eSports

ENCE, ECSTATIC, and Heroic round out PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 lineup

February 23, 2024

We’re just a couple of days away now from the conclusion of the EU RMR for PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, with just the Last Chance Qualifier remaining to determine the one final team who will make the Major. It’s been some ride, filled with heartbreak and elation for some of the best Counter-Strike teams Europe has to offer.

On the final day, three teams would secure their place: ENCE, ECSTATIC, and Heroic. Here’s how it went down on the server.

ENCE’s new core come out on top

Credit: PGL

Who’d have thought it? It’s been some journey for ENCE in recent months. After signing gla1ve, losing their three star players, then picking up the Polish 9INE core, the stage was set for ENCE to have a messy RMR this time around. Don’t underestimate gla1ve though, who has got this team dancing to his tune in an impressively short period of time.

On the day, ENCE easily bested Astralis, condemning the Danes to the Last Chance Qualifier. Out-called, out-aimed, and all round out-played. Despite the happiness, it was understandably a day of mixed emotions for gla1ve. In beating Astralis, he has cast doubt on the prospects of his old teammates reaching the Major, giving an emotional post-match interview.

With this ENCE project starting to look the part, and gla1ve looking a far cry from the ‘washed’ IGL kicked from Astralis in June, we think they’ll be a surprise package at the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024.

Heroic make it look easy

Credit: PGL

Despite qualifying for the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 through the EU RMR B via the 2:2 bracket, Heroic can be happy with their results here. Their losses came at the hands of Vitality and Spirit, arguably the top two teams in the world right now. On the final day, it was an easy 2:0 win over GamerLegion that secured their place in the Major, with star showings from NertZ, sjuush, and nicoodoz in particular.

You’ve got to give a lot of credit to Heroic for how fast this project has come together. After the Heroic CS2 roster drama, it threatened to destabilize the entire organization, but the acquisitions of kyxsan, nicoodoz, and NertZ, seem to only have rejuvenated the team instead. As stars, nicoodoz and NertZ are always going to grab headlines, but we’ve been so impressed by kyxsan. IGL’ing for Heroic is no small task, but he’s shown impressive maturity to help his squad reach the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024.

The only all-Danish team in Copenhagen?

Credit: PGL

Throughout the RMR, we’ve seen a few all-Danish teams try their luck at reaching the Major on home soil in Copenhagen. Preasy fell out completely, while Astralis are stuck in the Last Chance Qualifier. But not ECSTATIC. This roster, led by former Astralis Talent player Patti, are going to the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, in perhaps the biggest shock of the RMR so far.

Absolutely no one gave them a chance, and now, there’s a very real chance they could be the only all-Danish roster heading to Copenhagen next month. Post-match, you could see just what it meant to the players.

After losing the opening map to Guild Eagles 13:3, it would’ve been easy for ECSTATIC to let heads drop. Yet they bounced back instantly, taking the next two maps with relative comfort. An achievement as impressive as this is always a team effort, but we want to give props to kraghen. This young rifler not only top-fragged the series, but he did it with a broken wrist, wearing a cast for the entire game. It’s some feat.

With the bulk of the EU RMR now complete, we move on to the Last Chance Qualifier, where the first set of games are: