With ESL Pro League (EPL) Stage 2 qualification on the line, Latvian Counter-Strike 2 rifler Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis stepped up to the plate to save his FURIA team when they needed him the most.
Stage 1 of Season 22 was filled with upsets, keeping us on the edge of our seats as underdogs HOTU and Inner Circle went 3-0, while favorites were pushed to the brink of elimination.
Few expected FURIA to have a 1-2 match score at the start of EPL S22 Stage 1, as they looked to be in strong form after lifting their first S-Tier LAN trophy at FISSURE Playground 2. However, to stay alive at EPL S22, YEKINDAR had to perform heroics.
FURIA officially managed to qualify for Stage 2. Image Credit: ESL
YEKINDAR Saves FURIA From B8 Shame
FURIA (#2 on the VRS) lost their opening EPL S22 Stage 1 match against HOTU, then beat Fluxo before losing to Legacy. The squad then managed to rally and beat M80. With a 2-2 match score, only B8 (#20 on the VRS) stood in FURIA’s path to Stage 2.
In the all-important match, it was underdogs B8 who drew first blood, winning Mirage in dominating fashion with a 13-5 score. FURIA retaliated on their map pick of Inferno, with a 13-8 score to force a third and deciding map, Overpass.
At the start of Overpass, things looked dire for FURIA’s CT side. B8 pulled ahead early with a 5-0 round score, looking to build a massive lead and send FURIA packing. On the back foot, it was YEKINDAR who made all the difference, hitting the perfect timing on a Fountain push to pick one off before finding four total in the round.
YEKINDAR’s play stopped the bleeding, allowing for a comeback and a 6-6 score in the first half. His impact was felt throughout, with multiple clutches and opening kills, as FURIA eventually won Overpass 13-9, completing the reverse-sweep comeback to qualify for Stage 2.
What makes the sixth round play from YEKINDAR incredibly impactful isn’t just the kills or the turnaround. It’s the fact that if FURIA lost the sixth round, they would be forced into an eco round, and B8 would have all but guaranteed a 7-0 lead.
YEKINDAR topped the scoreboard, with a K-D of 50-36 and a rating of 1.49, the highest on the server.
EPL Season 22 continues at the ESL Studio venue in Stockholm, Sweden. Stage 2 runs from October 4 to 8, where squads will compete in a 16-team Swiss format, and the top eight will move on to playoffs (October 10 to 12), so there’s a lot of action to look forward to.