IEM Dallas Group Stage concludes

The Group Stage of the 17th edition of the Intel Extreme Masters taking place in Dallas has come to an end, with six teams progressing to the knockouts. The playoffs of the prominent CS:GO tournament will see ENCE, FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, BIG, FURIA and Cloud9. 

Some of the biggest names in Counter-Strike travelled to Dallas to battle it out for Tour points and the $100,000 main prize. Now, after a memorable Group Stage, only six teams remain.

Group A

FaZe Clan – Encore ESC – Astralis – Team Vitality – G2 – Movistar Riders – MOUZ – ENCE

The talent-rich Group A was always bound to see some major names going home and, for the second consecutive major tournament, it just wasn’t to be for Astralis and Team Vitality. After disappointment at the PGL Major Antwerp, both teams crashed out of Dallas. Both teams were eliminated by G2, who survived the lower bracket gauntlet to qualify for the knockouts.

Top seeding in the group was decided in a showdown between ENCE and Antwerp champions FaZe Clan. Despite taking the first map, FaZe couldn’t hold back their Finnish opponents, who claimed the top seeding and a bye to the semifinals.

Qualified: ENCE, FaZe Clan, G2 Esports

Group B

FURIA – Imperial Esports – Team Liquid – Cloud9 – Ninjas in Pyjamas – BIG – MIBR – Complexity 

Cloud9 redeemed themselves after their poor showing in Antwerp to qualify out of the lower bracket in Group B. After winning their opening match against Team Liquid, they were demoted to the lower bracket by FURIA. There, they cruised through Ninjas in Pyjamas and a rematch with Liquid to take the third spot in qualifying.

In the upper bracket, FURIA and BIG clashed for the top seeding. Like many teams in Dallas, both were eager to bounce back from the Antwerp Major. BIG had failed to make it out of the Legends Stage while FURIA were unceremoniously bounced in the first round of the Champions Stage by the underdog Team Spirit. In Dallas, it would be the German org that would come out on top, with BIG overcoming their Brazilian opponents.

Qualified: BIG, FURIA, Cloud9

IEM Dallas continues on June 3, as FURIA take on G2 while FaZe Clan face Cloud9. The tournament continues until the Grand Final on June 5.

Header: Michael Barera, IEM