EDward Gaming EDward Gaming China Rank #1 ZmjjKK Zheng Yongkang (郑永康) nobody Wang Senxu (王森旭) Muggle Tang Shijun (唐时俊) CHICHOO Wan Shunji (万顺治) Smoggy Zhang Zhao (张钊) Haodong Guo Haodong (郭浩东) took down Giants Gaming Giants Gaming Inactive Redgar Igor Vlasov Fit1nho Adolfo Gallego nukkye Žygimantas Chmieliauskas hoody Aaro Peltokangas Cloud Kirill Nehozhin in three riveting maps in their opening match of Champions 2023. EDG will face Paper Rex Paper Rex Asia-Pacific Rank #1 mindfreak Aaron Leonhart Jinggg Wang Jing Jie f0rsakeN Jason Susanto d4v41 Khalish Rusyaidee something Ilya Petrov in a Masters: Tokyo rematch in the winners match of Group A, while Giants will play KRÜ Esports KRÜ Esports Latin America South Rank #3 keznit Angelo Mori Klaus Nicolas Ferrari Shyy Fabian Usnayo Melser Marco Eliot Machuca Amaro heat Olavo Marcelo in the elimination match.

“We just want to play our own game,” ZmjjKK said post-match. “We don't really care what strategies other teams use, because in our eyes they are trash.”

Giants gave EDG everything they could handle before running out of steam on the last map of Ascent. The series was headlined by the substantial 19 combined clutches across the board, and 11 4Ks to go with them.

ZmjjKK was his usual self with the Operator today, with 25 of his 53 kills in the series coming with the gun. However, nobody was the savior for EDG in the series, contributing four 4Ks and four clutches across the three maps to go along with his leading 68 kills.

Fit1nho proved himself on the international stage for Giants, leading the lobby with 72 kills and 18 first bloods. His performance was spearheaded by a monstrous 34 kills on Split, clinching his team's only map win.

Both teams came into the matchup garnering hype after their respective qualification runs, and the series did not disappoint. Giants picked Split as their opening map selection, an interesting one considering EDG hadn't fallen on the map since August 2021, winning 20 times in that span.

Their preparation became quite clear early on, using a slow and methodical gameplan on attack to counter EDG's aggression and Operator usage nearly perfectly to lead 9-3 at halftime. The EMEA fourth seed was clearly in control on the map, and when they were faced with trouble, spectacular individual plays assured the momentum remained in favor for Giants.

EDG answered with four straight rounds on their own attack side, bolstered by a pistol round ace from star ZmjjKK. Despite Fit1nho briefly stopping the EDG streak with a spectacular Showstopper triple kill, the Chinese squad utilized great speed on their site hits to bring the map back to a 10-10 deadlock. Giants regained their composure and a 12-10 lead as EDG slowed the pace down to their own detriment, succumbing with little time left in each of the next two rounds.

Utter pandemonium would ensue in the 23rd and 24th rounds as nobody and CHICHOO each contributed their own electrifying 4K combined with a 1v2 clutch to push the map into overtime. After a clinical Giants attack to open OT, nobody saved the day yet again with another 4K.

“I would say today I just took the windows and opportunities when they came,” nobody said. “Hopefully I can keep my form like today, and play even better in the upcoming matches.”

The theatrics would finish in a climatic round 28, where Giants would convert a dramatic 3v5 situation despite another 4K from nobody.

The clutches continued for EDG on Bind, as Haodong converted a miraculous 1v4 followed by CHICHOO's own 1v2 within the first six rounds. Even with nukkye 's Cypher setups and Giants' incisive retakes causing trouble, EDG managed a 6-6 stalemate heading into their defensive side.

The second half of map two had yet another tumultuous finish. nobody continued his antics, providing a critical 3K and 4K in rounds 17 and 19 to propel EDG out to a 12-7 lead. His rival Skye, Cloud , answered with a 3K and 4K of his own to spearhead a Giants comeback that would ultimately be shutdown in the final round.

Ascent would host the final map of the thrilling series, a map that neither team had played much over the past year. EDward Gaming looked as if they would run away with the series, taking a quick 6-2 lead while attacking on the defense-sided map. Giants could not manage a clean hold onto the B site, which EDG took advantage of time and time again.

A couple essential eco wins for Giants kept the map salvageable at 7-5 heading into halftime, and an attack pistol win from the EMEA squad soon brought things to a 7-7 impasse. Giants would muster just one more round in the face of EDG's stalwart defense, falling by a score of 13-8.

EDG was already looking forward to their matchup against Paper Rex to end the day tomorrow. PRX ended EDG's best run at an international LAN to date when they defeated EDG in the Masters: Tokyo lower bracket.

“In terms of aiming, I know that we stand a chance to win against Paper Rex,” ZmjjKK said. “This time, I will show Paper Rex that we can do it.”