All four APAC squads have survived day two at the IEM Cologne Major, with all eyes on TYLOO as they took down SINNERS in the 0-2 eliminator to keep their Stage 2 hopes alive.
Unfortunately, we'll be losing an OCE representative in day three — FlyQuest will meet THUNDERdOWNUNDER at 1-2 for their first head-to-head best-of-three ever — after both failed to capitalise on hot starts in the best-of-ones.
FQ, TdU fall into local derby eliminator
Anti-eco rounds cost FlyQuest heavily on Mirage in their best-of-one against NA hopeful NRG on Wednesday, with the OCE team dumped into the 1-2 bracket following a 13-10 loss.
FQ managed a whopping seven bomb plants on their T half, but converted just one as Sonic (1.80, 27-16) and nitr0 (1.34, 16-15) took full control of the 8-4 CT half.
The OCE boys built enough momentum with their first CT buy round to string together a cohesive defense but they needed seven straight just to tie it — a feat that proved impossible as NRG adjusted to put FQ away and into elimination.
THUNDERdOWNUNDER struggled with their own anti-eco woes in their best-of-one against BIG. Once again the OCE squad was given very little chance against their favoured European opponents, but surprised early with a small lead on CT.
A lost round to pistols broke the TdU economy, and they could never build it back up — save after save kept the cash low, and a 4-2 lead flipped into a 5-7 deficit. A T pistol sparked some hope, but BIG once more took a forcebuy and never looked back, sprinting away with six of the next seven to win 13-7.
Now, the two OCE squads will lock horns for the first time — and for the loser, it'll be the end of their run in Cologne.
TYLOO escape SINNERS with back-to-back comebacks
Chinese squad TYLOO held their nerve in the opening eliminator last night, putting away spirited rookie squad SINNERS 2-0 (16-14, 13-10).
Zero (1.26, 43-34) continues to impress on the big stage for the boys in red, but it was hardly a convincing performance from TYLOO who had their backs to the rope on both Ancient and Inferno.
SINNERS led 8-4 on the opener and quickly strung together gun rounds on the CT side to open up five map points, but individual rounds from JamYoung (1.29, 23-23) and Jee (13-20, 0.74) kept TYLOO alive.
They'd go five straight to force OT where they took control; the pressure had gotten to SINNERS and they gave up key man advantages in extra time to fold 16-14.
TYLOO kept the momentum rolling into Inferno with a 5-2 lead but SINNERS locked back in, closing the half with five straight, then taking the pistol and conversion on T side.
But again as the pressure mounted, the mistakes from SINNERS re-emerged, and a more experienced TYLOO capitalised. Jee's stellar AWP (1.26, 17-12) put the finishing touches on a seven-round streak to almost shutout SINNERS' T-side 13-10.
TYLOO now books a series against Sharks in their own 1-2 matchup.
Lynn Vision confidently through to 2-1 bracket
Fellow Chinese squad Lynn Vision brought a little ACL form to their best-of-one, pummeling Brazilian squad Sharks 13-5 to sit one win away from stage two.
z4KR (2.11, 22-6) was supreme on Overpass, where Lynn Vision didn't give Sharks a chance to breathe on their CT side — the Brazilians took 11 rounds before stringing back-to-back as their economy was continually reset by LVG.
LVG dropped the second-half pistol but took the forcebuy, and from there they didn't look back. z4KR continued his rampage landing 11 kills in six rounds to close the map with ease.
LVG now has two chances to progress to stage two in Cologne, making right after their winless campaign in Budapest in 2025. Their first attempt comes against a warmed-up MIBR tonight.
