G2 Conquer Faze: IEM Katowice 2023 Group A - Day 5 Recap
Katowice Day 5 brought us the remainder of the Group A games, and also saw 2 teams getting eliminated from the tournament.
Group A: Upper Bracket
Game 1: Faze vs G2
In what can only be described as the highlight match of the day, G2 took on former champions Faze in a commanding way. First map was Nuke, where G2 took an early lead in the first half, and maintained it to end the half 9-6. Faze managed to equalize in the second half at 11-11, and managed to get a 1 round lead in round 25. However, G2 took the lead back again, and an insane round from NiKo put G2 on map point. G2 won the map 16-14, with huNter top fragging with 26 kills.
Map 2 was Ancient, where Faze couldn’t manage to put up a similar fight. G2 took the first half in a dominant 10-5, and ended the game with a stellar T-side at 16-7. This time it was NiKo at the top of the table with 24 kills and a 1.48 rating.
Game 2: NaVi vs Liquid
Map 1 was Inferno, where NaVi had complete control on their own map pick. They managed to end the half 12-3 on their T-side quite assertively. Liquid could only manage 2 more rounds on their T-side as NaVi took the victory at 16-5, with the goat S1mple leading the table with 18 kills and a 1.58 rating.
Liquid managed to fight back on their pick of Anubis, where they managed to win 9 rounds on their T-side. They ended the half 9-6. However, NaVi did not take this sitting down, as they managed to get the lead and get to Map Point first in the second half. However, Liquid pushed the map into Overtime. But it was to no avail, as NaVi continued their dominant form, winning 4 rounds in a row, to win the map 19-17. This time it was the IGL electroNic stepping up with 30 kills at the top of the table.
Group A: Lower Bracket
Game 1: BIG vs Team Spirit
BIG and Team Spirit fight for survival in a 3 round feud, ending in the favor of Team Spirit. While both teams put up a good fight and won each other’s map picks (BIG won Nuke 16-10, and Team Spirit won Mirage 16-11), BIG were left scrambling on their CT-side of Anubis. Team Spirit ended the first half 13-2. Although BIG did try to fight back, it was hopeless for them as Team Spirit won the map 16-10. W0nderful absolutely destroyed the competition with 70 kills overall.
Game 2: Cloud9 vs IHC Esports
Another upset from IHC, as they eliminate Cloud9. Both sides were quite evenly matched in this game. But it was IHC who came out on top to win the series 2-0. Cloud9 managed to get the lead in Map 1 (Inferno) but IHC managed to make a comeback. IHC won 10 rounds in their CT-side to win the map 16-10. Cloud9 seemed to have lost their composure on Map 2 (Mirage), but still managed to fight back to bring the score to 14-15 in favor of IHC. But a round winning 1v2 clutch from Techno ensured the victory for IHC.
BIG and Cloud9 have been eliminated from IEM Katowice, while Team Spirit and IHC will get another shot at fighting for qualification.