MIBR edge out IHC to pick up first win in Malta

The Brazilians recovered after a slow start on Anubis to send IHC down to the last chance stage.

MIBR overpowered IHC in a two-map series at ESL Pro League Season 17 to send the Mongolians down to the last chance stage in Group A. The Brazilian quintet drew first blood with a 16-12 display on Inferno before wrapping up the series with a hotly-contested 16-14 showing on Anubis.

The result allows MIBR to continue their run through the lower bracket, with the Brazilians scheduled to face off versus the loser of the series between G2 and Cloud9 on Friday at 16:00 . Bruno "⁠BIT⁠" Fukuda Lima pointed towards the hectic schedule as a reason for the team's chaotic round losses at times; the Brazilians flew straight from IEM Katowice to Mexico for the RMR closed qualifier, before flying back to Malta for ESL Pro League Season 17 within the week, travel the coach admitted caused issues at times.

"It's been maybe a month without a single day off," the Brazilian coach said. "We went to Mexico to play ECL, then we had the RMR [closed qualifier]. We played the RMR [closed qualifier] on Sunday, and then we had flights at 5am. insani arrived at 1 in the morning and then he had to play the match at 4pm, so it's hard for us right now. I think today we are better, but yesterday [versus fnatic] I was so tired, to be honest... I think the guys feel the same, but it is what it is."

IHC opted to begin the series on Inferno, which has steadily become the team's go-to veto choice with over 20 visits to the map over the past three months. Garidmagnai "⁠bLitz⁠" Byambasuren's men enjoyed an early lead to start their map pick, going 4-2 up on the T-side after casting aside MIBR's initial pistol round win. The two teams became embroiled in a back-and-forth skirmish for the remainder of the half; Henrique "⁠HEN1⁠" Teles was the leading figure in the server with 17 kills, but it was IHC, spurred on by Baatarkhuu "⁠Bart4k⁠" Batbold's 16 frags, who narrowly pulled ahead to post a slender one-round lead at the break.

The Brazilians regained the lead at the outset of the second half, though the hard-fought nature refused to dissipate. MIBR posted five rounds on the bounce to extend their lead to 12-8, but the Mongolians made Raphael "⁠exit⁠" Lacerda and company pay dearly for every inch of territory gained, often forcing the Brazilian squad down to one or two players left alive before conceding defeat. It was this economic fragility which enabled IHC to claw their way back to 12 rounds once the Mongolians were able to fully invest, but MIBR maintained their composure and were able close things out a short time later, 16-12.

Tuvshintugs "⁠Annihilation⁠" Nyamdorj won a 1vs1 via bomb explosion to get IHC's T-side campaign going on Anubis, a boon which enabled the Mongolians a 5-1 lead to kick things off. The 23-year-old AWPer continued to lay down the law as the half progressed, his server-high 14 kills smiting MIBR's individuals down round after round to ensure IHC enjoyed a first-half victory with four rounds to spare, 8-3. It took a triple kill from exit in round 13 for the Brazilians to taste victory again, with MIBR successfully pulling off their late-half recovery to trail by just three rounds at the side swap.

bLitz and Bart4k joined forces with double kills apiece to nab IHC their second pistol round of the map, but the Mongolians were unable to build on their initial success. MIBR went on an uninterrupted, albeit shaky, five-round spree to bring the two teams to an even footing, 11-11. The game had been flipped on its head by this point, crisp shooting and an overly aggressive MIBR side giving IHC little respect as they raced to map and series point, 15-13. Much like Inferno, IHC's empty coffers proved to be the Mongolians' undoing; the side sported just 12 grenades across all five members heading into round 30, something the Brazilians exploited with a slow and measured approach to lock in a laborious 16-14 victory.