The battle for survival at ESL Pro League saw FURIA narrowly secure a 2-1 victory over NRG, sending the North American squad packing. Throughout the series, both teams struggled with weak CT sides, allowing their early advantages to slip away. However, FURIA found just enough firepower when it mattered most, clinching the win thanks to key individual performances on Train and Mirage. Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato played a pivotal role on Train, while Felipe “skullz” Medeiros dominated on Mirage to keep his team in the competition.
FURIA’s performance in 2025 has been far from dominant, with early exits at IEM Katowice and a shaky start to ESL Pro League. They initially overcame Lynn Vision but suffered losses against SAW and MIBR, forcing them into a high-stakes elimination match against NRG. This series proved to be another nerve-wracking affair for the Brazilian squad, who built commanding T-side leads only to nearly squander them each time. Fortunately for them, skullz stepped up in crucial moments, delivering a decisive 2v3 clutch at 10-11 on Mirage and racking up 32 kills in regulation to push FURIA over the finish line.
For NRG, the tournament presented a tough challenge from the outset, as they faced three of the four highest-ranked teams in their group. Despite a strong effort, they faltered in tight series against GamerLegion and Eternal Fire, leaving them with just one win over Nemiga. Their biggest downfall against FURIA was their inconsistent CT sides, where they repeatedly fell behind early. Nick “nitr0” Cannella’s shot-calling on the T-side kept them competitive, but their late-game efforts weren’t enough to complete the comebacks on Train and Mirage.
Despite their elimination, NRG showed glimpses of promise at ESL Pro League, considering the caliber of opponents they faced. They will now set their sights on IEM Dallas, where they hope to turn their competitive performances into actual results.
