Team Spirit have claimed the eighth and final qualifying slot for the BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals in Malta following their elimination of 100 Thieves in a thrilling best-of-three series.
The match began on Anubis where Spirit found themselves down 10-6 before mounting an impressive comeback. Strong CT defensive holds allowed them to close out the map 13-11. However, Mirage proved considerably more challenging for the offense, as 100 Thieves' William "sirah" Kjærsgaard controlled the A site masterfully. This dominance gave 100T a commanding 10-2 advantage and ultimately a 13-4 map victory, snapping Spirit's impressive eight-map winning streak on Mirage.
Boris "magixx" Vorobiev described the Mirage loss as a wake-up call, comparing it to a "slap in the face" that energized the squad heading into the Dust2 decider.
On the decisive map, Danil "donk" Kryshkovets delivered an absolute masterclass. He kicked things off with a clutch 1v3 situation, posted an incredible 16-4 score through just seven rounds, and sealed the 13-0 shutout with a career-best 2.84 rating. His performance mirrored his demolition of opponents during Stage 2 of the Major.
Spirit now enter the LAN finals as the sole top 10 representative. As two-time Bounty champions, expectations are sky-high—anything less than a third trophy will likely disappoint.
Regarding why so few favorites qualified, magixx explained that tier one teams play predictable Counter-Strike, while lower-ranked opponents bring fresh, unexpected strategies that can catch favorites off-guard if they're not fully prepared.
Despite the disappointing finale, 100 Thieves showed promise under new leader Jack "Gizmy" von Spreckelsen, having defeated Falcons and ended Spirit's Mirage streak. Magixx noted Gizmy brings innovative ideas that differ significantly from previous leadership, making 100 Thieves a tricky opponent.
