Cloud9 eliminate Complexity from IEM Dallas

The Russian-majority squad will face FaZe in an RMR last chance qualifier rematch in a bid to make the playoffs in Texas.

Cloud9 live to fight another day at IEM Dallas after besting Complexity in a hard-fought three-map affair in the Group B lower bracket semi-final, striking first on Inferno (16-12) before being given a bloody nose and conceding defeat on Ancient (13-16) after a stellar 1.56-rated performance from stand-in Aran "⁠Sonic⁠" Groesbeek.

The Russian-majority lineup stabilized in time for the Overpass decider, however, where they bullied their way to a commanding victory (16-2) to send the last North American representatives at IEM Dallas home in 9-12th place.

Date	Matches
IEM Dallas 2023
01/06/2023	FaZe 01:00 Cloud9	Match

Cloud9 now advance to the Group B lower bracket final in Texas, where they will duke it out versus FaZe at 01:00 for a chance to make the IEM Dallas playoffs. The two teams last met in the BLAST.tv Paris Major Europe RMR last chance qualifier in April, where Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen and company prevailed, 2-0, to force the Russian-majority squad to watch the $1.25 million spectacle in France from the sidelines.

Cloud9 and Complexity, whose fixture was occupying the B stream, began their do-or-die bout on Inferno, where it took a server-leading performance from Sergey "⁠Ax1Le⁠" Rykhtorov for his side to remain competitive. The Russian added 14 frags to his tally by the interval, holding the line just long enough for his teammates to come online and allow the reigning IEM Dallas champions to trail by just one round at the side swap.

Any chance of Complexity maintaining this slender lead quickly dissipated at the outset of the second half. The Russians, spearheaded by continued fragging output from Ax1Le, brushed aside the North American's resistance with ease, quickly racking up the nine rounds they needed and only allowing Complexity four rounds of their own en route to a 16-12 showing.

Complexity refused to bow out without a fight despite losing the opener. Sonic, who was flown in as a last-minute replacement for Håkon "⁠hallzerk⁠" Fjærli, proved to be a key piece in helping his team keep Cloud9 under wraps, leading by example with 14 kills to his name to hold the Russians to a narrow one-round lead at the half.

This stellar performance from Sonic only grew ever more potent once Complexity made their way to the T-side, with the North American roster dominating the Russians at every turn. The South African sniper, who ended the map with 32 kills and a 1.56 rating, cracked open bombsites and gunned Cloud9 down players round after round, allowing Complexity to pull off victory on Ancient, 16-13, and equalize the series in the process.

Alas, this eyebrow-raising victory ultimately lacked the legs to carry over to the Overpass decider. A stalwart CT-side from Cloud9 kept Complexity out of the conversation for the vast majority of the opening exchanges, giving way to a colossal 8-0 lead in favor of the Russian outfit midway through the first half. Complexity were able to show signs of life with a handful of rounds, but even these did little to stop Cloud9 from sprinting to a commanding 13-2 lead at the side swap; the Russians again owing a large amount of thanks to Ax1Le, who topped the charts with a 19-8 K-D showing.

With the wind in their sails, Cloud9 wasted no time in cruising to victory once on the T-side, going on to pick up the three rounds they needed with few issues to advance to the Group B lower bracket final in Dallas and send Complexity packing in 9-12th place.