MOUZ get revenge over MIBR to make EPL playoffs

MIBR will need back-to-back wins on Sunday to join MOUZ in the ESL Pro League Season 18 playoffs.

MOUZ secured an ESL Pro League Season 18 playoff berth after defeating MIBR in the Group B lower bracket final, hitting first after clinching victory on the Brazilians' pick of Vertigo (16-14) before closing things out following a dominant display on their choice of Inferno (16-5).

The two teams had already faced off once already in Malta, back when MIBR prevailed, 2-1, in the opening round of play. This time, however, it was Kamil "⁠siuhy⁠" Szkaradek and company who triumphed in the playoff-qualifying fixture, with a strong team effort propelling the team to victory over the Brazilians — all but Jimi "⁠Jimpphat⁠" Salo posted a 1.10 rating or higher over the two-map series.

"We were just a little bit rusty in the first match," siuhy began in a post-match interview on the Pro League couch, looking back to MOUZ's opening loss to the Brazilians. "We just had to get used to how we play and honestly, every day that we played here we just progressed, it's nice to see from a captain's perspective."

All is not lost for MIBR just yet, though, as the Brazilians now fall down to the do-or-die last chance stage in Malta. The South American roster will need to pick up back-to-back victories on Sunday if they're to join MOUZ in the playoffs, with their first test being against Evil Geniuses at 12:30 .

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 18
10/09/2023	Evil Geniuses 12:30 MIBR	Match

The series began on MIBR's pick of Vertigo, where the Brazilians initially held control after 1.45 and 1.41-rated performances from Breno "⁠brnz4n⁠" Poletto and Rafael "⁠saffee⁠" Costa powered the team to an 8-7 lead on the CT-side. From there, however, it was MOUZ who hopped in the driver's seat. The international troupe, spurred on by siuhy's leading and his 24 frags, recovered from an 8-12 deficit to sprint forward and clinch victory, 16-14, to go 1-0 up in the series.

While Vertigo was a bloodbath, Inferno was a completely different story, with MOUZ running riot in the server — a slow and methodical T-side leaving the Brazilians with little to do but repeatedly save their weapons — to build a commanding 10-5 lead at the side swap. This potent form carried over into MOUZ's CT-side; the international lineup picked up the six rounds they needed with ease, allowing the Brazilians to get the bomb down just once before earning their playoff spot, 16-5.