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IEM Cologne Major Live Blog Stage 3 – Day 3
Day 3 of IEM Cologne Stage 3 brings the first eliminations and a ticket to the playoffs for a couple of teams.
Team Spirit, 9z, BetBoom Team, and FURIA are in High matches and two of them will book their playoff spot.
Welcome back to the rdy.gg 🔴 live blog.
⌚ June 14, 00:40 CEST
Team Spirit 2-1 9z
How did this happen? Spirit were the favourites and somehow it feels like they pulled off an upset.
After an incredible CT comeback on Overpass, 9z were in the driving seat for all of Mirage. They went as far as taking map point, but it was already too late. They let Spirit get momentum, as they failed to find their own. When overtime showed its face, 9z looked like they had already lost. There was no more energy, or fight.
Dust 2 was a case of deja vu, 9z took a commanding lead 11-6. Threw four rounds in a row, went to overtime, and then lost anyway. Heartbreaking stuff. At least 9z have 2 more chances at making the playoffs. Otherwise this would sting for a while.
Congratulations, Spirit!
⌚21:30 CEST
FURIA 2-0 BetBoom Team
Cinderella lost her shoe today, BetBoom lost a game.
Thankfully, the run isn’t over. They’re still in the 2-1 bracket, and this game was their overpass debut. The only real disappointment then, is that they failed to capitalise on their map pick of Dust2. That needs to remain a fortress in BB’s map pool for them to succeed.
On the other side of this though. It’s a shame FalleN is retiring isn’t it? He’s clearly still capable of leading some incredible teams if he has the chance. Thank god we get to see the godfather hold one last procession in the cathedral this playoff.
Congratulations to FURIA.
⌚ 21:00 CEST Ongoing
Team Spirit vs 9z - Playoff qualification match
Nuclear bomb vs coughing baby, or so you’d think.
After yesterday’s win over Vitality we are not underestimating 9z again. Luchov is the Argentinian donk, and dgt + meyern have been a very strong core alongside him. 9z can beat anyone when they’re all firing.
The only problem with that is that Spirit have the actual donk. We saw yesterday that he can have an off map, so it’s not a death sentence. It just so happens that 9z’s holding cell is on death row.
Just remember, even though the winner qualifies for the playoffs, the loser has two more chances. The main stakes here are everyone's pick’ems. God speed.
⌚ 20:30 CEST
PARIVISION 0-2 Legacy
Unsurprising, given both teams' form so far. Still it’s a little sad whenever a Jame team goes out this way. Hopefully some talent comes PARIVISION’s way so we can have a team capable of keeping contenders humble the way they did in the early season.
For Legacy, this was an opportunity to show what they had, and while they passed the test, going to overtime twice isn't exactly comfortable. Still, obviously there’s some real talent there with dumau and latto, even if it hasn’t worked out in the first couple games. Will it be enough to take them farther than 1-2? Only time will tell. That said, it’ll likely take BetBoom beating FURIA, that result guarantees a game with The Mongolz as opposed to G2.
Then again, with HuNter still IGLing, G2 might be the easier draw anyway.
⌚19:20 CEST
Team Vitality 2-0 MOUZ
We really thought for a second this could be it, this could be the moment we saw the Vitality era begin to flame out. Yet, here we stand, Vitality one game off the playoffs, and a likely finals berth.
Credit where it’s due, MOUZ did a wonderful job on Dust2. xelex, xertioN, and torszi went insane on their T-side, xelex especially was a man possessed. ZywOo was the only Vitality player even putting up a fight on the defence.
It’s just a shame it didn’t carry over to Inferno. Vitality stomped all over them, and ended any notion of an entertaining affair. Oh well.
⌚ 17:45 CEST Ongoing
PARIVISION vs Legacy - low match
The way both teams have looked at this event so far, this should be Legacy’s game to lose. They’ve looked like an actual dangerous side at times, as opposed to PARIVISION who seemingly tried to lose on Inferno yesterday.
That being said, never sleep on Jame. PARIVISION could randomly turn it on, go 3-2, and somehow make a run to the final. For that though, zweih needs to seriously up his output, and stop staring at walls.
⌚ 17:30 CEST
Team Falcons 2-0 Monte
The hate watch finishes unsuccessfully. This karrigan era definitely seems like a step up so far, despite the occasional lack of polish. All of their issues now seem fixable with reps, as opposed to fundamental issues.
For Monte, this must have been disappointing. They nearly pushed it to overtime, and if they had been slightly less sloppy in a 1v3 vs NiKo who knows how this map might have finished.
They aren’t out yet, and if afro carries like he did on D2, they might still upset someone else. Though, with The Mongolz, FUT, G2, and whoever loses between Vitality and MOUZ going into their bracket, Monte are likely to keep their hands clasped in prayer to the seeding gods.
⌚ 16:35 CEST Ongoing
Vitality vs MOUZ
Lots of eyes will be on Vitality for this one to see if yesterday's loss to 9z was a blip, or a sign of more to come. One could argue they’ll get more motivated, someone else might say the major should be your motivation.
As for MOUZ, this is functionally a dead roster at the moment and nothing is more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose. Unfortunately, the team with nothing to lose also has no aura. We’ll see which cliche rings true in the end.
⌚ 13:30 CEST
Aurora 2-0 G2 Esports
That was rough for G2.
They looked clueless on T-side Overpass despite picking it, and once they lost that map it was always going to be rough playing Anubis against Aurora. The Turkish side own that map, and it has taken exceptional performances to beat them on it in the past.
Especially fair play to Aurora for recovering from 1-6 down to a 6-6 half. They might not win the Major, but they look to be a sure fire pick for the playoffs now.
NAVI were very close to going down into the 1-2 bracket here, as The MongolZ dropped an 8-4 and 11-5 lead on map two in OT, going on to lose the third map.
Everyone on that team owes b1t a pint or something. He's done them all a massive favour by balling out and giving them two chances to get through to playoffs, instead of just one. For The MongolZ, it's a tough, tough blow, and given how stacked this stage is it looks extremely hard for them to come back now.
Similarly, FUT escaped by the skin of their teeth, just about edging two of three maps to knock out B8 and stay alive. They're not firing on all cylinders yet, but B8 are never easy to beat and a win is a win. Given how tough their draw has been and how well they've played without winning, to win a gritty game like this is pretty big for them.
0-3 always looks bad, but B8 haven't disgraced themselves and look to be improving with s1zz1 in the team. Another six months of development for him and maybe we might start seeing something crazy.
We've got a stacked list of matches today, but without a true stand-out. 9z' win over Vitality earned them a shot at another king, Spirit, who have looked practically unbeatable today.
BetBoom on the other hand take aim at FURIA, who look far more fallible. BB took down Falcons in two yesterday, while FURIA battled past MOUZ.
Full list of today's games:
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