Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023: Quarterfinals – Overview & Highlights
radoslaw-davidovic
We have returned with updates about the tournament. On August 4, the Quarterfinals of the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023 were held. This article will discuss two matches and highlight the key moments from these games. We will discover which teams have advanced closer to the grand prize of $1,000,000 and an invitation to the upcoming IEM Katowice 2024.
In article you will find:
Quarterfinals of IEM Cologne 2023: Brief Overview
In the Quarterfinals, we’re focusing on four teams that have performed well in the Play-In and the Group Stage. These teams battled it out for two spots in the Semifinals of the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023, where they’ll face ENCE and G2.
The winners were moved forward, while the defeated teams left the tournament not empty-handed. Each team received $40,000 and 500 Blast Premier points. Let’s kick things off with the first two teams, Vitality and Cloud9.
Team Vitality vs Cloud9
Over the summer break, Vitality welcomed a new player, flameZ, and they have already shown impressive performance on the stage. Cloud9 has added two new players, electronic and Perfecto.
Here’s the list of map selections and bans:
- Cloud9 removed Nuke
- Vitality removed Ancient
- Cloud9 picked Mirage
- Vitality picked Inferno
- Cloud9 removed Vertigo
- Vitality removed Anubis
- Overpass was left over
Mirage
The French team started on the CT side in the first half. The initial round was intense. Cloud9 managed to plant the bomb, but the French team defused it. With a successful round, Vitality had the funds to buy weapons, smoothing the next rounds. As a result, Vitality quickly took a 5:0 lead.
In the sixth round, Cloud9 successfully planted the bomb and secured their first round. Vitality took the next round, then Cloud9 won again. This pattern continued, with both teams trading rounds, leading to the end of the first half with a 10:5 score in favor of Vitality.
The second half began with Vitality’s strong control, this time as terrorists. They swiftly claimed the first four rounds, establishing a 14:5 lead. This situation left Cloud9 with few opportunities for a comeback. Even though Cloud9 won the subsequent five rounds, Vitality secured the two necessary rounds for victory, closing the map with a 16:11 score.
Inferno
The second map was more intense for both teams. Initially, Cloud9, playing as terrorists, secured four consecutive rounds. After that, the French team took the initiative, winning five rounds. The situation was unpredictable, with each team taking turns to dominate. As a result, the first half ended with a 7:8 score.
The second half was similar to the first. Both teams fought hard for every round, leading to a series of overtimes with a final 15:15 score. Ultimately, in the series of overtimes, Vitality showed its strength and secured the map with a 19:17 score.
Heroic vs Astralis
The next match of the Quarterfinals took place between Heroic and Astralis. Many were firmly convinced of Heroic’s win because they hadn’t changed their roster during the summer break, unlike Astralis, who introduced two new players, “Staehr” and “b0RUP”. So, let’s take a look at how everything unfolded.
Here’s the list of map selections and bans:
- Astralis removed Mirage
- Heroic removed Anubis
- Astralis picked Ancient
- Heroic picked Inferno
- Astralis removed Nuke
- Heroic removed Vertigo
- Overpass was left over
Ancient
The first map was Ancient, picked by Astralis. They felt confident on this map due to their impressive track record, winning almost 90% of their last 15 matches. Heroic initiated strong attacks and managed to plant the bomb, but Astralis defused it. This scenario repeated in the first three rounds.
Afterward, Heroic adopted late timings for their plays but struggled to plant the bomb. Astralis secured the fourth round due to time running out. As in most other matches, both teams showcased their strengths, leading to back-and-forth exchanges of 1-2 rounds. The first half concluded with Astralis leading at 8:7.
Astralis dominated the second half of the map as they played as terrorists, leaving Heroic with little chance of victory. Round by round, Astralis secured seven victories and swiftly closed out the map with a score of 16:7.
Inferno
Heroic started the map as terrorists and successfully secured the pistol round, giving them an economic advantage that allowed them to take the next three rounds until Astralis regained their footing. Once this happened and Astralis had enough funds to buy weapons, the situation shifted, and the score quickly turned in Astralis’ favor at 6:5.
Taking a pause and adjusting their strategy, Heroic managed to secure three more rounds and finish the first half with an 8:7 score in their favor. When Astralis switched sides and began their attack, they drastically changed their gameplay, aggressively pushing points and swiftly taking positions. This approach helped Astralis claim the first three rounds.
Although Heroic attempted to resist, they couldn’t quite manage it, and Astralis emerged victorious in the second map with a score of 16:11. This outcome was unexpected, with a team featuring two new players defeating a roster that had remained unchanged for over a year. Astralis delivered an impressive performance.
After these games, the bracket for the next stage, Semifinals, looks as follows:
https://twitter.com/HLTVorg/status/1687556107206553600?s=20
Quarterfinals Highlights
We’ve compiled the highlights from both team matchups.
First, let’s delve into the highlights of the Team Vitality vs. Cloud9 match.
Now, let’s move on to Heroic and Astralis.
Wrapping Up The IEM Cologne 2023 Quarterfinals
The unforeseen outcomes and incredible emotions evoked by this grand event continue to compel us to follow the results of the upcoming matches closely. The Semifinals will take place on August 5, and we will finally discover the finalists of the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023.
Read our blog and stay at the heart of the action with us!
Radosław Davidović is Hellcase’s customer success manager. He enjoys blogging to share his knowledge and experience with customers.