Two of the teams that underperformed at the 2022 edition of IEM Cologne got their revenge yesterday in Germany.
Both Heroic and ENCE were eliminated in the group stage last year, but this time around the two teams looks a lot stronger. ENCE, who ended the first part of the season with a win in Dallas, won their upper semi-final against Fnatic by 2-0 after some stellar T-side rounds during the match. On Overpass Guy ‘NertZ’ Iluz made a stronghold that was good enough for ENCE to carry them to a 16-13 win, while SunPayus and Maden edged out Fnatic on Nuke with a similar stellar showing.
We're coming to the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. pic.twitter.com/254FSourNk
— HEROIC (@heroicgg) July 30, 2023
In the other upper semi-final of the group, Heroic was tasked with playing the Quarter-Finalists from the Paris Major in Monte. In both maps Martin ‘stavn’ Lund came alive, especially on Heroic’s CT sides. The talented Dane delivered an impressive 2.01 rating as a CT throughout the match, which was evenly fought with both teams winning their CT sides on both Mirage and Overpass. Heroic won 16-14, 16-11 to qualify for the playoffs in Cologne.
Heroic and ENCE will face each other in the group final of Group A to determine who will secure a spot in the semi-finals. The match will be played Tuesday evening.
2023 will be the FIRST time ??@SnappiCSGO enters the Cathedral of Counter-Strike.
Having made a few attempts in the past, @ENCE are the first team confirmed for the LANXESS Arena ?#IEM pic.twitter.com/E9tbZ053GL
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) July 30, 2023
