the ongoing battle for promotion. The match began on the map chosen by the Russians, namely Ancient. The map did not start well for our partner, as they lost the pistol round, followed by an unsuccessful attempt to break through the opponents’ defence, and we saw the opponents take an early 3-0 lead. The Russians managed to win the next round, but then our partner finally broke through and added a point to their tally. Despite this, the opponents were not deterred; in fact, it infuriated them, and they went on a winning streak that took them all the way to a 7-1 lead. There was also another response from Constrict, or rather two, but it was M4 who ended the first half with a 9-3 lead. The second half was no better, as our opponents completely dominated the defending side and won the entire map 13-3.
ANCIENT
(pick M4)
Constrict Gaming 3:13 M4
The first map didn’t end too well for our partner, but now it was time for our partner’s pick, which turned out to be Nuke. This map is often chosen by Constrict Gaming and they feel quite comfortable there, though slip-ups do happen. The start was good, however, as our partner, on the TT side, began with a pistol round win and a 2-0 lead. Here, however, the opposition stepped in and, unfortunately, a draw soon appeared on the scoreboard. That wasn’t the end of it, though, as the Russians didn’t stop there and we saw them take a lead of as much as 9–2. Fortunately, at the end of the first half, the Poles managed to add another three points to their tally, and their Terro side ended with an inglorious 3–9 defeat.
Here, however, we didn’t see a repeat of the first map’s scenario, because despite winning the pistol round with the M4, Constrict quickly responded, breaking the winning pistol round and managing to bring the score to 6–10. We were just four rounds short of the much-desired draw, which would have given the Poles a chance to fight for their map and take us to the decisive map, Mirage. After the opponents managed to win a single round, our team closed the gap once more, but the deficit was too great and the match ended on the second map with a score of 13:8. As a result, Constrict Gaming were quickly eliminated from the upper bracket and must now fight for promotion without suffering a single defeat.
NUKE
(Constrict Gaming pick)
Constrict Gaming 8:13 M4
| Constrict Gaming |  |
0:2 |  |
M4 | | | Ancient 3:13 | Nuke 8:13 |
Do-or-die clash – Constrict Gaming vs NIP Impact
Despite dropping into the losers’ bracket, our partner can still fight for promotion. The first match in this battle would have been against the women’s team NIP Impact, but unfortunately – or perhaps fortunately in this case – the opposing team did not appear on the server, and Constrict Gaming advanced to the third round of the lower bracket of the playoffs. The battle for ESEA Main will continue to be very tough and protracted, as our partner must win a further six matches without a single defeat to secure promotion. It will be a very difficult task, but not impossible, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that they’ll succeed.
| Constrict Gaming | |
1:0 | |
NIP Impact | | | WALKOVER |
Who will our partner be facing next?
- vs 🇷🇺 T-hamsters, Thursday 5 June, 7.30 pm
Constrict Gaming (x.com — Facebook — twitch.tv — team profile)
English 
Polish 