Apeks earn penultimate Roobet playoff spot

The kyxsan-led side recovered from a loss to BIG in their opening match to book a spot in the bracket stage.

Apeks are through to the playoffs of Roobet Cup 2023 after beating 9INE in a relatively simple 2-0 series (13-7 Mirage, 13-8 Vertigo) in the Group C decider match.

The series showed worrying signs for 9INE, who have continued to spiral downward and no longer can count on being specialists on Vertigo for wins. The Poles have lost the last four matches they have played on the map and were completely outmatched here, a strong start on the T side giving way to an entirely lackluster CT showing.

Joakim "⁠jkaem⁠" Myrbostad had mentioned how Apeks felt they were struggling in CS2 after they lost their opening game against BIG, but they showed tenacity in their recovery effort with wins over Astralis and 9INE to earn their playoff berth and can walk away from this series satisfied.

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The European combine were comfortable throughout the match, making up for a 0-4 start on their own pick of Mirage as Tim "⁠nawwk⁠" Jonasson powered his team to an eight-round streak to win out the T side. A pistol and conversion gave 9INE some breathing room, but that was quickly constricted as Apeks wasted no time in closing out the map, 13-7.

Olek "⁠hades⁠" Miskiewicz's side got off to a similar start on their Vertigo pick, garnering five unanswered rounds on the T side, but this time managed to narrowly hold on to that lead at the break courtesy of a 110 ADR and 15-7 K-D half from Kamil "⁠KEi⁠" Pietkun.

Once the sides swapped over, however, the tides completely turned and the trio of Aleksandar "⁠CacaNito⁠" Kjulukoski, jkaem, and Ådne "⁠sense⁠" Fredriksen laid waste to the Polish team's defenses round after round, allowing them just one defensive point before closing out the series, 13-8.