Team Dignitas' Impressive Malmö Run

If one word could be used to describe this tournament, it would be "upsets." With upcoming teams GODSENT and TyLoo each getting impressive wins against the best rosters in the world, it was clear from the start that no team was safe. Team Dignitas was no exception.

After failing to qualify for the Major and leaving the ESL Expo Barcelona as a semi-finalist, Team Dignitas was ready for an explosive performance to put them back on the map of teams to be reckoned with. On the first day of the tournament, they did just that by destroying Ninjas in Pyjamas on Overpass, a map that the Ninjas fear to play on, only amounting to five percent of their total maps played. The boys had gained momentum early on, and with Kristian "konfig" Wienecke's fantastic anti-eco ace while taking the A bombsite, nothing could stop Team Dignitas from closing out the map 16-2.

Kjaerbye and RUBINO at the previous DreamHack tournament, Leipzig

Team Dignitas's next Best of One matchup was equally as daunting; the ex-Team SoloMid roster, Astralis. This game on Cache was a bit rockier than their previous match, making things interesting for both teams. Despite winning the pistol round with an incredible ninja defuse by Jesper "tenzkji" Mikalski, Astralis took away the subsequent anti-eco, and after a failed force buy, Team Dignitas was down 1-2 in rounds after impressive aggression early on from Astralis. The match was very tumultuous, with the first half being characterized by economic struggles on both sides. The first half ended with an 8-7 scoreline, with nothing set in stone. After Astralis effectively took the first pistol round and subsequent anti-eco, things were looking grim in the second half. However after keeping their cool and working through the default strategies they've run time and time again, they slowly picked apart Astralis' defense on the first gun round. After this single round, the map was a complete shutout, eventually ending the matchup 16-9. Yet another upset for Team Dignitas, and another tier-one team destroyed.

Things were looking up, and Team Dignitas was placed into the quarterfinals. They were to be pitted in a Best of Three matchup against Team EnVyUs, a roster who at the time had had questionable performances throughout the first quarter of the year, failing to make it out of groups at both the MLG Columbus Major and ESL Katowice. The maps were chosen, and EnVy's pick, Inferno, was first. Team Dignitas began with the first pistol and anti-eco rounds under their belt, achieving that important early economic advantage. However, EnVy was able to take control from the first gun round, steering the scoreline in their favor. However, the momentum was shifted instantly back into Team Dignitas' favor with possibly the sickest 1v5 ninja defuse in recent history by Markus "kjaerbye" Kjaerbye. 

This round propelled them back into the game, but the lost economy over time made it a rough path to travel. Akin to the aforementioned matchup between Team Dignitas and Astralis on Cache, economic struggles plagued both sides until Team Dignitas gained several straight rounds near the end of the first half, ending with a 10-5 scoreline with things looking positive. However, EnVyUs had impressive success in the early second half, eventually tying it up with 10-10. Nevertheless, Kjaerbye came up with yet another impressive clutch pitted against three of EnVy's players. His patience was rewarded and three clean headshots later, he allowed Team Dignitas a chance to regain steam. Unfortunately, Team EnVyUs would not be deterred and after a series of impressive plays on both sides, the French roster was able to close out the first map, 16-12.

Kjaerbye being interviewed at Dreamhack Leipzig

Coping with the loss of the first map, Team Dignitas pushed themselves into their map pick on Mirage ready to take front stage yet again. EnVyUs was much more formidable on this map, forcing the scoreline into an intense 9-0 before Team Dignitas was able to answer back. The tenth round was finally won by Ruben "RUBINO" Villarroel Brødreskift, playing the bomb timer and going for a crazy peek with 8 HP. However, the eleventh round was taken entirely by EnVy, and with Team Dignitas' economy reset, it was a matter of time before the French roster closed out the half 14-1. Against all odds, the brilliant Team Dignitas roster did not give up. They began the second half by winning the pistol, and despite losing the anti-eco that ensued, the team was able to mount an impressive defense and anti-strats. With RUBINO showing godlike spray control, he was able to net an imposing ace against a forcebuying EnVyUs on match point. Still, eventually EnVy's offensive was too great, and the round difference was too wide for a possible comeback. Team EnVyUs wins Mirage 16-8, closing the series 2-0.

Despite having been eliminated in the quarterfinals, this was still an impressive run by Team Dignitas. After the matchup against EnVyUs, HenryG and Sadokist stated on-stream the roster was "on the rise," and that this was "a LAN experience to smile at." With spectacular plays from each member of Team Dignitas against the top teams in the world, they have continued to impress and the future is looking very bright for this lineup.

All statistics were used from HLTV.org and wiki.teamliquid.net/counterstrike.