Normally you would write "squeezed in", when talking about a booth at the Games Convetion. The six big halls are normally dominated by big game-publishers or -developers, but in Hall 3 in "Die Leipziger Messe", the ESL-booth is the one that is squeezing everything else.

The largest part of the ESL-area is the spectator- and free-gaming areas, where the public can participate or watch the different games in ESL's portfolio. In one of the corners, defined by three meter tall glass plates, the gamer-area is placed. Not entirely separated from the noisy fair, the players have their own computer and screen. And here, the fierce fight for the €55,000 is taking place.

Denmark, favourites to win the CS-tournament, kicked off the tournament against the Spanish underdogs. On de_train, the Danish team seemed to derail their Spanish opponents early in the match, as they played to a 6-0 lead as CT. The Spaniards fought back though, and clinched a 5 rounds on the defending side.

As Terrorists, Denmark reached 14 rounds rather quickly, putting Spain under pressure. With the former x6tence-duo MusambaN1 and GuMmY in charge, Spain fought back against Denmark, and grabbed several consecutive rounds. At 14-14 the game seemed to be up in the air, and as Spain had the momentum on their side, the Danish favourites looked destined for the lower parts of the bracket.

In a quick turn of events in the 29th round, Denmark pulled back, securing their 15th round and atleast overtime. As Spain kicked back in the 30th round, levelling the teams to 15 each, the overtime was reality.

MR5 and startmoney 10,000 was loaded to the server and with Denmark as Terrorists, Spain was run over. While Man of the Match, Friis, secured some opening kills, he was once again backed up by spx who clutched several situations for the Danish team, putting them in front with 3-0. While Spain got back, taking the last two rounds, the game seemed to be over.

In the 2nd half of overtime, Denmark grabbed three consecutive rounds to close the game at a 21-17 score, thus advancing to the Upperbracket Final.

Team Denmark.cs
Top left: spx, zonic, Friis
Botom Left: TwAiZz (man), Arcadion, ave

Germany proceed in WC3 as expected

The German WC3-team beat the hastily assembled Danish WC3-team 3-0 as expected, but it wasn't without a scare for the home favourites. Nightelf-player  ThomasG managed to take a map from  HasuObs, and  MyWa had   TryDying in the ropes in their 2nd encounter, aow-rushing the Orc-player's base and expansion.

Veteran Orc  Ciara put pressure on Germany by getting a tie against HLA, but as Rosenkill, MyWa and eventually also ThomasG fell to he Germans, the former MYM-player didn't even have to play his last game.

The German side will now face either Finland or Sweden in the Upperbracket Final.

For more scores and detailed brackets, take a look in our Games Convention Coverage.