FaZe, Falcons, Virtus.pro Advance To Playoffs

The PGL Bucharest playoffs are officially confirmed following an exhilarating final round of Swiss play, which saw Virtus.pro (VP), FaZe Clan, and Team Falcons secure the coveted last three spots for the knockout stage.

Virtus.pro capped off their Swiss journey with a strong 2-0 victory over Astralis (13-10 on Dust2, 13-6 on Train), marking their return to the playoffs for the first time since IEM Katowice. This decisive win underscores the team’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure.

🐻 @virtuspro TO THE PLAYOFFS ✅

💪 A stunning 2-0 finish against @AstralisCS seals their place in the next round 🎯

❌ Unfortunately, Astralis is eliminated from PGL Bucharest 2025 🧳#PGLBucharest pic.twitter.com/GgzdRXhgpz

— PGL (@pglesports) April 10, 2025

Virtus.pro started the match with an impressive terrorist-side display on Dust2, quickly racing to a 9-3 lead. Although Astralis managed to apply some pressure, VP decisively closed the match as the Danes struggled to regain momentum on Train, concluding with a paltry four rounds in their favor. Evgenii “⁠FL1T⁠” Lebedev shone particularly bright, delivering a stellar performance with 144 average damage per round (ADR).

This victory is indicative of VP’s resurgence, having bounced back in the Swiss stages with wins against three top-15 teams, including Team Liquid, FURIA Esports, and now Astralis.

The end of the road for Astralis was painful, as their initial triumph over FaZe Clan was overshadowed by subsequent defeats against Apogee and VP. With the European Major Regional Major Ranking (RMR) on the horizon, they face a tight window to regroup and reassess their strategies.

FaZe Clan joined the playoff mix after a commanding 2-0 sweep of the Polish underdogs, Apogee (13-5 on Dust2, 13-8 on Ancient). Demonstrating their firepower, Finn “⁠karrigan⁠” Andersen’s squad proved too formidable for Apogee, who had previously upset both Astralis and The MongolZ en route to the brink of playoffs.

✅ @FaZeEsports TO THE PLAYOFFS 🔥

💪 They outmaneuvered @BetclicApogee in a tightly contested series, ensuring their advancement 🎯

Apogee’s strong performance deserves recognition as they conclude their run with commendable achievements 🇵🇱👏#PGLBucharest pic.twitter.com/1EOhcuguPd

— PGL (@pglesports) April 10, 2025

Despite a remarkable streak of winning 12 consecutive pistol rounds, Apogee struggled against FaZe, who flipped the narrative by winning three out of four pistols to inhibit one of Apogee’s key strategies. The veteran duo, Håvard “⁠rain⁠” Nygaard and Helvijs “⁠broky⁠” Saukants, delivered vital performances, with broky achieving an impressive series rating of 1.47.

Though Apogee’s fairytale run has ended, their journey has significantly boosted them from 50th to 24th in Valve’s Regional Standings (VRS).

In the final matchup of the Swiss stage, Team Falcons achieved a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against The MongolZ (9-13 on Mirage, 13-6 on Dust2, 16-13 on Ancient), marking their return to the playoffs since PGL Cluj-Napoca.

🦅 @FalconsEsport TO THE PLAYOFFS ✅

🗿 Their stellar performance allows them to defeat @1mongolz 2-1 and secure their place in the next stage 🔥

With the Bucharest bracket set, the excitement continues!#PGLBucharest pic.twitter.com/GkqTt7EOZb

— PGL (@pglesports) April 10, 2025

After a tough opening on Mirage, where Ayush “⁠mzinho⁠” Batbold dominated with 17 first-half kills, Falcons refocused with the help of Abdul “⁠degster⁠” Gasanov, who showcased exceptional skill, tallying 50 kills across the final two maps. Nikola “NiKo” Kovac and degster led the charge, with NiKo notably putting up a jaw-dropping 180 ADR on Dust2.

Ancient provided a nail-biting conclusion as Falcons surged to match point and ultimately clinched victory in overtime, narrowly surviving a significant blunder late in regulation. Coach Danny “⁠zonic⁠” Sørensen’s leadership proved crucial, with NiKo praising him for maintaining team morale amidst challenges earlier in the tournament.

Entering as contenders according to esports betting platforms, The MongolZ again fell short of clinching a title before the upcoming BLAST.tv Austin Major, marking another missed opportunity in an S-Tier event.

The playoff bracket is lined up with narratives at every corner.

On one half, G2 Esports takes on Virtus.pro, alongside Complexity facing the rapidly ascending Aurora Gaming, which recently rebranded from Eternal Fire. On the other, Falcons have the chance to avenge their previous defeat against GamerLegion, while FaZe battles 3DMAX—a first clash between these current cores.

Despite the absence of a live arena, the stakes are evident, especially with a $150,000 third-place prize at stake—a feature that has garnered positive feedback after its successful trial at the Cluj-Napoca event.

Statistical favorites Aurora face challenges as G2’s uncertainty surrounding player m0NESY’s future looms large, coupled with FaZe’s ongoing quest for a title after a drought of nearly a year. The intensity in Bucharest promises unpredictability and intrigue.