MIBR best Renegades to secure semi-final placement in Katowice

MIBR have successfully bested Renegades on Dust2 (16-6) and Train (16-12), thus securing a semi-final placement at IEM Katowice 2019.

The series kicked off on Dust2, where Renegades employed mind games right off the bat, attempting to confuse the defence with a fake A hit. A 4v4 post-plant on B was converted, allowing MIBR an early foot into the map. The terrorists retaliated come their first rifle round, however, were immediately reset, allowing the CTs to extend their surplus to a 5-1 scoreline. A back-and-forth succeeded MIBR's early domination, where both sides walked out with three consecutive rounds. Epitacio "⁠TACO⁠" de Melo inspired his teammates with a 4k in round 11, leading to his team securing three of the final four rounds at 10:5.

A pistol 3k from Justin "⁠jks⁠" Savage opened up the latter half of Dust2, landing the Australian roster their first round on the CT side. Disaster struck after what seemed to be a solid start, as Renegades conceded the following two rounds, the prior a pistol-buy, faced with a financial reset and a worsening round disparity at 6-12. Contrary to their fighting spirit on the T side, the underdogs were unable to put up a fight against the Brazilian offense; having accrued six consecutive rounds on the offense, MIBR walked away with a 16-6 victory on Dust2.

Renegades opened up Train with a consecutive CT-side pistol victory, as Aaron "⁠AZR⁠" Ward spearheaded comeback efforts with a 3k. Round 4 saw MIBR finally stabilise their economy to a point of being able to purchase rifles, only to be reset once more in the following round, producing further economic struggles at 1-3. The Australian squad seized the opportunity to extend a lead off the back of a struggling opponent, methodically shutting down T advances all the way to an astonishing 10-1 lead. In the remaining rounds MIBR were able to secure three crucial rounds, softening the blow at a 4-11 deficit.

In an attempt to further bridge the round difference, the Brazilians landed a successful CT pistol, plus one. Renegades responded with a victory on their first rifle round, immediately struck with stark a reminder of what they put MIBR through in the prior half, as financial difficulties ensued off the back of an economic reset in round 18. Persistent failure to breach sites and convert post-plant situations exacerbated the pressure on Renegades' shoulders, as their opponents equalised at 12-12 following a further six consecutive round victories. The Australians continued to struggle, unable to handle MIBR's onslaught, eventually leading to a 2-0 conclusion of the series, as MIBR walked away with a 16-12 victory on Train.