【】

AVANGAR and Vitality have moved into the 2-1 pool in the New Challengers Stage at IEM Katowice after defeating G2 and Vega Squadron, respectively.

On Overpass, G2 battled it out against AVANGAR, who picked up a quick 3-0 lead as Terrorists. The French side looked set to win their first in the next round, but Bektiyar "⁠fitch⁠" Bahytov countered them with a quad-kill which included a 1v2 clutch.

G2 then bagged their first round, but they were immediately reset by AVANGAR, who strolled to a 7-1 lead without much effort. Things were starting to look awkward for the French side, but a late resurgence saw them pick up three more rounds before the break.

AVANGAR are one victory away from qualifying for the next stage at IEM Katowice

G2 came into the second half with all guns blazing, stringing four rounds together to reduce the deficit to 8-11. Their efforts were in vain, however, as AVANGAR tightened up their defense from that moment, losing just two more rounds before sealing the deal at 16-10.

IEM Katowice 2019 Challengers StageBest of 1 G2Matchpage 10 16 14th February 2019 AVANGAR 10Overpass 16

G2	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Richard 'shox' Papillonshox	21 - 18	+3	94.8	1.23
Lucas 'Lucky' ChastangLucky	14 - 14	0	54.3	0.87
Kenny 'kennyS' SchrubkennyS	13 - 19	-6	60.2	0.84
Alexandre 'bodyy' Pianarobodyy	9 - 20	-11	48.0	0.63
Audric 'JACKZ' JugJACKZ	8 - 21	-13	37.5	0.46

AVANGAR	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Timur 'buster' Tulepovbuster	27 - 12	+15	105.4	1.78
Bektiyar 'fitch' Bahytovfitch	22 - 14	+8	83.1	1.39
Dzhami 'Jame' AliJame	13 - 8	+5	55.6	1.17
Alexey 'Qikert' GolubevQikert	17 - 13	+4	75.0	1.15
Aidyn 'KrizzeN' TurlybekovKrizzeN	13 - 18	-5	62.7	0.98

The match between Vitality and Vega Squadron was also played on Overpass, where doubles from Dan "⁠apEX⁠" Madesclaire and Alex "⁠ALEX⁠" McMeekin helped the Frenchmen to win their CT pistol. Nathan "⁠NBK-⁠" Schmitt's men remained in control from that point, constantly shutting down their opponents to pick up a crushing 14-1 half-time lead.

In the second half, Vitality refused to take their foot off the gas, and, after winning a flawless pistol, they quickly put the game to bed, with NBK- topping the scoreboard with a 2.31 rating.

IEM Katowice 2019 Challengers StageBest of 1 VitalityMatchpage 16 1 14th February 2019 Vega Squadron 16Overpass 1

Vitality	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Nathan 'NBK-' SchmittNBK-	23 - 3	+20	131.4	2.31
Mathieu 'ZywOo' HerbautZywOo	17 - 4	+13	86.9	1.74
Alex 'ALEX' McMeekinALEX	17 - 5	+12	100.8	1.65
Dan 'apEX' MadesclaireapEX	13 - 6	+7	82.2	1.59
Cédric 'RpK' GuipouyRpK	13 - 5	+8	84.3	1.36

Vega Squadron	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Anton 'tonyblack' Kolesnikovtonyblack	6 - 17	-11	35.8	0.33
Igor 'crush' Shevchenkocrush	3 - 16	-13	34.5	0.32
Leonid 'chopper' Vishnyakovchopper	5 - 16	-11	40.6	0.32
Dmitriy 'jR' ChervakjR	6 - 17	-11	47.9	0.31
Pavel 'hutji' Lashkovhutji	3 - 17	-14	45.8	0.21

The New Challengers stage 2W - 0L TYLOO NRG ENCE Renegades 2W - 1L Vitality AVANGAR 1W - 1L Ninjas in Pyjamas Winstrike ViCi Cloud9 1W - 2L G2 Vega Squadron 0W - 2L Grayhound Spirit fnatic FURIA Nathan 'NBK-' Schmitt Age: 24 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.05 Maps played: 1471 KPR: 0.71 DPR: 0.66 AVANGAR #18 Bektiyar 'fitch' BahytovTimur 'buster' TulepovAidyn 'KrizzeN' TurlybekovAlexey 'Qikert' GolubevDzhami 'Jame' Ali Bektiyar 'fitch' Bahytov Age: 26 Team: AVANGAR Rating 1.0: 1.00 Maps played: 465 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.71 Vega Squadron #53 Anton 'tonyblack' KolesnikovLeonid 'chopper' VishnyakovDmitriy 'jR' ChervakPavel 'hutji' LashkovIgor 'crush' Shevchenko Alex 'ALEX' McMeekin Age: 23 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.02 Maps played: 702 KPR: 0.72 DPR: 0.72 Dan 'apEX' Madesclaire Age: 25 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.06 Maps played: 1305 KPR: 0.75 DPR: 0.71 Vitality #15 Nathan 'NBK-' SchmittCédric 'RpK' GuipouyDan 'apEX' MadesclaireAlex 'ALEX' McMeekinMathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut G2 #19 Audric 'JACKZ' JugRichard 'shox' PapillonKenny 'kennyS' SchrubAlexandre 'bodyy' PianaroLucas 'Lucky' Chastang