Eternal Fire secured their spot in the group stage of IEM Katowice 2024 by defeating Rebels 2-0 (13-4, 13-9).
Despite an earlier upset against Cloud9, Rebels faced challenges in maintaining their intensity against the Turkish team.
On Inferno, Eternal Fire dominated the first half with a 9-3 lead, showcasing their prowess in breaking down Rebels’ defence.
Despite Rebels’ efforts to respond after the switch, Eternal Fire secured the map with a force-buy and consecutive rounds.
Mirage saw a similar story, with Eternal Fire’s ?zg��r “woxic” Eker leading the charge, bringing the team to match point on the T side.
Rebels attempted a comeback, but it was too little, too late, as Eternal Fire sealed the victory after a timeout.
Engin “MAJ3R” K��peli expressed his team’s ambition to be a tier-one team, attributing fatigue to their struggles in closing out Mirage.
.@eternalfiregg advance to the GROUP STAGE of #IEM Katowice 2024!
They do so after defeating @RebelsGaming with a clean 2-0
pic.twitter.com/EunNHIh87m
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) January 31, 2024
In another Play-In match, Heroic advanced to the group stage by overcoming BIG 2-1 (13-8, 7-13, 13-7).
The series included the teams trading wins on each of their map picks, leading to an Anubis decider.
BIG initially held a 6-0 lead but faltered in advantageous situations, allowing Heroic to take control and secure a 13-7 victory.
Heroic, previously underestimated after a disappointing showing at BLAST Premier Spring Groups, capitalized on BIG’s mistakes and showcased resilience.
Nico “nicoodoz” Tamjidi played a crucial role in Heroic’s early success, dominating BIG on Nuke.
After BIG performed well and levelled the series on Vertigo, Heroic made a comeback on Anubis.
They flipped the script and secured 13 of 14 rounds, including a ten-round streak, to claim the decider 13-7.
With this result, Heroic advanced to the main event of IEM Katowice, while BIG dropped to the lower bracket, where they will face the winner of FURIA vs Apeks for another chance to qualify for the group stage.
.@heroicgg take down @BIGCLANgg 2-1 to advance to the #IEM Katowice 2024 Group Stage!
13-8 Nuke
7-13 Vertigo
13-7 Anubis pic.twitter.com/AZA1S2DW0E— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) January 31, 2024
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The Spanish esports organization was founded by Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, who also doubles as the President of the franchise.? ?The announcement was made via a press release posted on the official website of the Spanish esports franchise.?
?��Rebels Gaming will be part of the League of Legends Superliga from 2023,�� the announcement read.? ?
��LVP (GRUP MEDIAPRO) has selected the candidacy of the team owned by David De Gea, a Spanish footballer who plays for Manchester United, after an accession process that was opened in the month of September to occupy the place left by G2 Arctic.��?
[Confirmed] Rebels Gaming will play from 2023 in the #SuperligaLoL
.
We are in the top national League of Legends competition.
https://t.co/xK9W7JHS2w#BeRebels pic.twitter.com/ODOFpMLXhO
— Rebels Gaming EN
(@RebelsGamingEN) October 31, 2022
?De Gea expressed his excitement about the news, describing it as an important step in the franchise��s strategy for steady growth. He stated that it was a natural expectation owing to the organization��s presence in the top-tier Valorant Regional League.?
?��We are delighted that Rebels Gaming is joining the League of Legends Superliga. It is an important step for the club��s strategy,�� De Gea said.?
?��We were already in the biggest VALORANT regional league and being part of the League of Legends one was a natural step for the club. We arrive to work hard and earn our spot on the scene.��?
?The Chief Executive Officer of LVP, Jordi Soler, also commented on Rebels Gaming’s acceptance into the league. He welcomed the franchise to the league and also commended the other applicants who were not selected.? ?
��We welcome Rebels Gaming to the League of Legends Superliga,�� Soler said.? ?
��They have a value proposal and a medium and long-term plan, from an economic, sports, communication and content point of view, which will surely help the Superliga to reach the next level. From LVP, we thank the rest of the clubs that have submitted their candidacy to be part of the most prestigious eSports competition in the country.”?
?The franchise will be taking over the slot left open by G2 Arctic, who recently disbanded their team and quit the league. Rebels’ bid was said to be the highest-valued in the selection process.?
?The franchise will compete for the league title with the Giants Gaming, Movistar Riders, Universidad Cat��lica San Antonio de Murcia Tokiers (UCAM), Bar?a eSports, Fnatic Team Queso, Team Heretics, Fi Network KOI, BISONS ECLUB, and Guasones.?
In contrast to other footballer-owned organizations, which typically focus on FIFA and other football games, Rebels Gaming��s path was a different one. The Spanish esports organization fields active rosters competing in various esports titles such as League of Legends, Valorant, and Rainbow Six.
?De Gea, who is a gaming enthusiast in his leisure time off the field, launched Rebels Gaming in November 2021. He has received a lot of encouragement from current and former Manchester United colleagues with his endeavors in the esports scene.
Juan Mata, a former player for Man United, and Bruno Fernandez, a current teammate of De Gea, have both been vocal advocates of the company.? ?Mata and Fernandez officially acquired shares in Rebels Gaming in October 2022.
In 2022, Rebels Gaming struck a deal with Razer and unveiled their new headquarters in Madrid, featuring a cutting-edge complex for players to train, play, and socialize.
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