FURIA defeat paiN and keep their ESL Pro League S23 playoff hopes alive

FURIA confidently defeated paiN Gaming 2–0 in the decisive 2–2 stage match at ESL Pro League Season 23. The Brazilian derby ended in two maps, allowing FURIA to keep their playoff hopes alive, while paiN were eliminated from the tournament.

Map veto:

1. paiN removed Overpass
2. FURIA removed Ancient
3. paiN picked Inferno
4. FURIA picked Dust2
5. paiN removed Anubis
6. FURIA removed Nuke
7. Mirage was left over

The first map, Inferno, ended with a 13:6 score in favor of FURIA. The team quickly took control of the game and confidently maintained the momentum for most of the map. FURIA successfully used aggressive trades and consistent aim, which allowed them to build a comfortable lead and prevent their opponents from getting back into the match.

On Dust2, FURIA continued to dominate and closed out the series. The map ended 13:8, and although paiN tried to put up a fight, FURIA looked far more consistent in the key rounds. The team executed their attacks effectively and maintained strong economic control, which helped them secure the victory without the need for a third map.

MVP of the match

The MVP of the match was molodoy, who finished the series with 102.1 ADR and a 1.61 rating. These are very strong numbers, especially for an AWP player.

FURIA secured an important victory that allows them to continue fighting for a playoff spot in the 2–2 bracket. Meanwhile, paiN finished their run at the tournament in 12th–14th place, earning $10,500 for the team and an additional $11,000 for the organization. ESL Pro League S23 Stage 2 runs from March 6 to March 10, where 16 teams compete for a place in the playoffs. The remaining eight participants will share a prize pool of $185,000.