G2 advanced to Shanghai Major semi-finals with standout performances

G2 secured their place in the semi-finals of the Perfect World Shanghai Major after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over HEROIC, winning on Ancient (6-13), Nuke (13-9), and Mirage (16-13).

Nikola “NiKo” Kovač was instrumental on the first two maps, particularly on Nuke, where his extraordinary performance on the CT side earned him a 3.44 rating, helping G2 secure a tight 13-9 win. However, the spotlight shifted to Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa on Mirage, where he carried the team with critical plays, including a Tec-9 quad-kill at 6-9 and a clutch 1v3 in overtime to seal the match.

“The game was incredibly challenging. We had our usual trolling moments, but overall, we played well,” malbsMd shared in a post-match interview.

This victory ensures G2 a spot in the semi-finals, where they will face the Vitality vs. FaZe match-up winner.

The series kicked off on HEROIC’s map pick, Ancient, where G2 started strong with a 3-0 lead. However, their momentum quickly stalled as HEROIC turned the tables, finishing the half with a 7-5 advantage. Despite NiKo delivering 18 kills in the first half, HEROIC dominated after the break, allowing G2 only one offensive round. The map ended 13-6 in HEROIC’s favor, with NiKo (22 kills) and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov (16 kills) fighting valiantly but ultimately falling short.

G2’s struggles continued on Nuke, where they trailed 2-6 on the T side. Even after losing a round to USPs, they managed to regroup, closing the first half only two rounds behind. On the CT side, NiKo delivered a masterclass, starting with three Deagle headshots in a force-buy and continuing to dominate with 20 kills, 212 ADR, and a 3.44 rating in the second half, leading G2 to a 13-9 victory.

The deciding map, Mirage, was a nail-biter. G2’s double-AWP strategy kept the first half balanced at 6-6, but they dropped their fifth pistol round of the series, falling behind 6-9. That’s when malbsMd took control of the game, securing a crucial quad-kill to kickstart G2’s T-side and pulling off an incredible 1v3 clutch in overtime. His heroics ensured G2’s victory and their spot in the semi-finals.