PGL Antwerp Major 2022: APAC reps both fall as IHC exit with spirited performance against Imperial

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 Eternal Fire 1-3
Complexity 1-3
IHC Esports 1-3
15 9z Team 0-3
Renegades 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

Jay “Liazz” Tregillgas makes his first Major appearance since finishing top four in Berlin.
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