DirecTV’s Championship Gaming Invitational Counter-Strike finals match was decided in one round. I was so confident I actually bet a few of the people on site that the winner of the first round would win the match.

The opening round saw 3D rush the ladder room on the offensive side of de_train. They brought four members down the ladder on into the outer bombsite and were met instantly by Complexity pushing out zhall into the ladder room. After an exchange of frags, Complexity’s Justin “sunman” Summy flanked from the inner bombsite, getting there just in time as 3D was about to breakout into the outer bombsite and shut down Complexity’s counter-attack.

From there on out it was all coL. Each additional won round gave coL more money, which equated to more AWP’s for fRoD. The momentum and cash were impossible for 3D to overcome.

Sunman’s quick flanks really helped to keep 3D from focusing too hard on their hard outer rush. The fifth round saw 3D attempt to rush the outer bombsite by sending 2 players down the ladder and 3 through ivy. The players rushing down the ladder quickly found Sunman on their flank. To respond, 3D rushed right at Sunamn in the inner bombsite and nearly claimed their first victory of the half, but Complexity’s fRoD held his own allowing coL a chance to regroup and take the bombsite back.

That was the closest 3D got to a round victory as the last three rounds were all failed outer bombsite attacks. fRoD kicked it off by winning a one versus two as Shaguar tired to plant the bomb against fRoD but was unsure where fRoD was, causing him to delay too long and lose the round by running out of time.

With a 8-0 score in favor coL, the last round ended in a 9-0 skunk for Complexity on amazing play from fRoD who won a two verses three by fragging all three remaining Team 3D players.

With the second half starting, 3D was in a must win for the entire game now down 9-0 in the battle for first to 10. Round 10 saw Complexity successfully take over the inside bombsite on a slow tactic yet fail to plant the bomb as Warden was fragged mid-plant. This left Moto in a one versus one with only 11hp as he crept up high ramp and reached the ladder. There he found the remaining coL member next to the far inner train (pop dog) and manage to get the frag.

“I just didn’t want to get swept,” said Moto after the match.

The round win gave 3D life and allowed them to make a run in the second half. They were able to put together the next three on the back of two save rounds and a big one versus two win by Rambo. Shaguar opened the round with two big frags before Warden answered with two frags himself and 3D took the worst of it. Rambo saved it though managing to take down both remaining coL members.

Still 3D’s luck ran out though in the 6th round when coL attacked the inner bombsite on a slow strategy. Initially 3D stopped coL’s attack forcing coL to slow down and regroup, where about fRoD answered with an AWP Warden had purchased for him at the beginning of the round. fRoD opened up the bombsite with two entry frags and all but finished the match with a third.

Beyond being a bit richer from the bets, I was impressed by 3D’s fight in the second half. Still Warden’s sacrifice in buying fRoD the AWP in the 6th round turned out huge. CS is a team game and Warden’s actions prove that and made him $50,000 richer.