NAVI and Astralis managed to win their groups at the first stage of ESL Pro League Season 11, despite of slow start for both favorites. They had chance to not only lose hold of the first place but also not even finish in top 3.
After ESL Pro League moved to online 18 teams in European region were divided into 3 groups. Winners of those groups are straight through to the second stage and teams from the second and third places play decider matches for the rest three spots.
NAVI were very close to being eliminated after just three matches. They lost 0:2 to both BIG and Fnatic. They also lost the first map to forZe and were down 4:11 on the second one. At that moment NAVI transformed and started their comeback. They managed to win the game versus forZe, then beat compLexity 2:1 and in the last game managed a quick and straightforward win over Fnatic to claim the first place. Fnatic stayed second and forZe kept the third place after the win over BIG.
Astalis in their turn suffered a devastating loss from NiP in the very first match of the stage but then led their way to the next round. In the match for the first place, Astralis beat Vitality 2:1. French team stayed second, NiP kept the third place.
Group C matches start on March 26 and last until April 3. Decider matches are played on April 4.
