After entering the US$1 million tournament with the second-youngest roster, with only MOUZ featuring a squad with a lower average age, Team Spirit finished the event with a dominant clean sweep.

Spirit only dropped one map from 15 played across the IEM Katowice play-in stage, group stage, and playoffs, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Natus Vincere.

At just 17 years of age, Danil ��donk�� Kyrshkovets recorded one of the best debut performances ever witnessed in Counter-Strike esports, and he was awarded the Most Valuable Player for the event.

Donk finished his ‘Big Event’ debut with a 1.70 rating and 110 ADR, equalling Nikola ��NiKo�� Kovac��s record but with more maps played.

The youngest ever player to lift the #IEM Katowice trophy.

The youngest ever player to win an #IEM Katowice MVP.

The highest rated player in #IEM Katowice history.@donk1337 is here. pic.twitter.com/nTb2BvBoaC

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) February 11, 2024

After winning IEM Katowice in 2022, one may have expected FaZe Clan to give Spirit headaches throughout the series, but after a close loss on Nuke, which was their opening map pick, it appeared as though FaZe were in for a gruelling series.

Finn ��karrigan�� Andersen and his team bounced back on the second map and started well on Mirage, taking a 7-5 lead into the halftime break; however, Leonid ��chopper�� Vishnyakov responded with some great calls in the second half as Spirit won seven of the next eight rounds to claim a 12-8 lead.

Although David ��frozen�� Cernansky helped FaZe rally to bring the score back to 12-11, Spirit would win an eco-round to close out the map and claim a 2-0 lead going onto Overpass for what would be the third and final map.

Unlike Nuke and Mirage, Overpass was not even close, with donk once again leading the way as Team Spirit wrapped up the series and tournament with a 13-3 demolition job.

For a team that has only been together for two months, the sky is the limit for Team Spirit, and with the PGL Major Copenhagen just around the corner, there is no doubt they will be one of the favourites.

.@Team__Spirit LIFT THE #IEM KATOWICE 2024 TROPHY

AND THEY DO IT IN STYLE. pic.twitter.com/grEghKop0F

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) February 11, 2024

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Led by Finn “karrigan” Andersen, FaZe delivered a statement win against last year’s champions, G2, who struggled to find their rhythm throughout the series, particularly with Nikola “NiKo” Kova? and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov underperforming.

NOT A PROBLEM FOR @FaZeClan!

They cleanly take care of @G2CSGO, winning 2-0 to move on to the #IEM Katowice 2024 semi-finals!!

13-9 Inferno
13-6 Ancient pic.twitter.com/MzDom5Qmpy

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 9, 2024

The showdown commenced on Inferno, where G2 initially gained momentum with a strong CT start, only to be thwarted by FaZe’s resilience.

Despite G2’s early lead, FaZe rallied behind standout performances from players like Helvijs “broky” Saukants and David “frozen” ?er��ansky, securing crucial rounds to clinch the map.

Transitioning to Ancient for the second leg, FaZe continued their dominance, capitalizing on early leads and maintaining control throughout.

G2 attempted to mount a comeback, but FaZe’s superior aim and strategic preparation proved insurmountable, ultimately sealing their victory and advancing to the semi-finals.

Later on, Falcons delivered a stunning upset by defeating ENCE 2-1 (13-5, 9-13, 13-11) in a nail-biting three-map series, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

Pavle “Maden” Bo?kovi? emerged as a standout player for Falcons, delivering exceptional performances across all three maps and showcasing newfound versatility within the team.

Despite ENCE’s valiant effort, Falcons’ relentless aggression and tactical prowess proved too much to overcome.

SEMI-FINALS SECURED.@TeamFalconsGG fight off the Polish crowd fueled @ENCE to make it to the #IEM Katowice top 4!

13-5 Mirage
9-13 Overpass
13-11 Nuke pic.twitter.com/o3fasWlhBB

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 9, 2024

With Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer at the helm, Falcons demonstrated resilience and adaptability, setting the stage for an exciting clash with Team Spirit in the upcoming semi-final match.

Overall, FaZe’s commanding victory and Falcons’ surprising triumph underscored the intensity and unpredictability of IEM Katowice 2024, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the tournament’s unfolding drama.

Saturday’s semi-final matches

• MOUZ ($2.37) vs FaZe Clan ($1.53) @ 4:30pm CET
• Team Spirit ($1.28) vs Falcons ($3.50) @ 7:30pm CET

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After losing their key players to Heroic and Team Falcons at the end of 2023, ENCE rebuilt their Counter-Strike lineup with the former 9INE core. Despite not signing any world-class players, ENCE have made the new project work.

Going against all odds, ENCE beat Astralis, Team Vitality, and G2 Esports convincingly in the group stage. Now they have their eyes set on the new-look Team Falcons, who showed immense improvement following a rough start.

Team Falcons have looked just as good with their wins against Rebels Gaming, Complexity, and Natus Vincere, but their road to the final six was less challenging. Still, esports betting sites have Falcons priced as favourites for this match.

Individually, the Falcons are the better team, but we must respect what ENCE have shown so far in this tournament. At the offered CS betting odds, ENCE at even money or better are an obvious choice.

The IEM Katowice 2024 quarterfinals will conclude with a clash between two of the world’s strongest Counter-Strike teams: FaZe Clan and G2 Esports. The two titans last met in the second round of BLAST Premier World Final 2023 in December, when FaZe Clan won 2-1, and they are expected to come out ahead again.

FaZe haven’t looked amazing so far this tournament, with a 2-0 win against Rebels Gaming, a close 2-1 victory against Eternal Fire, and a rough 0-2 loss against Team Spirit. G2 Esports are in the same boat, although they managed to stop Monte and Heroic in the lower bracket of Group B.

Considering how shaky Nikola “NiKo” Kova? and Nemanja “nexa” Isakovi? looked early into the tournament, it can be tough trusting G2 Esports. However, the cousins found their stride in the final two rounds og the group phase, averaging 1.49 and 1.11 ratings respectively. And if they fall short, there’s always Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, the second-highest-rated player at IEM Katowice 2024.

FaZe Clan should be slightly favoured as they’re a more stable team and less likely to make huge errors, but at $2.25 with GG Bet, it’s hard to pass on G2 Esports.

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Kim “Stats” Dae-yeob and Shin “SHIN” Hee-beom last met in December 2023 during AfreecaTV Pro Series #22, where SHIN won 4-0. It marked his third head-to-head victory of the year and his eighth overall (8-13).

Stats has dominated SHIN since they first met in 2015, but he could not match his compatriot last year as the balance of power flipped. For this match, we also have to consider Stats’ poor record against Zerg players.

Protos vs Zerg is Stats’ worst matchup at a 58.60% win rate across 1,413 games. That number has dropped to just 12.5% over the last 16 games, which is highly concerning. In contrast, ZvP is SHIN’s best matchup, with a 60.24% all-time win rate and 76% over the last 50 fixtures.

Considering Stats�� performance metrics and recent head-to-head record against SHIN, it’s tough to justify a wager on him.

After placing 17th-20th and 21st-24th in his last two trips to Poland, Cl��ment “Clem” Desplanches enters IEM Katowice 2024 as the second favourite to win the tournament, priced at $3.80 on the outright betting markets. That’s hardly surprising, considering Clem is the current ESL SC2 Masters champion and the second-ranked player on the European ESL Pro Tour 2023/24.

Li “Oliveira” Peinan hasn’t accomplished nearly as much as the French StarCraft II pro over the last few months, but he has left a good impression in bigger tournaments. More importantly, Olivera is 1-1 in the head-to-head against Clem on the year, with a 3-1 victory from WardiTV 2023.

Olivera’s victory against Clem two weeks ago isn’t something to ignore, but it doesn’t prove he is a better player. Clem is in excellent form and holds a 67.37% win rate against Terran players over the last 95 games, whereas Oliveira’s win rate in mirrored matchups sits at just 48.89%.

Oliveira is a solid player, but at the offered StarCraft II betting odds, Clem is a more appealing choice.

Lee “Bunny” Jae-seon and Kim “Stats” Dae-yeob have not met once since March 2021, when Bunny won his third consecutive head-to-head match and improved his all-time record to 7-9. It’s been nearly three years since, so those numbers mean nothing.

SCII betting sites have Stats priced as an underdog for this match, likely because he hasn’t played an official game since mid-December. On the other hand, Bunny has been active over the last month but hasn’t accomplished much, recently placing 15th-16th at Master’s Coliseum 7.

This match is much closer to 50/50 than it may seem. Stats has a decent record against Terran players, whereas Bunny has a 57.58% win rate against Protoss over the last 33 outings. At plus money, Stats is a much better choice.

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In a captivating showdown, Falcons soared to victory over Natus Vincere, claiming a decisive 2-0 (13-11, 13-4) triumph.

.@FalconsEsport are going to the #IEM Katowice 2024 Playoffs!!

They take down @natusvincere 2-0 in the lower bracket final of Group A

13-11 Ancient
13-4 Mirage pic.twitter.com/kHAQaQ2uXu

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) February 6, 2024

Despite a strong start from Na’Vi, Falcons capitalized on key moments, particularly on Ancient, where they exploited a pivotal half-buy to turn the tide in their favour.

Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen highlighted the mental collapse of his team as a significant factor in their defeat, emphasizing the importance of confidence in gameplay.

Notably, ��lvaro “SunPayus” Garc��a and Mohammad “BOROS” Malhas showcased standout performances, underscoring the team’s growth throughout the Counter-Strike tournament.

Falcons’ evolution was evident, progressing from earlier shaky matches to a dominant display against Na’Vi, setting the stage for an intriguing playoff journey.

Meanwhile, G2 secured their playoff berth with a commanding 2-0 (13-9, 13-8) victory over Heroic.

Despite facing challenges, including losing all four pistol rounds, G2’s resilience and firepower shone through, particularly with Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov delivering impactful performances.

Nikola “NiKo” Kova?’s resurgence bolstered G2’s efforts, notably on Nuke, where his exceptional play propelled his team to victory.

The lower bracket run has been complete.@G2CSGO take down @heroicgg 2-0 in the lower bracket final to make it to the #IEM Katowice 2024 playoffs!

13-9 Vertigo
13-8 Nuke pic.twitter.com/5NjufRQHOS

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 6, 2024

However, concerns lingered regarding G2’s pistol struggles and individual inconsistencies, highlighting areas for improvement as they gear up for a quarter-final clash against FaZe Clan.

The matchup promises excitement, especially with the involvement of legendary coaches Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas and Filip “NEO” Kubski rallying their respective teams and the Polish crowd.

Friday’s quarter-final matches

• FaZe Clan ($1.57) vs G2 Esports ($2.25) @ 4:30pm CET
• ENCE ($2.10) vs Falcons ($1.66) @ 7:30pm CET

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The post IEM Katowice 2024 playoff bracket set appeared first on Esport Bet.

Koh “GuMiho” Byung-jae and Gabriel Raffaele “HeRoMaRinE” Segat have yet to meet in 2024 but have clashed four times last year. The latter won the first meeting at ESL Open Cup #167 Americas and lost the remaining three series 1-2, worsening the German’s all-time head-to-head record to 3-6.

GuMiho and HeRoMaRinE have not met once since May 2023, so the head-to-head figures might not hold as much weight. Still, GuMiho is in good form ahead of this clash and is fresh off a semifinal run at ESL Open Cup #212 Korea. HeRoMaRinE’s only notable accomplishment this year was finishing top four at ESL Open Cup #209 Europe.

Even at $1.60 with the top StarCraft II betting sites, GuMiho looks a bit undervalued. As such, GuMiho to cover the map handicap is worth a look.

Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn has met with Yoon “trigger” Hong 14 times since their first clash in March 2021 and enters this match with a 10-1-3 head-to-head record. That includes two wins from 2023 at ESL Open Cup #172 Americas and HomeStory Cup XXIV at the start of December.

Form-wise, neither player has shown much ahead of Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2024. Scarlett placed 19th-22nd at WardiTV 2023 at the start of January, whereas trigger’s most recent appearance at a Premier-tier event (Master’s Coliseum 7) ended with a 15th-16th finish.

Priced at $2.51 with esports betting sites, trigger is expected to struggle on Thursday. He hasn’t beaten Scarlett once since November 2022 and comes up against a player with a 61.8% all-time win rate in Zerg vs Protoss matchups.

More esports betting tips

The post SC2 IEM Katowice 2024 betting predictions �C Thursday, February 8 appeared first on Esport Bet.

The series unfolded as a hard-fought battle, with two maps extending into overtime and the third requiring all 24 regulation rounds.

Heroic took the lead in the series on Mirage, with Vitality showing strength on their CT side.

However, a clutch by Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjidi kept Heroic in the game, and chaos ensued as the match progressed.

Despite a formidable comeback attempt by Vitality, forcing overtime, Heroic ultimately secured the victory with a powerful three-round T-side.

The Anubis map saw Heroic dominating early on, particularly with Ren�� “TeSeS” Madsen showcasing exceptional skills on the CT-side.

Despite a late resurgence by Vitality, Heroic forced a decider for the series.

On Vertigo, both teams demonstrated prowess on their T-sides, but Heroic’s Guy “NertZ” Iluz’s outstanding performance in overtime secured the memorable triumph.

A disappointed Dan “apEX” Madesclaire admitted Vitality’s individual shortcomings, lack of teamplay, and overall subpar performance, calling it a wake-up call for the team.

After entering IEM Katowice as the favourite with esports betting sites, Vitality’s early exit from Katowice follows an underwhelming BLAST Spring Groups showing, raising concerns about their form heading into the PGL Major Copenhagen.

Meanwhile, Heroic’s newfound success with their new line-up surprised many, and despite some rough edges, they will look to refine their gameplay in the upcoming match against GamerLegion.

.@heroicgg manage to recover in OT on the final map of the series to defeat and eliminate @TeamVitality from #IEM Katowice 2024

16-14 Mirage
11-13 Anubis
16-13 Vertigo pic.twitter.com/aKxquwsqt2

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 5, 2024

In another Group B matchup, Monte secured a 2-0 (13-11, 13-11) victory over Cloud9, highlighting their struggles, particularly their absence of a dedicated AWPer.

Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov had moments with the AWP, but Volodymyr “Woro2k” Veletniuk’s impactful plays, including a stunning ace on Mirage, proved decisive for Monte.

Monte faced initial challenges on Overpass but rallied with an eight-round winning streak.

Despite Cloud9 disrupting the streak, Monte ultimately secured the final round, preventing overtime and securing the win.

The subsequent Mirage map saw Cloud9 initially in control, but Monte’s strategic adjustments led by Woro2k and Sergiy “DemQQ” Demchenko resulted in a tight defence and an ace, ultimately concluding the series in their favour.

Woro2k expressed confidence in Monte’s future performance, acknowledging the need for more matches to refine their form.

.@Monte_Esports close out the series 2-0 and eliminate @C9CSGO from #IEM Katowice 2024.

13-11 Overpass
13-11 Mirage pic.twitter.com/DbjvT1m1n3

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 5, 2024

As IEM Katowice unfolds, the unexpected outcomes and standout performances have reshaped the tournament narrative, leaving fans and analysts eager to witness the impact on the remaining matches.

Tuesday will feature the final five series of the IEM Katowice group stage, where the last two teams will book their place in the playoffs, joining ENCE, MOUZ, FaZe Clan and Team Spirit.

Tuesday’s IEM Katowice series

• G2 Esports ($1.57) vs Monte ($2.25) @ 1:30pm CET
• GamerLegion ($2.62) vs Heroic ($1.44) @ 1:30pm CET
• FaZe Clan ($2.10) vs Team Spirit ($1.66) @ 4:30pm CET
• MOUZ ($1.66) vs ENCE ($2.10) @ 4:30pm CET
• Winner of GamerLegion/Heroic vs Winner of G2 Esports/Monte @ 7:30pm CET

More esports news

The post IEM Katowice favourite eliminated in last place appeared first on Esport Bet.

IEM Katowice 2024 will continue this week, with the group stage running through to Tuesday before the playoffs take place from Friday to Sunday.

Katowice, Poland, is the place to be in the esports world this week, as the Starcraft II IEM Katowice tournament will also be held from February 8-11.

Meanwhile, the first Tier 1 Dota 2 event of the year will be held in Dubai, with BetBoom Dacha 2024 running from February 4-16.

• IEM Katowice CS2

  The second week of IEM Katowice will feature the final 16 teams battling it out across two groups, with only six sides advancing to the playoffs on the weekend.

  Although IEM Katowice is one of several Intel Extreme Masters tournaments, it is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar, and we have already seen some big upsets during the first week.

  Check out our extensive IEM Katowice CS2 betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.

• IEM Katowice Starcraft II

  The biggest event of the Starcraft II season will begin on Thursday, February 8.

  The US$500,000 IEM Katowice tournament will feature the best SCII players from all over the world, with each of them seeking to become the next Katowice champion and take home the US$150,000 winner’s cheque.

  Most esports betting sites have Serral marked as the $3.20 favourite ahead of Clem ($3.60) and Maru ($4.33) to claim the IEM Katowice title in 2024.

  Check out our extensive IEM Katowice SCII betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.

• Dota 2 BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024

  Dubai will host the opening Dota 2 tournament of the 2024 season, with BetBoom and FISSURE co-organising the US$1 million BetBoom Dacha event over the next two weeks.

  A dozen of the world’s best Dota 2 teams will participate in the event, with the likes of Team Liquid, Team Spirit and Gaimin Gladiators expected to be prominent throughout the tournament.

  Most Dota 2 betting sites have Team Spirit marked as the $3.20 favourite for the title, followed by Gaimin Gladiators ($4.50) and Azure Ray ($5.50).

  Check out our extensive Dota 2 BetBoom Dacha betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.

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]]> https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/whats-on-in-esports-for-week-beginning-february-5-2024/feed/ 0 https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/gamerlegion-team-spirit-qualify-for-iem-katowice-group-stage/ https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/gamerlegion-team-spirit-qualify-for-iem-katowice-group-stage/#respond Thu, 01 Feb 2024 22:58:33 +0000 https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/?p=34093 GamerLegion and Team Spirit have qualified for the IEM Katowice group stage, while Rooster, BetBoom Team, FURIA and Astralis were eliminated.

The post GamerLegion & Team Spirit advance to IEM Katowice group stage appeared first on Esport Bet.

]]> In the IEM Katowice 2024 Play-In stage, Team Spirit showcased their prowess, securing a spot in the group stage with a 2-0 (13-2, 16-14) victory over TheMongolz.

While they dominated on Mirage, experiencing a smooth win, the battle on Ancient proved challenging as TheMongolz staged a comeback from 12-8 down, only to fall short in overtime.

Boris “magixx” Vorobiev, reflecting on the match, expressed mixed feelings due to some shaky moments.

Despite beating Apeks and TheMongolz, magixx acknowledged tougher challenges ahead but remained confident, stating that replicating their practice game performance would make facing stronger Counter-Strike rosters in the group stage manageable.

.@Team__Spirit manage to fend off the @MongolzCs in OVERTIME to close out the series 2-0

13-2 Mirage
16-14 Ancient#IEM pic.twitter.com/Ww6AboBNdq

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 1, 2024

In another matchup, Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski’s strategic brilliance propelled GamerLegion to a 2-1 (13-3, 5-13, 13-9) victory over Virtus.pro.

Sebastian “volt” Malo? credited a well-prepared game plan, Snax’s exceptional calling, and Frederik ‘acoR’ Gyldstrand’s AWP prowess for their success.

Virtus.pro faced difficulties on Vertigo, with GamerLegion dominating and securing a convincing victory.

Despite Virtus.pro’s comeback on Inferno, GamerLegion closed out the series with victory on Overpass, advancing to the group stage in Katowice.

.@GamerLegion close out the series against @virtuspro 2-1 and advance to the #IEM Katowice 2024 Group Stage!

13-3 Vertigo
5-13 Inferno
13-9 Overpass pic.twitter.com/0IE6xxoI7v

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 1, 2024

M80 asserted their dominance against Rooster in a 2-0 (13-3, 13-7) victory.

Head coach Rory “dephh” Jackson, filling in for in-game leader Marcus “?maNkz?” Kjeldsen, showcased improved performance.

M80’s strategic prowess and individual displays led to victories on Inferno and Vertigo, earning them a chance to qualify for the IEM Katowice group stage and ultimately eliminating Rooster from the Play-In stage.

Cloud9 faced a challenging battle against BetBoom, recovering from a quadruple overtime loss on Overpass to secure a 2-1 (22-25, 13-6, 13-7) victory.

Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov’s improved AWP performance played a crucial role.

Cloud9’s resilience and strategic developments were evident on Anubis and Ancient, securing comfortable victories.

After two underwhelming performances from BetBoom Team, they have found themselves eliminated from the IEM Katowice in 13-16th place.

In a highly anticipated showdown, ENCE delivered a decisive 2-0 (13-10, 13-4) victory over Astralis, eliminating the Danish superteam from IEM Katowice early in the tournament.

The matchup held extra significance as Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander faced his former teammates, including Nicolai “device” Reedtz.

The Finnish squad showcased their prowess on Vertigo, outplaying Astralis with superior mid-rounding.

Krzysztof “Goofy” G��rski and Pawe? “dycha” Dycha provided crucial individual moments, securing ENCE’s victory on the first map.

The real standout performance came from gla1ve on Ancient, where he delivered a rare carry performance with an exceptional 2.25 rating.

His dominance haunted Astralis throughout the map, leaving the Danish squad seemingly broken.

With this victory, ENCE keeps their hopes alive for advancing to the main event.

Apeks triumphed over FURIA with a 2-1 (13-9, 10-13, 13-11) victory in the Play-In stage.

Dominating on Inferno with a 10-2 lead, Apeks eventually closed the map 13-9.

Mirage saw a stellar performance from Tim ‘nawwk’ Jonasson, but FURIA mounted a comeback, winning 11 rounds in a row.

The series concluded on Ancient, with Apeks securing a 9-3 lead at the break and ultimately eliminating FURIA.

With one day left in the IEM Katowice Play-In stage, four series will take place on Friday, where the winner of each will advance to the group stage and the loser will be eliminated.

Friday’s IEM Katowice Play-In matches

• Virtus.pro ($1.61) vs Cloud9 ($2.20) @ 4:30pm CET
• TheMongolz ($2.50) vs ENCE ($1.50) @ 4:30pm CET
• BIG ($1.60) vs Apeks ($2.30) @ 7:30pm CET
• Rebels Gaming ($2.90) vs M80 ($1.38) @ 7:30pm CET

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]]> https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/gamerlegion-team-spirit-qualify-for-iem-katowice-group-stage/feed/ 0 https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/heroic-eternal-fire-qualify-for-iem-katowice-group-stage/ https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/heroic-eternal-fire-qualify-for-iem-katowice-group-stage/#respond Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:11:10 +0000 https://www.giftbasketshoppes.com/?p=34080 Heroic and Eternal Fire became the first two teams to qualify for the IEM Katowice group stage after back-to-back victories on day one.

The post Heroic & Eternal Fire qualify for IEM Katowice group stage appeared first on Esport Bet.

]]> After the first day of action at the IEM Katowice Play-In stage, Heroic and Eternal Fire became the first two teams to qualify for one of Counter-Strike’s most prestigious events.

Eternal Fire secured their spot in the group stage of IEM Katowice 2024 by defeating Rebels 2-0 (13-4, 13-9).

Despite an earlier upset against Cloud9, Rebels faced challenges in maintaining their intensity against the Turkish team.

On Inferno, Eternal Fire dominated the first half with a 9-3 lead, showcasing their prowess in breaking down Rebels’ defence.

Despite Rebels’ efforts to respond after the switch, Eternal Fire secured the map with a force-buy and consecutive rounds.

Mirage saw a similar story, with Eternal Fire’s ?zg��r “woxic” Eker leading the charge, bringing the team to match point on the T side.

Rebels attempted a comeback, but it was too little, too late, as Eternal Fire sealed the victory after a timeout.

Engin “MAJ3R” K��peli expressed his team’s ambition to be a tier-one team, attributing fatigue to their struggles in closing out Mirage.

.@eternalfiregg advance to the GROUP STAGE of #IEM Katowice 2024!

They do so after defeating @RebelsGaming with a clean 2-0 pic.twitter.com/EunNHIh87m

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) January 31, 2024

In another Play-In match, Heroic advanced to the group stage by overcoming BIG 2-1 (13-8, 7-13, 13-7).

The series included the teams trading wins on each of their map picks, leading to an Anubis decider.

BIG initially held a 6-0 lead but faltered in advantageous situations, allowing Heroic to take control and secure a 13-7 victory.

Heroic, previously underestimated after a disappointing showing at BLAST Premier Spring Groups, capitalized on BIG’s mistakes and showcased resilience.

Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjidi played a crucial role in Heroic’s early success, dominating BIG on Nuke.

After BIG performed well and levelled the series on Vertigo, Heroic made a comeback on Anubis.

They flipped the script and secured 13 of 14 rounds, including a ten-round streak, to claim the decider 13-7.

With this result, Heroic advanced to the main event of IEM Katowice, while BIG dropped to the lower bracket, where they will face the winner of FURIA vs Apeks for another chance to qualify for the group stage.

.@heroicgg take down @BIGCLANgg 2-1 to advance to the #IEM Katowice 2024 Group Stage!

13-8 Nuke
7-13 Vertigo
13-7 Anubis pic.twitter.com/AZA1S2DW0E

— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) January 31, 2024

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