NAVI won’t be competing at the Esports World Cup or The International, but the team isn’t sitting out major tournaments this summer. At EPL Masters I, “Born to Win” successfully navigated the playoffs and advanced to the grand final today.
In the playoffs, NAVI started in the upper bracket and didn’t lose a single series there. In total, they secured three consecutive victories, which allowed them to reach the decisive match.
The first team to stand in NAVI’s way was Zero Tenacity. In the best-of-3 series, the Ukrainians quickly wrapped up the match 2–0. For Zero Tenacity, this was their playoff debut following the group stage, where the team finished in second place with four wins and one loss.
At the tournament, Zero Tenacity’s roster consisted of nesfeer, Worick, MikSa`, dEsire, and MoOz. However, they were unable to put up a fight against NAVI—“Born to Win” confidently kicked off the playoffs with a victory.
NAVI didn’t lose a single map on their way to the finals
In the next round of the upper bracket, NAVI faced off against Rune Eaters. Both teams entered the playoffs directly at this stage after receiving direct invitations to the championship.
The Rune Eaters roster consists of rincYq, Copy, Malik, Ekki, and aik. However, they were unable to put up a fight against NAVI—the Ukrainian team once again swept the series 2-0, without conceding a single map to their opponent.
In the upper bracket final, NAVI faced off against Level UP. Unlike NAVI, this team advanced through the group stage, winning all five matches while dropping only two maps. In the playoffs, Level UP first defeated MOUZ 2–0 and then beat Yellow Submarine 2–1. Both opponents had direct invitations to the playoffs.
However, even Level UP was unable to break NAVI’s winning streak. NAVI won again 2–0 and became the first team to secure a spot in the EPL Masters I grand final.
The name of the second finalist will be announced later. The tournament final will take place on August 12. The champion will receive $50,000 from the total prize pool of $100,000.