They are better than ever, they lose like always - this sentence was used commonly with relation to the Spanish football team but may as well be about SK Sweden. For the last year or so they were among the top favourites to win every event they attended but something always got in the way.

567 days have gone by since SK Gaming's last international tournament victory at the 2007 Samsung Euro Championship (18 March 2007!). Every single hour of the waiting has made the victory in LA a world sweeter to the team.

SK were strong throughout the tournament, progressed through group play without a glitch as usual but did not let it slip away in the playoffs. The Swedes only lost to Made in Brazil but came back from the lower bracket to take two matches from them and crown themselves champions.

The opening match of the final on de_inferno was very one-sided. SK started as T and won the first half 12-3 and then took four consecutive rounds as CT in the second half. The deciding match on de_train was extremely even and ended in overtime. The final score was 21-18 in favour of SK Gaming. This team certainly knows how to win in overtime.

SK Gaming were awarded $25,000 for first place and won the first extra berth for a European team in the Extreme Masters Global Final. Made in Brazil won $10000 and the dark horse Team EG got third place and $6,000.

SK's road to victory:
Group C: 23-7 vs. rSports
Group C: 21-9 vs. Team EG
Group C: 25-5 vs. 50 Calibre
1/4 WB: 16-7 vs. x3o
1/2 WB: 6-16 vs. Made in Brazil
LB round 2: 21-19 vs. GamePlay
LB round 3: 16-2 vs. Meet Your Makers
LB round 3: 16-2 vs. Meet Your Makers
LB round 4: 16-1 vs. Team EG
Grand Final: 2-0 vs. Made in Brazil

Check out the final standings, prize money and tournament brackets right here.

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photo: ESL