Deadspin | BetBoom Team, B8 move into Stage 2 at IEM Cologne Major

A backlit keyboard is a part of the gear on-line online game streamer Jordan Woodruff makes use of in his Gilbert dwelling.

Jordan Woodruff

BetBoom Group and B8 grew to become the primary two groups to advance out of Stage 1 of the Intel Excessive Masters Cologne Main on Wednesday in Germany.

In matchups of groups that started the day with 2-0 information, BetBoom Group swept GamerLegion 2-0, and B8 defeated M80 2-0, capping the collection with a triple-overtime victory.

The day additionally featured the primary two elimination matches, with TYLOO ousting SINNERS Esports 2-0 and HEROIC trouncing Gaimin Gladiators 2-0.

The 32-team, $1.25 million Counter-Strike: World Offensive occasion is beginning with a 16-team opening stage that includes Swiss System play. Matches encompass a single map besides these that can decide elimination or development, which will likely be best-of-three.

The highest eight groups from Stage 1 advance to Stage 2, the place they are going to be joined by FUT Esports, Group Spirit, Astralis, G2 Esports, Legacy, paiN Gaming, Monte and 9z Group.

Stage 2 will comply with the identical format as Stage 1. The highest eight groups will transfer on to Stage 3, the place they are going to be joined by Group Vitality, Natus Vincere, Group Falcons, The MongolZ, PARIVISION, Aurora Gaming, FURIA and MOUZ.

All matches in Stage 3, which additionally will make use of the Swiss System format, will likely be best-of-three. The highest eight groups in Stage 3 qualify for the single-elimination playoffs. All playoff matches will likely be best-of-three till the ultimate on June 21, which will likely be best-of-five.

The championship staff will obtain $500,000, and the runner-up will get $170,000.

On Wednesday, BetBoom Group blitzed GamerLegion 13-2 on Nuke, 13-8 on Historical. Timur “FL4MUS” Marev led the all-Russian victors with 35 kills and a plus-14 kill-death differential. Poland’s Milan “hypex” Polowiec posted 28 kills and a plus-3 Okay-D differential for GamerLegion.

B8 slipped previous M80 13-11 on Historical earlier than incomes a marathon 22-20 win on Inferno. Alexey “alex666” Yarmoshchuk paced all-Ukrainian B8 with 52 kills and a plus-10 Okay-D differential. America’ Mason “Lake” Sanderson registered 54 kills and a plus-10 Okay-D differential for M80.

TYLOO labored time beyond regulation for a 16-14 win over SINNERS on Historical earlier than wrapping up the collection with a 13-10 triumph on Inferno. Su “Zero” Jingshen propelled all-Chinese language TYLOO with 43 kills and a plus-9 Okay-D differential. Romania’s Madalin-Andrei “MoDo” Mirea notched 41 kills and a plus-12 Okay-D differential for SINNERS.

HEROIC thrashed Gaimin Gladiators 13-5 on Mud II, 13-6 on Inferno. Sweden’s Linus “nilo” Bergman amassed 36 kills and a plus-13 Okay-D differential for HEROIC. Brazil’s Henrique “HEN1” Teles logged 26 kills and a plus-2 Okay-D differential for Gaimin Gladiators.

In matches that includes groups that started the day with 1-1 information, NRG nipped FlyQuest 13-10 on Mirage, Lynn Imaginative and prescient Gaming blasted Sports activities Esports 13-5 on Overpass, MIBR dealt with Group Liquid 13-10 on Mirage, and BIG bested THUNDERdOWNUNDER 13-7 on Inferno.

The Thursday schedule:

Excessive matches (groups with 2-1 information)

–GamerLegion vs. BIG

–Lynn Imaginative and prescient Gaming vs. MIBR

–M80 vs. NRG

Low matches (groups with 1-2 information)

–THUNDERdOWNUNDER vs. FlyQuest

–TYLOO vs. Sharks Esports

–Group Liquid vs. HEROIC

Intel Excessive Masters Cologne Main Stage 1 standings

T1. B8, 3-0 (superior)

T1. BetBoom Group, 3-0 (superior)