Cloud9 advanced to the group stage of IEM Katowice 2023

The Cloud9 team turned out to be stronger than ENCE with a score of 2:1, thanks to which they advanced to the group stage of IEM Katowice 2023. According to the results of the Play-In stage, the "cloud" got two wins, which was enough for a ticket to the main stage of the tournament. In turn, the ENCE team went to the lower bracket, where they will play with the winner of the meeting Permitta — Complexity.

The second semi-final match of the upper bracket started on the Anubis map, which became the choice of ENCE. However, Cloud9 players very soon took over the initiative on the server, taking full control of the map. In turn, the wards of sAw did not come up with anything for the attack, actually deciding the fate of the map in advance - 12:3. After the side switch, ENCE tried to return to the game, but the gap turned out to be too significant. As a result, Cloud9 confidently closed the half in attack to take the lead in the series — 16:10.

Next, the teams moved to the Inferno map, which turned out to be the choice of Cloud9. However, the starting segment remained with the European team, which showed a confident series of rounds. However, groove's wards were able to answer in the end to reduce the gap to a minimum — 8:7. However, after the side switch, the intrigue quickly disappeared from the radar, as the ENCE players managed to quickly open up in attack in order to transfer the meeting to the destroyer — 16:8.

Everything was decided on the Vertigo map, which was initially formed in favor of ENCE players. However, towards the end of the first half, the Russian team managed to get the necessary rounds and get past the gap — 8:7. However, the second half again took shape in favor of the wards sAw, who quickly ran into the gap. But here Cloud9 managed to turn the tide of the match in order to return to the game and get the final victory — 16:13.

IEM Katowice 2023 takes place from 1 to 12 February in Katowice at the Spodek Arena. As part of the championship, 24 teams from the CIS, Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Oceania are fighting for a total prize pool of $1,000,000, as well as a ticket to IEM Cologne 2023 for the winner.