Inner Circle complete comeback against Gentle Mates to advance to ESL Pro League S22 Stage 2

Inner Circle defeated Gentle Mates in a tense three-map series and secured their spot in Stage 2 of ESL Pro League S22 with a flawless 3-0 group stage record. The Ukrainian squad pulled off a dramatic comeback on Ancient to close the series, while Dawy claimed MVP honors with a 1.39 rating.

Nuke (13:8 Gentle Mates)

The series kicked off on Nuke, Gentle Mates’ map pick. In the first half, Inner Circle looked confident and closed it out with an 8–4 lead. However, after switching sides, they completely lost control and collapsed on the T side. Gentle Mates showcased an incredible defense, not allowing their opponents to win a single round, sealing the map 13–8 in their favor.

Mirage (13:10 Inner Circle)

On their own pick, Inner Circle started on the T side and managed to secure several key rounds, giving them a two-round lead at halftime. After the side switch, Gentle Mates tried to find weaknesses in the Ukrainian squad’s defense, but Inner Circle stayed composed and closed out the map 13–10.

Ancient (13:11 Inner Circle)

On the decider, Ancient, it initially looked like Gentle Mates would cruise to victory. The Spanish roster started confidently on the CT side, winning nine rounds in the first half to build a commanding lead. However, once sides changed, Inner Circle took over with a dominant T side, conceding just two rounds. They completed a stunning comeback from 3–9 down to close the map 13–11.

Match MVP

The standout player of this intense series was Dawy. His stats: ADR – 84.6, Swing +5.54%, and a 1.39 rating.

With this victory, Inner Circle advance to Stage 2 of the tournament with a perfect 3-0 group stage record. Gentle Mates, meanwhile, fall into the 2-1 pool, where they will still have a chance to fight for progression. ESL Pro League S22 Stage 1 runs from September 28 to October 2, featuring 16 teams battling for spots in Stage 2 and a share of the $400,000 prize pool.