Nuke.
This map had always been famous for its intricate, three-dimensional structure and extremely high tactical depth, demanding the utmost from a team’s coordination and understanding of the map.
Although Nuke was one of G2’s strong maps, that “strength” was built more on the team’s overall tactical system and chemistry.
As for Meng Lang personally,
the situation was somewhat different.
Though after the T side began, he could quickly buy his “signature weapon,” the AK-47, and boost his raw aim stats to T0 level,
CSGO had never been a simple contest of numbers.
It was a complex game in which aim, tactics, map understanding, and on-the-spot decision-making spiraled upward and clashed against one another.
Especially on a map like Nuke.
A pure aimer, once targeted by the opponent’s tactics and positioning, could easily find himself trapped in a situation where he had strength but no way to use it.
Meng Lang’s proficiency on Nuke was currently limited to “playable.” It was still far from the “strong-map” level he had gradually formed on Inferno and Mirage after simulated special training.
Of course, if it really came down to map three, Dust2, then there was no need to say more.
His destined map, the Sand Emperor!
That was his specialty map.
But right now, with Meng Lang taking Jackz’s position, he was still adapting and working out the habits and details of the T side on Nuke.
Even worse, their opponent, Vitality, was no ordinary team.
Not only did they have ZywOo, an undisputed T0 player in the current version, they also had experienced veterans like Magisk and dupreeh, who had at least once reached T0.5 heights.
Their individual ability and map understanding, especially on a classic map like Nuke, were in no way inferior to G2, who had actively picked Nuke.
In the first half, after G2 lost the pistol round, they did rally and chase points, but on this heavily CT-sided map, starting as T, they still ended the half at 6:9.
In truth, for G2 to get 6 rounds as the attacking side on Nuke, a widely acknowledged “big CT map,” was an acceptable result.
But the process was far more difficult than the score suggested.
Throughout the first half, Niko repeatedly made breakthroughs outside, his Deagle and AK opening up the situation for the team multiple times. Meng Lang also had the occasional highlight, using the AK’s precision to complete key kills.
But Vitality’s defensive resilience was extremely strong, especially at ZywOo’s position.
At times he pushed outside to steal kills; at times he held key corridors on ramp with the AWP; at times he completed unbelievable clutches on the bombsite.
By the end of the first half, his K/D was 16/7!
It had to be said that this “executive vice-GOAT’s” individual ability was displayed to the fullest on this complicated map. Time and again, he dismantled G2’s attacks by himself, showing the absolute leading edge of the “executive vice-GOAT” in individual explosiveness and map understanding.
As for G2,
the highest K/D in the first half was Niko’s, with a scoreline of 12/7.
Although Meng Lang took 8 kills in the first half, 3 of them were against an ECO, so his performance was actually average.
As for m0NESY, in the AWP duel department, from map one, Inferno, to the first half of map two, Nuke, he had been completely suppressed by the opposing sniper today.
His head-to-head stats against ZywOo were 2:7.
By the time the first half ended,
Ilya no longer had a smile on his face.
In the 6657 livestream room, Wanjiqi looked at the stats panel and summarized:
“The reason G2 had such a tough first half, I think, on one hand, is still that their overall coordination on Nuke wasn’t quite there. What they themselves believed was a strong map, when facing an opponent of Vitality’s level, wasn’t as ‘strong’ as imagined. In several rounds, the attacks were clearly disconnected, and there’s still room for improvement in trade-fragging and utility coordination.”
He paused, then continued with admiration, “On the other hand, and this is the most crucial point, it comes down to individual ability. Old Ni really did play well outside in the first half. His Deagle and AK were both eye-catching. You could say he was G2’s spearhead. But… over on Vitality, there’s this guy called ZywOo. It’s like he secretly turned up his parameters!”
Wanjiqi said half-jokingly, “We can see that in several key rounds in the first half, ZywOo was the one turning the tide all by himself. Pushing outside to steal kills, holding ramp with the AWP, handling clutches on site… there’s really nothing to criticize. All you can say is, he is, after all, a man who has taken TOP 1 before, the 19/20 executive vice-GOAT. In terms of individual explosiveness, he really is top-tier.”
“By comparison, m0NESY, as the attacking side’s AWPer in the first half, was a little underwhelming. In several duels against ZywOo outside, he was at a disadvantage and failed to open up the situation for the team. His stats were also pretty average.”
After analyzing the gains and losses, Wanjiqi changed tack, his tone once again carrying anticipation. “But then again, getting 6 rounds as T in the first half on Nuke is actually okay. They didn’t let the gap get too big.”
“Now the key is the second half! With sides swapped, G2 becomes CT, and the CT advantage on this map is massive! It depends on whether G2 can make good use of the CT-side map advantage to catch up.”
The livestream chat also flooded the screen:
“Big Sweet Potato went crazy in the first half!”
“Old Ni tried his best!”
“Why aren’t you mentioning that good brother of yours going dark?”
“Tsk tsk! Feels like Dark has no voice this game.”
“Nuke still relies on coordination. Feels like Dark hasn’t blended in.”
“.”
In the Antwerp studio, at G2’s player seats.
Niko rubbed his wrist. In the first half, he had fought with everything he had just to help the team keep the score close. He knew that in the second half, as CT, the pressure would still be enormous.
Meng Lang flexed his fingers.
His performance in the first half had indeed been unsatisfactory. His unfamiliarity with the attacking routes and several decision-making mistakes left him somewhat frustrated, but he quickly adjusted his mentality and focused his attention on the second half’s defense.
As CT, although Nuke still wasn’t his strong map, at least on defense he didn’t have to actively search for opportunities the way he did on attack.
“In the second half, play the pistol round well.”
Coach XTQZZZ emphasized in voice comms, “Hold the first few rounds, build up the economy. We have a chance.”
On the other side, the atmosphere at Vitality’s player seats was much more relaxed.
apEX smiled and patted ZywOo on the shoulder. “Well played, brother! Keep it up in the second half! Let’s push through in one breath and take map two!”
ZywOo pursed his lips and smiled, his gaze still focused.
The second half soon began.
After moving to the CT side, G2 did indeed show the CT advantage, first taking the pistol round.
Then they held two more rounds in a row.
Meng Lang watched ramp from inside. apEX consecutively called two ramp executes, only for Meng Lang to withstand the pressure both times.
One round, a four-kill against the opponent’s ECO!
One round, a mid-pace push into lobby for a double kill!
He brutally farmed a wave of personal stats.
And tied the score on the field at 9:9.
In the 6657 livestream room,
Wanjiqi could not help saying when he saw this:
“Oh! Dark is starting to exert himself! What did I say? Looks like as long as you give him a fair chance to take aim duels, when it comes to rifling, don’t look at the bandage wrapped around his right hand—Dark really has something to say right now!”
When the director’s camera cut to Vitality’s player seats, one could clearly see ZywOo’s expression change. In an instant, he turned into a red sweet potato.
But when the Big Sweet Potato overheated, he wouldn’t go take a shower.
He would only secretly “adjust his stats.”
In the following rounds, apEX also saw that G2’s ramp defense was a little hard to chew through, so he simply either attacked outside and went down K1, or directly exploded onto the inner site through squeaky door and hut together in a pincer.
With that, the situation gradually became sticky.
G2’s mistakes also gradually increased.
Finally, in the twenty-eighth round, Vitality successfully reached map point on map two with a score of 15:13.
In the 6657 livestream room, Wanjiqi was a little shocked!
“No way? Is it really whoever picks the map loses?”
“So what about this next round? Oh! ZywOo is very aggressive at the start! He goes straight up to red box with Magisk, and they boost an AWP to steal a kill!”
“m0NESY, m0NESY still hasn’t realized the danger. He’s still swinging out from under heaven! He’s still moving! He doesn’t know ZywOo is already edging onto him!”
“m0NESY couldn’t have imagined it! He couldn’t have imagined ZywOo would push this fast, this deep, in this round!”
“Oh! He saw him! One shot! m0NESY is down!!!”
“Too transparent, ZywOo!”
“Now Vitality has the numbers advantage. What do they do with this round? apEX has learned. He directly calls an execute onto A site!”
“Main door smoke is already down. huNter has been burned down from hut. Old Ni throws a flash! This play depends on how many huNter can get!”
“Oh! huNter gets one… but only one? huNter gets Misutaaa and is immediately traded by dupreeh!”
“No, with that flash from Old Ni, he should get at least two! My god! Now Vitality has outside open! Inside is open too!”
“Old Ni is shift-walking from squeaky toward triple, but ZywOo has already turned around and is holding triple! It’s like he knows everything! Don’t come out, Old Ni!”
“Oh—! Old Ni! He swings out! Then can you wide-swing and tear apart ZywOo’s AWP with your bare hands, Niko?”
“But his swing is neither wide nor tight! ZywOo takes him off with one shot! No way! Niko! How can you fall at a time like this! Then this round, G2 has really been sniped through from outside to inside by ZywOo’s AWP!”
“But that is ZywOo—!”
“This sequence, from outside to inside! Every angle he held was so smooth, so transparent! It’s simply too dominating!!!”
The fans of Vitality and ZywOo in 6657 also went crazy in chat!
“Holy shit! Hacks!”
“Classic: wherever he aims, someone’s there!”
“Too transparent, Big Sweet Potato!”
“Confirmed wallhack! Experts usually react and flick at the limit when people come out, but only wallhackers see in advance the person about to come out from behind cover, hold the crosshair still, and only press left-click!”
“Please stop baiting, I’m dying of laughter!”
“ZywOo: If you have hacks and don’t turn them on, isn’t that throwing for your teammates?”
“.”
At this moment, by the time Meng Lang, who had been holding ramp, arrived at the stairs under heaven, Vitality, having taken A site inside, threw fire onto heaven and planted the bomb directly.
Right now, apart from Meng Lang, the only one left on G2’s side was Aleksib, who was pinned in vents.
Aleksib knew there was no saving a gun in this round.
The opponent was already on map point.
If he saved, he’d be saving straight into fucking map three.
The countdown to the C4 explosion began!
Aleksib’s brain worked rapidly. At last, he gritted his teeth and decisively chose to go first himself!
If he could kill, he would kill.
If he couldn’t, he would pull the crosshair for Meng Lang!
It’s up to you, Dark!