Nordic Masters Spring reaches playoffs; HAVU, ENCE to face off in semis

MAD Lions and GODSENT weren't able to earn a spot in the knockout stage of the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown Qualifier.

HAVU, ENCE, Dignitas, and Galaxy Racer have advanced to the playoffs of the Nordic Masters Spring 2021, where a slot at the BLAST Showdown and $25,000 is on the line.

The eight teams competing at the event were split into two BO1 GSL groups, with HAVU confirming their favorite status in group A by taking down GODSENT and 777 confidently. Jani "⁠Aerial⁠" Jussila's squad has now won 20 of the 22 matches they played since the start of the month.

Former teammates will cross paths again

The second spot from group A was claimed by Joakim "⁠disco doplan⁠" Gidetun's Galaxy Racer, who overcame Epitacio "⁠TACO⁠" de Melo's GODSENT in the group decider 16-9 after losing the initial match 19-16.

Moving to group B, Dignitas' newest signing Jonas "⁠Lekr0⁠" Olofsson inspired the squad to victories over Singularity and MAD Lions, posting 1.52 and 1.54 ratings, respectively. The former fnatic and NiP player has been in strong form following the move, averaging a 1.20 rating since linking up with Patrik "⁠f0rest⁠" Lindberg and co.

The final playoff spot came down to MAD Lions and ENCE, with the former team managing a shocking upset in the group opener, 16-7 on Train. ENCE bounced back against Singularity to set up a rematch in the decider, where they came back from a 14-9 deficit to claim the win in overtime, 22-19. Joonas "⁠doto⁠" Forss and Paweł "⁠dycha⁠" Dycha were pivotal to the victory, counteracting a 40-kill game from Volodymyr "⁠Woro2k⁠" Veletniuk.

Group A TEAM M P HAVU 2 6 Galaxy Racer 3 6 GODSENT 3 3 777 2 0 Group B TEAM M P Dignitas 2 6 ENCE 3 6 MAD Lions 3 3 Singularity 2 0

With these results, the two Finnish organizations will cross paths in the semi-finals, setting up a rematch of the game played in the Pelaajatcom Series Showoff 2021, which ENCE edged out 2-1. On the other side of the bracket, Dignitas will be favored to take down Galaxy Racer and come one step closer to a spot at the BLAST Showdown.

The playoffs continue on Sunday with the following schedule:

13:00 HAVU - ENCE (BO3)
16:00 Galaxy Racer - Dignitas (BO3)
20:00 Grand final (BO3)

Epitacio 'TACO' de Melo Age: 26 Team: GODSENT Rating 1.0: 0.93 Maps played: 1206 KPR: 0.61 DPR: 0.64 ENCE #26 Aleksi 'allu' JalliMarco 'Snappi' PfeifferJoonas 'doto' ForssPaweł 'dycha' DychaLotan 'Spinx' Giladi Eetu 'sAw' Saha HAVU #19 Jani 'Aerial' JussilaSami 'xseveN' LaasanenLasse 'ZOREE' UronenOlli 'sLowi' PitkänenJemi 'jemi' Mäkinen Galaxy Racer #78 Joakim 'disco doplan' GidetunNiclas 'PlesseN' PlessenAdam 'dezon' WahlqvistHugo 'chawzyyy' GüntherJoel 'joel' Holmlund Thomas 'haste' Dyrensborg ENCE #26 Aleksi 'allu' JalliMarco 'Snappi' PfeifferJoonas 'doto' ForssPaweł 'dycha' DychaLotan 'Spinx' Giladi Singularity #65 Danni 'smF' DygSebastian 'larsen' LarsenAnton 'notaN' PedersenOliver 'IceBerg' Berg GODSENT #45 Epitacio 'TACO' de MeloJoão 'felps' VasconcellosEduardo 'dumau' WolkmerBruno 'b4rtiN' CâmaraBruno 'latto' Rebelatto Time is adjusted to your selected timezone Dignitas #46 Patrik 'f0rest' LindbergAdam 'friberg' FribergJonas 'Lekr0' OlofssonHåkon 'hallzerk' FjærliLudvig 'HEAP' Alonso Halvor 'vENdetta' Gulestøl Paweł 'dycha' Dycha Age: 23 Team: ENCE Rating 1.0: 1.09 Maps played: 520 KPR: 0.74 DPR: 0.67 Dignitas #46 Patrik 'f0rest' LindbergAdam 'friberg' FribergJonas 'Lekr0' OlofssonHåkon 'hallzerk' FjærliLudvig 'HEAP' Alonso Joonas 'doto' Forss Age: 25 Team: ENCE Rating 1.0: 0.99 Maps played: 481 KPR: 0.68 DPR: 0.68 MAD Lions Thomas 'TMB' BundsbækFilip 'tudsoN' TudevVolodymyr 'Woro2k' VeletniukJustinas 'jL' LekaviciusPere 'sausol' Solsona Saumell Jakub 'kuben' Gurczyński GODSENT #45 Epitacio 'TACO' de MeloJoão 'felps' VasconcellosEduardo 'dumau' WolkmerBruno 'b4rtiN' CâmaraBruno 'latto' Rebelatto Olavo 'chucky' Napoleão Patrik 'f0rest' Lindberg Age: 32 Team: Dignitas Rating 1.0: 1.11 Maps played: 1817 KPR: 0.76 DPR: 0.65 Singularity #65 Danni 'smF' DygSebastian 'larsen' LarsenAnton 'notaN' PedersenOliver 'IceBerg' BergNikolaj 'holzt' Holst 777 #114 Snorre 'fletch' GranerudMikael 'mikki' GaupSondre 'fibb0' GjerdeJonatan 'ruyter' RuyterChristopher 'kicker' Lindén Christopher 'kicker' Lindén Galaxy Racer #78 Joakim 'disco doplan' GidetunNiclas 'PlesseN' PlessenAdam 'dezon' WahlqvistHugo 'chawzyyy' GüntherJoel 'joel' Holmlund Joakim 'disco doplan' Gidetun Age: 25 Team: Galaxy Racer Rating 1.0: 1.03 Maps played: 1080 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.66 MAD Lions Thomas 'TMB' BundsbækFilip 'tudsoN' TudevKristers 'keen' DārznieksVolodymyr 'Woro2k' VeletniukJustinas 'jL' Lekavicius Jani 'Aerial' Jussila Age: 27 Team: HAVU Rating 1.0: 1.06 Maps played: 735 KPR: 0.72 DPR: 0.67 Jonas 'Lekr0' Olofsson Age: 27 Team: Dignitas Rating 1.0: 1.02 Maps played: 1030 KPR: 0.69 DPR: 0.67 HAVU #19 Jani 'Aerial' JussilaSami 'xseveN' LaasanenLasse 'ZOREE' UronenOlli 'sLowi' PitkänenJemi 'jemi' Mäkinen Taneli 'disturbed' Veikkola Volodymyr 'Woro2k' Veletniuk Age: 19 Team: MAD Lions Rating 1.0: 1.15 Maps played: 54 KPR: 0.80 DPR: 0.67 777 #114 Kristian 'akez' KornbakkSnorre 'fletch' GranerudMikael 'mikki' GaupSondre 'fibb0' GjerdeJonatan 'ruyter' Ruyter