When the cat’s away, the mice will play. Or hornet. Or something like that.

IEM Atlanta ended last night, and with Vitality long gone and forgotten, many of the possible endings were exciting. That being said, we think we got the good one.

The third place decider could have been better, though.

Despite their stellar start to the event, BetBoom seemed to have let off the gas completely as Legacy stomped them in the bronze match, only losing seven rounds on their way to the podium. It’s a nice result for the Brazilians, but such a whimpering finish to an otherwise historic event for the Russians is disappointing.

With Astana already wrapped up, a late night best-of-five grand final would cap this weekend’s double header off. NAVI and GamerLegion had faced off once before in the group stage, with NAVI taking the win, but GL brought it close.

REZ was also quick to remind us what happened in the last BO5-final he played in America… and we saw the vision. This was going to be a legendary grand final.

Though, when GL lost their opening pick 13-3 - despite a blinder from the Swede - and lost map two with a whimpering second half, we started to worry.

They looked to at least come home with a consolation map win when they went up 12-7 on Nuke, but NAVI managed to bring the map into overtime, where they’d win 16-13 to lock in their second tier one trophy of 2026.

Playing at a high level all event, capped off with an excellent grand final, w0nderful took home his career first MVP award. Just 20 more to go before he fills the shoes of the man he replaced.

For GL, of course it’s a disappoint choke, but this is the first big event grand final they’ve played since the Paris Major. They’ve always been a team taking their achievements one step at a time, and now the next step is clearer than ever - win a grand final.

And whatever they’re putting in that American food (no matter how toxic) - they should keep giving it to REZ.