HLTV Live from Birch Cup: Shocks, Bench Statements and Strong Underdogs in Gdańsk

HLTV Live from Birch Cup: Shocks, Bench Statements and Strong Underdogs in Gdańsk

The Birch Cup 2025 in Gdańsk, Poland, has already delivered plenty of drama in its opening hours — from surprising upsets and heated remarks to roster changes in real time. HLTV is on the ground bringing live updates from matches, interviews, photos, and shifting storylines. 

Here’s a breakdown of the most buzzworthy developments so far, along with deeper context.

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Early Highlights & Match Results

Phantom’s Surprising Surge

One of the tournament’s early headliners is Phantom, who continue to defy expectations with an underdog run to Stage 2.  They upset ESC, a team ranked significantly higher, in a tense opener (13–11) on Nuke. 
Key to their success has been Hubert “szejn” Światły, who delivered a standout performance, averaging a rating of 1.54 over two maps. 

ESC’s Rocky Start & Accusations

ESC had a disappointing start to their campaign, losing to Phantom in what became a surprise result.  In a post-match interview, their coach Kacper “kapibe” Burda addressed the loss and some swirling controversy around the team. 
Kapibe acknowledged that the CS community had been vocal about allegations of unfair play against ESC:

“We have pressure when all the CS community is commenting about us saying we are not playing fair.” 

He also noted challenges on the technical side:

“It was hard for us to get warmed up … in the second half we started pretty well, but it wasn’t enough to come back.” 

Despite the rough start, ESC are reportedly committed to continuing with the same roster, citing internal comfort and belief in their potential. 

Inner Circle’s Former Member Speaks Out

A notable subplot involves Olek “hades” Miskiewicz, formerly of Inner Circle. In an interview following his ex-team’s matches, hades spoke candidly about his benching and the fallout:

“We were supposed to have a bit more time … but of course we had pretty bad results … They have a Pro League slot already, so I think it was an easy choice for the org.” 

Despite the tension, he expressed acceptance:

“We accept what happened and just move on … We just try to play our game.” 

He also acknowledged uncertainty about his immediate future:

“We told each other that we would play out this LAN and see what happens … if it’s going to be the same lineup or different, everyone wants to play.” 

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Match Spotlights & Venue Notes

ex-Inner Circle vs Nemesis

One marquee matchup from the upper-bracket on Day 1 was ex-Inner Circle vs Nemesis.  That game played on Train, decided via map elimination (both sides removed multiple maps until Train remained). 

BIG vs 500

Already concluded was the BIG vs 500 clash, where BIG secured a 13–8 victory playing Overpass.  A strong performance by Jon “JDC” de Castro helped push the match in BIG’s favor. 

ESC vs MOUZ NXT

Another match in the lower bracket saw ESC squaring off with MOUZ NXT.  That encounter went the distance:

• MOUZ NXT banned Inferno

• ESC removed Train

• MOUZ NXT selected Mirage

• ESC countered with Nuke

• Map selection continued until Ancient remained
  The winner was decided on Ancient.

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Bigger Picture: Format, Stakes & Venue Context

Structure & Stakes

The Birch Cup features 24 teams, competing from September 26 to 28.  The tournament operates with two main phases:

• Stage 1 (Open Registration) — a double elimination bracket (Upper bracket matches often Bo1, lower bracket matches Bo3)

• Stage 2 & Playoffs — double-elim format continues with Bo1 upper-bracket matches and Bo3 lower-bracket matches, culminating in a single-elimination playoff and a Best-of-3 Grand Final

The prize pool is $15,000, with $8,000 awarded to the champion. 

This event also counts for VRS (Visa Roster System) weight, affecting roster stability and international standing. 

Roster & Organizational Volatility

The Birch Cup’s opening has already cast light on how fragile tournament rosters can be. The benching of hades from Inner Circle and his public commentary show how quickly organizational decisions can ripple into player morale. 
Similarly, the suspicion and scrutiny around ESC’s play have ignited broader debates in the CS community regarding fairness, performance pressure, and reputation. 

Atmosphere & Coverage

HLTV’s live updates from the venue include not just match scores but interviews, venue tours, and photo galleries capturing the energy of on-site competition. 
The gallery from Day 1 is already live, showing setups, fans, and behind-the-scenes moments. 

As more recognizable names join in the ensuing days (Liquid, fnatic, NIP among others) the tournament will only gain higher stakes and viewership.