Renegades defeated Vitality in a close best-of-three series at the IEM Katowice Legends Stage today to qualify for the Champions Stage next week. Both teams traded their own map picks of Dust 2 and Cache before Renegades posted a nine-round streak to turn around Inferno.
A strong Dust 2 T-side gave Renegades the momentum on Vitality’s map pick, taking 11 rounds to four before closing out the map 16-5. Vitality were able to turn the series around on Cache after a solid CT-side performance was backed up by a masterclass on the T-side, claiming the map 16-11.
Vitality looking on track to take the series after claiming an early 7-5 T-side lead on Inferno. However, Renegades mounted a comeback spanning into their own T-side to come within two rounds of winning before Vitality were able to regain control.
Just as overtime was approaching, New Zealander Sean “Gratisfaction” Kaiwai turned around Renegades’ hopes, taking down Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and using his AWP against Vitality to secure series point. Gratisfaction posted a 1.24 rating as well as a 57-46 KDA in just his fourth series at a major tournament.
Justin “jks” Savage was the star performer for the Australian squad, dropping a 31-kill performance on Inferno, 69-42 overall KDA and numerous clutches to help Renegades make it to the next stage of the tournament.
Vitality will have one more chance to qualify for the Champions Stage tomorrow, Feb. 22.
