TYLOO is now just one win away from advancing to the second phase of ESL Pro League Season 21, following a 2-0 victory over Eternal Fire. The Chinese squad secured their triumph with a 16-13 win on Inferno and a 13-8 victory on Anubis, further solidifying their strong start in Stockholm.

One of the defining aspects of the series was TYLOO’s success in pistol rounds, as they secured all four. However, their ability to convert these early advantages into momentum was tested by Eternal Fire’s forcebuys, as they dropped three rounds to their opponent’s second-round buys. The match was highly competitive, often coming down to clutch scenarios and post-plant executions, where TYLOO managed to edge out key moments to seal the win.

After already taking down 3DMAX 2-0 in their opening match, TYLOO now finds itself in an ideal position to qualify for the next stage, with Yi “JamYoung” Yang emerging as a standout performer in this year’s Pro League.

JamYoung’s Impact in Sweden Continues to Grow

The 23-year-old rifler has long been viewed as a player with immense potential, yet he never truly made his breakthrough at the top competitive level. After a brief period on the bench at the end of 2024, alongside speculation of a switch to Valorant, he rejoined TYLOO at the beginning of the year. Since his return, he has been a driving force behind the team’s success.

JamYoung showcased his talent in TYLOO’s first match against 3DMAX, where he posted an impressive 1.78 rating. Against Eternal Fire, the seventh-ranked team in the world according to VRS, he delivered another high-impact performance, leading the server with a 1.36 rating and helping TYLOO secure a surprise victory that places them 2-0 in the Swiss stage.

His presence was particularly crucial in the opening half of Inferno, where TYLOO struggled to find footing on the T-side, trailing 3-9. Alongside Dongkai “Jee” Ji, who went from two kills on the attack to finishing with a 20-18 scoreline, and Qianhao “Moseyuh” Chen, he played a significant role in the CT-side comeback, flipping the game in TYLOO’s favor for a 16-13 win.

Eternal Fire’s Winning Streak on Anubis Comes to an End

Eternal Fire had established themselves as one of the strongest teams on Anubis, coming into the event with an impressive 12-1 record on the map. Their only previous loss had come at the hands of The MongolZ at IEM Katowice, and the Turkish squad appeared well-positioned to even out the series.

Although they only managed four rounds on defense, they still had a strong opportunity to stage a comeback, particularly after winning a forcebuy in the second round and chaining together three consecutive rounds to bring the score to 7-9. However, in the critical closing moments, they faltered, allowing TYLOO to capitalize and close out the map 13-8.

As one of the most dominant teams on Anubis, Eternal Fire is now showing signs that opponents are starting to figure them out. Their dense tournament schedule, with little time to refine strategies, may be making them more vulnerable in games they would normally be expected to win.

Jee’s CT Performances Were Key in TYLOO’s Win

After a difficult start on Inferno, Jee’s performance on defense was pivotal in TYLOO’s turnaround. During a post-match interview, he humorously admitted his T-side struggles, joking: “I can’t open fire, bro. I’m so noob, only one frag.” However, he quickly followed up by emphasizing his confidence in his teammates, coach, and personal ability to bounce back.

And bounce back he did. On Inferno’s CT side, Jee took over, motivating his teammates and helping push the match into overtime, eventually leading TYLOO to a 16-13 victory on their map pick.

Across both maps, Jee delivered an outstanding defensive performance, finishing with a match-high 1.67 rating on CT sides. His individual plays made a huge difference, particularly on Anubis, where he secured two crucial kills in a 2v3 post-plant and clutched a 1v1 in consecutive rounds, pushing TYLOO to match point.

As the broadcast team highlighted, his impact in those moments was game-changing. Harry “JustHarry” Russell even joked, “Two Jee clutches make GG,” as TYLOO wrapped up the series, leaving Eternal Fire with a 1-1 record in the Swiss stage.