The IEM Katowice closed qualifiers begin with roster changes and surprises
The closed qualifiers for the IEM Katowice tournament have commenced in both the North American and European regions.
The European qualifier started off with 11 teams: BIG, Epsilon Esports, FlipSid3 Tactics, Fnatic, G2 Esports, GODSENT, Heroic, mousesports, Natus Vincere, Team EnVyUs, and Tricked Esport.
Several roster changes have impacted the teams competing in the qualifier. G2 and EnVyUs have completely overhauled their lineups, replacing three players each from their previous major rosters. Other alterations include Fnatic and GODSENT’s trade, Heroic’s decision to bench Michael “Friis” Jørgensen, and mousesports promoting Tomáš “oskar” Šťastný back to the starting roster in place of Chris “chrisJ” de Jong.
These roster changes have presented challenges for teams that have had limited practice with their current lineups. However, teams like Na`Vi and Tricked Esport, who have a stable roster, may have an advantage over their opponents.
Upper Bracket: Round One
- BIG vs. FlipSid3 Tactics || 1-2
- Cobblestone: 5-16 (F3)
- Train: 16-8 (BIG)
- Mirage: 16-19 (F3)
- Tricked Esport vs. GODSENT || 2-1
- Cobblestone: 11-16 (GOD)
- Mirage: 16-10 (Tricked)
- Train: 16-6 (Tricked)
- Heroic vs. Epsilon Esports || 2-0
- Mirage: 16-13 (Heroic)
- Nuke: 19-15 (Heroic)
Upper Bracket: Round Two
- G2 Esports vs. FlipSid3 Tactics || 2-0
- Nuke: 16-12 (G2)
- Cache: 16-8 (G2)
- Fnatic vs. mousesports || 2-1
- Mirage: 16-10 (FNC)
- Cache: 12-16 (mouz)
- Overpass: 16-6 (FNC)
- Natus Vincere vs. Tricked Esport || 2-0
- Nuke: 16-7 (Na`Vi)
- Mirage: 16-9 (Na`Vi)
- Team EnVyUs vs. Heroic || 1-2
- Dust II: 16-13 (nV)
- Mirage: 7-13 (Heroic)
- Train: 18-22 (Heroic)
Upper Bracket: Round Three
- G2 Esports vs. Fnatic || 0-2
- Train: 6-16 (FNC)
- Cache: 12-16 (FNC)
Lower Bracket: Round One
- mousesports vs. GODSENT || 2-1
- Cobblestone: 15-19 (GOD)
- Nuke: 16-9 (mouz)
- Cache: 16-3 (mouz)
- FlipSid3 Tactics vs. Epsilon Esports || 1-2
- Cache: 8-16 (Epsilon)
- Nuke: 16-12 (F3)
- Cobblestone: 9-16 (Epsilon)
- Team EnVyUs vs. BIG || 2-1
- Cobblestone: 6-16 (BIG)
- Nuke: 16-14 (nV)
- Dust II: 16-12 (nV)
Tomorrow’s matches will begin at 3 p.m. CET (9 a.m. EST) and will feature Na`Vi against Heroic in the winner’s qualifier for Katowice. Other matches include mousesports versus Epsilon Esports and Team EnVyUs taking on Tricked Esport in the lower bracket quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the North American closed qualifier commenced with four teams battling it out for a chance to qualify for IEM Katowice and represent the region alongside OpTic Gaming and Cloud9. The teams competing in the qualifier were Counter Logic Gaming, Immortals, Misfits, and Team Liquid. This qualifier marked the first appearance of Peter “stanislaw” Jarguz as the in-game leader for Team Liquid, while Immortals had Lincoln “fnx” Lau on their roster.
Upper Bracket: Semifinals
- Team Liquid vs. Misfits || 2-0
- Overpass: 16-8 (TL)
- Cache: 16-9 (TL)
- Counter Logic Gaming vs. Immortals || 0-2
- Train: 8-16 (IMT)
- Cobblestone: 5-16 (IMT)
Upper Bracket: Finals
- Team Liquid vs. Immortals || 1-2
- Cobblestone: 16-14 (TL)
- Overpass: 2-16 (IMT)
- Cache: 2-16 (IMT)
Lower Bracket: Semifinals
- Misfits vs. Counter Logic Gaming || 2-0
- Cache: 16-14 (MSF)
- Train: 16-11 (MSF)
Lower Bracket: Finals
- Team Liquid vs. Misfits || 2-0
- Cobblestone: 16-4 (TL)
- Mirage: 16-8 (TL)
The grand finals between Team Liquid and Immortals are set to take place at 3 p.m. EST. Since Immortals have already defeated Liquid in the qualifier, Liquid must win two best-of-three matches to secure their qualification, while Immortals only need to win one.
Who do you think will qualify? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @GAMURScom.