FNATIC reach EMEA upper finals over FUT

FNATIC FNATIC Europe Rank #3 crashies Austin Roberts Boaster Jake Howlett kaajak Kajetan Haremski Chronicle Timofey Khromov Alfajer Emir Ali Beder have beaten FUT Esports FUT Esports Europe Rank #7 xeus Doğan Gözgen MrFaliN Furkan Yeğen yetujey Eray Budak AtaKaptan Ata Tan cNed Mehmet Yağız İpek qRaxs Doğukan Balaban 2-0, sending FUT to the lower bracket and moving on to the upper final against Team Vitality Team Vitality Europe Rank #8 trexx Nikita Cherednichenko Derke Nikita Sirmitev Kicks Kimmie Laasner Sayf Saif Jibraeel Less Felipe de Loyola Basso .

Despite FUT's loss, their run is not yet over. The team has a lifeline in the lower bracket, where they will face Team Heretics Team Heretics Europe Rank #1 MiniBoo Dominykas Lukaševičius Wo0t Mert Alkan RieNs Enes Ecirli benjyfishy Benjamin David Fish Boo Ričardas Lukaševičius . The two teams met just a few weeks ago during the group stage of the VCT EMEA, when Heretics bested the Turks 2-0.

FNATIC were already comfortable by the time they reached the second half of Haven. After dominating FUT for the past 17 rounds, Alfajer decided to strike down four opponents by himself in a clean 4K that put an end to the match.

That comfort was a result of Sunset, a map where FUT seemed to be the ones in control, despite dropping five rounds in the final stages of regulation. Those five, alongside rounds FNATIC would steal away — like when Derke blasted four with the Sheriff — let FNATIC trigger an overtime where they won 15-13.

The lax gameplay was also a result of Derke , hiro , and Alfajer dominating on Haven, as the three chucked 3Ks and 4Ks around like a hot potato. Between the three, on Haven alone, they added up to 12 multikills; more than all of FUT combined on that map.

Alfajer in particular had a stunner Haven. While both teams were largely on even ground during Sunset, FNATIC's young gun flexed his muscles in the second map, which he finished with a +17 differential across 26 kills and 230 ADR. He also clocked in a 1.79 rating and 89% KAST, topping the charts in all of those statistics.

After running out of steam on Sunset, FUT seemed to have no answer for FNATIC. It was a stark contrast from the FUT that showed up to 2-1 FNATIC in Shanghai just last month. But that was just the second time FUT had ever beaten FNATIC; it was just one game.

Just like this victory may be one game. FUT are down but not out, and will return tomorrow to fight for their lives against Team Heretics. Should they win, a possible rematch against FNATIC — in the lower finals or the grand finals — will still be a reality.

For that to happen, though, they must go through Heretics first. FUT return tomorrow at 9 p.m. CEST to fight, now facing elimination for the first time.

It's important to remember that both teams have already qualified for Champions, but they still care about regional glory. FNATIC in particular are on their way to a third regional title in EMEA, an unprecedented feat, and are just two matches away from that.

Their next opponent is Team Vitality, tomorrow, at 6 p.m. CEST.