IEM Katowice 2018 take a closer step to its main event
Another stage of the upcoming IEM Katowice 2018 is over and we are on close date with an exciting competition in the main event.
Liquid and Renegades have both secured spots at IEM Katowice after finishing top two in the North American closed qualifier.
The first round of the single-elimination qualifier featured just two matches as NRG and Luminosity were handed walkover victories over 100 Thieves and Misfits – both of whom withdrew from the tournament due to roster issues.
With Lucas “steel” Lopes back on the roster, Liquid overturned a 1-0 map deficit against the Pujan “FNS” Mehta-led compLexity, with Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski putting in a 1.45 rating and a 100 ADR in the series. On the other side of the bracket, Renegades were also made to work hard to beat the new Splyce roster, running out 2-1 victors thanks to strong individual showings from Justin “jks” Savage and Keith “NAF”Markovic.
The opening semi-final, pitting Liquid against NRG, saw steel’s men draw first blood by the narrowest of margins following two extremely close halves. Cvetelin “CeRq” Dimitrov then inspired his team to level the series (1.84 Rating, +16KDD), but Josh “jdm64” Marzano made Train his playground as he led the charge for his team, who cruised to a 16-8 victory.
The other match was more straightforward, with Renegadesrequiring just two maps to beat Luminosity. With an in-form NAF, the Australian team ran out 16-11 winners on Cache after a dominant CT half in which they picked up ten rounds. The next map, Train, was a one-sided affair, as Renegades strolled to a 16-6 victory after another dominant defensive display.
The team list for IEM Katowice currently looks as follows:
| SK | Astralis |
| Virtus.pro | FaZe |
| Cloud9 | NiP |
| G2 | TyLoo |
| ORDER | Liquid |
| Renegades |
IEM Katowice will span six days and culminate with the playoffs at the Spodek Arena, in Katowice, from March 2-4. A total of $500,000 will be on offer in this 16-team tournament, which will be played under the new format recently announced by ESL, with two double-elimination groups of eight teams leading to the playoffs.
