Imperial take final Legends Stage spot over forZe

Imperial wielded their experience to their advantage, bullying the young FORZE squad throughout the series.

Imperial defied all expectation by completing their march through the Challengers Stage, defeating FORZE 2-0 to wrap up a fantastic run that seemed to grow in momentum with each passing game.

As for FORZE, they will be left rueing the fact they were sat with a 2-0 record and a map up against Vitality in their first attempt at qualification, but their inexperience seemed to cost them in the high-pressure moments as qualification slipped through their fingers.

The series began on Overpass, the pick of Imperial, and the veterans came out looking fired up. Starting on the offense the Brazilians went on a tear, their methodical default picking apart FORZE and finding round after round. Even when the Russian squad made rounds close, their inexperience showed, as panicked decision-making cost them in key moments; it seemed like Imperial were bullying their young opponents. FORZE did settle somewhat as the half wore on, and managed to grab a few towards the end of it to get to a 4-11 score.

Imperial won the second-half pistol to make the result a forgone conclusion, and FORZE managed to grab only a single T round as the Brazilians completed the stomp, finishing the map 16-5.

Mirage, the pick of FORZE, was up next, but the Russian squad were not to find much more joy than on Overpass. This time FORZE started on the defence, but they once again had a woeful start, losing the pistol and falling to a 1-5 deficit before coming alive. Aleksandr "⁠zorte⁠" Zagodyrenko earned them a string of rounds with his AWPing, but ultimately Imperial seemed to have the read of the FORZE T side, and they comfortably recovered to run the half to 10-5 in their favour.

FORZE on their CT side again couldn't handle the slow-paced Imperial defaults, and this time the Brazilians didn't let a single round slip as they comfortably brought the game and qualification for the Legends Stage home, finishing the game 16-5.