On October 2nd in Copenhagen, one of the most intense matches of ESL Pro League Season 22’s opening stage came to an end. In the decisive Swiss round (2-2), G2 and ENCE clashed for the right to continue their tournament run. Everything was on the line: the winner would advance to Stage 2, while the loser would be eliminated. In this battle with no margin for error, it was G2 who showed championship composure, defeating their opponent 2:0 (13:9 Overpass, 13:5 Train).
Match background
For both teams, this encounter was nothing short of a final. ENCE arrived after a shaky group stage, suffering losses even to teams of similar level, while G2 were determined to bounce back from early setbacks and reaffirm their playoff ambitions. The psychological pressure was immense, with every mistake threatening to end the tournament run.
Map one — Overpass (ENCE’s pick)
ENCE trusted their strongest pick, but from the very first rounds it was clear that G2 were fully prepared. The balance of power was quickly broken: G2 closed the first half 9:3, showing strong defense and sharp, creative pushes.
After the side switch, ENCE attempted a comeback thanks to podi and rigoN, who tried to spark momentum. However, the individual brilliance of huNter- and the stability of SunPayus denied them any chance. Final score: 13:9 G2 — the first step toward Stage 2 was secured.
Map two — Train (G2’s pick)
Train turned into a showcase for G2. From the very start, Bosnian rifler huNter-, together with malbsMd, took complete control of the game. G2 dominated duels and closed the first half with a convincing 8:4.
In the second half, ENCE failed to find a single effective plan — their attacks collapsed early in rounds, while the decisive clutches all went G2’s way. In the end, ENCE managed to win only one round, with the map finishing 13:5, sealing the series.
Player statistics
Key players
Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač was the undisputed MVP of the match. His stats speak for themselves:
- 36-18 K-D
- 89.3 ADR
- 1.52 HLTV 3.0 rating
- 90% KAST
He carried his team in the most crucial moments, winning key duels and showing consistency that delivered the win.
- malbsMd (1.31 rating) and MATYS (1.18) kept up the pace set by huNter-, contributing essential frags in mid-rounds.
- SunPayus once again proved to be a reliable anchor and sniper, finishing the series with a 1.15 rating.
ENCE, meanwhile, struggled individually. Only podi managed to post a near-neutral rating (0.98), while sdy, myltzi, and Neityu all underperformed, ending the series with ratings below 0.75.
- G2 advance to Stage 2 of ESL Pro League S22, delivering a powerful team performance when it mattered most.
- ENCE exit the tournament, unable to overcome inconsistency and the lack of individual impact.
This match once again proved that G2 remain a big-stage team, capable of handling pressure and securing victories when it matters the most. ENCE, on the other hand, will need to work on their lineup’s stability and individual form if they want to compete at the level of the world’s top 16.
