BC.Game's recent slump shows no signs of stopping. Following unsuccessful qualification attempts for the Esports World Cup, Stake Pulse Beat II, and IEM Beijing, the team has now been eliminated from the PGL Masters Bucharest qualifier after a heartbreaking 1-2 loss to FOKUS. Both defeats came in overtime, adding to the frustration.
Despite the high-profile additions of Emil "Magisk" Reif and Ayush "mzinho" Batbold, the roster has struggled to dominate opponents at this tier. Many expected these signings would provide the firepower needed to cruise through open qualifiers, but four consecutive failures in under a month suggest the squad requires more time to gel.
The match started promisingly for BC.Game on FOKUS' Dust2 pick. They stormed out with five straight rounds and built a commanding 9-3 lead at halftime. Despite FOKUS claiming the second pistol round, BC.Game responded with four consecutive rounds to secure a convincing 13-4 victory.
Mirage told a different story. FOKUS dominated early on the CT-side with a 7-0 start, eventually taking an 8-4 halftime advantage. BC.Game clawed back into contention after losing the second pistol, forcing a 12-12 tie and overtime. The extended play favored FOKUS, who edged out a 16-14 win.
The decider map Nuke followed a similar pattern. FOKUS exploded with a 9-3 T-side half that appeared decisive. BC.Game refused to quit, matching their opponents' intensity and pushing the map to overtime once more. They gained the advantage at 18-16 but couldn't close it out, allowing a second overtime. FOKUS sealed the deal with a perfect 3-0 T-side in double overtime, winning 19-16 and taking the series.
BC.Game confirmed via social media they will compete in tomorrow's second open qualifier on September 5th.
