G2 managed to overcome a shaky start in their BLAST Open Lisbon 2025 group stage opener, taking down Imperial 2-0 thanks to an extraordinary performance from Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač. The experienced Bosnian rifler delivered a standout showing on Mirage, posting an eye-watering 36-10 scoreline and pulling off three critical clutches that turned the tide in G2’s favor. His heroics came at a time when the rest of the squad was slow to get going, helping secure a 13-8 result on the first map.
The level of impact huNter- had in that map was reflected in his final rating of 2.67, a new personal milestone for the 29-year-old, surpassing his previous peak of 2.58 from a national match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Armenia back in 2016. He came up big when it mattered most, notably with a 1v3 in the late stages of the first half and a clutch 1v2 while on an eco round that kept the momentum firmly on G2’s side.
His influence didn’t stop there. As the teams moved on to Inferno, the series’ second map, Imperial appeared revitalized, especially after switching to the T side and rapidly closing the gap. Once again, it was huNter- who halted their progress, this time with a pair of well-timed triple kills that stifled the Brazilian push and allowed G2 to maintain control and close out the match in two maps.
Despite his dominance, it was revealed after the match that huNter- had not been feeling well in the days leading up to the series. Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov mentioned during a post-match analyst desk segment that his teammate had been under the weather for three days and had been relying on medication to stay in playing shape. Yet even while unwell, huNter- produced one of the most impressive performances of his career.
Reflecting on the match as a whole, m0NESY acknowledged that G2’s overall team play was not as sharp as it should be. He pointed out that there were instances where decision-making was sluggish and that the team sometimes made their rounds more difficult than necessary. According to him, the team has the potential to be more decisive and fluid in key moments but has been somewhat slow to react in recent matches.
The win, though closer than many expected against an underdog Imperial roster, puts G2 in a solid position moving forward in Lisbon. However, with stronger opponents waiting ahead and clear areas for improvement in team cohesion and round execution, they’ll need more than individual brilliance to go the distance in this tournament.
