B8 advanced to the playoffs of ESL Challenger Katowice after overcoming Eternal Fire
CS210/27 12:30

Meanwhile, in the other deciding match of the group, Monte defeated Legacy.

Eternal Fire is having difficulty in performance since a series of memorable successes at the ESL Pro League

B8 pulled off a memorable upset by defeating Eternal Fire to qualify for the ESL Challenger Katowice playoffs, winning 2-0 on the maps Mirage (13-9) and Anubis (19-17).

The remaining spot in the playoffs belongs to Monte, the team defeated Legacy with a score of 2-1. The Polish representative won on Anubis (16-13) and Ancient (13-1) but lost on Mirage (6-13).

This result completes the playoffs group, where B8 will face the highest remaining team, paiN, while Monte will face SAW.


Eternal Fire once rose to 6th place in the world rankings thanks to their runner-up performance in the ESL Pro League, but since then, the team has had difficulty maintaining their form. They were eliminated early at IEM Rio and now fail to advance to the playoffs in Katowice, losing twice to B8, leaving the Turkish team a disappointing defeat.


Engin "⁠MAJ3R⁠" Küpeli's team showed a lack of confidence in the series with B8, adopting an overly passive T-side style of play on Mirage and were easily punished. During Anubis' CT half, they were also surprised many times when defending in vulnerable positions.


B8 deserve credit for making the necessary plays to win the series, especially on Anubis, but Eternal Fire will probably feel their form has dropped a lot from their peak .


Monte faces a big challenge from Eduardo "⁠dumau⁠" Wolkmer in the group decider. The Brazilian international played excellently in the first two maps, with a rating of up to 1.71 in both matches.


However, Monte managed to win in overtime on Anubis, then was thoroughly defeated on Mirage, and entered Ancient with the situation evenly balanced. The CT round certainly helped ease the pressure, and Monte easily won the decisive match to qualify for the playoffs.