Natus Vincere booked their spot in the BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 playoffs after a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Falcons in the Group A upper bracket semi-final. Despite dropping Mirage early in the series, NAVI quickly regained control and closed out the match with confident performances on Inferno and Dust2. The result not only secured qualification but also underlined NAVI’s ability to adapt mid-series against one of the most dangerous rosters in the event.
Path through the tournament
Both teams arrived to this match in strong form, making the upper bracket semi-final one of the most anticipated clashes of the stage.
Falcons entered the series after a clean 2–0 victory over NRG, showcasing solid structure and firepower. However, against NAVI, their momentum stalled after a strong start.
NAVI, on the other hand, continued their impressive run. Prior to this match, they had already secured a win over B8 and extended their winning streak, demonstrating stable form coming into Rotterdam. This victory pushes them further as one of the most consistent teams in the bracket.
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Mirage — Falcons strike first (13–9)
The series opened on Mirage, NAVI’s pick, but Falcons managed to flip expectations early. Strong individual performances from TeSeS and m0NESY allowed Falcons to control key duels and deny NAVI space on the map. Despite some resistance, NAVI struggled to find consistency on the T side, and Falcons capitalized to take the opener 13–9.
Inferno — NAVI respond (13–9)
Inferno saw a much sharper version of NAVI. Their defensive setups looked far more structured, and their mid-round decisions consistently punished Falcons’ executes. makazze stepped up with key multi-kill rounds, helping NAVI stabilize the series. With better coordination and control, NAVI closed the map 13–9 to even the score.
Dust2 — decisive finish (13–9)
On Dust2, NAVI carried their momentum into the decider. Clean entries and well-timed rotations gave them control of the game, while Falcons struggled to convert crucial rounds. Round by round, NAVI extended their lead before sealing the map 13–9, completing the reverse momentum and securing the series 2–1.
Player statistics for the match
Player of the Match — Drin “makazze” Shaqiri
Across three maps:
- 51–44 K-D
- 91.6 ADR
- 75.8% KAST
- 1.32 rating
His consistent fragging and impact in key rounds were crucial to NAVI’s comeback after losing the opening map.
VRS impact
The result also influenced the Valve Regional Standings. NAVI gained +32 VRS points, strengthening their top-tier position, while Falcons dropped −12 points after missing direct playoff qualification.
Team reactions
Falcons acknowledged the loss shortly after the match:
No Rotterdam playoffs for us tonight. Lower bracket next.
Meanwhile, NAVI celebrated securing their spot:
Playoffs secured
Players also shared individual reactions, with iM highlighting the achievement:
Made it to playoffs after winning… Ggwp. makazze goat.
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What’s next
NAVI move forward to the playoffs with growing confidence and momentum, continuing their push for another deep run. Falcons, meanwhile, drop to the lower bracket, where they will need to fight through elimination matches to keep their tournament hopes alive.
