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On Monday 12 October, ex-RUSTEC emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Nordic Partners Gaming in the third quarter-final of the PGL Bucharest Open Qualifier #1 2027. This win marked their second consecutive series victory in the event, following a narrow 1-0 triumph over DIVINITY in Round of 16 Match 6.
The matchup appeared heavily in favor of ex-RUSTEC on paper. With a rating of 1684 and a 43-25 record in 68 rated matches, they ranked 69th in the Elo power rankings. In contrast, NPG, hailing from Malta, held the 343rd spot with a rating of 1466 and a 7-15 record from 22 rated matches.
A marathon 81-minute first map followed by a swift 50-minute conclusion
Despite the final scoreline, the first map endured a grueling 81 minutes before ex-RUSTEC secured the win, showcasing their resilience against the lower-rated opponent.
The second map, however, saw ex-RUSTEC swiftly wrapping up the series in just 50 minutes, without dropping a single map.
NPG secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over FOKUS in Round of 16 Match 5. Their form leading up to the tournament had been inconsistent, with a recent 0-1 loss to Spirit Academy Black in the Stake Ranked Episode 6 open qualifier and mixed results at the ROG Journey Autumn 2026.
ex-RUSTEC clinch PGL Bucharest qualifier title with four consecutive wins
The quarter-final victory was just the beginning of ex-RUSTEC’s title journey. They continued their winning streak with a 2-0 triumph over The Golden Horde in the semi-finals, who had advanced by defeating Inner Circle Academy and GenOne 2-1.
The grand final proved to be a tougher challenge. Nuclear TigeRES, cruising with 2-0 wins over XI Esport and Johnny Speeds, pushed ex-RUSTEC to the limit, forcing a three-map series that ended in a 2-1 victory for ex-RUSTEC. This marked their fourth consecutive series win in the qualifier.
This successful run was a significant improvement from their previous performance. At CCT Europe Series #10 2026, they managed a 2-1 victory over Butterfly before succumbing to a 0-2 defeat against Iberian Soul.
ex-RUSTEC set to face mellren in CCT Europe Series #11
There’s no rest for the champions as ex-RUSTEC gears up to take on mellren in CCT Europe Series #11 2026 on Wednesday, 14 October.
Read also: The Golden Horde secures semi-final spot by edging out GenOne 2-1 in PGL Bucharest qualifier
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