Heroic have officially moved into the top tier of professional Counter-Strike. Casper "cadiaN" Møller's team won its second title in as many months, suddenly making a case for being among the best squads around. Compatriots Astralis were among their casualties at DreamHack Open Fall.
Heroic completed a remarkable week of Counter-Strike at DreamHack Open Fall in the Grand Final vs. Team Vitality. The Danish and the French gave us a hell of a game that fulfilled the Bo5 format with three overtimes. It was cadiaN that celebrated by the end of it.
Heroic Continuing the Danish Era at DreamHack Open Fall
We already know what Astralis can do, but Heroic are trying to show us that Denmark has much more to give. The team lead by cadiaN won ESL One Cologne Europe back in August, but no one and their mama felt like they could keep it going.
Then they almost got to another final at ESL Pro League Season 12 Europe and we began to believe. After DreamHack Open Fall, we don't have to believe anymore. We know.
After their hard-fought #DHOpen Fall win, the second team invited to the #IEM Global Challenge in December is @heroicgg! pic.twitter.com/jDdLcJOYsE
— Intel(r)ExtremeMasters (@IEM) October 26, 2020
Heroic's start in the tournament was far from perfect. They lost two out of three group matches to barely enter the playoffs. The going didn't get easier afterwards. Even the first playoff win against North - the only one where they didn't lose a map, included a double OT on Nuke.
Sprout, BIG and Ninjas in Pyjamas were all beaten in three maps en route to the lower bracket final. Another Danish team was the opponent there. Astralis were on the back of an ESL Pro League title and were looking poised to win DreamHack Open Fall as well. An uncharacteristic loss to Vitality in the upper final derailed them and the local competition finished what was left of their hopes. Once again, it was a double OT Nuke victory that propelled Heroic to a 2-1 victory.
After their hard-fought #DHOpen Fall win, the second team invited to the #IEM Global Challenge in December is @heroicgg! pic.twitter.com/jDdLcJOYsE
— Intel(r)ExtremeMasters (@IEM) October 26, 2020
That Nuke double OT was Heroic's talisman to the end. It was the first part of a winning trilogy against Vitality and a very crucial one. The French had won Overpass, again in overtime, and looked at a possible 2-0 advantage. That trademark Scandinavian composure kicked in at the perfect moment to tie up the score. Now in a Bo3, Heroic's T-side proved to be the key to success.
Vitality's defense notwithstanding, they lost every single CT half. That wasn't detrimental on Vertigo, but Inferno and Mirage were unforgiving and that's all Heroic needed. Another trophy, $33,000, 2500 RMR points, a spot at the IEM Global Challenge, and - the respect of the community all go to cadiaN and his truly heroic teammates.
DreamHack Open Fall Final
Heroic - Team Vitality
- 17-19 (Overpass)
- 22-20 (Nuke)
- 16-11 (Inferno)
- 10-16 (Vertigo)
- 16-7 (Mirage)
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