Sprout defeated Evil Geniuses 2-0 in the IEM Katowice Play-In, advancing to the next round. Despite facing Evil Geniuses on their Ancient map, where they had previously upset Heroic, Sprout was not intimidated and dominated the match.
Refrezh and his team started strong, securing an early lead and putting pressure on Evil Geniuses. Although Evil Geniuses fought back, winning the first half 9-6, Sprout’s mid-round advantage proved decisive. Wiz, a newcomer, showed promise with his rifles and AWP but was not enough to stop Sprout from winning. Zyphon’s crucial 1vs2 in the final moments sealed the victory for Sprout, who went from a 12-14 deficit to take the map 16-14.
Evil Geniuses entered Mirage struggling after their loss on Ancient and encountered difficulties from the start. A won T-side pistol round was quickly reversed after losing to a forcebuy, allowing Sprout to take five consecutive rounds. Despite the setback, Evil Geniuses regrouped and won the first half 10-5.
Sprout relied on fast plays and individual performance to secure the victory on the second map. They brought a 6-12 deficit to a tie before Evil Geniuses could respond, ultimately winning 16-13. Sprout avoided playing the Inferno decider, where they had previously lost in overtime to OG in the IEM Katowice Play-In opener. They will now face Spirit at 11:30 for a spot in the tournament’s group stage.
Last Updated on February 3, 2023
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