Renegades overcome Grayhound; qualify for IEM Katowice new challengers stage
The upper bracket final of the Asian Minor kicked off on Renegades' map pick, Inferno, where Euan "sterling" Mooreopened up the action with a triple-kill to help Grayhound win their CT pistol. After building up their economy in the fourth round, Renegades managed to secure a pair of rounds, but Grayhound immediately got back on the board with pistols and two saved AUGs.
Grayhound did not give their countrymen any room to manoeuvre and further added to their lead in the next three rounds, 7-2. That was when Joakim "jkaem" Myrbostad came up huge in a shoddy buy from Renegades, finding a triple-kill in a 2v3 situation to inspire his team to eventually bring the deficit to just two rounds. Erdenetsogt "erkaSt" Gantulga's troops went on to take a 10-5 lead, however, with the 23-year-old leading the way with 17 frags.
Despite losing the first two rounds of the half, Renegadesfound a lifeline on the map by winning the first gun round. Still, Christopher "dexter" Nong and erkaSt then turned a 2v3 situation around, and, from that moment, their opponents were helpless to stop Grayhound from taking the lead in the series, 16-6.
Renegades got off to a flying start as CTs on their opponents' map pick, Mirage, losing a single round before bagging a dominant 7-1 lead. Nevertheless, Grayhound then won their second round with a triple-kill from erkaSt in an A execution, and followed that up with two more to reduce the deficit to 4-7.
Renegades still hit eight rounds thanks to Aaron "AZR" Wardand Jay "liazz" Tregillgas shutting down a B execution well, but Grayhound did not back down and responded with a trio of rounds to reach their seventh on the board.
In the second half, Grayhound bagged their first lead of the map after winning their third pistol of the series and the subsequent anti-eco, 9-8. Renegades went on a great run, however, storming to a 14-10 lead in convincing fashion.
Grayhound denied their opponents from hitting map-point in the following round, but Renegades quickly took the series to a third map with a 1v2 clutch and a triple-kill from Sean "Gratisfaction" Kaiwai and jkaem, respectively.
Starting out as Counter-Terrorists on the decider, Cache, Renegades strung four rounds together fairly easily to take control of proceedings. Even though Ollie "Dickstacy" Tierneyand co. then replied with three successful rounds, AZR's men kept crushing them opponents until the break, 12-3.
Grayhound found a footing on the map by winning the second pistol and an anti-eco, but Renegades picked up a pair of rounds of their own to make it 14-5. Despite Renegadeseventually hitting match-point with a 1v3 clutch from AZR, Grayhound tried everything they could to stop their opponents.
It was in vain, though, as Renegades remained calm and collected, sealing the deal at 16-13 to qualify for the IEM Katowice New Challengers Stage and take home the grand prize of $30,000.
