The second Group C opening match was also the final opening match of the group stage.
Right after an exciting match between XSET and Xerxia, the final two teams stepped into the ring to see who will move on to the next stage from Group C. FunPlus Phoenix met up with KRÜ Esports as the final Group C opening match before the determining matches complete the group stage.
In Icebox, KRÜ started strong as they opened the map with a straight 4-round win before FPX managed to claw in a point. Even so, KRÜ finished the first half with a six-point lead. As the second half started, it was FPX’s turn to be the leader, as they executed their 4-rounds win before KRÜ managed to grab a win. The map ended with a draw by round 24, so overtime was called. KRÜ seemed to have lost some of their breath as they did not manage to mount a suitable offence against FPX, which gave the European team the win with a score of 14-12.
Bind saw FPX working with the winning momentum they achieved from the previous map and used it to the fullest. While KRÜ still took the lead in the first half, FPX managed to make a comeback from behind and easily trampled KRÜ to finally win 13-10 as well as the entire match.
FPX will now face XSET in the Winners’ match to see whom the first team to head into the Playoffs stage from Group C will be, while KRÜ will be facing Xerxia in the Elimination match.
VCT Champions Istanbul is happening from 31 August until 18 September in Istanbul, with the Playoffs set to be played in front of a live audience at Volkswagen Arena from 9 September 2022.
