Post Pinnacle Cup III Analysis: Playoffs Stage

After just a little over two weeks, the third iteration of the Pinnacle Cup has come to an end. With 32 CS:GO teams from around the world pitted against each other, it all came down to SKADE and their Bulgarian gunners sweeping aside Copenhagen Flames in a quick 2-0 Grand Final series to take home $80,000 as well as the coveted title of Pinnacle Cup III (PC3) champions.

Breaking down SKADE’s dominance at the Pinnacle Cup III

SKADE proved that they are indeed the “Kings of Overpass”, posting a 100% win rate in three games on the map against Copenhagen Flames, KOVA, and Team Vitality respectively. The map in question was also banned by Tricked Esports twice, once during the Swiss Stage and another in the semi-final, as the Danish squad recognized SKADE’s mastery in Overpass and respected them.

The Bulgarian squad displayed exceptional command and execution on Overpass, netting an average +5.5 KDA (Kills, Deaths, Assists) and a remarkable ADR (Average Damage per Round) rating, especially from the Riflers Georgi "SHiPZ" Grigorov and Aleks "Rainwaker" Petrov. They mastered and used the map to their advantage, both offensively and defensively, as they were able to manoeuvre and control the high grounds in the shortest time possible - providing space and the best setup for the team’s Sharpshooter Denislav "dennyslaw" Dimitrov to go to town.

“SHiPZ” is proving himself as one of the brightest rising stars in the Balkan region. He has an impressive stat line (the AK47 savant boasts a +1.35 KD ratio and a 90.9 ADR ratio) and is also able to produce incredible clutch plays. If he can keep up the momentum, he has all the qualities to become a world-class player.

SKADE’s Odds in the Pinnacle Cup III

Based on their odds, SKADE were perceived as one of the favourites to progress from the Swiss Stage, which they did with flying colours. In the quarter-finals, they were not the favourites against Team Vitality, but they sent the French organisation packing with a clean 2-0 sweep. They were then the firm favourites to cruise on and win the event.

Examining the Copenhagen Flames

Copenhagen Flames (CPHF) have been gradually creeping up in the global rankings, specifically as a result of their dream-like run at the PGL Major Stockholm last year. The team have gone from being the underdogs to being seen as formidable contenders, and much of this success is down to Fredrik "roeJ" Jorgensen’s return to the team, where he’s now playing alongside experienced In-game Leader Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen.

The duo helped the team’s young guns Jakob "Jabbi" Nygaard (aged 18), Rasmus "Zyphon" Nordfoss (18), and Nico "nicoodoz" Tamjid (21) to perform better with clearer macro decisions and map control. They made it through the Swiss Stage with a 3-1 record and proceeded to overcome a tough playoff run, defeating Endpoint (2-0), ENCE (2-0), and one of the tournament’s favourites Dignitas (2-1).

They might not be the victors in the end, but the Flames are a quality squad – and they still have plenty of room for improvement. Look out for them as they continue to gain more experience and figure out how to maintain consistency.

The direct invites looked shaky in the Pinnacle Cup III

Dignitas, ENCE, ECSTATIC, and Team Vitality were the teams invited to the playoffs. Dignitas were able to gain a victory over BLUEJAYS in the quarter-finals; however, the other three failed to showcase much of their talents.

It is arguable that the non-invited teams got to accustom themselves to the setup and format, while the direct invites had to come in cold. However, it is still slightly concerning, especially with ENCE, a team that usually preys on tier-2 opponents - though they did have to field Kamil "⁠KEi⁠" Pietkun as a stand-in for Pavle "⁠maden⁠" Boskovic in the first map of their two-map series against CPHF.

Tournament favourites Team Vitality fought tooth and nail in their defeat to SKADE, going down 13-16 on Overpass and 10-16 on Nuke. Dan 'apEX' Madesclaire was able to put together some wonderful setups and covers but ultimately, the team failed to withstand the aggression from SKADE.

It is hard to say if the defeats here will affect those teams’ morale and preparation for upcoming tournaments, but the results might serve as good ways of spotting their flaws.

Pinnacle Cup III final standings

Summary

All in all, the Pinnacle Cup III was a great tournament, comprised of many ups and downs. It enabled upcoming teams, challengers, and established squads to converge and prove their worth. The playoffs were not short of exhilarating action and surprises, with giants like Dignitas, ENCE, and Team Vitality succumbing to the eventual grand finalists SKADE and CPH Flames.

About Pinnacle Cup III

The tournament ran from March 14 to March 29 and consisted of a Group Stage, a Swiss Stage, Playoffs, and Grand Finals. It featured 32 CS:GO teams, of various experience levels, from around the world, and in the end, SKADE trounced the competition to be crowned the Pinnacle Cup III champions, following the footsteps of previous winners Gambit Esports and Team Spirit.