Virtus beats NiP on the first map

Virtus.pro has defeated NiP Gaming 19-15 in overtime (11-4, 4-11, 3-0, 1-0) on de_inferno_se to win the first map of SLTV StarSeries V Finals grand final. They need one more map to win the best-of-five.

Action started on de_inferno_se with NiP attacking the A bombsite, where Virtus.pro fought them off one at a time to win the pistol. Third round started the Emil "kucher" Akhundov show, as he picked up three M4A4 kills while defending A.

NiP seemingly had no answer to the Russians' defense, as they came closest with Christopher "GeT_RiGhT" Alesund's flank around the map in a one-on-three, but leader Kirill "ANGE1" Karasiow came out on top to make it 6-0.

The Swedes got on the board with the seventh round, but Virtus quickly reset their money by making it  7-1. NiP went on to win three more straight rounds despite Alesund crashing, and got into the game at a 4-7 deficit.

However, Akhundov continued strong play, adding a few important kills from the pit in the A site as his team went up 9-4. NiP had to save, and Dauren "AdreN" Kystaubayev's double kill made it 11-4 at half, with Akhundov at 25 kills.

kucher was a monster on de_inferno_se's first half

Robin "Fifflaren" Johansson was picked off early on the pistol round, but Patrik "f0rest" Lindberg replied with three kills to keep NiP alive. Virtus' third round buy proved unsuccessful, and NiP found themselves with a 4-0 lead.

Then it was Richard "Xizt" Landström who stepped up, as he scored three M4A4 kills for a 5-0 lead in the second half. Mihail "Dosia" Stolyarov's AK47 gave Virtus their twelveth round, but NiP forced Virtus on a double save to tie it up at twelve.

The teams trade the next two rounds with Landström and Lindberg getting five kills between them to tie it at thirteen, before Virtus' save allows NiP their first lead in the game at 14-13.

Aleksey "LeX" Kolesnikov's troops won the next two rounds with well executed B attacks with a fake to A on the latter, but Johansson's two FAMAS kills in a two-on-two pushed the game to overtime.

GeT_RiGhT & co can't afford another map loss 

Overtime was all Virtus.pro, who won the first round due to NiP players not having a defuse kit. Second round saw Landström get four kills in a one-on-five, and third round was an easy win for Virtus due to NiP being broke.

The Swedes decided to follow Virtus' footsteps and attack the B bombsite on their terrorist side, but two kills from Sergey "Fox" Stolyarov and Kystaubayev allowed Virtus to win the round, and the map, 19-15.

Second map is currently live and you can watch it right here on HLTV.org through our stream page. Virtus are now up 2-0 in the best-of-five grand final, while NiP would need three straight map wins to clinch the title.