The first Counter-Strike Major of 2022 is finally here. 24 teams enter the PGL Antwerp Major, but only one can stamp their name in history and claim CS:GO’s greatest prize.
- Renegades out on day two; 0-2 result against IHC
- Aussies exit after losses to forZe, Eternal Fire & IHC
- IHC admirable in 1-2 defeat to Imperial
Renegades have been bundled out of the PGL Antwerp Major by fellow APAC representatives IHC 2-0 (16-10, 16-12) in what has been a week to forget for the Australian squad.
RNG were unable to post a single map win at the Major, with heavy defeats to forZe (16-9) and Eternal Fire (16-2) on day one meaning a reverse sweep would be necessary to keep their campaign alive.
They wouldn’t make it past the first best-of-three.
IHC, who defeated RNG at the APAC RMR 2-0, doubled up again in today’s eliminator, taking down the Aussies on Inferno and Dust 2 to book their spot in the 1-2 bracket.
Jordan “Hatz” Bajic didn’t mince words following the loss. “[A] depressing and embarrassing individual performance over the tournament for me,” he said on Twitter.
“I really did prepare as much as I could but it is what it is — sorry everyone.”
“Another embarrassing event from me, not really sure where to go from here,” remarked Joshua “INS” Potter after the IHC defeat.
RNG’s exit in Antwerp ends their season earlier than expected, with the side struggling to post wins internationally following a spate of changes.
Jay “Liazz” Tregillgas joined the squad shortly before IEM Katowice, meaning RNG had minimal practice with their new fifth — where they would ultimately exit with just a series win over Mongolian squad Renewal.
Likewise here in Antwerp, Simon “Sico” Williams stepped up to the Renegades captaincy but again, with minimal practice before the Major, the squad failed to showcase their best.
Fellow APAC representatives IHC Esports fell short against Brazilian squad Imperial on day three.
IHC came out of the gates swinging with a brilliant 16-11 result on Mirage, led by a 30-bomb from Tengis “sk0R” Batjargal.
Dropping Overpass 16-10, IHC needed Inferno to survive at the Major, and try as they did the Brazilians proved too strong, taking out map three 16-12.
PGL Antwerp Major — Streams
The PGL Antwerp Major streams live on Twitch. Missed the action? VODs are available on the respective Twitch channels immediately following the day’s action, as well as on PGL’s YouTube channel.
Primary Stream: PGL (Twitch)
Secondary Stream: PGL_CSGO (Twitch)
PGL Antwerp Major — Challenger Stage Standings (Swiss)
The PGL Antwerp Major Challengers Stage features a Swiss format. Opening and subsequent matches are best-of-one; matches that would see a team progress or eliminated are best-of-three series.
| Place | Team | Record |
| 1 | G2 Esports | 3-0 |
| Team Vitality | 3-0 | |
| 3 | Team Spirit | 3-1 |
| Outsiders | 3-1 | |
| ENCE | 3-1 | |
| 6 | Team Liquid | 2-2 |
| Bad News Eagles | 2-2 | |
| Astralis | 2-2 | |
| Imperial Esports | 2-2 | |
| Complexity | 2-2 | |
| MIBR | 2-2 | |
| 12 | 1-3 | |
| 1-3 | ||
| 1-3 | ||
| 15 | 0-3 | |
| 0-3 |
PGL Antwerp Major — Schedule
Challenger Stage, Day 4 (May 12) – Round 5
| Date & Match | Game | Time (AEST) |
| Round 5 Final Qualifiers | Astralis v Liquid | 8pm |
| Bad News Eagles v MIBR | 11:45pm | |
| forZe v Imperial | 3:30am |
Challenger Stage, Day 1 (May 9) – Round 1 & 2
| Date & Match | Game | Time (AEST) |
| Round 1 | Vitality 1-0 Complexity | 8pm |
| Opening Matches (0-0) | Bad News Eagles 1-0 Eternal Fire | |
| G2 1-0 Liquid | 9:15pm | |
| forZe 1-0 Renegades | ||
| Astralis 1-0 IHC | 10:30pm | |
| Imperial 0-1 Spirit | ||
| MIBR 0-1 Outsiders | 11:45pm | |
| ENCE 1-0 9z | ||
| Round 2 High (1-0) | G2 1-0 Spirit | 1:30am |
| Round 2 Low (0-1) | Eternal Fire 1-0 Renegades | |
| Round 2 High (1-0) | forZe 1-0 Bad New Eagles | 2:15am |
| Round 2 Low (0-1) | Complexity 1-0 IHC | |
| Round 2 High (1-0) | ENCE 1-0 Outsiders | 3:30am |
| Round 2 Low (0-1) | Imperial 1-0 Liquid | |
| Round 2 High (1-0) | Astralis 0-1 Vitality | 4:45am |
| Round 2 Low (0-1) | MIBR 1-0 9z |
Challenger Stage, Day 2 (May 10) – Round 3
| Date & Match | Game | Time (AEST) |
| Mid Bo1 (1-1) | Spirit 1-0 Eternal Fire | 8pm |
| Bad News Eagles 1-0 Imperial | ||
| Astralis 1-0 MIBR | 9:15pm | |
| Complexity 0-1 Outsiders | ||
| High Bo3 (2-0) | Vitality 2-1 forZe | 10:30pm |
| Low Bo3 (0-2) | Renegades 0-2 IHC | |
| High Bo3 (2-0) | ENCE 1-2 G2 | 2:15am |
| Low Bo3 (0-2) | Liquid 2-0 9z |
Challenger Stage, Day 3 (May 11) – Round 4
| Date & Match | Game | Time (AEST) |
| High Match (2-1) | Astralis 0-2 Spirit | 8pm |
| Low Match (1-2) | Imperial 2-1 IHC | |
| High Match (2-1) | forZe 1-2 Outsiders | 11:45pm |
| Low Match (1-2) | Complexity 0-2 Liquid | |
| High Match (2-1) | ENCE 2-0 Bad News Eagles | 3:30am |
| Low Match (1-2) | MIBR 2-0 Eternal Fire |
PGL Antwerp Major — Rosters
| Team | Squad | ||||
| — Legends — | |||||
| Heroic | stavn | cadiaN | TeSeS | refrezh | sjush |
| Copenhagen Flames | jabbi | nicoodoz | roeJ | HooXi | Zyphon |
| BIG | tabseN | tiziaN | syrsoN | faveN | Krimbo |
| Cloud 9 | nafany | sh1ro | interz | Ax1Le | Hobbit |
| FURIA | yuurih | arT | KSCERATO | drop | saffee |
| FaZe Clan | rain | broky | Twistzz | karrigan | ropz |
| Ninjas in Pyjamas | REZ | Plopski | hampus | es3tag | Brollan |
| Natus Vincere | s1mple | electronic | Boombl4 | Perfecto | b1t |
| — Challengers — | |||||
| ENCE | Snappi | Spinx | dycha | hades | maden |
| G2 Esports | JaCkz | huNter | NiKo | m0NESY | Aleksib |
| forZe | Jerry | KENSi | zorte | Norwi | shalfey |
| Astralis | Xyp9x | gla1ve | k0nfig | blameF | Farlig |
| Team Vitality | apEX | ZywOo | misutaaa | dupreeh | Magisk |
| MIBR | chelo | exit | WOOD7 | Tuurtle | JOTA |
| Imperial Esports | FalleN | fer | fnx | boltz | VINI |
| Bad News Eagles | SENER1 | gxx- | juanflatroo | sinnopsyy | rigoN |
| — Contenders — | |||||
| Eternal Fire | XANTARES | woxic | Calyx | imoRR | xfl0ud |
| Team Spirit | chopper | magixx | degster | Patsi | S1ren |
| Outsiders | buster | qikert | Jame | YEKINDAR | FL1T |
| Complexity Gaming | JT | FaNg | floppy | Grim | junior |
| IHC Esports | bLitz | Techno4K | kabal | nin9 | sk0R |
| Renegades | INS | sico | hatz | aliStair | Liazz |
| Team Liquid | EliGE | NAF | oSee | shox | nitr0 |
| 9z Team | dgt | max | rox | luken | dav1d |