Virtus.pro, Legacy make statement with strong wins at BLAST.tv Austin Major

    Virtus.pro and Legacy delivered dominant performances on Sunday, underlining their championship credentials as the BLAST.tv Austin Major moves deeper into Group Stage 2.

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    With a total prize pool of $1.25 million - including $500,000 for the winners - the stakes are as high as ever in this elite CS:GO showdown.

    Virtus.pro swept aside paiN Gaming 2-0, claiming Dust II 13-10 and Mirage 16-13 in a tense overtime finish. Russian star Evgenii 'FL1T' Lebedev led the charge with 42 kills and a +12 K-D differential.

    Legacy stunned FaZe Clan with a similarly clinical 2-0 victory. The Brazilian squad impressed on Mirage with a 13-7 win before closing out Dust II 13-11.

    Lucas 'lux' Meneghini starred with 38 kills and a +14 K-D differential, as all five Legacy players finished with positive numbers.

    The tournament began with 32 teams, including 16 qualifiers battling through Group Stage 1. The top eight progressed to Stage 2, where they were joined by invited teams such as MIBR, Team Falcons, and FURIA.

    Group Stage 3 will see another eight elite squads - including Team Vitality, G2 Esports, and Natus Vincere - enter the fray.

    Group Stages 2 and 3 use a Swiss-system format, before the competition heads to the single-elimination playoff bracket.

    The grand final, set for 22 June, will be a best-of-three battle for the title - and a share of esports glory.