MIBR eliminate fnatic from IEM Katowice Play-In; Complexity proceed through lower bracket over Wisla Krakow

Gustavo "⁠yel⁠" Knittel and company upset fnatic 2-0 to survive in the lower bracket while it took Complexity three maps to defeat Wisla Krakow.

The two final matches of the first round of the IEM Katowice Play-In lower bracket have concluded, with MIBR upsetting fnatic and Complexity knocking Wisla Krakow out of contention. The Brazilian squad will now play BIG in the second lower bracket round for a spot at the main event, while Complexity will do the same against MOUZ.

MIBR and fnatic kicked their series off on Dust2, the Brazilian squad’s map pick, where a particularly lucid Daniel "⁠danoco⁠" Morgado shone on the attack as his MIBR took an 11-4 lead at the half. Although fnatic bridged the gap in the second half, a crucial hold on B by Marcelo "⁠chelo⁠" Cespedes and Bruno "⁠shz⁠" Martinelli followed by an ace by the latter of the two the following round put them on match point, which they converted on the following round to take the lead after map one, 16-12.

Down 2-5 early on in Overpass Jesper "⁠JW⁠" Wecksell played a brilliant round, but overpeeked in a 1vs1 against chelo as the Brazilians kept cruising ahead. The Swedes bounced back despite the blunder, however, and managed to bring the half to within one, 7-8. The Swedes then deflated on the defense and were trampled by MIBR, who won eight of the ten rounds played to secure the map 16-9 and the series 2-0.

Complexity didn’t hold back against the Wisla Krakow underdogs on the CT side of Inferno, showing their superiority from the get-go with Valentin "⁠poizon⁠" Vasilev reaching 17 kills going into half-time. Complexity closed out Inferno 16-5 but were unable to show the same superiority on Mirage, where they brough a 5-10 deficit on the attacking side to a 10-10 on the defense. The Poles didn't let up despite the slow start on the T side and managed to secure overtime in the last round of regulation before claiming the map, 19-16.

After the Mirage blunder Complexity came out swinging once again on the decider map, Nuke, where the international team’s Danish duo spearheaded their efforts in an early 9-1 lead, although a persistent Olek "⁠hades⁠" Miskiewicz helped Wisla Krakow rack up a handful of rounds thanks to several clutches before the half. On the attack Complexity were again relentless, winning all but one round to hit match point, after which they secured the map 16-9 to proceed to the next round of play.