FISSURE Playground 2 kicked off with a true sensation. The Turkish squad Aurora Gaming defeated the legendary Astralis in the opening round of the Swiss stage with a 2:1 scoreline, showcasing incredible resilience and discipline. For Aurora, this was not only an important step forward but also a long-awaited revenge for past defeats.
Match chronology
- Nuke (13:8, Astralis pick)
Astralis started the series confidently, picking their favorite map. Device and jabbi looked flawless in the early rounds, while Aurora seemed lost. After the first half, the Danes led 7:6 and quickly closed the map in the second half, 13:8.
- Dust2 (16:14, Aurora pick)
The second map turned into a real thriller. Aurora dominated early, taking a 9:3 lead at halftime, but Astralis fought back to close the gap. The game went down to a nerve-wracking finish, where XANTARES and Wicadia pulled off the key rounds for Aurora. A 16:14 win gave the Turks a chance to stage a comeback in the series.
- Overpass (13:9, decider)
On the final map, Aurora played their best Counter-Strike. Woxic controlled the map with precision, jotta and XANTARES won crucial duels, and MAJ3R provided stability on defense. Astralis tried to fight back through jabbi and device, but Aurora’s collective style proved stronger. Final score — 13:9 and a sensational 2:1 victory for the Turks.
Player stats for the match
Player of the match
The MVP of the series was İsmailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, who once again proved he is the true leader of Turkish CS:
- K-D: 59–45 (+14)
- ADR: 91.3
- Rating 3.0: 1.15
XANTARES consistently won duels across all three maps, and his aggression combined with composure in key moments allowed Aurora to disrupt Astralis’ rhythm.
Team performance in the match
Aurora showed team maturity and excellent individual form. XANTARES (59–45, rating 1.15) was the locomotive of the squad, constantly opening rounds and setting the pace. Alongside him, Wicadia (52–56, rating 1.06) played the role of a “shadow hero” — his numbers weren’t the best, but his clutch involvements and space-creating plays allowed his teammates to shine. Young talent JottAAA (54–50, rating 1.02) was stable in trades, while woxic (46–41, rating 0.97) reminded everyone of his level by controlling key zones with the AWP. Captain MAJ3R (30–43, rating 0.83) may not have had standout stats, but his leadership and tactical adjustments were crucial to the team’s overall discipline.
For Astralis, the spotlight was once again on device (53–45, rating 1.39), who proved his status as a leader and was the most consistent player for the Danes. He was supported by jabbi (55–45, rating 1.15), who won duels and tried to carry the team forward. However, this time their efforts weren’t enough. HooXi (50–52, rating 1.07) added aggression, sometimes overly risky, costing Astralis in key moments. Magisk (46–48, rating 0.93) had a lackluster showing, while Staehr (29–54, rating 0.74) endured one of his weakest matches, which became a critical factor in the team’s loss.
Previous encounters
Astralis had a significant edge in head-to-head matchups: five consecutive wins against Aurora (dating back to the Eternal Fire era). The Danes had victories at PGL Astana 2025 (13:3 Train, 13:8 Nuke, 13:11 Mirage) and ESL Pro League Season 19. That’s why this Aurora win was historic — a symbolic moment showing the team no longer fears the giants.
Aurora made a loud statement at FISSURE Playground 2 by defeating Astralis 2:1. The Turks displayed character, composure, and maturity that they previously lacked. For Astralis, this loss is a wake-up call — being outplayed by Aurora highlighted weaknesses that the legendary roster must address if they want to remain among the elite.
