IEM Katowice New Challengers Stage Results

It’s the end of the first stage of the IEM Katowice CS: GO Major, with the games of the New Challengers Stage coming to a close. The teams that have found victory here will move on to the New Legends Stage, while the rest will have to simply watch and wonder what could have been.

One of the first major surprises to occur comes from Australian team Renegades completing the stage with a perfect 3-0 record, taking down AVANGAR, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and ENCE. Also finishing with a perfect record was North American squad NRG, who after failing to qualify for the FACEIT London Major managed to take down Winstrike Team, TYLOO, and ViCi Gaming to move onto the next stage.

They will also be joined by ENCE, Vitality, Ninjas in Pyjamas, AVANGAR, G2 Esports, and Cloud9 as they move onto the next stage. One of the biggest shocks, however, comes not from who did make the cut, but who didn’t. Swedish powerhouse Fnatic, which has competed in all 14 Major tournaments, were eliminated after losing to G2 Esports in a 1-2 elimination match-up.

In order to qualify for the next major, rumored to be the StarLadder Berlin event, Fnatic will now have to compete in the European Minor tournament, new ground for the organization. The Swedes are out of this event, along with TYLOO, ViCi Gaming, Winstrike Team, Vega Squadron, Team Spirit, and Grayhound Gaming. Attention will now turn to the New Legends stage with powerhouse teams Astralis, Team Liquid, MIBR and FaZe Clan all joining the action.