Xi Lai Gaming defeats Global Esports to bring China to playoffs

CongoBat

Xi Lai Gaming earned the final spot in the Masters London playoffs after defeating Global Esports in an intense 2-1 series.

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The battle for the final playoff spot featured two teams with close connections. Several players who were once teammates found themselves on opposite sides of the stage. Kr1stal previously played alongside Rarga and happywei on XLG when they won Ascension, while NoMan and UdoTan were together on Rare Atom, the team they beat in that grand final. Autumn and Lysoar were also once teammates on FunPlus Phoenix during their 2024 campaign. Friends and scrim partners or not, only one team could reach playoffs.

GE chose Haven as their map pick, a map where XLG had just been stomped by Dragon Ranger Gaming one day earlier. Because of that, GE were expected to win comfortably, and that seemed likely when they jumped out to a 5-2 lead. However, XLG found their footing, with NoMan opening sites on Jett to help his team mount a comeback and take a 7-5 lead at halftime.

GE's IGL xavi8k gets a clean 3K from behind.

XLG were less successful on defense, only stopping GE's attack three times. A strong performance from PatMen helped GE secure the map 13-10.

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Next was XLG's best map, Lotus. They had dominated on it throughout their run in China and had only narrowly taken their first loss on the map earlier in the tournament against NRG. GE were bold to leave it in the pool, but they looked prepared and led 7-5 after the first half.

Kr1stal continues to be a clutch master.

GE extended their lead to 9-5 after winning the pistol round, but that was all they would get. XLG's stronger side was attack, and they showed why by running over GE for the rest of the half. GE's retakes repeatedly fell flat, even when they had the numbers advantage. On their home map, XLG tied the series with a 13-9 win.

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Breeze was left to decide which team would advance to playoffs. GE had a rough start, getting shut down on attack by XLG and falling behind 8-4 at halftime. A pistol round win gave GE the momentum to tie the map at 9-9. After two traded rounds, the teams were tied again at 10-10, both holding tightly to their playoff hopes. XLG finally pulled ahead, narrowly avoiding a 1v3 from Kr1stal to take the lead.

5 HP makes all the difference as Lysoar gives his team the edge.

That was the breakpoint XLG needed, as they comfortably took the next two rounds to book their spot in playoffs.

GE are now eliminated from Masters London, becoming the second Pacific team to fall. XLG move on to playoffs, bringing a second Chinese team to the playoffs for the first time since Masters Toronto. They will face Americas top seed G2 Esports in their opening playoff match.