Inner Circle confidently defeated GamerLegion at ESL Pro League S22 Stage 1

Inner Circle continue to impress at ESL Pro League S22: the Ukrainian squad secured a convincing 2:1 victory over GamerLegion, claiming dominant wins on Ancient and Dust2. The team now stands at 2-0 in the group stage and is just one step away from advancing to the next stage of the tournament.

Ancient (13:3 Inner Circle)

The first map of this thrilling and intense match was Ancient, chosen by Inner Circle. In the first half, the Ukrainian squad confidently took control, finishing 9:3. In the second half, GamerLegion couldn’t seize the initiative and fell 3:13.

Overpass (22:20 GamerLegion)

On their map pick, GamerLegion literally snatched victory from the opponent’s hands. Despite holding an 8:4 lead in the first half, they allowed Inner Circle to stage a comeback in the second half. Inner Circle nearly closed it out but GamerLegion managed to secure a decisive round and forced the game into overtime. In a tense series of overtimes, GamerLegion eventually edged out their rivals, taking the map 22:20.

Dust2 (1:13 Inner Circle)

The decisive Dust2 turned into a disastrous loss for GamerLegion. From the very first rounds, the Ukrainian squad completely controlled the map. Their incredible dominance left their opponents with only a single consolation round, as Inner Circle closed it out 13:1.

Match MVPs

Two Inner Circle players delivered outstanding individual performances in this series. Dawy posted the highest ADR of 100.7, while cairne impressed with a +6.06% Swing and a 1.58 rating.

This victory puts Inner Circle at 2-0, meaning they need just one more win to qualify for the next stage. GamerLegion drop to the 1-1 pool, where the battle will only get tougher. ESL Pro League S22 Stage 1 runs from September 28 to October 2, featuring 16 teams fighting for spots in Stage 2 and a total prize pool of $400,000.