Aurora beat Vitality 2-1 to reach StarLadder final

On 20 September 2026 at the StarLadder StarSeries Fall upper-bracket final, Aurora beat Vitality 2-1 to secure a place in the grand final. It is Aurora’s first final with the current lineup, after five events together.

Aurora won Anubis 13-7, dropped Inferno 11-13 and closed the series with a 13-8 victory on Nuke. The result sends Aurora directly to championship Sunday; Vitality must win a best-of-three consolidation final and then a best-of-five rematch against Aurora to reach the final.

On Anubis Aurora recovered from a 1-5 start after a 1v2 clutch from Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo shifted momentum. Aurora then won the majority of defensive rounds and Vitality did not register a single T-side round on the map. Jimpphat recorded a 2.48 CT rating on Anubis.

Inferno opened with Aurora leading 7-2. Ali “Wicadia” Haydar Yalçın produced a quad-kill on B as Aurora extended its lead to 8-4 at the half. Vitality improved its setups and used HE grenades effectively in the second half to win seven straight rounds and convert Inferno 13-11.

Nuke began with a level first half, helped by Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut’s multi-kill rounds and 1v2 clutches that kept Vitality close at the break. Vitality won the T-side pistol in the second half but lost momentum after Aurora’s force-buy. Aurora built a strong CT defense down the stretch and secured the map 13-8.

Across the series Vitality failed to win a T-side round on Anubis, won two T rounds on Nuke and four on Inferno. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut provided multiple multi-kill rounds and clutch plays for Vitality but lacked consistent support from teammates in late-round situations.

Aurora’s roster for the match was led by in-game leader Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski and included Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo and Ali “Wicadia” Haydar Yalçın. The lineup reached the organization’s first final with these players in only their fifth event together.

Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski described the victory as taking down “their biggest name yet.” Aurora will await the lower-bracket winner on championship Sunday.

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