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The final day of Stage 2 of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice event took place on Tuesday, with the final three playoff spots decided by the last six series.
GamerLegion kept their hopes alive in Katowice with a commanding 2-0 victory over Astralis (Nuke 13-7, Mirage 13-7), eliminating the Danish Counter-Strike 2 side from contention.
The win propelled GamerLegion into a decisive match against Spirit later in the day, with a place in the Spodek Arena on the line.
.@PRcsgoo deals the knock out blow on Mirage as @GamerLegion 2-0 @AstralisCS to remove them from #IEM Katowice 2025 👀
13-7 Nuke
13-7 Mirage pic.twitter.com/tT71iJIguE— Intel® Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 4, 2025
The series kicked off on Nuke, where a tight first half was followed by an explosive GamerLegion terrorist side.
They strung together six consecutive rounds to clinch a dominant win on Astralis’s map pick, setting the tone for Mirage.
On the second map, Oldřich “PR” Nový led the charge with a 9-3 opening half.
Astralis briefly resisted with a pistol-round win, but Erik “ztr” Gustafsson’s squad closed it out in another comfortable 13-7 triumph.
PR was the standout performer, delivering a staggering 1.82 rating across both maps, excelling especially on terrorist sides (28-8 K-D, 2.26 rating, 135 ADR).
The victory further highlights GamerLegion’s consistency in 2025, though concerns remain over their limited exposure to maps beyond Inferno, Nuke, and Mirage.
Astralis, despite Nicolai “device” Reedtz’s return at the start of the year, continue to struggle.
A disappointing early exit from BLAST Bounty Spring was followed by an uninspiring run at IEM Katowice, with their only notable win coming against FURIA Esports.
Casper “cadiaN” Møller acknowledged their difficulties, particularly on counter-terrorist sides, where they held a concerning 32.4% win rate across seven maps.
.@Team__Spirit are not ready to go home just yet.
They put up a strong match against @TeamLiquidCS in order to stay alive at #IEM Katowice 2025
13-10 Nuke
13-8 Dust 2 pic.twitter.com/iMz5zmBDJd— Intel® Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 4, 2025
Meanwhile, Team Spirit secured a spot in the Group B lower bracket final with a 2-0 win over Team Liquid, led by another stellar showing from Danil “donk” Kryshkovets.
Liquid, now eliminated, will have a month-long break before competing in ESL Pro League Season 21 in March.
Despite their exit, coach Torbjørn “mithR” Nyborg remained optimistic, citing significant progress in refining their playbook under Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken’s leadership.
In another key matchup, Eternal Fire stunned FaZe Clan with a hard-fought 2-0 win (Anubis 13-4, Nuke 25-22), securing a quarterfinal spot.
The Turkish squad, making back-to-back playoff appearances after their BLAST Bounty runner-up finish, showcased resilience, particularly on Nuke, where Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş dominated with a 49-32 K-D and 1.61 rating.
FaZe fought back from a 9-3 deficit, but Eternal Fire’s structured counter-terrorist side and crucial clutches proved decisive.
GamerLegion’s momentum was halted in their clash against Spirit for a quarterfinal berth.
After an impressive Anubis performance, GamerLegion faltered on Ancient and Nuke as Spirit found their rhythm to claim a 2-1 victory.
Coach Ashley “ash” Battye admitted that their lack of composure and coordination in crucial moments cost them dearly.
Despite the loss, GamerLegion can take pride in their Katowice run, with promising signs emerging from their young lineup.
With the playoffs set, six teams remain in contention for the IEM Katowice title from February 7-9.
Spirit will defend their crown, but chinks in their armour—evidenced by recent losses to Natus Vincere and GamerLegion—suggest a tough road ahead.
The playoff field consists of five top-eight-ranked teams, with notable absentees in G2 Esports, FaZe, and MOUZ.
Natus Vincere and Team Vitality enter directly into the semi-finals after dominant upper-bracket campaigns, while The MongolZ and Eternal Fire will reignite their rivalry in a quarterfinal rematch of IEM Rio 2024.
Spirit, fresh from their win over GamerLegion, now face a resurgent Virtus.pro led by Denis “electroNic” Sharipov.
The winner will meet Natus Vincere in the semis, potentially setting up a high-stakes rematch between the reigning Katowice champions and one of their fiercest rivals.
THE #IEM KATOWICE 2025 PLAYOFFS BRACKET.
Get ready for the Hall of Heroes 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rYjKRIZDuY
— Intel® Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 4, 2025
