CS:GO Playoffs start as field thins out for semifinals at IEM Oakland

The playoff round started off with a bang, SK Gaming going up against Optic Gaming and Cloud 9 against Gambit eSports to round off the set. The winners of each best of three series will face Ninjas in Pyjamas (SK/Optic) and Faze Clan (C9/Gambit) in the semifinals at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

SK Gaming defeated Optic Gaming 2-0 (16-2 on Overpass, 16-12 on Cache). SK Gaming will face Ninjas in Pyjamas in the semifinals on Saturday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.

The Brazilian team showed their dominance early but endured a slow ending to their group stage. They went 3-0 after Day 1 but went 0-2 in Day 2.

SK Gaming went back to their winning ways after stumbling on the final day of the group stages.

Cloud 9 defeated Gambit eSports 2-1 (16-19 in OT on Overpass, 16-11 on Cobblestone, 16-11 on Mirage). They will face Faze Clan in the semifinals on Saturday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.

Gambit dominated Overpass, in which they have a total win percentage of under 30 percent all time on that map entering the first game. Gambit attempted to come back from 8-14 down, but Cloud 9 held them off with some good gameplay to even the series. The teams were pretty much even in the final game of the series before Cloud 9 pulled away with the win.

Saturday's Semifinals are SK Gaming vs Ninjas in Pyjamas and Cloud 9 vs Faze Clan. The winners will face each other in the finals on Sunday.

Ninjas in Pyjamas won the last major event against SK Gaming, Dreamhack Denver. Cloud 9 has a good rivalry against Faze Clan and their leader Olafmeister. If their previous matchups at Dreamhack and E-League are any indication, then we are in for a great Saturday.