Group A's winners go head to head for right to an early night. Beating REUNITED is fast becoming a habit for Ninjas in Pyjamas and they enter the fixture fired up from that first round victory. Team Dignitas are also riding on the crest of a wave having actually won a game at LAN. Dignitas put up a brave effort, even finding a full hold on Numbani, but over three maps they crash against the beefy NiP compositions repeatedly only for the Finns to stand tall.

Watchpoint: Gibraltar

A solid opening attempt from NiP who eventually take it all the way to the end of the first checkpoint thanks to some great early Pharah play from zappis. Dignitas then put the brakes on as everyone just fell in front of numlocked's swinging hammer. Then fragi got going with those Nano-Boosts that he employs so well as we got towards the end of the hangar stage and NiP kept rolling right until the end until some valiant stall tactics from Dignitas meant that at least NiP had to use all their time to get it over the line.

Dignitas had a great start to their attack phase quickly taking the first checkpoint but in the notorious hangar stage we see NiP's tanks continue to pick apart Dignitas' attacks. Dignitas eventually rally and complete the hangar stage, 4 minutes left for Dignitas to complete the final stage. With zappis back on the Pharah we see some of Dignitas' initial efforts repelled. Dignitas get the payload to the top of the slope but some great aggressions, spearheaded by fragi as always, keep Dignitas at bay.

Over half their 4 minutes had gone when Dignitas Nano-boost LiNkzr in but fragi hits a brilliant charge to take the Reaper out of the fight. Finally Dignitas get round the corner shutting down the Nano-Boosted Reinhardt, but despite a full team wipe followed by a 3 man Deadeye from BromaS, NiP still find a way to stop the cart. hymzi "takes a break" through a load of damage as the last man standing and the re-spawns come in to secure it for NiP. A last desperate effort comes in from Dignitas but they are stopped.

A tremendous effort from NiP to come back from having 4 minutes left on the final stage to completely holding it. However, I can't be the only one smelling beef around the Dignitas side of the stage. A real missed opportunity for Dignitas given the high they were coming off from beating FaZe Clan.

Numbani

NiP start on attack but fail multiple attempts. Eventually they get a massive ult advantage, but cannot turn the frags and Dignitas not only hold but gain ult advantage off the back of that failed NiP push. NiP's four tanks were struggling, LiNkzr and numlocked did great work keeping the Finns at bay. Odd to see zappis not making many switch ups throughout that entire attack resulting in failure to cap the first point, a mistake that would ultimately cost them. Saying that Dignitas handled everything that was thrown at them comfortably and only needed to take first point to take it to the second map.

Dignitas charge straight in and LiNkzr seems untouchable on Genji, throwing out damage all over the place. LiNkzr kept the dash resets coming before getting the Dragon Blade to finish the fight. A quick second map victory for Dignitas and we're going to a third map again.

Eichenwalde

NiP start on attack and go straight in, some great individual play on Mei from zappis provides the frag NiP need to break the first point. A Nano-Boosted LiNkzr on Reaper comfortably secures the first defence of the second stage for Dignitas but a 6 ult stack going into the next fight means NiP take it with ease burning 4 ults in the process. With the payload all the way round the corner, Dignitas rotate behind NiP up top to avoid the open space but get completely shut down by a mafu Graviton Surge securing 3 quick kills and then moving the payload through the gate. NiP moved into the difficult last stage but more excellent Mei play from zappis combined with a Nano-Boosted fragi opens it up and gets the cart almost all the way to the final capture point. Dignitas are able to stabilise and re-take the punishing choke point. This allows LiNkzr on Reaper to shut down the doors and wipe NiP but once again NiP have gained 5 ults. Despite using their 5 ults NiP are not able to gain any ground. Dignitas switching LiNkzr to Mei and BromaS to Reaper continues to pay off. Eventually with just over a minute left NiP win a fight but the cart has moved so far back that they cannot actually add any distance by the time the Dignitas re-spawns come in. NiP also lost two players in the previous exchange which meant an easy clean-up was to be had for Dignitas as they close off the opening round.

Dignitas then had to take the unenviable task of attacking on Eichenwalde. Triple DPS out of the gates from Dignitas allow them to quickly get through the choke point, but NiP stall fairly well considering their poor start. Moving into the second stage and fragi gets caught too far forward but some great hooks from hymzi secures the defence. At which point the stream dies... a rare blip in what has been an outstanding production so far. Flash forward and Dignitas are in the final stage with two minutes left. As we re-enter Dignitas are super close to reaching far enough to overtake NiP, but the Ninjas stabilise. With this NiP move to holding the choke, with 1:30 left on the clock it was always going to be tough for Dignitas. An early frag on hymzi makes it look hopefully for their penultimate effort but some great work from mafu improvising on D.Va sends Dignitas back to the choke. For the final fight it is 5 ults versus 5 ults and a great Earthshatter, Pulse Bomb combo from zappis gets two frags and sees NiP gain victory over Dignitas.

NiP come out top after a well fought game against Dignitas. While numlocked and co. can be happy with how they played despite being edged out they have certainly made a statement with their performance so far. NiP progress to Day 2 and await the runner up from Group B. While NiP progressed they certainly looked beatable. Despite a great set of matches from Dignitas there are still plenty of tough games ahead to get through to get out of groups. Especially if FaZe can recapture their form of recent times they can certainly be a threat too in this group too. A fascinating start to the European side of the Overwatch Open and still plenty more to happen, stay tuned!