Anexis eliminate ESC Gaming

Anexis have eliminated the winners of last year's Copenhagen Games, as well as the IEM6 World Champions, as they managed to beat ESC Gaming 16-14 on de_tuscan in the lower-bracket.

Due to a loss against fnatic, ESC Gaming dropped to the lower-bracket, where they would be facing the Danes from Anexis. Anexis had trouble closing matches they were leading, against Natus Vincere and Lemondogs in the group stage.

Against another giant, last year's winners from ESC Gaming, the Danes once again had a tough job to complete, in order to stay in the tournament. Playing de_tuscan, ESC started by winning the first pistol round and then went up 3-0 as CT. Anexis then completely shut down the Poles, going up 10-4, before ESC took the last round of the half.

Second half started with ESC winning the pistol, and managed to string another six rounds on the scoreboard, putting the score 12-10. While it looked like they might be losing another match where they had the lead, Anexis won four rounds in a row, putting the score at 14-12. The scenario of having 14 rounds and losing, seemed likely to happen again, as ESC went on to take two rounds in a row, tying the match at 14 rounds for both teams.

Anexis then claimed their fifteenth round, securing the tie but following that, it looked like it would go into overtime. Nikolaj "Nuggi" Larsen found himself in a 1-versus-3 situation, but he managed to win it and bring the victory to his team.
Copenhagen Games 2012Best of 0 AnexisMatchpage 16 14 7th April 2012 ESC Gaming 16Tuscan 14

Match statistics:

Anexis	K - D	+/-	ADR	-

ESC Gaming	K - D	+/-	ADR	-

We got a small comment from the man himself right after the match:

"It's a big relief to finally win one of those close matches and I really think we deserved this one. We lost both pistol rounds but slowly we started to collect some rounds. In the end we finally kept cool and secured the win in the last round. It is clear that we have improved a lot since World Finals and DEL finals.

I think this has been one of the best tournaments for us in a long time but we were a bit unlucky with the seeds, groups and brackets draw, we had some close matches vs Lemondogs and NaVi and now we hope for a revenge!"

With the victory they face Lemondogs for further advancement in the lower-bracket. The two teams had a tight game in the group stage, so surely it will be interesting to see who will be able to edge out in a best-of-one match.

It's a big relief to finally win a one of those close matches and I really think we deserved this one. We lost both pistol round but slowly we started to collect some rounds. I en the end we finally kept cool and secured the win in the last round. It is clear that we have improved a lot since World Finals and DEL finals. I think this has been one of the best tournaments for us in a long time but we were a bit unlucky with the seeds, groups and brackets draw, we had some close matches vs Lemondogs and NaVi and now we hope for a revenge!