ESEA Intermediate – how did our partners get on?

The regular season of the 55th ESEA Intermediate season has come to an end, so it’s time to take a closer look at the performances of our partner teams. Each team played fourteen matches, many of which were packed with excitement, twists and turns, and moments that we’re sure to remember for a long time to come. As we’ve already covered some of these matches previously, we’ll refer to those earlier articles when discussing individual teams, and you’ll find links to them there. Below, we provide a brief and concise analysis of the matches that still require discussion.

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ROSTER

POLteam

dvnio2k

swtt

xSaqe

vzs

Pasiuuu

Nexium POLteam finished the regular season with a very solid 9–5 record, having maintained consistent form for most of the season. We’ve already covered the matches from Rounds 1 to 9, so please do have a read of our previous articles.

• POLteam struggled at the start of ESEA Intermediate
• Nexium POLteam gets back on track in ESEA
• Nexium POLteam returns to an even record in ESEA Intermediate
• Nexium POLteam in great form in ESEA Intermediate
• Nexium POLteam has mixed results in ESEA Intermediate
• Nexium POLteam shows no signs of slowing down! The team heads confidently into the second half of the ESEA regular season

The final part of the regular season, however, brought mixed emotions, although the team still secured their place in the much-coveted play-offs.

The clash with EXEN went extremely badly for the lads from the outset, as the Finns set an aggressive pace right from the pistol round. The team tried several times to change the rhythm of the match, but every attempt to slow the game down ended with EXEN quickly closing in and forcing a rotation. The Finns made excellent use of strong positions in the centre of the map, which meant they constantly disrupted Nexium’s rhythm. This is certainly one of those matches the team would like to forget as quickly as possible, although such defeats often serve as a valuable lesson ahead of the play-offs.

In this round, POLteam didn’t even take to the server, as the British side Square Sausages failed to turn up for the scheduled match. Whilst the players would certainly have preferred to win after a hard-fought battle, the extra point at the end of the season gave them greater peace of mind in terms of the league table. Situations like this always leave a bit of a hollow feeling, as it’s difficult to gauge the team’s true form, but the by-week allowed the squad to focus on analysing previous matches and preparing for the tough final stretch of the regular season.

The match against FruchtLabor X was another tough test for the lads on de_ancient. From the very first minutes, the Germans controlled the centre of the map, enabling them to regularly disrupt rotations and deny the Poles the space to play out rounds. Every attempt to break out was swiftly thwarted by a rapid response from their opponents, who played a very organised game of CS. Although POLteam tried to create opportunities through aggressive pushes on B and a few tactical splits, their opponents read their intentions well and held strong positions. The Germans never lost control of the match for a single moment.

The match against the Turkish side MeyveSuyu looked set to be much more evenly matched — and that’s exactly how it was during the opening rounds. POLteam got off to a good start, employing quick pushes down the long lane and dynamic mid-lane splits. For a while, things looked promising, as the Turks had to constantly adjust their set-ups. Unfortunately, halfway through the match, MeyveSuyu found their rhythm and began to make excellent use of their AWP advantage in the centre of the map. Every attempt to push the short end ended in losing the first kill, and playing 4v5 on Dust2 can be exceptionally difficult. The Turkish team then skilfully controlled the pace and forced rotations, thereby building a comfortable lead.

The clash with the Danish side OlgodEfterskole was one of the most important of the entire season, as it would determine whether they could maintain their position at the top of the table. POLteam started the match very confidently, playing aggressive defence in the centre of the map and making it difficult for their opponents to reach the buy-in points. The Danes tried several times to catch them off guard with quick pushes, but the Polish side read their intentions flawlessly. In the second half, the game became tense, as OlgodEfterskole managed to get back into the match thanks to a few strong force-buy rounds. The Poles’ lead began to dwindle, and the score hovered around a draw. At a crucial moment, however, the Poles stuck to their tried-and-tested tactics, playing patiently and looking to capitalise on their opponents’ individual mistakes.

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ROSTER

Hussars

Lienisko

karwix

rabid

SNow

Fajson

TRENER: Vox

Hussars have also secured their place in the play-offs, although their season has been somewhat inconsistent. We’ve covered the first nine rounds in previous articles, so we encourage you to check out our earlier coverage.

• Hussars continue their winning streak in ESEA Intermediate!
• Hussars are back on track! Three wins in a row and in great form in ESEA Intermediate
• Hussars are struggling to find their form in ESEA Intermediate

The end of the season proved particularly challenging for the Hussars, but the team still managed to finish with a positive record.

Hussars went into the match against the Dutch side with great confidence, as from the very first rounds they controlled the centre of Ancient and imposed their own style of play on their opponents. Aggressive plays at A and excellent teamwork on boosts gave the Poles several key points, forcing Myth E-Sports to play catch-up. The Dutch tried to bounce back economically, but Hussars responded very well to their changing style and maintained a balance between aggression and patience. After the side change, the Poles continued to play consistently, capitalising on their positional advantages and solid communication.

The match against the French side NEMESIS Impact started quite promisingly for Hussars, as the Poles won several opening rounds and built up a slight economic lead. Unfortunately, in the middle phase of the match, the French began to read the Hussars’ set-ups brilliantly, particularly around bombsite A, which allowed them to seize the initiative. The team tried to regain their footing by playing aggressively in the mid-game, but their opponents consistently thwarted these attempts with precise shots. On the CT side, the Poles produced a few good plays and for a moment it seemed a comeback was possible, but NEMESIS won two crucial rounds that sealed the match.

The match against the Mongolians was extremely difficult, as 2fleshyamongol played a very fast style characteristic of that region. Right from the first rounds, it was clear that Hussars would have to face immense pressure across the entire map. The Poles tried to slow the pace down, but their opponents constantly forced 1v1 duels, from which they emerged victorious. On the offensive, Hussars had a few good plans — particularly their pushes towards B offered some hope — but they lacked the finishing touch in rounds and were ineffective in 50/50 clashes. The Mongolian team controlled the economy and capitalised on every mistake, leaving the Poles with few chances to get back into the game.

It was a real battle and one of the Hussars’ most thrilling matches of the entire season. The Finns from Los Martas played with great confidence from the start, making good use of their high-pressure defence on the top bombsite and making it difficult for the Poles to access the ramp. The early stages therefore belonged to the opponents, who were able to take the lead quickly. In overtime, however, the Hussars showed tremendous character. The Poles won the two decisive rounds thanks to superb teamwork and excellent tactical decisions. The final result secured them a valuable victory, which was of enormous significance for the league table.

The final match of the regular season was very evenly matched and full of excitement. The Hussars played solidly on the attacking side, particularly in rounds where the team capitalised on quick runs to Long A. However, the Ukrainian team Plitkach0 responded with excellent defence at the bottom and very effective retakes, which prevented the Poles from pulling away. After the side switch, Hussars tried to make up for their deficit by playing flexibly and frequently rotating between the back-ups. For a while, it looked really promising and the Poles managed to level the score. Unfortunately, the closing stages belonged to the Ukrainians, who executed every detail of their tactics to perfection in the final rounds.

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ROSTER

VoFoxen

zeus

szut1

JeykeS

Ch4mE1EoN

Stich

VoFoxen enjoyed an incredible end to the season, as with two rounds to go the team had a 4–8 record and virtually no chance of qualifying. However, their determination and excellent form in the final matches delivered something few had expected – a place in the play-offs!

We’ve already covered the first twelve rounds, and you’ll find links to those articles below.

• A run of defeats for VoFoxen in ESEA Intermediate, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!
• VoFoxen are back on track in ESEA Intermediate
• How is VoFoxen faring after three matches in ESEA Intermediate?
• Our partners are competing in the 55th season of ESEA Intermediate

Here, we’re focusing exclusively on the last two matches.

VoFoxen started the match with tremendous energy, as the team knew there was absolutely no margin for error. From the very first rounds, the Poles applied pressure in the centre of Mirage, allowing them to quickly take control of the pace of the game. The British side struggled immensely to defend the mid, which is why VoFoxen were able to easily set up splits on both bombsites. Their defence was also impressive. Every attempt by Element to push the mid was met with well-positioned crossfires and effective retakes. The Poles were winning rounds both with full buys and when their economic situation was more difficult. The momentum grew with every passing minute, whilst the British began to play in an increasingly chaotic manner.

It was a complete match. VoFoxen knew that a win would give them a chance of reaching the play-offs and took to the server in absolutely top form. Right from the start, the Poles dominated on Nuke, as their defence was organised, communication was seamless, and rotations were perfectly synchronised. CFS had huge problems with entries to the top BS and were forced to play under the ramp or on the outside for most of the time. VoFoxen read the game brilliantly, which is why their opponents had virtually no space. After switching sides, the Poles pressed their advantage and swiftly closed out the match with aggressive pushes.

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ROSTER

Lunacy Gaming

husarz

Kamil Żelewski

2421 ELO

MapeT

Mariusz Sitnik

2363 ELO

zygzelek

Mikołaj Świeczkowski

2957 ELO

TBA

TBA

FACEIT's ELO Average: 2580 ELO

Lunacy Gaming only recently joined our partners, which is why we haven’t covered this team’s previous matches yet. You’ll find the official announcement of this partnership today at 5.00 pm.

Lunacy finished the season with a 6–8 record, which unfortunately wasn’t enough to secure promotion, although they managed to avoid relegation without too much trouble. The start of the season was difficult, as they were 2–4 after six matches. After that, their form improved significantly and Lunacy won three of their next four matches. Unfortunately, the final stages didn’t go their way and their chances of making the play-offs slipped away in the last few rounds.

You can see the full list of their matches below:

• 7/10 vs Hanbaobao | 10:13 | de_nuke
• 9/10 vs PtitsCostauds | W/O
• 14/10 vs Semurg Gaming | W/O
• 16/10 vs TxT Gaming | 11:13 | de_ancient
• 21/10 vs Noxis eSports | 9:13 | de_ancient
• 23/10 vs JuJin Esports | 7:13 | de_ancient
• 27/10 vs warriorPATH | 13:7 | de_mirage
• 28/10 vs ZespolR | 13:16 | de_ancient
• 4 Nov vs stones | 13:4 | de_mirage
• 6 Nov vs DoxaGG | W/O
• 11/11 vs nineshapes | 10:13 | de_nuke
• 13/11 vs FAT TEAM | 4:13 | de_dust2
• 18/11 vs Antimaito | 10:13 | de_nuke
• 20/11 vs Sovs | 13:6 | de_nuke

The French team Saturlity ends the season with the same record as the two previous teams, but this time a 6–8 record wasn’t enough to secure promotion. We’ve already covered the first eight rounds, so here are links to our previous articles.

• Will Saturlity Esport break their losing streak in ESEA Intermediate?
• The ups and downs of Saturlity Esport at the start of the ESEA season
• Our partners are competing in the 55th season of ESEA Intermediate

However, the last six matches have been a mixed bag — ranging from painful defeats to convincing victories.

Saturlity knew that BIG Equipa, featuring Polish female players, would be a tough opponent, so they tried to play patiently and look for a breakthrough on the long map. However, from the very start, BIG controlled the map, particularly the centre, which repeatedly opened the way for them to make quick rotations and break up the French attacks. Saturlity also tried to catch their opponents off guard with aggression on the short side, but these attempts were thwarted by superb defences from the Polish team. After the side switch, BIG capitalised on their momentum and quickly pulled ahead on the scoreboard. The French had the odd good round, but they lacked consistency and confidence in 1v1 clashes.

In their match against the Finnish side Anitimaito, Saturlity sought to gain the upper hand from the outset by playing rounds slowly and controlling the centre. However, the Finns displayed excellent tactical discipline, preventing the French from finding their rhythm. There were frequent quick counter-attacks and lightning-fast eliminations, which robbed Saturlity of their economic control. On the CT side, the French set up some good crossfire on several occasions, but Anitimaito managed to break through almost every line of defence. Their AWP dominated in the crucial rounds, and the entry fragger consistently won his duels, meaning the match was effectively dictated by the Finns from the very start.

The clash with the Swedish side LEO might have offered a breather, but Train has long been considered one of their favourite maps. Saturlity struggled to contain the attacks on Site B, where the Swedes played with great confidence and made good use of their grenades. Despite a few interesting attempts at aggression on the ivy and pop dog, the French were unable to seize the initiative. After the side switch, the situation looked even more difficult, as LEO defended the centre superbly, whilst Saturlity had virtually no space to break through to the bombsites. Every round followed a similar pattern — quick entries for the Swedes and a calm build-up of their lead right to the end.

This match proved to be a turning point. Saturlity started the CT side quite confidently, as the players positioned themselves excellently in the centre and on the long, which made it difficult for the Russian team stones to organise full-scale attacks. Their opponents were forced into frequent splits and isolated plays, which rarely paid off. On the T side, Saturlity looked mature and very organised. Plenty of free rounds, patient positional play and good use of utility items resulted in steady, hard-earned points. The end of the match was tense, but it was the French who kept their cool.

The match against the Danish side Sovs was a true display of strength for Saturlity. From the very first round, the French took complete control of Train. Phenomenal entry frags, superb AWP play and excellent communication in defence meant the Danes had no answer. Saturlity played with immense confidence — quick pushes, aggressive control of the centre and perfect use of the map meant the first half was practically one-sided. After switching sides, the French finished the job with confident runs onto the bombsite and crushed their opponents.

The final clash of the season was of huge significance, as Saturlity were fighting for a slim chance of promotion. The start looked very promising — the French defended bombsite A effectively and won crucial duels in the centre. However, The Thatchers slowly fought their way back into the game and managed to level the score towards the end of the half. After the sides switched, the match turned into a real game of chess. Saturlity played calmly, consistently building up their attacks, and it seemed as though everything was going their way. Unfortunately, the British played the final rounds brilliantly, with their defence proving virtually impenetrable.

The regular season of ESEA Intermediate S55 brought our teams a wealth of excitement, as the competition in this edition proved to be exceptionally unpredictable. Every team had to cope with both the pressure to perform and the fluctuating form of their opponents, who in many cases performed at a higher level than might have been expected at this stage of the competition. Despite this, several of our teams proved that they could respond to crises, consistently correct their mistakes and fight right to the very end, even as their mathematical chances of qualifying dwindled with each round.

Now all that remains is to wait for the play-offs, as that is where it will become clear who made the most of the entire regular season and who, in the decisive matches, will be able to rise to the level required for promotion to a higher division. If POLteam, the Hussars and VoFoxen manage to maintain their form at the required level, we can look forward to more thrills which, just like in the regular season, will give us everything we love about Counter-Strike — intensity, unpredictability and wonderful sporting stories.

VoFoxen Esport (x.com — Facebook — team profile — Discord — Instagram — TikTok)