2. 3D over GoL – (13-10) - CPL Winter 2002 – December 19th-22nd, 2002

“The save out is born”

HLTV Demo (de_dust2)

3D Roster

Moto
Ksharp
Rambo
Bullseye
Cannon

GoL Roster

Element
Souledge
Mysse
Hyb
Vicon

Many felt, including GoL, that 3D didn’t deserve to win the upper bracket at the CPL in Winter of 2002. There was some debate over whether that was the case as 3D beat GB, rs, DoP, SK.swe and GoL. Outside of the wins over GoL (13-6) and SK.swe (13-7) the other teams were not that impressive as they were all mid-level USA teams.

GoL on the other hand played D!E, Team9, WEW, zEx and SK.swe. Team9 was the fourth place finisher and arguable one of the better teams in the World and both zEx and WEW were better then GB, rs and DoP combined. So the Europeans, especially Ola “Element” Moum, were telling everyone who would listen that they were going to roll 3D in the finals. There was no reason to disbelieve them either.

The Europeans had been dominating CPL in both Europe and USA winning every time they showed up including beat X3 via NiP. GoL’s lineup was loaded with the best young talent including cocky superstar Morm who was barely old enough to play at the event.

The opening rounds looked like GoL would roll. Winning pistol round, 3D started guessing, stacking guys in different bomb sites hoping to catch GoL rushing there. Instead, GoL walked into open bomb sites both times for a 3-0 lead. Finally in the first full gun round, 3D gave up catwalk before retaking it to secure a first round victory, 1-3, with the bomb defuse.

3D then stonewalled a bomb site B rush followed by two middle attacks from both double doors and catwalk that caught GoL by surprise. Aside from a 1v1 victory GoL scored in bomb site A after a terrible catwalk rush, GoL was down 5-4. 3D looked like it might pull off a victory.

GoL then slammed the door by grabbing the last three rounds on good bomb site A attacks. 3D overcompensated to bomb site B as they thought GoL had been scared away from bomb site A by the Americans' strong play in the middle. GoL finished with a 7-5 lead heading into the second half. Then things got interesting.

GoL won the pistol on a failed rush of catwalk by 3D on offense. Things looked desperate for 3D. There was no extra money for planting the bomb and no one hardly ever won save rounds, so basically it looked like a 10-5 lead for GoL. That would have meant GoL only needed three rounds of the last nine to win the match. Instead 3D pulled the miracle.

Doing the first big save round in CS history, at least on this big of a stage, 3D saved out the second round. GoL attacked 3D as they camped in the dark halls and took more damage then expected losing two members while Dave “Moto” Geffon and Ron “Rambo” Kim saved. This is largely the round that gave Geffon his huge fame as a strategic master. The effect of the save forced some of GoL’s members to save money the next round hoping to win almost a partial buy round.

3D attacked long A the next round and caught two GoL members rushing it. They quickly dispatched them five versus two. 3D rolled up the round without losing a guy on a save. It was astounding to everyone who watched and left a mark of how effective a save round could be if done properly. SK.swe, who were watching from the stands, took special notice as they would later use it to help them in 2003.

Using that victory 3D ran off six straight round wins continuing to mix up attacks to bomb site B and bomb site A. GoL got desperate and moved away from their game plan. 3D looked in control on offensive and dictated the pace of the game along with the flow of their attacks. GoL never had a chance once the next round was won.

This was the first CPL won by an American team that featured the best players from Sweden. It really gave the American scene a huge boost that was then crushed the next year by the dominance of SK.swe. It’s ironic: 3D showed SK.swe how to dominate the professional with it’s save round yet 3D never used it as effectively as the Swedes did.