Imperial eliminate RED Canids from Americas RMR after Dust2 thriller

VINI's team now await the result of FURIA-9z to see whether they advance directly to the Major or need to play the seventh-place decider.

Imperial have eliminated RED Canids from the Perfect World Shanghai Major Americas RMR in a two-map series, stealing Vertigo 13-10 before emerging atop a back-and-forth double overtime brawl on Dust2 to finish with a 3-2 record.

Vinicius "⁠VINI⁠" Figueiredo's side aren't guaranteed a spot in the Major quite yet, however, with their fate only determined after the final 2-2 match between FURIA and 9z. If the former wins, Imperial are qualified due to a higher Bucholz score, but if the latter prevails Imperial will have to play M80 in a seventh-place decider for the final spot.

The minimal break between now and that potential final game will be much needed for the Brazilian squad, who fumbled several advantages on Dust2 in what could have been a much more comfortable victory, and mistakes which could well cost them a Major spot if made again in another series.

The series started with a surprise in the veto as Imperial went away from their norm and vetoed Anubis instead of Ancient or Vertigo, with RED Canids opting for the latter to start the series.

Marcelo "⁠coldzera⁠" David's side took an early lead before an ace from VINI breathed life into Imperial's offense, helping them recover to post seven at the break, and after a few B hits failed in the second half they swapped to A and ran over Gabriel "⁠nython⁠" Lino repeatedly to close out a 13-10 win.

RED Canids got another strong start on Dust2, a coldzera 1v3 clutch helping keep them flawless at 6-0 before Imperial again rallied to post five at the break.

RED Canids lost steam in the second half despite winning the pistol and conversion (9-5), losing out to a ridiculous quad-kill from Santino "⁠try⁠" Rigal on B and a pivotal 1v3 from VINI to tie the game (10-10).

Cracks started to show as pressure built up, with Imperial squandering 5v3 advantages in round 24 and 25, and RED Canids dropping 5v3s in round 26 and 27.

Those trades continued into a second overtime, where RED Canids looked set to hit match point first before an overextension from David "⁠dav1deuS⁠" Tapia Maldonado and quad-kill from João "⁠felps⁠" Vasconcellos put Imperial ahead and helped them convert the victory.