SK Gaming have become the ESWC 2011 champions, defeating the defending champions Natus Vincere in two maps in the final. The Swedes won the second ever ESWC male CS title in history and the first for the SK organisation. Where in the past SK's Swedish teams have been the victim of other teams' success at the major tournaments today the SK team were the ones who outplayed their opponents and took the title for themselves, regaining the #1 spot in the world.



The series began with Na`Vi storming out to a monster lead 12:3 terrorist lead on inferno, which seemed insurmountable based on the sheer size of the lead, SK's prevalance to being better on CT sides and it being Na`Vi, the world's best grinders outside of mTw. In fact SK proved up to the task and began taking round after round on their T side.

Just when SK looked to be back into the game Na`Vi came back to push the game to map point. SK needed the remaining 3-4 rounds to tie the game and send it to overtime. Where in previous finals Na`Vi would have ground out that final deciding round this time SK took the game to them and resumed their onslaught. The game was pushed to overtime and the crowd had to regain their composure as the game had been turned on its head once more.

In overtime SK were always in position to win, even though the game went to a second overtime. They were never threatened with elimination and Na`Vi looked to simply be keeping their heads above water, for the time being. A highlight round of the overtime was GeT_RiGhT winning a stunning 1v3 in the A bombsite with all AK headshots, with the final coming as he stayed in position at the planting spot and nailed the man peeking him.

After SK took the map in the second overtime everyone headed over to dust2, the very map Na`Vi had tormented the 2010 lineup of SK on and won the title on in 2010's ESWC final. This time around the only ones beaten around and outclassed were the Ukrainians as SK put on a dominant CT lockdown performance to take 12 rounds into the half. After taking the pistol the Swedes never looked back and they sealed out the game, the series and the ESWC 2011 title.

That the victory came against Na`Vi was all the more sweeter, especially with the validation it gives this final with Na`Vi being the defending champions and SK coming back from the brink on the first map and then dismantling the Ukrainians on dust2.

The winning moment for SK:





As much as this is an enormous moment for the SK organisation, taking their first ever male CS ESWC title, it impacts all of the players' careers even moreso. For RobbaN it marks a turning of the tide for a player who has been in so many finals and semi-finals of big tournaments over the last six years, only to be denied the biggest titles over and over. Now he has that major title to add to his resume.

For f0rest he moves up to three major "world championship" level wins in his career, along with CPL Winter 2006 and IEM III Global, which moves him further up the ladder of all time great players, in terms of major titles, and within two of the previously untouchable NEO. GeT_RiGhT was the lightning rod of praise for fnatic during their 2009 run but has often been an easy target for criticism from ex-team-mates and the public alike. His performance today showed, for those who didn't know already, that he is an all time great caliber player.

face came into SK Gaming as part of the injection of 'new blood', along with kHRYSTAL, in late 2009 and despite winning smaller tournaments had to suffer along with the rest of the team with the lack of major titles. From playing with semi-pro Swedish teams two years ago to lining up alongside f0rest and GeT_RiGhT to win an ESWC title now much has changed for face in his career.

Finally there is the newest member, Delpan. When he joined the team it sparked their run of victories across the spectrum of top tier competition, his powerful sniping seeming to be the final key to SK hitting that top gear. After MYM faded following their two stand-out tournaments in late 2009 it seemed as though their 15 minutes of fame was up. Nevertheless Delpan has consistently proven himself to be one of the elite snipers in the world, and could reasonably be said to be the best AWPer in the entire world in terms of technical ability right now.



The last Swedish team to win ESWC was team9 at the first ever event in 2003. SpiXel placed 2nd in 2004, fnatic 2nd in 2006 and SK 2nd in 2010.