Cloud9 to face ENCE for an IEM Katowice group stage spot

The first teams to make the group stage from the play-in will be known later on in the opening day of play in Poland.

The much anticipated IEM Katowice Play-In has kicked off with the first two best-of-one matches from the group stage’s Hall of Heroes, the playing area set up with in the Silesian city with images of past champions, now concluded.

ENCE and paiN went at it on the main broadcast on Vertigo, where an early lead on the attack by the Europeans was enough for them to run away with victory, while Cloud9 routed their Mongolian counterparts, IHC, in Timur "⁠buster⁠" Tulepov’s debut with the Russian team.

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First photos: IEM Katowice kicks off in new 'hall of heroes'

The A stream series between ENCE and paiN kicked off with the Brazilians securing an early 3-0 lead, but the Europeans turned the half around with clutches by Valdemar "⁠valde⁠" Bjørn Vangså and Pavle "⁠Maden⁠" Bošković early on. The Vinicios "⁠PKL⁠" Coelho-led squad did not recover and tallied only one more gun round on the defense.

paiN made it six out of six in early rounds, going 3-0 on the attack to pad the aggregate score, 7-11, before ENCE got their first defense on the board. From there on out it was over for the South American team, however, as the European combine steamrolled their way to 16-7. Paweł "⁠dycha⁠" Dycha, flying the Polish flag for ENCE at the event in Katowice, ended as the highest-rated player in the series with a 1.39 rating.

Cloud9 struck right back after an opening pistol round victory by IHC, who looked poised to get a strong start on the attack before the Russian squad put up a brick wall for eight straight rounds. The Mongolians eventually found a bit of rhythm and tallied two more before the half, but not enough to remain competitive.

Vladislav "⁠nafany⁠" Gorshkov and his men came out ahead in the second pistol round to set up a quick victory run and, after converting against the forcebuy, went on to seal their victory, 16-5, giving up just one round to the CTs in the second half.

Cloud9 and ENCE will now play a best-of-three series at 16:00 for a spot in the group stage, while paiN and IHC will play for survival in the first round of the lower bracket.