In a hard-fought battle, Natus Vincere managed to secure a 2-1 victory over paiN during their first round at the BLAST Bounty Finals in Copenhagen. The match featured significant highs and lows, including two overtime wins from NAVI, highlighting both teams’ abilities to perform under pressure.

Match Highlights

• NAVI’s First LAN Match of 2025: The team showcased determination despite a rocky start, ultimately showcasing their experience at crucial moments.
• paiN’s Near Victory: The Brazilian team exhibited superior strategies but ultimately faltered, throwing away map points that could have changed the outcome.

“Our team was stronger than the individuals,” acknowledged Justinas Lekavicius after the match. “Some individuals dropped off, here and there. Like me, in the first two maps.”

Game Analysis

NAVI looked impressive initially but faced tough competition from paiN, who capitalized on their strengths during the middle segments of the match. The clash ended with NAVI pulling through in overtime, thanks largely to Ihor Zhdanov, who secured crucial frags with the AWP.

Overall Performance

• NAVI’s players managed to recover from some challenging situations, notably with Mihai Ivan leading the scoreboard while others regained their footing as the game progressed.
• paiN displayed commendable skill, particularly with players like João Vinicius and David Tapia Maldonado demonstrating remarkable strategies.

Conclusion

This match not only sets the stage for NAVI’s next challenges but also raises significant questions about paiN’s ability to recover from close matches in future tournaments.