Aesthetic in ESEA S53 Intermediate Qualifier
The ESEA Season 53 Intermediate qualifier has wrapped up, and Aesthetic finishes with a solid 3-1 record. While we aimed for a flawless run, securing three wins wasn't all bad. Here’s a breakdown of our journey through the qualifier.
Game 1: Free Win
As a high seed, we secured a free win in the first round, giving us an automatic 1-0 start.
Game 2: vs. INTERMINABLE (French/Spanish/Swiss Team) – Map: Anubis
Interminable started strong on their T side, winning the pistol and securing a 3-0 lead. However, a beautiful B aggression play from Trodem and dilton secured our first round. Despite this, a strong B hit from Interminable pushed the score to 4-1.
Momentum shifted when Fanzy, with a Five-Seven, secured two surprising kills, leading to a force-buy win (2-4). k1ra followed up by spraying down two enemies and tagging a third, allowing us to win another round. The game remained back and forth until Trodem and dilton combined for two kills each, bringing us within one round (4-5).
Interminable responded, winning two rounds, but Trodem stepped up again with another two-kill entry. At halftime, we were trailing 5-7.
The second half began with a massive 2v5 clutch from Trodem and Fanzy, shifting the momentum in our favor. We stormed ahead, reaching 10-7, but an unsuccessful A hit gave Interminable a way back. Dilton secured a crucial 3k, pushing us to match point at 12-9, but Interminable fought back to 12-11. A well-timed B split secured us the final round, closing out the game 13-11.
Game 3: vs. NaWeight (Russian Team) – Map: Mirage
Starting on CT side, we secured the pistol round thanks to lunarlux’s two insane kills, followed by a solid A defense setup from Trodem and Fanzy, giving us a 3-0 lead. NaWeight answered back with a fast mid-to-A push, tying the game 3-3.
Trodem stopped their momentum with a 3k, and Fanzy followed with another 3k to deny connector control. Our IGL k1ra stepped up on B site, securing 3 kills, helping us take a 6-3 lead. The half ended 7-5 in our favor.
The second half looked locked in as Fanzy opened the pistol with 3 kills, but we crumbled in a 3v2 situation, allowing NaWeight to take control. They overtook us at 8-7 and extended their lead to 9-7. Dilton nearly clutched a 1v3, providing much-needed energy as we fought back. NaWeight reached 12-9, but lunarlux clutched a crucial 1v1, keeping us in the game.
We entered overtime and came out guns blazing, winning the first two rounds before dropping the third. In the second half of OT, lunarlux and dilton shut down NaWeight with 2 and 3 kills respectively. A well-placed A defense helped Trodem and dilton secure two more kills each, sealing the victory at 16-13.
Game 4: vs. VillainArc (German Team) – Map: Nuke
Starting on T side, we struggled early, losing five straight rounds despite k1ra’s 3k attempt in pistol. Dilton secured a huge 1v2 clutch, sparking a small comeback from 0-5 to 2-5. VillainArc responded with two rounds, extending their lead to 7-2. A funny moment between Fanzy and an enemy broke the tension, leading to another round win. We started winning our duels and closed the half at 5-7.
Lunarlux starred in the second half pistol round with 2 kills, setting up five straight CT-side wins for 10-7. A hectic 2v1 situation led to a misplay, allowing VillainArc to reach 8-10 and break our economy. Back-and-forth rounds followed, leading to a 11-11 tie.
VillainArc gained momentum, reaching match point at 12-11, and a quick outside push secured them the final round. VillainArc won 13-11, knocking us out in Round 4.
Final Thoughts
We finish the ESEA S53 Intermediate qualifier with a 3-1 record. Despite the setback, our performance showed strong individual plays, solid team coordination, and great resilience. There are clear takeaways from this run, and we’ll be back stronger for future competitions.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue the grind!