Gentle Mates Eliminate BetBoom in Three-Map Thriller at PGL Masters Bucharest

Gentle Mates Eliminate BetBoom in Three-Map Thriller at PGL Masters Bucharest

Spain-based squad Gentle Mates avoided elimination and extended their tournament life by defeating BetBoom Team 2–1 at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025. The win keeps Gentle Mates alive in the Swiss group stage, dropping BetBoom into elimination territory and ultimately out of contention. 

Match Recap & Map Sequence

• Format & stakes: This was a Swiss round 4 match (1-2 pool): the loser would be eliminated from the tournament.

• Vetoes and map order:

  • Gentle Mates removed Dust II.

  • BetBoom removed Inferno.

  • Gentle Mates picked Ancient.

  • BetBoom picked Mirage.

  • BetBoom removed Overpass.

  • Gentle Mates removed Train.

  • Nuke remained as the decider.

• Map 1 – Ancient: Gentle Mates took a comfortable 13–7 win, dominating both sides of the map, especially the early rounds as attackers executing efficiently.

• Map 2 – Mirage: BetBoom bounced back to claim this map 13–11, leveling the series and pushing it to a decider.

• Map 3 – Nuke (decider): This was the clutch map. BetBoom obtained an 8–4 lead by halftime, but Gentle Mates stormed the second half to bring the score to 11–11, then won the final two rounds to clinch 13–11 and eliminate BetBoom.

Key Performances & Details

• On Ancient, Gentle Mates’ Alejandro “mopoz” Fernández-Quejo Cano stood out with an extraordinary half of 9-1, 95.6 ADR, 100% KAST and a 2.47 rating over just eight rounds. His impact on the map was decisive.

• In the decider Nuke, the team showed resilience, recovering from an early deficit and closing out under pressure. BetBoom’s strong early start combined with a clutch finish from Gentle Mates made for a thrilling map.

• For BetBoom, the elimination ends their Bucharest run with a 1–3 record, placing them among the teams cut from the event. Gentle Mates, meanwhile, improve to 2–2 and move on to the next Swiss round.

Context & Tournament Implications

• The Swiss format of PGL Masters Bucharest means each match matters immensely: dropping into the 1-2 bracket heightens risk of elimination. Gentle Mates now avoid that fate; BetBoom face exit.

• The win is significant for Gentle Mates: heading into Bucharest they entered the event with hopes but also underdog status; knocking out BetBoom affirms their competitive trajectory.

• For BetBoom, the loss is a major setback: despite earlier hopes and firepower, failing to win this elimination match ends their tournament run. They will leave Bucharest without reaching the playoffs.

• The result also adds narrative value for both teams: Gentle Mates continue their upward climb, while BetBoom must reflect on maps and crucial rounds they let slip.

What It Means Moving Forward

• Gentle Mates now remain alive and will play in the 2-2 pool, needing one more win to reach the single-elimination playoffs. The momentum of the win could fuel their next match.

• BetBoom Team, meanwhile, must regroup after the elimination. Their map pool has shown vulnerabilities, and moments where they allowed leads to evaporate underline areas for improvement.

• Across the tournament, this game exemplifies how quickly momentum can shift in bo3 Swiss format: what begins with control (BetBoom on Nuke) can turn into a loss with missed rounds or mental lapses.

Final Thoughts

In one of Bucharest’s most entertaining elimination rounds, Gentle Mates demonstrated poise, clutch ability, and map-versatility to knock out BetBoom 2-1 (13–7 Ancient, 11–13 Mirage, 13–11 Nuke). For BetBoom, their exit signals the end of a campaign that failed to deliver when the stakes were highest. As the Swiss stage progresses, Gentle Mates carry freshness and belief, while BetBoom must answer questions ahead of future events.