Eternal Fire become first Turkish team to reach Big Event final after MIBR victory

The Turkish side emerged victorious in an unlikely semi-final matchup.

Eternal Fire have claimed victory in the first semi-final of ESL Pro League Season 20, moving past Brazilian squad MIBR in 2-0 fashion to secure their place in the Maltese event's grand final.

With this win, Eternal Fire have secured a second-consecutive grand final appearance, coming off the back of a runner-up finish at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade Season 2. These results are a welcome sign for a squad who impressed at PGL Major Copenhagen, but endured a downward trend in the months thereafter.

The Turkish side's win over MIBR adds another tally to an already impressive string of results for Eternal Fire, securing the deepest run in a Big Event for a Turkish team off the back of an earlier stunning victory over Vitality.

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Eternal Fire snap Vitality's 11-match win streak to reach EPL semis

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 20
03/09/2024	FlyQuest Finished 0:2 Eternal Fire	Match
04/09/2024	Eternal Fire Finished 2:0 Sangal	Match
07/09/2024	Eternal Fire Finished 0:2 Natus Vincere	Match
18/09/2024	Eternal Fire Finished 2:1 The MongolZ	Match
19/09/2024	Vitality Finished 1:2 Eternal Fire	Match
21/09/2024	MIBR Finished 0:2 Eternal Fire	Match

"After you play Vitality, you feel like you can with the tournament," shared Eternal Fire captain Engin "⁠MAJ3R⁠" Küpeli shortly after his team's win over MIBR. "But discipline is the key. I tell [my team that MIBR] is maybe more difficult than Vitality; just play the way we play every day and we will win."

Touching on their daunting grand final matchup, MAJ3R stated that, with a Vitality scalp already under their belt, Eternal Fire certainly have a chance to hoist the trophy.

"If G2 come or NAVI come, I think we can win it. Obviously, we're going to be outsiders in this match. But like I said, I'm scared of nothing. If we play good CS, I think we have a chance to lift this trophy for a Turkish team."

Date	Matches
ESL Pro League Season 20
21/09/2024	Natus Vincere 19:30 G2	Match

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MAJ3R on historic win: "I was pretty confident in myself and my leadership"

MIBR's pick of Nuke kicked off the semi-final series, where Eternal Fire pieced together a dominant T-side despite missing out on the opening pistol round, bagging a 9-3 half.

The Brazilian side managed to narrow the deficit with another pistol victory, but that is all André "⁠drop⁠" Abreu's men could procure before faltering 7-13 on their pick.

Inferno told a similar tale in the first half, as MIBR snagged an early CT-side lead thanks to another pistol round win, but Eternal Fire clawed things back on the offense to take an 8-4 half.

The Turks' lead was quickly whittled away in the second half, as MIBR continued their streak of pistols in the series, giving them the edge to tie things up 8-8. After trading strings of rounds, Eternal Fire composed themselves once their economy stabilized, locking down Inferno 13-10 to finish the series 2-0.