Cloud9 secure ESL Pro League playoffs spot

After Evil Geniuses’s 2-0 win over Eternal Fire, the Russian squad are now confirmed for the next phase of Pro League.

Cloud9 find themselves in the playoffs of Pro League with two games to spare, their imperious 6-0 map record enough to secure qualification after other results in the group went their way. They join the likes of Natus Vincere, Vitality and FaZe in the playoff bracket, and play their remaining two matches for a spot directly in the quarter-finals.

The first half of 2022 was a mixed bag for Vladislav "⁠nafany⁠" Gorshkov and co. Wins in the Funspark ULTI Finals and IEM Dallas were marred by failures to make the playoffs of the PGL Major Antwerp and IEM Cologne, the latter result sending them into the player break on a dour note.

sh1ro is currently the third highest rated player of Pro League

In their first event of the new season Cloud9 have been back to their best, not dropping a single map so far in Malta with the whole squad firing on all cylinders; Timofey "⁠interz⁠" Yakushin, Abay "⁠HObbit⁠" Khassenov and Dmitry "⁠sh1ro⁠" Sokolov have each topped a series apiece.

Two teams are in pole position to join Cloud9 in qualifying from Group D, with FURIA and Liquid both already sat on two wins each. Evil Geniuses have the best chance of upsetting the apple cart, but would likely need to beat FURIA in order to do so.

Group D

TEAM

M

P

Cloud9

3

9

FURIA

2

6

Liquid

2

6

Evil Geniuses

3

3

Movistar Riders

3

0

Eternal Fire

3

0

The teams qualified for the playoffs so far are listed below, excluding Cloud9 whose placement is yet to be decided.

Seeded directly to quarter-finals:

G2
Vitality

MOUZ
Group D 1st place

Playoffs round one:

fnatic
Natus Vincere
FaZe
Outsiders

HEROIC
Complexity
Group D 2nd place
Group D 3rd place