The review of Intel Extreme Masters XIII — Chicago

The championship in Chicago has come to the end and the time has come to make a conclusion.

The teams-losers

MVP PK

The Korean team MVP PK became one of the first teams, which was eliminated from the competition. This participant was initially on the list of the underdogs and such turn of events was not a surprise for viewers. In the first match, MVP PK faced the main favorite of the competition, Astralis. The match was finished with a score 16-8 and the Koreans had to step down to the lower bracket where they were unlucky to play against NRG eSports in the elimination match. Unfortunately, this match was the last for the Koreans at the tournament. NRG beat the opponents with a score 16-10 and MVP PK placed 13th-16th as a result and earned a consolation prize in the sum of $4,000.

Renegades

The Australians Renegades haven’t been able to show decent results for a long time. Their victory at Asia Minor Championship - London 2018 can be called the last good performance. Due to Renegades’ bad gaming shape, a small number of people expected a success from the Australian team. RNG played against MIBR in the first match where lost with a score 12-16. Having stepped down to the lower bracket, they had to face Team LDLC where were not able to resist the pressure of the French opponents. As a result, Renegades were defeated with a score 1-2 and finished their participation in Intel Extreme Masters — Chicago on the 13th-16th place. The Australians earned a money prize in the sum of $4,000 for their efforts.

AVANGAR

We can say for sure as who the players of AVANGAR have come to the tournament. It’s difficult to call them underdogs but they are not favorites too. They placed 3rd-4th at the recent EPICENTER 2018 and received a money prize in the sum of $20,000 for their efforts. In the first match, AVANGAR faced mousesports and managed to win only five rounds in a bo1 match. The Kazakhs were not able to resist the pressure in the next match, which was played against Luminosity Gaming, and lost with a score 2-0. The team was one of the first to be eliminated from the tournament and earned a consolation prize in the sum of $4,000.

Natus Vincere

Natus Vincere is the main disappointment of Intel Extreme Masters — Chicago, which has come to the championship as one of the obvious favorites. Na’Vi achieved victory at BLAST Pro Series a few days ago and many people expected that the team would enter the top eight in Chicago, at least. In the first match, Natus Vincere played against eUnited and were defeated with a score 6-16 and they lost with a score 0-2 in the second match against BIG. Despite all expectations, Na’Vi has held the 13th-16th place and left the tournament one of the first. They earned a consolation prize in the sum of $4,000 for the participation in the tournament.

MIBR

The second place at BLAST Pro Series Istanbul 2018 was MIBR’s last good result. The Brazilians had received a money prize in the sum of $50,000 for that performance, however, more than a month has passed since then and the gaming shape hasn’t been able to please viewers. Despite this, the expectations from MIBR’s performance at IEM Chicago had been much higher than we saw as a result. The majority of viewers supposed to see the Brazilian roster in the top eight but this didn’t happen. MIBR faced Renegades in the first match where beat the Australians with a score 16-12. The Brazilians played the second match of the upper bracket against FaZe Clan and, having won a map, lost with a score 1-2. In the lower bracket, they were waited by the Americans from NRG eSports, who became the last opponents of MIBR at the tournament. Despite all expectations, the Brazilian roster held the 9th-12th place and received a money prize in the sum of $5,000 as a reward.

North

What North can be said is that they haven’t been on the list of favorites of the tournament. After the victory at DreamHack Stockholm 2018, the team can’t focus and show a good result. They placed 5th-8th at the recently finished StarSeries Season 6, having earned $10,000. At IEM Chicago, NRG eSports was the first opponent, which was overcome without an effort by the Danes. There, they achieved victory with a score 16-10. They faced their compatriots and the best team in the world, Astralis, in the second match. There, they managed to win 9 rounds in two matches and stepped down to the lower bracket to play against Team LDLC. The French prevailed over North with a score 2-1 and continued their participation in the tournament but North stopped on the 9th-12th place, having earned a money prize in the sum of $5,000 for their efforts.

BIG

After BIG’s relatively good performance at cs_summit 3 where they had held the 3rd place, we expected to see BIG in the playoffs, especially considering that they eliminated Na’Vi almost at the beginning of the tournament. However, BIG was not able to reach the top six. In the first match, they lost to Fnatic with a score 9-16. Having stepped down to the lower bracket, the Germans managed to beat Natus Vincere with a score 2-0 but they were not able to oppose mousesports, having lost to them with a score 0-2. The 9th-12th place and a money prize in the sum of $5,000 became the German team’s result.

eUnited

eUnited played not totally successful but the fact that they had managed to perform better than Natus Vincere and AVANGAR became a surprise for many viewers. The Americans defeated Natus Vincere in the first match and in the second match, which was hosted against Fnatic, they lost with a score 0-2. Having stepped down to the lower bracket, eUnited faced Luminosity Gaming and, not having shown a decent resistance, lost to the Brazilians with a score 0-2. As a result, eUnited placed 9th-12th and earned a money prize in the sum of $5,000.

NRG eSports

NRG eSports almost made it to the playoffs. In the first match against North, they lost with a score 10-16 and stepped down to the lower bracket. There, they faced MVP PK and MIBR and beat the first and the second with a score 2-1. NRG was weaker in the elimination match against Team LDLC and lost with a score 1-2. Such turn of events became a surprise, especially considering the fact that NRG had become a champion at the recently finished cs_summit 3. As a result, NRG got to the 7th-8th place, for which they received a monetary reward in the sum of $6,000.

Luminosity Gaming

Despite the Brazilians were not able to enter the top six and to take part in the distribution of the major part of the prize pool but they exceeded all expectations of those who followed IEM Chicago 2018. Their way started in the match against Liquid in Group B where LG were defeated with a score 11-16. In the lower bracket, they eliminated AVANGAR and eUnited from the competition with a score 2-0 and they were not able to beat the opponent, which separated the Brazilians from the playoff stage. mousesports achieved victory over Luminosity Gaming with a score 2-0 and LG, in turn, held the 7th-8th place and received a consolation prize in the sum of $6,000.

The teams-winners

mousesports

Due to such teams as Astralis, Liquid, Fnatic, FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, NRG eSports, and others participated in Intel Extreme Masters — Chicago 2018, the majority of viewers was skeptical about an advancement of mousesports to the playoffs. mousesports prevailed over AVANGAR in the first match but they were not able to beat the opponents in the next match against Team Liquid. In the lower bracket, the Europeans had to fight through such opponents as BIG and Luminosity Gaming, having beaten both of them with a score 2-0.

In the playoff stage, mousesports were unlucky and they faced the Danish CS:GO titan in the face of Astralis. There, the European team was defeated with a score 0-2. As a result, chrisJ with his team placed 5th-6th and earned a money prize in the sum of $10,000. Recently, mousesports have made replacements on their roster and, according to the team’s results at this championship, the replacements have become useful for the team.

Team LDLC

The French surprised everyone with their play. Many expected that this team would place 13th-16th or 9th-12th, however, they didn’t just make it to the final of the lower bracket of the group stage but advanced to the final stage of the championship. In the first match, LDLC almost beat FaZe Clan, having lost with a score 14-16. In the next match against Renegades, the French achieved a tough victory with a score 2-1, after which defeated their opponents from North with the same score. In the decider match, LDLC faced NRG eSports and when the majority of viewers thought that the victory would be achieved by the Americans, LDLC managed to surprise everyone, having beaten NRG with a score 2-1.

In the quarterfinal of the playoff stage, they faced one of the strongest teams in the world, Team Liquid, and showed a decent game. They beat the Americans with a score 16-11 on de_overpass but they were close to the victory on de_cache and won 14 rounds. On the decisive de_mirage, the French were morally crushed and prevailed only in four rounds. LDLC entered the top six, having held the 5th-6th place, and earned a money prize in the sum of $10,000. If the team continues playing in such a tempo, it will be able to become the best French CS:GO roster after a while.

FaZe Clan

It was unclear what to expect from FaZe Clan but their result didn’t disappoint fans of the tag. The Europeans beat Team LDLC with a score 16-14 in the first match, after which coped with the Brazilian opponents from MIBR. There, they achieved victory with a score 2-1. In the final match of the group stage, the Danes from Astralis face FaZe. The match was not easy but FaZe defeated their opponents. The Europeans played well in the group stage and guaranteed an advancement to the semi-final of the playoff stage due to that.

They have failed in the final stage. Team Liquid was strong after they beat LDLC and achieved victory in the semi-final match against FaZe Clan. It’s worth to notice the first map was won by the European players, however, Liquid pulled themselves together and opposed seriously. FaZe Clan held the 3rd-4th place at the tournament and earned a money prize in the sum of $20,000.

Fnatic

The Swedes’ way to the success was the same as FaZe Clan’s one. The team also managed to win all matches of the group stage and finished its participation in the semi-final. In the first stage, Fnatic beat BIG, eUnited, and Team Liquid with a score 16-9, 2-0 and 2-1, respectively.

In the playoffs, Fnatic played against Astralis and lost with a score 2-1. It’s worth to notice that the match was very tough and the last map was brought to an overtime. Fnatic placed 3rd-4th and earned a money prize in the sum of $20,000 for their efforts.

Team Liquid

Team Liquid has been successfully holding their place in the top three of the world rate for a long time and their performance at IEM Chicago has shown that this achievement is well-deserved. In the group stage, Liquid beat such opponents as Luminosity Gaming and mousesports with a score 16-11 and 2-0, respectively, without an effort. In the match for an advancement to the semi-final, Liquid lost to Fnatic with a score 1-2 but this didn’t stop them from getting to the semi-final in the other way.

In the quarterfinal of the tournament, Liquid faced the players from LDLC and the Americans had to make some efforts to win the match. It’s worth to notice that Liquid was close to a loss on the second map. There, LDLC won 14 rounds and almost brought the map to an overtime. However, Liquid prevailed in the match and advanced to the semi-final where they were waited by FaZe Clan. There, the Europeans achieved victory on the first map with a score 16-7 and Liquid lost only 1 and 4 rounds on the second and the third map, respectively. Liquid started opposing strong enough in the final match against Astralis, having won 14 rounds on the first match, but their power was weaker and weaker after that. On the second and the third map, they won 7 and 4 rounds, respectively, and became the vice-champions of the tournament. Team Liquid earned a money prize in the sum of $42,000 for their efforts.

Astralis

More than a half of viewers was not surprised that the tournament was over in such a way. The remaining two strongest teams advanced to the final, according to the rate by HTV, and the victory was achieved by the players from Astralis.

In the group stage, the Danes beat MVP PK and North with a score 16-8 and 2-0, respectively. Astralis was not able to achieve victory in the match for an advancement to the semi-final against FaZe Clan and as a result, they went to the quarterfinal.

They faced mousesports there and defeated the Europeans with a score 2-0. Having advanced to the semi-final, Astralis had to stand against Fnatic and the Danes gave a good fight to the Swedes. It’s worth to notice that this match was probably the longest one at IEM Chicago 2018. As a result, Astralis prevailed with a score 2-1 and made it to the grand final. There, they faced their opponents in the face of Team Liquid and defeated them with a score 3-0 without a chance.

Astralis earned the money prize in the sum of $100,000 for the first place. This team will be brought down from the top of the world rate not soon and the team has been keeping a gaming shape in the great state to this very day.