IEM Cologne 2021 Playoffs Preview

IEM Cologne 2021, one of the prestigious tournaments in Counter-Strike, in addition to the final match earlier than the participant break this yr, has reached its climax. Out of the 24 groups who initially headed to the occasion, solely six are nonetheless within the competitors.

These six groups are actually competing for the lion’s share of the match’s $1.000.000 prize pool, and getting defeated right here implies that the Cologne dream is over. Moreover, the 2021 version of IEM Cologne (beforehand often called ESL One Cologne) is much more particular than regular, because it’s the primary worldwide LAN match in CSGO since over a yr.

The stakes are at their highest. Any more, solely the completely finest will maintain advancing. Let’s take a greater have a look at who’re the six remaining groups at IEM Cologne.

FaZe up in Cologne

Karrigan’s FaZe Clan has been the largest shock to this point in IEM Cologne. After a sequence of unhealthy outcomes resulting in this occasion, expectations for FaZe weren’t nice. But, the crew began their journey within the Play-In stage of the occasion, and there, FaZe was already trying significantly better than they did in previous tournaments.

After beating Evil Geniuses and Complexity within the Play-In and qualifying to IEM Cologne’s most important occasion, FaZe confronted a mighty Astralis which despatched them to the match’s decrease bracket.

On the LBs, FaZe would face a harmful number of groups: Group Spirit, Vitality and Heroic. But, a lot because of Twistzz, broky and olofmeister, FaZe was in a position to defeat all of these groups. Vitality couldn’t even take one map from Karrigan’s crew.

Heading to the playoffs, FaZe once more has an enormous problem forward of them. Gambit, the most effective crew on this planet, is ready for FaZe within the quarter-finals. Nonetheless, if there’s one thing to be learnt from FaZe’s offline journey in Cologne, is to not depend them out till the match is over. Gambit has shut many who doubted them in IEM Cologne, however the crew has began to point out weaknesses and FaZe may very nicely exploit these to upset the Russian powerhouse.

Is the hunch over for Virtus.Professional?

Earlier than coming to Cologne, Virtus.Professional had a sequence of combined outcomes over the previous couple of months. Within the earlier match VP took a part of, the crew didn’t impress. Getting defeated by the likes of Entropiq and 100PingGods certainly didn’t encourage confidence.

In Cologne, Virtus.Professional didn’t kick off the match with the best foot, both. The crew misplaced to BIG of their opening match, failing instantly to the lower-bracket.

Luckily for the crew led by ‘Jame’, they managed to show the tides as soon as proper after their recreation with BIG. The crew struggled towards Complexity however managed to eradicate them after a disputed BO3, rapidly ended NiP’s run in Cologne after which confidently received their rematch towards BIG.

Now, the Jap European roster is trying ahead to their encounter towards Astralis. Few groups might be as harmful as Astralis, however Virtus.Professional is trying a lot, significantly better now. If they’ll sustain this momentum, VP has every part they should go even deeper within the occasion.

The Kovacs’ lead G2 to a deep run in Cologne

G2 run in Cologne to this point has been a brief one, and with a very good cause. The crew stars, cousins ‘NiKo’ and ‘huNter’ have been placing nice performances continuous, and the three different G2 gamers aren’t monitoring behind by a lot both.

For the reason that squad certified to Cologne’s most important occasion straight, the crew has solely performed three video games. Of their opening recreation, G2 demolished blameF’s Complexity after which proceeded to ship BIG to the lower-bracket. The crew was then set to face Gambit, the most effective crew on this planet. Because of the cousins in addition to the crew’s awper ‘AmaNEk’, G2 managed to shut that recreation of their favor, sending Gambit to the quarter-finals, whereas they booked a semi-finals spot for themselves.

G2’s subsequent recreation in IEM Cologne might be towards the winner of the Astralis and Virtus.Professional recreation. At this level, irrespective of who wins, G2 might be greater than desperate to face them. G2 is without doubt one of the two favorites to make to the grand-finals, and it received’t be straightforward to ship them dwelling earlier than that.

Astralis is way from accomplished

Coming to IEM Cologne 2021, negativity surrounded Astralis. The Danish crew has been having a troublesome yr to this point, and whereas they had been certified to the principle occasion straight, many anticipated gla1ve’s crew to be eradicated early on.

But, to show many unsuitable, Astralis gave one hell of a present in Cologne. The Danes had been in a position to win towards each FaZe Clan and Heroic with out dropping a map to them. On their last group stage recreation, a doubtful map choose towards Na’Vi put them at an enormous drawback, and on the finish, even after successful in one in all Natus Vincere favourite maps, Dust2, s1mple’s crew was an excessive amount of for Astralis. Nonetheless, Astralis has proven that they nonetheless are one harmful crew.

Astralis subsequent recreation is ready to be a quarter-final BO3 recreation towards Virtus.Professional. VP is likely to be displaying indicators of restoration, however Astralis is way from accomplished like many have thought earlier than this occasion. If there’s one crew that would cease VP restoration proper on its tracks, it’s Astralis.

Gambit shuts doubts, however present weaknesses

The final couple of weeks have been fairly a experience for nafany’s Gambit. The crew was defeated by Natus Vincere proper earlier than IEM Cologne 2021, and extra just lately, it was G2 who defeated Gambit in a BO3 throughout Cologne’s group stage.

But, Gambit has solved an necessary matter in Cologne already. The crew has proven that they aren’t “onliners”, and that Gambit is simply as harmful on-line as they’re in LAN video games.

Now, it’s time for Gambit to show that they’re nonetheless the most effective crew on this planet. To succeed in the playoffs, Gambit needed to defeat Mousesports and NiP, and the crew solely misplaced to G2 of their last group stage recreation. Whereas that defeat to G2 may damage, it nonetheless is a strong report.

Within the playoffs, Gambit might be going through FaZe Clan first. There are not any doubts that FaZe might be utilizing a lot of their time learning Gambit in preparation – and there’s loads of materials to review.

Nonetheless, there’s no technique to depend Gambit off the match. Nafany has proven time and time once more that Gambit is greater than succesful to rapidly adapt after losses, and they’re going to have a while to implement modifications earlier than the playoffs. If FaZe desires an opportunity, they higher carry a good higher iteration of themselves than what we noticed within the group stage.

Natus Vincere appears to be like unstoppable

Earlier than coming to IEM Cologne 2021, Na’Vi received StarLadder CIS RMR 2021 after defeating Gambit in a BO5 recreation. This was a key occasion to spice up Natus Vincere’s morale, and it definitely impacted them.

Throughout Cologne’s group stage, Na’Vi, led by ‘Boombl4’, needed to face Renegades, Vitality and Astralis to qualify to the playoffs. Whereas each Renegades and Vitality every managed to win their map picks towards Natus Vincere, each groups bought demolished afterwards. Astralis managed to take Na’Vi’s personal map choose, D2, of their encounter after double extra time. Nonetheless, s1mple made quick work out of the Danes in their very own map in addition to on the decider.

Now, Natus Vincere heads to the semi-finals, ready to see which crew might be going through them: FaZe or Gambit. Irrespective of who, Na’Vi is aware of that they’re the favorites to win the occasion proper now. In the event that they maintain taking part in on the identical stage as they’ve been to this point, with ‘digital’, ‘B1t’ and ‘s1mple’ placing world-class performances back-to-back, it will likely be very laborious to cease them from claiming the trophy.

IEM Cologne Playoffs begin July 16^th!

After one of many busiest weeks in CSGO, the six groups in IEM Cologne playoffs may have a small break. Nonetheless, comes Friday 16^th, 4 out of the six groups might be heading again to ESL servers. On Saturday, it will likely be time for the playoffs. On Sunday, prepare for an enormous best-of-five maps recreation between the 2 finest groups in Cologne.

So as to sustain with every part esports, be certain that to comply with us!

The creator

My title is Marcos, I’ve been following the CSGO professional scene since 2015 however actually bought into in following video games and professional groups in 2016. Used to guess quite a bit, stopped a bit however by no means stopped following the esports scene. I am a scholar proper now so I bought quite a lot of time to maintain with it and uncover new issues.

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