Vitality through to IEM Beijing semi

Vitality won a three-map series against FaZe on Nuke (16-9), Overpass (6-16) and Inferno (16-3), to secure a berth in the IEM Beijing semi-finals.

The match between FaZe and Vitality kicked off on the former’s map pick, Nuke, and it was the European combine who took the lead on the attacking side winning the pistol round. A four-kill round by Cédric "⁠RpK⁠" Guipouy in a pistol buy put Vitality in the driver’s seat, however, as the French side went on to follow it up against a forcebuy with a triple by Richard "⁠shox⁠" Papillon. Up 4-2, it was Mathieu "⁠ZywOo⁠" Herbaut’s turn to take down three in a ramp to stop FaZe’s offensive. Two rounds later it was Dan "⁠apEX⁠" Madesclaire’s turn to show up, with a four-kill round to keep his team in a commanding lead, which ended in a 10-5 half.

Vitality won the secod pistol round, but were unable to add more rounds, losing to the second round forcebuy. As FaZe started to inch closer, 8-11, it was Alex "⁠ALEX⁠" McMeekin who had a big round with three kills as shox got two. The French side then went on to make it to 14-8 before Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač managed a 1vs2 clutch, but it was ultimately Vitality who were able to take it after a triple by RpK to get on match point cleared the way to winning map one.

Vitality are through to the semi-finals after defeating FaZe

Doubles by Håvard "⁠rain⁠" Nygaard and Helvijs "⁠broky⁠" Saukants assured a first pistol round win on the CT side of Overpass, after which they took a 3-0 lead. Vitality were then able to win on their first buy round, but FaZe instantly asserted dominance with a proper buy of their own to stay ahead. Spearheaded by broky, they went on to completely shut down Vitality, who were unable to find an opening in the defense, taking a 9-1 lead after the first ten rounds before closing the half out with an impressive 14-1 scoreline.

FaZe won the second pistol round with a double from rain followed by a triple by NiKo, but then ran into an unfavorable situation on A giving Vitality a second round. apEX clutched a 1vs2 retake on B to keep Vitality alive at 4-15, but only momentarliy as Olof "⁠olofmeister⁠" Kajbjer beat ZywOo in a 1vs1 on B to close it out, 16-6, and take it to map three.

FaZe will play EG for a spot in the playoffs

Inferno kicked off with FaZe taking the pistol round on the attacking side, but the match quickly veered as Vitality won the forcebuy with two CZ opening kills by ZywOo and a triple by ALEX with the MP9, including a 1vs2 clutch. The French team then went on to dominate the half as FaZe struggled to find openings, taking a 9-1 lead after ten rounds. It was finally on the thirteenth round with doubles by Marcelo "⁠coldzera⁠" David and rain, that FaZe were able to get a second round. Both teams then traded rounds for a 12-3 half.

An A strike by Vitality gave them the last pistol round of the series and a 13-3 lead, which they were able to follow up twice to get on match point, 15-3, facing an in-extremis forcebuy. Without much trouble, the Frenchmen were able to close the map and series, 16-3, to secure their spot in the IEM Beijing playoffs.

IEM Beijing 2019Best of 3 FaZeMatchpage 1 2 8th November 2019 Vitality 9Nuke 16 16Overpass 6 3Inferno 16

FaZe	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Marcelo 'coldzera' Davidcoldzera	52 - 45	+7	84.8	1.21
Håvard 'rain' Nygaardrain	49 - 49	0	86.6	1.13
Helvijs 'broky' Saukantsbroky	47 - 45	+2	78.6	1.04
Nikola 'NiKo' KovačNiKo	45 - 48	-3	72.8	0.97
Olof 'olofmeister' Kajbjerolofmeister	37 - 45	-8	64.6	0.93

Vitality	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Mathieu 'ZywOo' HerbautZywOo	56 - 44	+12	90.3	1.31
Cédric 'RpK' GuipouyRpK	49 - 43	+6	79.1	1.16
Richard 'shox' Papillonshox	45 - 47	-2	71.2	1.01
Alex 'ALEX' McMeekinALEX	41 - 43	-2	63.6	0.90
Dan 'apEX' MadesclaireapEX	41 - 53	-12	71.3	0.82

Marcelo 'coldzera' David Age: 25 Team: FaZe Rating 1.0: 1.19 Maps played: 1075 KPR: 0.80 DPR: 0.61 Cédric 'RpK' Guipouy Age: 30 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 0.98 Maps played: 1236 KPR: 0.67 DPR: 0.68 Vitality #5 Richard 'shox' PapillonCédric 'RpK' GuipouyDan 'apEX' MadesclaireAlex 'ALEX' McMeekinMathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut FaZe #9 Olof 'olofmeister' KajbjerNikola 'NiKo' KovačHåvard 'rain' NygaardMarcelo 'coldzera' DavidHelvijs 'broky' Saukants Olof 'olofmeister' Kajbjer Age: 27 Team: FaZe Rating 1.0: 1.08 Maps played: 1325 KPR: 0.74 DPR: 0.65 Helvijs 'broky' Saukants Age: 18 Team: FaZe Rating 1.0: 1.04 Maps played: 243 KPR: 0.69 DPR: 0.63 Mathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut Age: 18 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.30 Maps played: 538 KPR: 0.87 DPR: 0.62 Håvard 'rain' Nygaard Age: 25 Team: FaZe Rating 1.0: 1.05 Maps played: 1161 KPR: 0.73 DPR: 0.69 Alex 'ALEX' McMeekin Age: 24 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.00 Maps played: 922 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.71 Richard 'shox' Papillon Age: 27 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.10 Maps played: 1570 KPR: 0.75 DPR: 0.66 Dan 'apEX' Madesclaire Age: 26 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.04 Maps played: 1525 KPR: 0.74 DPR: 0.70 Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač Age: 22 Team: FaZe Rating 1.0: 1.17 Maps played: 1130 KPR: 0.81 DPR: 0.67