Russian Outsiders defeated ENCE in the grand final with a score of 2 – 0 and thus became the owner of the main prize of $50,000, as well as a guaranteed place at the Conference stage of ESL Pro League Season 17.
It is interesting that before this, Outsiders lost to ENCE in the group stage of the tournament, after which it had to win twice against the Brazilian Fluxo to make it to the playoffs. But in the knockout matches, the team already looked much more convincing: it defeated MOUZ with a confident advantage, and then ENCE, receiving the second ESL Challenger trophy in a year.
The first map of the grand finals was the one chosen by Outsiders Dust2. Although their opponents were able to gain an advantage at the beginning, the Outsiders quickly equalized the score and achieved an advantage of 9 – 6 by the time the sides change. In the second half of the map, the Russian team dominated unconditionally, losing only two rounds. On Vertigo, Outsiders played successfully in the first half of the match, and the gap in the score seemed insurmountable (11 - 4). However, then ENCE won back a significant part of the advantage, so the final score was 16 – 14 in favor of Outsiders.
For ENCE, this is already the third defeat in the grand final of a major tournament in a year. Now the team will have to focus on preparing for the major, where it will begin competing at the Legends stage on November 5.
