Play-off level play-ins

You know that phrase, "the calm before the storm"?

The IEM Katowice play-ins were like that, except instead of calm, it was the storm. The storm before the storm.

Let's start with the losers - and the biggest of those were Cloud9 and fnatic. Losing to OG is disappointing for the Swedes, but not as disappointing as losing a best of three to MIBR, 0-2. You can't even blame the new kid, as he topfragged vs the Brazilians, while KRiMZ and Golden stunk the place out.

Speaking of 'losing to OG and not being able to blame the new kid', Cloud9 did just that. xeppaa did his best to carry the lifeless bodies of floppy and ALEX in that game, but they got torn apart by... NBK. In 2021. You let NBK 30 bomb you. In 2021.

Cloud9 ended up missing out on Katowice because of that, and the Colossus' start to life hasn't gone to plan. With ALEX on the AWP looking... well, they let NBK 30 bomb them, so either his AWPing or his IGLing isn't very good. They should maybe use some of that money they have to replace woxic.

On the positive side, Spirit have gathered plaudits for their buccaneering style as they swashbuckled into the main event, pinning online kings BIG to the wall in the process. NiP continued their impressive form by besting VP, who also ended up qualifying as they smacked Renegades.

Liquid, OG (who beat Cloud9), mousesports with their new roster, BIG and Gambit joined those three at the main event.