Legends Fell In The Latest ELEAGUE Major Boston Stage
Published: Jan 25, 2018 - Last Updated: Jul 2, 2023
Seven “Legends” went into the New Legends Stage of the ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 to take on the nine that had qualified from the New Challengers Stage. The results upsets could have massive implications for many teams going forward in the 2018 CS:GO season.
Seven Legends defended their title, and five fell by the wayside to be replaced by a clutch of new team. Here’s how the New Legends Stage panned out last weekend.
New Legends Stage
- The Current Legends — Gambit Esports, Astralis, Virtus.pro, Fnatic, SK Gaming, BIG, and North
- New Challengers qualifiers — Cloud9, G2 Esports, FaZe Clan, Vega Squadron, Space Soldiers, mousesports, Natus Vincere, Quantum Bellator Fire, and Team Liquid
One of the most interesting aspects of this tournament is that all the games in the New Challengers and New Legends stages were best-of-one matchups. That format alone begets more upsets.
The tournament began in the worst possible way for the current Legends in action. They went down in each of the first five matches against the New Challengers. Indeed, only Gambit Esports and SK Gaming survived the opening round.
In the end, the truly in-form teams carried the day. G2 Esports and FaZe Clan claimed wins in all of their first three games to sit atop the rankings.
At the same point in the competition, two Legends saw their reigns come to an end. Both North and Virtus.pro were handed their third defeat in three games to finish in the cellar.
Round Four saw three more teams clinch Legend status going forward: SK Gaming, Natus Vincere, and, perhaps most surprisingly, Quantum Bellator Fire. They stood as the rank outsiders in the tournament but defeated mousesports, Virtus.pro, and Gambit Esports in spectacular fashion.
Three teams also exited the tournament in Round Four, including two more Legends: BIG and Astralis. Meanwhile, Team Liquid got the boot as Vega Squadron scored a big victory.
At that point, with just six teams’ fates unknown, Fnatic reclaimed their Legends status. Plus, mousesports and Cloud9 became Legends with their wins. Surprisingly, Gambit Esports, Vega Squadron, and Space Soldiers were sent packing.
At the end of the New Legends Stage, these eight teams progressed into the New Champions Stage:
- 2018 Legends – G2 Esports, FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, SK Gaming, Quantum Bellator Fire, mousesports, Cloud9, Fnatic.
New Champions Stage
The ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 concludes this weekend with the New Champions Stage. Unlike the two previous stages, this is a straight knockout tournament featuring the eight newly crowned Legends.
In addition to the main feature, a special Showmatch between two TBD teams will feature the “best of the best.” This means the top players from all the competing teams gather for a special all-star game.
The draw for the quarterfinals of the New Champions Stage is as follows:
- FaZe Clan vs. mousesports
- Natus Vincere vs. Quantum Bellator Fire
- G2 Esports vs. Cloud9
- SK Gaming vs. Fnatic
The quarterfinals start Friday, Jan. 26 at the Agganis Arena in Boston. The Grand Final then begins Sunday. Each of the matches in the New Champions Stage is a best-of-three format.
The latest ELEAGUE Boston Major 2018 betting
Betway was quick to price up the odds on the four games listed above.
- FaZe Clan (30/100) vs. mousesports (11/5)
- Natus Vincere (3/25) vs. Quantum Bellator Fire (17/4)
- G2 Esports (11/20) vs. Cloud9 (13/10)
- SK Gaming (2/5) vs. Fnatic (7/4)
As you would also expect, the results of the New Legends Stage had a significant impact on the Outright Winner betting.
- FaZe Clan – 9/5 favourites
- G2 Esports & SK Gaming – 7/2
- Fnatic – 13/2
- Mousesports – 10/1
- Cloud9 – 14/1
- Natus Vincere – 18/1
- Quantum Bellator Fire – 40/1
Who is worth backing?
In my view, with Gambit Esports and other big names eliminated, this Major ought to be a fight among the top three teams listed in the betting. FaZe Clan’s heavy investment in their team has seen them perform with outstanding consistency of late. Still, they haven’t always netted wins. Then, SK Gaming are in form in terms of tournament wins, and G2 Esports have also looked very hot.
It should be a very closely fought few days of action. My money is on FaZe Clan just taking the win. I feel the best-of-three format perhaps suits them a little more than it does the other two contenders.
Since: August 10, 2015
