Blacklist International.Ultimate stunned Sharper Esports via a 3-2 victory in their quarterfinals match in the playoffs of the 2021 CODM World Championship: Garena Qualifiers on Saturday, October 16.
With the two teams tied 2-all after the first four maps, Blacklist put up a masterful performance in the Search and Destroy in Raid to eliminate the No.1 team in Group A standings at the end of the group stage.
The Filipinos scored five straight points on the attacker side to dismantle the Thais in the final map. Sharper looked in disarray which worked to Blacklists' favor, ending the series after the switch for a clean 6-0 win in Map 5.
Averson “Skerd” Salaya was hailed Soldier of the Game with an average of 18 kills and three assists against 12 deaths and a score of 2349.
It was the Thais who actually drew the first blood in the series, dominating the Filipinos in Firing Range, 150-87 in the Hardpoint.
But Blacklist was unfazed and responded with twin victories in Search and Destroy and Domination to take a 2-1 series lead
The Filipinos opened up Summit with four straight points on the defender’s side for a commanding 4-0 lead. Sharper, however, rallied back after the switch to cut the lead 4-3 but the Filipinos displayed the poise to even the series after the 6-4 win.
Blacklist then bucked a slow start in Take off allowing Sharper to take a 75-61 lead in the first half of the Domination. The Filipinos, however, stepped their game a notch in the second half to score a come-from-behind 150-131 win.
Blacklist had the chance to close out the series in the Hardpoint in Standoff but Sharper put up a huge fight to stave off the Philippine champions and win the tight game, 150-146 to force the winner take all.
With the win, Blacklist will be facing the winner between Indonesian team DG Esports and fellow Filipino squad Omega Esports.