Europe’s best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams arrived in Dallas this weekend expecting an easy victory. A pair of American teams had other plans in mind.
The ESEA finals this weekend saw four teams from North America and four from Europe. Three of the European teams attending were considered to be the likely top three Counter-Strike teams in the world: Ninjas in Pyjamas, Virtus Pro, and Natus Vincere.
While fans expected those three sides to dominate the event, it wasn’t meant to be. American sides I Buy Power and Complexity combined to go unbeaten against their European opponents over the weekend. Complexity impressively defeated each of the three aforementioned squads, while I Buy Power picked up wins over Virtus Pro and the fourth European invitee, Spanish side Over Gaming.
The dominance of the two American teams led to their meeting both in the upper bracket final and grand final, with I Buy Power winning each series in straight games.
The losses were especially difficult for Complexity to stomach, as they proved unable to overcome their toughest domestic competition after having beaten each of arguably the world’s three best teams. Still, the second-place finish should help solidify a roster that many spectators thought to be in flux after a rash of subpar league performances in recent months.
For I Buy Power, the championship victory solidifies their place as a contender and a potential fixture on the international scene. This was the second consecutive ESEA finals victory for the team, as they had emerged from the lower bracket in last season’s finale to defeat French powerhouse Titan in consecutive sets.
Complexity has already received an invite to ESL One in Cologne, a tournament set to feature a $250,000 prize pool. I Buy Power will hope to receive an invitation after their sensational performance this weekend.
Ninjas in Pyjamas and Natus Vincere will lick their wounds as they travel from Dallas to nearby Austin, Texas, to take part in the Iron Gaming LAN tournament beginning July 5. A full list of invitees has not yet been made available for that event, though American side Exertus have confirmed their attendance.
Screengrab via YouTube
