BIG upset FaZe to advance to the ESL One Cologne finals

The hometown heroes of Germany are going to the grand finals of ESL One Cologne.

BIG eliminated FaZe Clan with a 2-1 series score to advance to the grand finals of ESL’s $300,000 event. BIG picked Dust II, FaZe selected Train, and Inferno was the match decider left from the veto phase.

Related: Na’Vi dethrone Astralis in the first semifinal of ESL One Cologne

On Dust II, FaZe’s fortified defenses helped them gain an easy 11-4 score. After losing the second pistol round, BIG mounted a huge CT-side comeback from 12-4 to 13-10 thanks to a force buy clutch from in-game leader Fatih “Gob b” Dayik. Both sides inched closer to game point with traded rounds late in the map, but BIG forced overtime with a massive A long defense in round 30. Overtime went back and forth until FaZe won round 36 to close out map one 19-17. Johannes “nex” Maget also dropped 34 frags in his team’s loss.

BIG opened up Train with a strong 6-1 T side lead, which was assisted by a successful post-plant defense via molotovs. FaZe clawed their way back, tied the game, and led at the half at 9-6. The German-majority team then won the second pistol round, knotted the score, and continued to keep up with FaZe’s T side pacing. A momentous ace from Jorgen “cromen” Robertsen at 11-12 reset BIG, but somehow BIG won a two-vs-four eco round afterwards and streaked their way to the map win at 16-13.

FaZe looked extremely nervous going into Inferno, losing seven of the eight opening rounds and a pivotal two-vs-one vs. Gob b. BIG dominated their CT side, while FaZe floundered in frags, concluding the first half at 12-3. FaZe won the second pistol round and tried to stay alive with a few round wins. To no avail, BIG finished off FaZe with a 16-6 scoreline.

BIG are moving on to the ESL One Cologne grand finals, where they’ll be playing against Natus Vincere. Gob b and crew will be looking to finish their Cinderella story tomorrow at 9am CT.