It’s only day one of IEM Cologne 2024, and we’ve already seen it all. 13:0s, 1v5s – you name it, it has happened. If the rest of the tournament continues in this vein, we’re in for quite a show.
Let’s take a look at all of the important storylines that saw lift-off on day one of the IEM Cologne 2024 Play-Ins.
degster-less Heroic condemned to Lower Bracket by MIBR
Credit: IEM on X.
In our IEM Cologne 2024 power rankings, we had an inkling that degster‘s visa situation would cost Heroic. Even with Woro2k in as a more-than-serviceable replacement, they fell 2:1 in their opener to MIBR. Heroic will be hoping their first-choice AWPer can show up mid-tournament, or else it could be a very short stay in Germany.
Take nothing away from MIBR, though. After losing the opening map, they were able to quickly bounce back to make minced meat of Heroic, with a couple of barn-burner performances from insani and saffee. For them, a clash against fellow South Americans 9z Team await, and frankly, it’s a tie they could definitely win.
Liquid keep the positive momentum
Credit: IEM on X.
I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical when Liquid ditched the cadiaN project. Especially to allow Twistzz to IGL. It’s early days, but we’re ready to eat our words. On day one in Cologne, Liquid closed out the day with a 2:0 against paiN Gaming, making the Brazilian squad look worse than they actually are. Any biguzera team is always a handful, but here, they looked ordinary.
Liquid’s new blood proved to be the heroes in this tie. Aussie jks top-fragged the series, while unproven AWPer ultimate continued to make a name for himself after an impressive start at the BLAST Fall Groups. Whisper it quietly, but Liquid looks good again. Tomorrow’s match against FURIA will be another solid test for this roster and its ceiling.
Falcons flop (again)
Credit: IEM on X.
When this Falcons roster was first put together, it was made to win. How much more patience will the organization have with a team that have become specialists in failure? Always finding new ways to lose, this time, it was Eternal Fire taking Falcons down in a 2:1 series. Admittedly, the last map went down to the final round, but it was a giga-throw from SunPayus that allowed Eternal Fire to close out the game. However, that’s not to mention this Snappi moment which he’ll want to forget in a hurry.
If Falcons aim to avoid total embarrassment at IEM Cologne 2024, a matchup against ALTERNATE aTTaX awaits. With these players, it’s a match that shouldn’t even be close. But in this form? It’s a tie we’ll be keeping a close eye on.
Here are all of the results from day one of the IEM Cologne 2024 Play-Ins:
SAW 2:1 The MongolZ
BIG 2:1 FlyQuest
9z Team 2:0 3DMAX
MIBR 2:1 Heroic
Complexity 2:0 ALTERNATE aTTaX
Eternal Fire 2:1 Falcons
FURIA 2:1 Imperial
Liquid 2:0 paiN Gaming
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