9INE have advanced to the IEM Cologne group stage

The Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis -led team was eliminated from the competition as 9INE defeated Liquid 2-1 to proceed to the IEM Cologne group stage.

After having a difficult time getting past of the Play-in stage, the Poles exhale with relief. They were one of the only teams who did not make any adjustments over the break and played three different lineups while advancing to the groups, defeating OG in overtime, falling to fnatic in a lopsided series, and narrowly defeating Liquid in the game of life and death. The final series couldn't have looked more like a normal 9INE event, with them losing Ancient (a map on which the Poles eventually snapped a protracted losing skid a few months back but still struggle) and winning Vertigo on their own turf.