FaZe-Vitality to play in elimination match after GamerLegion, BetBoom upsets

One of FaZe or Vitality will go home on day one.

The best-of-ones have yielded their first upsets in Australia, with BetBoom taking down Vitality and GamerLegion prevailing over FaZe in overtime victories.

Vitality and FaZe will now face each other for elimination at 10:30 as they fight to keep their tournaments alive.

Date	Matches
IEM Sydney 2023
16/10/2023	BetBoom 10:30 GamerLegion	Match
16/10/2023	Vitality 12:25 FaZe	Match

Dan "⁠apEX⁠" Madesclaire and company were in cruise control against BetBoom after winning the second pistol to gain a 9-4 lead, but momentum shifted after they were broken back by a smart BetBoom A pop. The Russian squad never let Vitality's economy recover after that as they went on an eight-round streak.

The Paris Major champions had to wait until they were 5-1 down in the half and 9-9 in the map to get a proper buy, and Vladislav "⁠nafany⁠" Gorshkov found the perfect counter with a smart and effective front-side A smoke execute to continue BetBoom's streak.

Vitality did deny three match points to secure overtime, but nafany's young squad rallied to deservedly close Mirage out 16-14.

GamerLegion also needed overtime to complete their comeback and upset, stunning FaZe with rock-solid CT side holds from 6-11 down. FaZe seemed to have recovered, with a 3v1 situation at 12-11 in their favour, but Sebastian "⁠volt⁠" Maloș punished their complacency with aplomb.

GamerLegion squandered three match points of their own in the first overtime, but rose to the occasion by stringing four rounds in a row in the second to win Nuke 19-15.

It was the first time GamerLegion have played Nuke since May, as debuting IGL Janusz "⁠Snax⁠" Pogorzelski opted to bring it back into their active pool and ban Overpass instead.

"Snax has a similar style to siuhy, he's very calm, has lots of ideas, very innovative, very good in the mid round in as well" Ashley "⁠ash⁠" Battye said post-game. "With nealaN we lacked a bit of initiative telling our players to go and get out there."

Snax's next test in his comeback will be against BetBoom, concurrently with Vitality and FaZe's elimination bout.

Date	Matches
IEM Sydney 2023
16/10/2023	Vitality Finished 14:16 BetBoom	Match
16/10/2023	FaZe Finished 15:19 GamerLegion	Match