During the course of the day there are typically four or more Counter-Strike matches going on simultaneously. As an analyst, I try to choose the matches that I think will be the closest and cover those -- let's face it, it's boring to read about a blowout. Judging by the Day 2 Melee I figured spectating Complexity's match versus ne plus ultra would end in a blowout, and I opted to cover another match.

As luck would have it, my match was delayed due to computer problems leaving me to wander the tournament area aimlessly. In the process, I heard rumblings about npu giving Complexity a run for their money and decided to watch.

To an analyst the possibility of an against all odds upset is a gold mine; these types of matches give us something to write that the entire community will read and more importantly gives the exposure to the underdog team. Enter npu, the underdog.

As I entered the scene I heard Jason Lake casually say to his players "come on guys it's like you're asleep here" following another npu won round. At this point the score was 5-3 in favor of npu on defense.

Rounds 9-11 took a turn for the worse for Complexity as the team lost three 1v1's in a row. The 1v1 is an art form, a situation pros live for and usually capitalize in. In this match, the amateurs prevailed. Round 9 saw npu player tree frag Storm in the main entrance to the upper bombsite to close the round. Rounds 10 and 11 saw heroics from npu player hasse.

In a 1v1 situation the worst rifle to have is an AWP as your mobility is significantly decreased and more importantly your ability to miss the first shot and still win the fire-fight is decreased to almost none. In both 1v1's hasse had an AWP. Keeping this in mind, one would understand why hasse elected to use his deagle in both situations.

Round 10 saw hasse nervously trying to go down the ladder to meet a Complexity player trying to take the bomb towards ramp room. As luck would have it, hasse's inability to negotiate the ladder actually won him better position in the round. When hasse finally made his approach to the defensive ramp room entrance he was able to surprise the Complexity player and take the first shot. Two shots later hasse had won the round. Round 11 saw hasse in a 1v1 situation with similar circumstances played out in reverse of round 10. hasse rotated from ramp room, up ladder, and eventually won the round by fragging a Complexity player from the rafters with his deagle. hasse's would go on to end of the half with more than 20 steam points.

Complexity was able to take round 12 with a fast upper bombsite rush only to lose the next two rounds to the now surging npu. With the score 10-4 in favor of npu, Complexity needed to win the last round to have a chance next half pending they lose the pistol round (and following ecos).

Equipped with only deagles Complexity took over the ramp room and planted in the lower bombsite. npu answered with a coordinated retake and forced Complexity's Frod into a difficult 1v2 situation. With the bomb planted, Frod hid behind one of the glass rooms equipped with a deagle, an AWP, and 12 hp. Frod managed to frag the first npu player with an AWP headshot as he attempted to fake defuse the bomb and wait for Frod to peek. Frod took out the 2nd player in similar fashion with a deagle headshot.

As the teams switched sides an npu player commented that the defensive side of de_nuke was their bad side. If that were true npu was going to win the match. I'll have to admit I admired the team's optimism but questioned their ability to hold the lead and control the tempo of the match pending they lost the second half pistol round. My questions were answered half way through the second half when npu lost the chemistry and intensity they had from their spectacular first half.

After trailing for more then a half hour, Complexity took over the lead and never looked back crushing npu's hopes of an upset.

All in all npu played a fantastic match and gave one of the best teams in the world a good fight. If anything npu should build off of their tough loss to Complexity and have a good second round.