Dust 2: NoA vs Begrip (CPL Winter 2004)

After a match against g3x, a 16-3 win, NoA was back in action at Winter CPL 2004 against Begrip, one of the surprises of the tournament. Dust2 was the location, and it featured the largest disparity of offensive attacks of the four maps studied. Of the 15 offensive rounds, NoA attacked bombsite B 11 times, 73%. Those 11 attacks also result in nine wins. The less frequented bombsite A netted a 2-1 mark but was still effectively used by NoA.

With such large discrepancy between the two sites it’s a surprise that Begrip didn’t start compensating with two players inside the bombsite and one in middle. NoA though manage to keep them honest with effective fakes and a large number of attacks right up the middle of the Begrip defense at the double doors. This strat normally is horribly ineffective because strong AWP or rifle players in the CT spawn can neutralize the attack, but NoA found a weakness, abusing the rotations of Begrip.

This abuse up the middle allowed NoA to set up a timing play started in the pistol round and continue using the entire half. At the start of the round they would gain entrance to bombsite B with a rush, while one or two members with the bomb would hang in the dark halls. Begrip would spot the rush and call for rotation, resulting in a quick drop into the CT spawn by Begrip’s bombsite A defenders. NoA would react by sending its remaining players out middle as the defenders came across in support. The bomb carrier would then be able to rotate to bombsite A if the attack was unsuccessful or enter into bombsite B and get a plant if things went effectively.

Off of that basic setup NoA would also fake bombsite A. Starting with the same initial setup of a B site rush, they’d then flash out double doors instead of attacking and rush the catwalk, intentionally causing tons of noise. This would force Begrip to either flank catwalk or return to bombsite A through the CT spawn. Unfortunately either option was the wrong one as NoA would then sneak the bomb carrier into bombsite B for a pretty easy plant.

The CT side was more of an old school look for NoA. It was pretty obvious that Johanessen, the strats caller, still had older versions of CS play in his mind. NoA would often rush two guys early in the half down long A, deemed very risky because of the long rotation to bombsite B. By doing this especially early on in the half, they gave Begrip the ability to gain easy plants in bombsite B and to build cash, even if they lost the round.

Despite that, Begrip played right into NoA’s hands by attacking with split A rushes and running into NoA’s defense. Just like on Inferno, NoA was impressive with initial defense but lackluster after a hole was created. The unlucky part for Begrip was that they were unable to create holes often.

The two long A players were Moum and Olaisen while So defended catwalk. As the match went along, Moum rotated and started playing middle, leaving So to watch long A with an AWP while Olaisen pushed catwalk by himself. In bombsite B, Benger always played inside the bombsite and depending on spawn would try for the back right corner with an AWP. Johanessen was really the key though, playing in middle and inside bombsite B based on feel. Important frags relieved pressure on Benger and allowed him to attack without the full brunt of Begrip’s bombsite B rush focused on him.

Still, Begrip barely tested the defense of bombsite B, opting to test So in bombsite A more often. This probably was a mistake as they would have been more effective smoking and attacking Benger at bombsite B after their initial success in the first five rounds.

GameSense Match Box Score

ICMATCH=116