Movistar Riders dispatch GamerLegion to qualify for EPL playoffs

GamerLegion have been relegated to the lower bracket after failing to close a 15-12 lead on Ancient.

alex and JUST led the line for Movistar Riders with 1.27 ratings each

Movistar Riders have secured their place in the playoffs of ESL Pro League Season 18 after defeating GamerLegion 2-0 in Group A's upper semi-final. The Spanish core impressed in their second match as they secured another sweep, following up on their earlier success against FURIA from the previous day of play.

The Spaniards are now scheduled to face the winner of Vitality vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas for a chance to claim the top spot in the group and a ticket to the quarter-finals.

Read more Movistar Riders fend off KSCERATO brilliance to best FURIA in Malta

This is an impressive result for Movistar Riders, who come into the Maltese LAN after a series of disappointing online results with their new roster featuring Adam "⁠adamS⁠" Marian. The Romanian rifler joined the squad after the team's summer bootcamp, but still managed to produce solid results on Anubis despite not being fully familiar with his new roles.

Read more bladE: "There's an obvious difference in level with our opponents, but there's also a certain parity"

Movistar Riders kickstarted the series on their pick of Ancient with a rock-solid CT side, which was defined by Alejandro "⁠mopoz⁠" Fernández-Quejo Cano and adamS's defensive performances and their energetic celebrations after every win. The duo combined for 26 frags in the first half, and proved invaluable in the Spaniards' run to a 10-5 scoreline.

GamerLegion managed to claw back at the deficit after switching sides, but were unable to keep up their challenge for long. After a slow start to the half, Movistar Riders halted the European mix's resurgence and closed their map pick 16-12.

Sanzhar "⁠neaLaN⁠" Iskhakov's men started off much better on Ancient and quickly claimed a 6-1 lead on the T side before Movistar Riders found their footing. The Spaniards bounced back as Alejandro "⁠alex⁠" Masanet led by example with a 1.53 rating, and moved into the second half with a narrow 8-7 advantage.

GamerLegion repeated the same mistakes from the first half after moving to the CT side and failed to close a 15-12 lead, being forced into overtime and conceding their map pick 16-19. Tiago "⁠JUST⁠" Moura was a joy to watch on Ancient, and was crucial in Movistar Riders' comeback in the second half with a 1.50 T rating.

ESL Pro League Season 18Best of 3 Movistar RidersMatchpage 2 0 31st August 2023 GamerLegion 16Anubis 12 19Ancient 16

Movistar Riders	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Tiago 'JUST' MouraJUST	52 - 42	+10	92.1	1.28
Alejandro 'alex' Masanetalex	50 - 37	+13	89.6	1.27
Alejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo Canomopoz	46 - 36	+10	79.6	1.23
Adam 'adamS' MarianadamS	42 - 42	0	73.6	1.04
Antonio 'MartinezSa' MartinezMartinezSa	33 - 36	-3	48.4	0.91

GamerLegion	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Nicolas 'Keoz' DgusKeoz	41 - 45	-4	80.4	1.00
Isak 'isak' Fahlénisak	39 - 45	-6	69.7	0.94
Frederik 'acoR' GyldstrandacoR	38 - 39	-1	55.0	0.91
Sanzhar 'neaLaN' IskhakovneaLaN	38 - 45	-7	67.7	0.90
Sebastian 'volt' Maloșvolt	36 - 51	-15	69.0	0.86

Adam 'adamS' Marian Age: 22 Team: Movistar Riders Rating 1.0: 1.00 Maps played: 423 KPR: 0.67 DPR: 0.66 Alejandro 'alex' Masanet Age: 27 Team: Movistar Riders Rating 1.0: 1.03 Maps played: 1451 KPR: 0.69 DPR: 0.65 Sanzhar 'neaLaN' Iskhakov Age: 23 Team: GamerLegion Rating 1.0: 0.93 Maps played: 1187 KPR: 0.65 DPR: 0.70 GamerLegion #7 Frederik 'acoR' GyldstrandSanzhar 'neaLaN' IskhakovNicolas 'Keoz' DgusIsak 'isak' FahlénSebastian 'volt' Maloș Ashley 'ash' Battye Tiago 'JUST' Moura Age: 27 Team: Movistar Riders Rating 1.0: 1.02 Maps played: 1068 KPR: 0.68 DPR: 0.66 Alejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo Cano Age: 27 Team: Movistar Riders Rating 1.0: 0.99 Maps played: 1294 KPR: 0.67 DPR: 0.68 Ninjas in Pyjamas #11 Kristian 'k0nfig' WieneckeFredrik 'REZ' SternerHampus 'hampus' PoserLudvig 'Brollan' BrolinDaniil 'headtr1ck' Valitov Daniel 'djL' Narancic Movistar Riders #71 Alejandro 'alex' MasanetTiago 'JUST' MouraAlejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo CanoAdam 'adamS' MarianAntonio 'MartinezSa' Martinez Galder 'bladE' Barcena FURIA #23 Gabriel 'FalleN' ToledoMarcelo 'chelo' CespedesAndrei 'arT' PiovezanYuri 'yuurih' SantosKaike 'KSCERATO' Cerato Nicholas 'guerri' Nogueira Vitality #1 Dan 'apEX' MadesclaireEmil 'Magisk' ReifMathieu 'ZywOo' HerbautShahar 'flameZ' ShushanLotan 'Spinx' Giladi Danny 'zonic' Sørensen