F3 win opener in Katowice
FlipSid3 and Renegades were the two teams charged with opening the offline qualifier for the next major, ESL One Cologne 2016. By the end of the match the CIS side were victorious, 16 – 9 on Mirage, and therefore able to secure the better seed for the next round of play.
FlipSid3 got off to a great start as they were able to win their T side pistol round with an A execute and followed it up by dominating on both anti-ecos. Renegades then put a tally on their scoreboard on the first gun round, which they won cleanly in an effort to try and get themselves back in the game.
Renegades tied it up, 3 – 3, but FlipSid3 quickly retaliated by taking control of mid and overpowering the CT side to reclaim the lead. The Australian team was finally able to snatch another round on the 10th to keep it at a competitive 4 – 6, but only momentarily.
B1ad3 led his team to victory
A 2 vs. 3 after plant win by Yegor "markeloff" Markelov and Andrey "B1ad3" Gorodenskiy on the next round put the Ukranian side ahead 4 – 7, forcing Renegades on a double eco and diminishing their chances at taking the map.
While Renegades were able to close out the half by taking the last two rounds of the half, which ended 6 – 9, FlipSid3 bagged the second pistol round of the map and were able to sail smoothly to victory, 16 – 9, despite a final push by Renegades which was too little too late.