HeavyGod powers G2 past NAVI to keep BLAST Open Porto playoff hopes alive

G2 kept their BLAST Open Porto 2026 campaign alive with a convincing 2-0 victory over Natus Vincere, eliminating Aleksib and company from the tournament and advancing to the Group A lower-bracket final.

The series rarely looked out of G2's control. They dominated NAVI's Ancient pick 13-6 before surviving a late comeback attempt on Inferno to close the second map 13-10. Nikita "HeavyGod" Martynenko was the standout performer, finishing the series with a 37-20 record and a 1.61 HLTV Rating 3.0.

The result gives G2 one final opportunity to qualify for the LAN playoffs in Porto. NAVI, meanwhile, leave the event after another disappointing tournament, less than two weeks after their 0-2 Round-of-16 defeat to Legacy at the Esports World Cup.

Quick Summary

Detail	Information
Tournament	BLAST Open Porto 2026
Match	G2 vs. Natus Vincere
Result	G2 2-0 NAVI
Maps	Ancient 13-6, Inferno 13-10
Stage	Group A lower-bracket semi-final
Format	Best-of-three LAN
Standout player	HeavyGod — 37-20, 1.61 rating
Main storyline	G2 eliminated NAVI and moved one win away from the Porto playoffs

The match was played on August 30 as an elimination series in Group A. The veto saw NAVI select Ancient, while G2 chose Inferno; Mirage would have been the deciding map.

What Happened?

G2 entered the series under the same pressure as NAVI. They had opened BLAST Open Porto by beating Aurora 2-0 but missed their first opportunity to secure a playoff berth when Spirit defeated them 13-6 on Dust2 and 13-9 on Cache in the upper-bracket semi-final.

NAVI had taken a more difficult route. An opening 1-2 defeat to M80 sent them directly into the lower bracket, where they recovered with a 2-0 win over paiN. That victory kept their tournament alive but left no room for another loss.

Against G2, that recovery quickly stalled.

G2 established control on Ancient through a strong CT side and never allowed NAVI to turn their own map choice into a competitive opener. Inferno produced more resistance, particularly once NAVI began chipping away at G2's lead, but the comeback came too late.

HeavyGod was the main difference across the series. His production gave G2 an advantage in the gun rounds, while MATYS and r1nkle supplied enough secondary impact to prevent NAVI from consistently exploiting quieter performances elsewhere in the lineup.

For NAVI, iM was their highest-rated player across the two maps at 1.10. makazze also had his moments, particularly on Ancient, but the rest of the team struggled to generate enough consistent firepower. b1t ended the series on a 0.60 rating, while w0nderful and Aleksib finished at 0.70 and 0.68 respectively.

Ancient — G2 win 13-6

NAVI chose Ancient, but it was G2 who immediately looked more comfortable.

After the opening exchanges, G2's defense took over. huNter-'s side built a 9-3 halftime advantage, leaving NAVI with almost no margin for error once the teams switched sides.

Winning the second-half pistol pushed G2 even closer to the finish line. NAVI briefly interrupted their momentum with a force-buy victory, but they never managed to establish the sustained economy or round streak required for a comeback.

The defining moment came from HeavyGod, whose 1v3 clutch pushed G2 onto six map points. G2 converted soon afterward to close Ancient 13-6.

HeavyGod was outstanding individually on the opener, recording 19 kills against nine deaths and a 1.94 rating. r1nkle added 16 kills, giving G2 the kind of multi-player production NAVI could not match consistently.

Inferno — G2 win 13-10

Inferno initially appeared even more comfortable for G2.

Their T side repeatedly found openings against NAVI's defense, allowing them to establish an 8-4 halftime lead. G2 later stretched the advantage further and appeared to have the elimination series under complete control.

NAVI finally found some resistance late in the map.

With G2 struggling to convert their advantage on the CT side, Aleksib's team worked their way back into contention and reduced the deficit to 10-11. What had looked like a routine close suddenly became the only genuinely dangerous period of the series for G2.

This time, however, G2 avoided the collapse.

They recovered for the final two rounds, finished Inferno 13-10 and sealed the series without requiring Mirage. HeavyGod again topped G2's ratings with a 1.62 on the map, while MATYS delivered a 1.59 performance.

Why This Match Matters

For G2, the victory was less about producing a surprise and more about responding correctly to their first setback of the tournament.

Their loss to Spirit had exposed a significant gap against the reigning Esports World Cup champions, but the double-elimination format gave G2 another path to Porto. Beating NAVI ensured they would at least reach the final step of that route.

The Group A lower-bracket final is straightforward: the winner advances to the playoff quarter-finals, while the loser is eliminated. Group winners move directly into the semi-finals, with the second- and third-placed teams entering the quarter-finals.

NAVI's situation is more concerning.

Their Porto campaign contained only one series victory, against paiN, alongside losses to M80 and G2. It follows their 0-2 elimination by Legacy in the Esports World Cup Round of 16, where NAVI managed only nine rounds on Inferno and two on Ancient.

Aleksib summed up the frustration after the G2 defeat simply: "Just not good enough." The NAVI captain also acknowledged that the team is currently lacking something collectively despite an extended period of preparation.

Head-to-Head Context

G2's victory also continued their recent success against NAVI.

The teams' previous meeting came at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 on June 15, when G2 recovered from losing Dust2 11-13 to win Inferno 16-14 and Mirage 13-10, eliminating NAVI and advancing to the Major quarter-finals. HeavyGod was also the dominant player in that series, posting a 1.54 rating.

That comparison comes with one important roster caveat. NAVI already fielded their current five of Aleksib, iM, b1t, w0nderful and makazze, but G2 still had SunPayus as their AWPer. r1nkle has since taken his place, meaning Porto was not a rematch between two completely unchanged lineups.

Even so, HeavyGod being the leading performer in both victories is becoming a notable part of this particular matchup.

Key Players

HeavyGod — G2

HeavyGod dictated the series more than anyone else on the server. His 37-20 record, 90.0 ADR and 1.61 rating led all players, and his 1v3 on Ancient helped shut down NAVI before they could threaten a comeback.

His performance was particularly important because NertZ and huNter- were comparatively quiet statistically. G2 did not need every rifler firing simultaneously because HeavyGod created enough advantage at the top of the scoreboard.

MATYS — G2

MATYS gave G2 the strongest secondary performance of the series. He finished 29-21 with an 84.6 ADR and 1.34 rating, including a particularly influential Inferno where he posted a 1.59 rating.

That support mattered during NAVI's late attempt to drag the second map into a closer finish.

r1nkle — G2

r1nkle finished 30-18 across the two maps. His overall 1.12 rating was less eye-catching than the raw kill-death differential, but his consistency added another reliable layer behind HeavyGod and MATYS.

The Ukrainian AWPer is also one of the key differences between the G2 that faced NAVI at the Cologne Major and the lineup competing in Porto.

iM — Natus Vincere

iM was NAVI's best player statistically, recording 32 kills and a 1.10 series rating. He remained productive even as several teammates struggled, but NAVI never received enough collective output to overturn G2's early advantages.

b1t — Natus Vincere

b1t's difficult afternoon illustrated NAVI's wider problems. The Ukrainian rifler finished 15-31 with a 0.60 rating, a major drop from the level of impact NAVI normally need from one of their most important individual players.

Interesting Facts and Context

• G2 entered BLAST Open Porto ranked No. 9 in HLTV's event listing, one position behind No. 8 NAVI.
• G2 have now beaten NAVI in their two most recent meetings: 2-1 at the IEM Cologne Major and 2-0 in Porto.
• HeavyGod was G2's highest-rated player in both series, recording a 1.54 rating at Cologne and 1.61 in Porto.
• NAVI's only victory at BLAST Open Porto came against paiN after they had already dropped into the lower bracket following a loss to M80.
• G2 had previously beaten Aurora 2-0 in their opening Porto match before losing 0-2 to Spirit.

What Comes Next?

G2 will play the winner of Aurora vs. M80 in the Group A lower-bracket final on August 31. At the latest verified update, their opponent had not yet been determined.

The stakes are simple: another victory sends G2 into the playoff quarter-finals in Porto, while defeat ends their tournament.

For NAVI, BLAST Open Porto is over.

Their next listed tournament is StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026, beginning September 17, giving B1ad3 and his players a little more than two weeks to address a run of performances that has fallen short of the standards expected from the lineup.

The immediate problem is not difficult to identify. Against G2, NAVI were unable to combine their individual pieces consistently enough to compete across an entire series. One strong stretch on Inferno made the score respectable, but by then G2 had already done most of the damage.

FAQ

Who won G2 vs. NAVI at BLAST Open Porto 2026?

G2 won the series 2-0 and eliminated Natus Vincere from the tournament.

What were the map scores?

G2 won Ancient 13-6 and Inferno 13-10. Mirage was not required.

Who was the standout player?

HeavyGod led the server with 37 kills, 20 deaths, 90.0 ADR and a 1.61 rating across the two maps.

Who will G2 play next?

G2 will face the winner of Aurora vs. M80 in the Group A lower-bracket final on August 31. The winner advances to the playoff quarter-finals.

When did G2 and NAVI last play before Porto?

Their previous meeting was on June 15 at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. G2 won that series 2-1.