Astralis fumbles major matches to Entropiq, Copenhagen Flames

The esports world witnessed a stunning opening day collapse as Counter-Strike’s most dominant team faltered at the year’s premier tournament. Astralis, having secured three consecutive major championships, faced immediate jeopardy in their title defense campaign.

Danish powerhouse Astralis finds itself in unprecedented territory after suffering consecutive 6-16 demolitions against regional rivals Copenhagen Flames and CIS contenders Entropiq. This disastrous start marks the team’s worst major performance in organizational history.

Pre-tournament predictions heavily favored Astralis to dominate the Challengers stage, making their 0-2 record particularly shocking to the competitive community. Pick’ems participants who allocated Astralis as their 3-0 choice now face early elimination from perfect prediction challenges.

While Astralis demonstrated consistent offline performance throughout 2021, their Stockholm campaign represents a dramatic departure from established form. The strategic cohesion that defined their championship runs has visibly deteriorated, particularly following Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz’s high-profile transfer to Ninjas in Pyjamas. The controversial last-minute substitution of Lucas “Bubzkji” Andersen for in-game leader Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander appears to have disrupted team chemistry at the worst possible moment.

Copenhagen Flames Stockholm Major roster

This Danish roster brings a mix of emerging talent and experienced leadership to the Stockholm stage.

• Fredrik “roeJ” Jørgensen – Primary AWPer and aggressive playmaker
• Rasmus “Zyphon” Nordfoss – Support player and clutch specialist
• Jakob “Jabbi” Nygaard – Entry fragger and space creator
• Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen – In-game leader and strategic caller
• Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjidi – Rifler and secondary AWPer
• Daniel “vorborg” Vorborg (Coach) – Tactical architect and preparation specialist
• Niels “NaToSaphiX” Sillassen (Substitute) – Flexible backup player

Astralis initially demonstrated control by securing the opening pistol round and building a 3-0 advantage. However, Copenhagen Flames’ calculated economic management enabled rapid rifle acquisition, completely shifting momentum. The reigning champions appeared disorganized on Overpass, displaying uncharacteristically hesitant pushes and poorly coordinated retake attempts.

Qualifying through the intensely competitive European region, Copenhagen Flames earned their major spot with a tenth-place RMR finish. Seeded 15th in the tournament structure, the team entered with minimal expectations but maximum determination. Their stunning victory against Astralis provides crucial momentum as they pursue two additional wins for Legends stage advancement. Strategic depth and disciplined execution will be essential against higher-ranked opponents.

Entropiq Stockholm Major roster

This Russian-majority lineup combines individual skill with emerging tactical sophistication.

• Igor “Forester” Bezotecheskiy – Versatile rifler and secondary caller
• Aleksey “El1an” Gusev – Primary sniper and positioning expert
• Viktor “Lack1” Boldyrev – Star performer and damage dealer
• Alexey “NickelBack” Trofimov – Support anchor and utility specialist
• Vladislav “Krad” Kravchenko – Entry fragger and pistol round specialist
• Dmitry “hooch” Bogdanov (Coach) – Veteran leader and system implementer
• Egor “flamie” Vasilev (Substitute) – Experienced backup with major experience

Most Pick’ems participants overlooked Entropiq’s potential, but their performance validated the team’s qualification credentials. Lack1’s extraordinary individual display featured a 3.0 kill-death ratio combined with 102.5 damage per round, establishing him as the undisputed match MVP. A brilliantly executed flank maneuver during the decisive gun round secured their 1-1 tournament record. Krad’s exceptional pistol round execution provided the foundation for their Challengers stage campaign initiation.

Earning qualification through CIS Regional Major Rankings, Entropiq secured the 14th seed and access to the $2 million prize pool. Their most significant 2021 achievement was claiming the Malta Vibes Knockout Series title with $24,000 in winnings. Advancing to the top eight at Stockholm would effectively double their annual competitive earnings, adding substantial financial incentive to their competitive ambitions.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Astralis fumbles major matches to Entropiq, Copenhagen Flames Analyzing Astralis' shocking 0-2 start at PGL Stockholm Major and the underdog teams that delivered the upsets