Renegades qualify for IEM Katowice 2020

Event favourites Renegades have taken out the IEM Katowice 2020 Oceanic Qualifier claiming a 3-1 victory over ‘team’ (formerly ex-Genuine Gaming) in a nail-biting three days of competition. It was a qualifier of firsts, with many teams debuting their new rosters this week after numerous off-season changes.

In a rematch of the Dreamhack Masters Malmo qualifier, it was the Grayhound-turned-Renegades core, together with debutant Jordan “Hatz” Bajic, who booked their tickets to Poland in February. Joshua “INS” Potter (9 maps, 1.29 rating, +45 K/D, 21 avg. kills) was the standout for the top squad, while returning Oceanic journeyman and new ORDER trial Ricardo “Rickeh” Mulholland (9 maps, 1.21 rating, 87.8 ADR) got down to business immediately in his first official event following his return to Australia.

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It was an impressive finish from ex-Genuine who recovered from their opening series loss to ORDER to defeat PC419, Paradox Gaming & Avant Gaming on their way to victory in the winner bracket final rematch against ORDER.

Renegades began the final with a one map advantage as the upper bracket winner, but ‘team’ were looking to even the scoreline immediately on Train with a fast three rounds before Renegades hit back. At 4-4 ex-Genuine upped the pace, and led by Hugh “stat” Anderson (25-18, 87 ADR, 1.26) & Chris “Jinxx” Mosley (26-19, 85 ADR, 1.21), put on five straight to finish ahead 9-6 at the half.

Renegades would claim two gun rounds but ex-Genuine shot even further ahead, locking in six match points at 15-8. Despite a leading effort from INS (31-18, 115 ADR, 1.71) and a reversion to defaults that saw Renegades go six rounds straight, ex-Genuine held out to claim Train 16-14 and tie up the series early.

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Their form continued heading into the T side of Dust 2 as Skull (23-19, 69 ADR, 1.03) saw ex-Genuine jump to a 5-0 lead. Once again Renegades responded – first through Hatz (17-18, 67 ADR, 0.93) anchoring the B site anchor, then through Simon “Sico” Williams (24-17, 83 ADR, 1.30) with the AWP on A – finishing the half with an 8-2 lead.

Finding the force buy win in the second half, Renegades capitalised on default takes to leap ahead at 14-9. Ex-Genuine broke Renegades’ default and threatened a comeback but INS (21-20, 92 ADR, 1.20) & Christopher “dexter” Nong (20-17, 68 ADR, 1.06) finished Dust 2 16-12 and secured a 2-1 lead going into Inferno.

The early CT defence from Renegades was impenetrable with Sico (30-15, 109 ADR, 1.76) landing early multikill rounds as the favourites sprinted to a 6-0 lead. Ex-Genuine switched back to aggression, finding immediate and continued success to string together six of their own to stay in the hunt, down by one at the change.

Sico secured the second pistol for Renegades on T side as dexter (24-18, 80 ADR, 1.19) kept changing up, but ex-Genuine refused to go down without a fight. Breaking back and resetting Renegades’ economy, ex-Genuine looked to recover the map but were broken right back at 10-11, with Renegades eventually taking out the final 16-12 and 3-1.

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IEM Katowice 2020 is the first premier event of the year and kicks off February 25 with $500,000 USD in prize pool and all-important ESL Pro Tour qualification points up for grabs.

IEM Katowice - Oceanic Qualifier Results:

• 1st: Renegades
• 2nd: team (ex-Genuine Gaming)
• 3rd: ORDER
• 4th: Avant Gaming
• 5th-6th: Airborne Esports Club
• 5th-6th: Paradox Gaming
• 7th-8th: Ground Zero Gaming
• 7th-8th: PC419

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Credits:

• Written by Nicholas Taifalos
  
• Edited by Adam Taylor‍