MIBR defeat 100 Thieves to secure first ESL Pro League victory

MIBR have secured their first victory in ESL Pro League Season 11 North America by defeating 100 Thieves in a two-map series.

MIBR entered the series looking a revitalized side after falling in a domestic clash against their countrymen from FURIA on Monday, managing to secure their first series victory, a result that keeps them alive in the race for the playoffs.

The Brazilians looked far more coordinated on Train this time around than they had against FURIA, maintaining initial control on the T side before closing out the map with a stalwart defense. An 0-5 deficit for MIBR to kick off Inferno was not enough to force a third map either, with Gabriel "⁠FalleN⁠" Toledo guiding his men to close out the series with a narrow 16-14 map win.

MIBR got off to a solid start on their map pick, Train, springing ahead to a 5-0 lead on the offense before the Australian roster got on the board, taking five rounds of their own to tie up the scoreline. A quad kill from Fernando "⁠fer⁠" Alvarenga put the Brazilians in control once again, allowing them up to take an additional three, while four kills from Jay "⁠Liazz⁠" Tregillgas helped 100 Thieves secure the final two of the half.

Aaron "⁠AZR⁠" Ward's troops evened the score with a swift B site attack in the second pistol round, and followed up by converting against MIBR's ensuing force-buy and eco to sit upon ten rounds. Once they had rifles in their hands however, the Brazilians regained their foothold in the map, with FalleN finding openings with his AWP and fer securing multi-kills round after round to help MIBR to a 16-12 victory.

100 Thieves seemed set to answer in kind as they got off to a 5-0 start of their own on Inferno, but once again the AWP of FalleN and fer's rifling kept MIBR in the running as they fought back to post seven rounds at the end of their defensive effort. In almost identical fashion to Train, the Australian squad took home the second pistol of the map, and converted the ensuing two rounds to push up to an 11-7 lead before MIBR were able to respond.

Aggressive entries from FalleN and fer allowed the Brazilians to exploit 100 Thieves' B hold for multiple round wins, seeing MIBR win eight in a row to attain match point. With their backs against the wall, 100 Thieves kept MIBR at bay for three rounds, but were unable to push the map to overtime as FalleN's side edged out a 16-14 victory with a 3v4 post-plant on the A site to close out the series.

The group standings for ESL Pro League Season 11 North America now look as follows: