We had our bets and hopes for NaVi and aleksiB. All of a sudden the fairytale run came to a shocking meltdown from almost two maps up. The rollercoaster Major run of Natus Vincere has ended in heartbreaking fashion.
For fans and bettors who pinned their hopes on AleksiB leading the new NAVI roster to the Grand Final, the 2-1 reverse sweep by FaZe Clan was a shocking, full blown meltdown. Then they hit a brick wall and pressure of losing almost unloseable situation got in them. It was evident from their body language and performance on the server.
The weight of the stage proved too heavy for Natus Vincere.
Map 1: The False Dawn (Ancient, NAVI wins 13-5)
The series began with a masterclass from NAVI. They looked faster, sharper, and completely unbothered by the stage.
- Rookie Dominance: The rookie sensation makazze continued his superstar form, tearing FaZe apart with aggressive pushes that karrigan had no answer for.
- Total Control: NAVI won 13-5, and it felt like FaZe was simply too old and too slow to keep up. The betting markets swung heavily toward a NAVI final.
The Semifinal should have been a breakthrough again for NaVi and makazze. It started wondrously and makazze was hitting every head left and right. The two teams looked like world apart in first map and the 10 first rounds on the second.
Then they hit a brick wall and pressure of losing almost unloseable situation got in them. It was evident from their body language and performance on the server.
The weight of the stage proved too heavy for Natus Vincere.
Map 2: The Rookie Wall and the Mental Block (Nuke, FaZe wins 13-11)
Yesterday, NAVI looked like world-elite who had solved the puzzle of pressure. But somehow after they dropped a crazy round against 9hp Twistzzz something went horribly wrong. They looked like a team that forgot how to win.
This was the turning point where experience began to strangle youth.
NAVI had chances to close out the series, but as the scoreline tightened, the pressure began to mount.
- The Clutch Factor: While NAVI’s players began to hesitate, FaZe’s frozen and Twistzz delivered ice-cold clutches. A pivotal 1v3 from frozen kept FaZe alive, and they stole the map 13-11. You could visibly see the confidence drain from NAVI's faces.
- Makazze was totally missing after the bad run started. He had only 4 kills and 10 deaths in the terrorist side
Map 3: The Meltdown Continues (Inferno, FaZe wins 13-8)
By the time the decider started, NAVI was already defeated mentally. The "meltdown" was in full effect.
Broken by the Nuke loss, the young NAVI squad came onto the decider (Inferno) already defeated. The structured system of AleksiB vanished under the weight of the moment
- AleksiB's System Collapses: The structured T-side that worked against FURIA vanished. FaZe’s karrigan called an aggressive defensive game on Inferno that panicked the young NAVI squad. AleksiB vanished under the weight of the moment, both call and kill-wise.
- The Difference: In the key moments, Twistzz (who ended as the series MVP) hit the shots that w0nderful and b1tmissed. FaZe cruised to a 13-8 win as NAVI faded into the shadows.
The Verdict: NAVI proved they have the skill to win a Major, but FaZe proved that knowing how to win matters more. The veterans weathered the early storm, waited for the rookies to panic, and then ruthlessly took the Grand Final spot.
Twistzz Deagle 1v3 was the last nail in NaVi coffin
Next Up: The Grand Final — FaZe Clan vs. Team Vitality. Check out our full prediction.